I spotted an (insert obscure car name here) classic car today! (Archived)

Mr_Shiftright

Well maybe when he puts a piston through his engine lid, he'll stop revving an engine that high without a load on it. One can hope. :P

kyfdx

The Lamborghini dealer brought a trailer down from Marysville.. Had two Gallardos (coupe and convertible) and one slightly used Murcielago...

Now.. a new Gallardo has a V-10 and 520 horsepower.. It runs a tidy $217K. ($4300/mo. for 60 months, and it can be in your driveway..lol).

So, why would someone need to spend $400K on a Murcielago (not sure if I'm spelling that right) that has a V-12 and only 80 more horses? Especially if it looks nearly identical, if you didn't have them side by side..

texases

Gotta be one of the worst car names, makes me think of those brown bottles of cement (mucilage, right?) from years ago.

w9cw

kyfdx wrote: "Porsche Carrera GT.. the supercar.. owned by Mike Valentine of radar detector fame. In the parking lot."

Mike's come a long way from his R.L. Drake days in Miamisburg.

bocatrip

The 404 Peugeot was not only the plain 4dr, but also the 2 seater convertible. It was a very handsome convertible.

fintail

Today I have seen a 70s Saab 99, a 60s Jag S-type sedan, a nice looking ca. 1970 GMC 4x4, a really neglected looking 1965 Impala 4 door post, and an assumedly fake Cobra.

Mr_Shiftright

Save the GMC, shoot the rest. :P

andys120

I spotted a '35 Ford Panel truck pulling out of a side road,
it was pretty clean and straight looking but the black paint was non-glossy, perhaps deliberately so. At first I thought it was a '34. When I spotted the plate (35 FD) I remembered that back then Ford fitted their trucks with the front end styling from the prior year sedans.

The flat one piece front window was propped up to facilitate cooling and the truck was fitted with red wire wheels and white sidewalls.

The vehicles appeared to be longer than a sedan from that year indicating it probably rode on a truck-specific chassis.

imidazol97

A Plymouth Cranbrook, 1953, in a dark, dark brown or black, in good shape on a trailer. Paint was even, no rust, but old looking. It appeared another vehicle had stopped along with the tow vehicle and trailer; maybe they had bumped in a narrowed construction area.

fintail

A few more oddballs...a Checker station wagon, a Ferrari 355, someone in my building has turned up in an early R129 500SL with Lorinser kit, and I saw a large (both big and tall) man driving a T-Bucket hot rod, he made it look like a go-kart.

Mr_Shiftright

I used to own a Checker. It was fun, sorta. I remember it idled at 300 rpm and had a Continental engine (not the Lincoln...from the Continental engine company).

andre1969

at work I saw a 1970 Chevy El Camino in the parking lot. A bit worn, but serviceable. Faded red. As I was crossing the street to get to my building, off in the distance I saw a 60's Chevy van. Not the Corvair style, but the later style. It was a very faded light greenish blue color.

fintail

Surprised this has bids

Deluxe Ford

Odd woody

Proof that a communist-esque economy doesn't create technology

I am surprised most of these don't look like this

Classy

"classier than Chevrolet or Cadillac"

Lemko-mobile

A real Imperial

Survivor sold by a dreamer

Maybe an Andre-mobile

bocatrip

My parents bought a 4 Dr 53 Plymouth Cranbrook new for around 1800 bucks. It was blue with a white top. 3sp on the tree and no power steering. It had a flat 6 cylinder and was super reliable. They sold it after 9 years for a 62 Galaxie 500. I still have the owners manual for the plymouth. Unfortunately, even the 53 convertible is not worth all that much.

texases

Here's an idea - now that Bill Ford has some time on his hands, why doesn't buy and crush every Zimmer/retro Stutz/etc. he can find? It would be such a service to the country :P

grahampaige

Not surprised about the Jensen, Basically Jensen Healey wagon. Lotus twin cam motor, so should go well. Used to have a Healey live near me, and you could hear him coming, as he got to my house, he used to need to change down. What a loverly sound.. I guess it depends on what bit of dirt you stand

Love the woody

That stutz is very tired, one for Boyd C to play with me thinks

Now the Packard and the imperial you are getting to my favorite era, very pretty. They could share my garage with the 58 Buick anytime

That accord is suffering the usual misplaced decimal point

andre1969

I kinda like that '77 Bonneville except for one little detail. I learned awhile back, with Pontiacs, to try a little word association with the VIN #. See the "Y" in the VIN code? That's for the Pontiac 301. As in "Y" did they put that engine in the car?!

I don't know if I'm making too big of a deal out of the 301 or not, but I've just been taught to be afraid of it! From what I've heard from some of the guys on a website devoted to the '73-77 LeMans (yes, believe it or not, there's a website devoted to EVERYTHING!), the 301 isn't a bad engine as long as you take care of it and don't get too rough on it. So I guess if you baby it, it'll be fine, but just don't floor it too often, or stretch the oil change intervals out too far?

andys120

Proof that a communist-esque economy doesn't create technology

When it was introduced in 1962 the Trabant was in some ways technically advanced with it's plastic bodywork and FWD. Later models were pioneers in nDiesel power.

Mr_Shiftright

I think the Stutz and '58 Buick definitely go into Shiftright's Traveling Freak Show.

fintail

Was it new technology or just leftovers from 1930s German cars, where FWD and diesel were not uncommon?

I believe the Trabants used formaldehyde resin as well...they can be the first to have that smell!

andys120

IFA/Sachsenring AG probably lifted the FWD system (and two-stroke engine) from another prewar Saxon Automaker, DKW.

Aside from DKWs the only FWD cars being made when the Trabbi was introduced were Citroens, Minis and Saabs. All were considered pretty advanced at the time.

I don't want to oversell the point too much but the fact is the Trabant was fairly advanced for a 1962 design.

I fully recognize that it was also ugly, slow and...uh smelly. :lemon:

andre1969

but I finally uploaded the pics I took at the Carlisle PA Ford Nationals, which was two weeks ago. Enjoy!

andre1969

on the Baltimore-Washington Parkway I spotted two old ones. First, was a Checker Marathon. Unsure of the year, but it had the bulky bumpers, so I'd guess a 1973 or newer? It was in good shape, and kind of an industrial looking silverish-gray color. Ahead of it was a white 1973 or so Eldorado convertible, cruising along with the top down. It looked to be in good shape too, but was missing the fender skirts. That gave the rear wheel openings kind of an unfinished look, but I thought made the car look SOOO much better. Like it was less fat or something!

Oh yeah, and in my yard, I saw this. I got it out to wash it. Couldn't remember the last time I washed it. One nice thing about having a garage, I discovered, is that while the cars still get dusty, they wash up SOOO much quicker!

fintail

Yes exactly. I just like to think that the 1930s cars were really advanced.

fintail

I saw a Marathon today as well, not looking too hot in a primer grey color. But it was moving along with highway traffic.

Also, a VW fastback and a red E-type roadster with a white top.

fintail

It's funny to see late 70s and 80s cars being preserved. Makes me feel old.

Mr_Shiftright

Most Checkers you'll see are running Chevrolet drivetrains so they'd have no trouble with freeway speeds.

texases

Well, a 1980 is 27 years old, like working on a '53 in 1980. In other words, yes, we are getting old

lemko

The 1979 "LeSabre" is actually a 1979 Buick Electra Limited. That car looks very much like my 1979 Park Avenue. Same wheels and interior. Mine had the 403 V-8. Too bad this car doesn't have the 403. I'd definately bid on it!

andre1969

Is that '79 Electra a Limited or just a base model? The interior looks like it's vinyl to me. I'm really impressed though, that they were able to keep a white interior looking that nice for 28 years and 50,000 miles!

lemko

You can see on the quarter panel the "Limited" script. The base 1979 Electra model was the Electra 225.

kyfdx

..all jacked up on what looked like a shortbed Chevy pickup frame.. with big mud-terrain tires..

:surprise:

kyfdx

In pristine shape..

It is unreal how they expected this to sell for a premium when you can barely tell it apart from the LeBaron convertible..

andre1969

It is unreal how they expected this to sell for a premium when you can barely tell it apart from the LeBaron convertible..

Yeah, that was one thing that really put a crimp on TC sales. Actually, I think the LeBaron convertible looks BETTER than the TC!

There's a reason that the LeBaron and TC ended up looking so much alike. Not a logical one, necessarily, but a reason. Work on the TC had actually been started BEFORE the '87 LeBaron, but the project ultimately got shelved. However, the stylists then decided to use the shelved TC as the inspiration for the '87 LeBaron coupe and convertible. Then, at the last minute, interest in the TC was revived, perhaps because of the Allante that Cadillac had in the pipeline, and Chrysler felt they should compete. So, the TC was given the go-ahead.

I think the TC finally came out as a 1989 model. By then, the LeBaron coupe/convertible was starting its third model year, and was much less expensive. If the '87 LeBaron hadn't been inspired so much by the TC, I'd imagine the TC would've been held in higher regard when it finally did debut.

lemko

...the Allante was doomed from the beginning. I was reading an article on the Allante in the latest edition of "Collectible Automobile." The GM stylists were upset that Cadillac farmed out the styling to Pininfarina and came up with their own version of the Allante for comparison. I'm glad GM picked the Pininfarina version. The GM stylist's version had wire wheels from an Eldorado and taillights similar to the 1975-79 Seville. It just shows how out of touch they were with the times.

Now, if the Allante had a Northstar V-8 from the beginning and was RWD/AWD, it might've turned the luxury roadster market on its ear.

Mr_Shiftright

maybe. It still had that cheesy, outdated interior that was laughably inept as a 560SL competitor. But you're right, the Northstar would have given it a fighting chance at least. That and fewer water leaks.

andys120

-A '93-'95ish Ford SHO (gen II), not all that rare but this one is in particularly nice shape,
except for some paint transfer on the front bumper. It's FOR SALE.

-'64 Galaxie, black w the NASCAR slope back H/T sitting at a local wrecker, faded black paint but the car looked decent from a distance. I'd go in and take a closer look but '64 is my least favorite year for Galaxies.

oregonboy

Spotted on my way to work. For sale, Red & White, much nicer than this example.



james

fintail

Such a nice car and a high price, with a dumb typo

Old-timer

"very classy beauty, everywhere I go everyone asks questions about it"

Why bother with it here?

If the Johnson is too common for you

Nice tin snail

Of all the things to preserve

Unusual beast

Owner is interested in a fintail for partial trade

Why did people preserve these?

Ridiculous

Nice fintail

Weirdo limo

Maybe an Andre-mobile

Certainly an Andre-mobile

boomchek

The Renault is good if you have $30k to burn, and access to a racetrack. But it's still a bit shady that they don't even have a title for it.

andys120

"Why bother with it here?"

Well no one without money to burn would buy a car without
a clear title but that is one cool looking little buggy and you'd have the Elise owners at the track talking to themselves. :P

andys120

I spotted two rarely seen cars yesterday, both happened to be different shades of dark green:

-1990s Cadillac Allante, looked in perfect shape, a very dark (almost black) metallic green, driving top and windows up even though it was a perfect morning.

-Ferrari 360 Modena Spider, looking impossibly low and wide while shouldering it's way thru downtown traffic. These are rarely seen in central NH and Forest green (non-metallic!) ones are even rarer. Top/windows up.

Why do people buy nice convertibles and not put the tops down on perfect days?

Mr_Shiftright

'40 LaSalle -- certainly looks like it has nice paint and bodywork. I really like the lines from the front seat going back. The grill is busy in that 1940s way, but okay. Very snappy looking car. Price is what I call "Lunatic-Correct", meaning the seller qualifies for tranquilizers. Try $55,000 and take it gratefully.

1980 "Johnson" -- yep, everybody is asking questions but amazingly, everybody is failing to bid. Whatever could the matter be?

Renault Spider -- fun car, I've seen them on the track, but no way in hell you'll register it legally. Too bad.

'34 "Packard" -- seller should be dragged off and put against a wall for smearing the Packard name with this virtual symphony of bad taste. Some people just don't "get it". He needs to go back and look at a real '34 Packard to see where he went horribly wrong. Rub his nose in it.

76 LeSabre -- hey, let's preserve a car for 31 years and then cash in and sell it for $1,500!!!

'65 Olds Limo -- well now we know that if you take an ugly sedan and stretch it, you get an ugly limo. Still I kinda like it, because it is so....so....I forget what.....

28 Buick Phaeton -- nice looking car, very strong bidding. You won't see many of these around. A very decent road car, a cut above a Model A for sure. It's a car you can go 55 mph in, providing you have the foresight to know when to brake and steer.

1906 Reo -- this is the old one-lunger, not the two-cylinder car, so less desirable. I think his price is not going to happen because of this. Still, pretty rare piece. Mr. Olds only started making them in 1905. Not sure what you'd do with it---museum display, presuming it's a correct restoration, and who the heck knows at this point? I'd say $20,000 is all the money, and about $16,000 is the real market.

randydriver

76 Buick LeSabre- Beautiful car.....I wouldn't mind having it.

fintail

I saw quite a few oddballs today. Mercedes W113 and W114, Mercedes C43 (I swear, half of the W202 and W210 AMG cars were sold here), early 60s Alfa roadster, '57 Chevy 210 2-door post, very clean ca. '69 T-Bird, ca. 1960 Rolls SC, nice '65 Caddy convertible, the same Checker sedan I saw a while back, and a Ferrari Testarossa - red of course.

The amusingly dated Ferrari sticks in my mind most. It seems so big and swoopy and wide compared to modern Ferraris.

Mr_Shiftright

80s Testarossa is a very hard sell these days. Most Ferrari shoppers agree with you.

bumpy

Why do people buy nice convertibles and not put the tops down on perfect days?

In my case: sunburn, excessive brightness in the middle of the day, and wind buffeting.

Mr_Shiftright

Convertibles are good for one thing---WARM NIGHTS....if you don't have those where you live, buy a sunroof coupe is my two cents or be a tough guy and get beat up...or better yet, do it right and buy a motorcycle :P

british_rover

I spent the whole weekend driving around in a M3 convertible with a PROPER manual transmission.

Now that is a hot car.

andre1969

I'll confess that the '76 Electra, '75 Delta, and '76 LeSabre have me drooling. But not at those prices. Well, maybe the Delta with its 3K opening bid is reasonable, but I don't think I'd be willing to part with over $5-6K for any one of these cars, no matter how nice they are.

I think of the three, I actually like the Delta the best. I like that color combo, and it's not often that you see a Delta 88 hardtop sedan trimmed out that nicely. The Electra's gorgeous, but those also seem more common. And that LeSabre, well, I'd like it more if it was a nice blue or light green color. Brown just doesn't do it for me, although for some reason, IMO at least, Pontiac seemed to pull it off okay back then.

That '76 LeMans sport coupe looks familiar. I think it's been on eBay before.