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

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  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    I saw one of those 90s Camry wagons with dual rear wipers this morning. Toyota was a lot less bland once...bizarre, but not so middle of the road boring like today.
  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516
    I agree. Toyota had some "out there" products in the 80s and 90s. Take the Camry wagon you mentioned with the dual rear wipers, the Previa, RWD Corollas, even the old Corolla AWD wagon from the 80s and 90s, the Celica GTS AWD....

    I guess they toned it down to appeal to the widest demographic possible.

    2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX

  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    For some odd reason, I have a fondness for the 1987-91 Camry. It's not exciting to look at, in fact most would probably call it boring. But I just think it has a clean, handsome look to it. I've heard it referred to as a 1980's Rambler!
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    Toyota had at least a little sporty soul then...and we can't forget the big crazy last Supra either. No soul today, but lots of profits since.

    Back then Honda was the sensible logical one...today the roles have reversed as Honda at least sometimes tries to have some handling.
  • texasestexases Member Posts: 11,107
    I agree on the '87-91 Camry. Hard to remember, but when it came out it was quite a change from the older slab-sided versions, more of a Taurus kind of look (back when the Taurus was a style leader!).
  • kyfdxkyfdx Moderator Posts: 265,617
    Might be the best car, ever... given the time frame and competition at that time...

    Can you tell that I like them? :)

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  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,670
    I saw a black Falcon Tudor with no flash on it, not even full wheel covers so this was a base, no frills gen II model. Looked to be in decent driver shape (it was underway).

    2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93

  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    for Lemko. A couple months ago, one of the local Caddy dealerships had a car show. I finally got around to uploading the pics. There were a few non-Cadillac cars that showed up, too.
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    from a local show I went to back in October in Rockville, Maryland. I usually hit this show every year, and the past two years had put my '76 Grand LeMans in it. This time around though, we didn't get there in time, and they had closed off the field. Still, it was a good time.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    Jag 420 cabrio? Never seen one of those before. Very diverse show, I like that.
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    I'd never seen one before, either. I googled it out of curiosity, and found this article, on that very car!

    I guess one of ten built qualifies as obscure, eh?
  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516
    Cool pics Andre. I wonder how the Caddy dealer got a hold of the Cadillac Sixteen and the Evoq concepts and if they're even driveable.

    As for the Jag convertible, that is an interesting story. The removable window setup sounds kinda flimsy to me though.

    2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX

  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    So the owner of a 420G thinks "Jaguar never made an ugly car"? Wow, talk about a bad case of myopia. :shades:
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    So the owner of a 420G thinks "Jaguar never made an ugly car"?

    Funny you'd mention that, Shifty. When I was reading the article, I just sort of skimmed through it quickly, and initially read that line to be "Jaguar never made such an ugly car!"

    I don't think they're hideous, but do find them awkward. Kind of a clumsy blending of 60's and 40's styles, and the thing just looks porky to me. In comparison, the XJ6 just looked perfect, and even to this day seems timeless.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Yes, in "real life" the 420G dimensions look very awkward and ill-proportioned. It borders on grotesque with the forward slanting grill (never a good idea in car design) and bulbous rear end.

    Even in the UK, the motherland, you 'd be lucky to get 3000 pounds sterling for a 420G that had way more than that sunk into it.
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    Is "Ninety-Eight" the width, or length? (in feet)

    I think it's the tonnage! Considering that car's red with a red leather interior, I don't find it to be as pimpy as that may sound! Maybe because it's a darker red, rather than a brighter, flashy one? And I think the leather seats actually look tasteful, with just the one button in the center of each position, rather than having the whole seat go for that button-tufted look. I always thought that year had a handsome "face", too, with the flatter front-end and the round quad headlights. I never cared for the little peaks between the headlights that the '71-73 models had.

    That '83 LeSabre wagon is kinda odd looking, with cloth seats up front and vinyl in the back. I've seen wagons where the third row is just vinyl, but usually the second row would match the first!

    I like that '61 Caddy a lot. I like its clean, angular looks with the slight forward thrust. I always thought there was something just a bit Ford-like in the style, but I liked it anyway. :shades:
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,675
    That 1974 Olds 98 is beautiful. It stands as the epitome of good design for its period. The front end appearance is good; the cathedral window-shaped taillights with the little peak above the were 100%

    I'd say the "98" is the score for this car out of 100. It's one that I see and just say, "That's a good example of the best from that era."

    I wish the poster in Ebay had used a better locale for the pictures. It looks like it got stuck crosswise in the road. I'd like to see some closeups as well. But we got what we got on Ebay. Someone asked for more pictures and he didn't acknowledge their request.

    For $2000 that car deserves a home with someone who appreciates the quality and style of good US built iron. It would look good next to a couple of Chrysler products and a Catalina in a garage!

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,675
    1973 Centurion is good with the 455. But the color leaves me cold. Maybe it's the wheels the owner substituted that look like something from urban Dayton.

    The 1973 Dart... wasn't the Dart the mid-sized chassis. Why didn't they use the Polara or whatever the full-sized car was built on? I look at this and ask "Why"?

    '49 Roadmaster is good. Car is great; color doesn't work for me. Seeing it with top down would help in the photos.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    wasn't the Dart the mid-sized chassis. Why didn't they use the Polara or whatever the full-sized car was built on? I look at this and ask "Why"?

    1962 was sort of a weird year for Dodge. That was when they came out with those shrunken cars on the 116" wheelbase, but they classified them as full-sized cars. For that year, the Dart and the Polara were the same car, just different trim levels. The Polara was a miserable seller, so Dodge quickly threw together the Custom 880, which was a 1962 Newport with a 1961 Dodge front end clip. It was a more "proper" full-size, on a 122" wheelbase, and probably around 216" long, compared to 116" and around 205" for the Dart/Polara.

    The scary thing is, they made more than one of those airport limos! My mechanic has some pictures of a '62-63 Dodge airport limo on the wall in his shop. Unless it's the same one? He also has a 1958 Chrysler airport limo, that's in storage out in Arizona or someplace like that. He wants to have it shipped out here, but has been having problems because of its size!

    I think that '73 Centurion would look a lot better with the Buick mag wheels that were common in that era. Other than those wheels, I love the car. I know that green's not to everybody's taste, but I could hang with it!
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,675
    >that green's not to everybody's taste

    It's partly that the green looks more pea-soup green while I like the many variations of a grey-green or seafoam green that was on some cars of the era, primarily high line cars.

    When I see a car like that, there's a click in my head that says yeah that was a popular color or that car for the year and that clicks with the memories. And yes, the right wheels for Buick were always a distinction item separating it from the usual Chevy and Pontiac high performance versions of their cars.

    This would be one color:

    image

    image

    image

    image

    image

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    That 74 Olds reminds me of a block of cheese. Did Oldsmobile even have a styling department anymore?

    In its defense, at least the proportions, although very LARGE, are basically correct.
  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516
    Metrp truck.. Funny looking thing. That canaoe he's throwing in has better rigidity than that Metro now.

    I like that old Eldorado from Petersen, especially how low it's sitting.

    I llike the 73 Buick Centurion too, but I don't think the wheels match it.

    Doidge Dart limo: "used to transport nuns" Did they try to kill these nuns in this heap? lol

    2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX

  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    I really like that last one. Is that the color they called "Seafoam" back then? My grandparents had a '72 Impala that was forest green with a white vinyl roof. That was a nice looking color. There was another green back then too I recall, more of a light green. Lighter and more attractive than that pea-green on the '73 Centurion.

    Overall though, I think my dream Buick from that era would be a '75 LeSabre convertible, with a 455 putting out a whopping ~205 hp. In that light blue non-metallic that seemed to be a '75-only color. I always called it "baby blue", but I'm sure it had a real name. Looks really good with a white interior, white top, and the Rally wheels. Here's a pic of one, which is too big to post here.
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,675
    This is the picture. I reduced it from 1600x1200 to 600x450 keeping the same proportion between width and height. Width has to be less than something like 640 or so else the hosts don't get their cut for the advertisements on the right window showing! Just add after the .jpg" width="xxx" height="xxx" followed by the greater than sign that closes the img html controls.

    image

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    oh, cool...I was afraid it would come in bigger than that. Anyway, ain't she sexy? :shades: I saw one of these, in that color, 455, power everything, in nice shape, at one of the Carlisle shows in PA back in 2002. I think they wanted $7500.

    Shoulda bought it, but at the time I didn't have the money for something like that. I also didn't have the place to store it. Now here it is, 6 years later and I STILL don't have the money for it (thanks, Wall Street :mad: ) or the place to store it (although I would if I hadn't bought that LeMans and NYer #2 in the intervening years)
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,675
    It was much larger! And the original picture is beautiful. That color was popular in the midwest where I lived, but not many convertibles.

    Check my edit to 14948 to see how to shrink pictures. You insert the new size after the last quote but before the greater than sign.
    It' s difficult to type the example because the html code affects the post.

    If you look at IE6 and use view|source and then search for 14948 you'll see the code in the post.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,723
    i seem to remember that forward slanting grill working ok for bmw. :surprise:
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,723
    'fin i think you out did yourself this time.
    not only was that dart extended, it had a hitch ball out back.
    did they tow the arc of the covenant around with them?
    when i saw the 98 across the road, my immediate thought was sheriff
    buford t justice saying "that bandit won't get by me this time".
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,723
    the picture out the windshield of the convertible says "it's all about me'.
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,723
    the canoe pictures are a subtle hint that you are up the creek without a paddle. :P
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,723
    good looking chevelle ss and shelby cobra in the picture too.
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    I love that 1960 Eldorado Brougham! I hope it finds a good home. A car like it would be on my short list if I ever won the lottery! You can see the first use of that subtle curved A-pillar on it and the 1959 Eldo Brougham.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    If you mean the 2002 and the Bavaria, I don't think so. At best, the styling of those cars is "eccentric". Most BMWs in history didn't have, or didn't exaggerate I mean, that forward slanting grill like the 420G does.

    It's kind of the kiss of death in auto design. Very few automakers have ever attempted it.

    Another one is a long heavy overhanging grill way past the front wheels (the old "locomotive nose") .

    Anyone posting obscure cars with grillework that looks like it's about to fall into the street?
  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,723
    i was thinking the 320i. i think that was part of their appeal. they were instantly recognizable.
    i do agree that is was not as pronounced as the jag, but i like it on the jag.
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Well it's not something very many companies ever tried to imitate. It's an acquired taste to be sure.
  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,723
    i think aerodyamic and safety factors rendered it obsolete.
    maybe bmw and jag were behind the curve of where design was headed.
    ps, i ran over and checked out my latest R&T to make sure your illustration didn't have a forward leaning grille. ;)
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • oregonboyoregonboy Member Posts: 1,650
    Well, it's true that I'm biased, but I think that BMW pulled it off:

    image

    And I agree with you about the 420 Jag, it's a homely car. From the side, it could be any ugly '50s car.

    And the owner, who paid for the expensive repaint... should have raised holy-hell about the front mirrors, and had them removed.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    I like that 61 Caddy too, it is very photogenic and isn't an offensive design. I am not completely warmed up to those wire wheels though.

    To touch on a few other thoughts....the Eldo Brougham would be a car for a lottery winner garage no doubt. Lots of fun gadgetry in those, and massive restoration costs to go with. Imagine restoring an S65 or Maybach in 50 years.

    All of those old Buicks would look much better with the period Buick wheels. Those were a classic design and they look good on GM cars from a wide span of years.
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    For some strange reason, Buick of all nameplates decided to pick up on that forward thrusting front-end in later years. For 1986, the Century used it, and the 1988 Regal coupe's grille had a slight forward thrust to it. The '91 Park Ave and '92 LeSabre, and Roadmasters all had a bit of it as well.

    I think that forward slant is supposed to give the car a look of motion, and like it's ready to slice through the wind like a knife. Even if in reality, it might not!

    As for that Jag 420, I think the front-end of the car is fairly attractive. It's the rest of it I don't care for. It just has a porky look to it, and I don't think the rear quarter panel area or the C-pillar look very well thought out.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    A rear quarter view of a 420, looking forward, is especially bad. Probably the dumpiest Jag ever made.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Well let's spar a bit more on that, shall we, in good spirit?

    Is it a co-incidence that the BMW you posted remains one of the least valuable old BMWs today?

    Ball in your court :P
  • oregonboyoregonboy Member Posts: 1,650
    Okay... I don't think that the relatively low value of an old six series has anything to do with it's forward slanting nose, as all Bimmers of the period had the same feature.

    As for low value, old BMWs, let me play the "Eta" card.
    And then there are the 7 series cars. :(

    So tell us, why are old 6ers relatively cheap?
    Expensive maintenance?
    Heavy handling?
  • oregonboyoregonboy Member Posts: 1,650
    Maybe the older, (slim bumper) 6ers have better resale. How about a 1973 CSL:

    image
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Oh now you're throwing in a lightweight-bodied limited production car with racing history. NOT FAIR!

    Why are 6-series so undervalued?

    Good question. It's a lot of car for not much money.

    Yeah I think the styling hurts the car. It's very dated to the modern eye. The same year Porsche as a 635 will bring 3X the money even though the 635 was lower production by half.

    That being the case, you can't say maintenance costs deter buyers, nor reputation. It has to be the styling, and to some extent the heaviness and size of the car.

    If you made a Porsche that big, it might look very good either.
  • oregonboyoregonboy Member Posts: 1,650
    I have seen old GM fastbacks, but this was a new one for me:

    1952 Plymouth ' FASTBACK ' sedan
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    This is the GM fastback I want:

    image
  • oregonboyoregonboy Member Posts: 1,650
    Yes, a handsome old vehicle from an era when the name Cadillac meant something.
    (I mean something positive)

    I believe that car is even older than I am, by a bit.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Lessee---methinks that's a '49. If I'm not mistaken, along with the split rear windshield it has a rear windshield wiper?
  • oregonboyoregonboy Member Posts: 1,650
    Not sure why they would bother with a wiper. It doesn't look like you could see much to the rear anyway. Didn't it have a back--up camera? :P
This discussion has been closed.