I parked next to a grey "Ram 500" today. Thats what the chrome lettering said on the side anyways. It looked like a normal 2002 Dodge Ram, but had manufacturer plates, and a ram air intake on the hood with some pretty large rims. (at least 20") About two weeks ago, I saw a Holden Monaro (complete with right hand drive and mfg plate) on the road.
mid-60's Cougar that did the one-headlight-up thing. Actually, it used to close one all by itself every once in a while, and then re-open it a few seconds later. I always wondered if people thought my car was winking at them. Turns out they were held open by vacuum! Now there's a bright design!
It closed both of them at the same time one night on a dark back road - scared the bejesus outta me, LOL! I wouldn't drive it again after that.
BTW, if you are ever in California, the In-n'-Out Burger on Atlantic Avenue in Pasadena is THE place to go to see exotic cars. I have seen everything from a 2002 Ferrari to a Ford Model A there. There is no logical reason for this- no car show is held there, and it's not known as a place to go to with your exotic car, or anything...there are just always exotic cars there. I see a new one every Saturday afternoon.
The service writer at the local Pontiac dealer has a Fiero he made out of spare parts. IIRC the Fiero's most serious problem was that its front and rear suspensions came from different cars and weren't on speaking terms.
I see Fieros not too often, but often enough, here in the Detroit area. Great idea with typical GM execution of good idea. Okay, back to our Sunfire/Vibe/Aztek/Montana "sports car" discussion... Driving Excitement! yeah...
Vero hasn't been to California since 1988. But he hears that Pasadena also has good-looking females.
Anyway, in Round Rock yesterday, in the parking lot of a Home Depot, I spotted a Mazda GLC with the badge "Familia" on it, so it was a Mazda Familia. I don't know if this is from Mexico, but I know Familias are what that line was called in Europe and Japan. Since GLC stood for Good Little Car or something insipid like that, perhaps they felt it was not an appropriate acronym for non-English markets.
Has been generating quite a bit of commotion in Urban Design/architectural circles. Apparently, the city did an excellent job converting a dead central area into a very dynamic mixture of multifamily-residences, shopping, commercial and entertainment all together.
Some of the sillier pundits are calling it the New Urbanism. But even the more staid critics say that what Passaden is doing can serve as model for Southern California and other edge Cities in the South and Southwest.
Pasadena is an LA suburb. 60 or 70 years ago, it was a stand-alone city, but today it's a suburb. However, maltb's description- "mini-city" is also accurate. Pasadena is a suburb in that it does not really have an independent industrial base or anything- most people who live there work elsewhere. However, it is also a mini-city in that it is very diverse. Pasadena has rich and poor neighborhoods. Most other LA suburbs, by contrast, are far more homogeneous. LA in general is very diverse, though, which is one of the things I really love about living here. Everything is very integrated.
Pasadena is about 10 minutes from downtown LA. It has a population of about 120,000. It's a good place to see rare older cars, too, since it does have a sizeable population of wealthy people. If you want to see classic cars in good conditon, Pasadena is the place to go. If you want to see brand-new exotic cars, there's no better place than Beverly Hills.
Sorry about that!! My connection has been acting odd all day. I am excited to hear about changes for the better in the LA area, but not that excited. As you can see, I deleted the repeat.
Matt, I had one in the summer of '88 (an '81 5-speed hatch), it actually was a great little car, especially in comparison to most of the other cars built at that time.
I saw one here today in Dallas, Black with the top down. Driver with a big smile.. Wonder if August is mating season for them, or if we saw the same one.
...wasn't actually my car, it belonged to my mom's friend's daughter (follow?), who was away all Summer. So I boged her GLC. I really like that it used hardly any gas.
Mine was in Wisconsin and was red. The top was down and the driver was smiling, but from the looks of him he very well could have been lost.
They aren't very big, sort of like a June bug with wheels (at least to a semi).
There is a guy here in Madison that drives an old Citroen "pick-up truck". I don't think you could carry much more than a bushel of apples in the darn thing, especially on the bicycle size tires that it has. I'll try and get a model the next time I see it.
Porknbeans
Grand High Poobah The Fraternal Order of Procrastinators
One of the restaurant delivery drivers had a Mitsubishi van. I remember having to jump start it, and the battery was under the passenger seat. Lots-o-fun. I'm also 'not a big fan' of any vehicle in which the driver is sitting on top of the front wheels.
we had what we called "Coaster" vans that we would use to drive around the base. They were mostly Nissans, but there were a few odd ones from someone else who I can't think of. The in-line engine was between you and the "passenger" seat with an access panel. I think the wheels would have been just about right in line with the drivers seat, maybe just forward. One night the exhaust manafold developed a crack. Sounded like a racecar, and was louder than hell inside that van. So naturally we drove it around acting like it was a race car. Security Police eventually stopped us and made us turn it into motor pool......I have no idea where this story is going.....
I saw that darned thing *again* yesterday. He pulled up next to me at a light, I looked over at him and asked him if he wanted to race. He laughed and said "why not?" He did get by me, but it took about 100 yards for him to do so. BTW, I was on my bicycle at the time.
I still see that Toyota Van hanging around here. It looked like a large egg... but then so has every Toyota van. I believe in England it was called a "Toyota Space Cruiser" or something far out.
Another car that's slightly obscuro that I see a lot (a neighbor has one) is the Nissan Stanza Wagon.
In Europe and Japan, they were called the Prairie. Prairie Estate to be specific. Car magazine said that parts of the original Prairie dashboard are still used in the Nissan truck...
I saw a mid-70's amc matador yesterday, a big, homely sedan. it was in beautiful condition. there were never too many around. I remember thinking "I haven't seen one of those in at LEAST 15 years" (probably 20)
there's a guy who I see around sometimes driving a perfectly restored, WWII US Army Harley with sidecar. he even has an authentic old leather helmet & goggles. there's something you don't just see everyday!
or be going around paintless. Pinzgauers were originally made to military spec by Steyr-Puch of Austria (who make the 4matic drivetrains for Mercedes). Pinzgauers are 4x4 or 6x6 vehicles intended for extreme offroad conditions with no overhangs, bigger than a Wrangler, smaller than a Hummer. They are said to be superior off-road to any other wheeled vehicle.
Aside from the Austrian and Swiss military they're used by foresters, fire/rescue and the like. I have no idea how they could be legally licensed in the US (no smog controls, crash tests etc).
I think I read somewhere they're mfr'd in the UK now.
So...I showed some pictures I found on the pinzgauer. He now wants one.
I know its a stretch, but does anybody know what the engine compartment looks like on these things? See...my dad is really interested. He has already called the import company. He just doesnt like the sound of a 90 hp swiss built air cooled engine. He would rather throw in a VW TDI engine or something that has parts readily available. Would a TDi fit?
Garbage cans are utilitarian but they aren't beautiful....WELL...maybe to another garbage can.
The guy who drives Das Diaper Truck in my neighborhood wears those airport earmuff silencers, so that's not a real good sign.
I think they are very funny looking. Too fragile to be macho and too ungainly to be cute. And the Corrugated Look just doesn't work for me. Shades of VW Thing on Stilts.
Checker Marathon, '70s (with rear opera window instead of the quarter pie-shaped, kinda dates it) a nasty, faded black with gold wheels and grille, Maserati Biturbo convertible Two Merkur Scorpios (one blue, one maroon) Two Peugeot 505s (both maroon)
I saw one the other day, running but perforated with rust holes. It was the first one I've seen in nearly 20 years. I remember the Subaru BRAT came out around the time I was in 8th grade. My brother and I would walk home from school and see one parked a few blocks from our building. We'd think how cool it would be to ride in those bed-mounted seats.
Kyle, Nissan sold the Axxess only in 1990 model year as far as I know. I see one a couple times a year in Ann Arbor.
lemko, old Subarus abound in northern Michigan. XT and SVX can be found here too. I should run around in my car a little bit this upcoming week and look for them.
Yesterday on expressway from Lansing to Mackinac Bridge? Lots of new GM cars, and an older Audi 5000 sedan.
Comments
It closed both of them at the same time one night on a dark back road - scared the bejesus outta me, LOL! I wouldn't drive it again after that.
BTW, if you are ever in California, the In-n'-Out Burger on Atlantic Avenue in Pasadena is THE place to go to see exotic cars. I have seen everything from a 2002 Ferrari to a Ford Model A there. There is no logical reason for this- no car show is held there, and it's not known as a place to go to with your exotic car, or anything...there are just always exotic cars there. I see a new one every Saturday afternoon.
Vero hasn't been to California since 1988. But he hears that Pasadena also has good-looking females.
Anyway, in Round Rock yesterday, in the parking lot of a Home Depot, I spotted a Mazda GLC with the badge "Familia" on it, so it was a Mazda Familia. I don't know if this is from Mexico, but I know Familias are what that line was called in Europe and Japan. Since GLC stood for Good Little Car or something insipid like that, perhaps they felt it was not an appropriate acronym for non-English markets.
There were a couple Subaru DLs @ Ann Arbor Subaru and Dunning Toyota (which owns Ann Arbor Subaru) yesterday. Old school.
Really? It's pretty quiet for a town that sits in LA's shadow. I always get the impression that it's more of a mini-city with a classic downtown area.
Some of the sillier pundits are calling it the New Urbanism. But even the more staid critics say that what Passaden is doing can serve as model for Southern California and other edge Cities in the South and Southwest.
Pasadena is about 10 minutes from downtown LA. It has a population of about 120,000. It's a good place to see rare older cars, too, since it does have a sizeable population of wealthy people. If you want to see classic cars in good conditon, Pasadena is the place to go. If you want to see brand-new exotic cars, there's no better place than Beverly Hills.
Back on topic, I saw a Sunbeam(?) Alpine driving through a small town this weekend. An old British, convertible in really good shape.
Grand High Poobah
The Fraternal Order of Procrastinators
In Dallas, I saw an Audi A3. On the SMU campus
They aren't very big, sort of like a June bug with wheels (at least to a semi).
There is a guy here in Madison that drives an old Citroen "pick-up truck". I don't think you could carry much more than a bushel of apples in the darn thing, especially on the bicycle size tires that it has. I'll try and get a model the next time I see it.
Grand High Poobah
The Fraternal Order of Procrastinators
;-)
Previa is a collectible in my book!
I saw a couple of Pontiac Lemans today... wait, I live in the Detroit area, nothing unusual. Carry on.
In Europe and Japan, they were called the Prairie. Prairie Estate to be specific. Car magazine said that parts of the original Prairie dashboard are still used in the Nissan truck...
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
there's a guy who I see around sometimes driving a perfectly restored, WWII US Army Harley with sidecar. he even has an authentic old leather helmet & goggles. there's something you don't just see everyday!
Aside from the Austrian and Swiss military they're used by foresters, fire/rescue and the like. I have no idea how they could be legally licensed in the US (no smog controls, crash tests etc).
I think I read somewhere they're mfr'd in the UK now.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Neat vehicles.
The owners seem to stay up all night and have very small dark pupils. Somehow it all fits.
I call it the Das Diaper Truck.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Utilitarianism makes it beautiful in its own way.
I know its a stretch, but does anybody know what the engine compartment looks like on these things? See...my dad is really interested. He has already called the import company. He just doesnt like the sound of a 90 hp swiss built air cooled engine. He would rather throw in a VW TDI engine or something that has parts readily available. Would a TDi fit?
I know Mercedes makes an uber SUV. I've seen two recently. What's it called, the Lederhosen or something?
The guy who drives Das Diaper Truck in my neighborhood wears those airport earmuff silencers, so that's not a real good sign.
I think they are very funny looking. Too fragile to be macho and too ungainly to be cute. And the Corrugated Look just doesn't work for me. Shades of VW Thing on Stilts.
a nasty, faded black with gold wheels and grille, Maserati Biturbo convertible
Two Merkur Scorpios (one blue, one maroon)
Two Peugeot 505s (both maroon)
lemko, old Subarus abound in northern Michigan. XT and SVX can be found here too. I should run around in my car a little bit this upcoming week and look for them.
Yesterday on expressway from Lansing to Mackinac Bridge? Lots of new GM cars, and an older Audi 5000 sedan.