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

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  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    If every single Dodge Omni on earth went to the crusher, would a tear be shed?

    Well, the one manager in my company who drives one might be a bit upset, I dunno. And the GLH was kind of a cool little car.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Okay fair enough. Aside from you two, does anyone else on earth care about them? I'll make a list. :shades:
  • kyfdxkyfdx Moderator Posts: 265,778
    Leave me off the list.. ;)

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  • texasestexases Member Posts: 11,107
    "does anyone else on earth care about them? I'll make a list."

    You'll have to check with these guys: Everything (and more) that you wanted to know about Omnis and Horizons
  • berriberri Member Posts: 10,165
    The New Yorkers ride rougher, but handle better. The Catalina is smoother, but also a bit more bouncy

    Torsion bar versus full coil suspension?
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,419
    There were some FWD cars around then...Japanese cars and GM X-J cars come to mind. As well as the Rabbit yeah. I suspect the thing was also so slow that it kept itself out of trouble.

    I remember my dad had some odd car tastes. The S-10 was a choice between that, an AMC Eagle, or a Colt Vista. I guess neither would be the best choice, probably should have looked at a 4WD Civic or Tercel wagon. Now that I think of it, I don't recall if the small town had a Honda dealer...but I know they had a Toyota dealer. I remember he disliked the Bronco II as he thought it was unsafe (but the S10 wasn't?). The car I wanted him to get, a 4-Runner with a removeable top, was apparently more than he wanted to spend, and too tall. I remember he wanted to pick up a Pinto Cruisin Wagon as a hobby car in the mid 80s...I remember going to a couple used car lots and private sellers to look at them. My mother quickly vetoed the idea of one of those hanging around the house.
  • berriberri Member Posts: 10,165
    Weren't the Omnirizons based on the late 70's VW Rabbit which was rather a junker? I think some sportier Omnirizons like the GLH may have had a Mitsu engine upgrade, but Mitsu engines back then had a rep as blue smokers. "nuf said!

    People will always have a fondness for vehicles that are associated with events and memories. Regardless, I think old Civics, Corolla/Celica and Mazda's will be a collectible down the road, along with D3 trucks and SUV's because these are vehicles many had growing up in that era.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    okay that's 3 more people. I'm up to 5 people on earth now. This is building like a tidal wave. This Omni thing is going to be BIG! :P
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    Well if ya want, I'll put a call out on my Mopar Mailing List, and see how many Omni fans there are. And when I go to the Mopar show at Carlisle, I'll try to do a head count!

    You never know...heck, at the GM show back in 2005, I took a pic of this little collection...
    image
  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,670
    A guy I knew swapped his old VW Bug for a new Horizon ca. 1976, after driving his new car I felt he got the worst of the deal.

    The torque steer was so bad it nearly ripped my arm off when I punched while making a left which was odd because it didn't really have any torque.

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

  • berriberri Member Posts: 10,165
    Those bugs were popular for a long time for a good reason. I think government safety and EPA stuff is what finally got to them.
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    Torsion bar versus full coil suspension?

    Yeah, that could be it...the Catalina has coils all around, while the NYers have torsion bars up front and leaf springs in the back. It makes for a bit of an odd match though, that the car that's supposed to be sporty bounces around, while the one that's supposed to be a luxury car ends up with a rough ride. :confuse:
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    I'm not sure I really WANT to know how many Omni fans are out there. :surprise:
  • garv214garv214 Member Posts: 162
    It might have been a T-Rex. I saw it from the side/rear, but the green one has the profile and the high rear tail light. I will have to read up a bit on it. Sorry about the late post, work has been a bit busy today... :cry:
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,419
    Speaking of the Allante, I saw one of those this evening. A red one, black soft top, I assume it was an earlier model as it had kind of plain wheels.

    Those cars still make me think of Kelly Bundy.

    I also saw a later/facelift Porsche 944.

    Maybe I got caught in a slight 1989 time warp.
  • kenmore63kenmore63 Member Posts: 3
    Remember the ol' '80's chargers? Do those fit into the omnirizon family? I saw one done up like the general lee once.

    Also, a couple weeks ago, I saw a hyundai pony that was in better condition than I remember them being 10 years ago. I gotta tell you, I was in aw.
  • kenmore63kenmore63 Member Posts: 3
    Ooooh!! What about the el-camino-izm version of the omnirizon family? What was it, the Rampage? I'll be a fan of one of those too.
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    Yeah, those little Chargers were based on the Omni/Horizon. The Plymouth version was called Turismo. They started life as the Omni/024 and Horizon/TC3, or something like that. IIRC, they came out for 1979, a year after the Omni/Horizon.

    And yeah, the little trucklet version was called the Rampage. I don't think there was a Plymouth version of that, though. My mechanic has one that he's trying to sell. I'm not trying to advertise for him, but here's a link to it if anyone wants to see. I think it's a bit funny that one of the pictures he took of it, in a parking lot, is near a "no dumping" sign! :P
  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,356
    Not a bad looking deal for $3,200, with all that work done. Heck, if it was a 5 speed, I might be tempted to get it as a run around spare car/utility unit!

    Could also have been a unique 1st car for my son. At least he wouldn't be able to violate the 1 passenger rule.

    2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.

  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,419
    My sister's first car was a Rampage, my dad bought it for her out of an estate around 1997 or so. It was a nice 60K mile 1983 model with the matching canopy, and a 5-speed. I think he paid $1500 for it, and she had it for a couple years. I do remember something about the fuel delivery on the car could be finicky, and my dad had to work on it for her several times, one incident I remember was in a snowstorm.

    She traded it on her first "new" car, a Ford Contour, and one of the salesmen wanted it for himself, so she was happy to get the $1500 back. No harm done. The Contour, however, was not treated very well, and the car made this known. By 2004 it was a heap, she got $500 trade in on it (with like 160K miles I'll admit) on a new Focus which has had 100K miles with virtually no problems.
  • bumpybumpy Member Posts: 4,425
    Corvette convertible riding around today; sounded like an old truck. :(

    The old guy and his wife had the top up, even though it was perfect top-down weather. I guess they didn't want to listen to it either. :P
  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,670
    '56 Mercedes 300SL...that's an interesting, if bizarre, solution to the perennial question "how will I fit my golf clubs in that sportscar".

    C'mon golfers, they're sports cars, not golf carts! ;)

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

  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    AMC Matador BarTHEYlona -- looks like somebody built it out of Legos (tm). What a styling mess.

    78 Buick Regal -- Ah, it's ready for 24" rims. Good, very good. 22"s are way too small.

    79 Fleetwood Brougham El Supremo --Always wondered what it would be like to drive Mom's sofa. ...at least no landau bars or red velvet brocade.

    78 Chrysler Woody ---didn't quite cash in on the woody mystique, did it? Very poor showing, even for eBay. People must not like these very much. Seems like a harmless car to me.

    77 Dodge Monaco Crestwood Wagon --always wondered what the best one in the world was worth---now I know. Might be a useful vehicle for someone.

    56 Gullwing---well it sure has all the goodies that SL freaks slobber over---I sure as hell hope the "inspector" knew what he was doing....PS: dirty secret---the roadster version is a way nicer car to drive.

    60 Olds -- $18K for a 4door 60 Olds? Well I never. Yeah, it IS like new but this is not a terribly attractive automobile. Might work in the "freak show" category. You don't see 'em much anymore.

    41 pontiac 4door -- asking $27000? Lots o' luck. And it's a 6 cylinder besides. Try about $15K and learn your lesson. I bet the restorer laughed all the way to the bank. Bizarre. What can I say?

    34 BSA -- I'm going to watch this item--I'm very curious what it will bid to--haven't got a clue. I'd love to have this ugly mutt. Looks like a ....Ford...engine?

    Ah, a Stutz Blackhawk V1 -- terrorized London in the 1940s.

    2005 Maybach Lemon Buy Back --- well I'm sure Ed's Conoco could square this away. No worries.
  • hpmctorquehpmctorque Member Posts: 4,600
    I like the '78 Lebaron T & C and the '59 Coronet.

    That '41 Pontiac is okay to look at, but very unsatisfying to drive. It belongs in a musum.

    As for the Stutz, well, I'm glad I had digested my dinner before I viewed it.
  • xrunner2xrunner2 Member Posts: 3,062
    Speaking of the Allante, I saw one of those this evening. A red one, black soft top, I assume it was an earlier model as it had kind of plain wheels.

    Those cars still make me think of Kelly Bundy.


    That is Allante's only real claim to fame and will be main thing that people remember about it in years to come. A good trivia question at parties.
  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,723
    lots of stuff today!
    70 or so blue cougar with Maine dealer plates on it.
    a new painted beige bug.
    a 70 or so, black falcon coupe with a transplanted 428, including shaker intake.
    nice late 60's white with black MGB.
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,419
    For some reason, that episode has always lived in my head

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8t5CabISxM
  • toomanyfumestoomanyfumes Member Posts: 1,019
    Parked across the street from my house, a Ford Escort GT, around a 1985, in good shape, white. Actually not a bad looking car for the era.
    2012 Mustang Premium, 2013 Lincoln MKX Elite, 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander.
  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,356
    at the HS where my son had a drumline show today. Burgandy over tan. COnvertible with the top down. Looked like a 68 or 69 (pretty sure it was a 1st gen?) Super clean looking. Just a nice, stylish car.

    2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.

  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,419
    Today saw a few 60s Porsches, an Avanti II (I think the one my fintail shared a garage with), a sequential signal Cougar, a couple early Mustangs, a ca. 73 Buick convertible, a couple R107s, a mint late C140 CL500 going about 10 in a 30, and a pristine red on red 62 Corvette, top down.

    I also saw this beast, parked with a for sale sign in the window. I guess this is a 57, no info was on the sign other than phone number. I got out and looked at it...it was very dirty, but actually appeared to be in excellent condition. No rust that I could see, almost no body damage at all. Glass was all good, and the interior looked excellent. The car had a layer of dust and grime on everything - it had 1973 registration stickers on the license plates, so I am assuming it was in longterm storage. This would be an easy project for someone who wants a gigantic and somewhat odd looking car.

    image

    image
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,676
    >at the HS where my son had a drumline show

    Do they compete in the WGI circuit with Nationals in Dayton last weekend?

    The car is a 1957. The sedan faux hardtops aren't worth as much when refurbished to my thinking as real hardtops would be. Rust problems were above the headlights where salts and goop could collect and then the rocker panels.

    That grill doesn't look quite the same as a photo on hubcapcafe.
    1957 Mercury

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,356
    idfferent circuit, but they did take a trip to Dayton a few years ago (from NJ) to watch the show. They might have performed too at one point, but that was before our time.

    2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.

  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    I like that '81 New Yorker. Even though I normally despise brown, I like that two-tone coloring. Evidently that thing's also a 5th Ave edition. I thought it might have been, because of the fake vent on the fender and the wire hubcaps, but the cloth interior threw me off. I'd never seen a '79-81 5th Ave in anything but leather.

    Judging from the question and answers section, there's one or two other R-body huggers out there besides me. :P
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    Heck, I really like that white 1979 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham!
  • jrosasmcjrosasmc Member Posts: 1,711
    I wanted to ask you just a few questions about your Park Avenue - 1) What year is it, and 2) Did you pay less than $1000 for it?

    The reason I'm asking is because I spotted a '90 LeSabre for sale down the street from where I live. The paint is a little faded on the roof and hood but it seems to be in decent condition for its age. I'm going to go and take a look at it this evening - seller wants $800 for it. I haven't seen the mileage yet but I am familiar with the venerable 3800 V-6s.
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    The Park Avenue is a 1988 and I paid $1,250 for it almost five years ago.
  • hpmctorquehpmctorque Member Posts: 4,600
    You beat the system with that Park Avenue, in terms of value for the money.
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    Yep, that Park Ave was truly a car that was outstanding in its field. Sorry, bad pun I know, and I've probably used it to death, but I couldn't resist. :P
  • kyfdxkyfdx Moderator Posts: 265,778
    I see one of these about once per month now... I don't know where they've been hiding for the last ten years... Lucky to see one per year before now...

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  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,419
    Yeah, a 4 door post isn't as good as a HT, especially a Turnpike Cruiser and all of its weirdness. It could be a cheap way to enter the hobby though, if the owner doesn't crazy money for it. I saw no evidence of rust, and the interior condition made me believe the car was never exposed to the elements.

    A good detail job, some new tires, and underhood renovations, and it might be a nice car.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,419
    It's amazing what a missing hubcap can do to a car! :P
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,419
    I still see a couple 5 door Camrys in my area now and then.

    Tons of the third generation Accord have survived too, yesterday I saw a black 2 door model that looked to be in excellent condition.
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    It's amazing what a missing hubcap can do to a car!

    Yeah, I need to get on that. :blush: I found a hubcap in my grandmother's garage to throw on it for the meantime, and it's a Chrysler hubcap. I think it came off a '71 Town & Country that Granddad found for my uncle back in the early 80's. It doesn't match, but looks better than no hubcap!

    I've checked eBay from time to time, to see if I can find a match, but no luck so far. There's a hubcap that looks similar, that was used on the Diplomat/LeBaron, but it's a cheaper looking hubcap, and a bit smaller. It's still a 15" hubcap, but it leaves part of the metal wheel exposed. The stock hubcaps cover the whole wheel, which at a quick glance gives the illusion that the wheels are bigger than they really are. They also cover stuff like the weights they use for balancing...which might explain why they pop off so easily!

    Maybe I'll find a decent replacement for it at the Mopar show in Carlisle this summer.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,419
    I am sure it is a bad design, like you say, having the weights under the cap seems to be asking for trouble. With the short run of those R-bodies, that has to be hard part to find.

    Maybe you could find a set of the "sport" wheels from that era, they don't look bad, but they'd cost a lot more than a hubcap.

    I remember on my first car, a 66 Galaxie, it had the factory caps with a plastic center medallion. On a couple of these the center had gone missing, so the previous owner kept them in the trunk and put flat style caps from what I think was an early 70s full sized Ford on the car. They didn't look bad, but three of them had a black center, and one had a center with lettering. As I am really picky about things like that, one of the first things I did to the car was to paint the cap to match.
  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,670
    Speaking of bad designs,I saw one of those misbegotten post-'74 Mustangs, in fact I saw it twice so perhaps it's a daily driver, it was a top-of-the line model with alloys, whitewalls and a half vinyl roof, one of many 'Stangs fitted out as a "baby Thunderbird"
    throughout the course of Mustang history.

    It might have been a Mustang Ghia, it looked much like this '77, give or take a dent or two>image

    I also saw a Toyota Paseo in pretty good shape with a hood scoop and a TRD sticker, it fairly scooted by me.

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

  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,419
    Today I saw another Allante, red again, this one with chrome wheels. It looked pretty immaculate.

    Also an 80-83 Civic wagon.
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    ...here's one I spotted on the way back to Philly from Carlisle - that beige 1988 Chevrolet Caprice we saw at the show, except it was broken-down on the side of the PA Turnpike about halfway before the Morgantown exit with a plastic bag sticking out of the driver's side window as an S.O.S. signal! Good thing none of us bought this one!!!! :P
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    Hopefully it was nothing too major, and easily repairable. I've always been leery at the idea of buying an old car that hasn't been used much, and suddenly pressing it into a long highway trip that could stress it out. I guess I've been lucky so far, though. When I bought the DeSoto, it made the ~90 mile trip back from York, PA, just fine. My '79 5th Ave came from near Cumberland, MD, about 155 miles away, while the LeMans came from Cincinatti, about 500 miles! The one that really scared me though, was the '79 NYer I bought back in 2007. After I bought it, I drove it by Grbeck's house so he could see it. We decided to go out to lunch in it, and it acted like it wanted to die, right in front of his house!

    Luckily it started, and we risked driving it out to the diner for lunch. In my mind though, I kept thinking okay, is this still walking distance in case it strands us at the diner? :blush: Fortunately, it started just fine at the diner, and made the ~115 mile trip home just fine, and behaved until one day it left me stranded at work.
  • terminatorexterminatorex Member Posts: 1
    (MILLION DOLLAR PLUS HOME) while landscaping an elderly and very rich ladys yard.... i recommend some flowers that she did not like...she quickly chewed me up and said money isnt an issue and quit offering HER cheapy ,ugly flowers :confuse: ....i had no answer and was put in my place quickly....CAN ANYONE TELL ME WHY SHE IS DRIVING A MINT CONDITION FORD GRANADA (70S) AND IS SLAMMIMG ME ON MONEY AND WHAT LOOKS GOOD!?
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