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

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  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,423
    edited April 2010
    A few odd oldies on display at the Vancouver Auto Show, most unusual this top of the line Duesenberg (in a very 70s-80s restoration paint scheme):

    image

    image
  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516
    Nice, I was going to post it up too :P

    2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX

  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    from which we get the American expression "that's a real doozy"....something "over the top".
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,423
    So what's something like that worth? IIRC it was a later model, maybe a 35...you can tell by the modernized fenders. Dual cowl torpedo has to be desirable.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Presuming there are "no stories" attached to the car (re-bodied or recreated body from scratch, or engine from one car, frame from another, etc. etc.) I'd guess roughly 1.3 million bucks.
  • texasestexases Member Posts: 11,107
    I have to think that it's at the absolute top end of pre-war cars, assuming it's all correct and documented. Can you name a more important/valuable car of that era? I can't, certainly as far as US models. Maybe a few MBs, RRs, and Bentleys... :confuse:
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,423
    Yeah, there was no history given on the car other than to name what it is. Who knows. That's a little higher on the price than I had thought.

    And indeed, it's among the best of the best pf prewar cars, only equaled by the Euro exotics - as it too was an exotic of its time. American cars still had a ton of cachet then.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    That Dual Cowl Phaeton is probably *the* most desirable of all the Duesies.

    But yeah, you can't get any higher in value for an American car than one of those I don't expect. It has it all: limited production, incredible prestige, technically advanced, gorgeous good looks.

    God would drive a Duesenberg I think.
  • euphoniumeuphonium Member Posts: 3,425
    Not a Duzzie would He drive for scripture tells us he rides a Colt. Luke 19:29-37 ;)
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    God would drive a Duesenberg I think.

    Back in the old days, He was a Mopar man. In fact, he gave Adam and Eve a ride in his Fury once.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    edited April 2010
    And for anyone who believed in Zeus, then it would be an older Thunderbird :P
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    Well, maybe it was a Fury VIP. :P
  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,723
    edited April 2010
    or at least a Fury III (father, son, holy spirit). ;)
    i hear before I saw, a 69 malibu. lots of power but worn out shocks, at least that's how it looked from the way it was wallowing around under power.
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,423
    Somehow I don't see him in this:

    image

    ;)
  • ghuletghulet Member Posts: 2,564
    edited April 2010
    .....Lord, I forgot that 5-door Colts (right?) were even built. Yikes.

    Twin bro and I went way out to Auntie Babysitter's house (65 miles each way) for Easter din-din, the ONLY intersting car I saw the entire trip (both ways) was......(Andre you'll dig this.....a '67 Catalina convertible, seriously......red, black top and interior, pretty minty-fresh looking, regular PMD hubcaps, extremely stock, VERY pretty, I must say).

    Coolest thing, actually was seeing my family (damn, my 'little cousins' for whom I used to babysit, now have teenage kids; ugh) and my youngest aunt (49, struggling through advanced breast cancer) rode her Harley in ~150 miles each way. Kinda cool.
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    ...dark maroon 1967 Chevrolet Camaro SS with a 396 V-8, black vinyl top, and tiny dog dish hubcaps on Rte 273 West in Newark, Delaware.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,423
    The 5 door is dorkier than the 3 door, in the case of the Colt. And the Turbo 2 door versions were relatively cool for the time. Every now and then a 2 door survives out here, haven't seen a 4 door in eons.

    This morning's sighting, a late W140 S600, dark grey, very clean looking...like maintaining a house, in vehicle form.
  • omarmanomarman Member Posts: 2,702
    Coolest thing, actually was seeing my family (damn, my 'little cousins' for whom I used to babysit, now have teenage kids; ugh) and my youngest aunt (49, struggling through advanced breast cancer) rode her Harley in ~150 miles each way. Kinda cool.

    Very cool. I'm not hearing a lot of Harleys in or near the neighborhood so far. It's been plenty warm enough for bikes but not so many out of storage yet I guess.

    Sorry to hear about her cancer struggle-I'm assuming "advanced" to mean stage 3 or 4, where the percentages for 5-yr life expectancy really tip over.

    Most people feel a depressing loss of control in their lives while receiving intensive medical care. One of the best days which my wife had just before chemo was driving herself to a clinic for some instruction about a procedure. And I guess it just made her feel better to drive the car, play the music loud, and talk on the cell phone!

    God bless your aunt with the bike. 150 miles each way on a Harley is a challenge by itself - even with ear plugs!

    Right now the few things I notice with loud pipes and V8 rumbling turns out to be 90% pickups and 10% late model Mustangs. Nothing obscure to spot around here for months.
    A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing.
  • euphoniumeuphonium Member Posts: 3,425
    It is more likely to see Him in the Colt than the Pope for humbleness is one of his features.

    Currently the most appropriate vehicle for His Holyness would be the Honda as the church is trying for accord.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,423
    The various Popes seems to have gone the MB route for some time now...not so humble...then again, it's also a taxi brand, so maybe it's supposed to be something for all people :confuse:
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    I think the Vatican had a couple of customized Chryslers back in the 1950s.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    edited April 2010
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    The pope even got an Enzo from Ferrari !!
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,423
    Just saw an oddball...BMW E34 5er wagon
  • ghuletghulet Member Posts: 2,564
    edited April 2010
    ....on today's walk to the market, I saw (well, heard it first) an '80s Volvo 740GLE, in decent shape cosmetically, but with super-loud-squeaky brakes and ZERO (not even the third) functioning brake lights, and temp tags. I have the feeling the new owner might not know what they've gotten into (I know the feeling).

    Also, a mid-90s Toyota 4Runner, with the standard rusted-out back bumper, which wouldn't be so remarkable except that it was a four-cylinder stick.

    And that was exotic as it got today, and not planning on leaving the house any time soon (I had an insane weekend--my roommate was on Spring Break last week, and our house resembled an Acapulco motel room party--except with 30-to-40 year-olds--from Thursday night on, and thus am burnt out, and need to basically power-wash every surface in the place besides). :P
  • hpmctorquehpmctorque Member Posts: 4,600
    edited April 2010
    "Just saw an oddball...BMW E34 5er wagon."

    It looks like 5er wagons will become even more rare. Just read the 5-Series wagon will be discontinued in the U.S. when the new generation 5er is introduced next month. The Volvo, too. Not enough demand. Most wagon buyers prefer crossovers in this class. The 3-Series wagon will continue to be sold here, though, but I wonder whether that'll remain in the BMW U.S. lineup in the next generation.

    Don't know if these changes apply to Canada too, or just the U.S.
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    Here's a link about Ghia Imperials built for the Vatican and Saudi Royal Family:

    Ghia Story
  • texasestexases Member Posts: 11,107
    About the wagons, I think Volvo's making a big mistake dropping theirs, even if the don't sell well. It's like when Saab dropped the hatchback - that was just a 'Saab thing', like wagons are (were) to Volvo. A major loss of identity, to me.

    Not the same with BMW, but it is a shame. And I imagine the 3 wagon will be gone with the new '3 GT' I hear will be coming.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,423
    I guess with the Ghia connection it makes sense some might end up at the Vatican.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,423
    And on top of that, we don't get the W204 C-class wagon, and I don't know if the W212 E is coming to NA either.

    It's funny how hard the GT people work to avoid the term "hatchback".
  • ghuletghulet Member Posts: 2,564
    edited April 2010
    Ugh, I totally agree with you re the removal of Volvo wagons, texases. I mean, they've kinda been THE (proper) wagon to have for the past 25 years, displacing big, American, wood-paneled things as the mom-mobile. Of course, in that time, along came minivans, then SUVs. I do see some merit in the likes of the XC70/XC90s, but when it comes down to it, the V70 does (and hauls) 90%, but aren't as big and costly as a condo and don't use as much gas as an old Cadillac. Maybe because of where and how I live, I guess I'm just still shocked at how many people are willing and/or able to justify $50k on a rolling entertainment center only to have juice-box mixed with animal cracker slime all over them (nothing against kids, honestly). Of course, in an era with $35k Accord wagon-monstrosities and (just saw this on the Edmunds SUV/wagon comparo) a $48k+ Toyota Highlander Hybrid (that used more fuel than ANY other vehicle in the test), maybe those aren't big bucks any more :confuse:

    I'd think in this economy, carmakers would emphasize a less-is-more approach. Of course, the profit margins are smaller further down, so maybe I shouldn't be surprised.

    And, damn those BMW GT things are huh-ugggly, I really hope those aren't all we're left with.
  • martianmartian Member Posts: 220
    Now that Chinese automaker Geeley has bout Volvo, I wonder how the marque will fare? Part of me says that Geeley will keep Volvo production in Sweden-but isn't the acquisition ultimately about making Volvos in cheap-labor China?
    I wonder how well a Chinese Volvo will do in the USA?
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,423
    edited April 2010
    A Chinese Volvo will fail, I would wager a huge sum of money on that. Swedish-ness is really all Volvo has to differentiate itself. Lose that, and there's no reason anyone would buy one. Design must remain Swedish and production European.
  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,360
    Well, just like subaru, they made an AWD version of the wagon, and jacked it up a little to become an "SUV" and it outsold the FWD model 10-1. The XC70 is just an AWD V70, so they really only discontinued the FWD varient. It is still a wagon.

    And from what I read, Geely will keep Volvo swedish (production too). But, they will start making versions in China for the chinese market. That, and they want the technology (and of course the cashe of the brand name).

    Will they someday try to sneak in CHinese made models to Europe and the US? Possibly, but probably not in the near future.

    COntrary to initial fears, Ford was actually good for Volvo, and they didn't lose and volvoness.

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

  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516
    I liked the A4 Avant they had at the auto show. Super nice and I'd take it over the Q5 any day as it had the same price, more room, and looked cooler. :shades:

    2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX

  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516
    edited April 2010
    A Chinese Volvo will fail, I would wager a huge sum of money on that. Swedish-ness is really all Volvo has to differentiate itself. Lose that, and there's no reason anyone would buy one. Design must remain Swedish and production European.

    It might fail with traditional Volvo buyers, but here in Vancouver for example 90% of newer Volvos are driven by Chinese. So if Volvo can retain and grow that client base, they might do ok.

    That is unless the Chinese here stop buying Volvos because it's no longer European. :confuse:

    2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX

  • texasestexases Member Posts: 11,107
    Those Audi wagons are the best-looking of all to me, wish I fit!
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,423
    I think Asian consumers have some respect for European makes, based on cachet and heritage. The Japanese love German upper end cars, and the day I was at the AMG factory, there was a group of mainland Chinese taking cars out for test drives. I don't think they'd have been so enthusiastic if they had been on the outskirts of Shanghai instead of Stuttgart. That "no longer European" idea is what I think would kill the marque.

    I think the heavy Swedish/modern design element of Volvo keeps it alive, it's like the car version of Danish modern furniture. The people who buy that don't buy WalMart material.
  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516
    The people who buy that don't buy WalMart material.

    So true. It'll be interesting to see how this folds out.

    2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX

  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,423
    edited April 2010
    Volvo will be around for a little while, but it will come down to how the Chinese handle this part of the market - a position where they have no experience.

    IMO their best strategy would be to use existing Volvo technology to improve home market products, and use those profits to subsidize the European operation. If the entire deal is looked at only in profit margins, it will fail. Chinese-built and designed Volvos will fail, I have no doubt in the world.

    It would be a shame to see the brand die, but I am not one to complain as I would not vote with my wallet to keep it alive. It's like Saab...some neat cars, but there are no new ones I really want to buy.
  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516
    Although it's impossible to, I try to avoid buying Chinese made products as much as possible. Especially true when it comes to food and baby products. I just don't trust products made in China especially after all the recent lead and tainted milk scandals that happened recently. And it would same with cars. Anything China made to me is synonymous with cheapness, poor quality, and unoriginality (nice way of saying knocked off). I'd buy a Russian Lada over a Chinese made car.

    2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX

  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    I'd get one of those cool Russian pseudo-Packards!
  • texasestexases Member Posts: 11,107
    edited April 2010
    To say nothing of the recent problems with pet food, tooth paste, valves stem failures and tires:sick:
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,423
    I do the same thing. I certainly won't buy Chinese food or toiletries, and when it comes to housewares, I will shop around as much as possible to avoid it. It seems in some areas it is really tough to avoid, but I will pay more to have something from what I see as a better area. I suspect a Lada would hold up better than most of those copycars, too.

    I remember in Europe, almost all cheap small appliances and TVs etc were sourced in the EU, while China dumps junk on NA. What's up with that?
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,423
    And the drywall :sick:
  • euphoniumeuphonium Member Posts: 3,425
    be successful in selling "Vulvas" in Intercourse, PA? Doubt it. :P
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,676
    > "Vulvas" in Intercourse,

    But it should do well in the village of Paradise which is not far from Intercourse.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • fezofezo Member Posts: 10,386
    Funny with that getting us on this topic.

    My old 69 Volvo had the loudest squeak in the brakes no matter what I had done with it. We could get the squeak down for short bits of time but it would always come back.

    I sold it to people who had a house on a lake in the next town. My aunt and uncle had a place on the other side of the lake and cursed my selling it for years because you could hear it coming across the lake.
    2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
  • ghuletghulet Member Posts: 2,564
    edited April 2010
    ....the old 740GLE I saw the other day....I heard it (the brakes squeaking, that is) a block before I saw it (and it had no functioning brake lights whatsoever).

    Now watching one of those 'repo' shows (I mentioned I have too much time on my hands, right?). God, it's depressing. One idiot, a kid of questionable mental stability, clearly, in his 20s, living with his parents, who was having, of all things, a DeLorean repossessed. The next was a drunk, post middle-aged guy in a yellow Prowler with flames, who hit the repo guy over the head with a beer bottle and was promptly arrested for speeding (and I would imagine DUI and assault and battery) thereafter. Aye yi yi.

    Next on will be a doctor having his Cayenne repo'd, apparently. Guess I shouldn't be too bummed about having a cheap car with no payments, eh?
  • bumpybumpy Member Posts: 4,425
    I remember in Europe, almost all cheap small appliances and TVs etc were sourced in the EU, while China dumps junk on NA. What's up with that?

    The EU has their own low-cost formerly-Communist labor pool to slap together cheap junk for them.
This discussion has been closed.