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

texases

Followed a 67-68 Mustang for a block this morning, V8/AT/AC for sale for $8k. They had put in sequential signals (not the wide Shelby, just the stock lights).

Mr_Shiftright

That would be market correct pricing for a '68 Mustang coupe in clean "driver" condition---a #3 car, "average" or "good". A few chips, a tiny rip here or there, possibly a small ding, but nice paint, runs wells, maybe needs a good detail and two tires.

texases

I didn't get close enough to tell, but from 100' it looked fine! Stock wheel covers, nothing overdone. And it had a nice rumble as it accelerated away after turning.

Mr_Shiftright

Oh, a "100-footer" eh? Shoot, I myself look mighty good from 100 feet away! :P

halsworthy

Like it, its what is missing from all modern cars!:)

fintail

I've spent almost the past week in Manhattan - the environment must really destroy older cars, as there is almost nothing left from before the 90s. In 5 days I remember seeing just a few old cars - an early Seville, rusty MB W126, a beautiful green Porsche 356 cabrio driving through Central Park, and a pristine silver 560SEC parked near Wall St. Also odd but not as old, saw a mint looking C140 with period Brabus wheels. Virtually no other old American cars on the road, no old Japanese cars. Different world than the west coast.

texases

Remember that import sales on the east coast were much lower than the west coast during that period, so there were fewer Japanese cars to start with.

ab348

This is interesting, a '70 Polara Custom that is claimed to be all original in in good overall condition. Personally I don't see the level of perfection in the pictures that the seller claims, and the tires need to go along with the steering wheel cover. The paint color does it no favors either. But it exhibits what I always loved about this era Chrysler products, the neat 2-tone interiors. Will be interesting to see what it brings.

fintail

Good point...the oldest Camcords I noticed were from the 90s, which is when they really hit their stride.

I also noticed the surviving MB W140 and W210 cars were all pretty trashed, some ratty looking period BMWs too. Not as many Lexus as out west as well.

explorerx4

Manhattan is so expensive, it's probably not worth it to keep an average older car.

ab348

Sorry - I somehow managed to miss posting the address. D'oh!

It would have helped to give a link

lemko

...a dark brown Mercedes W126 going west on Levick Street near Tabor Road in NE Philly in average condition. Even a little beat, that car still looks up-to-date.

andre1969

I'm not that crazy about white normally, but somehow I think it looks great on that '70 Polara. I really am beginning to appreciate those fuselage cars more and more. That Polara has a tough, no-nonsense, muscular look about it, something that was really beginning to disappear from big cars by that time. I guess its closest competition would have been the Pontiac Catalina and the Mercury Monterrey. The Catalina by that time was going for a bit of a pretentious, neoclassic look, as it tried to adopt that Grand Prix/personal luxury coupe style, while the Monterrey was still going for a bit of that "baby Lincoln" look...again, a bit pretentious and fussy.

Love that two-tone green interior, as well! You can see a bit of the cheapening, with the hard plastic here and there, but I like the fact that they were still giving you a few extra gauges, rather than idiot lights.

uplanderguy

That is a nice Polara. I appreciate them too, as it seems like you sure don't see many around.

One thing I thought GM started getting better at around '70 or so, is the integrated armrest/door panel styling. I remember my friend's parents '72 Chrysler T&C still having those bolt-on armrests and a window crank you could see a screw head in. That said, Chrysler hung onto gauges longer than anybody else, and supposedly their TorqueFlite automatic was the best around.

andre1969

That is a nice Polara. I appreciate them too, as it seems like you sure don't see many around.

I usually see a few of them at the Mopar show in Carlisle, although it seems like Furys, Newports, and New Yorkers are much more common. But, at the same time, at the GM show there's usually not a huge turnout of full-sized cars from that era, although I do remember last year, this blustery old dude with a Hoveround had a dark green '69 Catalina, and parked next to me. I cringed every time he maneuvered that Hoveround between his car and my '67 Catalina, but thankfully, he didn't hit it!

And, at the Ford show, there's not really a huge turnout of big Fords and Mercurys from that timeframe, either. I guess a combination of poorer quality, and less desireability in general tended to cut a swath across all of the Big Three around that timeframe. Seems like in general, it was the pricier cars...Lincolns, Cadillacs, Electras, Imperials, Electras, 98's, Marquis, New Yorker, etc that had better survival rates. My guess is that these cars were bought new by people who were well-off and took care of them, and on the collector car market, once you get into the later 60's and the 70's, it seems like the people who do want a big boat want as much luxury as they can buy.

omarman

Oh I like this one -- especially in white. Hope it doesn't get sold off to buh donk land. Andre needs this car. Or it needs him...something.

lemko

Neat car, but it could do without those stupid letter tires. It would look a lot nicer with some narrow stripe tires.

andre1969

Those tires actually don't bother me, but then I must confess I'm guilty of committing this crime...


I hope to have this rectified soon, though. This summer I want to finally get some new tires mounted on those Dodge Mirada alloys I bought at the Mopar show back in 2009. Probably won't have it ready in time for this year's Mopar show, though. :sick:

With the Mirada rims, it'll look like this:

fintail

I am shocked at how many Trabis and Wartburgs are still on the road in eastern areas of Germany. These cars are all 20+ years old now, and many have survived - some weird sentimentality as these things were not built to last. The noise and smoke can have a little charm of its own, and you can pick one up for very little. For an around town car, might be semi tolerable.

fintail

On your car, those wheels and tires make it look mean. It kind of works.

Will you run whitewalls or blackwalls with the Mirada wheels? Whitewalls would probably be period correct, blackwalls might look better though.

andre1969

Yeah, and I'll admit I do kinda like that rednecked-up tough look! Here's a couple pics I took about 5 years, when I had the 5th Ave and the Catalina, nose-to-nose, in the garage...



The 5th Ave definitely looks tougher than the Catalina, and in that second pic, it looks as if it's scared it back into a corner! To be fair, the Catalina would probably look a bit beefier today though. These pics were taken when it still had its 14" tires, which were an odd 215/75/R14 size that's hard to find nowadays. Now it has the wider Rally 2 wheels, with 225/70/R15 tires, which really help give it a more sure-footed look.

When I put the Mirada wheels on, my first choice is going to be thin whitewalls, if I can still find them. AND, if they're not too expensive. But I'll be happy with some blackwalls, too.

uplanderguy

Nice garage, Andre! I'm jealous! In the winters, my Studebakers had to 'winter' elsewhere, and in the summer they shared garage and driveway space with our three daily drivers. My '64 is already gone and my '63 Daytona Skytop will be gone in a couple weeks...same guy in Australia has bought both.

I'll look for a clean, solid, reliable later Lark 2-door, any engine, to replace them with and hopefully have some $$ leftover!

andre1969

Thanks...wish the garage still looked like that, though! That was taken perhaps a couple months after the concrete floor had cured, and I had started putting that floor paint on. It was supposed to be a 4-car garage, 40x24 feet, but now there's barely enough room to get three in there. It's amazing how when you build more space, suddenly a bunch of stuff materializes, seemingly out of thin air, to fill it!

When the DeSoto finally comes home, that 5th Ave is going to lose its garage space. I had been thinking about building a carport on the back to house it, but now I'm thinking more about something like this:

fintail

I didn't realize the colors were so similar.

Those rally wheels on the Pontiac sure made a difference, went from grandpa to pseudo-sporty in one step.

uplanderguy

The '67 was a good restyle...in fact, the '67 and '68's are the last big Pontiacs I like a lot. And I bet that cream color was the best-selling color for those New Yorkers! I knew a girl in college whose parents had one that color, and I seem to remember more than one in that color even in our little town of about 7,500 then.

uplanderguy

I've only seen two movies in a year, and my wife and I went to see 'Super 8' last night. It's set in 1979. While I thought the movie was a dud (we liked the ending credits and 'outtake'-style home movie they showed during it, best), Spielberg did a great job with period cars. Most were late '60's to late '70's and I never saw a single, solitary car newer than '79 (I usually can and complain about it!). My favorite car was the stoner's dark green '72 Pontiac Catalina two-door hardtop, in nice/original condition. Anybody see the movie?

stickguy

I saw it, and of course liked the cars. I also liked the movie too though.

should have stayed to watch the credits I guess, but my daughter really had to go to the bathroom by then!

I liked the yellow Buick GS that was featured. ratty, but I liked it.

uplanderguy

Here's another Vega that's amazingly original and solid:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1976-CHEV-/220799283171?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=it- em3368a9afe3

That bodystyle, the notchback or sedan as it was earlier called, is the blandest bodystyle, but had surprising rear seat legroom and trunk space compared to other cars its size. Nice original Custom interior too.

Both that I've posted here in the last month were '76 and '77's, which may bear out that those last couple model years at least were better rustproofed from the factory.

uplanderguy

I might add, I think the seller's smoking something for his asking price. That said, I've been surprised many times when looking on eBay at Vegas, that nice, original, non-Cosworth ones can bring as much as a nice Cosworth (many more of them were saved). Still, for this bodystyle he's way out-of-line.

fintail

ROFL, yeah an "evap core" for a Vega, I am sure I can run down to my local Schucks and find one of those. Crackipe price, but I will respect the overall preservation of that slice of 70s pimptastic kitsch - the color combo and that top push it over the edge. If I was going to chase a Vega, I'd want a wagon.

Today's odd sighting here - Ferrari F40, seriously. Not something you see every day - and it was driving in normal traffic. Also saw a SS 454 badged ~70 Chevelle, but I can't tell if those are real or not.

stickguy

that I have seen in the past.

nice silver/blue Chevy II Nova. Probably about a '66 I think. Little modded, but pretty clean.

and a late 50's Ford. 2 tone red and white. Again lightly modded (nice rumble, but looks pretty stock otherwise). Lives near me, so I see it drive through the neighborhood on occasion.

And yesterday I past a chrome bumper MGB. Looked freshly restored, and probably better than new.

toomanyfumes

Haven't seen Super 8, but that bugs me too when the cars in a movie are newer than the time it's set in. Another thing that bugs me is when they show a shot of a car driving and the shifter's in park. I see that all the time.

lemko

1950 Lincoln Cosmopolitan with a sign in the passenger side window "NOT FOR SALE" and a nice black 1961 Plymouth Valiant that was for sale.

imidazol97

I had no idea what a 1950 Lincoln Cosmopolitan looks like, so I'll share what I found in case I'm not the only one...

fintail

Those Cosmos were weird looking, I am surprised anyone would want it.

Today's odd spotting - 5 door Camry. I think they all came to the Seattle area to die.

Also saw something weird I couldn't identify. I was thinking a Mosler, but it doesn't match the images I can find. It was a very low supercar kind of thing, reminded me of a lower modified Ferrari 360, and it said "GT" on the rear. Any ideas anyone?

kyfdx

Ford GT?

Though, I doubt you wouldn't recognize one of those...

fintail

Yeah, I'd recognize that

I have no idea what it was, which is killing me :shades:

ab348

You think a '50 Cosmo was weird, find a photo of a '49. It had more of a frowning mustache grille and was a very unhappy looking car. Not one of Bob Gregorie's best designs.

halsworthy

Stunning car, great location and pictures. Nice one!

berri

Those Cosmos were weird looking, I am surprised anyone would want it.

I think you have to look at it in the context of 49/50 design. From that perspective, I don't think it was all that bad, especially compared to the boring Mopars at the time. Not sure its a classic though. Mercury probably pulled it off better. I do like the color and the backdrop in the pix.

fintail

Yeah the Mercury of the time was much nicer looking, somehow making slab sided bloat work.

Today's oddities - DeLorean, Jag Mk IX or so - kind of a Fiesta eggplant color on wide whites, cruising along, R107 SL with the top up on a sunny day

texases

A nice looking Jag XJS convertible, driving under its own power...

fintail

Ooh a Sterling just drove by...it too moving under its own power, the British wiring having not yet betrayed the Japanese mechanicals.

Oh yeah, also saw a 5000CS Quattro wagon this morning, pearl white, looked to be in excellent condition driven by an older man...but I am sure a problem is just around the corner.

Mr_Shiftright

You can still get a remarkably good price for a 5000 Quattro wagon---they make outstanding ski cars. I wouldn't mind having one (since my good friend owns a Porsche-Audi repair shop). :P

My only real complaint about 80s Audis is that they all smell like burnt electrical wiring inside. Why is that? One theory is the "horsehair" in the upholstery (or whatever they use in there)

texases

I know BMW stuck with horsehair for a surprisingly long time, into the 70s, at least. The 1911 Regal my dad restored had horsehair, too. Some things just work, I guess!

fintail

The seats in my fintail are stuffed with what looks like laminated straw...I suppose not much more modern than horsehair. Or maybe it is horsehair?

I'd be scared to keep one of those old 5000s in daily service - there has to be a few reasons why they are so rare today compared to period MB and BMW. Parts supply can't do it all.

stickguy

I just assumed it was from the burnt wiring.

Mr_Shiftright

You'd think, but Audis, in spite of all the bad things they do, didn't catch fire like Jaguars.

Oh, I forgot to add that you want a 5-SPEED Audi Quattro 5000 wagon, not an automatic.

The reason they are rare is that they didn't make many of them.

Trust me, people will drag these out of the bottom of a lake and fix them up.

fintail

Went out for an unplanned errand this sunny day, saw a few more oddities. Red and white 55 Nomad on kind of dorky wheels, 2x 70s Corvettes, MB W116 in brown, and a red Holden GTO.

jrosasmc

I recently saw these on Ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/One-Kind-Renault-Alliance-5-Door-Imaculate-/22077- 9306950?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item336778dfc6

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/RENAULT-CONVERTIBLE-340-ORIGINAL-MILES-SHOWROOM-N- EW-/180663449770?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item2a106178aa

All I have to say is - to the folks who bought these cars, good luck. My uncle had an '86 Alliance at one time, and I remember my dad leaning on it ever so slightly, and causing a dent in the flimsy sheet metal.