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

lemko

...at "Dear Leader's" funeral:





Also quite a few W126 and older Mercedes:

uplanderguy

The Mark was RWD; the Eldo, FWD. Contrary to today, remember when RWD was considered an anachronism? Caddy had bragging rights that no one else made a V8 FWD car--though that 4.1 wasn't much of a V8!

lemko

That 4.1 wasn't much of an ENGINE! It does, however, make an excellent boat anchor.

explorerx4

What about the 66 Toronado?

fintail

I think the paint variance in that first pic is from a reflection off the side mirror. I can't imagine anyone bothering to fix something like that in the past 15 years or so. Who bought those new, anyway? A diesel Lincoln Continental? With a German sourced engine? Although...had GM used MB diesels, perhaps their entry into the clattering world wouldn't have been such a failure.

I love the North Korean parade, both for the assortment of mourners who are either brainwashed or great actors, and the cars. Don't they blame the USA for everything from power outages to bad weather? Yet look who is leading the procession. Like most dictators, that family had a thing for MB, down to the point where there was a North Korean copy of the W201 (190 series). I present the Kaengsang:

tjc78

I know Caddy had the "benefit" of FWD but even so in the late 80s through 92 I'd be willing to bet the Mark outsold the Eldo.

uplanderguy

You're probably right about the Mark outselling the Eldo "in the late '80's to '92", though I don't know. That's when 'the baby Eldo' was on sale.

I remember looking at a new '86 in a Caddy dealer showroom in Sharon, PA. Geeze, was I disappointed. Even the seats looked uber-thin. Whatever year they stretched the rear quarters a bit, and whenever they started using the 4.5 liter, I always thought a dark green Eldo might make a nice used (excuse me, 'pre-owned' in Cadillac-speak!) car.

andre1969

Whatever year they stretched the rear quarters a bit, and whenever they started using the 4.5 liter, I always thought a dark green Eldo might make a nice used (excuse me, 'pre-owned' in Cadillac-speak!) car.

I don't think they ever did stretch the rear quarter panels on the '86-91 Eldorado, although they did on the Riviera for 1989, and I think the Toronado got it for 1990. Sometime around 1988, maybe 1989, they did give the Eldorado a bit of a "power bulge" in the hood that gave it a bit more presence. And I think it was also 1989 that they started using the 4.5, but not positive on that. I used to have all that stuff memorized, but I've found that, as time goes on, I tend to pull a Ronald Reagan moment from time to time!

Those shrunken '86 E/K bodies were designed for a bleak future with expensive, scarce gasoline and ultra-restrictive fuel economy standards, but by the time they were released, gas was cheap and free-flowing again, and there were enough loopholes to keep the economy standards at bay, so these cars really came out at the wrong time. Plus, once buyers found out they were going to be downsized, they rushed out to buy one of the last '85's, while they could still get one.

Plus, the market was starting to shift, anyway, and coupes were beginning to lose their popularity.

Another problem is that GM launched the N-body Grand Am, Calais, and Somerset Regal coupes the year before, cars that were very similar in style, looked close in size (to my eye, at least, the '86 Eldorado/et al actually looked smaller than they really were), but much less expensive.

tjc78

I think basically once 1986 came Caddy really lost it's way for a while. IMHO the Lincoln lineup really was better than the Cadillac. The Mark was better than the Eldo, the FWD Taurinental introduced in 88 while kinda a POS wasn't any worse than the Deville of the time even with the 3.8 V6. The Town Car was more modern than the Brougham (just got multiport FI) and was very popular. 1992 when the new Seville was introduced was when things started to get a bit better.

The car that Lincoln missed big time with was the Fox based 4dr Continental. Why didn't that ever get the H.O. version of the 5.0? They could have certainly made something semi-sporty or "touring" out of that platform.

uplanderguy

The '86 Eldo taillights I remember being flush in the rear ends of the quarters, when a few years later they got more of a fin-like look which I liked a lot better. Still, very disappointing for an Eldorado.

Mr_Shiftright

I wonder where Beloved Leader got his auto parts?

andre1969

That's right, I had forgotten about the taillight change. And, I just looked it up. Turns out they added 3" to the car, bumping it from around 188" to 191". Turns out it was 1988, and that was also the year they started using the 4.5. More info about it here: http://100megsfree4.com/cadillac/cad1980/cad88e.htm

imidazol97

>I tend to pull a Ronald Reagan moment from time to time!

He was a great leader. The concept of senility was far overplayed by the liberals much as anything about Bush was overplayed--e.g., gas prices being Cheney's and his faults: has anyone complained about gas prices these days being the fault of the Prez wanting higher prices to make it easier to spend money on green energy? :sick:

I always call them Hillary moments because of all her testimony that she couldn't recall information: "I can't recall." :shades:

jdshifty1

I've been reading this thread for years now. I registered today because I'd like to see that post removed. I don't care what some hairlip thinks about Bush, Cheney, Fox News, Hillary's cankles or who this person brands as a "liberal". I came here to think about cars, not listen to some idiot's two dimensional politics.

fintail

Saw a K-car based NYer today, an E28 5er, and early this morning a 65-66 Mustang

explorerx4

Welcome to the discussion and post something about car sales instead of someone else's political views.

fintail

Going through some pics from my recent trip to the south, found this funny piece from the little museum at the MB factory in Alabama:



I want tires like those for my car.

uplanderguy

I've been reading this thread for years now. I registered today because I'd like to see that post removed. I don't care what some hairlip thinks about Bush, Cheney, Fox News, Hillary's cankles or who this person brands as a "liberal". I came here to think about cars, not listen to some idiot's two dimensional politics

Wow, welcome aboard 'Smiley'. Want to see some crappy posts, head over to the GM news forum.

andre1969

kinda makes me think of that old movie line... "the man who burned my barn, killed my Mama and Daddy, got my little sister pregnant, shot my dog, and stole my bible"...and it's the bible part that pushes you off the deep end!

Oh, as for my Ronald Reagan moment comment, whenever I think of that, it's not Ronnie in his old age that I think of, but moreso of when he pulled that stuff on purpose on tv, and make Dan Rather look like a bit of an idiot...

imidazol97

>"I don't care what some hairlip thinks about Bush, Cheney, Fox News, Hillary's..."

Don't you want the post removed referencing President Ronald Reagan in a negative way, even though not intentionally? Or are some political references okay and others not?

My post was in response to the Reagan comment.

>"I don't care what some hairlip "

!!!!!!

You may want to read the lMembership Agreement rules about denigrating other posters. " href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/harelip" target="_blank">"harelip" is used in a negative context, indeed. Also, using that is hurtful to people who have cleft lip deformities. Perhaps That post should be removed?

The link is at the bottom of the page.
http://www.edmunds.com/about/membership-agreement.html

This is my final post responding to you. :sick:

Back to cars. :shades:

uplanderguy

Oh, as for my Ronald Reagan moment comment, whenever I think of that, it's not Ronnie in his old age that I think of, but moreso of when he pulled that stuff on purpose on tv, and make Dan Rather look like a bit of an idiot...

This'll irritate old newbie even more, but I don't think a slight diversion like this is deadly or anything.

I watched Rather for years, as Walter's successor. But I do think he threw it all away when he pulled that stunt that eventually got him canned from CBS. Pretty dopey.

I loved when Reagan, at the start of his second debate with Fritz, answered the 'age' question with, "I will not, for my political benefit, mention my opponent's youth and inexperience". Even Fritz laughed.

imidazol97

Careening back to topic:

Ronald Reagan driving a car.

It's a concept car so it's not fair to expect someone to identify it!

andre1969

My first thought was that it was one of those GM EV-1 electric cars, but it still has even more of a "concept car" look to it than one of those.

Anyway, I kinda cheated, clicked on it, and found out what it was. Looks like that style laid the groundwork for a lot of GM design in later years. I see a lot of Saturn in it, as well as '88 Cutlass Supreme, and even 1993 Camaro.

Oh, and "Mark my words, meathead! You're gonna see Reagan in '80!" -Archie Bunker, c1976. :shades:

uplanderguy

I believe that's the GM EV-1.

Reagan also had a postwar Studebaker.

fintail

I can find something better than that...never really cared for late 80s-early 90s GM design language, although the concept itself wasn't bad.

Here's an oddball:



This image is too big, but it's cool

Funny how that divisive figure somehow seems more affable than the past decade of either idiocy or arrogance that we have been blessed with...but that's as far as I will venture into political babble :shades:

imidazol97

The car is a

GM Citation IV concept in 1984

It's based on a J-car innards but very slick aerodynamically

kyfdx

Buick LeSabre Indy pace car... 1978?

boomchek

Maserati MC12 - one of 50 ever made. It's on display in the showroom. Humongous car for those that haven't seen it in person.

andre1969

Buick LeSabre Indy pace car... 1978?

Very close. It's a 1976 Buick. I was gonna say Regal at first, but I looked it up, and turns out it was a Century with, of all things, a V-6!

And it does bear a very strong resemblance to a '77-79 LeSabre, in front...


1978 LeSabre:

kyfdx

GM had some big body car as the pace car in the late '70s... a Delta 88, maybe?

explorerx4

That's a crazy car and here is a crazy owner

andre1969

Yeah, it was a Delta 88 for 1977, but then in 1978 they used a Corvette. I think they used a Mustang for 1979.

boomchek

Umm, that's not the owner, at least not anymore. Unless it's a different MC12 we're talking about. That video was shot in 08.

explorerx4

I just meant an MC12 owner, not the one in your picture.
This is the one I meant to post.

fintail

That first video kind of looks like the area around the local Kirkland concours, but it probably isn't. Interesting car, but if I was somehow able to have that much dough to blow (dare we ask where it comes from), I'd do it in other ways.

Today's odd sighting - yellow first generation Seville, real wire wheels, little old lady driver - I'd wager a lot she's an original owner. Also saw a Peugeot 505 and an early 80s Isuzu diesel pickup.

explorerx4

That first video, which I linked to by mistake, bought back a bad memory.
A friend of mine, brought over his new C4S, less than 50 miles on it, and made me drive it.
It made the same scraping sound in the front when I transitioned from a side street when the light turned green.
It still bothers me. He's let my drive all the cars he has bought since then, so he doesn't hold a grudge.

boomchek

Oh I get it now.

If you want to look under the hood, well under the front at least, here is another pic I took a while ago:

lemko

...he at least had extremely good taste in Presidential limos! I even have a diecast model of this car:

andys120

Are you kidding! Here's a good looking Executive Limo>



Used by Truman Eisenhower and Kennedy.

fintail

Now here is a presidential limo:



Doesn't have to be politically correct. And, more of a road-going locomotive than a car.

Bur really, the Kennedy era Lincoln reflects the era the best in my eyes, too bad it ended as it did.

Ike's inaugural Caddy is cool too

fintail

I saw this lovely time warp W126 at a local high priced high end lot today - looks even better in person, I could find just a couple flaws. Price is crazy, but to a well heeled enthusiast, this is a good ~13-15K car, IMO. But you couldn't drive it much.

The dealership was also taking delivery of a bunch of late model specialty cars bought at auction - still had paperwork on the windshields. Saw a R8, CL65, small Aston cabrio, Porsche Turbo cabrio, etc.

kyfdx

'51 model.... in yellow...

Had a big wind-up toy key mounted on the back.... hilarious...

Mr_Shiftright

Gee, the Kat goes to New York City for a few days and the mice break out the drum set and party in his Meow Mix dish. :P

Okay, we'll have to remove *all* political comments from this point on, except as relates to presidents' cars. This is a violation of "off-topic" rules in the Member Agreement, as is, of course, any personal attacks. Anyone who wishes to experience the True Horror of political discourse in America may certainly drop into the Yahoo Government and Politics Answers Department, and may god have mercy on your soul if you do.

Speaking of NYC, I actually saw a '66 GTO cruising around Columbus Circle. It was the only "classic" car I saw in all 6 days running around Manhattan. It's just too dangerous for a classic on those streets I think.

fintail

When I was in NYC over the summer, I saw a 356 cabrio in Central Park. No other oldies IIRC, other than a 560SEC parked near Wall St.

Mr_Shiftright

I wish I had my MINI in NYC instead of the sleep-inducing Camry I was driving. Still, I haven't lost my chops. Essential tools in Manhattan are: The Horn; Two-foot driving on brake and gas; panther-like reflexes; talking NAV system; passenger to spot parking spaces.

Non-Essentials: The directional signal stalk :P

fintail

There are worse rental cars - I hope you didn't get a Hertz 40K mile Camry with a worn out suspension - I've heard stories.

I didn't drive in NYC, found transit to be an adventure. When I travel to places with highly refined transit systems, I like to sample them - as where I live, the networks aren't so hot yet.

Even here, horn is near the top of my list, along with constant 360 degree vision to guard against incompetents. NYC would chew up Seattle area drivers and leave them a quivering broken mess :shades:

Mr_Shiftright

I only got intimidated once...by a guy in a turban driving a Hummer with a front winch and plow lights, who was singing to himself and bobbing his head back and forth. I waved him in front of me. Stay in your weight class, I always say.

This was a pretty new 4 cylinder Camry automatic. I felt...oh, I don't know.....old.

stickguy

I love driving in NYC. Used to do it a lot more though.

My favorite car for it was my '85 Dodge Colt. Had the turbo suspension/tires (basically SS race slicks), just without the turbo. Man, that thing had reflexes, and fit anywhere. Just had to be careful shooting for a hole, since it didn't have enough power to get there quick!

Oh yeah, the other key? A manual trans, so you can be in the right gear when you needed it, and take advantage of compression breaking. 2nd gear can be your best friend when you are mixing it up!

fintail

Driving in Berlin is as close to a zoo as I have got - even there, the horn is the most used instrument, which surprised me at first. One of these days maybe I will brave Manhattan.

A rental spec 4 banger Camry is pretty much an old persons car, makes sense.

Mr_Shiftright

It took me a few minutes to remember that you don't turn on red in NYC. Oops!

I was also amazed, having visited many friends apartments, how badly you can live on $100K a year in Manhattan, after taxes, rent, parking, food costs and the price of admission for things. You'd be nuts to own a car in NY. They *punish* you for it.