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

fintail

Oh, selling lots of Equus then? (that's a future obscure car if there ever was one)

boomchek

No we only do one every 2 or 3 months. It's never meant to be a high volume car. I bet we sell as many of them as Audi sells A8's, ok well maybe Audi sells a few more A8's....

The Equus is quite a neat car though. The back seat is where all the comfort is at though.

And speaking of obscure, a customer traded in an 86 Hyundai Pony recently. With about 48k original kms. I don't think they ever sold them in the US but the car was outdated even for the 80s with its rear leaf spring suspension and rear wheel drive in a compact hatchback.

ab348

They made a big splash in Canada for their first few years on the market. Traditionally, cheap bottom-feeder cars that sell at a low price did better here than in the USA because taxes are higher and the standard of living of most people was lower back then. Once their shortcomings became generally known their sales did a nosedive and Hyundai's subsequent offerings were not paragons of quality either. The company went through some rough times here in the early to mid-'90s.

fintail

Equus is still an amazingly tough proposition in my eyes, as here anyway you can get a loaded fully warrantied 3 year old S/7/A8 for the same money. I assume they sell to proud Korean expats, who are a huge buyer of Genesis here.

You should buy it (Pony, not Equus) and put it away. Might be a cool car show curiosity in another 10 years or so. I remember more than one of those heaps being destroyed on "Red Green". The Pony was never sold in the US, the first American Hyundai being the Excel for the 1986 model year.

Back in the day in Canuckistan, I also remember the Hyundai Stellar - the grandfather of the Sonata. Apparently they were terrible, but as "stellar" was late 80s slang that I often used, the name caught my eye.

ab348

The Stellar became known as the "Staller" here after a while. They were one of the first cars I ever saw where the rear bumper cover actually made up the rear quarter panel from the top of the rear wheelwell back. There was one in my neighborhood where the cover had fallen off and it was a strange sight. I understand they were awful cars, but never had direct esperience.

fintail

They couldn't be sold in the US due to the engine being a heavy polluter. I alwwys thought the Stellar looked like a Mazda 626 clone. The first Sonata also had a tendency to be a piece of junk, IIRC.

Odd sightings today, at car lots - 56 Vette, 55 Vette, 66 Caprice with 427 badges, 55 Nomad, 56-57 Continental, Ferrari 456GT, MB W211 E500 wagon in capri blue, slantnose 911 Cabrio.

boomchek

Because I'm an image kinda guy if I had $73k CDN laying around and needed a full size luxobarge, I'd buy a certified A8/S8 (like you mentioned) S550, or even a 2-3 year old 7 series.

Now if I was running a business where I needed to ferry around clients (real estate, luxury transport, etc....) and needed all the bells and whistles (massaging cooled and heated seats, fridge, recliner - standard in Equus Ultimate), I'd pick up an Equus.

I was thinking of picking up the Pony but after sitting in it and taking a loop in the parking lot I decided against it. There are other better beaters I'd rather have for the fun of it. And I think we overpaid for it on trade as we paid $250 iirc.

fintail

More than image, I am a design kind of guy, and I think the big Germans, while sometimes brash, have more of it.

Many months ago, a local highline lot had an absolutely loaded 08 S63 - performance pack, distronic, night vision, rare colors, everything. 25K miles, sat around forever at 62K - even cheaper than the Equus. Pay a few grand for a warranty and drive something cool, fast, and rare.

But, I don't think the Equus really competes there - it's a LS rival more than one for the Germans, IMO. I see you didn't list that one either, nor did I.

Equus is probably the ultimate luxury transport hire car, due to that rear seat, the warranty, and I suspect eventual end of year deals to be had.

Could you get the Pony for $250? It has to be worth that in scrap. Your dealership should detail it nicely, and ebay it - some nut somewhere will want it.

boomchek

Yeah we don't do ebay and we'd have to run it through an inspection and do a bunch of stuff to it before selling it. It's not worth it so it was wholesaled.

fintail

I guess you wouldn't really have room to keep it either...I am in the same boat. No place to store an old freak. I can barely make room for a motorcycle.

It will be interesting to see if someone saves it.

boomchek

We only have one parking space in our condo, but street parking is free and no permit is required. My BIL from my wife's side lives 5 minutes away and has a house with a garage, carport, and a 4 car driveway so if I really need to store something short term I can do it there.

That's what I did earlier this year when I bought an Accord commuter car (that I sold since) and needed parts for it. I bought another wrecked identical Accord privately, towed it there, stripped it in his carport, took the parts I needed, sold other good parts, and then sold the rest of the car for scrap.

My strata would flip if I did that in my building garage. :shades:

lemko

Teal blue 1964 Cadillac convertible outside a repair shop near Glenside, PA.

Black 1968 Chevrolet Camaro travelling west on Rhawn Street near Algon in NE Philly.

Yellow 1961-65 Jaguar Mark X saloon turning left onto Oxford Avenue from Rhawn Street in NE Philly.

fintail

That old Pony would probably dissolve if left outside for a winter, even in the lower mainland. It must have been garaged to have survived so long.

I have one large parking spot in my building, and I rent a spot in a private garage for the old car (I almost feel like it is charity as I know it is a mortgage helper). Doing any extensive work is generally not tolerated in my building's garage, and whenever I open the hood to tinker with the fintail, I am amazed at how many passersby stop to look or comment.

magnette

Followed one home from work today - about 1965, good condition and seemed in daily use, not a showcar.

Mr_Shiftright

Sturdy old cars the P1800. Not fast, but rugged, and you can fix them with stuff from a hardware store. Very simple cars, except perhaps for repairing the overdrive unit. Driving position is very low on the floor, so you have to get used to windows at ear height. Put on a B20E head, some improved timing gears, stronger u-joints, and throw away the silly oil cooler, and it'll run forever.

fintail

A few odd ones today - immaculate Ford Granada coupe, yellow series II Jag XJ, MB 300CE cabrio, late Saab 9000

texases

A '56 T-Bird...without a Continental kit!

lemko

...nice dark green 1968 Buick LeSabre two door hardtop near a repair shop on Huntingdon Pike in Rocklege, PA.

boomchek

Yeah the Pony is already dissolving lol.

jljac

I posted this link over at the Postwar Studebakers forum, but it is worth seeing for anyone who missed it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LpPKAhW9-s&feature=youtu.be

Very hard to spot any foreign cars in Los Angles then. Very hard to spot any American cars there now. Enjoy

stickguy

pretty cool. Noticed one VW bus, and a nash metropolitan. And right at the end, a t-bird that cut the camera car off and almost got T-boned, so some things never change!

andys120

I've seen two of the Ginormous, befinned '59 Cadillacs this week. The first was a blue 2-door h/t that was parked. The second was a red four-door h/t. You could see waviness along the sides.

The '59 Caddy looks like a cartoon version of an overdone 1950s car.

Shortly after I saw the second '59 I spotted a fairly nice '61 four-door h/t in red. Those wewre quite a bit more tasteful IMO.

imidazol97

1962 black Park Avenue Cadillac.

uplanderguy

The Caddy Park Avenue was the short one. Rare then, even rarer to see now.

jljac

Here is another clip of Los Angeles area in 1954. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n77NxU0CHPw&feature=related

Lots of Studebakers, a few Packards, a Ford assembly plant and even a Crosley. There is also a grocery store checker that checks out the groceries as fast as a scanner can do today. Worth seeing.

fintail

Some oldies today - 56 Bel Air 2 door HT, turquoise 57 Bel Air convertible at a dealer, nice 63 Impala 4 door HT, late 80s LeBaron convertible with whitewalls, Continental Mk IV with wide whites, obviously unrestored Series II E-Type (not a 2+2), nice looking 900 Turbo cabrio, immaculate looking gold SLC parked at a church, little old lady in a mint 560SL, and a house with 3 related cars in the driveway - NUMMI Nova, early 90s Prizm, and a 90s Corolla.

stickguy

a nice red austin-healey (no clue which model) on the highway in the rain. And today, a few minutes apart, an early 60s mercury comet (I think, some kind of smaller FoMoCo with large fins) driving in a parking lot, and about a 64ish big Caddy (in primer) parked. Flashbacks to when I was too young to remember!

hpmctorque

Why is it that big old ladies don't drive interesting old cars?

fintail

Interesting question. I tend to see them in old Exploders, PT Cruisers, etc.

fintail

Out on foot this morning, saw a nice 64 T-Bird and a pristine 86-87 Prelude.

hpmctorque

I like Preludes of that vintage, and a little newer too. Unfortunately, of those that are left, not many are unmolested.

fintail

Several years ago, a co-worker's mother sold her 89 Prelude. It was a base model, 5-speed, had something like 60K miles on it. She actually got around 4K for it, which was surprising. It was an amazing mint survivor car, which I am sure was messed with immediately.

This morning's sightings - 86-89 Celica convertible, bone stock early NSX, even original wheels. The NSX is also falling into the hands of vehicle molesters, seems really untouched older ones are rare.

hpmctorque

A person I commuted with had a late '80s Prelude, 5-speed, and nothing in its class compared with it in terms of engine smoothness, shifter action, handling and stability. It was a delight. I couldn't imagine a better engineered small, sporty coupe. A fine Swiss watch comes to mind. I suppose the new Civic coupe is its spiritual successor, but beginning three generations ago the Civic no longer features the desireable double wishbone suspension. The Accord still does, but even the coupe is a class size larger than the Prelude, and, therefore, not as nimble.

fintail

Honda had a driver's emphasis that has been mostly lost. I remember back in the 90s, Honda 4cyl engines could idle in near silence, were turbine-smooth, and had very easy manual transmissions.

Friend of mine had a loaded V6 Accord coupe of the last generation - nice cruiser but definitely not a sports car.

imidazol97

1952 Ford 2-dr sedan. Body was black primer by the appearance. Great chrome wheels from the 60s.

explorerx4

Nice looking triple black 968 convertible.

lemko

I must be getting old because I remember the NSX as being regarded as something as an exotic and nowhere near being affordable to the type who who tastelessly molests a car.

One car that has most definitely fallen victim to car molesters around here is the early Lexus SC coupes. It's impossible to find one the isn't totally trashed with tacky bling and Pep Boys aftermarket wheels. There's a really offensive-looking one with a bright red Earl Scheib paint job, gold trim, a ridiculous spoiler, and cheesy wheels near my workplace.

hpmctorque

Talk about tasteless molestation, I recently saw a previous generation Mustang, later model year, in good condition except for three generously chromed portholes on the creases on each side of the hood. Those functionless holes really clashed with the character of this car.

uplanderguy

A younger, moussed-hair, slender, clothing-is-everything young guy in our department bought a new '82 Prelude. At the time, for what he said it cost, I was pretty stunned. It had a nice, light beige cloth interior, but the driver's seat back actually touched the rear seat bottom cushion (and this guy was no basketball player), and I seem to think it had an antenna like a '50-something Hudson--above the middle of the windshield--but I could be wrong on that. I was pretty unimpressed at the time.

fintail

Early NSX can be had for around 20K now - with easy credit, the doors are opened to those with questionable taste and ability.

I've seen several ruined early SC and LS, too. Just like 90s era BMWs and MB, once they get under 5K, they sometimes pick up "special" accessories. Sadly on 90s Lexus, the gold trim is probably stock!

It's not just for old fading luxo cars either...a demographic here who likes smaller Lexus and Infiniti cars won't hesitate to deep tint the windows and apply fake chrome pillar trim to a brand new car.

fintail

The 80-82 Prelude was pretty tiny. Very few of those around anymore. The 83+ was a big step up. Both of those were hugely popular among female new drivers when I was in high school in the early-mid 90s.

uplanderguy

I know you like '70 Caprices (must be the '63-64 Caddy look over the headlights!), but I can't tell you the last time I saw a '69 Caprice that looked this nice...and has the Strato-Bench seat, last year available and only time 'til '77 one could get a center armrest in the front of a Caprice coupe:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1969-Chevrolet-Caprice-14k-mile-time-capsule-you-- can-own-best-world-/300769061380?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item46073baa04

ab348

A friend of mine has a SC400 he bought new. It is pristine as he only drove it sparingly when new and then put it away after a few years, taking it out once a year to get the maintenance done and driving it for a few days before putting it back in his garage.

It now looks very dated. It's hard to understand how big a splash it made when they first came out, looking at it now. It really does nothing for me.

explorerx4

I had to look a couple of times, but the yellow Ferrari wording is a reflection of a banner hanging on the garage wall.

ab348

It is a remarkable survivor, and the condition is superb. But the price its ridiculous. I do not like the '69 Chevy very much - we owned one when I was a kid and it was not a very good car, so maybe that colors my opinion. I find the stance awkward, with the wheels tucked way too far inward, the dash unattractive (though at least this example shows no wear, which makes it look better than most you see), and in general, just not an appealing car. I do not see the attraction.

uplanderguy

I have a friend who has his parents' SC400--I believe it's about a '95. It does absolutely nothing for me. He says it was $45K then, but it seems like a big small car to me. I don't think there's a luxurious line on it. But then, I own a Studebaker and two Chevys so what would I know .

andre1969

I never really cared for the '69 Chevy that much, either. I didn't like the swollen, pontoon-like bulges around the wheel openings. They make me think of a car that rusted out and was bondo'ed up.

I think the '70 was much better looking, all around. The bulges seemed toned down, and I just think the front-end and the rear were more tasteful.

However, I do like the hidden headlight option on the '69.

If I were shopping for a new car in 1969, I'd probably still take a full-sized Chevy over an equivalent Ford or Mopar. But, it's just not my favorite year of Impala.

Actually, let me ammend that...I'd pick the Chevy over the Ford or Mopar based on style. However, those '65-70 GM B-bodies aren't overly generous with legroom. I had a '69 Bonneville and still have a '67 Catalina, and sadly, my old '68 Dart had more legroom up front than either of those two. The style of the '69 Fury doesn't really wow me. Don't hate it, but don't love it...it's just sort of there. It's been awhile since I've sat in one, so i can't remember how roomy they were...but if the Fury felt more comfy than an Impala or Caprice, I'd probably go with it.

uplanderguy

The bulges weren't any different between the '69 and '70 Chevys. About the only difference down the sides were that the '70 had the side marker lights with about a dozen little lenses, instead of the one piece lenses on the '69. I do like the seating better in the '69--again, Strato-Bench or even Strato-Bucket seats and console available, neither of which were ever offered again after '69. Exterior-wise, I like the '71 better, but boy is the interior cheapened down IMHO--black steering wheel and column no matter the interior color; black hard plastic instrument panel cluster, plastic lower-half door panels, etc. And that 'tumblehome' outside looked nice but did it ever chip up the lower body paint quickly.

fintail

On another forum I read, a guy posted this - a car his mother owned 30-35 years ago. DeSoto Diplomat 2 door HT, RHD. Must be pretty rare.

uplanderguy

I do think fender skirts on a '69 Chevy are silly...the rear wheel openings are small as they are.

Nice letter from the original owner, saying how much they enjoyed hearing from the subsequent owner.