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

andre1969

uplanderguy said:

Did you say the book says you could get a six-window '66 Newport but not a New Yorker? That strikes me as surprising too, although I haven't checked the sales brochure.

I just pulled up the '66 Chrysler brochure, and it states "Now, what kind of New Yorker would like? We have 2-door hardtops, 4-door six-window sedans, and 4-door hardtops". No mention at all of a 4-window sedan. The brochure has illustrations rather than actual photos, and they do show a drawing of a '66 Newport 6-window.

As for the old car encyclopedia, upon inspecting again, I think it's simply worded confusingly. For the Newport it lists "sdn 4d, 4W and sdn 4d, 6W. For the New Yorker it simply lists "sdn 4d" but doesn't specify 4W or 6W. I mistakenly presumed that meant it was a 4W.

Also, interestingly, the '66 sales brochure mentions a 300 hardtop coupe, hardtop sedan, and convertible. But again, no pillared sedan.

So, the '62-66 pillared sedan is a bit of a mystery, I guess. Wikipedia shows a picture of a '65 300 4-door sedan with a 4W treatment. It was taken in Canada, so maybe the 4-door sedan was a Canada-only model? Here's a pic:

ab348

berri said:

I thought the 67 big Chevy was a natural progression and particularly liked the coupe and 4dr HT. However, I'm not sure that either Chevy or Ford had a great looking IP during the whole decade. On Chevy, I'd probably lean toward the first half of the decade IP's. They were plasticky I suppose, but they were pretty functional. If I had to pick one from the bunch, it would probably be the '60 Chevy carryover from the '59. I think it might be that large clear plastic cover over the instruments that bothers me just a bit on the 67. Certainly not terrible though by any means. But I have to be honest, I actually liked some of Exner's early 60's Mopar IP's, so you would be within bounds questioning my IP taste

None of the '60s IPs were particularly plasticky. They were mostly metal. And while the '67 Chevy IP does have a single large clear plastic cover over the instruments, it was the only IP design for them in that whole decade to use individual circular gauge faces. Best they ever made IMO.

berri

Is that all big 67 Chevy's or the SS package dash? I was envisioning that cheaper than it looks here. I didn't think the base Chevy had all of the IP instruments and used idiot lights. Otherwise, I guess my memory is wrong because this particular IP is very handsome looking. I can't recall if the 63/64 dash was all metal, or had a cover over it's large top? Personally, I didn't mind them, but I remember a lot of people complaining that they thought it had been cheapened up back then.

andre1969

All the Chevies used that same dash design, but the extra gauges were optional. According to the sales brochure, the full gauges were optional on any V-8 model, and included a tach, temp, oil, and amp gauges. It was "for the man who likes to read exactly what's going on under the hood".

As for cheapening out, I think one reason people might have thought that, back in the day, was less extensive use of shiny chrome as the 60's wore on. You'd still have a lot of metal...it just wasn't chromey. Also, I believe GM started using plastic knobs and other gear earlier than Ford or Mopar did. It imparted a cheaper, downscale look, but at least it wouldn't impale you like the nicer looking metal stuff did.

fintail

Here's a normal pillared 65 Chrysler:



This, which I have posted before, was my grandfather's. It was probably his favorite car. He wasn't really a car nut, but he liked value, and I am sure the Newport had a campaign close to "Chrysler quality at the same price as a less expensive brand". This was a 383 car as per my uncle, but I don't know how it was optioned. In Seattle, it probably didn't have AC. This particular Newport was apparently very reliable, it could tow, was comfortable, etc, and my uncle said it had a cool instrument cluster. The car that replaced it, a green 1971 fuselage model bought on a whim, wasn't nearly as reliable. Every pic I have of this car has a boat on the roof, as he was an avid fisherman. I like this pic, it's pretty much how I remember him - he dressed the same in 1995 as in 1965. He was well into his 40s when this was taken, aged pretty well. And I cringe to think what those houses are worth now (Green Lake area of Seattle) compared to then.

fintail

Out last night - saw an 86-87 Audi Coupe GT - the kind of thing that probably needs a transmission replacement at the same frequency as oil changes, or some other fun quirk. The car was immaculate. Also saw a 67 Camaro convertible, and an unknown year 67-69 one that was tubbed and too loud.

ab348

berri said:

Is that all big 67 Chevy's or the SS package dash? I was envisioning that cheaper than it looks here. I didn't think the base Chevy had all of the IP instruments and used idiot lights. Otherwise, I guess my memory is wrong because this particular IP is very handsome looking. I can't recall if the 63/64 dash was all metal, or had a cover over it's large top? Personally, I didn't mind them, but I remember a lot of people complaining that they thought it had been cheapened up back then.

The idiot light models still had the same basic design.



My brother had a '63 Chevy and I don't remember the IP being padded. I believe it was an option.

uplanderguy

I believe the padded dash was still optional on 1963 Chevrolets.

The only thing I don't like about the '67 Chevy panel, is that with A/C they bury that top vent up into the top pad of the dash. Never liked that.

Although that Caprice interior looks brand-new, the Caprice interior looked 'pimped up' to me. I like the Impala's seat and door trim that year--elegant but restrained.

Some '67 Caprices had the "Caprice" nameplate on the ashtray lid, as the one above does, and some instead had it above the glovebox door. Don't know if that was a mid-year change or depending on which plant the car was built in.

My grandparents had a new dark plum (don't know the correct name) '67 Impala Sport Coupe, with matching cloth-and-vinyl interior. It was your run-of-the-mill 283 and Powerglide, but I liked it. I think '67 might be the last year they had the radio speaker in the top of the center of the rear seat..if not '67, '68.

uplanderguy

fintail, I remember a lot of '65 Chryslers being the color of your grandfather's. I see the brochure online calls that "Spanish Red".

Being a "GM kid", I always thought it was unusual that '65 Newports said "Chrysler" on the side, instead of "Newport". At GM, then, model names were always on the sides. That changed, though, with the '71-73 Cadillac Calais, which had "Cadillac" written on the front fenders and "Calais" on the decklid.

texases

Saw real oddball today - looked like a '50ish Jeepster, like this:

stever

Nice!

uplanderguy

That Jeepster is very neat IMHO!

Designed by Brooks Stevens, also responsible for my favorite Studebakers, the '62-64 Gran Turismo Hawk and the '62-64 Lark line.

texases

And it was just driving down the street, not at a show.

uplanderguy

Isn't it neater to see old cars 'in action' than even seeing them at a show? I usually think so.

explorerx4

@texases,
I assume not that one, since you probably mot a Villanova fan from Massachusetts.

texases

Right, not that one! But it looked like it was in good shape.

texases

A a couple of hours later a nice-sounding black chrome-bumper C3 Corvette, like this:

fezo

uplanderguy said:

That Jeepster is very neat IMHO!

Designed by Brooks Stevens, also responsible for my favorite Studebakers, the '62-64 Gran Turismo Hawk and the '62-64 Lark line.

Those were great designs.

explorerx4

It sort of have Texas colors.

uplanderguy

Those were great designs.

Only my opinion, but I think cars designed by industrial designers, like Stevens, as opposed to stylists, have stood the styling test-of-time better than some others.

uplanderguy

Re.: C3 Corvettes--for the longest time, I didn't care about them at all. I particularly didn't like the ones with the 'egg crate' side vents ('70-72 I think). A magazine referred to them back then as the "flying d----" and I used that term myself. But I have to say, the past couple years, if I see a bone-stock one in a parking lot or show I'll go check it out. The '70's might not have been great years for Corvettes, but they're more interesting than most everything else built around then I think!

roadburner

I like the styling of the 1973- the smooth front end coupled with the split chrome bumper rear. The motors were a little weak, but nothing a GM Performance crate engine and Tremec 5 speed couldn't fix.

fintail

Today was good for MBs - saw a W113 "Pagoda", a W116, W115, W123, same nice early W126 I see in Medina now and then. Was thinking of going to the auto auction, but slept in and got going too late - they had a number of oddities - nice Cimarron, early Q45, a bit of 80s stuff.

lemko

Funny thing. I was watching the movie "War of the Roses" before I left for work this morning. Danny DeVito is driving a red C-3 Corvette. When he parks the car, the left headlight pod is still partially stuck in the up position.

boomchek

I went to our local public library with my son few days ago. They rent free DVDs too. One I grabbed was an 80s movie called Witches of Eastwick with Jack Nicholson, Cher, Susan Sarandon, and Michelle Pfeiffer. Nicholson had a nice MB 600 in the movie that got totally wrecked towards the end. I imagine they were probably cheaper than they are now.

stever

Plymouth Sport Fury convertible, black, top down. Assume it was a '65 from an image search.

fintail

I remember that, along with a 600 being used in one of the "Omen" movies.

Studios are good at shining up a wreck to be destroyed, and yeah, in 1987 or whatever, they were worth less. A beater 600 still isn't worth a huge amount.

boomchek said:

I went to our local public library with my son few days ago. They rent free DVDs too. One I grabbed was an 80s movie called Witches of Eastwick with Jack Nicholson, Cher, Susan Sarandon, and Michelle Pfeiffer. Nicholson had a nice MB 600 in the movie that got totally wrecked towards the end. I imagine they were probably cheaper than they are now.

stickguy

speaking of movies, I was watching Jimmy Kimmel last night, and Vin Diesel was on (talking about F&F 7). They started discussing how many cars they wrecked. Keeps creeping up. This installment, about 250 cars!

what was interesting is he said that a lot of them were shells. Basically a dummy body on a junk chassis or something built as a frame for that purpose.

I also always assumed they had a way to get scrap cars (flood units, other stuff that was supposed to be junked) to use for wrecking. But, still a fair number of cars sacrificed, which is always sad!

Mr_Shiftright

I've driven a few Mercedes 600s, and I have to say while I don't like them much, it is quite amazing that you can drive them like sportscars. These are not poofy limos. They really haul.

fintail said:

I remember that, along with a 600 being used in one of the "Omen" movies.

Studios are good at shining up a wreck to be destroyed, and yeah, in 1987 or whatever, they were worth less. A beater 600 still isn't worth a huge amount.

boomchek said:

I went to our local public library with my son few days ago. They rent free DVDs too. One I grabbed was an 80s movie called Witches of Eastwick with Jack Nicholson, Cher, Susan Sarandon, and Michelle Pfeiffer. Nicholson had a nice MB 600 in the movie that got totally wrecked towards the end. I imagine they were probably cheaper than they are now.

fintail

Saw a Vanagon Syncro today

Mr_Shiftright

Those are getting pricey.

fintail

I've heard of affluent luckyboomer types paying roughly six figures for good restomodded ones. Cool enough things I guess, but I'd spend my money elsewhere.

fintail

60s era Land Rover 4 door, the kind with windows near the roof, and a late run Saab crossover thingy.

roadburner

Two 240Zs on a flatbed headed west on I-40...

explorerx4

Somewhat obscured by a tarp in an auto upholstery shop lot, an orange Bricklin.

Mr_Shiftright

I ran into more Bricklins last year that I've ever seen in my life. Still not worth much--I wonder if people are just unloading them.

fintail

Today spotted a DeLorean towing a little trailer that was kind of shaped like the back half of a DeLorean, in stainless steel. It might still be in my dashcam storage, but I am kind of lazy and don't know if I want to pull out the card. Also saw a Porsche 914 parked at the local dealer.

stickguy

out driving around local, an old guy in an early Karman-Ghia hardtop. In nice but not pristine condition. I would guess an older restoration.

roadburner

Rust-free Pontiac Astre; which begs the question why? To preserve one of the historic low points of automotive design?

uplanderguy

LOL--conventional wisdom over the years has become "They all had holes in them within one year, even in Arizona"!

I prefer the looks of the Vega, only because the Astre was styled differently in a couple places just to make it an Astre!

I could still like a '76 GT wagon, red with white side stripes, white Custom vinyl interior, and stick. But I haven't seen one like that in years.

andre1969

I remember back in the 1990's, the next door neighbors to some friends of mine had a 2-tone green Astre. It was pale green for the most part, with the lower body being a darker shade. It usually sat out on the curb, but was sometimes in their driveway.

I don't know how long it ultimately lasted, because eventually it disappeared. However, I just pulled up the local property tax records, and it turns out those people moved back in 1993, so that could explain its disappearance. It seemed to be rust-free at the time, and looked like it was in great shape, overall.

Mr_Shiftright

Very early Ghias had corduroy interiors. I always found that quaint and charming.

stickguy said:

out driving around local, an old guy in an early Karman-Ghia hardtop. In nice but not pristine condition. I would guess an older restoration.

fintail

Today saw a 4 door Rabbit and a FJ40 Landcruiser, which are probably less rare here than anywhere else.

lemko

Spotted a nice gray 1969 Plymouth Barracuda on Fern Street just below South in Freeland, PA and the sad remains of a black 1970 Chrysler 300 convertible on the site of the abandoned Hazleton Brick Company in Hazleton, PA.

andys120

I saw a nice '55 BelAir two dr. sedan with an odd color scheme- Puce on the roof trunk and back fenders w black hood and front fenders. I don't know if I've ever seen that before. As often in AZ the paint and chrome were in good shape but the car had been modded for performance w a forward rake and a very hairy sounding exhaust.

jpp75

Saw a Chevette on Sunday, parked under a carport and looked like it was still used for regular driving. Light blue, I didn't see the front but I'm guessing early 80's based on the taillights.

fintail

Most obscure thing today, a 2 door Isuzu Rodeo.

boomchek

That's indeed rare. I have a matchbox version of that but I think it's labeled as an Opel something.

fintail

I believe the Vauxhall was the "Frontera".

Sightings today - unrestored, uncut, unmessed with 1st gen Bronco, later/facelift Bronco II, W140 S600

explorerx4

Throwback minivan Thursday.
Was flanked by a first gen Sienna on my left and a first gen Quest on my right. Amazing thing is they both looked great, glossy paint.
A couple of minutes later a white gen 1 Toyota van(Previa?). It had a sharp angle trapezoid style.