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

sda

stickguy said:

Back in the day when Toyota still had some quirky Japanese styling and engineering going on.

They still have quirky styling

sda

< (by that time it was over 10 years old, and cars wore out faster then I guess).

A lot of truth in that statement. I know dad had to trade his 59 Catalina in 65 because the floors had rotted and the transmission was slipping. I was 6 at the time and remember him giving us (the kids) instructions not to stand on the floors, only to sit on the seat. He was afraid we would step thru the floor. Enter the 63. Olds Dynamic 88 which we had until 71. At less than 50000 mi it was burning and leaking oil. Dad was of the opinion, from his experiences, didn't keep a car beyond 60-70k, as that was the mileage major repairs were common. Now cars go 200k+ without issue. My brother in law has an 05 Acura RL with 330k which is just starting to need repairs.

stever

I think the trick is to only drive it in good weather, and go find a motel if it starts raining.

fintail

Looks like it's probably a real one - Speedsters are like Cobras, one assumes "reproduction" when spotted.

Mr_Shiftright

Pretty gutsy driving a $250K Porsche cross-country. I can't tell from the photo if it's real--the reproductions are actually quite good if you look from the outside.

fintail

I've seen a couple Vehicross lately - if they will turn up anywhere, it's here.

stever

Jackpot this morning. After passing a Tesla (ho hum), I got passed by two Previas in a row on the freeway. They weren't in a convoy, just serendipity. One peeled off onto a ramp in a half mile. What are the odds?

We got the impression that the Porsche driver "managed" 8 or 9 Porsches back in Atlanta and is often shuttling them back and forth across country.

Mr_Shiftright

I wouldn't be afraid of a genuine Speedster getting smashed up, I'd be afraid of it being stolen out of the motel/hotel parking lot.

Spotted: A red Jaguar XJS coupe, very sharp, clean car, regrettably sounding like a cement mixer (well, there goes the Christmas fund).

Also, a very clean Mercedes 300D sedan, also sounding like a cement mixture, but that's normal in this case.

Appraised a 1933 Chevrolet Coupe street rod yesterday. You don't see many early 30s Chevy rods--most people prefer Fords of course in this era. Nice car, not a radical build, but had all the modern amenities, like 4 wheels disks, rack and pinion, premium sound, seat belts, 12V, directionals, and AC. Pretty good runner but differential gearing was a bit too low for comfy highway cruising.

stever

Yet one more Previa, this one with an airbrush paint job. Okay, I'm done - will have to attend the Previa's Anonymous Fan Club if I ever expect to see three on the same day again. Also spotted a nice Dustbuster example this afternoon and a 98ish Mazda MVP.

iluvmysephia1

Then you can attend the antique Toyota Tercel club near you, stever.

stever

I did spot a nice two door example of an old Tercel sedan the other day.

iluvmysephia1

I don't have any hate in me for old Toyota Tercels. Sound like they were built quite well - they're not that hard on the eyes, either.

Michaell

I saw one of the several dozen Acura ZDX's that were sold in the US last night. 

fintail

That reminds me of the RLX I saw several days ago - almost a unicorn. I don't know of a blander way to spend 60K. I am sure it is nice, durable reliable car, but it's a 4:3 Accord in most aesthetic categories. I have to believe Acura wouldn't exist today without the MDX.

uplanderguy

Yeah, really.

fintail

Saw a late 70s Toyota Corona 5 door on I-5 this afternoon. Was going a little slow, but moving right along. Also saw a mid 80s Mitsu Raider 2 door. And because I mentioned it, another RLX. I am certain I have seen less than 10, ever - and I live in an area where cars in that price range are big sellers.

stickguy

weather today was so abnormally warm in Jersey, convertibles were out in droves. and way more tops down than usual!

a few oldies. A nice white TR-6. And a Cobra (kit car of some sort of course).

tjc78

The weather was crazy nice today. Had the little one outside in his sandbox in short sleeves!

Saw a late eighties (cinderblock headlight model) Chevy Celebrity Wagon. There can't be many of those around.

stever

Spotted a classic tonight and quizzed my wife. She wondered if it was some sort of Volkswagen. I told her to think oddball design in Europe. She then guessed Italian.

And y'all thought I was bad.

It was a 1966 Citroen 2CV. The owner showed up as we were admiring it and demonstrated the split door windows. He also mentioned that it was Citroen's answer to the Bug.

uplanderguy

Spotted on eBay--and I love it:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pontiac-Bonneville-/221956003222?forcerrptr=true&hash=item33ad9bd596:g:qBIAAOSw7FRWXRrE&item=221956003222

I don't think there was a more-expensive looking instrument panel anywhere in '65.

What a well-loaded specimen. I doubted the black painted roof at first, figuring it was probably originally a vinyl top, but I saw the 'two tone paint' on the window sticker. I was surprised that back-up lights and parking brake warning light were still optional on a Bonneville wagon as late as '65.

Beautiful car IMHO.

ab348

It is in remarkable condition. The interior looks like it has never been used. The '65 Pontiac was a great design inside and out. I wish there were some underhood and undercarriage pictures though.

texases

Underhood pictures are way down on the ad. No a/c, too bad.

fintail

Cool car, hot price. Wagons are still strong I see.

fintail

I went to the local back lot reject/estate clearance/abandoned vehicle/donation etc car auction on this cold wet raw morning. Saw a few things of note.

First, something for Andre - definite repaint, decent enough white bucket interior, don't know what was under the hood:



This was in reasonably good condition, had shag pile carpet inside that made me want to take a bath just looking at it (with becoming-obscure early Saturn wagon in background):



Sad - was complete and had a ton of documents. Sold new in Hawaii, came here in 1972, lived in good area of Medina (ritzy neighborhood, Bill Gates etc) for some time:



Yuppie dream:



Ahead of its time:



What a sad mess, interior looked like a biohazard:



1978, ~300K miles I think (dual rear wiper Camry wagon at left, early 90s Passat wagon in background):



1983, ~300K miles, pretty nice shape aside from faded paint on hood - interior was very nice:



1983, ~350K miles, a little rougher but looked solid:



Special edition fever:

Mr_Shiftright

It IS the beautiful car,--not perfect, but very nice. The claims of original paint would require further investigation, since the shut lines on the doors aren't very good, but the seller's feedback is 100%, so he's probably a stand up guy.

However, the asking price is pretty much off the charts, by double. I think current bid is more than generous.

I'll put it on my watch list and see what it bids up to.

uplanderguy said:

Spotted on eBay--and I love it:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pontiac-Bonneville-/221956003222?forcerrptr=true&hash=item33ad9bd596:g:qBIAAOSw7FRWXRrE&item=221956003222

I don't think there was a more-expensive looking instrument panel anywhere in '65.

What a well-loaded specimen. I doubted the black painted roof at first, figuring it was probably originally a vinyl top, but I saw the 'two tone paint' on the window sticker. I was surprised that back-up lights were still optional on a Bonneville wagon as late as '65.

Beautiful car IMHO.

ab348

texases said:

Underhood pictures are way down on the ad. No a/c, too bad.

Weird, they are not showing up on neither my PC nor my iPad.

ab348

@fintail - I like that LeMans, seems to be "in good shape for the year" as the ads like to say.

That cream-coloured '83 Benz whatever looks very nice. What is it exactly?

fintail

A 300D turbodiesel - the one people want, as it can actually get out of its own way unlike an automatic 240D. 1983 was a good year for them, I think. Now that I think back, it actually had around 275K on it. Still, it survived well enough.

ab348 said:

@fintail - I like that LeMans, seems to be "in good shape for the year" as the ads like to say.

That cream-coloured '83 Benz whatever looks very nice. What is it exactly?

uplanderguy

If that '65 isn't original paint, it is a drop-dead match to the original shade. So often in a repaint, the color is noticeably lighter or darker than the original.

A/C would be nice in a car like this, agreed, but I like that manificent instrument panel better without A/C. Pontiac added a big vent directly above those three center gauges, which put what looks to me like a big 'lump' in the instrument panel pad there.

I really didn't start hanging around GM dealers until the early '70's, but by then, the only $31 two-tone treatment available was a white painted roof. I still wonder if it originally had a white painted roof. I guess looking at the brochure online would most likely substantiate that black was available. I'm feeling a little lazy about that now.

So much for my typical disdain of really big cars. The '65 GM full-sizes were all beautiful IMHO, but the Pontiacs may have been the best.

uplanderguy

Re.: fintail's photos above--that brown Mustang II is a dead-ringer for the car my 18-year-old girlfriend drove in 1980. I have some good memories of her, but not the car.

That '73 Luxury LeMans--can't recall when I've last seen one. I always liked the big triangular quarter windows on those early Colonnade coupes, replaced shortly with those little opera windows on upper-models. The triangular windows gave great visibility.

If no one is already re-popping them, someone should remanufacture the plastic quarter-window trim for Colonnade coupes. It seems like almost every one I've seen for the past decade is missing the trim.

That LeMans is also missing the fender skirts (they might be in the trunk, who knows?) and the front wheel opening moldings.

stickguy

I always liked the style on those Lemans. And hate to admit, but I also have long liked the Mustang II. back in my HS/early college days, I had or came close on a bunch of cars, and 1 I regret not getting (probably was out of budget!) was a nice Mustang II hatch. I think it was a V6. Stick shift of course, and pretty sure it was a Mach I.

Darn cool for 1979!

andre1969

When I was a kid I didn't really like the '73-75 LeMans, but I LOVED the '76-77. Something about the quad headlights and more squared-off front-end gave the car a tougher, beefier look IMO. But, I'm finding the older I get, I'm liking the '73-75 models better, as well.

I prefer the large, triangular quarter window, but unfortunately, by '76-77, it was no longer offered in the LeMans lineup. You either got the opera window or the louvers. Fortunately though, visibility is still fairly good, even with the opera windows.

uplanderguy

That Bonne wagon was bid to $22,100. I can't think of a Big Three wagon on eBay I've liked as much since that navy blue '64 Chevelle two-door wagon with 283 and 4-speed a couple years back. Both cars were so original/authentic, and equipped so well with desirable factory options, I don't know how any market could be determined based on past history. It's not like they're a two-door hardtop or convertible. I routinely look for '65 Pontiacs on eBay and in years I have never seen a wagon this nice.

I'd be proud to have that car in my stable...sigh.

I wonder how that small patch of carpeting on the load floor got torn/shredded/whatever?

imidazol97

uplanderguy said:

That Bonne wagon was bid to $22,100.

I don't believe I've ever seen a wagon like that Bonneville at a cruise-in. I've probably seen thousands of cars just the last summer and similar numbers for the previous 4 years, but never that era Pontiac wagon.

I'd like to know if it does sell and for how much.

Side note: with the temps near 70 here in Western Ohio, I've really anxious for spring and the car shows to start again.

tjc78

Return to the eighties...
This past week I've seen more 80s iron than I can ever remember in a long time.

In addition to what I posted earlier, over the weekend

86-89 Taurus Wagon
Early 80s Camry Hatchback
85ish V6 Tempo (pacing me at 75 on the highway)
85ish Cavalier

Also out and about in the 70 degree December weather a beautiful red over black Chevelle, pretty sure it was a 69.

fintail

I think the Tempo V6 was 1992+ ... they are quite rare anymore. Camry hatch would have been 1983-86. I still see those around here now and then.

roadburner

andre1969 said:

When I was a kid I didn't really like the '73-75 LeMans, but I LOVED the '76-77. Something about the quad headlights and more squared-off front-end gave the car a tougher, beefier look IMO. But, I'm finding the older I get, I'm liking the '73-75 models better, as well.

I prefer the large, triangular quarter window, but unfortunately, by '76-77, it was no longer offered in the LeMans lineup. You either got the opera window or the louvers. Fortunately though, visibility is still fairly good, even with the opera windows.

I would still love to have a 1973 or 1974 Grand Am coupe.

stickguy

I also love the Can Am. Odd thing for me.

I also would love a same vintage Vetura GTO even more. Don't ask why, but goes back to HS!

uplanderguy

I would still love to have a 1973 or 1974 Grand Am coupe.

Me, too.

I knew one person in our town who bought a new '73 coupe. It was the typical white with red and blue subtle pinstriping along the top of the body sides. It had the honeycomb wheels.

He worked with my Dad, and complained it was a gas hog. He actually, a year later, ordered a new '74 Chevelle Malibu (cheap trim level then) two-door with six and 3-speed! What a letdown! LOL

Those Grand Ams had magnificent interiors--same seating and panel as the Grand Prix. I love the exterior of the '69-72 Grand Prix, but the '73 (and the Grand Am) beat it with a stick when it came to the interior, I think.

andre1969

When I was a kid, one of the neighbor's teenaged sons had a Grand Am. I forget what year, but I remember it being white, and this was around 1980-81, so it was probably just an old gas guzzler that could be picked up for a song at the time.

When I was younger, I didn't like that front-end on them, but just like the regular '73-75 LeMans, I think it's simply because I like the '76-77 a lot more.

It's been awhile since I've seen a Grand Am, but I remember every once in awhile, seeing a 4-door version at the Hershey PA car show.

The Can Am is pretty cool, too, although I think the Grand Am had a nicer interior. The Can Am still used the Grand Prix dash that the Grand Am and Grand LeMans had borrowed. But, the Can Am used the cheaper base LeMans door panels. And the bucket seats didn't seem as nice and thick as the ones the Grand Am used.

roadburner

@fintail- You might want to pick up the January 2016 issue of the British magazine Thoroughbred and Classic Cars, as it contains an article about a gentleman who has a collection of over a dozen Mercedes- ranging from an Adenauer to a Grosser as well as a 190 SL and a 300 SL.
And an AMG SLS.

sda

uplanderguy said:

I would still love to have a 1973 or 1974 Grand Am coupe.

Me, too.

I knew one person in our town who bought a new '73 coupe. It was the typical white with red and blue subtle pinstriping along the top of the body sides. It had the honeycomb wheels.

He worked with my Dad, and complained it was a gas hog. He actually, a year later, ordered a new '74 Chevelle Malibu (cheap trim level then) two-door with six and 3-speed! What a letdown! LOL

Those Grand Ams had magnificent interiors--same seating and panel as the Grand Prix. I love the exterior of the '69-72 Grand Prix, but the '73 (and the Grand Am) beat it with a stick when it came to the interior, I think.

They did have a very nice interior. Neat fact, the 73 model had real wood veneer around the instrument cluster, not the typical plastic. The downside was that the veneer tended to bubble and peel after 7 or 8 years. Our 73 Grand Am that was purchased used around 1981 was shedding the veneer when we bought it. It was a 4 door, not as desireable as the 2 door. Rode and drove very nicely for the time and not at all floaty. The 400 2 bbl with single exhaust was not that fast and got horrible gas mileage, 9-11mpg if I recall correctly. Not sure what it did on the road as our Grand Am did city duty and stayed within a 10 mile radius. My sisters drove it to high school and to college which was all local.

fintail

Saw a 2 door Kia Sportage soft top today.

stickguy

similar to that, out on the road, an Isuzu Vehicross. Still, just odd.

stever

Nicely waxed Geländewagen on a 2 lane AZ blacktop this morning.

explorerx4

A CX 3, looks better than an HRV.

Michaell

explorerx4 said:

A CX 3, looks better than an HRV.

I'll agree with that.

robr2

This AM I spotted a very clean mid 90's Impala SS in black. In honor of The Force Awakens, I give you:

texases

Another one worthy of the 'Lord Vader' line:

roadburner

Not THAT obscure, but this Challenger could do double duty for both the Dark Side as well as The Humungus...