Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/25 for details.
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/25 for details.
Options
I spotted an (insert obscure car name here) classic car today! (Archived)
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
There's one of those here locally, in those exact colors. It was on my street visiting someone a few years ago. I just about fell over when I saw it.
We get loads of Nissan Figaros here - it was never imported new but with stringent Japanese car testing it is common for them to be imported - Grey Imports - into the UK - it helps that we are RHD and that the mechanical bits from Nissan Micras (March in the JDM) fit.
Edmunds Price Checker
Edmunds Lease Calculator
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and let us know! Post a pic of your new purchase or lease!
MODERATOR
2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R / 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX Prestige
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Edmunds Price Checker
Edmunds Lease Calculator
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and let us know! Post a pic of your new purchase or lease!
MODERATOR
2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R / 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX Prestige
2021 VW Arteon SEL 4-motion, 2018 VW Passat SE w/tech, 2016 Audi Q5 Premium Plus w/tech
Interestingly, the Japanese still had some variety when it came to hardtops: Toyota Corolla (coupe and that part wagon/part hatchback style), Mitsubishi (marketed as the Dodge Challenger/Plymouth Sapporo), Datsun 200SX coupe, your Mazda 626. Wonder if I'm missing any?
How roomy was that '80 626 inside? It's been ages since I've seen one, but in my mind, I'm picturing them as a bit bigger than your "typical" Japanese car of the era...bigger than an Accord, Corolla, etc.
I recall that Mazda went through a somewhat popular phase in the 80's, but then seemed to peter out (was it the 90's when Ford got all involved with Mazda?).
Here is a picture of one, very similar to what I had. Surprisingly it was about the same size as the 76 Sunbird that I traded for it. About 172 inches in length and 65 inches wide. It was rear wheel drive. The interior layout was roomier than the Sunbird both front and back, and you could squeeze 3 in the back seat if necessary.
2021 VW Arteon SEL 4-motion, 2018 VW Passat SE w/tech, 2016 Audi Q5 Premium Plus w/tech
We had a push button Valiant when I was a kid but I remember the '53 Buick Special better.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
That'd be a '61, as the '62 had one round taillight on each side.
I'm pretty sure Valiants didn't get a V8 until '64, but I remember hearing there was a performance upgrade on the six available from the factory.
As for that performance upgrade on the slant six, it was called "Hyper-Pak". It was a hot 4-bbl carb with long intake runners and other mods, that boosted the tiny 170 CID unit from 101 hp to 148. With the larger 225 slant six, I think it bumped it from 145 to 195.
There was also a 2-bbl version of the 225 slant six for Canadian cars in the 1960s, that bumped hp from 145 to 160. Kind of a shame it wasn't offered in the United States, as it would've been a nice alternative to the smaller V-8's of the era. There was a 2-bbl called the "Super Six" offered from 1977-79...by then the 1-bbl had 100 hp net, and the 2-bbl bumped it to 110.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
at a different house, a pair of pretty ratty looking Stude hawks. From googling pics, I think they might be 1960s. Both black.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2021 VW Arteon SEL 4-motion, 2018 VW Passat SE w/tech, 2016 Audi Q5 Premium Plus w/tech
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
Today in traffic I saw an early 70s Beetle with front end damage, a first gen RX-7 - maybe an early model as it didn't have much trim, and a nice 67 Camaro RS.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Like most things Studebaker, the Avanti is a love-it or hate-it design, but I think the curved side glass, bodyside tuck-under, lack of superfluous decoration and honest-to-God bucket seats make it seem less dated than other cars you could buy in summer '62. And this from a guy who loves '62 Corvettes.
I vascillate about liking round or square-headlight Avantis better, but I'll take a turquoise one with blower and Powershift automatic (PRND21).
A Facebook friend of mine, whom I've not met, posted a pic yesterday of him talking with Jerry Seinfeld. Apparently Jerry will be driving the guy's original, low-mileage Studebaker Avanti on the show "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee".
A good friend of mine, not really a car guy per se but is retired and can afford it, has been looking at earnest at '63 and '64 Rivieras and sending me links to every one he's interested in. I like the '65 better (some unnecessary trim removed and those inboard headlights moved behind the clamshells), but I think he's concerned about clamshells so hasn't been looking at '65's. As I've noted before, one can buy a very nice early Riv for probably $20K...I mean, a really nice one. He's on the cusp of getting a red-on-red '63. I'm excited for him--easy to do when it's somebody else's money! LOL
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
An Avanti II would bring less than half the money of a "real" Avanti, and for good reason. In real life, as similar as they may seem to an original Avanti, they just don't look right, I agree. I like the "rake" of the original cars.
It's funny--he asked me what I knew about the cars, and I said I did know that those first three years had three different transmissions. I posted on a Riviera owners' page if one trans was better than another--'63 vs. '64--and a few said they preferred the '64, but those with '63's said they didn't have problems with them. That's the first thing my friend is concerned with. Given a choice, I'd rather have "R" between "P" and "N" ('64), but that's a personal choice I guess. The '65 has Turbo Hydramatic, the best choice for repairability for sure.
Also, in the past 2 days I have seen 3 (!) Daewoo Nubira wagons. One this morning was going well under the limit, no signals, fog lights on when there's no fog within 200 miles of here.
I didn't know Daewoo actually sold 3 Nubira wagons in America.
What a name. Always felt it was slightly gynaecological.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s300/Michaelkfl/Sherwood Egberts 1963 Avanti/StudeGarage442.jpg
The 'gunsight' on the hood lines up perfectly, width-wise, with the top plane of the instrument panel inside.
The 1966-1967 Rivieras were just flat-out gorgeous(I had a 1967 that I drove around for one summer(after purchasing it for $5). A level of engineering and quality of materials no longer seen.
On the other hand, the 1971 was the last hurrah for GM's truly eye-catching and outrageous styling. Too cool by half. Everything after that makes me go "Meh."
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
That dark plum color (whatever they called it) that I started seeing on Rivs of the '66-67 era was always really beautiful to my eyes.
At the time, I thought the boattail Riv was too big for the styling. I like it now though. Then and now, I like the '74-76 Rivs, rarely seen today. The last big GM car that could be had with buckets, console, and floor shift.