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

explorerx4

Yesterday, a beautiful 63 or 64 Cadillac 4 door hardtop. It was light metalic blue and had a perfect paint.
Also a Yellow Volvo P1800(S?), the hatchback.
A 65/66 Big Mercury convertible for sale. Red with white top, faded paint.

sda

Mr_Shiftright said:

texases said:

Shifty-did you mean 1968?

Yes, typo! I corrected it, thanks. And yes, prior to Feb. 15/68 you get the recessed marker lights, and after Feb. 15th you get the bolt ons with the bezel.

Was the recessed side marker illuminated by a light bulb, and the other type just a reflector? I like the look of the recessed best, it doesn't look tacked on.

uplanderguy

I'm pretty certain that the law was they had to have a bulb for the '68 model year, but don't know that for absolute certain.

uplanderguy

This past Friday evening, on I-71 around Grove City, Ohio, a tomato red Allante with the top down passed me. It was not particularly clean in either sense of the word, but he was clipping along and it was hot as hell at the time. I can't say those cars grab me all that much, but I think it's a pleasant, clean shape and size. This was an earlier one--did not have the Northstar emblem in front of the front wheel openings.

I bet most Allantes I've ever seen were either silver or this tomato red.

stickguy

The wagon style Volvo was the P1800ES. I always wanted one of those. Still like them.

iluvmysephia1

Here's the one style (and I really like this car and color, and I'm not really a Mustang guy):
http://www.mustangdreams.com/tt1.jpg
Here's the other style:
http://www.oldcarsguide.com/ford/mustang/images/1968-mustang-side-marker-light.jpg

I used to see both in my hometown.

Anyone I ever asked in person about that over the years, even owners, would go, "Huh?". LOL

I must be a Mustang guy 'cause I liked both small '68 Mustang taillights pictures. My first car was a '65 Ford Mustang, yeah, the model year that had the piece of metal going at a slant angle 8" or so just behind the doors. I still prefer that model year, but really a '64 1/2 (basically the same car as the '65 and the '66) and the '66 - '69 model years look pretty good to me, too. Love ta have any of the 64 1/2 through '69 model year Mustang's again.

imidazol97

uplanderguy said:

I bet most Allantes I've ever seen were either silver or this tomato red.

It's been a while since I"ve seen an Allante in the wild. Used to be one around this area. Rarely are they at car shows -- used to see one at shows in the past.

fintail

I seem to notice a lot of the later run Allantes wer/are pearl white.

texases

I either saw two identical oddballs (Porsche 968 cabriolet in Guard Red) 20 seconds apart heading in opposite directions on the same cross street, or the guy did a rapid u turn in rush hour traffic. Wired either way. 

berri

Explorer, I like those 63/64 Cadillac's. They appeared slimmed down and very clean in design to me (although I still like the 62 best that decade). I also like the 65/66 Mercury. I think it often gets overlooked because of the big Coke bottle GM competitors. Make mine an S-55 Marauder.

stever

Saw a Suzuki Verona today. Looked in good shape for a ~10 year old car.

berri

Verona? The only Verona I know is a small town outside of Madison, WI

stever

Don't remember Verona from my days as a Dane County resident but we started to camp at the Prairie Moraine County Park a few years back, but there weren't any trees, so we went back to town.

I'm also familiar with Verona Mississippi, just south of Elvis's stomping grounds. That's where my Daddy's bootlegger had his barn. .

berri

Some years back they made Hwy 151 a divided 4 lane from Dubuque, IA into Madison. Verona was a pit stop just a bit south of Madison off 151, kind of where it curved to the southwest. The last I saw of it some years back it was developing into a suburb. Been in Memphis, and visited Elvis grounds, but don't think Verona, MS.

kyfdx

Verona, KY.

Home of Triple Crown jockey, Steve Cauthen

stever

Big furniture manufacturing area in that area of N. MS; guess an Ashley factory just closed in Verona, and that's going to hurt.

Oh yeah, there's also a car factory about 20 odd miles to the north. Some outfit called Toyoda or something like that.

berri

Think I heard of that Toyoda fella

Michaell

I saw a different red 80's convertible this afternoon.

IROC-Z with the top down. Looked and sounded pretty good.

andre1969

uplanderguy said:

I'm pretty certain that the law was they had to have a bulb for the '68 model year, but don't know that for absolute certain.

Yep, in 1968 specifically, side marker lights were required, and they had to be lit by a bulb. However, for 1969 you could get away with a reflector. My '69 Dart GT had rectangular reflectors, but my '68 270 had round lights. I can still remember when I took that 270 to get it inspected. At first, the mechanic thought they were just reflectors, but when he turned on the lights, two of the damned things came on, revealing they were supposed to light up. So, that was one of several things I got failed on.

They were a pain to replace, too. Even though they had this giant nut (for lack of a better word) on the inside that just twisted on to hold it in place, by this time they were rusted tight and I had to wrestle with them to get them apart.

iluvmysephia1

The Suzuki Verona was back about 5 years for production and was no doubt built by Daewoo Motors of South Korea. I had a big crush on a 2010 Suzuki Kizashi but my offer was too low to them for a bright red 6-speed stick Kizashi. That represents my only foray into seriously considering a midsize rig.

I also really liked their little SX-4 in late 2006. It was this small, red "baby EVO" from Mitsu that quickly took my mind off the Suzuki SX-4, though. The internet became abuzz with the new Lancer design, and once I began studying the car in detail, I was hooked. That car steered and handled like a breeze, 18" low-profile expensive tires. The '08 Lancer GTS taught me how dorky and dishonest car rags can be. Their review of that car was so untrue that I get an image of some cardshark, some backroom smoky deal made up ta ward off sales and competition. The reviews did not even come close ta describing the wonderful ride, looks and performance of this Japanese car.

xwesx

Kind of a rare sight around here - a GTI (rectangle lights, so what's that, maybe 1986?):




And, a week ago, an old Fox as well (neato back "window" too!):

stickguy

that style GTI came out for MY 1986.

I test drove a fox when they first came out (must have been around 1992?) Man, what a piece of junk. Felt like a beat up old car, even brand new. Reminded me of the awful late 80s Excel (base strippo model) that my Grandmother bought new. Another car that felt old when new!

uplanderguy

Anybody who's on Facebook and might be interested, look at "Vintage Los Angeles"'s post from August 28, of four color pics taken by someone at CBS Television City, of the cast of "All in the Family" arriving for work. All but Rob Reiner have sunglasses on, and Jean Stapleton is getting out of her light creamy yellow Duster, Carroll O'Connor has a Benz sedan (don't know the model), Sally Struthers has a '73 Monte Carlo, and Rob Reiner is not standing by a car so don't know how he got to work. Interesting little piece IMHO.

ab348

That looks like my 1990 GTI, except mine was black. Great car, shouldn't have sold it. Not mine, but an identical look and same wheels on this one:

ab348

Went to the weekly Tuesday cruise-in tonight at a local old-school drive-in. It got crowded very quickly so I didn't take many pics. I loved the Benz 280, which was pristine, and the Vista Cruiser. The '70 W-30 convertible is allegedly appraised for $235K. I am dubious of that but who knows.

I have to say that the Cutlass is driving better than it has in years after the front end work and alignment.

fintail

Cool pic:



Too bad Archie wasn't driving a LaSalle. Looks like he was in a W108 of unknown model. Maybe Meathead drove one of those Mustangs in the background. Pretty low-key choices for relatively big names of the day - today they'd be a lot flashier.

uplanderguy said:

Anybody who's on Facebook and might be interested, look at "Vintage Los Angeles"'s post from August 28, of four color pics taken by someone at CBS Television City, of the cast of "All in the Family" arriving for work. All but Rob Reiner have sunglasses on, and Jean Stapleton is getting out of her light creamy yellow Duster, Carroll O'Connor has a Benz sedan (don't know the model), Sally Struthers has a '73 Monte Carlo, and Rob Reiner is not standing by a car so don't know how he got to work. Interesting little piece IMHO.

fintail

Nice Vista Cruiser, reminds me of the Griswold's car that was pancaked:



In this market, the 280SL might challenge the W30 for value.

ab348 said:

Went to the weekly Tuesday cruise-in tonight at a local old-school drive-in. It got crowded very quickly so I didn't take many pics. I loved the Benz 280, which was pristine, and the Vista Cruiser. The '70 W-30 convertible is allegedly appraised for $235K. I am dubious of that but who knows.

I have to say that the Cutlass is driving better than it has in years after the front end work and alignment.

stever

Why am I thinking of those people from Walmart sites?

fintail

Oh yeah, I saw a Verona today too. It appeared to be in typical condition for a car of its age.

ab348

fintail said:

In this market, the 280SL might challenge the W30 for value.

Maybe here too. The story on the W-30 makes me like it less than I otherwise would. It is a local car, loaded with options, with provenance back to the original selling dealer. But after the dealership owner drove it for a while, he sold it and it was used as a pace car at a local stock car track for several years. It was sold again and neglected. Sometime in the late '70s/early '80s it suffered an engine fire that melted the fiberglass hood and did a lot of damage to the engine compartment. The current owner acquired it in the mid-80s in that state and undertook the restoration. But he changed the color from dark red to yellow and it looks to me like they got the stripes and a bunch of other little things wrong. I'd love to have it of course but all those issues make me doubt the appraisal.

The Benz, on the other hand, looked perfect to my untrained eye.

berri

The Vista Cruisers always remind me of That 70's Show - let's hear it from Red Foreman "dumb a**"

stickguy

ah. Cruising the Vista!

Mr_Shiftright

fintail said:

Nice Vista Cruiser, reminds me of the Griswold's car that was pancaked:



In this market, the 280SL might challenge the W30 for value.

ab348 said:

Went to the weekly Tuesday cruise-in tonight at a local old-school drive-in. It got crowded very quickly so I didn't take many pics. I loved the Benz 280, which was pristine, and the Vista Cruiser. The '70 W-30 convertible is allegedly appraised for $235K. I am dubious of that but who knows.

I have to say that the Cutlass is driving better than it has in years after the front end work and alignment.

It would have to pretty much be the best one in the entire world for that money, Pebble Beach quality in every respect--- but it is possible. A nice clean driver would be more like $125K. The coupe version is actually more rare.

Mr_Shiftright

Mr_Shiftright said:

fintail said:

Nice Vista Cruiser, reminds me of the Griswold's car that was pancaked:



In this market, the 280SL might challenge the W30 for value.

ab348 said:

Went to the weekly Tuesday cruise-in tonight at a local old-school drive-in. It got crowded very quickly so I didn't take many pics. I loved the Benz 280, which was pristine, and the Vista Cruiser. The '70 W-30 convertible is allegedly appraised for $235K. I am dubious of that but who knows.

I have to say that the Cutlass is driving better than it has in years after the front end work and alignment.

It would have to pretty much be the best one in the entire world for that money, Pebble Beach quality in every respect--- but it is possible. A nice clean driver would be more like $125K. The coupe version is actually more rare.

A perfect 280SL in the right colors could break through the $150K mark.

fintail

And what would it have been worth 20 years ago? 30K? They've performed like Seattle real estate.

Mr_Shiftright

Yeah, sure if you spent $150K restoring it to that level of perfection. Otherwise, most people own $50,000 examples of the type.

fintail

The 50K 280SLs I see are kind of rough. Although that will get you a decent driver 230SL.

andre1969

berri said:

The Vista Cruisers always remind me of That 70's Show - let's hear it from Red Foreman "dumb a**"

"The dealer only offered me $500 in trade. I'll let it rust in the driveway before I let it go for that!" -Red

"But honey. It IS rusting in the driveway!" -Kitty

ab348

I just spotted this on Hemmings:

http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/cars-for-sale/pontiac/firebird/1853344.html?refer=blog

What do you guys make of it, especially under the hood? I can't really tell what I am seeing there. The big State Farm sign also makes me wonder what is going on.

The auction should be interesting.

stickguy

Plenty of time. Auction listed as going to 2038.

Maybe theft recovery? Interesting tied up trunk lid.

Actually reminds me, especially interior, of my 67 Camaro.

That engine, looks newer. Is it some sort of LS1?

Mr_Shiftright

fintail said:

The 50K 280SLs I see are kind of rough. Although that will get you a decent driver 230SL.

You can find decent "drivers" for $50K, like this one:

http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/cars-for-sale/mercedes-benz/280sl/1846884.html

Of course you'll find things wrong, like maybe floor panel patches, some body filler, wrong fabric on the top, scorched wood---things like that...but better than "rough".

sda

fintail said:

Cool pic:



Too bad Archie wasn't driving a LaSalle. Looks like he was in a W108 of unknown model. Maybe Meathead drove one of those Mustangs in the background. Pretty low-key choices for relatively big names of the day - today they'd be a lot flashier.

uplanderguy said:

Anybody who's on Facebook and might be interested, look at "Vintage Los Angeles"'s post from August 28, of four color pics taken by someone at CBS Television City, of the cast of "All in the Family" arriving for work. All but Rob Reiner have sunglasses on, and Jean Stapleton is getting out of her light creamy yellow Duster, Carroll O'Connor has a Benz sedan (don't know the model), Sally Struthers has a '73 Monte Carlo, and Rob Reiner is not standing by a car so don't know how he got to work. Interesting little piece IMHO.

Those are fun pictures. It is interesting the conservative choices of a Duster and Monte Carlo that the two women had. The Monte Carlo is the same color as the '73 Grand Am that we had. It was kind of a butterscotch color--never my favorite.

uplanderguy

No vinyl top, and the standard wheelcovers, on that Monte also.

sda

ab348 said:

Went to the weekly Tuesday cruise-in tonight at a local old-school drive-in. It got crowded very quickly so I didn't take many pics. I loved the Benz 280, which was pristine, and the Vista Cruiser. The '70 W-30 convertible is allegedly appraised for $235K. I am dubious of that but who knows.

I have to say that the Cutlass is driving better than it has in years after the front end work and alignment.

Your '68 Cutlass is one of the sharpest looking that I've seen in a long time. I always enjoy when you and fintail post pictures of your treasured rides.

fintail

I'd definitely want a good PPI on that one - anything being welded worries me, and the language used in the ad doesn't help. What was that, a 20K car in 1996? If that?

Mr_Shiftright said:

fintail said:

The 50K 280SLs I see are kind of rough. Although that will get you a decent driver 230SL.

You can find decent "drivers" for $50K, like this one:

http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/cars-for-sale/mercedes-benz/280sl/1846884.html

Of course you'll find things wrong, like maybe floor panel patches, some body filler, wrong fabric on the top, scorched wood---things like that...but better than "rough".

fintail

Saw a Vehicross today. Most I see are pretty clean, this one needed a little TLC.

ab348

fintail said:

I'd definitely want a good PPI on that one - anything being welded worries me, and the language used in the ad doesn't help. What was that, a 20K car in 1996? If that?

What are those "factory fender welds" this example does not seem to have? Looks like a nice enough car.

ab348

sda said:

Your '68 Cutlass is one of the sharpest looking that I've seen in a long time. I always enjoy when you and fintail post pictures of your treasured rides.

That is very kind, thank you. I am re-energized now in terms of care and maintenance for it. Might get the TH-350 that has been sitting here for years rebuilt and installed soon to replace the Jetaway 2-speed.

fintail

The term is kind of odd, and the use of "seems" make me leery. I suspect it might have something to do with an area around the area where the floor (rust nest) and fender (it can go too). W113s can really rust, I've seen patched up ones too.

ab348 said:

What are those "factory fender welds" this example does not seem to have? Looks like a nice enough car.

berri

I like the Cutlass models like yours and red certainly enhances the look. One odd thing for me, and it may just be a factor of coincidence, is that you see a lot of that era Cutlass at old car shows, but I seldom see a '69 model???