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

fintail

That build quality/frameless door ideal is a funny memory. When my friend's SS got hit, he wanted someone to be around when the estimator came by. I was nearby, so I was there. The insurance guy said something like "these are the kind of cars where you slam the door and it rattles for 30 seconds". But like was said, they weren't expensive cars, and they had some style and comfort during a time when some cars were kind of dreary.

uplanderguy

Really, they were the last cars that I liked a lot...the GM G-bodies. After that, and front-wheel drive, blahness set in...to my mind. The 'appliance' thing began. MHO only of course.

uplanderguy

RE.: Aerocoupe production--I seem to remember 200 for model-year '86, but I'm thinking most '87's were Aerocoupes, if not all. In '88, the SS reverted to non-Aerocoupe. I'm pretty sure the '88 Montes ended production in late (December?) '87.

sda

uplanderguy said:

I saw a very nice '81-83(?) burgundy Monte Carlo.

I have a soft spot for those cars. By that time the Monte was overshadowed by the Cutlass Supreme and maybe even the Regal, but my first new car was an '81 Monte Carlo, in lovely (MHO) Light Jade hood and roof over Dark Jade everything else, and Jade interior. I swallowed hard on the '78-80 Monte, but I think the '81 was a pretty masterful facelift. My '81 was stolen, and I bought our dealer owner's '82 Monte demo then. My parents traded in their '80 Monte for an '84 with 305 4-barrel, probably my favorite of all four of those cars.

I liked how the taillights mimicked the '74 and '76 Montes, and I also liked how they never changed the nameplate script from the '70 all the way through the '88--non-SS's, anyway.

I always loved those checkerboard aluminum wheels you could get, although neither of mine nor my Dad's had them.

GM did a nice job updating all the '81 intermediate coupes, Monte Carlo, Grand Prix, Cutlass Supreme, Regal. The styling was much crisper, and looked more elegant. We had a loaner '82 Cutlass Supreme for about a week while dad's Eldorado diesel was having the heads replaced because of blown head gaskets. From what you describe the Cutlass was the same color combination as your Monte Carlo. Even though the Cutlass was fairly basic, 231 V6, a/c, am/fm stereo, cloth bench seat, rallye wheels, no vinyl top (which I prefer), I liked that car. It drove well, got good mpg, was quiet, and (at the time) seemed to be pretty peppy.

ab348

Was at a cruise-in tonight and present was an '86 Buick Grand National with 10,000 miles and an '84 Hurst/Olds. While in terms of performance the Buick would obviously blow the Olds into the weeds, the interior trim and design of the Olds was so much nicer it surprised me as these were cars I never really paid much attention to before. Just a much richer-looking interior in the Olds.

uplanderguy

I went to our local Thursday night cruise tonight, for the first time in a while, and saw a light turquoise '66 Galaxie 500 XL convertible with creamy white or beige bucket seat interior in the style of the black interior shown above. It had the integral, adjustable headrest on the right front seat too. I remembered seeing this car before. I see what you mean--the other three main seating positions had about a three-inch metal/chrome vertical button in the seat back, but not the right front seat back!

There was also one '23 Model T there tonight, after I had said earlier that I never see those cars at cruise-ins.

Weirdest car there--a patina-laden, fairly rough '48 Frazer Standard sedan in a washed-out red. It started up quickly and ran smoothly, but was it rough-looking. It's very plain but looked like it would have been solid as a rock in its day--just everything on it looked heavy and sturdy.

ab348

I was at a cruise-in again tonight and this showed up out of the blue. It is just beautifully done, shows few signs of wear. Only thing I would quibble with are the Vogue wire wheels and tires. But a superb car.





My friend showed up with his '71 4-4-2 he has just restored at what must be a huge cost. A labor of love for him.

Mr_Shiftright

Just putting good chrome on that Cadillac is enough to bust your checkbook.

I agree, though...beautiful car but the wire wheels absolutely ruin it. More suitable for a low rider or pimpmobile.

uplanderguy

Have you ever seen the Sixty Special model of that era Cadillac? From that molding on the rear door, down and to the back bumper, it's entirely brightwork.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d9/1958_Cadillac_60_Special_rear.jpg

Mr_Shiftright

It's a bit much, but then it reflects the times--an era of rather unbridled excess in auto styling Certainly 1958 will not go down as a "golden age" of automotive design, but wretched excess does have its appeal---it's so over-the-top as to be alluring.

uplanderguy

I know it is alluring to a lot of people, but not to me...LOL. It's so much of a function of one's age I think.

A Cadillac with wretched excess--and it is excess--that I find appealing is the '74-76 Fleetwood Talisman. Even in my small hometown, the bail bondsman in town owned a new '74. He's still around but getting up there; one of these days I wish I had an opportunity to ask him about it.

Mr_Shiftright

Ah yes....."upholstered in Medici Velour...."

What IS Medici Velour and really, is this a good role model?

A Borgia veneer?

Romanov-like carpeting?

uplanderguy

For an enormous car, which is not my typical area of liking, I liked the '75 and '76 Cadillac revisions. But one area they cheaped out on that bugged me, was I always thought the individual "FLEETWOOD" lettering at the bottom of the front fenders on those cars for many years, was totally elegant. They stopped that after '72, putting a script there instead, and then in '75 or '76 put a body-colored 'block' on there with "FLEETWOOD" printing on that 'block' (for lack of a better word)! Cheapskates! LOL

roadburner

The '60s GM "Personal Coupes" were some of my favorites- the 1966-1967 Riviera and Toronado in particular.

uplanderguy

For the longest time, I thought those first Toronados were styled awkwardly. Only in the past couple years have I come around on them. I love the '65 Riviera best but I can see how you can like the '66-67. You have to get the one with bucket seats and console or at least the Strato-Bench seat. They started offering a standard model then with just a regular old bench seat--not very Riviera-like! In fact, same with the first Toronados.

fintail

I'm in somewhat podunk for a few days. On one side of me a neighbor has a couple of maybe malaise Harleys, the kind that have to idle for 10 minutes to be useful. The other neighbor has an F150 SVT, which might be a little rare. On the road I have seen a definitely unrestored 63 Corvette on a flatbed, a very unrestored 55-57 Chevy stepside still doing hauling duty (I am sure he has refused an offer or three), a Model A in a parking lot, definitely driven there (town sedan I think, blanked out rear quarter windows) , a Mitsu Expo, mid 70s El Camino, red BMW E32, 83-85 Cougar with a half vinyl top, a Neon that looks like it was converted to a 4x4, and a driveway where a MB C126 and a cigar 'Bird have been languishing together for several years.

ab348

uplanderguy said:

Have you ever seen the Sixty Special model of that era Cadillac? From that molding on the rear door, down and to the back bumper, it's entirely brightwork.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d9/1958_Cadillac_60_Special_rear.jpg

Also a different, busier, rear bumper too.

berri

I like that blue. Why are we stuck with boring and unappealing blue hues with most of today's vehicles?

bhill2

Mr_Shiftright said:

Ah yes....."upholstered in Medici Velour...."

What IS Medici Velour and really, is this a good role model?

A Borgia veneer?

Romanov-like carpeting?

There is something fascinating (in a train wreck sort of way) about a 234" long 5100 lb car that only seats four people. I would imagine that they were very comfortable people, however.

fintail

I like that blue, too. Not nearly enough silvery or light teal blues out there.

uplanderguy

I've always been a fan of the light and dark turquoise metallics, and matching interiors, one could get in the late fifties/sixties/early seventies. I was excited when in '81 GM started offering all those again, and in fact that was my specific choice when I had my dealer locate a new Monte Carlo with V8 and no air, LOL.

Mr_Shiftright

1990 Mercedes 420 SEL. Guy just bought it for $2900. Looked pretty good!

These old W126s really have hit rock bottom it seems.

fintail

Only the most pristine 126s have value. But the ones that do can bring decent money for an 80s barge.

Out again in podunk - a decent condition Citation, 2 Chevy IIs, another cigar Bird, 2 Samurais, and that Cougar again - an 83-85, looked to be extremely clean, for sale sign in window - don't see those around so much anymore.

stickguy

Up on a long vacation weekend in the finger lakes. Outside a local shop, sort of on displays, a 20s vintage Chevy 2 door. Square body. And a 60s ford flat front pickup, lots of rust.

My favorite, another 60s era ford. F700, chassis cab with no bed. Looked real clean. And very classy.

explorerx4

A new Shelby GT-350. Gray with no stripes. Just wow! Made me want to go buy one, but I'll never do that.

PF_Flyer

Have a "Columbo"episode on this morning and saw this



1962 Morgan Plus 4

explorerx4

HA! I see I posted my GT-350 sighting in the wrong thread. Oh well, saw a gen 1 red MR 2 today. Looked to be in nice shape.

stickguy

on the PA turnpike (NE extension) came up behind a car towing a cute little Scamp mini travel trailer. A bit worn, but interesting.

more interesting, it was being towed by some 2 door coupe that was either late 30s or in the 40s. Even had the big strap on trailering mirrors hung on the side. Odd sight.

ab348

When I was heading out to the country yesterday I went past a big RV dealer who had a pair of those retro/repro 1960's style travel trailers - Shasta, I think? - parked out front, one yellow and white, one red and white. Cute little things that took me back in time to when I'd see them as a kid.

sda

A black 1988-89 Nissan Maxima SE in very nice condition. It is still a handsome car.

uplanderguy

I can't think of that era off the top of my head, but even I think certain Maximas are nice-looking...the ones with red lights the whole way across the back and simple styling down the sides. First cars I ever saw in a pearly white too. I'm not a fan at all of the ones that look just like an Infiniti.

I think the Altima of around 2002 was a good-looking car too, and it seemed to start that custom chrome-inside-of-a-taillight-lens craze.

sda

The picture of the black Maxima is like the one I saw. The standard version looks like the picture on the bottom. I think this is the era that you are mentioning. For some reason the second picture didn't copy over, click on the link.

https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?&id=OIP.M185e34f298bcfe1214461e8d7ca731d3o0&w=300&h=225&c=0&pid=1.9&rs=0&p=0&r=0
https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?&id=OIP.Mf1897d8f5f5d1cfef3065dbe688857e2H0&w=300&h=225&c=0&pid=1.9&rs=0&p=0&r=0

sda

fintail--I searched and can't find a picture of dad's '79 Eldorado diesel. His was the same color combination as this picture, though his had the steel top and not the half vinyl roof. This picture is not that great and the car could use wash/waxed. It was really a sharp combination, with the saddle brown leather interior. I found another picture that is a little better, with steel roof and standard wheel covers instead of the wire wheel covers that he had.
http://images.classiccars.com/classifieds/170154_11044888_1979_Cadillac_Eldorado.jpg
http://motorgen.com/pic/data/533/545_1979CadillacElDorado_01.jpg
Interior:
http://hooniverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Fullscreen-capture-432011-121416-PM.bmp-720x521.jpg

uplanderguy

That is the era Maxima I like the styling of, too.

uplanderguy

I really like the styling of the '79-85 Eldorados...I'm reminded of the razor-edged '67-70. I like frameless door glass in a car like that, too.

I know the Mark VII of that general era is considered more modern, and has a much-better engine, but to me, the Eldo just looks more expensive.

ab348

uplanderguy said:

I think the Altima of around 2002 was a good-looking car too, and it seemed to start that custom chrome-inside-of-a-taillight-lens craze.

Well, it started before that with the tuners (avoiding using a less politically-correct word there) and their Altezza taillights. I hated the ones on the Altima that tried to make that mainstream. A few manufacturers followed but fortunately that never caught on.

sda

uplanderguy said:

I really like the styling of the '79-85 Eldorados...I'm reminded of the razor-edged '67-70. I like frameless door glass in a car like that, too.

I know the Mark VII of that general era is considered more modern, and has a much-better engine, but to me, the Eldo just looks more expensive.

I'm partial to them as well. I thought they were really sharp and stole the keys from dad often to drive it. His '79 had the 120hp diesel, the '80 reduced to 105hp. It ran pretty strong and got 20mpg around town and 30 mpg on the road. The car was very troublesome, head gasket failures primarily, but still ranks as my dad's favorite car.

ab348

uplanderguy said:

I really like the styling of the '79-85 Eldorados...I'm reminded of the razor-edged '67-70. I like frameless door glass in a car like that, too.

I know the Mark VII of that general era is considered more modern, and has a much-better engine, but to me, the Eldo just looks more expensive.

Yeah, I really liked the styling on all 3 versions of that car, probably in Eldo-Toronado-Riviera order. Wasn't a fan of the big-slab-o'-plastiwood dash but you can't have everything. Too bad they rusted pretty badly in the salt belt.

In '79 and '80 you could get the 350 Olds with EFI in them I think, so that wouldn't have been a bad combo. Too many were saddled with the diesel though.

sda

ab348 said:

uplanderguy said:

I really like the styling of the '79-85 Eldorados...I'm reminded of the razor-edged '67-70. I like frameless door glass in a car like that, too.

I know the Mark VII of that general era is considered more modern, and has a much-better engine, but to me, the Eldo just looks more expensive.

Yeah, I really liked the styling on all 3 versions of that car, probably in Eldo-Toronado-Riviera order. Wasn't a fan of the big-slab-o'-plastiwood dash but you can't have everything. Too bad they rusted pretty badly in the salt belt.

In '79 and '80 you could get the 350 Olds with EFI in them I think, so that wouldn't have been a bad combo. Too many were saddled with the diesel though.

We went to look at a black '79 Eldorado with the Olds 350 EFI. It had a red leather interior. They had just sold it. Dad took to the idea of the diesel, as he had good experience in the construction business with their durability. Well we know the rest of the story. Actually, if GM had put in a good water filter that prevented water getting into the injectors and causing all kinds of problems, the diesel would have been ok.

PF_Flyer

uplanderguy said:

I can't think of that era off the top of my head, but even I think certain Maximas are nice-looking...the ones with red lights the whole way across the back and simple styling down the sides. First cars I ever saw in a pearly white too. I'm not a fan at all of the ones that look just like an Infiniti.

I think the Altima of around 2002 was a good-looking car too, and it seemed to start that custom chrome-inside-of-a-taillight-lens craze.

I think it was around 2009 that Nissan had a color called Pearl White that looked sort of "deep" like it had a lot of clear coats. Was pretty sharp

uplanderguy

Yeah, I really liked the styling on all 3 versions of that car, probably in Eldo-Toronado-Riviera order. Wasn't a fan of the big-slab-o'-plastiwood dash but you can't have everything.

You're right; the dashes in all three were rather tall and just completely straight across. I like the Olds dash the least, but like the exterior of the Olds second-best--after the Eldo. The Riv seems a little "hippy" but also for some reason seems to have some thirties-esque-ness to it but I can't explain it.

My guess is that the Toro sold the least, and the Riv or Eldo sold better, but I'm totally guessing.

berri

I also liked that era Eldo, but I'm probably a minority in regards to actually preferring the looks of the sister Riv. I thought both were kind of sporty yet also stately (and you thought those two words were always antonyms)

fintail

Nice Eldo. I like those too, especially the kind with steel tops and without wire wheel covers, the un-pimped models. Sharp design, angularity worked well for it. When I was a kid, a friend of the family had a blue on blue one, probably no newer than an 81 or so, and I got to ride in it numerous times - I enjoyed the smooth ride, I could tell it was a cut above my mom's gargantuan T-Bird.

uplanderguy

http://www.mcsmk8.com/80-ELDO-WHT/HR/CARS-13.JPG

Nice '80 Biarritz with the aluminum wheels

sda

uplanderguy said:

http://www.mcsmk8.com/80-ELDO-WHT/HR/CARS-13.JPG

Nice '80 Biarritz with the aluminum wheels

I like those wheels. The wire wheel covers were really heavy. I had to replace a couple of spokes on one of the wheel covers. They stuck out pretty far and were easily damaged by a curb. Convinced dad to replace the tires with Michelins. Wow what a difference, it just glided down the road at all speeds.

ab348

That Eldo in the pic is beautiful, and I note the white interior - oh how I wish SOMEONE would produce one of those again! The cool thing about Caddys from the late '70s and early '80s was that some of the interior colors were unique - you could get white, yellow or silver leather IIRC along with the typical blue, red, green and tan.

kyfdx

ab348 said:

That Eldo in the pic is beautiful, and I note the white interior - oh how I wish SOMEONE would produce one of those again! The cool thing about Caddys from the late '70s and early '80s was that some of the interior colors were unique - you could get white, yellow or silver leather IIRC along with the typical blue, red, green and tan.

My aunt's '78 DeVille had yellow plaid interior.

explorerx4

A 70's GMC motorhome. Lime green with darker green paint on the boxes on the top.
They still look cool.

andre1969

I think my favorite among those 1979-85 E-bodies was the Toronado, followed by the Riv, and finally the Eldorado. I thought the Toronado nailed the styling just about perfect for 1980. The 1979 had a grille that seemed a bit cheap, while the '81-85 seemed a bit more fussy. The Riviera was nice, too...with its curves it had a nice, "neoclassic" look to it...sort of what they call "retro" today. The Eldorado, I thought looked okay on the outside, but was a bit pimpy on the inside.

One little detail I liked about the Toronado is that it was the only model to have a temperature gauge standard, although the Eldorado and Riv might have offered a digital one in one of their option packages. Also, the Eldorado loses points with me because of the engines. It was fine when it had the Olds 350, and even with the Caddy 368 it was okay, for 1980. But then it had the V-8-6-4 for '81, and finished out with the little aluminum 4.1. I think they might've thrown a Buick 252 in there for a year or two as well...an engine that oddly, was a better choice than the Caddy 249 V-8, because while they had the same hp (125), the Buick mill out-torqued it a bit...205 ft-lb to 195.

Once the 350 engines went away, the Toro and Riv relied mainly on Olds 307's, although the 252 V-6 was nominally the standard engine, from '81-84 at least. Oh, and the Riv did have the turbocharged 231 a few years, which was kinda cool.

fintail

The wheels on that Eldo are the ones I am talking about - they fit the car. That Eldo didn't have to be pimpy, it can be pretty clean if properly equipped.

The Eldo had by a friend of the family had a light-medium blue leather interior. Another had a light yellow on light yellow leather 77-79 Fleetwood, I remember riding in that too, made me feel like I was in a limo.

I've seen a BMW 6 Gran Coupe with a white interior, and I know MB has a "porcelain" color that is similar. My mom's T-Bird was white on white, I think the dash was dark grey,