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

fintail

You might be thinking of Rudi Koniczek, famous for 300SL restorations and others.

Canada has a more logical and liberal 15 year import rule (compared to the American 25 year rule).

Michaell

stickguy said:

I was in Bermuda a year ago, and there are all kind of little Asian micro and mini vans running around there. Some real neat stuff (and some true oddballs).

Hey, aren't you going to Ireland soon? Got plans for a rental while you're there?

stickguy

exactly 2 weeks from this moment, I should be on a plane winging my way over the pond.

I booked a rental car. I forget what size, but needs to hold 4 people. I think it was the class that includes stuff the size of the Jetta or maybe Golf. Hopefully big enough because will be doing a lot of driving. I just did not want a big car since so many of the roads are real tight.

Michaell

stickguy said:

exactly 2 weeks from this moment, I should be on a plane winging my way over the pond.

I booked a rental car. I forget what size, but needs to hold 4 people. I think it was the class that includes stuff the size of the Jetta or maybe Golf. Hopefully big enough because will be doing a lot of driving. I just did not want a big car since so many of the roads are real tight.

You driven RHD before?

stickguy

nope. first time for it. I did wimp out and paid extra to get an automatic. Costs a lot to get that feature over there.

Michaell

stickguy said:

nope. first time for it. I did wimp out and paid extra to get an automatic. Costs a lot to get that feature over there.

If I ever have to do it, I'll get a slushbox as well. Too many things to think about already for us dumb Yanks to try shifting with the wrong hand.

But, the pedals are still in the same place - go figure.

stickguy

I think what would bother me the most is they did not reverse the shift patter (I assume?), so first would be away from you instead of toward you.

I will likely be getting enough grief from the wife during the driving days that I don't need anything else to think about into the mix. someday though we plan to go back with just the 2 of us, and I will rent a little car like an Up! and get a stick, just because I want to.

Michaell

stickguy said:

I think what would bother me the most is they did not reverse the shift patter (I assume?), so first would be away from you instead of toward you.

I will likely be getting enough grief from the wife during the driving days that I don't need anything else to think about into the mix. someday though we plan to go back with just the 2 of us, and I will rent a little car like an Up! and get a stick, just because I want to.

I think if I want to drive a RHD stick, I'd do it in Australia. In the outback. Away from traffic.

Specifically, the Stuart Highway, Northern Territory.

xwesx

Wimped out on a stick. I think you need to change your handle! Hahahaha

tjc78

I think I'd wimp out on RHD altogether.  We took an island hopping cruise on our Honeymoon and I specifically chose to rent a car and explore St Martin since it's LHD.  

kyfdx

When we were in Grand Cayman (long,long time ago), they drove on the left, but the rental was LHD. I think I could have acclimated to the traffic flow better if it were RHD. Intersections were hard to wrap my mind around.

texases

stickguy said:

exactly 2 weeks from this moment, I should be on a plane winging my way over the pond.

I booked a rental car. I forget what size, but needs to hold 4 people. I think it was the class that includes stuff the size of the Jetta or maybe Golf. Hopefully big enough because will be doing a lot of driving. I just did not want a big car since so many of the roads are real tight.

I guess you 4 are packing light? Hope there's enough room in the 'boot'...

PF_Flyer

This 1930 Model A isn't the best known vehicle from my Friday morning movie

texases

Bonnie and Clyde?

fintail

Some of the more unusual vintage cars at the Vancouver Auto Show today:

- worth one zillion dollars

- worth three zillion dollars

- sidemounts seem odd here (this is apparently the Huey Long car)

- vintage feel to this

- fancy custom

- lovely

- racer

kyfdx

Those Alfas really do it for me.

stickguy

I want the willys gasser. One of those is on my dream car bucket list.

Mr_Shiftright

A new way to define "drop dead gorgeous"?

tjc78

Early 90s Supra Turbo. Modded all to hell.  Also same vintage Accord wagon in pristine condition. 

PF_Flyer

Lookie what I ran across on a damp and dreary day in central PA. Talked with the owner a little. He's "fixing it up" and says he's going to put a "big block" into it. He seemed really excited about the whole thing

He also revved it up a little as we were leaving, JUST for the noise!!

PF_Flyer

texases said:

Bonnie and Clyde?

Bonnie & Clyde indeed!

Mr_Shiftright

Not exactly Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty are they....LOL!

fintail

That W123 hearse is pretty cool. I have seen hearses of MBs going back to the 170 style cars of the early postwar years. A fintail hearse would be a stylish last ride.

The mystery movie car idea is a good one. This one won't be as hard, but I am a fan of the film, and this view from a Model A aftermarket hood ornament is somewhat iconic:

Michaell

Olds Toronado Trofeo. Bright red, looked in good condition. 

fintail

Saw a Chevette , surprised there aren't more on the road in a cheap car haven like Canada - but maybe they were just sleeping. I think most of the world's Tercel population is still on the road in Vancouver. Also saw a very unrestored looking W111 coupe slowly driving in traffic, a 57 Chevy 4 door HT on a trailer, and the most Vancouver thing right now, a later run 4x4 Delica van.

stickguy

passed a nice black with black top 67ish Bonneville convertible driving around today. Imposing car.

and just as rare to see, an Acura Vigor.

ab348

The one car of my dad's that I remember best and rather fondly now was a '67 Pontiac Parisienne (Canadian "Cheviac" with Catalina-level trim) 4-door hardtop, white with red interior, that he bought new. 283/Powerglide, PS, PB, AM radio, that's it, pretty typical car for around these parts back then.

I loved the somewhat daring styling they had, especially up front. It was a good car from what I remember. Must have been, as he kept it for 3 years, which was a long time for him. They would seem really big today. I could see myself falling for a 2-door HT or convertible if one came along at the right price. Don't see many today.

PF_Flyer

fintail said:

That W123 hearse is pretty cool. I have seen hearses of MBs going back to the 170 style cars of the early postwar years. A fintail hearse would be a stylish last ride.

The mystery movie car idea is a good one. This one won't be as hard, but I am a fan of the film, and this view from a Model A aftermarket hood ornament is somewhat iconic:

I don't know why that image instantly made me think Peter Bogdanovich, but it did

fintail

You have a good eye! Paper Moon is an enjoyable one. Great cast, good story, excellent period sets, and a lot of car spotting.

Here's a scene from another one of my favorites, of a different genre:

PF_Flyer said:

I don't know why that image instantly made me think Peter Bogdanovich, but it did

Mr_Shiftright

stickguy said:

passed a nice black with black top 67ish Bonneville convertible driving around today. Imposing car.

and just as rare to see, an Acura Vigor.

Good buys on those huge Pontiacs. Nobody can fit them in their garages!

kyfdx

fintail said:

You have a good eye! Paper Moon is an enjoyable one. Great cast, good story, excellent period sets, and a lot of car spotting.

Here's a scene from another one of my favorites, of a different genre:

PF_Flyer said:

I don't know why that image instantly made me think Peter Bogdanovich, but it did

Just a wild guess.. Poltergeist?

kyfdx

stickguy said:

passed a nice black with black top 67ish Bonneville convertible driving around today. Imposing car.

and just as rare to see, an Acura Vigor.

We actually leased a Vigor.. in 1994!

berri

Those were 5 bangers weren't they?

kyfdx

berri said:

Those were 5 bangers weren't they?

Yes.. longitudinal, just like an Audi.

stickguy

they look so old fashioned now, with a low belt line and huge windows. Classic Honda. I miss that!

fintail

Good guess. The Olds makes a great scraping sound as it pulls into the steeply banked driveway.

Here's a more obscure one that someone here will probably know - this movie freaked me out a little when I was a kid:

kyfdx said:

Just a wild guess.. Poltergeist?

Michaell

kyfdx said:

berri said:

Those were 5 bangers weren't they?

Yes.. longitudinal, just like an Audi.

When I lived in CA, a co-worked leased one - looked like an Accord at 5/4 scale. Except for the loooonngg hood.

fintail

Early 90s Hondas were the brand's pinnacle of styling in my eyes. Those low beltlines, tall greenhouses, the way the dashboards were configured, the smooth almost silent engines, and general high build quality. And here, they didn't rust much.

Michaell

fintail said:

Early 90s Hondas were the brand's pinnacle of styling in my eyes. Those low beltlines, tall greenhouses, the way the dashboards were configured, the smooth almost silent engines, and general high build quality. And here, they didn't rust much.

I had both a '92 and a '93 Accord, and I agree. The double wishbone suspension made for a low beltline.

tjc78

Mr_Shiftright said:

passed a nice black with black top 67ish Bonneville convertible driving around today. Imposing car. and just as rare to see, an Acura Vigor.

Good buys on those huge Pontiacs. Nobody can fit them in their garages!

My Uncle has a 58 Bonneville.   When he was looking to downsize to an over 55 community, it wasn't easy finding a place that would fit the car.   

Mr_Shiftright

No joke. These cars suffer in value because of their size.

berri

I miss the tall greenhouses too. Many of today's cars with their "slotted" windows make it all seem smaller inside than it really is. Visibility in general has gone downhill for me at least.

berri

I can believe that Shifty with all the car prowlers and thieves. Heck, you hear about classics getting ripped off of trailers at hotels nowadays as well.

Mr_Shiftright

The waters are teeming with sharks....

laurasdada

Walking along SW 13th in Portland, Ore last Sunday night, a silver Lexus IS 250 parked on the street. Loaded with boxes of stuff, likely someone moving. The rear drivers' side window was freshly smashed, glass all over the sidewalk and in the car. Whatever the fine, upstanding citizen saw and decided was to be his, was probably removed from the back seat. At least they didn't clean out the entire car. Although, with now easy access, perhaps all will be lost! We walked back along Park, so no idea if the contents were further liberated.

I feel sorry for the Lexus owners when they return to their car. Ah, city living. Totally meant for cars.

fintail

Today I saw the dark green Amazon/122 wagon I see regularly, looks like the owner washed it. It's not an every day driver, but at least a weekly driver, maybe more in nice weather.

Seattle, Vancouver,\ and Portland are renowned for vehicle prowls.

Mr_Shiftright

You certainly could drive a Volvo 122 every day if you wished. A dead reliable car.

stickguy

I would do that, after a few resto mod updates to it. Might be fun.

Mr_Shiftright

Yep, maybe Vintage AC, electronic ignition, better seat belts and a good sound system. That's about it for me.

You know, this is sounding very appealing actually. Gee, a car anybody could fix in their driveway.

stickguy

I was thinking modest suspension and brake upgrades, a little HP tweak, good tires. And of course seats with headrests and new seat belts.