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

xwesx

Speaking of rough, this was a bit of an oddity that I spied yesterday. I am not sure I have seen one that old before:

Mr_Shiftright

1967, Fairlane-based. Fairly rare today. They made just over 17,000 of them in various trim levels. (I can't tell which trim this is exactly). This model year is very popular with Ranchero collectors.

ab348

I always got confused with that generation because it looks like Ford used the shorter Falcon wheelbase for the wagon and Ranchero in those years but I don't know why. So you got Fairlane styling and interior trim but Falcon room inside.

Mr_Shiftright

Yes but you got those big engines.

xwesx

It did look pretty compact, and it wasn't in great condition. There was a lot of rust along the lower door and on the lower edge of the front quarter - and that was just glancing as I drove by and snapped the pic. There was an engine tag just behind the headlights that you can see in the photo, but the resolution isn't good enough for me to read. Maybe 289 or 309 or something.... I don't know what the engine options were for that year.

It does say "Fairlane," if I'm reading it correctly, on the stripe just behind the front wheel. If I see a Ranchero, it tends to be the later 70s run.

Mr_Shiftright

They did come with a 390. Sounds like that one might not be worth restoring. I think even in show condition they don't bring much over $20K.

fintail

Engine badge looks like 289 to me. I think the hubcaps are off an earlier model.

ab348

For some reason I think those are Ford pickup or van hubcaps.

Depending on the rust it might be a decent thing to restore. I always thought something like that which had some practicality to it might be fun to have as an old rig.

Mr_Shiftright

If you could do your own bodywork at least, it might pay to bring it back. Mechanics would be very simple.

jwm40517

Stopped at my local favorite indie garage that does anything the Oddy and MGM needs but always has nice old cars of his or customers.

Today there was a big block Corvette, a 72 I think, a 56 Chevy Nomad former racer with straight axle , and a Jag XK E that was still owned by original owner. I did not try to sit in it, would have needed help to get out.

Mr_Shiftright

They are *tight*. There's more room in an MGB I think.

tifighter

laurasdada said:

IIRC, my father bought a '70 Ford LTD Country Squire wagon. Weekend ski trips to a shared rented house in southern Vermont. It lasted about 6 months, my father said it was the worst piece of junk he had ever purchased. He would not own another domestic for the next 20 years or so.

And, at the local Porsche dealer, a Caddy ELR is now available to purchase! Good looking car, still.

I saw an ELR the other day in black. Seriously sharp looking car. Love the proportions in person.

imidazol97

1963 Cutlass convertible--red with white top. Beautiful.

stickguy

I like that one. Too big for my taste, but sharp looking.

fintail

In small town, saw a crusty Civic wagovan, a neglected 2002, a cigar Bird that has been off the road for eons, a sad 65+ Corvair convertible with no top, a nice enough looking Mercury equivalent of a 63 Falcon Sprint (called Caliente then?), a stock ~50 Chevy sedan, a heavily chromed custom PT Cruiser, an earlier Tempo coupe, and a Citation.

texases

Saw a '66 Tempest or GTO going the other way. Looked good from afar. 

Michaell

fintail

I think that's a 1936 Cadillac. Not sure about that canvas top.

I've seen two Mustang II fastbacks in the past day, one a Cobra II. Also saw the Pontiac Astre that's been languishing in a spot for years.

kyfdx

My first new car was a Cobra II. Don't be jealous.

fintail

I actually don't mind the Mustang II fastback styling, it's not a bad looking car given the era. There were plenty of worse choices no doubt.

kyfdx

It was a V-8 with a stick shift, so there is that. Plenty enough to get an 18 yr old into trouble

Michaell

fintail said:

I think that's a 1936 Cadillac. Not sure about that canvas top.

I've seen two Mustang II fastbacks in the past day, one a Cobra II. Also saw the Pontiac Astre that's been languishing in a spot for years.

Thanks, fin. Had no clue what it was. 

texases

A first for me - a '60-ish Lark on the way to work. I slowed to let it pass. Very nice khaki paint, blackwall tires, dog dish hubcaps. Rode a little low. 

xwesx

kyfdx said:

It was a V-8 with a stick shift, so there is that. Plenty enough to get an 18 yr old into trouble

Just having access to four wheels is plenty enough to get an 18 yr old into trouble!

tjc78

xwesx said:

kyfdx said:

It was a V-8 with a stick shift, so there is that. Plenty enough to get an 18 yr old into trouble

Just having access to four wheels is plenty enough to get an 18 yr old into trouble!

I got into plenty with an 89 Grand Marquis.... so yes

Michaell

tjc78 said:

xwesx said:

kyfdx said:

It was a V-8 with a stick shift, so there is that. Plenty enough to get an 18 yr old into trouble

Just having access to four wheels is plenty enough to get an 18 yr old into trouble!

I got into plenty with an 89 Grand Marquis.... so yes

Heh - in HS, a buddy of mine got an "exhibition of speed" ticket with a '75 Honda Civic. We couldn't believe it.

xwesx

Michaell said:

tjc78 said:

xwesx said:

kyfdx said:

It was a V-8 with a stick shift, so there is that. Plenty enough to get an 18 yr old into trouble

Just having access to four wheels is plenty enough to get an 18 yr old into trouble!

I got into plenty with an 89 Grand Marquis.... so yes

Heh - in HS, a buddy of mine got an "exhibition of speed" ticket with a '75 Honda Civic. We couldn't believe it.

He must have spooled it up to speed from a stop light in under fifteen seconds....

fintail

"Speed" being 35mph?

xwesx

fintail said:

"Speed" being 35mph?

LOL yes, exactly!

Michaell

xwesx said:

fintail said:

"Speed" being 35mph?

LOL yes, exactly!

No, he squealed his tires - was fresh blacktop, which was the only way it could happen.

Still, a '75 Civic? We laughed about that for ages.

Mr_Shiftright

The Little Engine That Could?

laurasdada

From a window in my office, a late '70s (?) Alfa Alfetta GT (hatchback). Wanted one back then.

fintail

On the road today - a lifted International Scout going maybe a little too fast, an early 80s Subaru wagon, Audi 5000, 80s 911 Targa, possibly late 60s 911 or 912 - orange, not restored looking.

fintail

Saw a BMW Z8 on the road today, 2 VW vans - a 70s model and a Vanagon both in nice condition, and a pristine Century wagon.

stickguy

I saw one of those later box vans this week. Oddly it got behind me when I was test driving the GLI

berri

Got behind a 66 T-Bird with that single side window landau vinyl roof and sequential rear turn signals in working condition. I don't think they made a lot of those landau roofline models? So it was neat to see it and it was in pretty nice condition from outside appearances at least.

explorerx4

A new looking, teal colored Volvo V70R.

fintail

Vanagon with a 4 light front end conversion

PF_Flyer

Karmann Ghia in this morning's flick

fintail

A few older rigs out on the road today: 2nd gen CRX Si, E24 on vintage plates, Festiva, early Lumina Euro, immaculate Lil Red Express.

Mr_Shiftright

Chevy Luv customized lowrider with billet grille, hard bed tonneau. Kinda cute.

Michaell

Mr_Shiftright said:

Chevy Luv customized lowrider with billet grille, hard bed tonneau. Kinda cute.

I learned to drive stick on my friends Luv. Bright yellow.

Mr_Shiftright

Nice looking little trucks actually.

stickguy

I used to build models when I was a kid, and remember doing a Luv with at V8. I painted it green. Always wanted a real one after that.

fintail

Those were quite common here until the 90s or so, then they all vanished. I see a LUV now and then, but they are rare.

A friend of mine's dad bought a new one in 74 or 75, and it was his daily driver until 2004 - I kid you not. He finally retired it as it just couldn't move along with fast highway traffic. He replaced it with a zero options Ranger.

fintail

On the highway this morning, not rare but amusing - an early MB ML (black trim, first style lights, etc). The amusing bit was the color, a very purple kind of hue with a hint of dark red. I remember there were many wacky colors on cars in the mid-late 90s, and I cringed at it then, but kind of smile at it now in the modern sea of greybeige.

Also saw a Geo Metro convertible, 90s Camry coupe and wagon, SSR with tacky custom decals, BMW E32.

xwesx

I participated in the local Heartwalk this morning with my son. Afterward, we went on a family walk (because the first 2.5 miles was not enough!). We saw some interesting stuff. Probably the most oddball thing was a a very nice looking, well, THING (VW, that is)!

We also walked by the Ranchero I posted a couple weeks ago. I took a much closer look at it, and the passenger side doesn't look too bad, but the rot in the bed's quarter panel on the driver side is intense. *shudders*

Then, just down the street from it, there was something I have not seen before. I'm not sure if this is a custom job or what, but it looked sorta fun. A little rough, like an aging hobbyist restoration:

Mr_Shiftright

uplanderguy

That's news to me. I was never aware of a Falcon sedan delivery, particularly on that second bodystyle. But there's the brochure. I'm sold.

uplanderguy

Here's an anomaly and I remember seeing it all the way back then. It wasn't in the Monte Carlo brochure, but the 1970 Chevrolet Accessories catalog. Shows to me that at some point they were considering a Monte Carlo convertible. Would have been attractive IMHO:

http://www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/comment-image/275859.jpg