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

PF_Flyer

Had to use an online photo because I was driving and couldn't get my phone out quick enough, but one just like this crossed my path out on his drive with his "classic" license plate

ab348

I never knew that Buick, Olds and Stutz made 4-cylinder cars in the early 1920s. Also never knew that Dodge was using a 12-volt electrical system back then. And also unaware that Philco stood for the Philadelphia Storage Battery Company.

benjaminh

1923....

benjaminh

1923....

PF_Flyer

5 bearings. Just looking at the image shows it makes mechanical sense (to me, anyway). MUCH more rational than other "more is better" they try to sell us

berri

Maybe we should change the title of this forum to better reflect what it is - like "Yesteryears" . I like old advertising and the like, but I think it should have its own forum.

ab348

No to a change in the title because the original purpose of this is still quite valid. I agree with you that the ads and photos can be interesting but they overwhelm this forum. I would support a forum just for those though.

PF_Flyer

No reason someone can't create a new discussion with an interesting title where we can spin off those things. Just use that New Discussion button underneath your profile name on the right side of the page.

PF_Flyer

We DO have Car Commercials, the good, the bad, and the annoying!, although that's basically for current cars. Probably should include something like "vintage" in the title

Mr_Shiftright

It's a fair amount of work to upload all those ads and I for one appreciate the effort---but I also see where a separate topic might be more appropriate at this time. You guys could maybe think up a title that meets everyone's interests. It could be about "automotive history", or "old vs. new" or "favorite old car ads".

I think this topic was originally intended for spotting actual cars "in the wild" and taking a quick photo to post here.

Mr_Shiftright

BTW--the term "take the gaff" in the Marmon ad is an antiquated expression that means "take punishment".

benjaminh

Mr_Shiftright said:

It's a fair amount of work to upload all those ads and I for one appreciate the effort---but I also see where a separate topic might be more appropriate....

Thanks. I'll stop posting from the Post in this thread, although if someone else creates a new thread that fits I'll probably post again. And yes, it is a bit of work because first I have to launch a special software that my son the computer programmer wrote just for this purpose, then browse the issues of the Post page by page, then download the selected pages, then downrez those one by one to jpegs, and, finally, upload them here for others to see. I'm ok with just browsing these issues myself without posting—which is less work! But I do appreciate the insights, comments, and pics that others have shared in relation to these old things....

PF_Flyer

Maybe the new discussion just has to be something like "Automotive Ads & Brochures". That way, it could include vintage print ads, clever new ads, brochures, and the like. I can create it if we settle on a name. We'll put a link to it in here now and then as needed to redirect well-intentioned souls

ab348

PF_Flyer said:

Maybe the new discussion just has to be something like "Automotive Ads & Brochures". That way, it could include vintage print ads, clever new ads, brochures, and the like. I can create it if we settle on a name. We'll put a link to it in here now and then as needed to redirect well-intentioned souls

Your suggestion sounds good to me, PF.

PF_Flyer

Here's we go. A new Automotive Ads and Brochures discussion

fintail

Spotted a Nissan S-Cargo in traffic last night - the trickle of odd JDM stuff continues. I think I saw a Skyline the other day, too.

Mr_Shiftright

Didn't Doug DeMuro own one of those? I'd go crazy driving RHD here in the states.

stickguy

up near OF a couple days ago (in the rust belt), with salt on the roads and temps below freezing, a guy had a 64ish Oldsmobile out filling it with gas. The mid sized model that year. Flat black. Not sure if was primer or just ugly paint, but it looked solid from a distance.

ab348

There are a surprising number of those little RHD Japanese microvans running around here and I don't know how people put up with them. They look shockingly unsafe too. The old line, "In an accident, you'll be the first one at the scene" comes to mind.

fintail

I saw a Delica 4x4 on the road the other day, a medium-small van where you are the crumple zone, and might tip over in a crosswind. These are everywhere in BC now:



S-Cargo is funnier:

berri

Hey, that Nissan whatever reflects Renault French styling influence. No wonder Japan threw Ghosn in jail

fintail

"S-Cargo" - get it?

Mr_Shiftright

Yeah, as in "slow as a snail".

omarman

Look at that S car go!

explorerx4

@omarman,
Good movie, Trading Places.

andre1969

ab348 said:

There are a surprising number of those little RHD Japanese microvans running around here and I don't know how people put up with them. They look shockingly unsafe too. The old line, "In an accident, you'll be the first one at the scene" comes to mind.

Do you actually see those things out on public streets?! That WOULD seem dangerous! I've seen them used at places like amusement parks, college campuses, parks, and so on...but not out on public streets where they have to battle with cars, trucks, buses, etc. Also, gotta amit, I never noticed if they were RHD or LHD, but if it's on my mind I'll try to make a mental note the next time I see one.

ab348

Oh yeah, they are on the roads here. I’d be terrified to drive one.

omarman

But we're already living in a traffic mix which includes e-scooters and worse.

Ms. Monroe refused a breathalyzer test while driving her car home from a concert a few years ago but she still needed to get around the Texas State campus in San Marcos.

I came from a family with 2 (TWO!) Corvairs but the traffic mix today is a lot scarier than microvans from Japan.

explorerx4

On the way back from the airport, a dark blue 1 gen 740 IL and gray V70R(liked it).

tjc78

At a parking garage in Center City Philly today a mint... mint White 86-87 Chrysler Fifth Ave. Odd sighting for the location.

kyfdx

Member needs help identifying an old car:
https://forums.edmunds.com/discussion/53860/general/x/hoping-someone-can-id-this-car-for-me#latest

andre1969

I did a little obscure car spotting on tv today, watching "In the Heat of the Night", of all things. First up, was this Dodge Custom 880 hardtop wagon. I think it's a 1964. Fairly obscure when new, and I'm sure a rarity by 1992 when this episode was aired...


Here's an '84-85 LeSabre. This one caught my eye, because my Grandmom had an '85. This one looks like a more basic Custom model, which was a bit of a rarity. Once word got out as to the crimes against humanity GM was doing to the Electra for '85, and then the LeSabre for '86, these cars started selling like hotcakes. The majority of them, however, were the ritzier Limited model, with vinyl roof and wire hubcaps.


The last one, brought back some nostalgia especially when I saw the inside...


Especially, with the way the trim pieces for the pull straps on the door were missing, it made me think of the '85 Silverado I used to have. I also had to laugh, when Bubba announced "We're in pursuit of a blue and gray 1985 Chevy pickup!" Just think of it...Bubba nailed the year and make perfectly, yet in "Terminator 2: Judgement Day", the T-100 mis-identified a Crown Vic as a Gran Fury! Maybe artificial intelligence and technology isn't all it's cracked up to be

berri

I like that chrome luggage rack that you can probably actually use without having to buy add on stuff.

fintail

Cool shots, those cars aren't on the imcdb page for the show.

The friend of mind who made a poor choice in relocating to suburban Atlanta for a few years lived not far from where that was filmed, Covington GA. Also the location for early episodes of The Dukes of Hazzard.

ab348

Stumbled on to this film circa 1970 from the Fisher Body Division of GM. Quite detailed and very interesting in showing what went into the process of designing and building a car body back then. The complexity is quite remarkable, and the monotony for those working in production must have been stultifying. I imagine some of the tech used now would astound these folks if they were able to travel to the future of today.

https://youtu.be/yYgxgGlN8CM

ab348

Last night I was watching an episode of the old TV series Mannix from the 1969/70 season and saw something I had never seen previously. There was a scene where a taxi was involved and it was this one, a 1969 Plymouth Fury cab from the apparently fictional "Red & White" cab company (perhaps Angelinos can advise whether that was a real cab company). Anyway, check out those bumpers:




I guess 1974 came early. I wonder what the story on those was? I found a Plymouth taxi sales brochure from '69 on ebay with pictures of every page and those are not mentioned as a factory offering.

benjaminh

Thanks for sharing that video. It reminds me in a good way of the many GM cars built from the 1950s to the 21st century I've been in and enjoyed—especially my 1988 Oldsmobile 98.

berri

I like the 59 DeSoto and yellow Corvair next to it.

texases

ab348 said:

Last night I was watching an episode of the old TV series Mannix from the 1969/70 season and saw something I had never seen previously. There was a scene where a taxi was involved and it was this one, a 1969 Plymouth Fury cab from the apparently fictional "Red & White" cab company (perhaps Angelinos can advise whether that was a real cab company). Anyway, check out those bumpers:




I guess 1974 came early. I wonder what the story on those was? I found a Plymouth taxi sales brochure from '69 on ebay with pictures of every page and those are not mentioned as a factory offering.

I think those were optional/aftermarket bumpers, water filled. See all those plugs along the top? They'd pop out and water would come out if you hit something.

I think...

kyfdx

On a flatbed today: Fiat X1/9. Just the body. Wasn't even a roller.

sda

texases said:

ab348 said:

Last night I was watching an episode of the old TV series Mannix from the 1969/70 season and saw something I had never seen previously. There was a scene where a taxi was involved and it was this one, a 1969 Plymouth Fury cab from the apparently fictional "Red & White" cab company (perhaps Angelinos can advise whether that was a real cab company). Anyway, check out those bumpers:




I guess 1974 came early. I wonder what the story on those was? I found a Plymouth taxi sales brochure from '69 on ebay with pictures of every page and those are not mentioned as a factory offering.

I think those were optional/aftermarket bumpers, water filled. See all those plugs along the top? They'd pop out and water would come out if you hit something.

I think...

I remember seeing those type bumpers on Checker cabs, in black and not painted.

fintail

On the highway this morning, saw a gold-bronze colored late 70s Sedan Deville, moving along in the fast lane. I tried to catch up and get a better view, but traffic didn't allow it. A short time later I saw a 90s Caprice, badged "Caprice", no "Classic".

texases

Saw its brother, a Caprice wagon, mid 90s, yesterday. Looked great, sounded good.

berri

Now that would be a highway cruiser!

bhill2

fintail said:

On the highway this morning, saw a gold-bronze colored late 70s Sedan Deville, moving along in the fast lane. I tried to catch up and get a better view, but traffic didn't allow it. A short time later I saw a 90s Caprice, badged "Caprice", no "Classic".

Ah memories. Many years ago, when I was young and my wife was new, my ‘courtesy’ brother-in-law (her BIL) had a ‘78 Sedan DeVille that color. I have to admit I was impressed by the comfort and quiet. But then I was driving a diesel rabbit at the time, so the bar was not that high.

explorerx4

Today crossing in from of me a last generation Olds Custom Cruiser.

andre1969

Not the best pic in the world, but here's a drive-by of a '70 DeVille convertible for sale in Annapolis, MD...

sda

I would love to have my 70 DeVille convertible back. In 81, while I was in college, I bought one for $800. It needed paint and other work, but had been special ordered and driven by the owner of the local Cadillac dealer. I think it had every option except the split bench seat. It even had the self leveling rear suspension (i.e. air shocks), rear defroster, cruise, tilt/telescope wheel, 8 track, am/fm stereo, pw, pl, a/c. Originally silver, I changed the color to black. I painted the door jambs, inside the trunk, under the hood, looked really nice. On a good day it would get 10mpg. It was smooth, decently quick and quiet. I used to joke that the old girl would lift her skirts and haul a... When I moved to NC in 85 I sold it, alas. I wish I had better pictures, one while I was getting it ready for paint, and it parked in back of my parent's house. Also a picture of the damage I did to dad's garage. He wasn't pleased
and yes I cleaned it up! Dad enjoyed driving the DeVille and even picked up his boss at the airport with it.

ab348

Found this pic online and thought I would post it here as it isn't an ad or a brochure that would fit in that discussion. I wonder about the circumstances that led to this:




"Geez, the tide's coming in! Where's Charlie? Someone go find him!"

Can't imagine that salt water did much good for that unibody.

andre1969

A "Hold Mah Beer an' Watch This!" moment at Daytona Beach, perhaps?