Looks a lot like the USS United States, currently docked, decaying, in philly.
A little nitpick...USS is only for commissioned Naval vessels. SS is for Steam Ship and applies to merchant marine (commercial) vessels powered by steam turbines. MV (Motor Vessel) is for commercial vessels powered by diesel-electric motors.
SS United States in her glory days>
When I worked in Manhattan I would go over to the piers on the West Side to look at the big liners. (Late 50s-mid 60s). I think the prettiest was the SS Cristoforo Colombobut maybe that's a little Italian Pride at work
The Colombo was the sister ship of the doomed Andrea Dora.
A Fiat Dino Coupe, maybe 1970 or thereabouts. V-6 Ferrari engine like th eFerrari dino. I was totally unaware of these until a few years ago when Wheeler Dealers did one over. Handsome design, by Bertone I believe.
I'd be surprised to learn that it hasn't been turned into razor blades. That was the sad fate of the greatest warship ever to fly the American flag>
Several WWII battleships have been preserved as war memorials. Well BBs look cool but the fleet carriers had a lot more to do with victory at sea in the Second World War and the Big E was in just about every big fleet action in the Pacific war.
we were in Bermuda a few years ago. I think on the far end of the island, you could see the top of the cruise liners at the other end. Amazing how out of proportion those boats were there.
Not sure when that picture was taken, but it looks pretty sad up close. I pulled it off the website for the conservancy that is trying to scrape up the money to restore it.
I think that's a VW Type 3. A Rebel at the curb in the foreground. A black Riviera in the driveway. An early '60s Olds F-85 Cutlass in the opposite driveway.
I'd be surprised to learn that it hasn't been turned into razor blades. That was the sad fate of the greatest warship ever to fly the American flag>
Several WWII battleships have been preserved as war memorials. Well BBs look cool but the fleet carriers had a lot more to do with victory at sea in the Second World War and the Big E was in just about every big fleet action in the Pacific war.
Little Known Useless Fact: Enterprise Rent-a-Car is named after this ship.
Little Known Useless Fact: Enterprise Rent-a-Car is named after this ship.
So was the TV Starship USS Enterprise., I used to think it was because Gene Rodenberry, creator of Star Trek served as a Navy pilot in WWII. It turns out he flew B-17s for the Army Air Force in the South Pacific where everyone knew the legend of the "Big E."
I think that's a VW Type 3. A Rebel at the curb in the foreground. A black Riviera in the driveway. An early '60s Olds F-85 Cutlass in the opposite driveway.
For what it's worth the sleek rear of the black Riv. identifies it as a Gen.II ('66-'70). IMO these were the best looking of all Rivieras. The black Riv or the Rambler (MY?) would be the newest car. Oldest would be the little Cutlass ('61-'63?)
"Corinthian!" "But does it mean anything?" "Nothing."
Shortly after the 1980 Cordoba ad above, Mitsubishi was taking the wraps off their new turbo sport coupe which was supposed to be called either "Stallion" inspired by Mustang or "Starion" which was later claimed to be inspired by Mitsubishi's Orion engine - which was not used in the Stallion-Starion-thing. And the early ad for Starion had a horse logo. So was it a misspelled Stallion? Or was it meant to be Starion all along which really doesn't mean anything?
A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing.
Not so much for convertible tops, but there are two auto trim shops within 5 miles of my house. Used one of them to do a headliner on my son's '95 M3, about two years ago.
They're still around, but they aren't in high visibility storefronts. They are packed away in grim industrial parks more likely than not, one of a row of overhead doors.
They're still around, but they aren't in high visibility storefronts. They are packed away in grim industrial parks more likely than not, one of a row of overhead doors.
Around here, it's mostly still in the old retail areas from the '70s. The stores and the middle class all moved to the suburbs, and they are still in their old building they were in 40 years ago.
One that was strictly trim, added a body shop. The other one added car stereo (which is another dying business).
No One? Ok...….. 1958 Pontiac. 1959 Enterprise, oop, I mean Cadillac.
Yup, I'd guess the Poncho is a Bonneville, it just looks up-model. The Caddy, I dunno, maybe an Eldo but more likely a DeVille.
As a long time convertible owner I'm amazed at the improvements in design, operation and weatherproofing and longevity in recent model ragtops. In the 60s you couldn't get more than 3-5 years from a top before you'd start getting rips, tears and leaks, great for top-shop opersators.
My current convertible is a 17 y/o BMW with no leaks, tears or drips. The black has faded to dark grey but that's all. It's occurred to me that the only traditional problem it doesn't solve is poor rearward visibility with it up. It's occurred to me that recent folding hardtops have better rear/side visibility that any tin-top sedans, wagons or coupes. The reasons are taller side glass and thinner C-posts than their fixed roof equivalents.
No takers for the little green Civic-like thing? Not surprising since it was never officially exported to the US, being tiny with a teensy motor (3600cc)
Some hints:
-It was an early Kei car from a well known maker which has many designs that have sold well in the US
Comments
SS United States in her glory days>
When I worked in Manhattan I would go over to the piers on the West Side to look at the big liners.
(Late 50s-mid 60s). I think the prettiest was the SS Cristoforo Colombobut maybe that's a little Italian Pride at work
The Colombo was the sister ship of the doomed Andrea Dora.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Several WWII battleships have been preserved as war memorials. Well BBs look cool but the fleet carriers had a lot more to do with victory at sea in the Second World War and the Big E was in just about every big fleet action in the Pacific war.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Liners like the US, QE2, France/Norway actually looked like ships but now cruise liners loook like high-rise apartment buildings with hulls.
I don't know how they stay upright in a big blow>
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
I think they have one even a little bigger now.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Not so "Titanic"
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
So was the TV Starship USS Enterprise., I used to think it was because Gene Rodenberry, creator of Star Trek served as a Navy pilot in WWII.
It turns out he flew B-17s for the Army Air Force in the South Pacific where everyone knew the legend of the "Big E."
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Hints: Yes, exotic of course but a name you certainly know.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
"But does it mean anything?"
"Nothing."
Shortly after the 1980 Cordoba ad above, Mitsubishi was taking the wraps off their new turbo sport coupe which was supposed to be called either "Stallion" inspired by Mustang or "Starion" which was later claimed to be inspired by Mitsubishi's Orion engine - which was not used in the Stallion-Starion-thing. And the early ad for Starion had a horse logo.
So was it a misspelled Stallion? Or was it meant to be Starion all along which really doesn't mean anything?
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Although they do convertible tops, as well.
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One that was strictly trim, added a body shop.
The other one added car stereo (which is another dying business).
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2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
1958 Pontiac.
1959 Enterprise, oop, I mean Cadillac.
As a long time convertible owner I'm amazed at the improvements in design, operation and
weatherproofing and longevity in recent model ragtops. In the 60s you couldn't get more than 3-5 years from a top before you'd start getting rips, tears and leaks, great for top-shop opersators.
My current convertible is a 17 y/o BMW with no leaks, tears or drips. The black has faded to dark grey but that's all. It's occurred to me that the only traditional problem it doesn't solve is poor rearward visibility with it up. It's occurred to me that recent folding hardtops have better rear/side visibility that any tin-top sedans, wagons or coupes. The reasons are taller side glass and thinner C-posts than their fixed roof equivalents.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Some hints:
-It was an early Kei car from a well known maker which has many designs that have sold well in the US
Cute isn't it?
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.