Mystery car pix

lemko

Looks like a 1960 Chevrolet Bel Air. The back end of the white car across the street is a 1959 Oldsmobile and the car behind the Chevy looks like a late 1940s DeSoto.

Per the 1948 Olds. I believe they manufactured the old 1942-style car w/updated grille and introduced the Futuramic style later that year. Cadillac was the other car GM updated in 1948 though the Series 75 still used the old 1947-style car through 1949.

bhill2

I'm stretchng my memory to the breaking point, but I think I remember reading that in 1948 Olds carried over the earlier design in their low line model(s) (Dynamic? all of the 88's?) and introduced the Futuramic styling on the higher line models (maybe just the 98's). The next year all of them had the Futuramic styling.

bumpy

Our uggo is a 1985 Citation (with the revised dashboard to mount the radio in the proper horizontal format) X11, the supposed performance model. This is what "sport compact car" meant at GM back then.

andys120

Where was that taken? It sure looks a lot like Queens NY.

andys120

Who remembers the TV show and charcter that drove this car?

kyfdx

Jim Rockford of the Rockford Files... Played by James Garner...

This would have been an earlier show... They went to the quad headlight model, later...

One of my favorite shows from high school..

The early shows had some great car chases, but those got toned down in later years... something about violence on television.. :surprise:

chuck1959

Yes, they were the X cars. Olds version called the Omega.

PF_Flyer

VERY close... Flushing. Practically right across the LIE from the Flushing Meadows theater if my memory is not completely gone :P

190th st just off Horace Harding Blvd

blh7068

75 firebird, in all likelihood an Esprit model as Rockford drove that the most. Could be a base model, cant tell from the pic though.

andys120

I knew it! I lived on 256th just off Hillside until 1957.
Houses there were very similar (Bellerose/Floral Park).

andys120

Yup, '75 Firebird Esprit. Rockford aired '74-'80, I think he got a new F-Bird every year.

andys120

bumpy

smart fortwo cabrio. Did they actually announce the convertible for the US?

andys120

You can now sign up for your copy of the Smart fortwo Passion Cabrio right here.

Mr_Shiftright

The Not So Smart car.

Man oh man, Consumer Reports gave it a really bad write up.

Gee, and to think a person would be dumb enough to buy a brand new 2007 Mini getting 40 mpg for the same money.

andys120

buy a brand new 2007 Mini getting 40 mpg for the same money.

Not even close, the most expensive Smart fortwo Cabrio costs $17K, about the same as a low-end Mini.

andys120

boomchek

Peugeot 406 coupe. 2000 to 2005 model? I think the new ones got larger headlights in their redesign.

Surprisingly I see one here around Vancouver with local plates.

rockylee

Wow, I finally got one right. It is the new 2008' Honda Accord. :P

Rocky

ateixeira

That's more of a Targa, really.

They do have a Smart Roadster. I sat in one at an Auto Show, it was the highly tuned model, too.

They're absolutely tiny, though. Makes my Miata seem full-sized.

Pic for kicks:



I think Smart needs some incentives to be able to compete here. Perhaps let them ride in HOV lanes, or offer discounted parking. They need help to sell in any significant numbers. If not, they'll just be a novelty car and fizzle out.

bumpy

The Roadster was the nicest one they made, but it got axed. However, some outfit in England bought the rights and tooling and intends to revamp it and sell it as an AC.

ateixeira

I hope they put on more normal looking headlights. Those look like the beady eyes on an alien.

andys120

i agree, that'd be a pretty cool little roadster w better headlights.

andys120

Peugeot 406 coupe. 2000 to 2005 model

Yep.

andys120

kyfdx

Esprit in the back and a Europa on the right? No idea on the front one..

Mr_Shiftright

That's an Elite I think.

Yep, the Lotus "bread van" on the right...Renault-powered (gulp).

FUN car to drive but if you're over 5ft 8inches and you have more than a size 8 shoe, don't even bother trying to get into one. The Fire Dept would have to be called to extricate you.

andys120

Yep, an Elite, a Europa and an Esprit, too bad they missed the Elan.

andys120

bhill2

I am 6ft 1 and wear a size 12 shoe. I was with my then girlfriend at a car show once and one of these was on the floor. I, of course, had to try to get in. They didn't need to call the Fire Department to get me out, but I thought they were going to have to call the paramedics to resucitate the girlfriend after she collapsed laughing.

magnette

Alfa Romeo Giulia TI and by the shape of the indicator repeaters on the front wing, this is an earlier one, so 1962-66. It's not the Guilia Super because that had a chrome flash on the sill, below the doors. BUT - I didn't know they did a wagon version of this in Italy . They certainly did on the previous model, the Giulietta, though it was rare, and they called it the Promiscua - coachwork by Colli of Milan, I think, but I can't find a reference to a wagon for the Giulia, so a bit of a mystery to me....
It's not one of those Argentinian Alfas, is it ?

magnette

I'm 6'3" and tending to get wider as I age, but even when I was leaner, many years ago, I've always had trouble with low-slung sports cars - especially with the roof up. I had to crawl sideways onto the road out of a Morgan +4 - I didn't actually get to drive the thing but a girl in our office brought in her boyfriend's car once and gave me a lift up the road. Also got stuck in a Vauxhall VX220, which is basically a Lotus, when I got in it at a dealers - that was embarrassing. I tried to sit in a Caterham Seven once, which was nearly impossible and that was with the roof off.
And yet I can drive a proper Mini (owned several), I have driven loads of small Fiats, although never a 500 which is just too little, and I've even been in Reliant 3wheelers, without any trouble - I think it's just the height off the ground really that causes the trouble, and the fact that really low cars have a letterbox instead of a door.

andys120

Yep the Giulia wagon was also done by Colli. It's very much an Italian Alfa. They were also called Promiscuas.

More here.

andys120

Three fer from Tommy Boy:

fintail

From left to right - Early 80s Buick Skylark, early 90s Toyota Tercel, and the rear of the 67 (I think) Plymouth GTX seen throughout the movie.

andys120

You got 'em all, Fin.

Try another?>

kyfdx

No idea.. but, I'll guess that it is the next generation Beetle convertible....

Either that, or the TT and the Beetle had a baby.. :surprise:

Mr_Shiftright

Looks like a clay model of an SC430 that melted during lunchtime.

Whatever it is, I hope they spare us.

bumpy

Hmm, it looks French to me. WAG: Citroen C3 cabrio?

andys120

Whatever it is, I hope they spare us

Not to worry Shifty, it's the newest version of the Daihatsu Copen. Like most Kei cars it'll never be seen on our shores.

It looks like a half scale Audi TT that somebody left in the microwave. :sick:

andys120

michaellno

I believe that's a Holden or Ford from down under. Early 70's vintage.

Probably with a big, honkin' V8 under the bonnet.

andys120

You're on the right track, Mate. Perhaps someone could be more specific.

gsemike

At first glance, it could be a Chevelle. Upon looking at it closer, I'm thinking Ford Falcon.

seminole_kev

Looks like a bloated Maverick, so I take the Ford Falcon option as well.

imidazol97

Are those flags on the fender behind the wheel? 327? 396?

andys120

Yep it is a Ford (Australia) Falcon, 1972, don't know which engine, possibly a Cleveland 351.

magnette

As you can see from the licence plate, the Copen is sold here. List price for a new one, including taxes, is £13500 or so, currently - which goes to show why we think cars are expensive here. (Thats about $22500).
In fairness, I think we only get the fully equipped top of the range model - Daihatsu mainly sell small 4x4's and minicars like the Sirion here.
I sat in one when they were first shown at our motor show a few years ago, and actually it is quite a cute little car, but with the emphasis on little - 700cc, and tiny. Also it is a bit too cute - at the risk of sounding sexist, I don't think I've ever seen one being driven by a bloke.

andys120

fintail

Bizzarrini (sp?) something or other