Mystery car pix

urnews

1962 Pontiac, maybe a Catalina.

pat

I'm thinking it's a Grand Prix?

magnette

1962 Pontiac Grand Prix

andys120

Magnette and Pat are correct, it's a '62, first year for the GP.

andys120

fintail

Ah more creative Chinese design, sure makes me want to run out and buy their products

urnews

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but how do these products perform?

stever

How do they perform?

Brilliantly

fintail

Looks like what happens when you step on a pop can. Maybe it comes with a free set of tires and some toothpaste.

andys120

urnews

That's shocking. Seriously. :surprise:

stever

Funny thing is, Brilliance Automotive has a joint venture assembly with BMW in China. (link). Guess lots of stuff hasn't trickled down yet.

imidazol97

stickguy

Engine - Buick 3.8l turbo (looks like a regal)

Jerry - Late 70's full size Olds?

karsick

Buick LeSabre Turbo ca. 1979

Man, you guys come up with the obscure cars stored DEEP inside the ol' cerebral memory bank. :P

Was this before Buick decided to label all their "sporty" cars as "T-Type"?

yoribe2

Buick Grand National

andys120

Buick Grand National

Correctamundo!

andys120

imidazol97

Karsick is closest...

It's a 1978 Buick LeSabre.

The profile shot really surprised me because it looked more like a Regal-sized car.

It has a 455 cu. in. motor. I doubt that was standard, I mean, original.

Ebay listing with info--mileage 999,999

Mr_Shiftright

That looks like a Mercedes (clever hah?) 250S sedan, probably about 1966, 1967, US version. This was the "new" body style that got rid of the tailfins and helped to launch the later 220, 250, 280 line in America starting in 1968, which increased Mercedes popularity and sales significantly.

This car, or its immediate descendents, was the initial motivator of the postwar Mercedes Powerhouse that took over the luxury car market the United States and nearly destroyed Cadillac.

A historically significant automobile despite its rather bland appearance.

(not sure if I'm right about the 250S part, but it's close enough).

fintail

Yep, by the trim looks like an earlier W108 of some kind, I don't think it's a W109. Pretty impossible to distinguish a model, most were 250S and 280SE it seems.

gsemike

"This car is a perfect car for someone who likes to live life on the edge and go FAST!"

My only regret is that I don't have $300 to become the top bidder. Then again, I did not expect that I would laugh out loud at all today so it's all good.

Mr_Shiftright

Well it's truth in advertising...you'll be driving on the edge all right... :P

magnette

I think someone is going to be disappointed with their response, unless the mileage is genuine ! Actually that would be a rare car here in Britain, and at the equivalent of £ 150, it would probably be worth paying postage or something....( Wonder if he would deliver ?)

andys120

Mercedes 300SEL 3.5, ca.1972.

andys120

Well, sorta>

Mr_Shiftright

Volvo "Bertone", a styling exercise to reduce headroom and make an ugly car uglier, all in one brush of the pen. Bravo.

kyfdx

What year is that? About 1979? It's a 262, isn't it?

It's no worse than the 780 Bertone coupe of the late '80s. Not that it makes it any better...

Mr_Shiftright

The Swedes make great cars but they should stay away from anything that implies "sexy" or "sports car". At best, they might try "sport sedan". They just aren't good at "sexy" or "sport". Not their thing. Leave sexy to the Italians, practical to the Japanese, dominance to the Germans, brute power to the Americans and just plain weird to the French. That's my two cents. :P

lemko

Anybody recall the Saab Sonnet? Now, there was one weird little Swedish sports car!

andys120

What year is that? About 1979? It's a 262, isn't it?

Yep, 1979 Volvo 262C Bertone

It's no worse than the 780 Bertone coupe of the late '80s. Not that it makes it any better...

I'd have to disagree there, the 1989 780C managed to actually look better than the sedan it was based on>

andys120

stever

1949? Willies Jeep Truck. Hey, that's the way I've always pronounced it.

I have a '49 grill hanging over my garage (link). :shades:

imidazol97

Beautiful car and picture!

andys120

It's a '54 Willys.

andys120

stever

Do people really call it a Will-Is btw?

Now what's it pulling - thought it may be a dory for a moment but the tumble home is too shallow I think. Some ~16' daysailer I guess?

fintail

1946-47 Hudson, appears to have a Danish plate

andys120

1946-47 Hudson, appears to have a Danish plate

Could be because it belonged to the Danish Royal Family.;)
BTW-it's a 1947 Hudson Brougham. Imagine that, European Royalty riding in a Yank Tank!

fintail

Just like Chinese royalty in prewar Buicks.

I have material about the automotive markets in Europe before the war, and highline American cars were very highly regarded. Of course a custom bodied RR or Mercedes was at the top, but a big Packard or Caddy carried huge clout, and other American cars had high status as well.

Mr_Shiftright

And unlike a Rolls Royce, a Packard would actually run for more than two weeks :P

andys120

a big Packard or Caddy carried huge clout, and other American cars had high status as well.

Understood, but I find it interesting that a Hudson would have enough status to attract royalty.

fintail

Maybe the highline makes were really hard to get so soon after the war, or someone liked that long low Hudson design.

On Shifty's note, many 30s Euro cars were really weird, I am sure American cars were the pinnacle of reliability in comparison.

andys120

texases

For us (US?) it'll be the 128/135, right? Some say it's the 'new 2002', but I fit in the back seat of a 2002, no way with this one!

Mr_Shiftright

Rolls made this one GREAT CAR and coasted on its reputation all the way into the 21st century. It really WAS the "best car in the world" but that was probably when Woodrow Wilson was President.

british_rover

With the 300 hp 300 ft-lbs torque 3 liter twin turbo 6 that is going to be one very fast car.

Will it be fast enough to out run its own looks though? A lot of people find the 1 series disgustingly ugly. I will have to wait until I see one in person to pass judgment.

texases

Let's just say there will have to be a big price gap with the 3 to move many of these

karsick

My wife and I were in London in April, and we saw several 1-series (hatches).

I'm not much of a Chris Bangle fan, and I'd be embarrassed to drive a BMW daily (yuppie self-important baggage, y'know), but I REALLY liked the 1-series.

As the 3-series gets bloated, it opens up a niche for a small RWD model, and this fits the bill (not sure about the notchback re-do, though).

texases

The three-door and five-door would certainly be roomier and more practical, but they're paranoid about hatches here.