Mystery car pix

andys120

michaellno

Lessee ... on the trunk I can read "V8" and "3500".

I'm guessing its a Rover estate ... circa ... 1972?

andys120

You have a better monitor than I do if you can read the word "R-O-V-E-R".

Indeed it is an Estate conversion of the mid-60s Rover (P6) 3500 powered by the aluminium block Rover Buick V8. 160 were built by FLM Panelcraft Ltd. on new and used 2000 & 3500 P6s from1969-76.

andys120

I came across these two mild customs. You should be able to tell year and model without too much trouble>

wgrafer

Wow! Love to have these today! They are both 1965 Pontiacs, but the exact models are not clear to me. Front looks like a Bonneville, but I think they used those 8-lug wheels on Catalina 2+2's as well. Rear looks like a regular Tempest since I can't see any GTO markings (of course those wheels do look like GTO wheels).

andre1969

Something about that '65 full-size Pontiac makes me want to say it's a Grand Prix. Something about the C-pillar which seems a bit more formal. As for those 8-lug wheels, I think you could get them on just about any full-sized Pontiac, but they were rather expensive, so they were probably most common on the more expensive/sporty cars.

As for the intermediate car (I think you're right, that it's just a Tempest and not a GTO), I was wondering about the wheels, too. I was thinking they might have been some kind of aftermarket type wheel, like some kind of Cragar or something. Didn't most GTO's back then just have hubcaps? I don't think the common Rally II wheel came out until 1967 or 1968, and I forget now what a Rally I looks like.

lemko

That midsize car might be a LeMans. The taillights are too long to be a Tempest. I'm pretty sure it's not a GTO. The wheels have gotta be aftermarket.

andys120

Wow, for mild customs those seem to have faked out some of our resident GM-o-philes. They are a '65 Grand Prix and a GTO customized by Gene Winfield mostly by removing the emblems and applying special colors and grillework.

More details at Hemmings.

FWIW, Andre is correct, in '64 and '65 most GTO's were delivered with wheel covers or even hub caps. Alloy wheels were just beginning to catch on, mostly in the aftermarket with Cragars, and American Racing "mags" being most common.

Full-sized Ponchos with the 8-lug wheels were rare, perhaps one in every 20 or 30 cars came with 'em.

andys120

The Bank Job (2008)

hudsonthedog

1961 Bentley S2 Continental

andys120

Close, it's a '62

andys120

ateixeira

Easy, that is a new Opel Cool-Looking-Sedan-that-we-will-never-get-here-plus-it-would-be-watered-down-any- way.

That's one handsome sedan, wow. It takes the best parts of the Malibu and adds a wide body rear.

andys120

If it's so easy how come you don't know the model name? You are on the right track, Juice but I suspect we Saturn will sell this car as the next gen Aura.

Does anyone know what Opel calls it and which car it replaces in the Opel lineup?

tomica

Vauxhall version will be the Insignia, will Opel use the same name??

tomica

Google to the rescue, Opel Insignia replaces Vectra.

andys120

Yep, the Insignia replaces the Vectra in the Opel and Vauxhall lineups. I suspect it'll also do the same in the Holden and non-US Chevy lineups as well as replacing the Saturn Aura ca. 2010.

andys120

magnette

Chevrolet Fleetmaster wagon - 1947 ?

andys120

You're right on the money Magnette. This particular Chevy has been to Africa and back.

andys120

karsick

Some sort of Third World VW sedan (since it looks too ugly for Euro & NA tastes). I was initially going to say it's a Brazilian VW, but can now see (reflection) it's probably a Chinese-market car.

I remember reading a decade ago about VW-Audi getting their foot in the door in the China market. Smart move.

I've gotta believe the cars in such markets get a tougher suspension for the many bad roads (hence no 'dubs' or silly bodykits)

andys120

It's a Volkswagen Lavidia for the Chinese market where VW vies with GM for sales leadership.

andys120

karsick

Hmmm...

Nardi wheel, gated shifter, 90's Blaupunkt CD player, 60's style furnishings, cigarette lighter & chrome ashtray, pwr windows.

I'd fall for the up-spec Ferrari guess, but that'd be too easy. :P

I'm gonna say it's an Iso (do the crossed flags on the ashtray hold some clue? :confuse: )

andys120

No, it's not an Iso but you're getting warm so here's a little clue>

andys120

Last clue for 16,442>



Going...going...

magnette

Ferrari 330

ateixeira

Hint: diplomatic plates.

andys120

I don't know but it has measles or something that causes dots all over it.

andys120

Magnette correctly identified the Ferrari 330GTC, perhaps the best 12 cylinder Ferrari for daily use. That one is a 1966 model.

karsick

Ferrari pic:

Someone swapped out the tires between photos (was this for a more period-correct Michelin, or was it another car altogether :confuse: )

hudsonthedog

Toyota Estima

ateixeira

I believe so, and what our Previa might look like if Toyota decided to offer a new one.

I was driving next to it and it's a lot smaller than my Sienna, in every dimension.

andys120

karsick

Almost forgot about this car...

Mazda Cosmo (3rd gen?)

This car was styled on the day that Mazda's stylists lost their French Curve, and had only a straightedge in the studio. Talk about 80's-esque style! :sick:

This car reminds me of the Aston Zagato.

andys120

This was a car of many names, it was indeed sold as the Mazda Cosmo 1981-89, equipped with a Wankel rotary it was also the Mazda Luce with piston engines or as the first gen Mazda 929 in Australia and Europe.

andys120

guss

It looks big....1973 Pontiac Catalina 2 door ?

kyfdx

It's a Range Rover.. :shades:

andys120

Yes to Kfdyx and Guss.

andys120

bumpy

Second-gen Geo Metro, also seen on rare occasion as the Suzuki Swift.

fintail

And an early W110 fintail in the background

hudsonthedog

Second-gen Geo Metro, also seen on rare occasion as the Suzuki Swift.

Don't forget the Pontiac Firefly and Chevrolet Sprint (both in Canada).

andys120

Yep, it's a Geo Metro.

andys120

Can you beat him to it?

fintail

It's a W108 or W109 sedan...hard to tell what exactly as the front ends are identical. As it is RHD and has stacked lights, I'd be pretty sure it is a V8 car, and it looks like an air suspension car with a sag. It also has a sad boo-boo on the left fender/bumper. If it's a W108 it's a 280SE/L 3.5/4.5, if it's a W109 it's a 300SEL 3.5/4.5. It also could be a 300SEL 6.3. All ca. 1970.

Of course if the headlights have been replaced, it could also be a 250S/SE, 280S/SE, 300SE

andys120

It also could be a 300SEL 6.3. All ca. 1970

Bingo,a maintainenece nightmare but a very cool, fast car.

andys120

From Ghosts of Mississippi (1996)