Mystery car pix

andre1969

Must disagree! Saw Speed Racer last week. Was NOT as bad as some critics reported. Was no "Indy", but still worth the view, plus being on IMAX helped. The graphics are awesome.

I think they're predicting the movie to be a sales dud though. It cost $120 million to make, and opening weekend only brought in $18M. They're worried that it won't cover its cost to make, although I'm sure once they factor in dvd rentals and sales later on, it'll probably be profitable.

I heard one problem is that the movie is just too long, clocking in at something like 2 hours and 4 minutes. That's okay for some epic like Star Wars or an Indiana Jones movie, or even some major disaster movie. But heck, if Burt Reynolds and company can make it from Atlanta to Texarkanna and back for a beer run in 90 minutes run time, then Speed Racer should be able to beat the Mammoth Car, Car Acrobatic Team, or find out that Racer X is really his older brother Rex who ran away from home years ago in 90 minutes or less. Heck, in two hours and four minutes, he should be able to do all three at once! :P That long run-time might be a killer for kids and people with short attention spans.

I also heard that the movie's getting a bad rap because someone got caught spanking their monkey on the set. Literally. Supposedly one of the trainer hauled off and slugged the chimp they used to play Chim Chim, right in front of the representative from the Humane Society. Oops. :surprise:

ateixeira

I'm sure they'll make money on 3rd party things, especially on the video game sales and licensing.

My kid hasn't even seen the movie and he's collecting the toy cars in McD's happy meals.

lemko

Did the Mach 5 and the Shooting Star at least look like they do in the anime cartoon from the 1960s? I remember an abominable Hanna-Barbera Speed Racer from the early '90s where they changed the look of Speed, his car, and even Spritle and Chim-Chim.

andys120

( German )Ford Taunus 12M, late 50's

Jahwohl, except it's a 1955 15M>

andre1969

From what little I've seen of trailers and such, the Mach 5 and Shooting Star look like reasonable facsimiles of the 1960's originals. The other racecars look like they actually have character, too, like they could have been inspired by the old cartoon. I've even heard that the Mammoth Car makes a brief appearance. Heck, if they used a Smart Car in the movie, they could have remade this scene!

magnette

So basically I got the model wrong and the year - first one I answer for a week - I must admit I'm a bit shaky on German Fords, as I have hardly seen any of them from that era....

andys120

Who'll Stop the Rain (1978)

andre1969

The wagon is a '61-62 Dodge Lancer...knockoff of the first-gen Valiant. Dunno what year the Bug is, but I'd guess sometime in the late 60's?

steelydanfan

andre, due to the bumpers, I think that Bug could be anywhere from 1968-1972, I know the 1967-earlier Bugs had the old chrome bumpers . I had a 1972 Super Beetle which had the McPhierson struts in the front , forced air ventilation (wow), and a rockin' 60HP 1600cc engine. Bought that sucker used in 1975 for $1250 , drove it until 1980, and sold it for $1300.......best car investment I ever made.

karsick

Nice pic.

You've just revealed Nissan's inspiration for the C-pillar on the Armada and Pathfinder. :P

andys120

magnette

AMC Ambassador SST Hardtop 1972(?)

andys120

andys120

AMC Ambassador SST Hardtop 1972

Sorry Mag, it's not an SST, just a '69 Ambassador/343.

magnette

Ah well....

magnette

Fiat 1100D - late 50's early 60's

magnette

andys120

That long window with the sliding section forward could only be on a Hillman Husky, not many seen on this side but justifiably popular in the UK.

andys120

Yep, a handsome 4-door from the days when Italians made all their cars good-looking, not just the expensive coupes and Spiders.

magnette

Yes, it's a Hillman Husky - this one is a Mk II, so 1958/63. They were about the nearest rival to the Morris Minor Traveller, in their day, and although the latter must survive in far greater numbers you still see the odd Husky on the road - I even saw one of the panel van versions in a garage the other day - they called that the Commer Cob. .

andys120

tampabill

Auburn Speedster

texases

Ford EXP (82?), a bad mod of the mediocre Escort of the day. Odd/wierd styling, but Ford (Iacocca?) said they'd sell a million of them. :sick:

karsick

Ford Escort EXP, circa 1983 (is that when blue ovals reappeared in grilles? :confuse: ).

This'd be a base model (as the fancy version had phone-dial alloys & TRX tires).

bhill2

Ah yes, what my cousin used to call a Ford POS. I believe that I needn't explain further.

andys120

Ford EXP is correct, it's a 1982.

andys120

Heavy traffic, lots of different cars in this one from Trafic (1971)>

steelydanfan

Boy, we're gonna have fun with this one! First, I will dive in with the gold 1967sh Chevy 4 door Malibu.....

Directly behind it, there is a 4 door Citroen, I would assume late 1960s, not sure of the model number.

fintail

What a lineup...barely a German car among them. I've never seen the film, but I am pretty sure those are Dutch plates.

Along with the Chevy Malibu ca. 1968-69 (which doesn't look too out of place, shockingly), there's a cool Citroen DS/ID wagon in front of it, and a sedan behind it. I'm guessing the BMW alongside the Chevy is a 1600 (that or a 2002), behind it a German Ford, then a VW, then what looks like a VW 411. Parked right near the BMW is a Mini or one of its derivatives.

The parked cars are a menagerie - mainly French. I see a couple Citroen Dyanes, a couple Renault 4s, a Peugeot 404, I think I see a 2CV way back there along with a Citroen Ami wagon, a few VWs, I think I see a few Opels, and others I am to lazy or not able to identify.

andys120

Pretty good job you guys but nobody figured out that the BMW is most likely a 2002, in fact it looks just like the '69 a buddy of mine had. The blackout grille is the tip off that it isn't a 1602.

I don't recognize the blue wagon behind the Bimmer, anyone know?

fintail

I'm pretty sure it's a German Ford, something like a Taunus 15M

andys120

kyfdx

Robert Redford?

fintail

I know it's an MGTC...I don't know who the man is

steelydanfan

Guys, he has short tennis shorts on, so I am guessing this is an old photo from the 70's......being a music nut (notice my screen name), I am taking a wild guess that this guy is Peter Cetera , who was a bass player/songwriter/lead(tenor) singer from the jazz/rock big band fusion group CHICAGO, who really played balls out in the late 60's to about 1976ish........I am here to tell you...........If I am way off, at least I tried, and he still bears a passing resemblance............guys, just a guess, as I don't watch much TV, and I am always hoping for more music to heal/change this world.....................

Fire away, comrades.............I have walked the plank on this one!!!!!!!!!!! : :confuse:

steelydanfan

andys, why does the Ford EXP / ESORT remind me of Star Wars? I look at those headlights/tailights, and I want to break out my light saber...........talk about a tie in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.........

steelydanfan

Hey andys120, I am just guessing again, but that wagon behind your Bimmer just could be a Vauxhall , which was "under the radar " for years in Europe.....I have no idea what happened to them in later years. Boy, I am I going to hear about this frivolous throw down..............

Rock On Always,

Steely Dan........

tomica

The Chevelle looks to be from 1969.

andys120

I think you're right about the date the photo was taken but it is of another music figure, Mike Love, of the Beach Boys, an avid fan and collector of British (and other) cars.

Considering the picture was taken on the Continent, I think a Vauxhall would be unlikely since the same cars are badged as Opels outside Britain. Fintail may be right
it does look vaguely like a Taunus but I can't say for certain.

And Tomica, IMCDB says you are right about the Chevelle being a '69.

steelydanfan

andys120, thanks for the reply, but I will tell you that Chicago 7 (1974) featured the Beach Boys singing backing vocals on: "Wishing You Were Here" , and "I've Been Searching So Long".......For the record, The Beach Boys toured with Chicago in 1975 , as I saw them (close) in Houston , Texas ( 1975), also back stage!!! with the Beach Boys opening , Chicago 2nd act, and then both of them together closing........OK, I missed the figure, BUT, I named the fact that he was a pop/rock star, he worked with Chicago in the middle 70's, I saw him perform, and no one else (apparently) even knew he was a pop/rock star.............I welcome more music/car photos.........let's do this again!!!!!!!!!!! :shades:

guss

How many times have you seen Steelydan in concert ? :P

andys120

fintail

Looks like an early MG Midget, ca. early-mid 60s

hudsonthedog

The MG is a 1964-66 Midget...because it says "1098 [cc] Mk II" on the license plate. Also, the wind-up windows give it away as a later Midget. It's definitely pre-1970 because of the flat rear wheel cutouts.

andys120

You are good Hudson, that's a 1965 Midget. I never even spotted the plate, which is a custom, not a real plate. I'd thought that they went to the 1275 cc motor in the MkII.

Now if I could just figure how he gets away with not running a real front plate. The car is from the Albany NY area (NY requires 2 plates). :confuse:

steelydanfan

Agree on the front plate issue....Texas is another state where the law says a front plate is also necessary, but some people just seem to get away with it.....

andys120

steelydanfan

only twice, I am ashamed to admit........once back in1973, and once just last year in Houston.......they quit touring after their "Pretzel Logic" tour, where they claimed they lost money, lost their equipment roadies to girls and drugs along the tour, and both Becker and Fagen disavowed touring in 1974. As a matter of fact , they even dissolved their band and just "hired out" session musicians for each album from 1974-1982. They would hire a particular musician for a certain sound on a certain track , they were studio wizards, those two..............They reunited in 2003-2004 for their "Two Against Nature" CD , followed by 2006's "Everything Must Go."

You should check out their website, they are quite the literary bards........

steelydanfan

Looks like a Korean Daewoo with a Pontiac snout...........maybe this is Pontiac's version of Chevrolet's Aveo subcompact.............I'm guessing new, 2008 ? Hardly surprising, considering the rapid decline of SUV sales ...........

michaellno

Pontiac Wave .. twin with the Chevy Aveo sold here in the US.