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Mystery car pix

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  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,670
    Funny thing about that Buick, IMCDB (mis)identifies it as a'54 Skylark and I was fooled by that based on the shape of the windshield and side spear. Hence my previously mistaken clue about it being a "well-known model".

    Well the '54 Skylark has no portholes as the white conv does but it did have Kelsey-Hayes wires as it does not. I believe that is a "Special" emblem on the flank.

    Here is a picture of both the '54 Skylark and the '56 Special>

    image

    Apologies to the previous Poster, but I can't tell if it's a '55 or '56. It could certainly be either.

    They had more of a skirted look, as opposed to the full cutouts Buick used in '55-56 and again in '57.

    You know I think you're right.

    2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93

  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,678
    I agree that the white convertible is '55 Special.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,670
    Uh, maybe not. I'd forgotten that Buick went to the wraparounds in 1954 for their entire line.

    Looking at this brochure art leads me to think it could well be a '54 Special. Note the prominence and position of the "Special" emblem.

    Your guess is as good as mine. ;)

    2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93

  • wgraferwgrafer Member Posts: 592
    The white Buick convertible is definitely a 1954, and definitely not a Skylark. If my eyes and monitor were better I might even be able to read 'Special" on the side!
  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,670
    image

    2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93

  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,678
    The wheel covers are the only thing in the view we have unique to the '54. The '55 and '56 had different covers shown.

    The '54 had a raised bulge along the rear fender top, but the picture doesn't include enough view behind the wheel to see if it's there or not. So '54 may be the answer.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • stephen987stephen987 Member Posts: 1,994
    Well, I was thinking Deutsch-Bonnet till I spotted the four rings in the grille area. Auto Union?
  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,670
    Actually no, it was not sold as an Auto Union. You're getting warm though.

    2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93

  • stephen987stephen987 Member Posts: 1,994
    Hmm. Too early for the resurrection of the Audi brand. Some species of DKW, then.
  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,670
    That's basically what it is. The DKW Monza was basically a kind of DKW Karmann Ghia based on the DKW 3=6 sedan (AKA DKW Sonderklasse/DKW F91).

    Like the K-G, production of the bodywork was farmed out, in this case to three different firms who provided the fiberglass coachwork. There are active DKW Monza clibs who make distinctions between the cars based on which of the three coachbuilders provided the body, even though only minor differences distinguish them.

    It isn't known how many were built but it's on the order of less than 100 to perhaps 300 between 1955 and 1957.

    2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93

  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,670
    image

    2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93

  • tmarttmart Member Posts: 2,400
    Toyota Land Cruiser, mid 80's?
  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,670
    That's right Tmart, LC Nuts call it an FJ60, it's a 1984.

    2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93

  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,670
    image

    2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93

  • JostJost Member Posts: 19
    I think the Buick in the background is a '57
  • JostJost Member Posts: 19
    I believe this is a Chinese knockoff of BMW X5
  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,670
    I think the Buick in the background is a '57

    :confuse: Oh boy, we've narrowed it down to some year between '54 and '57, just like most of the rest of the cars in the picture. :sick: :sick: :confuse:

    2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93

  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,670
    I believe this is a Chinese knockoff of BMW X5

    Yep, it's a Shanghuan CEO, An Italian Court recently dismissed a BMW complaint against Shanguan, apparently because the CEO looks nothing like an X5 from the front>

    image

    2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93

  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,670
    image

    image

    2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93

  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,678
    The rear of the distant Buick matches this 1955

    image

    The rear of the trunklid on the 57 doesn't have the massive chrome emblem. The 56 has a smaller backup light housing instead of a jet exhaust-shaped chrome piece.

    This is 1956:

    image

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,670
    The rear of the distant Buick matches this 1955

    Yes it does but it also looks like a '56 Chevy>

    image

    Could be either IMO.

    2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93

  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,678
    The chrome piece on the side of the car goes from the top of the rear wheel well directly to the backup light housing on the car in the picture just like the 55 Buick. The chrome piece on the Chev goes down to the bumper level.

    And the shape of the heavy Buick emblem in the middle of the trunk matches the 55 Buick.

    That's been a really interesting picture. I'm surprised there hasn't been a discussion about the Cadillac in the picture. Is it possible to tell which model? I'm not well-versed on Cadillacs.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,678
    The blue on this '56 Chev was really rare in my area. I can't recall seeing one. The blues were blue-green. I wonder what the pallette of colors looked like for the 56 Chev?

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,670
    Pastel baby-blues as well as aquas were quite common in the New York area where I grew up. in the 50s. Back then there was a much bigger color selection of most cars. Andre1969 could probably direct us to a good source for '56 Chevy colors.

    My favorite combo on those was a light ivory over a mettalic brown. I built a scale replica using that combo.

    2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93

  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,445
    I remember I once saw a 56 Nomad in "Sierra Gold and Adobe Beige"...not two colors I would usually like, but the car was gorgeous in that combination.
  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,670
    Still no takers on 19497? Here's another picture of one>

    image

    2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93

  • tmarttmart Member Posts: 2,400
    Looks like a Jeepster or maybe a Wagoneer , but no clue as to the year.
  • wgraferwgrafer Member Posts: 592
    How about a '70-'71 Jeepster Commando?
  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,670
    How about a '70-'71 Jeepster Commando?

    The cars pictured were '67-'70 models.

    Who can tell me what company made Jeepster Commandos?

    2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93

  • lostwrench1lostwrench1 Member Posts: 1,165
    Kaiser made the Commandos from 1966 to 1969. AMC bought Kaiser in 1970.
  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,670
    Kaiser Motors was the builder of the Jeepster Commandos until 1972, they bought Willys, the originator of both Jeep and Jeepster, in 1953. After AMC bought Kaiser the Jeepster name was dropped and the cars became "Jeep Commandos".
    Production ceased in 1973.

    2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93

  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,670
    image

    2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93

  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,030
    Here's a paint chip chart for the 1956 Chevy. I'm guessing that light blue pictured above was the "Nassau Blue"?

    Looking at that chart, it's odd to think that there were only 15 colors (13 pictured, plus black and white, which usually aren't included on paint charts). It just seemed like there was an even wider variety of colors than that! Still, today you're lucky if you get 8 or 9 colors, and they tend to be subdued these days. And with two-toning at the time, the combinations were practically endless!

    Edit: Here's page two, which lists the two-tone options available (but no pics). I guess GM just guessed which combinations would be the most popular, and limited it to those. I imagine if left to their own devices, the American public would have ordered some truly hideous combinations back then!
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,678
    1967 Cougar. It has neat wheels.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,030
    I'd guess a '69, only because of the side marker lights. While they were required starting in 1968, usually they had more unique shapes that year. For 1969, most of them were just rectangles...and sometimes were just reflectors, rather than lights.

    Pretty color...I always liked that light, silvery green. The other week when we were talking about early 70's full-sized Buicks in the classic car forum, that's the shade of green I was thinking of, that they looked really good in.
  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,670
    That "Nassau Blue" is quite different from the Metallic Nassau Blue used on Corvettes and Camaros of the 1960s.

    Come to think of it, back in the day the Police cars in Nassau County NY where I grew up were painted bright orange over dark blue. The county seems to have adopted an incorrect shade of blue.

    This is the emblem of the Royal (Dutch) House of Orange-Nassau>image

    That blue is close to the shade in Andre's chart, whereas Nassau County uses a much darker blue>image

    It's all apropos of nothing but it struck me as curious.

    2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93

  • stephen987stephen987 Member Posts: 1,994
    I believe the Cougar convertible is actually a 1970 model.
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,678
    The paint card page says "over" and I think there are more colors. I know there was a bright yellow that was sometimes two-toned with black for that year. Crocus yellow doesn't look rich enough. My cousin had one. It had been wrecked and the knee impressions were in the lower dashboard-guess they didn't believe in seat belts.

    I can't figure out how to get another page of colors because I don't know how andre got to the page he gave us!

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,030
    Actually the "over" was the second page I posted, which listed the 2-tone colors. It didn't show pictures, but just listed the combinations by name.

    However, here's Page three, which was a supplement and lists new colors that were added for the Spring, as well as new 2-tone combinations. Unfortunately, no paint chips, just word descriptions.
    Page four listed the Corvette colors, as well as interior colors. I guess the interior parts that were actually painted only came in a few colors, while the plastics, fabrics, and vinyls were available in a wider variety?

    That website I found is http://www.tcpglobal.com . They have a ton of paint charts to wade through.
  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,670
    You're right Stephen, the green 'vert is a 1970 Cougar.

    2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93

  • wgraferwgrafer Member Posts: 592
    Can anyone tell me the difference(s) between a '69 and a '70 Cougar? Maybe it's noticeable from the rear, but for the life of me I can't see any difference in the view shown. :cry:
  • stephen987stephen987 Member Posts: 1,994
    '69 Cougar has a flattish grille with horizontal bars, '70 has the waterfall (similar to '67-68.) Here's the '69:

    image

    and here's the '70:

    image
  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,670
    image

    2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93

  • stephen987stephen987 Member Posts: 1,994
    Eww. Buick Skyhawk Nighthawk Edition. 1977?
  • wgraferwgrafer Member Posts: 592
    Thanks! Now I :) get it.
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,030
    I think those are actually nice looking little cars, based on their style. It's once I think about what they're really made out of that I want to hurl. This is a bit embarrassing to admit, but when my Mom was shopping for a new car in 1980, I wanted her to get a Chevy Monza!
  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,670
    Buick Skyhawk Nighthawk Edition. 1977?

    I'm afraid you're correct Stephen,eew indeed.

    2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93

  • stephen987stephen987 Member Posts: 1,994
    THe original 1975 models were pretty cleanly styled, but they got progressively more cluttered over the ensuing few years. Here's the original '75 Skyhawk, followed by the '79 Skyhawk "Road Hawk."

    imageSee more Car Pictures at CarSpace.com
    image
  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,670
    They all looked pretty awful to me.

    2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93

  • stephen987stephen987 Member Posts: 1,994
    We had a '76 Monza 2+2, same basic car as the Skyhawk but with the Vega four-cylinder instead of the Buick V6. I really liked the styling (I was ten at the time). The Monza's quality control was awful, worse even than the Fiats and MGs that preceded it in my family's stable. The "Firethorn Red" paint ranged from burgundy on the hood to maroon on the roof to reddish gold on the left front fender, and the body-colored urethane molding around the (externally mounted) sunroof curled up in the summer sun like the edges of a lasagna noodle.

    Later on, in high school, I dated a girl who drove a '76 Mustang II Ghia with the 302 V8. Faster, but less predictable. But that's another story. . .
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