Mystery car pix

lemko

Cars used for city patrol usually only had small blocks or even 6 cylinder engines. The big blocks were typically used by state troopers or the highway patrol. Philadelphia used Ford Falcons in the early 1960s as city cruisers. That pic came from the icmd, so it was from some movie.

andys120

Yep>

andys120

stephen987

Dyna Panhard, ca. 1951.

andys120

You have it backwards, it's a Panhard Dyna X

andys120

stephen987

Saab 95.

Mr_Shiftright

Could be a 96 as well, couldn't it? V-4 engine, 4-on-the-tree shifter.

stephen987

I'm pretty sure the 96 was only available as a two-door sedan, and the 95 was the wagon model. Both of them started out with the two-stroke three cylinder and shifted to the Ford-sourced V4 sometime around 1967.

Mr_Shiftright

Yeah, I think you're right...96 is the sedan, 95 is the wagon.

andys120

Yep, it's a '73 SAAB 96, not that different from a '53 SAAB except for the Ford (Cologne) V4.

andys120

magnette

Not sure about the nomenclature, (or the year) but I think this is a Mercury Park Lane, whatever the open version of that was, and I'll guess 1967(?) It has a Colorado plate, if that helps...

ateixeira

That inspired me to start singing Love Shack...

Hop in my Chrysler,
It's as big as a whale...
and it's about to set sail!

But I think I see a Mercury logo so I'll guess Mercury Grand Marquis de Sade Woodie edition.

andys120

Right, Magnette, it's a 1968 Mercury Park Lane. They might have had a specific name for the rare woody option but I don't think it's the one suggested by Ateixera. The 7LITRE on the plate suggests it has the big-block 428 CID V8.

Colorado plates were easy to spot then, they were really the first "designer plates.

andys120

stephen987

Salmson?

andys120

Yup, a 1954 Salmson 2300S, body by Chapron.

andys120

lemko

Porsche 959 circa 1987?

andys120

Exactly, I was hoping the "911" on the (Swiss) license plate would trip someone up.
:P

andys120

kyfdx

Chevy Monza?

My inclination is that one is the Buick clone.... they SkyHawk..

andys120

Yup, it's a 1980 Buick Skyhawk

What were they thinking??

lemko

Yeech!!! Is there a vomiting emotorcon?

stephen987

By the standards of the mid 70s they weren't that bad. Consider that the competition was mostly the wretched Mustang II.

Of course the Fox-platform Mustang introduced in '79 pretty much redefined the genre of cheap American slightly sporty coupe. . .

andys120

stephen987

ahh, the lovely Fiat Dino Coupe.

andys120

That didn't last long!

andys120

stephen987

Pontiac Acadian Beaumont?

michaellno

Pontiac Acadian Beaumont?

Perhaps, but that certainly looks like a Colorado collector's vehicle plate on it.

carsthomas4321

I am a police officer trying to identify the car in this photo...its quite grainy from a store surveillance system, but its the best we have. I am hoping someone will recognize the "Z" mark behind the drivers door. The car was driving left to right in the picture. It is dark colored with a white top. It looks to be an old car. Thanks for any help. The picture is in my profile pictures.

texases

This is real tough:


Is this not showing up? I tried to paste the info in the "URL (link to this page)" box on his Carspace album. What am I missing?
link to his pic

imidazol97

I think the "Z" is the reflection of some lighted area reflecting off the paint of the car. It might be the reflection of the light cement area around the gas pump in the picture. I note a light on the opposite side of the street is aimed toward the camera location. That might be souce of light on something reflecting as the "Z."

tmart

Could it be a mid 50's Buick?

texases

Based on the light from the headlights, the car's moving from right to left, correct? So that 'Z' marking (if it's not a reflection) is on the rear fender. Tmart, I see what you mean about it looking like an early-mid 50s car, but I can't find a Buick with that 'Z' trim.

wgrafer

My best guess is a '54-'56 Cadillac deVille. I'm basing this on the large
front bumpers (eg:Dagmars), the raised rear fenders near the tail lights &
tail light location, the shape of the greenhouse and rear window, and of
course the noticeable GM shape . A little 'photo enhancement' might help.

au1994

I actually like these in a "so ugly they're cute" way. I think the Monza has narrower side windows which look better. I understand that on the V-8 model changing the back 2 plugs was dang near a engine out proposition due to the tight fit!!

texases

The windows were the same on all variations, except that trim at the back on the Buick. They were striking, different than others before or since.

andys120

Could it be a mid 50's Buick?

You know that was my initial thought but that seems an odd car to be at the scene of a late night break-in and the photo is very fuzzy and poorly lit. I think the Z is just a reflection. Any chance for an enlarged version of this photo?

Could it be a convertible w top up?

imidazol97

This is what the rear window and the white paint contoured around and below reminds me of.



Is there another car with the rear window shape? The rear taillights have to be exposed to the side to give as much glow as they do. That's why the Olds taillights come to mind over the related Buick hardtop with this shape.

I still believe the Z comes from reflection of some light areas on the ground to the front of the car. Perhaps lighted from the headlights or by lights on the gas station from which the picture is taken. Going to the night scene and looking for what would give a light area for reflection and if it is a straight line, like the curb or drive gutter, that would help infer the shape of the lower fender in the area of the Z. That might help.

The Oldsmobile 98 is relatively rare. This picture is a 1956.

fezo

I am trying to remember the Oldsmobile name in the Monza/Skyhawk fleet. A friend of mine kept one of those going for ages. He was of the drive it til it drops school of thought. Oddly these days he gets a new Outback every three years or so.

fintail

It was a "Starfire", pretty much denigrating the cool 60s version of the name.

On a slightly related note, an uncle of mine had the replacement, the J-car Firenza...can't recall the last time I saw one. Was replaced by a Taurus that suffered transmission failure while I was in the car.

carsthomas4321

Thank you to everyone who tried identifying the car in the store video footage. We were able to track down the suspects and arrest them this afternoon for burglary and theft. We were able to locate the car and as many of you guessed, it was a Buick. I have some pictures if anyone is interested, but it was a 1955 Buick, green in color. There is a Z shape in the chrome but it looks like it may have been a bit of a reflection after all. Again, thank you all very much. Big help.

imidazol97

Wow.

Thanks for the feedback.

I for one would like to see the pictures.

The shape of the taillights in the picture wouldn't have fit my thinking of a Buick's (55 or 56) as it moved even allowing for some image capture blur. Were the taillights modified.

I would love to see the pictures of the suspect car.

texases

Wow, I thought that it must have been some blurring that made the car look like a '55 Buick - what are the odds of seeing one of those, much less that it was involved in a crime!

andys120

Only a real idiot would employ something as distinctive as a 1955 automobile in the commission of a crime. :sick:

andys120

stickguy

with the popular Braun Grille option.