Mystery car pix

jwilliams2

Yeah, I meant a 58 Dodge. And the Falcon sure looks like a '64. So that Pontiac could be a 63-64. My eyes just aren't good enough to be sure.

andys120

Damn, you're right, the Falcon at the lower right is a '64 so the Poncho could be a '63-'64 and that white Caddy is probably a '65.

There's a white Gen1 Falcon ('60-'63) partly visible past the bus (GMC Coach).

andys120

jwilliams2

It sure looks like a Renault Dauphine, and if it's not, it must be an Alfa Dauphine.

andys120

You're very close. Not many people know that Renaults were built in Milan and sold thru Alfa dealers in Italy and badged as Alfa-Romeos. The car shown is a 1962 Ondine Alfa-Romeo . The Ondine was an uprated (12 Volts and a four speed gearbox) version of the Dauphine which I don't think was ever marketed in the USA.

Mr_Shiftright

The Dauphine was initially greatly handicapped in the USA by its 6 V system.

Here's another variant:

andys120

Check out the location of the gearshift!:

Mr_Shiftright

Typically British gerashift placement for late 40s/early 50s saloons.

jwilliams2

Yes, it must be British, but not a common position for the gearshift. Don't know of many like that. Seems it would make shifting easier for those used to US cars. Possibly a Riley?

andys120

You are on the ball today Jwilliams2, it is indeed a Riley, a 1954 Riley Pathfinder, the rather dowdy successor to the attractive RM Series



I have no idea if that placement of gearshift was commonplace but I think it doubtful since most sedans of the 40s/early 50s, British or other wise, would have had their gearshifts on the column which we forget was considered an advance over placing it on the floor since it freed up the middle front seat for passenger use. The Pathfinder location accomplishes this and enables right hand shifting which most people would prefer but I'm unaware of another car that used it.

andys120

Mr_Shiftright

Sure, the Bentley Steel Saloon had the gearshift there as well. But you're right, it's not really "commonplace" except for British car nuts like me. I'm sure I could dig up 4-5 other cars of the time that did this.

au1994

A Firebird of some year? The seats don't look Firebird-esqe though.

texases

I think you're right, Firebirds had that 'engine turned' (plastic copy) dash, so this is, what, about a 1970 Firebird (no shoulder straps), maybe a Trans Am?

andys120

1970 Pontiac Firebird TransAM is correct. I believe the engine-turned dash effect was specific to TAs. Those seats are very similar to those in a '67 'Bird/326 that my folks had.

andys120

fintail

Some kind of Corollacopy

Mr_Shiftright

I don't even want to know. I bet the person driving it doesn't even know.

michaellno

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz .... ;adklv qhpb98qp4t qbbvlsjgh .... snort ..... huh?

Sorry, fell asleep on my keyboard looking at the picture.

No idea what it is.

lemko

I'm thinking it's some kind of Chinese rip-off of the Corolla too. BYD?

andys120

Right Lemko, it's a BYD F3DM, a Chinese made car that may be bound for the US Market. The drab bodywork disguises a technically sophisticate plug-in hybrid drivetrain.

Berkshire Hathaway is said to be financing entry into the US market at a price that will undercut the Chevy Volt by $10,000 or more.

berri

With all the crap quality, and sometimes toxic products China makes and exports, I think you'd have to be an idiot to buy this car.

fintail

It's such a loud copy of the old Corolla that I can't believe it is legal - but that's China for you.

I wonder about the true sophistication of material when the look is a knock-off, and I'd love to see it crash.

Buffet is becoming a traitor.

slorenzen

" but that's China for you"

No kidding.

I was in Beijing a few years back, and I saw the local constabulary riding a chinese version of the beautiful BMW R-type bike.

Other than the abysmal build quality, and the sounds eminating from the engine, I was truly fooled...

:sick: :lemon:

andys120

jwilliams2

It's such a loud copy of the old Corolla that I can't believe it is legal - but that's China for you.

Kind of like Japan 30 years ago, or Korea the last 5 years.

I wonder about the true sophistication of material when the look is a knock-off, and I'd love to see it crash.

Yes, a real crash, not a staged crash test.

Buffet is becoming a traitor.

Which Buffet, the all you can eat type, or the one who is giving 37 Billion to charity?

tmart

Looks like it has a VW badge on the grill, and kinda resembles The Thing, but is better looking. No idea what it is.

fintail

I am trying to think of any 1981 Japanese cars or 2006 Korean cars that are exact line by line copies of existing cars like that fake Corolla. I can't think of any...can you?

No doubt the Chinese cars that collapse like pop cans in crash tests don't fare better in the real world.

Yes, I made a typo...which " charity" will this be, and do the ends justify the means?

fintail

I think I see a VW badge, looks like it has old style German plates with an "IN" prefix, so I will guess it is from the VW-Audi stable.

fintail

I know those bikes, the Chang-Jiang. I think there are imported into the states by a few small firms...don't know if I'd be trusting through...at the very least I'd put another engine in it.

andys120

I will guess it is from the VW-Audi stable.

It is, in fact it's the precursor of the Audi Quattro line...the Ur-ur-Quattro if you will.

Mr_Shiftright

Yep, keep the frame, throw the engine and transmission away.

andys120

Last call for the jeep-thing w the VW badge.....

jwilliams2

Looks like a Volkswagen Type 183...

andys120

Looks like a Volkswagen Type 183...

Whoa...I had to look that one up and you are correct , the Volkswagen Iltis and the VW Type 183 are one and the same. Audi engineers got the idea of adapting the versatile AWD system to a passenger car and the result was the Audi Quattro.

History of the Iltis.

jinaman

stickguy

not a clue what it is, but with those wheels, it looks like it is on tip toes.

quite silly actually.

tmart

Looks like Honda on the hood. Other than that, no clue.

andys120

urnews

1960 Mercury Comet?

andys120

Right except the Comet was not badged as a "Mercury" that first year. Originally it was supposed to be an Edsel.... much brand confusion @ FoMoCo in 1960. :confuse:

It was simply a "Comet" (it's own brand).

ateixeira

It's the little brother to the CR-V, the JDM Honda HR-V.

andys120

Bigger version

wgrafer

Good shot! I'll take a try....
On left, '55 Chevy 210, '53 DeSoto, '55 Oldsmobile, maybe a '51-'52 Buick turning in the background...

On right, '58 Plymouth wagon, '55 Buick, '61 Pontiac, '58 Dodge wagon.

Maybe a Bronx NY scene???

andys120

Maybe a Bronx NY scene???

It certainly looks like it was taken in one or another of the NYC boros. My first thought was Woodside or Jackson Heights, Queens but maybe that's 'cause that's where I lived when I was that kid's age.

I think you've nailed all the cars in the photo

lostwrench1

There's a hold up in the Bronx
Brooklyn's broken out in fights.
There's a traffic jam in Harlem
That's backed up to Jackson Heights.
There's a scout troop short a child,
Krushchev's due at Idlewild
(_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _?)

andys120

wgrafer

Car 54 Where Are You??????

Accompanied by the scene of Car 54 going down the circular ramp onto the Cross Bronx Expresswy.

And the guy who wrote the theme song just passed away.....................

wgrafer

Re: Riviera

Gee, it sure doesn't look like a Buick......................................

stickguy

BMW for sure. I am guessing it is the model before the 2002 (and this is Europe).

late 60's 1600?