Mystery car pix

ateixeira

Probably one of the least flattering years for that model, too.

lemko

The 1968-72 models were the classic Novas I remember. Everybody and their brother seemed to have one. I didn't like how they squared-up the front end in 1973 and hanging that bulky bumper on the back in '74 made it look even worse. They restyled the entire car in 1975.

ateixeira

I'd go back even further if I were to buy a classic one.

The later ones just seemed... bulky. The thick pillars, bigger fenders.

It was a tip off to OPEC - the bulk is here, let's turn off the tap!

andys120

1974 Chevrolet Nova.

Would you be surprised to learn that they say it's a '73 at imcdb.com.?

They might be right. Novas had big bumpers going back to the 60's.

1968 Chevy II Nova (ad art)>

berri

Good job, but I can't tell if the Plymouth is a '55 or a '56 from this angle - is there a 'tell' I'm missing???

Honestly, I like to just guess at these. The 56's always looked a bit more formal than the 55's to me (although I tend to like the 55's better). I looked these two Plymouth's up in a spotters guide since you asked. The only difference on the front end is that they changed to a mesh material in the center of the bumper/grill area and of course, that's blocked out by a license plate in the pix. I tried to enlarge the pix, but on my computer that cut off the Plymouth. Oh well, I'd prefer a 55 Dodge or DeSoto anyway!

berri

I always thought the late 60's/early 70's Nova's were kind of clean looking styles, but the coupe looked better. However, the 4 door pix reminded me of a funny story. Many years back, my wife and I went out to Seattle and visited her elderly aunts out on Whidbey Island. We were riding in the back of that Nova sedan and it was lunch time. I spotted a McDonald's and the aunts said that place was too greasy. They took us to some local joint instead where the burgers were served on "buttered" rolls. Personally, I thought the grease tasted pretty good though!

imidazol97

The Plymouth shows a hood ornment on top of the hood rather than on the front. It's a 1956.

stickguy

The Truck looks like a GMC. Think I had a matchbox of that model.

berri

It's probably good the Plymouth didn't change much. Personally, I thought Chevy's looks took a step backward for 56, although I guess I liked the 56 Ford front end a bit more than the 55 (always heard though that the 56 Ford was mechanically more problematic than the 55 - but don't really know about that). I remember 57-60 Ford's being tinworm magnets, as well as 57/58 Mopars. The 55/56 cars didn't seem to rust as much for some reason.

andys120

michaellno

Fiat Barchetta?

wgrafer

"The Plymouth shows a hood ornment on top of the hood rather than on the front. It's a 1956."

Thanks! My laptop monitor is not clear enough to show it.

uplanderguy

Our '73 Nova coupe was that identical color, but we had Rally Wheels and the side window frames were chromed.

andys120

Fiat Barchetta?

Yup, a nice little Spider; how unfortunate that it's FWD.

michaellno

Yup, a nice little Spider; how unfortunate that it's FWD.

It didn't prevent Richard Hammond from driving one from Iraq to Bethlehem on Top Gear.

Mr_Shiftright

if that's your idea of a good time...

Let's see, driving through the Middle East desert in a FWD convertible, or driving through the vineyards of Tuscany in a mid-engine Boxster S......HMMMM.....you know, I just can't decide. :shades:

michaellno

if that's your idea of a good time...

Let's see, driving through the Middle East desert in a FWD convertible, or driving through the vineyards of Tuscany in a mid-engine Boxster S......HMMMM.....you know, I just can't decide.

Well, gee, I'm not gonna argue with you on that .. my point was that FWD was in no way an inhibitor to the drive that the TG folks made a year or two ago.

Besides, is there a papal bull somewhere that dictates that all small roadsters be RWD?

kyfdx

I believe it's called, "Mercury Capri Vatican III".

Mr_Shiftright

michaellno

I believe it's called, "Mercury Capri Vatican III".

And I'll counter with the Lotus Elan.

Oh, wait.

Nevermind.

ateixeira

All roadsters should be RWD.

If you're too big for a Miata, drive barefoot.

michaellno

If you're too big for a Miata, drive barefoot.

That won't help the problem I have with the Miata, whereby my eyes are level with the top of the windshield.

Same was true with the Saturn Sky.

andys120

Besides, is there a papal bull somewhere that dictates that all small roadsters be RWD?

There is in my religion, The Church of the Overhead Camshaft.

ateixeira

Some of the crazier folks remove some of the bottom seat padding.

texases

I think I'd have to remove the seat...

ateixeira

andys120

You've got me stumped Mr. S, #30307 looks Italian but I can't quite place it.
How about a hint?

Mr_Shiftright

Okay on 30307 -- it's a "real" car, not a kit, and not a one-off, and based on the Fiat (think of cars like Fiat Abarth--it's that type of company, although this car actually outsold Fiat-Abarth at the time).

andys120

Is it a Moretti 750 of some kind. Vignale or Michelotti?

Mr_Shiftright

Nope, not Moretti but the same idea. It's not fiberglass, it's aluminum.

Here's another shot of it:

andys120

Is that a Fiat Millecento (1100) Allemano Berlinetta?

kyfdx

Isn't Moretti an Italian beer?

texases

Try their 'La Rossa' brew, first darker Italian beer I've found, it's good!

kyfdx

I had a Moretti La Rosa, just last Saturday at Buono Vita in Dayton, KY..

Highly recommend the restaurant and the brew...

Mr_Shiftright

Nope not a Millecento PER SE but based on an 1100, yes.

Ok, close enough---

it's a Giannini. Not sure of the model exactly. Bialbero 1000 coupe?

wgrafer

"it's a Giannini"

OK, and where and in what time period might I have ever come near this 'Giannini"???????????????????????????????????????????????

Mr_Shiftright

I would place this Giannini in the late 50s, which is what the website I got this from suggests. Bodywork is probably by Boano (???), based on a Fiat 1100, with all tuning and mods by Giannini, and sold as a Giannini.

Reminds me of Renault Caravelle and Volvo P1800 but I think handsomer, as the Italians have a good sense of proportion with styling (usually!).

andys120

Giannini was one of dozens of small Italian makers who thrived during the 50s and early 60s making sporty variants of Fiats. The 1100, one of the best small cars of the era was a particularly popular subject. Many of them also made race cars using Fiat, Alfa or Lancia mechanicals.

There's more on these automotive "etcererini" here.

Mr_Shiftright

Nice post, those are interesting little histories.

andys120

BIGGER!

lemko

I can just make out a few since they're so far away. The truck is a 1963-66 Chevrolet, the first parked car facing the viewer appears to be a 1955 Studebaker. The car moving in front of the Farmer's Market maay be a 1966-67 Dodge Coronet. I can't really tell, but the parked cars pointing toward the left look like a 1962 Buick, 1963 Chevrolet, a dark car parked too far back to tell, and a 1969 or 1970 Buick.

andys120

I guess you didnt hit the BIGGER button, or you would have seen the Chevy taxi parked on the extreme right of the pic. It looks like about a '67 Biscayne to me.

lemko

I did miss the BIGGER button! :confuse: Actually, that Biscayne taxi is a 1968 model. My great-grandpop had a blue 1967 Biscayne back in the day.

andys120

Fiat that was modified and a few were sold by another Italian boutique maker>



Extra points for background cars.

explorerx4

I think the taxi is 1968 chevy?

mac24

and here's the back view with a UK legal rear number plate, unlike the diminutive front one.



I'll let someone else have the pleasure of precisely naming this fairly rare Fiat.

andys120

Sorry Mac24, your picture doesn't show IL has a bad case of software bugs this weekend.

mac24

Figures! I haven't been able to log on for a couple of days because the site appeared to be down.
Then find out the site wasn't down and now my pics don't appear! :sick:

imidazol97

Here's the picture for your 30333 post.

imidazol97

Here's the picture for Mac24's legal rear end plate.