Mystery car pix

texases

And the old BMWs didn't have that high crankcase concealing the air cleaner, or the angular valve covers, or the Keihin carbs.

fintail

Oh, you know a lot more details than I :shades:

I just know I have liked those prewar bikes since I was a kid, especially sidecar rigs. I saw a green Ural with a sidecar out in the rain this afternoon. Those old bikes are worth a fortune today.

lemmer

andys120

It looks like Captain Nemo's Nautilus from the 1954 movie 20,000 Leagues Beneath the Sea but this photo was taken in the late 60s, hence the 68 Pontiac LeMans on the left. A well-used '62 Chevy Impala is passing it and the tail of a '59 Chevy wagon is visible forward of the "submersible".

I think I see the fender of a '68/'69 Cutlass behind the Impala and the fender of a '68ish Caddy next to it.

texases

Isn't that the Nemo sub used at the Disneyland ride?

lemmer

Yes. I think the picture was taken in 1971.

ateixeira

I've always felt it was strange to see a boxer engine on 2 wheels. Some of the newer ones seem really wide, too. Cool though.

andys120

tjc78

84ish Dodge 600 coupe.

tjc78

ateixeira

Lada Niva.

Neat little trucklet but the ones in Brazil would rust badly with the salty sea air.

tjc78

Yep!

andys120

It's a Mexican version sold as the Dodge K Coupe or something like that.

jwilliams2

I remember that sub well. Rode in one with the wife and kids in Sept of '72 at Disneyworld. Darn thing got stuck somehow, and we sat in it for a hot and uncomfortable 45 minutes. The ride crew and management were very apologetic, and they gave us all kinds of free premium ride passes. Kids thought it was cool.

stevedebi

"Isn't that the Nemo sub used at the Disneyland ride? "

Not to put too fine a distinction on it, it was the DisneyWORLD ride.

lostwrench1

Nope, sorry, Route 39 is close to DisneyLAND.

lostwrench1

I owned a 68 Tempest/LeMans. A 69 is shown in the picture.

texases

Well, the Nemo - based ride was at Disneyworld, the sub ride at Disneyland was made to look like US nuclear subs. So we have a puzzle.

lostwrench1

You are correct, SteveDebi.
That sub is heading to Disneyworld.
It is approaching Fla. State Road 39 and not Ca. Route 39 which passes close to Disneyland.

andys120

qbrozen

I don't know, but somebody please kill it before it can multiply!

au1994

Amen. Looks like a Ford Transit and an old Dodge mini van had a few cocktails and one thing led to another...

stickguy

I forget the name, but the Honda dealer I use sells these. based on some domestic van chassis I think with a V-8. Interesting interior, pretty much purpose built for handicap (wheelchair) access. but ugly as sin.

texases

Well, based on the decal on the door, it's made by VPG Autos, and from their web site it must be the MV-1 (the only one they list)....right, Watson?

lemko

Looks like it is made by AM General if you see the lettering on the building in the background. This is the same company that makes postal vehicles.

ateixeira

somebody please kill it

Kill it with fire!

Toyota and Chrysler both make conversions that don't burn the eyeballs of anyone who sees them.

stickguy

it's not a conversion though. Purpose built for that reason, and supposed to be much better at the job. Integrated ramps, tie down points, movable seats, all kinds of good stuff. And the back end isn't jacked up like a '75 Camaro like on some of those handi vans!

andys120

Well, based on the decal on the door, it's made by VPG Autos, and from their web site it must be the MV-1

Yup, it's the VPG MV-1, specifically designed for wheelchair transportation but curiously not set up so wheelchair-bound persons can actually drive the thing. :confuse:

I saw one recently and had no idea what it could be since the only badge visible from the front reads "V6". Then I spotted a couple at the local GMC store and pulled in to have a look.

It sure has a strange look, as if it were designed by the Michelin man. :sick:

stever

Some (most?) wheelchair users can ride in, adjust the driver seat height, and transfer over. Add hand controls or whatever you may need.

Not a bad rig for ~$42,000. $45,000 for the CNG version. Probably as cheap or cheaper than doing a Grand Caravan conversion. Meets ADA standards and was crash tested for wheelchair use.

Wonder why they didn't use a slider. Maybe the door opening size was a factor.

bhill2

Yup, it's the VPG MV-1, specifically designed for wheelchair transportation

Ironic; a vehicle for wheelchair-bound people designed by blind people (possibly the ones who designed the Aztek).

kyfdx

I think you may be confusing blind with stoned....

andys120

You should be able to figure out what the make is but how about the model?>

magnette

Alfa Romeo 1900

bhill2

I think you may be confusing blind with stoned....

It's been my experience (secondhand, of course) that stoned people have a better aesthetic than that. Of course, THC combats nausea, so maybe being stoned would tend to counteract the effect of looking at it.

kyfdx

Well.. I was speaking hypothetically (of course)

andys120

Alfa Romeo 1900

Yup, it's probably an Alfa 1900TI (1951-55), perhaps the first modern Sports sedan.

bhill2

Well.. I was speaking hypothetically (of course)

Of course. Now if the vehicle itself was hypothetical, that would solve the whole problem.

andys120

You get extra points if you know the show this is from, the actress and what part she plays.

lemko

The woman is Noel Neill who played Lois Lane from "The Adventures of Superman" in the 1950s TV series. The car is a circa 1952 Nash Rambler convertible. The show used a lot of Nash vehicles. The car in the background looks like a mid-late 1940s Chevrolet Fleetline Sport Sedan.

ateixeira

I kinda like the conversions. The rears are higher so they kinda have that hot rod stance, LOL. Check out how low they look. Plus the person in the wheelchair can drive:

http://www.braunability.com/wheelchair-minivans/rampvan-xt/

Toyota does sell a Sienna with a power seat that comes out and down all the way to chair level, if only the passengers needs help. It's very nifty. Lemme find a pic....

http://www.toyotawheelchairvansplus.com/toyota-mobility-program/mobility-package- s-offered.html

So you can roll a wheelchair up next to it, and just slide over. Then it powers you up.

We toured the east coast last year (NY, DC, Orlando, Miami, Key West) with 2 elderly folks in wheel chairs and I would absolutely have LOVED to have a seat like that.

andys120

You're hitting on all cylinders Lemko. It i indeed Noel Neill as Lois Lane in Superman in front of her '53 Nash.

Mr_Shiftright

i wonder if Superman could fix that broken strap on her purse?

lostwrench1

Well, as a big old time tv trivia fan, I have to rain on the parade.

The actress shown is Phyllis Coates. She had the role of Lois Lane in the Superman productions which ended in 1951. Noel Neill assumed the role of Lois Lane when the Superman productions resumed in May 1953.

Thus, the Nash is a 51 because Phyllis Coates is in the photo and because the end of the side chrome is above the end of the rear bumper.

stever

That would explain the black and white photo too. The Adventures of Superman were filmed in color for TV beginning in 1954, even though color TV didn't arrive until 1965.

This site says the Nash is a 1950.

Mr_Shiftright

stickguy

Insert the obligatory "that will buff right out" joke here.

but man, hope no one was inside when that happened.

andys120

I couldn't find a good photo of either Noel Neill or Phyllis Coates but I do recall their being two separate actresses who played her.

Mr_Shiftright

this one's even worse!

stever

Was that the fatal one with a eucalyptus tree, in LA iirc?

There was one floating around years ago where a redwood took out an SUV. It was a revenge hit.

Mr_Shiftright

don't know but sure looks fatal. What WAS that car? A Nissan?