Mystery car pix

fintail

I'll just pick off 2, a 61 Chevy on top of a 62 Chevy at far left center.

stickguy

a rambler right in the middle. Next to the early 60s caddy.

Mr_Shiftright

And don't forget another entry level turkey from MB---the 190E 2.3---MBs version of a Fiat.

fintail

But they sold well at nearly 30K - a quarter century ago. 4cyl E30s were no rocketships, and good luck finding an Audi from that era still on the road. It's all relative.

Greatest entry level failure for MB here was the C hatch. Few non-car enthusiasts probably even remember it now.

Mr_Shiftright

the 190E was inexcusable IMO.

fintail

It wasn't horribly bad as a 6cyl. 1982 design we're talking here, they weren't hated at the time.

Mr_Shiftright

Yes the W201, from 1982--1993. It was a big flop in the USA. It was built cheap and it was unreliable. The 16 valve version enjoys a minor collectibility status today however.

fintail

A flop? I remember they were all over the place when new, the "baby Benz", a yuppie darling. Hell, almost 2 million were built!

The Evo one was the one to have, never came here of course.

Mr_Shiftright

Nope, the car fared very poorly in America. It did better in Europe but in America the car was treated mostly with disdain by buyers, who called it "the poor man's Mercedes". You can see the problem here. It was a marketing error and not a very good car either.

fintail

How poorly compared to 4cyl E30, the competition? I don't remember the W201 being exciting, but it wasn't any worse than the competition, and they sold quite a few. Do you have any sales stats? I remember it being the "baby Benz" - at 30K way back then, it wasn't cheap.

Also, most seem to have been 6cyl by 1987 or so.

grahampeters

G'day

I think the car behind the Pagoda roof Merc looks like a 1965 Vauxhall Viva, which all seemed to come in drab pastel shades, especially the unlovely pale green. The orange car is niggling at me, but behind might be a Hillman.

On the other side of the street is a Triumph, probably a 2500 from about 1970

Cheers

Graham

grahampeters

G'day

I owned the subsequent generation C Class - undoubtedly the worst car I have ever owned. Things came to breaking point when it broke down six times in one week.

Cheers

Graham

Mr_Shiftright

I don't know US sales but my recollection was that most people thought it was far too expensive for what you got (or didn't get). Also they had numerous head gasket failures and very poor reliability ratings. So there was a lot not to like.

In many ways, it reminded me of the equally overpriced, and under-performing BMW 320i that came after the 2002---another car that suffered under a barrage of criticism and disappointment.

In a way, both models were a good example of German automakers' greed and their disregard for the Japanese competition being prepared at their threshold.

The Lexus LS400 being a prime example.

fintail

I think they sold well enough. I remember seeing them around back in the day, and I still see them now - although mostly later 6cyl models. W201 wasn't any kind of milestone, but was really no worse than the competition, which wasn't much back then. You won't have much fun in an E30 318 either. It also might have primed some for the W124 E-class, which was a success from the start.

LS400 is an odd one - reverse engineered W126 that was dumped below cost to gain traction in the market. Something to think about, if there was no MB, there would be no Lexus.

ateixeira

I honestly think the Genesis is this era's LS400, sold at a loss to establish Hyundai.

fintail

I am certain the Genesis doesn't have any profit margin in the price. Too much car for the money. The next model might be the one to really watch.

ateixeira

Azera moved upscale in content and price, so I expect the next Genesis to get a substantial price bump.

magnette

The orange car appears to be a BMW 2002 Baur convertible. Behind it is a Hillman Imp MkII or possibly a Singer Chamois. THe grey car in front ofthe M Benz is I think a FOrd Zephyr Mk 4.

andys120

The orange car appears to be a BMW 2002 Baur convertible

Bingo. Only a handful of those ever made it to the USA
(as grey market cars). Inca Orange was one of the distinctive hues
seen on the BMW 2002.

tjc78

The Genesis is much more expensive in Korea than here in the US. I think they sell it here at minimal profit to make a statement.

The low price does show in certain aspects of the car. The suspension (at least on the early models) is a total train wreck and there is some lack of refinement overall.

fintail

Or maybe sold here at no profit to make headway, subsidized by profits on other models?

I'd expect the next one to be better, and maybe a nicer design too.

andys120

ateixeira

I was about to say 599 but you hid the back so it must be a trick!

I say FF, the shooting brake version with AWD.

boomchek

That is a Ferrari 599

texases

Yep, the 599. The FF has different headlights, look kinda maniacal here:

ateixeira

Shucks, tricked by what only seemed like a trick question.

andys120

Shucks, tricked by what only seemed like a trick question.

BWAHAAAHA! :P

andys120

stickguy

late 90s Passat wagon.

andys120

late 90s Passat wagon.

Yup, it's a '96 VW Passat, this gen was known as the B4. I was quite smitten by these cars and nearly bought one but couldn't get the deal I wanted so I bought a Saab 900S instead. It's probably just as well, I don't think the B4s held up well, I seldom see one any more but New England is lousy with old Saabs.

andys120

fintail

Some type of Lancia, perhaps a Zagato body?

magnette

Bristol 406 Zagato I think, but the badge looks like a Lancia, so I'm less sure.

andys120

Yup, it's yet another variant of the Lancia Flaminia, a 1965 Lancia Flaminia Zagato Super Sport.

I thought it was a Pug 403 or 504 with Italian coachwork. :sick:

andys120

bhill2

I'll grab the split-window Vette while the getting is good.

fintail

I'll pick off the big 63 Ford behind it.

imidazol97

Is that a 2-door Corvair, Monza?, next to the Corvette and 1963 Ford?

kyfdx

As long as we are taking easy ones, I'll just mention that the split-window Corvette is a '63....

imidazol97

Is that 57 Ford wagon showing parked to the right of the Corvette?

bhill2

I'll just mention that the split-window Corvette is a '63

Oh gosh. How can you tell?

andys120

There are two Stingrays in the photo, see the other one?

lemko

In the other lane: 1962 Ford Fairlane, 1955 or 56 Ford Mainline, 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air, VW Bug, 1957 Chevrolet truck, 1959 Chevrolet, what might be a 1951 Chevrolet, early 1960s Corvair, hiding behind the trees looks like another 1955 Chevrolet and maybe another Corvette.

imidazol97

I think the Fairlane is a 63. It looks a little off in tailfin shape for 62 (I had one!!!). The chrome on the 63 goes parallel and below the fin. And it doesn't have the three chrome pieces on the middle of the fender behind the wheelwell.

andys120

My first thought was that the Ford in the rightmost lane was a '62 but on further inspection I think it's a '63. Hard to tell tho.

There is a '62 Fairlane on the extreme left.

The preponderance of Fords and Chevies is rather odd IMO.

Anyone spot the '59 Cadillac?

imidazol97

>There is a '62 Fairlane on the extreme left.

I think it has the accent color chrome piece below the top of the fin visible in the picture that the '63 has.

62


63


63

mystery

andys120

ateixeira

Without looking, I will say 355 Spyder. Late 90s, I'll guess 1998.

andys120

You have the right idea Juice but just to be exact it's a 1999 Ferrari F355 Spider (with an I not a Y).

IMO Nero Ferraris generally look fabulous, I don't know why there aren't more of 'em.

stever

Sort of.

Q. Is it an iron, a ski binding, an MP3 player? Electric stapler? Monogram embosser?

Bonus points. Who's the automaker behind it?