Mystery car pix

bhill2

'64 Mercury Marauder. Nice car, hate the spats.

wgrafer

"Nice car, hate the spats."

OK, I'll bite - what are "the spats"????? And yes, nice car!

andys120

Unless you get it first>

stickguy

technically it is a 1964 mercury Montclair marauder.

the spats are the fender skirts on the rear wheels.

stickguy

looks like the Aussie version of an early 60's Ford Falcon. I assume it had some other name?

can't quite tell if the body looks right for a Falcon though. Almost like a bigger car with a Falcon nose grafted on, but that could be the angle of the picture.

qbrozen

I think that's just the angle.

Looks like a Falcon to me. But I believe the thing on the side means its a Sprint (although missing the sprint badges).

fintail

Definitely Aussie plates - I think it was called the Falcon there too.

berri

I actually like that car and color, but put that color on the 65 you posted in the other forum and I'm even happier!

tjc78

I **think** I know what this was. Curious to what you guys think.

andys120

Yup that's an Australian Ford Falcon (Gen I '62-'64). The Falcon name was used there for many years on cars of varying sizes and capabilities.

Recently Ford announced it would no longer produce cars Down Under. Apparently they will import cars from other areas into Australia and New Zealand, I'm not sure if any will be sold with the Falcon badge but I imagine they will continue the model name.

texases

2004-ish Corolla?

robr2

I have a feeling the Falcon name will disappear. It doesn't make e sense to sell a FWD vehicle with the same name.

On a positive note, I read today that the Mustang will be offered in Australia starting in 2014 in RH drive with V6 and V8 models.

berri

Swiss Army Knife

magnette

It's worse than that - I think the grey car next to the chap on the bike may be an Austin Allegro....
There are also a Peugeot 304 in front of that and a 204 a few cars back.

fintail

What is it with the French and dull car colors? Beige, tan, dirty white - especially in the old days.

andys120

grahampeters

G'day

Definitely an Australian built Ford Falcon from early 1960's. The first generation XK had US spec suspension which fell apart on Australian roads and had to be strengthened for Australia. (Some personal irony here as I am just off to get recently fitted rear shock absorbers replaced as they came unstuck on outback roads ten days ago.)

Falcons have been made here for more than fifty years, being the mainstay of the taxi fleet. However, production will cease in a year or two I as they no longer appeal to most. I am never happy driving them.

The car in the photo is registered in South Australia

Cheers

Graham

stevedebi

Interesting mb... though it doesn't have fins!

fintail

Lower line Ponton, appears to be a later model with the wider grille, so 1958+, I think. If it is a 180, W120 - if a 190, W121.

stevedebi

"Lower line Ponton, appears to be a later model with the wider grille, so 1958+, I think. If it is a 180, W120 - if a 190, W121. "

Well, it was marked 180 D on the back. First one I've ever seen. Not that I'm looking a lot - it was parked near me at the local Target.

fintail

180D - the absolute slowest model, acceleration is measured in geologic terms :shades: ...but seriously, a calendar would be needed.

bhill2

You ain't kidding, Fin. I drove a 190D fintail a couple of times and my mind boggles at the thought of something with even less power.

fintail

I think the 190D fintail was 55hp - and they could be had with an automatic, which must have been very fun. I looked it up, a 180D ponton has 46hp - but all were manual (I don't think hydrak was offered on them). Top speed, maybe 60, with all the stars aligned. Good taxis.

bhill2

I think the 190D fintail was 55hp - and they could be had with an automatic, which must have been very fun.

Hey, I have an idea. We could compare a 180D and a 190D automatic in the quarter mile. Might be an interesting way to spend a week end.

stickguy

well, as always, the answer is dropping in a modern engine and turning it into a hot rod.

though in this case a Hemi might not work. Maybe a Benz engine instead.

I imagine that the car is more than sturdy enough to handle it, but might want to tweak the suspension and put some brembos on it.

of course it is a financial disaster, but for a rich guy with weird taste, why not?

tjc78

I was thinking 07 ish Altima, but its anyone's guess.

texases

Look at the taillights and gas filler door - Corolla all the way:

tjc78

Yes, the lights and body crease are tell tale signs but look at the distance between the forward part of the filler door and the rear door opening. There is a much greater distance on the frankencar.

texases

You're right. And the door opening is the wrong shape, to boot!

How about a 2000-ish Infiniti I30 (you had the right company):

tjc78

I believe that is it, even the trunk lid looks right. I thought maybe Maxima, but never the I30. I actually almost bought one of those back in 2003.

magnette

andys120

That is one seriously ugly car. The roofline looks like it's from the old Rootes group but the crude nose smacks of Third World

The number plate looks German, perhaps a DDR product from Wartburg or IFA/Sachsenring. :confuse: :sick:

magnette

Well, andy, its not German, despite the numberplate, which I assume is, and it isn't from one of the Warsaw Pact countries either. Nor is it British, even the Rootes Group did better panels than that.

Ok - two clues; its from outside the EU and it was developed with some assistance from a then-successful British manufacturer who is no longer with us (though that doesn't narrow it down either, come to think of it!)

fintail

I was thinking it might be a Hillman-based Paykan from Iran - but apparently even those are better looking. I bet it's from the same region, anyway.

magnette

No - its not from Iran. Close though....

kyfdx

Turkey or Pakistan?

Let me get my globe!

magnette

Turkey...

magnette

Just thought a typical British car park would be nice for a change....

fintail

Oh this is familiar now. When I was a kid I had a book "Automobile Year 1978" that I found at a yard sale. It had all cars broken down by country. I remember something called an Otosan Anadol or something spelled similar. That has to be it.

fintail

I'll pick off a few. Pic must be from maybe 1982 or so, given the then-new 5 door Escort to the right of a Honda Civic sedan with the "L" learner paper on the grille. Or is it a Triumph Acclaim? Car to the left of that is a Morris Marina estate (has to be rare now), and a Datsun 100 to the left of that. A later rectangle light 2CV is to the left of that.

Car in motion is a late 70s Escort. I'll leave the rest for someone else.

magnette

indeed - this one is the later version known as the Anadol A2 - early 80's. Reliant in UK had a hand in developing the make, as with the Sabra in Israel.

magnette

Pretty good fin. I must admit I assumed the car with L plates was a triumph Acclaim, but looking at it the bumpers look deeper, which I think makes it the Honda.
The picture was apparently taken in Leicester in 1984.
That Marina estate is a Mk2, as it has a different grille from earlier models. Indeed it must be pretty much extinct now.
The Datsun was sold here as the 100A Cherry, again they are as rare as hen's teeth now.

fintail

The Cherry was never sold here, but probably would have been a success in California anyway. The Datsun B210, sold there as the 120Y, was very successful - and I think it sold there in big numbers too.

The Honda rebadges have always interested me, a Triumph and this one, which you might recognize:

bhill2

Must be a Sterling. All of the advantages of a Honda Accord without the boredom of reliability.

stickguy

It's the Buckets! Pronounced boo-shay

grahampeters

G'day

A Rover 216 from the wonderful TV show 'Keeping Up Appearances' . if you have never seen it take a look at UK Gold.

Cheers

Graham

fintail

I like the Sterling guess, it's kind of on the same track, but yes, it's a Rover 216 badged Honda Civic, as owned by Mr. and Mrs. Bucket (boo-kay, don't forget) in "Keeping up Appearances", a classic 90s British comedy.

stever

We have a friend here who resembles Hyacinth quite a bit (in looks, not behavior), not that I'd ever mention to her or anyone else in this little town. :shades:

stickguy

and eliminates the need for evil RFTs!

Mr_Shiftright

Oh, it's a Subaru Octo-Back?