Mystery car pix

fintail

That 10 year old Chevy beside the 64 Ford wagon back there sure looks old. Impala in the foreground might be a 63.

uplanderguy

That Chevy is a '63 or possibly a '64. That's a Falcon, '60-63, two cars down from the Chevy.

andys120

I think the Impala is a '64, the BIGGER version reveals a slightly more rounded fender top cut at the rear.

It's hard to say if the Mustang is a '65 or '66 but I think the side trim piece may have only been for '64 1/2-'65 cars.

The Falcon is a first gen version, '60-'63 sedan.

For some reason no one has mentioned the '64 Pontiac next to the Falcon, I think it's a Grand Prix based on the sail panel.

Next to that is an old '53-4Chevy which is surprisingly tall and large in contrast to the newer cars. My memory (apparently faulty) is that 60s big sedans were quite a bit bigger than their counterparts of a decade before.

The white wagon is definitely a Ford, probably a '64 Falcon but could be a Fairlane, I guess.

uplanderguy

Now that I looked at the bigger pic, that Chevy is definitely a '63. The '64 did not have the 'impala in a circle' emblem in that position.

That Grand Prix, I believe is a '64.

The white Ford wagon, at first glance, I thought to be a '62 Country Sedan, although I'm less certain due to the size not being clear to me.

stickguy

hey, I missed the falcon, but I called out the Pontiac.

andys120

kyfdx

It reminds me a little bit of a Fiat 850, but I don't think that's it...

bhill2

It's a Fiat 124 Spider; looks like a later one. I really wanted one of those, but a college student's stipend didn't quite cover it.

stickguy

grahampeters

G'day

Why are Italian car-makers so good at convertibles? I have long lusted after one of these but exceptionally rare here.

Cheers

Graham

grahampeters

G'day

Echoing my previous comment about the sweet yellow Fiat 124...

This one is an early '50s Maserati Spider. Somewhere I have seen an image of the engine with exquisitely laid out twin spark-plugs for each of the six cylinders. The engine bay looks as beautiful as the bodywork.

Cheers

Graham

andys120

It's a 1969 Fiat 124 Sport Spider/1400 sporting a set of aftermarket wheels. I owned a '71 Spider that was the same color, Positano Yellow.

The car shown is the earliest version that was exported to the USA starting in '68. My car was the second version which featured larger side markers and a 200cc bump in displacement. Those little cars were a real blast to drive featuring one of the rev-happiest motors I've ever driven and a wonderful five speed trans. A fairly raucous Fiamm air horn was standard.

andys120

That is one of the prettiest Maseratis ever built, (and that's saying something) a 1953 A6GS Spider by Frua.

It deserves a bigger picture>

stickguy

a 1953 A6G to be exact.

Mr_Shiftright

"Why are Italian car-makers so good at convertibles?"

Because the Italians have been pounding on metal for 2500 years.

andys120

Here's a photo that illustrates two of my pet theories:

1. Some of the best sightseeing at ravce tracks is in the parking lots

2. Italians may have been even better at designing coupes than topless cars.

You probably think you know the make of the red car in the foreground. That's a gimme, let's see who knows the model.

grahampeters

G'day

I think Ferrari 250GT but body seems wrong.

Cheers

Graham

magnette

Is this a 250 Pininfarina "Tour de France" model?

I agree with you about the car park at motor races - the first time I went to the Prescott hill-climb in Gloucestershire, I was about 18 and driving my Morris 1000 Traveller (which would itself be a classic now) but I parked next to a Ferrari Daytona and immediately in front of me was a Lea Francis - I was like a dog in a forest - didn't know which tree to go to first...

andys120

Yup, this is the car popularly known as the Ferrari 250GT Tour de France after it's string of victories during the 1950s in the Tour de France auto race which was similar to the Italian Mille Miglia (i.e. a multiday event that covered a lot of French geography).

The 250TdF was one of the first of the 3-liter Ferrari 250 series developed specifically for competition. The bodies were based on Pinifarina concept cars but built by Scaglietti. About 15 were built from 1957-59 after which the 250GT SWB carried the flag for Maranello in GT racing.

The TdF was officially known as the 250GT LWB Berlinetta/Scaglietti or the 250GT Europa LWB Competizione. Italian nomenclature of that era was pretty confusing; in addition there were significant variations in bodywork.
Here is another version in the livery of Maranello Concessionaires Ltd. a quasi factory team operated by Ferrari's distributor in Britain.>



There's a variety of sports, import and American cars also in that photo, anyone want to call them out?

qbrozen

2. Italians may have been even better at designing coupes than topless cars.

well, hell, in my opinion, just about every car looks better with a fixed roof. Drives far better, too. Can you tell I hate 'verts?

stever

Now wait a minute - you once had the ultimate convertible (right down to the folding windshield). The '79 CJ-7.

qbrozen

Ya know, that's a good point. Ok, I do still like the CJs. I never think of that when considering verts. Certainly not a traditional type. Lowering the roof takes something like 20 mins rather than 20 secs. i could probably sawsall a roof off of something in the same amount of time.

stever

I could get the one on my '74 CJ-5 down pretty fast. After the first time though, I never could get all the snaps to fit again. After 3 years it had rotted away to a Bimini top. :-) That was my only convertible but I'd take a Miata anytime.

qbrozen

I don't even remember anymore other than it was a chore. I did make the mistake once of not properly securing the original top in the fold down position. I can't imagine what the poor drivers behind me were thinking as this canvas and aluminum parachute came crashing down on the road in front of them...

andys120

well, hell, in my opinion, just about every car looks better with a fixed roof

If you're taking about looks, I'd be inclined to agree. Removing the roof often reminds us of what an important styling element the roof is. This is one of the reasons Italian makers used to farm out the cabriolet styling to a different outfit.

There are of course important exceptions, Mustangs and most Corvettes come readily to mind and I could never decide if the E-Type Jags looked better as coupes or roadsters.

None of that matters to us convertible lovers, we're after the convertible experience. I love them so much I'm on my fifth, a BMW 330Cic, a car which incidentally drives every bit as well as it's tin-top counterparts.

To each his own, I guess.

qbrozen

a car which incidentally drives every bit as well as it's tin-top counterparts

For everyday driving? Maybe. Its arguable.
For my driving? Not a chance. You can't gain weight and lose rigidity and still drive as well.

BTW, I just thought of something that looked better as a vert. The Z3. And I'm one of the people that actually likes how the coupe looks.

lostwrench1

1951 Chevy.

andys120

That's right Lostwrench. Anyone spot the Karmann-Ghia in that photo?

explorerx4

Just above the hood scoop on the Ferrari, a white buy eye Sprite with a red stripe on the hood, to the right of that a black MGA, then a pastel green MGA, then an early Saab. I think the light blue and white are is a Ford, but not sure.

kyfdx

Yeah... down is fast... .getting it back up? That took some time.. Especially, the blue fabric roof.... seemed like it shrunk up, just like your jeans...

Had my windshield frame replaced (rusted out), and the top was off when I took it in... When I got it back, the lip and snaps had not been installed on the top of the frame... Went without a top for 6 weeks. It was summertime, but I occasionally got wet...

andys120

I think the light blue and white are is a Ford, but not sure.

Your others are correct but the white/teal car looks like a '55ish MoPar to me.

Anybody see the Ghia yet?

fintail

Very far left next to the green gnat.

andys120

Yup, next to the green gnat (AKA A-H Sprite mk.1) is the roof and rear side window of a VW Karmann-Ghia 1200.

Directly behind the Ferrari is a blue Porsche 356, and a white Jaguar, either an XK-120 or -140, the shape of the windshield frame indicates a DHC rather than a roadster.

Also there's a black '49-51 Ford behind the two tone car.

lostwrench1

Andys, earlier this year you posted a photo of cars in what appeared to be a school parking lot with a girl standing near a car. I replied with a chevy with dual steering because of the child's car seat which had a steering wheel. I can't find the photo and am assuming it has been removed.
Question - Was that photo taken in Keene, N.H.?

andys120

Sorry Lostwrench, I have no idea where that photo was taken.

andys120

tmart

Volvo for sure. 850?

grahampeters

G'day

Volvo 740, I think. In Australia, they were loved by their owners but feared by other drivers because of their owners' driving habits. Almost always driven by the soccermums of the 1980's or vague men with a tendency to wear hats and beige cardigans. They were incredibly robust but unsuited to turning corners quickly.

The sight still inspires fear.

Cheers

Graham

fintail

I don't see a CHMSL, so a 740 Turbo pre-86 (the script "turbo" on the grille also signifies an earlier car, I think). Wearing Euro lights, but those don't look like Euro bumpers.

andys120

LOL Graham, yes that's a 1985 Volvo 740 Turbo. I don't think they're considered especially scary around here. I've always thought buying a Volvo is an expensive way to say you don't care about cars.

Sturdy things though. We still see lots of 240s, 740s and 850s in New England.

qbrozen

well, I love volvos (OK, some volvos), and I'm pretty sure you know nobody would ever say I don't care about cars.

C'mon, that 740 is turbo RWD! And you could get it with a stick! They are the undercover enthusiasts cars, IMHO. And if you have never driven a 6-speed S60R, you don't know what you are missing. A luxury WRX is not a bad thing.

bhill2

I've always thought buying a Volvo is an expensive way to say you don't care about cars.

There is another reason for buying a Volvo. As far as I can tell, the 'average driver' specifications that Volvo uses specify me. I have never driven a car that fits me so well or is as comfortable. Ironically I don't own one at this point because I set higher priorities, but my sister has had several and every time I drive hers I am tempted to get one.

Mr_Shiftright

a *very* undercover enthusiast.

andys120

uplanderguy

I know it's a Buick, but I'll guess it's a '47.

This photo reminds me that the side 'sweep' on '67-68 big Buicks, and '68-69 mid-size Buicks, might have been homage to the similar 'sweep' down the side of this model. I never thought of that before.

andys120

Close, it's a 1946 Buick Super Series 50, essentially the same as the 1942 model, and pretty similar to the '47s.

andys120

robr2

1982?? Toyota Celica GT-S.

andys120

Toyota Celica GT-S.

Yes, a n '84.

kyfdx

Those were nice cars.. RWD, too..