There has been a lot of discussion aboutfender skirts recently. While I don't like them on maost cars, I think skirts enhance the look of certain cars, '49-'52 Fords, XK-120 Jaguars, Citroen ID/DSs (the whole fender is a skirt), and 2-seat Tbirds to name a few. Then there's this one>
I can't imagine this car without the skirts and look how artfully theyblend with the car's lines.
Most Cadillacs were designed with skirts and IMHO look awful without them--a huge, rectangular rear wheel opening--but even Caddy, in '64, took the skirts off of their most expensive two-door automobile, the Eldorado, and to positive effect IMHO:
"Lesser" Cadillacs that year had skirts as standard equipment.
I've mentioned this before, but I think skirts look really integrated into the first-generation Monte Carlo design, even though they were optional equipment:
I think most cars look better with an open rear wheel opening.
Oh I quite agree but with notable exceptions>
As you can see there's no actual skirt, the entire fender is held on by an ingenous latch/hook system that allows removal of rear tires. I wish I could find a picture of it.
@Stever@Edmunds said:
Geeze, looks like the entire side pops off, at least with one spanner and I assume a long screwdriver. Hemmings.com
G'day
My recollection is that the whole rear fender removed by using the wheel brace on the one bolt near the reflectors. I think the fender was secured by a sort of clip at the front which disconnected so you could lift the fender off. The wagon, which was also pretty, but not so dramatic, did not have this feature.
You then cycled the hydropneumatic suspension to fully raised, inserted a flimsy jack-stand (which seemed to be mostly wire, under the jacking point then lowered the suspension fully, You could then remove the wheel and repeat the exercise to lower the car. A whole lot less labour than normal jack operation.
Oddly, the DS could travel reasonably happily with only one rear wheel. The front track was dramatically wider than the rear and when following a DS on dirt, you see four distinct wheel tracks. This was used by several tyre manufacturers (especially Michelin which owned Citroen) to monitor test tyre performance.
Michelin also used a Citroen DS as the basis for a hugely complex testing rig with something like 10 wheels. I think it was powered by two small block chevy engines and the tyre being tested was mounted in a central point. I am sure that it featured in these pages a long time ago.
Besides the top and bottom fins, you might say it also has "Dagmar" taillight housings. Funny, those top and bottom fins kind of look like the new multidimensional winglets they are starting to put on airliners. The 62 Cadillac has always been my favorite of the 59-62 models. Not that I dislike those humongous 59 fins though!
Yeah, that 62 Caddy would look pretty bad without the skirts. On most cars I think skirts just hokey it up ESPECIALLY when they are chrome plated!
I don't like wide whitewalls on cars that didn't come with them like that Caddy nor am I fan of Kelsey Hayes wire wheels that for some reason some people love putting them on (most) cars that never had them in the first place. That 62 Caddy is a good example of that too.
But..that's me. Different tastes out there!
Lastly, what's with all of these hokey blue dot taillights. I NEVER ONCE saw them installed on cars back in the day.
I've heard those lower fins on '61 and '62 Cadillacs called 'skeg' fins.
I've mentioned this before, but does anybody besides me remember people putting reflectors in the mirror-image indentations in the rear bumper, below the taillights, on '60 Fords? As a kid I thought it looked rather cool.
2024 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 2LT; 2019 Chevrolet Equinox LT; 2015 Chevrolet Cruze LS
@uplanderguy said:
I've heard those lower fins on '61 and '62 Cadillacs called 'skeg' fins.
I've mentioned this before, but does anybody besides me remember people putting reflectors in the mirror-image indentations in the rear bumper, below the taillights, on '60 Fords? As a kid I thought it looked rather cool.
That sounds like painting the inside of the front side 'scoops' on a '62 Corvette black, instead of body-colored. Looks better to me in black...
I remember seeing older Cadillacs around town that looked like that! They used that long, rectangular-style skirt for a good long time. That's the same year Caddy as the Eldorado convert I posted above, but is a lower-line DeVille convertible.
2024 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 2LT; 2019 Chevrolet Equinox LT; 2015 Chevrolet Cruze LS
Back in the day when I was a kid in the 50s in Rhode Island, they were quite common
Growing up in the Chicago area, I don't so much recall "blue dots", but something I do remember is people putting those popular with customizer's long pointed taillight lenses. Personally, I seldom got into a customized vehicle, but there seemed a good number of fans for that in the late 50's and early 60's.
I kind of associate those with maybe 53-56 big Mopars and GM's like Buick. In fact, I think some upper level first half of the fifties Chryslers came with them?
I'm a fan of the K-H wheels on the right car. Most of the enduring classics of the 50s looked good with them: Chrysler 300 letter cars, 2-seater Birds and Buick Skylarks (standard equipment) . That '62 Eldo wears them well, I think.
Aha, you've fallen into my trap. The Touring version of the redoubtable 2002 was sold as a ** 2000 ** Touring (at least in NA and Europe I don't know about OZ).
It just goes to show that, even back then, BMW's nomenclature was confusing. In most markets a 2-door hatch is referred to as a "three-door" so the Touring should perhaps have been a 2003 (?!).
That's a 1973 Euro spec version of the BMW 2000 Touring.
I'm not sure if those are Campagnolo or Cromodora wheels (factory option?)
Yep, it's the 2015 Jeep Renegade an Italian made mini-Jeep based on Fiat componentry. The Fiat version, the 500L will be FWD while the Jeep goes 4X4 or AWD (I'm not sure which.). It's designed to compete withvehicles like the Skoda Yeti and Suzuki Tracker while the Fiat version takes on the Jukes and Souls of the world.
Diesel power options are planned. Colr me interested. I have long believed that light weight and compact size are genuine assets for off-road vehicles and diesel power would be ideal for it's low-end torque delivery. I wonder if there'll be a soft top version?
@andys120 said:
Diesel power options are planned. Colr me interested. I have long believed that light weight and compact size are genuine assets for off-road vehicles and diesel power would be ideal for it's low-end torque delivery. I wonder if there'll be a soft top version?
I've read that the Jeep version will be FWD with two AWD options, one trail rated and the other not.
I wonder if those were only imported to Canada and not the US - never seen one in the states, and even in Canada it has to be stupendously rare. Price might be a little dear for an unrestored weirdo car, but it looks pretty decent, and cool in its own way.
Speaking of imports, here's an oddball spotted in Portland that's related to a previous car:
@fintail said:
I wonder if those were only imported to Canada and not the US - never seen one in the states, and even in Canada it has to be stupendously rare. Price might be a little dear for an unrestored weirdo car, but it looks pretty decent, and cool in its own way.
Speaking of imports, here's an oddball spotted in Portland that's related to a previous car:
I've never seen a Standard sedan of any kind in the US (or anywhere else) so I doubt if they were exported to here. Your white car has the same taillights as that '58 Ford Anglia I posted.
'69 Road Runner in the front. And what looks to be a 71 Pontiac Gran Prix sideways in front of the gas station. and is that a White FS '73 or so Pontiac along the road?
70+/- Suburban and Chevy step van along the side of the Atlantic.
@fintail said:
I wonder if those were only imported to Canada and not the US - never seen one in the states, and even in Canada it has to be stupendously rare. Price might be a little dear for an unrestored weirdo car, but it looks pretty decent, and cool in its own way.
Speaking of imports, here's an oddball spotted in Portland that's related to a previous car:
G'day
A Ford Prefect from about 1960. Magnette will recall the order of brand name. I think the Prefect was fancier than the Anglia and the previous generation was sold as a Ford Popular in a stripped out form. I can recall these fords from my youth with no enthusiasm
Looks like a Polish FSM Syrena. Most likely from the early 70s which still had sucicde doors. Probably based off a British Morris Minor.
We had one in Poland and they built them new up to the late 80s I believe. Complete with a metal dashboard, two stroke engine, and of course the obligatory multiple ashtrays.
Comments
There has been a lot of discussion aboutfender skirts recently. While I don't like them on maost cars, I think skirts enhance the look of certain cars, '49-'52 Fords, XK-120 Jaguars, Citroen ID/DSs (the whole fender is a skirt), and 2-seat Tbirds to name a few. Then there's this one>
I can't imagine this car without the skirts and look how artfully theyblend with the car's lines.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Skirts are fine on cars that have no basic need for brakes---but on a Jaguar 120 they make a difference--and not in a good way....
Most Cadillacs were designed with skirts and IMHO look awful without them--a huge, rectangular rear wheel opening--but even Caddy, in '64, took the skirts off of their most expensive two-door automobile, the Eldorado, and to positive effect IMHO:
http://www.americandreamcars.com/1964eldoradocnvt123008.jpg
"Lesser" Cadillacs that year had skirts as standard equipment.
I've mentioned this before, but I think skirts look really integrated into the first-generation Monte Carlo design, even though they were optional equipment:
http://www.2040cars.com/_content/cars/images/20/443820/001.jpg
I think most cars look better with an open rear wheel opening.
Oh I quite agree but with notable exceptions>
As you can see there's no actual skirt, the entire fender is held on by an ingenous latch/hook system that allows removal of rear tires. I wish I could find a picture of it.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Geeze, looks like the entire side pops off, at least with one spanner and I assume a long screwdriver. Hemmings.com
G'day
My recollection is that the whole rear fender removed by using the wheel brace on the one bolt near the reflectors. I think the fender was secured by a sort of clip at the front which disconnected so you could lift the fender off. The wagon, which was also pretty, but not so dramatic, did not have this feature.
You then cycled the hydropneumatic suspension to fully raised, inserted a flimsy jack-stand (which seemed to be mostly wire, under the jacking point then lowered the suspension fully, You could then remove the wheel and repeat the exercise to lower the car. A whole lot less labour than normal jack operation.
Oddly, the DS could travel reasonably happily with only one rear wheel. The front track was dramatically wider than the rear and when following a DS on dirt, you see four distinct wheel tracks. This was used by several tyre manufacturers (especially Michelin which owned Citroen) to monitor test tyre performance.
Michelin also used a Citroen DS as the basis for a hugely complex testing rig with something like 10 wheels. I think it was powered by two small block chevy engines and the tyre being tested was mounted in a central point. I am sure that it featured in these pages a long time ago.
Cheers
Graham
That Caddy has 4 tailfins - the skirt is just part of the fin
Besides the top and bottom fins, you might say it also has "Dagmar" taillight housings. Funny, those top and bottom fins kind of look like the new multidimensional winglets they are starting to put on airliners. The 62 Cadillac has always been my favorite of the 59-62 models. Not that I dislike those humongous 59 fins though!
I've always been intrigued by the Citroen DS, but you might have to be a rocket scientist to maintain one
Yeah, that 62 Caddy would look pretty bad without the skirts. On most cars I think skirts just hokey it up ESPECIALLY when they are chrome plated!
I don't like wide whitewalls on cars that didn't come with them like that Caddy nor am I fan of Kelsey Hayes wire wheels that for some reason some people love putting them on (most) cars that never had them in the first place. That 62 Caddy is a good example of that too.
But..that's me. Different tastes out there!
Lastly, what's with all of these hokey blue dot taillights. I NEVER ONCE saw them installed on cars back in the day.
I've heard those lower fins on '61 and '62 Cadillacs called 'skeg' fins.
I've mentioned this before, but does anybody besides me remember people putting reflectors in the mirror-image indentations in the rear bumper, below the taillights, on '60 Fords? As a kid I thought it looked rather cool.
That sounds like painting the inside of the front side 'scoops' on a '62 Corvette black, instead of body-colored. Looks better to me in black...
I just love '62 Corvettes. A friend's B-I-L with a '65 used to tell me "But they ride like a buckboard!". I don't care; I love the looks!
I don't remember one with black coves, although I frankly only ever remember seeing one in our town...a red hardtop with Cragar wheels.
Years ago I saw this de-skirted Caddy:
I remember seeing older Cadillacs around town that looked like that! They used that long, rectangular-style skirt for a good long time. That's the same year Caddy as the Eldorado convert I posted above, but is a lower-line DeVille convertible.
Back in the day when I was a kid in the 50s in Rhode Island, they were quite common.
Inka Orange>
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Back in the day when I was a kid in the 50s in Rhode Island, they were quite common
Growing up in the Chicago area, I don't so much recall "blue dots", but something I do remember is people putting those popular with customizer's long pointed taillight lenses. Personally, I seldom got into a customized vehicle, but there seemed a good number of fans for that in the late 50's and early 60's.
Kelsey Hayes wire wheels
I kind of associate those with maybe 53-56 big Mopars and GM's like Buick. In fact, I think some upper level first half of the fifties Chryslers came with them?
That is an Inca Orange BMW Gremlin.
I have heard the actual name but can't recall it. a 1600 something?
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I think it's a 2002 Touring
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I'm a fan of the K-H wheels on the right car. Most of the enduring classics of the 50s looked good with them: Chrysler 300 letter cars, 2-seater Birds and Buick Skylarks (standard equipment) . That '62 Eldo wears them well, I think.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Early 70's BMW 2002 Touring?
Cheers
Graham
Aha, you've fallen into my trap. The Touring version of the redoubtable 2002 was sold as a ** 2000 ** Touring (at least in NA and Europe I don't know about OZ).
It just goes to show that, even back then, BMW's nomenclature was confusing. In most markets a 2-door hatch is referred to as a "three-door" so the Touring should perhaps have been a 2003 (?!).
That's a 1973 Euro spec version of the BMW 2000 Touring.
I'm not sure if those are Campagnolo or Cromodora wheels (factory option?)
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
New>
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Jeep 500L/Fiat Renegade!!
All right - Jeep Renegade to be made in Italy and exported to "Murrica. Targeted at the Juke, Xb, Soul, et al.
Yep, it's the 2015 Jeep Renegade an Italian made mini-Jeep based on Fiat componentry. The Fiat version, the 500L will be FWD while the Jeep goes 4X4 or AWD (I'm not sure which.). It's designed to compete withvehicles like the Skoda Yeti and Suzuki Tracker while the Fiat version takes on the Jukes and Souls of the world.
Diesel power options are planned. Colr me interested. I have long believed that light weight and compact size are genuine assets for off-road vehicles and diesel power would be ideal for it's low-end torque delivery. I wonder if there'll be a soft top version?
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Seems like a rather grandiose name for a Fiat 500L---how about Mighty Mouse?
I've read that the Jeep version will be FWD with two AWD options, one trail rated and the other not.
My bad, the FWD Fiat version of the Jeep Renegade will be called the Fiat 500X not the 500L (which I think is already out).
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Hmm, Brit plate but LHD, it looks a bit like a Simca Aronde or a mid-50s Fiat 1400.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Standard Vanguard ca. 1950
Gold Star Fintail! Technically a "Triumph Standard Vanguard"---and could be yours today for a mere $7500 (BC Canada, so a short drive)
http://www.usedvictoria.com/classified-ad/1950-Triumph-STANDARD-VANGUARD-trades_20933045
I wonder if those were only imported to Canada and not the US - never seen one in the states, and even in Canada it has to be stupendously rare. Price might be a little dear for an unrestored weirdo car, but it looks pretty decent, and cool in its own way.
Speaking of imports, here's an oddball spotted in Portland that's related to a previous car:
I think it's a very cool car, that '50 Standard and yep, extremely rare. Might be worth the money.
Buy it! It's not a high price of admission to be in the rare club, and you'll be a hit at British themed shows anyway.
I've never seen a Standard sedan of any kind in the US (or anywhere else) so I doubt if they were exported to here. Your white car has the same taillights as that '58 Ford Anglia I posted.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
round.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Wintertime in Vermont>
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
'69 Road Runner in the front. And what looks to be a 71 Pontiac Gran Prix sideways in front of the gas station. and is that a White FS '73 or so Pontiac along the road?
70+/- Suburban and Chevy step van along the side of the Atlantic.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
G'day
A Ford Prefect from about 1960. Magnette will recall the order of brand name. I think the Prefect was fancier than the Anglia and the previous generation was sold as a Ford Popular in a stripped out form. I can recall these fords from my youth with no enthusiasm
Cheers
Graham
Yep the Prefect, or sometimes when they come up for sale in NA, the "Perfect".
Looks like a 60s era Ford COE box truck on the road.
Syrena - I think this model is the 105 but not sure.... - made from 60's to late 70's latterly by FSO. Its Polish...
It's a 104. The last version was the 105 and had normal doors.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Looks like a Polish FSM Syrena. Most likely from the early 70s which still had sucicde doors. Probably based off a British Morris Minor.
We had one in Poland and they built them new up to the late 80s I believe. Complete with a metal dashboard, two stroke engine, and of course the obligatory multiple ashtrays.
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
I still have the owner's manual from our Syrena we had in the 80s. Here is a scan of some pages.
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
Bardzo zadbane!