Mystery car pix

stever

andys120 said:

Maybe this will help>

Vaguely reminds me of an Amphicar from the door back, in which case that spraycover would really come in handy.

andys120

European stylists fell hard for that big tailfin look in the early 60s. Here's another example>

berri

Probably not Russian, but sure looks like something ZIV would do

texases

That's a Facel Vega 'Excellence', they were made '58-'64, don't know how to tell the year.

andys120

Yiup, that is a Facel Vega Excellence from the earliest Series (EX1)1958-61. As with the Alpine/Tiger the fins shrank in later Series as shown in this comparison shot.>

Mr_Shiftright

Hemi powered, later used other Chrysler big block engines. There was a plan to rebadge the Excellence with the Packard nameplate but nothing came of it.

andys120

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Mr_Shiftright said:

Hemi powered, later used other Chrysler big block engines. There was a plan to rebadge the Excellence with the Packard nameplate but nothing came of it.

What a cool idea, too bad nothing came of it

Mr_Shiftright

One article I read, and I have no idea how true it is, surmised that at the time of this proposal, Studebaker was selling Mercedes-Benz out of its showrooms (as Benz, back in 1959, had no dealer network yet in place) and Mercedes was not keen on flooring its cars next to a prestige brand--tentatively named the Packard 300. Mercedes wasn't even keen on flooring its cars next to a "working man's" car like a Studebaker.

In any event, Mercedes soon pulled out of the Studebaker arrangement, and luxurious European GT cars remained a boutique item.

fintail

A Facel-Packard is a very interesting idea. Not sure if it would have saved the brand, but it would have made some nice cars. I think MB had some standalone showrooms by 59, I know the Seattle dealer opened that year, and it was a MB-only facility. They would have still been managed by Stude, I guess.

Mr_Shiftright

Mercedes was hardly on American car buyers radar back then. Not that many people wanted a "Hitler car" and they were expensive compared to what GM was offering. The SLs were for movie stars and the 300s for diplomats.

Mercedes really didn't get into gear until 1968, with the new styling, more models, and stronger engines.

Even then, it took a while for American drivers to get used to foreign concepts like "handling" and "brakes".

fintail

And firm seating with rather stark interior trim compared to the chrome encrusted jewels of American interiors.

Although MB could have been in the way of a nascent Packard rebirth, I have to imagine it was still a worthwhile venture for Studebaker - that enough surgeon/engineer/professor types were buying fintails to keep it going.

andys120

Mr_Shiftright said:

Mercedes was hardly on American car buyers radar back then. Not that many people wanted a "Hitler car" and they were expensive compared to what GM was offering. The SLs were for movie stars and the 300s for diplomats.

Mercedes really didn't get into gear until 1968, with the new styling, more models, and stronger engines.

Even then, it took a while for American drivers to get used to foreign concepts like "handling" and "brakes".

American GIs returning from tours of duty in Europe sometimes brought Benzes (as well as other makes) with them, most were low end gas or diesel 170/180/220 models that were relatively affordable because of the strength of the US dollar.

You are correct in saying that M-B didn't really take off until the improved models of the late 60s.

I'm pretty sure the Studebaler-Packard-Mercedes dealer in my hometown was gone by 1959.

andys120

stever

Couldn't see it.

berri

Maybe a 62 or so Chevy II or Nova Wagon and I can't really make out the rear, but maybe around a 62 big Dodge wagon. Whatever, I like this picture. Several vehicles you don't see much today.

stickguy

Dodge is a 4 door

berri

Oops - I did have a gin and tonic tonight

texases

Wonder what the tow rating on that Chevy was. These days folks would use a big pickup. 

andys120

At Hemmings they think the Dodge is a 1962 Custom 880. One of the ugliest Mopars of an ugly era.

andys120

berri said:

Maybe a 62 or so Chevy II or Nova Wagon and I can't really make out the rear, but maybe around a 62 big Dodge wagon. Whatever, I like this picture. Several vehicles you don't see much today.

IIRC correctly all Novas were Chevy IIs but not vice versa.

bhill2

andys120 said:

berri said:

Maybe a 62 or so Chevy II or Nova Wagon and I can't really make out the rear, but maybe around a 62 big Dodge wagon. Whatever, I like this picture. Several vehicles you don't see much today.

IIRC correctly all Novas were Chevy IIs but not vice versa.

YRC. Nova started out as the top trim level of the Chevy II.

berri

Yeah. The earlier Nova was a top of the line trim for Chevy II, but I think it all became Nova sometime in the latter half of the 60's or very early 70's.

andys120

And of course they ran into an embarrassing situation in Spanish language markets because no va means "doesn't go" in Spanish.

Michaell

andys120 said:

And of course they ran into an embarrassing situation in Spanish language markets because no va means "doesn't go" in Spanish.

Urban legend:

http://www.snopes.com/business/misxlate/nova.asp

Mr_Shiftright

Snopes has a neat analogy about that:

"Assuming that Spanish speakers would naturally see the word "nova" as equivalent to the phrase "no va" and think "Hey, this car doesn't go!" is akin to assuming that English speakers would spurn a dinette set sold under the name Notable because nobody wants a dinette set that doesn't include a table"

andys120

Oh well, what do I know about linguistics?

Back to mystery cars, I don't think this beauty was ever sold here>

stickguy

That thing screams eastern block.

fintail

Peugeot 104, close enough

Mr_Shiftright

hubcaps are a giveaway---French. Eastern bloc hubcaps would have been made out of asbestos or used artillery shells.

berri

What do they call that color, sinus infection?

tmart

I Like the color! Reminds me of Lime Gold from Ford in the late 60's.

andys120

fintail said:

Peugeot 104, close enough

Yup, 1978 MY.

andys120

Brochure art>

stickguy

It's a Lotus

andys120

stickguy said:

It's a Lotus

Can anyone be more specific?

texases

'72-ish Elan?

stever

Michaell

stever said:

The center cap on the wheel indicates that its a Toyota of some sort. JDM model not available in the states? Kinda looks like a Kia Soul.

qbrozen

Toyota Sienta. Too many clues in the pic, such as the yota symbol on the wheel and the "Q Type" text.

texases

Whatever it is, that door is great!

qbrozen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uKRcpHizC0

stever

Until you get t-boned.

Good call Q. I stumbled on it on an Indonesian site.

andys120

texases said:

'72-ish Elan?

It's definitely a Lotus Elan but it's from the sales brochure for the original Elan S1 (1962)

Mr_Shiftright

Snail green I think.

andys120

texases

'69 Pontiac Beaumont, just about all Chevy except the front/rear trim and the Pontiac dash.

bhill2

I have a question for someone with more knowledge of Canadian models. This picture shows hood stripes and a hood bubble, but it appears to have no engine callout on the front fender. On the American version (Chevelle) that would indicate a six. Is it different north of the border?

andys120

texases said:

'69 Pontiac Beaumont, just about all Chevy except the front/rear trim and the Pontiac dash.

It's a 1968 MY Pontiac Beaumont (SD?)

andys120

bhill2 said:

I have a question for someone with more knowledge of Canadian models. This picture shows hood stripes and a hood bubble, but it appears to have no engine callout on the front fender. On the American version (Chevelle) that would indicate a six. Is it different north of the border?

That's areally good question Bhill2. I just went thru a bunch of Beaumont pix and none had the engine badges you'd see on their American equivalents.

bhill2

andys120 said:

bhill2 said:

I have a question for someone with more knowledge of Canadian models. This picture shows hood stripes and a hood bubble, but it appears to have no engine callout on the front fender. On the American version (Chevelle) that would indicate a six. Is it different north of the border?

That's areally good question Bhill2. I just went thru a bunch of Beaumont pix and none had the engine badges you'd see on their American equivalents.

Interesting. Thanks Andy. That earns you another question. Did the Beaumont use the analogous Chevy engines (250/307/327/396)?