Mystery car pix

kyfdx

berri said:

Marina City is the name of the circular building in downtown Chicago on the Chicago River. I'll take the rest of the next to top floor shown; 60 Buick 4dr sedan and the back of either a 57 or 58 Mercury.

Thanks for the correction. Got the city and four letters right.

berri

Some people call it Marina Towers as well. As I recall, there are some stores and restaurants, then parking levels, then condo's that used to be apartments. They are kind of pie wedge shaped floor plan layouts. But I'm not sure that is where the shot was taken - could be somewhere else? My favorite circular tower is the old Capital Records building in LA.

As for that Imperial, I think it is newer than 58. I think the 58 carried over the simple, rather straight line fin rise to the bullet taillights from the 57. Need Andre here!

kyfdx

Yeah, I'm not sure that is Chicago, either.

lostwrench1

It is Marina Towers in Chicago.
Parking was done by valet.
It was in a scene of Steve McQueen's last movie, "The Hunter".

berri

Lostwrench - what's your take on the rear end of that blue Imperial? I'm thinking the stated '61 is more likely?

lostwrench1

In the photo of the parking tower, because of the taillights' locations combined with the faintly visible fuel filler door above the rear license plate, I'll agree with imidazol97's answer of the Imperial's being a 1960.

kyfdx

lostwrench1 said:

It is Marina Towers in Chicago.
Parking was done by valet.
It was in a scene of Steve McQueen's last movie, "The Hunter".

Thanks!

andys120

According to Hemmings the photo is indeed of Marina Towers in Chicago, taken in October 1963, late enough in the year for a the '64s to be out.

berri

Always enjoy those old city and roadway scenes you post. Kind of take me back to being a kid sometimes!

berri

Thanks Lostwrench. I like the old Imperials, but usually do better when I see the front end. However, inside or outside, I'm fond of the 57/58 models personally.

andys120

bhill2

OK. I'll start with what I'm sure of; it's a Studebaker. I'll guess '49 (it's before the rocket-nosed 50/51). The rubber protectors on the rear fenders leads me to believe it's a Champion.

berri

I think you are right, but the angle makes it hard to judge the length. Personally, I liked the longer wheelbase Commander, but others felt the opposite. Kind of like the differences in the early 60's between Bonneville and Catalina fans I suppose (in that case I preferred the Catalina).

lostwrench1

1948.

My father had a '51. The starter button was under the clutch pedal which had to be depressed down onto the starter button for the engine to turn over. My high school buddies didn't know this. They would get into the car and close the door and I would turn on the ignition key and tell them to bang on the door so the engine would turn over and fire up. "What?" they would ask. I would say, "Bang on the door so we can get going!" They would bang on the door and would not see my depressing the clutch pedal the last few inches to depress the starter button. The car would start and off we went. News spread throughout the high school about the "door procedure" I used to start my father's Studebaker Champion.

bhill2

Hey, coincidence. My father had a '51 too. A Commander 4-door. His was an automatic (first or second year for those I think). I can't remember how it was started. Actually, I was young then so about all I remember 1) it was lemon yellow, and 2) it had seat covers that, if you slid across them, when you touched the door handle you practically got knocked on your back.

Mr_Shiftright

Some early 50s Nashes--you pulled up on the gear lever to start the car. Not sure if they were Nashes or "American Motors" at that time.

andys120

bhill2 said:

OK. I'll start with what I'm sure of; it's a Studebaker. I'll guess '49 (it's before the rocket-nosed 50/51). The rubber protectors on the rear fenders leads me to believe it's a Champion.

Ayuh, that's a 1948 Studebaker Champion

andys120

stickguy

Lotus. Though I always forget which model is which.

kyfdx

Pretty sure that's an Esprit, but I can't tell the years, apart.

andys120

kyfdx said:

Pretty sure that's an Esprit, but I can't tell the years, apart.

Yes it's a '93 Lotus Esprit V8 GT, one of numerous versions produced during almost three decades--1976-2004.

andys120

Mr_Shiftright

Not a good car for an undercover cop.

berri

I think that 61 Chrysler 300 coupe was one of 3 different red cars they drove from the west coast to Detroit for last year's Detroit Auto Show (maybe from the Lemay Museum in Tacoma).

andys120

Yup, it's a '61 Chrysler 300G and Hemmings has the story of "The Drive Home" https://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2016/12/28/the-drive-home-ii-day-1-the-new-default/

andys120

Michaell

Saturn Aura

andys120

Michaell said:

Saturn Aura

Thas right Michaell

andys120

Michaell

andys120 said:

Michaell said:

Saturn Aura

Thas right Michaell

Could have been the car I got after owning an L300 for 7 years. But, Saturn got dismantled and I didn't want to own an orphan.

stickguy

Caterham 7? I can't really tell between one of those and an original Lotus 7.

kyfdx

stickguy said:

Caterham 7? I can't really tell between one of those and an original Lotus 7.

That one looks like it has a Lotus badge, if that actually means anything

tjc78

Mr_Shiftright

andys120

kyfdx said:

stickguy said:

Caterham 7? I can't really tell between one of those and an original Lotus 7.

That one looks like it has a Lotus badge, if that actually means anything

It's the real thing, an original 1963 Lotus Super Seven.. Most were sold as kits but this one was put together at the Lotus works. IIRC sales of the Seven and Super Seven provided much of the capital needed to keep Lotus Engineering active in F1 and other branches of Motor sports.

berri

Red one, maybe a spiffed up Shadow or Sundance?

White one a 57 Pontiac panel wagon.

tjc78

@berri. Close but it technically isn't either.

lostwrench1

Mr_Shiftright said:

"Oh, Canada................................"
'57 Pontiac Pathfinder Delivery.

imidazol97

lostwrench1 said:

In the photo of the parking tower, because of the taillights' locations combined with the faintly visible fuel filler door above the rear license plate, I'll agree with imidazol97's answer of the Imperial's being a 1960.

Re: Imperial.
I was trying to compare the chromed rings on the faux spare tire on the trunk lid. I didn't notice the filler! LOL

imidazol97

andys120 said:

Yup, it's a '61 Chrysler 300G and Hemmings has the story of "The Drive Home" https://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2016/12/28/the-drive-home-ii-day-1-the-new-default/

Thanks for the picture and the link. I enjoyed reading about those three cars.
AND they're doing another run this year for NAIAS from Boston.

Mr_Shiftright

Gold star to lostwrench for getting the actual model...a Canadian Pathfinder, 1957

qbrozen

tjc78 said:

Shelby CSX?

Mr_Shiftright

qbrozen

1969 Hurst Olds 442.

One of my top muscle car pics, for some unknown reason.

andys120

Snow day>

Mr_Shiftright

qbrozen said:

1969 Hurst Olds 442.

One of my top muscle car pics, for some unknown reason.

You don't see those too often.

qbrozen

https://classiccars.com/listings/view/931854/1969-oldsmobile-hurst-for-sale-in-kissimmee-florida-34744

chance to buy your own.

tmart

andys120 said:

Snow day>

58 Ford, 59 Ford, a 63 Ford Falcon, VW Bug, Chevy II.

andys120

Pretty good but the '63 Ford is not a Falcon, it's a full-sizer (Galaxie or Custom?) and just ahead of the Chevy II you can make out the tail and convertible top of an MG-B. The bus is of course a GMC.

Pic is of Portland Maine ca. 1963, probably Congress Street.

berri

Brrr - I always liked the fill sized 63 Ford look for whatever reason. I think the motor coach is a GMC.