Mystery car pix

magnette

Steyr Puch 650 I think - judging by the roof line. It had a flat twin engine generally more powerful than the equivalent straight twin Fiat.

texases

That's it, the link said 500, but could be either, I guess, judging by the pics I've found. The tail lights appear a bit different, but can't tell on the one I posted.

thebean

The knowledge on here is beyond amazing. It's a pleasure to lurk here.

magnette

It may well be a 500 - they all had the flat 2 engine just bored out - Steyr Puch used similar engines in bikes too.
I don't know one Steyr Puch from another but the 650 was the most common I think and the only one I can recall seeing here back in the day - they were imported in the 60s (at one time UK and Austria were both a trade organisation called EFTA and so we had a lower trade tariff with them than with Italy although the cars were more sporty and exclusive so they didn't sell in large numbers.
Having looked into this a bit since posting my earlier answer I think the fact this car has rear hinged doors means it probably is the earlier 500 rather than the 650 - I think that one got the front hinged doors.

andys120

Michaell

andys120 said:

Infiniti J30.

My best friend had one in that exact color combination. He bought it with something like 100K on the odometer, and ran it until it had something like 250K, before the engine failed.

He replaced it with a 2004 G35 with 60,000 miles on it a couple of years ago. I don't think it's been quite as reliable as the J.

andys120

Yup, it's a 1997 Infiniti J30.

qbrozen

Just saw one of those a week or 2 ago. It was spraypainted flat black and ridin low.

fintail

I got behind a J30 a few weeks ago, driven by a no doubt original owner going about 15 under the speed limit.

The wheels on that pictured car are rotated wrong, irks me to look at it.

kyfdx

Nissan used to be big on right side/left side specific wheels. Found that out, when a co-worker trashed one on a culvert, pulling into the parking lot. (Pulsar NX). Salvage yard guy says: "You need a left one or a right one?" What? Fortunately, I had it with me...

I'm not sure anyone does that, any longer?

fintail

I imagine the goofy Honda directional wheels are the same - a trend they have brought back which they need to discontinue asap, some pretty tiresome designs.

Mr_Shiftright

Pretty bland looking car IMO. But, you know, the 90s.

kyfdx

The beginning of Nissan's droopy butt period..

fintail

I remember the first gen Altima was presented as a premium choice due to its resemblance to the Infiniti. A friend of mine always joked that the rear of the car looked like an elephant sat on it. The thin slit-like rear lighting on that car is also quirky. But at least it lacks a leering menacing face as seen on so many blandmobiles today.

andys120

ab348

Back in '97 a coworker bought a new J30. They were pretty uncommon around here and the bar-of-soap styling and droopy back end didn't do much for me. She liked it though and as a single lady didn't care that it was very small inside. Dark metallic green with tan leather inside.

omarman

I had a Cheetah slot car as a kid. I don't recognize the guy looking at the Chevy engine but it draws my eyes to the fuel injection. I remember several different carb induction setups on those cars but can't recall seeing one with FI before.

andys120

omarman said:

I had a Cheetah slot car as a kid. I don't recognize the guy looking at the Chevy engine but it draws my eyes to the fuel injection. I remember several different carb induction setups on those cars but can't recall seeing one with FI before.

Yes the car is a Cheetah and the man is Bill Thomas, the creator of the Cheetah. Thomas was an expert on high performance Chevy motors so the FI is likely to be a version of the Chevrolet setup which debuted in 1957. The Cheetah could be equipped as a street sports car but most were used in production sports or drag racing where they could often outperform Shelby Cobras.

thebean

Cheetah slot cars were muy cool back in the late 60's. There was a 1/32 slot car track in my town and the cool guy (always had the best stuff) had a blue Cheetah slot car that he tore up one Saturday. The next Saturday, he had a new one in red. :@

andys120

kyfdx

andys120 said:

Civic DX

Looks like '87-'91?

stickguy

Honda Civic. 1988ish. Probably a low line model with the black bumpers. I had a 1985 (I think) S model (last year before the Si came out) in that style.

ab348

I always considered that generation to be the high-water mark for Civics.

fintail

looks like it has the optional passenger side mirror, fancy!

texases

In '94 Dodge came out with the Neon, they interviewed one of the development engineers who talked about the Civic as their target. He was surprised that Honda followed up the mystery car generation Civic with this, he thought they styled all the fun out of the car:

kyfdx

Maybe, but I think that ‘92+ model was a big step up. To me, that’s the best Civic, ever.

andys120

kyfdx said:

Civic DX

Looks like '87-'91?

Yup,it's an '89 Civic DX

ab348 said:

I always considered that generation to be the high-water mark for Civics.

Styling wise it sure was, look at those clean lines compared to the hot mess of current Civic styling>

stickguy

that guy needed to pay extra for a plate to tell people that car is green?

magnette

Honda Civic Hatchback - here we got this 1991-4. There are still a number these (saloon or hatchback)- and the previous generation - in use as daily drivers even in town - Honda really have a reliability reputation.

fintail

Tons of these left in the PNW too. The following model (MY 1992-95 here) was upsized a little, and seemed a lot more refined. Most of them now are very miled up, or have fallen victim to street racers. Also a car that is always high on the stolen lists, I think.

ab348

I cannot tell you the last time I saw one of them around here. Or the previous generation either. They were both ferocious rusters in our salt-belt climate.

kyfdx

My friend bought a '92 Civic sedan, new.. Didn't sell it until 2016. Even though well taken care of, still had some significant rust.

I love the hatchback model of that generation, but what few are left, are like gold.

fintail

The hatches are the import tuner dream, then the coupes - stock ones are probably rarer than modified ones nowadays. Same goes for the 96-00 generation. They don't really rust here, either.

imidazol97

stickguy said:

that guy needed to pay extra for a plate to tell people that car is green?

Chartreuse wouldn't  fit.

andys120

stickguy

67 Firebird. I can't tell which engine it is. Could be a sprint I guess.

But I like it!

kyfdx

I'm terrible with the '67-69 breakdown on Firebirds.. too bad it's not a Camaro..

I'll go with '68

qbrozen

67 Firebird

stickguy

I always go with 67 when I can't see side marker lights.

qbrozen

man, you guys are quick. By the time I hit post, I lost the race. haha.

Mr_Shiftright

Nope, '67, because it has side vent windows. Gold star for stickguy on this one. A Sprint should have the 3.8 lettering on the hood---I can't see it clearly enough to know.

kyfdx

I used to cruise in a '67 with a friend, when I was in high school. Didn't remember the vent windows, though.

stickguy

my 67 camaro had them. Did not know they disappeared in 68 (assuming they did)

Mr_Shiftright

It's all part of the insufferable minutiae you have to listen to at car shows. You haven't really lived until you witness 5 grown men arguing over the authenticity of the shape of a head bolt.

kyfdx

I like car shows... but, that's the part I can do without.

qbrozen

I was going by the valence lights. Wraparounds in '68, I believe.
But now I know about the vent windows. My wife will love hearing me mention it, I'm sure.

lostwrench1

Mr_Shiftright said:

Nope, '67, because it has side vent windows. Gold star for stickguy on this one. A Sprint should have the 3.8 lettering on the hood---I can't see it clearly enough to know.

.

andys120

stickguy said:

I always go with 67 when I can't see side marker lights.

lostwrench1 said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

Nope, '67, because it has side vent windows. Gold star for stickguy on this one. A Sprint should have the 3.8 lettering on the hood---I can't see it clearly enough to know.

.

Vents, schments, the easiest way to tell a '67 anything from a '68 is to look for the side markers. That '67 Pontiac Firebird had a 326 V8 under the hood. Other engine choices for '67 were the 400 V8 and the "Sprint" SOHC6.

M/y folks had a '67/326 'Bird Black vinyl over Olive Green, Olive inside, maybe the prettiest car they ever had.

ab348

Mr_Shiftright said:

Nope, '67, because it has side vent windows. Gold star for stickguy on this one. A Sprint should have the 3.8 lettering on the hood---I can't see it clearly enough to know.

GM did some odd things back then. Newly-introduced Olds Toronado for '66 does not have vent windows. But a year later the new Camaro/Firebird for '67 has vent windows engineered for it. One year later in '68, vent windows are gone. Newly-designed GM A-bodies are introduced in '68. They *have* vent windows. One year later, they are gone from coupes and convertibles. You'd figure that after the Toro did it, they had to know the other models would follow, yet they engineered and tooled up for those parts for a 1-year run.

kyfdx

Is it just me? I don't see vent windows on that car.