I spotted an (insert obscure car name here) classic car today!

uplanderguy

We also went to Auburn and did the Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Museum, and the NATMUS museum out behind it. Both are great, but A-C-D almost defies belief. Fin has been there. It's in the original '30's engineering and showroom sales building, and is largely original. Art deco everywhere. People came there to buy their luxury cars. The building is so awesome, people get married there. I can't recommend it enough, still, after having been there maybe four times over 30 or so years.

uplanderguy

Came across this neat photo online this morning--last assembly-line Studebaker built in the U.S.--dark-colored hardtop on top-rear of trailer--leaves the plant on December 20, 1963. It's in the Studebaker National Museum with just under 24 miles. I know exactly where this pic was taken.

andre1969

Which model Hudson is that? I know it says "Hollywood" on the script, but that was just a sub-name for what they called their hardtops. Similar to "Bel Air," "Catalina," "Holiday," and "Riviera." Or in later years for Chevy, simply "Sport."

It actually looks kind of stubby to me...so maybe a Wasp? I can't remember the last time I've seen a '55-57 Hudson in person (or if I ever have), but I have seen the occasional Nash. And in person, those things are some pretty big, imposing cars. They look a lot bigger in person than they do in pictures. I think what's going on is that the passenger cabins are huge, but the hood and rear deck aren't all that long, so it gives them a somewhat stubby, compact-car proportioning.

uplanderguy

I don't know, andre, I wasn't all too interested! I detest continental kits in general, other than maybe on two-seat Thunderbirds. But you sure don't see these cars much.

fintail

Yep I remember visiting ACD several years ago - talk about atmosphere.

uplanderguy

Atmosphere, for sure.

Mr. Cord lived until 1974, and designer Gordon Buehrig, who later worked for Ford and did the '51 Ford Victoria hardtop and had a hand in the Continental Mark II, lived until 1990 and is buried in Auburn which shows what the company meant to him, I think.

ab348

andre1969 said:

Which model Hudson is that? I know it says "Hollywood" on the script, but that was just a sub-name for what they called their hardtops.

Sadly, that is what passed for a Hudson Hornet in 1955. It used a Nash hardtop body. More info here:

https://www.curbsideclassic.com/curbside-classics-american/curbside-classic-1955-hudson-hornet-hollywood-a-step-down/

uplanderguy

I thought that car might have the instrument panel I remembered, but apparently not. This '56 Nash instrument panel always had me scratching my head. Speedometer all scrunched up, then an expanse of nothing.

andre1969

That's a Rambler dash: It looks like it's designed to be symmetric, so that a right-hand-drive version would be easy to make. Did Nash/Rambler have much of a presence overseas, though? And yeah, it does seem odd, with that big expanse of nothingness in the middle. Unless that's a glovebox, maybe?

The full-sized Nash dashboard, also symmetric, was pretty odd, in its own right...

uplanderguy

Thanks for the clarification, andre. When I was a kid, our neighbor had a '60 Rambler station wagon, and it had what struck me as an odd panel too, although had a single round gauge for the speedometer. I swear, it had a stick shift lever that stuck out of the dash, not column. I'll have to look online to see if I'm remembering that right.

Yep.



Those panels made Stude panels of the time seem downright normal.

Well, now that I think about it, the "Cyclops Eye" rotating-drum speedometer panel was a blight, LOL. Newman and Altman, the big NOS parts place for decades, used to have NOS 'Cyclops Eye' speedo/odos for sale, various colors, with "00000.0" miles, LOL. Who would have bought one?!


Hawk panels of the same year were well-regarded by the press though:

uplanderguy

That pic of the last South Bend-built Stude on a trailer reminds me how I still think it's odd that Stude was still building big trucks right to the end in the U.S. AMC never bothered.

explorerx4

So far it has not come through in the pic but this has a dual outlet side exhaust in front of the rear tire.

ab348

explorerx4 said:

So far it has not come through in the pic but this has a dual outlet side exhaust in front of the rear tire.

Generally not a good idea as the hot gases prematurely age the tire.

fintail

Something obscure not for the car, but fun for the details. Backstory - a good friend of mine is getting into his late 60s, semi-retired, wife is the same age. They are DINKs and not particularly into cars - relatively affluent via two professional jobs, could buy fancier cars but just don't care, they are the car = appliance mindset, replace when there's a terminal malady. He drives an 09 Escape bought new during cash for clunkers that now has ~220K on it, and no plans to replace it. She has an 01 Avalon XL bought new, up to something like 270K now - both are reliable but have minor quirks, the Avalon having some inop dash lights and not fully operational door locks.

He has mentioned eventually it will be time for his wife to get a new car, as hers is older she is first in line. I view a few online car groups and found an ultra low mileage 00 Avalon XLS for sale. I showed this to him almost as a gag, joking that her learning curve would be nothing if she just got a like new version of her current car. He showed her the ad, she fell in love with it, and they actually bought it. Car was shipped up from LA - they had a thorough PPI before purchase, which it passed with flying colors. Car was always maintained with perishables replaced and a new timing belt due to age, every document and receipt from new along with a car cover etc. Pic is from when it arrived the other day, not cleaned up yet from 1000 miles on the car hauler:



Apparently the wife, who will drive it 99.9% of the time, is thrilled with it and is endlessly pleased.

This 00 Avalon has almost exactly 6K miles on it. Not 160K, not 60K, 6K. I am trying to talk him into keeping the old car for winter use so this one isn't damaged - it will be driven a lot less now that there's no commuting need.

stickguy

that is 250 miles per year. I would be worried that all kinds of rubber parts will have rotted internally and once it starts getting real use unpleasant surprises will pop up.

fintail

stickguy said:

that is 250 miles per year. I would be worried that all kinds of rubber parts will have rotted internally and once it starts getting real use unpleasant surprises will pop up.

I've read anecdotal accounts about relatively modern cars withstanding low mileage mild climate storage without issue - this car also received roughly annual or so oil changes and had hoses/belts replaced for age. I suspect it'll be under 5K miles/year with gentle use from a mature driver. I am optimistic it'll be ok - I hope so anyway, as my friend put it, I am either now their best friend or worst enemy for setting the purchase in motion.

Price was just over 15K IIRC.

stickguy

what the heck was the back story on this? Seems like an odd car to go into long term storage at very low miles. Some old person that only went to church on sunday at the supermarket/doctor all within a mile of the house?

kyfdx

If I’d bought an Avalon, I wouldn’t drive it, either. 🤷‍♂️

fintail

I know the car was sold via someone representing an estate. Haven't got the back story on it - I initially just sent my friend the ad as kind of a joke. I was amazed the car actually ended up here.

I'd think an Avalon would be an ultimate appliance car for someone who just wants to go to the store and work etc - a Camry XL, comfortable and easy to live with. IIRC her prior car was a Camry.

I think it has a window sticker too, I will check that out when I visit in not too long to trade a detail for lunch. Original MSRP maybe a little over 30K.

uplanderguy

We spoke recently about the ‘81 Malibu sedan. Here’s one today on the “Low Miles, No Miles” FB page. Not for sale. ‘81 Malibu Classic with 7,167 miles. It was his great-grandmother’s. I believe the mileage based on that interior shot.

EDIT: Phooey! Just noticed the RR body side glued-on molding behind the rear door is missing. Blowing up the interior shot, looks also like the small trim piece at the bottom of the steering wheel center is missing a section, pretty typical as the cars got older. None of our '80, '81, '82, or '84 wheels like that did that, but then...we didn't keep them 44 years.

That's as old a car now as a 1937 car was when this car was new. Stuff like that always blows my mind.

tjc78

I had that generation of Avalon. One of the best riding cars I’ve ever owned.

andre1969

Funny that the Malibu and Avalon would come up in conversation around the same time. I always thought the roofline of that generation of Avalon slightly resembled that of the '78-80 Malibu. I think it makes the proportions look a bit awkward, with too much passenger cabin in relation to the hood and rear deck, but it does make for a roomy car, in a relatively short package.

stickguy

Given your love of large 60s/70s domestic cars, no wonder function over form seems odd!

ab348

andre1969 said:

Funny that the Malibu and Avalon would come up in conversation around the same time. I always thought the roofline of that generation of Avalon slightly resembled that of the '78-80 Malibu. I think it makes the proportions look a bit awkward, with too much passenger cabin in relation to the hood and rear deck, but it does make for a roomy car, in a relatively short package.

Yes, the styling of that gen Avalon did seem to have an oddly-shaped greenhouse. That particular example is finished in the famous Toyota "Invisibeige" paint.

explorerx4

The Avalon is a Camry underneath, so there's only so many ways you can go from there.

xwesx

fintail said:

Apparently the wife, who will drive it 99.9% of the time, is thrilled with it and is endlessly pleased.

This 00 Avalon has almost exactly 6K miles on it. Not 160K, not 60K, 6K. I am trying to talk him into keeping the old car for winter use so this one isn't damaged - it will be driven a lot less now that there's no commuting need.

That is incredible! Even if she doesn't keep the old one, this one will last her the rest of her (driving) life.

uplanderguy

My friend Joe who went to Indiana with me last week sent me this pic today. That's him and his sister (four years younger). He will be 75 later this year. This is the '60 Cadillac I've heard him mention before. They had to extend their garage to make it fit. They had a '56 Caddy before, and the new '60 was replaced with a new '65.

That thing is so large, it's cartoonish IMHO. He said his mother, under five feet tall, loved the visibility in this particular car.

explorerx4

At one point, my parents had a 70 Electra 225. The garage door closed just behind the rear window.

fintail

xwesx said:

fintail said:

Apparently the wife, who will drive it 99.9% of the time, is thrilled with it and is endlessly pleased.

This 00 Avalon has almost exactly 6K miles on it. Not 160K, not 60K, 6K. I am trying to talk him into keeping the old car for winter use so this one isn't damaged - it will be driven a lot less now that there's no commuting need.

That is incredible! Even if she doesn't keep the old one, this one will last her the rest of her (driving) life.

Exactly. I think that's part of the strategy, as the car will not be driven a ton and these people are not into new for the sake of new, this might be it - assuming we still have gasoline in 20 years, that car will likely still be on the road.

fintail

andre1969 said:

Funny that the Malibu and Avalon would come up in conversation around the same time. I always thought the roofline of that generation of Avalon slightly resembled that of the '78-80 Malibu. I think it makes the proportions look a bit awkward, with too much passenger cabin in relation to the hood and rear deck, but it does make for a roomy car, in a relatively short package.

I recall you mentioning that in the past, and I see it too - the greenhouse is just a little large in proportion to the lower half of the car, and compared to modern designs it is also a tallish greenhouse. Probably good for rear headroom anyway (I think I've only ridden in the front passenger seat of one of these).

fintail

uplanderguy said:

My friend Joe who went to Indiana with me last week sent me this pic today. That's him and his sister (four years younger). He will be 75 later this year. This is the '60 Cadillac I've heard him mention before. They had to extend their garage to make it fit. They had a '56 Caddy before, and the new '60 was replaced with a new '65.

That thing is so large, it's cartoonish IMHO. He said his mother, under five feet tall, loved the visibility in this particular car.

The flat tops probably have the best overall outward visibility of any closed car. Wraparound front and rear windshields, hardtop B-pillar absence, and thin A and C pillars. As MB liked to say, the fins can be used for parking guidance as well.

ab348

uplanderguy said:

Broke the C8 out today after about a four-month hibernation. 68 degrees and sunny, finally. I also put 68 miles on it today. 4136 miles. Checked the oil down at the church lot down the road afterwards. I have no level spots in the driveway. Felt good to be out.

Hey Bill, maybe it's trade-in time!

https://www.thedrive.com/news/time-to-lowball-your-chevy-dealer-for-one-of-the-5500-unsold-c8-corvettes

Dunno if sales have slumped or if the plant was just churning them out on spec.

I think one in Hysteria Purple with a Sky Cool Gray interior would suit you!! There are also a few 2024s still in stock in Cacti Green if you'd like. No Caffeine ones though.

uplanderguy

I saw that. I drove mine for donuts this morning, first time this year, LOL. I paid sticker when I took delivery on Oct. 6, 2023, and paid $73.70 for doc fees. When I had ordered at the huge Corvette dealer in Maryland (name escapes me) in the spring of that year, I was told I was still a year out and was to pay sticker plus $499 doc fees.

They were cranking them out in 2023 and 2024. Mine was built on a Monday, I'm thinking 9/25/23 but too lazy to check. The Big Three were on strike then, too, LOL, but not Bowling Green. They built 225 that day and didn't match that production again in one day until the following March I think it was.

I do think there is absolutely nothing like it at the price point, and of course being me, I like designed and assembled in the U.S. by UAW. I like that it's still in the same spot in the lineup it always has been.

I'd probably buy Hysteria Purple this year, but I have a habit of not liking gray interiors.

I wanted to like Cacti Green, but I just didn't. It's a color you'd see on low-buck GM SUV's. Apparently the buying public agreed as it was gone for model year 2025.

I also recently read that Mustang sales are down quite a bit.

stickguy

I need to get my wife to the dealer! I even have a fresh pair of white new balance cross trainers in the closet.

Though I did read the consumer reports auto issue last night and in the C8 review commented on the difficult access. That would be a no go for the boss. And she doesn’t want to drive my maverick so I expect she would be terrified of a corvette.

uplanderguy

I’m short but fat. I’ve got ingress and egress down to a science. I get in by sitting sidesaddle, then swinging my legs in. To get out, swing my legs out first then use the sill to help push me up and out. I never lean or hang onto an open door.

stickguy

My wife got out of the Miata by sprawling in the road. That was 20 years and 2 bad knees ago.

xwesx

I have a feeling that 2025 is going to be a bad year for car sales in general. There is just too much uncertainty swirling around right now.

andre1969

Having problems getting in and out of a Corvette is nothing to be ashamed of! A guy at work had a C4 Corvette, and gave me a ride home one day, for some reason or other. I had trouble getting out of that sucker, and this was back in the late 90's, so I was in my late 20s, at best!

xwesx

Oh, yes. It is a struggle for me to insert or extract myself from my brother's Camaro. He gets a hearty laugh out of it every time.

thebean

Heck, with my bad back I have a hard time getting in/out of my Accord lately. I’d have absolutely no chance of maneuvering my 6 ft frame into any Vette. In fact, I’m considering getting a SUV if I can find something with great seats.

texases

Yep, a Forester hybrid or Rav4 hybrid is in our future to replace my MKZ hybrid, partly for that reason.

stickguy

I will say the right hip point height makes all the difference. The maverick is ideal to easily slide in. No dropping in or climbing up.

xwesx

stickguy said:

I will say the right hip point height makes all the difference. The maverick is ideal to easily slide in. No dropping in or climbing up.

That's precisely true for my Q7. However, the roof line is so low slung that I still have to duck through the opening to get through it. The Forester is perfect in that regard: Good seat height and equally nice roof height.

With my brother's Camaro, I have to insert my head first, then drop my rear down into the heavily bolstered cushion before finally swinging my legs in. Otherwise, I just cannot duck my head low enough to get under the top of the opening.

texases

That’s exactly why the Forester is at the top of my list. I don’t like having to duck to enter.

stickguy

maverick is perfect for that. Nice high doors, and squared off.

you want fun, my BILs Cobra is not only low (you pretty much have to step on the seat and plop down) you have the extra excitement of potentially scalding your legs on the side pipes.

roadburner

The Wrangler sits a bit high, but no big deal. Aside from the Jeep I much prefer coupes or sedans over a CUV/SUV.

fintail

From an estate sale ad - 06 Jag S-Type, 50K miles, $4500:

stickguy

I like the colors. Just have zero desire to ever own one.

thebean

Looks like a bargain, but the cost of admittance is most likely just the tip of the wallet emptying iceberg.

uplanderguy

All the ingress/egress talk reminds me of my late mother. She was built like Nancy Reagan, but when I'd visit her at the nursing home to take her for a ride, I'd literally have to pick her up to put her into our van at the time or get her out, and my Cavalier coupe she could drop into but had to be assisted out. When I'd go there in my old '63 Lark, the 'chair-high seating' they used to advertise was obvious. No ducking, and she could slide right in and right out by herself on the vinyl bench seat.