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

andys120 · July 2008

'65 Corvette 396 coupe, pulled into a gas station making the most awesome racket.
At idle it probably woke the dead in the nearest cemetary. :shades:

lemko · July 2008

...a maroon 1973 Buick Centurion convertible with those super-stupid oversized chrome wheels on it. What a waste!

fintail · July 2008

I can't see James in one of these

This should depreciate nicely in a few years

You've got to be kidding

Not streaking much anymore

The flames really make it look fast

Interesting use of resources

Unique, not pretty

"Continuation" is an interesting term

Frankenvolvo

Weirdo from the more daring days of this marque

It's nice, price has to be a joke

Worthy of saving

Oddity

Another interesting use of resources

Fins

Master of the road

Not for the shy

Like a new car, including the price

Fuselage the size of an aircraft carrier

I remember this Andre-mobile from a previous action

High spec bubbletop

andys120 · July 2008

Wow, quite a collection of odds and ends this week.

'61 Pontiac Ventura-What a gorgeous color! That car pushes all of the buttons for those of us who are fans of the early Wide Track Ponchos.

'73 Imperial Coupe-the comparison with a Carrier is apt. They resemble a Flattop in profile with the relatively small roof and the massive areas stretching fore and aft of the roof.

Mr_Shiftright · July 2008

From the sublime to the ridiculous, all on eBay. Gotta love it.

boomchek · July 2008

I like the honda S800, but for that price, it better be in mint concours condition.

Mr_Shiftright · July 2008

Considering that you could easily buy a pristine mid 90s Ferrari 456 GT right now for LESS money than that, the price is ridiculous IMO. The Honda is in the "curiosity" department, and worth a fair price for its rarity, but c'mon---it's just a Honda. I'd guess $20,000 is all the real money here. Aside from the Toyota 2000GT, there's not a Japanese car on the entire planet earth worth $60,000.

magnette · July 2008

Rover 95 P4
MGA
and today I went to Brands Hatch -we saw modern GT and formula 3 racing. In the car park etc
Lamborghinis - 3 Diablos, 3 Gallardos (plus 2 racing) and a Urraco
Ferraris - various F355GTB, and F430
Aston Martin DB5, and a V8 from the 70's
On the way home we just passed a load of old cars and trucks going the other way on the motorway, including
Two WW2 US armoured vehicles on a truck ( I think one was an M20 armoured car, but tanks aren't really my thing)
Vauxhall Cresta PA - the one with the fins
Ford Zephyr Zodiac Mk 1 - 1952/56
MG Midget Mk III
and a Mercury, I think it was a 65, judging by the radiator grille, and the roofline looked like the 4-door Breezeway style - perhaps a Monterey ?

magnette · July 2008

Last Monday I was in Wales and managed to get the Magnette towed out by the local garage, who are trying to revive it, so I can get it back to London. By Friday they had it running, and are now trying to sort out the clutch - an engine-out job...

kyfdx · July 2008

Five (5) Triumph Spitfires... all in a row..

magnette · July 2008

Are you sure that wasn't the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

andre1969 · July 2008

Nice collection there. I really like that '61 Pontiac! The '57 DeSoto Adventurer is cool, too. At first I was thinking that was an awfully low price, but I guess the non-correct engine is the killer. The 1957 Adventurer engine had one horsepower per cubic inch, 345. Technically, it was the first US production car to have that as standard equipment, although oddly, they never mentioned that in their advertising. The 1956 Chrysler 300B actually broke that barrier, with 355 hp out of a 354 Hemi, but that was an optional engine. Chevy got 283 hp out of the 283 V-8, but only with expensive fuel injection, and again, it was an option.

The 1956 Firedome, which is what the ad says that engine came out of, just had a 330.4 CID 2-bbl with 230 hp. With it having those dual quads put on, I'd wonder if the engine was beefed up enough, and that everything was built correctly so that it all works right.

I remember that '79 Newport, too. With it being back on eBay so quickly, it makes me wonder what all is really wrong with it. Or maybe the buyer just wasn't ready for the fuel bill! I had a '79 with the 318-2bbl, and while it would get lower 20's on the highway, around town it was more like 11-13.

lemmer · July 2008

What was towing them?

magnette · July 2008

Yes, wouldn't the world be a grimmer place if the Supemarine Spitfire and the Triumph Spitfire had similarly poor reliability.

kyfdx · July 2008

Ha...

Even better... the lead car had Ohio plates (local).... at least two of the other ones had Montana plates.. :surprise:

fintail · July 2008

Yesterday I saw a W124 500E...driven by an old man, in his 70s at the youngest. I wonder what the story is behind that car. I've always had a thing for those.

Looks like all the good British engineers went to the planes used to fight Germany instead of to make competent cars...funny that now the highest British car companies are owned by Germans...the future will be even funnier.

texases · July 2008

"Looks like all the good British engineers went to the planes used to fight Germany instead of to make competent cars"

British aerospace has had a number of major firsts, and some near misses (first plane to break the sound barrier in level flight) caused, not surprisingly, by government meddling. They had it designed, government said to stop.

Another near miss was the amazing Avro Arrow (ok, Canadian, but close enough), a breakthrough plane killed by the bean counters:

Edit-I know I'll take some heat from my Canadian friends - no slight intended, just trying to point out a wonderful Anglo tradition

And I always think English when I hear Avro (named for A. V. Roe, aeronautics pioneer).

explorerx4 · July 2008

the 'battle of britain' movie was on over the weekend and i got to watch a few minutes of it, but unfortunately, i was obligated to the 'battle of the lawn'.

there was a biplane flying around quite bit. the wings were tan and the fuselage was an army green. i couldn't tell what color the bullseye circles were though.

explorerx4 · July 2008

your 5 spitfires trump my 4 silver prius 'in a row'. i fold.

magnette · July 2008

Way off topic, but even before WW2 government meddling and prevarication nearly lost the RAF the chance to re-equip. I think the Hawker Hurricane was not ordered bythe government in about 1936 because it would antagonise the [non-permissible content removed], (!) but the owner of Hawkers,an aviation pioneer called Tommy Sopwith, ordered the first batch built anyway, with his own money, confident by the time they were ready the RAF would need them - He lived to be about 102, and I think whatever else he did, that one act alone should be enough to immortalise him - I expect most people here have never heard of him, though

lemko · July 2008

Is that the same Tommy Sopwith associated with the Sopwith Camel aircraft of WWI?

Mr_Shiftright · July 2008

ah well, British planes are like British motorcycles and British cars--it's not just the machines, but also the men who fly them. :P

Nerves of steel and a stain-proof, fire resistance flight suit.

Oh and tools, don't forget the tools.

Reliability? BAH! Is there ANY more fun on 4 wheels than an original Mini Cooper or a Bugeye Sprite? Doubt it.

texases · July 2008

And let's not forget another difference between Brit planes and cars - reliability. MG/Triumph/RR/etc should have hired the Merlin designers - best engine ever, Mustang was a failure without it.

Mr_Shiftright · July 2008

With some exceptions, British cars can be very reliable in the right hands Gee, I mean, if you had a flock of mechanics ready to swarm over even the worst British car in history, let's say the early Jaguar XJ6, with the mission just to keep it running for 60 minutes a day, maneuver and keep pace with a Mercedes Benz, and be able to fire 13 seconds worth of bullets and come home, it would probably do the job. :P

oregonboy · July 2008

Wow, that's like a whole new perspective on the Battle of Britain.
I think my head hurts.
JRW

danf5 · July 2008

Magnette, you used the word prevarication in a way that's unfamiliar to me. Here in the US, prevarication means lying. I think you meant procrastination, which means putting off intentionally and habitually.

I tried to ask the online OED what UK usage is, had to make do with askoxford.com, which says "verb avoid giving a direct answer when asked a question" So this isn't a case of different usage in the UK and the US.

Cheers,

Dan

andys120 · July 2008

I went for a ride on US 1A along the NH Seacoast yesterday and came across
this place, featuring as many cool old British sports cars as you'd see in several years of regular driving.

Mr_Shiftright · July 2008

I saw two Smart cars yesterday in Marin county, the first spottings. Not exactly taking the world by storm, even here in environmental heaven. I have seen a few in San Francisco, but they are quite rare.

I have yet to see one on a freeway however.

MY NEIGHBOR'S COLLECTION:

He has five cars that I never see on the road, all parked outdoors. A Plymouth Valiant convertible, Olds convertible, a TVR, an old Cadillac coupe and an older Jaguar XJ6, completely dead, of course.

I'll have to take a photo and you guys can identify year and model.

explorerx4 · July 2008

i think he got it right.

magnette · July 2008

I think I was using prevaricate in it's correct context - my office dictionary gives
" make evasive or misleading statements"

I wass referring to politicians and that pretty much sums them all up - ours or yours.

Mr_Shiftright · July 2008

Take First Place in the Warsaw Pact Division of your Local Car Show

Funeral Parlor for Hobbits?

Define "good"?

Can You Spot the Two Dealbreakers on this car?

Just Shoot Me Now

fintail · July 2008

The Skoda is very cool, but that "restored" bodywork looks like I did it myself after having too much to drink.

The Borgward is even cooler, I've never even seen a little wagon like that before. Doesn't appear to have gauges in the dash - better hope the owner has them stored somewhere, the originals have to be made of unobtanium.

bhill2 · July 2008

I'll take a crack at the dealbreakers on the Volvo:

I don't recognize the carb (actually air cleaner) setup on the engine. It looks like it may be a cobble job

The car appears to be an automatic. To use your own words, just shoot me now.

Mr_Shiftright · July 2008

Bingo! Gold Star for bhill.

Yep, it has either a Weber carb or a single Solex off a B16 maybe? That should make it run badly.

And yes, it does look like a Borg Warner automatic, with cable-run downshifting, and yes, just shoot me now.

Two strikes on those items + 4 doors instead of two for the coupe, and this Volvo 122 is almost out of the game.

Good car with all the wrong options.

What's the best 122? Either a 4 speed wagon or a 123GT coupe with overdrive.

andre1969 · July 2008

Are the 122 wagons worth much? My officemate, who just bought a '62 Galaxie on eBay, has his up for sale. I dunno anything about the carb, but it has the 4-speed. I've seen it and it seemed in pretty decent shape, although the seats were re-done in a non-correct school-bus looking vinyl, and I think it did have some minor rust on it. I think it was mainly on the tailgate, and the valance panel underneath.

Mr_Shiftright · July 2008

the 122 wagons are priced like many "curiosity cars". That is, if they are very sharp, they bring a decent price. A nicely spiffed 122 wagon could pull $5,000 easy. But as with all "curiosity cars" (2nd or 3rd tier collectibles in other words) if they are in the least bit shabby, the price plummets dramatically.

Why? Because getting them "right" is difficult in relation to their top price.

Your wagon sounds like a $1,200 car to me at best. But you could restore it for $20,000 if you want.

fintail · July 2008

Funny thing...a little local yokel car lot in the small town where my mom lives has a sharp 122 wagon on their lot, advertised as a 70K original mile car etc...and they want exactly 5K for it.

Mr_Shiftright · July 2008

Am I good, or what?

andre1969 · July 2008

More Mopar pics than any sane person would probably want to wade through! This is from the Carlisle Mopar show last week. I took pics on both Friday and Saturday, so there are probably some repeats in there. It's the medication...yeah, that's the ticket. :shades:

fintail · July 2008

Cool to see a couple Christines there

fintail · July 2008

Swanky old thing

Odd woody

And another

Buick with charm

Chopped and lowered Armada

Project car

Fancy Frenchie

I kind of like this with its patina

Freaky

New Excess

And for in-person sightings today, my evening commute featured a '56 Olds 2 door HT and a ca. 52 Packard convertible in red with wide whites, spotted several miles from each other. Maybe there's a car show around here this weekend.

Mr_Shiftright · July 2008

That Hudson woody looks like a decent buy if it's as nice as the photos seem to show it. There might even be some profit in that car.

35 Airflow -- these are actually GREAT driving cars, much better than the usual 30s lumps.

Saab 93 -- I'd love to have another 2-stroke Saab, but engine parts are just about unobtanium at this point. If the crankshaft is bad, you're going to have to pony up some big bucks.

$9000 for a '78 Toronado?!!! Life on earth is doomed, now I'm sure of it.

bhill2 · July 2008

Well, your message has not been universally heard; there is someone trying to sell a '66 122S wagon in Hemmings for $12,500. It has overdrive, is that worth $7500?

Mr_Shiftright · July 2008

Asking prices are the manifestation of an American's First Amendment Rights. :P

I guess if someone gold-plated a 122S wagon and Elvis died in it and it was the first Volvo to hit the beaches at Normandy, it might be worth $12,500, but otherwise,that's a mighty stretch.

Overdrive IS worth something, maybe $1,500 or so.

The most slicked-up 122S would have a totally restored body and interior and undercarriage of course, a B20 fuel injected engine with hot-rod parts from IPD for engine and suspension, fancy wheels, vintage AC installed, etc. etc. In that config, I suppose a real Volvo nut might pay.....oh.....$8,000 for one??

Hard to say what a one-time sale on a full-bore custom is worth.

fintail · July 2008

Asking and getting are different worlds. $7500 is more realistic, and the car would have to be pretty mint.

I remember a guy asking $35K for a Mercedes Universal wagon in the Dupont Registry at least 10 years ago. I somehow doubt he got that for it.

andys120 · July 2008

1934 Dodge Suburban- Oh man, a woodie wagon with a matching 17' Dodge Speedboat. I would sell my soul for those, are you listening, Lucifer!

Mr_Shiftright · July 2008

Sorry Andy, This is 2008. Buyer's market on souls. There's a soul glut right now. Just hold on for the next wave of morality.

andre1969 · July 2008

I just got back from giving my LeMans a run around the neighborhood, and spotted a few old cars. First was an AMC Eagle wagon, beige with woodgrain trim, that I saw turning onto the main road that cuts my street in half. I think it belongs to the guy down the street who has a whole nest of those things.

A bit further down my street, in a driveway, I saw a gold '82-83 Honda Accord hatchback. Paint looked a bit aged, but the car seemed in pretty good shape.

I also saw a green '55 Buick sedan in another driveway. It was one of the bigger ones, but I didn't get a good enough look to see whether it was a Super or Roadmaster. Paint looked pretty faded, with patches of primer coming through, but it seemed sound.

And then I saw something that I couldn't quite identify it. I saw it though the slats of a privacy fence, so I didn't get a good look at it. But it looked sort of like a '59-60 era GM sedan that had been converted into an airport limo!

magnette · July 2008

I really liked the Hansa Kombi - I've seen the saloon and I think also the coupe, but I've never seen the Kombi - it's really a nice looking car, (if a little battered). I know someone who has a Goliath ( a close relative of the Hansa) in a shed, but it is not likely to be restored for a while - it is the only one known in UK, and they are quite rare even in Germany, so parts are probably an issue.

Mr_Shiftright · July 2008

Parts would be really difficult. Yes, the Hansa is kind of charming in an "honest, utilitarian" kind of way.

I'm not sure about the wisdom of restoring these cars, but hopefully at least a few are preserved somewhere. They make interesting curiosities at car shows, etc.

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

Comments

Helpful Tools

Most popular vehicles