Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!

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

1346891279

Comments

  • ghuletghulet Member Posts: 2,564
    I test drove a Vigor a few years ago (with a 5-speed), then a 190E 2.3 automatic right after (they were on the same used lot). The Vigor was faster (though not what you'd call fun to drive) and roomier, but generally felt ragged. I'm not a big fan of frameless doors on sedans, and the thing still looked like a big Accord. I'm also not a big fan of 5-cylinder engines.
  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,370
    I was a previous gen Camry so badged today. WTF?
    Must be an aftermarket deal.

    2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93

  • magnetophonemagnetophone Member Posts: 605
    hahaha!
  • lokkilokki Member Posts: 1,200
    Basically Acura did it because Audi did it. I always thought Audi did it because they were stupid. What's the point of an I5? Why not go ahead and make it a 6?

    In both cases the cars were clean designs at the same time the engines were done, so it wasn't done to fit it into the available space.

    I submit that their current popularity speaks to their success as a design.
  • magnetophonemagnetophone Member Posts: 605
    I saw a brand new 2003 Nissan Z350 in white parked on a parking meter downtown last night. It looked pretty nice, but the hump is pretty portly.
  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,370
    AFIK Audi pioneered the concept based on the idea that they'd be torquier than a 4 but use less fuel than a 6. Gains in fuel efficiency have
    negated the latter and Audis and Acuras are all even numbered cyl counts now. Meanwhile Volvo now makes a line of Turbo and non-turbo fives--maybe just to be different.

    2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93

  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Yep, fewer mouths to feed was the basic rationale.
    It's still a sound concept but debatable as to any real necessity or advantage.
  • zigliflerziglifler Member Posts: 99
    well about 30or 40 post back someone asked about the VW pickup based on the microbus . I got a 61 sitting in my driveway waiting for me to restore ..

    i drive a truck everynight so i see many cars , i am in ca , but do to the 80's < man i killed alot of brain cells then > can't remember alot of names but i will try lol

    today i saw a way pos renault alliance convertable , a La car , and a freugo ? is that spelled right .
    also saw a late 50's early 60's toyota or datsun pickup in back of a house behind a garage and it wasn't on blocks . might go back and see if i can get that cheap it really looked clear from where i was at on the road .
    also saw my first 350 Z car fly by me today . still had the dealer plates on it .
  • magnetophonemagnetophone Member Posts: 605
    I moved to a new house about 2 weeks ago, and am getting the feel for all the neighborhood cars. While I'm only about 10 blocks away, it's on the other side of a major road so the neighborhood's vastly different. I live next to two (2) Eagle Medallions, one a sedan, one a wagon, both really beat up.
  • sildogsildog Member Posts: 50
    Please get that picture of the 4 door El Camino in Chicago! I am dying to see it!
  • jrosasmcjrosasmc Member Posts: 1,711
    Hey, don't be dissing 5-cylinder engines! The 2.4-liter twin-cam five in my 850 is the smoothest powerplant I've ever known.
  • magnetophonemagnetophone Member Posts: 605
    How often do you meet engines? :)
  • wishnhigh1wishnhigh1 Member Posts: 363
    Today, in SF, I saw for the very first time a BMW 760. Had the 19" wheels on it.

    It also had liscence plates with the typical american dimensions, except it said "Consul" at the top and did not have registration stickers. Diplomatic plates maybe?

    Anyway, there was a hot mid 20's girl with long blond hair driving it:)
  • ghuletghulet Member Posts: 2,564
    I haven't seen the four-door ('80) El Camino lately. If I see it, I'll take some photos (I'll even pick up a disposable camera if I don't have the digital with me). It's extra wacky. I have an eighteen hour work day tomorrow though, so probably not gonna happen.

    Today I saw a Subaru DL/GL/Loyale (white) with a fake convertible roof (in blue). Nothing has been spared this treatment, apparently. Jeez Louise.
  • verozahlverozahl Member Posts: 574
    Toyota should have kept them on in the Lexus lineup or something. (T_T)
  • kw_carmankw_carman Member Posts: 114
    Newer or older one?
  • ghuletghulet Member Posts: 2,564
    I saw a second-gen (82-84) silver-blue metallic, rusty Cressida wagon near DePaul University yesterday.
  • checkmecheckme Member Posts: 73
    This morning:

    1. A Toyota Cornona wagon- a woodie!- in that 70's avacado green.

    2. *3* Hummer H2's. Two yellow, one reddish-brown.
  • magnetophonemagnetophone Member Posts: 605
    I saw a Cadillac CTS this morning. That's how rare they are here.
  • verozahlverozahl Member Posts: 574
    Love that CTS styling, eh? Move to Detroit! >;p
  • ghuletghulet Member Posts: 2,564
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    That's a Renault F-U-E-G-O, which I think means "Tow Me Away" in Spanish.

    Anyone ever see a Bond Equipe GT?

    How about a Fiat Toppolino?
  • porknbeansporknbeans Member Posts: 465
    I drove from Madison to Chicago the other morning to pick my friend up at the airport. In the 2 hour drive between 6 and 8 am I saw 6 vipers, 3 Corvette convertibles (with the tops down), 2 late Camaro convertibles (with the tops down) and 4 Ferraris. Everybody must be getting the last fling of summer out of there system here this weekend.
    Porknbeans

    Grand High Poobah
    The Fraternal Order of Procrastinators
  • magnetophonemagnetophone Member Posts: 605
    I took a drive in the hilly texas hill country today.

    I saw a bunch of cars! I saw my first 2003 E-class, an E500... looked very sharp, but who would expect less? Perhaps the best sedan ever. The panorama roof is pretty neat.

    I saw something in a puke yellow color... i want to say it's a 1960's compact. It has the same boat tail design as the early 70's Riviera, only in a smaller form with a upside down triangle window between the boat tail window and the driver's side window. I want to say something from AMC... any guesses?

    A Cavalier hatchback (probably from like 1982?)
  • verozahlverozahl Member Posts: 574
    Saw a green SVX today w/Florida plates.
  • orangelebaronorangelebaron Member Posts: 435
    The AMC Marlin was a boat-tail, but it wasn't really compact. http://www.geocities.com/marlin1965/MyMarlinPage.html


    Anyway, I saw a black and white 1958 DeSoto Fireflight parked in Manhattan last night. It even had a "Shoe" cartoon in the window. Shoe owns a 1959 DeSoto.
    I didn't realize that some cars in the 50's had flipper style door handles.


    Last week I saw a rare elusive electric yellow-green Honda Insight parked by Bertucci's in Woodbridge, NJ.

  • ghuletghulet Member Posts: 2,564
    I saw an SVX, with those tiny windows rolled down, full of people. I'm assuming the a/c was inop because it was hot and humid here today. I think the one I saw was black.
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 25,655
    ...it might've been a Barracuda. The Marlin had huge oval rear windows, whereas the Barracuda's were smaller, and more triangular in shape...


    http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/bacaruda/cudart.jpg


    AMC and Mopar products often shared a lot of styling similarities back then.


    Oh yeah, speaking of flip-up door handles, I think AMC was actually the first (domestic maker, at least) to offer them. Back then, a lot of cars had door handles that were similar to old-time refrigerator handles, only mounted sideways. If you grazed a pedestrian with your car, the handle would slice right through them.


    I saw a '58 DeSoto 4-door sedan, about a year ago, out on the highway. I think '58's are the rarest of the '57-59 design today. I used to be in the national DeSoto club years ago, and remember that there were actually more '59's in the club than '57 or '58's. The '57's were much more popular when new, but rusted like crazy. The '58's sold poorly, due partly to recession, the bad rap of the '57's, competition from within Chrysler, and poor marketing. The '59's were better built, but still sold poorly. I think that's why they survived better though, because they were built a bit better and had better rust-proofing.

  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    ....I saw a black BMW 635 coupe on Friday. The car appeared to be in very good condition.
  • tboner1965tboner1965 Member Posts: 647
    I saw a Ferrari 328, a 1969 Lotus Europa, another Lotus of similar vintage, that I barely fit in (I did tech inspections), a Caterham 7, an MG Midget, a Porsche 928 (pretty darn slow on the course) and an older Alfa Romeo GTV (which was pretty darn fast on our course)

    FWIW,

    TB
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    If you are bigger than 5' 8", and you are wearing shoes, don't even attempt to drive a Lotus Europa.

    There's not an Alfa made that doesn't handle well for its vintage.
  • tboner1965tboner1965 Member Posts: 647
    I see I was incomplete, the Alfa was a GTV6. Makes a bit of difference. It was both loud and fast.

    It had dealer drive-away tags on it, so I probably wasn't really street legal. It was not one of the cars I teched.

    Then there was the late 70's or early 80's Pontiac Sunbird (looked like a Chebby Monza) with the 3.8L V6. Big, heavy iron engine in small car. It didn't turn very well. Mediocre street tires also were a factor.

    It was a pretty car, in excellent shape. It looked showroom new.

    TB
  • ghuletghulet Member Posts: 2,564
    My parents briefly owned a '78 Pontiac Sunbird (coupe, not hatchback) with the 3.8. It was pretty quick, but didn't handle so great (smallish wheels and all), and was an absolute nightmare in snow (lots of front end weight, little in the rear w/RWD). Nice looking car at the time, though, it was the requisite-for-1978 silver with dark red vinyl interior.
  • ghuletghulet Member Posts: 2,564
    Today I saw a Citroen 2CV with the full-length cloth sunroof, quite rare here in Chicago.
  • kw_carmankw_carman Member Posts: 114
    Today I saw: an ugly mid-80's Hyundai Excel with faded maroon paint and a carriage roof.

    Also, a yellow-green Insight...intersting to look at...
  • magnetophonemagnetophone Member Posts: 605
    Insights are pretty common here. In fact, there are a dozen Priuses on the lot, and they sell more than the Echo ( at least that's what the salesman said.)

    I was in Houston yesterday and in the IKEA parking lot, I spotted a car I had never seen before! I always can tell a car from a far distance, but this car looked like a Ferrari Testarossa. Then I was saying to myself "it has to be a Fiat" (due to the AMC-style door handles which were used on larger Fiat models).

    Lo and behold, it was a Lancia Scorpion! Never seen one in my life. It had the exact same door handles as the Lancia Beta sedan. In fact, I think it's technically a Lancia Beta Scorpion. Anyway, it was a really awesome looking car. It looked like a Ferrari in MR2 proportions.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    Went to a "Mule Days Parade" Monday - best car was a Edsel station wagon with "regular" (not "classic") plates. Looked like a daily driver.

    Steve
    Host
    SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
  • verozahlverozahl Member Posts: 574
    Saw an Olds Delta 88 today. Old-school... don't tell the GM Card Club, though, over in GM's Might... don't want them to drool and flood the forum...!
  • wishnhigh1wishnhigh1 Member Posts: 363
    I saw a Buick Reatta coupe today. I have never seen one before. It actually looked very classy...not the typical Old-Man Buick style. I'll try to find some pictures.
  • PF_FlyerPF_Flyer Member Posts: 9,372
    ...but back to back saw a brand new yellow Mini... looked real sharp, followed by a MINT copper-colored Datsun 280ZX... the wife has always wanted a Z!


    Welcome to the Subaru Crew's Weekly Chat!


    Just a reminder that every Thursday you can join the Subaru Crew for a chat session from 6-7pm PT/9-10pm ET. Stop in to talk about Subaru or just to say hello!... We had a great turnout last week, but there's always room for more, so stop by and join in this week! Hope to see you there!!


    /direct/view/.eea5f48




    PF Flyer
    Host
    Pickups & News & Views Message Boards

  • verozahlverozahl Member Posts: 574
    wishnhigh, I see a ton of those around here. They look good in comparison to a lot of other GM products.

    magneto: very nice looking classic!
  • kw_carmankw_carman Member Posts: 114
    Magnteophone: I've seen a car similar to the silver one three down on the page that you placed a link to. It was in "Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo" and belonged to the female race driver. The Lancia fell in love with Herbie....etc.

    Reattas are not that uncommon around here...I've seen several, but not that recently. They look pretty cool...nothing you'd think of when you hear "Buick."
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    There are thousands of them in and around Philadelphia. Personally, I prefer the Ninety-Eight Regency. I had yellow 1979 model that gave me 148,000 miles before it was demolished by a box truck. There is a green 1975 Oldsmobile Delta 88 convertible near my workplace which is much more uncommon.
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 25,655
    ...I saw an '80-83 Dodge Mirada, in dark blue, with a faux convertible top. Looked to be in pretty good shape. I always thought these were one of the few cars whose looks weren't trashed with a fake convertible roof.
  • magnetophonemagnetophone Member Posts: 605
    There are some GM cars I rarely see:

    Pontiac Parisienne
    Caprice wagon
    pre-1983 Buick Centurys
    two-door Cutlass Cieras
    pre-1983 Monte Carlos and Grand Prixes
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    ...drives a black 1978 Monte Carlo in the movie "Training Day."
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 25,655
    ...if you can tell the difference between an '82 and an '83 Monte Carlo ;-)

    Around here, I probably still see more Montes from the '81-88 style than I do all the newer Montes and Lumina coupes combined.

    Hey, that's one I don't see too often...the Lumina coupe that was offered for a few years. I used to think they were pretty nice looking, from the outside, at least!
  • magnetophonemagnetophone Member Posts: 605
    Weren't the pre 1983 Monte Carlos smaller and more squat?

    I tend to see more of the newer versions of the Monte Carlo and Lumina. The egglike ones...

    I drove through a small town east of Austin on my way to Houston and noticed that there were a lot of older GM and Fords that I would never see in a "new" large city such as austin. And if I do, they're almost always jalopys, hooptys, or beaters. But in the small towns there are lots of older well kept cars.
  • magnetophonemagnetophone Member Posts: 605
    Also, in River Oaks I saw a 70's or maybe very early 80's Isuzu I-Mark sedan. It's basically a carbon copy of a Vauxhall Chevette.
Sign In or Register to comment.