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

Mr_Shiftright · October 2004

I thought they were on the old Camaro platform, the F-bodies that were discontinued.

stickguy · October 2004

Well, maybe it was a Camaro dash. I only took a quick glance through the window, and it was definitely one of them. Thinking back on it, I guess it did look like the Camaro center stack after all.

I don't spend any more time than I have to with GM cars. Sorry.

They did have an earlier version (the original body style). It still looked better than the new one.

orangelebaron · October 2004

that's some overhang.

Recently...on the Meadowbrook Parkway on LI, I've been spotting a carrus obscurus whatisitus...
A dark blue sporty looking job with an older foreign looking dude driving it... Every time I got close, all I could make out of the nameplate was something like OULIE... well it did start with an "O"

Anyone?

andyman73 · October 2004

Saw one of those Volvo sports coupes, P1800ES, or something. It came over a low hill and I saw that "large mouth bass" grill, and thought "OH OH OH...I know what that is. Was doing about 80 on a back country lane.

Speaking of Avanti, one of the sons of a family friend has a supercharged 63, also had a non-supered version he recently sold, to buy an 05 Eclipse.

andre1969 · October 2004

on the Avanti website, that thing's definitely based on the final-gen Trans-Camaro, as they're known in Mississippi. The windshield and especially the hatchback on the one closed model they show is a dead giveaway.

As far as SUV's go, their proposed SUV model actually ain't bad looking. I think it looks nicer than the H2 upon which it's based!

kyfdx · October 2004

I think the P1800 is the coupe, and the 1800ES is the GT-like hatchback..

There is a commercial running on TV.. I can't remember what it is for... maybe insurance.. That shows a couple trying to get their new car seat into the back of a P1800.

lemko · October 2004

...a brown 1970 Buick LeSabre with a tan top that appeared to be in pretty decent condition.

bhill2 · October 2004

The story goes like this. Originally, it was the P1800 and was just the coupe. In the mid to late '60s it became the 1800E, maybe when they went to fuel injection (which also put the 'E' in Mercedes models of the times). Anyway, it was still a coupe. Around '70 or '71 they came out with the hatchback, which was the 1800ES.

ghulet · October 2004

Today, I saw a really battered '65 Chrysler 300 four-door hardtop, in red. Still running, though, but not worth restoring (the most pristine example on earth is probably worth $7k).

Lemko, can you tell the model year of an '80s Fleetwood Brougham by its grille? Not so 'obscure', I guess, but I saw a really nice one yesterday, even had the factory Cadillac wire wheels (not hubcaps), in this kind of rusty color, in, out and top, driven by a tiny old lady. Anyway, the only flaw I noticed was that the grille was a bit pushed in, but it had the eggcrate pattern (which I prefer), as opposed to the tall vertical slits. It also had the third brake light, though that could have been added. From checking on AutoTrader and eBay, it looks like the eggcrate grille was only used 1980-83?? Another thing I've noticed was the wide variety of interior patterns on these cars, which again could vary by year or trim level (base or d'Elegance). I've seen the cloth and leather in the small button-tufted and the vertical 'stripes' patterns and the leather in the large, square paneled pattern.

I've considered buying an '80s Brougham just for fun because I really like them, but then I remember gas prices, parking, RWD in snow, none of which are actually 'fun'.

lemko · October 2004

...were on 1987 and 1988 Cadillac Broughams. My 1989 Brougham has a vertical bar grille with the Cadillac script in the lower right hand side of the car, (facing the vehicle). The earlier Broughams had the script embossed in the chrome cap above the grille. Also, 1987-89 Broughams will have horizontal reflector on each side toward the bottom of the decklid about 1" from the lip. Earlier cars have a 1" chrome strip along the lower lip of the lid.

lemko · October 2004

..to save yourself major grief, avoid the 1981 models with the V-8-6-4 engine, any diesels, or 1982-85 models with the 4100 4.1 litre engine. Go for the 5.0 litre or 5.7 litre engine models - preferably the 5.7. The 1980 with the 368 V-8 is decent. The 1977-79 models with the 425 V-8 are excellent.

fintail · October 2004

Were the early Fleetwoods the ones where the window openings to each side of the B-pillar weren't parallel? And did these models ever have body color wheelcover trim as an option, or was that just on an Eldo?

To be honest, even I kind of like the earlier cars. They must have been amazingly clean and modern looking compared to the period competition, and their predecessors.

ghulet · October 2004

...the '77-79s have the non-parallel door openings, and I'm also certain the body-color wheel covers were optional (I remember my friend's dad had a '77 Brougham, brown, with matching caps).

Lemko, yes, the V864 is infamous; I've noticed almost any '81s you see for sale (and many, many '82-85s, for that matter) have had the engine replaced with a 307 or 350. My boss in high school had an '81 that was frequently in the shop, though it was a gorgeous car otherwise (white with dark tan leather and top, astroroof, an early trip computer of some sort, climate control and a memory driver's seat).

grbeck · October 2004

There was no need to replace the V8-6-4 engine on the 1981 models. Simply disconnecting the wire that linked the computer governing cylinder deactivation to the transmission enabled the engine to always run on all eight cylinders. It was then a perfectly acceptable engine, and better than the 4.1 liter V-8 that followed for 1982.

lemko · October 2004

...probably plentiful at one time but scarce around here - an Isuzu Stylus sedan. Isuzu stopped importing cars a while ago while only importing SUVs. Dumb question, but does Isuzu still sell vehicles here?

andre1969 · October 2004

those '77-79 Fleetwoods with the Vee'd B-pillar. I think they did that because they had to find some way to distinguish the Fleetwood from the DeVille once they downsized. Prior to downsizing, the Fleetwoods were on a longer wheelbase than the DeVille, and had a thick B-pillar, in contrast to the hardtop style of the Sedan DeVille.

V-8, RWD cars can be fun in the snow...it's just a different kind of "fun" ;-)

I always liked these cars too, but I think overall, I'd prefer to just have a '77-79 98 or Electra, with the 403. Or an '80 with the 350, which was still available. Or an '81-84 with the 307, over its Caddy counterpart in any given year.

I think Isuzu has stopped selling their own vehicles here, but they do still sell that Trailblazer-based thing whose name currently eludes me. And I'm sure they still build medium-duty trucks.

andys120 · October 2004

The Ascender is the 'suzu-badged T-blazer.

andre1969 · October 2004

I remembered it was named after some kind of accident. Along the lines of "Rollover" "Head on collision" "Side Impact" "Assender" ;-)

kyfdx · October 2004

lol

debaser853 · October 2004

I had an 82 Caddy while in college - 4100 motor, Coupe Deville. Mine was a pos, but ran for several years, even surviving a summer in Colorado (and a trip to Vail in the slow lane). I bought it for $600, so it was a darned good value.

While mine was a faded ugly grey, a friend had an immaculate '82 Eldo - stainless roof, deep blue in color. Same motor. We drag raced a couple times, and mine, being rwd I assume, was a hair faster.

Good times.

michaellno · October 2004

Ascender is the name of the rebadged TrailBlazer. They have stopped manufacturing the Rodeo and Axiom, and the Trooper was killed off a year or two ago.

I was a big fan of Isuzu back in the late 80's and early 90's. My first wife bought a P'up in 1986 and we also bought an '88 Trooper. Nice and sturdy vehicles, but slow. I ended up driving the P'up mostly, which was a pain when I had to commute to LA for a while. See, it was a stick and the cab of that truck had a bench seat and not quite enough legroom for my 5' 11" frame. Add in a stiff clutch and long gearshift throws and it was not a fun experience in bumper to bumper traffic.

I really like the Stylus because, at the time, they offered something like a 125 hp (!) engine and a suspension "tuned" by Lotus.

We ended up selling both Isuzu's within 45 days of one another - the P'up to buy a '91 Mazda Protege LX (wife), the Trooper to buy a '91 Nissan Sentra SE (me).

Mr_Shiftright · October 2004

Mercury Capri convertible (made Down Under)

VW Thing not even on last legs, but crawling...

Maserati Ghibli (yeah, a rare sighting. Ghibli means sandstorm I think)

Old FJ40 LAnd Cruiser (I really like those). Sounded like it had a V-8 installed.

andyman73 · October 2004

Everyday, I pass an upscale condo developement, and in the drive of one, I see a Rover, looks a bit like the FJ40 Toyota, but is a Rover. Don't know the model, but looks well cared for.

andys120 · October 2004

You're close on the sandstorm thing Shifty. The Ghibli, like many Maseratis is named after North African winds that have Arabic names.

Thus: Ghibli, Bora, Khamsin, Merak and others.

Volkswagen does the same thing: Passat, Golf, Bora
and Scirocco are all Mediterranean or North African winds.

Must've been a lot of Afrika Korps veterans at both VW and Maserati at one time. :^)

andyman73 · October 2004

Maybe they were Rommel's buddies?

Mr_Shiftright · October 2004

Makes good sense actually. The war in Africa is the only one the Germans can really comfortably talk about, as it was fought fairly "clean" by modern standards. And of course Italy has a long presence in Africa.

Well we did the same thing with the Duster, right? (not quite as romantic-sounding). Oh, we had the Typhoon and the Hurricane. Was there ever a Dodge Drizzle. probably not.

fintail · October 2004

Plymouth Breeze, although it was more like stale air

I saw a real nice maybe c.75 Olds 98 today, in gold with Buick mag wheels from the same period. I would have got a pic, but it was pouring.

andre1969 · October 2004

of old cars in DC today. In someone's driveway was an old 60's Mustang convertible, a bit rough, but restorable looking. Looked like it had been sitting a few years though. Behind it was a blue '67 Cougar, in about comparable condition.

Out on the street was a '65 or so Valiant V200 station wagon, a litte rough, but in better shape than those Fords in the driveway. And also a '68 Dodge Dart 270 4-door sedan, with all its trim and a perfect grille. A little rust here and there, but a beast that looked like it had plenty of life left in it.

fintail · October 2004

I saw a lovely 70 Nova SS today, in white with blue stripes and rally wheels. Nice old car...that's what Chevy needs to be.

fintail · October 2004

You know what time it is...

Not quite like a 53 but still pretty

Shifty mobile

And another...combine the 2 and you might have 7/8ths of a good runner

Whoa, never seen one of these before. This isn't far from me...but I have no interest

A fine old marque that is seldom seen

Sad in many ways Packardbaker

Neat but expensive Fiat

Never seen one of these in NA, which makes sense

W112 300SE SWB fintail that deserves to be saved or used as a donor for these very rare cars with impossible to source trim. I am sure it is shot mechanically, the rear air suspension has probably self destructed...but it looks very sound (can't see any rust, interior is decent) otherwise, and is worth the bid. I know who the bidder is, and am glad they are getting it

This is certainly the weirdest modern car on ebay right now, and if it could be federalized, I'd almost be tempted. This is cool! Look at that dashboard display and the HVAC/radio! If you want retro styling...here yo go

Mr_Shiftright · October 2004

Auto Union -- too bad, wrong color or I would buy it (just kidding). This pile of scrap metal has a RESERVE on it? Oh, lord!

58' Packard--what a hideous car. It's got to be the all time American toad-car. I'm trying to think of one less attractive but nothing comes to mind.

Toyota Century -- without DOT and EPA papers in hand, I wouldn't TOUCH this car. Being "in" the country already means nothing without these papers. And the DMV will ask to see them, don't you worry. If you don't have the papers (Ver are your papers?) you'll have to post a bond for the full value of the car, and then you'll have a certain amount of time to Federalize it (lots of luck) or deport it, or it will be destroyed. So, happy motoring!

Fiat 125--totally delusional seller.

Citroen-- at least the seller had the decency to warn off American buyers. Kudos!

Morris pickup -- kinda cute. I especially like the bulletholes in the windshield. I'd keep 'em.

Minerva--it has been suggested by some very credible automotive historians that the Minerva (Belgian car) was the first to introduce the automatic transmission on a production car. I haven't seen this transmission so I can't say.

fintail · October 2004

It's a shame the feds are such [non-permissible content removed] about older cars. Give me a break, there's no legit danger. What a gross waste of resources. There should be action taken.

Some time ago I mentioned I spotted a BMC "land crab"...I saw it again this morning:

Mr_Shiftright · October 2004

Well the rules are pretty clear. If it's not a federalized car, and it's not old enough, don't DARE bring it here. End of story. What part of "no way" don't people understand? I mean, don't buy a car out of Canada in total disregard of federal regs and then start whining when they impound the car. Geez.

On the other hand, I am totally in favor of slapping the EPA and DOT people silly when they are disrespectful, arrogant and bullying about it when people are legitimately trying to import cars or make them conform.

andys120 · October 2004

when I was a kid my neighbors got a visit from their movie actor son who had driven out from California in his new '54 Skylark. We were pretty wowed by both. Pretty impressive bid on that car @ $44k but I'm not surprised, Skylarks (made only in '53 & '54) really epitomize 1950s styling.

Leo Gordon never became a big time star but we delighted in seeing him make regular TV and movie appearances right into the 70s.

Towards the end he had a semi-regular role as sometime bodyguard "Charles Martel" in The Rockford Files.

fintail · October 2004

"Well the rules are pretty clear"

And perhaps they should change. Can legit arguments be made for these rules, or is it just out of control rulemaking for the sake of rulemaking by power trippers who lack any real world accountability? Is sending a handful of 15 year oddballs over that will remain in enthusiast hands any kind of real concern? Impounding and/or destroying a car is unjustifiable and intolerable.

IIRC, isn't a 53 Skylark worth like double the 54? A styling winner for sure.

Mr_Shiftright · October 2004

Well everyone is forewarned very clearly about the rules. You have to be a real dummy to bring a car in without having lined up all your ducks.

The rules aren't against "old cars"...they were against new cars back then that weren't built for US importation and that got old. To sell in the US you had to build to US specs. Besides, there are all kinds of exclusions---for racing, for museums, for collectors and of course, for cars that are old enough.

Driving is a privilege granted by government, it's not in the constitution, so there you go.

ghulet · October 2004

...I think the '53s are a lot higher (not sure if 'double' or even more), same for the similar-in-concept Eldorados and the even more rare Olds Fiesta (458 produced for '53 only). Strange thing is, more than twice as many Skylarks were built in '53 (1690) than in '54 (836), despite lowering the price in '54 by more than $600. Eldorado's price went down by $2k and production quadrupled from '53 to '54.

fintail · October 2004

So how could a "collector" bring in a 20 year old non DOT car? If it's as easy as being a collector, isn't the door more open?

I can't see that 'not in the constitution' line as a good excuse for the inept to police at their own whim. Yet another case where there is no legit justification for policies, punishments, and the resources wasted. Seems like a cop out.

I've seen higher end 53 Skylarks and Eldos with asking prices approaching six figures. They must have been seen as special from day one.

andys120 · October 2004

Well the SkyLark in particular was seen as special, even by my 11 y/o self, but the "market" didn't see them as special enough. At a price higher than equivalent Cadillac convertibles the Buick didn't sell enough to avoid being withdrawn from the market after a few years.

The Eldorado of course was another matter.

Mr_Shiftright · October 2004

A collector might be able to get an illegal car in under the Show & Display statute, I think it is called, that Bill GAtes helped to push through congress.

The regulations were created to keep non-Federalized cars out of the U.S. If American automakers have to make cars this way, so does everyone else who sells them here. So if Citroen didn't bother to Federalize a 1988 model, then it can't come here now unless you the "collector" go throught the expense of Federalizing it yourself.

So either you make it conform or you don't bring it in. Seems fair enough to me. The problem is really caused by the original maker, not the U.S. government. They didn't want to invest in Federalizing their cars, so you can't have one.

fintail · October 2004

I find the Skylark to be much sportier and flamboyant than those first Eldos. I am surprised they didn't sell. Back then, it seems GM could sell just about anything it made.

But it isn't the maker wanting to bring in older cars. It's the
enthusiast. There's no legit harm in bringing a handful of oddballs in. These cars will pose no threat to anything, they will never end up unsupported on the used car market or anything like that. Most of them will stay better maintained and pose less of a threat on the roads than normal US market cars. What do they think they are protecting us from?

It is the US government...legislation for the sake of legislation, more power tripping. Legitimate arguments can't be made for their side. Just seems like a gross waste. I wonder how much taxpayer funds the policing of old imports wastes yearly. Must be domestic auto interests buying their own laws.

lemko · October 2004

...build my kind of car! Too bad they don't export it to NA. I'm surprised they don't have a Lexus version of the Century for sale in the U.S.

Dig that crazy gearshift lever!

andre1969 · October 2004

have to be before you can bring it into the US and not worry about federalizing it?

PF_Flyer · October 2004

Apparently as I was coming out of the bagel shop this morning I stepped into a time warp. pulling into the parking spot next to me was a 1972 (I think) stock looking Ford Ranchero. Biggest surprise that it wasn't "hot rodded up".

But then things got REALLY weird. Drove off to my next stop on the day and stopped at a traffic light and noticed an identical model/color 1996 Sentra just like mine waiting at the light straight across from me. I know, not strange... but as the light changes in the other direction, two more Sentras, both 1996, same model and color stop at the light travelling in the other directions.... and for a moment the world stopped while we all shot "can you believe this??" glances and smiles at each other.

PF Flyer
Host
Pickups & News & Views Message Boards

kyfdx · October 2004

Poppyseed bagel?

PF_Flyer · October 2004

Sourdough with plain cream cheese:)

jrosasmc · October 2004

Not that obscure, but I'll throw it in anyway...I saw an immaculate '89 Saab 900 Turbo convertible earlier this afternoon. It was in really tip-top shape, the paint looked really nice and shiny, and by the sound of it, it appeared to be running well. Would I buy it? No, because it was an automatic and I know better than to go near an old 900 with an auto. That tranny was most likely replaced too.

kyfdx · October 2004

You know... those old Saabs are really quick.. A friend of mine's wife had one.. also an automatic.. Even with the slushbox, he said it was faster than his '84 Supra...

They could also empty your savings account quickly.. just to keep them up and running.

ghulet · October 2004

I've told too many stories here about old 900 woes to repeat them again; I will say, the worst thing about the automatic of that era is that it has only three speeds, which makes for high revs at highway speeds and resulting lousy gas mileage. Without the turbo, the cars were naturally a lot slower, too. The unit itself, made by Borg Warner and shared with the '70s-80s Jaguar XJ6, IIRC, is at least reliable enough. I never understood how they sold three-speed autos in the late '80s in pricey cars when one could get a 4-speed (overdrive, at least) unit in something as pedestrian as a Crown Vic way back in '79.

fintail · October 2004

"Dig that crazy gearshift lever! "

I noticed that too. It's so weird, it's cool! I really like that Toyota Century, and it sucks that it is a stone's throw from me yet it can't come to me. Cool cool car.

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

Comments

Helpful Tools

Most popular vehicles