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Mystery car pix

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Comments

  • texasestexases Member Posts: 11,105
    Ahhh - so that "God help you if hadda stop quickly from 100+." come from hard-won experience ;)
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,022
    the main reason the elderly couple I bought my DeSoto from held onto it for so long because the wife liked the way it handled in bad weather! :surprise: In the past, they'd usually just have one car, which they bought a couple years old. They bought the DeSoto in 1959 from a Pontiac dealership. In 1966 they bought a used '64 Catalina, but the wife insisted on keeping the DeSoto and they became a 2-car family.

    The wife also said she used to like embarrassing the high school kids from a stoplight back in the day. While it wasn't as fast as any real musclecar, it was still enough to embarrass many a car that was considered much cooler at the time.
  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,669
    One thing I can tell you from experience is that a '64 Catalina is a piss poor bad weather car. I'll bet it's a better stoplight racer than any DeSoto though.

    Apologies to Groucho Marx. ;)

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

  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,669
    From Beat Street (1984):

    image

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

  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,671
    I have fond memories of riding in a Catalina convertible from that era, 62-64, with a 389? cu in motor with 3 2-barrel carbs.

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  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,669
    Yeah, those Tri-Power 389s could wax just about anything at the stoplight drags back in the early 60s.

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

  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,408
    Closest car looks like a ca. 1974 Chevy (Impala?) coupe, across the street is a ca. 1981 Buick Skylark and a 65-66 Chevy, and in motion appears to be some kind of early 70s Mopar.
  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,669
    You got 'em Fin, it seems like all the Yank Tanks of that era were green or Brown.

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

  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,669
    image

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

  • lostwrenchlostwrench Member Posts: 288
    1954 Buick Roadmaster.
  • ClairesClaires Member Posts: 1,219
    Please don't post gigantic ones -- they skew the pages and throw everything out of alignment.

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  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,669
    image

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

  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,022
    One thing I can tell you from experience is that a '64 Catalina is a piss poor bad weather car. I'll bet it's a better stoplight racer than any DeSoto though.

    Depends on the engine. While yeah, a Tri-Power 389 would lay waste to a lot of cars, the Catalina automatic just came standard with a 267 hp 389-2bbl. A choked-down 230 hp was a credit option. Most likely, the Catalina these people I bought the DeSoto from just had one of those mild ones. Further, axle ratios tended to be a lot more aggressive in the 50's. I think my DeSoto has a 3.31:1 axle. Most workaday 60's Catalinas just had a 2.56:1.

    My '67 Catalina, with its hopped-up 400 4-bbl, is faster than my DeSoto, but in stock form (290 hp 400-2bbl) it wouldn't have been.
  • wgraferwgrafer Member Posts: 592
    The Brown Impala in the foreground is definitely a 1973 ('74 had the big front bumper). And the White Chevy across the street is definitely a 1965 ('66 had a slightly different front end). No argument on the '81 Buick Skylark as they all looked alike to me!
  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,669

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

  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,669
    15674 is three 2009 Skoda Superbs demonstrating the unique rear hatch that can serve as a conventional trunk or a Fifth door hatch. The new Superb is based on the VW Passat.

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

  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,669
    image

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

  • kyfdxkyfdx Moderator Posts: 265,427
    Nissan Stanza? late '80s-early '90s?

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  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,022
    I think that's an '85-86 Stanza. At some point in time, 1987, perhaps, the Stanza got upgraded to the 1985-88 Maxima platform. It became basically a cheapened-down 4-cyl Maxima. I think that style above originated in 1982, and got the composite headlights for 1985. Back in high school and briefly in college, one of my friends drove one of those. He didn't actually have his own car, but his family had several, and he would alternate through them. His family was horrible at taking care of cars, though. They also had a '72 Dart, that his Dad bought new. I don't think they actually changed the oil on it, just added when it got low! The Dart was actually able to put up with that kind of abuse through 1990, when one day it wouldn't start because they let it sit too long. They said I could have it if I could get it started, as the county was threatening to tow it away. Well, I got it started, but then it sprung a minor little fuel leak, they panicked, didn't want me driving something that "unsafe", so they let the county take it.

    Alas, the Stanza couldn't endure that kind of abuse. It finally got a death rattle in late 1988. They traded it on a new '89 Escort, so my friend could have a reliable car to drive back and forth to college. I remember they actually got $1300 in trade for it, but I think they also got suckered into paying close to sticker for the Escort. :sick:
  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,669
    Y'all are off on the dates. It's a Gen II Stanza, 1982-86. I remember really considering one back in '82-'83, I got a Rabbit GTI instead.

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

  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,669
    image

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

  • magnettemagnette Member Posts: 4,229
    Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale -1967/8
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,022
    Was there a gen I Stanza in the US before the '82-86 model? All I remember was the 510 before that, which was pretty much the same market segment. My buddy's '83 Stanza really wasn't much of a car. Felt roomier than an Accord from that era, but cheaper and flimsier...more fragile somehow. They may have been okay with a stick, but my friend's with the automatic, was a dog. But probably par for the course in that era.

    When the '83 Camry came out, it seemed like a much more substantial, solid car. But then it was a lot more expensive, too.
  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,669
    The Gen 1 Stanzas ('77-'81) were indeed sold as Datsun 510s in the USA. Other names were used in different markets.

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

  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,669
    image

    I see five identifiable cars in this picture. The four against the wall all have something in common.

    Perhaps Magnette or someone else can ID the blue car facing away in the extreme left corner.

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

  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,408
    The blue car facing away is a Nissan Figaro

    I can ID the others but I will let others have some fun. One of them is so unlike the rest, very odd.
  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,669
    Magnette you've correctly identified the Alfa 33 Stradale, Stradale is the Italian word for "street". 1967-68 was the last days of the era in which you could buy racing cars adapted for the street. After that top-line Protoype endurance cars were completely unsuited for road use.

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

  • karsickkarsick Member Posts: 312
    An authentic early 70's Lotus S4 is the car that looks like a cheap copy of a 7.
    I believe this was right before the 7 design was handed over to Caterham.

    What do the 4 against the wall have in common?
    1) They are all RWD?
    2) They all have 4 wheels?
    4) They're all parked nose-in :P ?

    BTW - I was in Phoenix last week, and saw 2 prototypes: A Lincoln MKS and a an Infiniti FX (both with mfr plates and with limited amounts of masking tape) I was too slow to snap a Hans Lehmann pic, though :cry:
  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,669
    An authentic early 70's Lotus S4 is the car that looks like a cheap copy of a 7.
    I believe this was right before the 7 design was handed over to Caterham


    It's a '71 Lotus Seven S4. If someone could identify the four against the wall
    they could probably tell what they have in common. ;)

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

  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Early 1980s Mustang, NA Miata, MG Roadster, MG shooting brake.

    All are rear wheel drive. :shades:

    I've owned two of those, a similar vintage Mustang (1980) and a 1993 Miata.
  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,669
    They have in common that they all have models names that start with an M.
    Mustang, Miata, Midget (not Roadster!) and MGB-GT (not Shooting Brake!).

    You're correct in that they are also all RWD. ;)

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

  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,669
    but it's so pretty I had to put it up:

    image

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

  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    I want to say 633csi but it is even older than I'm thinking?

    Remember when Bruce Willis drove banged up one of those on Moonlighting?
  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,669
    Yep, it's older than you think and anyone who bangs one up should be horsewhipped.

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

  • texasestexases Member Posts: 11,105
    Like about a '72 3.0 CSL?
  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,669
    Hmmm, it's turning out to be harder than I thought. Nope, the CSL had wings and spoilers as well as the aluminum bodywork that gave it the "L". Anyone else?

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

  • texasestexases Member Posts: 11,105
    Then a '72 CS or CSi? While some CSLs have the full spoiler treatment, they were sold without it, but all the road going CSL photos I've found do have a stripe down the side that this one lacks. This also has less-fancy wheels.
  • kyfdxkyfdx Moderator Posts: 265,427
    '73 3.0CSi?

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  • kyfdxkyfdx Moderator Posts: 265,427
    If it's older than that, it might be a 2800CS

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  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,669
    Yep, it's a '72 CSi, possibly the best looking BMW since the 507. You are correct that some road going CSLs were sold w/o most of the aero appendages, I forgot about them.

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

  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,669
    image

    From Risky Business (1983).

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

  • kyfdxkyfdx Moderator Posts: 265,427
    early '80s Porsche 928...

    No idea on the nice one.. ;)

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  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,408
    Looks like a mid-70s Subaru by the 928...before it becomes a U-boat
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Looks like a GL sedan? I think those came out in 1973.
  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,669
    The IMCDB caption sez it's a DL, I don't know how you'd tell.

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

  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,669
    image

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

  • magnettemagnette Member Posts: 4,229
    M-B Ponton ?
  • magnettemagnette Member Posts: 4,229
    image
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,408
    It's a 13" wheel with the early style trim ring, so it's from the 50s - as I see the slightest hint of a brow above the wheelarch, I will say a 190SL

    And I just cheated to confirm it :blush:
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,408
    Austin A....35?
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