Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/22 for details.
Options

Mystery car pix

13123133153173181469

Comments

  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,674
    Mercury Cougar, 1971. I think.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • wgraferwgrafer Member Posts: 592
    I was going to say '70 Cougar.
  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,669
    Yep, '71 Mercury Cougar XR-7.

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

  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,669
    image

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

  • karsickkarsick Member Posts: 312
    Those hubcaps.

    Those tires.

    That grille.

    It had to be Japanese, and some research revealed it's a car I wasn't aware of:

    Datsun Sports S211.

    Good one :D
  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,669
    Datsun Sports S211.

    Yes. indeed, the SP 211 was the first of a long line of Datsun/Nissans to be popularly known in the JDM by the name "Fair Lady", thus it is the ancestor of the Z-cars including the 240-Z and the current 350-Z.

    2008 is the 50th in the US for Nissan (aka Datsun).

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

  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,669
    image

    Movie still from Silkwood (1983).

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

  • davethecarnutdavethecarnut Member Posts: 248
    73 or 74 Pontiac and 74 Civic?
    Which one did Cher drive?
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    I'm gonna go with a '72 Pontiac LeMans for the burgundy one. Hard to tell from that angle, but it looks like it might be a 4-door hardtop, which was a fairly rare body style.

    I really don't know my Civics from that era, but I'm going to guess a '77?
  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,669
    I don't know the year of the Civic but '76-'77 looks about right. The Poncho is a '72 LeMans but I don't think it's a H/T, I think I can see a B-pillar.

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

  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Didn't that Civic basically have a motorcycle engine?

    Civic has come a long way, eh?
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    Hmm, that angle really threw me off. Turns out it's actually a hardtop coupe! From the front-on shot, the chrome trim piece that separates the rear window from the front window just looked like it was further forward, which made me think it was a 4-door. It has skirted rear wheels too, and a thick trim strip running along the lower bodyside, so I'm guessing it's a high-end model, like a Luxury LeMans?

    Those were sharp looking cars, but IMO look awful with the rear fender skirts.
  • texasestexases Member Posts: 11,107
    Small (1.5l, same size as a Fit), but not related to their motorcycles. That had the CVCC (prechamber) engines, I think, that got Honda a lot of good press for dealing with US emissions regs while Detroit complained. Made obsolete by cat converters, though.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Didn't they have even smaller engines at one point? 1.3 liters?
  • bumpybumpy Member Posts: 4,425
    Didn't that Civic basically have a motorcycle engine?

    No, that was the old N- and S-series cars in the '60s and the pre-Civic Z600.
  • texasestexases Member Posts: 11,107
    Yes, I think there was also a 1.2 l available for some period, but it also wasn't related to the (then air-cooled) motorcycle engines.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    1.2l, wow.

    In Brazil the most popular Fit model comes with a 1.3l. So you could even say they're still in that market segment.
  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,669
    image

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

  • kyfdxkyfdx Moderator Posts: 265,514
    The base Civic engine was still a 1.3 litre, even with the new generation that came out in 1981... 1.5 litre was optional..

    My '82 Accord still had the 1751cc engine...

    Edmunds Price Checker
    Edmunds Lease Calculator
    Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!

    Edmunds Moderator

  • karsickkarsick Member Posts: 312
    Didn't that Civic basically have a motorcycle engine?

    I was one of the kooks to buy a (used) 2-cylinder, air-cooled 1972 Honda N600 sedan. It was my first car, and was basically a rolling protest to all my car buddies in high school who had 454's, 396's & 440's. Yes, my car measured out to 36 cubic inches, but it had the bragging rights of One HP per Cubic Inch :P

    BTW - If 20" wheels are now called "DUBS", what are 10" wheels called? :confuse:
  • texasestexases Member Posts: 11,107
    "what are 10" wheels called?"

    Nubs?

    Kid at school had a N600, his 'buddies' turned it sideways in the parking spot, he missed work, and it broke something on the car. :sick:
  • karsickkarsick Member Posts: 312
    Reminds me of the Cisitalia, but I assume by the title that this is a French car, oui?

    Cool looking, nonetheless. :shades:
  • savoysavoy Member Posts: 1
    http://litwc.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/normal_1938_Phantom_Corsair.jpg
    I was wondering if any knew what kind of car this is.
  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,669
    I was wondering if any knew what kind of car this is.

    Just as the url suggests, that is a 1938 Phantom Corsair and it's AFAIK a one of a kind protype built on a Cord 810 chassis. It looks like something a 1930's comic strip character like Tim Tyler or...well... The Phantom would ride around in.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phantom_Corsair

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

  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,669
    It does indeed look like a Cisitalia but it is indeed French...body by Chapron.

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

  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,669
    Here's another angle on #15972>

    image

    It looks even more like a Cisitalia when you can't see the notchback, doesn't it?

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

  • magnettemagnette Member Posts: 4,229
    This is a Delahaye - possibly a 235 ?
  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,669
    Oui! It's a 1953 Delahaye 235 MS, coachwork by Chapron.

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

  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,669
    image

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

  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Wow, looks like a mix of...

    Toyota green house?

    Acura lights?

    It's not the JDM Odyssey/La Grand.

    JDM Toyota Previa, maybe?
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,414
    The front looks like a Pokemon character painted black. Cartoony pseudo-aggressive expressions on some of these vehicles represents a fad that needs to die.
  • hudsonthedoghudsonthedog Member Posts: 552
    JDM Toyota Previa, maybe?

    Yes, but it's called the Toyota Estima.
  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,669
    Yes, but it's called the Toyota Estima

    That's a Bingo, Hudson.

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

  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,669
    image

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

  • karsickkarsick Member Posts: 312
    Opel Kadett lineup for Germany ca. 1976. :confuse:
  • gussguss Member Posts: 1,167
    That's a good picture for Easter. They look like 3 Opel Easter eggs in the grass.
  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,669
    '76 sounds about right and they are all Opel Kadett Cs.

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

  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,669
    image

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

  • patpat Member Posts: 10,421
    LOL!!!

    That's the kind of post that should come with a warning -- put down whatever you are drinking before reading to avoid potential harm to monitor/or and keyboard!! :shades:
  • magnettemagnette Member Posts: 4,229
    Vespa 400 - made by the French Vespa distributor from c. 1957-1959
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    are kinda cute little cars. I wonder GM would have been better off just bringing those over to the US and badging them as Chevrolets, than foisting the Chevette on us. Actually, isn't the Chevette the same basic platform as these? Those windshields at least look a bit Chevette-ish. But the overall cars look a bit more substantial and upscale.
  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,669
    The Opel Kadette C was sold in Brazil as the Chevy Chevette in 1974 before it's introduction in Europe, I saw quite a few when I was in Rio in '76. It's the same car that was sold in the US as the "Buick-Opel"
    in coupe, sedan and wagon form.

    The US Chevette Hatchback was virtually identical to the hatchback sold as an Opel/Chevy/Vauxhall in various markets., collectively they are known as T-cars.

    Here's the Opel version with the same (Rostyle) wheels as the Kadette Cs in the earlier photo.>

    image

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

  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    T makes sense, wasn't it also called the T1000? By Pontiac, IIRC?
  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,669
    From the original The Manchurian Candidate (1962)

    image

    If anyone knows Manhattan, they could guess the approximate location.

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

  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,414
    Nearest car, the convertible, is a 55 Pontiac. Behind it looks like a Rambler ca. 1960. Across the street L-R looks like a Falcon wagon, then a Beetle, then maybe a 60 Caddy? I am not on the best monitor so my details could be wrong. The car on the street with what looks like a taxi sign on the top reminds me of a 49-51 Ford wagon. I want to say the fins in front of the Pontiac are from a 58 Ford.
  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,669
    Good job, Fin. The picture is pretty fuzzy but AFAIK you've identifies everything correctly except for the cab which IMCDB IDs as a '53 DeSoto Powermaster.

    DeSotos were the most numerous NYC taxis IIRC starting in the 40s with the incredibly roomy Suburban types through the mid 50s when Checkers began to take over. It is curious that a nine year old unit would still be viable after pounding the potholed Streets of Manhattan for so long.

    Speaking of Manhattan, the photo appears be of upper Fifth Avenue near one of the Central Park transverse roads.Nowadays Fifth Avenue is one way going downtown (i.e. to the right of photos).

    Here's a better look at the DeSoto and the '57 Ford>

    image

    .

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

  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    I wonder if one reason that Checker started getting a foothold on the taxi cab market in 1955 was that Chrysler got out of the mass-produced long-wheelbase sedans after 1954? In fact, in 1952 I think you could even get a LWB Plymouth or Dodge. However, they went through a heavy restyle in 1953 that made them stubbier, and dropped the long models, leaving just DeSoto and Chrysler/Imperial.

    I don't have the stats in front of me, but I don't think a long wheelbase DeSoto or Chrysler was all that expensive. Probably less than $1000 more than a regular sedan counterpart. In 1955, I think Chrysler started farming out the limos to Ghia, and the result was a $15,000 car. In an era where even an Imperial still base priced for around $5K or a bit less.

    I wonder, if Chrysler kept building its long cars in-house and keeping the prices down, if they might have held onto the taxi market longer?

    That '55 Pontiac looks like it could be sitting there, waiting to take the Ricardos and Mertzes off to sunny California for Ricky's screen test.
  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,669

    That '55 Pontiac looks like it could be sitting there, waiting to take the Ricardos and Mertzes off to sunny California for Ricky's screen test.


    LOL! Wasn't that a Mercury?

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

  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    LOL! Wasn't that a Mercury?

    Close...that's what Mickey and Tacey had in The Long, Long Trailer.
Sign In or Register to comment.