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2009 BMW 335i, 2003 Corvette cnv. (RIP 2001 Jaguar XK8 cnv and 1985 MB 380SE [the best of the lot])
Interestingly, these were also one of the first designs that actually seemed to take space efficiency seriously. Although I don't know if that was intentionally, or they just lucked into it. I don't know when the EPA started measuring interior volumes, but the earliest stats I've been able to find are for 1978. That year's Matador sedan is rated at 110/20 for passenger/cargo volume. For comparison, the Caprice/Impala, which was considered a pioneer of packing more room into a smaller space, was rated at 111/20. As for the few old-school midsizers still around, the Fury/Monaco sedans were rated at 101/20, while the LTD-II/Cougar were rated 101/16.
Even the few old full-sized mastodons still around don't sound that impressive when you look at the EPA numbers. The Chrysler Newport/New Yorker 4-doors were rated at 107/22. The LTD was 106/23, while the Marquis was 108/23. And even the big Lincoln Town Sedans were 114/22.
I wonder if the '69-78 Ambassador/Matador had a tall roofline compared to other cars? That's one thing that will definitely boost the interior measurement.
Speaking of AMC, I also now appreciate an early run "pure" Pacer. I used to think they were terrible when I was young, but I respect the effort now, and they are cool in their own way.
Fast forward to today, and I think they're pretty cool, although I don't know how much of an influence "Wayne's World" had on that. And yeah, I like the earlier models better, before they went to the more pretentious, stand-up grille that was in vogue in those days.
I'm guessing one reason the Matador coupe didn't sell well with the '74 redesign is that it was trying too hard to be sporty. IIRC, it was actually designed with NASCAR in mind. But, sportiness didn't sell in the 70's...personal luxury did.
Going back to the Ambassador, even though I think the hardtop coupe is a bit awkward, I think I could be happy with a '69...
Or maybe a 1970. They look nice and a bit upscale, but without being really pretentious. For '71, they seemed to be going for a cross between a Cadillac and a Chrysler with that front-end, and it just got more faux luxury in later years. But then, the '69-70 make me see a bit of Ford influence.
Somewhere. In a box. Hoping they'd have value to someone, someday.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
2009 BMW 335i, 2003 Corvette cnv. (RIP 2001 Jaguar XK8 cnv and 1985 MB 380SE [the best of the lot])
On the obscure car subject, the somewhat of a car hoarder Andre relative across the street had his 60 Ford 2 door post (Fairlane I assume) out today.
2009 BMW 335i, 2003 Corvette cnv. (RIP 2001 Jaguar XK8 cnv and 1985 MB 380SE [the best of the lot])
Their turnout of show cars was about the same number, IMHO, as we had at our 2012 Studebaker Drivers' Club international meet, although my buddy didn't think theirs was as big as ours. Lots of AMX's, Javelins, four SC/Ramblers, a smattering of Americans of various iterations, and Concords and Spirits even. I thought it was odd that the oldest car there was a '59 American wagon...nothing earlier, and I mean nothing.
There were probably ten Marlins there of all three years...I'd never seen so many in one place, that is for sure. The '67 Marlin, rarest, is really an Ambassador fastback. That dinky decklid always killed me though.
The Crawford Museum had their AMX prototype on display there, which was cool.
I was very glad I went. I met a nice old-timer who displayed his maroon with black vinyl top, beige vinyl interior '72 Ambassador Brougham 4-door with over 200K miles and it looked like a three-year old car, unrestored! He was very proud of it and had driven about three hours one-way to the show. He had bought it new and had the window sticker on display--$4,700 which was a tad more than I'd expected. My memory about Ambassadors of that era having standard A/C was confirmed by the window sticker.
There was a plain-jane white '70 Hornet two-door sedan, no radio, auto trans, with 8,998 miles. I loved it for its simplicity and originality, although my buddy thought it was a snore.
Spotted today - unrestored uncut 70s Bronco, 86-89 Celica convertible, clean 90-93 Integra in the bright medium blue color I remember from the day.
Personally, I wasn't a fan of the '83-86 Tbirds when they were new, but liked the '87-88 refresh. I think the '89 was actually slightly shorter overall than the '83-88, but on a longer wheelbase, and and the style was a bit better balanced, proportionally, I thought. It was bigger inside, as well. Those '83-88 models are actually more compact than midsized.
Looking back at them through the rose-tinted glasses, and at car shows, I can appreciate the '83-88 models more now, then when they were new. One year I remember seeing a well-preserved '83 or so T-bird next to a similar-vintage Cutlass Supreme at a classic car show...Hershey, I think it was. It really made me appreciate how the T-bird has stood the test of time. While I'd prefer the Cutlass, it still looked like an 80's car, and nothing could ever change that. About the only things that betrayed the T-bird for not being a current car were the headlights (nowadays they'd be complex, expensive-to-replace flush units, but made to look like quads), the fact that it's a coupe, the small 14" wheels, and the non-flush side windows.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
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When I was a teenager, my buddy and I used to cruise the local new-car dealer lots, including looking at 'make an offer' used cars they'd all have 'out back'. One salesman approached us and said, "You wanna see the new car?". This was at our local Chrysler/Plymouth/AMC dealer. I knew he meant the new AMC car, as I'd read about them. They hadn't been officially introduced yet. Tucked away in a corner of the shop was a school-bus yellow Pacer with dog-dish hubcaps. I didn't (couldn't!) say anything for a good 30 seconds after seeing it. He must've read that on my face as he said, "Don't say it!". I think he wanted to see what teenagers thought of it. I remember saying that it looked like a bug squatting...well, you get the rest.
I will say in hindsight, the roominess, visibility, and, ahem, 'originality' of the design were mostly positive.
I saw a few at the AMC Nationals last weekend. One was an upper model with a Navajo-inspired maroon and white seat trim. I did in fact like that interior!
Here is my dream one:
http://www.corvsport.com/Corvette/C1/1962/Images/1962_Corvette_Top.jpg
OK, not colorful like earlier ones--and I wouldn't mind owning an earlier one--but I like the cleaned-up looks and color, so early '60's.
I keep looking for Tod and Buzz in that pic!
I know I tend to gravitate toward the big'uns, but I tried to get a little variety in there.
Shortly after that, a somewhat worn looking white with black top TR6 followed immediately by a white MGB convertible.
Some cool stuff there. Looks like a good event.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
This year, they changed the classes around a bit, which I felt kind of odd. But, when you consider that for every year that passes, that's another year of cars eligible to enter, they had to do something eventually. This year it was broken into Pre-WWII, 1946-60, 1961-75, 1976-90, trucks/commercial vehicles, and motorcycles.
I forget what the breakout was in earlier years. I missed last year, but attended in 2013 with my '76 LeMans. I want to say that year, and in earlier years, they grouped everything from around 1955 on up together. So, you could see Jon Voight's LeBaron with a 1955 Chrysler C-300 on one side and a frog-eyed Madator Barcelona coupe on the other, and a '79 Olds Ninety-Eight Diesel sedan behind it.
2009 BMW 335i, 2003 Corvette cnv. (RIP 2001 Jaguar XK8 cnv and 1985 MB 380SE [the best of the lot])
Digressing a bit - during that same school era, around the block was a divorcee with a hot daughter a couple of years older than me. They didn't drive a Rambler, but instead had a black 59 Impala convertible with a red interior. Wait, now I'm beginning to understand my gravitation to the not always popular 59 Chevy's!
Actually berri, I wouldn't turn that car down if I was looking for a car, especially if it was a V-8. However, I like the Ramblers better for some reason.
2009 BMW 335i, 2003 Corvette cnv. (RIP 2001 Jaguar XK8 cnv and 1985 MB 380SE [the best of the lot])