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

Mr_Shiftright · July 2017

Well speed is relative....well relatively relative. I'm sure in another ten years, when technology has further accelerated our lives, we'll be dialing customer service somewhere and get a message "You wait time is....3 seconds!"

To which we'll reply...."THREE seconds!?! C'mon!"

roadburner · July 2017

I think once the 0-60 drops under 3.5 seconds and/or the 1/4 mile ET is under 11.5 seconds you have about reached the pinnacle of usability on the street.

Mr_Shiftright · July 2017

I think in the "real world" 5.5 to 7.5 seconds is all anyone ever "needs". If one needs more power than that to beat some other slightly less powerful car to a lane merge, both of them need R&R from the public road and more track time.

Almost every day I see an exotic of one type or another doing the "accordion" dance---with bursts of speed and then extreme braking--again and again. It's a little sad, really.

fintail · July 2017

I was going to say, I think 0-60 under 6 is where you hit the wall of diminishing returns. Road quality, traffic, and driver (in)ability will even things out from there.

stickguy · July 2017

IMO anything under 6 is serious fast, and problem anywhere in the 6s laregely overkill. One reason I don't mind some base engines, even those are more than enough power.

On the mini, they rate the 1.5 at 7.7, and the 2.0 at 6.6. I can easily live with the slower model, and much cheaper buy in, and quite a bit higher MPG ratings.

The civic EXT vs Si (and likely new accord 1.5 vs 2.0) same thing. More like 6 or just under vs high 6 range. That difference alone is certainly not going to be a deal breaker for me at least.

Michaell · July 2017

stickguy said:
IMO anything under 6 is serious fast, and problem anywhere in the 6s laregely overkill. One reason I don't mind some base engines, even those are more than enough power.

On the mini, they rate the 1.5 at 7.7, and the 2.0 at 6.6. I can easily live with the slower model, and much cheaper buy in, and quite a bit higher MPG ratings.

The civic EXT vs Si (and likely new accord 1.5 vs 2.0) same thing. More like 6 or just under vs high 6 range. That difference alone is certainly not going to be a deal breaker for me at least.

+1 - I find the 150HP/184 torques of my 1.4T Jetta to be enough in around town traffic.

stickguy · July 2017

I was driving the Jetta today. It scoots pretty good.

Michaell · July 2017

stickguy said:
I was driving the Jetta today. It scoots pretty good.

The 1.8T Passat I had for a day moved pretty well, for a car its size.

I imagine the new Accord with the 192HP 1.5T will be about the same.

I'm kinda liking this new trend ...

roadburner · July 2017

I stand by my belief that anything under 5.0 seconds is fast and anything over 6.5 is slow.

tjc78 · July 2017

I think 6 is about the sweet spot IMO. My Genesis was rated at 5.9 always felt "right".

kyfdx · July 2017

A lot of that depends on how easy it is to do 6.0 sec. My car had plenty of magazine road tests that showed around 5.6, but in the real world, I'm not doing clutch dumps and burnouts, so I'm probably closer to 6.5.

But, our G37X automatic? Just floor that big pig, and smoke everything short of a Mustang GT.

bhill2 · July 2017

roadburner said:
I stand by my belief that anything under 5.0 seconds is fast and anything over 6.5 is slow.

Boy, that puts this in perspective for me, who was a car freak 40 years ago. Back then, 6.5 was the territory of hi-po Mustangs and Z28 Camaros. Few if any Corvettes could have come close to 5.0.

fintail · July 2017

That was the strategy with my old E55 AMG - just floor it, and let the car do the rest. Think you can keep up? Maybe to 60 or so

On the road this afternoon - silvery blue 64 Falcon convertible, I believe a V8.

roadburner · July 2017

bhill2 said:

Boy, that puts this in perspective for me, who was a car freak 40 years ago. Back then, 6.5 was the territory of hi-po Mustangs and Z28 Camaros. Few if any Corvettes could have come close to 5.0.

I was a gearhead fifty years ago; I have a magazine that contains a compilation of '60s and early '70s road tests from the old High Performance Cars magazine. Most of the hallowed musclecars(which I love, by the way) couldn't break into the 13s without slicks, loosening the drive belts, and pulling the air cleaner. And if they got over 12 mpg on the highway that was a bonus. Today most every V8 ponycar can break into the 12s right off the showroom floor and average 20 mpg without breaking a sweat. And as far as braking and handling goes, the new cars are infinitely more competent. My 2er runs the 1/4 in the high twelves and gets over 31 mpg cruising at 75+. So, while I did love the "hot" cars of the '60s, I much prefer to be able to drive and track the cars you can buy now.

omarman · July 2017

I was a gearhead fifty years ago; I have a magazine that contains a compilation of '60s and early '70s road tests...

imidazol97 · July 2017

kyfdx said:
Passed a Cadillac ELR on the freeway, today.

It's been a long time since I spotted one on the road.

Actually, I've only seen one ELR. It was in the drive thru at the local ChicFilA over a couple years back.

fintail · July 2017

In the small town today: mid 70s Eldo, bustleback Seville, 2x Lincoln MK VIII, late 70s Malibu 2 door, mint looking earlier 300TD, Geo Storm, ~75 LTD sedan, 911SC Targa, same Pontiac Astre that has been sitting outside for years.

explorerx4 · July 2017

Shoddy vinyl roof on this coupe.

https://hartford.craigslist.org/ctd/d/ford-mustang-door-coupe/6229423609.html

ab348 · July 2017

explorerx4 said:
Shoddy vinyl roof on this coupe.
https://hartford.craigslist.org/ctd/d/ford-mustang-door-coupe/6229423609.html

It's priceless. Too bad, I would have made them an offer on such a unique car.

fintail · July 2017

I found something kind of obscure today. I'm visiting my mom, and my brother cleaned out her garage, and had some junk set aside that he thought I would want to see. In the bags of old papers and souvenirs, alongside each other, I found an old photo and a car nameplate script. The pic shows my mom's T-Bird and my dad's Horizon (mystery car in driveway) - my parents weren't too sentimental about cars, and pics are hard to find. The nameplate is from the T-Bird. The car was off the road by 1985, and I think the piece fell off.

I think I took this pic about 35 years ago. When I was a quite little kid, I had a fascination with Polaroid instant cameras, and this pic was taken with one. The photo paper isn't aging well, and I will need to get a better copy of it before it really decays, but resolution on these was low even when new:

And the script:

ab348 · July 2017

That's a nice souvenir to have.

fintail · July 2017

I thought it was a fun discovery. I also went through piles of old photos - none of the 60 Ford or any of the other cars we had in the 90s. Those are what I want next, along with maybe a pic of the Tempo.

iluvmysephia1 · July 2017

I remember you talking about your Dad's Horizon before. Too funny. Cool find, fin.

berri · July 2017

Tempo coupe - looked like someone stepped on a tennis shoe

fintail · July 2017

Funny, I also saw a Tempo coupe today, an older one that was actually in nice shape. Also saw a very well used 79-81 Accord sedan, a ~74 Fleetwood in OK condition, Morris Minor with heavy patina, red cigar T-Bird that has been sitting outside for ages.

sda · July 2017

Fintail, neat find. I like your mom's triple white Thunderbird. It was every bit as nice as a Mark IV. The two tone option on the Horizon/Omni was popular and gave the car a bit of pizazz. Do you know what engine it had? Originally they were sourced from VW, then Puegeot. My '84 was the Chrysler 2.2 and powered it nicely.

berri · July 2017

Actually I give Jack Telnack's term running Ford design a lot of credit for innovating D3 car design with things like Tempo, Thunderbird and Taurus. I think it helped pull Ford out of a funk in the marketplace. I believe you have to view those designs back in the times they came out. In the same vein, Hal Sperlich was an innovative force for Chrysler back then.

tjc78 · July 2017

If you compare those designs to the prior generation, they were infinitely better. No doubt. Heck I think an 86 Taurus is still a sharp car.

Its similar to when Chrysler came put with the LH cars. Huge leap forward. Look at a 92 Dynasty compared to a 93 Intrepid. Wow

fintail · July 2017

I am not sure which engine was in it, I don't have any documents, and don't recall the year of the car. I am sure it was no newer than 81-82, which I think makes a difference.

I am trying to figure out the car in the driveway. It appears to have a chrome piece separating a vinyl top from the car, but that could be an illusion - however, that detail rules out any car in my memory. I think at the time my grandpa had a Chrysler, maybe he was visiting, or it is another random visitor, and I was sent outside to play, and brought a camera with me. Back in the old days, when kids were sent out without worry, and the house was well-sited for play, being on the edge of the development, with a large field across the street (hence the foliage in the pic) perfect for bike riding, and it overlooked the town.

sda said:
Fintail, neat find. I like your mom's triple white Thunderbird. It was every bit as nice as a Mark IV. The two tone option on the Horizon/Omni was popular and gave the car a bit of pizazz. Do you know what engine it had? Originally they were sourced from VW, then Puegeot. My '84 was the Chrysler 2.2 and powered it nicely.

iluvmysephia1 · July 2017

Back around when I was working for the City of Port Angeles as a Drafter Trainee I wanted a Plymouth Horizon. Would've been around mid-1984. I really wanted one. What do ya go with, a Chevy Citation or a Plymouth Horizon? Decisions - decisions.

explorerx4 · July 2017

A sliver T/A 6.6(79 or so?) for sale. 2nd(?) to last gen brick colored Celica convertible, also for sale.

ab348 · July 2017

I had a rental Horizon for a week back in '84, driving around the Midwest (Michigan, Illinois, Ohio). I remember it had the 2.2 and moved out pretty well for the times. I liked how it drove as I recall. While the seats were decent, I remember the rest of the interior as pretty cheap and the design inside being pretty uninspired. But not a bad car.

ab348 · July 2017

Went to the annual car show for the antique car club I used to belong to today. A few interesting things to see. One of the most intriguing was a nearly-new '84 Eldorado Biarritz convertible, white with red leather, with about 5000 miles. The owner was known to us, and is the widow of a local collector and character of somewhat questionable reputation who met his demise in an alleged mob hit. The bad guys then burned down his house with his body inside.

The lady had split with him a few years before and taken several of his cars with her, the Eldo being one. She told us it lives in a climate-controlled garage under a custom cover and she only gets it out a couple of times a year, once to the selling dealer for service and occasionally to an event like this. It truly looked like a new car. It still had the original GM-Spec tires, which would scare me a bit after 33 years. Not only were the leather, carpets, dash and other soft surfaces perfect, but they didn't have the look of being inundated with conditioners or other chemicals. They literally looked like how they would have originally when sitting in the showroom.

berri · July 2017

Nice pictures. Is that an old Volvo next to it?

ab348 · July 2017

Yes, a 1963 544.

explorerx4 · July 2017

ab348.
Good to see you are out and about.

fintail · July 2017

Assuming equal equipment, probably the Horizon (assuming you won't get an X11).. I think they had a better durability rep, even though I think the X-car wasn't too troublesome by that time. Maybe I just don't like the Citation name.

iluvmysephia1 said:
Back around when I was working for the City of Port Angeles as a Drafter Trainee I wanted a Plymouth Horizon. Would've been around mid-1984. I really wanted one. What do ya go with, a Chevy Citation or a Plymouth Horizon? Decisions - decisions.

ab348 · July 2017

My best friend, who moved 90 minutes away, was in town for the show with his '71 4-4-2 so I thought I should get out and join him. Interestingly, the day was hardest on my knees. It was all concrete underfoot and my knee that is due to be replaced really barked back hard, like never before. A little tired and left a bit early but was glad I went.

My buddy showed me some new pics of the progress on his palatial garage/shop project in the boonies. It is almost fully weather tight and the roof shingling should be finished this week. Already he is complaining that it may be too small.

He also updated me on their 330' new well - it is still unusable. Apparently the experts tell him that the water they found is in a vein of sandstone, so it comes out murky and pink. Once it settles there is a ring of sediment at the bottom of the container. They are now telling him he will need a water filtration system, just another few thousand dollars on top of the $17,000 the well already cost him. Jeebus.

fintail · July 2017

Interesting mob story behind the Eldo convertible - via my watching Royal Canadian Air Farce, I would have assumed a mob hit in the Maritimes would be tossing fish sticks and Timbits at an enemy

I saw an Eldo convertible in CA a few years ago, in not so nice condition:

Note the early FWD Eldo in the background. This was a movie filming location, the site being where Doc Brown's garage would have stood in 1985 in Back to the Future - the building at right is the Burger King (still there, in Burbank.

PF_Flyer · July 2017

Not really obscure or classic, just odd to my eye. Most stretches I see are black or white

tjc78 · July 2017

That's a pretty old limo. Haven't seen that style in ages.

PF_Flyer · July 2017

tjc78 said:
That's a pretty old limo. Haven't seen that style in ages.

An odd duck indeed

xwesx · July 2017

*removing in favor of Project Cars posting*

Mr_Shiftright · July 2017

ab348 said:

explorerx4 said:
Shoddy vinyl roof on this coupe.
https://hartford.craigslist.org/ctd/d/ford-mustang-door-coupe/6229423609.html
It's priceless. Too bad, I would have made them an offer on such a unique car.

Seeing this in an ad, all in CAPS, isn't a good sign: "GOOD/BAD/NO CREDIT NO PROBLEM!!"

"No credit? Do you have furniture in your home? Do you own your own pants? Are you legally dead? WE DON'T CARE! Everybody rides at Down the Road Motors! Call today!"

ab348 · July 2017

Mr_Shiftright said:

Seeing this in an ad, all in CAPS, isn't a good sign: "GOOD/BAD/NO CREDIT NO PROBLEM!!"

"No credit? Do you have furniture in your home? Do you own your own pants? Are you legally dead? WE DON'T CARE! Everybody rides at Down the Road Motors! Call today!"

Or in the immortal words of Art Fern, as played by Johnny Carson:

"Got no job? We don't care. Got a bad credit rating? We don't care. Got a prison record? We don't care. Don't expect to pay us? THAT'S when we care!"

berri · July 2017

Who paid attention when Carol Wayne was standing next to or against him

PF_Flyer · July 2017

Carol Wayne was standing next to someone??

fintail · July 2017

Saw a Fox Body Mustang LX 5.0 hatchback, teal, airbag, 5 spoke wheels, looked new.

stickguy · July 2017

Big Land Rover. LWB. Maybe a defender? Old school, right down to right hand steering.

explorerx4 · July 2017

My wife just got home from work and said she saw a Saab 9-5 with a 'BioPower' badge on it.
I guess it's a real thing(or was).

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

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