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

ab348 · September 19

That generation of Malibu was (I think) the first generation of GM vehicles to use the Epsilon platform, which seemed well-designed. Handled well, quiet, some versions were challenged on interior room though. The concurrent Impala was on the old W-body platform which didn’t drive as nicely IMO, probably in part due to the wheezy pushrod V-6 they used.

Regarding that Altima, I had just the opposite reaction to yours. I remember visiting the Nissan dealership nearby one Sunday when they were closed to see them on their lot. I remember walking up to the first one I saw and being favorably impressed by the overall size and the interior. Then I got to the back and saw those taillights. My opinion turned around instantly. They were Nissan’s take on “Altezza” taillights, which for a few years back then were the favorite aftermarket add-on for the tuner culture, predating the new Altima model. I remember thinking that all it needed was a fart-can muffler. Hated the Altima once I saw those lights under clear plastic.

fintail · September 19

If one likes those Malibus, come to Spokane, still plenty around. I agree that wheelcover design is not the best. I recall the early Euro wheelcover too, almost like they used the disc Taurus L wheelcover as inspiration, odd choice as later Lumina Euros had nice enough looking wheels.

I think the 3rd gen Altima looks good from most angles and has aged well, but I think the rear light design is almost a retro dated thing now - very hip when new but now of a certain point in time. IIRC Nissan went to CVTs a few years after than one launched, which has not helped survival rates as much of the driver base doesn't seem to be maintenance addicts. Speaking of Altimas, the first one had an upmarket appearance (in my eyes) when launched, funny to think it was effectively 33 years ago.

andre1969 · September 19

In the long run I'm glad I didn't do it, but when the '02 Altima came out, I really liked it alot. Enough that I briefly entertained the idea of trading my '00 Intrepid. I even liked the taillights...they made me think of a modernized version of a late 50's Dodge, with the two round lights on top of each other.

But, the poor resale value of the Dodge Intrepid actually saved me, in this case. I can still remember some of the details. It was March of '02, so I'd only had the Intrepid around 2 years and 4 months. But I had about 56,000 miles on it. I owed $11,300 on it, and they offered me $6500 in trade, and offered to roll the negative equity into the new loan. I forget now what the total, out-the-door price was, but I do remember I was looking at a $480 or so car payment! And this was just a fairly basic, 4-cyl Altima, priced in the lower $20K range. The Intrepid, meanwhile, was $347.66/mo. There was no way I could have justified that.

The Altima was more comfortable than the Intrepid, to me. The seat went further back, so I could stretch out better. The back seat was a bit tighter, but still big enough. It was a little bit quicker than the Intrepid, but I remember not liking the way that 4-cyl (a 2.5) sounded, at all. I remember back then people saying that the Japanese 4-cyls made the domestics sound like outdated lawn equipment, but somehow Nissan missed that memo.

As for that '04-07 Malibu, I don't care for the styling, but I do remember they seemed pretty comfortable inside, and seemed pretty well built, at least when it came to fit and finish. The Malibu was boxy, upright, and efficient, but the Pontiac G5, which was on a longer wheelbase, was more low-slung and lanky, and seemed a lot more cramped. My favorite version of that platform was actually the Saab...9-3, or whatever it was? I thought that was a good looking car, and thought it was amazing that it was the same basic platform!

stickguy · September 19

on the way home this afternoon, in traffic, someone driving around in a 1960ish Olds midsized (Cutlass or some such) convertible. Nice weather so top down. Looks very sharp.

roadburner · September 19

I saw a 1970 Chevelle SS 454 on a trailer. It may have been a clone; the stripes didn't look right to me.

stickguy · September 19

the problem is, once those old cars get restored, a real one and a clone have the same chance of having incorrect details (stripes, badges).

and philosophically, at that point (if the entire car is redone), does it really matter that it started life as something specific instead of ending up that way?

uplanderguy · September 19

People often want restored as per build sheets.

I know I did.

uplanderguy · September 20

One last memory of that-gen Malibu of the mid'00's:

At the time, I thought the 'Maxx' version seemed practical, and I thought the adjustable rear seats seemed a good idea.

First time I saw a Venza, I was immediately reminded of a Malibu Maxx.

fintail · September 20

Make the Maxx AWD and it would have been ahead of its time for sure. I always thought those were cool in their own way, I would have picked one over a trunkback for sure.

stickguy · September 20

on the highway, a 1st gen Thunderbird. Red of course. Top (convertible) up.

and even weirder, driving on a local road, what looked like a freshly restored semi-tractor (just the cab). But from way back (30's or possibly the 40's). very cool.

fintail · September 20

On the road today saw a 70-72 Monte Carlo nice and pretty stock, a similar 67-68 Mustang notchback, and the unusual sighting, a pink ~70 Challenger convertible, obviously restored and top down, probably pretty valuable, tried to catch up to it in traffic but went the other direction.

xwesx · September 20

andre1969 said:
I don't know why this caught my attention enough to take a pic of it, but this morning at Aldi, I spotted this '04-07 Malibu.

As far as older daily drivers go, I swear that generation of Malibu is the Ohio State Car! I see them EVERYWHERE... though definitely worse for wear in most cases.

thebean · September 21

I really like those 1st gen Monte Carlos. I remember when they came out (I was in high school); the proportions seemed odd at the time, but I came to like them. My first new car was a ‘76 MC and I thought I was hot stuff at the disco bars. 🙄

roadburner · September 21

I bought my 1974 Monte Carlo because it was one of GM's first serious efforts to build a car with a bit of European driving dynamics.

uplanderguy · September 21

I remember our hometown dealer having their first '70 Monte Carlo outside on a Sunday morning when my Dad and I were looking at it. It was light blue metallic with a black vinyl top and had the wheel covers with a stripe of body color on them. It had a smallish sheet covering the grille and headlights, and another one covering the rear end panel and taillights. While we were looking at it, someone came out of the service department, climbed in, and drove it inside.

stickguy · September 21

of all the unexpected unicorns to pass driving around today (under it's own power and not even appearing rusty). A Mitsubishi Starion. Probably been decades since I last saw one of those in person.

uplanderguy · September 22

I bought my 1974 Monte Carlo because it was one of GM's first serious efforts to build a car with a bit of European driving dynamics.

Yep, starting with the '73. And it was all standard equipment through the '80 model year, even on otherwise sparsely-equipped cars.

uplanderguy · September 22

Just thinking about my previous comments about liking the styling of that era Maxima, and the 2002 Altima. I also thought the 510 looked substantial.

But WTH happened with the B-210, HoneyBee, and 240SX?

EDIT: I wrote 240SX, but I don't think that's the model.

There was an awkward-looking coupe model that was the classic "designed by committee" look. But I can't remember the model nor find a pic online.

I know, most people are saying the Z was good-looking, but I rank it with similar-year Corvettes for 'meh'. Especially the stretched Z.

I've Google-imaged "1970's Datsuns" and "1980's Datsuns" and I can't find an image of the coupe I remember. It had squared wheel openings and a big brow or crease at the top of the front wheel openings, running down the side of the car.

Also, there was a squat little coupe (hatch) that I can't find any pics online of.

stickguy · September 22

There were some goofy looking coupes in the 70’s like the 610. https://share.google/images/HmHYUcgw2RWC4DHrj

The little hatch was the F10. https://cdn-fastly.thetruthaboutcars.com/media/2022/07/20/9481643/curbside-classic-the-ugliest-car-ever-1977-datsun-f-10.jpg?size=414x575&nocrop=1

tjc78 · September 22

stickguy said:
of all the unexpected unicorns to pass driving around today (under it's own power and not even appearing rusty). A Mitsubishi Starion. Probably been decades since I last saw one of those in person.

There is a Tiktok guy that specializing in buying/restoring Starion/Conquest. They were really cool cars when new. They had one in Cannonball Run.

kyfdx · September 22

The Datsun F-10 was pretty weird. That was their first FWD car. Followed that up with the 310 in the late '70s that was better.

ab348 · September 22

uplanderguy said:

There was an awkward-looking coupe model that was the classic "designed by committee" look. But I can't remember the model nor find a pic online.

I know, most people are saying the Z was good-looking, but I rank it with similar-year Corvettes for 'meh'. Especially the stretched Z.

I've Google-imaged "1970's Datsuns" and "1980's Datsuns" and I can't find an image of the coupe I remember. It had squared wheel openings and a big brow or crease at the top of the front wheel openings, running down the side of the car.

Also, there was a squat little coupe (hatch) that I can't find any pics online of.

You are thinking of the 200SX:
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog/cc-capsule/cc-capsule-1977-datsun-200sx-back-to-work-at-40/

mrwhipple311 · September 22

uplanderguy said:
Just thinking about my previous comments about liking the styling of that era Maxima, and the 2002 Altima. I also thought the 510 looked substantial.

But WTH happened with the B-210, HoneyBee, and 240SX?

EDIT: I wrote 240SX, but I don't think that's the model.

There was an awkward-looking coupe model that was the classic "designed by committee" look. But I can't remember the model nor find a pic online.

I know, most people are saying the Z was good-looking, but I rank it with similar-year Corvettes for 'meh'. Especially the stretched Z.

I've Google-imaged "1970's Datsuns" and "1980's Datsuns" and I can't find an image of the coupe I remember. It had squared wheel openings and a big brow or crease at the top of the front wheel openings, running down the side of the car.

Also, there was a squat little coupe (hatch) that I can't find any pics online of.

I think you are thinking of the Datsun 310GX. Ugly in the way only a cockroach could love

andre1969 · September 22

Those early 200SXes look to me like they were designed by the same people who came up with some of the spaceship models for "Battlestar Galactica" and "Buck Rogers." I used to hate them because they were so goofy looking. But nowadays, I kinda like them, because they're so goofy looking!

I can't remember the last time I saw an F-10. Although they're a rare enough occurrence, I can still remember one I used to see regularly in one of the parking lots at the University of MD, back when I was in college. Goofy little car, and the taillights also make me think of some 70's sci-fi influence. But one thing that did impress me, is that they actually had roll down windows in back.

I have a feeling that it really doesn't cost that much to make a back window roll down, vs making it stationary or flip out. And in some cases, a flip out vent might actually give better ventilation than a roll down window. But, I guess I still appreciate a roll-down window. To me it seems like they at least went through the extra effort.

On the subject of old 70's Datsuns, their naming conventions confused me. I can follow some of it, such as the F-10 being their entry level FWD car, the B210 being the entry level RWD. They were both more or less replaced by the Sentra. And I think the 310 was their second FWD car, a bit bigger than the B210? And what ultimately gave us the Pulsar?

And I know the 510, which was known as the "Poor Mans BMW" in the early 70s, and evidently got watered down in the late 70's, before being replaced by the Stanza. And the 810 became the Maxima. But where did the 610 and 710 fit in? Apparently, there was a 910 for a bit, as well.

But, instead of the bigger numbers denoting larger, more upscale cars, in some cases were they meant to be replacements? I tried reading up on the 610, and near as I can tell, it was sort of a replacement for the 510, but not as well received, and then the 710 was a replacement for the 610, but with some cheaper suspension components and other bits.

Apparently there was a 410 as well, but it looks like it was an older, 60's model that the US never got a version of.

Michaell · September 22

uplanderguy said:
Just thinking about my previous comments about liking the styling of that era Maxima, and the 2002 Altima. I also thought the 510 looked substantial.

But WTH happened with the B-210, HoneyBee, and 240SX?

EDIT: I wrote 240SX, but I don't think that's the model.

There was an awkward-looking coupe model that was the classic "designed by committee" look. But I can't remember the model nor find a pic online.

I know, most people are saying the Z was good-looking, but I rank it with similar-year Corvettes for 'meh'. Especially the stretched Z.

I've Google-imaged "1970's Datsuns" and "1980's Datsuns" and I can't find an image of the coupe I remember. It had squared wheel openings and a big brow or crease at the top of the front wheel openings, running down the side of the car.

Also, there was a squat little coupe (hatch) that I can't find any pics online of.

You mean the late 70's 200SX?

texases · September 22

As mentioned above, the F10 was also style-challenged:

ab348 · September 22

Those '70s F10s and B210s generated one of the car magazines coining the "atomic cockroach" term for Datsun's styling themes.

kyfdx · September 22

The B-210 wasn't terrible looking. Just incredibly weak engine. No need to let off the gas while shifting. Even in neutral, you couldn't wind it up.

uplanderguy · September 22

Thanks all, those are the two I absolutely meant!

My uncle, who owned a '74 Matador sedan he bought new, bought a HoneyBee, which I know was a bargain-basement B-210. But to my teenage eyes then, it looked ridiculous.

The F-10 from the rear, looked especially egregious IMHO.

uplanderguy · September 22

Always thought early'70's Colts looked kinda nice; especially the two-door that looked like a hardtop (don't know if it actually was or not).

My mother's sister and her husband, from Queens, NY, traded their '63 Valiant in on a new '71 Cricket. That got traded on a new '72 Duster. The rear end of that Duster made noise from day one, and their dealer could "...not find anything wrong" so they lived with it. They always put those huge NYC bumper guards on their cars.

fintail · September 22

I actually kind of like the 610 hardtop and other period Japanese hardtops, and the B210 and 200SX while odd have a goofy charm to me. The F10 is a bit bizarre, but maybe courageous? I've always looked at those things in a positive-ish light, maybe as they didn't dissolve here (rather, their interiors and paint went).

I know I have mentioned it before, when I was a little kid I really liked the B210 fastback for its styling and the honeycomb hubcaps. I learned a co-worker/friend of my dad had one, and I got a ride in it. I recall being a bit underwhelmed even at that age.

On the disco car thought, the stacked light Montes especially fit that IMO. 77-79 Birds and Cougars are also big disco cars, and a rich disco car is a Mark V or MB SLC.

stickguy · September 22

the B210 hatch was perfectly fine looking. The origami models, not so much.

I remember looking at a 610 in my Sr. year of HS (so not that old at that point, 4/5 years at most, but in those days, cars got cheap faster!). Actually was owned by my English teacher and we took it for a ride one day at lunch (these are things that would not happen today). Red coupe with a 5 speed. No clue what he wanted for it but given my budget in those days, not much! Did not buy it. Not sure why, but one thing I do remember is that the emissions stuff did a number on it. Every shift I think it backfired? Some abnormal like that. The slant 6 manual duster I ended up getting seemed to run a lot better!

andre1969 · September 23

uplanderguy said:
Always thought early'70's Colts looked kinda nice; especially the two-door that looked like a hardtop (don't know if it actually was or not).

That had me curious to look, as it's been ages since I've seen one of those Colts. But yep, true fully functional hardtop, with roll-down rear windows!

I remember seeing a Colt at one of the Carlisle Mopar shows, years ago, that had a 440 under the hood!

uplanderguy · September 23

I think those Colts are ok (could do without the stripe), but I mean the Colt before this one.

uplanderguy · September 23

I also think early ‘70’s Corvettes and Datsun Z’s fit a disco stereotype in my mind.
Obnoxious yuppie “Michael” on the “Newhart” show talked about his “Turbo Z”. 😀

texases · September 23

Saw a very nice 'clown shoe' BMW M Coupe today, looked just like this, very clean:

kyfdx · September 23

I could drive one of those

andre1969 · September 23

uplanderguy said:
I think those Colts are ok (could do without the stripe), but I mean the Colt before this one.

Oh, yeah, I forgot about those...

Around these parts, I don't remember any of those earlier Colts having much of a presence, but then all of a sudden it was like BAM! and the little FWD models from 1979 onward were everywhere!

stickguy · September 23

Mid aged bug driving around. Maybe a 68 or so. Period luggage basket up top

fintail · September 23

On the road today, an Aerostar and 88-91 Mazda 626 5-door, uncommon when new and has to be rare now.

Those early Colt hardtops were sold as a Galant elsewhere IIRC. And yeah to me the late 70s Corvette with the bubble rear window has a disco vibe too, driver with lapels to his shoulders, unbuttoned top of shirt, gold chain, white belt and shoes, etc.

I wonder if the "Turbo Z" was the swoopy Datsun or wedgy Nissan.

roadburner · September 23

Probably the 280ZX; I remember one magazine calling it Datsun's Thunderbird.

stickguy · September 23

fintail said:
On the road today, an Aerostar and 88-91 Mazda 626 5-door, uncommon when new and has to be rare now.

Those early Colt hardtops were sold as a Galant elsewhere IIRC. And yeah to me the late 70s Corvette with the bubble rear window has a disco vibe too, driver with lapels to his shoulders, unbuttoned top of shirt, gold chain, white belt and shoes, etc.

I wonder if the "Turbo Z" was the swoopy Datsun or wedgy Nissan.

I had a 5 door 626 (I think it was a 90). loved that car. Sold it at 90k but should have kept it. Only did because I detested the rat belts (and of course, an addiction to getting new cars!) Drove great (with only 110 HP, I somehow survived!) and absolutely fantastic seats.

fintail · September 23

stickguy said:

fintail said:
On the road today, an Aerostar and 88-91 Mazda 626 5-door, uncommon when new and has to be rare now.

Those early Colt hardtops were sold as a Galant elsewhere IIRC. And yeah to me the late 70s Corvette with the bubble rear window has a disco vibe too, driver with lapels to his shoulders, unbuttoned top of shirt, gold chain, white belt and shoes, etc.

I wonder if the "Turbo Z" was the swoopy Datsun or wedgy Nissan.
I had a 5 door 626 (I think it was a 90). loved that car. Sold it at 90k but should have kept it. Only did because I detested the rat belts (and of course, an addiction to getting new cars!) Drove great (with only 110 HP, I somehow survived!) and absolutely fantastic seats.

Good looking car in a generic modern late 80s way. Come to think of it I think that design made it into the 92 model year but I don't know what years the 5 door was offered - a 5 door was not too common on the new car market even then.

fintail · September 23

roadburner said:
Probably the 280ZX; I remember one magazine calling it Datsun's Thunderbird.

Those will always be the stereo salesman's car from Fast Times at Ridgemont High for me.

I recall when I was in grade school I knew a girl who's family had the 2+2 version, even then I knew it was more fancy than sport. Come to think of it, I remember they also had a boattail Riviera, which even as a big old used car then was different and maybe a little special.

fintail · September 25

Went to the local supermarket at lunch, in the span of 15 minutes saw a clean 86-87 Ciera, an 86 (I am pretty sure) Park Avenue, and a silver retro Bird.

tjc78 · September 25

86-87 Ciera

Was it tan?

stickguy · September 25

I saw some rare and unique the other day. Just can’t remember what it as.

This getting old business is tough.

fintail · September 25

tjc78 said:
86-87 Ciera

Was it tan?

White, but it had TruCoat!

explorerx4 · September 25

What did the driver look like? He was kind of funny looking.

tjc78 · September 25

You’re darn tootin’

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

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