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

uplanderguy · December 1

‘28 Plymouth? Squinting at the emblem on the front, I’m wondering if I’m seeing a little ‘Mayflower’?

uplanderguy · December 1

Think I answered my own question. It apparently is a ‘28 Plymouth per other photos online.

ab348 · December 1

I believe that is a 1928 Plymouth judging from the badge on the top of the radiator surround.

uplanderguy · December 2

July 6, 1963. As Seger says, “Wish I didn’t know now what I didn’t know then”.

benjaminh · December 2

Leonard Nimoy's car back in the 1960s was a Buick Riviera.

stickguy · December 2

Captain Kirk’s corvette next to him?

uplanderguy · December 2

I bet it is. Badging indicates a fuelie.

uplanderguy · December 2

On another note, apparently time to give my cheap laptop which is maybe eight years old, the heave-ho. I’ve been getting notices from sites that it’s time to update my browser which I’ve not been able to get to work. For a few days now, I can’t even sign into Edmunds on it. I just get this blank white spot.

Using my phone exclusively now to log in. Man, and they talked about planned obsolescence in the old days!

stickguy · December 2

8 years is an antique by laptop standards. A new one is pretty cheap now at least. And way better performing.

ab348 · December 2

The downside of getting a new one is also getting Windows 11, which I have now concluded that I hate.

texases · December 2

ab348 said:
The downside of getting a new one is also getting Windows 11, which I have now concluded that I hate.

Just curious - why? I haven't noticed that much difference from the last couple, 8 and 10.

ab348 · December 2

The old line “Everything is different but nothing is better” applies. The Start menu has disappeared in favor of what I call a second desktop that doesn’t show you everything installed (but will show a bunch of largely worthless “recommendations “) without extra clicks. Why they couldn’t just keep the same style of a vertical oriented list of installed programs is one of many mysteries. The same complaint applies with any pull-down file explorer list or even menu options within applications, which now have ridiculous amounts of white space between entries which means a lot more scrolling. They offer a compact view which is still far too spaced out and like double-spacing compared to W10. Then there is it trying to force OneDrive on you. I had a bad experience with it some years ago when it copied a bunch of files I didn’t tell it to do anything with over to its cloud storage, then deleted them from my machine and just gave me a link to where they went. It tried the same thing with my Win 11 activation but I caught it in time and cut it off at the knees. In theory it could be a useful tool but they way it works by default is to capture a whole lot more than it should, so it quickly runs out of free storage and pesters you to buy more. It is a dangerous piece of software if you aren’t on top of it. Overall, I have zero confidence that I understand how to get it to do anything because some of it has been taken over by the OS and you don’t know what it’s doing. In some cases that isn’t a bad thing because stuff that was always a headache now just works, but good luck to you if it doesn’t work. And finding the things that you knew in earlier Windows versions is tough because those things have either gone away entirely or are now hidden elsewhere.

The only good thing I can say about it was that the initial activation of the new laptop worked far better than ever before. It found my network and all my peripherals quite easily. But to me the whole thing feels like a house of cards that could all come tumbling down because I’m just not confident I know what it’s up to or how to make it do what I want without a whole lot of third-party add-ons I really don’t want.

texases · December 2

Oh, yeah, I hate the 'change for change's sake' approach. I changed some of it back by searching on 'how to make Windows 11 look like Widows 10'.

tjc78 · December 2

Here is an oddball… when has anyone seen one of these since 1995

https://www.facebook.com/share/1BeoXdpyf7/?mibextid=wwXIfr

texases · December 2

I forgot there was a Dodge version; created to help work off Chrysler's PRV engine obligation:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodge_Monaco#Fifth_generation_(1990–1992)

andre1969 · December 2

I test drove a used Monaco once, but that was before 1995. One of my cousins briefly had an Eagle Premier. He bought it to replace an M-body 5th Avenue that had been in a multiple car collision. I remember hearing the 5th Avenue was the only one in the pile that could still move under its own power, but was still totaled.

Unfortunately, he died (Type 1 diabetes) not long after buying it, like within a year I think. I can't remember if his wife kept it, or sold it. My memory's kind of fuzzy on it, but I'm picturing it as a really dark blue, with gold or beige lower body cladding and a tan leather interior.

Usually, if there's one show that I'll spot an obscure Mopar at, it's the Mopar show in Carlisle, PA. But I can't remember seeing a Premier/Monaco there. It's a big show though, so it's possible that I've just never come across that section.

xwesx · December 2

That's one model that I honestly don't recall seeing very often even when they were new! It is probably not too surprising that they are so rare these days.

texases · December 2

Imagine getting parts for either one...

fintail · December 2

I think I have read there's some kind of demand for those Monacos and Eagle/Renault Medallion variants in France, due to the lineage. By 1991 that thing was looking pretty dated.

thebean · December 3

What do you expect from a country that considers snails a delicacy? 🙄

thebean · December 3

Saw an older Alfa today and I wondered why the Alfa grille is considered a timeless classic, while the Edsel grille is considered an abomination. I understand the Alfa grille is smaller but there are certainly similarities to the “horse collar” Edsel.

ab348 · December 3

If you can get a look at the original designs drawn up for the Edsel they had a more subtle/tasteful vertical center divider/grill which didn’t look bad at all. Apparently Ernie Breech who was running Ford at the time got his fingers into the final design to no good effect.

kyfdx · December 3

Actually, escargot are great!

Michaell · December 3

@kyfdx said:
Actually, escargot are great!

Especially when it’s an AMG S-car

andre1969 · December 4

I think the central theming in the Alfa Romeos works because it's much more subtle. And in some cases, it's just some extra trim stuck in the center of the grille, much like how BMWs used to be with the old "Twin Kidney" look. At some point, BMW front ends evolved away from that, going for more of a "true" split grille, more like an Oldsmobile or Pontiac.

The Edsel is also really upright, bulky, and "flat-fronted", which make it look more clunky to me. Maybe if the headlight bezels had a bit more depth to them, the look might have worked better. Also, the outer grille flanks are extremely recessed, giving the car a bit of an "overbite" look. But then, from certain angles, that makes the front bumper really stick out, almost like a 5 mph crash bumper from the '70s.

I think the '59 Edsel's front is better looking, although less unique. It was probably considered more tasteful back when they were new, but with cars like this I think the ugliness is part of their charm and mystique, so looking at it through modern eyes, I'd prefer the '58.

I think the Packard Predictor show car, which also had a strong central theme, looks good up front. However, the center part is much more narrow, being just a big piece of chrome trim and not a grille inlet. The front is also slightly prow-shaped, giving it a sleeker look. And, I think the hidden headlights really clean up its look. It was also just a show car...I imagine if it made it to actual production, they would have mucked it up somehow!

uplanderguy · December 4

I’ve seen the Predictor a bunch of times as after the shuttering of Packard in Detroit, it ended up in South Bend and has been in the Studebaker National Museum for decades. It is gargantuan! Also, it runs.

I like the Ford-based ‘58 Edsels probably best of all, but after I first read the comparison of the grille to a female part, I’m unable to un-see that when I look at a ‘58.

fintail · December 4

I remember discussion about who had the split grille first, BMW or Pontiac. IIRC Pontiac had it going back to 1929 before stopping for a while, while BMW started in the early 30s but never abandoned it. Nowadays the kidney grille ideal has become more like buck teeth on some models.

When I was a kid in the 80s, I liked 50s cars and I liked Edsels - I once saw a fitting description - "the most beautiful ugly car". I think I might like them more now than then, especially 58s, and higher trim 58s. Not rushing out to buy one, but they have a style. 59-60s became a bit Ford-ish across the range, although with some cool models. Product placement in Pee Wee's Big Adventure and a short but memorable scene in Peggy Sue Got Married kept the brand alive a little.

There was a big 50s nostalgia movement in the 80s which I think influenced me, that and maybe my being bored by dull malaise cars (I did like modern aero cars, especially Euro cars) and influenced by the tastes of my silent generation dad. By the mid 80s, a lot 70s style and turn of the decade stuff seemed hopelessly dull to me.

ab348 · December 4

Here are a couple of early styling proposals for the ‘58 Edsel. The management dysfunction that set it at Ford between these ideas from ‘53 and ‘54 and the time of final sign-off a couple of years later led to the unattractive ’58 design.

explorerx4 · December 4

Too me, the upper pic looks like a sleepy Dodge.

andre1969 · December 5

The yellow/black concept on the bottom makes me think a bit of the Packard Predictor, with the more slender center section, the way the front end tapers at the sides, and the hidden headlights.

I also see a hint of Virgil Exner in the style. I think it's the way it's scooped out under the hood/upper fender area. It seems vaguely similar to a '61-63 Imperial. And the front wheel cutout reminds me a bit of a '60 Plymouth.

fintail · December 5

This is a fun one I found in a MB group:

https://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/details.html?id=442640820

Earlier series (registered August 1981) W126 showing how one could equip a car in the Euro market. Most powerful engine option, SWB, base cloth interior, base wheelcovers (that I always thought inspired the disc wheelcovers on early Taurus), AC and sunroof both of which were options. And the color combo, very malaise. This IMO was the most modern sedan available at that time (and could be optioned with ABS and airbag - this is not an airbag car and I suspect does not have ABS).

thebean · December 5

Here’s something you don’t see much any more. Mazda “ minivan without sliding door” MPV. Other than the caved in spot on drivers rear corner, it looked decently clean. Very early-mid 90’s vibe. I liked these when they came out, but I already had a Ford Ranger PU, so I had no use for a minivan.

stickguy · December 5

back around 1990 I went to the dealer to look at one. You could actually get a 5 speed manual in it. But got distracted by a B series PU and eventually ended up with a Nissan PU.

Very functional package in a modest footprint.

xwesx · December 5

Whoa! Rare sighting these days.

I wanted to by a generation-newer version of that. Sadly, when I went to look at it, it was clearly abused and near its bitter end. Looked like it had been used as a mobile shop or maybe automotive bay with oil spills, and just general nastiness all over it. No interior to speak of other than the driver seat. Photos were of the exterior, but interior photos were clearly misrepresentative.

Yikes; that was a hard pass. I ended up with the 1998 Grand Caravan instead.

fintail · December 5

I remember my dad liked the MPV at launch in 1989 (I think the pictured one is an updated mid 90s example). They were relatively expensive, which nixed the idea.

explorerx4 · December 5

Once you see the link, not much mystery but the comments are very entertaining.
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1962-centurion-mk13-tank/

gsemike · December 6

https://www.facebook.com/share/17kYXmkDWL/

Here's another interesting outer borough car. While city life is tough on a car usually, some of these cars get bought and never miled up so you'll see these unique preserved cars.

fintail · December 6

gsemike said:
https://www.facebook.com/share/17kYXmkDWL/

Here's another interesting outer borough car. While city life is tough on a car usually, some of these cars get bought and never miled up so you'll see these unique preserved cars.

It's like the Klopek's car:

ab348 · December 6

Looks like the seats were redone at some point, and unfortunately not well.

gsemike · December 6

@ab348 said:
Looks like the seats were redone at some point, and unfortunately not well.

You're right about that. Probably cost about a quarter of redoing it original

stickguy · December 7

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1986-dodge-omni-8/

Not idea what to make out this this but the look on my wife’s face if I brought this home would be priceless.

explorerx4 · December 7

A friend and I had fun following this auction. The comments were very entertaining.
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1962-centurion-mk13-tank/

tjc78 · December 8

explorerx4 said:
A friend and I had fun following this auction. The comments were very entertaining.
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1962-centurion-mk13-tank/

I need that for my commute.

Michaell · December 8

tjc78 said:

explorerx4 said:
A friend and I had fun following this auction. The comments were very entertaining.
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1962-centurion-mk13-tank/
I need that for my commute.

LIke the roads in Jersey aren't bad enough, already....

thebean · December 8

Saw a Saab-rolet 9-7X coming out of the high school parking lot on my way to work out. I didn’t realize these were the second most expensive GM SUV of the time, second only to the Escalade. I couldn’t see anything but the distant exterior, but the grille gave it away. Couldn’t be too many of these still running around.

tjc78 · December 8

thebean said:
Saw a Saab-rolet 9-7X coming out of the high school parking lot on my way to work out. I didn’t realize these were the second most expensive GM SUV of the time, second only to the Escalade. I couldn’t see anything but the distant exterior, but the grille gave it away. Couldn’t be too many of these still running around.

More expensive than a full boat Yukon Denali? Interesting.

thebean · December 8

According to the “always” reliable Wikipedia. 🙄 However, when I looked at MSRP for a ‘07 Denali, it was ~$7K more than the 9-7X. Good call, @tjc78. I stand corrected.

kyfdx · December 8

Amazingly, just saw another 9-7X, just two blocks from my house, a couple minutes ago

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

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