I Have A Dream, Car Spotters!

[ocnblu]

Let's start off the new year right, C&Gers. Equality for all car spots, right here in this thread. Be Free... post away!

[ocnblu]

On the road: dark blue Cruze LT.

At the mall parking lot: silver Cruze LS.

At the dealer: new Exploder, silver FWD base model... with hubcaps. $29k+. It does have an SUV attitude. Not sure about the front end or the freakin' hubcaps on a $29k vehicle. Silver painted styled steel wheels with center caps would have been more convincing.

EDIT: Honda Pilot base model has silver painted steel wheels with center caps. Chevrolet Traverse base model has hubcaps (true still in 2011?). Equinox and Terrain have aluminum rims standard... go figure.

Edited January 2, 2011 by ocnblu

[Drew Dowdell]

A surprisingly well preserved '89 Lebaron Coupe

[Robert Hall]

A clean white 3rd gen Camaro convertible.

[caddycruiser]

Saturn Vue with...a few extra emblems. At Walmart, of course.

V6 wasn't enough, they really wanted to sell up that 3.6L in there.

[GMTruckGuy74]

2011 Buick Regal Turbo at my Buick-GMC dealership last Thursday:

2011 GMC Sierra 2500 HD Denali in white:

By the way, since the "Pontiac" signs were removed, they have a new dealership roadside sign and the signage on the front of the building changed:

[GMTruckGuy74]

Oh, and since the Escalade ESV Platinum made an appearance here already, I just happened to park next to one at work today that is gorgeous (even covered in snow):

[Camino LS6]

A sweet G8 GT in Pacific Slate - out for a drive in the snow.

It was wearing Maryland plates, so it could have been a long drive in the snow.

Edited January 8, 2011 by Camino LS6

[William Maley]

Three Fiat 500s traveling all together.. one black, one white, and one grey

[Z-06]

Look what showed up in my corp.'s parking lot.

[Camino LS6]

Sweet!

[MikeyMo84]

1965 M-B 220S...awesome looking old school benz!!

[Robert Hall]

Saw a really clean '65 Mercury Park Lane 2dr ht this morning. White w/ black roof, dark blue interior.

[GMTruckGuy74]

I'm going to cheat here a little bit... the first time I saw this truck was in the summer (2010) and wasn't able to get close to it for two reasons: (1) the critter living under the white step van didn't like me nearby, and (2) the wasps/bees that called the truck home took offense to me getting too close. However, I wanted to wait until the fall when the bush/small tree growing out of the back was dead for the season to get a clearer shot. That never happened and the first snow fall of winter gave me a better idea - get a shot of it surrounded by snow. Anyway, here's a totally unsalvagable 1954 GMC 150 pickup truck:

Two questions:

1. Balthazar: How restorable is that steering wheel? A long time back I asked if anyone that cruises junkyards could find me this steering wheel (used on '54-'56 GMC & Chvey pickups). Well now I found one, but Balthazar's input is requested (I can send you the picture directly if that would be better for a close up inspection).

2. If Balthazar says that it won't cost me an arm & leg to restore the steering wheel, how should I go about asking the owner if he/she would care to part with the steering wheel? This truck is parked in the back of an old auto repair shop, and there's other older vehicles parked there too (ranging from the '50s to the '90s, but not a huge amount). This truck looks like it won't ever move from this spot until it's carted away for scrap, and it looks too far gone to be restored. Of course this shop doesn't look like a nice place to visit, even though it is not in a "bad" area. But I don't want to pass up on an opportunity to get this wheel.

Edited January 15, 2011 by GMTruckGuy74

[FUTURE_OF_GM]

I don't really think that truck is too far gone to be restored... Still looks pretty solid and trucks are easier than cars sometimes because they're simpler.

Maybe I'm just being optimistic. (Imagaine that; FUTURE_OF_GM being optimistic)

Edited January 15, 2011 by FUTURE_OF_GM

[Robert Hall]

I don't really think that truck is too far gone to be restored... Still looks pretty solid and trucks are easier than cars sometimes because they're simpler.

Maybe I'm just being optimistic. (Imagaine that; FUTURE_OF_GM being optimistic)

It would probably cost as much as a new truck to restore it...be a money pit.

[ocnblu]

White, late model Chevette 3-door daily driver. Young couple driving. Covered with salt, bumper fillers disintegrated, otherwise, not bad.

Isuzu Oasis... whoa. Don't remember the last time one of those crossed in front of me.

[SAmadei]

It would probably cost as much as a new truck to restore it...be a money pit.

Well, restoration costs money. Its not like it needs a concours restoration. You have a link to someone making brand new '54 trucks? (Dynacorn don't count).

I also would say its not too far gone for a Hot Rod restification. But its not getting any better sinking in the field.

[GMTruckGuy74]

I don't really think that truck is too far gone to be restored... Still looks pretty solid and trucks are easier than cars sometimes because they're simpler.

Maybe I'm just being optimistic. (Imagaine that; FUTURE_OF_GM being optimistic)

It would probably cost as much as a new truck to restore it...be a money pit.

Well, restoration costs money. Its not like it needs a concours restoration. You have a link to someone making brand new '54 trucks? (Dynacorn don't count).

I also would say its not too far gone for a Hot Rod restification. But its not getting any better sinking in the field.

Thanks for the input guys. The '54 is my favorite of that generation, both in GMC and Chevy, and would have to be the year if I was going with that kind of pickup. But I really want a '55-'56 GMC, and would even be happy with a '57, more. I really just want that steering wheel before the truck disappears (since there aren't many junkyards around to find those things at in NJ).

I'm surprise Balthazar hasn't responded yet

[GMTruckGuy74]

Saw this beauty (Camino will agree!) when we were in the Lancaster area Saturday (the picture was taken at the Goods Store on Route 23):

Needless to say I was very happy to see a mid-to-late '80s GMC Caballero out in the wild (it was in excellent shape, btw). Funny thing is the door artwork states North Carolina (N.C.) yet the plates are Delaware?

[MikeyMo84]

Saw this beauty (Camino will agree!) when we were in the Lancaster area Saturday (the picture was taken at the Goods Store on Route 23):

Needless to say I was very happy to see a mid-to-late '80s GMC Caballero out in the wild (it was in excellent shape, btw). Funny thing is the door artwork states North Carolina (N.C.) yet the plates are Delaware?

plates are maryland

[GMTruckGuy74]

D'oH!! And I looked at the picture right after posting it and saw Maryland. I have Delaware on the mind today!!

[Robert Hall]

Saw a sharp bright red '78-87 El Camino (could only see the rear 2/3s), had what looked like 19-inch ARE TTs.

Saw a sharp white (no vinyl top) '76-77 Monte Carlo w/ large (19-20 inch) chrome wire wheels on white wall tires. Not sure what this style is called, wheels are too big to be a traditional lowrider.

Saw a primered '72 Monte Carlo w/ the same style wheels and tires as the '76-77.

[Drew Dowdell]

Another one for Camino - someone decided it was prudent to make a Ford Festivaro... or Ranchiva...

And someone put angel eyes on a new Ram, only somehow got the wiring wrong so that instead of flashing the turn signal now, it flashes the angel eye on that side.

[MikeyMo84]

Saw a sharp white (no vinyl top) '76-77 Monte Carlo w/ large (19-20 inch) chrome wire wheels on white wall tires. Not sure what this style is called, wheels are too big to be a traditional lowrider.

Saw a primered '72 Monte Carlo w/ the same style wheels and tires as the '76-77.

a Donk???

[Robert Hall]

a Donk???

Nope..donks are lifted with 22s or 24s or larger and have 4x4-like ground clearance...these cars had normal ride height and the wheels were only 19 or 20 inch. Looked quite tasteful IMO on the '76-77 MC..

[NOS2006]

So far this month (on the street) I've seen a Camaro convertible (tan on white), 200C convertible (tan on white), many Cruzes, and a few Volts (5-. I also saw a 3rd Gen Vette driving around (on slushy roads) on what looked to be its factory wheels.

[ZL-1]

I saw a Holden Monaro in Castro Verde last night!!! British plates

[ZL-1]

I saw a Holden Monaro in Castro Verde last night!!! British plates

Saw it again last night: Street lighting is poor on that street but it looked like a black car. It's a CV8 Monaro. Will try to take pictures tonight

[caddycruiser]

Mazda Millenia's...everywhere. Went for the longest time without a single one, now everywhere. And all in beige...

[Robert Hall]

Saw something rare today--a '79-81 Chrysler Newport, in beige w/ a tan interior...looked fairly solid, bombing down the freeway w/ black steel wheels and no hubcaps. Maybe only the 2nd R-body I've seen in many years or even decades.

[Camino LS6]

I'm going to have to agree with FOG on that pickup - looks restorable to me.

And that Caballero looks pretty clean - nice spot there.

[jwbouch]

So, I think this is the spot where I would mention what I saw today. I saw a 2008 or newer CTS4 (I believe the 4 stands for AWD?). However, this CTS4 had the mesh grill of the V series, the V emblem on the trunk and passenger's side door (that's the only side I saw), yet I know for a FACT that it was not a V! I guess the owner figured not too many people would realize it wasn't a V? I know it wasn't a V because it did not have the hood with that dome on it. I couldn't figure out why he/she may have put the V logos all over it.

[Camino LS6]

Just saw a very nice '68 Chevelle SS396 out for a cruise around the salty icebox that is southeastern PA.

Couldn't believe the owner would have it out today.

[caddycruiser]

1) Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback...never see these, in sedan form even, so struck me as interesting. Weird back profile from the side.

2) Black Chevy Volt. The local GM dealer in Lewes put one "come see it" in their ad, so I did. Parked outside, front plate bracket installed (not a DE car), window sticker, etc. with "for display only" written with Sharpie on the window sticker. I think they bought it from another dealer, for $$$, to be the one to have a showpiece. Nice move. Rainy, so I didn't check up close...but I really loved the look, especially in black.

3) New black Chevy Cruze 2LT with the upgraded wheels, foglights and blacked out windows, in the rain. These still look frumpy dump in light colors and GM photos, but this was an example of the really great and mature presence on the road. Sophisticated, crisp and sporty.

Edited January 28, 2011 by caddycruiser

[caddycruiser]

The new 2011 Nissan Quest has arrived, still in plastic. Truck delivered & the Nissan guys ran with keys to put it on display...looked huge driving past me. Very distinctive in person...and large.

Edited January 30, 2011 by caddycruiser

[ocnblu]

New style, white pearl Prius, in a snow drift, in an abandoned (for the season) produce stand parking lot. With the whole right front corner slammed off the car in a collision. I hope no one was hurt, but I admit I smiled a little.

[Lamar]

A REALLY old Ford convertible, fully restored and clean as a whistle. I couldn't tell you what model it was, but it was almost certainly built in the '30s.

On the modern end:

Couple of new Cruzes. They were coming opposite me, so I couldn't tell which model they were.

Couple of new Jettas.

Couple of Fiestas, though both sedans.

And a Nissan Juke that keeps on driving around campus.

New style, white pearl Prius, in a snow drift, in an abandoned (for the season) produce stand parking lot. With the whole right front corner slammed off the car in a collision. I hope no one was hurt, but I admit I smiled a little.

Happens to me too.

Edited January 30, 2011 by Lamar

[Robert Hall]

6 new CTS-vs in a row in front of the local Cadillac store. 3 coupes, 2 sedans, a wagon. Sweet.

[ocnblu]

New-style SAAB 9-5. Even though it was in pearl white (bleh), it has plenty of presence and an authoritative stance. Cold, brah.