July Car Spotting Thread

[Robert Hall]

Saw a rat-rod style (faded blue paint w/ patina and rust, lowered, big red steel wheels) '62 Ford full size station wagon today...the lack of woodgrain told me it wasn't a Country Squire, probably a lower trim level like a Country Sedan or Ranch Wagon. 

Saw a gorgeous brown w/ tan interior C8 Corvette convertible...love that color..

Saw a clean gold w/ black top '70 Malibu 2dr.  

Saw a white '75-77 Camaro w/ black hood stripe, black rear spoiler in decent, restorable condition.

Saw a white late 70s Plymouth Volare Road Runner coupe in white w/ a black rear spoiler.. solid condition.

Saw a clean slightly modified white '87-93 Mustang GT for sale.

 

[G. David Felt]

Just got back from a run to Costco and was surprised to see at the Bank of America in rat rod fashion running a very cool Chevy and I found what I think was the year or general era. late 1930's Chevy like this one that I found online.

Some times I really wish my eyes could also be a camera to snap a picture and store it to share. Hopefully I will see it again and not be in crazy holiday traffic.

[Robert Hall]

Saw a bright yellow Ferrari F8 Tributo and bright yellow Corvette C8 about a mile apart today.  Saw a clean red ‘66 Mustang convertible in a parking lot, top down.  Saw a new white Shelby GT500 alone in an empty parking lot.  Saw a gorgeous red ‘70 Mustang Mach 1 at an intersection, healthy rumble as it drove away…

[G. David Felt]

Saw this GMC, not sure of the year,  but cool to see today.

[trinacriabob]

Seen yesterday ... I thought I was dreaming!

This made me miss my '84 Cutlass Supreme (Brougham) coupe all the more.  It may not have been as reliable as my more recent cars since it had the old school carbureted V6, but it was probably the most comfortable and possibly even the car I've liked the most.

They've called it "America's Sweetheart" and said it "sold like hotcakes" in articles about the Cutlass when it was a top seller.

It's either an '85 or '86, per the grille and CMSL.  I'd know an '84 and it wasn't an '87 with the updated front headlights.

They decked it out nicely on the outside with (non body color ... even better) rally wheels and the padded landau vinyl roof, but the interior had manual crank windows, a strip speedometer, and the basic cloth bench seat with an armrest.

It had the Olds 5.0 (307 c.i.) V8 and, in that span of years and in this type of car, it didn't get any better than that.  That's an heirloom engine.

Sightings like this seem to make a day a little better.

Edited July 9, 2022 by trinacriabob

[G. David Felt]

2 hours ago, trinacriabob said:

Seen yesterday ... I thought I was dreaming!

This made me miss my '84 Cutlass Supreme (Brougham) coupe all the more.  It may not have been as reliable as my more recent cars since it had the old school carbureted V6, but it was probably the most comfortable and possibly even the car I've liked the most.

They've called it "America's Sweetheart" and said it "sold like hotcakes" in articles about the Cutlass when it was a top seller.

It's either an '85 or '86, per the grille and CMSL.  I'd know an '84 and it wasn't an '87 with the updated front headlights.

They decked it out nicely on the outside with (non body color ... even better) rally wheels and the padded landau vinyl roof, but the interior had manual crank windows, a strip speedometer, and the basic cloth bench seat with an armrest.

It had the Olds 5.0 (307 c.i.) V8 and, in that span of years and in this type of car, it didn't get any better than that.  That's an heirloom engine.

Sightings like this seem to make a day a little better.

That is an awesome car. Hope a few survive to get electrified and keep running. Love the body style.

[trinacriabob]

5 hours ago, David said:

That is an awesome car. Hope a few survive to get electrified and keep running. Love the body style.

The body style is what made them sell.  I think that, once people had owned one or two, the craze faded and the market shifted.  And it also shifted away from overly American "Brougham" interiors.

I'd love to find one if I wanted to get a second car.  I would be happy to just pull off the early days CCC apparatus and see if a "one squirter" TBI unit could be fitted on top of the engine instead of a carburetor.  But early CCC was quirky.

[G. David Felt]

3 hours ago, trinacriabob said:

The body style is what made them sell.  I think that, once people had owned one or two, the craze faded and the market shifted.  And it also shifted away from overly American "Brougham" interiors.

I'd love to find one if I wanted to get a second car.  I would be happy to just pull off the early days CCC apparatus and see if a "one squirter" TBI unit could be fitted on top of the engine instead of a carburetor.  But early CCC was quirky.

Always a good candidate for a connect and cruise option. Modern Powertrain.

[trinacriabob]

Seen over Fourth of July weekend.

I don't know my FoMoCo products as well as GM ones, but I guessed right ... it was a 1962.  The owner, who ducked out of the way so I could take the photo, confirmed that.

Impressive condition.

[trinacriabob]

Saw some nice cars on July 8th ...

This Chrysler 300 looks great in black, though I don't like dark colors for cars.  It just plain works for the 300.

I was able to see the nicely detailed dashboard (I've rented a 300 before and reviewed it).  I am amazed how Chrysler was able to take the same platform and powertrain and create 2 amazing cars (the Charger and the 300) on it, while having markedly different personalities.  Maybe they are like a set of fraternal twins.

These 2 cars made me notice Chrysler again, given that the brand had been a write-off for me for many years.

I will miss their being available as brand new purchase options.

- - - - -

Another brand that I have now liked for quite a while is Volvo.

This is a fine looking sport sedan.

Volvo worked effectively to shed it's dowdy tree hugger image and go upmarket.   This wouldn't be at the top of my list, but it's the sort of car I like.

So, in shedding this image, they chucked it right at Subaru! 

Now, with some new models I've seen, Subaru is trying to shed their stereotyping.  They're better off doing that. 

- - - - -

1. Berkeley student Patty Hearst gone wrong

2. Volvo as the car of choice for frumpy counterculture types

3. Granola at hand in one's car

1 + 2 + 3 = things from the '70s people probably want to forget

[G. David Felt]

23 hours ago, trinacriabob said:

Saw some nice cars on July 8th ...

This Chrysler 300 looks great in black, though I don't like dark colors for cars.  It just plain works for the 300.

I was able to see the nicely detailed dashboard (I've rented a 300 before and reviewed it).  I am amazed how Chrysler was able to take the same platform and powertrain and create 2 amazing cars (the Charger and the 300) on it, while having markedly different personalities.  Maybe they are like a set of fraternal twins.

These 2 cars made me notice Chrysler again, given that the brand had been a write-off for me for many years.

I will miss their being available as brand new purchase options.

- - - - -

Another brand that I have now liked for quite a while is Volvo.

This is a fine looking sport sedan.

Volvo worked effectively to shed it's dowdy tree hugger image and go upmarket.   This wouldn't be at the top of my list, but it's the sort of car I like.

So, in shedding this image, they chucked it right at Subaru! 

Now, with some new models I've seen, Subaru is trying to shed their stereotyping.  They're better off doing that. 

- - - - -

1. Berkeley student Patty Hearst gone wrong

2. Volvo as the car of choice for frumpy counterculture types

3. Granola at hand in one's car

1 + 2 + 3 = things from the '70s people probably want to forget

What No disco Dancing or Disco Balls?  

[trinacriabob]

11 hours ago, David said:

What No disco Dancing or Disco Balls?  

The ghettoish 2006 Dodge Magnum wagon calls for the disco balls.  

Maybe even my beloved last-gen M.C.  Man, I've seen some rough folks driving it.

[surreal1272]

4 hours ago, trinacriabob said:

The ghettoish 2006 Dodge Magnum wagon calls for the disco balls.  

Hold up now! I take slight issue with that.

 

My old '06 Magnum (with no disco ball and nothing "ghettoish" about it))...

 

Edited July 11, 2022 by surreal1272

[trinacriabob]

3 hours ago, surreal1272 said:

Hold up now! I take slight issue with that.

My old '06 Magnum (with no disco ball and nothing "ghettoish" about it))...

Ok, some of its drivers.  At least a lot of the ones I've seen, and that's what I've also seen with that first rendition of Charger and 300.

- - - - -

What was probably my favorite car was a hit with gang bangers ... I even got a nod from a Hispanic guy in a Raiders jacket pulling up alongside me on the freeway in an identical one 

As mentioned elsewhere, one car I had wanted to buy, but didn't, had/has its share of edgy owners who I wouldn't be breaking bread with ...

... but I'd still buy one.

- - - - -

It's kind of unnerving when sketchy types are looking at your car, and you, for a little too long.

[surreal1272]

28 minutes ago, trinacriabob said:

Ok, some of its drivers. 

Just giving you a little s*** lol. I’ve seen some around here that are just beyond the pale in their outlandishness. 

[G. David Felt]

3 hours ago, surreal1272 said:

Just giving you a little s*** lol. I’ve seen some around here that are just beyond the pale in their outlandishness. 

PNW has their fair share of gang bang wanna bee's, Ricer Bangers and just about all kinds of gang bang ethnicity peeps driving trashed versions of those cars. Yes, very rare do you find them in nice condition and when you do you can admire them for the niche they played and filled in the auto industry. 

A shame more are not taken care of, but then we all know how expensive autos these days are.

[surreal1272]

9 hours ago, David said:

PNW has their fair share of gang bang wanna bee's, Ricer Bangers and just about all kinds of gang bang ethnicity peeps driving trashed versions of those cars. Yes, very rare do you find them in nice condition and when you do you can admire them for the niche they played and filled in the auto industry. 

A shame more are not taken care of, but then we all know how expensive autos these days are.

Agreed. A lot of junk ones out there these days. 

[G. David Felt]

Did my weekly shopping run, saw a brand new R1T Rivian Pickup, really liking the tweener size, bigger than a mid and not a large. Sharp looking truck. Also saw an old 1994 to 1996 era I believe Buick Roadmaster Station wagon, white with fake wood grain in amazing shape, being driven by a senior who was pulling into Panera Bread company.

[G. David Felt]

Ran to Business Costco and so wanted to take a picture, but the owner was sitting in the auto. Saw my first BMW iX and I have to say, they are cheap looking, very plastic front end and that huge plastic molded kiddy grill needs to go. Pathetic.

[trinacriabob]

Saw this today in a supermarket parking lot, parked way out.  What a feast for the eyes.

I think I'm dreaming.  The last of the 500 cubic inchers, perhaps. 

You could have taken MANY high school friends to the drive-in free of charge in a trunk like this if your parents lent you their Eldorado!  There's my sled beyond, and slightly to the left.

A Cadillac dash shared with its siblings.  And, with the placement of that bag, a flat floor due to FWD.  I suppose it is strange to take photos of the interiors of random people's cars.

My sled as viewed through the hood ornament and finned front fender (say that 3 times, real fast) of this Eldorado.

I don't recall if I've seen Eldorado inscribed on other Eldorados, but this was a Biarritz.

These look like 50/50 seats with individual armrests.  Cadillac used this color (chamois, vanilla, I don't know what they called it) that was not seen in other GM divisions which used a uniform and darker tan interior.  Some family friends had this color in the first downsized Coupe De Ville to use the 425 c.i. V8.

I can do without the wide whitewalls.  The thin whitewalls seen on some Lincoln products might have worked better.  I believe a standard whitewall came with the car.  I definitely like the opera windows.  I prefer a vinyl roof that is not padded.

I'm walking back to my car at this point, but this is the first view I got of it as I was about to get into my car to leave.  I'm glad I didn't leave.

What a presence.  I also like the canting and character lines on the belt line near the opera window.

This is somewhere between 1975 and 1978.  I'm guessing it's a '77 or a '78.  If so, the 500 c.i. V8 may have been gone and this vehicle would have been powered by a 425 c.i. V8 by then..  

- - - - -

With 8 photos (actually more), I obviously liked this car.  While it didn't make it day, it helped make it better.

[trinacriabob]

Seen on July 18 - I have no clue what it is, but it's old ... funky color, too.

[trinacriabob]

Seen on July 20 - this appliance needs to breathe, so let it breathe .... can't believe no one in the design department got yelled at for such ugly crap

[oldshurst442]

^^^   

Id put my money on it being a 1949 Ford. 

[trinacriabob]

Seen on July 21 - this was the sportier model of the first FWD Grand Prix, which had the air intake slots, the headlamps within those narrow horizontal slots, and the "Smokey and the Bandit" pinch in the front fascia.  The base models had a more austere and even "less is more" front end ... at least in my opinion.  This is somewhere between 1988 and 1994 (+/-).  That gas cap door has seen better days.

11 minutes ago, oldshurst442 said:

^^^   

Id put my money on it being a 1949 Ford. 

Reminds me of something a la Sonny Corleone by the toll booths for one of the tunnels in NYC.

[trinacriabob]

Seen on July 26 while running errands - I didn't see the driver so I couldn't assess whether he or she was cut from hippiesh cloth ...

[Robert Hall]

^Re: family car factoid:  '49 Ford--a dark blue '49 Ford fordor was my parents' first new car (21 years before I was born)...I have an old B&W photo of it I will scan and post eventually.  They traded it on a '52 Ford 3 years later.  When they got married in '48, my Dad was driving his Dad's '40 Packard. coupe. 

Edited July 29, 2022 by Robert Hall

[trinacriabob]

I saw this last week.  I was leaving the supermarket and she was going in.  I noticed that she exited from this truck.

Let's see ...

Sticker on the left side:

"I'm a girl ... Yes, this is my truck"

Sticker on the right side:

"Shoot like a girl ... if you can!"

Flag on the rear:

I seriously hope third color on the right is orange, and not red, because I sure as s**t don't want to claim her

Bottom line:

This gives a new meaning to "Ram tough"

[Robert Hall]

^ I think that is Ireland's flag?   If the order of the colors were reversed, it would be Ivory Coast.

[trinacriabob]

13 minutes ago, Robert Hall said:

^ I think that is Ireland's flag?   If the order of the colors were reversed, it would be Ivory Coast.

Yes, I tend to agree.  I hope so!  It's just that, when the deep red fades, it can look like a dark orange when the flag or decal began its life as an Italian one. 

[Robert Hall]

^ I saw a truck recently that had the Mexican and Italian flag decals on the back window...and they looked the same except for the logo in the white part of the Mexican.

[G. David Felt]

6 hours ago, Robert Hall said:

^ I think that is Ireland's flag?   If the order of the colors were reversed, it would be Ivory Coast.

Yup I would agree.

[trinacriabob]

Spotting at the very end of the month.  This was a good one.

I'm walking out of a place I had just eaten at and there's a car show.  Most of the other cars (too garish and not stock enough) didn't interest me.  I headed over to this Buick Reatta.

This is a view of the rear of this convertible with about 50,000 miles on it.

This is the leather interior with buckets and console as seen from the driver's window.  For a 2-seater, it's nicely detailed and the dash is substantial.

This is an even nicer view of the dash.  The volumes are appealing and you can see that it's related to the Riviera produced by the same GM division

This shows both the Reatta badging on the door and the typical alloy wheel seen on this specialty 2-seater.

Being a 1990, I am thinking this is a Series I 3800 V6.  In my '92, I had a series I 3800.  My ignition coils on the ignition module were round.  There are rectangular.  I wonder why there's a difference.  This is one clean engine bay.

This engine is set up with a very direct connection from the air filter box to the throttle body.

Here is the main under hood placard and serpentine routing diagram.  It said 3.8 liters at the very left of this sticker.

Here is the original sticker.  It was built out in Lansing, MI.  For 1990, this was a fairly high MSRP.  It was about twice what a basic Regal coupe would had on its sticker.

This is the owner's manual - "Premium American Motorcars" indeed.

This was an interesting item the owner showed me - each Reatta came with a certificate of the people who worked on its hand assembled aspects.  The Reatta name is different, but the font is cool.

I have seen some of these folks around this car show before and not many of them are very friendly.  It seems like a clique that regularly gets together and some of their talk is kind of crass.  However, the retired gentleman who owned this car was very polite and enjoyed talking cars.  We must have talked GM for about half an hour!  A truly random occurrence.

I really like the unique Buick Reatta, but am not sure I'd want to own one.  But they're great eye candy.

[Robert Hall]

Saw a minty dark red late 80s Firebird w/ t-tops..wasn't a Formula or Trans Am, but a clean base trim.  Also saw a sharp bright red w/ black top early 90s Olds Cutlass Supreme convertible.