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

18065 messages,  Last post on Dec 08, 2009 at 8:26 PM

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#17761 of 18065
. by fintail
Nov 01, 2009 (9:02 am)
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Today I saw one of the new style Ladas on the road, German plates, actually moving about 150 km/h on the Autobahn. Homely thing.
 
I also saw a 2CV on a country road, a Daewoo Lanos, and a Hyundai Pony.
 
And the highlight, spotted on another country road, a SWB Quattro, like this:
 

 
In the same area, not far from the Czech border, I also saw some kind of classic auto dismantler. Piles of body parts, including roof sections for fintails and pontons. I don't know what good those could do.
 
On another subject, I have noticed Germans will tow anything with anything. Tow a gigantic camping trailer with a Mondeo? No problem. Tow a wrecked 911 with an old W124 coupe? No problem. Tow a horse trailer with a Focus wagon (I'm not kidding)? No problem.
#17762 of 18065
Re: . [fintail] by Mr_Shiftright HOST
Nov 01, 2009 (9:10 am)
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Replying to: fintail (Nov 01, 2009 9:02 am)

That's because Germans KNOW HOW TO DRIVE. It costs them quite a lot of $$$ and plenty of testing just to get a license, unlike America, where you can procure them in vending machines.
#17763 of 18065
Re: Spotted an old Hudson [Mr_Shiftright] by andre1969
Nov 01, 2009 (10:44 am)
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Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Nov 01, 2009 7:58 am)

Yeah, it's amazing how fast everything changed in 1955 Even if some cars weren't all-new, they still seemed it. For instance, GM actually re-did all their B- and C-bodies for 1954, so for 1955 only the Chevy and Pontiac were actually new designs. I've also heard that the 1955 Ford and Mercury weren't all-new, but rather just a heavy facelift of the 1954. However, they still looked fully up-to-date.
 
That must have been an exciting time to buy a car, with so much so new out there. I think 1957 and 1965 were probably also exciting years. We'll probably never again see a time when so many new vehicles get launched at once.
 
For comparison, here's what Consumer Guide highlighted on the front cover of their 1980 auto guide...
"All New FWD Cadillac Seville"
"Four Wheel Drive AMC Eagle"
"Distinctive Dodge Mirada"
"Smaller, Lighter Ford Thunderbird".
 
And on the back cover, in full color...
"Chrysler's Classy New Cordoba"
"First Four Door Continental Mark VI"
"More Aerodynamic Buick Electra"
"Mercury's More Compact Cougar"
"Popular New Pontiac Phoenix"
"Plymouth's Gran Fury Returns"
 
Exciting times, eh? Actually, they seemed it at the time to me, but I was only 9 years old. Plus, we got a new car that year, a 1980 Malibu. Not exactly cutting edge technology, but at the time it seemed light years ahead of the '75 LeMans it replaced.
#17764 of 18065
Re: . [Mr_Shiftright] by fintail
Nov 01, 2009 (10:50 am)
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Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Nov 01, 2009 9:10 am)

Oh, I know that...I spent over 5 hours on the Autobahn today and maybe 90 mins on secondary roads. Zero LLCs. Zero phone yappers. Zero oblivious idiots. Germany might have its share of problems, but roads and drivers are not some of them.
 
I was thinking of vehicles being over-exerted. Pulling a trailer holding a Porsche with a 20 year old MB, almost certainly an automatic...seems risky.
 
Oh yeah, overall mpg in the diesel tank is 8.2l/100km so far...not too shabby, as I cruised at around 100-110 mph for long stretches today and even got up to about 130 for a little bit...but the winter tires are rated for no more, so I backed off.
#17765 of 18065
Re: Spotted an old Hudson [andre1969] by fintail
Nov 01, 2009 (10:53 am)
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Replying to: andre1969 (Nov 01, 2009 10:44 am)

Wow, 1980 was an awesome year . My 1981 CG makes no such bold statements on the cover...they must have learned hard and fast that most of those cars were marginal at best.
 
In 1980 my mom was holding on to her bloated T-Bird as neither of my parents embraced the downsized models. I think my dad's Horizon was around by then...which he was very fond of.
#17766 of 18065
Re: Spotted an old Hudson [andre1969] by Mr_Shiftright HOST
Nov 01, 2009 (11:00 am)
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Replying to: andre1969 (Nov 01, 2009 10:44 am)

1955 brought us 12 volt systems, a short-stroke V8 for "everyman", fabulous new colors and two-tones (or three-tones) beautiful interiors. It was a great year. I don't think we'll see another like it.
#17767 of 18065
Re: Spotted an old Hudson [andre1969] by berri
Nov 01, 2009 (12:52 pm)
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Replying to: andre1969 (Nov 01, 2009 10:44 am)

I agree that 55,57 and 65/66 were pivitol years in postwar American cars. You might also consider 1949.
#17768 of 18065
Re: Spotted an old Hudson [berri] by euphonium
Nov 01, 2009 (5:20 pm)
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Replying to: berri (Nov 01, 2009 12:52 pm)

"You might also consider 1949"
 
'49 was the BIG change/improvement because it was the first year the manufacturers didn't inflict their 1942 warmovers. '49 introduced the new Cad and Olds Kettering V8's in new bodies, although the '48 Cad had the same Fisher, but with the old Flat head V8. GM's Hydromatic was a 4 speed, but power steering was yet to be. A 49 Cad torpedo coupe with the 331 c.i. V8 caught my eye then.
#17769 of 18065
Re: Spotted an old Hudson [Mr_Shiftright] by explorerx4
Nov 01, 2009 (6:06 pm)
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Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Nov 01, 2009 11:00 am)

no props for the old everyman ford v8 flathead?
i have to laugh, my neighbors Z06 sounds like one.
#17770 of 18065
Re: Spotted an old Hudson [berri] by Mr_Shiftright HOST
Nov 01, 2009 (6:11 pm)
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Replying to: berri (Nov 01, 2009 12:52 pm)

I'd go for '65 for a number of reasons but 1949 still had flathead engines in many cars, (Ford, Chrysler, Studebaker, Nash, Hudson) boxy styling (although finally a break from pre-war dies and bodies). Also few cars with AC, only upscale models with power steering.
 
65 of course is the beginning of the muscle car era (well '64 I guess), the Mustang, fresh new body styles.

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