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Memories Of The Old GM And Its Cars - READ ONLY

398 messages,  Last post on Sep 26, 2011 at 6:23 PM

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What is this discussion about? Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick, Classic Cars

Messages Page 37 of 40

#359 of 398 Re: Many have just said 'no thanks' [xrunner2] by andre1969

Jun 25, 2009 (8:08 am)

Replying to: xrunner2 (Jun 25, 2009 8:01 am)
About hoods and Hondas, some that I have had in past, driver could not even see the hood in that it sloped down sharply.
 
My Intrepid is like that. I can't even see the hood of the car unless I lean forward while driving. I also can't see the rear of the car, beyond the back window. Luckily though, there's not much car back there. It's also really rounded off on the corners, so despite the blind spots, it's pretty easy to maneuver.
 
In the past though, one reason I usually preferred Mopars to GM cars was that it was easier to judge the corners. On every other Mopar I've had, besides the Intrepid, I could usually see, within a couple inches, of where the car ended. But on the GM cars, the trunk sloped off enough that I usually couldn't see all of it, and the front corners were often vague. When I first got my '79 Newport, I used to think that the trunk wasn't closed all the way, just because I wasn't used to a car of that era having such a flat decklid that you could see most of. With my '80 Malibu, '82 Cutlass, '85 LeSabre, and '86 Monte Carlo, they all sloped off more.

#360 of 398 Re: Many have just said 'no thanks' [andre1969] by xrunner2

Jun 25, 2009 (8:17 am)

Replying to: andre1969 (Jun 25, 2009 8:08 am)
In the past though, one reason I usually preferred Mopars to GM cars was that it was easier to judge the corners.
 
I've read somewhere that the 59 Cadillac holds the record for the largest tailfin ever on a car. Don't know how that was measured/authenticated. The 57 Chevy probably was easy to park, maneuver what with its tailfins. But, the 57 Dodges and Desotos probably had bigger fins than the Chevy.
 
In terms of judging things/distance, etc, saw a recent large Jeep big suv in a parking lot with monster size chrome rims, perhaps well over 20". The owner had "curb feelers" at all 4 corners, no doubt to protect his $2000+ wheel rims. Did not know that curb feelers were still available.

#361 of 398 Re: Many have just said 'no thanks' [xrunner2] by andre1969

Jun 25, 2009 (8:44 am)

Replying to: xrunner2 (Jun 25, 2009 8:17 am)
I've read somewhere that the 59 Cadillac holds the record for the largest tailfin ever on a car. Don't know how that was measured/authenticated. The 57 Chevy probably was easy to park, maneuver what with its tailfins. But, the 57 Dodges and Desotos probably had bigger fins than the Chevy.
 
I've heard that too, about the '59 Cadillac. However, I think the height might have been exaggerated by making the trunk lid slope down, whereas on the Mopars the decklid was pretty flat. They did slope it for '60-61, but then went back to a flatter surface for '62. The fins on my '57 DeSoto come up about to my belly button. I'll be at the GM show in Carlisle this weekend, so I'm sure there will be a '59 Caddy to compare! They might not have measured it from the ground though, but maybe from some other spot on the car, such as the top of the rear bumper?
 
One thing that's weird on the DeSoto, when I drive it, is seeing the left fin in the rearview mirror. That's not something I'm used to seeing in a rearview mirror, so at a quick glance it makes me think that there's a car cruising in the blind spot off my left flank.

#362 of 398 Re: Many have just said 'no thanks' [xrunner2] by fintail

Jun 25, 2009 (9:10 am)

Replying to: xrunner2 (Jun 25, 2009 8:17 am)
Funny thing about fins...for the MB "fintail" cars, period promo literature actually mentions them as a parking aid, as if they were somehow designed for that purpose. I think they couldn't admit the one time they followed a fad.

#363 of 398 Re: Many have just said 'no thanks' [xrunner2] by roadburner

Jun 27, 2009 (9:17 pm)

Replying to: xrunner2 (Jun 25, 2009 8:01 am)
About hoods and Hondas, some that I have had in past, driver could not even see the hood in that it sloped down sharply.
 
I remember test driving a new TR-7; you couldn't see the hood at all. You had to raise the retractable headlamps in order to guesstimate where the front bumper was...

#364 of 398 Large cars by tomcatt630

Jun 29, 2009 (11:09 am)

One other thing with big cars is the stigma for now middle aged Baby Boomers, they refuse to buy them. Mid sized sounds "better", and if they want room, then it's SUV shopping.
 
But the Impala is a stretched to the extreme W body, kind of like a pair of pants let out at the seems as far as the tailor can, but still tight.
 
Also, back seats of Crown Vic taxis with 'bullet-proof shields' are very tight. Sure are not the old Checker cabs.

#365 of 398 Re: Large cars [tomcatt630] by fezo

Jun 29, 2009 (12:55 pm)

Replying to: tomcatt630 (Jun 29, 2009 11:09 am)
The Impala is kind of the Sans-a- belt of cars...

#366 of 398 Re: Large cars [fezo] by berri

Jun 29, 2009 (5:26 pm)

Replying to: fezo (Jun 29, 2009 12:55 pm)
Except Sans-a-belt is supposed to stretch to fit - don't know about that back seat?

#367 of 398 Re: Large cars [berri] by imidazol97

Jun 29, 2009 (6:07 pm)

Replying to: berri (Jun 29, 2009 5:26 pm)
How often do people carry three adults in their rear of the sedan? I know lots is made about the W-car's rear seat but I think it's a relatively small number of trips made with 3 in the rear. Buyers who routinely want to carry 3 will purchase a larger car or an SUV.
 
I see many trips with two adults in the rear for a few owners. I tried the seating where I adjust the front seats for myself and then sit in the rear seat behind each one. I have enough leg room. However, I fully understand that someone taller in front and someone taller in the back will have a paucity of kneeroom.

#368 of 398 Just hear a wonderful sound from the GM past by imidazol97

Jun 29, 2009 (6:11 pm)

A red new Camaro was starting his motor to leave the small town cruise-in this evening. He started the Camaro and goosed it a couple of times and I was transported back to the big motors of the 60s and early 70s for GM. That car has a great-sounding exhaust. I commented to the driver. He said something about having an LR3 motor and 400 horsepower and he had set it up that way. I think he meant he had changed the exhaust for that beautiful sound.

Messages Page 37 of 40

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