Curbside Classic

Curbside Classic: 1979 FIAT Spider 2000 – La Macchina

– May 20, 2019

I recently watched a movie made in 1971 for Italian TV called “L’Automobile”, which was originally part of a trilogy called “Tre Donne” (translated as “Three Women”). These films starred the great Italian actress Anna Magnani, playing three different characters in as many locales and points in time. Vintage American film buffs may know the late Ms. Magnani from her starring role opposite Burt Lancaster in 1955’s acclaimed, Oscar-winning film “The Rose Tattoo”. This newer film from ’71 was one of her very last filmed, starring performances. Sadly, she succumbed to pancreatic cancer just two years after it was made, though she still looked gorgeous and at least twenty years younger than her age of sixty-three at the time of filming.

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CC Clue – Year, Make and Model Please

Moparlee

– May 19, 2019

You know the rules by now – no posting photos if you found the answer. This one may be particularly challenging for reasons you will find out, or maybe, not. Still, I am betting that someone nails this in the first five guesses. I am offering no hints.

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Curbside Classic Capsule: 1973 Plymouth Fury Coupe – Big Man On Campus

Paul Niedermeyer

– May 19, 2019

(first posted 7/3/2013) The 1972-1973 “Fuselage V2.0” cars are hardly a common sight anymore. Well, they weren’t all that common in their day, which of course explains that and a few other things. The first fuselages (’69-’71) didn’t exactly set the world on fire, and the attempt to make them look a bit more mainstream by ditching the loop bumpers in front and back, as well as extending the C-pillar on the roof (among other changes) made them look a bit less bold and a fair amount more generic. While the new ’74s were blatantly GM-esque, these were just the first step in that direction. Read the rest of this entry »

Wordless Outtake: Brotherhood of MAN

Johannes Dutch

– May 19, 2019

Cohort On The Go Outtake: 1964 Ford “Nomad” Wagon

Paul Niedermeyer

– May 19, 2019

I’m generally not a big fan of chopped and shortened wagons, which has been a thing going way back. But I thought this ’64 Ford, caught by Mike Hayes, was worth sharing, as it’s a bit out of the ordinary and makes a nice contrast with those two CUVs in the other lane.

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COAL: 1967 Buick Sport Wagon – Forty Years of Sky Roofs

JJPowers

– May 19, 2019

Visualize, it’s 1964, you’re around ten years old, and have just disembarked from the school bus, when a station wagon drives slowly by. At first glance it appears like an average model, but continuing to look, while the front part of the car is familiar, from the B pillar rearward, it is like nothing you have ever seen. And it is jaw-dropping gorgeous.

It’s being driven by a neighbor, smiling, who normally owns the ritziest car on your block. However, on this day she is not in her Sedan de Ville. How has this Oldsmobile lured her from the prestigious brand? Could it be the aura emanating from the car, it’s matching bottle green exterior and silver-trimmed roof glass, it’s swagger, like that of a one-off custom? Read the rest of this entry »

Backyard Classic: 1955 Oliver Super 88 Diesel Tractor – I’ve Got the Biggest Garden Tractor In Town!

Paul Niedermeyer

– May 18, 2019

(first posted 7/8/2013. The quite elderly owners have since moved out and the Oliver too) It’s all about the boy toys, and when it comes to backyard garden tractors, this one takes the prize. Now if this scene had been shot out on the edge of town, no biggie. But this fine Oliver Super 88 lives just a couple of blocks down the alley from us, and is very much in town; rather close in actually (Friendly Street and 27th). It’s been there for at least the twenty years we’ve lived here, and it comes out of its big garage to play in the backyard once in a while. I rather assume the owners are retired farmers, and just couldn’t bear not bring their favorite tractor to live with them. I can relate, especially for a vintage Oliver. Read the rest of this entry »

Un-Curbside Classic: 2001-2003 Renault Avantime – Two Door Hardtop Luxury Turbo-Diesel Stick-Shift Van/Coupe – My Lust Object

Paul Niedermeyer

– May 18, 2019

(first posted 6/29/2013. I still want one more than ever) There’s been a lot of consideration given on these pages the past few days about the joys of big old coupes, what with their nice soft ride and roomy cushy seats and some genuine style. Now it’s totally naturally that us older guys (or old at heart) would gravitate to something like that; I can relate, just not with the actual choices. I’m supposed to chose between a Gran Torino Elite, a ’77 Thunderbird and a ’74 Monte Carlo? Sir, would you prefer hemlock, cyanide or arsenic? Not wanting to be a party pooper, I kept my mouth shut. But that’s not enough hereabouts; I need to present a viable alternative, and after careful consideration, I’ve found the perfect big used coupe for me. Read the rest of this entry »

Cohort Outtake: 1969 Cadillac Convertible – Botched Cosmetic Surgery Victim

Paul Niedermeyer

– May 18, 2019

posted at the Cohort by Kevin_xyxl

I was walking down Cohort Street, when I spotted this white Caddy convertible. Yes, it is getting to be top-down season. But as I got a bit closer, I noticed that this example has a few skin issues. It needs some cosmetic surgery. Or more likely, it’s the victim of some botched surgery.

Let’s take a closer look:

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CC Outtake: 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu Sport Sedan – Golden Edition

Johannes Dutch

– May 18, 2019

Owned by a truck driver or a truck enthusiast, that’s for sure. When I walked back to my own diesel-ride, after visiting an excellent big rig show, this classic Chevy crossed my path. It might well be the first non-coupe Chevelle of the 1968-1972 generation I’ve met in the flesh/metal.

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COAL: 2015 VW Golf SportWagen TDI SEL – More of the Same

Kyree S. Williams

– May 18, 2019

I should start off by saying that I was quite satisfied with the 2014 Jetta SportWagen and wasn’t looking to replace it. But then temptation came calling, in April of 2015. In this case, one of the salesmen from the car dealership where I worked called me one afternoon. I was away from my desk, but he asked if I could come to the local Volkswagen dealership, the one in Oklahoma City, and help him with some computer stuff (I was also in-house IT, which was a whole issue in and of itself, but that’s neither here nor there).

“Why?” I asked. “Did you switch jobs?”

“No,” he said. “We’re buying the Volkswagen store, and some of our employees ended up setting up here for a bit.”

Really? I thought. And then I headed that direction.

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My Curbside Classic: 1974-1978 South African Peugeot 404 GL – The Ultimate 404

Guest Writer

– May 17, 2019

(first posted 7/5/2013. The Peugeot 404 continued to be made in South Africa until 1978, and as a result of further development have same unique features, like a larger engine and floor-mounted shifter. Edmund Sishange from Johannesburg, South Africa sent me this article and the pictures of his fine 404. I don’t remember that color being offered either)

I’m a 30 year old male who’s been fascinated with the French classic, Peugeot 404 since I was 4 years old. I’ll be taking you through the journey of the “South African 404” during this article. Read the rest of this entry »

What If? CC Designs a Better Jaguar Mark X

Paul Niedermeyer

– May 17, 2019

improved (top), original (bottom)

Wednesday’s CC on the Jaguar Mark X sparked a lively debate as to its looks, which have been polarizing from the day it first appeared in 1961. I suggested that the biggest problem was that its green house was to low and not long enough at the front. The windshield is set too far back in relation to the now exaggeratedly-long hood, and the height of the roof and windows are just too low, with an overall height of 54″. It looks like the greenhouse of a much smaller car set on the body of a much larger car. The two main masses are out of proportion to each other. There’s still the issue of its bulging sides, but let’s leave Madam X with ample hips. But her head needs a bigger wig.

I asked if someone might take my suggestions and Photoshop a better Mk X. CC reader Bernard Taylor came to the rescue. And when I look at the original now, it looks almost absurdly out of proportion. We have a much better Mark X now, almost 70 years later.

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Museum Review: The Patee House Museum – Sharing Ties With Studebaker, The Pony Express, And Jesse James

Jason Shafer

– May 17, 2019

Some things in life are difficult to categorize. The Patee House Museum in St. Joseph, Missouri, falls into this realm. Everything about the museum is great; it has cars, it has a train, and it has a cornucopia of local and western history. Which it aims for is uncertain, but therein lies it’s true beauty – it doesn’t limit itself.

Even the building is hard to define. Starting out as a hotel in 1858, it was later a women’s college, a garment factory, and is a museum after once sitting vacant for four decades. It has witnessed grand galas and murder trials, both taking place in the same room at different times.

Of the various museums I’ve covered at CC over the years the Patee House is simply my favorite of the bunch. So climb aboard and I’ll show you this underrated gem…

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CC Outtake: Two Opels Drive Into A Gas Station . . .

J P Cavanaugh

– May 17, 2019

The title phrase, which sounds like the beginning of a joke, immediately popped into my mind when I came across this sight. With some cars I might attempt to flesh out the joke, but these cars are just too appealing to make fun of.

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