Sometimes after a long day at the office almost entirely spent sitting in an office chair, you feel like stretching your legs. And while some people may dislike the cacophony of peak hour (rush hour) traffic and the exhaust fumes, I like to go for a walk and do a little car-spotting. With the price of parking in Brisbane’s CBD, the legions of peak hour vehicles tend to be occupied by late-model luxury vehicles. Occasionally, however, you spot some genuine classics.
I’m no Alfisti so I cannot identify the specific model of 105/115 Series Alfa Romeo coupe pictured above, but perhaps one of my fellow Curbsiders can. We can all, however, marvel at the wonderful condition it is in. Trust an Alfa Romeo to look good even when painted in plain old silver/gray.
The other two noteworthy cars are painted in a similar hue. On the right is a Subaru Fiori, one of Subaru’s kei cars that had a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it run on the Australian market. It replaced the similarly unpopular Sherpa, although I have no doubt both cars were vastly more successful in their home market where both were known as the Rex. Aussie-market Fioris used a four-cylinder, 758 cc engine. But of course, the Japanese domestic market received all manner of intriguing derivatives including a full-time 4WD variant with a limited slip differential and supercharged two- and four-cylinder engines.
On the left is a Chrysler (née Mitsubishi) Galant, better known to North American Curbsiders as the Dodge Colt. I can’t say I see too many of these around; contemporary Mazdas are more common, at least those with rotary engines. These were the predecessor to the Chrysler Sigma, later renamed Mitsubishi when Chrysler’s Australian operations ceased, and it was that Sigma that came to dominate the mid-sized, four-cylinder segment in Australia for many years. Interestingly, these Galants were sold for a time as the Chrysler Valiant Galant until Chrysler made the wise decision to stop pasting the Valiant name on smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles. After all, would buyers associate the name “Ford Crown Victoria Fiesta” with a little fuel-sipper?
Usually a peak hour stroll allows me the opportunity to view the latest luxury models, like the Bentley Bentayga I spotted the other day. But it’s extra nice when I spot classics instead.
Photographed 5 November 2015 on Roma Street in Brisbane, QLD.
Related Reading:
Curbside Classic: 1975 Alfa Romeo Alfetta GT Coupe/GTV
Automotive History: Alfa Romeo Twin Cam Four
CC Colt Chronicles Part 2: 1974-77 Dodge Colt (Mitsubishi Galant)
Wow, even in fair weather California, that era of Dodge Colt is hard to find anymore! Nice spotting!
I’d rather have the Alfa though!
That could be a Subaru ‘Ace’, a friend who is into aircooled VWs recently bought one as a reliable economical run about it has some 40k kms racked up in 20 years mint condition I need to borrow a one man brake bleeder he has so I’ll get some pics of it while I’m there for the cohort.
Great finds, William! I’ll bet you had to make some split-second decisions as to what to focus on in those few seconds. That second Alfa shot is especially great – I love the atmosphere captured there.
Oh man, that Alfa is IT! Didn’t Giugiaro design the GTV?
Either way, I have a diecast model of one, and it’s just another car I’ll have to resign myself to drool over, because they’re a little out of my price range.
Yes Giugiaro when he was at Bertone. This looks like either a 1750 GTV (more likely) or perhaps a GT 1600 Junior.
Twenty years ago a middle-aged couple living near me had a pair of the earlier Subaru Sherpas – one yellow, one orange, his and hers, their only cars. They were an uncommon sight even then. Seeing a Fiori on the street today – wow.
I swear I’ve only ever seen a handful of Sherpas and they have ALL been yellow. Bright, retina-searing yellow. How peculiar.
Also, I saw a Suzuki Hatch the other day. Remember those? Couldn’t get a photo, though.
Early Daihatsu Charades seem to be extinct now. Haven’t seen one in years. My old neighbour used to have a ~1985 model. I also knew someone who had a 1990 or so, even that generation I don’t think I’ve seen in a while. Interesting because I found Daihatsus were always more popular with older people so you’d think more would have survived.
The Sherpas were used as delivery vehicles for Import Advantage here in Brisbane in the 80s, taking parts around for broken Peugeots, Mercs, etc. The Charade: remember a shiny, tiny, new, red Turbo one, the first, narrow model, always parked in the basement of Com Bank King George Square. Driven by the late, great rugby ref Kerry Fitzgerald. It didn’t take up a car park so he got away with it. That and the fact that he was an international referee.
BTW, remember in the first GE Sigma, base model was the Sigma Galant, next up GL, then a non-badged sport pack, and finally the SE.
The Alfa has always reminded me of the Jag XJC (or vice versa), which was featured here only two days ago. Two of my all-time favorites.
I have heard from my cousin that 1970s Hillman avengers came with Chrysler badge in australia.
Pretty sure the Avenger wasn’t sold in Australia, but it was here in New Zealand, and was a Hillman until 1977ish and then became a Chrysler. I’m pretty sure the last few sold here in the early 1980s were Talbot Avengers.
You’re probably thinking of the Chrysler 180, which became the Centura here in Australia.
No Avengers in OZ NZ got plenty, saw one today there are still a fair number in use around here, Aussie got the similar looking but larger Chrysler 180/ Centura repowered with the Hemi six, very quick cars, best performance you could buy new at the time.Last Avengers were labelled Chyslers the Talbot was another car again.
Not quite, Bryce. From I believe ’79 until ’81, the Chrysler Avenger was sold as the Talbot Avenger in the UK. Same car, same Pentastar badge even. PSA had inherited a few products from Chrysler’s European operations.
We had them here I have an idea after UK assembly ended but they were Chryslers as were the last Hunters, I had a new Avenger rental in 81 for a week it was a Chrysler Avenger 1600. Just checked NZ assembly as usual differed from UK, so yes they were Talbots in the UK but not here sorry for the confusion.
All good. The NZ car market has always been such a mystery to me with its Mitsubishi V3000s and Ford Telstar wagons. I always love hearing more about it.
It might have been a private import, but there used to be a 1980 Talbot avenger parked near my house in West Auckland. Was strange, had Jaeger dials and had Peugeot logos on the headlight lenses.
I worked in Western Australia for a while and loved the fact that classics at rush hour were the norm. I saw lots of 70s Japanese cars I had never seen in the flesh in the UK as they had all dissolved by the time I came along.
I must have seen as many Triumph 2500s in a year in Perth as I had in the previous 15 years in the UK.
I recently found an early 70s Dodge Colt on Craigslist (a nice 2 door hardtop), but even more surprising was the asking price: $12,000.
Then yesterday I saw a “final” generation Diamante outside a local Burger King. I think it might have belonged to an employee but sure looked good for a car belonging to a youngish person.
Always such a pleasant surprise to catch a well-maintained classic in traffic. Good reflexes to get clear shots of all three!
Excellent catches! These Alfa coupes never fail to make my heart stir. One of the all-time great designs.