Tomorrow will feature my last (for now) Cars Of A Lifetime post, as I am once again up to date. Thank you for bearing with me for the last almost eleven months. What a long, strange trip it’s been! Above is a COAL Clue for you to ponder before seeing the actual item in the virtual flesh tomorrow morning.
I tried to give Jason Shafer a sneak preview almost six months ago by sending him the same image posted above. He has tried repeatedly over that time to figure it out even though I very generously provided further clues. Alas, he failed, although there were some very good guesses (and good future COAL candidate possibilities) along the way. I’ll give you the same opportunities…
First, as I told him regarding the above:
1. It is the exterior color, but in a very close up format. And with a layer of schmutz.
2. It is a factory color
3. The color appears slightly too dark and a bit too red above, it is difficult to photograph accurately. And I have no idea how your screen settings will skew it. Yeah, I know that doesn’t make it easier.
He was way off the mark with his guesses. So I gave him more hints, which you shall receive as well:
1. The vehicle is not brand new, but only slightly used.
2. The color was only available for one model year and it was a delayed availability color at that.
The resulting guesses were still shy of the mark.
A couple of weeks later, after I told him I had sold the Mercedes GL450 and was lamenting how much I had spent on fuel for it, he asked if the new one gets better gas mileage. The answer is yes, it does.
The second to last hint I will share with you as well since Jason was getting concerned that it was a regionally limited edition or something and started randomly guessing at 1985 Mercury Topaz GT’s (as if!) and the like is that it is not a rare vehicle at all, nor is it an obscure variant or edition.
And finally, the brand (i.e. the marque listed on the registration) is older than Jason Shafer.
He’s had six months to figure it out. You have about 24 hours, I think you can do it…See you tomorrow, same Bat-place, same Bat-channel!
The color most likely to attract the attention of law enforcement? Beyond that, no idea!
Yes, I like to call that color “Arrest Me Red”. My 2016 Civic EXT is that color. Thankfully that has not happened yet, despite the ‘spirited driving’. The car’s a real hoot to toss around.
And finally, the brand (i.e. the marque listed on the registration) is older than Jason Shafer.
How old would that be?
Right around this…
Wow, I haven’t seen my name in a headline in a while. Thanks Jim!
While I now know what you bought, in my defense seeing this picture on an iPhone via a text was tough! All I will say is happy motoring.
’70 GTO Judge?
Based on Morley’s guess above I’ll also share that it’s a brand I have not yet owned which narrows the field considerably. Morley’s Pontiac guess would qualify (and would be a very fun result!) but happens to be wide of the mark.
Barnfound Lamborghini Miura Jota lost (and unknown) second prototype with very early version of fingernail polish matched paint job.
I do like the way you think! But sadly, no. Perhaps next time.
2012 Ford Focus in the original tint of Red Candy that relied on pigments made in the Fukushima region.
Nope, It’s a brand we’ve not owned before. We had a ’98 Ford Explorer so no Ford….
Kandy Kolored tangerine dream machine ?
You might be closer than you thought…
1999 Nissan Maxima Limited Edition, only because I know there was a one-year only candy red offered for that model. Somewhat rare, though I’ve seen a few over the years given they tend to stick out.
Ooh, but no. We’ve had a Nissan (’04 Murano), this is a brand we haven’t owned.
Ford Maverick’s ‘Thanks Vermillion’
Colorwise you’re quite close. But no Maverick for me, sorry. And we’ve had a Ford before, this is a brand we haven’t had.
Well it looks almost like my avitar pic for this site. Which just shows up as a red circle. However that red circle is a picture of my 1993 Mustang GT that I had painted in the same color as a 2014 Mustang. I think it’s paint code P40. My picture was to big for this format so all you see is the red circle. So my guess will be a late model Ford of some sort in P40 red. I’m sure I’m off by a mile but it’s all I got.
Sorry, no. The clues included not being a duplicate of a brand we’ve had. We had the ’98 Explorer (but with the 5.0 so there’s the Mustang connection!)
Subie Crosstrek? The brand has been around since 1968.
Not bad, but TOO Orange. Also, we’ve had several Subarus, this is a new brand to us.
Spent some good times around a Beetle and remember the colour: Citrus Red
I think we are done with VW’s for the time being… 🙂 (But never say never…)
Did you buy a Prius?
Nope, we’ve owned a bunch of Toyota’s, above mentioned this is a new brand to us. I did have occasion to drive a darker red Prius last year though and was impressed with it….
My guess is that your COAL post for today will be about something Korean – Hyundai or Kia.
Not this time but good guess based on the clues. Although I think both brands are younger than Jason Shafer. And I could see either in my future somewhere, they’ve made huge strides…
I had a brief thought about you saying positive things on Kia Sedona (not sure if correct), so I gave it a shot. Both Kia and Hyundai are founded before JS’s birth, 1944 and 1967 specifically.
JP Cavanaugh has a Sedona and loves it. I think its a very good minivan. The whole line up of H/K is quite competitive these days.
I didn’t fully realize the ages of those two, thanks for that, one second of googling would have enlightened me. It’s been a lazy Sunday so far….
OK, we give up………..
Alright, I hear you. Wait a couple of hours and then check back. In the meantime there is currently a great post by Tatra87 on the Toyota Crown as well as a great COAL from 83LeBaron to enjoy…:-) And there’ll be something else in the meantime as well.
Mitsubishi Solar Orange?
I would guess a BMW X3 in red
“(but with the 5.0 so there’s the Mustang connection!)”
1985/1986 Autokraft AC Cobra Mk IV?
Or DeTomaso Pantera? (though that car has a 351, not 302)
Mercury Capri RS or 302.
Red? Only one choice: Ferrari. Or, if that’s not realistic, a Fiat.
It’s a Dale.