The images that Ralf K has uploaded to the CC Cohort throughout the years have been some of our favorites. And as some of you know, in recent months we’ve been featuring his work in gallery form once his submissions add to a nice group. And looking at his Cohort finds, we’re due for another trip of old cars as seen through his skillful eye.
We start this gallery with a nice ’66 Mercury Comet 2-door coupe, in what looks to be the 202 trim line; the entry-level trim of Mercury’s entry-level model. I’ve a hard time believing that no ’66 Comet has ever shown up at CC, but it seems to be the case, though a ’67 has. That year was an update of the ’66 models, basically Fairlane siblings in that period. However, unlike the higher trim Comet Capri, the 202 had a Falcon roofline. Of the Comets, it was the most numerous for ’66, with 35,964 units sold. Considering the souped-up looks of this one, I doubt the base inline six is in there. I’ll leave it to Dearborn fans to speculate what might be there instead.
It’s not the first time I’ve said this, nor will it be the last. I have a great fondness for the sad image of cars lost in the American wilderness, and here’s one more shot to add to that collection. A couple of what look to be ’69-’71 Oldsmobile Cutlass models, next to some classic car era vehicles. If you wonder, the group sits somewhere in Northern California.
Let’s move on to the 1980s, and to something still getting road use. A K-body Chrysler LeBaron convertible, with softer bookends that make me think this is a ’86-88 model. Curious, because I tend to think of this light yellows and beige color combo as an early ’80s kind of thing.
This LeBaron is, of all things, the turbo variety; another hint this is an ’86 or so. In those days, that would be the 2.2L engine, with a Garret turbocharger providing 142HP. I know that sounds tame, but hey, it was the eighties; in those days, that was something. One of these turbocharged LeBarons showed up a while back, and recently, Aaron covered the Detroit droptop revival heralded by the original 1982 LeBaron convertible.
An enjoyable, mostly monochromatic shot with a classic Porsche 356B in the foreground. Looks like nothing else on that parking lot, especially surrounded by only tall SUVs/CUVs.
Another shot of a classic lost in the woods. And this time it’s a Ford Model T.
Another car cemetery, this one in San Angelo, Texas. I see a religious figure in a sticker on the back window of the car on the right. Good. Something/someone to watch over the souls of these many cars, the young and the old, waiting for their place in automotive heaven.
Do old vans ever die? Or do they just get repurposed and reused ad infinitum?
Well, of course they die. But from time to time, their survival rates make one think otherwise. For those still around, their long lives make sense, as they’re the ultimate alternative lifestyle vehicles. And as with many things, alternative types follow their own muse, schewing all trends. Including car related ones.
In any case, this ’67-’70 Chevrolet Sportvan seems to be still in service. We featured one of these long wheelbase models a while back; if you wish to check that out.
Let’s go back to Dearborn products, with a ’67 Galaxie 500. A 4-door sedan of all things, once a common species, now outnumbered in the survivor department by 2-door models. Not that it was the most numerous of Galaxies back then, as that belonged to the 2-door hardtop. Which makes sense, after all, isn’t the hardtop that much sweeter looking? If you can’t recall those, here was one a few years ago.
As for the 4-door Galaxie 500, it was Ford’s second most common full-size model for ’67, with 130,063 units sold.
Back to cars in the woods, with this early Mitsubishi Eclipse. It’s a first generation model, one of the three variants of the Diamond Star siblings; the others being the Eagle Talon and Plymouth Laser. The pop-up headlights date this one to the ’90-’92 model years. If you want to revisit the model’s history, it was covered a while back in HERE.
Volvo fans need no introduction to this; the chopped top Laund-ized Bertone version of the 200 series, originally known as the 262coupe. I’ll leave it to Volvo experts to let me know what exact year this one belongs to.
The closing shot for today is a mixed group in a parking lot. Not quite a bit of everything, but certainly varied. A ’61 Caddy and a ’64 Thunderbird, representing luxury as understood in the early sixties. For the ’70-’80s, a VW Caddy pickup with a camper, a GM/Chevy C/K truck, and what looks like an early ’80s Eldorado on the left. Newest of them all, a 626 Mazda with its very ’90s jellybean styling language.
The comet isn’t a hardtop, that’s the standard coupe roofline shared with the Falcon, the hardtop is the semi-fastback with thin pillars commonly seen on Fairlane GTs
Yes, it’s updated now.
2nd pic Model A Tudor(?) on left, ’72 and ’68/9 Cutlass coupes on R.
I’m sure I’ve said before so please forgive my repetitiveness, Ralf’s images thanks to his tweaks have dreamlike magical realist quality that gets me every time. That for me is what elevates these from just being interesting images
For the Volvo Bertone Coupe, it’s either a 1979 or ’80: The ’79 model was the first to get the revised taillights that wrapped around the body sides, and the ’80 model was the last with a vinyl roof.
Always liked those. So many were silver.
It’s a good day when someone sees a 67 Galaxie on the road. This would have been a really nice looking car in its day. That it is packing a 390 (or maybe even a 428) means that it would have been a really pleasant driver, too.
Ours was a “289”. Very nice riding car. Always started, even on the coldest, winter days.
Great pictures .
The ‘T’ Model Ford sitting in weeds is sad, more so because it’s the ‘turtle deck’ runabout model and even has the tops bows etc. .
-Nate
A few comments on these fine photos.
#1 The Comet has a “V8” emblem on the grille, so I will go for the base 289.
#2 Agree with Randerson and add; the second oldster is a Model AA truck, the ’72 Cutlass
has a “4-4-2” hood, and the right hand Cutlass has vent windows, so a ’68 model.
#6 Both of the foreground cars are ’53 or ’54 Chevrolet’s; a Two-Ten 4 door on the left and
a Bel Air 2 door sedan on the right. In front of them is a ’65 Malibu.
#7 No side markers so the van is a ’67, and it is the long wheelbase “108” model.
#11 The lack of a fender nameplate on the Eldorado makes is a ’84 or ’85 model, and it is
a Biarritz. The white Cadillac has a small back window, which makes it a Fleetwood
60 Special. The Thunderbird is a ’65 per the hood ornamentation, and the 626 is a
’93-’97 model.
Great photos, Ralf, thanks!