With 2025 half over, it’s a good time to look back through my collection of single pictures featuring interesting cars I’ve seen over the past six months. Since most of these pictures are in-motion shots, not all are sharply-focused or from ideal angles, and most of them happen to show the rear of cars. Still, I figured that all of these cars were interesting enough to use up some pixels.
First up is a 1984 Pontiac Bonneville in well-used daily-driver condition. General Motors debuted these sedans for 1978, so by the time this car was made, it was essentially a six-year old design that was competing with newer GM models in the same showrooms. In fact, Pontiac buyers could choose either the front-drive 6000 or the full-size rear-drive Parisienne for about the same price as this Bonneville. Nonetheless, quite a few buyers chose these cars; about 73,000 Bonnevilles were sold for 1984.
Making a special appearance in the background of this shot is a Volkswagen EuroVan.
From about the same period is this 1985 Lincoln Mark VII – this is a base model rather than the costlier LSC that seems to comprise most Mark VII survivors.
In April, I took one of my cars to a shop for some transmission work, and was greeted by an interesting assortment of vehicles. If I saw this trio at a car show, I’d linger at each one for a few minutes. I didn’t linger around the transmission shop, but did get a good photo.
I left my good camera at home on the day I saw this VW Pickup. Its bed full of stuff looks well within the trucklet’s payload capacity.
Whale Caprices always catch my eye, though not always in the fondest of ways. This 1992 example – debadged and with fat tires – looks even more cetacean than most. I always enjoy getting my kids’ impressions about old car designs, and my younger daughter said this car looks “totally wrong.” Most consumers in the early 1990s probably agreed with her.
This 1968 Ford Torino GT is the kind of car I’d expect to see at a car show or museum – and that may well be where this example was headed.
Unfortunately this is a blurry shot, but it’s worth including because it features a 1986 Ford Thunderbird Elan. The Elan (Ford marketed is as élan – uncapitalized and with an accent) was the well-equipped Thunderbird for 1983-86, with comfy upholstery and standard power accessories.
This 1988 or ’89 Bright Blue Pontiac Sunbird SE looks to be in too good shape for the junkyard, so I’m hoping it’s headed to the home of a J-car enthusiast. Or maybe something in between.
1980s Mercedes-Benz S-Classes have become rare enough that it’s noteworthy when I see one in motion. This 1984 300SD was one of the rarer S-Class offerings in North America, so seeing it cruise down the highway was a treat. I bet this car has at least 300,000 mi. on the odometer.
Not quite so respected was Lincoln’s Mark LT pickup, whose main purpose in life was to prove that thinly rebadged F-150s don’t necessarily sell at a markup just because they wear Lincoln badges.
I photographed this circa 1990 Ford Bronco on a whim – they’re not entirely rare, but this one looked intriguing to me for some reason. Despite being a license plate enthusiast, I didn’t notice that the plate was this Bronco’s most intriguing feature. The plate, with its state seal, “OFFICIAL VEHICLE” label, and MZU prefix, indicates the Bronco belongs to the University of Missouri. There can’t be many 30+ year-old vehicles left in state vehicle fleets!
Now for a Bronco of a very different trim level. This 1995 Eddie Bauer edition looked like it just left the showroom.
Back when Porsche 914s were somewhat common, whenever I’d see one, I’d glance to see if it was an unusual 914/6. With the six-cylinder variant accounting for only about three percent of total 914 production, these were never a common sight.
A full-size convertible cruising down a highway on a warm spring day is a beautiful sight, and the occupants of this 1975 Chevrolet Caprice seemed to be enjoying the moment. This was the Caprice convertible’s last year, and just over 8,300 were produced.
There’s a first time for everything, and seeing this car marked the first time I saw a fourth-generation Honda Accord and said, “Wow, that’s a rare car!” The car is a 1991 DX coupe – the entry-level DX wasn’t terribly popular, and neither was the two-door bodystyle. This DX looks to be in great condition, too… I’d love to have gotten a closer look.
This was a blast from the past: A 1986 Firebird following another car (probably too) closely on a busy highway. Since the trophy of aggressive drivers has been taken up by other types of vehicles, seeing a 40-year-old F-body driving like it was a youngster was somewhat amusing.
1970s cars in everyday settings have become exceedingly rare, though this 1977 Chevrolet Malibu Classic parked at a Walmart was a welcome exception.
Even rarer are vehicles from the ‘60s – here’s a 1960 Chevrolet pickup parked curbside in a Missouri town. As I drove up, a man and a young boy who was likely his grandson got into the truck, so, like the Malibu above, it’s still performing everyday errands.
For Ford truck fans, here’s one too: A 1969 F-250 Custom Cab in Lunar Green. This one also sees an active daily life.
I’ll leave you with a 1977-79 Ford Ranchero GT, painted in what appears to be Light Chamois with brown stripes. The GT package included upgraded trim, and a “flight bench seat” – it was the middle of three Ranchero models, and was also the best selling during for this generation, accounting for 52% of Ranchero sales.
I hope you’ve enjoyed the tour of random finds – for the second half of this year, maybe I’ll get some more pictures of the fronts of cars as well!
Great post to start the week. I always wish I had my camera at the ready when I come across a CC candidate, but I never do. I’m glad you’re more on the ball than I, Eric.
A very nice set of regular vehicles in regular places doing pretty much regular stuff. Very refreshing and a good reminder that there’s always something to see if one looks at the cars around them through a CC lens.
Boy, I agree with your daughter. That 1992 Caprice is just ghastly. The wheels make it seem lowered (although I’m not so sure that it is) which does nothing for the looks. At least who or whatever was locked in the trunk seems to have escaped.
A fine collection of finds there.
I saw a pristine ’83-’86 white T-Bird at an intersection yesterday and it made me aware of how rare they’ve become.
I have a theory about the University of Mo. Bronco: it belongs to the Geology Department and is used only for summer field work.
I bet you’re right about that being a Geology Department vehicle. Generations of geologists have probably ridden that that Bronco!
The 77 Malibu may be a V6, it does not have the 350 emblem on the front fender that I can see.
Maybe the 92 Caprice is headed to the Cetacean Institute. What a bloatmobile.
You must drive an automatic to get those pictures. I am in a manual so grabbing a shot while needing to shift, on city streets, is a chore. This, even though I have two cameras with me and the Nikon P&S is a lot quicker than the cell phone.
Would have been handy as I was behind a very nice 75-77 Landcruiser in Danville.
For most of the in-car shots, I use a Nikon Coolpix Point & Shoot camera. It’s easier to take one-handed photos than w/ a cellphone, plus its zoom is better. I leave it on burst mode, and take a burst of pictures at a time… that way I don’t have to worry whether I’ve framed the shot well. Usually one of the pictures in the burst will turn out acceptably.
And yes, my fleet is nothing but automatics now…
I might be one of those people occasionally driving around town in my 1966 T-Bird convertible. People wave, give thumbs up, take pictures. When my old car makes people smile, I smile.
An “87 Accord, coupe parks in my neighborhood. Been there since (almost long as me).
It’s soo, deteriorated over the last twelve-fifteen years.
Rarely moves, did see it motoring about a month ago.
A black luxury car at a repair shop, love it, CC effect going well. I got my car scanned recently I’m staying near a dealer, when I turned up I parked in a slot next to a black C6 Citroen, this was incouraging, they only recently hung up the Chevron symbol and oh we see that C6 quite often weve never had a C5 in here from the service writer lady,
Ok they are the same cars under the skin mine runs fine now Peugeots got the same powertrain in the 20teens here.
I captured a white public university fleet vehicle here https://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog/cc-outtakes/curbside-outtakes-general-motors-gmt400-pickups-at-work-and-play/ of about the same vintage as the white full-size Bronco. About 30 years old also. But not quite as pristine.
I hadn’t realized there was a Mark LT, I had thought they were all Blackwoods. But I never paid that much attention. Either way, whenever I see the rear of a Blackwood, Mark LT, or early Navigator, all I can think of is Family Truckster. It’s like the designer watched Vacation and said “what a wonderful idea!”
I too hope someone is saving that Sunbird. Never heard great things about the OHC/FI engines in those. If I was taking it home, I’d drop a low mileage 3.1 MPFI into it. Keep it clean and stored winters, and it will probably outlive me.
I think your photos (taken on the fly and from the rear) are better than most of the stuff I’m able to shoot from a standing position. I’m still learning how to take good shots of cars, and haven’t tried it yet from a moving vehicle. I’m sure there must be an art to it.
Of the cars you’ve captured here, I like that Ford Torino GT on the trailer. I mean, come on. Probably right about it heading to an air-conditioned room somewhere.
Pretty sure that Lunar Green Ford pickup is a 3/4 ton, not an F100, which was a 1/2 ton. Weren’t the 3/4 ton models called F250s, even back then? I know they had different axles, wheels, suspensions, and underpinnings.
Ah – you’re right… thanks for pointing that out. Zooming in on the original photo, I can see the fender badge says Ford 250. I’ll amend the text. Thanks again!
The photo of the 1984 Pontiac Bonneville container the drooping headliner so common on GM cars of this period. I had a ‘83 Cutlass and used a stapler to keep the headliner from drooping on my head.
Every car I’ve owned has had a sagging headliner. Some I just dealt with, the nicer ones I fixed. My theory, for what it’s worth, is they sag due to moisture which breaks down the glue. Therefore my process is to strip the board clean with a bristle brush. Then use polar fleece held down with contact cement, as both are water resistant. It usually takes a gallon, more for wagon type vehicles. So far so good. I did my Celebrity over 20 years ago, and even after the roof leaked again and stained the fabric, it never came loose again.
Love the green 1975 Caprice classic convertible. I had a 1971 Impala convertible in green in 1975. I Loved that car and everyone hit it, that and road salt did it in .
Keep it coming, love it!!
Looking at the picture with Trans Am and the CT4 Blackwing in the next lane,. Who would have thought in 1986, that Pontiac the company credited with creating the muscle car would be history and Cadillac the king of the American luxury car now make GM muscle cars. Lol
Your posts always make my day! As a 72 year old life long Motörhead I have owned 131 cars and 87 motorcycles so lots of your finds kindle warm memories. Thanks for your work.
I think the ’91 Accord DC coupe might actually ‘be’ a sedan! Back in ’89, one of my coworkers bought a new Accord DX 2-door, and I recall the window sticker actually said the car was a ‘Accord DX 2-door Sedan’. Looked a bit weird with the black/dark gray bumpers (his car was red).
The f-250 looks like Scuzz Twitley’s,the famous country and western s it’s in all his videos