I’ve been trying to get CCognoscento jim to start writing his own pieces for CC. For one thing, his head is filled with fully-arcane automotive arcana. For another thing, he has taken literally thousands of photos of CCs.
No luck yet, but he will (in his own time) contribute directly to CC. So for now I will share some images he has taken from his office window.
First up is this 61 Dodge Polara. That colour is absolutely spot-on. Sort of a warmish oyster mink. Sort of. Sorry about the crop; this is as much as jim captured.
Another in a stunning hue, this Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn hitching a ride. For any fans of ‘The Castle’, note the carrier’s business name.
Alfa 105 coupe, in 2 litre guise. Not such an attractive hue, but there would be few colours that could actually make this shape look unattractive.
Ok, the rest of the cars are in white. Ford Falcon XP Hardtop.
And again. Nice lines on a variation of the Ford compact with modified Mercury front clip.
Porsche 911. Whale tail with a slight flare to the rear wheelarch, so probably a Turbo ‘tribute’.
As jim remarked when he sent this one; appropriate juxtaposition.
Best for last. Jaguar 420G. G for supermotherfrigginggorgeous.
I am most stunned by that Dodge Polara. I wrote up a 61 Dart hardtop awhile back and it was the first one I have seen in decades. The Polara sold just a fraction of what the Dart sold and is just incredibly rare now. I would love to look at one of those for awhile and contemplate it.
The rest are interesting too. Not a fan of that particular green on the Roller. It is funny in this era of the Silver Car that silver is the color I most associate with a Rolls of that vintage.
I echo your sentiment – it would be great if Jim showed things like this regularly.
BTW the color on that Dodge was called “Buckskin”. That might be the car that shows up as sold at a Shannons auction in Melbourne in 2014 (for $46K). There can’t be two of them in that color and condition and with those wheels.
I see that Polara all over the internet. Has to be the most famous one. And distinctive, yes, with the color and (Kelsey-Hayes?) wheels.
It is striking, and in my opinion, gorgeous.
There is one 60 model for sale in Europe after complete restoration. The current exchange rate does get the asking price close to 80k $ but still nice car.
There is a lot of detailed pictures for these interested http://www.restorations.cz/?page_id=100
Thanks JP. I referred to your 61 Dart piece when putting this one together;
http://www.curbsideclassic.com/curbside-classics-american/curbside-classic-1961-dodge-dart-pioneer-the-anti-impala/
And I recall your most astute observation about that wingline’s influence on the Toyota S40 Crown;
http://www.curbsideclassic.com/curbside-classics-asian/curbside-classic-1962-67-s40-toyota-crown-the-generation-gap/
What a spectacular colour on that Polara, and love the roof line.
The Porscher boot lid appendage looks ugly, and I don’t really like the car below (lambo?), it looks like typical Italian over styling, when they get it so right, like the Lamborghini Mura , this jars to me
That 420G was the closest thing to thunderbirds FAB1 with the slopping front, I had one and loved it
I had one too Lee. Loved it too and often thought of FAB1 when looking at it too. Fortunately mine was not in hot pink.
It may be unpopular opinion, but I truly think this was the prettiest British saloon ever produced.
Great pics. The degree to which Ford and Chrysler modified their US compacts for sale in Australia before moving on to native bodies is always interesting. If I remember correctly, they also modified the rear clip and trunk on these XP Falcons, and there were real differences between the US Ranchero and the Aussie Falcon Ute.
I assume that the Rolls Royce is going straight to the pool room.
(One of the lines from the movie)
I’ll pay that!
The Porsche is pretty standard 80s 911SC fare, I’m fairly certain the original “narrow body” with the flat rear wheel arches ended in the 70s, and the whaletail was optional. Keep in mind the wing started with the naturally aspirated Carrara RS in 1973 and true whale tail on the 3.0 liter 74.
Yep. The camera angle and sun highlighting that rear flare blinded my eyes (and judgment).
I’m a bit jealous of the view from Jim’s window! I can see the back of the head of the guy in the cubicle next to me, and that’s it. Love that Polara!
Is it just me or does the Falcon XP look like it’s built on the Mercury Comet chassis rather than the US Falcon?
Interesting call. I’d say because the rear lights have been raised, and the front clip doesn’t curve down (as it did on the 60-63 US Falcon) that the overall effect on the wingline has been to make the car look longer, particularly from this angle. I can assure you it is a US 60+ Falcon in wheelbase length though.
I was focused more on the distance between the door and rear wheel well in addition to where the back roofline ends in comparison to the wheel well, but if it shares the same wheelbase as the US Falcon then it must be an optical illusion.
Love that Polara. That is the most spectacular car photo I’ve seen all year – last year too.
Did anyone else notice the Land Rover Specialists’ Hyundai company car in the Alfa pic?
I guess it’s hard to run a business while fixing your own car’s electrical gremlins.
Here’s a Chevy wagon I took from out my office window a few years ago…
Lee, you just made my Xmas. A clamshell, a 73 Cheb at that, and shot overhead. Cheers.
The shot of the 420G flashed me back to my senior year in high school, when my friend “borrowed” his aunt’s Jag, admittedly not a 420G, it was an XJ6, and we drove all around the Bay Area. Unfortunately we drove by his dad’s office, and his dad just happened to be looking out the window when we drove by. No camera, I suppose, but a similar 2nd or 3rd floor vantage. I don’t think my friend ever got to drive the car again.
Does nobody drive old Rollers anymore I saw this drophead coupe on a transporter at the Lewis pass garage, Love the Polara best shot by far.
And from the back quite a rare motorcar.
That is pretty Bryce. I’ve got a few other roller-on-tray pics; you’ve given me an idea (and some content) for another capsule.
Glad I could provide some entertainment for the holiday break, thank you Don for assembling the images and posting.
I’ve resolved to make 2018 the year I master this techno stuff and actually post something. Fingers crossed…
As for the Polara, I wish it wasn’t moving as I struggled to catch it. I’ve seen it more than once so the whole may be caught yet.
Ah! I always thought it was the Jag 420GeeThat’sAFatBastard.