Yes, it’s that time of year again, when the sun comes out more regularly, and there’s so much to attend to outdoors. I took a two month hiatus on the housebuilding project in the dark depths of winter, but since the beginning of February, that’s back in swing. Obviously, I’m not doing the primary physical work full-time, as I have an excellent carpenter/jack-of-all-trades (we did our own plumbing and electrical). But now there’s so much to do to finish it, and I have other projects overdue too. So CC depends on the help of strangers, and the content inflow is getting precariously low.
Anybody want to do a COAL (Cars Of A Lifetime) series? Or just any other CC posts that you think will find some interest here? Got an interesting car you want to share? Some historical knowledge? Here’s your opportunity for internet fame and glory. Some of you do an awful lot of comment-writing; turn that knowledge and finger-tip energy into a post! Just e-mail me (curbsideclassic(at)gmail.com) the text, and attach pictures (don’t embed them into the text, and reduce pictures to about 600-900 pixels, preferably). Help keep the CC party going over the summer!
I say we start with the guy holding the sign. Oh, wait . . . 🙂
I swear from this distance in that light I was about to ask “What is Alex Trebek doing in front of that house?”
That was good.
I will for sure be doing a piece called , “The Uncensored Tales of a Service Advisor” this summer. May make a few fanbois/slappies a might unhappy. Will just call ’em as I saw ’em!
What’s a slappy? Actually, forget it, don’t tell me. Probably involves the Canuckistani male’s favorite Buick.
I look forward to some of these tales!
Stay classy, Len!
OK I’ll try but you’ll have to edit the results to make it readable. Its heading into my winter and lots of classics hide away once the cruise ships stop visiting.
Hey, all, I became a contributor in the last call Paul made like this and it’s a lot of fun. If you’ve ever thought about it, you should do it. There’s a copy editor to help whip your text into shape if you’re unsure about your writing skills. Doo eeet!
I have a few ideas in the works. I’ll get cracking next week when I’m done with finals.
That house looks like a European chalet alpine style.
I have a Buick Regal piece coming.
Considering where Paul is from originally, is it any wonder? ;D
Not going to promise anything but I’ll consider the challenge. The biggest thing holding me back from a COAL is I’ve owned 48 vehicles but have photos of 2.
The good news is, I’ve been seeing more CCs to photograph lately if I get around to it.
I’ll see what I can come up with.
Many of the COAL series do not feature pictures of the actual vehicles in question. For example none of my Mazda series included any of my own vehicles, the pictures were found on google.
Yup; we can always find pictures.
I’ve been thinking of a multi-part series chronicling the joint venture between Chrysler & Mitsubishi (DSM & captive imports included). I could probably do it on a schedule similar to that of CCCCC. How does that sound Paul?
Sounds like a gem!
Please do this! Chryslerbishi fascinates me. I even got Iacocca’s five-part book on tape (literally, its on magnetic tape. I live under a rock)
I’ll read Iacocca’s autobiography (pun intended) once I find my Dad’s copy of it wherever it is.
Paul, do you think JP’s in-laws would have any photos of their familial 1983 Dodge/Plymouth/Mitsubishi Colt Twin-Stick that I could use?
You mean the little hatchback, right? I have pics of both the Dodge and the Plymouth Champ versions.
I have a pretty big inventory of cars shot, so just send me an e-mail of your requests. BTW, there’s a CC of those cars still at the old place.
I just sent you an email on this.
I just got the email. I’ll use those photos along with some of Paul’s photos if your pics are available. If not avaliable, I will use just Paul’s photos.
All I need now are photos of a first gen Mitsubishi/Dodge Colt.
The very first gen? Like this one. I wish. But I do have several gen 2s.
Remember Paul, somebody at the Cohort might have some photos of one of these.
I for one would love to see a good story on the Plymouth Sapporo. An underrated and overlooked car.
I love Sapporos & 2nd gen Challenger (a la IRS, please), & could probably use Paul’s pics from his CC of a local Sapporo (link below) for the story.
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/curbside-classics-american/curbside-classic-1978-plymouth-sapporo-stayin-alive/
I think I have a few pics I took myself of a Sapporo AND Challenger that both showed up at last year’s Japanese Classic Car Show in Long Beach, CA. I could send or post on cohort if you need them.
This sounds wonderful! I can’t wait to hear/read multiple opinions, views, and stories of some of the commenters.
Yes, even “Carmine”. (ha-ha)
I would like to see an article on people’s first cars and how they acquired them and anything unique that happened with them.
First car stories, that would be interesting more so than the sh*t throwing fest that has been going on. Human interest stories rather than rehashing old news.
I sat down with a 74yo lady Saturday who (along with her husband but he no longer drives) owns a 1968 Dodge Charger that they purchased new and have had continuously for 45 years. The car itself is cool, but the story of how they decided to buy it, picking out the model, driving it, and preserving it all these years is the real story.
It seems like today there is a profound lack of personal connection to vehicles. Maybe it is because they are no longer as distinctive as they once were before all the regulations took effect.
I think it would be a good draw to get more extensive personal interest in the stories. It is already done to a smaller extent but usually only anecdotally to introduce the storyline. Most of the cars we cover on here are older 20+ so comparing them to today’s cars is less relevant but the stories are ideal.
I’ll have to agree here. My favorite features here are not necessarily those that focus on my favorite vehicles. Facts, true and false, can be found everywhere on the net: enriching personal experiences …not so much.
Ed’s old Ford pickup and Carlo’s 6000 were just a few pieces coming to mind that really “touched” me, so to speak. I remember a few reads here brought forth a few tears, as crazy as it sounds.
Thanks Junqueboi, by the way. The 6000 piece was something that I was working on for a while as a tribute to my dad. I doubt that I’ll be able to top that one.
Carmine already took the plunge once: https://www.curbsideclassic.com/curbside-classics-american/my-curbside-classic-1980-chevrolet-caprice-classic-it%E2%80%99s-the-new-chevrolet/
I know I don’t comment on here too much, so nobody here really knows me. However, if you guys want I’ll do a writeup on my car, a 1990 Brougham. I know there’s been a couple brougham writeups posted before, so I understand if nobody’s interested. But I’ll throw out the offer anyway. Need something to do over the upcoming summer break!
There are lots of Brougham lovers & fans here. There will be interest.
I hope to submit one by summer time on my 1986 Fleetwood Brougham, to complement the one from Anthony.
Then FINALLY these forgotten cars will get some coverage on Curbside Classic 😉
Ignore some of the Brougham-haters here: there aren’t many. You can’t please everybody 🙂 I’d be interested in reading about your car.
I have owned two Broughams, one purchased at the age of 24 and the other at the age of 37. I always like to hear stories from people who owns cars “outside the stereotype” so to speak. Especially if they are bought new or nearly new and regularly driven.
Glad to see there’s Interest! When I find the time, I’ll do a write up on her. Between work and school, I don’t have the time right now, but I should over the summer.
What about motorcycle articles?
Sure. Or an interesting story or two about your dad’s dealer. Must be some stories there, eh?
I HAVE been thinking about an article on the vintage Honda Mini-Trails, as I learned to ride on them, and I’m sure I’m not the only one here, and I just acquired some to relive my youth.
Hi all. I know you all haven’t heard much from me lately. I’ve just had a lot on my plate these days. I am in the midst of a large sifting through of all the stuff in my house, in the hopes that I might get to relocate to another part of the state. I have a house in mind, but I have to wait and see if the people that put an offer in first backs out, if so then it’s mine.
On a brighter note, once warmer weather gets here, the good stuff will start coming out of garages and I’ll be able to start shooting more cars. Plus, I have some museums and car shows that I will be attending so I will have some good content for summer.
Excuses, excuses…:)
I SO want to do this. The things holding me back are 1) time, and B) a serious lack of keyboarding skills.
I have owned a lot of cars, have pictures of most of them, and anecdotes to go along. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that I’ve lived my life in the automotive capital of Wisconsin, the parallel universe of Kenosha.
By the way, I love the motorcycle articles.
Just give one a shot and see how it works for you.
I would love to do a bit of writing but Im not confident that I could hold the reader. I have had somewhere around 30 vehicles (I think, that number seems lows) in the 20 or so years Ive had a lisence. Ive scrapped cars as a dealer (scrap) Ive raced race prepped beaters (88 sunbird,91 cavilier, civics) And I still attend those races every weekend. If I had half a memory and could remember the little details I’d give it a go. And I just might give it a whirrrl.
You will hold them; our readers have a velcro attention to any automotive stories. It doesn’t take that much 🙂
Hey, I resemble that remark!
I could do a COAL… including the Mazda B-series pickups which have been requested. I also owe you a road trip report – Harrisburg, PA to Costa Mesa, CA in three days flat.
If you have ever considered submitting an article, DO IT!!! It’s fun, it’s addictive, and you get to see your (pen)name on the by-line.
Writing articles on here is addictive and, what’s better, it’s about something you enjoy or you wouldn’t be here in the first place. It’s a win-win!
Do it now as you’ll be less likely to do it next week. The road to hell is paved with good intentions!!! 🙂
What Jason said. 2 years ago I was a reader/commenter just like you. A long comment led to a post, which led to another, and here we are. I started with cars I was already familiar with, and now I am even doing Volvo pieces. This has been great fun and a chance to be part of the best place (and with the best people) on the web. Join us!
Absolutely. I started writing for CC after being a reader since the TTAC days. I was between jobs and looking for something to do. Paul invited me to give it a try, and it has been great fun. Even though I now am back to working full-time, I’m still writing. I don’t see myself giving it up anytime soon 🙂
I repeat what Jason said. A few months ago, I was just a normal commenter/reader like you. At the time, I had been toying around with the idea of becoming a contributor. After Jason wrote a comment similar to the above one on CC’s second anniversary, I was inspired to become a contributor. So, I contacted Paul, and off I went.
It’s addictive, it’s fun, & I’m not quitting anytime soon.
Now off to (home)work.
Paul, I could commit to a COAL series, I just sent you one along with the list of vehicles I have owned. 36 cars, 4 motorcycles to date… Not sure about the other guys on here, but I find the COAL’s among the most interesting articles. The variety of cars is astounding and there are definite regional differences in the types of cars that people own.
You sent me something? recently?
Yes about 5 minutes before I posted. You didn’t get anything? I sent to to curbsideclassic (at) gmail.com and yes I replaced (at) with @
I titled it “COAL submission”, it has two attachments.
Not received. curbsideclassic (singular), not curbsideclassics, I presume.
Send me an e-mail at the contact form, and then I will respond, which will get you my private e-mail.
Ok I did that about an hour ago. If I don’t hear from you I will think of something else. Weird.
I would love to contribute more if I can make the time to write. Among other ideas, I have an interesting story about an Army Jeep that I need to type out before I forget the details.
This winter I have been spending any available free time on the restoration of one of my Chryslers. I just finished reassembling the grille.
That’s a beautiful bit of work. I’d be tempted to park it up there in front of the fireplace and admire it all summer.
Or just put a fireplace in the garage so you can relax and admire the whole car. 🙂
There’s an idea. 🙂 My wife commented last night that I’ll be afraid to drive the car once it’s done, for fear of damaging anything. She’s absolutely right, I’m probably making a mistake being so fussy with it.
If I had to pay someone else to restore just this grille to the level I have done, this would be a $3000 grille.
I’ve got a couple more articles I’d like to write, just been really bz too as of late. I promise they’re on their way, especially one about my crazy neighbor’s extraordinarily eclectic car collection.
I’d love to lend my time! I’ve had a lot of bizarre cars in my short time on this pale blue dot. Six and change, eight if I am allowed to count my partners rolling roadblocks.
Paul, how are you with stucco? Could I hire you for $60 a day and a lunch for about three weeks worth of work? Off the books, of course.
Terrible. But I once had a guy be willing to do a proper three-coat stucco job on a house of mine for like $900. In the end, he made not much more than that per day, and I did give him lunch. Awesome job, too.
I’ve been thinking about a Reality TV series where two guys and a babe randomly pick out cars off of Craigslist and go see them. You have to admit, that’s real life. Nobody has responded to a CL Car For Sale and doesn’t have a story.
In thinking about it, it’s waaaaaaaaaaaaayyyy more suited as a blog feature called “My CL Tales” or, “how I went looking for something for nothing and the seller was a nothing for something”.
Once blogged, the replies will go epic on analyzing what the hell is that seller thinking. You’ll have car experts replying that the air cleaner wing nut has the incorrect zinc finish to to everyone who completed Psy101 and 102 analyzing how sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.
Now here’s the trouble. I can’t do it because I go looking for trouble. I would, to the detriment of my own sanity, pick out the most blatantly absurd ads and come back beating my head against a brick wall with way too much profanity that after given three warnings, my feature would be given the boot. This is not be compared to Jalopnik’s Nice Price or Crack Price feature or BaT where it’s simply a C&P from another online site, but gittin down n dirty with the seller and watch their lips move. Darn it, I’m motivated to go troll CL right now……..
Pitch it to a producer or network exec (Speed, Top Gear producers, et cetera) & you might have your own TV show. I’d watch it, which means you can give it the Mr. Edward Mann Lifeway Brand Seal Of Approval.
This would make a Great show. I bought my car off of Craig’s, but I looked at about dozen cars previously, all found on Craigslist. Boy, the characters I met…
It’s really something, how these Cadillacs I was looking at ended up with such owners.
More excuses here. I so want to contribute but just have so many projects going at once. I will contribute more, hopefully sooner rather than later. Some of my ideas lately have centered around features and their history/origins, which would require some research (navigation systems, rectangular headlamps, cornering lamps, automatic seatbelts, etc.) but I also have at least one car I haven’t profiled yet, plus past cars I’ve owned (COAL maybe?) although one idea would involve profiling a friend’s currently car that is the same model/gen as my very first car.
C.O.A.L. could be fun Ive owned about 80 cars though there were many repeats, I think I’m on my 10th Hillman but Ive now remembered a Humber80 wagon so thats 11 yeah nar the memory isnt good enough for that but I have owned some unusual cars that wouldnt be familiar to the commentariat, a 55 Morris Isis, got a foto of one of those paul? Its ok I know where there is one in a neaby museum
I once offered to write some pieces about local car shows, of which there are many since I live in Carlisle, PA. That was tentatively rejected largely because the cars at the shows are not “curbside”, as it were.
Since then there have been car show submissions, and with that change I am once again offering to submit some pieces. I’ll also be able to find some good stuff around here. In fact, I have something in mind already. I’ll get some photos and go from there.
I am in a similar predicament of being very busy at work and now also busy on the weekends. We are working on getting my mom’s house fixed up and sold. But, as I have time, I have a few more COAL stories from the photo albums that I am working on. I’ll get them in a soon as I can.
I also have more random stuff, Paul. I took a bunch of pictures of an old tractor from the 40’s a couple of weeks ago in the Poconos. Don’t have much knowledge of old tractors, but I’ll give it a shot.