It’s been almost two years since my last Spotted While Driving post, a series I began in 2014. I drive probably half as many miles as I used to, as post pandemic I work from home most of the time. In these two years I’ve finally found enough rolling classics to put together a post! Let’s lead off with this Geo Tracker.
I fell behind this final-generation Firebird on 86th Street on the north side of Indianapolis. Its styling was over the top then, but looks simply ridiculous now.
Speaking of ridiculous, take a gander at the narrow little bed on this fourth-gen Chevy C/K. I fell behind this one exiting my neighborhood in Zionsville.
Proving that there’s no accounting for taste, I always liked the looks of the Olds Alero coupe. Knowing that it was the same car as the Grand Am under the skin always kept me from buying one.
I also liked the looks of the ovoid Taurus wagon. I did own one of these, with Mercury Sable badging. The head gasket blew in that car, followed a year later by a freeze plug that required lifting the engine out to replace. That was the single most expensive car I ever owned, in terms of repairs.
I was very surprised when this final-generation Chevy Nova passed me on a busy Indianapolis street. I was never able to get a great view of it but managed to snap this quick shot at maximum zoom. It’s in impressive condition for being about 35 years old.
Spoiler alert! I always thought the fifth-gen Toyota Celica hatchback resembled the Ford Pinto, at least from the side.
This Honda S2000 with New Mexico plates is a long way from home, rolling down this central Indiana street.
I normally photograph cars stopped at lights. This Contour was parked, but was waiting for traffic to clear so it could pull out. I was stopped behind a long line of cars on my commute home, which let me make this snapshot.
Someone just bought this Fiero — that’s a paper temporary plate hanging there. I spotted this one just a couple weeks ago near my home.
Here’s a conversion Ford Econoline with a roof graft. I wonder if it has the 300 six. I drove a cargo Econoline with that six back in the day — it wasn’t fast, but it was hardy.
Finally, here’s a 1952 Chevrolet with Powerglide, as the decklid so prominently announces. I pulled up alongside this car at the next stoplight and found a man probably in his 30s behind the wheel, his dog in the passenger seat. Nice to know the old-car hobby is passing along to the next generation.
I really liked the “cute-utes” like the Tracker/Sidekick/Vitara in their era, but it wouldn’t have made sense to me to own one. Now such a vehicle would be a good fit for my life, but clean ones are increasingly rare and prices are climbing.
Now… if I could find the extremely rare 1st generation RAV4 soft top, I might even overpay.
I have a Suzuki based Tracker I bought 10 years ago. Was a daily driver for a couple years, then after i got a Jeep I just kept it around as a spare vehicle.
It was a rustbucket and oil burner, but it got a broke single dad through winters and long downstate trips. At least the frame is solid. 4×4 stick, worthless in 2WD but excellent in 4WD. Bumper covers gone, cookie sheet for a floor. Ragtop but you didn’t dare take it down or you’d never get it back on. Even so, I got more comments on that, than any other vehicle. People saying “man I used to have one of those, wish I never got rid of it, it would go anywhere”. One time selling another car, the buyer saw the Tracker and wanted it instead. True, it would go through narrow seasonal roads, and would float over mud and sand pits that would bury heavier vehicles. I built a bike rack from scrap bed frame, and went bike riding and camping. Went over the Mackinac Bridge a couple times, that was a daunting experience with the wind. I took it slow and prayed I wasn’t gonna be the next Yugo.
I’m once again using it, as winter arrived much sooner than expected, and my Jeep is still getting a lot of work done. Had to do some things to freshen it up from sitting, but it’s fun in a way, I might keep driving it all winter. All I need to do now is go a short distance to work and back.
Great post and collection of photos.
The lead-in Tracker reminds me of the Suzuki Samurai…which was my Mom’s last car and her favorite, despite my constant warning her of its flaws. She was all about the cute-ute.
I’d go for an ovoid Taurus wagon. Considering these back in the day brought me pretty close to buying a Ford. 😉
Last generation Nova? It’s been a decade since I’ve seen the equivalent Corolla on the road…longer still for a Nova-badged version.
Good car spotting ! .
I really like the two tone paint on the Chevy .
-Nate
My favorite is also the green-on-green ’52 Chevy!
Where have all the Contours (and Mystiques) gone?
I do love those old Chevys. I think it would be fun to have one with the PG, just to experience one-speed driving.
Might it be possible to fit a later alloy power glide in ? .
-Nate
If you were going to go to the trouble, why not just put in a more useful automatic. These Chevys still had the torque-tube driveline, so converting to a later powerglide would necessitate converting to an open driveline as well. At that point, might as well just convert to 4 speed with OD: a 700-R4 should bolt right up to the stovebolt, I think, though probably would have to fabricate a new cross member and mount.
Thank you Tito ;
I didn’t realize the P.G. ever used a Torque Tube .
I’d prolly rather a Hydramatic, I remember those in Ponchos and 6 cylinder Chevy light duty trucks, IMO they were fantastic .
-Nate
Clearly the remaining Contours and Mystiques aren’t in Eugene, or Santa Cruz. Perhaps all one of them, as in quantity one, are in Indiana. By contrast those NUMMI Nova’s or at least their Corolla counterparts, are almost common.
I think the “Firebird” looks “stylish”, still. The “52 Chevy” pic is a “feel good” one for me.
Way back in 1967 we had a ’52 Chevy two door sedan in dark green, it ran okay and had the hated Power Glide, I don’t remember whom cut a hole in the roof over the front seat and put in some hand fashioned stained glass then fiberglassed over it to keep the rain out, it was marvelous driving with the sun’s rays coming through in rainbow colors .
Then of course it made that same final mistake so many other vehicles did : refused to start one freezing cold February morning, after two winters of just sitting it was towed out into that low, marshy field all farms had and left to be vandalized .
-Nate
That Chevy would do nicely. Usual shipping address
The rear end tail light of the Firebird look awfully similar to the Prius.
Another view