This Buick was covered up for a good part of the winter. Would it ever reveal itself?
Indeed it did. And I had a chance to speak with the owner. It’s a 1973 Centurion, with the original 455 under the hood. It’s been in his family since new, purchased by his parents. He was making some minor electrical repairs when I spoke with him, but he does drive it regularly despite the rust. Yes, this is a California car, but after 50 years I think a little decay is acceptable. The racks are used to haul surfboards, so a little salt water drip may have sped things along, and the rust is more than cosmetic … there was some perforation around the edges of several panels. He has no plans to restore it, but hopes to keep it running and maybe pass it on to his grandkids who love riding in the backseat. My favorite parts of the car were the original, Centurion-unique hubcaps with the profile of a Roman warrior.
Another car with a not quite showroom exterior, but this time intentionally modified, not oxidation. I’m not quite sure what prompted someone to paint a dragon on a Chrysler Sebring but the effect was eye-catching.
Staying in the Chrysler family is this neon Neon. It’s been parked on this street for as long as I can remember, maybe ten years, and judging by its condition is regularly driven. It has a manual transmission.
Just in case there’s any doubt – it is a Neon. Though since the badge is nominally in lower case, perhaps it’s really a neon. Of the Dodge variety.
Another Chrysler, this New Yorker was so big I had to use pano mode on my iPhone to get the whole thing in. Along with a curious cat. Trust me, it’s hard to get a good steady pano when you’re holding a 5 month old puppy on a leash who is very interested in a cat.
But I did get a closeup of its badge. What a change in Chrysler’s badging over 30 years, compared to the Neon. I saw this a few blocks from my house on a street I walk regularly and have never seen it again. Just passing through, I guess. The sticker on the rear window is temporary registration for March 2023.
One more shot. Probably longer, but certainly lower, than the F150 in front of it. Most of the homes in our neighborhood were built between the 1920’s and 1940’s and driveways are narrow and garages small. Even if this car stayed in the ‘hood, it might have been destined to live on the street.
Still with Chrysler, here is a 300 convertible parked downtown.
It appears to be a conversion by Newport Specialty Cars. According to their website, “Newport Specialty Cars has been the leading provider of Exceptional convertible car design for exceptional people throughout the World for 30 years.” The capitalization is their’s. Their site shows conversions of the BMW740iL, Scion iQ and Toyota Prius, among others.
Full disclaimer: I photographed this Cadillac last Christmas while visiting family in Portland, Oregon. So not really my neighborhood. But it’s American and it’s big.
And this newer, though not quite so big, Cadillac DeVille was also spotted in Portland. It was parked outside our Air BnB. I wouldn’t have bothered taking a picture, but the driveway of our Air BnB contained a couple of true CC’s, though only one was domestic, so I was already taking pictures.
An Oldsmobile Bravada and a Mitsubishi Montero Sport. Plus a trailer full of junk. Despite the initial impression, which might have turned off some guests, the accommodations were very nice.
Back in my neighborhood. By itself, this wouldn’t quite qualify as a CC, until I noticed the badging on the rear hatch. And those are private party plates, not commercial or local or state government format. This is the first ex-police Ford Interceptor of the Explorer variety which I’ve seen. Will these soon become as common as ex-police Crown Victoria’s? Other than the cost of fuel, they may make good Uber or Lyft cars.
I know I’ve posted this Falcon before, but its juxtaposition on this walk-by with a Tesla Model 3 caught my eye. There are several Falcons of this style within my dog-walking radius from home.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t get a better angle of the undercover car without including the Mini. Any guesses as to what it is?
A rare sight on a rainy day, this could be a true SS396. Or not. It had a bench seat and column shifter.
While the powertrain and platform are of course from VW, the rest of this dune buggy is undoubtedly American. But I couldn’t see any manufacturer’s logo. The details of the fiberglass are different from the most common dune buggy brand, the Meyers Manx.
Here’s the business end. VW (or more likely chrome reproduction) tail lights. The name on the muffler bracket is TriMil, which I learned is a well-known manufacturer of VW exhausts. I’ve seen this car driving around and while the exhaust itself isn’t that loud, the overall mechanical noise from the uncovered VW air-cooled engine is a distinctive sound so one definitely hears it coming
That’s it for now, but I’ve got quite a few more Outtakes saved from my recent dog-walking excursions. Nothing too exotic, but perhaps not daily sights for those of you in other parts of the world. Stay tuned.
What a nice-looking community! Those are the types of houses I’m most interested in and combined with the treelined streets, moderate CA weather and proximity to the beach? A knockout!
Very cool collection of cars! I visit San Diego (Mission Beach/La Jolla) occasionally and always love to see the diversity of cars there. Here in the salty midwest you often see cars 10-15 years old then they’re toast.
I’ll wager you have a 68-70 Dodge Charger under that cover.
Charger was my first guess, too. The visible rear wheel hub looks too far forward for any possible car. Disconnected?
The roof of the house behind them is weird, too.
I was pretty sure it was a Mopar from the hubcaps, but thought maybe a Satellite or Coronet hardtop. Somehow I never thought of the Charger. Other commenters below are unsure about that identity but I think it’s the best guess. Thanks!
The big Buick and big Chrysler are my favorites. That New Yorker Brougham is a 74-75 model, which is a fairly rare bird compared to the 1976-78 that took on the Imperial trim after that model was discontinued. The main tell between 74 and 75 would be that the dash trim/steering wheel was black for all interior colors in 74 but color-keyed in 75.
I have never seen a modern 300 turned into a convertible. I would love to see that one with the top down.
Never understood Chrysler dropping Imperial name only to rebadge it as New Yorker. Loved Imperial, but once considered buying a two year old 75. Sadly disappointed with quality of CHEAP interior.
Because Chrysler’s two+ decade attempt to make a serious dent in the American luxury market was an utter failure by 1975. Cadillac was soaring, Lincoln was charging hard, but Imperial was dead in the water. Understand, they cracked 35k annual production only once – 1957 – and 20k only two other times – 1964, 1969. After 1973, it was a beautiful car that was essentially every bit a Chrysler New Yorker, and everyone knew it. Besides, Chrysler was a money-hemorrhaging basket case by 1975 and simply could no longer afford to put a serious contender in the Cadillac-Lincoln price class.
It made a fabulous New Yorker in 1976-78, as one of the most beautiful cars built and was fully competitive with a high-level Buick for the first time in years. I love Imperials, but we have to face reality.
That “early 80’s, Imperial” that came out had a rather “lackluster, quality, interior” as I recall.
Had occasion to ride in two when they were relatively new. One was burgundy/cordovan, the other “off white”.
H’mm memories.
The Neon must be well maintained to live this long. Last time I was one was 10 yrs ago.
Maybe it’s got the double overhead cam as opposed to the single overhead like most Neons. With a 5 speed manual, it could be fun….especially a two door!!
As for the Chrysler, that sure looks like my tuxedo cat!!! Must be the brother from the litter.
Nice collection of finds. The Buick’s rust formations are typical of cars that spent their lives near the beach, if not right on it.
A gen 1 neon, and a coupe no less. I’m liking it more now that they’re pretty much all gone.
I had to Google to see what the 300 looks like with the top down. Better.
There were numerous Manx imitation kits back in the day.
This post brings back sad 😔 memories. I have had two treasured vehicles that I had to part with (for health issues). First was 78 Lincoln Town Coupe. Later 89 RWD FLEETWOOD Brougham deElegance. Loved both but at the time could not afford needed repairs. Reluctantly decided it was better to pass them on to someone who could preserve these monuments to the OTT Great American Land YACHTS. Fortunately finances have improved but too far along to consider a second car. Fortunately have a beautiful low mileage Town Car Signature Limited that will literally drive 🚗 me to the grave! Now consider myself a vintage Rolls Canardly, Roll down one hill and can ardly get up the next! 😉
Mixed bag of finds! Undercover car? Quarter panel looks a little too high for a Charger. Profile kinda reminds me of my 67 LeSabre coupe. The Neon checks all the boxes, perfect color, 2 doors, and a stick.
LeSabre was my second guess because it seems large, but the Buick has a W-shaped back end, not seen here.
Yeah, would like to find a simple, preserved “Neon” now. Not the biggest fan of the car, just it’s simple ease of operation. It was a convenient , useful car.
I was liking the New Yorker until the end and then saw the dune buggy. I have always had the desire, since 14, to build one ever since seeing them show up in Southern California back in the late ’60s.
I nice collection. The Falcon really brings back memories, my favorite elementary school teacher, Mr Roy drove a white Falcon quite like that.
Unlike my previous Grade 2 teacher who told my parents I was destined for prison, Mr Roy understood me and gave me some extra help and attention.
More great finds, thank you! I always appreciate it, when owners of vintage cars, go the extra creative mile. And occasionally, give their car’s aesthetics, a modern freshening. If they have a budget, and a desire. I’m not talking the over-the-top Dub look. Or a resto-mod. Just modern colours, contemporary wheels, etc. As long as they are not tampering with an original car.
The Centurion and New Yorker would have been old guy’s cars to me in the ’70s. And they remain such. Both would be well-served by a freshening, that perhaps includes current wheels and/or colours. Aim being, to compliment their looks, and make them more appealing to a wider audience. Including the owner.
An example. Great colour, stance, tire and wheel choices, for this Diplomat wagon. A transformational image change! A fun car to drive.
The Centurion would have been the perfect staged freeway crash car, in the TV series, ‘CHiPs’. How many late ’60s thru early ’70s, full-sized Southern California cars, were lost to that show? I watched the series as a kid, and based upon my unscientific observations, the ’69/’70 Impala, and fuselage Chryslers seemed leading targets.
👍 although having watched some episodes recently, they seemed to reuse some of the same crash 💥 scenes and cars in multiple episodes. But it was always obvious that the 10 year junker was being set up for a fall.
The one that takes the gold medal for me is the ’74-5 Chrysler. It’s actually quite an attractive design, when viewed out of its historical context. What a pity it didn’t come along two or three years earlier.
“Charger” under the cover? Maybe a “Sattelite/Coronet”? The “70’s New Yorker” does well in “photo’s! Quite a looker. (the cat too!!)
As a postscript, an hour ago I walked down the street where I photographed the New Yorker. It wasn’t there 😟 but right across the street was a 1941 Plymouth station wagon, in town for tomorrow’s “Woodies on the Whatf” car show. I chatted with the owner though I didn’t take a photo. Every car has a story, but I wish I had gotten the Chrysler’s story.
That SS 396 could be original.
In the summer of 1972 while shopping for a new car I test drove a ’69 SS 396 Chevelle. It too had a bench set and column shifter along with a vinyl top.
Of the ’71-76 Buicks, ’73 has always been my favorite. The shape of the hood, fenders & the headlight surrounds seem to have just a hint of the ’58s, which I actually like.
The hubcap on the mystery car definitely looks Mopar and my first thought was ’67-68 Plymouth Fury fastop. It could definitely be one of the B bodies though.