I’ve always been impressed how CC’s often flock together. Either similar cars, or cars which provide an opportunity to compare and contrast, Here, it’s a bit of both. These two are German, and of roughly similar vintage, but this Porsche 914 2.0 and Mercedes C123 are probably at different ends of the sportiness spectrum. So I think they deserve Odd Couple status. And before anyone asks, both had disabled parking permits to legally park at the blue curb.
On the left, a Toyota Stout, finished in two-tone red and black sprayed on bed liner paint. On the right, not needing introduction for most North Americans, is a much newer Chevrolet C2500 (nominally 3/4 ton) pickup
In its day, the MGB GT wasn’t that small, at least compared to its Midget sibling. On the other hand, the Honda Civic has grown a lot. But it wasn’t until the 5th generation in 1992 that the 3 door hatch grew longer than the MGB. This 10th gen Civic is about 30 inches (750 mm) longer than the first Civics.
And speaking of Civic hatchbacks, here’s a nice 4th gen Si along with a 1971 or ‘72 Chevy C10 pickup, with a Stepside short bed. Not including the front bullbar or rear step bumper, this truck with its period correct camper shell, is barely longer than the Civic seen earlier with the MG.
Only the white Tesla in the background (and the blue on white plates) is evidence that this photo wasn’t taken 50 years ago, but just a few months ago. The Chevy Van has gained a bit of patina since I last saw it. The Jeep CJ is a more recent addition to the neighborhood. Both move regularly under their own power.
I couldn’t resist taking a closeup of the Jeep’s spare tire. A 7.00-15LT bias ply Goodyear Traction Sure Grip that looks like it’s never touched the ground.
The camera angle may exaggerate the size difference between these two Toyota’s, but the contrast was still dramatic seeing them parked side by side. In the foreground, a final generation of the mid-engined MR2. In the background is a current generation 4Runner, a traditional body on frame SUV sold primarily in North America, and based on the same platform as the Land Cruiser Prado or Lexus GX. It’s positioned similarly, but mechanically different from, the Fortuner SUV sold in other parts of the world.
Finally two front wheel drive vans of European heritage, but some American genes as well. On the left is a Winnebago Rialto, based on the VW Eurovan (T4). I’m not sure of the model year of this example, but early versions used VW’s inline 5, and later models got the 2.8 liter VR6. No diesels here in the US. Despite the European platform, the Rialta was an all-American RV with a Coleman air con unit, Serta mattress, Suburban furnace, and Onan or Generac generators. On the right of course, is a RAM ProMaster. Or a Fiat Ducato. Or a Citroen Relay, or one of several Stellantis models. But I’m in the US, so this is in fact a ProMaster. Unlike the VW this was available briefly here with an Iveco 3.0 diesel, but this one is almost certainly powered by the gasoline 3.6 liter Pentastar V6.
I’ll close with a couple of interesting pairs that reflect my town’s evolving automotive environment quite well. First, a Hyundai Ioniq 5 EV and a Baja Bug.
The couple here is just one car, the Hyundai’s Kia EV6 counterpart, but paired with a trailer and Mercury-powered boat that looks longer than the car. All of these photo’s were taken within a two mile radius of my home, and all on neighborhood walks except this one, which I took in the Costco parking lot. I drove there. It’s easy enough to walk to Costco but not so easy to walk back home after shopping.
Those are some pretty good pairings. I especially like the way the two German cars in the lead shot are black and white, thus accentuating their differences.
Hi JP, I’ll just add to what you say that the Mercedes is likely a Diesel, thus making it more different.
Nice combos! There’s such a distinctive CA vibe about them; similar in some regards to Oregon, but different too. There’s a love for the old as well as the latest new things that is so typical Californian. It’s not replicated elsewhere.
The Ioniq 5 and Baja Bug are perfect examples of that.
The Rialta only used the front end of the VW cab and chassis, as the rest of the chassis and body were Winnebago’s. Before the VW, they used a Renault FWD van cab and drive train.
Nice Stout. I’ve hoped to find one but have not to date.
The Civic is ridiculous. In 1980 a sedan was 161 inches and the Accord at 170. Today that Civic is 182 inches. Today the Civic is almost 1000 lbs. more than the 1980 I had. So the sub-compact Civic has morphed into compact and the compact Accord has morphed into mid-size. That is the strongest reason why I wouldn’t buy one today after the electronics.
I have always liked the MGB GT and the two seater. If I ever saw a decent one I might pick it up but then there are a lot I would like to pick like a 66 New Yorker. So many choices, so little time, and never enough money for all given today’s asking prices.
Civics are not a little car these days, I’d have the MGB of that pair especially a V8 version, I havent seen a Toyota Stout since I left OZ and the ones I did see were in regular use and well beaten STOUT indeed,
Toyotas are everywhere here though MR2s are thing on the ground Hyundai EVs seem to be selling OK and those vans were about in Turbo diesel guise, I like the Baja Bug those are a Beetle I could live with.
Holy moly, that MGB is absolutely dwarfed by the Civic. Small cars have really gotten big in the last few years! I remember parking my 2003 E39 next to a 2014 Corolla and looking at how much slimmer and lower it looked – in Europe that 5 series was a reasonably large car when introduced.
My old VW looks like a toy these days…
In 1973, a Honda Civic 1200 was 139.6 inches long on an 86.6 inch wheelbase. A 1973 MGB GT was 159.2 inches long on a 91 inch wheelbase. It is a good thing they stopped making MGs, because if they grew like Civics then a new MGB would be 209.8 inches long. I kid.