Hobby Thread - August 8, 2026 [TRex]

Welcome hobbyists! Pull up a chair and sit a spell with the Horde in this little corner of the interweb. This is the mighty, mighty officially sanctioned Ace of Spades Hobby Thread. For this week, the Wheel of Hobbies (TM) is feeling lucky and decided on a random car theme for this Hobby Thread.

A what? A random car theme?

***

The second week of August on the Monterey Peninsula in California is typically known as "Car Week." The automotive world gathers for a week of car shows, vintage car races, new car unveiling, car auctions, and generally a celebration of almost anything with four wheels. Several major events anchor the festivities including the historic vintage races at Laguna Seca Raceway and the Pebble Beach Concours. Seventeen mile drive and PCH down to Big Sur are popular venues for driving tours. If you're the buying and selling sort, several world-class auctions are happy to help place cars of distinction with new homes.

Some events are ultra exclusive. Of course, you can also sit by the roadside and get a free parade of amazing machinery.

In that spirit, we'll do a theme of random cars.

What is the most random or quirky car you've ever owned?

What is the most random or quirky car experience you've had (with your clothes on)? What is the dream car that you always wanted? Did you grow up seeing concept cars at auto shows and wondering whether those would become real?

***

What are you hobbying?

Cars may not be everyone's favorite but give the content a chance before you judge. Any car or car-adjacent hobbying is in scope (such as small scale collecting or model building), so jump in with your interests, stories and questions.

In any event, the thread is not limited to to the theme. Anything (legal) you are hobbying is welcome. Even if the theme does not speak to you, you might learn something or be entertained. If not, find something else or offer something else relating to hobbying. If all of that fails, just check in and say hello.

As per usual Hobby Thread etiquette, keep this thread limited to hobbying. Leave politics and religion to threads elsewhere (unless your hobby is building or restoring churches). Pants? Nope. As always, puns are welcome and encouraged.

Play nice and do not be rude. Do not be a troll and do not feed the trolls.

***

***

If we're talking random, might as well start with an amphibious car.

Anyone ever own one? Drive one in the water?

***

Let's do some high dollar auction window shopping at one of the Monterey auctions. Monterey auctions often feature cars rarely seen or sold. Click on each for more photos and the full listing.

1948 Tucker - 19th made. Only 47 examples survive of the 51 made. Tuckers are mostly in museums and are rarely up for sale. Estimate $1m-$1.3m.

1968 Chevrolet L88 Corvette - class winner at the 1972 24 Hours of LeMans and third overall at the 1973 24 Hours of Daytona. Estimate $900k-$1.1m.

20260805-1968 Chevrolet Corvette L88 RED_NART Le Mans.jpg

1963 Corvette Grand Sport - One of five race cars built - extensively raced in 1964 and 1965. Estimate $11m-$13m.

20260805-1963 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport.jpg

1996 McLaren F1 GTR - racing version of the F1 road car. Formerly owned by Nick Mason. Estimate in excess of $35m.

1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Atalante - Best of Show at the 1976 Pebble Beach Concours. Estimate $4.5m-$6m.

20260805-1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Atalante.jpg

2013 Dallara DW12 - winner of the 2013 Indy 500 (but being sold without a drivetrain). Estimate $900k-$1.2m.

***

***

Gotta love a car known as the "Thing":

***

Auto Union has a wild history. It was a German automotive group formed in 1932 through the merger of four manufacturers: Audi, DKW, Horch, and Wanderer. The sporty Auto Union 1000 Sp was produced by Auto Union in West Germany from the late 1950s into the mid-1960s. It is one of the last models to use the "Auto Union" name before the brand evolved into modern Audi. If you squint, it kinda looks like a mid 1950's Ford Thunderbird, doesn't it? Hmmm...

***

Stainless steel and angular long before the Cybertruck...

***

How did Ford make Model A cars in 1928-1931?

***

Racing Trabants? Tell me this doesn't look like fun. Such an irony to have so much fun with cars that were an illustration for all that was wrong with East Germany. Now, they're nostalgic and have very enthusiastic and dedicated fans.

***

Did you know there is a sub-genre of cars that use airplane engines? That requires a particular type of mad scientist/evil genius. Naturally, Jay Leno has a few. This one is even more special than that. It has an enormous 18.8 liter 6 cylinder Benz airplane engine joined to a Mercedes truck chassis. It was built in 1921 in England and joined the two brands before they formally joined together in corporate life (in 1926). As Jay says in this video, "It really is just a low-flying aircraft."

If you watch nothing else, watch a few minutes starting at the 4 minute mark with Jimmy and the brass water jackets. Interesting design and impressive craftsmanship.

***

Non-automotive related. If you're not building a supersonic trebuchet in your backyard, are you even really hobbying?

Only posted a day ago and already over a million views. My favorite comment to the video: "Man throws a rock. Man happy"

Wisdom for the 'ettes - men are not complicated creatures. Frustrating perhaps, but not complicated.

***

Did you miss the Hobby Thread last week? We did a shed theme. The comments may be closed, but you can re-live the content.

Notable comments from last week:

***

Words of wisdom:

"Because despite all our troubles, when things are grim out in that wide round world of ours, that's when it's really important to have a good hobby." Posted by: tankascribe at June 22, 2024 07:41 PM (HWxAD).

***

Reminder: if you put links in the comments, use a URL shortener and describe what you're linking to. Failing to do either or both makes you barrel-eligible. Don't make people click to find out what you're linking.

Send thoughts, suggestions and photos of your hobbying to moronhobbies at protonmail dot com. Or just email to say hello. Do mighty things.

Posted by: Open Blogger at 05:30 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 \Honk honk

Posted by: Harpo at August 08, 2026 05:31 PM (1Ff7Z)

2 Welcome Hobbiests

Posted by: Skip at August 08, 2026 05:31 PM (Ia/+0)

3 Before my F-150 trucks this just starting out carpenter had a Chevy Chevett. I called it rolling tool box

Posted by: Skip at August 08, 2026 05:34 PM (Ia/+0)

4 My grail car has always been a 1972 MG Midget.

I don't know why I don't own one now that I am retired and can afford it. Inertia, I guess.

Posted by: toby928(c) at August 08, 2026 05:35 PM (4NO2D)

5 Oh noes. Our secret is out. Now they know.

Posted by: AASHTO Committee on Bridges & Structures at August 08, 2026 05:36 PM (nKjQb)

6 "What is the most random or quirky car you've ever owned?"

Simca 1000 is near the top of the list.

Posted by: fd at August 08, 2026 05:36 PM (MWfyi)

7 What, no Yugo?

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at August 08, 2026 05:40 PM (Cqx++)

8 Fiat 850 and X1/9 were quirky. I still have my Fiat 1100 TV Trasformabile. It's the quirkyest.

Posted by: fd at August 08, 2026 05:41 PM (MWfyi)

9 My first car was a VW Bug, kinda a hybrid, body and engine 1972, fenders from something a little older. Dad used to buy these beaters for a song and then put us all to work making one working model from one or two not so great working models. I think I put $600 into that car to get it to run well. Red, with black fenders, so not pretty, but it got about 49 mpg, which is about what I could afford as a teenager.

Posted by: tcn in AK at August 08, 2026 05:41 PM (oVbG+)

10 Simca did well at Rally for a while. The stock car had the Poissy engine, about 50hp.

Posted by: fd at August 08, 2026 05:42 PM (MWfyi)

11 Mecum has an auction in Monterey this coming week. Nightmare Logistics, who I mentioned in the MR, has a VW Squareback he's putting in, no reserve.

If you're interested in lower value cars, check out his channel.

https://www.youtube.com/@NightmareLogistics1

Posted by: OrangeEnt at August 08, 2026 05:44 PM (1Ff7Z)

12 My first car was a 1967 Ford Fairlane Station Wagon. It was the 1977 Winn Dixie parking lot drag race champion. It got totaled when I got rear ended by a teen girl gabbing with her fellow teen girl passenger and she forgot she was driving a car. ( I was also a teen) I saw them in my review mirror about 5 seconds before she slammed into me . Gave me enough time to brace myself (I wasn't wearing a seatbelt of course).

Posted by: polynikes at August 08, 2026 05:44 PM (KC5Lt)

13 My only painting of a bridge. It's the I-210 bridge that goes through Lake Charles, LA.

Posted by: polynikes at August 08, 2026 05:45 PM (KC5Lt)

14 4 My grail car has always been a 1972 MG Midget.

I don't know why I don't own one now that I am retired and can afford it. Inertia, I guess.
Posted by: toby928(c) at August 08, 2026 05:35 PM (4NO2D)

This year I purchased a 1961 Ford Falcon, two door, automatic transmission, teal blue, lovely, with all that chrome and trim.

Bought it off ebay, and the seller was full of crap, so it needs a fair bit of work. Drive train is wonky, engine doesn't get particularly good compression, no windscreen wipers (they are vacuum driven, so I probably need to wire them for electrics), no door liners or arm rests, etc.

But she is absolutely beautiful and I look good driving her. Once the house remodel is done, I will pull her into the garage and get busy.

Her name is Elinor.

Posted by: tcn in AK at August 08, 2026 05:45 PM (oVbG+)

15 My grail car has always been a 1972 MG Midget.

I don't know why I don't own one now that I am retired and can afford it. Inertia, I guess.
Posted by: toby928(c) at August 08, 2026 05:35 PM (4NO2D)

Too expensive?

Posted by: OrangeEnt at August 08, 2026 05:45 PM (1Ff7Z)

16 My first car was a Bug too. 1966. The last year for the wide lug bolt pattern, which was the same as the 356. I got some old rusty old 5 1/2 wide Porsche wheels and I was hot shit.

Posted by: fd at August 08, 2026 05:46 PM (MWfyi)

17 Too expensive?
Posted by: OrangeEnt at August 08, 2026 05:45 PM

No, it was always like there was more important stuff to buy or do.

Now that I am officially elderly, that shouldn't be an issue.

I even have room for it in my barn, if I ditch the clapped out Coleman trailer that nobody but me ever liked to camp in.

Posted by: toby928(c) at August 08, 2026 05:48 PM (4NO2D)

18 My dad bought a Nash Metropolitan for my older brother. He hated it, but my mom didn't mind driving it. One day, she took me and my younger brother for ice cream at the Dairy Queen drive-up, and it died at the window, and wouldn't start. Mom had us get out and give it one big push. She popped the clutch and got it running, and we took right off. Big respect to my clutch-popping mom and her mad driving skills. She was also the best parallel parker I've ever known, no matter what car she was in.

Posted by: huerfano at August 08, 2026 05:49 PM (VJX5o)

19 The Auto union convertible is a sharp looking car.

Kind of like if a 50s Oldsmobile fucked a Triumph Spitfire.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at August 08, 2026 05:49 PM (zZu0s)

20 My first car was a Bug too. 1966. The last year for the wide lug bolt pattern, which was the same as the 356. I got some old rusty old 5 1/2 wide Porsche wheels and I was hot shit.
Posted by: fd at August 08, 2026 05:46 PM (MWfyi)

I watched The Rivers Edge last night again. The crazy doper kid had a cool Bug. I would have loved having it in High School.

Posted by: polynikes at August 08, 2026 05:50 PM (KC5Lt)

21 Still looking for an early 70s Mercury Capri. Shared one with my brother. It burned up on a fishing trip.

Only ones I see are rust buckets asking 20k.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at August 08, 2026 05:50 PM (1Ff7Z)

22 OMG another Simca victim, I mean owner!

Posted by: YellowBird at August 08, 2026 05:50 PM (MEbkQ)

23 She was also the best parallel parker I've ever known, no matter what car she was in.
Posted by: huerfano at August 08, 2026 05:49 PM (VJX5o)

Backup cameras have made parallel parking a trivial job.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at August 08, 2026 05:51 PM (zZu0s)

24 My parents had a Rambler when we lived in South Dakota. I guess that was the model T of its time.

Posted by: polynikes at August 08, 2026 05:51 PM (KC5Lt)

25 No, it was always like there was more important stuff to buy or do.

Posted by: toby928(c) at August 08, 2026 05:48 PM (4NO2D)

I occasionally check prices on Bs. Way too much now. Last Midget price I saw was over 10k. I don't have that kind of money. I like the B I had.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at August 08, 2026 05:52 PM (1Ff7Z)

26 The Midget is unsophisticated, has Lucas electrics, is underpowered and rides like a cart, and is an absolute ton of fun on a nice day with the top down. People will wave to you and want to talk about it. You should get one.

Posted by: fd at August 08, 2026 05:53 PM (MWfyi)

27 First car I have now with a backup camera, fantastic feature

Posted by: Skip at August 08, 2026 05:53 PM (Ia/+0)

28 But she is absolutely beautiful and I look good driving her. Once the house remodel is done, I will pull her into the garage and get busy.

Her name is Elinor.

Posted by: tcn in AK at August 08, 2026 05:45 PM
***
Best wishes for the project!

Posted by: TRex - first base coach dino at August 08, 2026 05:54 PM (41CYW)

29 I still miss the 2001 miata special edition I had. My current car has literally 3 times the horsepower, but damn that car was fun.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at August 08, 2026 05:54 PM (zZu0s)

30 Actually, in fairness, my Simca was RWD with water-cooled "power plant" in the back. Pretty odd in the day. Blew a head gasket coming home from college one weekend. Limped back, called a buddy and had the head off in something like 30 minutes. Had the head machined, put it back together and it ran a bunch more years.

Posted by: YellowBird at August 08, 2026 05:54 PM (MEbkQ)

31 What year was your Simca, Yellowbird? Mine was a 65. Or maybe a 68. It was a long time ago.

Posted by: fd at August 08, 2026 05:55 PM (MWfyi)

32 MGA or MBG?

Posted by: TRex - batting coach dino at August 08, 2026 05:55 PM (41CYW)

33 Cars!

Taking care of my Buick, and driving it and feeding it, are sort of a hobby. I have the oil (Supertech 5W-30 synthetic) for the August or Sept. oil change, and received the Wix filter today. I have about 5200 miles on this oil this time, about 1000 mi. higher than usual because of my April road trip to Salina, KS. 32% oil life left on the monitor. So I could wait until next month to have it done.

Do I need to have the tires rotated? The reason I ask: The front, Continentals, are only four months old. The rears, Kellys, have two years on them. Are they close enough in age that the Kellys would be good rubber for the front (which is where you should keep your best rubber)? Or should I let this slide?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 08, 2026 05:55 PM (wzUl9)

34 Lived in/near Monterey for about a decade. "Car Week" was always a cool event. Got to take my '74 914 out on the track at Laguna Seca (not racing) for a "parade lap" with a bunch of other classic cars.

Daughter worked at Pebble Beach Golf so we'd get to mingle with the rich, famous, and the mostly asshole crowd.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at August 08, 2026 05:56 PM (2Cry5)

35 MGA or MBG?
Posted by: TRex - batting coach dino at August 08, 2026 05:55 PM

TD

Posted by: toby928(c) at August 08, 2026 05:57 PM (4NO2D)

36 fd, my Simca was a '64 four door complete with fully oxidized red paint. If you pulled out the back seat bench, a guy could get a fair amount of stuff in there. My college "moving van."

Also had a 64 MGB in the family for 40+ years. Lots of good memories there!

Posted by: YellowBird at August 08, 2026 05:58 PM (MEbkQ)

37 Hot August Nights in Reno and Sparks, NV has run during the first week of August for the past 40 years. Roughly 6000 pre-1979 cars are brought to various shows at the hotels.

Tomorrow is the last day of this year's event.

Posted by: Reno_NV_Dave at August 08, 2026 05:58 PM (yXKEQ)

38 "Actually, in fairness, my Simca was RWD with water-cooled "power plant" in the back. Pretty odd in the day. "

Fiat did the same thing. The Simca had a crazy water pump that was belt driven off to the side of the engine and they leaked all the time. The shaft that ran thru the pump also turned the cooling fan. Radiator, engine, everything was in the back. It did have a big frunk though.

Posted by: fd at August 08, 2026 05:58 PM (MWfyi)

39 20 My first car was a Bug too. 1966. The last year for the wide lug bolt pattern, which was the same as the 356. I got some old rusty old 5 1/2 wide Porsche wheels and I was hot shit.
Posted by: fd at August 08, 2026 05:46 PM (MWfyi)

Mine was a 56' with the small window

Posted by: It's me donna at August 08, 2026 05:58 PM (FtULh)

40 MGA or MBG?
Posted by: TRex - batting coach dino
---------
MGA!

Posted by: scampydog at August 08, 2026 05:59 PM (AtAa4)

41 Not sure if this qualifies as quirky, but my second car was a new off the showroom floor 1975 Cosworth Vega. One Vega for the price of two, as the singular ad I saw stated at the time. It was a cool car, only 3506 made. Another GM failed experiment though.

Posted by: Patches at August 08, 2026 05:59 PM (338iJ)

42 35 MGA or MBG?
Posted by: TRex - batting coach dino at August 08, 2026 05:55 PM

TD

Posted by: toby928(c) at August 08, 2026 05:57 PM
***
Excellent answer. Full credit.

Posted by: TRex - utility infielder dino at August 08, 2026 05:59 PM (41CYW)

43 MGA or MBG?
Posted by: TRex - batting coach dino at August 08, 2026 05:55 PM

TD
Posted by: toby928(c) at August 08, 2026 05:57 PM (4NO2D)

Certainly not the fake Chinese MG marque.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at August 08, 2026 06:00 PM (1Ff7Z)

44 "fd, my Simca was a '64 four door complete with fully oxidized red paint."

Mine was white. It looked like a refrigerator turned on it's side, with wheels.

Posted by: fd at August 08, 2026 06:00 PM (MWfyi)

45 Fro ten years, 1997-2007, I drove older Mercedes: a W123 coupe, the 280CE (the gas engine, imported into America via a loophole since closed); then the big W126 420SEL mini-limo, which I still miss; and then a W202 C230 sedan, normally aspirated. When the transmission on the W202 began to lock into a low gear and then slam into higher gear at unpredictable intervals, and nobody could diagnose it, I jumped ship to Buick.

The 1986 W126 was a wonderful road and city car, despite the 19 mpg it got on premium. It was relatively simple compared to today's cars, but that was part of what I loved about it. But Buicks give you 70% of the MB driving experience for 50% of the price, less if you buy used, and are cheaper to run, feed, maintain, and repair.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 08, 2026 06:00 PM (wzUl9)

46 23 She was also the best parallel parker I've ever known, no matter what car she was in.
Posted by: huerfano at August 08, 2026 05:49 PM (VJX5o)

Backup cameras have made parallel parking a trivial job.
Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at August 08, 2026 05:51 PM (zZu0s)

I could always parallel park, but I really refined it living on the north side of Chicago for a year. Lots of one way streets, with parking down both sides, and barely enough room to slip a compact car in.

While I was there, I had Alaska plates, and some ass tried to steal them, more than once. Luckily that old rust bucket had plate bolts that were rusted on and nearly unremovable. Bent hell out of the plate, but they never got it.

I left Chicago and never went back.

Posted by: tcn in AK at August 08, 2026 06:01 PM (oVbG+)

47 'One Vega for the price of two!'

Which ad retard came up eith that slogan?

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at August 08, 2026 06:02 PM (zZu0s)

48
57 Ford T-Bird's ugly cousin.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at August 08, 2026 06:02 PM (C0oZI)

49 While we are on cars
2022 Mazda CX 30, said started with 24.x mpg. Decided straight away to try plus gas in it. It's mpg jumped up immediately and has gone up to 27.1. Granted gas is a bit more expensive these days but considering my truck probably was 15 mpg it is a big difference.

Posted by: Skip at August 08, 2026 06:02 PM (Ia/+0)

50 Did you know there is a sub-genre of cars that use airplane engines?

There is also a sub-genre of airplanes that use car engines. Specifically, Chevrolet Corvair engines.

Posted by: Oddbob at August 08, 2026 06:02 PM (vTZFs)

51 I knew a girl in high school who's dad had an MG-TD, and she let me drive it! She didn't let me drive her though.

Posted by: fd at August 08, 2026 06:02 PM (MWfyi)

52 41 Not sure if this qualifies as quirky, but my second car was a new off the showroom floor 1975 Cosworth Vega. One Vega for the price of two, as the singular ad I saw stated at the time. It was a cool car, only 3506 made. Another GM failed experiment though.

Posted by: Patches at August 08, 2026 05:59 PM
***
Patches! Yes, a Cosworth Vega qualifies. To be fair, almost anything using Cosworth power qualifies.

Posted by: TRex - foul pole dino at August 08, 2026 06:03 PM (41CYW)

53 My friend in college had a Pontiac Fiero we called the wedge.

Posted by: polynikes at August 08, 2026 06:03 PM (KC5Lt)

54 The 1986 W126 was a wonderful road and city car, despite the 19 mpg it got on premium. It was relatively simple compared to today's cars, but that was part of what I loved about it. But Buicks give you 70% of the MB driving experience for 50% of the price, less if you buy used, and are cheaper to run, feed, maintain, and repair.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 08, 2026 06:00 PM (wzUl9)

I always wonder why anyone would buy a MB. Unless it's drive and dump. Aren't the cost of repairs and upkeep horrendous?

Posted by: OrangeEnt at August 08, 2026 06:03 PM (1Ff7Z)

55 " but my second car was a new off the showroom floor 1975 Cosworth Vega."

Was it black and gold?

Posted by: fd at August 08, 2026 06:03 PM (MWfyi)

56 Mine was a 56' with the small window
Posted by: It's me donna at August 08, 2026 05:58 PM (FtULh)

My sister's bug had the tiny engine. Sounded like you had to get out and push going up hills. But it puttered along just fine.

The narrow tires were perfect in the snow, too.

Posted by: tcn in AK at August 08, 2026 06:04 PM (oVbG+)

57 fd - The Simca was fun. Never broke the water pump, thankfully. But had all the passengers pumping forward and back when we came to the "big hill" between school and home.

Posted by: YellowBird at August 08, 2026 06:04 PM (MEbkQ)

58 Are they close enough in age that the Kellys would be good rubber for the front (which is where you should keep your best rubber)? Or should I let this slide?
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 08, 2026 05:55 PM (wzUl9)

Yes, always keep good rubber in the front. And, they should slide... if you're doing it right.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at August 08, 2026 06:05 PM (1Ff7Z)

59 " but my second car was a new off the showroom floor 1975 Cosworth Vega."

Was it black and gold?
Posted by: fd at August 08, 2026 06:03 PM

Wasn't that the only way they came?

Posted by: toby928(c) at August 08, 2026 06:05 PM (4NO2D)

60 Cosworth Vega ... might be the thread winner. Wow!

Posted by: YellowBird at August 08, 2026 06:05 PM (MEbkQ)

61 The only really quirky car I've had, as opposed to poorly built and designed (I'm looking at you, '84 Ford Escort), was the '75 Volvo 164 sedan I bought used in early '85. I didn't have it inspected by my regular mechanic; first mistake. The car had clearly been in an accident and repainted white; I overlooked the dark blue paint inside the doors, second mistake. Still it was fun to drive.

Then, one night as Mrs. Wolfus No. 2 and I were coming back from a nightclub, the car caught fire. Flames, she told me later, were licking out from under the dash. I wrestled it to the side of the road and we sprang out and ran to a safe distance, to watch it burn end to end. Later I found that model of Volvo had a quirk, a rubber fitting in the fuel line that could disintegrate. Apparently it did, shooting fuel over the windshield (I thought it was milk at first!) and all over the hot engine.

It put me off foreign cars for a long time.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 08, 2026 06:07 PM (wzUl9)

62 Quirkiest car I ever owned? Toss-up between the '48 Crosley panel, and the '62 Panhard PL17.

Quirkiest car I ever drove regularly? Probably the '66 Austin 1100 sedan. Thing handled like a slot car.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at August 08, 2026 06:07 PM (1z8ji)

63 My cousin owned a DeLorean, so I can get weirds credit by proximity.

Posted by: toby928(c) at August 08, 2026 06:07 PM (4NO2D)

64 Chrysler brought Simca to America, and sold parts for them for years. Buick did the same thing with Opel. I went to the local Buick dealer to get parts for my GT.

Posted by: fd at August 08, 2026 06:07 PM (MWfyi)

65 My dad had a baby blue 1959 Ford F-100 4WD, with the chrome and curvy fenders. It was a lovely thing, and I learned to drive in it, as well as the Ford Falcon station wagon. Every boy within a mile radius lusted after that truck. My brother drove it all through the 1980's, even replaced the rusted cab at one point, and the springs of course, but eventually it was just done. I think he had something like 500,000 miles on it when it finally gave up the ghost.

Posted by: tcn in AK at August 08, 2026 06:07 PM (oVbG+)

66 'One Vega for the price of two!'

Which ad retard came up eith that slogan?
Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at August 08, 2026 06:02 PM (zZu0s)

Well, it was a GM product. So, it was two: the one you brought to the shop, and the one they gave you as a loaner.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at August 08, 2026 06:07 PM (1Ff7Z)

67 If we're talking random, might as well start with an amphibious car.

Anyone ever own one? Drive one in the water?

If you want a ride in one, there's a restaurant in Orlando called The Boathouse that gives amphicar rides.

It's part of "Disney Springs," so it's on Disney property, but free to enter. It's not just Disney's stuff; Orlando's "House Of Blues" is there too.

Posted by: mikeski at August 08, 2026 06:08 PM (VHUov)

68 Hot August Nights in Reno and Sparks, NV has run during the first week of August for the past 40 years. Roughly 6000 pre-1979 cars are brought to various shows at the hotels.

Tomorrow is the last day of this year's event.
Posted by: Reno_NV_Dave at August 08, 2026 05:58 PM (yXKEQ)
------------
I lived in Susanville and always enjoyed seeing the beautiful vintage cars rolling through town on their way to Reno.

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea at August 08, 2026 06:08 PM (amcLV)

69 "Wasn't that the only way they came?
Posted by: toby928(c) "

I don't remember. The black and gold ones were the John Player editions.

Posted by: fd at August 08, 2026 06:08 PM (MWfyi)

70 Power steering made parallel parking trivial. Manual steering drives OK, so long as you’re moving not too noticeable most of the time, except … when the car is stopped. You better have ate yer Wheaties if you want to parallel park

Posted by: Common Tater at August 08, 2026 06:08 PM (FpODx)

71 If we're talking random, might as well start with an amphibious car.

Anyone ever own one? Drive one in the water?

*shifty eyes*

Posted by: Ted Kennedy at August 08, 2026 06:08 PM (4NO2D)

72 My dad had a baby blue 1959 Ford F-100 4WD, with the chrome and curvy fenders.
——

V8 engine or maybe a straight 6?

Posted by: Common Tater at August 08, 2026 06:10 PM (FpODx)

73 I read about too many Duck Boat Cars sinking and drowning their passengers I would never ride in one in the water.

Posted by: polynikes at August 08, 2026 06:10 PM (KC5Lt)

74 If we're talking random, might as well start with an amphibious car.

Anyone ever own one? Drive one in the water?
----------
They handled poorly on land and poorly in the water. Also tended to rust out quickly. Never became popular.

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea at August 08, 2026 06:10 PM (amcLV)

75 The only really quirky car I've had, as opposed to poorly built and designed (I'm looking at you, '84 Ford Escort)
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius

I've never owned any real oddballs. But I had an '84 Tempo, which was probably not much better than the Escort. Just a skosh bigger.

Posted by: mikeski at August 08, 2026 06:10 PM (VHUov)

76 "Toss-up between the '48 Crosley panel, and the '62 Panhard PL17."

That's pretty quirky. My dad had a Crosley Hotshot, way before I was born. I have a picture of him in it somewhere.

Posted by: fd at August 08, 2026 06:10 PM (MWfyi)

77 Still looking for an early 70s Mercury Capri. Shared one with my brother. It burned up on a fishing trip.

Only ones I see are rust buckets asking 20k.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at August 08, 2026 05:50 PM (1Ff7Z)

Mercury Capris and Ford Cortinas were both good small captive imports. And neither seem to have survived to any extent at all. Gone...

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at August 08, 2026 06:11 PM (1z8ji)

78 Was an AmphiCar in our neighborhood. Would see it down by local flooded river, but never actually saw it in the water. Word was they were miserable ...

Posted by: YellowBird at August 08, 2026 06:11 PM (MEbkQ)

79 62 Quirkiest car I ever owned? Toss-up between the '48 Crosley panel, and the '62 Panhard PL17.

Quirkiest car I ever drove regularly? Probably the '66 Austin 1100 sedan. Thing handled like a slot car.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at August 08, 2026 06:07 PM
***
Not ashamed to admit that I needed to look up all three. Quirky confirmed.

Posted by: TRex - infield fly rule dino at August 08, 2026 06:11 PM (41CYW)

80 Manual steering drives OK, so long as you’re moving not too noticeable most of the time, except … when the car is stopped. You better have ate yer Wheaties if you want to parallel park
Posted by: Common Tater at August 08, 2026 06:08 PM (FpODx)

Oh fer Pete's sake. All I drove was manual steering, until I finally bought a real car sometime in the late 1980's. Parallel parking is not a big deal, just as driving is not a big deal. The steering wheel is bigger for a reason. If it's too difficult, get a knob.

The best part of driving most of my cars is that they were also manual transmission. Not particularly steal-able these days.

Posted by: tcn in AK at August 08, 2026 06:11 PM (oVbG+)

81 My first car was really my then-fiancee's, the lady who became Mrs. Wolfus No. 1. She'd inherited a little money in early '76, and the first thing she thought of was, "A car!" She didn't know what to get. I pointed out various models, and she liked the lines of the four-door Ford Maverick. She bought a metallic-green 1975 model, with the larger engine (a whopping 100 hp), A/C, power steering but not brakes, and AM radio. $4000 MSRP new in '76.

After all the years of riding buses, I loved that car, and working on it taught me a lot about how to maintain a vehicle. After the intervening decades of Oldsmobiles, Mercedes, and Buicks, I'd find it tinny and underpowered today; but then? It was the height of luxury and freedom.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 08, 2026 06:12 PM (wzUl9)

82 The 914 I had at least was void of the stupid vacuum fuel injection they originally had. Still... the smell of gas from behind the seats was a bit unnerving.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at August 08, 2026 06:13 PM (2Cry5)

83 Still looking for an early 70s Mercury Capri. Shared one with my brother. It burned up on a fishing trip.

Only ones I see are rust buckets asking 20k.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at August 08, 2026 05:50 PM (1Ff7Z)
*
Mercury Capris and Ford Cortinas were both good small captive imports. And neither seem to have survived to any extent at all. Gone...
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at August 08, 2026

***
When I lived in Lafayette, my downstairs neighbor had a bronze-colored Capri. Fifty years ago now.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 08, 2026 06:13 PM (wzUl9)

84 My grandpa fought in Germany and Korea and would never buy a Japanese car. He did buy one of those German Capris though. One day when I was with him he backed into a light pole and wrapped the trunk around it. That was the end of that car.

That was unusual for him though. Usually he drove Cadillacs and Corvettes.

Posted by: fd at August 08, 2026 06:14 PM (MWfyi)

85 My first car was a 1952 Chevy Deluxe. Two door hardtop w/ a Powerglide tranny. I took that out and cobbed in a std tranny.

Posted by: Ronster at August 08, 2026 06:14 PM (kM+80)

86 AOP - Had a '72 Capri 2000, the one with the smaller V6. It was surprisingly fun to drive. Fair amount of snap to it. Had a pedal on the floor that worked both the windshield washer and a single-shot of the wipers. But really weird was the horn button on the end of the turn signal stalk. That took getting used to.

Posted by: YellowBird at August 08, 2026 06:14 PM (MEbkQ)

87 I occasionally check prices on Bs. Way too much now. Last Midget price I saw was over 10k. I don't have that kind of money. I like the B I had.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at August 08, 2026 05:52 PM (1Ff7Z)

MGB or MGA were much better cars in all respects than the Midget (or Austin-Healy Sprite). More power, more room, better brakes, and marginally better suspension.

I would take a real nice Midget over a ratty MGB at the same price, though.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at August 08, 2026 06:14 PM (1z8ji)

88 V8 engine or maybe a straight 6?
Posted by: Common Tater at August 08, 2026 06:10 PM (FpODx)

As I recall, it was a V8. It was big enough you could crawl into the engine compartment to change the oil filter, I do know that, because dad made me do that a couple of times.

Also had to do the hubs and back up to put it into 4 wheel. Now DH just flips a switch in his F-350. Slightly different experience.

I also remember the nice metal dashboard, and no seat belts, so in an accident you were guaranteed to lose some teeth.

Posted by: tcn in AK at August 08, 2026 06:14 PM (oVbG+)

89 I almost bought an Isuzu Trooper. I've not seen one anywhere in last ten years.

Posted by: polynikes at August 08, 2026 06:14 PM (KC5Lt)

90 What am I hobbying?

Fresh Fruit Popsicles....and not those dinky ones. I was recently dragged (kicking and screaming) to various antique / crap stores (obviously so I could carry stuff), and stumbled upon a collection molds that were meant for some unknown purpose (maybe butter molds...who knows..I washed them well, so not important). My overheated, laboring, little head immediately thought....whoa...popsicles. So I bought all four mold sets. And, as it is summper time I've been hobbying out my favorite fruit syrup recipes from my other hobby (personal orchard). Peach, Bing cherry, strawberry, raspberry... No sugar added (I only use honey). Pectin to help it gel and not freeze too solid...and mabye a little lemon juice to offset the honey.

This is an awesome, satisfying hobby that doesn't make you fat or waste fruit.

Posted by: Orson at August 08, 2026 06:15 PM (dIske)

91 Mercury Capris and Ford Cortinas were both good small captive imports. And neither seem to have survived to any extent at all. Gone...
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at August 08, 2026 06:11 PM (1z8ji)

AOP, there's a North American Capri Car Club based, I think in Michigan. Every year or so I check they're classified to see if anyone's ready to offload. The last time I looked they only ones were a souped up racer and a rusted body. That's the one the guy wanted 20k for. (insert eyeroll here)

Posted by: OrangeEnt at August 08, 2026 06:16 PM (1Ff7Z)

92 This area is filled with classic and modified cars. There is a car show of some sort going on virtually every weekend. One today down in Charlestown at the annual seafood festival.

I went to watch some of the racing at the New York Yacht Club Race week and ended up parked next to a nicely restored lat 1950s Porsche 356A/1600.

Always been partial to Porsches. Might find an old 911 someday just for grins.

Posted by: JackStraw at August 08, 2026 06:16 PM (viF8m)

93 84 My grandpa fought in Germany and Korea and would never buy a Japanese car. He did buy one of those German Capris though. One day when I was with him he backed into a light pole and wrapped the trunk around it. That was the end of that car.

That was unusual for him though. Usually he drove Cadillacs and Corvettes.
Posted by: fd at August 08, 2026 06:14 PM (MWfyi)

My dad welded ships in Seattle during WWII, as a teenager. He would never buy anything from Japan. Never. Refered to all vehicles from Japan as "rice rockets."

Posted by: tcn in AK at August 08, 2026 06:17 PM (oVbG+)

94 Not sure if this qualifies as quirky, but my second car was a new off the showroom floor 1975 Cosworth Vega. One Vega for the price of two, as the singular ad I saw stated at the time. It was a cool car, only 3506 made. Another GM failed experiment though.
Posted by: Patches at August 08, 2026 05:59 PM (338iJ)

There was one of those that went begging at the Portland Swap Meet for $7000 for several years in a row. I was dirt poor then, or I would have bought it. Worth big $$$ now.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at August 08, 2026 06:17 PM (1z8ji)

95 Random or quirky?

How about *both*: 1969 Mitsubishi Jeep.

Built under license from Kaiser Jeep, USA; looked like a Willys CJ3B. 4-cyl, 4wd, ragtop, high hood & flat fenders, single-pane fold-down windshield. Manual choke & throttle.

XH just *had to* buy that thing, LOL. We found a shop to rebuild the top-- it was tattered. XH welded up a rollbar with 4" pipe, then made bumpers out of I-beam. Removed the jump seats from back area, replaced the front seat with Camaro bucket seats-- nice & comfy!

We'd put the 'Desert Dog' tires on it & remove the top; drive to the beach & fold down the windshield; put it in 4-lo and set throttle to crawl. We could hop out to look at various stuff, then jump back in & put feet up on the dash while it puttered slowly along...

Posted by: JQ at August 08, 2026 06:18 PM (rdVOm)

96 89 I almost bought an Isuzu Trooper. I've not seen one anywhere in last ten years.
Posted by: polynikes at August 08, 2026 06:14 PM (KC5Lt)

Joe Isuzu might have been fibbing.

Posted by: tcn in AK at August 08, 2026 06:18 PM (oVbG+)

97 One last shot before taking Bride to dinner ... We had lots of Corvairs in the family Something like 6 at the peak. Have to be a few lurkers around here with stories to tell ...

The key was replacing the blasted seals on the push rods tubes. Good ones were viton, IIRC, and stopped the oil splatter on the back vent panel. Also improved the smell coming thru your heater.

Generally a much better car than got credit for being.

Posted by: YellowBird at August 08, 2026 06:18 PM (MEbkQ)

98 Embarrassing but for a short period of time I had a Renault LeCar. Cheapest thing I could find on short notice. Had to find something quick and cheap. At least it was a manual. And at speed, it could lift one of the rear wheels in a sharp turn.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at August 08, 2026 06:18 PM (2Cry5)

99 It's not really car but it's front wheel drive drivetrain from a Tornado makes the GMC Motorhome kinda quirky too.

Posted by: fd at August 08, 2026 06:19 PM (MWfyi)

100 >>62 Quirkiest car I ever owned? Toss-up between the '48 Crosley panel, and the '62 Panhard PL17.

I was born in Stuttgart when my dad was in the Army. My folks bought a used Panhard and when they had time drove around Europe. Some old photos of the family and that car. My mom loved it for some strange reason.

Posted by: JackStraw at August 08, 2026 06:19 PM (viF8m)

101 Orange Ent beat me to the "Well, it's GM "answer. Chevy was definitely hoping dummies like me, enamored with all things Cosworth, would spring for the deal. Closest I was ever going to get to a F1 car at any relationship. (Basically the twin cam head was the Ford Cosworth head design.)
Hi TRex - yeah, quirky, when the engine costs more than the rest of the car.
fd - yes, black and gold, only choice for 1975. For the 76 model year, they added a number of other colors, and a 5 speed option, but who would be silly enough to pay 6 grand for any Vega? That said, the firethorn red (metallic) version looked sharp.

Posted by: Patches at August 08, 2026 06:21 PM (338iJ)

102 One last shot before taking Bride to dinner ... We had lots of Corvairs in the family Something like 6 at the peak. Have to be a few lurkers around here with stories to tell ...

Posted by: YellowBird at August 08, 2026 06:18 PM (MEbkQ)

Sure. GPa lost a leg when he was in an accident with his Corvair.

Well, it's not a good story.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at August 08, 2026 06:21 PM (1Ff7Z)

103 I've gotten a lot of audio work done this week. That's all.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at August 08, 2026 06:21 PM (CHHv1)

104 My parents had two Corvairs. They on several occasions used one to tow the other. My mom hated those cars.

Posted by: fd at August 08, 2026 06:22 PM (MWfyi)

105 Cars were never a hobby for me, just a means of transportation. They have to meet several criteria:
- Do I fit in it (not a sure thing)
- Can I afford it
- Can I do basic maintenance (that's now a lost cause)

Some day I will meet the shit for brains who put a center console between the driver and passenger seats on EVERY car and express my thoughts. I'm taller than average, much bulkier than average, and wear size 15 WWWW shoes. Some people actually require space to operate a car.

Posted by: JTB at August 08, 2026 06:22 PM (yTvNw)

106 Was an AmphiCar in our neighborhood. Would see it down by local flooded river, but never actually saw it in the water. Word was they were miserable ...
Posted by: YellowBird at August 08, 2026 06:11 PM (MEbkQ)

Saw an Amphicar putting around in Horseshoe Bay, BC, back in the '70's, maybe the '60's. They were not very seaworthy, as a boat.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at August 08, 2026 06:22 PM (1z8ji)

107 Watching American Pickers you see a lot of quirky cars.

The Messerschmitt would be considered quirky to say the least.

Posted by: polynikes at August 08, 2026 06:23 PM (KC5Lt)

108 "And at speed, it could lift one of the rear wheels in a sharp turn.
Posted by: Martini Farmer"

A feature, not a bug.

Posted by: fd at August 08, 2026 06:23 PM (MWfyi)

109 3D Printing a giant Galactus figure, was able to bang out the longest print yesterday, 13hrs for a piece of the upper torso.

The rest of the pieces are 45m to 4 hours now.

Also got the Movie Vault app to MVP/Wife Certified status for the web interface, now everyone in the house can browse and play movies and tv shows from their laptop, tablet or phone.

The Roku frontend is going to take some time as Roku apps are built with something called Brightscript which is xml markup and a weird variant of Visual Basic.

But, all in all, I am super pleased with the result.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at August 08, 2026 06:23 PM (XV/Pl)

110 This comes into "coulda-would-shoulda" territory, but I can't help wondering. If I'd gone into the computer field in the early '70s I could have come out with a high-paying job for the time. Certainly I'd have moved to my own apartment. Where I chose would have depended to a degree on my job's location. Probably it would have been in the downtown area where all the banks and other firms had their in-house computer departments then.

And damn straight I'd have bought a car. In '75 or '76, there would have been a lot of choices. I could have gone luxury, with a Buick or Cadillac; or I could have gone sporty to impress girls, with a powerful-engined Chevy Chevelle or Pontiac Tempest. A '72-'74 model of any of these could have been bought used for pretty small money then. Gas was only .55/gallon, and by '76 the first gas crisis was over, so I would not have been waiting in lines.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 08, 2026 06:25 PM (wzUl9)

111 My dad had a Datsun 240Z

My brother and I would scrunch in the back and mom would ride up front and they would take us to Six Flags over Texas in Arlington and smoke pot before we went inside the park.

It was a fun car to ride in.

Posted by: nurse ratched. at August 08, 2026 06:25 PM (yEz+x)

112 Quirkiest car I ever drove regularly?

That would be my 1978 Mercury Granada. A great car, until it burned up in the Houston Intercontinental parking lot! After I walked all over the parking lot looking for it, and finally went up to the attendant, they said "Oh yeah, your car burned up yesterday." No more Ford/Mercurys since then!

Posted by: Jayhawkone at August 08, 2026 06:27 PM (10ssZ)

113 Still looking for an early 70s Mercury Capri. Shared one with my brother. It burned up on a fishing trip.

Only ones I see are rust buckets asking 20k.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at August 08, 2026 05:50 PM
-----------

Funny. We had one of those, and even fingerpainted "rustbucket" across the trunk lid! LOL! It was body-rotted quite badly, even in the mid-'80s.

Sold it to a guy who was building a "kit" Bugatti and needed the engine/trans and frame.

Posted by: JQ at August 08, 2026 06:27 PM (rdVOm)

114 The Messerschmitt would be considered quirky to say the least.

Posted by: polynikes at August 08, 2026 06:23 PM
***
Excellent nomination. Guess when you're banned from making airplanes, you pivot to making small cars with bubble canopies.

Posted by: TRex - third base coach dino at August 08, 2026 06:28 PM (41CYW)

115 Some day I will meet the shit for brains who put a center console between the driver and passenger seats on EVERY car and express my thoughts. I'm taller than average, much bulkier than average, and wear size 15 WWWW shoes. Some people actually require space to operate a car.
Posted by: JTB at August 08, 2026

***
When I see in older movies when somebody climbs into the passenger side of his car and *slides over* behind the wheel, I'm envious. my '65 Mercury Park Lane sedan with the power Breezeway rear window had a column shift (auto of course) and bench seats. It could seat five plus the driver, and did on a road trip to an SF convention in Knoxville, TN. I could enter via the passenger door and slide right over.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 08, 2026 06:28 PM (wzUl9)

116 Some day I will meet the shit for brains who put a center console between the driver and passenger seats on EVERY car and express my thoughts. I'm taller than average, much bulkier than average, and wear size 15 WWWW shoes. Some people actually require space to operate a car.
Posted by: JTB at August 08, 2026 06:22 PM (yTvNw)

DH doesn't fit in anything either, hence, the F-350. He also drives the Draagyn, a 2014 Dodge Challenger, with the seat all the way back and leaned back. Not all cars fit him.

I would also like to brain the idiot who puts in that console but doesn't make it fit a purse. I understood when men mostly drove, but now women drive as much or more than men, and still there is nowhere to put a purse.

Posted by: tcn in AK at August 08, 2026 06:28 PM (oVbG+)

117 I've gotten a lot of audio work done this week. That's all.
Posted by: BeckoningChasm at August 08, 2026 06:21 PM (CHHv1)

What?

Posted by: OrangeEnt at August 08, 2026 06:28 PM (1Ff7Z)

118 Elinor has bench seats front and back, the kind you can make babies in.

Posted by: tcn in AK at August 08, 2026 06:29 PM (oVbG+)

119
Watching American Pickers you see a lot of quirky cars.

The Messerschmitt would be considered quirky to say the least.
Posted by: polynikes

Or an Isetta

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at August 08, 2026 06:30 PM (Cqx++)

120
I haven't quite convinced myself to buy a new car yet.

Prices are fairly insane no matter what you get.

I also haven't decided on whether or not to get the simplest car I can or the jazziest one with all the newest toys.

Decisions decisions.

Posted by: naturalfake at August 08, 2026 06:30 PM (iJfKG)

121 Embarrassing but for a short period of time I had a Renault LeCar. Cheapest thing I could find on short notice. Had to find something quick and cheap. At least it was a manual. And at speed, it could lift one of the rear wheels in a sharp turn.
Posted by: Martini Farmer at August 08, 2026

***
In '83 I had occasion to rent a Renault Alliance. Not a bad little transportation device. I only ran it for a day, so I have no idea how it would have been long-term. I wasn't tempted to sell my Mercury and buy one, that was for sure.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 08, 2026 06:30 PM (wzUl9)

122 I was born in Stuttgart when my dad was in the Army. My folks bought a used Panhard and when they had time drove around Europe. Some old photos of the family and that car. My mom loved it for some strange reason.
Posted by: JackStraw at August 08, 2026 06:19 PM (viF8m)

Panhard called it a six-passenger car. Bench seats front and rear, and a flat floor. You could fit six people in it, if they were related, or wanted to be. Roomier car than a Beetle, for sure. Mine is the "Tigre" model, with faux tiger skin upholstery, and a 2 barrel carb (one barrel for each cylinder) that made it put out a whopping 53 HP. Nifty engine: 2 cylinder, opposed, air cooled, all roller bearing crankshaft, hemi heads, and torsion bar valve springs. Could be wound up to 7000 RPM! More like a high-end motorcycle engine than a car engine.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at August 08, 2026 06:31 PM (1z8ji)

123 Funny. We had one of those, and even fingerpainted "rustbucket" across the trunk lid! LOL! It was body-rotted quite badly, even in the mid-'80s.

Posted by: JQ at August 08, 2026 06:27 PM (rdVOm)

Did the passenger side rear window keep falling out?

Posted by: OrangeEnt at August 08, 2026 06:31 PM (1Ff7Z)

124 During the "gas crisis" my dad traded in his '70 Chevelle (base model) for a Datsun 200SX. Odd looking car, but was sort of fun to drive compared to mom's Ford Torino Wagon.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at August 08, 2026 06:31 PM (2Cry5)

125 I would also like to brain the idiot who puts in that console but doesn't make it fit a purse. I understood when men mostly drove, but now women drive as much or more than men, and still there is nowhere to put a purse.
Posted by: tcn in AK at August 08, 2026

***
The center console in my Buick is fairly high. When driving alone I put my phone, hat, and book, etc., on the passenger seat. When Linda is with me, the phone goes into the console and the book and hat on the back seat.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 08, 2026 06:32 PM (wzUl9)

126 The Messerschmitt would be considered quirky to say the least.
Posted by: polynikes at August 08, 2026 06:23 PM (KC5Lt)

I had the privilege of driving one, once. Noisy, it was.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at August 08, 2026 06:33 PM (1z8ji)

127 >>Panhard called it a six-passenger car. Bench seats front and rear, and a flat floor. You could fit six people in it, if they were related, or wanted to be. Roomier car than a Beetle, for sure. Mine is the "Tigre" model, with faux tiger skin upholstery, and a 2 barrel carb (one barrel for each cylinder) that made it put out a whopping 53 HP. Nifty engine: 2 cylinder, opposed, air cooled, all roller bearing crankshaft, hemi heads, and torsion bar valve springs. Could be wound up to 7000 RPM! More like a high-end motorcycle engine than a car engine.

Ha. That sounds like what I've told. I was just a baby so I have no memory but I was told lots of stories. A favorite touring area for my folks was Switzerland which is of course right next door. They said driving around the Alps with that car was always an adventure, never quite sure the car was going to make it.

Posted by: JackStraw at August 08, 2026 06:36 PM (viF8m)

128 Did the passenger side rear window keep falling out?
Posted by: OrangeEnt

Hahaha, not that I recall.

But there was a switch on the floor that I thought was for hi-beam headlights... Nope! Press it, and windshield wipers made one swipe. Cracked me up!

Posted by: JQ at August 08, 2026 06:36 PM (rdVOm)

129 First car: 1961 Mercury Comet. Still had the tail fins. It was essentially a small Sherman tank. Learned to tune an engine on that.

Most reliable: Late 60s AMC Ambassador. It just ran and ran. Wouldn't surprise me if it's still on the road.

Most comfortable: Olds Delta 88. The hood went beyond the horizon. A bench seat that went back so far even I could stretch my legs. Lousy gas mileage but it worth it for the room. The car we drove on our honeymoon.

Posted by: JTB at August 08, 2026 06:36 PM (yTvNw)

130 A ME 262 would be loud

Posted by: Skip at August 08, 2026 06:37 PM (Ia/+0)

131 Another quirky car: I worked on the Alaska pipeline in 1974 and saved enough to buy a 1969 Jaguar XKE. Beautiful car but ..., it would overheat regularly in the Texas summer! I lived in Fort Worth and driving down I-20 in July, the car overheated and the brakes locked at 60mph. Fortunately no one was immediately behind me and we all survived! My other favorite experience with this car was that if you washed it and sprayed the engine hood, it would not start until you dried out the carburetors. As they say, "All parts falling off this Jaguar are the finest in English craftmanship."

Posted by: Jayhawkone at August 08, 2026 06:38 PM (10ssZ)

132
That was unusual for him though. Usually he drove Cadillacs and Corvettes.
Posted by: fd at August 08, 2026

***
First car I remember riding in my was father's '47 two-door fastback Cadillac coupe. Black or dark blue, velvety seats, but no A/C. He kept it until '60 or so, when he bought one of the first year of the Chevy Impala, a '58, and had an A/C unit put in. That one lasted five years until the advent of the '66 Impala Super Sport. The last car I recall him having in '74 was a dark blue over cream Chevy Monte Carlo.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 08, 2026 06:38 PM (wzUl9)

133 My other favorite experience with this car was that if you washed it and sprayed the engine hood, it would not start until you dried out the carburetors. As they say, "All parts falling off this Jaguar are the finest in English craftmanship."
Posted by: Jayhawkone at August 08, 2026 06:38 PM (10ssZ)

But they are the finest crumpet-catcher ever made. You have to accept some of the quirks.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at August 08, 2026 06:39 PM (1z8ji)

134 But there was a switch on the floor that I thought was for hi-beam headlights... Nope! Press it, and windshield wipers made one swipe. Cracked me up!
Posted by: JQ at August 08, 2026

***
I remember the floor switch for hi-beam on the '75 Maverick. On the '65 Mercury, too. Every car I've had since then has had the high-beam activator on one of the column stalks.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 08, 2026 06:40 PM (wzUl9)

Processing 0.02, elapsed 0.0283 seconds.
14 queries taking 0.0082 seconds, 142 records returned.
Page size 103 kb.
Powered by Minx 0.8 beta.