Beautiful Cars Appreciation Thread

[oldshurst442]

 

 

[oldshurst442]

 

                                                     

                                                       

 

 

 

 

Edited September 24 by oldshurst442

[oldshurst442]

 

 

[G. David Felt]

22 hours ago, oldshurst442 said:

 

 

Custom auto culture is not what it was like in the 70's

[oldshurst442]

47 minutes ago, G. David Felt said:

Custom auto culture is not what it was like in the 70's

It is different.  I do not know which one I prefer (to look at). I enjoy looking at all kinds of car craziness things.  But  I do know that I prefer (to own or wrench on) the craziness of the 1960s and 1970s with all the different car kits like the Meyers Manx etc.   And of course all the souped up muscle cars of the day.  But Id admit today's wild ritz-ed out interior, fender flared, gull wing doored madness type of custom jobs, is  just as exciting to witness as anything else from past eras. 

As an example

 

Plus this modern thing of restomods and protouring of classic cars of the 1950s-1970s which didnt exist even 30 years ago.  

 

I prefer the customization of the craziness of a Meyers Manx and Brubaker Box of the 1960s and 1970s because of the genius of creating a new type of car on an existing accessible and affordable platform. But I also love the idea of modernizing a classic car of whatever era in a restomodded/protoured way. Although not as affordable. Heck, in 2025, restomodding/protouring a car is expensive AF.  But...car culture craziness hasnt faded away.  Its just...different from what it was.  

Edited September 25 by oldshurst442

[oldshurst442]

[G. David Felt]

Love me some SUV Racing!!!

How SUV-Based Race Cars Became The Next Big Thing - The Autopian

[Robert Hall]

1 hour ago, G. David Felt said:

Love me some SUV Racing!!!

How SUV-Based Race Cars Became The Next Big Thing - The Autopian

I could see NASCAR going that way...I can imagine the next generation of 'stock cars' being  Traverse, Explorer, and Highlander themed...or larger with Tahoe, Expedition and Sequoia...or smaller and sleeker-- Equinox, Mach-E, and Rav4..

[oldshurst442]

Isnt the NASCAR truck series still going on?  It is not a big stretch for NASCAR to race CUV/SUV body styles in lieu of sedans/coupes when they also race pick-up trucks.  Stock cars racing is no longer. Hasnt been since the late 80s.  In fact, having front wheel drive name plates racing as 'rear wheel drive stock cars'  has been a thing since stock cars have not been a thing...since the late 80s.  Therefore, the next logical step for NASCAR to do is have CUV/SUV body style race cars since sedans and coupes are almost extinct in the real world. 

 

The main thing is that 'stock cars' could never be raced ever again.  Since a while now as race safety for drivers (pit crews and spectators also) takes precedence over anything else on a race track.  

I dont mind that NASCAR is not 'stock cars'. In fact, I applaud that move for safer race cars.   I dont mind that FWD name plates are plastered on the race cars.  If the public does not buy RWD cars anymore, at least the ones that race in NASCAR, what is NASCAR to do?  Therefore the same logic applies to CUV/SUV body styles.  If Impalas, and Grand Prixs and Hudson Hornets and Luminas and Camaros do not exist anymore, but Rav 4s, Equinoxes and Escapes exist and sell quite well with the masses, let the torch be passed unto the next batch of popular everyday automobiles to be raced in NASCAR. 

[oldshurst442]

 

[Drew Dowdell]

8 hours ago, oldshurst442 said:

 

 

 

 

I had one of those Nissan Zs as a really large plastic car as a kid, it was a favorite.

I think I'm going to treat myself to a nice vintage turntable this Christmas.  My old El'Cheapo turntable from when I was 16 bit the dust a few years ago and I just dropped it off for recycling last week.  I bought it new at Bradlees circa 1994 if anyone remembers that place. 

[Drew Dowdell]

Back when I was first driving, I was firmly in the GM and Lincoln camp. Import cars did not really attract me, but there was one.

I much prefer the split headlight versions, but the peanut headlight CLK Cabrio is not something I'd say no to.  I do still keep an eye out for a late-run W210 sedan with a diesel. 

[oldshurst442]

30 minutes ago, Drew Dowdell said:

I had one of those Nissan Zs as a really large plastic car as a kid, it was a favorite.

I think I'm going to treat myself to a nice vintage turntable this Christmas.  My old El'Cheapo turntable from when I was 16 bit the dust a few years ago and I just dropped it off for recycling last week.  I bought it new at Bradlees circa 1994 if anyone remembers that place. 

I never liked that 280ZX. I still dont like it to this day. Although I do likje the interior. Especially the digital dash version.   I was just listening to music and watching the videos...youtube and all...when I had the itch to listen to Borderline.  Then I saw the 280 long forgotten it was in the video and I said to myself "hmmmmm...maybe I post picture of 280. Sounds good."    

Bradlees?   Never heard of them. I just googled and saw what they were.  We had Miracle Mart, Woolco and Zellers.  My mommy had bought me many Hot Wheels cars from Miracle Mart.  All our, or most, electronic purchases were made from a department store called Eatons.  I miss Eatons.  They had a wide selection of entry level electronics to the premium ones.  They had a substantial toy department too. Plastic model kits to fancy electric train sets.  Video game consoles and their games too.  Appliances and furniture. With those too, Eatons carried entry level stuff to high end stuff.  At least with the Downtown location. We lived 10 minutes away from downtown so my parents shopped at that location all the time.  It was great because as a kid, I got to see how poor we were, but also what the rich people buy as compared to what my family bought.  How poor we were...I never felt ashamed. Just made me motivated to succeed in life. And I also learned that entry level stuff (at least back then) was built to last just as much as the high end stuff. But some quality elements suffered, be it a lack of chrome on a button or maybe a speaker was a little bit weaker than the higher end stuff.  No biggie in the grand scheme of things. 

Wow...thanks Drew for making me reminisce about my childhood.  LOL.  

[oldshurst442]

36 minutes ago, Drew Dowdell said:

Back when I was first driving, I was firmly in the GM and Lincoln camp. Import cars did not really attract me, but there was one.

 

I much prefer the split headlight versions, but the peanut headlight CLK Cabrio is not something I'd say no to.  I do still keep an eye out for a late-run W210 sedan with a diesel. 

 

I have always liked this Mercedes. Its predecessor too.  @smk4565's ride.    

Hey @smk4565.  Still got your Mercedes?  I love your car!!! 

I also liked the 190E back in the day. 

[G. David Felt]

If I was going with German Auto's these two are the ones that always struck my Fancy!!!

Course my Ultimate love is the R34 Skyline in Factory paint Midnight Purple!!!

[Drew Dowdell]

7 minutes ago, G. David Felt said:

If I was going with German Auto's these two are the ones that always struck my Fancy!!!

 

I always liked that face too.

My post earlier today has me looking at W210 diesels as my business vehicle... because I'm like on day 1 of no more car payment of course. lol

[oldshurst442]

I should have said 'successor' instead of 'predecessor'

Probably my favorite Mercedes sedan.  I also love the W123.  So tied for my favorite Mercedes sedans. 

Id restomod either of them. But Id be cheeky with it. Id Hellcat them.  Just a minor grudge I still hold for the merger of equals. 

 

Id also nix all the 3 pointed star and AMG badging. Id replace all 3 pointed stars with the Dodge Fratzog  and AMG with the Cat from Hell badging.   Id leave the 6.3 liter badging though. A Hellcat engine is 6.2 liters. And so is that AMG engine. Its just that the 6.3 has a historical significance.  At that point...who cares?