Robert Hall

Always thought these looked weird since they didn't have a console and had a really cheap looking boot. Found a pic of a '76 and also found a pic of the downsized '78s w/ the 5spd.

The 260 was available in the Cutlass w/ a 5spd manual...was one of the first American cars w/ a 5spd, I think...started in 1976 I think...

Yes, the 330 was the first of the 2nd gen Olds V8s...sounds like there weren't many meaningful differences from the small block and big blocks other than some dimensions and heavier duty materials in the big blocks (and not as visually differentiated as Chevy small blocks were from big blocks). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oldsmobile_V8_engine

No, the 396 was a big block, Mark IV engine family like the 402, 427 and 454. Chevy did have a 400 small block in the 70s. As far as the 403, I didn't think Olds had a small block/big block distinction and that like Pontiac they had one basic engine family for years.

Non-SS aftermarket hood (similar to a '69 Z/28 hood) also and the 396 badging (SS 396s had different badging). Nice resto mod. My brother used to have a '68 Camaro SS 396 w/ 4spd in Le Mans blue w/ the white version 2 stripe (nose stripe like this, but extending down the sides into the door rather than ending at the bumper. He had the stock SS hood, stock engine, stock Rally wheels (but w/ a set of American Racing CP-200 'Daisy' mags w/ the pebble-coated gray spokes he ran sometimes..) He had it for 25 years...really nice car, loud, very fast...I drove it a few times..those '60s muscle cars have a raw feeling of power and acceleration, very different from the smooth fast cars of today. This pic I found on the internet is a car very, very similar to the one my brother had..same color and stripe. It's here in Ohio also, theoretically could be the same car.

There are many things

Was the only GM dealer in the Keys, 130 miles from the mainland. Still there, Niles Chevy Buick GMC Cadillac.

I do remember single brand Pontiac and Buick dealers in the 70s in Steubenville, Ohio..Montgomery Pontiac and Brandt Buick. I went to school with the kids of the owners of those dealerships. Don't recall the Chevy dealer. But over in Tuscarawas County where the family farm is, there was a Pontiac-Oldsmobile dealer and a Chevy-Buick dealer in one little town. IIRC, there was a standalone Chevy dealer in the largest town. One of the more interesting dealers I remember was in the 80s was a GM dealer in Key West, Florida that had Chevy, Pontiac, Olds, Buick, Cadillac and GMC all in one showroom and lot.

I like the interior, esp. the red.

I've read that...supposedly Shatner had a GTO then a Corvette or the other way around...

Driving on the Autostrada was quite an experience...drove from Salerno back to Rome after driving around the Amalfi Coast in the early evening on my vacation there in '03 in a rental Mercedes A-class (the first gen mouse-shaped subcompact). I stayed in the middle lane...the right lane was semis and ancient Fiats poking along, the left lane was big Mercedes and BMWs blasting past flashing their lights...stopped at an Autogrill and had some pasta from Spizucco. The rest areas were great.

I used to work with a Chinese lady that was absolutely terrifying to ride with. Went to lunch w her and a few coworkers, and we thought about calling a taxi to get back to the office...never rode with her again. She didn’t pay attention to stop signs, sped, tailgated, changed lanes constantly. Under five feet tall, driving a 6500lb SUV around Chandler, Az.

Went to the BMV to renew my DL this morning, not too painful. Saw a sharp dark blue w/ red stripe and red interior C7 Corvette Grand Sport convertible in the parking lot.

Buick and GMC seem to cover the filler niche between Chevy and Cadillac pretty well..

Yes, traveling after the current situation maybe..once things get to the 'new normal'...those '93-96 Fleetwoods/Fleetwood Broughams had GM corporate (Chevy) 5.7L V8s, incl. the LT1 in '95-96 IIRC. Always liked those cars, the last of the big RWD BOF Caddies...

Beautiful perfect June weather today...went to Ace Hardware to pick up a few bags of mulch for yard fun, and saw a sharp blue w/ white stripes 2020 Mustang Shelby GT500 rumbling down the street..great exhaust note.

hole

A C&G Zoom meetup would be fun.

Rob or Robert, never Bob or Bobby.

Nor can you, you always post something negative whenever EVs are mentioned, for example.

denim

Interesting... I'll have to look at my sister's '06 STS, don't recall seeing something like that. I remember seeing a strange little vent of some sort similar to that to the right side of the center stack on family Ford products--Rangers and Explorers. Always wondered what that was for. A vent for the airbag (which had a separate cover on 90s models?)

Yes, that's it..it's out of production since last year..was only around for 3 model years. I think I've seen one at an auto show, but don't recall seeing one out in the wild...was built in the UK.

With the GP, I really liked the roofline of the '97-03 and front and rear...the replacement was too slab sided, iMO...

I've had one of the current Malibus as a rental, back in '16. It was ok. Thought the styling was a bit busy, esp. the front and side contouring...I find the previous generation to be better looking, IMO.