Robert Hall

Engine fires...the engine they installed for the NA market was too large and tended to overhead and catch fire..sold here '87-90. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_Vanette

Nissan Van, IIRC. Can't recall the problem, though.

Yeah, I couldn't imagine using a plain cell phone these days..that would be so 20th century, like using dialup internet. The convenience of a smart phone is great...I don't even take a laptop with me anymore on weekend getaways, can do everything I need to do on the phone.

The '55 looks like it has a shortened 4dr sedan roof (with a 4dr rear upper door on a 4dr front lower door). I'd like to see a profile shot.

Price wise, it's probably about 10k more than the Chevy version (which isn't coming to the US?) and 10k less than the inevitable Cadillac version...

Pretty cool... the things I always find amazing when I see a car of this era up close at a car show is how wide they are, how long the decklids are, and low they are...such a different design language than the last 30 years or so..

hard

Most buyers are too lazy to switch to proper winter tires and rely on weak 'all-season' tires it seems...

Happy Birthday, Cort!

I seem to recall reading a few years ago of bumpers being lowered on large trucks and SUVs specifically to make them more compatible w/ cars in crashes..

I find so much of the detailing on '50s design to look tacked on, too much chrome trim, fins, etc. '58 was the worst year for GMs, IMO...way too much gingerbread. The '59s were an improvement, esp. w/ the lower longer wider bodies (and details such as moving the headlights down into the grilles). I find the crisper, cleaner '61-64 models much more appealing style-wise...

The Olds and Pontiac rears are mild compared to the over the top '59 Chevy rear, though....

That center fin is wild...interesting how both the '59 Chevy and '59 Buick had simple rear bumpers...all the styling was in the fins...

Skeg or not, they are pretty cool..

Interesting..if they aren't 'skegs', what are they? They appear to point outward slightly.. ..and later..they did wide Bonne taillight and narrow Catalina taillights from '77-81 also..

A goog turned up a few pics of '50 Olds 88 SDs, here's a black one... Also found this thread on the HAMB http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=299269

Love the skegs...neat how the Catalina has narrower taillights...Pontiac was still doing that years later with the Catalina and Bonneville..

I wonder if that Olds is a phantom someone built using a Chevy body...never heard of an Olds 88 sedan delivery...pretty cool.

Meh...just another FWD CUV.

Back in Phoenix..had a good time in So Cal, and the Yukon drove quite nicely. Comfortable, quiet, soaked up the miles quite well..averaged about 19mpg cruising at 70-80mph on I-10. Loads of room inside, nice big cup holders w/ room for two venti lattes or giant water bottles. The driver's door armrest could have been a bit wider (so I could have had my left elbow resting on whilst driving, the center armrest is perfectly positioned for that). Love the huge outside mirrors. Drove smoothly on the freeway, a bit bouncy at times around town, but all in all a perfectly capabile truck. Great cruising range--drove from Santa Monica to Phoenix without refueling, still have over 1/8th of a tank (approx. 400 miles today incl. a side trip to Palm Springs for lunch).

Sweet, had my Trailblazer SS in for service and the free loaner was a nice Yukon. Being long legged, I had the seat back at a comfy distance from the steering wheel and then hit the switch on the dash next to the center arm rest to push the pedals all the way back and it was perfect. Looking at the center dash, lower left hand corner before the storage section was the pedal adjustment button and at least in my loaner, it went back far enough to give me the comfort I wanted. Thanks..will look for it... Will do..driving across the void this evening to Fontana for the Indy Car race tomorrow at Auto Club Speedway, then visiting friends in Santa Monica Sunday morning then back through Palm Springs then across the void back to Phoenix Sunday evening...

I'm sick of the endless political news, calls (have the home phone ringer off because of them), ads, etc. Just had the primary here last month, just waiting to get my ballot in the mail for the Nov election and get it over with and move on..

I picked up my weekend rental this morning..my neighborhood Enterprise was out of luxury cars, so I ended up w/ a silver w/ tan leather interior Yukon. It's the first GMT-900 SUV I've driven. So far, so good. Smooth, comfortable, quiet. About the only nitpick is I haven't found an ideal seat/wheel/pedal position..the steering wheel goes up/down, but no telescoping. Even w/ the seat all the way back (long legs), the pedals seem too close and the wheel too far away...got to fiddle w/ it some this afternoon after work before I hit the road. The various controls are familiar late model GM, quite similar to the Impalas I've driven. Will post more after I get back from LA...

Cool...you probably drove across the Seven Mile Bridge and through my old hometown of Marathon. The Keys are a very special place.

Had my first breakdown and tow in over 2 years today. Got to the office, was driving through the underground parking lot when I hear this awful noise under the hood..it's continuous, and varies w/ rpm. I slowly drive out of the garage and park on the street---no way a roll back hauler would be able to get in the underground parking garage. Had it hauled 20 miles to my shop, find out it's the water pump..need a new pump, thermostat and a few hoses. Oh well, life w/ an old car is always fraught w/ trouble. Glad I've got AAA.