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Gremlin?
VW Thing?
Tough one. It looks like the liftgate of a truck or station wagon. Made out of plastic or real bad paint job. 1975 or later.
Renault 5?
Liftgate? It is a fuel filler… can’t you guys read the faded/rubbed “UNLEADED FUEL ONLY” stamp?
As for the car, all I can guess at the moment is that it is an early 80s (or very late 70s) vintage machine. I’ll ponder it more when done with work. I’m certain I’ll slap my forehead when the whole thing is revealed because the shapes look VERY familiar.
–chuck
Well, this looks like the Gremlin my neighbor had, but it was a ’74 with no unleaded warning. But why would such a fine automobile be a curbside classic?
Early 70’s International Scout?
I thought VW Thing also, but I can’t find these details on photos of the whole vehicle. Maybe a Trabant? Trabis were two-strokes — it would have no use for unleaded fuel.
This shouldn’t be that difficult; how many manufacturers used stationery store rubber stamps for fuel notices?
That button looks decidedly french. Only french engineering ingenuity could come up with that marvel of ergonomics. I’d guess Renault, mid to late 60’s, rear lid.
I saw the “unleaded fuel only”. That’s why I said 1975 or later (unless it is there to throw us off) But it doesn’t look like any fuel filler door that I’ve ever seen. It’s not a Scout, Thing, Gremlin or Pacer or VW pickup – I checked those out and eliminated them. Even checked out the Citroen Mehari, although I’m not sure they were still around in 1975.
The button–and just the button–does remind me strongly of the button on the liftgate of my family of origin’s ’65 Peugeot 404 wagon.
Chuck: I’m certain I’ll slap my forehead when the whole thing is revealed because the shapes look VERY familiar.
Of course they look familiar. Right out of geometry class. You’ve got you’re line segment, and a piece of your circle.
Gremlin. The gas cap is just below the lock for the lift up window which used two struts when the car was introduced and to cut costs in later models was reduced to one.
75-76 Gremlin. 74 still had a handle incorporating the button for the liftgate.
Nah. It’s gotta be a Gremlin.
Is it cc-27-171? Or Citroën 2CV?
its not a 2CV
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/71/225297364_439fa487d4.jpg
New approach to CC Clue: rather than announce a “winner” (and effectively end the guessing), we’re just going to leave it open-ended until tomorrow’s feature. Don’t want to spoil it for the late-comers.
Or is it too late for that?
The locking pushbutton looks like those used on Chrysler product deck lids in the late 50’s; the trunk could be left unlocked or locked if one wanted. There isn’t anything Mopar-looking about its surroundings though.
Yeah, it’s a Gremlin…my girlfriend in college drove one, and I remember that view from putting gas in it for her.
According to the October, 1975 issue of Popular Science, AMC six-cylinder engines didn’t have catalytic converters in 1976, so I’m going to guess it’s a 1977 or 1978.
The only pic I have of a Gremlin has a slightly different button, but perhaps the parts bins in Kenosha were not labelled properly.
–chuck
Chuck Goolsbee :
June 29th, 2009 at 6:58 pm
Liftgate? It is a fuel filler… can’t you guys read the faded/rubbed “UNLEADED FUEL ONLY” stamp?
If memory serves, the button *is* for the liftgate. The fuel filler was a few inches below the button, slightly out of the picture.
Gremlin(s). The poster child for truth in advertising
Yep. 1975 Gremlin. Fiasco had it right.
http://wps.com/AMC/1975-AMC-Gremlin/
I agree; 1975 Gremlin.
http://wps.com/AMC/1975-AMC-Gremlin/images/Gremlin-rear.jpg
It’s the same liftgate lock button used on my 1988 Dodge Ramcharger.
I’m guessin an AMC Gremlin – the button and round indentation in the sheetmetal give it away (the fuel filler cap is located within the indentation).
I learned to drive on a 1973 Gremlin, so I can’t wait for this curbside classic!
My first car was a 1974 blue Gremlin X just like the one in cdotson’s post. They were love ’em or hate ’em cars and I loved mine. The only thing that could stop them was rust. AMC invented the biodegradeable car.
Yes, the picture must be of a Gremlin, but IIRC, it is not of a ’74.