QOTD: A Weirdo, Just Like Me?

by Matthew Guy

Published: October 22nd, 2018

We’re an odd bunch around here, as I’m sure you’ll agree. Some of the B&B are pretty far into the field as well. It what makes this place tick, as it has for years.

The tastes of your authors run the gamut, from weird old hatchbacks to strange sedans. Any mention of Oldsmobile causes heart palpitations in more than a few names listed on our masthead.

What machine causes you to, despite perplexed looks from your companions, to break out the camera on your smartphone? For me, it was a GM A-Body just two days ago.

You never see these things anymore, at least here where the Rust Monster never sleeps. Sure, GM built the Buick Century until 1996 but — despite my chronologically-inhibited mind — that was still 22 years ago. Yikes! And it should be noted the Pontiac 6000 disappeared five years prior to that.

I can’t be the only one who holds an affinity for odd cars. Can I? Hello? Where’d everybody go?

The semi-regular appearance of a very clean, final model year K-Car in our town also reliably causes my head to swivel as if a Ferrari F40 being driven by Steven Tyler has just passed by. I cannot explain this, other than to note the importance of the K as it relates to the dustbin of automotive history. After seeing the thing, I also spend an inordinate amount of time wondering if it has those map lights that swing and swivel out of the sun visors.

Yes, I absolutely snapped a photograph of that Goolie (6000LE) as it clanked its way out of the supermarket parking lot. Questions were asked by my companions as to why I was wasting digital real estate on what — to most — is a car that was fit for the derby ten years ago. They’re just lucky it wasn’t an STE AWD. I’d have chased that sucker all day.

What car do you stop and take a picture of (or crane your neck to see) that mystifies your friends and family?

#QOTD #TerribleCars

Matthew Guy

Matthew buys, sells, fixes, & races cars. As a human index of auto & auction knowledge, he is fond of making money and offering loud opinions.

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3 of 82 comments

Gearhead77 on Oct 25, 2018

Saultigh is exactly right. I expect someone to care for an (insert exotic) here. Or even a high-end but otherwise normal car ( Corvette, Mustang, CTS-V,etc.) But a pristine K-car, Ford Escort, 1st gen Taurus, Chevy Celebrity or anything odd that has survived longer than a decade and outlived 95% of it line mates is always a head turner. Especially since for me in the rust belt, most imports from the 90's or earlier rusted out long ago. My head is on a swivel the further south I go! My perpetual hunt for a four-place drop top found me a 1997 Toyota Paseo Convertible with 57k and all original, very clean. The dealer is asking 5k for it and while that's a bit much, I don't remember the last time I saw one ever. Production numbers were low and it was a one year only thing in 97. The want is strong for this little "Super Red" car with the funky graphic seats and floormats. 95hp and a 4 spd auto means you'll win no races, but there's non-convertible ones on AT with 150k-200k on them too. A unicorn from "peak Toyota"? Gimme. (https://www.tedsautos.com/) If it survives, I love it. Some people want to take in all the stray animals they see. I want to take in all the unloved cars I've always wanted on the 3rd rate BHPH lots and craigslist ads.

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- DweezilSFV on Oct 30, 2018
  
  Same here. There was an 82 Citation 5 door in Marana on CR I even posted on my FB feed. 80,000 some odd miles [looked more like 180,000]. The 86 Calais in my driveway will have to give me the Isle Of Lost Cars Iron Duke fix, alas.
  
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DweezilSFV on Oct 30, 2018

GM N,A or X Body, Chrysler first Gen Mini Van. K Cars. Saw an 86 Celebrity wagon I wanted to follow just yesterday.

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