Mid Spring Spotting

4/20/21 - 1948 Pontiac Streamliner DeLuxe Six (Sam)

This car was parked in a lot at the L. Sweet Lumber Company in Providence, RI.  I have no idea how it got there, but I noticed it for the first time on 2021.  As of 2022, I believe it's still there, waiting for a new lease at life.  It looks relatively solid and the paint appears to be in good shape, so hopefully someone will get this beauty back on the road.  

4/20/21 - 1965 Plymouth Valiant (Sam)

This 1965 Plymouth Valiant in primer black appeared just as suddenly as the '48 Pontiac.  I think someone put some beefier tires on the back, as the front of the car seemed to be angled down a bit.  The photo quality isn't great because it was another hey-there's-an-old-car-slow-down-so-I-can-photograph-it deal.  Unlike the Pontiac, this one appeared to be a plated daily driver.  David saw this car a couple more times in the lot, each time in a different space.  Eventually, it vanished again so I can only hope that it's found a home in a garage where it can be better protected from the elements.  

4/20/21 - 1990 Honda Civic Hatch (Sam)

This car has resided one street over from me as long as I can remember, so it's likely that the car's been there since before I was born.  It must be the owner's second car because I see it out on the road very infrequently, and it also shares the driveway with a newer set of wheels.  It also disappears from time to time, which make me think it gets garaged for the cooler months.  

4/20/21 - 1965 Ford F-150 (Sam)

Another classic a street over from me.  This one's been around for slightly less than the Civic, but I don't remember exactly when it first appeared because I wasn't into cars at the time.  Judging by the turn signals above the headlights, it's a '65 model.   I never remember it moving and the tires were always flat when I saw it.  Sadly, the owner must have moved because the truck and the few other project cars in the driveway disappeared this year.  However, I recently spotted a truck of the same vintage and color in another area of North Providence, so there's a chance it only made a small move.  

4/20/21 - 1992 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham (Sam)

Every car-spotting blog has to have the ubiquitous beater Caddy, so here's my entry: a 1992 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham, complete with rust on the passenger-side door (not pictured) and missing two hubcaps.  I think this car was a winter beater, as I only really saw it during the cold months.  It faked its death several times, as it would disappear for a few weeks only to reappear right when I figured it must have met its end.  It never really visibly deteriorated, other than the bumper fillers shedding a few pieces.  It did finally disappear for good, so maybe the New England rust finally sealed its fate.  Or maybe someone decided to restore it back to its former glory.  Regardless, I wouldn't be surprised if it shows up again this December.  

4/20/21 - 1985 GMC Vandura G2500 with 350 and 4 Speed Auto (Sam)

Affectionately nicknamed "the Bondo bucket," this rig has existed down the street from my house as long as I can remember, also likely before I was born.  It has a good amount of filler or rust repairs in the rear quarters, but it still holds out each winter.  That's probably because it doesn't travel too far.  I always see it parked either in front of a nearby church or in the parking lot next to it.  I occasionally see it missing, so the owner does drive it around from time to time, but I've yet to actually witness it moving.  It's another classic that's stood the test of time (and rust).

4/20/21 - Rear End Shot! 1989 Buick Skylark (Sam)

I don't know too much about this car.  I only stumbled across it while going to photograph a 1975 Valiant on the same property.  This car might have been a former daily driver of the Valiant owner, but I never saw it on the road.  The car disappeared shortly after this photo was taken, so I can only assume it got junked.  

4/20/21 - 1986 Mercury Cougar (Sam)

Another relatively new classic that had been local to me for awhile.  In the past few years, I watched this car deteriorate as its aging owner misjudged parking maneuvers and hit various objects with it.  Eventually, it showed up with a big gash in the bottom of the door panel.  Somewhere along the line, some bodywork was performed, but I have no idea if they used sheet metal or just filler on the door.  It went up for sale shortly after that, and I haven't seen it since.  I hope it found a good home.  

4/20/21 - 1991 Acura Integra (Sam)

This car occasionally appears near my house, alongside the Bondo bucket.  I don't know much more about it other than that.  It also appears to have some non-stock rims.  

 4/20/21 - 1975 Plymouth Valiant Brougham (Sam)

This is the car in question that I was trying to photograph when I stumbled across the Skylark.  I've seen this car nearby for the past five or so years.  The owner is a member of my parish, and he previously owned an AMC Hornet.  I've never met him and asked him about the car, but it's in very nice shape.  I think the owner is getting ready to sell it because he took the plates off it.  Hopefully it finds a good home.  

This car can be seen again in Sam's Mini Bike Ride.

4/20/21 - 1930 Ford Model A Pickup (Sam)

This truck is another fixture along the route I take to the radio museum in CT.  It's a static display for a small strip mall containing an antiques store and a couple other places.  

4/20/21 - Beater Ford Contour (Sam) 

This poor little car appeared twice outside my house.  I believe it belonged to a friend of the neighbors across the street.  The first time I saw it, the rear bumper was still complete.  I never saw it after that, so I have no idea what happened to it.  Probably run into the ground, or close to that at this point.