Early Spring Spotting '23

As the weather warmed up as winter came to an end and spring began to take off, the weather warmed up, and felt like summer. There were lots of classics to be seen parked on the streets and cruising around. Here is what we found for the beginning of spring '23. 

Above: (3/27/23) - 1988 Ford Ranger XLT (David)

More OBS trucks for you! Today's find is another first generation Ford Ranger. Remember that immaculate red '87 Ranger from California in Late Winter Finds '23 that we spotted in Providence? Well, here's the complete opposite! Here in these rugged streets of New England lies the battle hardened brother of the California Ranger. Complete with a missing grille and some rusty body panels, this is the definition of an old New England truck.

Above: (3/31/23) - 1993 Ford F-150 XLT Shortbed (David) 

The final year of the OBS F-150, the ninth generation. Dodge was the first to switch to the modern, aerodynamic truck body style, with introduction of the Dodge Ram in 1994, but Ford would soon follow in 1997. Chevy, as well, would eventually make the switch in 2000. That makes this F-150 and the fourth generation Chevy trucks the last old school trucks to exist true to their form. 

The ninth generation F-150 succeeded the eight gen in 1992. It was a bit more aerodynamic compared to its predecessor, but other than a front grille redesign and some interior updates, not much changed. The ninth generation was produced until 1996, passing the torch to a new era of Ford trucks heading into the turn of the century. 

While these ninth gen F-Series weren't know for much, there was one particular aspect that made them worth caring about. That was none other than the SVT Lightning package, which is an entry we'll save for when we find one, because it deserves it. Stay tuned!

Above: (4/3/23) - 1968 Ford Torino GT Convertible (David)

At last, a break from the trucks. Feast your eyes on one of the most handsome muscle cars to ever drive out of Detroit during the 1960s. The 1968 to 1970 Dodge Chargers are often regarded as the best looking muscle car, but there was also the 1968 to '69 Ford Torino. 

Introduced in 1968 as an upscaled version of the Ford Fairlane, the Torino became Ford's new high optioned intermediate offering. Featuring a larger and new unibody design, the car had a curvy, smooth design, with a wide front grille and quad headlights. You could get a Torino as a coupe, sedan, or wagon, but the fastbacks and the convertibles were the most desirable. Specifically, the Torino GT, Ford's new replacement for the Fairlane 500 muscle car was aimed to compete with other mid size muscle cars, such as the Dodge Charger and Chevy Chevelle. The new Torino GT was an instant hit, as it dominated NASCAR throughout the 1968 and 1969 seasons. It had so much success that long time MOPAR sponsor and racing legend Richard Petty left Chrysler for Ford's new Torino. This inspired Dodge to create the Charger 500 to try and win back Petty. Like the Torino, the Charger 500 had a similar front grille design and a fastback roofline. 

Power options included all of Ford's big block offerings during the 1960s. The Torino was offered with the 200 CI straight six, but most customers ordered theirs with a V8. The Torino GT came standard with the 302 CI V8, but other options included the 427 and, more famously, the 428 "Cobra Jet" CI engine. 

The Torino would be updated in 1970 with a more aggressive design which would carry over into 1971. In a 1972 update, the Torino followed in the coat tails of the Monte Carlo, and became a more luxurious sports car. This generation was known for its use in the Starsky and Hutch TV series, where the main character's car was a 1974 Torino. The Torino would stick around until 1976, being succeeded by the Ford LTD II. 

Today, the Torino is remembered for the powerful, elegant muscle car it was from 1968 to around 1972. While it suffered the fate of most muscle cars during its Malaise years, the Torino effectively outlived its dark days, and is recognized for its early life as a high performance street machine. Although it will always live in the shadow of the Mustang and the Galaxies, the Torino's racing legacy keep its name around among muscle car and Ford enthusiasts. 

Above: (4/3/23) - Focusing on the Ford (David)

It's a rare opportunity to see a muscle car of this vintage out on the streets, so when I spotted this, I knew I had to investigate. At first, I didn't think it was a Torino, I thought it was a GM product, as those typically are more popular vehicles. But when I saw what this car was, I was very happy to see it. What we have here is a very original and unrestored Torino GT convertible, a bit more uncommon than the more popular fastback models. The car shows its age in a few places, but is overall immaculate, and I commend the owner for preserving it in its original form. I'm unsure what this has under the hood, but given that the Torino GT came stock with a 302 V8, I assume it's something powerful. 

As a kid, I used to love these cars, as I thought they looked so nice. I'd argue the 1968 to '69 Torino was one of Ford's best design from the muscle car era, and of the 1960. Seeing this car brought back memories of looking through a book called "Muscle Car Classics" that I had recieved one year for Christmas as a kid. I read the book so much, that the cover fell off. I remember seeing the '68 Torino fastback for the first time in that book and thinking it was one of the best looking cars I had ever seen, and I still believe this true today.

Above: (4/3/23) - 1990 BMW 325i (E30) Coupe (David)

We have a Daily Double! Found in the same parking lot as the Torino, this BMW E30 is the complete opposite of an American muscle car. Nonetheless, it's just as great, and I was just as happy to see this classic Bimmer as I was that '68 Torino. I'll say this until the day I die, there is nothing quite like seeing a classic BMW from the '80s. 

This 1990 BMW is one of the last of the E30 generation. With the arrival of the new E36 in 1991, the E30 was gradually phased out. The E30 sedans and coupes were produced until 1991, while the convertible stuck around until 1994.  While the E36 was the first BMW to sport a modern look with the introduction of the E36 compared to the E34 5-Series and E32 7-Series produced at the same time, the old E30 stayed as a reminder of the golden years of BMW. 

Above: (4/3/23) - The BMW: Front and Rear (David)

This was a really nice car to see. I love seeing classic BMWs from their '80s golden years, such as this car, and being an E30 coupe made it that much cooler. I don't see the coupe versions of the E30 too often, despite it being the most favorable body style. Although this car was slightly modified, I really like what the owner did with it. The aftermarket rims and rally tape over the headlights look correct on this car. The E30 is already a timeless car, but these modifications give it a very '80s appearance. The rims almost look like the early version of the Corvette C4 razor style rims too, which I find rather entertaining on a European sports coupe. I also know that putting rally tape over headlights is controversial for some, but I personally like the look. Once again, much praise to the owner for preserving this car. 

Above: (4/3/23) - Ford Model T Returns to Campus Again! (Sam)

Professor Littman had the school's Model T out and about for one of his classes, and I was able to snap some pictures in the interum when it wasn't being used.  

Above: (4/3/23) - 1992 Volvo 240 Estate (David)

I found myself driving through Providence back home one night, when I spotted the unmistakable shape of the Volvo 240. Sam and I often reference photographer Langdon's Cars of New York City collection from the 1970s, in which he photographed cars in urban scenes, capturing them in a very true, raw form. Seeing this Volvo at night among the classic New England architecture made me think of that series, and inspired by Clay's work, I took the opportunity to photograph this old Volvo, street parked in Downtown, Providence. 

There's truly something special about seeing an old car at night, especially in the city. The combination of the storefront lighting, the historic architecture, and cool vehicle make for a very urban aesthetic. Not to mention the Providence Performing Arts Center marquee in the background in the photos below made for a great scene as well. 

Above: (4/9/23 - 1994 Subaru Legacy Wagon (Sam)

This was spotted in the campus parking garage.  You don't see Subarus of this generation too often, so I couldn't pass up a photo-op with this one.  This one's in really nice shape, with only minor cosmetic imperfections after nearly 30 years of existence.

Above: (4/12/23) - 1985 Volvo 244 Turbo (David)

To learn the story of this Volvo, read our article 1985 Volvo 244 Turbo. 

Above: (4/13/23) - 1967 Dodge Dart GT Hurst Convertible (David)

Quite arguably, this 1967 Dodge Dart could be one of the nicest cars I've ever found in the history of ONEC. Take a minute to gaze upon this spotless red paint, chrome Rallye rims, and double black stripe on the rear end. 

It was a perfect day to see this car as well. For an early April day, it felt like summer. The weather was pushing into the 80s, the sun was out, and I had just purchased my Volvo the day prior. The weather was good, therefore, so was I. I was on my way to Durfee's Hardware, the local hardware store,  when I noticed a boxy red car street parked down the road from Durfee's. It looked old, so I was already sold on investigating this mysterious red car. Sure enough, I pedaled my bike over, and my eyes were greeted with the sleek. stunning appearance of a Dodge Dart in Scorch Red. 

Before we continue, let's have a brief history lesson on the legend of the Dodge Dart. The Dodge Dart's story is very similar to the motif of a classic rock band. A promising future in the '60s, to ultimately peaking in the early '70s, to a decline in late '70s. Then of course a relaunch in the 2000s, although becoming only a shell of what it once was, the Dart endured it all. 

Introduced in 1960 as a full size sedan following the closing of the DeSoto brand, the Dodge Dart became a luxury offering to bridge the gap between Plymouth and Chrysler. The Dart would be downsized in '62 and again in '63 to the Chrysler A-Platform, where it would spend the remaining years of its life. In 1967, the Dart became a mainstream hit, with the introduction of the GT and the GTS packages. The following year, the Dart became available with the 426 HEMI, and became a legend of the quarter mile. A factory produced super stock car was built by Dodge, known as the LO-23. The Dart remained a powerful, yet affordable muscle car until '73, sinking into its Malaise years as the Dart entered the mid '70s. It was phased out in '77 by the Dodge Aspen,  but by that point, the writing was on the wall for the fate Chrysler and muscle cars. The Dart name would be revived in 2013 as a compact sedan, but never really gained much popularity. It was discontinued in 2016.

If there's one car that could sum up the evolution of American cars, it would be the Dart. From land yachts, to muscle car, to malaise, to an unrelated modern revival, the Dart lived through it all. 

Above: (4/16/23) - Hot Hatch: 1990 Honda Civic DX Hatchback 5MT Revisited (David)

Sam first spotted this '90s Civic hatchback last year during the winter. Reference Winter Break Finds  to see the original entry. I found it again one afternoon leaving work. Up close, it looks to be a fairly nice, original example of a '90s Honda, which is a pretty rare sight. Being a cheap car, these '80s and '90s Civics became a perfect candidate for hot rodding and tuning. Most cars recieved extensive mods, such as lowered ride height, exhausts, turbos, and other "upgrades" that could be installed. Because they were tough cars, they could take bad car mods, and unfortunately many became clapped out shells, which was the ultimate fate of the Honda Civic hatch. 

This Civic proves that statement wrong, as what we have here is a '90s time capsule. The era of the Hot Hatch was slowly coming to an end, but the Civic held the torch high, and pressed forward. This is a fourth generation Civic, the last of the boxy era Civics, before the fifth generation brought in the smooth, aerodynamic designs of the mid '90s. I'm really glad to see the owner has preserved this car in its true form and is still driving it a year and half later. It's no secret that a Honda with a manual transmission is unkillable, and that's exactly what we're seeing here. Keep on driving, Civic.