Car Spotting with Sam and David
Winter '23 Edition
1/15/23
A good selection of classic cars and vehicles that inhabit the roads of North Providence, as brought to you by Sam and David. One evening, we decided to go on a small car spotting adventure around Sam's neighborhood.
Above: 1977 Pontiac Phoenix
Sam: Holy crustification! This is what daily driving for 46 years in New England will do to a car. Actually, this would probably only take 12 under the right conditions. Despite the rust, this old Phoenix is still trucking along. It had fresh inspection and registration stickers on it, and when I went by a few days later, it was absent from the driveway. I've been keeping my eyes on this car for awhile now, and it is common to see it out during the day and then parked back in the driveway at night. I actually spotted the old X-body roofline awhile back over the Summer, but David and I didn't get a chance to check it out until Winter break. Reproduction body panels are available for this car, as they're essentially the same as the '77 Nova, but I don't know if the owner will want to spend the money on them. The car isn't really worth restoring and will probably just get driven into the ground, but at least it's made it this far and serves as a poignant reminder of what old beaters looked like 35 years ago.
David: This is the physical definition of an Old New England Car. Look at all that rust and rot! We first saw this car from the driver's side and didn't look that bad, but then when we came around to the other side, we were met with a surprise. I'm glad the owner is doing the lord's work and keeping it on the road, I'm not sure how long it has before it collapses in on itself, but I'm hoping for the best as much as Sam is. Maybe they'll restore it.
Rear End Shot! BMW 528i (E39) Touring Estate
Sam: My BMW knowledge is rather limited, so I'll let David give the details on this one. This wagon hadn't seen the road in a bit, as was evident from the missing license plate and flat tire. However, it was still in nice shape cosmetically. Who knows what issue is keeping this one sidelined. Hopefully, it isn't a serious one.
David: It's an E39 Touring Estate, a fairly uncommon car compared to most modern era BMWs. This was pretty nice, but who knows what's going on under the hood. These were the last of the reliable 5-Series, so hopefully nothing bad. I'd love to see this one back on the road.
1987 Pontiac Grand Prix
Sam: This was another car I knew about but never had the chance to photograph. I saw a GP of similar vintage during my Winter break last year (see Winter Break Finds in Early Winter '21-'22). This one's the upscale LE Coupe, as compared to the base coupe photographed last year, although both cars are in remarkable condition and I'd take either one if I had to choose. The rims are obviously not original, and the car would have been sporting some wire-spoked hubcaps had the original wheels remained on the car. One fun fact as to how we know the age: the taillights, all three of them. 1985 was the last year of the flat rear package tray, as 1986 laws mandated a third brake light in the package tray. Also, Pontiac switched to the three-section taillight lens design seen here in 1986. I know I'm dreaming, but it would be cool to get a side-by-side comparison between this car and its blue base-model compatriot.
Above: Double Trouble! 1997 Pontiac Firebird Formula and a Mystery Car!
Sam: Uh oh, is that another mystery car? And a clean Firebird next to it? This was a pretty cool find, one we just happened to stumble across while hunting for the GP mentioned above and the really clean Olds Regency 98 below. We weren't sure what the car under the tarp was, but from the outline, we guessed another Firebird, possibly one from the previous generation.
David: My guess for the mystery car would be another F-Body. I think one from the late '70s based on the roofline and rear spoiler. I wouldn't be shocked if it were a '78 or later Pontiac Firebird or a Camaro too for that matter.
Above and Left: 1987 Oldsmobile Regency Ninety Eight
Sam: This car was spotted in motion by me several times. I finally figured out its location and returned with David to photograph it. This is one of these cars that's the opposite of a ten footer. From far away, it looks great, but when you get up close, it keeps getting better. I swear, other than the missing hubcap emblem on the left front tire and the dirt on the white walls, this thing looked like it had just rolled off the showroom floor. There were virtually no chips, fading, or scratches in the paint, which is extremely uncommon on all the A-bodies of this vintage that I've found. Inside, it was the same. The interior was pristine and still looked as plush as the day it was assembled. There were even blankets on the seats to protect the upholstery (I could see under them and they weren't hiding any rips). I don't know what the mileage is, but my guess is fairly low since the car still looks this amazing. It should be in the attached garage of the house it was at, but then we wouldn't have been able to photograph it. This may just be a well-maintained daily because I've seen it on the road a few times since we photographed it.
Above: The Regency: Front and Rear
David: This car was perfect. I've never seen an '80s GM car this clean before. The car's paint was flawless, and it really did look like it was driven off the show room floor yesterday. My guess it was grandma's car that someone inherited, which might help explain why this car was so cared for. I hope the owner does the same.
Above and Left: 1987 VW Type 3 Vanagon w/ Westfalia Camper Top
Sam: I'd seen this Vanagon plenty of times in the past few years, but again, hadn't had the opportunity to photograph it. Its proximity to the Oldsmobile resulted in David and I being able to snap a few shots as we headed back at the end of our route. While not as pristine as the Olds, this VW is no slouch. The paint is a little faded, but that's the extent of the cosmetic wear. There's no rust or rot anywhere, and it too wore a current inspection sticker and registration. This bus is in great shape, and I hope the owner continues to maintain it for years to come.
David: I used to see this VW all the time when I used to run cross country for our high school. I also like the blue hue the side photograph has. It reminds of The Matrix, although that movie had more of a green hue.
Above: Custom 1990 Chevy S-10
Sam: This little S-10 has been a familiar sight for the past few years now. It was primer black when I first noticed it, but it eventually got a nice white enamel paint job within the last couple of years. In December, the owner usually puts a wreath up on the grille. Could this be Santa's S10?
In Hiding: A Chevy S-10 and a '60s VW Beetle
Sam: Hiding in the driveway were these two surprises: a slightly newer S-10 and a Beetle. I could see the S-10 from the street, but I wasn't expecting the Beetle behind it. The VW looks like a project and I don't know what's wrong with the maroon S-10. Maybe it's a parts rig for the white one. And to answer the claim I made above, this can't be Santa's S-10 or house because Santa wouldn't fit into that Beetle. Ok, enough seasonally-outdated jokes.
1975 Plymouth Valiant Brougham Revisited Again!
Sam: Guess who's back for a third feature on this blog! Since we were already in the neighborhood, I decided we had to stop and take a look at the old '75 Valiant Brougham again. It appears the same as the last two times I've documented it, so the owner appears to be taking good care of it. I'm still not sure why the plates are off, maybe he's trying to sell it. Looking back at my photos from the Summer, it looks like the car hasn't moved since then. The wheels and wipers are in the same position. I hope the car at least gets moved or covered before the snow starts getting serious.
David: This picture makes the car look menacing, like it's haunted or something. It was cool to finally see this car in person, because I hadn't yet until now. It's a really nice car! I don't know why it's been sitting either.