Late Winter Finds '23

For the conclusion of our rather exciting winter, here are the cars we found during the month of March. Enjoy!

Above: (3/2/23) - 1981 Datsun 810 Maxima Diesel (David)

Every so often, there will be a car I'll come across and I'll have no idea what I am looking at. This was one of those cars. This car, and the next few cars were all spotted in Providence, RI. I was visiting the Downtown area to complete a photography project for a class. I was driving over to the Providence court house, when I passed by this dark gray sedan, and immediately pulled over to investigate. 

At first, I thought it was a second generation Honda Accord, but then I saw the "diesel" badge on the front fender, and I knew Honda didn't make diesel engines. Still perplexed, I took the photos of the exterior of the car, my mind racing with ideas of what this mysterious '80s Japanese sedan could be. Then I saw the Datsun hood ornament, and I got even more confused. I now had the clarification of the make, but my new objective was to figure out what model it was. After scouring Wikipedia Datsun articles, I eventually pieced together the puzzle. The mystery was solved, the car was a first generation Datsun Maxima, or Nissan Maxima.

The Datsun 810 Maxima had a somewhat complex history. It was the second generation of the Datsun 810, however it was only sold in the United States. It was the first car to be marketed with the "Maxima" name, as the 810 Maxima which was the highest trim available for purchase. The only other model available was the 810 Deluxe. Following the success of the 240Z sports car, Datsun saw an opportunity to launch a more luxurious and economical car in the US. The 810 also shared the same engine and transmission as the 240Z. The car was essentially a Datsun 910, only with a larger engine bay to create space for the six cylinder engines available. Two engines were available for the 810: A 2.4L inline six and a 2.8L inline six diesel, which is what this car has. The 810 Maxima only came equipped with an automatic transmission, while the 810 Deluxe was offered with the automatic or a five speed manual. The diesel 810s were offered only from 1981 to '83 and came with a four speed auto or five speed manual. In 1982 Datsun began rebadging the 810 as the Maxima. By 1984, the final year of the first generation, the Maxima was being sold as the Nissan Maxima, the name which would continue to the present day.

Above: (3/2/23) - 1987 BMW 325i (E30) Convertible (David)

This is one gorgeous E30! I think it's probably one of the sleekest examples I've seen to date, which is saying a lot. This E30 was found off of Weyboysett Street, which connects to Westminster, a popular street that runs through the city. This area has some beautiful architecture, and I was photographing the detailed buildings, when I cut down through an alley way to get to the old Providence National Bank, a piece of Rhode Island history I recommend reading about, because it has a really cool story. Check out this video made by Jason Allard, whose YouTube channel showcases exploration of old New England abandoned areas and buildings. 

I'm really struggling here to think of what to write about this car that hasn't been said, and I really can't say anything else without sounding like a broken record. I don't want this entry to sound like a poorly written graduation speech where the speaker summarizes the past four years and how the class should be thankful for them. Essentially, I don't want to glorify this car in a way that would sound redundant and unnecessary. There's no meaning in writing about something that people already know about. This car speaks for itself and I truthfully can't say anything that this car has visually conveyed to you. Sometimes the story is in the photographs.

Again, here is the link to the Rhode Island National Bank video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sXkm8aAfsc&t=68s 

Above: (3/2/23) - E30 Close Ups (David)

Here are some close ups I took of the car. I really like these basket woven rims, which I think look great on the E30. The front fascia picture didn't come out as good as I thought it would, so apologies for the wonky photo. I think it looks funny enough to include in this entry though, so enjoy my amateur photography.

Above: (3/2/23) - California Dreamin'! 1987 Ford Ranger XLT (David)

"California dreamin' on such a winter's day," as The Mamas and The Papas song goes, here we have a visitor from California in Providence! Being a California vehicle, this Ranger has been preserved immaculately, and it honestly is one of the best kept trucks I've seen. It just goes to show how good our west coast friends have it across the country! 

This '87 Ford Ranger is a pristine example of a first generation Ranger, which was introduced in 1982. However, it took some time to get there. Before we talk about the Ranger, we have to discuss an even smaller truck, the Ford Courier. Like most American car brands, Ford entered into a partnership with a Japanese car company, Mazda. Together, they jointly sold a rebadged version of the Mazda B1800 pickup as the Ford Courier from 1972 to 1979. In 1976, Ford began "Project Yuma," which was a project to create the first domestically built compact pickup truck. The Ford Couriers were sold as Fords, but they were assembled and imported from Japan. The 1979 Fuel Crisis caused a struggle for Ford, as they struggled with profiting off sales of cars during 1979 through '80. This almost caused Ford to cancel Project Yuma, but when Ford learned of the development of the Chevy S-10 in 1980, they decided to keep the project in development.

In 1982, the first Rangers were produced. It adopted the Ranger name after Ford redesigned the F-Series in 1980 and changed the "Ranger" trim level to the XLS to accommodate for the new truck. Although Chevy ended up beating Ford to the punch in 1981 with the launch of the S-10, the Ranger would eventually become the best selling truck from 1987 all the way until 2004. The Ranger would receive minor cosmetic updates throughout its life, but was always the small truck that everyone would come to love. It would stay in production up until 2012, and would take a hiatus for almost eight years, returning in 2019. 

I hope you enjoy your stay on the east coast, Ranger. Don't get too rusty!

Above: (3/3/23) - 1982 Volvo 244 DL (David)

I returned to Providence to continue my photography project, as the weather was much nicer and I had some time to kill in the morning. I parked the car and walked out to the street corner to photograph the Providence Biltmore, now known as The Graduate. When I got to the corner, I noticed a small white, boxy sedan which was the unmistakable figure of the Volvo 240. Filled with excitement, I approached the car, to the discovery that it was an early '80s model, a rare sight. 

This is a 1982 Volvo 244 sedan and nothing short of a great car. We photograph a lot of 240s on ONEC, but they're mostly late model versions of the car. If you ask anyone, the 240 is revered for its reliability, durability, and safety. It's the reason why owners of these cars still drive them daily today. The 240 was just as popular back during its production run as it is today. It became Volvo's first ever "million model seller," selling over 2.8 million cars from its nearly 20 year long production from 1974 to 1993. However, for such a vanilla looking car, it might be surprising to some that this was such a popular car. The 240 wasn't striking like a BMW 5-Series, or aerodynamic like its Swedish counterpart Saab 900, and it may not offer a sporty driving experience like most cars today or even of its time. When you strip away the modern ideologies of what an economy car is required to be today, you will begin to see the point of a Volvo 240. These were cars meant to be driven and used forever. Yes, it's slow and it doesn't offer much in the looks department, but what the 240 does offer is honesty and dependability in an era where those vehicular qualities aren't favored by auto makers.

If you recall from Mid Winter Finds '23, I talked about the Volvo 940 as a metaphor for change in one's life. I'd like to think of the Volvo 240 as simpler times before change. The 240 represented the glory days of classic Volvo. It wasn't the first boxy car to be produced by the Swedish company, as the Volvo 140 series would precede the 240, from '66 to '74. The 240 improved where the 140 went wrong, and ushered Volvo into their golden years. When I saw this old Volvo among the modern cars with aggressive headlights and angular, forward styling, I saw something simple in a world full of car designs that have become aggressive and angry looking. When I saw that, I was reminded of simpler times in my life. The 240 represents middle school, times when I really didn't have to worry about issues like money, education, and life as a whole.  Maybe I'm just remembering the good aspects because my life is so damn complicated today, that I wish I could recapture my world full of Legos and Hot Wheels cars. Sure, I had bad days, just as everyone does, but when you look beyond the bad, like when you strip away the plain aspects of a Volvo 240 and see the truth they hold, it becomes easy to forget the negatives.

The 240 would pass the baton to the 940 in 1993, but the 940 always carried that simple, boxy personality of the 240 with it. I suppose change forces you to leave a time in your life that you wish you could stay in, but you can always bring a piece of that with you, just like the Volvo 940 did with the 240. 

Above: (3/3/23) - The Volvo: A Closer Look (David)

Here are some close up photos of the Volvo. You can see that these have slightly different tail lights from most commonly seen 240s. These are what I like to call the "transitional era" tail lights, as they were used from 1979 to 1982. During this period, the 240 recieved major updates, such as new front and rear fascia designs, as well as the option of a Turbo. I love the Volvo poverty hub caps on this car, and on 240s in general, so I was sure to include a photo of that. Finally, I included a zoomed out shot of the car among the modern cars, just to demonstrate how radically different the 240 design is from modern design. 

I now am in the market for a Volvo 240 as my personal commuter car for school. I prefer an estate (wagon), but I will consider sedans. Being the Swedish car fanatic I am and wanting an old car, I see a 240 as a great option. Although I love the Saab 900, the 240 is a bit more reliable and easier to work on, plus parts are plentiful. My goal is to purchase a car by the end of this summer, but until then, I'll be keeping you updated on ONEC on potential cars, and driving my mother's Saab 9-3X to school and back. If anyone has any offers, let me know via the ONEC social media pages or by our email on the home page. The 240 must be from the years 1990 to 1993, as that was the only way I could convince my parents to let me purchase a car this old. 

Above: (3/3/23) - Two Swedes, One Day: 1992 Volvo 240 Estate 5MT (David)

If today couldn't get any better, we have another classic Volvo! This time, a bit more of a modern example than our previous 240, but nonetheless, I loved seeing it just as much. Because I've been in the market for a 240, I've been enjoying their presence a lot more than usual lately. Although let's be honest, who doesn't enjoy seeing an old Volvo, especially a wagon. 

This car was spotted in Warwick, RI, as I was running a few errands after finishing my project up in Providence. I had pulled into the parking lot, and was greeted by the unmistakable sight of a 240 wagon. Like most 240s, it was a survivor still kicking around. To make this entry even better, I was able to meet the owner of the car and get its story! 

This is a 1992 240 Estate, and it's the owner's daily driver. Like most old Volvos, the odometer stopped working, but he estimates it has around 250k miles, which is nothing for a 240. While mostly stock, this Volvo has had a few modifications done to it through out its life. Originally this car had the four speed automatic transmission commonly seen in 240s, but the previous owners swapped it for a five speed manual, to which the (current) owner has no problems with. He prefers it that way anyways. Unfortunately, this car was involved in a collision when a Ford F-250 abruptly cut in front of the car, causing a rear end collision. Fortunately though, the 240 was saved! It borrowed a new front end from a 1989 car, which if the owner hadn't told me about, I would have never noticed. There were a few tell tale signs that he pointed out. The hood stuck up in the back by the hinges, and the paint ever so slightly didn't match up. I'm just glad this car was able to be saved.

I thanked the owner for his time and for telling me the story of his car. I love learning the stories of people's old cars. I believe every car has its own unique story, and every car means something different to someone else. When I got the story about Greg's '71 Thunderbird, back in Winter Break Finds 2022-23, it got me thinking of a potential idea for ONEC. This summer I will be starting a series called "The Car Narratives," where I will interview classic car owners about their cars and provide the stories about their car. Stay tuned for that, as I'm really excited to share the stories I get.

Above: (3/5/23) - 1960 Mercedes Benz 190B (W120) (Sam)

This was a really cool find, as I don't often get to see classics this old in action while I'm away at school.  Nevertheless, this little 190B decided to show up and make an appearance on one of the few occasions I was out on Nassau Street.  Call it a coincidence, call it whatever you want, but I happened to be in the right place at the right time to spot this car.  I picked up on something strange when I noticed the round roofline amidst the other cars on the street, and I was very surprised to see it belonged to this well-maintained driver Mercedes.  Yes, the paint is a bit faded, but this car is still out there puttering away and doing what it was meant to do.  I gave the driver a thumbs up as he went by.  

Above: (3/6/23) - 1979 Cadillac Coupe DeVille (David)

Now, the polar opposite of all the previous entries so far! This is a 1979 Cadillac Coupe DeVille, which incapsulates the dawn of the end of the golden age of Cadillac. Cadillac, among most American auto manufacturers, saw themselves in dark period of time as they reached the 1980s. The writing was on the wall, the age of the classic land yacht was diminishing rapidly. 1979 gave the "Big Three" a huge wakeup call with the 1979 Oil Crisis caused by political tensions with Iran.  If they wanted to remain afloat and stay competitive with the dominating import auto manufacturers, they would have to downsize. This meant that the large gas guzzling road barges would have to go.

The Cadillac DeVille was one of the last classic full size American cars to stick around long enough before they really had to downsize the car. Although the flagship Fleetwood Brougham would remain in production with a similar style until 1992, the DeVille saw its final days as a full size car in 1984, when the model was downsized for its sixth generation in 1985 with the other full size C-Body models. However, like the end of summer, Cadillac made sure that the DeVille lasted as long as it could before finally making the overdue decision to conform to the other 1980s cars of its time. 

Above: (3/6/23) - Defining the DeVille (David)

Even in its rough years, these old Cadillacs remained just as classy as they did back in their golden years during the late '50s and early '60s. I know it's very easy to criticize the Big Three in 1970s for taking no action about efficiency or economy whatsoever, but at the end of the day, cars like this Cadillac are still classy looking vehicles. When I saw this car, a flatbed driver walking back to his truck commented about how clean he thought the car was. I can't disagree with him. Yeah, this car isn't immaculate like any classic car on the road, but it stands out like seeing your crush out in public. These cars defined an era, and like this Caddy here, the end of an era. This car glorifies the past, and it can be easy to why that is when you look at this car. While a reminder of one of the darkest period of American car history, seeing something so novel like this today can remove it from the past its held. Perhaps this is just my opinion, but it's hard to imagine classic cars without cars like these, whether they're great cars or not. There's nothing more capturing than seeing a classic Cadillac sitting low and wide on the ground. 

Above: (3/9/23) - 1988 Mercedes Benz 560 SL (C107) Revisited (Sam)

If something about this car looked familiar, it's because I photographed it way back in the fall of 2021.  The original entry can be found in Fall '21 under Princeton University cars.  This little 560 looked to be in about the same shape as when I last saw it, although that rust in the rear dog leg is a bit concerning.  I hope the owner takes care of it before it spreads.  I didn't realize it until I looked back at my first entry, but it appears the owner has both the ragtop and hardtop for this car, as it's currently wearing a red hardtop.  Hopefully, it'll be back in the black rag when the warmer weather returns!  

Above: (3/9/23) - 1973 Plymouth Satellite Custom (David)

I think this might be the first ever Chrysler B-Body sedan we've photographed. The Satellite was Plymouth's top of the line mid size offering from 1967 until 1975.  The Satellite was based off of the Belvedere, and was built on the Chrysler B-Platform, like the Plymouth Belvedere and Dodge Coronet. Until 1964, the Fury was the top of the line offering from Plymouth until it became a full size model with introduction of the new Chrysler C-Platform in '65. The Belvedere remained an intermediate offering, and the Satellite was introduced as an upscaled Belvedere, similar to the Fury's introduction in 1956. During its production, the Satellite saw three major generations, with the third being the most radical. This is an example of a third generation Satellite. 

In 1971, Chrysler restyled their full and mid size models to feature the "fuselage" body style. Essentially, the bodies were rounded off for a more curvy appearance, like that of an airplane fuselage. This car is a Satellite Custom, which was the top trim option available, although a very rare Brougham option was also available as a high trim option. The two door variant of the Satellite was marketed as a luxury sports coupe, similar to the Chevy Monte Carlo. The coupe and sedan vehicles had the distinction of not sharing any body panels, as the wheel bases were different and the coupe featured a different front and rear after 1973. The Satellite would be discontinued in 1974 after the Fury was moved back down to a mid size car. 

Above: (3/9/23) - Spotlight on the Satellite (David)

I've always loved old sedans like this Satellite, so seeing this car out in the wild was super cool. You occasionally will see a GM or Ford product, but you never see old Chrysler products like these. This was a very well kept car, but it wasn't a perfect show car, like any survivor. Like any New England survivor, it had some crusty quarter panels and some rust around the wheel arch trim and bumpers, but the fact that it was out on the road was enough for me. Call me weird, but seeing a regular car like this Satellite can be a lot cooler than seeing a restored muscle car like a Road Runner, this car's sibling. 

My love for these old Chrysler sedans began with my childhood. My family didn't have cable TV, so I had to watch broadcast television channels. The channel I was stuck with was the oldies channel, which usually featured classics like The Brady Bunch, Emergency!, and Adam 12. Adam 12 was a show I watched primarily because of all the classic cars that were seen within the background. For a kid in second grade, this was pretty entertaining! I could've cared less about what was actually happening, but the show was pretty exciting so I paid attention too. The main characters, Officers Malloy and Reed, used a Plymouth Satellite throughout the show's run, although the years varied throughout each season. This show played a pivotal roll in shaping my interests in classic cars. Today, while my tastes in cars has changed more towards classic Swedish and European cars, I still love seeing these just as much. 

Above: (3/13/23) - 1991 Saab 900 Combi Coupe (David)

Here is a gorgeous example of a Saab 900 Combi Coupe. This car was spotted street parked on the East Side of Providence. I was at a stoplight when I happened to glance over, and notice the unmissable appearance of a Saab 900. I immediately turned down the side street to investigate. Since the Boston Saab 900 Convertible, I had been patiently waiting to happen upon another street parked 900, and perhaps this was my next big break. Much to my luck as well, it happened to be my favorite 900 body style, the Combi Coupe three door hatchback. 

By the start of the 1990s, Saab had entered into a joint relationship with GM, after struggling financially in 1989, losing over $300 million in sales. While the success of the 900 and the 9000 had been prominent throughout the 1980s, and by 1989 sales dropped significantly, with Saab losing $120 million in the first quarter of the year. To stay afloat, and also retain their name in the auto industry, Saab desperately needed to find a solution if they wanted to avoid their slump in sales. The idea of a merger with Fiat was rumored in late 1989 in an issue of Auto Week, but was proved untrue. Saab turned to Ford to see if promoting the 900 and 9000 to younger car buyers through Ford dealers would be an option, but it was turned down by Ford in favor of Jaguar. GM, who was also looking to purchase a European car brand to market their cars overseas, purchased 50% Saab for $600 million on December 16, 1989. Thus began the beginning of the end for Saab. 

These early '90s classic 900s reflect the end of Saabs independence and the beginning of GM's ambitions to make Saab their own company. What made Saab appealing to its buyers was its uniqueness and attention to detail where other brands fell short. While the company started out with quirky cars like the 93 and the 95, Saab found its stride with 99, which helped its presence in the auto industry become more noticed to a slightly mainstream consumer base. The 900, which was introduced in 1978, locked in the Saab fanbase for good, as it became Saab's best selling car worldwide. When the last classic era 900s rolled off the assembly line in Trollhättan, Sweden in 1993, it ushered in the GM era, which at first seemed like it would save the company, but would take away the uniqueness that made a Saab truly a Saab, ultimately leading to the demise of Saab. 

Above: (3/16/23) - 1992 Saab 900 S Convertible (David)

Yes, you are not dreaming, this is two Saab 900s in a row. I suppose it must be either sheer coincidence or pure luck, but who am I to be complaining. Seeing two classic 900s street parked by chance in the same week is something I thought would never happen. This 900 here is a very nicely kept example. Being a 900 S, it has the naturally aspirated Saab B212 2.1L engine, an updated version of the B202 2.0L engine, which debuted in 1991. This car also has the three speed Borg Warner T-3 automatic transmission, a controversial topic among Saab enthusiasts, however that's a story for another time.

The Saab 900 convertible could be the most un-Saab of all time. In fact, the lineage of this car is closer to home than you might think. In the early 1980s, US sales of the Saab 900 began to decline, and the president of the Saab US division, Bob Sinclair, thought that a convertible variant of the 900 would help boost Saab's image in the US. He thought that having a convertible option available in Saab's lineup would move the company's image to a more luxurious, up scale market. Initially, the idea of a 900 convertible seemed skeptical to Saab executives, but when the prototypes were presented, it was loved by the executives. Furthermore, the 900 convertible proved to be an instant success when it debuted at the 1983 International Auto Show in Frankfurt, Germany. The car wouldn't be launched until 1987, but upon its initial release, it proved Bob Sinclair's idea right, as the new convertible helped restore Saab's sales in the US. 

Above: (3/16/23) - Saab Snapshots (David)

Here are some close ups of the badging and "Saab Scania" emblem. Saab formed a merger with Swedish truck company Scania in 1969, which would prove to be an important step in Saab's history. Since Scania had an engine building facility, Saab no longer had to import their engines from Britain, allowing them to build their own engines. Since Scania also turbocharged their trucks, Saab would use this to their advantage when testing turbo charged versions of their own engines in the late 1970s with the Saab 99, and then in 1978 and onward with the 99 Turbo and the 900 Turbo. This allowed them to be the first automobile company to mass produce turbo charged passenger vehicles. 

Above: (3/19/23) - Caddyshack: 1991 Cadillac Brougham (Sam)

This fine piece of iron from the end of the Cadillac era was spotted on my return trip after March break.  When I saw the taillights looming off in the distance, I could tell I was in the presence of a twilight years Caddy, the question of which year was answered when I passed the trailer and saw the last-gasp redesigned grille for the 90-92 models.  After 92, the Cadillac was completely remodeled to look more like its contemporaries, receiving a similar jellybean treatment as the Caprice and Roadmaster.  This car looked to be in nice shape, and I wonder if the owner had just purchased it as part of a collection.  Normally, you don't see '90s Cadillacs being trailered like this, regardless of condition.  This was still a nice find, and I hope this Caddy was headed to a good home.