Early Fall Finds '24

Summer flew by, and it's hard to believe that Fall is already here! As the seasons change, and the weather changes from warm to cool, we did our best to capture some of Rhode Island and New Jersey's best classics before they get garaged for Winter hibernation. There is a great diverse showing of cars from all eras, from late 1940s all the way to the late 1990s. This Fall certainly provides a great timeline of the evolution of automotive design. With that said, here are the classic and modern classic cars we found during late September and mid-October. 

Above: (9/27/24) - 1995 Mitsubishi Minicab (David)

My friend and I were on a late night voyage for some goods for an occasion happening that night. We were traversing a dimly lit road when we passed by a vacant lot illuminated by two street lamps, revealing two classic cars. One of which was this Mitsubishi Minicab, the other you'll see below. 

This is a fifth generation Mitsubishi Minicab, produced from 1991 to 1999, and was about two inches larger than the previous generation. This allowed for a slightly more powerful 660CC engine to be installed in place of the outgoing 657CC engine. During the fifth generation, the Minicab van was renamed the "Bravo," but still shared the same parts as the Minicab truck, excluding the front fascia. The Bravo was also available with a turbocharged motor, while the truck was not.

This very Minicab was for sale at the time, and my friend and I jokingly thought about buying it to park at our beach house in Narragansett. We then realized that Kei vehicles had since been made illegal to register in Rhode Island, so the idea was dropped. I don't believe the asking price was that high either, so if the Kei ban wasn't in effect, this joke could've been a reality. 

Above: (9/27/24) - 1984 Chevrolet Corvette (C4) (David)

This is the other aforementioned classic. It's a somewhat modified Corvette C4, with some aftermarket rims and a large custom hood. My friend and I suspected a possible engine swap, or some wild supercharger was hiding beneath the hood scoop. He also noted the Corvette inscribed license plate cover, featured in the bottom right picture, making for a clean appearance, where most other cars leave this space bare. 

Above: (10/5/24) - 1985 Mercury Cougar Bostonian Edition (David)

This '85 Cougar was photographed at the Warwick Mall, all alone in the parking lot. I suspect the owner didn't want anyone sideswiping or door dinging his car, so they parked it far away from the mall traffic. I don't blame them, as this Cougar was pretty clean! It also allowed me to capture the rather pristine nature without much interruption from other parked cars, which is why I hestitate to photogaph cars in parking lots. 

Aside from the odd choice of blackening out the headlamps, this Cougar was nearly perfect. Its Bostonian Edition trim package makes it a bit more uncommon. The Bostonian Edition got owners a Landau top and special badging, as well as some floor mats and other exclusive dealer add-ons, but nothing standout. Interestingly, the Bostonian Edition was one of the only trim levels carried into the succeeding generation of the Cougar in 1989, and became the standard trim level in that year. This 1985 model, part of the sixth generation, was a special edition. 

Above: Cougar Close Ups

Here are the aforementioned special Bostonian Edition badges installed. They're appear to be a sticker add-on, with the exception of the Bostonian badge above the circular Cougar badge on the Landau top. 

Above: (10/9/24) - 1974 Ford Mustang II 4MT (David)

Here's another Malaise era FoMoCo product, a very blue '74 Mustang II. This happened to be parked at school in the University's Keaney lot, near the Keaney Gymnasium. This means that one student certainly knows how to ride in style. 

Any other day, I'd have a chuckle at the Mustang II, but seeing it in the student lot made me smile. The Mustang II may hold a rather dismal history, but the fact that a young student is making the effort to care for it is redeeming. Oh yeah, and it's a four speed manual too. This student is doing the Lord's work. 

Above: "The Worst Mustang, but in the Best Condition"

When I sent this car to Sam, he called it "the worst Mustang, but in the best condition." I couldn't think of a more accurate description, because if you were to look back at the previous Mustang II's we've photographed, I don't think you'll find a better example than this one. This Mustang, while the paint and rims are definitely not original, is in quite remarkable condition. I don't believe there was a speck of rust on it. I hope the student that drives this car continues to maintain its condition, as this is definitely a car worth saving. 

Above: (10/11/24) - 1999 Saab 9-3 Convertible (David)

Another campus find, this '99 9-3 was photographed in the residence lot near Brookside Hall. I've been making an effort to photograph modern cars less and less, especially from brands I like, but I thought that this Saab was worthy enough to make the ONEC cut. Afterall, this Saab has officially achieved classic car status in 2024, which is kind of hard to believe. As a child of the 2000s, I remember when these were fairly new! In fact, my grandfather had a 9-3 hatchback of the same generation, which I dearly miss. That's a Saab story for another time though!

Above: (10/11/24) - 1997 Nissan Skyline GT-R 40th Anniversary Sedan (R33) (JDM Import) (David)

This beautiful example of a Nissan Skyline R33 sedan was photographed right near the Saab 9-3 from above at Brookside Hall. I suppose this residence hall is home to some car enthusiasts with delectable taste!

More specifically, this 1997 Skyline R33 touts a special 40th  Anniversary package specific to the sedan. For the 40th anniversary of the Skyline nameplate, Nissan released the GT-R as a sedan for the first time, equipping it with the same body panels and engine as the standard GT-R coupe. These examples are very rare, as only a select few were built and tuned by Nissan's high performance Autech and Nismo divisions, and also distinctive to the 1997 model year. Like all Skylines, this 40th anniversary would only be sold in Japan, becoming available for import to the US in 2022. 

Later Nissan sport sedans would be built around the Nissan Laurel in Japanese domestic market. In the US, some would be based around the Altima and Maxima SE models, making these cars sleepers in the face of their reputation as regular sedans. Equipped with a standard manual transmission and a V6 engine, Altima and Maxima SE's were a secret Skyline in their own regard, and for those who knew of their capabilities. 

Today, the GT-R has been made available for purchase in the US domestic market. Though it no longer touts the Skyline nameplate, the GT-R's mechanical DNA can be traced back to the legendary Skyline models of the 1990s. The R35 has been in production since 2007, allowing it to become a staple of modern car culture and design, but also leaving many to wonder when the R35's successor will carry the torch of the Skyline's legacy. 

Above: Hidden in Plain Sight

It's a Nissan Altima! No! a Sentra NO! A Skyline R33! As I alluded to above, this Skyline did not initially pique my interest when I first saw it. Walking on the pathway in front of it, the first thing I noticed was the front fascia. I brushed the car off as an old Altima from the '90s, and moved on to notice the '99 Saab from above. When I was finished photographing the Saab, I noticed the dual rear taillights, and then I knew I had found something special. 

If it weren't for those distinctive taillights, I probably would've never photographed this car. Taking a closer look, one of my favorite features was the inclusion of a rear windshield wiper blade. Keep in mind this is a traditional sedan, and not a fastback or hatchback! I wish this was standard on all sedans, as I find myself wishing my 2021 Corolla had one on rainy days. I bet I'm not the only who feels as such. 

Above: (10/11/24) - 1967 Ford F-250 Custom Cab Revisited (David)

Now we'll radically change gears to something completely different from the Skyline above. If the Skyline is one of the most notable cars defining Japanese car culture, then a Ford F-Series is the defining vehicle of the American car scene. Yes, we have the Corvette, the Mustang, and the Challenger, but when thinking about American cars as a whole, there truly is nothing more American than a pickup truck. 

I would argue this '67 F-250 is a further representation of the ideal truck image. It's rusty and battered, but it's still running. Oversized pickup trucks of 2024 have saturated the pickup truck's aesthetic with trim packages trying to recreate the traditional nature of the truck. However, they fail at doing so because they try to recreate the idea of what a truck should be without the realization that the simplicity of a classic truck was all that was needed in the first place. It's a matter of blue collar cosplay, versus the man who puts in the work and long hours making an honest living, or a truck made to look the part versus the truck built to do the work and do it well. This 1967 F-250 may not have all the bells and whistles, nor it may not be as intimidating as a truck today, but at least it's an honest and gets the job done. 

Above: Returning to a Much Deserved Classic

If you can really stretch your memory all the way back to Winter 2023, I photographed this truck, albeit it was one photo. I really wished I could've gotten more angles of the truck like I normally do, but due to other vehicles and objects in the way, I was unable to do so. So, I walked away hoping to revisit the truck on a later date. Every so often, if I were in the Narragansett area, I'd check on the truck to see if it moved places, but for a while, it remained in the same parking spot from that Winter '23 entry. However, over a year later, my waiting finally paid off. 

Above: (10/11/24) - 1985 Mercedes Benz 300 TD Estate (S123) (David)

We press forward strong after the 1967 F-250 with a lovely 1985 Mercedes Benz 300 TD Estate. Parked along the Narragansett Pier beach walk, this Mercedes may not glisten in the sun, as its paint has since faded, but it sure looks good. This is a perfect survivor W123, as I remember them growing up. Before these cars began to become uncommon sights on the road, the Mercedes W123 cars, more specifically the sedan, were a dime a dozen in the 2000s. Many of them looked like this one. The paint usually faded, the front wheels covered in diesel soot and brake dust, and lenses yellowed from the sun. Yet they rattled around town faithfully. 

Above: A Car I Wish I Saw More

These Mercedes Benz W123 cars are some of the most reliable cars ever built, which begs the question, why aren't I seeing these as much? Like most cars from the late 1970s and early '80s, the W123 has begun to achieve collector's status, with nicer examples fetching prices in the mid five figure range. Lesser examples can still be found at relatively affordable prices, but will require work. My guess is that Mercedes enthusiasts are starting to preserve these cars, only taking them out in warmer weather for cruises and car shows. I still see some around being used as daily drivers, however as I alluded to earlier, it's pretty rare when I do. The last W123 car I saw was back in April in the Bike Ride 33 entry. It goes to show ya!

Above: (10/11/24) - 1988 Volvo 240 DL: A Lifted 240 (David)

Awesome! The last lifted Volvo I photographed was at the  Volvos at the Farm car show from 2023, and in the back lots in Wakefield, RI, I stumbled upon something just as cool. My opinions on modified vehicles can vary, especially with cars I have a bit more passion for, such as classic Volvos. I've seen a lot of tastefully modded Volvos... and many not so much. This 240 showcases the perfect combination of Volvo purism and DIY fun. From a far, it looks like a regular 240 sedan. But, up close, the wheels seem to appear larger, and the ride height higher. Suddenly, you realize this isn't your average Volvo!

Above: (10/11/24) - 1949 Chevrolet Thriftmaster Panel Van "Clara" (David)

The Green Line Apothecary's fleet of classic Chevrolet panel vans never fails to impress, especially this one. The last time one of their classic vans was featured was a bit ago, in 2022, when I photographed a different van at their Providence location. This van was photographed at their Wakefield location, a town located right outside of Narragansett, RI. 

Unlike the Providence van, this van features a two-tone paint job, white wall tires, and a much cleaner appearance. The Providence van, on the other hand, was solid green and could've used a nice wash. Anyways, this van bears the nickname "Clara" and a matching trailer, which you can see below. According to Green Line Apothecary's Instagram, this van received a restoration sometime in 2023, with a repaint and period correct rims. Previously, Clara featured a similar two-tone paint job, although the green was a darker metallic shade, and the rims were custom Cragars that did not fit the post war aesthetic Green Line was going for. With some new rims and fresh paint, Clara never looked better!

Above: Post War Americana

Green Line Apothecary is one of the few businesses that faithfully recreates an era that most only try to touch upon. The flashy post World War II era of the US was defined by bright colors, soda fountains, and corner stores. Green Line's several locations around Rhode Island recreate this classic era of post war corner stores in the present day, being one of the only stores to offer a genuine soda fountain, as well as an interior recreating the designs and aesthetics of the late '40s and early '50s. Of course, their use of the Chevrolet Advance Design vans, like Clara, help cement this approach. Not only does it help Green Line stand out from other small businesses, but it gives them a memorable charm unlike any other. Unfortunately, Green Line closed its stores in late 2024, just a few months after the completion of this entry. 

Above: The 1948 Chevrolet Thriftmaster and Trailer

Here is a complete view of the Thriftmaster with its trailer. The period correct matching trailer certainly adds a nice touch, no?

Above: (10/13/24) - 1956 Chevrolet 3100 Panel Van (David)

Here's another classic Chevy van, although it's in considerably worse shape than Clara from above. This Chevy van was photographed at the annual Scituate Art Festival. For Rhode Islanders, the Scituate Art Fest is popular attraction each Fall, showcasing various artists, fashion designers, wood workers, and other boutique items. The festival always falls around my mother's birthday, and since she grew up in Scituate, we always attend the show as part of her birthday celebration. So happy birthday, Mom!

Upon meeting the owner, the van has actually been deliberately kept in this condition as a piece of yard art. The owner is an enthusiast of classic Chevy vans, owning two other fully restored examples from 1955 and 1956. He got this rusty van because it was relatively solid, and had decent parts for his other vans. He noted he does have ambition to restore this van in the distant future, so its status as a yard art piece is not permanent. Although, that patina looks pretty damn good if you ask me!

Disclaimer: ONEC is NOT affiliated with any political parties, groups, or causes. The flag in the background is the owners, and we are by no means supporting or promoting content regarding the flag and what it stands for. This entry is strictly showcasing this 1956 Chevy Van, and not attempting to promote political propaganda. We apologize in advance if anyone takes offense to the flag. 

Above: Yard Art or Restoration Candidate?

This van is currently a piece of yard art, as its rusty appearance combines perfectly with the antique styling of the colonial style house it's parked in front of. However, as I and the owner pointed out above, this van will eventually receive a restoration. If you were the owner of this house and subsequent van, would you keep the van in its current state as an attraction, or would you restore it? If you were to restore it, would you keep its current appearance, or would you repaint it? It's all food for thought, and I think there are no wrong answers here. 

Above: (10/13/24) - 1951 International Harvester L-110 Revisted (David)

You might recognize this one if you've been a long-time reader, or if you've done some digging around in a few of our early entries. If you are new, or didn't see the original entry featuring this truck, I present to you, one of ONEC's earliest finds. This 1951 International Harvester was originally photographed in 2019 at the Scituate Art Festival, and I have returned five years later to revisit it as we approach five years of Old New England Cars.

This IH L-110 is a functional truck and occasionally sees use, albeit for more recreational purposes. Though it belongs to the family who owns the lot it is parked on, they are good friends with a local photographer, and often lend it to him for use as a prop for photoshoots. He believes the truck has been in the family for some time, but because of his constant use of it, he said he really wants to buy it off of them! I'm glad to see that this truck is being cared for and preserved, as it is a cool piece of history, and also a nice little halmark of the Scituate Art Festival.

Above: Revisiting the Early Days

This 1951 International Harvester pickup was one of the first cars Sam or I (David) ever photographed for the sake of photographing classic cars. Though it was not photographed for the sake of blog publication, arguably, it helped inspire what would become this car blog a few years later. If you go back to the original 2019 entry of this truck, the evolution of ONEC is ever present. What started as a snapshot, barely fitting the entire truck in frame, has transformed into a pleasant showcasing of an aged and well loved truck, allowing for multiple angles and close ups of details within it. 

What makes this entry a bit more special is that this International was revisited five years later to the day of the original photograph date, which was October 13, 2019. This truck was photographed for this entry on October 13, 2024, though it was not in the original location of the 2019 entry. I knew that it would be the five year anniversary of the photographing of the truck, but I did not know it would be down to the exact day. I also got to meet the owner, and learn a bit about its story, which I briefly outlined above. It was truly a full circle moment. 

This truck also is a core piece of my childhood. My mother’s birthday weekend always fell during the week of Rhode Island’s annual Scituate Art Festival, discussed in the entry above. Since my mother’s grew up in Scituate, we would always attend the festival on that weekend as part of celebrating her birthday. That truck would always be present at the festival, allowing it to become a little memento of my childhood and the festival, and now preserved on ONEC.

Above: (10/14/24) - 1949 Mack EHU-Series Cab-Over-Engine Dump Truck (David)

I had to search dental records to find out what kind of Mack truck this was! For such a well preserved and restored truck, information about this truck was relatively scarce, and I had to dig around forums and utilize old photographs to identify the model. So what exactly is this truck? 

To get the obvious out of the way, before you is a very well restored and preserved 1949 Mack dump truck, as indicated by the "Mack" badge and "Class of '49" decal on the side of the nose of the truck. However, the full designation is a 1949 Mack EHU-Series, which was part of the Mack E-Series introduced in 1936. The E-Series was used primarily for commercial use, and was available in three variations. All variations were 5 ton trucks, and were available as a traditional cab and bed, a semi tractor, and as seen here, a Cab-Over-Engine (COE) with space available for different types of beds. Only the COE was designated the EHU, which is what made identifying this truck very difficult. 

Most of the Mack E-Series trucks were produced in the traditional and semi truck body styles, which made finding information about this truck rather difficult. Another popular subset model of the E-Series was the EH-Series, developed specifically for use during World War II. This model seemed to have the most information surrounding it. Hell, it was the only truck in the E-Series family to have its own Wikipedia page. 

It wouldn't be until I found an old sales brochure, where I was able to determine what this truck really was. As it would turn out, a fourth commercial subset of the E-Series (excluding the military use only EH-Series) was developed. This was known as the EHUT, a COE semi truck version, and one of the earliest trucks to feature a sleeper cab for long trips. 

Above: (10/14/24) - 1984 Toyota Dolphin Motorhome (David)

Here's another obscure truck, but thankfully not as obscure as the Mack EHU from above. This is a 1984 Toyota Dolphin, a factory approved custom motorhome produced by Dolphin RVs, based on a Toyota HiLux pickup. These converted Toyotas were officially designated Class C, and marketed with various names throughout its production run from 1976 to 1997. The Dolphin Class C's came in two styles. There was the "Micro-Mini," which was built using a shorter wheel base truck, and a compact motorhome where the bed would be. The most popular was the "Mini-Home," seen here, was built on a standard long wheel base, and featured a large motorhome in place of the bed. 

Above: Small Truck, Big Home

These Toyota Dolphins look a little cartoonish with their oversized campers mounted on such tiny trucks. Though Toyotas were known for their reliability, it makes you wonder why Dolphin decided to choose the small Toyota Hilux pickup to convert into an RV, when they had much larger American offerings available. Afterall, Dolphin was an American RV company, so I'm sure they were already paying a lot to import Toyota trucks into the US for conversion. Regardless of the reason, the Dolphin Class C Minis proved to be a moderate success, and are still occasionally seen around today. 

For more information regarding the Dolphin and the company's history, check out the National RV Club webpage. 

Above: (10/14/24) - 1981 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Official Pace Car Edition (David)

This location might look a bit familiar. You'd be right to assume so, as just this last Spring, I photographed a 1971 Firebird featured in the Bike Ride 37 entry. In fact, you can see that exact car right behind this Firebird. We're focusing on this Firebird today though. 

This 1981 Firebird is a special example, as you can see by the decal mounted on the side of the door. In 1980, Pontiac began offering their highest spec Firebird, the Turbo Trans Am, with the Official Daytona Pace Car package, as the Firebird was the official Pace Car for the 1980 and 1981 Indianapolis and Daytona 500 races. These models were only available during these model years, and production was limited to only 5700 for the 1980 Indianapolis 500 edition, and only 2000 for the 1981 Daytona 500 model. That makes this example fairly rare! 

In terms of mechanical and performance specifications, these special edition Firebirds were no different than a regular Turbo Trans Am. They were equipped with the 301 C.I. turbocharged V8, coupled to a three speed automatic transmission. This combination was capable of 210 horsepower, which was not a terrible figure for an American muscle car during the Malaise era. 

Above: The Most Handsome Malaise Era Muscle Car

As I noted in the 1971 Firebird entry, the Pontiac Firebird is probably the best looking muscle car to come out of the Malaise era, especially in this exact form from 1979 to 1981. On this car, the color matching rims, the black pinstriping, and the minimal font denoting "Turbo Trans Am" really present the car well. Of course, who could forget the trademark Screaming Chicken decal on the hood too! However, what ties the whole car together for me, is the placement of the grille at the bottom of the nose cone. I think this design choice really cleans up the front fascia, and sells a much better looking car than most American sports cars of its time. 

Above: (10/16/24) - 1984 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale Brougham (David)

New Oldsmobiles are in early this year! And an early day it is for us. On my way to school, I noticed this beautiful Olds Delta 88 parked on the side of the road and had to have a look. What we have here is a incredibly well preserved 1984 Delta 88, and easily one of the best looking examples I've seen to date. The paint on this car alone was flawless, and I couldn't find a single imperfection. This Olds is truly a fine testament to the later years of the classic American sedan, as I'll get into below.

Speaking of the close up photos below, the Faulkner Oldsmobile dealer sticker indicates that this Delta 88 was originally sold at Henry Faulkner Oldsmobile of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Of course, that dealer has since closed, with Oldsmobile's death in 2003, but the Faulkner family continues to operate sales of over 20 vehicle makes, in over 32 dealer locations across Pennsylvania. It's good to know that this Oldsmobile began its life on the East Coast, and has been well cared for by its owners over the years. While a For Sale sign was mounted on the dash, I hope who ever purchases this car continues to maintain it well. 

Above: The Last Old School B-Body Oldsmobile Full Size Sedan

As the 1980s would progress, with smaller, efficient cars on the horizon, this 1984 Delta 88 is an example of the final old school American full size sedan offering from Oldsmobile. Yes, the Custom Cruiser station wagon would continue to utilize the B-Body platform until 1992, but the full size Delta 88 sedan would end production in 1985, succeeded by the tenth generation Oldsmobile 88 on the new front wheel drive GM H-Body platform. The closest vehicle resembling the B-Body Delta 88 would be the Cutlass Supreme Sedan, built on the G-Body platform, and featured a similar body style, and a rear wheel drive layout albeit on a mid-size offering. 

The 98, Oldsmobile's flagship model, previously based on the larger C-Body platform would also be redesigned completely for the 1985 model year. It too would shed its oversized body on frame, V8 engine RWD roots for a transversely mounted V6 engine, now offering FWD. 

In 1987, the G-Body would also be redesigned to a similar layout to the new C and H body platforms, which left the aforementioned Custom Cruiser wagon as the only traditional offering left by Oldsmobile, ending production in 1992. 

Today, these B-Body classics have developed a cult following by new young enthusiasts. What were known as "old people's cars" in their hey day, are now being converted into sleepers with big block LS engines, or restored and preserved back into their original form and used as daily drivers. Given that the B-Body became GM's best selling and longest produced platform over its 70 year long production, parts are omni-present and interchangeable between brands. If you're a young enthusiast looking to get into American classics, definitely consider starting with a B-Body. Sam and I won't say otherwise!

Above: (10/20/24) - 1963 GMC C-1500 V6 "Stanly" (David)

Meet Stanly, a beautiful forest green '63 (or thereabouts) GMC C-1500 truck. Stanly was photographed at a Walmart parking lot on a beautiful Fall day. Stanly appears to be very original and well preserved. The paint and wheels look to be original, though I could be mistaken. There's just the right amount of surface rust patina to make this truck appear as if its been rolling around in its stock form since 1963. 

Like the first generation, and subsequent generations, the GMC C-1500 was based on the same C/K truck platform as the Chevy C-10. It shares nearly all the same parts and mechanics as its Chevy sibling, minus the front fascia, though that appears to be very similar too. The easiest way to note a Chevy truck from a GMC is the amount of headlights. A Chevy will have a single headlight on either side, while a GMC will have two. It's certainly great to see the alternative and less common offering of the legendary C/K truck series, especially in this condition. 

Above: Close Ups of Stanly

As you saw above, Stanly is equipped with the infamous GM "Turbo-Thrift" Inline-6 engine. Despite the name, these engines were not turbocharged, but were notoriously reliable. They were produced from 1962 to 2001 worldwide, accounting for usage in every small to midsize offering from GM during this time. I'm also not sure why the Turbo-Thrift engine badge is in the shape of a V, as it was an I6. Interesting choice, General Motors.

Stanly is also equipped with a steering column mounted three speed manual transmission, or a "Three on the Tree" as noted by the aftermarket badge on the tailgate. I thought this was a pretty cool and subtle addition to the truck, noting an old transmission style that isn't really used much any more, if at all. Three on the Tree also sounds plain cool, just like "Four on the Floor" so I'd add this on if I drove a car with a three speed column shift too. I hope we meet again, Stanly!