Late Fall Finds '24

As we conclude the year, we also photograph some of the final classic cars out driving before they get garaged for the Winter. Also, keep your eye out for an exciting announcement!

Above: (12/1/24) - 1976 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible (David)

What was the most American thing you could do in 1976, the bicentennial year of the United States? Well, one thing you could do is buy a brand new lumbering land yacht, with a V8, tailfins, and all the interior space you could dream of! That's what we have here: A beautifully preserved example of a Cadillac Eldorado from the bicentennial year of the United States. 

1976 marked the mid point of the ninth generation Eldorado, which had been in production since 1971. Based on the GM E-Platform, the Eldorado remained Cadillac's flagship personal luxury car. It also remained front wheel drive, a change introduced in 1967, when the Eldorado moved to the E-Platform from the C-Body. It also retained the Cadillac 500 cubic inch (8.2 liter) V8 engine as an exclusive option. So yes, you read that right. This enormous Cadillac is powered by a front wheel driven 8.2L V8 motor, which seems unexpected given the car's immense size and appearance of a typical American car. 

No major changes were introduced for the model year, excluding a few cosmetic updates. Interestingly, 1976 was the final year of the convertible option for the Eldorado, which also featured a "Bicentennial Edition" theme. The final 200 convertibles were all painted white with red and white pinstriping.

Above: Caddy by Night

I photographed this classic Caddy while walking out of work. It was parked far away from the entrance of the store, and I don't blame the owner, as this is one nice car. Though I don't like taking pictures of cars at night, sometimes I have to make a few exceptions. Afterall, I think there was enough lighting to capture some of the details on this car. I found the most notable detail to be the ever-present nature of the Cadillac badge and name. Of course, on a car like this, you'd want people to know what you're driving... to let them know additionally that you got it made. 

Above: (12/5/24) - 1990 Chrysler TC by Maserati (David)

Another late night convertible spotting! This time, it's a more controversial one, the infamous Chrysler TC "by Maserati," one of Lee Iacocca's experiments with the Chrysler K-Platform during the 1980s. What could've been a successful luxury car, turned out to be an enormous flop plagued by delays, and well, its own company's model lineup. 

The TC was based on the Chrysler Q-Platform, which was unique to the car, and a modified version of the K-Platform. The idea behind the car was to take a Maserati designed body, and have it powered by a Chrysler drivetrain. This had stemmed from Lee Iacocca's developed friendship with Italian businessman Alejandro DeTomasso, who was the owner of the legendary but failed DeTomasso sports car brand during the 1970s. By the 1980s, DeTomasso had become the owner of Maserati, and was approached by Iacocca to create a partnership in developing a sporty luxury car to resurrect Chrysler's image back to luxury association following its decline in the 1970s. 

The idea was the TC, or Turbocharged Coupe, as the name stood for. The project began in 1984, set to be released in 1986. It was powered by either a turbocharged 2.2L four cylinder, or a turbocharged Mitsubishi-sourced 3.0L V6. Manual transmissions were available as well. The car was unveiled in 1986, but due to tension between Chrysler and Maserati engineers in development, the release of the car was purshed back until 1988 for the 1989 model year. 

The finished product bore a lot of similarities to the existing Chrysler LeBaron, which had been redesigned in 1985. Outside of the appearance, both cars featured similar drivetrains and accessory options, while the LeBaron included a lower price. Since the LeBaron was a name that customers recognized as a luxury car, it made more sense to buy the LeBaron, as it was the better valued car, since it wasn't limited by its unique platform. Other European sports were slightly more affordable than the TC as well. 

So, essentially the project failed because Chrysler was producing a car that already existed, and bloated the price because of the inclusion of the Maserati name and involvement in designing the car. Perhaps designing the car to make it more distinctive and unique from the LeBaron and other European luxury coupes of its time would've saved the TC from its fate. Today, it has become a rare sight, as only 7300 were produced between 1988 and 1990. It has also become subject of debate between car enthusiasts...

Above: Who did it! Chrysler or Maserati?

One of the longest running debates in the car community has been determining the true manufacturer of the TC. Is it a truly a Chrysler product with Maserati's name on it, or a Maserati product being sold as a Chrysler? I'm pretty confident it's a Chrysler, given that it was Lee Iacocca's idea to produce the TC with Italian designers. However, if you feel otherwise, let the debate begin!

Above: (12/8/24) - 1974 Volkswagen Type 2 Single Cab (David)

Let's take a break from the luxury convertibles, and have a look at this gorgeous 1974 Volkswagen Type 2 single cab. This is a beautifully restored example of a VW Type 2 single cab pickup truck that has a bit of a story, but more on that later. It's finished in a lovely Cream over Olympic Blue paint combination, and features a set of smaller, yet correct looking, aftermarket wheels. 

The single cab variant of the Type 2 Kombi was introduced in 1954. It bore the same mechanical specifications as its Kombi sibling, minus the addition of a people carrying area. Instead, the cab was shrunken down, and the sides were dropped, opening up the rear 2/3 of the vehicle for carrying larger cargo loads without the confinements of a van. 

Later variations of the variations became nicknamed "Doka," starting in 1979 with the introduction of the third generation Type 2. Doka was short for DoppelKabine, or double cab in German. Most pickup truck variants of the Type 2 were enlarged to a crew cab size, featuring space for rear seating passengers instead of the lack thereof. The last Doka was manufactured in 2004, when the fourth generation (T4) Type 2 was phased out for the new fifth generation T5. 

Above: Local Business, International Volkswagen!

You'd be right to think that the first generation Type 2 Kombis ended production in 1967, but you'd also be wrong. The first generation (T1) Type 2's production in the Brazilian market ran until 1975, before being replaced by the second generation. That's the story behind this Volkswagen. These 1968 to 1975 Kombis became unofficially known as the Kombi T1.5. They differed from the original T1 with slightly elongated wheelbases, but were otherwise nearly identical to the European and North American market T1 and T2 Kombis. 

Upon being imported to the US, this Kombi received a full restoration. A fresh repaint, redone vinyl interior, and a lower stance gives this Brazilian T1.5 a slightly restomod'd appearance. It was subsequently sold in Tampa, Florida to Buttercup Flower Truck, a local business located in Wickford, Rhode Island specializing floral goods, wine tasting, and other decorative items. This 1974 Volkswagen became the local business's official cornerstone and flower truck. Just like Green Line Apothecary, it's great to see a classic vehicle being used for a unique business!

Read more about this Volkswagen here. 

Read more about Buttercup here. 

Above: (12/11/24) - 1984 BMW 318i (E30) (David)

This '84 E30 and the car below it were both photographed at the University of Rhode Island's "Keaney Lot." During my last week on campus, I decided, for old time's sake, to do some campus "parking lot recon."  Parking lot recon became something Sam and I would do during our spare time during the end of the semester at each of our universities, so I figured for my final semester week, I'd have one final go before I graduated a few days later. 

URI graciously granted me two final cars to photograph on campus. One of which we'd seen before, and the other was this gorgeous BMW 318i E30 coupe. This is certainly one heck of a commuter car, and one clean E30. It's almost too clean that I'd personally have a lot of anxiety parking it in a campus lot! 

Above: One Clean E30

Though the weather wasn't nice, this E30's condition was quite the opposite! Either it was recently detailed, or it'd been meticulously maintained over its lifetime, because this E30 has become one of the nicest looking driver quality examples I have seen. The rims had no curb rash, the paint was flawless, and the interior was mint. Whoever owned this car definitely put the time and money into keeping it nice, and I'm glad to see its current owner is doing the same. I hope it continues to be maintained as time goes on. 

Above: (12/11/24) - 1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata (NA) Revisited (David)

The final car I photographed at the URI Keaney Lot was this 1997 NA Miata. If you remember from my first URI parking lot recon, this was one of the cars I found. When I saw it again, I decided it would be fitting to end my small automotive experiences at the university by returning to one of my earliest experiences with a cool car on campus.

This Miata hasn't changed much from when I last saw it, which is a good thing of course. I'm glad to see that it's still being driven and enjoyed by its owner as a commuter car. An NA Miata is always a terrific choice for an entertaining, sporty daily driver, so I hope it continues to be enjoyed and cared for. See Cars of URI for the original entry.

Above: (12/19/24) - 1978 Saab 99 EMS Combi Coupe (David)

I bought a new classic car, and it's also my dream car! Read more about it in its own 1978 SAAB 99 EMS  entry. Be sure to check up on the Saab Stories page, which will document my adventures with this car. 

Above: (12/19/24) - 1988 Volvo 240 DL (David)

Sunny days can make or break a nice car photoshoot. Here, we have the latter. Apologies for the bad resolution of the frontal and side photos of this Volvo, the sun was making sure I wouldn't be able to photograph this 240 in Mist Blue, an uncommon color to see a 240 in. 

Above: President Nixon and the Color Blue

What do either of these details have in common? Nothing! Richard Nixon was a republican, commonly associated with the color red, and this is a 1988 240, which did not exist during the time of Richard Nixon's controversial presidency from 1969 to 1974. Though I could be mistaken, and this 240 may have the ability to time travel. However, one thing that this 240 has in common with its rear windshield is the IPD sticker at the top! 

Above: (12/19/24) - 1995 Ford Taurus GL Estate (David)

Behold one of the most important cars to American automotive history and Ford's history. The original Ford Taurus from 1986 not only saved Ford from bankruptcy, but is also credited as being the first modern American family sedan created. It finally broke away from sealed beam headlamps and boxy designs, pioneering the new era of rounded, aerodynamic designs as seen in the 1990s and early 2000s. 

This is a second generation Taurus, produced from 1992 until 1995. It was essentially a refresh of the first generation models with a few new features, like standard dual airbags, making it the first car to marketed as such. Despite its three year production, the second generation Taurus still managed to sell 1.4 million units, making it America's best selling car at the time. For a car from 1995, the Taurus certainly looks like a car from the early 2000s or late '90s at the minimum. While I enjoy boxy cars more so than rounded designs, I certainly respect the Taurus for its impact on automotive history and design. 

Above: (12/19/24) - 1989 Porsche 944 S2 (David)

Parked a block away from the Taurus wagon was this '89 Porsche 944. I hadn't seen this 944 in the area before, so it was a good surprise find. The 944 S2 was introduced in 1989, and produced until 1991. Of the roughly 14,000 produced, around 3000 were sold in the US market, making this a fairly rare car to come across. It is not as rare as the 944 S2 Cabriolet, which only sold about 2000 units in the US, and 5000 worldwide. The 944 S2 was known for being the fastest four-cylinder of its time, with a zero to 60 of roughly 6.8 seconds and a top speed pushing 150 MPH. A massive 3.0L inline four matched with a five speed manual transmission allowed the car to perform so well. 

Above: (12/19/24) - 1993 Subaru Sambar (JDM Import) (David)

Now for a fan favorite! A Kei truck, but more of a novelty Kei truck. This is a Subaru Sambar, more specifically a fifth generation model produced from 1990 to 1991. The Sambar was introduced in 1961, as the second ever vehicle to comply to the Kei vehicle segment. It was available in pickup and cargo van body styles, and featured body-on-frame construction as opposed to a unibody like most Kei vehicles were.

The fifth generation Sambar was introduced for the 1990 model year. Noteworthy changes from previous generations included a slightly larger 660cc engine. However, what made this generation of Sambar appealing was a special edition package made available in 1990. The Dias Classic, a retro styled version of the Sambar, was sold to look like an earlier Sambar, with the inclusion of a rounded front grille. A similar package was offered on the Subaru Vivio, known as the Bistro. Today, some Dias Classics have been modified to look like shrunken Volkswagen Type 2 Kombis, while also becoming a fairly desirable Kei truck option for those interested in getting into them. 

Above: (12/19/24) - 1992 Nissan March (JDM Import) (David)

Here's another small Japanese vehicle, and a more obscure one too. This is a Nissan March, or also known as the Nissan Micra. Despite the name, the March was not small enough to be classified as a Kei vehicle, so it became one of Nissan's smallest compact offerings, sold in the Supermini vehicle segment in Japan. The Micra began production in 1982 and ended in 2023, after being replaced by Nissan's new Supermini car, the Nissan Note. 

This Nissan March is a second generation example, which was produced from 1992 to 2003... and that's about it! It's one of the more unique cars I've seen imported from Japan, as there's truly nothing else that looks like it on the road. Its bubbly appearance is rather adorable in addition to its cheerful looking front fascia. If there's one thing about small JDM cars, they certainly bring a smile to your face. How could you not love a car this tiny and happy?