Bike Ride 33

David: Another one for the books! For two days, Rhode Island got beautiful weather that was pushing into the low 70s. After weeks of dismal cloudy, cold, and rainy weather, this was a literal breath of fresh air. Immediately after school, I hopped on my bike, and hit the open road, mostly for some post-class exercise, but also to find some classics! I must say that this bike ride... well... it definitely exceeded my expectations, and hopefully it does the same for you.

Bike Ride 33 features a complete entry of never-before-seen cars on ONEC. In fact, a lot of these models have never gotten an in-depth look before, mostly because I never really got the chance to photograph these types of cars. With that being said, prepare to do some reading, but I promise it'll be worth your while. To piqué your interest, some of these cars in question are a Mercedes W123 Sedan, an original Saab 9000, and a Chrysler K-Car. Oh, and for those wondering, no old Volvos were photographed, much to my dismay, but probably for your sanity! However, I did see a 1981 Volvo 242 in passing. Anyways, I hope you enjoy the beautiful weather ahead, and the cars that I found.

Above: 1982 Mercedes Benz 240 D (W123)

We start off this beautiful afternoon with an equally beautiful car. The Mercedes Benz W123 series of vehicles is often regarded as one of the marque's best models produced. Of course, the W123 is no 300 SL Gullwing, but the W123 is remembered fondly as being Mercedes' masterpiece of their golden days from the late 1970s and into the early '90s

The W123 series succeeded the W114 in late 1975, and would be produced until 1985, with estate remaining in production for one more year. During its near 10 year production run, the W123 became Mercedes' best selling model, with 2.7 million units sold worldwide. Notably, the 240 D (seen here) was the best selling model of the series, with 455,000 produced worldwide. 

During the 1970s, Mercedes began to get their foot in the door as a prominent luxury brand, starting with the W116 S-Class vehicles in 1973. Often regarded as the blueprint for the W123's design, Mercedes took the best design cues of the W116 and shrunk it down into their new executive sedan, the W123. The result became one of their best selling cars, due to its elegant minimalistic design, combined with its reliable diesel engines. While Mercedes wasn't the only European luxury brand to employ minimalist designs at the time, one could argue that Mercedes' established image in the European luxury car market would help influence these trends. 

Engines were denoted via the vehicle's model number. For example, this 240 D is equipped with the 2.4 L inline four diesel engine. The 300 D is equipped with the 3.0 L engine, and so on. 

The W123 successfully established Mercedes front and center among contemporary luxury cars. The W123 was of no doubt helpful in doing so.

Above: Finally, a W123 Sedan!

Although I've photographed a few W123 estates over the last year, most recently in the previous bike ride entry, I hadn't photographed a sedan. In that previous entry, I mentioned that I consider these cars to be some of my favorites of the 1980s, and of Mercedes' classic lineup from mid-twentieth century. Despite being more notorious than the wagon, I had never been able to successfully photograph one. W123 sedans I happened upon in the past were either driving or parked in a driveway. I knew it would be worth the wait to find one on the street. That being said, I can confidently say that this 1982 240 D made the wait worth it. 

Above: 1989 Chevy S-10 Revisited

Alright, I promise this S-10 is the only revisited vehicle featured in this entry. Before you rebuke me further, hear me out! Originally, this S-10 was photographed in September of 2022 in an older bike ride entry. In that entry, I had only gotten one photo of the truck, and now that I've been photographing cars from multiple perspectives, I figured it would be appropriate to return back almost two years later. 

Usually when two friends reacquaint themselves after some years, most of the time they'll talk about how they've changed over the years since they last saw each other. Sometimes not much has changed, and sometimes a lot has changed. Photographing cars is almost a similar interaction, face to face interaction withholding. If a car, or truck in this case, hasn't changed at all after a few years, that's usually a very positive thing. At least for Sam and I it is. If the car (or truck) has changed a lot, that's where the road splits, figuratively speaking. 

Sometimes, we might photograph a real beater, with rust, missing trim pieces, and primer paint, only to find two years later, it has been restored back to its former glory. Sometimes, we might photograph a once beautiful car, only to find its gone downhill from the last time it was photographed. Just like meeting an old friend after a few years of not speaking, revisiting an old car can tell a story of where it'd been over the years too. Perhaps it's the same story heard before, or maybe it could be a tale of reinvention and self restoration. Pay attention, look and listen closely. Sometimes subtleties tell the story themselves.

Above: 1985 Nissan 720

What an adorable little truck! Although Kei cars are probably the cutest automotive designs from Japan, their compact pickup trucks are just as cute in my opinion. While we're on the subject of compact trucks, the Nissan 720 was one such truck that helped establish compact trucks as just as capable and reliable as their larger American contemporaries. Although the Toyota Hi-Lux and Mazda B-Series had established themselves earlier as prominent compact trucks before Nissan, the 720 would be the model that brought the Nissan (or at the time, Datsun) name to the table with Mazda and Toyota in the late '70s. 

Whether it be a car show or a forum page, there's a particular classic saying that gets passed out quite frequently in the car community. This particular saying has been arguably overused, that it's become pretty redundant, but for the sake of this entry, I'm going to invoke its use. The saying "They don't make 'em like this anymore" can be applied to this Nissan, because they literally don't make small trucks anymore. While small trucks do still exist today, they're not really small in the context of trucks from the era of this Nissan 720. Instead, I'd argue that they're medium sized trucks. 

The reputation of modern truck culture in the US has been tainted by oversized lift-kits, obnoxious wheels, offensive bumper stickers, and reckless driving. The list goes on, but these are what I experience in my everyday life, typically when driving to school on Interstate 95. These trucks convey a very imposing sense of masculinity, which also happens to be one of the biggest critiques of truck culture today. Trucks today appear aggressive, tall, and impeding, even if they aren't done up with exaggerated modifications and controversial political stickers. Every car makes a statement about the driver, and sometimes 

Now, notice my word choice in the beginning of this entry. I called this 720 "cute" and "adorable," which are adjectives I can't really use anymore to describe the nature of modern trucks. These words are typically associated with feminine qualities, which directly oppose modern trucks and their representation of masculine qualities. The irony here is that these small trucks sold very well among trades workers and casual drivers. They were efficient, practical, and reliable. They proved that trucks didn't need to be massive to be useful, while today, it seems the bigger the truck, the more gratification .

I really hope that as trucks evolve, we can return to the the innocence of small trucks, and lose the toxic over-masculinized stigmas that trucks today have taken on. My vision for an ideal truck community would be one that accepts trucks for all types, and doesn't measure the worth of a person by how much truck they drive or the lack thereof. If the late '70s through early '90s proved that small trucks can be accepted, why can't we return to this mentality that bigger is not always better?

Above: A Closer Look at the Nissan Pickup

Alright, that's it for the critical analysis of truck culture. Let's look closer at this Nissan! One of the first things I noticed about this truck was the upside down Nissan badge. It was one of those moments where you think something looks correct, but one aspect is noticeably off putting. I suppose this is because the letters "N" and "S" appear the same way upside down, and appear in the same places in the name Nissan. I'm not sure if this upside down badge is a result of a factory error or the owner's mistake, but either way, it is a pretty comical sight.

As for the bumper, I noticed that it was the only place that used the Datsun marque on this truck. Datsun would change to Nissan in 1984, so some parts still bore the original nameplate. However, this bumper bears the name of dealership instead. Courtesy Datsun, now known as Peltier Nissan, is a Nissan dealer located in Tyler, Texas. It was most likely that the name of the dealer hadn't changed by the time that this truck arrived. 

Above: 1991 Saab 9000 S

We arrive at what is probably one of my favorite finds of this bike ride, and of the year. This is no ordinary Saab 9000... this is an original Saab 9000. We don't see these often! Compared to the second generation 9000s, the first generation 9000 is easily overshadowed by its successor. This is a strange case, considering the contradictory idealization of ‘70s and ‘80s Saabs over the mid-90s Saabs, but the 9000 appears to be an exception. Let's find out why. 

There’s two parts to this argument. The first part begins in 1984, when the 9000 entered production alongside the 900 model line. It looked very similar to the 900 and shared a lot of the same parts early on. It also shared the same trim levels. There was the base trim, the "S" trim, and the sporty Turbo option. A sedan option, known as the CD was offered, but these are very rare to come across. The reason I theorize the early 9000s get overshadowed by their 900 siblings is because of the 900’s well established presence as Saab’s flagship model. 

The 900 was a direct carry over from the 99, which was arguably Saab’s breakthrough model into the mainstream market. When the 900 was introduced in 1979, it had taken all the best parts of the 99 and made it better. The result was one of Saab’s most popular and best selling cars. When the 9000 was introduced in ‘84, it had to compete on the same soil as one of the most popular cars of the 1980s. As we’ll find out in part two of this theory, that would not always be the 9000’s fate. 

Part two occurs during the 1993 introduction of the second generation 9000, along with the 900. Both models would receive significant cosmetic and mechanical updates with GM's 50% stake in Saab, purchased in 1990. When the redesign occurred, the 900 lost a lot of what had made it such a revolutionary car during the 1980s. It gained a more contemporary appearance, while the 9000 retained similarities of its previous incarnation, despite appearing much different. The 9000 was sleek, and boxy, while the 900’s contemporary design made it appear more round and bubbly. 

This era of Saab’s history begins to get controversial for Saab fans and Saab purists. Many fans will argue that these ‘90s Saabs were the last true Saabs, as despite GM’s partial takeover, the designs were still largely Saab at heart, despite using GM parts and platforms. Purists will argue that the last true Saabs rolled off the line in 1993 and 1994 with the final 900, and with the 1998 9000.

Yes, despite being partially taken over by GM, the 9000 never adopted a GM platform like the 900 did. This is why the 9000 was able to overcome living in the 900’s shadow in the 1990s. In 1993, the Saab 9000 was finally given its moment to shine. Also debuting that year, the 9000 Aero which would replace the Turbo trim level, would dominate speed records, and outpace Ferrari and Lamborghini on the track. The car boasted a 0-60 of seven seconds and a top speed of 150 MPH. This allowed the 9000 to imprint itself into automotive history and be remembered as one of Saab’s greatest cars of the twentieth century.

Above: The Original Saab 9000

Yes, this is an original Saab 9000. One of two I've ever seen, and the only I've had the chance of photographing. As you'd expect after reading the aforementioned history of the 9000 in car culture, I see a lot more second generation 9000s, and most of the examples I've seen are what I've photographed over the years on this blog. This was a very special find for me, as a known Swedish car fanatic. This is a unique and overlooked piece of Saab history, and I'm glad to have finally documented one. I can cross this off my Swedish car spotting bucket list! However, a friend of the blog recently photographed a 9000 Turbo of the same generation, so expect something to come this summer... 

Above: 1984 Chrysler LeBaron Convertible

Uh oh! Is Ricardo Montolban going to show up to sell me some “fine Corinthian leather?” All jokes aside, behold one of the most important cars of all time. This 1984 LeBaron is built on the platform that would help save one of America’s “Big Three” automotive brands. We’ve discussed the history and importance of the K-Platform in (insert link), so check that entry out if you wish to learn more. 

This isn’t the infamous Town & Country with wood paneling that gets the spotlight of most K-Car collectors, this is a standard LeBaron. Of the Chrysler lineup for the 1980s, the LeBaron was the entry level offering, making this 1984 LeBaron a perfect example of the base trim level. 

The LeBaron came in many forms in its K-Platform era. Customers could have the choice of a sedan, a coupe, a wagon, or a convertible, seen here. The infamous faux wood paneled “Town & Country” trim was initially offered exclusively for the wagon, but was added to the convertible body style in 1983, calling back to the original Town & Country models from the 1940s. 

The LeBaron would be updated in 1986 for the ‘87 model year, with a very contemporary aerodynamic design for its time. In 1987, it looked more like a car from the mid ‘90s instead of the mid ‘80s. Of course, it would be updated again in its final form for 1990, and arguably would mark the winter years of the K-Platform. 

By the conclusion of production in 1995, the K-Platform was fairly antiquated by 1990s standards, and it was time to pass the baton off to the new generation of the Chrysler “Cloud Cars,” which in my opinion are some of the ‘90s looking cars of the ‘90s. However, the K-Car and its descendants were remembered as one of Chrysler’s greatest cars ever made. In 2024, even as Chrysler struggles to keep its image as a prominent American car brand, seeing a K-Car is a reminder that there is hope to save their image. If they did it once, they can do it again. 

Above: Chyrsler's Most Important Car

Even though the K-Car isn't as striking as a '60s Mopar muscle car, its importance to Chrysler and automotive history makes it almost just a fun car to find in the wild. Since ONEC discusses automotive history frequently in its entries, it's made me appreciate finding the "regular" cars a bit more than I would've growing up. We all can appreciate a sports car, but when in the context of  something mundane like a K-Car, it can be hard to appreciate these types of cars based only on sheer looks. Knowing the history of overlooked classics makes finding these classics all the more exciting. 

Above: 1985 Chevy K-10 Silverado: We Reminisce Over You

Continuing on from the K-Car, I traversed further down the side streets of the West End of Providence. At a crossing, I stopped and noticed off to my left, a dark colored boxy vehicle parked at the other end of the road. Any boxy vehicle would have my full attention, so I turned down the street to further investigate what was waiting at the other end. 

Behold, a blacked out 1985 K-10 Silverado. Far from clean by any standards, this K-10 is what I believe best represents how I remember Squarebody pickup trucks when I was growing up. 

As a child of the early 2000s, I was young enough to remember ‘80s cars as common everyday vehicles. I remember Cutlass Supremes, Volvos, and of course, the Chevy Squarebody trucks. Yes, these were everywhere when I was growing up. They rattled down every main street, with mismatched body panels, missing tail lights, and tons of rot. 

In particular, I remember a red GMC C-Series truck, which was parked a few blocks over from my street. It stood out to me because it was so worn out, I couldn’t fathom how something so rusty and old could still be driving. To my young mind, I understood a rusty car to be one that wasn’t road worthy any more, and that it was time for it to go into “retirement” or the junkyard. Regardless, I would still see the old rusty GMC truck driving around town. At some point, it gained a new side door, as I noticed the old one sat propped up against the fence of the house where the owner lived. 

As I grew older, the truck eventually disappeared, but I never forgot about it. Because of that old beat up GMC, I grew a soft spot for the Squarebody. It was one of the formative cars of my childhood that got me into classic cars. I remember I had a Matchbox replica of a 1975 C-10 that I wore out from afternoons of playing with cars on the sidewalk. On those sunny afternoons, I could own any car I wanted, and the little green and white Chevy C-10 was the car I chose for a while. Yes, I’m also old enough to have grown up without video games as a source of entertainment! 

Anyways, When these started becoming collector's items in the early 2020s, I was impressed, but also surprised that some of the dingiest looking trucks on the road were starting to appear in auctions and also collecting high asking prices. Squarebodies began reappearing in my life, but in car shows, restored and shiny. Seeing this old K-10 brought me back to those early days of my childhood, walking to the pool on a sunny day and seeing that old beat up GMC with the door against the fence. Sometimes your childhood is never really as far away as it seems. 

Above: 1993 Ford Bronco Custom: Yellow Cars Look Best in Sunset

In the setting sun Against the cadet blue house with the brick red shingles, the Dandelion Yellow Bronco was brought to life and glowed brightly on the quiet, shady side street. I stood for a bit and admired the sunshine contrasting with the shadows of the nearby telephone pole. Not often do we get to experience cars in vivid colors.

Above: 1988 Mercedes Benz 560 SL (C107)

It's been a while since I've found a Mercedes C107 SL-Class. Last year, they were everywhere during my time spent in New York, and Sam found many this year down in New Jersey. I suppose they're more popular down in the Mid-Atlantic area than they are in the Northeast! Anyways, the last time I photographed a C107 was back in August 2023, which you can read about in Bike Ride 28. It's good to see one again, especially in such nice condition. Although I don't know if I can name a time I came across one of these that looked decrepit.

Above: 1986 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Brougham 

Here’s another ‘80s American classic for you GM fans! These ‘80s G-Body cars are some that I remember fondly from my childhood as well. Although I don’t have any specific examples, like the red GMC mentioned earlier, I do recall a fair amount being around. Most of them probably looked similar to this Olds Cutlass. Not shiny, not too rusty, but just the right amount of patina and age of a daily driven classic. 

Today, as these ‘80s classics become the rare and uncommon cars once ubiquitous on the streets, we witness the new generation of ‘90s cars take their place as the old but reliable daily driver. Now that this Oldsmobile is a certified classic, it has the choice of becoming a retired daily driver, only taken out on weekends, or continue its hard working life as a daily driver, faithfully serving its owner on the streets of Providence. It could relax into its autumn years, and give its road worn V8 a rest, but maybe it’s not ready yet. After all, age is just a number.

Above: Cutlass Close Ups

This makes our second G-Body (The G Stands for Gay) Cutlass Supreme spotted this year. Our first was spotted back in January, and was arguably in a similar condition, if not worse, as this one. I believe this is due to the reasons I discussed earlier. These are fresh classics, and are starting to become desired among enthusiasts. Obviously, the 1983 and 1984 Cutlass 442 Hurst/Olds are the most desired, and likewise, the best preserved models, but these regular Cutlasses are starting to capture the attention of enthusiasts as well. In the following years, I'd expect to see less and less of these on the road, and more and more of them appearing at car shows and meets. I believe we're in the dawn of '80s classics, and its only a matter of time before they start skyrocketing in value. 

This example here is an obvious survivor. From the portrait photos from above and these close ups, details and cues of this car's life become very apparent, leaving me wondering how it got here. The only damage to the car appeared to be the cracked headlight bezel in the top left photo in this section. Otherwise, the car mostly featured well aged sheet metal and chrome, giving it the appearance it has. Thankfully, there's not much rust for nearly 40 year old car, but I hope the owner is taking preventative measures from letting New England get the best of this old road cruiser. 

Above: 1983 Toyota Celica Supra Mk. II (A60)

Bike Ride 33 concludes with a grand finale. What better way to end a great showing of '80s classics than with one of the most iconic cars to come out of the decade? The Mk. II Supra may get overshadowed by JDM and Toyota fanboys by the Mk. IV Supra of the 1990s, but we’d like to pitch the Mk. II as a worthy counter argument. Sure, the Mk. IV is more powerful and quicker, but does it have tasteful styling and rad rims going for like the Mk. II? I think not…

Of all the 1980s cars, I think the Celica Supra Mk. II is the car that I would pick as one of the best representatives of ‘80s car culture and design. Along with the BMW E30 and Saab 900 Turbo, there’s something quintessentially ‘80s about the Mk. II Supra that makes it stand out from other '80s sports cars. The Celica Supra incorporates styling that could only have existed in the 1980s, and yet despite that, it's still a timeless look. 

Like the E30, the Celica Supra was very popular in its time, allowing for 115,000 examples to be produced during its short 1981 to 1985 production run. While that number may seem small compared to the 2.9 million E30s produced, remember that the Mk. II Supra existed for only five years, which makes this production number pretty more impressive. However, the Mk. III and Mk. IV models that succeeded the Mk. II in 1986 and 1993 respectively allowed the Supra to imprint itself into the hearts of car enthusiasts. These were affordable sports cars that were reliable and very powerful for their time. So by the time the Supra's conclusion of production in 1998, it made sense that these had become legends in their own right. 

Circling back to the Mk. II Supra, with the context of its initial success in the 1980s along with the legendary popularity of the Mk. IV Supra in 1993, it makes sense that these would become Japanese sports car icons in the present day. While the styling is very reminiscent of the 1980s, like the E30, its presence and popularity in media and Japanese car culture have allowed the Mk. II Supra to transcend the 1980s and become a timeless classic. Many probably regard the Corolla AE86 Sprinter Trueno to be the most iconic Toyota of the 1980s, but I'd argue the Mk. II Supra is just as worthy. The US market didn't get the Corolla AE86, so perhaps the Supra is our own domestic way of celebrating 1980s Japanese car culture, and all the legendary cars they've graced the world with.