Early Summer Cars '24

With the warm months of the year in full effect, here are some of the classics we found rolling (or parked) around the hot streets of Rhode Island and beyond. 

Above: (6/20/24) - 1987 BMW 325 Sedan (E30) (David)

Here is a rather un-factory BMW E30 I found on Wickenden street in Providence. With its custom rims and stance, this makes for a pretty decent looking tuner E30. While I find stance car culture a little comical at times, I think these modifications have been done with taste and style. The rims give this BMW a period correct appearance to the 1990s and early 2000s of car customization, and the negative camber stance is just right. The cherry on top for me is actually what owner didn't do. I really like that he kept the factory paint and badging. The addition of the M3-style front and rear bumpers are also very nice additions, despite this not being a true M3 E30. 

Above: (6/23/24) - 1990 Volvo 240 DL (David)

It was inevitable that I'd stumble across another Volvo 240. This one isn't the nicest I've seen, but it's also not the worst. I'd say it's fair to call this a typical New England Volvo 240. It's got some missing trim pieces, some cracked lenses, and yellowed headlamps, but it's still on the road serving its owner well. More importantly, this appears to be a rust free 240, meaning there's much life left in its solid Swedish steel body, and plenty left in its "Red Block" engine, awaiting many trips around town or beyond. 

Above: (6/23/24) - 1997 Volkswagen Jetta GT Mk. III (David)

Now, it's not often an earlier model Volkswagen Jetta gets a moment in the spotlight on ONEC. This isn't because we stray away from photographing these, but merely because we just don't see them at all. The last time an old Jetta was photographed was by Sam in October of 2023, and the Jetta he photographed was a Mk. II example from 1992. In that entry, he also expressed that he also wished he saw these cars a bit more often. So that begs the question: Why do we wish we saw these more often?

I can't speak for Sam on this subject, but for me personally, I think it has a lot to do with the Jetta's appearance. Compared to the later models (1999 and newer), the older Jettas had distinct European appearance. It was tall and skinny, with small wheels, complete with a minimalist design. Of course, this wasn't anything distinct for the Jetta in the US, as vehicles like the BMW E30, Mercedes Benz W123, Volvo 240, and Saab 900 had introduced minimalist and technologically advanced designs to the US in the late '70s. 

However, the Jetta had something special that the other automotive brands didn't. That was accessibility. Yes, because of Volkswagen's attraction to youth counterculture in the decades prior, as well as their relatively affordable prices, the Jetta was very popular, allowing it to become the best selling Volkswagen model in the US by its third generation. Its success is considered to be what kept Volkswagen's name alive in the US market, as the company had plans to remove themselves from US export sales if the Jetta had failed. 

The Jetta proved not only to be a success, but a taste of European car design. While newer versions would feature a more contemporary design, an early Jetta is without a doubt a European car by design and nature. 

Above: Noteworthy Jetta Details

Like with any classic car I find, I include some of my favorite details, or at least what I find to be the most interesting detail that stands out to me. In this case, I thought the Jetta's exceptionally tiny wheels were worth noting. These are 15 inch sized wheels, paired with a body that is (from factory) 56.3 inches tall. Seeing this Jetta in person was like seeing a tall person with very small feet!

As for the "Alarme, Alarm, Alarma" window sticker, I believe this is to note that if this Jetta's radio was stolen, it wouldn't work and the alarm would be tripped. As I've explained in previous entries, I enjoy photographing these details because I like to think of them as relics from a time I never knew. While car radio theft has fallen out of favor towards catalytic converters, seeing old stickers like this from a time where radio theft was something to be worried about is something worth noting. Maybe in future years, I'll notice old stickers like this from my years of coming of age, and have a chuckle about how catalytic converter theft was all the fear in the neighborhood. 

Above: (6/23/24) - 1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera SL (David)

After realizing I had popped my tire, I limped my bike over to this Cutlass Ciera from the VW Jetta. I had initially seen this Ciera from afar on Broad Street, which can be seen in the very far background of the side view photo. I wasn't sure what it was at first, as I was traveling at a decent amount of speed and, of course, saw it from a distant view point. 

This Cutlass Ciera is one of the rather cleaner examples I've come across in my travels. I don't think there was a spec of rust or hint of a scratch on this car, which was very impressive. I'm used to seeing these cars as beat up street survivors, which is essentially the complete opposite of this car's immaculate condition.

It also happens to be an example of the final year of the Cutlass Ciera series, which would end production in August 1996, after nearly fourteen years of production, which began in 1982. It's also important to note that, despite the vehicles very aged appearance by 1996, it remained Oldsmobile's best selling vehicle until the end, very similar to the Volvo 240. 

Above: (6/24/24): 1952 Cadillac Series 62 Sedan (Sam)

This sweet Cadillac was spotted in East Providence one sunny afternoon.  According to the plate, it is still on duty, so maybe if you harassed the owner enough (and threw a few bucks their way), you'd get escorted around the city in style.  David spotted this car previously, although I'm not exactly sure when.  

David: Yes, I spotted this Cadillac back in September of 2023. It didn't make the final cut, but made it into the 2023 Bonus Content. You can view my photos there. I think Sam caught the front end of the car a bit better than I did. Maybe one day, one of us will find it street parked.

Above: (6/25/24) - 1976 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham (David)

With Sam's Cadillac spotting from yesterday, it was pure convenience that I stumbled upon this Cadillac, an example nearly 30 years older than its predecessor from above. While both cars are examples of American luxury from the twentieth century, I think it's important to note the evolution of American luxury within that near 30 year window, or perhaps the lack thereof. 

A Cadillac was - and is - always supposed to be the top of its class, whether it be the introductory Series 62 or the top-of-the-line Fleetwood series. A Cadillac was a sign that you had made it in life. A sign that the hard work was over now, and you could now relax comfortably into your Cadillac and cruise stylishly down boulevards and highways. In true American car fashion, a Cadillac was always a large automobile, which was the case for 1952 and the same for 1976. Of course, the designs would evolve from pointy bumper guards and excess chrome to long sweeping fins, but its core American luxury car value would remain at a Cadillac's heart despite these cosmetic differences.

While a European luxury car would offer you elegance and convenience, an American luxury car always held excessiveness and comfort to its core identity throughout the late 1940s and into the early 1980s. While this ideology would have to be phased out due to inefficiency, government standards, and import car competition, these mid-century luxury cruisers are a reminder of a time in American car design where style and comfort were signs of success. 

Above: Cadillac Close Ups

To show the world that you were driving a Cadillac, designers had nothing to hide. I found the amount of "Cadillac" badging quite interesting, as it was quite prevalent, and these are only four examples of where the name or insignia was displayed. While Cadillacs of today have shed their oversized appearance in favor of a sportier, aggressive design, one thing still remains true - the "Cadillac" name displayed in many areas of the vehicle! 

Above: (6/25/24) - 1992 Honda Acty 660 Pickup: The End of Kei Trucks in Rhode Island (David)

It's in the title! The State of Rhode Island is officially trying to ban the sale and registration of imported Kei trucks and vehicles for 2024. However, while this story has been taking lots of notice by various automotive sites and creators, as well as enthusiasts, this isn't necessarily something new to the state. The state legislators had proposed the idea of the Kei car ban back in 2021. However, while the idea didn't get much interest in 2021, this time, the state has congressional support. 

Of course, the question has to be asked. Why is Rhode Island, the smallest US state, trying to ban the smallest types of vehicles? Well, to put it simply, the RI Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) deems them unsafe. The more technical reason for the ban stems from the issue that the state believes they don't adhere to the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) safety standards. While this is a true fact, there's a big issue regarding this stance. The NHTSA has declared that all imported vehicles of 25 years or older are exempt from the safety standards regarding modern road vehicles. While the bill passed on May 7, 2024, there leaves many questions surrounding the reasoning and background information behind the Kei car ban. Us car enthusiasts can only hope the bill gets vetoed or overturned in the future.

Before you finish reading, there's an import detail to note. Existing Kei car owners can continue to register vehicles. Meaning anyone who purchased a Kei vehicle before the bill goes into effect can continue to own these types of cars in Rhode Island. However, the registration and future sales of Kei cars will be prohibited. Perhaps we'll be seeing many more Kei trucks and cars with Vermont registrations!

Above: (6/25/24) - 1990 Volvo 240 DL (David)

Oh look! It's another Volvo! Funnily enough, this is also a 1990 240, like the white example from a few days ago. This 240 appears to be in slightly better cosmetic condition than the previous 240, yellowed headlamps excluded! It also has more of personality, which can be found in the bumper stickers displayed on the rear bumper. 

Above: (7/26/24) - 1987 Nissan 200SX (Sam)

This little 200SX was spotted on I-295 close to where it picks up Route 6 in Johnston.  Again, this is another one of my "car spotting from a car" shots, so the quality leaves a bit to be desired.  This particular car was equipped with the 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder engine.  I'm not sure if the color is factory or if it's been repainted.  The rims definitely aren't stock.  That I know for sure.  

Above: (6/29/24) - 1975 MG MGB Roadster (David)

I suppose this will be my Pride Month contribution for this year. Although it's not as queer as the Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme from last year, this is easily the more colorful of the two. This colorful MGB was spotted in Newport, RI while attending the Newport Pride festival that afternoon. Aside from examples photographed at car shows, this MGB remains one of the nicest examples I've seen so far.

Above: (7/2/24) - 1968 Chevrolet C-10: Revisiting one of our Earliest Finds (David)

Like the green 1983 El Camino from last month, I revisited another classic from the early days of ONEC. This one was photographed a bit later in 2020 than the El Camino, but remains one of our earliest photographed cars from the debut year. I feel that this C-10 was definitely overlooked in comparison to the other vehicles spotted during that time. The picture quality, like most of our early work, leaves much to be desired as well. Nonetheless, this striking '68 C-10 was included because of its unique modified appearance, something I clearly noted in my description from the original entry. 

As time went on, and as Sam and I began photographing many more cars in the years that followed, I would always look back at the early entries and wish I could've done some of my lesser photographs better justice. This C-10 was among one of them. However, as much as I longed to see this truck again, it never appeared. I figured it was sold to a new owner, resulting in it leaving Rhode Island or moving to a town farther away from the Cranston, Providence, and Warwick area, where I originally photographed back in 2020. Then, this one sunny summer afternoon in July, my waiting paid off, and I could finally revisit the beauty of this ruby red '68 Chevy truck. 

Four years later, this C-10 still looks well kept and in similar condition from the original 2020 photo. In many ways, that's a good thing. I'm glad the owner has kept it up and continues to preserve it well from the brutality of New England weather and the destructive nature of Rhode Island roads. I hope this truck continues to not change. Until we meet again!

Above: (7/2/24) - 1987 Volvo 240 DL Estate (David)

Another one! Spotted in an area of Providence personally dubbed as "Volvo Heaven," this 240 is one that I'd been seeing in Volvo Heaven for some time, but I had never gotten the opportunity to photograph it because it was always driving or parked in a driveway. Finally, I got my chance. 

I believe I had also seen this car on Facebook Marketplace on a few occasions. The owners had tried to sell it, with no luck, on the notion that it was a running and driving project car with high mileage. I think the odometer read over 280,000 miles on the clock, which are pretty impressive numbers to say the least! Whether or not that is accurate is unbeknownst to me. Unfortunately, I think what did this 240 in was the amount of rust, crust, and rot speckled around the rocker panels of the body. This is pretty common for 24os that have not been properly maintained or garage kept, but I don't think that was the fault of the current owners. 

Lastly, we have to discuss the rims this old Volvo rides on, as I think they're easily the most noteworthy detail about this car. This 240 rides on what are known as the Volvo "Hydra" style rims. These are actually original to Volvo 740 Turbo models, but can be easily swapped onto 240 and 940 models, as the stud patterns are the exact same across the three models. 

Above: Zooming in on the Rear Liftgate

Like the black 1990 240 from earlier, this 240 wagon also had some intriguing bumper stickers displayed on its rear end. I took some close ups of some of my favorite stickers. Of course, the sticker on the top right of this section is probably the most comedic, and probably my favorite of the bunch. As for the sticker above the "Volvo" badge, I'm not exactly sure what we should be honking for. 

I immediately sent the picture of it to my mother, as I knew she would've slapped that on my 1990 240 from last summer. Of course, this would be done purely through our nature of jokes and love, but she also expressed clearly that she thought my 240 was an "HOJ" or hunk-o-junk in her words. Deep down, I think she liked it, but I know she'll never admit it!