Bike Ride 40

David: Our 40th Bike Ride! It's fitting that it took place during the Summer of 2024, marking four years of the Bike Ride series on ONEC, one of the longest running series on ONEC. While I'm proud that we've reached a relatively high number, I'm also surprised we reached the 40th ride already! I figured it'd be at least a few more years until then. However, my new Giant Escape bike purchased last December has proven to be a worthy upgrade from my previous Mongoose bike, allowing me to travel further distances more quickly and efficiently.  

Bike Ride 40 picks up after a hiatus of car spotting following the immense amount of cars photographed within April and May. Specifically, May saw five bike rides, all with an impressive showing of cars, except I eventually couldn't keep up with the cars I was finding. So, I took a break, and photographed considerably less cars than I had this Spring and last Summer. If I happened upon a classic in the wild, I took the opportunity. However, I wasn't going out of my way to photograph classics. In all honesty, I had been self-diagnosed with a severe case of Writer's Block, and decided I needed a break from writing for some creative ideas to return to me. The New Hampshire road trip proved to be a rejuvenating experience, and with the vehicles I found during my time there, I felt inspired to write again. 

Nearly three months later, I take to the streets once again, in search of classic cars from years past. Bike Ride 40 was spontaneous, and I had no planned route. It felt very much like the older bike rides, where I would just go and ride, and find cars along the way, without the intention of looking for them. It was a refreshing feeling, and a feeling I had forgotten about and missed when it returned. Bike Ride 40 brings some old faces and many new ones. It's a terrific showing of vehicles of all kinds. From a bus, to old sedans, to sportier '80s rides, I hope you enjoy a return to a much loved ONEC tradition. 

Above: 1982 Jaguar XJ6 Series III Vanden Plas Edition Revisited

First up on Bike Ride 40 is a familiar face from the 2022 New Year's Eve bike ride entry. This Jaguar was in a different location when we last saw it, but since it moved, that means its roadworthy! Like I always say, if a classic car hasn't changed much or has moved locations in this case, no news is good news! Classic Jaguars are some of the most elegant cars of all time... and some of the most unreliable and expensive-to-maintain cars of all time. I'm glad that someone has been putting in the time to keep this splendid piece of British automobilia on the road. 

For those wondering what the Vanden Plas badge is referring to, I'll briefly explain. A Jaguar equipped with the Vanden Plas package was the top of the line model for the XJ series line. It got customers the largest and most powerful engine available, the Jaguar "Double Six" V12. While the name was briefly dropped in 1984, Jaguar resurrected the name in 1998, and continued to use it to denote the highest trim level Jaguar until 2009. 

See Bike Ride 19 for the original entry.

Above: 1989 BMW 325iX (E30) Sedan Revisited 

You might have to really stretch your memory for this one. This BMW 325iX was originally photographed and featured in the Bike Ride 16 entry from Summer of 2022. Back in that original entry, I called it one of the cleanest E30s I'd ever seen, and I still stand by that statement today! Unlike that original entry, it sports some newer BMW rims that appear to be from a late '90s E36 M3 model. They look surprisingly well in this setting. However, the rest of the car appears to be the same from 2022. As I said earlier, no news is good news.

See Bike Ride 16 for the original entry.

Above: An Intriguing BMW Logo

This is a rather unique looking BMW logo, and one I've never seen before, so what could it be referring to? This BMW logo is actually the first iteration of the BMW Motorsport division, or BMW Motorsport GmbH. You know, the special performance division of BMW that gave us the M1, the M3, the M4, and all the other legendary high performance BMW models? 

This unique logo design dates back to 1972, and was used until 1978, when it was replaced by the current design featuring the letter M with the blue, purple, and red stripes before it. These colors have specific meaning to the logo's design, and were arranged in a deliberate way to correspond with the BMW brand and the Motorsport division. The color blue references the BMW brand, red references the special performance cars, and purple references the connection between the two colors, ultimately a reference the two sides of BMW. Afterall, we wouldn't have purple without red and blue, and we wouldn't have the M3 without BMW and Motorsport GmbH.

I think the symbolism behind the "M" sport logo gives me a deeper appreciation for BMW Motorsport, and a further understanding of why it is one of the most important performance divisions in automotive history. 

Above: Old Design meets New Design

The 1989 325iX with a 2022 i4 (G26). You can certainly see some of the design cues that would carry over from the 1980s into the modern day, in traditional BMW fashion. That iconic grille has gotten much larger since 1989, but nonetheless, its a BMW at heart. 

Above: 1970 Chevrolet Caprice 400 Sport Sedan

I near flipped out when I saw this. A 1970 Chevy Caprice, in seemingly (and mostly) original condition, is pretty hard to come by. Not to mention a sport sedan that hasn't been converted into a two door sport coupe. According to Sam, the fate of most Chevy Impala or Caprice sport sedans is a two door conversion, because the roofline is the same as a sport coupe... And with a sport coupe, you can turn your regular Impala or Caprice into an SS or big block engine clone of the real Impala SS's of the 1960s. Suffice to say, it's good to see one still being driven in its original state. Afterall, I'm a sucker for purity in terms of automobiles. 

Anyways, back to the car. Though I thought this was an Impala at first glance, upon closer inspection, the car revealed itself to be a Caprice. However, they're essentially the same car. The Caprice is clearly an upscaled Impala, but not quite as fancy as a higher spec Oldsmobile 88 or Pontiac Catalina. In fact, just like how the Impala started its life off as the top trim level for the Bel Air in 1958 (sold as the Bel Air Impala), the Caprice began its life as the top trim level for the Impala in mid-1966. Similar to the Bel Air Impala, the original Caprice was sold as the Impala Caprice, and became its own model in 1967. 

The Caprice 400 trim level most likely refers to the optional 6.6L 400 cubic inch V8 engine that was available as one of the largest engines available for the Caprice, behind the 454 big block. The 400 V8 was capable of producing 265 horsepower, while the 454 could be tuned to 390 horsepower in sportier versions of the Caprice. Though the Caprice nor the Impala were offered with the SS trim level in 1970, engines could be ordered with similar power ratings, along with Hurst manual transmissions as factory options.

Above: The Best Generation of the General Motors B-Body Platform

From 1965 to 1970, the GM B-Platform became the fourth best selling automotive design or platform in history, following the Volkswagen Beetle, Ford Model T, and Fiat 124 Sedan, respectively. During '65 and '70, across all divisions, GM sold 12,960,000 units, nearly pushing 13,000,000 cars. That's quite a feat in its own right, especially during a time when most families owned one car, as opposed to the current day, where most own multiple. 

What's even more remarkable though, is that the B-Platform was produced for 70 years, from 1926 to 1996. Thought it would remain fairly consistent design wise from 1961 to '96, its widespread use across all of GM's platforms, excluding Cadillac from 1952 and onwards, has allowed to become one of the most popular and recognizable classic American cars of all time, with the Impala SS being the most sought after. 

Because of its notoriety throughout the later 20th century, the B-Body, more specifically the Impala and Caprice, would ultimately become cemented into pop culture, specifically in regards to film and music. Rappers would reference them in lyrics, Kramer drove one in Seinfeld (1989-1998). However, it became immortalized in the popular television show Supernatural (2005-2020), with a 1967 Impala sedan used as the main characters' primary vehicle throughout the show's duration. Besides replicating Impala SS's, the Supernatural Impala has become one of the most replicated Chevy products of all time. 

Though the B-Body would leave the world in 1996, it would leave its impression in every corner of popular culture, as a fleet vehicle, and as a car that our ancestors grew up with. Everyone probably has a story involving a B-Body car, perhaps like the 1969 Impala my grandfather owned where his dog chewed the headliner off the roof of the car, or the 1966 Impala that my father borrowed from his friend to impress my mother on a date, or Sam's 1965 Impala, a car he brought back to life by himself. Perhaps the old advertising slogan "See the USA in your Chevrolet" used with the Impala during the '60s carries a message that could refer to experiencing life within the car itself. It's one of those cars everyone remembers, and one of those cars that ultimately became a place where memories were created, shared, and passed down to the next generation. 

Above: 1992 GMC Vandura 3500 School Bus w/ RV Conversion

Let's take a break from the luxury sedans with... a bus! Although, I suppose this isn't your average school bus either. While it looks like a decommissioned GMC school bus, it's actually been converted to a motorhome. I didn't look inside, but the lack of seats visible from the windows, and the stepladder leading to the roof are suitable clues that this bus is no longer used for driving to schools, but more so for driving to campsites. So, I suppose it's a luxurious vehicle in its own right afterall. 

Above: 1986 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Brougham Coupe

Here we have another Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, but something ever so slightly different from the typical sedan examples that have been frequently featured this spring and summer. We have a Cutlass Supreme coupe this time, complete with some color matched Oldsmobile Cutlass-specific rims, in classic Cutlass fashion. 

This Cutlass was photographed on Westminster St. in Providence, before it crosses over I-95. I rather like this section of Providence, and always hoped to find a classic car in this setting to photograph, but never really had much luck before this Cutlass. This Cutlass Supreme is probably one of my personal favorite examples of the '80s G-Bodies I've photographed, just because of those beautiful color-matched Olds rims, not to mention the uncommon coupe body style. Though it has a dent in the front quarter panel, it certainly is one nice looking car. 

Above: A Supreme '80s American Classic

Along with being one of the most notorious '80s classic cars I've found this year, it's probably one of the coolest American classics from this era in American automotive history. The Cutlass Supreme remained true to the original Cutlasses from the late '60s and early '70s, by continuing to offer a rear wheel drive and V8 engine drivetrain in a time where it was deemed obsolete. The 1980s were undoubatly a time of modernization for American automakers, but a few exceptions were made to stick to tradition. These GM G-Body cars were one such example, sticking their classic American design out all the way until 1987. 

Above: 1985 Dodge Diplomat SE

When thinking of '80s MOPAR products, the most likely car that comes to mind would be the K-Car, one of the most notorious American cars of the '80s. The K-Car became the defining car of Chrysler for the late 20th century, as it revived the Chrysler brands, and was also one of the first modern American cars produced, with economic engines, designs, and features. However, during the reign of the K-Car, was also the M-Body based Dodge Diplomat, which traced its roots back to 1977, before the conception of the K-Car, and during the demise of Chrysler. 

In 1977, Chrysler was treading in rough water. Their cars were outdated, and out of touch with the demands of fuel efficiency and smaller, compact designs. The A-Body based Dodge Dart and Plymouth Volare, which had been in production in one form or another since 1960, had proven themselves to be dependable and relatively economical cars which made them Chrysler's best selling cars. However, when it came to mid and full size vehicles, Chrysler ultimately began to struggle. Their B-Body and C-Body vehicles were much too large, especially by the standards of 1973, a year that literally demanded fuel efficiency due to the infamous gas crisis. 

So, by 1976, with Chrysler circling the drain financially, something had to be done to save the brand. The short term plan, before the K-Car was introduced, was to remove the C and B Body platforms, a change made in 1979 with Lee Iacocca's takeover to save Chrysler. The M-Body Dodge Diplomat, Plymouth Fury, and Chrysler New Yorker, once originally mid-size cars, were swiftly pushed up market to full size status for the 1980 model year. This effectively made them the most luxurious full size Chrysler products, as the compact K-Cars essentially made the full size vehicles solely based on appearance. 

The M-Body would be used until 1988, when it was renamed the C-Body, though it bore no relation to the previous C-Body discontinued in 1979. The C-Body would carry over the M-Body designs, but would be replaced in 1993 by the futuristic LH-Platform. However, by that point, the M (or C) body vehicles were mostly used in fleets, mostly for police or taxi use. 

Above: Spellcheck Much?

I think they spelt "Diplomat" wrong! I'm fairly certain that this custom decal spells "Diplamat," which contains an "O" between the L and the M. At least it's a decal, that can be easily replaced.