Mid Summer Cars '24

During our days off from working, here's a taste of the classics you could expect to find cruising the streets of Rhode Island. Whether it be out on a late night city walk or a bike ride through a small town, there was an old car to be seen at any time of day!

Above: (7/14/24) - 1991 Volvo 240 (David)

It wouldn't be a proper night out in the city without photographing a classic lit up by street lamps and surrounding buildings. Tonight's selection is none other than the Volvo 240! This particular example is a little road worn, but its missing rim and survivor condition fits the aura of an urban classic well. 

Above: (7/15/24) - 1987 Toyota Camry (David)

And now, ladies and gentleman, I present to you... New England's most beat up Toyota Camry! Seriously, I know Toyotas are notoriously reliable vehicles, but are they this reliable? The fact that this car is still structurally standing is nothing short of a miracle among all of that sealer and bondo. I commend the owner for their bravery in driving a car in such condition, and also keeping this literal street survivor running and standing. 

Above: (7/19/24) - 1990 Volvo 740 GL Revisited: Now with Better Lighting! (David)

I told you I'd photograph it in better in conditions! If you recall from April of this year, I photographed this exact 740 sedan, except the sunshine provided a terrible shadow and contrast. Essentially, the entire car was blackened out, making details very difficult to distinguish. In that original entry, I discussed my dissatisfaction with the picture quality, and promised to photograph the car again if I happened upon it in better conditions. I kept to my word patiently, and sure enough, in a very similar location from the original entry, I was able to photograph this old Volvo much better. It even has a set of hubcaps this time! I hope you enjoy it!

Above: (7/19/24) - 1974 Jeep J-20 "Gladiator" (David)

Now for something old and American. Although I love my European classics, I have to acknowledge the roots of my love for classic cars, and that is American classics from the 1960s and '70s. This Jeep pickup is no exception. In its beautiful metallic teal paint, its patinaed appearance makes for a beautiful sight outside an appropriately themed auto parts store. If there weren't any modern cars in the background and I threw a faded filter, you could mistake this for a period era photograph discovered in a time capsule of old car photos! 

The Jeep J-Series pickups, or the Gladiator as they're most commonly known as, were one of the few Jeep models produced among all three original owners of the Jeep marque. Succeeding the original Jeep Pickup from 1947, for their final year of ownership, it was produced by Willys Overland for one year only in 1962. It's important to note that despite the introduction of the J-Series, the 1947 Jeep truck design was kept in production until 1965. From 1963 to 1970, it was produced by Kaiser Motors, and from 1970 until the end of its production in 1987, it was produced by AMC. The J-Series was also produced in tandem with the Wagoneer and Cherokee models, sharing the same body panels from the B-pillar to the front. 

While the J-Series was introduced in 1962 as the "Gladiator," it would lose that name in 1970 when AMC purchased Jeep from Kaiser Motors. From 1971 until '87, it became known as the Jeep Pickup, along with the numerical designation of carrying capacity. Several special edition trim levels were introduced during the late 1970s, with the most popular being the Honcho, produced from 1976 to '83. 

In 1984, with introduction of the XJ-Series Cherokee, the Comanche pickup was also introduced as the XJ's pickup counterpart. This move was in an effort to modernize the Jeep lineup to save AMC from bankruptcy in wake of their failing brand in the 1980s. The J-Series and SJ-Series Wagoneers were very much outdated by the 1980s, as their designs dated back to the early 1960s. They continued to sell relatively well alongside their modern counterparts, but the J-Series was ultimately discontinued when Chrysler boughtout AMC in 1987 and assumed the rights to the Jeep name. While the SJ-Wagoneer would stay in production until 1993, the J-Series became a relic of AMC's Jeep past. 

In 2019, the Gladiator name would be revived with the introduction of the JL-Wrangler based JT truck. The redesigned JL-Series Wrangler was introduced for 2017, replacing the JK Wrangler. Rumors of a Jeep pickup had been circulating with the introduction of the new JL, but these would be confirmed with the Gladiator's unveiling at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show. Although the new Gladiator has nothing in common with the original 1962 to '87 J-Series models, it's nice to see the revival of a classic name. 

Above: (8/1/24) - 1986 BMW 325 (E30) (David)

Parked on a side street in Providence was this remarkably clean 1986 BMW E30 coupe. It's examples like these that make me appreciate the beauty and striking nature of the E30's minimalistic design paired with a set of chrome basket weave rims. With the exception of some de-badging and the M-Series body kit, this gorgeous E30 looks to be in original shape! I'm very glad to have been graced with the presence of this beautiful example of German engineering.