Forgotten Finds, part 2

87 Dodge Colt (62,000 miles) - $995 (Waterford/West Bloomfield)

87 Dodge colt.
(62,000 miles)
runs and drives great
very clean inside/out
Low low miles
one owner
new battery
good tires/ brakes/ auto trans.
4clyd engine.
Great on gas/ 35 m.p.g
motor runs great, trans shifts smooth.
This is a great looking and running little car, for a great price. $ 995 firm!!!

 

Most people over a certain age remember the Colt. Built by Mitsubishi and sold under several different names internationally (such as "Lancer" and "Mirage"), The Colt actually lasted for awhile-from the early 70s,well into the 90s. I admit, I always liked them. Cheap to buy, good on gas, somewhat reputable in its day, the Colt was entry-level transportation that was intended to save the owner some money.Sadly, it wasn't quite as good as people initially thought-or expected, out of a Japanese car.Almost every Colt I have seen posted for sale over the past few years that was made after 1980 was non-operational and sitting behind a garage somewhere. And those are the lucky ones.Many rusted into thin air before the engine even gave out.

You can't see it on here, but in one of the pictures, rust is visible along the lower body of the car. That means in 2 years it will probably be rusted in half.Suddenly, $995 doesnt seem like such a bargain now, eh? We haven't even discussed parts.Where in the Great Lakes region can anyone FIND parts for an 80s Colt? Almost none of these cars exist, and the few that do probably don't run and are definitely rusted out. Remember, it's really a Mitsubishi, so if you go to a Dodge service center for help,you'll get ridiculed right out of the place.I actually considered buying this car until I realized that parts are not to be found around here.This car will possibly go to a teenager, who will inevitable wreck it, leaving one question: How guilty will he feel about killing off the lowest-mileage survivor of a dying breed?

 

 

What Did People Drive In....St Patricks Day Edition

Before St.Patty's Day ends I want to write a blog about cars that involves Ireland some how. I found a topic that fits perfectly with this idea, and its part of the "What Did People Drive In..." feature.
A list was recently published of the best-selling cars in Ireland during 1974.And the top 5 may surprise some people.

1. Ford Escort-The Escort name started in Europe a full decade before it came to America.Unlike the decidedly lame American escort, these European versions became popular rally cars and had the potential to be a cool little car with just a little bit of vision. Left-hand-drive versions were even built in the Philippines for local sale.In that country, there is no snow, so NO salt is used on the roads.They do not have overly strict regulations.Plenty of 70s Toyotas, Mitsubishis and VWs are still in use. Yet, few Escorts survive.This could be a hint that quality left something to be desired.

2.Ford Cortina- Fords European branch owned the Irish car market in '74, taking the top 2 spots. The Cortina was a sales leader in the neighboring UK, and found good success through much of Europe. Few were ever sold in the US and it was dropped from the lineup a few years prior.Like the Escort, LHD examples were built in the Philippines to truly globalize the car, and over in the islands they may even be rarer than the Escort.At this point, if you really want one, your best chance is to look in Australia.

3.Hillman Hunter- Unlike today, The UK had a thriving automobile industry in the 1970s.Even though their Luxury and Sports marques are what come to mind when people mention it, they also catered very well to middle-class buyers.That was Hillmans specialty. Hillmans rusted as badly as Cortinas and British cars in general had a poor reputation for quality (I use that word loosely).Needless to say, 39 years later, they have not survived well.

4. BMC Mini-First off, yes, I know the pictured car has Illinois plates,but, its a right-hand-drive car with UK specifications, and its a '74, so it'll work. Anyway, where was i.....Oh, yes, the Mini. Truly a British icon. A cute, quirkly little car that became a sensation. It was in production for several decades and Germany's BMW has been doing well with a revised, contemporary take on it.One of the most sought after British classics.Left-hand-drive Minis were made, since they were sold in countries like France.Very few made it into the US but now that they are old-enough to legally import, collectors have been bringing them over.Admit it,everyone loves a classic Mini.And as the 4th best-seller in '74, They loved it when it was new, too.

5. Fiat 127- The first non-British model on the list.Stateside, Fiats became known for inferior quality, and sales weren't great. In Europe it was different.They held 5th-7th place on the list. Honestly, the 127 was a cheap looking car, but it had its market.
The VW Beetle was number 8, but nowadays is probably the most common on the list.

What did people drive in....

I highly doubt that anyone likes to look at interstates.They are not attractive or scenic.Personally, I get disappointed when I drive through a city for the first time and all I see are freeway walls.However, after a few decades, I think it's kind of cool to look at old freeway photos and see now-classic cars back when they were newer and ordinary commuter tools instead of the rare,potentially collectible pieces of history they are now. Texas ("The Big Hat State") is pretty generous with their freeway history, as numerous pictures have been posted.I have collected a sampling of them.This will answer the question nobody asked, "what did people drive in Texas during the 1960s and 1970s?"

Austin, 1977.Quite a few Fords and Chevrolets.Nowadays this freeway would be full of imports.There is a BMW 2002 on the left, but thats about it. Mostly Detroit-made chrome.My favorite is the AMC Pacer near the top right, barely visible.

San Antonio, 1975. Again, several Chevrolets. There is also a mid-70s Pontiac Gran Prix, A Ford LTD, and on the bottom left we have a Dodge Dart/Plymouth Scamp.

we're looking at a traffic jam in a photo that is impossible to recreate. Try finding this many 1960s American cars in stock form, unaltered, and not rusted.

Don't keep your hopes up, but due to Texas' lack of road salt, cars last a long time, and the possibility remains, though ever so slight, that 1 or 2 of the pictured cars may still be around somewhere.
Sadly for us, we probably will never again be able to take pictures like this and have them dominated by American cars.A lot of younger folks may have a hard time believing that American cars were so prevalent.

Michigans Most Stolen

There are many incorrect assumptions about auto theft, or, more specifically, the cars people want to steal. People hear about cars getting stolen, or see the lists of "most stolen" autos, and ask themselves "Why would someone want to steal THAT?". Sure, Ferrari parts bring in more money.But very few people own Ferraris, and those who do are more likely to order the parts from Italy, not buy them at a scrapyard.Car thieves aren't going after high-dollar, low-volume cars. They go for common cars that hundreds of thousands of people need parts for, and they go after the cars that are the easiest to steal (which is the case with Chrysler/Dodge products). The more people out there who own a certain kind of car, the higher the demand for parts.Not many thieves have any interest-or need-in stealing something like a Suzuki Forenza.If you're one of the last people in America who drives an Oldsmobile Omega, you're probably safe.But if you live in Michigan and drive any of the following, you'd be well-advised to invest in some anti-theft equipment.

1. 2000 Dodge Caravan

2. 2004 Chevrolet Impala

 3. 1997 Chevrolet Full size pickups

4.1997 Ford Taurus

5. 2002 Dodge Intrepid

6. 2005 Ford full size pickups

7. 1997 Pontiac Gran Prix

8. 2011 Chevrolet Malibu

9. 2002 Dodge Stratus

10. 2003 Dodge Ram

The UFA files,part 2

Mitsubishi Toppo

There really isn't much you can say about Kei cars/trucks.All of the Japanese manufacturers offer them in their lineups and I can't tell them apart. For that market, they're good.Here, in North America, they would be completely unsuitable for our driving conditions.They are a dime a dozen in Japan.Styling is very basic. Make no mistake,boxy kei trucks/vans are all function over form.They serve a purpose and do so without style or originality.But there's nothing wrong with that. Kei trucks/vans aren't much to look at, but they offer the freedom of personal mobility in a country known for being crowded and densely populated.
Even though Mitsubishi has never been more than a small blip on the US radar, they are a big deal in other countries.Mitsubishi leaves very few stones unturned, offering multiple vans, cars, Suvs and trucks in pretty much every segment.The corporation has been quite successful in the potentially-overcrowded kei truck/van field.The Toppo has been one such vehicle.In production since 1990,the Toppo has undergone several incarnations.One is the "Town Bee", a special-edition Toppo that resembled a British taxicab (see lower picture, above).The Toppo was restyled and enlarged for 1998, with the name "Toppo BJ". Apparently, the Japanese folks were unaware of the obscene connotations that name implies in English-speaking countries (its supposed to stand for "Big Joy").Initially, production ended in 2004.Mitsubishi brought the Toppo back in 2008 and it remains in production today.
Despite its tiny size, a four-wheel-drive option is available.Both automatic and manual transmissions are offered.
If I lived in Japan or were to stay there for an extended period of time, I would consider a kei car.Some are cute and they offer an almost uniquely Japanese experience.But I would not consider a Toppo. Judging by its dimensions, I think an appropriate name could be "Tippo". Just looking at it makes me expect to see one flipped sideways at an intersection.
Almost all kei trucks/vans are very ordinary, disposable vehicles with no potential collectibility in the future.The distinctive Town Bee may be an exception, but its still too early to tell.First, we need to make sure they can stay on all fours when taking a hard turn,or they won't survive long enough to even worry about it becoming collectible.

Cars and Gender

This morning, a local radio host was talking about a recent survey that pertained to auto buying trends. According to this survey, women in households are making many of the car-buying decisions, and they do not choose domestic models.The radio host seemed skeptical about this, so he fielded phone calls from listeners, including women who owned foreign vehicles.
Add me to the list of people who question the legitimacy of the report.
Whether you want to believe it or not, demographics are real. There are college classes on the subject.There is a reason why you probably will not flip through "Womens Day" magazine and see a 2-page ad for a Ford F-150, complete with pictures of cowboys and cattle.Likewise, Sports Illustrated won't be the place to run ads for VW Beetles.Demographics often hold at least an ounce of truth and can be very diverse and complex to pinpoint.Women fit into multiple demographics, and I believe that certain sub-demos were over-represented in the survey.
Ten years ago, Pontiac Sunfires were seen as "girls cars". Ditto the Grand Ams. Saturns always had a lot of appeal with women.More recently, the Pontiac G6 never shed its image as a womens car and few men would dare buy one. I've heard it mentioned that the Ford Escape was likely geared toward women. Also, the Jeep Liberty has been identified as a "girls car". Surely, here in suburbia,smaller SUVs are quite popular with women.Let's not forget all the Chrysler minivans women have bought over the years.
In rural or small-town America, women even drive large pickup trucks, which are viewed as macho and masculine. Otherwise, they drive regular, but American, cars.There aren't many women in Cornskin,Iowa or Wheatfarm, Kansas driving down dirt roads in Nissans. The names "Honda" and "Toyota" do not come up at the dinner table when couples are discussing potential car purchases.
Imports tend to be more common in certain geographical areas, like California and some of the Eastern states.Could residents of these areas have been a bit oversampled? Thats a possibility.
Does the US auto industry have a problem attracting female buyers to their dealerships? I don't think so.I think they have a problem with certain socio-economic classes or sub-demographics showing interest in their products.But not women in general. Mothers will continue to buy American vans and SUVs in droves,and countless middle-class women will continue to buy Malibus and Fusions.
Surveys are interesting, but there are usually caveats to them.Often they must be taken with a grain of salt.Give me 2 grains with this one.

Armchair tourism, part 2

Todays first street view sighting comes from Houston, Tx. I'm not good at uploading pictures so I apologize if this is too hard to see. Hopefully I'll  improve in due time.

This is an early-80s Toyota Corolla, converted into a pickup.I know Texans love their pickups but this is a stretch.Perhaps he had an old Corolla sitting around and just wanted to do something different. Or he just decided it wasn't "Texas" enough.
The question that must be asked is: How easy will it be to sell when he wants to fund his next project (probably a Corolla on a monster truck chassis)?

I've added 2 more as a bonus! This time, we're going to Centreville,Virginia.

This one is sad. A once-sophisticated porsche 928 sitting forlorn and deteriorated.Many people who bought these cars were unable to give them the careful maintenance they needed.Things went downhill quickly and repair costs added up to the point where it was a better deal to just use the money for the purchase of a new Hyundai.So they found some poor sap to buy it, not realizing what they were getting into.When these were new, they were absolute status symbols.In this condition,it just shows the world that the owner likes to waste money. Come to think of it, I can't remember the last time I saw one of these in proper working order.The last one I encountered was on Craigslist with the whole interior missing.These are Porsche's, man.Who lets these things happen to a Porsche?

Just down the street from the pathetic Porsche is an Edsel with rims. Usually I dislike these rims and think they are ridiculous, but here, they don't look bad.They actually seem to compliment all the chrome pretty well. Edsels are not the cars you'd expect to see with wheels like this but actually they look better on this car than most.Again, this car was captured by the Google cam in centreville,Va.