Tag: Orphaned brand
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AMC Concord Pro Street Surf Wagon
Woodgrain, surfboard, tubbed rear and small-block Chevy. A winning combo? We like wagons because of their do-everything nature. Usually, that means they drive like a car and haul like an SUV. Today’s feature car is perhaps less versatile, but still has a split personality. It looks like a utilitarian, early 80s woodgrain wagon and has…
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Rare Manual 1976 Olds 442 in Lovely Green
Yes, these 442s and Cutlasses were available with a five-speed manual whilst most pony cars were chugging along with four-speeds well into the 80s. We don’t know why, but we know there’s a lot to like about this big, green beauty. Probably, Olds getting a Borg Warner five-speed had something to do with fighting imports.…
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NOT a Gremlin: AMC Eagle Kammback
These don’t come up often, and they always tempt us when they do. From a distance, one might think this is a Gremlin; but it’s actually an Eagle Kammback. Given the Eagle name, one expects four-wheel-drive and one will not be disappointed! As an added bonus, this one features a clutch pedal. The seller claims…
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Post Super Bowl Panther: ’98 Grand Marquis with 5MT Swap
Despite rolling on an ancient platform and being known mostly as police and bingo hall cars, there’s something interesting about the Ford Panther platform cars. They offer low prices, V8 power, rear wheel drive and a big dose of simplicity. Today’s example solves the biggest shortcoming, which is the exclusive use of automatic transmissions by…
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Among the Best “Lost” Car Names?
Most people knew the Plymouth Fury as a police car; but, if we step back and ponder it objectively, isn’t it a great car name? Too bad it’s gone, along with the brand which sired it. While it’s not the first body style we think of, we’re pleased to present a Fury Sport Suburban Wagon for…
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Is Barcelona known for Velveteen Crush?
AMC had a great many special editions, some with ties to 70s designers; but this Barcelona Edition may take the cake – at least in terms of brownness. And, really, shouldn’t we always measure that way? This example appears to be in amazingly original shape. It’s not perfect, but it’s damn close, considering nearly 40…
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Mercury-Branded Pinto Cruising Wagon with Manual Trans
If you know oddball cars, then the Pinto Cruising Wagon needs no introduction. No other vehicle brought quite as much 70s van culture into a compact size. What could be better? A Mercury version! Let’s make one thing clear in order to avoid claims of false advertising: This is a Pinto with a Mercury front…
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Fox Mercury with Four-Speed and Needs
Fans of the Ford Fox body – best known for underpinning Mustangs for way too long – may recall that it was sometimes called the Fairmont/Zephyr platform. The Ford Fairmont and Mercury Zephyr were thoroughly boring and mediocre mid-sized offerings in the late 70s. They’re so generic that they have sleeper potential now. Today’s feature…
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Almost an SVO: Mercury Capri RS Turbo
Yeah, okay, it wasn’t too close to an SVO when stock – the SVO had a lot of handling upgrades, four-wheel discs, etc. This is a mildly upgraded Capri, however, and shares a version of the 2.3-liter, turbocharged four cylinder, sans intercooler. Nice Capris don’t come along too often, and the turbos are particularly rare.…
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Rare Doesn’t Always Mean Desireable: 1984 Stutz Victoria
Stutz was once a proud marque in the US, but its attempted Resurrection in the 1970s did not go well and let’s just say it did not produce the most tasteful of cars. Supposedly, Elvis Presley bought the very first 1971 Bearcat when the name was revived – that should tell you how subtle and…