Car Thread

[rex desilets]

My ever-astute grandson noted that you'd have to turn the AC on real high to get the headlights to work..

[rogruth]

My ever-astute grandson noted that you'd have to turn the AC on real high to get the headlights to work..

Rex,
Your grandson is probably smarter than me 'cause I don't understand.

[rex desilets]

My ever-astute grandson noted that you'd have to turn the AC on real high to get the headlights to work..

Rex,
Your grandson is probably smarter than me 'cause I don't understand.

Grandson is off-the-charts smart, but his humor reflects him being an aspiring actor (now, there's a waste of a quarter mil college eddification...). Anyways, think of the relation of the headlights to the paint job, think of the effect of being really cold on nipples and disregard any attempt at electromechanical reality.

[rogruth]

Got it.

[Big Jim]

Here is a question aimed mostly at any older Canadians that might be here. Back in 1969, my family and I visited the Niagara Falls area. While there we drove up to Toronto. While there, I noticed a lot of cars that looked similar to American made cars but with slight body differences and different names. Anyone know the story behind these cars and if/when the practice started/ended? I have yet to see any of these cars show up on Barrett-Jackson or the like.

[MurphOnMillerAve]

Now that you mention it, Big Jim, I think I recall that phenomenon from back in the 60's too. For example, I am pretty certain I saw a Ford Falcon, in Pittsburgh, which had Canadian plates on it, with a slightly differently grill/front from the USA Falcons.

[Mitch]

Always wondered about it myself. Here we had Dodge Intrepid, up there they had Chrysler Intrepid, clones of each other. They had Chrysler Neons before Plymouth went out, while we had both Plymouth and Dodge Neons. The same held for earlier cars like Chrysler Spirit, Chrysler Diplomat, etc. It must be something about having a little originality for some cars in their own country. Most likely was true of Ford and GM, but I just never paid that much attention.

[rogruth]

I remember the same for Australian vehicles.
They were the same as U.S. models except for right hand drive with small trim changes and different names.
The first Road Warrior movie has some good examples.

[Big Jim]

I asked this question of Mike Joy of ESPN, NASCAR< Barrett -Jackson fame and he was very kind to reply:
Canada had "local content" laws.

Fords were "Meteors" in Canada. GM cars were "Acadians".

Tempest = Beaumont, Bonneville = Parisienne, etc.

Minor trim differences to US Mercurys and Pontiacs

We see one at auction occasionally, not very often.

Thanks.

[healey36]

Brief write-up on the new Fiat 124 Abarth:

http://www.businessinsider.com/new-abarth-124-spider-could-be-your-new-favorite-toy-2016-3

Re-badged Miata with some tweaks...

Healey

[rex desilets]

Hopefully, Fiat did not substitute their electricals for the Miata ones. Snazzy car, otherwise.

[healey36]

I've often heard that vintage pedal-cars can be big bucks...check these out:

http://www.businessinsider.com/these-collectible-kids-cars-will-be-selling-for-thousands-of-dollars-at-auction-2016-3

Healey

[Rufus T. Firefly]

I've often heard that vintage pedal-cars can be big bucks...

Never seen any that were in the condition of those sell. However, years ago when I was in the buy/sell collectibles biz, I saw some sell for quite a lot of $'s that were in fairly rough and/or unrestored condition.

[robert.]

aaaa

[healey36]

Out for a walk yesterday, spotted this Pontiac T-1000 with Maryland "Historic" plates:



I'm not sure what one can graciously say about that. A rebadged Chevrolet Chevette, this is the stretched 4-door version, sold similarly in Canada as the Pontiac Acadian. A buddy in the UK had the Vauxhall version, although his was a saloon (never offered in the U.S., hatch-back only). Realizing it's been thirty-plus years, still it seems remarkable how few of these have survived (perhaps a blessing). GM's answer to their disaster known as the Vega, the oil shocks of the 1970's laid waste to our sensibilities.

Healey