The Forgotten Cars Thread
- Thread starter el fayce
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- 3,719
- Elizabeth, New Jersey, USA
The coupe version of the '92-'99 Oldsmobile Eighty-Eighty is definitely a forgotten car. I honestly don't ever remember seeing one of these.
- 597
- America's Land of Dairy
- ShobTheGrob
- Shob The Grob
That's because GM never built a two-door H-body during those years. Don't let five year old photoshops deceive you.
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog/what-if/what-if-1992-oldsmobile-eighty-eight-regency-coupe/
- 3,719
- Elizabeth, New Jersey, USA
I can’t believe that I saw an Unda Achieva in the parking lot today, one in very good condition too. Definitely the first one I’ve seen in at least 5 years (though I’ve seen dozens of Cutlass Cieras during that timeframe). I genuinely thought all of these would be in junkyard by now but boy was I wrong. It’s almost hilarious how out of place this car looks in a sea of CRVs and Explorers and Rogues and the such.
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- 4,495
- Indiana
- DolphDrago
It looked out of place when it came out.
Like you, though, I haven't seen one in years.
- 3,719
- Elizabeth, New Jersey, USA
Saw this on a carspotting page that I follow. Forgot that the Austin Marina was sold in the US, from 1973 to 1978. Predictably, it did not sell very well.
Joey D
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- 47,364
- Lakes of the North, MI
- GTP_Joey
- GTP Joey
Toronto, Canada, but the point is still a valid one.
- 20,681
- TenEightyOne
- TenEightyOne
Or anywhere, for that matter. Looks so weird with the North American bumpers (fenders?), but it strangely improves it.
- 3,719
- Elizabeth, New Jersey, USA
Plymouth TC3. A very forgotten about sports coupe produced from 1979 to 1982. TC3 stood for touring coupe three, with the three referring to its three-door notchback design. Engines were either a 64hp 1.7L VW I4 or an 84hp 2.2L Mitsubishi I4.
Curiously, it was sold in Japan as well, rebadged as the "Chrysler Omni 024", sold at select Mitsubishi dealerships. Only 1491 were sold.
Curiously, it was sold in Japan as well, rebadged as the "Chrysler Omni 024", sold at select Mitsubishi dealerships. Only 1491 were sold.
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- 13,143
- Seattle-ish
I remember those. It was originally the Plymouth Horizon TC3, the just TC3, and then finally Turismo. It lasted through the 1987 model year. Dodge had a companion car, the Omni 024, which was shortened to 024, and then given the Charger name. There was even a turbocharged Shelby version. I seriously looked at the Shelby version of the Charger when I was in the Air Force in the 1980s.
- 3,719
- Elizabeth, New Jersey, USA
Yup. I think I have posted about that car in one of these threads. Unfortunately, it was nothing more than an appearance package, and a not-so-cheap package at that; it was an additional $1,500 over the 024's $5,200 base price. The measly 64hp engine still stuck around.
Though, the Omni wasn't the only sporty compact car to carry the De Tomaso name.
There was also the 1983-1989 Innocenti Mini Turbo De Tomaso by Bertone, powered by a 0.9L inline-three making 72hp. These were sold in Italy and a few other Western European nations, but most interestingly, Canada.
Also, the 1993-1998 Daihatsu Charade De Tomaso, a Japan exclusive, meant to be a competitor to the Toyota Starlet turbo. It produced 123hp from a 1.6L I4.
There was even a Shelby Charger GLH-S, for model year 1987 only. 1,000 were produced. Performance wise, it was no different than the Ferrari-slaying Omni GLH-S, making 175hp from the 2.2L Mitsubishi I4, reaching 0-60 in the mid-6 range. Very quick for the time.
When Toyota and Nissan made a coupé offerings of their mid sized saloons.
I forgot these even existed until someone reminded me of them on Instagram. The Altima one looks like a bizarre mix between the 350Z and Infiniti G35 but without all the exciting driving experience while the Toyota is just bleh.
Oddly, Ir seems that the Accord Coupe were a far more common choice somehow.
I forgot these even existed until someone reminded me of them on Instagram. The Altima one looks like a bizarre mix between the 350Z and Infiniti G35 but without all the exciting driving experience while the Toyota is just bleh.
Oddly, Ir seems that the Accord Coupe were a far more common choice somehow.
- 3,719
- Elizabeth, New Jersey, USA
Speaking of, I'm quite a fan of the late-model Accord Coupes. Not only were they handsome looking cars, but also pretty capable. It could be had with a 3.5L V6 making 280hp, as well as a 6-speed manual, allowing for a 0-60 of 5.7 seconds.
Quite a shame they were discontinued three years ago. It was the last remaining mid-size coupe that was affordable, and sold decently well too. Then again Honda's lineup is becoming more and more mundane, so it isn't much of a surprise.
Quite a shame they were discontinued three years ago. It was the last remaining mid-size coupe that was affordable, and sold decently well too. Then again Honda's lineup is becoming more and more mundane, so it isn't much of a surprise.
While i'm aware of the first gen Isuzu Piazza thanks to Gran Turismo 4 and Tokyo Xtreme Racer 3, i genuinely forget about the short lived second gen Piazza/Impulse. This is back when Isuzu actually made cars and not just commercial trucks.
These were rebadged as Geo Storms with some changes but more interestingly, the Impulse were also sold as the Asuna Sunfire in Canada.
Motorweek just released an old video of them reviewing that said car back when it was new.
This brings me nicely to the Geo and Asüna brand as a whole. Two brands within GM that primarily sold rebadged Asian cars within the States and Canada markets respectfully. I'm not so sure if Geo's were ever sold in Canada but i'm pretty sure Asüna were never sold in the states.
Geo consisted mainly of rebadged vehicles from Suzuki, Toyota and Isuzu.
While Asüna served similar purpose in Canada but lasted for far less, ending in 1994.
It seems that Canadian market in general had some interesting cars that weren't sold in the states. One's that i either forgotten about or never even knew before.
These were rebadged as Geo Storms with some changes but more interestingly, the Impulse were also sold as the Asuna Sunfire in Canada.
Motorweek just released an old video of them reviewing that said car back when it was new.
This brings me nicely to the Geo and Asüna brand as a whole. Two brands within GM that primarily sold rebadged Asian cars within the States and Canada markets respectfully. I'm not so sure if Geo's were ever sold in Canada but i'm pretty sure Asüna were never sold in the states.
Geo consisted mainly of rebadged vehicles from Suzuki, Toyota and Isuzu.
While Asüna served similar purpose in Canada but lasted for far less, ending in 1994.
It seems that Canadian market in general had some interesting cars that weren't sold in the states. One's that i either forgotten about or never even knew before.
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I know this is a double post but yesterday i saw this Cadillac BLS in a rough condition, wouldn't be surprised if it were sent to the Junkyard very soon.
I honestly tend to forget that GM ever made this, in fact it wasn't even sold in the States nor Canada for some reason. Built on the same chassis as the Saab 9-3, the BLS didn't do that well in the European Market and was eventually discontiuned 5 years later.
I honestly tend to forget that GM ever made this, in fact it wasn't even sold in the States nor Canada for some reason. Built on the same chassis as the Saab 9-3, the BLS didn't do that well in the European Market and was eventually discontiuned 5 years later.
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- 3,719
- Elizabeth, New Jersey, USA
Honestly perplexed by the fact that Cadillac never offered this in the US. I think a compact Cadillac would’ve been a strong seller. Basically it’s a CTS but shrunken and with FWD.
- 3,719
- Elizabeth, New Jersey, USA
I've read a little bit of information about the car and I guess it makes sense that the BLS was only sold in Europe and not in the US. BLS stood for "B-segment luxury sedan" and was created by GM Europe with the goal in mind of establishing Cadillac as a luxury brand in Europe. From the get go, the BLS was never intended for the North American market. Unfortunately, this goal failed, as the BLS's sales were much below expectations, selling roughly 7,000 units in its six years of production. This car was clearly based on the Saab 9-3, and it seems that the only difference between the BLS and the 9-3 is the arts-and-sciences Cadillac exterior styling. Even the interior was carried over from the 9-3 and left virtually unchanged. I think Cadillac learned from the whole Catera debacle that selling a clearly rebadged European car with very little changes is not going to go over well, as the Catera sold very poorly, tarnished Cadillac's reputation, and was one of the most horrible marketing campaigns for a new car in history.
- 40,757
The better question is why they bothered making it at all. There was a context where the Catera might have worked in the US; just not the particularly stupid one they happened to choose.
I can't think of any context where even the idiots running GM pre-bankruptcy really should have thought the BLS would have worked when Saab itself was already failing by then.
I can't think of any context where even the idiots running GM pre-bankruptcy really should have thought the BLS would have worked when Saab itself was already failing by then.
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- 182
- Australia
- Headsoup_Bob
- Headsoup Bob
I really used to want a Toyota Sera (with rims and a bodykit of course), those doors were super cool as a kid, haven't seen on in a long time.
- 13,143
- Seattle-ish
Was the Sera sold in the US?I really used to want a Toyota Sera (with rims and a bodykit of course), those doors were super cool as a kid, haven't seen on in a long time.
- 29,717
- a baby, candy, it's like taking.
- TexRex72
I'm not aware that it was sold at all outside of Japan.
UltimateYosh
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- 947
- New Zealand
- UltimateYosh
I've only seen a Sera once or twice in person, which is somewhat strange considering how much of New Zealand's roads are full of Japanese imports.
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