The non-muscle American car thread (READ THE OP)

[TexRex]

I'm just awestruck by how well those 15" aluminum Chrysler J-body (Dodge Mirada, non-LS Chrysler Cordoba) 10-spokes suit this Pacer X. The car was originally equipped with 14" wheels.

Those look like Chrysler caps, but I'm betting AMC "volcano" caps would work. If the bolt holes don't line up (I'm thinking they just might), you could probably braze some additional material onto the backside and tap them in the correct location...or even fill and re-drill the wheels.

 

[Populuxe]

1981 Lincoln Town Car 2-door. The Town Car was produced from 1981 to 2011 in three generations, but was only offered as a 2-door sedan for one year, 1981. Just 4,935 were built and it was discontinued at the end of the year.

 

[TexRex]

That green is pretty spectacular. It's such a "small car color" that I'm amazed by how well it works on that boat.

 

[TexRex]

Don't call it a Pinto.

 

[Gotbeefboy564]

Dodge Dart wagon

 

[Populuxe]

Dodge Dart wagon
View attachment 918750 View attachment 918751

That's in surprisingly good condition considering it's about 60 years old.

That green is pretty spectacular. It's such a "small car color" that I'm amazed by how well it works on that boat.

I agree, although it's the orange one that is really speaking to me.

 

[Gotbeefboy564]

That's in surprisingly good condition considering it's about 60 years old.

I agree, although it's the orange one that is really speaking to me.

Not sure if it has rust underneath it.

 

[TexRex]

I agree, although it's the orange one that is really speaking to me.

Well...yeah...I mean, I didn't quote you or tag you, but my comments were directed at your post.

...

 

[GranTurNismo]

 

[Populuxe]

Now I can't die until I get or make one of these.

 

[Ze Elephant]

Sub-zero is not cool enough for a Pacer pickup.

 

[Populuxe]

So doing a bit of research, AMC designer Richard Teague created the Sportruck around 1975. Carl Green was the fabricator who built it for him. AMC management couldn't justify the expense, even though sport trucks were a hot property then. The yellow lifted truck is that prototype and it currently resides at the Darryl Starbird Museum. Note that the truck is only FWD, the front windshield is plastic, and the grill is a wooden mockup. It also appears to be the exact shape of the later Pacer's grill. Carl Green took what he learned from building the prototype to start building his own version of the Sportruck. A few exist. I believe the red one was available on Craigslist recently for just $3000. The orange one has a decidedly different bed design, so perhaps other customizers or shade tree mechanics built their own.






I totally want one of these, and a Ford Durango.

 

[TexRex]

Note that the truck is only FWD...

I'm really curious about this. Presumably the intent was to convert it to 4wd, and I can make out what might be a powered axle under the front, but what happened? The cars definitely have a short wheelbase; was there an issue with the rear driveshaft angle due to the lift? I'm just thinking outwardly here.

I totally want one of these, and a Ford Durango.

Yeah, it's hard to not love a Fox-body pickup or the Futura on which it's based...but those wheels make it a little easier.

 

[Populuxe]

I love GM's 1949-1954 postwar cars, especially the fastbacks. So let's have a bunch, shall we?


1949 Cadillac Series 62 Sedanette


1949 Cadillac Series 61


1949 Buick Roadmaster Sedanette


1949 Buick Model 56-S Super Sedanet


1949 Oldsmobile 98 Sedanette


1950 Oldsmobile 88


1949 Pontiac Streamliner Silver Streak


1949 Chevrolet Fleetline Deluxe

 

[Volksauto]

I love all of them. Especially the ‘49 Buick and Cadillac Sedanettes.
But my favorites of all are the 1947 Pontiac Streamliners.

And the ‘47 Chevy Fleetline.

 

[05XR8]

I've always liked the MAverick and Vega. Other than when my Dad had a Camaro, we always had big cars. I just liked wanting to have a small car. Pretty much for myself.

 

[Populuxe]

The Bathtub Years: 1948-1954


Hudson Super Six


1949 Lincoln Cosmopolitan


Nash Ambassador


Packard Deluxe Station Sedan

 

[GranTurNismo]

Yup, this is a chop-topped Pacer.






http://amc-gremlin.com/yr/1974/

 

[TexRex]

1949 Lincoln Cosmopolitan

I love those Lincolns; particularly when they don't share sheetmetal with their Mercury contemporaries. The deeply sunken headlights in particular are a treat.

 

[GranTurNismo]

The 1972 Grand Prix Hardtop is a good looking Pontiac.

 

[Volksauto]

Ahead of it’s time, the 1967 Cadillac Eldorado looks like it was designed in 1977.
(Edit: It was also the first of the FWD Eldorados)

 

[Volksauto]

I always loved the GM bubble-tops from 1961 and 1962.

1962 Chevrolet Bel Air 409

1961 Oldsmobile Dynamic 88

1961 Pontiac Ventura

1961 Buick Lesabre

1961 Cadillac DeVille

 

[Volksauto]

 

[TexRex]

 

[Populuxe]

That really is an attractive little car.

 

[TexRex]

That really is an attractive little car.

Agreed. I find them quite a bit more handsome than Mavericks, for the few sibtle details that differentiate the two. It just seems more thought went into them than the Fords.

I like the more-doors as well. A while back, I actually had some feelers out for a clean example. I was recently even kicking around some fantasy restomod ideas for one.

 

[Populuxe]

From the same era and mostly the same category, I have always been fond of the AMC Hornet/Concord liftback.


1973 AMC Hornet hatchback


1973 AMC Hornet X with Levis option


1974 AMC Hornet from The Man with the Golden Gun (slide whistle not included)


1978 AMC Concord liftback


1978 AMC Concord AMX

 

[TexRex]

1978 AMC Concord liftback


1978 AMC Concord AMX

I love those aluminum wheels so much. They've got the appeal of a slot mag but with added flair. Volcano caps finish them off nicely.

I also dig the relief stamped into the hatch panel that adds interest to an otherwise bland area.

 

[Volksauto]

My father has old pictures somewhere of the car my grandad purchased new in 1955. It was a Torch Red and White Ford Crown Victoria optioned with everything including the ‘Skyliner’ glass roof and the 272cid. Thunderbird motor however it didn’t have the continental kit like the car in these photos. He told me he never removed the plastic seat covers from the factory. To my knowledge, Ford built 1,999 Glasstop cars in 1955.

 

[ScottPuss20]