Odd Cars....did you own one?

[Capmaster]

Avanti?

[hech54]

Yep....that one is a 1962 I believe.

[Capmaster]

Yep....that one is a 1962 I believe.

I've seen a few of those over the years. Very rare

[awlchu]

Avanti?

There are a few driving around in Indianapolis. I recall they were built in South Bend IN on Corvette frames etc.

The interior was first class, leather, walnut trim, 1st class workmanship.

[hech54]

Here's a 1984 Avanti....they didn't change much over their strange history.

[awlchu]

hint: Cadillac, but what year?

[hech54]

That thing probably spans about 5 years....

[SquirrelDip]

Remember the 1980 Fiesta from the first post?

Fiesta(top photo) was built by Ford Werks in Germany.
The Volkswagen Polo is on the bottom.
The Fiesta was dubbed the "World Car" because alot of manufacturers has something to do with it's design and construction...pretty easy to see where the body design came from...

We had that VW here in Canada, was sold as the Fox. Only lasted a few years just before VW started building the Golf in Mexico.

[hech54]

We had a VW Fox in America.....but not many.
We also had an Audi Fox in the 70's....GREAT car.

[Capmaster]

hint: Cadillac, but what year?

I'll guess 1960

[hech54]

1980 Audi Fox....last year of the Audi Fox in America:

[hech54]

hint: Cadillac, but what year?

I'll guess 1960

1959 here....

[awlchu]

hint: Cadillac, but what year?

I'll guess 1960

Capmaster is correct. 1960 Biarritz Eldorado, 500in^3, 2-4bl, and three time zones

[Capmaster]

hint: Cadillac, but what year?

I'll guess 1960

Capmaster is correct. 1960 Biarritz Eldorado, 500in^3, 2-4bl, and three time zones

It had its own climate, area code, and border patrol

I had a friend whose dad had a 1955 Cadillac and, if you can imagine, was even larger. The doors seemed about 18 inches thick, and when you close it, it sounded like a bank vault being shut for the night

[hech54]

A friend had a 72 Caddy with a 500 ci. 4 barrel. For as BIG as it was....that thing would still paste you to the seat if you give a tromp on the gas pedal...

[Will Hay]

current car...

[Capmaster]

A friend had a 72 Caddy with a 500 ci. 4 barrel. For as BIG as it was....that thing would still paste you to the seat if you give a tromp on the gas pedal...

Yes. Lots and lots of low-end torque on those beasties. It was a good, if gas-guzzling engine.

But Cadillac permanently destroyed their credibility with the 8-6-4 engine. That was the one where as you approached cruising speed part of the crankshaft would disengage, and the cam too, and it would run on 6 cylinders. Further reduce the load to level steady cruising and it would disconnect two more. What a nightmare of mechanical unreliability that thing was

[hech54]

A friend had a 72 Caddy with a 500 ci. 4 barrel. For as BIG as it was....that thing would still paste you to the seat if you give a tromp on the gas pedal...

Yes. Lots and lots of low-end torque on those beasties. It was a good, if gas-guzzling engine.

But Cadillac permanently destroyed their credibility with the 8-6-4 engine. That was the one where as you approached cruising speed part of the crankshaft would disengage, and the cam too, and it would run on 6 cylinders. Further reduce the load to level steady cruising and it would disconnect two more. What a nightmare of mechanical unreliability that thing was

There were converter kits out within months of that nightmare to make it a regular 8 cylinder. That and the Cimmaron REALLY killed Cadillac.....the Cavalier with leather, power windows and power seats....the Cavillac is what I called it. How about the Elante too? That was a real crapper as far as sales go. Italian body with the rest Caddy. They had to ship the body only from Europe to the U.S......then assemble it. Wow....even I know how non cost-productive that is..

[BJ_M]

yea that Allante made no sense, if it maybe looked special or something ok ..

but the build quality was the pits and if i recall - they had a lot of problems shipping them over in those 2 special 747's GM bought just for that purpose (as in the cost) ..

[BJ_M]

got enough freaking buttons in there ?

[offline]

I remember hearing about it, the V8 6-4, and
how wonderful it was going to be. Caddy's were
going to be imported to Oz at that stage but
we heard nothing more about it, until now.

Holden
plan to import them but are stuck because their
Australian flagship, the Caprice, is larger and more luxuriously appointed than the more expensive cadillac. Looks like
we may get them as a separately positioned "brand"

[SquirrelDip]

I've never had anything really that strange (not withstanding some of the crap I've done to my cars) but Dad had a few wierd ones. One of my fav's was a Karman Ghia he had - was actually a lot of fun...

[hech54]

Ahh....the Karman. Body by Porsche....also known as the "Poor Man's Porsche"...VERY nice car but better with a Porsche Heart Transplant...

BJ_M - the pics aint workin'.

[SquirrelDip]

Never heard of the Karman Ghia referred to as the "Poor Mans Porsche." I always thought that term began in reference to the 914:

[hech54]

But the 914 IS a Porsche....
A Chevrolet Caprice is a poor man's Cadillac....get it?..

[SquirrelDip]

Actually, the 914 was a joint venture between Porsche and VW. I recall there were versions of the 914 that ranged from "mostly VW" to "mostly Porsche" - a lot of friends would argue that it wasn't a Real Porsche...

I do get it...

[Doramius]

I just saw a Delorian the other day. Even had a Vegas Plate that had "TYMACHN". Sad thing was it was all dusty like it needed a wash BAD. I followed it about 2 blocks as the guy was following the same streets I take to go home. Wish I had my camera with me. Always thought it looked similar to the early 80's hatchback Celica's. Not as tall though.

[BJ_M]

I just saw a Delorian the other day. Even had a Vegas Plate that had "TYMACHN". Sad thing was it was all dusty like it needed a wash BAD. I followed it about 2 blocks as the guy was following the same streets I take to go home. Wish I had my camera with me. Always thought it looked similar to the early 80's hatchback Celica's. Not as tall though.

they always looked dusty , because the brushed finish hold dirt and never can be shined .

[BJ_M]

Actually, the 914 was a joint venture between Porsche and VW. I recall there were versions of the 914 that ranged from "mostly VW" to "mostly Porsche" - a lot of friends would argue that it wasn't a Real Porsche...

I do get it...

the 914 GT / 6 was hot car ... was raced a lot

[BJ_M]

they also had a tendency to catch fire - not as bad as the first lambo's did though (which had a 75% of catching fire)