coupe – CARS-YDSE.com

1972 Vega Station Wagon (Kammback)

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 Notice the front bumpers are cut on both sides of the grill,
I've seen this in several other pictures on the Web.

There is a lot to tell about the 1972 Vega, some of which involves me and an ex-girlfriend in Washington D.C. in 1972. Well, the girlfriend part is rather boring but Bonnie, was the proud owner of a very simple Vega in 1972, while we were dating. Her car had a simple 2 speed transmission and was very, very slow. Apparently, the Vegas were not all like hers, thank goodness.

The Vega was a unique vehicle. It was a part of a Corporate G.M. project that started in 1969 to help fight off the VW, Toyoto and Datsun lead in the sub-compact car category. According to Wikipedia, a dedicated team was established under one manager to design and bring the car to market in 24 mouths. The team succeeded but the car had mixed reviews. The car won Car Of The Year from major magazines and also made other magazine’s worst cars of all time list.

The cars basic style came from the Fiat 124 sports coupe, the car I was driving in 1972. Also, the aluminum block engine was originally tested in a Fiat sedan. Thanks go out to the Italian’s.

1972 models were essentially carried over from 1971 with a few refinements and additions. Vibration and noise levels were reduced by a revised exhaust system and better driveline damping and the rear shock absorbers were revised. The Turbo-hydramatic three-speed automatic transmission and a custom cloth interior were new options and a glove box was added.[19]

Apparently, my ex-girlfriend did not buy the 3 speed option.

Original script logo was replaced in 1973

One other interesting note relates to the cars tenancy to rust.

The original design provided for the full inner fender liners from the beginning. But at a cost review meeting the finance department cancelled the liners, as they would have added $1.14 per side, or $2.28 per car to the product cost. One of the program objectives was to produce a 2,000-pound car to sell for $2,000.00, and every penny was watched. Five years later, after GM had spent millions to replace thousands of sets of rusted-out Vega fenders in the field….

Click Here for extensive information from Wikipeadia on the Chevy Vega

1954 Studebaker Commander

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At the risk of getting too much of a good thing, I am posting yet another Studebaker, this time a 1954 Commander. To me this car is a fantastic example of Studebaker styling leadership. The car was first released in 1953 when most of the US car companies were selling bathtub shaped vehicles that were at least 1.5 times as big. Unfortunately, this was not rewarded by growing sales. The notable exception to this was Chevrolet’s release of the Corvette in 1954, the same model year this car was released.

I don’t think these exhaust pipe extenders are original.

I found this information on the net.

The sleek European styling of the 1953-1954 Studebaker Commander Regal Starlight/Starliner was matched by equally nice interiors trimmed mainly in vinyl or (for 1954 only) cloth, both color-keyed. There was also a slightly less posh DeLuxe-trim version of the fixed pillar Starlight offered in both years.

Click Here for more information on this Post War Car

NOTE – Some of you who look at my site often may also recognize the street setting this car was photographed in. It is the same place I photographed this 1957 Golden Hawk last year. In fact, I have a suspicion that the owner of both of these cars is the same; just a guess. Click on the picture for a link to the related post.

Click on pictures for LINK to the Golden Hawk post.

1946 Dodge Custom Club Coupe

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We traveling to Ashland Oregon earlier this year and we ran across this car near the ball field. It’s not the proper color scheme but the car looks to be in great shape. Have a look at the interior shot just below. That part looks very original.

I found this information on the net. It was interesting.

Post-war years

Civilian production at Dodge was restarted by late 1945, in time for the 1946 model year. The “seller’s market” of the early postwar years, brought on by the lack of any new cars throughout the war, meant that every automaker found it easy to sell vehicles regardless of any drawbacks they might have. Like almost every other automaker, Dodge sold lightly facelifted revisions of its 1942 design through the 1948 season. As before, these were a single series of six-cylinder models with two trim levels (basic Deluxe or plusher Custom).

Click Here for a site that has more information on this Post War Dodge Cars

1971 Mercedes-Benz W114 – 2 Door

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According to the logo on the front of this car, it is related to Argentina. Either it came from South America or the owner did. They did not make many of these two door sedans and this one is in great shape. I think it’s a 1971.

A coupé variant of this model was introduced in 1969 with a ‘C’ designated after the model number. Where the saloon would just have ‘280E’ written on the boot lid, the coupé would have ‘280CE’. The exclusivity of the coupé was reflected by a longer boot hood, and the 250C was fitted with a 2.8 litre 6-cylinder engine, whereas the saloon was fitted with the 2.5. It is considered by some to be one of the finest classics of the 60’s and 70’s, although this is not reflected in the prices of these cars which is generally less than its more popular contemporaries the Mercedes SL R107/C107 roadster and coupe (1971–1989), and a fraction of price commanded by the Pagoda models[7] (1963–1971). While a ‘hard-top’ unlike the fully convertible SL, the pillarless design allowed all the windows could be wound completely away for “summer motoring”. Only 67,048 coupés were made from 1969 to 1976 against 1.852,008 saloons. Of these 24,669 were “280C”, “280CE” (top of the range) and 42,379 “250C” and “250CE”.
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More Information on the Mercedes, click here