IMHO: Now is the time to drive the wheels off your present car. This is not a time to buy a car, (it's a time to sell an extra one). Just wait....this is the absolute best advice anyone can hand you... this market will turn. Don't be a sucker, don't make an emotional impulse buy, know what you're interested in and the bottom line. It's easy today- years ago Edmunds had a quarterly magazine listing car wholesale/retail. Now, it's online. Oh, having a good credit rating makes it much much easier. New cars are an absolute waste of money. A disposable depreciating commodity, they are one of the worst financial drains on most peoples pocketbook. I'm a car guy, through and through, and as a result I really know my P's and Q's. I did buy a new car from a dealer; it was a new 2001 sitting on the lot when the 2003's were coming off the truck. Got it for less than a comparable used. 20 years later, I'm still driving it. I definitely got my moneys worth. Would I buy a new car again? Nope. There's too many good used cars out there. Dealerships are usually not the place to buy. They know all the ropes: most people don't. There's still plenty of "4square" dealers playing the **bleep** car. Used, private party, for cash. ... View more

100 grand is nothing today for any car. Really wasn't for the 70's either. 200,000 is the new benchmark for "not worth fixing, buy another". And 2014? A late model used car. Oh, you're in Michigan. Out here in SoCal, I'm driving our family 2001 Chrysler Voyager. Bought it new, sharply discounted, as it was lingering on the lot as new 2003's were coming off the truck. Went from my wife's car, thru both kids, and now it's my truckette/wheelbarrow. 181,000 and no sign of stopping. Been a great car! Comfy, rapid enough, hauls like a pickup, and I sure don't care where I park. It's got dings and dents, sketchy clear coat, sunburned interior (the malady of the southwest) but zero rust. Parts are cheap, and PYP yards are my friend. Just drive the Honda. Who cares what the neighbors think. ... View more

Wide whitewalls on anything 1962 and newer.... except '62 Studebaker and Imperials, the last holdouts. ... View more

Nothing about Ferrari's (and red cars in general) "speaks" to me. I live in the real world. ... View more

The "backwards fin" from the hapless '61 Dodge sure has made its way onto a few SUV's, as well as '61 Plymouth's grille used as a model for the "gaping hourglass" monstrosities on Lexus. ... View more

I agree.... you could say the same about the price of gas, and that would at least be relevant to most. ... View more

Those look like Western Cyclone wheels on the cute push mobile. Same era, think they came out that year. These "show cars" were excitement builders at car expo's. Next time you go to an auto show, get down on your knees and look underneath the latest "whiz bang" space mobile drawing the crowds. Odds are, it's a push mobile like this. ... View more

Colors, and popularity, are cyclic and faddish. An anecdotal study. Browns and tans tend to make a car disappear into the pavement- though dark greens and "root beer browns were quite in style in the late '60's. Plum Crazy Mopars were dubbed "Purple Peelers" when new- the paint was defective. They were repainted under warranty, iirc. ... View more

There is no such thing as a "64 1/2" Mustang.... PERIOD!!!!!!!!!! All are '65's; even the early production 260/generator bunch. ... View more

Anytime I see one of these "worst" lists, it's in a general information magazine, or website. Usually the "worst" vehicles are aging economy cars that have no status value. The real worst cars are overpriced specialty and luxury imports (I'm sure you know what I'm talking about) that are ridiculously overpriced to begin with, impossible to own and service, and they're really only good to strut ones peacock feathers with. ... View more

Electro plated cylinder walls... Vega, anyone? ... View more

Not my taste but not bad. I met George Barris several times; he was a constant promoter and approachable. Most people don't know that his main business was a production body shop in North Hollywood; now closed but still there- for now. Several of his cars are still in the showroom. There's plenty of stock Corvettes out there- and this was done back in the day. Author probably doesn't know what a '61 Plymouth is (which sure look like the taillights source) but knew the headlights were "stolen" off a Granada. All those show custom cars used parts off other cars- or mundane things like drawer pulls to make custom grilles. Go look at Car Craft from the late '50's on at the wild creations done- some great, some weird, some bizarre, some iconically timeless. It's from another era. This is a time capsule example. ... View more

I remember when tri-five Chevy 4 door sedans were totally uncool and only useful as parts cars, or beaters. They were everywhere. I turned down a 25,000 mile '57 BelAir 4 door sedan, schoolteacher friend of my moms selling, because it wasn't a 2 door hardtop. No way! They gained their reputation because they were good, dependable cars, cheap and easy to work on. Toyotas have this reputation today... the pre-Tundra small trucks are rising in value, and the non-interference 4 bangers in the Camry are noted for longevity. Add manual transmission, a low buck car at the nadir of resale. Give them time. ... View more

I don't see any bargains.... where? ... View more

I was in the garage, working on one of my cars. The Stupor Bowl didn't waste any of my time, couldn't care less. ... View more

Pig snout grille surrounded by "confusing, self-reversing" body creases. If you recognize that quoted description, you're a true vintage auto literature maven. ... View more

There were two; one had a 4:11 rear, iirc, for burnouts & stunts, the other was principal picture car. Bench seats, bone stock. Ford provided all the cars to the series, as well as some production vehicles like Econoline passenger vans. Changed out yearly. Nobody remembers the other principal car- the beat up beige LTD. ... View more

The VW is interesting, but I'll keep my Gen1 2001 2-seat Honda Insight. Only 14,000 made from 2000-2006. They are still available for low used car prices, are pretty darned reliable, are fun to drive, get terrific fuel economy. Add quirky styling. Plus, some, like mine, have a 5 speed manual. ... View more

I know you're a young sprout, but there is no such thing as a 1964 1/2 Mustang. All have a 5 in the VIN. All, including those sold starting in April, '64 are 1965's. ... View more

I'm getting to that point also. A decent late model used car to, of all things, drive into the ground and enjoy. After the "chip" shortage, of course, when prices will plummet as demand catches up to supply. Just wait. Absurd prices, for unusable static displays. ... View more

Its an interesting idea you proposed, but it really doesn't pass muster. It's about utility and use, not profile. Long and low was squeezed to short and tall, for a number of reasons. It's about practicality as an appliance, not a passing similarity. Nearly all cars today are, no matter what you call them, "station wagons" in utility. ... View more

Specious argument. Today's "cars" are evolved from post-war station wagons. The basic shape may mimic old 30's sedans, but that's where the similarity ends. Many thirties cars had NO trunk lid, or separate trunk. Real trunks (as the name derives from) were strapped to the back. Kaiser had no wagon and created a hatchback sedan, while Plymouth brought out the affordable all steel station wagon in '49 (as did Willys, earlier, but it was truck-like). Wagons became minivans became SUV's, etc. ... View more

Parts car. Period. ... View more

Both the Mark and 55-7 TBird have seemed to have stabilized price wise, and may be in decline. ... View more

With a 4 1/2 foot "bed"? I think the tailgate on my '72 GMC is longer. ... View more

Mustang, Maverick. Far from "forgotten" unless you're still wet behind the ears and think a 2010 is an "old car". Both were based on the underpinnings of the Ford Falcon. Maverick debuted late '69; base price $1,995..... get it? There's absolutely nothing wrong with the name. I doubt many base will be sold, because there's money to be made in options... well over five grand extra on your rental. ... View more

One of my personal edicts is "never buy a car without personally looking at it". Photos flatter. Photos don't reveal if the car is solid or a polished bucket. I'm astounded at the BAT prices... but more astounded at the "investors" who pay over the top for a catalogue photograph, not the car. True, there are bidders that personally inspect, but those, I suspect, are the exception. I do like the BAT comment section, as many knowledgeable comments are scattered among the idle chatter. ... View more

My '56 Clipper had the batwing- not just Olds & Cad ... View more

Good job of skewering the Virtue Signalling of Madison Avenue... or had that been outsourced also? My epiphany came long, long ago when JC Penney outsourced "Big Mac" shirts overseas. Goodbye Penney's for me. 1978, bought a new El Camino. American, ya know. Couldn't get a wrench on a part and discovered that my El Camino was half metric, half SAE. That's when I noticed the "Made in Mexico" VIN. Oh, it was a steaming pile of trouble besides. I gave up long ago. T shirts and $15 wranglers for me. ... View more

It was a drive-in movie with hippy-dippy "deep" nonsense running thru a car chase marathon. Period. Great movie at the Canoga Drive-in when I was a kid. Knew it was a Camaro that went into the Bulldozer. Yeah, I've always been a car guy. This reminds me of pundits reading deep significance into novels, when the author just wrote a good yarn. To sell. Today- totally dated, but much more watchable than that laughably pretentious (and extremely overrated) "Easy Rider" ... View more

Hit a paint truck. "Nothing to see here"! ... View more

Pretty much my opinion about all British automobiles… Why limit it to three? I can attest to the XJS being a giant pile of trouble. I bought a one owner 48,000 mile V 12 from a personal friend. That car didn't nickle and dime, it $hundred' and $thousand' me to death. My wife would take it out, and it would invariably come back on a hook. Sold it a few years later with 56,000. I might as well have thrown dollar bills out the window. Took a great loss. The V 12 is only 326 cubic inches (don't give me the cc nonsense because I understand cubes a lot better). That's what Pontiac's small V8 had. It wasn't particularly fast, it was pretty cramped in the drivers footwell... in fact pretty cramped inside. Pretty homely car, to be honest; if they didn't put those plastic panels behind the rear windows it would look like a streamlined hearse. The tail light arrangement looks like they just took a random jumble of shapes and threw them on the back. A car that I can truly say "been there, done that,never again". ... View more

The period of life you're in also makes a difference. In late '59, as a 7 year old, I spotted a new black '60 Starliner and was smitten, although I was already a "car nut". I own a black '60 Sunliner today. In my early twenties, and pretty poor, I was finally thinking about my first new car. Car and Driver touted the little boxy BMW as the "best $3,500 car". I thought "that's an overpriced box- the Datsun 510 is $1500 less for pretty much the same car, and better looking too". Then the BMW snob crowd further prejudiced my perception to this day. That's my perception- whether valid or not. I do like Robs stories, though! ... View more

Deciphered: Passenger window regulator ... View more

There's plenty of P71 Crown Vic's still in police service. Incredibly sturdy, relatively simple. Many are resold at auction and go on as taxis. I regularly look at wrecking yard CV taxi odometers: 4-500k very common. ... View more

That's the first ad I thought of when I read the headline. Saw it on Bonanza, iirc. Instead.... late model stuff I never paid much attention to. ... View more

Visual splendor doesn't necessarily translate into practical homes. Or garages. Frank Lloyd Wright's homes are often described as cold, not "homey" and suffer from major problems like leaky roofs, etc. No matter how visually stunning, the first order of business for any designer is to make the item practical and usable to the owner.... or satisfy the designer's or owners ego. There's a reason roofs have a pitch. ... View more

Compared to Vega's, Pinto's were solid durable reliable small cars. They, like Ford Falcons, were ubiquitous daily transportation on SoCal streets long after most Vega's were long gone. AMC Gremlins were another lambasted car that were solid mechanically and don't deserve the reputation. The real story is that car snobs decide what's "in" and look their nose down on domestic economy cars. ... View more

I couldn't have said it better- but urban myths become fact to a gullible public. ... View more

A mishmash article of inaccuracies, Monday morning quarterback analysis, and lack of deep historical perspective. In my opinion. ... View more

Kaiser's bamboo and alligator production interiors- and polar bear upholstery in a show car, iirc. When Vince Giraci was AMC's interior man, the Gucci Matador, and Levi's & Native American inspired interiors graced other AMC's. I'm sure he would be delighted to fill you in on them. ... View more

The old saying that "style sells cars" has been turned upside down. If styling sold cars than Toyota would be in the last place. People buy cars fir perceived value, and status- not necessarily style. Jay Mays in my opinion is only good at retro mobile's. I thought the Audi TT looked like a cross between a step down Hudson and a cartoon car when it was introduced. I don't think it's a particularly fine looking car. Styling is subjective...and it's always easier to make sports cars attractive. The Pontiac Aztec now blends into traffic because nearly everything contemporary looks like it ...and nobody talks about the Buick Rendezvous; basically the same car that was more conservatively styled. Styling goes through fads; spoilers were the tailfins of the new millennium. Now it's excessive character lines… So many character lines it could be in a comedy review. Yes it's true that you have a basic layout that you have to design around, and today everyone buys "station wagons" or what they're called- SUVs crossover's etc., they're all station wagons… And tall squat ones to boot. It's pretty hard design a good looking four wheeled bowling ball. ... View more

The problem with limousines in the collector market is that they're too big for the standard garage and they were meant to be chauffeur driven. ... View more

$$$$$🥱 ... View more

From my perspective, '70s were a time of lousy disco music, laughable "fashion", art, and architecture- and crappy cars from Detroit (and it only got worse as the decade progressed). It was also an era when Japanese cars became extremely popular because they were economical and, most importantly, reliable. Those are the choice cars of the era. ... View more

Forgot to mention: they resolved the engine wire problem after '88 or so. ... View more

Had an 86 Wagon... sold it in '04 because of engine wire issue, and Volvos weak a/c units... another trouble spot, as with most European cars at the time. I would own another. Easy to work on, very practical. They are transitioning from used cars to vintage. I'm my opinion, the last good Volvo made. Gas economy in the 20's. The "chopped top" coupes were rare when new. The diesel was not a good motor, there's a reason it was dropped. ... View more

That's your privilege. I still maintain that this is a front wheel drive sedan with an open, near useless trunk. ... View more

A car with an open trunk, not a truck. Hybrid? Eco-boost? I see no long term truck usefulness or reliability. I'd rather buy an older 4 cylinder stick Toyota or Ranger with a useable bed. ... View more

There are only two cars that stand out in my youthful memory of the 1966 Los Angeles Auto Show at the old Pan Pacific Auditorium: the new Toronado and the turquoise Rambler Marlin "Tahitian" show car. I thought the Toronado was strikingly beautiful, and even then saw the Cord styling cues. I mused, at the time, that it would be better 3/4 scale... it was big! The 66-67 were gorgeous, but GM completely botched the Toronado from 68 on... that horrible grille and raised quarter panels. It only got worse from there. ... View more