What did you see on the road today?

[unclescott58]

Not so much on the road today. But in an alley. On the second Monday of every month our local chapter of the Crosley car club meets. For those who don't know, Crosley was a big appliance and radio maker in the 1920's, 1930's, and beyond. In fact they are still around. In 1939 Powell Crosley decided America needed a small, sub compact, low priced automobile. America didn't necessarily agree with him. But, he kept on try to sell America on the idea right through 1952. Not the nicest looking, or even nicest cars in world. But, some models had their charm. Like their 2-seat sports cars the Hot Shot and Super Sport. And their SUV the Farm-O-Road.

Our Crosley club meetings are a lot of fun. We spend many great hours talking about cars. Once in a while the head of our local chapter even gets us to talk about Crosleys. Guys who like Crosleys tend to be a little eccentric and own other odd cars other than Crosleys. Tonight one of our long time members showed up with his 1956 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud. I've seen the car before. But, he had just gotten it back earlier this evening from a body shop that had just re painted the car. Wow! A stunning car. A very dark Maroon on the lower half of the car. Silver on top. We stood there looking over the car, drinking in the details for quite a long time. I asked the present owner if he knew what the car sold for new in 1956? He said about $12,000! The cost of about two Cadillacs at the time. More than my parents paid for their first new house in 1957. Just looking at car. The details. The way it was put together. You can tell this car was worth the price. In pictures, most Rolls Royces do little for me. In person, they tend to always impress. This one sure did. I was amazed by how undated this car looked. It looks both old and modern at the same time. Nothing I would be embarrassed to be seen in today. It reeks of class.

By the way the guy who owns the Rolls, also has a Crosley, a 1954 Buick Skylark, a Jaguar XKE, and drives a beat up Jeep Grand Cherokee as daily driver. In the recent past he's had a 1969 Satco replica Cord. And a post war Lincoln Continental "Mark I" from the late 40's. Like I say, Crosley owners tend to be a little eccentric. You never know what may show up. But, it's almost always interesting.

Scott

[Harry P.]

I saw the same black Tesla that I saw a few days ago. Apparently the guy lives near me somewhere.

[Modelmartin]

I saw a Lotus from the mid 80s zipping down the freeway the other day.

Even cooler was a late 40s Buick Fastback that cruised past me while I was riding my bike in St. Paul.

[Rob Hall]

Saw a dark brown '15 Escalade in traffic the other day, first I'd seen of the new generation..pretty slick..also saw a '14 Corvette Stingray in dark green--great color--that car really looks better in dark colors, IMO.

[Tonioseven]

I've seen three Teslas in the last week. Car-spotting was much better in Naples than here in Cincinnati.

[Ace-Garageguy]

I saw a Pagani Zonda in Buckhead the other day. Maseratis and Rollers are pretty commonplace, as are Ferraris and Lambos on that side of town, but the Zonda really stands out.

I didn't know there were any in this country, and I have no idea what particular version it was, but it was a Zonda, for sure. There's no mistaking this tail...

Edited August 12, 2014 by Ace-Garageguy

[clovis]

1960 two door Cadillac.

I am a sucker for huge tail fins. My fave is the 1959, with the bullet style tail lights.

[Joe Handley]

Saw an old pale blue and pink Pacer after work tonight.

[Harry P.]

Saw an old pale blue and pink Pacer after work tonight.

Did you say hi to Wayne and Garth?

[Joe Handley]

Did you say hi to Wayne and Garth?

Wasn't the Mirthmobile, kinda surprised you didn't see it, it was heading your way on Rt. 59 when I last saw it.

[Tonioseven]

I saw a Bricklin and some sort of Rolls Royce coupe of a recent vintage.

[Modelmartin]

Slight tangent here. I drive a 2001 VW Passat wagon which I bought used from a local Mazda dealer who also has a Maserati/Bentley dealership in the same building. Apparently since my car is "European" and therefore "classier" they shunt me over to the exotic side for overpriced oil changes and what-not. During my first and subsequently last overpriced oil change I saw a Bentley Mulsanne sitting in their showroom. Sticker was over $350,000.

Apparently I am on their e-mail list for all the great deals on offer from this establishment. Last week I got an e-mail from them offering to lease me a Bentley Mulsanne for 36 months at the low, low rate of 2,999 DOLLARS a month!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Of course I was flattered that they thought I might be able to come up with such a princely sum every single month for 36 months. My entire VW Passat only cost $4,500! I could get a another Passat every 45 days for 3 years instead of the Bentley. Food for thought.

[JTalmage]

Saw this on the way to work this morning.

I dont know my Firebirds that well, either a 67 or a 68 I'd say.

[Harry P.]

I could get a another Passat every 45 days for 3 years instead of the Bentley. Food for thought.

What would you do with 24 Passats? Start your own taxi fleet?

[Tom Geiger]

Andy, I also bought a car from a Bentley / Rolls Royce dealer. That's my 2000 Jaguar S Type sitting in the delivery queue. It was a weird experience buying a car in that environment. It was a 23,000 mile cream puff, and according to the salesman had been a spare car on an estate. It didn't get used much so they traded it, and a Bentley, in on a new Bentley. But they talked about it like it was an old piece of junk. It was advertised on eBay for $14,500 but I was told it was sold. A month later I saw it advertised again so I called, and they said it had been sold but two different people couldn't get a loan on it. They didn't like this price range because of that, so they were planning on wholesaling it. But they'd hold it for me to take a look at the next day. I offered them $10,000 cash and told them I'd go up the block to my bank and the car would be gone immediately. They countered with $10,500 (from $14,500) and we had a deal.

It was interesting sitting in their show room for the time it took for them to prep it for delivery. One guy showed up with a six month old Bentley convertible, saying he wanted to trade up to the sport model. I could hear the whole exchange. The salesman said they couldn't locate the sport model as a convertible, only a coupe. The customer said he didn't care what it took, get him one. Money never came up.

Then a guy in his 30s came in with who I assume was his father, an elderly man in a wheel chair pushed by a nurse. They were looking at new Rolls Royces. It's a different world these folks live in!

The salesman was nice and I asked him the demographics of who bought a new Rolls or Bentley. He said most of the cars went out of the door for cash to well healed folks. Old money, CEOs, doctors. He said that the big change in business over the last decade did away with the leased cars, the company cars and the like. The average CEO would drive something less conspicuous to the office, and use the high end car for personal use.

[clovis]

You know, Tom, the world of buying a Bentley or Rolls is a world that I simply don't understand. While there are thousands of people who can afford that type of vehicle, it is just so...well, I just can't imagine having that much money, and also spending $300,000 for a car.

I almost keeled over last year when we looked at some new Buick Lasabres. $43,500, plus 7% sales tax, not including dealer add-ons? I literally almost fainted.

[clovis]

Jesse, I love that old Pontiac!

[DynoMight]

A week ago, I saw a mid 2000-ish convertible Corvette parked in a parking lot away from everyone else. And sitting on the car, where 3 crows. Two of them were pecking at the seats and the other one was ripping the rubber from the front wiper!

[Quick GMC]

I am a little spoiled. Within the last month; Aventador, Murcielago, Jaguar F-type R, Countless Aston Martins, F430, 360 convertible, 355, More Porsches than I can count, but there was one Blue/Red GT3 RS, 1st Gen Viper, new Viper

[Harry P.]

I am a little spoiled. Within the last month; Aventador, Murcielago, Jaguar F-type R, Countless Aston Martins, F430, 360 convertible, 355, More Porsches than I can count, but there was one Blue/Red GT3 RS, 1st Gen Viper, new Viper

That's what living in SoCal gets you!

[Tom Geiger]

You know, Tom, the world of buying a Bentley or Rolls is a world that I simply don't understand. While there are thousands of people who can afford that type of vehicle, it is just so...well, I just can't imagine having that much money, and also spending $300,000 for a car.

I almost keeled over last year when we looked at some new Buick Lasabres. $43,500, plus 7% sales tax, not including dealer add-ons? I literally almost fainted.

Agreed! That's why I was buying a 12 year old Jaguar for cash! The last new car I bought was my 1996 Grand Caravan and that was a wise decision since we still own it at near 200,000 miles. Since then I have bought a line of used cars for cash. I paid under $5000 each for them, except the big splurge on the Jag. The two Plymouth Breezes bought with 30,000 miles on each for $4300 each worked out very well. I put 200,000 on one before it died, and still have the other one. I never want to have a car payment, so I save a little and look for awhile until I find the right car at the right price. Now I have my eye out for a PT Cruiser in a good color, 50,000 miles or less for around $5000. And I'll eventually find the right car.

The funny thing was that when I bought my house, in processing the mortgage, my credit report got flagged. I got a call that there was a problem since my car loans and other consumer debt weren't coming up. They had a hard time accepting that I had no car loans and no debt. They said I didn't fit their profile.

[Harry P.]

... I had no car loans and no debt....

That's positively un-American!

PS: I agree with the "no debt" philosophy.

[unclescott58]

You know, Tom, the world of buying a Bentley or Rolls is a world that I simply don't understand. While there are thousands of people who can afford that type of vehicle, it is just so...well, I just can't imagine having that much money, and also spending $300,000 for a car.

I almost keeled over last year when we looked at some new Buick Lasabres. $43,500, plus 7% sales tax, not including dealer add-ons? I literally almost fainted.

Where did you see new Buick LeSabres last year? Buick stopped offering LeSabres in the US after 2005.

Scott

[clovis]

Where did you see new Buick LeSabres last year? Buick stopped offering LeSabres in the US after 2005.

Scott

Lasabre, Lacerne, Lacrosse.

Too many 'La' cars.

Sorry for the screw up.

Like I said, I almost fainted when I saw the sticker, and had some memory loss.

[Harry P.]

Lasabre, Lacerne, Lacrosse.

LeSabre, Lucerne, and LaCrosse.

And don't forget LeMans, LeCar, and LaSalle... or Patti LuPone... or the Man of LaMancha...