Friday, January 31, 2020

1990 Toyota HiAce Super GL

There are so many made-for-Japan, right-hand drive vehicles in Seattle that I see one or two every day.























Wednesday, January 29, 2020

1966 Lotus Cortina Mk 1

It isn't often I see a car that just makes me say, "What?" The Ford Cortina, made 1962-83, was the best selling car in the UK in the 1970s. I had no idea Ford sold a Lotus-powered model, or that it imported left-hand drive copies of the Lotus Cortina to the US in the 1960s. This car's ordinary looks are deceptive; it was very successful on the race track.

























Saturday, January 25, 2020

1973 Dodge Charger

This mean machine deserves to be set free from the storage lot under Ballard bridge. It should be in a high school parking lot intimidating the kids with Toyotas. I like the after-market air scoop.




















Sunday, January 19, 2020

Suddenly it's Sweden 1987! 1972 Volvo 1800ES and 1986 Volvo 240GL

Only 8,077 copies of the Volvo 1800ES were ever built, and most of them seem to have been sold in Seattle. I've spotted five to date, the four pictured below and a white one in Ballard I'm still hoping to photograph.

Breaking Bad fans will note this '86 Volvo 240GL is the same car Walter White stole for his drive from New England to New Mexico.


























Saturday, January 18, 2020

1951 Ford Custom

Known as the shoebox Ford, this was Dearborn's first new model after World War II. This Ford was a very capable car, particularly when equipped with a V-8 engine and automatic transmission like the car pictured. The shoebox was made 1949-51. The '49 and '50 had the famous bullet nose, so the '51 is less popular as a collector car. It looks like very little has been done to this car in the 70 years since it was built.























Sunday, January 5, 2020

1974 Volkswagen Thing Type 181

Sold in the US only in 1973-74, I see these in Seattle from time to time. Designed for the German Army, it looks just like the Kubelwagen of WWII.