1991 Chevrolet Cavalier Z24

When I shot this one I thought... well the light is crappy, the car is too new, it's just not, um, something. It probably won't work out. But I played with the images a bit, reconsidered them, and now this seems OK.

Dirty, dusty and somewhat rusty. GM was desperately trying to turn a Cavalier (!) into a muscle car. You know they are trying too hard when they have to add all kinds of junk like the red/purple/blue badge, the aero bits all around the base of the body. And naming it "Z24", as if a front drive car could be somehow related to a Z28. Silly, really, but that's what makes it interesting.

Honourary Old Parked Car: 1995 Nissan Rasheen

Ahh, cherry blossoms adorn the trees, and JDM vehicles adorn the streets. Another Japanese only curiosity that I could not resist.

Those oddly shaped headlights and bulging grill, the fake brushed aluminum bumpers, door handles & mirrors. The long low flat hood. The obligatory single reverse light. This looks a lot like a product of Pike Factory, but apparently it is not.

Also, the unusual rear hatch can be seen in the second last shot. It is really two doors. The top one is hinged not above the window but a couple feet into the roof, giving it an inverted "L" profile.

1991 Nissan Figaro

Finally, the last of the Pike Factory Nissans (at least if you ignore the BE-1). Interesting features; The minimal chrome bumpers which turn into a chrome strips between the front and rear wheels, the tear drop side turn indicators, the deep set tailights, the almost all white dash and interior, the continuous chrome strip from each headlight all the way to the rear bumper, the ridiculously thick rear pillars.

This example has side marker lights installed at each corner -- not something I've seen on other Figaros.

Honourary Old Parked Car: 1996 Daihatsu Midget II Cargo

I debated whether this car belonged on the blog, seeing how new and shiny it is, but in the end I could not resist.

Only nominally a 2 seater -- there are 2 seats, 2 headrests, 2 seatbelts, but the people who rode together would have to be very good friends. Also, since it is so narrow, the steering wheel cannot be far from the center, so it is only slightly right hand drive.

Love the tapering front end, the space-agey seams & shut-lines combined with the old fashioned headlights and fenders, the silly-yet-practical spare tire placement, the way the door latches blend into the black paint around the windows. Oh and the single reverse light.

BTW, just above the fuel door in #1 they have mounted a business card tray, which has cards in it.

1991 Volkswagen Vanagon Carat

1993 Subaru Sambar

Since I first became aware of "kei" trucks, I've found them fascinating. And four wheel drive? Almost more than you need!

So small, but remarkably robust looking. You get a sense of how small it is when you see how high the curb comes up on the wheels in #4. Silver seems an unusual colour for these. Much like the Mazda Bongo, the sides of the load bed fold down.

Love the "big truck" style windows, the little latch handle on the gas door, the wire & metal clips that locks the sides and tailgate in place, and the single reverse light. So much functionality in such a small package. Sooner or later I'll post an even smaller truck.

1991 Volkswagen Passat GL

Such a peculiar looking car -- no grille (though not strictly needed) plus a near Saab-like profile. A serious effort at aerodynamics with the flush headlights, rear wing, and rounding of every surface. A nice fine texture in the tail lights and plastic panel between them.

Love the curved slope of the front hood, the slight extrusion of the name stamped into the trunk lid, the shut-line of the rear door which merges with the fender, and how the aluminum wheels are exactly the same colour as the paint.

Next post will be something completely different.

1990 Mazda Bongo truck

What's great about these little Japanese trucks is their absolute minimalism. Small cab on the front, drive train and load bed behind. No ornamentation, little in the way of styling. Fold the sides of the load bed down and you have a flatbed. A hard working truck perfect for it's hard working operator.

1990 Toyota HiAce Super Custom

JDM vans are somewhat common in Vancouver, however I've only seen few of these Toyotas.

Love the sloping, aerodynamic shape of the front door windows, and the interesting shut lines. Plus the extended step in front of the front wheel, and all those seemingly random sunroofs.