1978 Buick Skylark

1976 Mercury Monarch

A car that looks odd these days because of a boxy front end noticeably longer than the back. But this is moderate compared to some other pre-90s American cars. Ford was trying to make their "small" car fit in. An effort to create a small luxury car, which fell flat on it's face like many of it's contemporaries.

This car is in great shape for a 40 year old. All the original hubcaps, few dents. Some obviously re-painted doors, hood ornament looks like it is from a later Lincoln, rear suspension slowly sagging. But it sits in quiet dignity.

Love the shape of the rear trunk area, the narrow seeming roll-down windows in the rear doors, the skinny little chrome strips around everything, and those bullseye hubcaps.

1988 Pontiac Fiero Formula

Thanks to Pat, who told me about this car, and about how he autocrosses it. It was apparently found buried under pine needles and other forest debris down in Washington State, and after much work we can see the results. As you might guess, the wheels are from a larger but contemporary Pontiac, and they look great. Rear spoiler is from a Lumina (which certainly never needed it). Pontiac didn't build the Fiero for very long, and it wasn't until this, it's final year, that the car started living up to it's sporty looks.

I seriously thought about buying a Fiero in 1985. At the time it seemed impractical, but the boy racer in me was severely tempted. Examining this car, I love the oversized looking wheels, which fit the wheel wells perfectly. Almost every surface and shape slopes forward. The nose makes me think of a marine predator. A remarkable design for GM, better than expected. Too bad they didn't have the chops (or perhaps the management) to make the car under the skin as good as it's surface.

1974 Fiat 500

From the absurdly large to the absurdly small. I suspect someone might actually drive this car -- the tags are up to date. However, the dirt on the tires suggest otherwise.

Love how the wheels are so small that the (four!) bolts are near the rim. Plus the ridiculous clam shell of a hood, the way the window corners are so rounded, the enormous looking vents on the trunk, and the pope's nose licence plate light. The over-all shape is so rounded and somehow misshapen as to seem made from play-doh. This is basic "car-ness", what a small child might draw, and anyone seeing the drawing would recognize.

For it's time, this car was very practical. Unfortunately, it's time was the 50s and early 60s.