Lets talk about some lesser known cars

**mobile363** · 02-28-2007 07:48 PM

Keep it relatively modern, and no rare breeds that hardly anyone has ever heard of. Lets try to keep it specific to cars sold in North America, or at least cars that were destined for North America.

These are my 2 contributions

Volvo 480

BMW Z1

6 months ago I had no idea these cars existed.

**cxt9597** · 02-28-2007 07:54 PM

z1 fascinates me. probably because i can find very little info.i think i read that they werent officially imported into the US but then i saw one at my dads quiznos O_o.

**Bixmen** · 02-28-2007 07:58 PM

I didn't realize the 480 was imported to the US.

**DoubleNaught** · 02-28-2007 08:00 PM

Mitsubishi Diamante

**BRealistic** · 02-28-2007 08:06 PM

Speaking of old rare Volvos- I always thought the Volvo 262 Bertone coupe was interesting.

Though it was probably a bit of a dog to drive...

You have to love any car that puts :COUPE': in big letters on the back.

**mobile363** · 02-28-2007 08:46 PM

Quote, originally posted by Bixmen »

I didn't realize the 480 was imported to the US.

I've read that they weren't, but it was originally planned to be sold here.

**B5tevo** · 02-28-2007 09:44 PM

Quote, originally posted by DoubleNaught »

Mitsubishi Diamante

Wow! I didnt know they sold a 2004 model here. Im assuming it sold so poorly Mitsu just axed it?

**346cid** · 02-28-2007 09:49 PM

Quote, originally posted by BRealistic »

Speaking of old rare Volvos- I always thought the Volvo 262 Bertone coupe was interesting.

That huge ass dog in the back is priceless.

**BRealistic** · 02-28-2007 09:59 PM

Quote, originally posted by 346cid »

That huge ass dog in the back is priceless.

Maybe that's what passed in 1980 for a factory anti-theft system?

**chucchinchilla** · 02-28-2007 10:01 PM

**97jetta2.8** · 02-28-2007 10:03 PM

I have a book where they have a lot of info on the Z1. I remember that the only reseaon it was not alowed into the US becuase of the doors.

If anybody wants some more info I can scan the book.

**CarGuru916** · 02-28-2007 10:08 PM

Ford Tempo AWD

-Ryan

**97jetta2.8** · 02-28-2007 10:10 PM

Quote, originally posted by CarGuru916 »

Ford Tempo AWD

Wow if someone told me they had a AWD tempo I would just laugh and walk away from that person.

**BRealistic** · 02-28-2007 10:16 PM

Quote, originally posted by CarGuru916 »

Ford Tempo AWD

-Ryan

Reminds me of a funny story. A guy at the plant had an all wheel drive Tempo (that had obviously spent most of its life as a winter beater in the great white north). Anyways- the rear parts failed- so he replaced them with some other parts and 'converted it' to just front wheel drive. I asked him how he knew what to use to convert it to a front drive Tempo- and he said "I used the rear hubs from another Ford I had in the back yard- I figured a Ford rear hub is a Ford rear hub regardless of the POS model." Amazingly- he drove that car for another year after that.

**BRealistic** · 02-28-2007 10:27 PM

Quote, originally posted by 97jetta2.8 »

Wow if someone told me they had a AWD tempo I would just laugh and walk away from that person.

Some other cars that were available in four/all wheel drive back then:

Toyota Camry
Toyota Corolla wagon
Toyota Tercel wagon
Mazda Protege
Pontiac 6000
Nissan Stanza wagon
Honda Civic wagon
Dodge Colt Vista

That late 80s was an all wheel drive bubble for normal cars.

The Dodge Colt Vista had a large following iirc.

**Troike** · 02-28-2007 10:32 PM

Next time you laugh at a NB [or get pissed when a 16-year-old highschool cheerleader cuts you off in one ...], have a pleasant thought, and think of the Beetle RSI, which Mexico [as a euro market] got

Basically an R32 Beetle!

Only 250 made .. a commemorate edition of the race-going cup series:

I'm sure some non-VW loungers must not have heard of it before.

Modified by Troike at 3:35 AM 3-1-2007

**Rad Red Brick** · 02-28-2007 10:34 PM

Nissan Axxess

Great Car, my Mom and my stepmom both drove them in the 90s.

**Bains** · 02-28-2007 10:36 PM

the reason the BMW z1 and the beetle rsi are less known is because they costed way to much friggin $$$ to justify purchasing them, correct me if I'm wrong you could get a friggin porsche for the cost of the beetle rsi, and I'm pretty sure the bmw z1 was like 85-90k USD(for the less then 1000 I think which even made it here!!)

Modified by Bains at 7:39 PM 2-28-2007

**cgj** · 02-28-2007 10:36 PM

Mitsubishi Diamante Wagon. Photos are not NA, but I couldn't find any pictures of an imported model. They were here though.

**Bixmen** · 02-28-2007 11:01 PM

I suppose an Avanti Sedan would be too oddball of a maker to be considered:

if that's the case, how about the Chrysler Executive Sedan:

still not good enough? how about a dodge dakota convertible?

a swiss built Monteverdi

**tehAndy** · 02-28-2007 11:04 PM

Quote, originally posted by Rad Red Brick »

Nissan Axxess

Great Car, my Mom and my stepmom both drove them in the 90s.

I really like these, actually. The drive is very carlike, the doors and space are useful, they're easy to park, get decent mileage, and the KA24 is a good match for it.

There was an AWD version as well, and a few came with 5-speeds. If I ever see a decent one for sale, I'm picking it up.

**Vdub18TGTI** · 02-28-2007 11:09 PM

Quote, originally posted by BRealistic »

Some other cars that were available in four/all wheel drive back then:

Toyota Camry
Toyota Corolla wagon
Toyota Tercel wagon
Mazda Protege
Pontiac 6000
Nissan Stanza wagon
Honda Civic wagon
Dodge Colt Vista

That late 80s was an all wheel drive bubble for normal cars.

The Dodge Colt Vista had a large following iirc.

wow it amazes me that all those cars were offered with all wheel drive. I knew a few of those toyotas were but not the others. why the step backwards?

**B5tevo** · 02-28-2007 11:13 PM

Saw one of these in Fredericksburg, VA:

Isuzu Impulse

**CosmicTDI** · 02-28-2007 11:27 PM

My parents had one of these (1976 Fiat 131s) when I was a kid and people always asked what kind of car it was and where we got it... ours was maroon, same black vinyl (scorchingly hot) interior. Does anyone remember these being around, or actually have owned one (other than Taimar

).

**BRealistic** · 02-28-2007 11:48 PM

Quote, originally posted by B5tevo »

Saw one of these in Fredericksburg, VA:

Isuzu Impulse

Huh? Unsealed lamps plus the pop up eyebrows...why?

Anyways- I think all U.S. models came like this.

I got my first 'air' in a turbo Impulse(not driving- but scared sh/tless).

Modified by BRealistic at 9:10 PM 2/28/2007

**Foxtrot** · 02-28-2007 11:49 PM

Quote, originally posted by Bixmen »

still not good enough? how about a dodge dakota convertible?

I suppose.. but what about a Shelby Dakota

And for the non-VW crowd a '96 Harlequin Golf (which I happen to own one of )

Modified by Foxtrot at 11:51 PM 2-28-2007

**Bonfire** · 03-01-2007 12:01 AM

Renault Alpine GTA. I'm unsure whether or not this was destined for North America, although I have seen them pop up on ebay from time to time (grey market perhaps?)

**mobile363** · 03-01-2007 12:58 AM

Quote, originally posted by Rad Red Brick »

Nissan Axxess

Great Car, my Mom and my stepmom both drove them in the 90s.

Funny because I remember when the Dodge Caravan used to claim to be the only one with 2 sliding doors, and that was like 98.

**kerridwen** · 03-01-2007 01:23 AM

Quote, originally posted by Foxtrot »

And for the non-VW crowd a '96 Harlequin Golf (which I happen to own one of )

Modified by Foxtrot at 11:51 PM 2-28-2007

I wouldn't count the Harlequin, as most people would notice the car, and even Paris Hilton (not the brightest bulb) would be able to tell there is something special about that car.

A real weird and hard to find car would be a single color Harlequin.

**Impeccable** · 03-01-2007 01:25 AM

Merkur Scorpio

**91gl** · 03-01-2007 01:43 AM

Quote, originally posted by B5tevo »

Saw one of these in Fredericksburg, VA:

Isuzu Impulse

??

**sirtophamhat** · 03-01-2007 01:50 AM

Quote, originally posted by Bonfire »

Renault Alpine GTA. I'm unsure whether or not this was destined for North America, although I have seen them pop up on ebay from time to time (grey market perhaps?)

Hell, if I found a legal one I'd drive it. Damn cool looking machine.

**sandiegan** · 03-01-2007 02:09 AM

Name that car

**green 2.slow machine** · 03-01-2007 02:21 AM

Maserati TC. Maserati, for some ungodly reason, decided that it would be a good idea to rebadge a LeBaron. You do get a ~250 turbocharged engine, a getrag transmission, and an interior inspired by the love child of the pilsburry dough boy and the michelin man.

EDIT: Ok, technically it's the Chrylser TC by Maserati

**pik_d** · 03-01-2007 02:22 AM

Quote, originally posted by cxt9597 »

z1 fascinates me. probably because i can find very little info.i think i read that they werent officially imported into the US but then i saw one at my dads quiznos O_o.

Not sure if you looked here, but it seems there's a nice wiki page about the Z1.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_Z1

Thread: Lets talk about some lesser known cars

Thread Tools

Search Thread

Display

Lets talk about some lesser known cars

Re: Lets talk about some lesser known cars (mobile363)

Re: Lets talk about some lesser known cars (cxt9597)

Re: Lets talk about some lesser known cars (mobile363)

Re: Lets talk about some lesser known cars (mobile363)

Re: Lets talk about some lesser known cars (Bixmen)

Re: Lets talk about some lesser known cars (DoubleNaught)

Re: Lets talk about some lesser known cars (BRealistic)

Re: Lets talk about some lesser known cars (346cid)

Re: Lets talk about some lesser known cars (BRealistic)

Re: Lets talk about some lesser known cars (chucchinchilla)

Re: Lets talk about some lesser known cars (CarGuru916)

Re: Lets talk about some lesser known cars (CarGuru916)

Re: Lets talk about some lesser known cars (97jetta2.8)

Re: Lets talk about some lesser known cars (97jetta2.8)

Re: Lets talk about some lesser known cars (BRealistic)

Re: Lets talk about some lesser known cars (Troike)

Re: Lets talk about some lesser known cars (Troike)

Re: Lets talk about some lesser known cars (Rad Red Brick)

Re: Lets talk about some lesser known cars (BRealistic)

Re: Lets talk about some lesser known cars (mobile363)

Fiat 131s Mirafiori

Re: Lets talk about some lesser known cars (B5tevo)

Re: Lets talk about some lesser known cars (Bixmen)

Re: Lets talk about some lesser known cars (Foxtrot)

Re: Lets talk about some lesser known cars (Rad Red Brick)

Re: Lets talk about some lesser known cars (Foxtrot)

Re: Lets talk about some lesser known cars (kerridwen)

Re: Lets talk about some lesser known cars (B5tevo)

Re: Lets talk about some lesser known cars (Bonfire)

Re: Lets talk about some lesser known cars (cxt9597)

Posting Permissions