Mainstream or oddball cars?

Gearhead · ELORA, ONT

Mainstream or oddball cars?

Adslow65 · LINDSAY, ONT

I'm with you on this one... I prefer oddball stuff as well! One reason I love my truck (original paint, suface rust etc.) it's unique! I can go to a show or cruise night and basically be the only one like it... and it stands out! I love all old cars/trucks and I can appreciate the mainstream vehicles too, but it's the unique vehicles that I'm drawn to!

Beachcat · WASAGA BEACH, ONT

I definitely like unique vehicles but I wouldn't call them odd balls. I like the iconic ones that have some significance.

I also have a hankerin for Darts.

DavyJ · NIAGARA REGION, ONT

Variety is the spice of life. More and more we look for the underdog, I have noticed this not only in car shows, but also with motorcycles, the new trend in under 500 cc "bobber" light weight customs , cheap to build, cheap to insure. So in that vein, when is the last time you saw a S22 Comet, or a Cortina. When i was in high school I always wanted a Renault Dauphine, since they were the rally champions of the day, haven't seen one of those for a long time. Volvo p1800, are you looking for Simon Templar?

carta · GUELPH, ONT

I,ve always been into the "oddball" stuff as well as trucks of all sizes.

flatduck · SUDBURY, ONT

well my most odd ball car that i own is my four door car ......i m sure to go to any cruise night and i ll be the only one of a kind ............but i always dream of a pinto wagon with a 302 under the hood

BARRIE, ONTARIO

I like any kinda car as long as its done well . I,m not really too fond of the eggsagerated bobber or rat rods.
I never under stood why the sleek model citroen didnt hit it off as a hot rod car ..77.

Hywayhauler · SUDBURY, ONT

There is a guy around here, I always see him at the "Arnie" drags (Show Me The Money Tour) He has what looks to be a Pinto wagon, with a 1986 Mustang front end grafted to it. Car's name is "Frankenstang". It's pretty cool, and runs fast too. I wish I could find a pic of it for you guys.

will · WALKERTON, ONT

Sold my Mustang - Now building a Maverick. I guess I can say "me too" Gearhead.

30-S6 · NORTH BAY, ONT

Personally I'd have to go with the Oddball. Like what was said earlier Camaro, Vettes, Mustangs...too common, easy to find parts though. Just pick up a catalog...I like to look in a parking lot and see my vehicle from a mile away.. maybe I'm wrong, but presently building a rat style Essex... but I know every inch of that car even the ones I cut out (Sawzall and a Cutoff wheel..No cookie cutters).. I'm not saying mainsrteem vehicles are not important to the hobby. Infact I have alot of parts from "those" cars in mine...Vette tail lights, S10 rear end, Mustang front end, Camaro's engine and the list goes on...

-- Edited by 30-S6 on Monday 6th of August 2012 09:10:19 AM

Lightspeed Mike · BELLEVILLE, ONT

I like the odd ball stuff too. That's why I built my Mercury the way I did. I had a 77 Toyota Celica many years ago, always thought of doing it up. Really cool body lines on it, almost like the old 240 Z from Datsun.
Guess that's what I like about Rat Rods so much, there is almost no cookie cutter to them.

workin class · FINCH, ONT

I have been in to the odd ball stuff for ever. Thats how THE LOSERS started. I have never taken the old car thing seriously enough to pay the money people want to have a same old same old car. You need a thick skin to drive a non acceptable car to a show although its getting better now a days. Back in the 80s I drove a 66 Chevy II wagon and got nothing but flack for wasting money on a 4 door. Even in high school I had a 58 Belair and got dumped on because it wasn't a tri 5 or at least an Impala.

flatduck · SUDBURY, ONT

when i was in school you could not even mention a Hemi nobody even knew what it was ........
yesterday at the car show i saw 4 tri chevy 4 door car...............but i bet you if you enter anything else with 4 door people won t even look

Beachcat · WASAGA BEACH, ONT

workin class wrote:
You need a thick skin to drive a non acceptable car to a show although its getting better now a days.

This is very true. My prowler is one of the most odd ball cars there is. It doesn't really fit into any category ( other than special interest). I've been turned away from shows and even told to my face that I don't belong there. Even when there is no age guidelines. But things are getting better like you say. I have seen some new, special interest categories showing up. We are all "car enthusiasts" and what I don't like to see is one category turning their nose up at another.

At a cruise night a few weeks ago, a couple of young lads ( with their girls) pulled into the lot with their slammed hondas and their glass back mufflers. the cars had hydraulics and air lifts and exotic lighting and massive stereos. Everybody swarmed around. Some with interest and some with raised eyebrows. After a while they took off. You had to admire their bravery and comittment to their cars. Alot of time and money went into them. That stuff is not for me but I was impressed and enjoyed seeing them.

flatduck · SUDBURY, ONT

there s a pic of my oddball car i plan on working on this winter just to get mechanical fit without painting and drive around for fun

workin class · FINCH, ONT

that would make a great starter car or even a kool kustom. Wouldnt take much but a bit of lowering and some trim removal and hole filling.

chevyboy · TORONTO, ONTARIO

odd balls are the way to go. There the only thing thats affordable now-a-days. Plus theres nothing nicer than a sleeper...

flatduck · SUDBURY, ONT

workin class wrote:
that would make a great starter car or even a kool kustom. Wouldnt take much but a bit of lowering and some trim removal and hole filling.

i got a set of fender skirts for it and a set of 4 reverse chrome wheels with babymoon hubcaps

atomsplitter · NEWCASTLE, ONT

I like the way you think Flatduck.
Paint it flat black and install a visor just to make it that much cooler!

Chris58 · WATERFORD, ONT

I like "diffeerent". I jacked up the in-line 250 in my Chevelle to be different. Most people walked by the car unless they picked up on the engine. It was cool. The car itself is not that interesting to look at...too many Chevelles out there. (In trying to sell it, I plopped a 350 in it and I still own it.)
My 58 Chevs are different for sure. You wouldn't believe the laughter sent my way when I told guys I was building a 58 Belair 20 years ago. Like WorkinClass said, I was sneered at because it wasn't a tri-five.
I did anything different. for sure.

Adslow65 · LINDSAY, ONT

Flatduck - that car is going to be an awesome cruiser! I like your plan.... fix the mechanical stuff, swap some wheels and drive it the way it is! Basically what I did with my truck... its the only way to go IMO lol

motornut · OTTAWA, ONT

different

don't see many Jimmys around anymore

i've only seen a couple around,even rarer....my 79 is 4X2

Sacotu · COBOURG, ONT

mine are all oddballs. you will see 100 chev trucks before you will see 1 gmc and the canadian one are even more rare. last couple of show i went to a couple of the old chevs actually were gmcs with chev front ends, cant hide the dash. never seen a 63 beaumont wagon till i acquired mine and when is the last time you've seen a 70 pontiac 2+2 convertible, i've seen them on the net never in person. my jeep is sort of more mainstream a 78 cj7 levi renegade originally was blue with denim seats. anybody into bike ever heard of a 87 cagiva 650 alazzurra.

tc · ST THOMAS, ONT

I have had several odd-balls in my day. A 1961 Pontiac Tempest Wagon (put a crate small block Chev, 4 link, four wheel disc brakes etc.) 1964 Rambler American Convertable (Small block chev with Crower Injection, 9 in. Ford, Candy paint etc,) 1961 Comet Convertable (ugly) etc.etc.....

poncho62 · ADMINISTRATOR

" 1961 Comet Convertable (ugly)"

Comet convertible never came out until 63, not that ugly....lol

tc · ST THOMAS, ONT

Sorry on the year, you are right. Honestly it was UGLY..........

Gwillyville Kid · BRADFORD, ONT

One I saw about 25 years ago started life as a 49 or 50 Chev or Pontiac Torpedo back 4 dr. Sectioned from the middle of the rear doors to the middle of the front doors with that piece removed and put back together as a 2 dr, with rather cool shaped doors. hand formed grille area, and powered by a 303 Olds. Saw it at CANATS in Sault Ste. Marie. Ot's from K-W area. Is it still around?
2nd was an AMC Pacer sectioned, chopped, lowered, IMSA style fenders, very wide tires, very swoopy. Saw it in Brampton. Not lately. If my memory serves me well it was LOUD too.

3rd Triumph TR-6 with Blown Chevy RIGHT hand drive, lotsa tire. Brampton area. Maybe it's the water.

the Kid

Iwannagofast · ONTARIO

tc wrote:
Sorry on the year, you are right. Honestly it was UGLY..........

C'mon now..........

hutchys · WHEATLEY, ONT

1.5 to ford about as odd as it gets

BARRIE, ONTARIO

Sac I had a Canadian 70 strato chief 2 dr hdtp with 350 3 spd on tree an a 70 convert . sold them to a dude out oshawa way , a few summers back ..77.

Grabrr · LONDON, ONT

Like I always say, "Anyone can build a car from a catalog".

Jazz · THUNDER BAY, ONT

'that's a great pic of your car,,may have looked something like this one at some time,,,I no dodge expert but this car had been in the same family up here from new until a few months ago...ah no your car a few years newer i guess

-- Edited by Jazz on Sunday 30th of September 2012 10:33:22 AM

TIME TRAVELLER · NIAGARA REGION, ONT

Gwillyville, is this the car you remember from the “Soo”? This one had a blower too if I remember correctly. Also, I think that Pacer was around this area too for a while, and was so nicely done that you had to shake your head a couple of times to determine what it started out as. Too bad AMC didn’t take the hint. And Hemi43 -- DAMMMNNNN!

-- Edited by TIME TRAVELLER on Sunday 30th of September 2012 01:37:04 PM

Gearhead · ELORA, ONT

TIME TRAVELLER wrote:

Gwillyville, is this the car you remember from the “Soo”? This one had a blower too if I remember correctly. Also, I think that Pacer was around this area too for a while, and was so nicely done that you had to shake your head a couple of times to determine what it started out as. Too bad AMC didn’t take the hint. And Hemi43 -- DAMMMNNNN!

-- Edited by TIME TRAVELLER on Sunday 30th of September 2012 01:37:04 PM

sombody did something GOOD with a pacer???

Everything that came from AMC was soo butt ugly except for a few choice cars (68-70 AMX, Rebel Machine, SC Rambler and the maybe the Hornet) That company was doomed from inception IMO...the Edsels of the 70's and 80's.

Saying that, theres a yellow and black 68-70 AMX around here that I'd give my eye teeth for

Looking up images to see if anyone ever did anything good with the automotive fishbowl, I found this; http://justacarguy.blogspot.ca/2010/06/unusual-race-car-haulers-citreons-and.html

Definately unusual!! Incidentally, both of these cars rank #1 and #2 on my most hated list. yuck

-- Edited by Gearhead on Sunday 30th of September 2012 02:02:27 PM

INDIAN RIVER, ONT

Definitely more into oddball cars & trucks here. That includes a Maple Leaf school bus, 53 suburban, Cadi hearse and the newest one a 50 Jeepster.

Jazz · THUNDER BAY, ONT

Well i got the only k model in town and the only vehicle with a flat paint,,,flat black and red steelies don't count,,dozens of those around. The oddballs stand out,,you go to any big event (5000 plus autos) and there are a sea of the usual suspects,,,cars that can be built with all brand new parts fresh off the boat from C. Hina and sons. You can follow the crowd or march to your own drum.

hemi43 · ONTARIO

Here's my oddball !! Only one in the world because the Dodge Brothers never made a 2 door ..

Gearhead · ELORA, ONT

hemi43 wrote:
Here's my oddball !! Only one in the world because the Dodge Brothers never made a 2 door ..

Damn, that is one fine looking car!! I totally dig the full fenders and that bright red paint.

hemi43 · ONTARIO

Actually, here's what it looked like !!

TIME TRAVELLER · NIAGARA REGION, ONT

I agree the original Pacer was ugly, but this particular car was much better proportioned and looked good enough to have been a production vehicle. I don't have any photos but you really had to look twice, or maybe three times to realize it's Pacer origins. A "custom" in the best sense of the word.

meoracing · SAULT STE MARIE, ONT

Time traveller, there was a car that used to prowl the soo and would race anyone that would try. A real sleeper pinto with a homemade scoop. That was over 20 years ago, maybe 30. The car was stinking fast too!

johnod · SOUTHERN ONTARIO

I drive a Studebaker, i think that answers the question.

Gearhead · ELORA, ONT

Somebody mentioned pacer...not that I like them, but here's one for sale; http://guelph.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-classic-cars-1976-AMC-Pacer-Black-on-black-MUST-SELL-W0QQAdIdZ404284252

Gwillyville Kid · BRADFORD, ONT

Yes, that is the Torpedo I saw in the Soo. Have not seen it 25 years or more, is it still around and cruisin? Just curious

the Kid

Dave Scott · ANCASTER, ONT

hemi43 wrote:
Actually, here's what it looked like !!

Hey Hemi.

Do you have a build thread for this somewhere?

I'd love to see how you redesigned the doors/roof/posts layout.

Stunning car!

427CARL · CLINTON, ONT

ODDBALL ?

48 with 51 nose.JPG 1948 stude conv.JPG

workin class · FINCH, ONT

Studes were odd ball a few years ago but not so much any more. They seem to have become popular in the last 20 years. Not as popular as a Camaro or tri five Chevy's though.

427CARL · CLINTON, ONT

the above one, is going back halfed, blown big block biggrin (with cage)

Sacotu · COBOURG, ONT

77 wrote:
Sac I had a Canadian 70 strato chief 2 dr hdtp with 350 3 spd on tree an a 70 convert . sold them to a dude out oshawa way , a few summers back ..77.

never seen that car especially with a 3 in the tree. my best buddy in high school had a 70 laurentian that was a hand me down from his father 350 w/ a 2 bbl. we did alot of run across the border to gatineau with that car.