A 1962 Plymouth Valiant. 
Posted on 05/10/2006 4:48:01 PM PDT by Responsibility2nd
AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Jabari Bryant didn't go to a car dealership to buy his new car last fall. The 28-year-old went to a retirement community in Tybee Island, Ga., where for $2,000 he bought a navy blue 1988 Chevrolet Caprice Classic Brougham from a man who was "at least 83."
The seller said "his eyesight was going and he had no use for the car," recalls Mr. Bryant, an automobile glass installer from Savannah.
Young people today don't want their father's Oldsmobile -- they want their grandfather's. Some of the hippest wheels for under-30 drivers today are models commonly identified with seniors: Oldsmobiles, Buicks, Chevrolets and Cadillacs from the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s.
From Collins Ave. in Miami Beach's South Beach neighborhood to International Blvd. in Oakland, Calif., teens and young adults are cruising in "grandpa" and "grandma" cars that they have painted bright colors like lime green, outfitted with fancy sound systems and propped up on monster-truck-style wheels. They're sweet-talking their grandparents into giving up old cars and offering to buy them on the spot from strangers.
Television shows, such as MTV's "Pimp My Ride," and rappers, including Snoop Dogg, are helping to drive the craze. There's even a new magazine, Donk, Box & Bubble, dedicated to the tricked-out-oldie-car culture.
For U.S. car makers, struggling to lift sales, it's a painful irony that the models striking a chord with young buyers aren't those rolling off the assembly lines today but rather ones made decades ago. Detroit's marketers are trying to figure out how to ride the trend without ruining it.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
A 1962 Plymouth Valiant.
I've always liked that body style. Those models were sort of the last hurrah for the classic American rear-wheel-drive midsize car. After that, the Grand Prix and Cutlass became front-wheel-drive mediocrities with absolutely no appeal whatsoever.
If you love classic cars you need to attend Hot August Nights week in Reno, Nevada. It's the ultimate cruise night that week in Northern Nevada, including Carson City, Stead, and Sparks.
My first vehicle, only $75, blown engine (thanks, Dad!):
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Mine was an orange red.
Man, I was thinking Gremlin the whole time I was reading through this tread.
Never have one but I knew a few who did.
Notice nobody has mentioned the Pacer yet?
I just saw a Buick Roadmaster yesterday in a parking lot. That is one big car.
94-96. In 97, the line was retooled to make SUVs. Ach!
My college boyfriend had that Toyota Land Cruiser! WE used to drive it right up to the doors of our classrooms. Gosh, those were the days!
Did you build that from their pallet kit?
Still have my first car. It is an '83 Tbird. Heard so many older folks say "I wish I had kept my first car." I decided to not make the mistake of getting rid of mine.
One of my fantasy cars, along with a 96 Impala SS or a 2003 Mercury Marauder (rigged with a manual transmission and a turbo).
Dayum.
Thanks. It took me a year to build. I tried to make it as original AC 289 FIA as possible. The block is actually a 302 since Ford Racing discontinued the 289 years ago. Feinds said I should used fuel injection versus the Holly 600 CFM double pumper but I told 'em Shelby didn't use "no stinkin' fuel injection." The rear is a Jag independent with 11" inboard disc brakes. Wheels are Compomotive Competition racing since I couldn't afford the Halibrand spinners. Water pump, intake manifold is from Edelbrock. All the electrics are from Ford SVO racing and MSD.
Always liked the Corvair myself. They were sure tough on a clean concrete driveway though.
OMG, I COVET that wagon!
I just LOVE wagons! Especially GM's!
My grandma had a Dodge Dart. Kids wanted it!
Yes. A friend of mine who is a real motorhead and I spent about six months doing a lot of research and went to a lot of classic car shows,like the one in Carlisle, PA.
I bought Unique's Deluxe kit since it had the hard to find elements.
The only part I farmed out was the paint and having the pipes and headers Jet Hot(ted) by Jet Hot in Mississippi.
My paint guy does MB and Jag restorations. He HATED painting the Cobra, "there's not once flat plane on this damn car!" I asked him if I built another one, if he'd paint it. He just smiled and told me to go fukc myself. LOL
What a coincidence! Your car is the same as your FReeper handle! ;)
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