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MsAubrey (aka Ahyoka)

Obscure forgotten vehicles that were kind of fun to drive

  
By:  MsAubrey (aka Ahyoka)  •  Just for Fun  •  3 years ago  •  55 comments

Obscure forgotten vehicles that were kind of fun to drive

Can you name them all? Some are obvious, because they're labeled, but whatever.

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Did you have flashbacks to obscure, publicly rejected, but secretly fun to drive cars? I've owned a couple of these.

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MsAubrey (aka Ahyoka)
Junior Guide
1  author  MsAubrey (aka Ahyoka)    3 years ago

NO POLITICS! NO PRESIDENTS PAST OR PRESENT! 

This is for FUN!

 
 
 
Greg Jones
Professor Participates
1.1  Greg Jones  replied to  MsAubrey (aka Ahyoka) @1    3 years ago

Way back in the day I owned a '53 De Soto...my first car. I can't remember the color.

1951-desoto-jpg.4050540

When I got out of the Air Force I found a blue and white 56 Chevy Bel Air which was later stolen and wrecked

Not sure about the engine...I think Chevy came out with a V-8 about this time

56ChevyBelAir_59k_large.jpg

Next came 57 Ford with what was called a "Thunderbird Interceptor" engine. This pic is pretty representative

Today's cars are uglier than the worst looking ones back then...almost entirely devoid of style.

1957-ford-fairlane-500-2-door-hardtop--1957fordfairlane500hardtop153346-frank-j-benz.jpg

 
 
 
321steve - realistically thinkin or Duu
Sophomore Guide
1.1.1  321steve - realistically thinkin or Duu   replied to  Greg Jones @1.1    3 years ago
Today's cars are uglier than the worst looking ones back then...almost entirely devoid of style.

O so true !

Style in cars went out of style and aerodynamics took over. 

I hate the look of the new jelly bean cars ! I seriously can't tell one brand from the other they all look the same too now. 

Kia verse cadillac ... sad 

 
 
 
MsAubrey (aka Ahyoka)
Junior Guide
1.1.2  author  MsAubrey (aka Ahyoka)  replied to  Greg Jones @1.1    3 years ago
Today's cars are uglier than the worst looking ones back then...almost entirely devoid of style.

Agreed and it pretty much started in the early 80s.

 
 
 
zuksam
Junior Silent
1.1.3  zuksam  replied to  MsAubrey (aka Ahyoka) @1.1.2    3 years ago

What's with the Citation ? I had almost forgotten they ever existed but as soon as I saw the picture I knew what it was.

 
 
 
MsAubrey (aka Ahyoka)
Junior Guide
1.1.4  author  MsAubrey (aka Ahyoka)  replied to  zuksam @1.1.3    3 years ago

That's actually not a Citation... it's the "sister" car, the Pontiac Phoenix. jrSmiley_91_smiley_image.gif

 
 
 
1stwarrior
Professor Participates
2  1stwarrior    3 years ago

OMG - Pantera, Willys, Thing - great toys, fantastic drifting with the Pantera, "dune bugging" with the Thing and Willys - and - wait for it - ALL STICK SHIFTS.

 
 
 
MsAubrey (aka Ahyoka)
Junior Guide
2.1  author  MsAubrey (aka Ahyoka)  replied to  1stwarrior @2    3 years ago

We had one of those 80s Plymouth Sundance Dusters with a manual and a turbo. It was a lot of fun, but it was definitely JUNK! jrSmiley_86_smiley_image.gif

 
 
 
MsAubrey (aka Ahyoka)
Junior Guide
2.2  author  MsAubrey (aka Ahyoka)  replied to  1stwarrior @2    3 years ago

I learned how and when to shift on a Dodge Rampage when I was 3 and my dad broke his right arm playing softball. My mother has cerebral palsy, so she can't drive a stick... so I shifted with my dad driving. I listened for the RPMs to drop when he pushed the clutch in.

 
 
 
bccrane
Freshman Silent
2.2.1  bccrane  replied to  MsAubrey (aka Ahyoka) @2.2    3 years ago

Had a Dodge Rampage with stick shift and used it, like it was, a truck.  Many times overloaded it but it handled it, used it to get firewood in the winter and with the front wheel drive I could get back to the woods in deep snow breaking a trail with it, get turned around, load it up and it would make it's way back out along the same trail.  Miss the mileage 33 to 36 mpg, wish I still had it, but the 5th gear synchromesh went out and I sold it as a parts vehicle to another Rampage owner.  And, of course, with all the vehicles I've ever owned there was deer damage, just can't be avoided around here. 

 
 
 
Tacos!
Professor Guide
2.2.2  Tacos!  replied to  MsAubrey (aka Ahyoka) @2.2    3 years ago

My first car was a Rampage. Unfortunately, the snow is obscuring the cool, and not at all tacky orange stripes.

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Ozzwald
Professor Quiet
2.3  Ozzwald  replied to  1stwarrior @2    3 years ago
"dune bugging" with the Thing

While growing up, one of my daughters was dying to get a "Thing".  She wanted it as her first car when she turned 18.  We quickly found out that unless you have a LOT MORE money than we had, that was not going to happen.  They are worth a mint now, even though you couldn't give them away 40+ years ago.

 
 
 
zuksam
Junior Silent
2.3.1  zuksam  replied to  Ozzwald @2.3    3 years ago
They are worth a mint now, even though you couldn't give them away 40+ years ago.

I sold my 74 for 700 bucks 30 years ago. Yellow like the one above.

 
 
 
Split Personality
Professor Guide
3  Split Personality    3 years ago

More flashbacks than good memories.  I road tested cars in the 60s and 70's that were just flat out dangerous junk. 

We learned slowly that over powered almost always meant not enough braking power.

Good times, lol.

 
 
 
MsAubrey (aka Ahyoka)
Junior Guide
3.1  author  MsAubrey (aka Ahyoka)  replied to  Split Personality @3    3 years ago
We learned slowly that over powered almost always meant not enough braking power.

This is true. Hence, 4 wheel disc brakes... eventually. jrSmiley_82_smiley_image.gif

 
 
 
Just Jim NC TttH
Professor Principal
4  Just Jim NC TttH    3 years ago

My mother had a '72 Gremlin which she convinced her co-workers she got in a kit and my dad, brother and I had to put it together. Don't remember how much fun it was to drive as that is a bit of history that I can't remember LOL

 
 
 
321steve - realistically thinkin or Duu
Sophomore Guide
4.2  321steve - realistically thinkin or Duu   replied to  Just Jim NC TttH @4    3 years ago
My mother had a '72 Gremlin which she convinced her co-workers she got in a kit

LMAO !!

My folks had a "strange "  sense of humor as well. I was told I had 3 ridiculous sounding middle names till I had to try to write them in school and was so embarrassed only then did they fess up that I only have one middle name. 

So embarrassing for me at the time in school. I insisted that crap was my name. My teacher called my mom to see.  I was Not amused !! 

lol I inherited some of that humor and it has gotten me in trouble more than once. 

 
 
 
321steve - realistically thinkin or Duu
Sophomore Guide
5  321steve - realistically thinkin or Duu     3 years ago

                                    fun to drive cars"

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Here is an old picture of the most fun car to drive I ever owned.

I've missed that car from the day I sold it !   

Sad 

 
 
 
MsAubrey (aka Ahyoka)
Junior Guide
5.1  author  MsAubrey (aka Ahyoka)  replied to  321steve - realistically thinkin or Duu @5    3 years ago

Is that a "Z"?

 
 
 
321steve - realistically thinkin or Duu
Sophomore Guide
5.1.1  321steve - realistically thinkin or Duu   replied to  MsAubrey (aka Ahyoka) @5.1    3 years ago

Nope, imitation Z 

Built 350 (all kinds of goodies) 4 gear 4-11 rear end. VERY QUICK ! 

And loads of FUN !!! jrSmiley_18_smiley_image.gif

 
 
 
1stwarrior
Professor Participates
6  1stwarrior    3 years ago

My 1st "race" car - never won, but damn sure had a blast.  1958 Austin Healey Bug-Eye Sprite.

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Went up to the MG Midget, MGB, MGB-GT, TR-6, Healey 100-6, 924, 924 Turbo, 944, 912, 911 and 911S.  Then the toys got too expensive, so I settled for a BMW 330Ci and now drive a Mazda3 Hatchback.

Let's do some drifting, eh?

 
 
 
Split Personality
Professor Guide
6.1  Split Personality  replied to  1stwarrior @6    3 years ago
Let's do some drifting, eh?

not in A big Healy, too hard on the damned spokes when I switched to Radials

 
 
 
321steve - realistically thinkin or Duu
Sophomore Guide
6.1.1  321steve - realistically thinkin or Duu   replied to  Split Personality @6.1    3 years ago
too hard on the damned spokes

Yeah I'll bet.

lol 

 
 
 
1stwarrior
Professor Participates
6.1.2  1stwarrior  replied to  Split Personality @6.1    3 years ago

The sad thing about most of those cars is that, after you drive them, into the garage they go for "minor" tune-ups.

 
 
 
MsAubrey (aka Ahyoka)
Junior Guide
6.1.3  author  MsAubrey (aka Ahyoka)  replied to  1stwarrior @6.1.2    3 years ago

My husband has always like the MGs, but a Midget... he's too tall to be comfortable. jrSmiley_86_smiley_image.gif  

Personally, I like the Mini Coopers old and new.

 
 
 
1stwarrior
Professor Participates
6.1.4  1stwarrior  replied to  Split Personality @6.1    3 years ago

The Healey 100-6 was the start of the big Healey's.  We'd "adjust" the spokes after each ride to ensure we didn't wind up with a floating, bouncing front end :-)

The  Austin-Healey 100-6  is a two-seat roadster that was announced in late September 1956 and produced from 1956 to 1959. ... A 117 bhp (87 kW) BN6 was tested by The Motor magazine in 1959 had a top speed of 103.9 mph (167.2 km/h) and could accelerate from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 10.7 seconds.

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The 3000's came out in 1960 with the MK 1.

The 3000 had noticeably stronger performance than the 100-6: 0-60 mph (0-97 km/h) now took about 10 seconds while top speed was nearly 115 mph (184 km/h). (Competition and works rally cars were naturally even faster, thanks to a revised exhaust manifold, a hotter camshaft, and larger S.U. H8 carburetors.)

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Split Personality
Professor Guide
6.1.5  Split Personality  replied to  1stwarrior @6.1.4    3 years ago

Mine was 8 from the last serial number imported in 1967.  Colored the opposite of the top picture.

Black interior, green seat belts in the glove box.  Spinners and  amber lenses. 

It was built as an off white but was Johnstown flood car and by the  mid 70's needed the outriggers rebuilt

so I could open and shut the doors.  So we repainted it.

 
 
 
1stwarrior
Professor Participates
6.1.6  1stwarrior  replied to  Split Personality @6.1.5    3 years ago

You had a III????  Wow - awesome car.

 
 
 
Split Personality
Professor Guide
6.1.7  Split Personality  replied to  1stwarrior @6.1.6    3 years ago
You had a III????

More like, it had be like a boat, lol.

A hole in the water you pour money into, lol

 
 
 
MsAubrey (aka Ahyoka)
Junior Guide
6.2  author  MsAubrey (aka Ahyoka)  replied to  1stwarrior @6    3 years ago

Mazda 3 Hatchback is similar to my 2012 Fiesta SE hatchback. jrSmiley_82_smiley_image.gif Below is similar to my Fiesta. But because I custom ordered mine, I got a manual trans and a race red and black leather interior with heated front seats. jrSmiley_100_smiley_image.jpg

512

 
 
 
1stwarrior
Professor Participates
6.2.1  1stwarrior  replied to  MsAubrey (aka Ahyoka) @6.2    3 years ago

Had a '12 and '14 Ford Focus Titanium - loaded to the gills.  Luv'd'm both.  Unfortunately, 

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our daughter was introduced to idiot drivers who run red lights.

 
 
 
MsAubrey (aka Ahyoka)
Junior Guide
6.2.2  author  MsAubrey (aka Ahyoka)  replied to  1stwarrior @6.2.1    3 years ago

Damn. That sucks. Hopefully she was okay.

 
 
 
1stwarrior
Professor Participates
6.2.3  1stwarrior  replied to  MsAubrey (aka Ahyoka) @6.2.2    3 years ago

Ya gotta love them air bags and seat belts.

Believe it or not, the car was listed as totaled - $21K to repair.  I don't see it, but only because Dad and I used to restore cars.

 
 
 
Split Personality
Professor Guide
6.2.4  Split Personality  replied to  1stwarrior @6.2.3    3 years ago

Air bags and fussing with the unibody,

to the insurer, they make more salvaging the parts than fixing the car

 
 
 
MsAubrey (aka Ahyoka)
Junior Guide
6.2.5  author  MsAubrey (aka Ahyoka)  replied to  1stwarrior @6.2.3    3 years ago

The company I work for does the electronics portion for many global automakers that trigger the airbags and seat tensioners.

Well... some of the tiny parts that aren't usually noticed are VERY expensive. Example: the little triangular glass in front of the side windows [front seat] is a VERY expensive piece of glass. All of the little sensors, bulbs, circuit boards, etc... it really adds up. And depending on how many airbags go off... airbags aren't allowed to come from a salvage vehicle.

 
 
 
Buzz of the Orient
Professor Expert
7  Buzz of the Orient    3 years ago

Never had any of those, but I did buy one just like this for my kids to use.

OIP.F0nRQgSt1Zezc5ZLy3IT9QHaE8?pid=ImgDet&rs=1

 
 
 
MsAubrey (aka Ahyoka)
Junior Guide
7.1  author  MsAubrey (aka Ahyoka)  replied to  Buzz of the Orient @7    3 years ago

Cabriolets were definitely made "cool" by the movie, "Can't Buy Me Love."

 
 
 
Buzz of the Orient
Professor Expert
7.1.1  Buzz of the Orient  replied to  MsAubrey (aka Ahyoka) @7.1    3 years ago

You're right - there she be.

Rd0615676eed397a4ed41121d7b636d79?rik=OckqXuCHu7SzSw&riu=http%3a%2f%2fimcdb.org%2fi046789.jpg&ehk=M8gryi6t8kfNh4cBYk3m0xByv7U6RJzBpVpCujTUi4I%3d&risl=&pid=ImgRaw

 
 
 
Trout Giggles
Professor Principal
8  Trout Giggles    3 years ago

An old boyfriend taught me how to drive stick in his Pinto. I really did like that car. My dad bought a Dodge Omni. My dad was 6'4" and the Omni was a small car, but he actually had lots of leg and head room. It was a fun car to drive, too

 
 
 
devangelical
Professor Principal
8.1  devangelical  replied to  Trout Giggles @8    3 years ago
An old boyfriend taught me how to drive stick in his Pinto

lol

 
 
 
MsAubrey (aka Ahyoka)
Junior Guide
9  author  MsAubrey (aka Ahyoka)    3 years ago

Another car I just thought of, thanks to TG and her comment in another article about a Dodge Daytona... this one seems to be long since forgotten... and it's not a Daytona.

512

 
 
 
Paula Bartholomew
Professor Participates
10  Paula Bartholomew    3 years ago

The Bronco is making a comeback with a cool new feature...Goat Mode for serious off roaders.

 
 
 
MsAubrey (aka Ahyoka)
Junior Guide
10.1  author  MsAubrey (aka Ahyoka)  replied to  Paula Bartholomew @10    3 years ago

I had much higher hopes for the new Bronco. I hate that it's a tiny SUV platform. It should be the F250 platform if you ask me.

 
 
 
zuksam
Junior Silent
11  zuksam    3 years ago

I had a VW Thing mine was a 74 the one you pictured above is a 73. They are fun to drive and because there's no lines cables or exhaust under the belly of the car you could belly over the tops of sand dunes without worrying about ripping parts off (you can do the same with a Bug). The doors on the Thing come off like a Jeep. The car that was the most fun to drive was my 68 VW Bus popup camper, they are a cabover design which means the front seat is on the front wheel well and you're sitting ahead of the front wheel. It was very comfortable to drive on long trips because of the upright sitting position it was like sitting at a kitchen table and you just rested your arms on the big steering wheel. I also loved my 71 Volvo 142 it drove so nice dual carbs, four speed with electric overdrive in third and forth gear, four wheel disc brakes, limited slip diff so it was unstoppable in the snow, and it had a lumbar knob on the bucket seats for lower back support. I really liked my 1990 Ford Ranger xtra cab 4x4 with the 2.9, 6 cylinder and 5 speed standard trans, it wasn't great off road but it was smooth as glass at 90 mph on the highway and it would do it all day. I loved the 2.8, 2.9, 3.0 series engines keep them full of clean oil and you'll get 300,000 miles with no problems. I wish I could still buy a truck with that motor.

 
 
 
MsAubrey (aka Ahyoka)
Junior Guide
11.1  author  MsAubrey (aka Ahyoka)  replied to  zuksam @11    3 years ago
68 VW Bus popup camper

I always loved those. 

I really liked my 1990 Ford Ranger xtra cab 4x4 with the 2.9, 6 cylinder and 5 speed standard trans, it wasn't great off road but it was smooth as glass at 90 mph on the highway and it would do it all day. I loved the 2.8, 2.9, 3.0 series engines keep them full of clean oil and you'll get 300,000 miles with no problems.

I loved my 97 with a 3.0L and 5 speed manual. It was a standard cab, long bed, 2WD though. And in regard to the 2.8, depended on which 2.8 you had... I had a 2.8 in my 1984 Ranger that was a German built and was no longer produced [including all replacement parts] just a few years after final production. I couldn't find parts for that S.O.B. and it was NOT a long-lasting motor. The engine that Ford had that I miss is the 300cid straight 6 that came in F150 and Bronco.

 
 
 
TᵢG
Professor Principal
12  TᵢG    3 years ago

My girlfriend (at the time) drove (her first car) a 1972 AMC Gremlin (purple):

gremlin(112).ashx?modified=20190219142926

This is not a photo of her car of course, just reminding people what those cars looked like.   She absolutely loved her car.

 
 
 
zuksam
Junior Silent
12.1  zuksam  replied to  TᵢG @12    3 years ago

I like that purple. I don't remember the Gremlins ever looking as good as that car, that one is actually cool. They were good dependable cars though. I just miss the days when you could tell the make and model of most cars from a quarter mile away, these days if you can't see the badge it's tough to even know the make of half the cars.

 
 
 
Kavika
Professor Principal
13  Kavika     3 years ago

Not forgotten but one of the fastest cars I've ever owned and I've had some rocket ships. 

1991 Dodge Stealth R/T twin-turbo AWD.

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Another rocket I had was the 1971 Mustang Boss 302 in bright red.

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My first car after I was discharged from the Army in 1966. It's a 1962 Ford Galaxie XL500 convertible. 

Cruised Long Beach and Huntington Beach in that beauty. 

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My 2nd car, a 1949 Ford Flathead 8 convertible

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There were probably 25 other cars and a couple of motorcycles that I've owned over the years.

 
 
 
Ender
Professor Principal
13.1  Ender  replied to  Kavika @13    3 years ago

This is a stock pic, I would have to dig out a pic of mine, but this was my first car.

512

 
 
 
Ender
Professor Principal
13.1.1  Ender  replied to  Ender @13.1    3 years ago

Mine was black yet had a black matte stripe down the side.

After that I had a Duster that sat in the driveway for several years.

 
 
 
Ender
Professor Principal
13.1.2  Ender  replied to  Ender @13.1.1    3 years ago

Mine was white though.

512

 
 
 
Kavika
Professor Principal
13.1.3  Kavika   replied to  Ender @13.1.2    3 years ago

This is another beauty, when it ran which was not often, 1967 Jag XKE V12. 

Back in the day after you left Barstow CA headed to LV the CHP didn't bother you if you stay below 85 MPH after you crossed the Nevada line there was no speed limit and I got stopped for doing 122 MPH. Once those 12 cylinders kicked in it was one hell of a ride. 

512

 
 
 
Ender
Professor Principal
13.1.4  Ender  replied to  Kavika @13.1.3    3 years ago

For some reason that reminds me of a European Corvette.  Haha