1958 Chevrolet Apache 31 (Chevrolet Task Force Series)

I’ve covered this version of the Task Force a few times, but this short bed version with matte blue paint and gorgeous pinstripe work deserve a little attention.  This one is the standard RWD configuration, a great classic truck with a beautiful color scheme.

Well preserved in NE Portland.

1964 Rambler Classic (Second generation 1963-64)

This is Jonathan’s Rambler.  You could listen to me ramble on about it (no pun intended) or you could read this awesome story he sent me:

In 1993 my father and I purchased the Rambler in Salem, Or from the nephew of Uncle Harold the recently-deceased original owner. We paid $2600.00.
The purchase was a little impulsive - we saw it sitting on the edge of a Wal-Mart parking lot with a for sale sign on it.
I “kind-of” needed a car for getting to school in Eugene, and we convinced ourselves it should probably be the Rambler.

It functioned as my college car until 1997 when it dramatically died on I-5,  between Salem and Eugene,  heading back to school from thanksgiving at my parent’s house.
I walked seven miles to the closest filling station to call someone to pick me up.

The car was towed to the garage of the family mechanic. It’s harmonic balancer had failed, and we could not find a replacement.
It sat for months in the shop, and finally out of frustation, my father sold it to the mechanic behind my back for $800. 
The mechanic promised to use it in a shop class he was teaching at a Salem area high school.

Shortly after, his business failed, and the car and the mechanic disappeared.

Nearly a decade later, one of my friends spotted the car in the open door of an old filling station garage a mile from my childhood home in Turner, Or.
It turned out the mechanic purchased the decommissioned filling station, and had stored the car there ever since in its broken condition.
(Ironically a decade old Mercury magazine was still sitting in the back window when the car was discovered)

My friend helped my parents repurchase the car, put a new engine in it, and repaint it the original color - Sentry Blue.
To my great surprise, I received it for Christmas gift in 2006.

It was a particularly meaningful gift, since my father had recently been diagnosed with a severe form of cancer.
He passed away in 2008 and the car is now a cherished belonging that elicits fond memories of my relationship with him.

A couple of my favorite things:
Listening to its original AM radio.
Stretching my arm over the top of the bench seat as I drive.
Lap Belts

Thank you Jonathan, for sharing such a great story and keeping a beautiful piece of history on the road. This is why I love cars.

Seen in NE Portland

1953 Chrysler Windsor Deluxe

There are many cars from the early 1950’s that are well loved but I personally find tacky or ostentatious, and until I started this blog, I was never really a big fan of the Chrysler brand either, but this Windsor Deluxe really made an impact on me.

The stance and proportion are just right. It’s not cartoonishly tall and has nicely tucked white/red wall tires. The badging is magnificent, with some of the most beautiful script work and a decklid crest that puts the modern Chrysler logo and it’s sad older brother to shame.

Yes, the chrome work is excessive, but in the right way, and the bodyside line that creates the top of the front fendor is amazing. Lastly that color, Vermont Green with a Foliage Green roof…fantastic.

Seen in NE Portland

Ford Falcon Futura (Second generation, 1965)

Designed to compete with the increasing number of small cars available in the US market, the Falcon was Ford’s first attempt at a compact sedan.

A midsize even by today’s standards, the Falcon was given the green light by General Manager and future US Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, and it’s success is widely credited to his vision.  

The design language is simple and clean, a bulkier American take on a BMW 2002. The Honey Gold Poly exterior is incredibly original, the script inset in the two tone quarter panel being my favorite. 

Seen in SE Portland

Mercedes-Benz 207D (TN, 1977-88)

Before current Sprinter model you see today there was this, the Mercedes TN.  Short for “Transporter Neue” it was Mercedes’ durable cargo and delivery vehicle.  Available in multiple wheelbases and configurations, even  a flat bed truck.

This one is the standard delivery van configuration, with a simple and reliable 2400 CC I4 Diesel to keep it running. The versatility and simplicity of the TN kept it in production for 18 years, proving itself as a great service vehicle, but also as camping vehicles due to their large size and high roofline.

Seen in NE Portland

Chevrolet Sprint (1985-88)

Pretty much the furthest thing away from Wednesday’s post, this Chevy Sprint is not really a Chevy. It’s the result of one of the long list of partnerships between General Motors and it’s foreign interests. While today GM’s small cars are a result of it’s ownership of Daewoo, in the 80’s and 90’s Suzuki was the partner of choice; first as rebadged Chevrolets, and later under the Geo nameplate.

The Sprint is the former, a rebadged Suzuki Cultus and precursor to the Geo Metro. You could also buy it in the States as the Suzuki Forsa or in Canada as the Pontiac Firefly, and about 10 other places, all with different names…seriously.  No matter what you call it, it was cheap; with a 1.0L 3 cylinder engine, 12 inch tires, and no automatic transmission it’s the definition of frugality.

Seen in SE Portland

1956 Chevrolet Bel Air 

Most likely brought out from storage to enjoy the nicer weather, this second generation Bel Air is in mint condition. 

Sometimes I take cars like this for granted. They are an overused symbol of the 1950’s and tend to overrun hot rod magazines and car shows. But looking closely this full size Chevy has so many beautiful details, it’s easy to see why people fell in love with them. Personally, my favorite detail is the one you don’t see: the gas cap located behind the left taillight. Such a great feature and so illegal today.

Seen in NW Portland.

1962 Chrysler New Yorker

This Virgil Exner designed New Yorker sat alongside it’s Newport and 300H siblings as the more upscale trim level.

The sheet metal design was all new for ‘62 and featured an aggressive front fascia as well as a shockingly clean and fin-less rear end. Strange to think that this was a detractor for some. That, combined with the high purchase price may have been the reason why sales weren’t very strong that year. Despite that fact, I’d say this Coral Gray example has survived the test of time.

Seen in NE Portland

Ford F100 (Fourth generation, 1965-66)

This well cared for pickup signaled the beginning of modern truck design for the company. Many of the dramatic sweeping lines and flares of previous generations were tightened up, and the styling now more closely represented the trucks we see today. 

The large fender badge touts the Twin I Beam Suspension, a novel idea that’s amazingly still employed by Ford on the E-Series vans. Despite being tasked with what appears to be occasional light use, This example is equipped with a 352CI V8, more than enough power to accomplish the industrial tasks it was built for.

On a side note, here’s this truck’s twin In Canada; The Mercury M-Series. Strange but true.

Seen in NE Portland

Jaguar XJ Series III (1980-87)

This Vanden Plas trimmed XJ was the top of the line model in the States, as the V12 was never officially sold here.  

The Series III almost certainly the most graceful modern Jaguar, as the restyling by Italian design house Pininfarina took away much of the awkward proportioning of the Series II, and the boxy grille of the Series I (though both are charming in their own way).

One strange thing on this car is the dual fuel tanks. Each one appears to be 12 gallons, with filler caps are over each rear quarter panel. A little searching turned up several theories; the rational one being that the low profile of the car, large fuel tank size, and spare tire necessitated a split tank, and the funniest being “it’s different, therefore better.”

Seen in SE Portland

Saab Ninety-Six Monte Carlo Edition (1967-74)

Coming across any 96 is enough to make me happy, but this one being a Monte Carlo edition is something even more special.

No doubt this name was bestowed upon the 96 in order to raise the public’s awareness of the cars successive victories in the ‘62 and ‘63 rally under the control of the legendary Erik Carlsson.  

Ford V4 powered, with a 4 speed manual column shift and a freewheeling clutch, it doesn’t get much more obscure than this. Unfortunately it’s unique fender badge has gone missing, and it’s by no means polished, but the beauty still shines through.

Seen in NE Portland

Mercedes Benz 200D (W110, Second generation, 1965-68)

This lonely Diesel Benz was the companies one and only foray into the world of tail fins. I’d say they did a good job, too, with a nice clean body side, and only a hint of extravagance from the rear. I’d also say Mercedes is probably one of the only manufacturers to truly pull off color matched wheel covers. Hopefully the owner will come back for this one soon.

Seen in SW Portland

1960 Ford Thunderbird (Second generation 1958-60)

Well, this is arguably the best color for this car. Called “Palm Springs Rose” it would fit right in among the postmodern homes of its namesake desert oasis.

Over the top in nearly every way, it was hugely popular, especially in 1960 where it sold over 90 thousand examples (in all colors, of course). I guarantee this is the only one in Portland, and it fits right in.

A visitor from the Golden State seen in SE Portland.

Isuzu I-Mark Diesel (aka Gemini 1981-84)

The I-Mark was born from the Opel Kadett, and strangely enough even marketed in the US as the “Opel by Isuzu” and the more familiar “Opel by Buick” up until 1981, when it came into its own.

Though the repaint is not the best this Diesel version sits nicely alongside it’s P’up cousin parked in the driveway. 

An ’80s oddity seen in SE Porltand