# What old sports car did I see? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 28, 2019, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-sports-car-did-i-see/837765 "2019-07-28T18:30:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Blue\_Mood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@Blue\_Mood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blue_Mood)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2019, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-sports-car-did-i-see/837765/1 "2019-07-28T18:30:43Z")
I just saw an unusual old sports-type car, possibly from around the 70s and would like to know what it was. It was very low to the ground, angular, and seemed big - almost certainly a four seater. The very unusual detail is that there was an oval porthole-type window between the driver and passenger windows, so three windows on each side. Of the cars I’m familiar with, it was most similar style-wise to an old Lotus Esprit or DeLorean. Any ideas? ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2019, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-sports-car-did-i-see/837765/2 "2019-07-28T18:39:09Z")
My first thoughts were either [Maserati Khamsin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maserati_Khamsin#/media/File:Maserati_Khamsin_1975_front.jpg) or [Lamborghini Espada](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamborghini_Espada#/media/File:Lamborghini-Espada.jpg). They both hit almost all your descriptors: 1970’s, somewhat angular, 2+2 seating, three side windows, but not alas the oval porthole aspect. Intriguing. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2019, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-sports-car-did-i-see/837765/3 "2019-07-28T18:45:11Z")
This is my bailiwick and I can say with certainty that, as bad as '70s stying could get, no sporty car made by a real manufacturer had an opera window in the B pillar. Stretch limos, yeah, but nothing that looked like an Esprit. Maybe a modified kit car. Got a photo? ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Mood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@Blue\_Mood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blue_Mood)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2019, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-sports-car-did-i-see/837765/4 "2019-07-28T19:01:52Z")
No photo - it was amongst the oncoming traffic. I initially thought modified, but it somehow didn’t have the feel - it was in good condition but not great, clearly showing its age. The colour was an old dull bronzy gold, similar to an old Celica. That middle window was bigger than an opera window, though smaller than the other two. ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Mood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@Blue\_Mood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blue_Mood)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2019, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-sports-car-did-i-see/837765/5 "2019-07-28T19:06:43Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > My first thoughts were either [Maserati Khamsin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maserati_Khamsin#/media/File:Maserati_Khamsin_1975_front.jpg) or [Lamborghini Espada](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamborghini_Espada#/media/File:Lamborghini-Espada.jpg). They both hit almost all your descriptors: 1970’s, somewhat angular, 2+2 seating, three side windows, but not alas the oval porthole aspect. Intriguing. I can see similarities to the Espada. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2019, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-sports-car-did-i-see/837765/6 "2019-07-28T21:45:16Z")
Maybe a Pantera? It as a kinda sorta third window that maybe looked oval as it was passing you? Pics: [https://d32c3oe4bky4k6.cloudfront.net/articles-videos/-/media/uscamediasite/images/story-images/2016/12/pantera4.ashx?modified=20170726011719&w=800&h=600&CenterCrop=1&useCustomFunctions=1&hash=84DE34AB28C97FFAC90BFE24272A49E7A1552B69](https://d32c3oe4bky4k6.cloudfront.net/articles-videos/-/media/uscamediasite/images/story-images/2016/12/pantera4.ashx?modified=20170726011719&w=800&h=600&CenterCrop=1&useCustomFunctions=1&hash=84DE34AB28C97FFAC90BFE24272A49E7A1552B69) [https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/amv-prod-cad-assets/images/media/267321/detomaso-pantera-archived-test-review-car-and-driver-photo-659931-s-original.jpg?fill=2:1&resize=980:](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/amv-prod-cad-assets/images/media/267321/detomaso-pantera-archived-test-review-car-and-driver-photo-659931-s-original.jpg?fill=2:1&resize=980:)\* [![](https://assets.hemmings.com/uimage/67213219-770-0@2X.jpg?rev=1) ](https://assets.hemmings.com/uimage/67213219-770-0@2X.jpg?rev=1) ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2019, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-sports-car-did-i-see/837765/7 "2019-07-28T23:31:16Z")
> [@Blue\_Mood](#): > > That middle window was bigger than an **opera window** , though smaller than the other two. Term of art. Portholes date to the 1947 Cisitalia 202 and go on the hood or the front fenders and are normally nonfunctional. See: Most Buicks [![](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cisitalia#/media/File%3ACisitalia_202_Heck.jpg) ](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cisitalia#/media/File%3ACisitalia_202_Heck.jpg) [![](http://i2.cdn.turner.com/money/galleries/2012/autos/1202/gallery.collectible-buicks/images/1949-roadmaster.jpg) ](http://i2.cdn.turner.com/money/galleries/2012/autos/1202/gallery.collectible-buicks/images/1949-roadmaster.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-sports-car-did-i-see/837765/8 "2019-07-29T01:36:41Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > …go on the hood or the front fenders and are normally nonfunctional. See: Most Buicks See also: Nipples on men ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Mood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@Blue\_Mood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blue_Mood)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-sports-car-did-i-see/837765/9 "2019-07-29T16:49:13Z")
Thanks for the ideas so far. To give a bit more background, I was driving with my son (a self-described car fanatic), and we had already seen a few nice cars, including a Ferrari Dino. The car in question caught my eye as soon as I saw it - it was unlike any I’ve seen before. My son was not looking so I checked for something distinctive I could tell him about for identification, which is how I know about the three windows. The middle one was something like this: [Eldorado Caballero](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/ec/d4/eb/ecd4eb22565b2328ec06e7371e636cb6.png). (I described it as a porthole meaning like on a boat, not knowing it was a specific term.) The car was ugly but felt unique - so much so that I considered trying to turn around to follow it so my son could see it. Like if you saw the [Marzal](https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2F11j654At9nQ%2Fmaxresdefault.jpg&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dpccars.com%2Fblog%2Flamborghini-marzal-driven-by-prince-albert-of-monaco-video%2F&docid=1b26SHQ4OqYgaM&tbnid=PQV4cDsoJmFZPM%3A&vet=1&w=1280&h=720&bih=640&biw=1203&ved=2ahUKEwif_aX1yNrjAhUt3uAKHZc7B8kQxiAoBnoECAEQGg&iact=c&ictx=1) coming towards you head on, you’d see it was unique even before you saw it from [this angle](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQMnDupo7uQ8kirt_F1wIGpAW5VDxLAjKRkZgjITz6DGksiqLsnuw). Google images has not turned up anything - I’m thinking it must be small production. There was an openness to it that makes me wonder whether it could have been a shooting brake (something like [this](https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.pinimg.com%2Foriginals%2Fd2%2Fc4%2Fd7%2Fd2c4d79d6ee5d9775aafd6ca975e4af1.jpg&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinterest.com%2Fpin%2F752101206493890339%2F&docid=RCi9tHCWtuc-7M&tbnid=7LxyIUv3tHFgGM%3A&vet=10ahUKEwjQkI30xdrjAhXjQkEAHcwGAuwQMwhOKAswCw..i&w=720&h=446&bih=640&biw=1228&q=1970s%20shooting%20brake&ved=0ahUKEwjQkI30xdrjAhXjQkEAHcwGAuwQMwhOKAswCw&iact=mrc&uact=8) or [this](https://cdn.hiconsumption.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Ferrari-330-GT-2-2-Vignale.jpg)). ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-sports-car-did-i-see/837765/10 "2019-07-29T17:59:19Z")
> [@Blue\_Mood](#): > > There was an openness to it that makes me wonder whether it could have been a shooting brake (something like [this](https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.pinimg.com%2Foriginals%2Fd2%2Fc4%2Fd7%2Fd2c4d79d6ee5d9775aafd6ca975e4af1.jpg&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinterest.com%2Fpin%2F752101206493890339%2F&docid=RCi9tHCWtuc-7M&tbnid=7LxyIUv3tHFgGM%3A&vet=10ahUKEwjQkI30xdrjAhXjQkEAHcwGAuwQMwhOKAswCw..i&w=720&h=446&bih=640&biw=1228&q=1970s%20shooting%20brake&ved=0ahUKEwjQkI30xdrjAhXjQkEAHcwGAuwQMwhOKAswCw&iact=mrc&uact=8) or [this](https://cdn.hiconsumption.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Ferrari-330-GT-2-2-Vignale.jpg)). You mentioning openness makes me wonder if it was perhaps a Mark III Jensen Interceptor? [https://images.app.goo.gl/BkPnsboPrzR97E4M6](https://images.app.goo.gl/BkPnsboPrzR97E4M6) ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-sports-car-did-i-see/837765/11 "2019-07-29T18:18:59Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > You mentioning openness makes me wonder if it was perhaps a Mark III Jensen Interceptor? > > [https://images.app.goo.gl/BkPnsboPrzR97E4M6](https://images.app.goo.gl/BkPnsboPrzR97E4M6) Or, somewhat similarly, an Avanti [Studebaker Avanti - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Studebaker_Avanti#/media/File:1963_Studebaker_Avanti_gold_at_Concord_University.JPG) ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-sports-car-did-i-see/837765/12 "2019-07-29T18:34:08Z")
The 1973 Mustang had an optional porthole window like in [this one](https://www.fordmuscleforums.com/attachments/mustang-pages-1965-1973/11818d1268854747-porthole-window-mustang-8279886.jpg). I’d think most people would recognize a Mustang when they saw one, but many of the 70s models had a radically different design than the classic 60s Mustang. That’s all I got. ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Mood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@Blue\_Mood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blue_Mood)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-sports-car-did-i-see/837765/13 "2019-07-29T19:32:54Z")
Thanks for the ideas, but it wasn’t any of those. Whilst not a wedge, it was quite angular. And definitely had three windows, the middle of which was a smaller upright oval/rounded rectangle, similar to the layout [here](https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.stationwagonforums.com%2Fforums%2Fmedia%2F1974-cadillac-eldorado-station-wagon.3079%2Ffull%3Fd%3D0&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.stationwagonforums.com%2Fforums%2Fmedia%2Fcategories%2Fcadillac.8%2F%3Fpage%3D6&docid=KHDnp8OCZAJpVM&tbnid=pigffjugJ8ekMM%3A&vet=12ahUKEwjztIDj69rjAhXSoFwKHeSCBeY4ZBAzKA4wDnoECAEQEA..i&w=800&h=600&bih=640&biw=1040&q=cadillac%20eldorado%20caballero%20wagon&ved=2ahUKEwjztIDj69rjAhXSoFwKHeSCBeY4ZBAzKA4wDnoECAEQEA&iact=mrc&uact=8). I can’t say for sure that it was an opera window though - could have been functioning. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-sports-car-did-i-see/837765/14 "2019-07-29T19:55:08Z")
I didn’t pay attention to your location. You saw the car in the UK? ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Mood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@Blue\_Mood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blue_Mood)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-sports-car-did-i-see/837765/15 "2019-07-29T20:38:03Z")
Yes - northeast of Oxford. I was so focussed on the body that I couldn’t say if it was right hand drive… ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-sports-car-did-i-see/837765/16 "2019-07-29T21:03:35Z")
> [@Blue\_Mood](#): > > Yes - northeast of Oxford. I was so focussed on the body that I couldn’t say if it was right hand drive… Wait a minute, northeast of Oxford? Newport Pagnell is vaguely northeast of Oxford, and that’s where this thing was made: [Aston Martin Lagonda Shooting Brake](https://images.app.goo.gl/5LjFrK8yFrNSE7ZK8) Is it possible your perception was confused by the vast number of side windows the monstrosity has? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-sports-car-did-i-see/837765/17 "2019-07-29T21:11:41Z")
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a car with an E pillar before. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-sports-car-did-i-see/837765/18 "2019-07-29T21:16:21Z")
There were many amateur cars with goofy styling, usually fiberglass. And the 70’s was certainly the time for fiberglass low volume cars. But I can’t imagine an opera window in that position, it kinda defeats the purpose. Dennis ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Mood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@Blue\_Mood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blue_Mood)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-sports-car-did-i-see/837765/19 "2019-07-29T21:34:18Z")
Definitely not the Lagonda. The windows were in the configuration I showed above, though not the size. The car itself was low to the ground, but wide and long. It may not have been an opera window, but it was smaller than the other two. And it could make sense if it’s the window for the rear seat, then a proper window for the back like [this](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/ec/d4/eb/ecd4eb22565b2328ec06e7371e636cb6.png). ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-sports-car-did-i-see/837765/20 "2019-07-29T21:41:22Z")
There was at least one car that did have a what could be called an opera window in the B pillar, but it wasn’t oval, and the car could not by any stretch of imagination have been called a sports car by that time. 1977-79 Ford Thunderbird Coupe: [![](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Thunderbird_(seventh_generation)#/media/File:1979_Ford_Thunderbird,_rear_left.jpg) ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Thunderbird_(seventh_generation)#/media/File:1979_Ford_Thunderbird,_rear_left.jpg) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-old-sports-car-did-i-see/837765.md?page=2)