# What's the most interesting car you saw today? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 21, 2014, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-interesting-car-you-saw-today/688889 "2014-05-21T02:35:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 140
**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, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-interesting-car-you-saw-today/688889/2785 "2019-07-28T18:58:00Z")
I took my 8 year old son for a ride in the Spitfire for the first time today. He pronounced it the best ride ever. 🙂 Yesterday I saw a Buick Grand National. I hadn’t seen one of those in a long time. A buddy of mine had one in college. They were pretty cool. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2019, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-interesting-car-you-saw-today/688889/2786 "2019-07-28T19:57:24Z")
At the hardware store, a red '64 or earlier Chevy Impala convertible with the top down. > [@Defensive\_Indifference](#): > > I took my 8 year old son for a ride in the Spitfire for the first time today. He pronounced it the best ride ever. 🙂 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-interesting-car-you-saw-today/688889/2787 "2019-07-29T16:59:56Z")
An old Willy’s era Jeep – it had the squared off look of a [CJ2A](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeep_CJ#CJ-2A) or [CJ3A](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeep_CJ#CJ-3A). It was jacked up and looked heavily modified, so I’m guessing it wasn’t very original under the skin. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-interesting-car-you-saw-today/688889/2788 "2019-07-29T17:09:17Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > An old Willy’s era Jeep – it had the squared off look of a [CJ2A](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeep_CJ#CJ-2A) or [CJ3A](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeep_CJ#CJ-3A). It was jacked up and looked heavily modified, so I’m guessing it wasn’t very original under the skin. Almost 20 years ago, I started [The CJ-2A Page](https://www.thecj2apage.com). Due to Life, I gave it to one of my readers in 2005 or 2006. He kept my layouts (and content) and made it a much better site than I was able to do. [Here is the '46 CJ-2A](https://www.thecj2apage.com/1946_willys_cj2a/jw46.html) that I had when I started the page. Yes, I know I’ve posted all that before; but I love the Willys, and that I started a page that still exists. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2019, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-interesting-car-you-saw-today/688889/2789 "2019-07-30T05:25:07Z")
Today I saw a BMW X2 for the first time. It’s an interesting looking little car, a mini crossover. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2019, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-interesting-car-you-saw-today/688889/2790 "2019-07-31T18:13:17Z")
Yesterday afternoon I passed a white, '90s-looking Ford van on the freeway. What made it interesting was that it had the Civil Air Patrol web address on the back, and the CAP insignia on the door. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2019, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-interesting-car-you-saw-today/688889/2791 "2019-07-31T18:58:47Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Yesterday afternoon I passed a white, '90s-looking Ford van on the freeway. This reminds me of a Chevy van I saw the other day, with an “ABS” emblem on the back. Remember when having ABS was a big deal? ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2019, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-interesting-car-you-saw-today/688889/2792 "2019-07-31T19:11:25Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > This reminds me of a Chevy van I saw the other day, with an “ABS” emblem on the back. Remember when having ABS was a big deal? I think I mentioned this before, but the 1988 Buick I drove in high school had “Fuel Injection” badges in front of front fenders. Remember when fuel injection was a big deal? It also struck me recently with turbochargers becoming commonplace you never see “Turbo” emblems on cars anymore, although I have noticed them on some recent model Chevy Sparks and Kias. Back in the 1980s if you had a turbo they made sure everybody knew it. ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2019, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-interesting-car-you-saw-today/688889/2793 "2019-07-31T20:11:11Z")
> [@Rocketeer](#): > > Visited the new Thunder Road car museum in Enumclaw today. I assume you mean the [Thunder Dome Car Museum](https://visitrainier.com/thunder-dome/). There is a [Thunder Road Museum and Wedding Chapel](http://www.carolinaheritageguide.com/component/zoo/item/thunder-road-museum-and-wedding-chapel) in the North Carolina town of Mount Airy, which is known as the inspiration for Mayberry in _The Andy Griffith Show_. My sighting today was a Google Street View car, which captured me as I was walking my dog near the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette. I’ll have to check Google Maps sometime to see if I’ve been “immortalized” in a sense! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2019, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-interesting-car-you-saw-today/688889/2794 "2019-07-31T20:50:42Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > It also struck me recently with turbochargers becoming commonplace you never see “Turbo” emblems on cars anymore… I notice ‘Kompressor’ badges on Mercedes-Benzes occasionally. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2019, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-interesting-car-you-saw-today/688889/2795 "2019-08-01T02:27:39Z")
On the way home tonight I saw an old 1970s era Datsun pickup. ---
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2019, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-interesting-car-you-saw-today/688889/2796 "2019-08-01T09:38:11Z")
Passed an 80s BMW 5-series sedan (E28), but what made it noteworthy was it had rear window louvers. I remember when those were all the rage - my brother had them on his Datsun 280Z back then - but I don’t recall seeing them on BMWs back then. ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2019, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-interesting-car-you-saw-today/688889/2797 "2019-08-01T17:08:38Z")
> [@Sternvogel](#): > > I assume you mean the [Thunder Dome Car Museum](https://visitrainier.com/thunder-dome/)… Right-O. **Dome** it is. ---
**Author:** ![RadioWave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/91b2a8/32.png) [@RadioWave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RadioWave)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2019, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-interesting-car-you-saw-today/688889/2798 "2019-08-01T19:33:38Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I notice ‘Kompressor’ badges on Mercedes-Benzes occasionally. It’s always struck me as odd that Toyota proudly labels their top of the line models with a big badge saying “LIMITED”. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2019, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-interesting-car-you-saw-today/688889/2799 "2019-08-01T19:41:57Z")
I went out to lunch today and found an old Fiat in the parking lot. I couldn’t see any obvious model badges anywhere, but I’d say it looked probably 1960s, rear-engined, and a bit bigger than the classic 500. I snapped a couple of pictures with my phone just before the owner showed up and drove it away, but I won’t be able to share them until I get home this evening because most photo sharing sites are blocked at work. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2019, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-interesting-car-you-saw-today/688889/2800 "2019-08-01T20:00:36Z")
The cars themselves were the pinnacle of mediocrity, but an Oldsmobile Alero (last produced in 2004) and Cutlass (1997-99) together on the highway. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2019, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-interesting-car-you-saw-today/688889/2801 "2019-08-01T20:15:27Z")
Twice I’ve seen an absolutely cherry mint green 66 Corvair in my work parking lot. My uncle used to collect them and a cousin had a 66 for her first car. I never liked the looks of them much myself. But this one is a beaut. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2019, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-interesting-car-you-saw-today/688889/2802 "2019-08-01T20:23:00Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > I went out to lunch today and found an old Fiat in the parking lot… I did a bit of research, which is to say I looked up various Fiat models from that era on Wikipedia and compared them to the photos I took, and I’m almost certain it was a [Fiat 850](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiat_850). I’ll still post the pictures when I get home. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2019, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-interesting-car-you-saw-today/688889/2803 "2019-08-01T20:31:27Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > It also struck me recently with turbochargers becoming commonplace you never see “Turbo” emblems on cars anymore. You still see it on the Porsche 911 Turbo, which is sort of interesting, considering that the lower-spec Porsche 911 Carreras are now also turbocharged. > [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I notice ‘Kompressor’ badges on Mercedes-Benzes occasionally. I don’t think you’ll see it on any of their new models. And on Mercs, I believe that the term always referred to a supercharger, rather than a turbocharger. Quite a lot of Mercedes engines are turbocharged now, but I don’t think any of them reveal this explicitly on their badgework. Mercedes (and AMG) basically retired their big-capacity V8s and V12s, and replaced them with smaller, twin-turbo V8s. The old 6.3-liter naturally-aspirated engines are gone now. At least one or two of the Mercedes models supplement their turbochargers with a small supercharger that’s driven by an electric motor, rather than by the engine itself. This is an effort to reduce turbo lag without the power-sucking inefficiencies of a regular supercharger. ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2019, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-interesting-car-you-saw-today/688889/2804 "2019-08-01T23:35:08Z")
On the way home from the store today, I saw a [Plymouth Superbird](https://photos7.motorcar.com/used-1970-plymouth-superbird-forsale-8031-17478394-1-1024.jpg) in lime green. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-interesting-car-you-saw-today/688889.md?page=139) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-interesting-car-you-saw-today/688889.md?page=141)