# 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:** 25
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2015, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-interesting-car-you-saw-today/688889/482 "2015-04-12T02:58:32Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Do you live in, like, 1957 or something? 😉 There are an enormous amount of old cars in New Zealand, new cars used to be hugely expensive to import prior to the 80s, most came from England, so a lot of old vehicles just never got junked. Not that many people scrapped old Astons, but there’s always been the tradition of patch 'em up and keep 'em flying here rather than lay them up in a shed, so that when the restoration boom hit there was a pretty good supply of already viable cars to work with. [The Classic Cars section of Trade Me](http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/classic-cars) {local Ebay equivalent} is always worth a drool: [case in point.](http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/triumph/auction-869566061.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2015, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-interesting-car-you-saw-today/688889/483 "2015-04-12T03:01:53Z")
[Shit, some dude’s even selling an Isetta with only 8000 miles on it.](http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/bmw/auction-866873688.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2015, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-interesting-car-you-saw-today/688889/484 "2015-04-12T03:01:59Z")
I’ve heard they call you guys the Cubans of the South Pacific. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2015, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-interesting-car-you-saw-today/688889/485 "2015-04-12T03:19:45Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > I’ve heard they call you guys the Cubans of the South Pacific. 🙂 Wasn’t that far from the truth, pre-1985, when they dropped import tariffs and killed off local assembly. Thirty, forty year old cars just weren’t uncommon up until then, but the sudden influx of cheap used Japanese imports slew most of them. ---
**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:** [April 12, 2015, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-interesting-car-you-saw-today/688889/486 "2015-04-12T05:32:48Z")
Several (many!) Meyers Manx dune buggies today! Out on the beach and dunes at Pismo. Car club gathering. _ **I WANT I WANT I WANT!!!** _ ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2015, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-interesting-car-you-saw-today/688889/487 "2015-04-12T15:14:15Z")
[Ford GT](http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://media.ed.edmunds-media.com/ford/gt/2006/oem/2006_ford_gt_coupe_base_fq_oem_2_500.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.edmunds.com/ford/gt/2006/pictures.html&h=178&w=283&tbnid=sVorgbdRv7OTOM:&zoom=1&tbnh=125&tbnw=200&usg=__EzKhNG2AMRGv2LF6f85fYNghb2k=&docid=AmtlpTFPXqwJLM&itg=1) blew past me on the interstate heading to Cincinnati yesterday. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Butterfly\_s\_Ghost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_butterfly_s_ghost/32/3462_2.png) [@The\_Butterfly\_s\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Butterfly_s_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2015, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-interesting-car-you-saw-today/688889/488 "2015-04-12T19:48:59Z")
I saw this [amphicar](http://www.kultauto.de/amphicar/gallery.php) today merrily swimming in the Rhine. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2015, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-interesting-car-you-saw-today/688889/489 "2015-04-12T22:51:49Z")
Last night at a gathering of racers: a Le Mans bodied Allard with a injected Buick engine. It sure was pretty and it sure was LOUD. ---
**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:** [April 13, 2015, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-interesting-car-you-saw-today/688889/490 "2015-04-13T05:30:02Z")
Early 1960s Porsche 356. Red, coupe. ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2015, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-interesting-car-you-saw-today/688889/491 "2015-04-13T06:15:04Z")
> [@Penfeather](#): > > Wasn’t that far from the truth, pre-1985, when they dropped import tariffs and killed off local assembly. Thirty, forty year old cars just weren’t uncommon up until then, but the sudden influx of cheap used Japanese imports slew most of them. Cars used to be by personal import permit - if you could import a new car, you could immediately turn around it sell it at a profit. The rort for the foreign service was being allowed to bring home your personal use vehicle and sell for a hefty profit. And as to trademe - there are some truly wonderful cars there - it’s my go to for some time wasting and drooling… Oh…and an isetta…[Trade Me](http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/bmw/auction-866873688.htm) But I must admit - something like a 'Vette would be more my style [Trade Me](http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/chevrolet/auction-870879184.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2015, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-interesting-car-you-saw-today/688889/492 "2015-04-13T12:44:21Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Saw a 72 Olds Cutlass driving home from NH this afternoon. The windows were down and the guy driving looked very happy. A '72 Olds Cutlass SS was my first car. I’d love to find one available around here! ---
**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:** [April 13, 2015, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-interesting-car-you-saw-today/688889/493 "2015-04-13T13:12:32Z")
> [@Doctor\_Jackson](#): > > A '72 Olds Cutlass SS was my first car. I’d love to find one available around here! I’m pretty sure this wasn’t an SS, those badges should have been visible. It wasn’t restored to pristine condition but the body looked quite good for a New England car. ---
**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2015, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-interesting-car-you-saw-today/688889/494 "2015-04-14T18:53:33Z")
Saw a new Alfa Romeo 4c in front of the Four Seasons Hotel in Downtown Atlanta. I walk past that hotel everyday and it is always an auto enthisiast treat. Teslas, Porsches, even Ferraris are common, but the 4c stood out. That is a damn sexy car. . ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2015, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-interesting-car-you-saw-today/688889/495 "2015-04-14T21:08:00Z")
> [@bengangmo](#): > > Cars used to be by personal import permit - if you could import a new car, you could immediately turn around it sell it at a profit. > > The rort for the foreign service was being allowed to bring home your personal use vehicle and sell for a hefty profit. Yeah, I’m old enough to remember the local assembly plants, where they’d import cars CKD and put them together in South Auckland or Thames. Hugely inefficient, but kept alive by massive import tariffs on overseas manufactured vehicles. Buying local jobs and paying for them with excessive taxes, basically: we really were Eastern European. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2015, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-interesting-car-you-saw-today/688889/496 "2015-04-15T01:05:12Z")
Spotted what I think to be a [1960 Ford Thunderbird](http://www.fotosdecarros.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/25/02/1960-Ford-Thunderbird-Hardtop-Tan-fvr-_2004-WW_WD-DCTC_-F.jpg) on the way to work today. Same color, too. ---
**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:** [April 15, 2015, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-interesting-car-you-saw-today/688889/497 "2015-04-15T02:03:22Z")
> [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > Spotted what I think to be a [1960 Ford Thunderbird](http://www.fotosdecarros.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/25/02/1960-Ford-Thunderbird-Hardtop-Tan-fvr-_2004-WW_WD-DCTC_-F.jpg) on the way to work today. Same color, too. Snap! I saw a [first-generation Thunderbird](https://pleasurephoto.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/1957c2a0ford-thunderbird.jpg) (similar color combo to the picture) on the freeway on my way home this evening. ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2015, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-interesting-car-you-saw-today/688889/498 "2015-04-15T03:11:34Z")
> [@Penfeather](#): > > Yeah, I’m old enough to remember the local assembly plants, where they’d import cars CKD and put them together in South Auckland or Thames. Hugely inefficient, but kept alive by massive import tariffs on overseas manufactured vehicles. Buying local jobs and paying for them with excessive taxes, basically: we really were Eastern European. Probably a discussion for another thread, but you’ve got me beat in the age stakes then - I’ve got a vague recollection of the last plant closing, but no more — it’s all history learnt at school for me 🙂 I think there’s still one or two boutique manufacturers round Christchurch somewhere turning Cobra replicas… ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2015, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-interesting-car-you-saw-today/688889/499 "2015-04-15T08:17:23Z")
So many good choices it’s hard to decide; however for yesterday I’m going with the Maserati w/ Illinois plates…in Poland!!! 😕 For today, I’m going with the bright green Trabant. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2015, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-interesting-car-you-saw-today/688889/500 "2015-04-15T15:05:26Z")
So far today, a host of garbage trucks. But I haven’t been out of the house yet. Can you say first day of vacation? ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2015, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-interesting-car-you-saw-today/688889/501 "2015-04-15T18:03:02Z")
Ah, Spring and the sweepers have collected most of the gravel so all the pretty shiny things are coming out of hibernation…Yesterday was a 32 Ford rat rod pick up and a 2012 Shelby 500. Last week was a lime green and black Lotus Exige. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-interesting-car-you-saw-today/688889.md?page=24) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-interesting-car-you-saw-today/688889.md?page=26)