The Forgotten Cars Thread

[GTPorsche]

It was basically a Z32 with a body that looked 10 years out of date when they finally sold them in the US. Never understood why they so supremely extremely half assed it, either. Stopgap model or not, it always seemed strange that they went through the trouble of getting it certified for the US Market and giving it a LHD interior and then just let it sit there for three years.

If you're talking about the M30, it is a Nissan Leopard outside of the US.

 

[Tornado]

I'm aware of that. "Giving it a LHD interior"

 

[GTPorsche]

How was it "basically a Z32" then?

 

[Tornado]

Because I mistyped. What of it?

 

[ImaRobot]

It was basically a Z31 with a body that looked 10 years out of date when they finally sold them in the US. Never understood why they so supremely extremely half assed it, either. Stopgap model or not, it always seemed strange that they went through the trouble of getting it certified for the US Market and giving it a LHD interior and then just let it sit there for three years without even updating the engine.

I don't think it looks to far out of date. It seems to go along with what most Japanese manufacturers where pumping out in the end of the 80's leading into the beginning of the 90's, in my opinion

 

[GTPorsche]

Because I mistyped. What of it?

Still, how does a car that shares a platform with the R31 Skyline end up "basically a Z31"?

 

[Tornado]

I don't think it looks to far out of date. It seems to go along with what most Japanese manufacturers where pumping out in the end of the 80's leading into the beginning of the 90's, in my opinion

Compared to the crazy rocket ship that was the Q45? The M30 committed the same sin that the original ES250 did of very obviously not being the same breed of car as the flagship. The Q45 itself wasn't the sales rocket that Nissan expected it to be, but my point is dumping an obviously unrelated car in a dealership for a brand that is already struggling to gain acceptance and then never updating it at all probably didn't help Infiniti's early prospects.

Still, how does a car that shares a platform with the R31 Skyline end up "basically a Z31"?

It's strange. I'm pretty sure I corrected that post long before this response (immediately after I said I mistyped, in fact; and then fixed it again when I saw that it messed up again) and yet you're still calling attention to it. I don't feel I really have to continuously try and justify typing errors to you when I admit they were typing errors and immediately attempt to fix them.


Nothing better to do with your time, I suppose?

 

[ImaRobot]

Compared to the crazy rocket ship that was the Q45? The M30 committed the same sin that the original ES250 did of very obviously not being the same breed of car as the flagship. The Q45 itself wasn't the sales rocket that Nissan expected it to be, but my point is dumping an obviously unrelated car in a dealership for a brand that is already struggling to gain acceptance and then never updating it at all probably didn't help Infiniti's early prospects.

Ah, no, I wasn't thinking about it like that. I took it too literal, but the problem was only thinking about exterior styling. Admittedly, I don't know much of the older Infiniti line-up, so I can't comment much on it.

 

[GTPorsche]

Ah, no, I wasn't thinking about it like that. I took it too literal, but the problem was only thinking about exterior styling. Admittedly, I don't know much of the older Infiniti line-up, so I can't comment much on it.

They were all rebadged JDM Nissans, and the majority of their entire brand has been rebadged JDM Nissans. Nothing has changed in 28 years of being in the US.

 

[ImaRobot]

They were all rebadged JDM Nissans, and the majority of their entire brand has been rebadged JDM Nissans. Nothing has changed in 28 years of being in the US.

I know that. What I meant by that is that I just don't know much about Infinitis specific line-up in it's early years to be able to comment on what he touched up on.

I am completely aware of the American marketed re-badged manufacturers.

 

[LM7325]

The first gen Q45 was a good car. I still see a few on the road around here. Remarkable considering how few were sold. Most look rough, these cars are just marching on, shrugging off years of neglect.

 

[Aesthetics]

I forgot how uncomfortable these made me feel:

 

[JAHHAJ]

I forgot how uncomfortable these made me feel:

Reminds me of this

 

[ImaRobot]

I forgot how uncomfortable these made me feel:

They actually look better like that, I think.

 

[Cano]

Dude, yesterday I saw a Smart Roadster and was like "no waaaaay, those!"

 

[LM7325]

I do not miss the Ford Tempo. But it deserves to be here anyway.

 

[GTPorsche]

I do not miss the Ford Tempo. But it deserves to be here anyway.

My grandparents had one of those but as a 4-door, and the weirdest thing was that it had factory urethane wheel covers on it.

 

[Panoz]

Completely ignoring NASCAR, I rarely see the production version of the Chevrolet SS on the roads. The only one I have seen recently was a unmarked police car which is also a rare sight.

I do see the similar size Impalas from time to time.

 

[-Fred-]

My favorites were the two tone teal/dark grey Mercury Topaz with the fake, metal luggage rack on the trunk.

 

[AnthonyD1993]

Completely ignoring NASCAR, I rarely see the production version of the Chevrolet SS on the roads. The only one I have seen recently was a unmarked police car which is also a rare sight.

I do see the similar size Impalas from time to time.

Funny you posted that because I just saw one today and literally said "I forgot about that thing" after I passed it.

 

[Tornado]

Never really got why Ford kept those two around after the Escort got bumped up in size. They still sold decently I suppose, but a family walks a Ford dealership and they have to flip a coin whether they want the shiny new Mazda designed Escort that you'd think Ford would want to sell, or the dates-to-1983-and-was-crap-then Tempo.

 

[prousonhairy]

I do not miss the Ford Tempo. But it deserves to be here anyway.

My buddy In high school had one almost exactly like that, but it was red. It was a manual and I could hear him coming in it a couple miles out because of its exhaust. It was a road tripping machine. That picture brings back memories. Had a lot of fun times in that car, went off roading in the city park, consumed way too much alchohol. Etc. Young and Stupid we were.

 

[RandomCarGuy17]

I do not miss the Ford Tempo. But it deserves to be here anyway.

Oh yeah, I forgot about that thing too. I didn't care for them at all.

 

[TeamCZRRacing]

I saw this thread and immediately remembered my Supercar Calendar from 2009
And I remembered seeing this car, but it's so barely mentioned that the only thing I could recall was it was a 1-off car and was had a Mercedes badge on it
And a simple google search aaaaaaaaand:
Lotec C1000

Twin-Turbo Mercedes V-8 with ~1000bhp, and a guesstimated top speed of 268mph... One off though so I don't reckon we'd ever find out.
It's a weird looking car but I find it very cool to look at, very futuristic and stuff x3

Me: "Oh hi. Yes, is that Mercedes-Benz headquarters?"
MB HQ: "Yes. Who are you and whaddaya want?"
Me: "Oh, I'd like to buy a Mercedes-Lotec C1000, please."
MB HQ: "But sir, we only made one, and we don't know where it is."
Me: "Oh, that sucks. Can I special-order one?"
MB HQ: "Certainly. How much money do you have to spend on it?"
Me: *looks in wallet* "Uh... $25."
MB HQ: *hangs up phone*
Me:

 

[Snaeper]

I do not miss the Ford Tempo. But it deserves to be here anyway.

I rode in one of those once, way back in the day. My mom was working for the Red Cross at the time and they had a small fleet of cars/trucks/vans, with the Tempo making up the car contingent. Can't remember why she had it (was only a day or so), but man was it a piece of crap.

 

[GTracer38]

Completely ignoring NASCAR, I rarely see the production version of the Chevrolet SS on the roads. The only one I have seen recently was a unmarked police car which is also a rare sight.

I do see the similar size Impalas from time to time.

Funny how it's a rare sighting in one place and yet in another, you'd be lucky to go a block without seeing one (albeit in its Holden guise).

 

[Panoz]

Funny how it's a rare sighting in one place and yet in another, you'd be lucky to go a block without seeing one (albeit in its Holden guise).

Given the only option that the SS comes in makes it essentially the HSV version of the Commodore.

The current Impalas is roughly the US equivalent to the standard Commodore models.

 

[GTracer38]

Given the only option that the SS comes in makes it essentially the HSV version of the Commodore.

The current Impalas is roughly the US equivalent to the standard Commodore models.

There are plenty of HSV's about too. The Chevy SS seems to be more like The Holden SS/SS-V with the HSV range being a step higher.

Most of the VF's I've seen have been the SS/SS-V model or Calais. The Evoke seems to be more of a fleet car or basic cop car, and the SV6 doesn't seem to be as popular as the SS.

 

[LM7325]

Chevrolet Celebrity.

AMC Eagle Wagon. Way ahead of it's time, even if AMC was out of it...

EDIT: Just remembered the King Midget

 

[-Fred-]

I have fond memories of a family on my street when I was a kid that had 3 of those AMCs. Well, 2 wagons and a sedan. One of them had the fake wood paneling on the sides, they were mostly left there to rot away. It's ironic how it never caught on in the 1980s, and now they're kind of considered the pioneer of the cross-over.