RealRides of WNY - 1978 Jaguar XJ6L

ALDEN, N.Y. 

1978 Jaguar XJ6L

Nothing says class like a large Jaguar saloon. This one’s got the extra four inches of wheelbase (and rear seat leg room) which came with the L version of the XJ6. The 6 referred to the car’s engine — a 4.2L inline six which came with fuel injection beginning in model year 1978.

The other engine choice came standard in the XJ12/XJ12L — a 5.3L V12 which put out 269 hp, compared to the 186 hp of the 4.2L six.

You can watch the owner’s YouTube video of the car here: 

https://youtube.com/shorts/gnxvMMGHTaY?feature=shared

We saw it at this year’s annual Alden Car Show. 

RealRides of WNY - 1985 Dodge Ram 50 Custom

EAST AURORA, N.Y.

1985 Dodge Ram 50 Custom

Yes, there was a time — and not all that long ago — when you could buy a small, yet still useful pickup truck. We’re guessing this Mitsubishi-built Ram 50 is the base model, which was called the Custom, due to its black windshield molding and painted rain gutters.

Also available (in both trims — the Custom and fancier Royal) was the Power Ram, with standard 4-wheel-drive. Engines for Ram 50 lineup were: a 2.6L inline four, and optional for the Royal series only was a 2.3L inline-four turbodiesel (which also eventually found its way into Ford’s Ranger pickup for a bit).

We saw this one at this year’s Toy Town Car Show. 

RealRides of WNY - 1979 Ford Fiesta Ghia

CLARENCE, N.Y.

1979 Ford Fiesta Ghia

RealRides reader Alan Bedenko sent along this photo of what we’re guessing is a 1979 model of Ford’s German import, which was introduced first in Europe back in 1976, and then made available in the U.S. from 1978-80. I nearly bought a leftover 1980 model back in 1981, but was somehow talked into a new 1981 Escort instead. Let’s assume here that the Escort presented a higher commission for the salesman — although, from my experience I remember a large bonus often attached to getting one of last year’s leftovers off the lot.

In the U.S. the Fiesta was offered in four series for 1979: base, Decor, Sport, and Ghia. A small badge on the back shows this one to be the upscale Ghia model, which included a nicer interior, wider rims sporting Michelin radials, and bodyside moldings. This one’s also sporting a trailer hitch, which I imagine is used for a very small trailer. 

Alan saw this one a while back in Clarence.

RealRides of WNY - 1959 Rambler Super

WELLSVILLE, N.Y.

1959 Rambler Super

I imagine a few of you will head right over to autocolorlibrary.com to see if this RealRide is sporting a factory paintjob. I think it’s safe to say that, no, it isn’t. There was a pinkish hue for 1959 — Cotillion Mauve — but it’s nowhere near this Pepto Bismo-ish color.

Sharp observers may have noticed the Studebaker dog dish hubcap gracing the center of the continental spare on the back.

This car was not at all hard to spot at the recently held (and rain-shortened) 8th Annual Park n’ The Park - Island Park Car Show. 

— Jim Corbran

RealRides of WNY - 1977 Mercury Cougar XR-7

BUFFALO, N.Y. 1982 

Mercury Cougar XR-7

Another rare blast from the past, we saw this one while driving near downtown a few weeks ago. Unfortunately, we couldn’t catch up to it to get a better photo before the driver made a left and of course, us being in the right lane there was no following him. There were also two- and four-door versions of the Cougar starting in 1981 (horrors!), that were non XR-7 models, sharing a body with its cousin the Ford Granada. Wagons were even added for MY 1982. This was the final year for this style Cougar, as for 1983 it would share the new aero body style with Ford’s Thunderbird. 

— Jim Corbran

RealRides of WNY - 1951 Lincoln Cosmopolitan

Day 5 of “A week of ‘51s”

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, Ontario

1951 Lincoln Cosmopolitan

Earlier this week we featured a Mercury with suicide doors, and today we see that Lincoln also used this gimmick in their post WWII cars. The ’51 Lincolns were offered in two wheelbases: 121 inches, and the 123-inch version in the Cosmopolitan series which featured this four-door sedan as well as a two-door coupe, the upscale Capri coupe, and a convertible. The Lido (in the base series) and Capri coupes were in line with Ford’s Crestline and Mercury’s Monterey, which tried (in vain) to make up for FoMoCo’s lack of a pillarless two-door hardtop.

We saw this one at this summer’s Kinsmen Show and Shine car show.

— Jim Corbran

RealRides of WNY - 1951 Hudson Commodore 8

Day 4 of “A week of ‘51s”

DUNKIRK, N.Y. 

1951 Hudson Commodore 8

Hudson styling was certainly unique in the late 1940s/early 1950s. Its “step-down” design, introduced for 1948, put the entire passenger compartment between the frame rails, which made it safer for passengers in the event of a crash, and gave it a lower center of gravity for a better ride. 

In the bottom photo, you can see my Mom & Dad on their wedding day in 1948 in the back seat of a borrowed four-door step-down, which the photographer brilliantly recognized as a perfect photo op.

Today’s RealRide was seen at last summer’s Studebaker swap meet at the Chautauqua County fairgrounds.

— Jim Corbran

RealRides of WNY - 1951 Plymouth Cambridge

Day 3 of “A week of ‘51s”

NORTH TONAWANDA, N.Y.

1951 Plymouth Cambridge

Go with your strengths. That might as well have been Plymouth’s slogan for 1951 with its still rather boxy styling. 

In the brochure, they touted its “Living room comfort,” due to the Cambridge’s “…seats [that are] chair height” and the fact that “head room isn’t sacrificed anywhere, even in the corners, where many modern designs tend to knock your hat off.” 

Take THAT, longer lower and wider competitors! We saw this one in the crowd at AMC Night at a July Monday cruise at the Wurlitzer Building.

— Jim Corbran

RealRides of WNY - 1951 Oldsmobile Super 88

Day 2 of “A week of ‘51s”

TONAWANDA, N.Y.

1951 Oldsmobile Super 88

This was the first year for Olds’ Super 88, with the entire lineup dropping the “Futuramic” moniker which had graced the 76, 88, and 98 models for 1949-50. Olds also eliminated the entry-level 76, and inserted the Super 88 in between the 88 and the 98.

What made the Super 88 “super” compared to the 88? Well, two- and four-door sedans had a new, three-piece wraparound rear window like the one on Olds’ two-door Holiday hardtops, which provided “…a new horizon in visibility.” Naturally there was more bright trim, and the rear quarter panel/taillight area was shared with the pricier 98 models, furnishing a more  modern look.

We saw this one at the recently held Classics on the Niagara car show in Niawanda Park.

— Jim Corbran 

RealRides of WNY - 1951 Mercury

Day 1 of “A week of ‘51s”

STAFFORD, N.Y.

1951 Mercury

It’s not every day you see one of these parked in someone’s driveway, and this one’s looking pretty good for a 71-year-old car. With its available Merc-O-Matic drive, Mercury compared it to “the drive of your life!… the kind of balanced motoring of which you’ve always wanted.” I believe the suicide doors were an exclusive in its price class.

— Jim Corbran

RealRides of WNY - 1997 Chrysler LHS

AMHERST, N.Y.

1997 Chrysler LHS

Chrysler called the LHS “The luxury of passionate engineering.” It was part of Chrysler’s Cab-Forward styling school. Aptly named, cab-forward cars had the interior portion of the car (the cab) moved — are you ready for it? — forward, from its usual position in the center of the car between the axles. It’s the antithesis of the long-hood short-deck design made popular by Ford’s original Mustang in 1964. Introduced for MY 1993 as the Dodge Intrepid, Chrysler Concorde, and Eagle Vision, Chrysler told us the cab-forward design enabled them to make the interior roomier without changing the overall size of the car. Extra space was taken mainly from the engine compartment, where it was being wasted for the sake of style.

We saw this seldom-seen-at-a-car-show LHS at the recently held Walter P. Chrysler Club Car Show at the Buffalo-Niagara Marriott.

— Jim Corbran

RealRides of WNY - 1978 International Scout II

EAST AURORA, N.Y. 

1978 International Scout II

Before Ford introduced its Bronco compact SUV for model year 1966, the North American market for such a vehicle was pretty much shared by the Jeep and International Harvester’s Scout. The original Scout, introduced for 1961, was updated for MY 1971 and re-named Scout II, but by then the Bronco was off and running; the Jeep line had expanded; and then there were the Chevy Blazer and GMC Jimmy, further divvying-up the market. The final year for the Scout II was 1980.

We saw this one — complete with an Alaska tag and a dealer sticker from Abell Truck, an International dealer in Pueblo, Colorado — at this year’s Toy Town Car Show.

— Jim Corbran

RealRides of WNY - 1971 AMG M151

DEPEW, N.Y.

Whatever you do, don't call it a Jeep! This military light-utility vehicle is officially a 1971 AMG M151, produced by the same company — AM General — that built the HMMWV (or Humvee as it's popularly known). These jeep-like vehicles (lower case j, please!) were pretty much phased out for military use in the late 1980s, being replaced by the HMMWV.

The M151, developed by Ford, was also built under contract by them as well as by Kaiser Motors.

We saw this one at this year's Polish Falcons Super Cruise back in July.

— Jim Corbran

RealRides of WNY - 1979 Pontiac Grand Am

PORT COLBORNE , Ontario

And now for something completely different. For your perusal, a 1979 Pontiac Grand Am. Is it rare? Well, only 4,021 coupes left the factory, along with another 1,865 four-doors. A far cry from the over 43,000 Grand Ams produced for its debut model year of 1973, when Pontiac described it as having "The feel of a Grand Prix... the response of a GTO... the qualities you've admired in the desirable imports."

Although it was probably a better handling/driving car than say, the Grand LeMans, Pontiac seems to have abandoned going after the import buyer in this the final year for the Grand Am until a new, front-wheel-drive version arrived for MY 1985.

Saw this one parked on a side street back in the summer of 2022.

— Jim Corbran

RealRides of WNY - 1966 Mercury Comet Cyclone

IRVING, N.Y.

When the brand was founded in 1939, it was always more or less an upscale Ford. Some years there was more differentation then others. When this 1966 Mercury Comet Cyclone was new, there was still enough uniqueness (IMO) to persuade one from choosing it over the similar Ford Fairlane GT/GTA. Ten years down the road faced with the choice between Ford's Torino and the Merc Montego? Not so much. Again, IMO.

Saw this one back in October 2020 at a cruise night at the Big Indian Smoke Shop.

— Jim Corbran

RealRides of WNY - 1962 Rambler American 400

TONAWANDA, N.Y.

There were quite a few North American compact car models to choose from back when this 1962 Rambler American 400 was produced, but the only other one which offered a convertible was Studebaker with its Lark. What? you may argue. The Pontiac Tempest, Oldsmobile F-85, and Buick Special all offered convertibles in their lineups, but the three of them are usually considered "senior compacts," a little bigger than the Ford Falcon, Chevy Corvair, and Plymouth Valiant, and a little smaller than the Ford Fairlane which was in 1962 pioneering a new mid-size category. Same goes for the Chevy II, new for 1962 but again, compact yes, but bigger than the officially compact Corvair.

This was a confusing time, trying to categorize the many new sizes, makes, and models which were showing up in dealer showrooms.

Today's RealRide was seen in an area parking lot over the summer.

— Jim Corbran

RealRides of WNY - 1958 Edsel Ranger

AMHERST, N.Y.

You've gotta love the Jonquil Yellow-and-Black paint scheme on this 1958 Edsel Ranger. You've also gotta love the fact that its owners brought it all the way from the Des Moines, Iowa area for this year's International Edsel Rally, which was held at the local Marriott.

The Ranger was Edsel's entry level model. It was also the only one of the four — not counting the Villager wagons — to survive into the brand's second model year (the other series being the Pacer, Corsair, and Citation). The Ranger four-door hardtop was right in the middle of the series sales-wise (at 3,077), selling more than the three wagon models, but fewer than the two- and four-door sedans and the two-door hardtop.

Surprisingly, this was one of two Edsels to show up at the Rally from Polk County, Iowa.

— Jim Corbran

RealRides of WNY - 1972(?) Volkswagen Squareback

SAN DIEGO, California

I've always known that the Volkswagen Type 3 lineup was envisioned to give the Beetle owner something to move up to at some point. Today's RealRide is the Squareback version of the car — there was also the Fastback coupe available here, as well as a notchback two-door sedan and a Type 3 Karmann-Ghia which were not exported to the U.S.  What I didn't realize until writing today's blog entry, is that the Beetle (Type 1) and the Type 3 cars all shared the same 94.5-inch wheelbase. The Type 3 cars just look so much larger (and they are longer by a bit less than a foot). 

The bumpers on this one indicate it's no older than 1970; it's also no newer than a 1973 model, its final year of production.

We saw this one in May in a Normal Heights supermarket parking lot.

— Jim Corbran

RealRides of WNY - 1967 Mercedes-Benz 200 D

BURLINGTON, Ontario

I'd be delighted if I called for a cab and this 1967 Mercedes-Benz 200D showed up. Here in North America we'd have considered this a mid-size car at best, but over in Europe these were family-size cars. This one, with its eye-catching paint scheme, is owned by a car service (which you can see on the license plate) which, according to its Facebook page, serves the Toronto area. 

The 200D was of course, Mercedes' diesel model with a 2.0L engine under the hood. It was a W100 model in Mercedes-speak, and a Fintail to the general public. (If you have to ask, look again at the rear of the car.)

We saw this one at this year's Burlington Car Show on Brant Street.

— Jim Corbran

RealRides of WNY - 1987 Lincoln Mark VII

KENMORE, N.Y.

Every once in a while you come across a breath of fresh air at a car show/cruise night. Case in point: this 1987 Lincoln Mark VII. A sign in the window called it the "Carriage Edition." I think that's a reference to the faux-convertible top that's been added on, as there's no mention of a Carriage Edition in any of the Lincoln reference material I found — nor was any type of vinyl/canvas top a factory option. 

For 1987, Lincoln buyers had three distinct styles to choose from: this Mark VII two-door; the four-door Lincoln Continental which shared the Mark's 108.5-inch wheelbase (very Versailles-like in appearance IMO); and the traditional big Lincoln Town Car (which, like the Mark VII, was officially NOT a Continental).

We saw this one at this year's Cruise into Kenmore Car Show.

— Jim Corbran

RealRides of WNY - 1964 Dodge Polara

 

FALCONER, N.Y.

It's not all that unusual to see a mid-1960s Mopar at any given car show/cruise night. Unless it's a 1964 Dodge Polara. Yeah, they sold a lot of them — along with the base 330 and mid-series 440 models, but in my experiences there don't seem to be many left. Oh, and let's not forget the Polara 500 (which was actually a mid-season "sports option package" offered for the Polara two-door hardtop and convertible) — almost 18,000 of them also left the factory.

We saw today's RealRide earlier this year at the annual Festival in the Park cruise-in.

— Jim Corbran