Time to spring forward

So, as the winter is slowly winding down, cars are starting to come out of hibernation. I haven't seen much quality shootables lately, and I'm saddened. But, in a few months, I'll be back to my old ways. I have seen a few cars worth posting, but I haven't had time to capture them in their glory yet. I cannot wait for spring to be here. The days will be warmer, the cars will be out, and best of all, I will find it more enjoyable to be outside shooting. So, as I have a shortage of cars to post, I will leave you with a list of vehicles I have but yet to post.
Buick Regal
Chevy LUV
Ford Maverick
Ford Mustang II


Stay Tuned, for I should have some new stuff soon.

Minneapolis Street Sightings: Saab V4 wagon

Wow. This Saab is insane. For starters, I almost never see classic Saabs, much less of this vintage. What's even more amazing, is that this example is a two-door wagon, which was never officially brought to the US. To add rarity to the finding, only 110,000 were made from 1959 to its demise in 1978. I've never seen one in person, not even at any of the prestige vintage European car shows I attend every summer. So to see one on the street in the Seward neighborhood was simply that much more jaw-dropping. To date, I have never seen a double of it. I hope to see this one again, and have a longer conversation with the owner, who is an avid Saab nut.

Minneapolis Street Sightings: Citroen 2CV6

Yes, I am aware I have featured a Citroen 2CV before. But this one is a much newer model, as evidenced by the square headlights. It's in better shape, too, which is amazing since the owner uses it as his kid hauler/daily driver. I've seen this particular example driving around the cities, and I never had the chance to shoot it until last fall. Quite a shame, really, but the pictures I got were amazing. Not only was I able to get better quality shots, but since the afternoon was in full swing, I needn't worry about lighting issues. This particular sighting made my happy in several ways; first, I was glad that I was able to come away with such crisp shots, second of all, I was simply stunned that I had seen a Citroen this spotless, and third, apparently this was my good luck charm as I saw a vintage Saab and Subaru that same day (about 20 minutes later).

Minneapolis Street Sightings: Austin Healey 3000

Now, this is a sighting. I can't recall ever seeing one of these up close before, much less in this condition. The red roadster was immaculate; the paint was spot on, the chrome was great, the wire wheels were the correct style for the vehicle, and best of all, the owner had the decency to cover the interior when it was raining. Unlike other vehicles in this series, I haven't seen beater versions of this and held out for a nice example. I flat out haven't seen one. Ever. Since I spotted this back in the fall, I've seen it a few more times. While I do have pride in the shots I got of it then, I'd kill for better close up shots and less cluttered pics. In fact, I'd kill to have an Austin Healey in my personal collection. Make mine white with a brown interior, please.

Minneapolis Street Sightings: Mercedes 280CE

Hmm, another day, another classic Mercedes. Or at least that seems to be the case here in Minnesota. But it's good though. They're awesome looking cars. Whether a two door, or four door sedan or wagon, these things are indestructible; they seem to run forever and ever, and it's not uncommon see one with over 400,000 miles on the odometer. What makes this one interesting for me is its bodystyle; I've never seen a coupe in this condition before. It's good the owner is driving it how its meant to be driven. Yes, it's an older car, and yes parts may cost a fortune (it's German for crying out loud). However, these cars while still abundant, are becoming rarer and rarer in the coupe variety. This example had a nice unworn leather interior, and the paint, though, dirty seemed original. I'm very glad this example didn't suffer from crash damage or crappy modifications. I spotted this one tucked behind a highway overpass in a rather unsavory part of town. Too bad, because that area has a ton of shootable iron. including two more coupes in horrid states of disrepair, and a wagon that appeared to have been sitting since the Gulf War.

Minneapolis Street Sightings: Chevy Chevelle SS

Hmmm. As if a Chevelle wasn't American enough. This guy decided his Chevelle wasn't American enough for him. He decided it would look better with American flags on it. It would also benefit from chrome endcaps too, and chrome headlight covers as well. The exhaust needed to be one from a generic Chevy truck too. Oh, and while we're at it, let's have open headers that are sealed off, too. Oh, and the interior needs a 1990s Chevy show sticker. Yes, and it needs a sweet Grant steering wheel. Dear sir, what I'm trying to say is, "why did you ruin a perfectly decent muscle car?" Oh yeah. It wasn't "capturing the American spirit." Dumbass. Maybe the owner of this Chevelle should get his 1995 Z-71 back. He deserves it. Badly. Seeing crap such as this makes me want to go to another car show. But that has to wait until summer. Dammit.

Minneapolis Street Sightings: International Loadstar 1600

Whoa. It's not very often I spot an old bus, much less one of this vintage. While it looks sweet from afar, up close tells a very different story. The green paint, while a nice patina, is not the original color; it appears it was yellow as were all other school buses were at the time, and still are. I've never seen the inside of this thing, but I am curious as to what it holds. It's been sitting in this spot for about a year now, and I've never seen it move. I'm hoping it doesn't end up sitting in its current parking space and rotting. As I am always on the hunt for unusual vehicles, this has been my best find in terms of bizarre, but I dig it. Very much so.

Minneapolis Street Sightings: Ford LTD

First off, I love big Fords, and this is no exception. While the later model LTDs are a relatively common sight, the older ones are not so much anymore. I was even more amazed at the condition of this example; no holes, no dents, no surface rust. It even had the hubcaps still on it, which was pretty sweet. Most cars of this vintage I see either have long lost their hubcaps or have crappy chrome wheels more fit to a candy painted Tahoe on them. Pretty nice, I have to say. What engine this one has is unknown, but I wouldn't be surprised to see an engine with more than 400 cubes under the hood. 460 perhaps? Though not a huge powerhouse stock, these things were good enough for cops and robbers alike in their day. Unfortunately, LTDs are favorites of demo-derbiers and donk riders as well, and they, too tend to hunt for rust free editions. Sad, really, because cars of this vintage are getting harder and harder to find as time passes. I'd love to find one someday and use it as a daily driver. I'm not even that picky about the color. I just want one. Stat!