Minneapolis Street Sighting: Dodge Super Bee

In a city where most of my sightings are various GM products, classic Mopars really perk my attention; here in the rustbelt, they're far and few between, especially in drivable condition. When I saw this Super Bee (which is likely just a Coronet, to be honest), I was ecstatic. I've always liked the Super Bee, and in general, the shape of the Coronet is nothing to be ashamed of. It looks a lot like a bigger Charger-- not particularly a bad thing by any means.
Giving this car a good once-over, I decided to shoot it. Not only because of what it is, but the color is perfect. I love this shade of blue-- hell, I'd probably take a Caliber in this shade of blue to be honest. But damn.. this color is awesome. The Cragar S/S wheels are good looking, timeless wheels that work on almost anything (just like Torq Thrusts, too.), and here is no exception. I tend to like muscle cars on steelies or original wheels, but these S/S' suit the car perfectly; they give it a "lost in 1973" feeling that I like. Alot. I like it when muscle are either preserved, or have at least a period feel to them.
Whether of not this is a Super Bee.. I'm not quite sure; it has the graphics and the emblems, but it doesn't have the flat black hood and the scoops look wrong. But, in any case, it's a nice Mopar, and I'd gladly drive it.

Minneapolis Street Sighting: Chevy Impala sedan

Usually, when I find classic cars near uptown, they're either blinged, restored, or in awful shape; this Impala is different. As you can clearly see, the whole thing is caked with about an inch of dust. What strikes me as particularly odd, however, is the fact that surround cars were in the same "condition"; this isn't really a hidden street, nor is it out of view of the main road. I'm kinda curious why everything appear so barren, especially a block from a major thoroughfare. Enough wondering about the street this long-forgotten Detroit beast is resting on.
From a slight distance, I thought this thing would be a typical bondo-laden wondering awaiting 24s and some godawful paint color; upon closer inspection, it appears to just need a bit of TLC. While defintely not in showroom shape, the body doesn't look too far gone, either. The emblems are intact, the baby moons could be buffed out (cliche expression, I know.), and the body looks relatively straight. One curiousity gets me though. Why is it debadged, and is it going to stay in this condition? Under the grime and pollen and whatever else is clogging up the paint, I'm sure this could be a really nice car, even if the baby moons are a bit too "old" for this particular sedan.
I would really like to seeing this thing freshened up, and given a worthy detailing job and new wheels; maybe Keystone mags? For the paint, I'd probably leave it flat black, and maybe clean up the chrome trim a tad. Maybe.. just maybe.. I'd nightshade the taillights too? Either way, this thing could look really sweet if it had a little bit of needed love. Here's hoping it doesn't sit through the summer and eventually succumb to winter.

Minneapolis Street Sighting: Jensen Healey

Welp, as luck would have it, this was by the ever-popular Quality Coaches, too; it seems to be the hot-spot for all things foreign (mostly British, to be honest). I was half expecting to go down there and find the usual array of Triumph TR-6s and various MGs, but I was pleasantly surprised. I'm not too up on British vehicles, so I wasn't sure if I was seeing things correctly. Sure enough, low and behold, I was.
Even though seeing an MG or Triumph in the US is quite a feat, seeing a little Jensen Healey alive and well is a whole different matter; while the majority of these cars were sent to the US and Canada, this is probably the first one I recall seeing. Not surprising given the typical British rust reception issues.
While not quite pristine, this example qualifies as a "very good driver" in my book. The paint is near flawless, with a a tad of orange peel on the hood and trunk and around the edges of the doors. The minilite-style wheels suit this car perfectly, and look absolutely stunning against the green bodywork. The badges are all in great shape, and the lights and other trim pieces are intact, and show minimal signs of wear and tear. The interior looked pretty clean from what I can remember, as this little Healey had its windows up when I shot it.
Overall, I am pretty satisfied with this car, though I would've picked a better parking spot instead of next to a bus stop. Oh well, at least it was in one piece the next time I saw it.

Minneapolis Street Sighting: Lamborghini Murcielago

Seeing higher end 997s and 996s is the norm here; seeing a Bentley Continental GT isn't quite that special either, and don't get me started on Ferrari F430s and 360 Modenas. What once were sacred spottings, coveted by me, now emit an "Oh, pretty" reaction or maybe some sort of acknowledgment that said car exists. The last few 360s I saw, I said to myself "well, it is a nice color at least." Even Audi R8s are getting that reaction from me now, and I absolutely ADORED them when they were fresh.
Usually, I'd go gaga over something as uncommon as a Murcielago in Minneapolis' hustle and bustle. Not quite so. It's not that I don't like the Murcielago, it's just that.. actually-- let me rephrase that. I don't think I do like the Murcielago much. Maybe I've seen too many (and yes, I have seen oodles of them), or maybe I'm just not as drawn to the styling as I once was. Perhaps the cliches bright color with black wheels is throwing the car off, I don't know. I still took many pictures of it, since it's not really an "everyday" car, so to speak. On the other hand, when I was looking through my pictures, resizing em and what not, I didn't immediately jump with excitement. I don't think I even gave this Lambo a second look after I shot it.
Are my automotive tastes changing? Or is the Murcielago simply a "has been" in the exotic car market? I'm not quite sure, but I find myself liking the Diablo more and more now. Don't get me wrong, this newest V12 Lamborghini is quite a car, but its not quite something that piques my interest anymore. Even its replacement, the Aventador, is kinda "meh" to me. Maybe I'm just getting old and starting to appreciate the classics more and more with each passing day.

Minneapolis Street Sighting: Buick LeSabre Custom convertible

While out looking for cars, I always tend to go out looking for something, and come back with something completely unexpected-- as is the case here. I set out down Lake Street (like I usually do) with the intention of heading down past 22nd and 23rd Ave and into the Eastern part of the city. As I approached the Super America, my eyes drifted over to what I assumed was going to be another "donk". Nope; it wasn't.
I looked over in amazement; I don't think I've ever seen a cleaner LeSabre. Ever. Damn. This thing was absolutely mint-- everything from the lustrous paint, to the extremely well-kept red interior. Not very often do I see time capsule cars roaming the streets of the Twin Cities. I scoped out every square spec of this beast, carefully checking for bondo or rust. Nope, nothing. Not an ounce of wear or tear to be had.
Unfortunately, as I was shooting, a semi driver decided that he would park his rig infront of my subject, thus hindering the photoshoot. Pity. While I didn't get as great of pictures as I'd like, I still had immense fun shooting this. Here's hoping this big GM convertible stays in its current condition, and doesn't become a donk.