Minneapolis Street Sighting: Toyota Landcruiser GX

To the average eye, this red Land Cruiser likely wouldn't even spark a conversation. It got me pretty excited; I am a sucker for non-US versions of vehicles, nevermind non-US versions of Japanese vehicles. In the US, Toyota marketed the full-size Land Cruiser as a downright luxurious Range Rover alternative-- in both offroad prowess and price. On the other side of the pond, the story was very different.
While the Land Cruiser has always been a rather brute SUV, not all of them were luxury-oriented. Outside of the US, Landcruisers are seen how most Americans imagine a Chevy Tahoe or Jeep Grand Cherokee. Sure, there are top-of-the-line models that fetch top-dollar when new, but there are also bargain-basement editions, too. In South Africa, where a durable truck is a necessity, Land Cruisers are a common choice. In Australia, too, these things are common as dirt. Even in the Middle East, Toyota's Landcruiser is one of the nation's prim pickings for not just a tough truck, but a family vehicle as well. They're unstoppable, extremely reliable, and they can conquer pretty much anything mother Earth throws at them.
So why does Toyota decide to give us the top-line edition? Simple. It's all about status. Toyota has always marketed the Landcruiser as a Range Rover alternative; and it's a strategy that works--sort of. The US has always been a hotbed for luxury SUVs-- in cities like Beverly Hills and Miami Beach, where using their off-road credentials is pretty much useless. In the prime areas where they are "needed", many of these luxury SUVs aren't quite that common. I mean, yes, they still are common, but not as much as on either coast. Which brings me to a point.
The owner of this Landcruiser knew what he or she was doing-- this GX model lacks all the features that make the US version so expensive. Gone are the leather seats, the running boards, and powered everything; in their place stands grey cloth, manual locking hubs, and basic black trim where body cladding would stand on its US equivalent. It looks more.. "business" this way. None of the fancy flash that clutters up the US truck. No denying the US is nice, though. I just prefer tough trucks to fancy ones. I guess I prefer a little more "utility" in my sport utility; oh well, to each his own.

Minneapolis Street Sighting: Ford Maverick two door

It's long been known that the Maverick has been one of my favorite cars for quite a while now. From the time I got "up close and personal" with one, I knew I had overlooked a very worthy vehicle. Almost a mini-Mustang, in terms of styling, this one of of Ford's better looking cars through the 1970s-- the coupes anyway. The sedans were--and are-- not as good looking as their two-door counterparts.
Living in the rustbelt, most of these things have long since rusted away-- and that's a shame. To me, the Maverick's styling is timeless; its one of those cars that lets you know right away, "Hey I'm a baby Mustang". Longish hood, short deck, and an easily proportioned midsection lend the Maverick to a wide array of modifying potential; the fact that the engine bay can swallow up to a 600 cube Ford engine doesn't hurt either.
Unfortunately, this poor steed wasn't quite the thoroughbred it once was. Caked in a fine layer of not-quite-gloss, this brown beast clearly has seen much better days. Though, because it lives in Montana, it probably hasn't seen much snow. Sadly, even with the paint being all one "color", the shade varies dramatically, suggesting that this has been repainted once--or even twice. The wheels suit it well; I have not ever seen a Maverick-- or Comet for that matter-- rolling on baby moons, but I quite like the application here. Normally, I would frown on such a wheel choice on a car this "new", but here it works. Nice and unusual, unlike the drab tri-shade brown paint.
I would most definitely sport this; it needs a 302 and a 5 speed, a bumper replacement (and not those godawful post-1974 bumpers either) and I would happily drive it. Hell, I would happily drive it, now, too. I love these things, and each one I see on the road brings a smile to my face.

Minneapolis Street Sighting: Toyota Ceica GT Liftback

I have something of a fetish for Japanese cars; it's almost like I effectively seek them out--or try to anyway. In this state, it's hard. The history of Japanese vehicles in the 'states hasn't been very kind. Rust plagues them, then ricers. If I do see an "old" Japanese car, it's likely a neglected fliplight Accord that somehow hasn't earned enough rust to go to U-Pull-It yet-- or perhaps its and old Nissan Hardbody still earning its keep doing odd jobs all the while fight off its imminent rust issues.
It's no secret that I'm a sucker for Japanese sports cars-- or maybe it is, since I very rarely see them and post them here. But, for as long as I can remember, I have always liked the three mainstays in the JDM sportscar wars-- the Mazda RX-7, the Nissan Z-Cars, and Toyota's Celica/Supra lineup.
I rarely see pre Mark III Supras and Celica, but apparently a slight few still exist in the rustbelt. I've spotted this relatively faded Celica GT too many times to count, and even a few since these pictures were shot. Unlike most examples of the breed, this car hasn't been modded, nor has it succumb to the eventual rust bug that will likely eat this car alive. What we have here is a clean, possibly daily-driven early 1978 or 1979 model. In Japanese car terms, that's a long time to live, especially in Minnesota. I usually don't see cars of this vintage, let alone cars that I love so much, so to say I was ecstatic would an extreme understatement.
On first glance, the paint and bodywork appear tattered, but after a close examination, it appears all it needs is a thorough clean-up. Nothing is broken, the trim is intact, and there are no rust spots to ruin the clean lines of this future classic coupe. What is apparent, though, is those godawful mandated bumpers ruin the car. I'd rather have this thing with slim, chrome pieces instead. One thing I definitely like is the window louvers; never have I see a car looks so period without look the least bit trashy. Again, I commend the owner for keeping this thing in its original taste, and not bowing down to the various aftermarket companies who churn out often-tasteless drivel that various enthusiasts slap onto their once-awesome classics.
This is a great example of a Celica, but also it serves to remind the younger generation where their hero cars came from. Forgot the FWD turd of the late 1990s and early 2000s, this is where the Celica legend started. And to me, these were the last good ones until the All-Trac and GTS came around to show ya who the boss was.

Minneapolis Street Sighting: Nash Metropolitan

Every so often, I'll post sets of photos that I enjoy. This little Metropolitan I've shot before, and I think I've featured it as well. I have a thing for little convertibles, especially of yesteryear; the Metropolitan is one of those car that you can't help but love. For me, it symbolizes a time when minimalism and the idea of "fashionable" and "in-cars" were just starting to appear. If it wasn't for this little guy here, the idea of an incredibly small car never would've been cool, and for that, I respect it.
I've seen this at Lake Harriet before, but I figured why wait, and I did a full photoshoot; this is probably one of the more fun subjects I've shot. Even though the car itself is pint-sized, the detail here is stunning, in a way no other non-exotic car is. I adore these things, and I will shoot every one I see.

Minneapolis Street Sighting: Ford Club Wagon

I don't quite know what it is about vans, but they're not quite everywhere anymore. Even the slight trend in custom vans brought out little, especially in the state. For certain, though, the Fords are a tad more common than their GM or Dodge counterparts. Maybe that has something to do with their popularity and the fact that for years they were some of the most common Ford vehicles on the road?
Now, though, even the once-popular Econoline-based vans are almost all extinct. This is only the third or fourth of this generation that I've seen, and unlike the first one I blogged back in 2008, this example is--at best-- a little worse for wear. The paint job is.. well, it looks like a cheapass respray to be honest. The colors don't quite match either, and the pure idea of painting over the classy-looking hubcaps saddens me. A classic like this is supposed to be left alone.
I'm not entirely sure what all remains of this van's originality, but I'm betting the white, and perhaps what's left of the grille lettering is all the remains untouched. Quite sad, when you think about it; at least this van isn't in the junkyard yet. Or maybe it is-- I haven't seen since I took these shots a few years ago.