And So It Begins

Drive Time

Seems as though I’ve opened up a big ol’ can of Murkin worms in posting about the ’66 Mercury Comet last week.

Reader Brad_In_IL wrote:

On the way home from work the other day, I was passed by what I’d call “Purty Car”. And what was that fine ride you ask? Something of an American Classic. Twas a 1971 Buick Skylark convertible:

Fucking hell, that’s an ugly barge of a car.  Sorry, Brad — but my taste runs towards this kind of 1971 convertible:

That’s the Fiat Dino, with its Ferrari-inspired 2.46-liter V6 engine.

And Reader Clem C. added his experience:

We owned a ’91 Buick Reatta coupe.  Maybe you’ve heard of it.  I look forward to your take on the car.  We enjoyed it.

Actually, I don’t find that Reatta too appalling.  Although much larger, as is the American way, it compares quite favorably, shape-wise, to the 1990 Toyota MR2:

…although the actual performance of the Buick, when compared to that of the “Mister Two”, makes one understand why Buick only made the Reatta in small numbers for two years while Toyota made a zillion MR2 models over two decades.

(Actually, I prefer the chunkier 80s-style MR2:

…but that’s just me.  I’d drive one today, in original condition.  YMMV.)

In Comments to last week’s post, Reader Don C. spoke of his love for the brawny ’71 PontiaG GTO convertible:

…which would be, I agree, a better choice than that overpriced Mercury Comet, although I still think it’s hideously bloated.  But #MuscleCar, so it can be forgiven.

Reader Topcat loved him his Chevy Nova SS back in the day:

…which I think is easily one of the ugliest cars ever made, but I’ll accept the #MuscleCar excuse here too.

Although I have to say that the more I look at these things, the more I prefer my compact and nimbler Euro cars…

…and I’m not even talking about Ferraris, Lamborghinis or Maseratis.  That’s a 1971 Alfa Romeo Giulia GT 1750cc.

This topic is kinda fun, guys.  Keep them coming.

And tomorrow begins a weekly series of my personal experiences with American cars.

6 comments

  1. Back in the late 80’s, early 90’s when I was working in the big car companies, it was rumored that certain cars were made “available” on “special” leases to executives and other high level types. Those cars had dismal sales and they needed to do something with them. The rumors were that the special feature was that execs were effectively forced to lease those cars. The Reatta was one that was often mentioned in those rumors. The truth of that lies far above my lowly contractor paygrade, but a lot of GM wives were driving Reattas back then.
    I wish I could recall another example (the Thunderbird, possibly) but I can’t think of anything more dismal at this point than researching early 90’s Detroit iron.

  3. I am relieved that someone else also calls the Toyota “Mister Two”. Most people just give me a vacant look. In fairness, though, most people are pretty vacant…

  4. Kim,
    I can’t argue with your assertion about the bloatedness of the Skylark / GTO / Old Cutlass series. Compared to Euro ragtops of the same era .. bloat indeed. They were not made to be nimble. They were made to be slow rambling chick magnets with throaty rumbling monster v8 powerplants. Plain. And. Simple. They fill a niche to be sure. And their niche is different from your preferences, true, but I believe there’s room at the table for everyone.
    Had a college classmate with an original body style MR2. Looked like a fun ride.
    Were I younger and were I able to afford a midlife crisis, my wheels would have been something along the lines of a Honda S2000 or Mazda Miata. The Honda would have to be in bright yellow, because personal reasons. And yes, those two little run abouts are quite polar opposites from American Iron.
    – Brad

  5. I think those 60’s muscle cars with their huge engines, crappy tires, and shitty suspensions killed more young American men than the war in Viet Nam.

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