1942 Lincoln Continental

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This Continental is powered by the Lincoln-Zephyr V12, notorious for various engine maladies – sludge buildup and overheating were two common problems. Nevertheless, it remains a striking and enthralling design, and rare to find in such superb condition.

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Photographed August 2012

1972-75 De Tomaso Pantera

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Designed by Tom Tjaarda, the Pantera featured exotic Italian styling coupled with a 5.8L Ford V8 engine. Ford imported around 5,500 Panteras between 1971 and 1975, selling them through their Lincoln-Mercury dealers. Early Panteras were notorious for their unreliability; Elvis Presley once shot a gun at his when it would not start.

Though Ford ceased importing Panteras after 1975, they were imported via the grey market through the 1980s. A total of 7,260 were sold between 1971 and 1992.

Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, CA

Photographed February 2012

2003 Chevrolet SSR

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The SSR was introduced for the 2003 model year as a retro-style pickup harkening back to the days of the Advance Design pickup of the early 1950s. It featured a retractable hardtop and a 300 HP, 5.3L V8. Despite this powerful engine, the SSR was not very fast, in part due to its lumbering 4,700 pound curb weight. Around 24,000 SSRs were sold in 4 years of production before GM pulled the plug in 2006.

Sawtelle, Los Angeles, CA

Photographed June 2015

1976 Cadillac Eldorado

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1976 Eldorados were promoted by Cadillac as the “last American convertible;” selling over 14,000 in total. However, Cadillac re-introduced the Eldorado convertible for the 1984 model year.

1976 was also the last year for the massive 8.2L V8 engine; the next year, a downsized 7.0L engine was introduced.

Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, CA

Photographed June 2014