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
The GMC 100 was a rebranded version of the wildly successful Chevrolet Advance design pickup. 1954 models included a new one-piece windshield and round taillights, as well as a new 3.9L I6 engine. GM’s Hydramatic transmission became an option for the first time in 1954.
Thorne Bay, AK
Photographed August 2012
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
Venice, Los Angeles, CA
Photographed May 2011
Santa Monica, CA
Photographed June 2015
Introduced for the 1967 model year, the Coronet R/T came standard with a 375 HP 440 “Magnum” V8 engine.
El Segundo, CA
Photographed November 2013
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 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
1963 was the first year for the optional 260 V8 engine, offering 164 horsepower. 12,218 Rancheros were sold in total during the 1963 model year.
Brentwood, Los Angeles, CA
Photographed June 2015
Santa Monica, CA
Photographed June 2015
Sawtelle, Los Angeles, CA
Photographed April 2011 & June 2015
Changes for the 1974 Nova included a new bowtie emblem and larger parking lights. Nova sales increased to almost 400,000, perhaps in response to the oil crisis in the Middle East.
El Segundo, CA
Photographed November 2014