The Liberté trim level was for 1987 only, supposedly commemorating the 100th anniversary of France gifting the Statue of Liberty to the United States. For unknown reasons, 505 Libertés had a different engine than the rest of the US-spec 505 line, with an ancient and wheezy 2.0L 4 that was soon to be discontinued. Oddly, the car also came without power rear windows – again, nobody really knows why.
Cheviot Hills, Los Angeles, CA
Photographed March 2013
Mar Vista, Los Angeles, CA
Photographed December 2012
Sawtelle, Los Angeles, CA
Photographed June 2015
New for the 1970 Electra model was a 455 cubic inch V8 pumping out 370 horsepower, making it the most powerful Electra ever. The newly redesigned 1971 models would keep the same engine, but, due to a lower compression ratio, see their output drop to 315 horses.
1970 was also the last year of the Electra “Coke bottle” design first introduced in 1965; the ’71 models would ditch the sleek lines for more slab-sided styling.
The Electra name soldiered on until 1990, by which time the name was but a shadow of its former glory, saddled with a 3.8L (232 cubic inch) V6 and a FWD chassis.
Sawtelle, Los Angeles, CA
Photographed June 2015
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
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
Sawtelle, Los Angeles, CA
Photographed April 2011 & June 2015
Mar Vista, Los Angeles, CA
Photographed December 2012
Sawtelle, Los Angeles, CA
Photographed April 2011