Mar Vista, Los Angeles, CA
Photographed August 2012
2015 Porsche 911 GT3
With a 0-60 time of 3.1 seconds and the quarter mile disposed of in a scant 11.2 ticks, this is the quickest car featured yet on Roadside Rambler.
Brentwood, Los Angeles, CA
Photographed June 2015
1987 Peugeot 505 Liberté
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
1972 BMW 2002
Mar Vista, Los Angeles, CA
Photographed December 2012
1969 Buick Skylark
Sawtelle, Los Angeles, CA
Photographed June 2015
1970 Buick Electra 225
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
1984 Chevrolet Suburban
Spotted in the town of Kasaan, AK: population 49 at the 2010 census. Kasaan is a historic village of the indigenous Haida people – of whom the island archipelago of Haida Gwaii (formerly Queen Charlotte Islands) is named after.
Kasaan, AK
Photographed August 2012
1942 Lincoln Continental
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
1954 GMC 100
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
1972-75 De Tomaso Pantera
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
1956 Chevrolet Bel Air
Venice, Los Angeles, CA
Photographed May 2011
1992 Mazda MX-3
Santa Monica, CA
Photographed June 2015