The RR “radiator” just won’t die. Now Eugene may be a great place to find Datsun 710 wagons and steam injected Bobcats, but its not so hot for garish Caddys. We’re just about as far from south Florida as you can get, in almost every way, and still call ourselves Americans (Alaska and Hawaii excepted, of course). Of course, that’s the overwhelming genius of America: everyone can find just the right place for them. Old Datsuns congregate here, garish Caddys there. Well there are a few exceptions, and the best place to find them is in the Medical Center parking lot. I know this is far from earth-shatteringly gauche, but its pretty rare stuff hereabouts. Although I do have a killer Eldo Biarritz that I’m saving for a CC. These are just outtakes after all. The other obligatory padded-top Caddy in the same lot after the jump:
So, what’s the difference? Slapping a Rolls-Royce grille on a Caddy, or a whole Caddy front-end on a Chevy Tahoe? It’s the same sickness of ersatz luxury, like no one would would make the difference between real and phoney?
What I really love about this series is the selection of Eugene, Oregon to locate interesting cars. Count the number of posts until you see blue sky or dry pavement and you’ll know Eugene the way I know Eugene. Yet it’s also a city where I swear bicycles outnumber cars 10 to 1 on a given day, yet we never see one in the moving in the background or leaned against an 80’s Toyota pickup. The car of choice in Oregon seems to be a Subaru anything. They even outnumber snooty little Prius(es?i?). Eugene does have good coffee, friendly natives and lots of (mostly liquid)fresh air to enjoy while you’re wearing out those Birkenstocks looking for the next find. Mission: find a SAAB 96.
There are a few around. I’ve found two, but they’re not in the same location anymore:
https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/curbside-classics-1968-saab-96/
https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/curbside-classic-1972-plymouth-fury-and-saab-95/
Keep looking. And if you find a Sonnet, let me know:
curbsideclassics@gmail.com
You also have Charles Thompson(aka Frank Black aka Black Francis) of Pixies fame. The best demented scream in alt rock.
Just found a killer 96 at the Holiday Market. Will post shortly.
I don’t know about Sonetts in Eugene, but there are a couple of presumably non-running examples in front of a repair shop in North Plains and I have seen one in regular use in Beaverton.
I’ve definitely seen a running Sonnet in Eugene… just not in the last ten years or so.
I actually like the older Caddys better. But then without the Caddy grill on the Tahoe, where would all the “Kustomizers” around here get the parts to bling out Silverados and Sierras? Swear to god, a guy down the street has a standard cab, short bed, WT package Chevy with Escalade wheels on it. Sigh, more money than taste.
That Seville would make me laugh with or without the carriage roof. What a complete disaster that and the same vintage Eldo were especially next to the previous generation. To this day it makes me wonder just exactly what was on the minds of those at GM responsible for these abortions as I chuckle. Same for the Toro of this vintage, the Riv at least had a little bit of unique style but (or on second thought maybe I’m thinking of the Riv after this generation, not sure) the other three looked like glorified Grand Am’s (and were about the same size). I honestly believe it would have been impossible to do any worse not to mention the junk HT 4100 motors.
Profile wise the 85 Olds Calais was a dead ringer for the downsized Eldorado of the same era. There was an article that printed a photograph of the two nose to nose and the resemblance was amazing. And the Olds was 10,000 cheaper.
Still; better than the Seville of the 90s that seemed a bloated version of the Chevy Corsica 5 door. Or any of Cadillac’s attempts to get that boring Allante “look” into all their mainstream designs. [Most boring “halo car” ever].
I’d take the R/R grilled Cadillac over that trashy Escalade any day of the week. Even in Mary Kay pink.
Tasteless ghetto Cadillacs are part of the local scenery here in Detroit. I guess we take it for granted (hehe)
Not the glory yrs for Caddy. Please do a send up on the 3 banger Saabs. A great slow car to drive fast.