There is only one word I have to describe DOTS.....

Amazing.

how the hell can ten square miles contain so much awesome?

@tenbeers:

(Climate + Money)^Insularity ?

Keep it going, Murilee! This is definitely my favorite part of this site, and what actually drew me here in the first place.

@tenbeers: It balances out Washington DC, where 10 square miles contains an equivalent amount of suck.

@Mike the Dog: I think that's the understatement of the year. Too bad that little earthquake we had yesterday didn't send the entire fetid city back into the swamp it came from.

Best ongoing post series, Murilee!

@tenbeers: Wait 'til we invade Cuba.

Oops...

@Mike the Dog: And that's just the people.

@tenbeers: Think of it like Australia in terms of car evolution. It broke off from vehicular pangea about 28 years ago.

And this is why I belong to the Church of DOTS...
Preacher Martin we await your sermon!

@franzouse: This week's collection money is to send Murilee to Cuba before it's overrun with Aveo's...

This series has been so enjoyable. One of the best parts of this site. I think of DOTS every time I pass an interesting car and curse that I don't carry my camera more often.

@Sloop_John_B: Think of it like Australia in terms of car evolution. It broke off from vehicular pangea about 28 years ago.

LOL, well put. And to think, just a couple miles to the east is "The Whistles Go WOO-WOO!"

Quite a Bubbruxtapostion.

@franzouse: And on the seventh day, the Lord created internal combustion, and it was good........

@tenbeers: Look around your own neighborhoods you would be impressed at what little Gems you find. Just in my tract there are plenty of DOTS candidates to be seen. I even found a Mini mark II in the tract next to mine. Now if that dammed Polara would come out of hibernation on it's driveway...

.@Froggmann:
Most of mine are in fields and barns guarded by puppy dogs with big teeth.

Alameda also somehow contains St. George's Liquor, which makes some really tasty stuff. I just don't recommend their single malt. They claim it doesn't need aged because it's made "so purely." Let's just say that's not the case.

That island is bursting at the seams with awesome.

@Froggmann:
Northern Virginia is an interesting vehicle wasteland. Every single car on the road is a generic yuppie statusmobile, poorly driven SUV, or boring econobox. Sure, from time to time there's the occasional Viper, and someone in the condo complex next door drives an Aston Martin, but I honestly can't remember the last time I saw something memorable. Even the street truck and import tuner scenes barely exist.

I know they're out there somewhere, though. I'll find them if it's the last thing I do! *shakes fist*

@Ash & Carry: And old houses with no room for garages.

If nothing else, DOTS has given us a better appreciation of all older cars, good and bad.

Just think ... today's POS cars can be the future DOTS.

@Murilee Martin: That is a good point, every neighborhood around here is covered by nazi-like HOAs, so all the cars with character are probably banished to McMansion garages, lest the owners get fined for having a car older than a 2005 model in their driveways.

These 50 cars would make a pretty damn nice fantasy garage.

Except for the Reliant. ;)

I was amazed by the difference in car culture, moving away from the D.C. region to Greenville, SC. It was rare when I spotted another old car on the streets up there. Down here, I see at least 4 or 5 every day. Yesterday seemed to be Vee-Dub-Day. I counted 4 old beetles on my drive home from work- all being driven.

Dang, I'd forgotten about that black drop top 66 Dodge 440.

Seriously, we have to organize a field trip to Alameda. In old VW buses and/or back of pickup/amino.

@Novaload:If I had a better attention span I would grab some commute shots--last week 1 70 or so Chevelle rumbled by me at the interstate junction and this a.m. I passed a first year Camaro (with antique tags--that hurt) rolling along 5th street.

Great photos, Mr. Martin. Were I to do a similar project in the Detroit neighborhoods where I drive, the title would need to be changed. "Rust Wars" perhaps?

Features would be something like: "Chevy Corsica Poll: Running or Dead?" And the 'Scort of the Week.

Yah, generally speaking, it would suck. Fortunately we have your finds to ogle over. Keep up the good work.

Thank you, Murilee.

Awesome. All awesome.

I'm developing that skill too. Got followed by an '80s Alfa today (almost exactly like the Graduate, but silver with the original alloys). Made my day. Saw a VW Quantum the other day, too, and I've been stalking a white 914...

Not bad for a small, garage-filled New Hampshire town... I never seem to have my camera though.

@FuzzyPlushroom: Oh yeah, and a nearly-immaculate Fairmont sedan, which apparently counts now that we have the DOTS Reliant.

@Novaload: Yea I hear you there, I started a little out on the freeway series but recently pickens have been slim but some gems do show up:

@Murilee Martin: The no garages thing seems to be essential.

The neighborhood I live in was built in the 1840s - so on my block we have three driveways, and no garages. That cars of the rising sun post you did; I live there. Lots of interesting stuff around.

I need to send in pictures of some of the unique old iron that resides here in Tombstone, AZ. Desert climate, no rust, everything lasts forever. Everybody here has a project car (lawn monument) that this crowd here would love. Hell, there's a guy here who drives a '21 Model T every day.