Jalopnik: Denver

Circling The Wagons In Denver: Chevy Biscayne, Olds Cutlass, And Plymouth Suburban

Murilee Martin — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 15:00:00 EST

This is Down On The Street Bonus Edition, where we check out interesting street-parked cars located in places other than the Island That Rust Forgot. I just got back from Denver, where I photographed a few cool old cars parked on the street, including a very nice early Mini… but you don't get to see that today. Instead, you get something even better! Denver-based Kitt and EJacobs continue to send in good stuff found in their neighborhoods (south and northwest Denver, respectively), and today we'll be admiring a trio of vintage Detroit wagons that continue to remind us that SUVs didn't always reign supreme in the family-hauling department. Make the jump for many, many photos.

The Olds and Plymouth wagons were shot by Kitt.

Here's what EJacobs has to say about this Chevy Biscayne wagon: This sucker still does trailering duty for lawn mowing equipment. Much respect for being such a raw, old working 'mobile. Probably would survive most apocalypses. And it's a wagon. The interior is disintegrating. And the rear seats are...folded down, I guess. Somehow, I think that's a permanent feature.

DOTS FAQ

Nice Price Or Crack Pipe: The $6,200 Geo Metro?

Murilee Martin — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 08:00:00 EST

Here we go with Nice Price Or Crack Pipe again, offering a chance to chime in with your opinion on reasonable-versus-unreasonable vehicle asking prices. Last time, garbooned poll hamsters made it impossible to say with scientific certainty whether or not the $14,900 Ford Fairmontchero would have been an overwhelming Crack Pipe winner, but the tone of the comments certainly gave that impression. Today we need to look at the recent run-up in Geo Metro prices and decide whether we think six-plus grand is still beyond reason for a low-miles Metro convertible.

Thanks to Chris for the tip! [Craigslist Denver; go here if listing disappears]

1973 MG Midget

Murilee Martin — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 13:40:00 EDT

This is Down On The Street Bonus Edition, where we check out interesting street-parked cars located in places other than the Island That Rust Forgot. After the Shark and Minnow Midget/Continental combo, it only seemed right to share some photos of another street-parked Midget (ideally, one not overshadowed by some monster land yacht), and Kitt has shot such a car for us in her South Denver neighborhood. This one's for sale, and instead of a price it's got a printout of the NADA Guides retail value; hey, it's worth a try! I've done a fair amount of Midget driving, and they're a lot of fun… provided you carry every tool you own in the boot- you'll need 'em, thanks to the one-two punch of Lucas Electrics and SU carbs- and don't mind the disconcerting experience of viewing the undersides of truck trailers on the freeway.

DOTS FAQ

1961 Dodge Lancer 770 In Denver May Be Obama's Personal Campaign Vehicle

Murilee Martin — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 13:20:00 EDT

This is Down On The Street Bonus Edition, where we check out interesting street-parked cars located in places other than the Island That Rust Forgot. It's been a while since we've seen one of Denver's many cool street-parked cars, and what better place to look for one than right in the heart of the Democratic National Convention madness downtown? That's what Kitt thought, so she braved the protesters and riot-ready cops to shoot this '61 Lancer. Now, we can't say for sure, but speculation (well, my speculation, anyway) has it that Barack Obama plans to drive this car for the rest of the campaign, to show that he's a man of the people! Make the jump for more of my ~~crackbrained theory~~ political insight (and the rest of the photos of this fine automobile).

See, the Lancer was Dodge's innovative compact car for '61, based on the new Valiant and priced at just $2,007 for the base 170 model. It's from Detroit's Golden Age, with relatively happy unions, high pay, and no threat from them damn Toyopets, so it will help convince the all-important hardhat vote that Obama is on their side when they hear that good ol' Slant Six go by. But, see, Obama would look too stolid driving the base 170, so that's why this car is the slightly pricier 770 coupe, which had enough chrome to look stylishly youthful without implying a sense of elitism. The Rat Fink sticker just adds to the efffect. Oh, just wait and see, folks!

Meanwhile, John McCain is going to be put on the defensive if he's seen cruising around in a new SUV or limo after the bombshell of the Obama Lancer is dropped, so we'll see him behind the wheel of a Falcon or Chevy II within a matter of hours. Yes, we're looking at an early-60s Detroit compact war for Campaign '08! You heard it here first!

DOTS FAQ

Dirt-Oval Veteran '38 Ford Would Be Hell Project, Definitely Worth The Pain

Murilee Martin — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 17:00:00 EDT

I'm in Denver pretty regularly, and that means I'm often roaming about the area with camera in hand, looking for more photos of street-parked old vehicles to add to the Down On The Street Bonus Edition stash. I was happy to find three vintage Fairlanes on a previous trip, but I just about flew through the windshield in Englewood, so hard did I brake when I spotted what appeared to be an original 1950s race car sitting on a trailer in an industrial 'hood. I didn't know it yet, but I'd arrived at RoadSideWerx.

I went inside the shop to talk to Matt, the very friendly über-gearhead running the joint, and the place was full of rod projects, vintage car magazines and posters, even a breathtakingly original Jag E-Type.

It turns out that the '38 has a storied (though somewhat murky) racing history dating back to the 1950s, and it's currently inspiring feverish dreams of driving the ultimate rat rod in the minds of just about every right-thinking person who catches sight of it. I am forced to admit that I contemplated the logistics of buying it as my personal Hell Project, but I have about 0.004% of the wrenching chops needed to make this thing come back to life. Let's read what Matt has to say about this car:

I am flattered and enthusiastic to get a post up on Jalopnik. Hopefully from visiting RoadSideWerx, it is evident that we build and collect Classic Cars and Hot Rods with pure heart and soul; many people are in it for the money. We are in it for the nostalgia of the sport, and to pay tribute to the men and cars themselves that created a classic American era. To tell you a little bit about the car, I would most respectfully like to correct you in that the car is not a '36 Ford race car, rather it is a 1938 racer. More specially, a 1938 Ford Special Deluxe Business Coupe, which I'm sure you already know is a gem in its rarity to the era. I would also like to tell you that while I may not know the exact history behind the automobile, the factoids and stories I have come across tell me that this is not a piece of automotive history to be overlooked.

Being a survivor of the 1964 Denver flood, much of the car's exterior and interior has been left rusted and worn. Fortunately, for history's purpose, on the driver's side door, one can clearly see that this is car #66 that was raced at Lakeside Amusement park/raceway. From the history that I have received on the car, it was also raced on the Englewood speedway, which was prominently active in the 1950's and 1960's by local gear-heads and builders. The car is also known as a dirt oval, the earliest form of a NASCAR. To my knowledge, it is in its complete and original form from this period in which it was driven.

Logistically speaking this is what we know about the car's build and engine:
* Driven off the track
* 24 stud - flathead engine
* 1938-1939 - 3 Speed - Top-loader transmission
* Ford wide bolt pattern with custom off set for oval racing
* The wheels are Volkswagon style, which offered better performance for racing because it didn't tear the lug nuts out.
* Custom offset wheels that were done by the owner, showing his true early race background. It also demonstrates that the builder put true thought and detail behind this racer.
* The rear bumper is a narrow gauge railroad track piece... not really significant to performance or ability, but just a fun fact about the car to be shared and mentioned.
* The front wishbone was used as a radiator protector
* Steering shaft with sector gear on the front was removable to remove tow bar, the car then, was towed behind a car to the track.

As I mentioned earlier, I unfortunately cannot provide you with the exact history of racer #66. From what I am told, it is from two brothers with the last name of Bluemont. I was also loosely told that they it is likely that these brothers (Art is the name of one of the brothers), were local racers and perhaps owned a gas station or two. My guess would be that their gas stations had affiliation with Amoco, due to a sticker that is on the car. Don't take my word for it, but that would be my best guess. The car itself was found fenced into a backyard that couldn't be seen from the road. It sat in this yard from the late 50's or early 60's until I was lucky enough to stumble upon it. The woman whose yard it resided in is probably close to 90 years old. That being said, I'm not sure her accuracy is up to par, but it is thought that her husband and/or brother-in-law owned and raced the car. This was outstanding to me, if that is true, than this makes me only the second or third owner of a car that is around 70 years old. Sadly, at this point in my e mail, my story and knowledge of the car is limited. I do look forward to learning more about it, and experiencing this true find of an authentic hot rod.

Best,
Matt

Bavaria In The Rockies: A Trio Of Colorado BMW Survivors

Murilee Martin — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 15:00:00 EDT

This is Down On The Street Bonus Edition, where we check out interesting street-parked cars located in places other than Island That Rust Forgot. I've got quite the stockpile of photographs from Denver, thanks to Kitt, EJacobs, and my own bimonthly visits to the Mile High City. Today we're going to have another 3-Fer-1 Colorado-palooza, with one BMW from each of us!

First up is this BMW 633CSi, found in northwestern Denver by Ejacobs. This car looks about as nice as it's possible for a 25-year-old driver to be, particularly in a town with snowy winters and harsh sun.

Now it's Kitt's turn. This 2002 was shot last winter- yeah, it sometimes takes me forever to get to these photos- in the parking lot at the Arapahoe Basin ski area. Yes, Colorado BMW owners know you don't need a damn Explorer or Forester just to go skiing! This car's a little rough, but it still gets the job done after all these decades.

Here's a Malaise 2002 I found near the University of Denver; the square taillights and 5 MPH bumpers mean it's a '74-76 model, and it appears that Denver-registered vehicles newer than 1959 require biannual smog checks, so the owner of this rough-but-serviceable 2002 can't do much about the lo-po engine and remain legal. Can't they get rid of wood-burning stoves instead?

Down On The Street FAQ

Sunday! Sunday! Sunday! Nitro Fumes And Meat On A Stick At The Mopar Mile High Nationals!

Murilee Martin — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 10:00:00 EDT

Last weekend, I found myself in Denver on short notice, and damn if they weren't running the Mopar Mile High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway! As a Doctor Of Automotive Journalism, it was my sacred duty to check it out, regardless of the fact that I hadn't brought my good camera. It was 97 degrees in the shade, engines and sea-level humans were gasping for oxygen, and there was much grumbling that Top Fuel and Funny Car classes were running 320 feet less than before...but there's still no substitute for the apocalyptic full-body sensation of an 8,000 horsepower blown Hemi blasting off a few yards away. Make the jump for the complete gallery.

[Race Results]

Three Photographers, Seven Fords, One Mile-High City

Murilee Martin — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 14:00:00 EDT

So the DOTS Bonus Edition photos keep rolling in from every direction- and I'm doing my best to post them all- but the stockpile of car photos from Denver has reached absurd proportions. First there was Kitt on the south side, then EJacobs started shooting interesting old cars in the northwestern part of town; by this time I have a backlog of a dozen vehicles from each of them. To add to the fun, I get shipped to Denver for work every few months, so I can add my own photos to the list! Today, we've got one set of photos each from Kitt, Ejacobs, and me. The unifying theme: Old Fords! Make the jump for three more big galleries.

First up is what appears to be a '40 ~~Ford~~ Mercury with a towbar semi-permanently attached. It looks like it runs under its own power, so perhaps it lives behind a giant RV most of the time; bet that makes an impression at the campground! The chainsaw manual on the front seat is an interesting touch.

Now here's a pack of three Ford products- technically, two Fords and a Lincoln- that live together in EJacobs' neighborhood. Looks like we've got a '68 Fairlane 500, a '53 Ford, and a '77 Lincoln Continental Mark V coupe. Fords from three different decades, and virtually no parts interchangeability!

Last up are some photos of a matched set of three Fairlane 500s, clearly owned by the same person. It seems to be a Denver tradition to own three similar old cars and park them on the street, and the owner of these Fairlanes might well have more of them stashed in the garage and/or the back yard. I believe we're looking at two '65s and a '67, two coupes and a sedan. The rough-looking '65 in the middle is clearly the hot rod of the trio, with traction bars, dual exhaust, the half-Cragar treatment, and a floor-shift manual transmission. It's got 289 emblems, but there's no telling what's really under the hood; let's hope it's a 427!

In A City Of Subarus, The BRAT Stands Out

Murilee Martin — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 14:00:00 EDT

What with all the great DOTSBE photos coming in from readers all over the globe, we haven't had a chance to show any Denver cars for a few weeks. This means we have quite the backlog, because in addition to Denver regulars Kitt and Ejacobs, I get shipped to Denver for work every so often and shoot the occasional street-parked vehicle myself while in town. Today is Kitt's turn, with this clean BRAT she found in her South Denver 'hood. It seems that every third vehicle in town is a Subaru, but you don't see many of these things around.

Coors Puts Beer Waste To Use As Ethanol

Travis Hudson — Fri, 23 May 2008 10:05:00 EDT

As we continue our march towards the end of the highest-priced gas day of the year, let's turn to something a little bit more enjoyable to think about — like beer! Who says you have to harvest football fields worth of corn for one gallon of ethanol? Molson Coors Brewing Company, the company behind the delectable Coors Light has announced that it is the official E85 ethanol producer for the 2008 Democratic National Convention. Wait, what? Seriously? A beer company is the ethanol sponsor for the Democratic National Convention?

Of course! You see, as former Jalopnik Mike Austin found out a couple of years back, Coors has been putting beer to debatably better use by harvesting ethanol out of wasted malted carbonated hops during the manufacturing process. Sure, ethanol may help with the performance of your car, but how's it going to fraternity parties nationwide to not have access to cheap beer because Coors is busy spending time on getting Ethanol out of waste matter? Seriously, the nerve of some companies.

Anyway, the Coors Brewing Company in Golden, Co., is capable of producing three million gallons of ethanol per year. The link to the Democratic National Convention is a distant one, at best — although if you've been covering the process of choosing a Democratic party candidate this election cycle you'll realize how important it would be to have three million gallons of beer at the convention rather than ethanol. Not that the convention being held in Denver will need three million gallons of ethanol, as Coors will provide the ethanol to power the flex-fuel vehicles being used for the convention.

But, Coors will also be the official beer sponsor of the convention as well — just hope those hog-wild Democrats can differ between the two prior to consumption in case they accidentally do bring a case or two of the wrong alcohol mixture with them. [Newsblaze] (Image via Getty)

Another Alfa Romeo GT Down On The Denver Street

Murilee Martin — Wed, 21 May 2008 16:40:00 EDT

Remember when Kitt photographed an early 70s Alfa Romeo GT in her Denver neighborhood? What are the chances that another Alfa of similar vintage would be found across town by EJacobs? Welcome to Denver, where old Italian iron seems to survive just fine! This one is a bit more battered than the other, and the lack of license plates may indicate that it doesn't drive much, but it's on the street and looking pretty good.

Oslo Traction-Avant... Or Denver SM?

Murilee Martin — Thu, 08 May 2008 16:00:00 EDT

After seeing some old Citröens down on the Oslo street yesterday, Denver's Kitt ran right out and shot a Citröen in her neighborhood. And not just a garden-variety DS or 2CV- this here is a genuine JFG-worthy SM! Looks like this one may be paying one of its all-too-common visits to the shop, but it's still alive and on the street!

Volvo Bertone Flashes Italo-Swedish Style On Denver's Boulevards

Murilee Martin — Tue, 06 May 2008 16:00:00 EDT

There's a Volvo 262C parked in a driveway scant blocks from my house; it would be a super-cool DOTS car, but it's off-limits. Not so for the Bertone in ejacobs' neighborhood, which is on the street and set up for easy photography with no other vehicles nearby. These things sold for 15 grand back in the day, well over twice the price of a regular 242; this one has some rust, but looks pretty complete.

British Steel Screaming For Vengeance In Denver

Murilee Martin — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:00:00 EDT

We need more Judas Priest references here, and Denver's EJacops has given us the opportunity to drop a couple by finding and photographing these three British machines in his neighborhood. We've got a shockingly rust-free TR6, a Land Rover that seems ready to claw its way straight up the nearest 14,000-foot mountain, and when was the last time you saw a TR3 parked on the street in a manner that suggests it actually runs regularly? Good work, EJacobs! Make the jump for a second gallery.

1976 AMC Matador Brings A Taste Of Kenosha Malaise To Denver's Streets

Murilee Martin — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 14:00:00 EDT

We're being buried under a deluge of car photos from Kitt and EJacobs, our dog-walking, camera-wielding friends in Denver, so we'd better keep 'em coming if we're ever going to get caught up. Today we're going to look at a battered but proud Malaise Matador, courtesy of Kitt. We can't be sure that this car is equipped with today's Engine of the Day, but there's a good chance a torquey AMC 258 motivates this survivor; otherwise it has a 304, 360, or 401.

The Denver Iron Keeps Coming: Early Datsun 240Z

Murilee Martin — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 12:30:00 EDT

Now that we've got two photographers out shooting Denver DOTSBE cars while out walking their respective dogs, we can expect to see plenty of vintage machinery from the streets of the Mile High City. Today we're going to look at a solid-looking 1970 or 1971 Datsun 240Z (Z experts, please help out on the exact year here) shot by Ejacobs, who brought us the late-40s International Harvester KB-3 last week.

The Forgotten Charger Thrives In The Mile High City

Murilee Martin — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 16:40:00 EDT

You hear a lot about the late-60s Chargers, the Malaise Era Chargers, and the current crop, but what about the forgotten '66 and '67 models? Some think they're homely (and suspiciously similar in design to the AMC Marlin), but 40+ years sit pretty well on this '66 that the unstoppable Kitt found in her Denver neighborhood. In this case, the car's proud owner was present and happy to open hood and doors to facilitate photography of his Dodge (which, sadly, lacks the optional 426 Hemi).

Studebaker President? No, Packard Clipper!

Murilee Martin — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 15:30:00 EDT

Not to be outdone by her crosstown rival ejacobs, Kitt is responding to the 60-year-old International Harvester with the response from Denver's South Side: this 1957 Packard Clipper. It's big, it's pink, and it's a badge-engineered Studebaker President, a relic of Packard's abrupt decline and fall after its purchase of Studebaker. Sadly, 1958 was to be Packard's last year.

Yet More Vintage Machinery From Denver's Streets

Murilee Martin — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 15:00:00 EDT

When you see "Denver" in the title, you might figure you're looking at more shots by prolific DOTSBE photographer Kitt. But hold on- now we've got two readers shooting interesting vehicles on the streets of John Fante's hometown. We've got Kitt covering the south side of town and ejacobs working the northwest neighborhoods. He's already sent in several sets of photos, and we're going to start with this International Harvester KB-3 pickup, built during the 1947-1949 period. Looks like Denver is trying to match Alameda, one vehicle at a time!

A Quartet Of Chevy Pickups Down On The Denver Street

Murilee Martin — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 13:30:00 EDT

Since Truck Monday has been a Down On The Street tradition for quite a few weeks, we might as well extend the concept to DOTS Bonus Edition. And who else but Denver's Kitt could go out and find not just one but four cool old Chevy pickups for us? We got what appears to be a '69, a '70, a '72, and a '77, each earning its keep in the 5280. It's a Quadra-Truck-Stravaganza! Make the jump to see four- count 'em, four- additional galleries!

Land Cruiser Still Earning Its Keep In Denver

Murilee Martin — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 14:00:00 EDT

You think Kitt and her trusty canine sidekick have given up looking for cool old cars in their Denver neighborhood? No way! After the big-block El Camino last week, we're getting a Toyota Land Cruiser that's still in service as a painter's work truck. I've given up trying to guess the years on these things, especially when they've been modified, though the side marker lights may indicate a late-60s/early-70s model here. Make the jump for an additional gallery.

Big-Block 1967 Chevrolet El Camino Higher Than Just 5280 Feet

Murilee Martin — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 14:00:00 EDT

Once again, Denver's own Kitt has found an interesting vehicle parked on the streets of her city, and had camera in hand to capture it for use. Now, this might actually be a "big-block" El Camino (with a 267 or 305 or even a six-banger under the hood0, but then you figure there's no point in doing an emblem upgrade on a total beater, right? For that matter, it might not even be a '67, despite the grille, what with the parts swapping that takes place with these cartrucks; note the Malibu emblem on the glovebox lid. No matter, because on Maximum El Camino Day we love all truckcars, not just the ones that can withstand the scrutiny of uptight car judges! Be sure to make the jump and catch the rest of the photos in Part 2.

1960 Studebaker Lark Craves Rocky Mountain Oysters

Murilee Martin — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 11:00:00 EDT

With all these DOTS Bonus Edition cars lately, Kitt wants us to be sure we don't forget that her neighborhood in Denver is bursting at the seams with quality vintage iron. Last week our DOTSBE Denver machine was the Apocalypse-Ready Bronco, and now we're going to follow up yesterday's Seattle Stude with another South Bend special. This Lark looks pretty good on the left side, but the other side needs a little work. And, hey, it's for sale! Make the jump for more quality Kitt photos.

Denver Bronco Ready For The Apocalypse

Murilee Martin — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 14:00:00 EST

What year Bronco are we looking at here? Well, there's a 302 emblem, and dual fuel tanks, and a blacked-out grille... but these clues don't mean a whole lot when they're on a vehicle that's probably had more than 50% of its components swapped from other trucks during its lifetime. 1970? 1975? You tell us! Kitt has added another well-traveled old truck to our collection of Down On The Denver Street entries; now we've got a Rampage, an IH Travelall, a Dodge Camper Special, and a Cherokee. Make the jump for more photos.

Mile-High Jeep Cherokee Laughs At Rust

Murilee Martin — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 15:00:00 EST

You see some Denver DOTSBE photos and you figure Kitt probably shot 'em, right? In this case you'd be wrong; I get out to Denver every so often myself, and I happened to have my trusty SD800 handy when I ran across this Cherokee a couple months back. I can tell it's from the 1974-79 range, but we'll need a serious Jeep expert to pin down the exact year. In any case, it's got a little bit of rot, but at the present rate of decay it should still be around in another 25 years. Make the jump for Part Two of the gallery.

This Corvair Convertible Doesn't Fear Colorado Snow!

Murilee Martin — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 10:20:00 EST

Once again, Kitt finds us another cool car parked on the streets of Denver; this time she's persuaded the owner to open the doors and engine cover, in an obvious attempt to knock the DOTS crown from Alameda's dome. This time the car is a ~~1960~~ 1962 Chevy Corvair convertible, which, judging from its showroom-floor condition, doesn't live on the street all the time. Rudy Giuliani must be envious! Make the jump for many, many more photos.

1971 Dodge Camper Special

Murilee Martin — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 10:30:00 EST

Not content to rest on her laurels for having found a street-parked Maserati Mistral, reader Kitt continues to make a case for Denver as a worthy rival for Alameda in the DOTS Intergalactic Superchampionship. This time she's found a solid-looking '71 Dodge Camper Special... only where's the camper? Make the jump to see the rest of the photos.

Denver Answers Alameda With A Maserati Mistral!

Murilee Martin — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 13:30:00 EST

Sometimes I get to feeling pretty cocky about Alameda's Down On The Street dominance; after all, what other city (outside of Havana) could possibly boast so much old iron parked on its streets? But now Denver's Kitt has followed up her shots of a street-parked early 70s Alfa Romeo GT with some shots of an even rarer Italian machine: a mid-to-late-60s Maserati Mistral Spyder. Make the jump to see even more photographs of this perfect storm of Italian design and Lucas fuel injection. Wait, a car that combines Italian reliability with fuel injection by the Prince of Darkness himself? I must find one of these cars for PCH!

You Want Cool Saab 900s? Go To Denver!

Murilee Martin — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 15:30:00 EST

Every time I found a nice old Alameda Volvo for DOTS, the Saab-o-philes would tilt their heads up to a grim frozen uncaring sky and bewail my obvious anti-Saab bias, no doubt imploring Odin to send those damn Göteborg bricks straight to the Crusher. But what can I say? We just don't have old Saabs on the island! I did my best to find one, eventually running across this '85 900 4-door, but that hardly counts. However, I was in Denver last weekend, and they've got old Saabs everywhere in that town, including plenty of turbo cars. So I whipped out the camera and shot this snowstorm-veteran late-80s 900 Turbo convertible, battered but not rusty. Yeah, it's not a 99, but you take what you can get.

In spite of the snow on the ground, it wouldn't have been a bad day for top-down Saab driving- 60 degrees, sunny, and pleasant out that day!

Full-Size 1973 Mercury: Best F----n' Car Ever Made!

Murilee Martin — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 14:30:00 EST

Last time I was in Denver, I risked the wrath of our secret overlords by photographing their Mind Control Pinto at the airport; so far I haven't been shipped off to a re-education facility located at a defunct drive-in theater, but we all know it's best not to cross the Shadow Government. Now I'm back in the Mile High City, and this time I've found a pair of '73 Mercuries (one Marquis and one Monterey) whose owner was overjoyed to have his car photographed. He was taking advantage of a nice 55-degree day to change the coolant in his pair of 35-year-old daily drivers.

The front car is a 1973 Mercury Marquis Brougham 4-door hardtop, equipped with all the Early Malaise Era luxury goodies... some of which may even be functional today!

The other one is a 1973 Mercury Monterey 4-door sedan. Other than some rear quarter rust, it's in pretty nice shape.

The Marquis has a peeling vinyl top and has been hit pretty hard (the owner described rear-ending "some fuckin' idiot," and we must assume the other vehicle didn't look so good after this barge plowed into it.

460 cubic inches, complete with 4-barrel carb. I don't have my reference guide handy, but '73 was early enough in the Malaise Era that the power numbers were still respectable. Bet this car can do some pretty mean burnouts! The Monterey has the 400 engine, which is quite well endowed in the torque department in spite of having fewer cubes.

Now that's class! Detroit might consider a return to unabashed cheeze such as faux-royal crests- it's much more fun than hard plastic imitations of European luxury interiors.

Mile-High Alfa Romeo GT

Murilee Martin — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 12:30:00 EST

Here's another set of car photos sent by Denver's tireless Kitt; I'm starting to think that Denver might be worthy of its own DOTS series, judging by all the cool Mile High iron we've seen so far ('79 Camaro, '69 IH Travelall, '90 Porsche 944 Cabrio, Shadow Government Pinto, AMC Eagle, '84 Dodge Rampage, and the Not So Welcome Wagon Country Squire). Make the jump for the details...

This latest find is an early-70s member of the Alfa Romeo GT family; I'm going to admit right now that I don't know these cars well enough to nail down the exact year and model. I think it's a '72 or '73, but this is one of those cars that will require the expertise of our readers to fill in the blanks. Whatever it is, this car parks on the street and gets driven regularly- no garage queen here. And, yes, the weather in the photos doesn't look like Denver in wintertime; as those of you who have sent me photos know by now, it often takes me quite a while to get around to posting reader-submitted DOTSBE photos.

1979 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Down On Denver's Street

Murilee Martin — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 11:00:00 EST

Not content with just sending in photos of a '69 IH Travelall, AMC Eagle, and the Deadhead Rampage, Denver-based reader Kitt once again had camera at the ready when this '79 Camaro Malaised its way into her field of vision. Even though it looks something like Jeff Spicoli tried to fix it with his dad's TV repair tools, it still has gobs of character.

DOTS, Denver Edition: International Harvester Travelall

Murilee Martin — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 10:00:00 EST

After seeing how much everyone liked yesterday's DOTS Scout, I remembered that I had some IH photos sent in by a reader (those of you who send me your local DOTS photos: I have 'em and I haven't forgotten you, really) and decided to break them out for a Down On The Street Bonus Edition. Our source for all things Denver, Kitt, saw this Travelall on the street in her neighborhood and had camera at the ready. I'm pretty sure this is a '69 or '70 model, and it looks to be in great shape.

16 Ventiler, Denver Style!

Murilee Martin — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 13:30:00 EST

We can once again thank reader Kitt for having her camera ready when she spotted another interesting street-parked Denver machine, in this case a fairly rare Porsche 944 cabriolet. Since the convertible was only made for two years, it's either a '90 or '91 944S; Porsche maniacs, please to use the German precision to tell us this automobile's exact model year.

We dig the Deutschified emblems boasting of the engine's 16 valves (I believe the literal translation is "16-Valver"); why don't the Japanese do the same with their cars' cool features and use Kanji characters on their emblems?

The interior is in excellent condition, which means the car hasn't spent too many days exposed to the fierce sun in the Mile High City.

All in all, a great-looking car. You can get a 944 pretty cheap these days, too... but better start saving your pfennigs for the timing-belt replacement. Or any maintenance, for that matter.

Shadow Government Pinto Rules World From DIA

Murilee Martin — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 11:30:00 EST

Since we all know the secret world government is located in a bunker complex beneath Denver International Airport, a bunch of puzzle pieces fell into place when I saw this Pinto parked in the DIA rental-car lot. Yes, our cruel overlords use the roof-mounted cargo box on this car to hide their mind-control transmitter. Fortunately, I was wearing my tinfoil Homburg while picking up my rental car, and thus my mind was sufficiently unclouded to capture these photographs.

You gotta figure anyone who has this sign on their car and takes it to the airport during Panic Condition Vermillion... well, they don't worry about The Man, because they are The Man.

And what better disguise for your mind-control antennae than what appear to be diamond-plate patches over common rust areas? Clever, those Cruel Overlords!

The grenade shift knob is a fashion just waiting to hit the mainstream. Cars with column shifters could use sticks of dynamite for the lever.

Yes, a crafty camouflage job... but not crafty enough to fool Los Jalops!

The Eagle Has Landed.... In Denver

Murilee Martin — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 16:00:00 EST

So back in the late Malaise Era, AMC was on the ropes. They needed a product that nobody else had, something that would turn their fortunes around. Since they already had a bunch of four-wheel-drive know-how and hardware on the shelf, they bolted all that stuff onto the Concord wagon and voilà! A station wagon that could deal with nasty road conditions and didn't suck quite as much gas as a big ol' 4x4 truck. As if Americans would ever buy a jacked-up station wagon that combines SUV and car attributes! Our Denver-based friend Kitt (who brought us the Not So Welcome Wagon and Denver Deadhead Rampage) spotted this fine machine near Denver University and was kind enough to send in some photos.

I can't figure out the year on this Eagle, other than narrowing it down to the '81-84 model years. These things are still fairly common in Colorado, for the same reasons that half the drivers in the state have Subaru Outbacks. If only AMC had known they had the right idea at the wrong time! Feel free to cut loose with bitter AMC-based rants, folks, and be sure to bring up the Alliance.

Denver Deadhead Rampage!

Murilee Martin — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 15:30:00 EDT

Remember the Dodge Rampage? Yes, for a while in the mid-80s you could get a factory-built Dodge Omniamino, but these days they're as rare as pastel leg warmers and cellphones that weigh 20 pounds. Fortunately, loyal Denver-based reader Kitt had camera at the ready when she spotted this fine example of the Little Front-Drive Pickup That Could (Not Sell).

The owner of this truckcar has given it his or her own special style, with a curious mix of Grateful Dead, safety-stripe, and general skullish themes.

It's nice to see Dead-related stuff on a vehicle other than a faded Subaru or beater Tercel. This Rampage gets bonus points for not having a single one of those irritating "dancing bear" images anywhere on it. Just the Steal Your Face skulls for this Mopar!

It's got the marker lights. It's got the roof-mounted spotlight. It's got the air horns. A little more of this stuff and we might be seeing the world's first Dekotoramino!

The owner wants everyone to know this is an '84 model, not one of those boring '82s or '83s. Duly noted.

Hmmm... what do these skulls represent? Kills? That seems somehow... un-Deadhead-like. Maybe the owner just likes skulls.

Spiked Squire: Denver Rolls Out The Not-So-Welcome Wagon

Murilee Martin — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 10:30:00 EDT

Our friend Kitt in Denver sends in these photos of an evil-looking '66 Country Squire she spotted menacing her neighborhood. Now, when you take a family hauler and attempt to make it look mean, you're walking a pretty thin line between looking good and looking lame (the same rule applies to tattoos, of course). We think bolting 1981-punk-style spikes on a car is a longshot bet, but the overall effect here gets the Jalop Stamp-O-Approval.

You see, this wagon definitely falls on the mean side of the mean/silly line (though not without a modicum of irony, which we also like).

First of all, it's got Cherry Bombs!

Second, it's got a big-block. No wimpy 289 for this Country Squire!

The backyard flame job works pretty well, too.

The front end of the big Ford for '66 looked somewhat similar to the '65, with similar stacked headlights, but the grille was quite different.

The Denver Not So Welcome Wagon would like to extend an extra-special non-welcome to hippies.

A lowered 60s wagon with dogdish hubcaps just seems right. Of course, we also like vintage wagons in full-on suburban fake-woodgrain regalia. Or jacked-up vintage wagons with blowers sticking a couple feet out of the hood. Hell, we just like vintage wagons!

These spikes are just begging for a lawsuit from a perforated pedestrian or bike rider. But, ya see, that's the owner's way of telling the world he doesn't fear The Man's legal system. The Man keeps you down! The Man steals your soul! Fight the power!

Cars don't rust as quickly in Denver as they would in the Midwest, but they are subject to a certain amount of winter road salt. It's good to see this 41-year-old street-driven car in such solid shape.

Wait, it's a Country S!

(Insert obligatory "Fords used to have style" rant here)

The factory steel wheels with dogdish hubcaps look great, though we'd prefer to see wider ones with meatier tires. Still, the effect works well.

Going Underground: Corvette, Mountaineer Found in Denver's Dirt

Mike Spinelli — Thu, 18 May 2006 08:19:05 EDT

Nope, it's not some literal interpretation of "Need for Speed Underground"; it's a manner of automotive graveyard, which police in Denver unearthed yesterday. Acting on an anonymous tip, authorities found the remains of a stolen C5 Corvette (pictured) and a Mercury Mountaineer. Both had been stripped for parts. Forensic teams are combing the area with a metal detector to see if any other treasures might also have been buried. In other news, Jimmy Hoffa may still be down there.

CO Police Unearth Auto Graveyard. Literally. [Noonzwheels]

Denver May End Sniffer Tests

Davey G. Johnson — Wed, 14 Dec 2005 18:34:21 EST

Authorities in the Mile High City may be fixin' to put down their emissions testing program like a huntin' dog with a busted nose. Back in the 1970s, Denver had the highest carbon monoxide numbers in the nation and enacted tailpipe testing in 1980. Now, with the advent of 'lectronic smog-suppressin' wizardry and sneaky sniffer vans to hunt down gross emitters like the wretched vermin they are, some officials are wondering if the return on the $26 mil a year invested in the program is too low.

Colordado may end Denver tailpipe testing [UPI]

Related:
Another Slant on Pennsylvania and CARB [Internal]