<![CDATA[Jalopnik: southern california]]> http://tags.jalopnik.com/assets/base/img/thumbs140x140/jalopnik.com.png <![CDATA[Jalopnik: southern california]]> http://jalopnik.com/tag/southerncalifornia http://jalopnik.com/tag/southerncalifornia <![CDATA[Rust, Bad! Southern California 356, Good!]]> 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. Here's a sight you don't see very often these days.

Sharp-eyed reader Cameron took these shots for us. Here's what he has to say:

Spotted this survivor T6-body 356B in Eagle Rock. Original paint, Black license plates, sixties era band stickers — I couldn't get a look at the mileage, but I wouldn't be surprised if this is a one-owner car. Enjoy!!

Check out the 356 Spotters Guide at the 356 Registry — it might make a fun game "What year is this Porsche and why?" Answer: Drum brakes!! It has drum brakes and T-6 356C's have disks. It took me about an hour to figure that out. Enjoy!!



Down On The Street FAQ

]]>
http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5371760&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[DOTS-O-Rama Saturday, Tomsk Edition: Malaise Yank Tanks Of Orange County]]> Even with most of the weekend's posts focused on 24 Hours Of LeMons South coverage, we still need to keep up with Down On The Street Bonus Edition. Tomsk has sent in many, many photos.

In fact, he's shot so many interesting cars and trucks down on the Newport Beach and Costa Mesa streets that I have no choice but to share some of them. We've seen other Tomsk DOTSBE cars before, and we're sure to see more in the future, since rust-free Orange County is loaded to the gunwales with old iron. First up is this trio of Malaise Detroit Iron, with each of the Big Three represented: a 1978 Buick LeSabre, a 1979 Lincoln Continental Mark V, and a 1974 Plymouth Duster. Technically, a Duster isn't a "Yank Tank," but imagine it parked next to some spindly Renault 5 and it might as well have clanking treads and a guy named "Sarge" at the wheel. Here's what Tomsk has to say about these fine machines:

1974 Plymouth Duster: Everybody loves Dusters, possibly because they attract comely young lasses like Ethel, but also because it was such a clean design. My research seems to suggest this is a '74, though the Mopar fanatics are welcome to correct me if need be. It even has the original "Plymouth Division" dog dishes. Le sigh...

1979 Lincoln Mark V: Picture this: It's 1978, and you need a snazzy, two-door way to get from one of your hoes to the next. Price is no object, as your girls make you more scratch than you know what to do with, nor is size, because you were a mildly successful truck driver before you decided to try your hand at pimping.
What to buy? You could get a Rolls Camargue or a Mercedes 450 SLC, but your father had instilled a strong sense of patriotism and respect for the American worker during those formative years where he beat you to a pulp while you cowered helplessly in your crib.
Okay, so it has to be American. A Cadillac Eldorado? No, because when Daddy wasn't wailing on you while pontificating on the evils of foreign goods, he was wailing on you while pontificating on the evils of front-wheel drive. "ONLY RUST-PRONE, COMMIE-MADE SHITBOXES SHOULD HAVE THAT LAYOUT!!!!" he'd bellow as he pummeled your still quite soft cranium with your favorite rattle.
So, no Caddy for you, then. How about the Chrysler Cordoba? That's a non-starter, too, as the accent of that car's pitchman reminds you of the time you caught your mom and the gardner playing "the game only grownups can play."
That leaves...the Lincoln Continental Mark V. But when you get to the Lincoln-Mercury dealer, you don't order any old Mark V. Oh, no sir; you plunk down the extra cash for the mofuggin' Cartier edition. When your customers see that name on the opera windows, they'll say to themselves, "This guy is the real deal. I should probably pay up, because if I don't, he probably will knock me out, stuff me into a safe, and drop aforementioned safe into the river."

Excellent choice, sir. Excellent choice.




First 400 DOTS VehiclesDOTS FAQ

]]>
http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5195022&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[Orange County Fairlane, Now With Added '65 LTD!]]> Many of you have been kind enough to send DOTS Bonus Edition photos my way, and you're all very good about not raking me over the coals for taking so damn long to get to some of them. Reader Vance, who dwells behind the Orange Curtain, shot this very clean 1955 Ford Fairlane on the streets of Tustin back in October. Now, most houses down in SoCal have garages, so you don't see quite as much old iron on the street... but that desert climate means you just don't get rust. When you're done checking out the Fairlane, make the jump to see the Bonus LTD, with commentary by Vance.




1965 was the first year for the LTD — a higher trim level of the Galaxie 500 that competed with the also-new Chevy Caprice (a higher-trimmed Impala) — offered in a two door or four door hardtop only. Ford sold about 68,000 of the four-doors, at a base list price of $3300 — $700 more than the equivalent Galaxie 500. This one is an original black-plate California car that started out in Banning.
The LTD model designation gets its own emblem on the C-pillar. Note the bold type font and classy crown detail.
Since the LTD didn't become a stand-alone model until 1967, this car also carries Galaxie 500 nameplates. It also has the optional factory wire wheel covers similar to the ones you could get on the Mustang (though this one is missing one of its spinner "ears.")
It's a big-block car with the optional 390 V8, available that year with either 300 or 330 horsepower. The 289 200-horse small block was the standard engine but it would have felt anemic in a car this size (though at 3500 pounds it's only about the same weight as today's Mustang GT). The new fender engine emblem for 1965 combines Thunderbird and racing cues, as did the 1962-64 emblems.
Except for the faded paint, this car is in great shape for a 42 year old vehicle. It even has factory air and a cool deck-mounted radio antenna.
Overall, a classy survivor.

]]>
http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=362794&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[eBay Find: 1976 Jensen-Healey Jensen GT]]>

Oh man, this one hurts. As you may know we are at the age and pathetic financial situation where a man begins to look around for his project car. As you may also know, Jalopnik hearts shooting breaks brakes, especially British ones. This very good looking example of how screwed up the British auto industry was of Jensen-Healey's Lotus engined darling is right here in Southern California and just dying for a new owner (the current owner, at 6'6", is too tall to fit). So what if the engine needs to have its timing belt replaced every 18,000 miles (no, really — look it up) and the asking price is just a small percentage of what it will cost to keep this beauty on the road? I don't care. Do you care? As fate would have it we saw a stunning white convertible Jensen GT just today in Glendora (don't ask). After chasing the car for 15 miles, we realized how much better she would look as a two-door wagon. If there are any über-rich Jalopnik angels out there, now is your chance to shine! Also, don't look at the rear bumper.

1976 Other Makes Jensen GT [eBay Motors]

Related:
Nanjing, Revival Firm Plotting Austin-Healey Return; The Topping Of All Is The Most Precious Metal In The World: Stutz Diplomatica! [Internal]

]]>
http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=268344&view=rss&microfeed=true
<![CDATA[Spy Photos: Lexus/Toyota Hybrid Crossover Caravan Spotted In SoCal — Causes Engineer Road Rage?]]> You know you've totally hit a Priddy-level jackpot of test vehicle action based upon how much of a total prick the engineers driving the black vinyl-clad vehicles act in reaction to you pulling up along side snapping shots. The boys over at the GT Channel definitely hit the jackpot based entirely upon the paragraph in their report in SoCal:

"Now we're sorta bothered and decide to pass him, maybe get a few more photos and call it a day. The bastard swerves back in front us of violently one more time, nearly forcing us into oncoming traffic. We manage to sneak by the asshole, fearing for our lives at this point."
Oh, as for the vehicles, here's what else we know — they're quiet, very quiet. Are they hybrids? We're not sure — what do you think these mysterious black-clad-like-Batman vehicles might be? [Hat tip to Ray Fong!]

Lexus Prototype Spotted New Lexus RX Hybrid and Other Vehicle [GT Channel]

Related:
Spy Photos: Lexus IS 500, Around the 'Ring [internal]

]]>
http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=255609&view=rss&microfeed=true