Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho - Jalopnik Comments

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

WilonaGoolay — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 18:06:14 EDT

@ZaltanaNemean: I have a Leata Cabalero pick up. It's green with about 34,000 miles. I found it about 16 years ago. It runs great and gets a lot of smiles.

WilonaGoolay

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

ZaltanaNemean — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 16:42:35 EDT

Hey Junkman..a man after my own heart. I also have one of the little beasts. Only mine is green.Bought her in February 1977. They are a fun drive, one of the most comfortable driving seats I have ever had.My baby has been sitting in my Dad's shop for a long while...life takes over. One day I hope to get her back on the road. teraschip2

ZaltanaNemean

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

Stoatmaster — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 10:19:21 EST

Meanwhile, in Blighty, we had the Panther Rio, aka a 'luxury' Triumph Dolomite: [austin-rover.co.uk]

Oddly enough, the same people then set about the Chevette...

Stoatmaster

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

econobiker — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 10:11:08 EST

They knew the supply of VW bugs to put JCWhitney sourced fiberglass "Rolls" style front and rear hoods on was beginning to dry up so they looked for the next best thing...

Got to love the '70s for the kit car explosion...

econobiker

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

Hello_Newman — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 02:24:11 EST

It's a Pacer with luxury!

Hello_Newman

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

GreenVanMan — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 20:10:42 EST

Junkman, please be my dad i would be ever so greatful.

GreenVanMan

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

FuzzyPlushroom — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 18:17:35 EST

@Armand4: No no no, those Wal-Mart hubcaps are perfect! Pinto style!

FuzzyPlushroom

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

chrystlubitshi — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 17:53:13 EST

freakin' sweet!
i'd drive it.... it just needs something parked next to it... like a VW beetle w/the RR style front end!

i'm i'm not talking the old school ones that actually looked a little okay.... i'm talkin' new beetle.

if you haven't seen it... google it... i'm not going to be held responsible for enabling your eye injuries

chrystlubitshi

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

AllenK — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 17:35:58 EST

It looks like it came from behind the Iron Curtain.

AllenK

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

JayP71 — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 17:31:47 EST

I smell a LeMons entry.

Joking aside the car is so odd that it becomes interesting despite its looks.

JayP71

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

SundaySunday — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 17:29:45 EST

You mean under those sculpted lines there's a lowly Chevette?

(Oops. This comment was meant for the Isuzu Impulse posting from yesterday.)

SundaySunday

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

junkman — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 17:29:30 EST

@Charles_Barrett: Ironic that you would say that. I'm in the country club business and have driven this beauty to work several times. The valets generally love the weird stuff I show up in but, I have to admit, they don't stand in line to park this one.

The great thing about the Leata is that it makes people laugh instantly. I understand that half of them are laughing at the poor schlep driving it, but we're at least making the world a happier place.

junkman

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

BartMack — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 16:40:29 EST

Gotta respect the abilities of modern science when they enable this kind of quality of life for a Down's Syndrome-born Ford Granada!

BartMack

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

htrodblder — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 16:29:19 EST

Mr Lutz, me and the boys back in design have been working on a secret project we know youre gonna love...

htrodblder

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

htrodblder — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 16:27:55 EST

You know the panties just fly off when you get a girl in that love machine.
Of course it may involve a little kidnapping to get her near it.

htrodblder

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

NovaloadMissesPolar — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 16:16:12 EST

I love it. It's warp 7 better than a Chevette.

But dammit, if it isn't LTDSCOTT rubbing our nose in that beautiful LTD all the time it's JUNKMAN making us all feel inadequate with his only partially revealed inventory.

NovaloadMissesPolar

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

Kelly — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 16:11:39 EST

My god, that is homely on so many levels....

It's Grand Prix + Monte Carlo + Dodge Aspen, then beaten to a pulp by an ugly stick and left in the sun to ripen then decay.

Kelly

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

CARBONFIBER — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 16:06:14 EST

* Does anyone remember 'Sandford & Son'? With Redd Fox?

CARBONFIBER

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

Charles_Barrett - Now with Variable-Valve Timing — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 15:31:17 EST

Yep, folks, just the thing to roll up to the country club in. And you know it'll stay safely parked because the pimply-faced parking attendant wouldn't be caught dead in it out on the street.

Charles_Barrett - Now with Variable-Valve Timing

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

ZJF — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 15:17:43 EST

Duesenberg, eat your heart out.

ZJF

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

danio3834 — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 15:00:18 EST

Precursor to the Cimmaron

danio3834

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

bzr — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:56:13 EST

"Hand-built" and "handcrafted" isn't always a good thing.

Yet, despite all logical sense and intelligence this beauty still made it out of the 70s unscathed. Which is why the 70s were absolutely the best time in history, period.

bzr

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

FLB — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:54:53 EST

@rgseidl: Seconded!

A dream of mine is to build a museum of horrible/low selling/über-rare cars

FLB

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

lanispet — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:44:35 EST

A fine reminder that sometimes "RARE!" just means "no sane person wanted one when they were new"... that is hard-core Malaise indeed. All it needs is a V8 producing <25 HP/Liter..

lanispet

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

Maymar is convinced M.C. Escher engineered his car — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:42:39 EST

@Bret: I'd go at it from the other angle, swap in a giant engine that makes about 120hp, make it the Malaisingist car ever.

Maymar is convinced M.C. Escher engineered his car

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

offyatindy — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:35:23 EST

Uh, how many fewer than 100 were ever built? 99 fewer perhaps?

offyatindy

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

muhnkee_2 — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:30:11 EST

i wonder how much he wants for that rusted out tractor in the backgrounds? i think i could resell it Poland - the Shabalero on the other hand - even desperate Poles arent that desperate!

muhnkee_2

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

LTDScott, Porcubimmer pilot — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:29:02 EST

@Triborough: It's as if Johnny Cash worked on the Chevy assembly line instead of Cadillac in the song "One Piece at a Time!"

Good detective work on the Cabeleromino!

LTDScott, Porcubimmer pilot

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

Pete Gaines — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:27:34 EST

@fatbraff: That was itself an homage to a Monty Python sketch. Google it, friends.

Pete Gaines

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

no_slushbox — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:27:04 EST

This guy was a visionary for creating a luxury compact years before the new Mini, A3, 135i, C30, etc.

He was a failure for making it this ugly.

no_slushbox

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

Triborough — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:26:38 EST

It seems that they also produced a Cabaleromino version.

Triborough

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

Triborough — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:21:54 EST

This looks like random GM parts assembled into one vehicle.

Triborough

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

lascauxcaveman — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:19:50 EST

@Armand4: No way! Those cheap wheel covers are so perfectly crappy for this rig I can hardly believe it. Hands off, don't mess with perfection.

lascauxcaveman

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

AmishJohn — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:18:15 EST

@Armand4: I was thinking gold wire hubcaps myself.

"Look, honey! It's the Verne Troyer Pimpmobile!"

AmishJohn

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

Ben Wade — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:17:55 EST

There was a Leatamino, too. [static.howstuffworks.com]

Ben Wade

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

rgseidl — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:17:51 EST

It would only be fitting if Jalopnik decided to add the exclusive DAFAF annex to the JFG. Candidate vehicles must have been commercially sold somewhere at some point, yet be so obscure and/or funky no other site would ever have the cojones to run a story on them.

The exhibit would feature a rogue's gallery available for viewing at any time, provided there are at least a dozen vehicles in it. However, cars can be parked in the annex for just 90 days, so readers have to keep sending in candidates to keep it open!

rgseidl

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

Mad_Science — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:15:20 EST

Junkman, if I can't be you, will you at least write me into your will?

Mad_Science

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

Armand Bengle — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:14:01 EST

We need more looks into Junkman's garage. Really, this guy is my hero. And this baby just needs some 13-inch slot mags to complete the package.

Armand Bengle

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

JoSCh — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:05:17 EST

The 1977 Leata Cabalero, for folks with neither adequate money or commone sense! It redefines fugly.

JoSCh

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

thepassenger — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:04:17 EST

What kind of twisted... ah, I can't even finish.

I need to gouge out my eyes now...

thepassenger

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

FLB — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:02:32 EST

Aaaaargh, me eyes!

FLB

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

crustyjoe — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:02:28 EST

I love the details in the ad text, 12,000 mile warranty and.... 40 MPG! woohoo! What a bargain!

crustyjoe

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

AustinMiniMan — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:02:25 EST

On a second note, I have to applaud the marketing genious that must have been involved in selling 100 of these things!

AustinMiniMan

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

AustinMiniMan — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:00:24 EST

@clinto: I mean, I personally don't care for it either, but I respect the craftsmanship that went into it. I just hope the 356 was in really bad shape before he got it; I can only pray he didn't do that to a running clean example.

Of course, for the record I don't care for the Deutsch-Bonnet; given that the frame was swapped it's just as tasteless and ill-handling as the old Camaro on a Blazer frame swap.

AustinMiniMan

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

Old_Car_Guy — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:59:09 EST

It really didn't catch on?.........can't imagine why.

Old_Car_Guy

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

Bret — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:57:58 EST

Please, oh please, swap in an LSx. This vehicle would become a rolling juxtaposition of malaise and mighty.

Bret

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

Ben Wade — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:56:44 EST

I miss opera windows. And leisure suits.

Ben Wade

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

texan01 — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:56:21 EST

Wow, all the tackiness of a mid '70s Monte Carlo coupled with the sadness of a Chevette!

texan01

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

NICKNICK — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:52:12 EST

i used to wonder why small cars looked like small cars. i always wondered why no one made small cars with big car styling. now i know.

NICKNICK

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

Ω ß®ªғғ — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:51:02 EST

I think the original owner was Hans Moleman
or as his drivers license reads Ralph Mellish...

(google it, friends...)

Ω ß®ªғғ

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

Mysterious Utility Bento — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:50:03 EST

Its so hideous, so bizarre, so....I WANT ONE!

Mysterious Utility Bento

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

clinto — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:49:53 EST

I went to that 356 link and let me say, that man should be ashamed of himself. He ruined that innocent car.

Wasn't there a mid-Eighties jaguar somewhere he could have butchered to fulfill the redneck fantasy of a small block Chevy in everything?

clinto

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

Ben Wade — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:49:24 EST

Leata Cabalero (correct spelling)

If you insist. The correct spelling is "Caballero". Duh.

Ben Wade

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

Uncle Bo, averting foreclosure — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:49:23 EST

That car is so hideous, it's heroic. Someone should have got a medal for making so many people recoil in horror.

Having said that, I'd have bought it too, just to freak out people.

Uncle Bo, averting foreclosure

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

WilliamG. — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:48:37 EST

All the malaise of a full-size car combined with the shame of a compact.

That thing looks like it would make a cool golf cart.

WilliamG.

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

Skydiver — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:48:14 EST

Junkman Fantasy Garage

Skydiver

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

TurboBrick — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:47:45 EST

Did you wash your Cordoba with hot water?

TurboBrick

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

Steel_ETC — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:47:33 EST

I wanna be like Junkman when I grow up.

Seriously though, if this is Chevette-based, this means that someday the frame will rust out from under all those pretty body panels and the car will collapse outward, TV-comedy style. At least with the regular Chevette, you could tell the car's overall health by gazing through the rocker-panel rust holes, just like coring redwoods to check their age...

Steel_ETC

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

LTDScott, Porcubimmer pilot — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:46:48 EST

Jesus, is this the Malaise poster car or what?

Add a 76 antenna ball and it could be something Homer Simpson designed.

LTDScott, Porcubimmer pilot

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

Duffman — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:45:30 EST

It looks like an aborted AMc Eagle.

Duffman

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

MaxSmart32 — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:44:17 EST

Do I detect a hint of Grand Prix in the nose, and Aspen in the ass?

My god is it ugly.

MaxSmart32

Leata Cabalero: Most Beautiful Car Ever Built In Post Falls, Idaho

harumph — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:43:35 EST

how anyone thought they could one-up the perfection of a chevette is beyond me.

harumph