Just another typical street scene in Eugene. Can you ID them all? Are they all from 1996 or earlier? Oops; looks like there’s one interloper from the future in there. Yes, that’s my bike in front; there wasn’t a tree handy. And for a bit more fun, let me run across the street and shoot it from the other side…and then run down the street…and then…
Gotta’ love those wheel covers on the Taurus.
And here’s the view a bit down the block.
Let’s move on down a bit further yet.
Two disparate white cars.
And the next block. Yes, that is what you think it is down there at the end. When was the last time you saw one?
Can’t stop now. Not a single CUV the whole length of these several blocks of 10th St..
Let’s pop down to Boradway (9th). There’s a nice motley collection in this apartment lot.
And these two veterans were on Jefferson. Enough for today; don’t want to overload the folks with too much Curbsidelandia in one sitting.
Postscript: These were shot either three or four years ago. Not exactly 1996, but some of them are still around, others are gone.
Absolutely amazing. However, I cannot identify the bright blue car in the parking lot of the first pic next to the white Camry.
1st generation Neon.
Good!
Peaceful scenes… Only one Chevrolet Spectrum had existed in my neighbourhood. I saw it last time maybe a decade ago. But a same and original Isuzu Gemini I saw two weeks ago is laying on the junkyard. Probably the Spectrum finished its carreer like the Gemini except few years earlier. Is that a Plymouth Reliant parking at the front of the house’s driveway? The Chevy Lumina has a nice colour and seems that due to its age it is still in acceptable condition. All others are also CC’s… 🙂 Like the Cadillac and the Lincoln as well…
Damn, even for 2010 or 2011 that is an amazing shot and I think I can officially say that Eugene has more Curbside Classics than Portland. It also helps that Oregon has not had a license plate recall since 1956 which adds to the old timey feel. Those are the most ridiculous Spinners I have ever seen and it is even funnier that one fell off, but here is a song that is probably on the owner’s mixtape. When did the Taurus go with red turn signals, I thought they were Orange from 96-99.
I believe the Taurus lost its amber turn signals in back as part of the 1998 refresh.
You are right, the last time I saw a VW Dasher (….or is that an even rarer Quantum?) Was about 15 years ago in Memphis, Tn. A daughter of a co-worker had a Quantum and if I remember correctly that it was the 1st in a line of 4wd vehicles this woman seemed to insist on owning. When the VW “died” she wanted to replace it with a high mileage Bronco II.
Here in Florida, you rarely see a water-cooled VW more than 15 years old. It’s like all the 80s and 90s VWs and Audis were turned in during “cash 4 clunkers” campaigns.
That’s a Quantum. I don’t think there was a Dasher version with a trunk, plus the slim tails on the Quantum sedans are very distinctive.
And wow–that is a truly impressive collection! Love the 3rd gen Accord hatch, the Quantum and Spectrum, the old Dodge truck–just wow. Even for 2010 that’s absolutely remarkable.
I’ve seen more Dashers recently (all wagons) than Quantums (Quanta?) though. The last one I saw was a bit, um, modified:
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog/cohort-sighting-vw-quantomino/
I think that cheap wheelcovers come in packs of 3.
“I think that cheap wheelcovers come in packs of 3.”
Send this man his prize package. Your comment still has me wiping tears from laughing.
+1 And the “3” on the package is in very small print 🙂
Maybe it’s a “Buy 1 get 3 free” deal where they skip the purchase and just get the free ones. 🙂
“And the next block. Yes, that is what you think it is down there at the end. When was the last time you saw one?”
Probably just this afternoon if you live in China.
I saw one – ONE – at one of the larger all-VW car shows this past summer.
I haven’t seen a Chevy Spectrum since around the turn of the millennium, though.
How quaint!
Effective shelter over the Bronco in pic #8. Sort of like a Faraday Shield for rain.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Eugene rain is nicer than ordinary rain, though… “Oh, that truck is meant to be sheltered. Let’s drop elsewhere.”
I like those rims on that ’95-ish Sable.
Chris M.
There was an ad for an early 90s Dasher wagon on the Gainesville (Fl) CL last month and I was tempted to contact the seller. Car was a rare-ish manual transmission wagon but unfortunately it had a few mods to the suspension and engine (though I guess you have to expect that on a VW).
Car was a dark green, almost black and the ad had pictures of the exterior only….no engine or interior shots.
I have never been to Eugene, but I sometimes think that if PN were to start where these pictures were taken and keep walking until he came to a block without a CC in sight, he would have to have a chase vehicle with food, drink and medical supplies.
The first annual CC Charity Endurance Walk! Think of the publicity. (Okay, maybe not.)
Hmmm; Interesting idea….But it would take too long uploading all the images after wards. It would have to be live video streaming. 🙂 maybe I could borrow a Google streetview car?
Must be humbling to be a new car dealer in Eugene.
Part of it is timing and location. The economy has really picked up here locally in the last couple of years, so there are a lot more new cars around now. This part of town tends to appeal to folks who don’t drive all thta much, and are ahppy enough with older cars.
There are other parts of town whose automotive composition more closely reflects the typical American street scene.
I’m sure the part of town has something to do with it. My neighborhood in Richmond is very walkable in terms of dining, shopping, and entertainment, plus we’ve got a lot of students since we’re within walking distance of Virginia Commonwealth University. Plus the downtown business district is easily accessible by bus or bike. So–lots of interesting older vehicles still plying the streets and found by the curb, much more so than in suburbia. The pattern fits!
Love the SLS, I bet all 500 LED’s in the Libby light still work, the door armrests and seat leather are supple, no water behind any light housing, good hood struts, buttons unworn, and all four Bose Gold amps don’t crackle.
I have a notion of getting one cheap to hoon until the Northstar supernovas, or a 4.9 version for a keeper.
Also like the gen2 “peak” Sable, an impressive contender later ruined through decontenting and uninspired redesigns, as reflected by that blue catfish Taurus.
This was a treat, pre 2ks are rare and hooptied here.
I’d believe that picture was taken in 1996! How is it so many curbside classics are still in service around Eugene? Short commute? No commute? Is everyone frugal? Is everyone retired? How do car dealers stay in business? Mechanics and auto parts dealers must make out like bandits!
For a start, the climate is favorable to keeping old iron on the road. While the winters are wet, the overall climate here is rather mild, and no road salts/de-icing agents are used in Oregon. Further, as Paul noted above, the area where he shots these pictures is an old neighborhood in walking/biking distance to a big chunk of town, so many people don’t have a daily car-commute to work. And there is a mostly good bus service.
No safety inspections in all of Oregon and no emissions testing in Eugene. Personally, I do not notice as much narcissism in Portland (and Oregon in general) as I do in places like Southern California so I believe that is another factor.
I wanted to believe so but then I saw the white 2000 Honda Civic, in one of the pictures, which spoiled it.
The 90 Lumina looks just like the one I had 93 until 07.
That 90 Lumina looks just like the one I owned from 93 till around 07.
Paul, when do we get the CC on that 12 Speed? Sure looks to be of the same vintage as the cars you showed.
Ah, my 1984 vintage Novarra (REI house brand), typical Taiwan-era 10 speed, upgraded to 12 by me in 1993 or so, along with a better shifter. Yes, it is about the same vintage.
I bought it to replace my 1972 vintage Belgian Vainqeur, which I gave away to my lasting regret. I wanted a new bike…and came to miss my old one. Not that I can really complain about the Novarra; it just doesn’t have the character of the Vainqeur.
Actually, “Made in Japan”, not Taiwan. Duh!
I was *totally* expecting to see a maroon Dodge Ram or a Chrysler Concorde in front of that Taurus in the first picture. Or a teal cab-forward Plymouth Grand Voyager/Dodge Grand Caravan or a Dodge Intrepid. Or a red Jeep Grand Cherokee. Or a black Chrysler New Yorker/LHS or an Eagle Vision. Or a light blue Plymouth Neon.
But oh, what a total let-down. That spot in front of the Taurus is devoid of a nice example of a mid-90’s Mopar, which deserves a spot in these scenes. There’s a 91-95 Caravan/Voyager, but that’s it.
As far as the Taurus is concerned, it is newer than 1996 as they’ve had subtle design changes to the tailights (no orange) and grille in 1998.
I’ll take the white 1996ish Civic 4-door. With rare exception if I don’t like how a car drives I can’t fall in love no matter how good it looks, and that includes the E21.
The gen 6 Civic though just blew me away. All of the charm of the gen 5 with a better seating position and power steering on most grades. I remember the light effort on the shifter and clutch like it was yesterday. Those efforts went better with power steering than manual. The big, clear gauges were unique and very much in keeping with Honda’s “we make it simple” positioning. The last true Honda.
PS – I see now that the “E21” is a VW Quantum. Those drove bad and looked worse, an understeering mess like the FWD C3.