Almost two years ago, I did the first WalMart Concours, an experiment to see how many CCs were parked there on a random day. Frankly, it exceeded my own expectations. So when I found myself there the other day on an otherwise- fruitless expedition, I figured I might as well redeem my 10 minute drive there with a quick tour of the lot, starting with this venerable Toyota Corona Liftback. Now there’s a body style that went out of date a while back. Although as new sedans become ever more fast-back for aerodynamic reasons, a liftback probably makes more sense. I predict a 2020 Camry Liftback!
A Nissan Sentra B12; a fairly ideal long-term cheap car.
When I looked over my first WM Concours just now, I recognized this Celica, and the license plates verify it. What are the odds of that? I’d like to think it’s an employee, but I’m pretty sure Wallymart has a policy about employes not parking right in front, but around on the side lot. Hmm…a dedicated WalMart shopper?
A very refreshing change of scenery.
Old Dodge truck next to not-so old Chevy.
There’s a few cars that just have to be represented here at any given random moment in time, like a B-Body.
Someone doesn’t want any dings on their long doors.
There had to be an old Taurus here somewhere.
But most of all, the ubiquitous Cockroach of the Road™. Is there only one?
Here’s a couple to add a bit of color to a fairly dreary assortment of old cars and trucks.
And a dazzling Tempo!
I’m trying hard to remember why I bothered shooting these two. Similar roof line, perhaps?
Gotta’ love these quirky Skylarks.
And why did I shoot this? Are older Imprezas getting to be uncommon? Not around here. Oh well.
An E34 BMW 5301. Now that deserves a proper CC soon, given how it came out just two years after the W124 Mercedes. And although a fine car, it just couldn’t quite reach the same level of overall all-round level nigh-near perfection of the W124.
And on the way out, another A-Body; and a woodie Cruiser no less. How fitting. Well, V2.0 wasn’t quite up to V1.0, but isn’t that often the case? It was a slower day, and time marches on. These old cars won’t be around forever, as hard as it is to imagine that.
Paul, your comment about how the E34 didn’t quite match the perfection of the w124 got me thinking: there are some cars which are amazing… when they’re working right! For example, I love to DRIVE an E34, but I’d rather OWN a w124.
Citroens are the example par excellence.
Another thing against E34 is that if you look at past Folksam.se (Swedish insurance co that collects data on real-life accident severity results) reports, the E34 have always been “unsafe”, unlike W124, which regressed to “average” only in recent days – mostly because there are so many rusted and tired ones around.
I’d take the W124 too. A friend of mine at university drove an E34, a hand-me-down from a wealthy relative–which we thought a ridiculous privilege at the time. One year and many wallet-emptying breakdowns later, not so much…
That early 626 next to the B-body is uncommon, I cant remember the last time I saw one like that on the road.
Not sure what is more special the rare old 626 or the fact someone has a luggage carrier on it, pretty brave to think its about to go has gone road triping in it.
There’s a fair number still here; tough cars.
I think those Dodge and Chev trucks are only a few years apart.
The Dodge looks to be 91-93 based on the grille, and the Chev is 94+ based on the curved “chrome” cross-bar in its grille.
Somebody doesn’t like the president.
Which ironically if you had to stereotype the driver of an old Toyota lift-back you would normally think of someone who would be of a liberal persuasion.
Of course that works both ways, I’m sure people make all kinds of assumptions about a guy (me) driving a 10 year old F150 with a flat bed, dual chrome exhausts, going 5 to 10 over the limit once the road opens up.
I remember seeing a bumper sticker back in the day that said “Just because I drive a truck doesn’t mean I’m for Bush”.
Paul, the Sentra on the picture is a B12 and looking at the rear lights is either a 1989 or 1990 model. B13s came in 91. Of course, I am referring only to the USA mainland. Here in Puerto Rico, the B11 (1982 – 1986) was sold along with the B12 up until 1989 as the Nissan Sentra Honey Bee , and the B12 was sold up until 1991 or 1992 along with the B13. I understand that in Canada, Nissan did something similar.
Puerto Rico may be a USA territory, and cars sold here have to conform with all of the Federal government requirements to be able to be legally sold here, but cars here are not always sold with the same trim levels, specifications and equipment as in the USA mainland.
Being that my first car was a 1987 Nissan Sentra Honey Bee and that I loved that car to death, for both being my first car and because it was the last car that my dad had before he died in 1989, I have over the years become an early model Sentra fanatic even tough I don’t have one right now.
I meant to write B12, but the fingers didn’t obey. Thanks.
All the Sentras of this generation have been gone from middle America for a long time. They were everywhere when they were new. I reflected just the other day that I can’t remember the last time I saw one.
There are still many providing faithful beater service on the East Coast…
You’ve inspired me to hit our local bubba-populated Walmart with a good camera. We’ve got some “interesting” (insert Rolling Eyes Smiley here) stuff. Stay tuned….
The parking-lot is nothing; the WalMart clientele at the store in our area take “casual attire” to a whole new level. And I don’t mean up. This may be the biggest visual difference between modern society & that of the Postwar era many of us were born into.
Wal-Mart is a world unto itself. If you aren’t familiar with the ‘People of Wal-Mart’ site, Google it and prepare to fear for humanity.
Before you visit PoW be sure to visit Wallmart of a gallon or two of eye bleach.
There was a Camry Liftback (V10 series) in the ’80s. My wife had the sedan.
Re bumper-stickers, if we decide to get a Prius V, I may have to get one to dissuade folks from thinking we use cars to make statements or save anything except money.
Good point.
Your frequent shopper even has California plates. If it’s a student you’d think they’d have applied for residency…
I chatted with a Karmann Ghia owner today witch California plates. He acquired the car from his uncle who was the original owner. Bought it new from Bob Smith VW Agency in Hollywood. He has lived in this area for about 4 years now but intends to keep his California registration current. The car has the blue/yellow plate which is neat but I am not sure what the advantage is to do so other than for conversation. Now a black plate car I might be more inclined to keep. When I purchased my 81 Chrysler Imperial from California it came with the original plates and an inch thick of renewal stickers.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/info/dealers/bobsmith_hollywood_ca.php
An Oldsmobile A body wagon no less! The non-Buick variants of these wagons are very rare here in road salt territory. Even the Buicks are less of a common sight. People have too much disposable income around here…(not me).
The thing that strikes me whenever I see one these days is how small they are compared to even a midsize car these days, let alone a truck. Still, they made a very practical vehicle. You can fit a lot in it, and the gas mileage isn’t bad either.
Also, check out the size of the Altima compared to that Impreza. Mostlikely, the Altima isn’t pulled all the way into the spot, but wow. I have the same generation Altima, and consider it an economy car – like a bigger Sentra.
Who am I to disagree, about the A-body wagons…
That BMW is a 5 series which did not come out until MY1989. 7 series was redesigned for MY1988 while the 3 series which debuted for MY1984, remained until MY1992.
There was a Corona Liftback? I had no idea this existed, not in the US anyway… and now I want one really bad. Love the alternately boxy/swoopy shape in profile:
I actually saw one of these in traffic a few weeks ago–about as rare as a Tucker here in the Midwest. It was really clean, no rust, black paint. I hope I catch up with it someday!
“It was just as are as a Tucker in the Midwest”
Or a Ford 427 “Cammer” anywhere (which I have seen at the CEMA Car Show At the W.P. Chrysler Museum yesterday). Wow, all one of us needs to find is a Hudson Italia, a Tucker, or a Olds Cutlass Ciera Convertible by Hess & Eisenhart (Oh wait, I ve already found one of those).
I owned one of these. It was a really clean 1979 year model with metallic blue paint and a black vinyl interior – not the best combination in hot central Texas. The car was remarkable in every aspect except the automatic transmission. It was reliable enough but it was only a three-speed. It really sapped the power of the anvil-tough, but not very peppy, 22R engine. I once hauled a Lazyboy recliner in it with the rear seatbacks folded down but the hatch closed COMPLETELY! Just like a SAAB 900 of the era.