Tennessee Shite: 10 November 2024 Update!

[Madman Of The People]

I'm back again with more slices of Americana for your viewing pleasure.

 

 

My community seems to be overrun with old Beetles.

 

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Spotted this Jeep Grand Wagoneer (think American equivalent of Range Rover) on the road........

 

 

......and again later in the day! Wallpaper wood was quite the family car fashion accessory of the 1980s!

 

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Chopped 1937 Ford. Probably not shite at all but still cool.

 

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Volkswagen Rabbit Caddy. A diesel, no less! 0-60 acceleration could be measured with a calendar.

 

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MG Midget in it's natural habitat; broken down on the hard shoulder!

 

[Madman Of The People]

Time for another update.

 

Okay, let's get the non-shite out of the way first.......

 

 

Bentley Arnage on shite-looking wheels.

 

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And now on to the real shite,,,,,,,,

 

 

 

Volkswagen T2. I had one of these once, with a three speed auto. Slow as fook, too. Mine had dodgy brakes for that extra sense on adventure!

 

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MGB, buffed and polished to within an inch of it's life. A bit overdone, if you ask me.

 

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Wow, I haven't seen one of these in ages! 1988.5-1990 Ford Escort GT. It's distantly related to your MK III Scrote. GT was the sporty one, if you can believe that.

 

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Merc 300TD shot through my windscreen.

 

 

 

 

Ford Mustang. A work in progress?

 

 

 

 

Chevy Malibu.

 

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I've saved the best (worst?) for last. What's this? It's an Eagle Premier, a heavily Americanised Renault 25 released just as Renault was flogging off the remnants of the American Motors Corporation to Chrysler. I haven't seen one in more than a decade. I swear, this must be the only running example left in existence. Quick, somebody call the Smithsonian!

 

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The car was originally to have been called the Renault Premier, but the sale of AMC to Chrysler by Renault (and Renault's decision to withdraw from North America) saw the car rebranded as an Eagle. The Eagle brand was created by Chrysler to replace the former AMC brand. The former AMC-Jeep-Renault dealers were renamed as Jeep-Eagle dealers. I heard storied of Renault badges being swapped for Eagle ones on the showroom floor, but I have no way of confirming if this is true.

 

Most Premiers were powered by Renault's version of the 3.0 PRV V6 engine. Supposedly, the AMC 2.5 litre inline four was also available but I never saw any of those, even when the Premier was new. The Premier was launched in 1987 as an early 1988 model and produced until 1992. Due to a need to boost sales (and use up the number of V6 engines Chrysler had agreed to buy from Renault) the Premier gained a twin in 1990; the nearly identical badge engineered Dodge Monaco.

 

Here's a video distributed to the newly renamed Jeep-Eagle dealers introducing the Premier. Note the cars in the video are still wearing Renault badges!

Part 1:

Part 2:

 

 

Here's another dealer video: Eagle Premier vs. the competition!

 

[Madman Of The People]

Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme. These used to be EVERYWHERE!

 

 

 

 

Another Cutlass Supreme, this one in four door flavour.

 

 

 

 

Dodge Dart. Another once-common sight rarely seen these days.

 

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A neighbour down the street from me has this snazzy Bobby Ewing-spec R107 Merc SL.

 

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Chevrolet Monte Carlo riding on '80s-tastic alloys!

 

 

 

 

Old Skool!

 

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Gotta love a classic Merc!

 

 

 

 

From the "I can't believe somebody actually bought one" files, a Chevrolet SSR. How many of these did they sell? Four is my guess.

 

 

 

 

What's this? A Civic hatch that hasn't been defaced by the ricer brigade? Somebody call the Smithsonian!

 

 

 

 

A tasty Mercedes Benz 300D in all it's diesely glory!

 

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I assume Google Streetview cameras aren't waterproof?

 

 

 

 

 

Remember when window louvers were a must-have automotive accessory?

 

[PhilA]

True weapons-grade shite up there.

 

There really aren't many Eagle Premiers around. That's the first "real" one I've seen. I think they sold more GTA's than they did Premiers, despite the somewhat truncated sales-span.

 

Nice spots

[Madman Of The People]

True weapons-grade shite up there.

 

There really aren't many Eagle Premiers around. That's the first "real" one I've seen. I think they sold more GTA's than they did Premiers, despite the somewhat truncated sales-span.

 

Nice spots

 

 

 

The Bramalea, Ontario plant built a total of 139,051 1988-92 Eagle Premiers and nearly identical 1990-92 Dodge Monacos. That's not too bad but it's a long way off the 150,000 units a year that were originally projected. Also, as a result of the sale of AMC from Renault to Chrysler, Chrysler was obligated to buy 260,000 PRV V6 engines from Renault. Chrysler was required to pay a penalty to Renault for every engine they didn't buy. This is why the badge engineered Dodge Monaco was introduced in 1990. Chrysler hoped selling the car through a second sales channel (and under an old, familiar name) would dramatically increase sales. But the car sold no better as a Dodge than it did as an Eagle.

 

 

As far as your 1987 Renault (Alliance) GTA goes, the Kenosha, Wisconsin factory built only 5,515 coupes and 1,029 convertibles for a total of 6,544 cars.

 

Hemming's Motor News did an interesting article on the GTA a couple of years back. You will find it here.

 

http://www.hemmings.com/hsx/stories/201 ... uide1.html

 

 

Did you know there is also a Renault Owners Club of North America? Here's their website.

 

http://www.renaultclub.us/

[Ross_K]

That Chevy SSR is heinous. A real offence to the eyes.

 

Just as well you didn't capture its gimp face from the front...

[Captain Mainwaring]

Winning spots as always Mr. Madman, I'm really quite surprised at the lack of recognition.

 

That El Camino is spectacular. The sort of thing that the antagonist in a teen horror movie would drive.

[Madman Of The People]

I was driving past some of the seedier used car dealers in town and had to stop for a look at this travesty. This is, without a doubt, the shoddiest Ford GT40 replica I've ever laid eyes on. Behold it's magnificence!

 

 

 

 

Yes, that's a piece of plywood where the side window should be. Why? Hell if I know!

 

 

 

 

 

Here's the other side. Yep, more plywood where the side window should be. How are you supposed to see out?

 

 

 

 

It almost looks good from this angle.

 

 

 

 

 

They had a rubber cargo mat on the back end, presumably to protect the exposed engine from rain, perhaps?

 

 

 

 

 

Underneath the mat was this powerhouse of an engine! Hmmm, seems to be missing a few cylinders......

 

 

 

 

 

Let's check out the cabin.

 

 

 

 

Steering wheel was stolen from an amusement park dodgem car ride!

 

 

 

 

Funny, I don't recall GT40s coming with an automatic?!? Or a cupholder, either!

 

 

 

 

Feel the luxury!

 

 

 

 

When I shut the door, the plywood "window" fell out!

 

 

 

 

Looks better in photos than in real life!

 

 

 

 

Panel gap is two fingers wide. Now that's QUALITY!

 

 

 

 

Cobra Jet. Wow, I'm impressed!

 

 

 

 

Air filters are bigger than the engine.

 

 

 

 

No performance car is complete without a big exhaust.

 

 

 

 

At least changing the belts should be easy.....

 

 

 

 

When you see this in your rear view mirror, you'd better move over! (Because, more than likely, the brakes have probably failed!)

 

[cort16]

Excellent spottage that Eagle is a real heavy hitter in the shite department. A Renault 25 re-badged and modified for the American market. It doesn't get any better than that.

That looks like a pinto nestling under the hood of the that GT 4.1. Is it for sale? It looks like it was built from memory. Someone with a bad memory at that!

 

You got those badges fitted to your caddie yet?

[Captain Mainwaring]

Loving your detailed analysis of the risible GT40 replica. I've never seen anything quite like it. I'd roll around in that no bother.

[face]

Great pics - keep them coming please!

 

That T2 just screams Back to the Future terrorists

[Madman Of The People]

Excellent spottage that Eagle is a real heavy hitter in the shite department. A Renault 25 re-badged and modified for the American market. It doesn't get any better than that.

That looks like a pinto nestling under the hood of the that GT 4.1. Is it for sale? It looks like it was built from memory. Someone with a bad memory at that!

 

You got those badges fitted to your caddie yet?

 

 

I'm guessing it's a Pinto lump, too, but I couldn't be sure.

 

Yep, badges are fitted. Thanks again. Photos coming soon!

[PhilA]

That looks like a pinto nestling under the hood of the that GT 4.1.

 

For extra shite points it should really be a Lima. That fails quite epically on most levels. Really should have used an aircooled Bug engine, at least they wouldn't have had to cover it up because it'd fit under the back...

[meggersdog]

That GT 4cylinder looks like something Paul Banham would produce.Top find.

[Madman Of The People]

The Madman Honda Odyssey (known to you as the Honda Shuttle) parked next to the ultra-rare badge engineered Isuzu Oasis. Isuzu sold something like five of these before giving up!

 

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No update would be complete without an old Beetle sighting.

 

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Clean E30 3ers are becoming an increasingly rare sight these days.

 

 

 

 

Chevrolet Impala land barge.

 

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Spotted my first Scion FR-S, our name for the Toyota GT-86 or whatever it's called.

 

 

 

 

Pikey Airstream. Yes, we have pikeys, too.

 

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Chevrolet ElCamino. Some rust in the load bay but otherwise it's pretty solid.

 

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I can't remember the last time I've seen an early Honda CRX.  This one doesn't look long for this Earth.

 

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[Madman Of The People]

The Madman Honda Odyssey (known to you as the Honda Shuttle) parked next to the ultra-rare badge engineered Isuzu Oasis. Isuzu sold something like five of these before giving up!

 

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No update would be complete without an old Beetle sighting.

 

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Clean E30 3ers are becoming an increasingly rare sight these days.

 

 

 

 

Chevrolet Impala land barge.

 

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Spotted my first Scion FR-S, our name for the Toyota GT-86 or whatever it's called.

 

 

 

 

Pikey Airstream. Yes, we have pikeys, too.

 

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Chevrolet ElCamino. Some rust in the load bay but otherwise it's pretty solid.

 

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I can't remember the last time I've seen an early Honda CRX.  This one doesn't look long for this Earth.

 

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[willswitchengage]

 

These were the most fun car to drive on GTA4

[willswitchengage]

 

These were the most fun car to drive on GTA4

[eddyramrod]

Chevrolet Impala land barge.

 

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That'll do, I'm PM-ing you my UK address right now, just slip it in a container if you wouldn't mind.....

[eddyramrod]

Chevrolet Impala land barge.

 

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That'll do, I'm PM-ing you my UK address right now, just slip it in a container if you wouldn't mind.....

[DSdriver]

Hang on, go back a bit...

to here:

 

Twin tale pipes! Is there more than a BMC A series lurking in that tiny little engine bay?

[DSdriver]

Hang on, go back a bit...

to here:

 

Twin tale pipes! Is there more than a BMC A series lurking in that tiny little engine bay?

[rml2345]

That Impala is

Some mega chod over there, keep 'em coming Madman!

[rml2345]

That Impala is

Some mega chod over there, keep 'em coming Madman!

[Madman Of The People]

Tennessee has been putting up these dot matrix signs over the highways to scare motorists into driving more safely.  I have to admit, it's a bit grim watching this number increase every day.

 

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Yep, it's another old beetle.  Front "bumper" doesn't look very safe to me.

 

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"Duece-and-a-quarter" Buick Electra 225.  Old Skool Cool!

 

 

 

 

Chevrolet Sprint Plus, a rebadged mid-'80s Suzuki Swift.  "Plus" was the five door model.  I haven't seen one of these since dinosaurs roamed the Earth!

 

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Bentley Continental cabrio.

 

 

 

 

I nearly wet myself when I saw this.  Alfa Romeo 164S.  I very nearly bought a 1992 Alfa 164L many years ago.

 

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Another Italian beauty, Fiat 500.

 

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Just to prove ricers don't only drive Hondas, here's some Camaro rice.

 

Ewwwwww...

 

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Double-Ewwwwww.......

 

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Pink wheeled Focus driven by female type person.....

 

 

 

 

Horrible Chevrolet Blazer with Cadillac tail lamps.

 

[Taff]

mate, for $3480, i would smash tht Elky like a cheap guitar!

 

the GT4 replica, why does that pintio have 2 air filters?

[CreepingJesus]

Wow, the Camaros look like the kind of thing you'd create in a video game, for a laugh. People actually did that to their cars? Crikey...

Also, what's the 'S' on the Alfa mean? Don't think we had those designations over here.

[Guest]

That GT40 replica has a set of very rare Volvo 244 R-Sport gauges, for some bizarre reason. He'd get coin for those if he took 'em out.

[Madman Of The People]

Also, what's the 'S' on the Alfa mean? Don't think we had those designations over here.

 

 

 

Alfa sold the 164 in the US from 1991-95. Three trim levels were available at launch; 164 (base model), 164L and 164S. L for Luxury and S for Sport or Super, depending on who you ask. The base model was dropped for 1992, with the L and S continuing. All versions had the 3.0 V6 engine. Base and L made 183 horsepower and were available with a five speed manual or four speed automatic gearbox. The S had a made 200 horsepower and came with the five speed manual only.

 

The 164 received a facelift for the 1994 model year. Trim levels were renamed 164LS (Luxury Sport/Super?) and 164Q (Quadrifoglio, or Cloverleaf in English). Power output for the LS was 210 horsepower and was available with a five speed manual or four speed automatic. The Q made 230 horsepower and was could only be had with the manual gearbox.

 

The 164 was the last Alfa Romeo to be sold in America (1995) until a limited run of 8C Competizione coupes and cabrios were sold from 2009-10 through Ferrari/Maserati dealers.

 

 

For you viewing pleasure, here are some US TV adverts for the Alfa 164 which I don't ever recall seeing!

 

[Madman Of The People]

Some more Tennessee Shite for your viewing pleasure!

 

 

Cadillac Seville hooptie!

 

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Classic Shite! 1949 Triumph 2000 Roadster. This was Standard-Triumph's post-war riposte to Jaguar.

 

Fun Fact: The 2000 Roadster was the world's last production car to have a dicky seat!

 

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For when a normal Chevy Suburban just isn't big enough! Yep, it's a 6-door (7, if you count the tailgate) Suburban.

 

 

 

 

These photos are courtesy of Mrs. Madman (Madwoman?). It's a Ford Falcon Ranchero.

 

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Despite the fact we STILL don't have a Fiat dealer within 100 miles of us, the 500 is becoming an increasingly common sight.

 

This one came from the dealer in Huntsville.

 

 

 

 

 

And here's an Alabama registered one I've seen with a Birmingham dealer sticker.

 

 

 

 

 

I'm getting really sick and tired of seeing old Detroit sleds with awful ghetto rims!

 

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Speaking of awful wheels, take a look at this Mustang.

 

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