Car Spotting, L.A., Sep. 2025

October 3, 2025 RichardReina Cars on the street California Car Culture, Los Angeles, Waymo

If you read last week’s blog about “Macchinissima” (of course you did), you knew that I was out in Los Angeles for several days last week. We northeast car collectors have long envied the advantages that southwest collectors have, with cars that avoid the ravages of rust (although their hot and sunny climate can wreak havoc on paint and upholstery). My first visit to L.A. was in 1977 as a twenty-three-year-old, and I never got over the sensation of having stepped into a time warp, seeing fifteen-year-old Chevys and Fords still on the road, which was definitely not something I saw on the streets of New York City.

But just because the sheetmetal lasts longer doesn’t mean that Los Angelenos keep their cars forever. We still live in a car-obsessed culture and the desire for the newest, flashiest, fastest vehicle that fits the budget pulls people into showrooms like bait on a hook. California is no exception and most cars and trucks on the road are newer. Still, when an older car makes an appearance, it sticks out, and I managed to snap a few interesting ones on this trip.

This very clean Datsun 280Z drove past us, then the owner parked it on the street like it was an Altima.

Along Venice Beach was this surfboard-laden VW Bus.

This lightly-modded early ’50s Chevy featured interior mood lighting.

Around the corner from the Chevy was this blacked-out Dodge Dart.

A Lincoln Mark III with gansta whitewalls (and maybe a TV in the back?)

A local parking garage yielded this clean Ford Ranchero

Just a few spots from the Ranchero was this ’60s Jaguar Mark II with a “for sale” sign. No asking price listed, though.

An International Scout, still scouting. Pretty soon the EV version will be on the streets.

What’s with all the doodads on this modern Jag? Why, it’s a Waymo! We drove past several of these and there’s no one behind the wheel. It’s fully autonomous, and no, we did not see a single one crash.

The Cars and Trucks of Texas, Feb. 2025

March 3, 2025 RichardReina Cars on the street Texas

Just got back from a quick four-day trip to San Antonio, TX, to hang out with my brother-in-law. While I was there, I enjoyed the eighty-degree temps and the Texas BBQ, and kept my eyes open for interesting automobiles. The temperate climate led me to incorrectly presume that I would find a large number of ten-to-twenty-year-old daily drivers, when in fact most Texans were motoring about in the latest and greatest. Each day of my visit I spotted multiple C8 Corvettes, Cybertrucks, and German SUVs. Of course, 65% of the vehicles on the road were pickup trucks. Another surprise: many of those pickups were Nissans and Toyotas (and yes, I know that Toyota has a factory in the state).

Still, I managed to snap a few interesting shots of interesting cars as you can see below.

The Brasserie Mon Chou Chou (“my darling”) had this darling Citroen Duex Cheveaux parked outside. No word on when it may have last moved under its own power.

Around the corner from the Mon Chou Chou was a chichi hotel, with this quartet positioned in reserved parking. In the foreground, a Rolls-Royce Cullinan. Next to it, a Range Rover, then the unmistakable CT. Almost out of sight at the far end was a plebeian Cadillac Escalade.

The Cullinan starts at $489,000 and goes up from there. But you know what they say: If you have to ask, ….

On the way to an event in Fredricksburg, we drove through Luckenbach, made famous by that country song. A decommissioned Chevy pickup was being used to attract visitors.

This International Scout pickup was spotted on the street in Fredricksburg.

Back in San Antonio, in the crowded parking lot of a seafood restaurant, some CT owner let his truck’s self-parking feature do its thing. Accurate, ain’t it?

Cars on the Street: Washington, D.C., late 2024

January 12, 2025 RichardReina Cars on the street D.C., JDM cars, Rover, Washington

My wife and I recently spent a long weekend in the Washington, D.C., area, and it was not a surprise to find some interesting automobiles scattered about. One day we toured the Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, where I spotted a few JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) cars. I presume that navy men and women, while sailing around the world, return with cars that they can’t otherwise source here in the States.

Sightseeing in several neighborhoods also uncovered cars on the street that I haven’t seen in the metro NY/NJ area in a while. The most fabulous find was the Rover TC2000, because I would have presumed that one hundred percent of them stopped running ages ago.

It only proves that cars of interest are everywhere, you only need to look for them.

FROM THE ANNAPOLIS NAVAL ACADEMY:

This Mitsubishi is a “kei” truck, limited in size by Japanese statute

We know it as a Lexus SC, but in its home country, it’s a Toyota Soarer. Note the rear wiper!

A very clean Toyota 86, formerly Scion FR-S

A painter was using this Vantage as his work truck. Off-road use only?

ON THE STREETS OF D.C.

A pair of Volvo C30s. The design has aged well, I think, and they are starting to become collectible among Volvo fans.

Is it me or is this spoiler mounted backwards? Great downforce in reverse…

NJ Parking Lot Find

October 19, 2024October 20, 2024 RichardReina Cars on the street car spotter

Returning from a quick shopping trip, I spotted this beast as I exited the parking lot. At first glance I thought it was the National Lampoon Vacation Truckster. Maybe it’s a variation thereof. Whatever it is, pretty it ain’t!

The Cars of Colorado

May 29, 2024 RichardReina Cars on the street Colorado

I just got back from a 6-day visit to Colorado. I first visited this wonderful state in 1977, and have made numerous business and personal trips to it since then. I’ve always been struck by the state’s natural beauty, and as a car enthusiast, I’ve been further struck by how its arid and sunny climate helps ensure the longevity of automotive sheetmetal, perhaps even more than what one finds in California.

A lot of our time was spent behind the wheel of a modern rental, so many old car spottings were not able to be caught on camera. However, the ones I did snap (using my phone, as I left the DSLR at home for this trip) are included here. If you come across a collector car which claims to be from Colorado, you can almost be certain that the tin worm has not inflicted much damage.

These two station wagons were parked on the perimeter of a ranch outside of Canon City, in the southern part of the state. The vivid “NO TRESPASSING” sign kept me from getting as close as I would have liked. The Ford had this odd camper-like projection on its back. At first I thought that the car’s roof had been cut, but that does not appear to be the case. The Rambler wagon was hooked to a camper as well, but with a trailer hitch.

We were visiting an aunt who lives in Florence, a small town south of Canon City, and these next 4 photos were all taken while on a stroll through her neighborhood.

The VW bus, which does show some rust, had been parked on the street the previous day, so I presume that it’s a driver. The Olds 442 (1969?) looks like a project car.

This 1957 Ford Ranchero, first year for the body style, was parked in a fenced-in yard, and may not have moved under its own power for some time.

This 1967 Mustang looks like it’s getting some regular exercise.

With the wheelbarrow in front and the tractor behind, this Chevrolet pickup truck nicely completes the “vehicle as yard art” scene.

The city of Denver had multiple modern Subarus on every block, and as many Teslas as I see in NJ. Still, a few old cars continue to be pushed into daily driver duty.

Finally, the only Alfa Romeo I spotted after almost a week in the state:

This Stelvio was parked in Morrison, outside of Red Rocks Park.

Car Spotting, Staten Island NY, July 2023

July 16, 2023 RichardReina Cars on the street Staten Island NY

This past weekend found me back once again to the (is)land of my youth: Staten Island. In a fit of nostalgia, I agreed to drive some of my wife’s younger cousins, born and raised on the “sout shaw” of the Island, to the “nawt shaw” where I resided, excepting my years away at college, until I was 25. As relatively small as Staten Island is (14 miles tip-to-tip), it is historically understood that north shore and south shore people don’t venture into what is the foreign end of the island to them. Hence the tour, during which I was surprised at how many older vehicles are parked outside, although most of them are not in what you’d call show-ready condition.

Mercedes-Benz produced its “ponton” sedans like this one from 1953 to 1963. In an obviously non-original color, it wears NY “historical” plates and is in very fine cosmetic condition.

This ’68-’72 Chevy pickup needs a new door! Who knows what the passenger side door looks like. The flyer on the windshield proclaims that the truck is parked in a towaway zone.

This ’63 T-Bird, ironically enough, was included in my March 2021 Car Spotting post. Time has not been kind to this car, as you would expect. Compare the photo from 2.5 years ago and you’ll see increased paint loss on the roof and trunk. The tires look flatter too!

This ’55 Oldsmobile also wears historical plates, but strikes me as less road-worthy than the Benz. Although, now that I note the newer GM SUV behind it, perhaps the Olds does run, at least well enough to be moved out of the way.

Parked in front of the same house where the Olds resides is this ‘60s-era Ford Econoline van. This one is unplated, and the collection of road debris around the trailer wheels causes me to suspect that neither the trailer nor the van have moved in a while. (Look at the Olds photo again and you can see this van in my rear-view mirror.) How do the neighbors put up with this?

The plate on this Kia Soul had me laughing out loud. Let me know if you need a translation. The plate really should be on an Alfa!

Volvo’s 480ES

January 25, 2023 RichardReina Cars on the street Volvo 480ES

Bring a Trailer (BaT) currently has a Volvo 480 up for auction on its website:

1995 Volvo 480 Turbo Collection Edition 5-Speed

I added a comment that I had photographed a 480ES in the spring of 1987, in the VCNA HQ parking lot in Rockleigh, NJ. This is that photo:

I will add to this story after the BaT auction ends.

Cars on the street, 1984-1985

January 15, 2023 RichardReina Cars on the street Audi, Park Slop;e, Volkswagen, Volvo dealership

I again found myself poring through old photo albums when I noticed that I had a few street scenes from 1984 and 1985 which I found interesting. Here they are, and here’s hoping you also find them of some interest.

BLOOMFIELD, NJ

I lived in Bloomfield from 1980 to 1989, and would occasionally take snapshots of parked and moving cars.

This shot was taken along a service road of the Garden State Parkway. I was practicing my panning. Here is a Subaru Coupe neck and neck with a Mercury Colony Park station wagon

The silver VW Scirocco on the right was mine, parked behind my apartment complex. Next to it are a very rusty mid-70’s Chevelle, and a 1965 Ford Fairlane, coming up on 20 years old, making it an ancient car for its time.

My college friend Beth came to visit me in Bloomfield. I think she bought this Subaru new. (I find it ironic that it’s a 2-door like the Subie above; this was back when Americans actually bought 2-door cars.) It’s probably FWD, as AWD was not yet standard across the board. Note the VW Squareback; when did you last see one in the wild?

SMYTHE VOLVO, SUMMIT NJ

I worked at this Volvo dealership from 1980 to 1986, and would sometimes bring my camera to work, if only to document some of the goings-on.

The dealership bought, then later demolished, an apartment building on an adjacent property. I had the camera ready to take some photos of the planned destruction. Note the Ford T-Bird and Honda Civic on the left, and various Volvos in for service on the right. And that’s our gal Friday, Sue, imploring me to not take her photograph!

Street parking near the dealership was non-existent. Management made a deal with the church across the street which allowed employees to park there (the lot, frankly, was practically vacant except on Sundays). Yes, an employee (a son of one of the dealer principals) commuted in a Volvo 1800. At the top of the row, next to the Chevy Caprice, is a VW Dasher diesel wagon driven by the Parts Manager. The silver wagon on the far right is my Audi Fox wagon.

The Service write-up counters and the Parts retail counter were inside the workshop. Customers entered a back door and literally walked among cars on the lifts. This is the view from my service advisor’s desk. The place looks incredibly dingy, yet I don’t remember it that way. I guess I got used to being in that environment on a daily basis.

CLINTON, IOWA

I made a Christmastime trip with my girlfriend to visit her family in Iowa. We drove, and I didn’t trust the Audi to make the trip, so I rented this Tempo. It was among the first of Ford’s jellybean cars. The car performed just fine.

PARK SLOPE BROOKLYN, NY

These next two photos were taken in the Park Slope Brooklyn neighborhood where my girlfriend lived. This photo was heavily edited to focus on the cars. In the foreground are a Honda Civic and Toyota Tercel (I think). Across the street it’s harder to tell, but I will guess that the car on the left is a Datsun/Nissan, maybe a Sentra, and the one on the right a then-current Buick Riviera.

Yes, this Porsche 356 Coupe was parked on the street in Park Slope. What was it worth in 1984, a couple grand? My current edition of the CPI value guide pins this 356 SC at between $66k and $126k.

Automotive Art & Architecture in Washington D.C.

January 1, 2023 RichardReina Cars on the street, Events, museums D.C., Smithsonian Museum, Washington

My wife and I drove to Washington D.C. earlier this week to visit her brother, who has lived there for over 30 years. It had been a few years since we visited, and I was looking forward to a few relaxing days, taking in a couple of museums and strolling around his neighborhood. The last thing I expected was to find material for a blog post, but that is exactly what happened.

My wife wanted to see a quilt exhibit at the Smithsonian Museum of American History. However, before we got near any quilts, a full-size Ford grabbed my attention. A highly-modified 1969 Ford LTD, billed as “Dave’s Dream”, was featured on the main floor. It was cordoned off so that you couldn’t not get too close. It was the only car on display, and I can only surmise that the theme, in its own way, represents some slice of American History.

On an upper floor was a Richard Avedon photography exhibit. His black & white portraiture is stunning and striking, and part of the exhibit highlighted his start as a photographer for Life, Look, the Saturday Evening Post, and other long-gone weeklies. A nearby sitting area had actual magazines from the ‘40s and ‘50s available for browsing. I selected one at random and opened it, only to find a Willys Jeep ad, one I had never seen before. It was news to me that as early as the late 1940s, Willys-Overland was advertising the purported superior traction advantages of its Jeep.

The next day we strolled around a nearby residential area. A road was closed for construction work. A crew was using a gas-powered saw to slice through the asphalt, then using a backhoe to dig. To my surprise, they were doing this directly alongside a Chevrolet Malibu which had ignored the “don’t park here because we’re going to start work soon” signage. The crew was so far along that even if the owner wanted to relocate the car, it would necessitate driving on the sidewalk.

The garage for this BMW had this lovely mural painted on its side. Can we presume that the owner would rather be behind the wheel of the bullet-nose Studebaker?

In the same neighborhood as the marooned Malibu and the post-war poster car was this ancient Dodge Caravan, its paint long-lost to the elements. The roof rack was supporting sawn-off tree branches. (Also make note of the steering wheel lock, as if this thing is a likely target for thieves.) My brother-in-law said that the townhomes on this block sell in the $2 million+ range. I am beyond creating any rationale for the existence of this minivan.

Car Spotting, Various Locations, August 2022

August 28, 2022 RichardReina Cars on the street 50s cars, Honda S2000, Rivian

Earlier this month, we attended a relative’s wedding just outside of Springfield, MA. The morning after, we found ourselves at a charming diner in Florence, MA, and this 1950 Plymouth convertible was there, driven by someone who obviously enjoys taking it out for breakfast!

There’s a Shell gas station a quarter mile from my house, and I’ve gotten to know the owner and many of the employees well after living nearby for the last 21 years. They work on anything and everything. The pump attendant told me that someone had dropped off this 1956 Chrysler for tires and brakes, as it had been sitting for an indeterminate number of years.

We just got back from a week in Cape May, NJ, and while treating ourselves to a midday ice cream snack, this Rivian showed up. I’ve seen them in the metal at car shows, but this was my first sighting of one on the road. It looked good, what I’d call “right-sized”: big enough to carry what you need, but nowhere near the gargantuan heft of today’s “full-size” pickups which I’ve observed struggle to park in my local Wawa convenience store.

This plate was on a Honda S2000. Capisco?

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