1979 Datsun 210

The 210 replaced the B210 as Datsun's basic economy car. It was reliable, got good gas mileage, and was practical: all it needed to be. The design feature that stands out the most on these are the grill-mounted turn signals (which shows just how boring the design is). This 210, though it has some rust, looks great with blue pinstripes and the original hubcaps.

 

 

1966 Nissan Patrol

Like the Land Rover Series and the Land Cruiser, the Nissan Patrol was a go-anywhere utilitarian off-roader. The second-gen Patrol was produced relatively unchanged for 21 years, though it was only available for 7 in the U.S. This Patrol appears to be complete, stock, and in restorable condition. It's parked in a small town on the Oregon coast, not Seattle.

 

 

 

 

 

1983 Mazda GLC Deluxe Sedan

The 4th-gen GLC/323 was introduced in 1980, and was a modern and worthy competitor to the other basic economy cars of the early eighties. This generation GLC (which stood for Great Little Car) looks extremely similar to the 323 that followed it, but is much less common. The design is about as basic as it comes, but the slatted grill and non-flush lights bring some style to the car.

 

 

1957 Hillman Minx

The Hillman Minx was one of a few Rootes Group cars exported to the U.S. in the '50s and early 60s. Designed by Raymond Loewy (of Studebaker fame), the Minx was unpopular in the U.S. market. Seeing one today is rare, on account of the low starting number, and low survival rate. The aqua and white two-tone on this sedan, excuse me, saloon, looks great, and the patina is perfect.

 

 

  

 

 

1962 International Scout 80 Pickup

The Scout first appeared in 1960, six years before the Ford Bronco and 7 before the Chevy K/5 Blazer. By the late sixties, these three were big competitors in the SUV market. The Scout 80 was the first generation, and was available as the basic SUV or the small pickup shown here. It's unclear if this is an original pickup, as the green front of the bed seems non-original.

 

 

 

 

1981 Datsun 210

The 210 replaced the B210 as Datsun's basic economy car. It was reliable,got good gas mileage, and was practical: all it needed to be. For 1980, the 210 received the recognizable grill design shown here. Personally, I think the lights in the grill are a cool styling feature, and freshen up an otherwise mundane design. This 2-door sedan's chrome and paint still shine, and the gold pinstripe is a great accent on this car.

 

 

 

1991 Mitsubishi Galant VR-4

Four wheel drive. Four wheel steering. 130 MPH+ top speed. 2000 made. That's about all you need to know to see just how awesome the Galant VR-4 was. Built as a homologation special for Group A rallying, the 6th-gen-based VR-4 was imported to the U.S. in 1991 and '92 only. The four wheel steering kicked in at speeds over 30 MPH, which, given how fast it is, isn't hard to achieve. Each car had a plaque on the top of the dashboard showing what number the car was; though it was hard to see, I believe this is #1738 of 2000. This VR-4 is a little rough, but still stands out with its subtle body kit and custom rims.