Automotive

The first is a wacky SUV/Jeepy/SportUte known as the Isuzu VehiCross. Less than 6000 of these "lightweight but tough, fun but environmentally friendly" vehicles were built between 1997-2001. I noted with interest that one of the designers was Simon Cox "known for designing the Lotus Elan interior."

The huge wheels accentuate its stance and weirdness. It looked notably out of place in a swank neighborhood.



Of course the other vehicles parked neatly on the driveway (trucks, M/C, motorhome) indicated the homeowner cares about his "mobility devices".







I'm throwing in this car because 1. I couldn't quite place it, 2. It was SO sleek and clean, 3. Why not? 



Aha, an Infiniti with mild customizing. Nice.



Way down the driveway we saw this ZUKKOOK aka Suzuki Samurai, with extremely large wheels and tires.



From a distance I was amused and attracted by the paint job on this van. As I got closer the side pipes grabbed my attention.



They appear to be functional. But why? Just to prove it's not Green, by blowing smoke up the skirts of pedestrians?



This is neither old nor rare. But it does appear to be a London Cab, in San Diego and that makes it noteworthy.





A clean Mustang, no doubt, but crying out for a better choice of wheels



My wife liked the lawn plantings. We are having a drought and everyone is gradually switching either to dead grass, or something more creative.

This is the alternative to the subtle plantings, or the dead grass. BTW, Succulents go wild when you are not watching them.

We talked to the owner of this '56 Cadillac. 

He is the fourth child in his family, and on the day he was born, his dad (needing more room for the kids) bought this Caddy used for $700. 

A few years ago, the son started to restore it. When I took this picture, he was moving it out onto the street because his son was getting married that day and this was the car he'd be riding in.





They don't make them like they used to.  (Someone had to say it)



I loved the variety we find in a single block. And I love air horns on the roof. And visors.





This Jeep looks a bit scruffy, but it's a rare long-bed CJ8 Scrambler. About 25,000 were built between 1981-86.

Notice the stretch in back. I think it looks pretty tough, and wears about the right level of "well used patina"

This big Lincoln Continental wears a slightly startled look



Along with its padded vinyl roof it features a padded vinyl trunk lid posing as a "Continental kit" spare tire. Am I missing something here that a car has to mimic itself?



Mustang, like a horse, looking through the fence at us.



A Camaro, quite tired.



But it still has current tags on it, so someone loves it.



This was a very sweet Pontiac from about 1962 I think.



I was hoping for a Super Duty 421 engine in a 2-door post body, but we take what we can get 



A newer Mustang, but nicely trimmed with new front and a lick of paint.





My wife found a pretty front-yard Little Library and grabbed a pair of books



While I scoped out the M-B



It says 280 SEL 4.5 which to me means it's worth reasonably good money.



Now this Jag puzzled me because it's a brighter Red than I've ever seen on a Jag before



But a guy with a huge blue beach ball on top of his front porch probably marches to a different drummer in many respects ...



Gad! At this rate our house will be filled with books before we cover all the neighborhoods. We'll have to start carrying contributions in the Fiat to replenish the Little Libraries.



A homely Datsun pickup here, I admit. But I liked the sunburned look and faded curtains. Reminds me of the Seventies; this was the West Coast alternative to a VW camper van.



Notice "5 Speed" proudly emblazoned on the back



Here we spotted the Vette then found the Bimmer in the driveway





It appears to be functioning as a storage bin. I saw a 560SL that was filled to the headliner with trash, but as there was a "Gentleman of the Street" leaning on it, I refrained from taking a picture 



These Ford Torino-based Rancheros seem to have extraordinary long noses, don't they?





Look at that Schnozzola

The butt of a Suburban 4x4



Carefully hiding a Porsche 356 under the cover



And so began a run of Porsches. I think we saw 8-9 on this outing, but I passed on taking pictures of the newest ones.



I can't tell one 911 from another, so help me guys...



This one must have had a bad encounter with the law, or a towing company





I like the look of this car under the trees





Whale tail on this goldie



And as is often the case in our spying around, another interesting car mostly hidden in front of the one we first spotted



An honest working truck





Did Mary Kay Cosmetics offer a pickup truck if you didn't sell enough to get a Buick Regal or a Cadillac?





I have nothing to say about this, except "What the???"





This F150 truck has a clean paint job and sporty wheels



CUSTOM, for showing off, not for working.


Here's a slightly bigger cousin, the F250, with some white, some red, built-in steps, and dual fuel tanks

Tailgate down for aerodynamics, but it's never going to be Green

Here is the extra-big brother who has no time for flashy paint, wimpy wheels or fooling around. It's an F350 1-ton 4x4 dualie rear axle, full twin cab with running lights and running boards 



It still has camper brackets on the body, extended mirrors and grab handles by the doors. 



The Crown Victoria, Ford's Finest.



An older couple, slightly paranoid, own this car (just guessing)



Driving home, we saw this cool Rambler Ambassador in the rear view mirror, and had time to maneuver ourselves for photos.







And I have to finish with the popular '57 Chevy. He was picking up his Dad's van at the smog shop.

Cazalea

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