The Plymouth Volare

[Madman]

At least that one has the Euro headlamps.  The US-spec quad sealed beams were a thousand times worse.

[cawimmer430]

Please don't.  There is a real reason nobody likes these cars.  They were garbage when they were new and they're even worse today. 

I have a soft spot for the Volare. Probably because it looks like the 1970s Toyota Cressida, which was always a good-looking car IMO. 

[cawimmer430]

Living in New York I had much experience in the early 80s with Volare and Chevy Caprice taxicabs. The city determines which cars can be bought and used as taxis, and in those days those two were the primary choices, as well as the perennial Fords, of course. The Volares had small back seats and weren?t very comfortable, but they ran and ran. As for the Caprices, they were the worst taxis ever in my opinion primarily because the rear window only went down about four inches. That wasn?t enough to provide any air for the back seat rider. Because of the metal and plastic ?cage? protecting the driver, no cool air from the a/c reached the passenger in the back. Riding in the back of one of those Caprice cabs in a sweltering summer day was absolute torture. You arrived at your destination gasping for air and dripping with sweat, and then had to pay for the privilege. I hated those cars with a passion and was very happy when GM discontinued them. And they were ugly.

Is this the Caprice you speak of?



Such a gorgeous car. I know I might sound retarded, but I seriously dig this stuff. 

Even importers like Mercedes did the same thing, turning this:

Yep. And the mandatory sealed-beam headlights also ruined the look. 

Not only did the bumpers contribute greatly to the ruination of the looks of the exteriors of the cars of that era, Americans became obsessed with the idea of the ?appearance? of luxury. Padded vinyl roofs were supposed to make a hardtop look like a convertible; cheesy plastic wood slathered all over the interior was supposed to give the impression of glamour and sumptuousness. Add to that shoddy build quality, and it?s no wonder that few Americans look back at the cars of those days with fondness.

I just like those cars because I'm a child of the 1980s and grew up with late '70s and '80s movies where those cars are in the background or belong to the main characters. 

[cawimmer430]

Just get one of these then. Looks the same as a 70's or 80's car and it's built better too.

[cawimmer430]

Holy shit!

NUDE FEMALE STATUES IN THE BACKGROUND!

And this in America? 

[pendyman]

Is this the Caprice you speak of?



Such a gorgeous car. I know I might sound retarded, but I seriously dig this stuff. 



Yep. And the mandatory sealed-beam headlights also ruined the look. 



I just like those cars because I'm a child of the 1980s and grew up with late '70s and '80s movies where those cars are in the background or belong to the main characters. 

Yep, only in New York taxi livery they looked like this:



Except usually without the full wheel covers, white walls, or the chrome strips down the side, etc.

There?s nothing wrong with liking these cars, or seeing them as beautiful. I find it interesting that you have that perspective.

For me it?s about the blandness of the design, how the rear wheels don?t come anywhere close to filling the wheel wells, and those huge, snowplow sized bumpers.

Plus, having paid to ride in the back seat of these things, I can attest that the rear window would only roll down about four inches, and it?s replacement was no better:

[cawimmer430]

There?s nothing wrong with liking these cars, or seeing them as beautiful. I find it interesting that you have that perspective.

For me it?s about the blandness of the design, how the rear wheels don?t come anywhere close to filling the wheel wells, and those huge, snowplow sized bumpers.

I think these cars look "exotic" to me since they're so different from the European designs I grew up with during the same era. Call it a "matter of taste". 

Plus, having paid to ride in the back seat of these things, I can attest that the rear window would only roll down about four inches, and it?s replacement was no better:

Why couldn't the windows go all the way down? The doors look wide and long enough for the whole window to be rolled down.

[pendyman]

Why couldn't the windows go all the way down? The doors look wide and long enough for the whole window to be rolled down.

It was just the way they were designed. Here?s the only decent pic I could find of one with the rear window down. That?s all the way. It?s a little more than four inches, but definitely not enough to get any ventilation for the back seat passenger.

[giant_mtb]

There're many cars (both modern and not) whose rear windows don't go down all the way.  I always saw it as a sort of "safety" thing for children, perhaps.

[cawimmer430]

It was just the way they were designed. Here?s the only decent pic I could find of one with the rear window down. That?s all the way. It?s a little more than four inches, but definitely not enough to get any ventilation for the back seat passenger.

These cars were also used by the police, right? Look on the bright side. Criminals sitting back there on a hot summer day got a taste of what it means to loose their freedom!