In the first of what I hope to be come a regular feature, Where’s Jalopy? will feature interesting automotive finds from anywhere in the world. Well, anywhere Jalopy has been sent or chooses to go.
Our first instalment is from Queretaro in Mexico, about 200km North of Mexico City. Unfortunately Mexico has been in the news regarding the terrible earthquakes affecting the capital. Thankfully the lovely city of Queretaro has escaped this.
So, what did I fond when I was there, was it endless VW Beetles, after all they were made in Mexico for many years. Or was it many old American barges, having made their way down over the border after their first American owners discarded them. To find out it was a case of go on foot and trawl the streets, naturally the less touristy bits…
The first find was a bit of a rarity, a Datsun 1300 Bluebird. This first appeared in the late 1960’s and had styling courtesy of Pininfarina no less and featured a 60 BHP engine., which increased in displacement and output to 1600cc and 96 BHP. Pretty respectable for a mid size saloon, which weighs less than half of your typical modern car.
On the same street was this, a VW Beetle, but somewhat modified, I had to admire the home built turbocharger perched above the engine. I wonder how well it worked…. seeing as it wasn’t completely connected. Looked great though.
A slightly down at heel Renault 12 was closer to the centre, Renault did have a presence in North America up until the 1970s withdrawing due to it not being economically viable. They did sell quite a variety of cars, I was hoping to come across a Renault 4 somewhere.
Now this is more like what I was expecting to find, a Ford Crown Victoria LTD / Mercury Grand Marquis. This one was suffering from an identity crisis having a range of parts both of the Ford range with this body.
It also wasn’t one of those distressed rat look cars done on purpose, this was cheap motoring. I’d like one of these, just maybe slightly straighter.
Day two of exploring and what did I come across first, none other than a VW Beetle, what else you might say. Strangely these weren’t as common as you might have thought. Generally most people claimed to despise them, which is a shame as they really are pretty good, this one was especially.
Next up was a VW Jetta Mk1, in two door form. I had one of these in this exactly this colour, but in right hand drive and four doors of course. A fantastic car. Strangely it’s called an Atlantic here.
And no, they haven’t completely escaped being ‘modified’, the exhaust is most definitely not standard equipment. Superb condition though.
Down a side street opposite the retail park was this fantastic Chevy Malibu. Same body as the Chevelle, just different trim and options with a different name. These days manufacturers do it with marques, not within a marque…
I bet you think I have saved the best for last…. well I haven’t but this monstrosity comes close.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the Pointiac Aztek!
Ok, I’m being unfair as I personally don’t think it’s that bad. Although many people did contributing to it’s early demise. Pontiac forecast sales of 75,000 a year and needed 30,000 to break even. In their best year they sold a little under 28,000 a total flop in the automotive world. Although, rumour has it they were a pretty decent car and are becoming a bit of a cult classic, a certain TV series helping there.
Also when new, from 2001 to 2005 dealers were, I’m told, offering these at $99 a month just to get them out and being seen on the roads. Now I don’t do new cars, but I’d have taken one of these for that money. It’s an appropriate vehicle seeing as they built it in Mexico, I just wasn’t aware they sold them there.
Now, this takes some beating, I’ve seen some strange things on the road, but this is pretty near the top of the list… What the….
We caught and passed this oddity on the way to the airport. I love the helmet, goggles and jeans look. Also the plastic sheeting protecting the back of the instruments in the dash.
Part built new vehicles going to get a body somewhere…. Aston Martin wasn’t all that bad after all, pushing body shells across the road from one building to another, they’ve got nothing on the guys in Mexico!
Simon
On the same street was this, a VW Beetle, but somewhat modified, I had to admire the home built turbocharger perched above the engine. I wonder how well it worked…. seeing as it wasn’t completely connected. Looked great though.
A slightly down at heel Renault 12 was closer to the centre, Renault did have a presence in North America up until the 1970s withdrawing due to it not being economically viable. They did sell quite a variety of cars, I was hoping to come across a Renault 4 somewhere.
Now this is more like what I was expecting to find, a Ford Crown Victoria LTD / Mercury Grand Marquis. This one was suffering from an identity crisis having a range of parts both of the Ford range with this body.
It also wasn’t one of those distressed rat look cars done on purpose, this was cheap motoring. I’d like one of these, just maybe slightly straighter.
Day two of exploring and what did I come across first, none other than a VW Beetle, what else you might say. Strangely these weren’t as common as you might have thought. Generally most people claimed to despise them, which is a shame as they really are pretty good, this one was especially.
Next up was a VW Jetta Mk1, in two door form. I had one of these in this exactly this colour, but in right hand drive and four doors of course. A fantastic car. Strangely it’s called an Atlantic here.
And no, they haven’t completely escaped being ‘modified’, the exhaust is most definitely not standard equipment. Superb condition though.
Down a side street opposite the retail park was this fantastic Chevy Malibu. Same body as the Chevelle, just different trim and options with a different name. These days manufacturers do it with marques, not within a marque…
I bet you think I have saved the best for last…. well I haven’t but this monstrosity comes close.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the Pointiac Aztek!
Ok, I’m being unfair as I personally don’t think it’s that bad. Although many people did contributing to it’s early demise. Pontiac forecast sales of 75,000 a year and needed 30,000 to break even. In their best year they sold a little under 28,000 a total flop in the automotive world. Although, rumour has it they were a pretty decent car and are becoming a bit of a cult classic, a certain TV series helping there.
Also when new, from 2001 to 2005 dealers were, I’m told, offering these at $99 a month just to get them out and being seen on the roads. Now I don’t do new cars, but I’d have taken one of these for that money. It’s an appropriate vehicle seeing as they built it in Mexico, I just wasn’t aware they sold them there.
Now, this takes some beating, I’ve seen some strange things on the road, but this is pretty near the top of the list… What the….
We caught and passed this oddity on the way to the airport. I love the helmet, goggles and jeans look. Also the plastic sheeting protecting the back of the instruments in the dash.
Part built new vehicles going to get a body somewhere…. Aston Martin wasn’t all that bad after all, pushing body shells across the road from one building to another, they’ve got nothing on the guys in Mexico!
Simon 
