Identify this car

[akapero]

Hey everyone, I'm new to this site, and for starters I'm just looking for a little info. I've been trying to identify the car in the following picture



At first we had thought it was an AMC something or other, but the handles and mirrors don't look right. Maybe something Mopar? Then again, maybe I'm way off base and it isn't even a muscle car. Much karma to the identifier, as I'm going nuts on this one.

[MrPbody]

Looks like some late '70s/early '80s GM, based on the head restraints and external door handle. The outboard mirror, too, looks like a GM "Rally" mirror. I would guess the car is a 4-door, too, based on the shape of the windows.

My first impression was MOPAR, too, but a little closer looking says GM.

A little more detail, front OR rear, would be a big help...

Jim

[akapero]

Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately, I don't have any other shots of the car. The only other info I have is that the picture was taken around '80 or '81, and that the paint was stock. Some have suggested to me that it was a Cougar, or even a Maverick, but I can't find any pictures in which the details line up for those cars either. I also can't find any GM cars that seem to work.

Still searching.

[KManiac]

Boy, this had me stumped at first. But the most destinctive feature was the pull up door handle with the keyset immediately to the rear and on the same level. Most unusual because most keysets were located below the door handle.

Driving around today, I noticed a car with this unusual design feature. I then searched the net for pictures of like cars, to see if I could match up the door handles, lower door contours and the hardtop window design. Based on my research, this is my best guess:

This car is a "C-body" Mopar, circa 1974 through 1978, in two-door hardtop body. Most likely a Dodge Monaco (Brougham) or Plymouth Gran Fury or Chrysler Newport. It is definitely a two-door because the door is too long for the front door of a four-door car. If you are still unclear what I am referring to, I can simply state that this car is a two-door version of the Blues Brother's mobile (or at least that platform).

If anybody agrees or disagrees, please let us all know.

[akapero]

Some good leads, Kmaniac. I'll look into those options when I get a chance. You're right that the handles and keyhole are a great clue. Few cars in that era had the pull up handles, and of those that did, almost all had the keyhole below the handle. Those you mentioned had them parallel, as did some years of Mustang II's.

Thanks for the input.

If anyone else has any ideas, let me know. Until I get this confirmed, I'll contintue losing what little hair I have left.

[BleedDodge]

Where did that picture come from? Are there more like it? I think it's a 1975 Dodge Monaco. Whether it's 2 or 4 door is hard to say.

http://www.americandreamcars.com/1975dodge4dr.htm

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2180062

I wouldn't mind seeing some more pictures of this car though.

[akapero]

Well, I think I may have found the car (actually, someone on another forum pointed it out); a 1979 Ford LTD II. It has the right handles/keyhole combination, very similar wheels, and, most telling, has the exact same pinstriping pattern on the side and the hood. They were only produced for 3 years, from 1977-79, which would explain why it was so difficult to identify. It came with four different engine configurations: the 5.0 L 302 Windsor, the 5.8 L 351M, the 5.8 L 351 Windsor, or the 6.6 L 400 Cleveland.



So, what do you all think? Is it the same? The only problem is that the door looks a bit longer on the LTD II than in my picture, but that's probably just the angle. I have a hard time imagining another car that had such a similar pinstripe pattern, and handle/keyhole combos too.

[MrPbody]

LTD II, huh? Hadn't thought of that one! It WAS rare, indeed. Makes sense, though.

FWIW, the 400 Ford is also an "M" engine, not a "C". The "M", thought by many to mean "Modified", as that's the nickname it received to distinguish it from the other 351s, really means "Midland". The deck height and bell housing pattern are what differentiate the Cleveland from the Midland. Cleveland has the same deck height (apporximately) as 351W, and the "small block" bell housing pattern. 351M/400 have a much taller deck (blocks are actually the same part number, the crank and pistons are the only difference) and use the "big block" or "Lima" bell housing pattern (429/460). The "M" also used the same design head as the 2-bbl. Cleveland.

Good brain teaser, though! I would believe the "shorter" door would indicate a 4-door model versus a 2-door.

Jim

[KManiac]

I STAND CORRECTED!!!

After seeing that factory photo, I am convinced that the mystery car is an LTD! If fact, the mystery car has the same Goodyear tires and rim as the factory picture. And those factory stripes are a perfect match. I don't think I ever saw one of those even then. Good detective work on your part there, akapero.

[BleedDodge]

Phew. Nice to know it was solved. I was studying pictures of cars I'd never seen before, for days.