Notable eco-cars (old & new) spotted in the wild: post your pics!

[War_Wagon]

Semaphores died in '56 didn't they? I am rusty in my vintage VW, but there was a time when I knew this stuff, the first car I ever bought, and made money on was a '68 Beetle, I was 13 years old ha ha. I was working part time 8 hours a week for $4 an hour, but I made like $125 off that car - that's high roller money when you make $4 an hour!! I used to have some pics of a home made sheet metal Baja conversion of a split window up by my grandparents old cabin that would make you cry, but thankfully I lost them years ago - no one should ever see that sort of thing!

[some_other_dave]

Spotted this at an intersection earlier this week. I've seen a few of them on the road, but this is the first opportunity I've had to take a pic.

It's a MiEV, Mitsubishi's small EV, in case you were wondering.

-soD

[War_Wagon]

It's Westy week in Vancouver apparently.





And I like Jeeps, so I always keep an eye out for neat ones. This isn't really eco, but I doubt you'd ever see one of these again, and if you needed a 4x4 SUV that was actually capable off road, with some size to it, I think this is about as eco as you could get. '94 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 4.0L, 4x4...



With a stick???



I think of all the vehicles I have posted in this thread, this is probably the rarest I have ever actually seen. Except for maybe the Mercedes 240D with a manual transmission. Maybe a 5 speed Jeep Grand Cherokee is common where you are, but I have never seen one!

[user removed]

I've seen quite a number of manual 240s but never a manual 94 Grand Cherokee.

regards
Mech

[freebeard]

Semaphores died in '56 didn't they? I am rusty in my vintage VW

That sounds right for the USofA, but they faded away. The car in a barn I'm doing weird science on is a '58 Canadian. It has semaphore pockets (the semaphores are missing), a big backlight and the low windshield header.

I used to have some pics of a home made sheet metal Baja conversion of a split window up by my grandparents old cabin that would make you cry, but thankfully I lost them years ago - no one should ever see that sort of thing!

The only picture I have of the '57 on a '66 pan I drove for 9 years:

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by War_Wagon

Maybe a 5 speed Jeep Grand Cherokee is common where you are, but I have never seen one!

The only ones I have seen were converted to Diesel.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Sandrails are a relatively popular alternative to the Jeep as a recreational off-roading vehicle back here.


Spotted this one in my hometown.

Well, a Baja Bug may also be considered an "eco" trail rig when compared to a heavier 4WD vehicle.

[freebeard]

That's a very different Baja kit. That picture I posted on the 6th? It lost 5mph top speed when I cut the front half of the front fenders off. It eventually received a whole new front clip and Black Imron paint.

If you need plans for a sand rail, here's the EMPI Sportster as a roll-your-own; just leave the fenders off.

dune buggy _________________________________ BEACH WHEELS the blog: very early sixties, 1961: EMPI SPORTSTER


But compare to Dick Dean's Shalako:



(not my pic, sorry)) Monocoque tub, aero windshield, etc. According to Wikipedia it was developed into Malcolm Bricklin's Bricklin by adding a front bumper and a conventional windshield.

War_Wagon -- did that 2nd Westy sell?

[California98Civic]

Inside a mall, directly across from the Microsoft Store:


Sitting outside a burger joint... I forget what model exactly, now:


james

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by freebeard

If you need plans for a sand rail, here's the EMPI Sportster as a roll-your-own; just leave the fenders off.

I always liked sandrails, but nowadays I'd rather build a Baja Bug.