I always thought this Cad body style was fugly, ever since my neighbor bought one used in about 1972. Not a graceful line in sight.

@commander205: Lordy yes. I remember in the 70s when friends' dads would buy cars without vinyl roofs, it was worth of major derision. And then, one day, America woke up and the long dark night was over.

Man, they don't bend steel anymore like they did for that hood.

When the stock system in my car dies, I call Crutchfield every time. Whoever made my car always wants far too much of my money for a replacement unit.

'59 Imperial.

My brother's best friend had a yellow '72 Mustang convertible. First one I ever rode in. 70 degrees, top down, etched SUMMER in my brain.

My ex had an '89 Corolla coupe in this color, similarly oxidized. I bought some polishing compound and hand-rubbed the thing to like showroom newness. It faded back in about a month.

@htrodblder: I'm with you through the big window and shortbed. But I think what this truck needs is a loving restoration to showroom goodness.

My grandparents drove four-wheel-drive trucks. Grandpa had a '72 Dodge pickup and Grandma had an orange '72 K/5 Blazer followed by a '78 Bronco.

That Merc is so daggone ugly! Holy cow! My eyes!

Believe it or not, this dancing-traffic-girl crap is a bit of a growing fad on morning news shows. (rolls eyes)

@Andrewpetty: I agree, the Malibu has gotten better in each of its three modern generations. You know, kind of like Japanese cars used to do.

Friend of mine in high school had one. It was cheap transportation. I wish you could buy transportation as cheap, adjusted for inflation, today.

My mom used to wear a WIN button.

In 1984, when I was 16, I spent a little time in East Berlin drinking beer with some East Berliner teens. At this time, East Germans could get in line for a stripper Mazda hatchback that the government decided to import. Believe me, those East Berliners wanted the Mazda and were rather excited about it. But they all…

I drove a friend's 85 in 1986 a few hundred miles down I-70. Only thing I liked about it was the speakers in the headrest.

@Buckster: And here I was, reacting to how ugly this little beast is. I thought so when these things were new, too. I've had two friends that have owned these (okay, the Buick and Pontiac versions) and they were wallowy and rough to ride in.

-15 points for my 03 Matrix. But you're not shaming me into buying something different, because my car is paid for and it starts every morning.

@Murilee Martin: Rent you a garage in Reno and rotate cars in and out.

Murilee, you ever thought about buying a few square feet of land in a nearby state and registering smog-challenged cars there? Then you could have this Fire Arrow.