Hooniverse » Streetwalker

Streetwalker- The Peace Maker Does Not Respect Your Ridgeline

Robert Emslie — Mon, 24 May 2010 13:30:01 +0000

Well, once again our favorite road-side used car lot has something of interest for us. This 1999 Honda Passport has been re-imagined as a melding of Chevy Avalanche and John Rambo - I didn’t start the Honda, they started the Honda! – creating a tasty melange with a tinge of agent orange.

Back in the day, Honda wanted to get in on some of those profitable SUV sales, but had nothing with which to compete. Enter Isuzu, and their Rodeo five-door, and before you can say badge-engineering, Honda was in the mix with their acts, looks, and drives nothing like a Honda Passport.

But in the case of this $4,500 uber-truck, there’s very little pass left in the port. The wheels are now Tonka-big; the back end has been cut open and texture-coated to within an inch of its life; and it’s been painted in some sort of palm frond camouflage.

Inside, the stock Honda/Isuzu interior has been spiced up with some Corbeau seats and more bedliner paint, giving it the look of something Fred Flintstone may have Yabba-Dabba-Did back in the day. Access to the four seats is still through the four doors, however those in the back may experience a draft as it looks like Home Depot didn’t sell sheets of plexiglass big enough to span the entire opening, leaving gaps on either side.

Who would create such a Baja beast? Someone looking to express their unique individuality and personal sense of style, obviously. The more important question is, who would now buy this hacked-up Honda? For just $4,500, the answer could be you.

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And Those Hollywood Sprites. . .

Robert Emslie — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:00:53 +0000

She had been born with a face that would her get her way. He saw that face and he lost all control. . .

One of my buddies lives in bohemian confines of the Hollywood Hills. While out walking his dog, he came across a natty frogeye sprite with a somewhat improvised tonneau cover.

You’d have to cut the owner some slack- the weather in LA, normally the epitome of top-down driving conditions, has been Aquaman wet of late. That didn’t mean spending the half hour-plus it takes to put up the little Austin Healey’s top, but in typical laid-back LA fashion, required only the draping of a hardware store tarp to keep the worst of the storms from turning the car into a fishpond.

In those hollywood hills. It was looking so right- It was giving him chills. . .

The Frogeye was built between 1958 and 1961, and was powered by a 948-cc A-series. Lacking a proper boot opening, the luggage rack was a popular option, and kept your belongings out of the way when you had to dig around behind the seats for the spare, or the top bows. The mags give it a bit of a ’70s dilettante vibe, but at least they’re not rockin’ the donk.

She looked at him with those soft eyes, so innocent and blue- He knew right then he was too far from home. . .

This was a most excellent find, especially as it has been so rainy here in the City of Angels. Fortunately for us the tight, twisting residential streets in the tony enclave allow for limited off-street parking, so we get a glimpse of this redcoat out in public. Lot’s of Hollywood residents like to maintain their car’s privacy, as well as their own, so it’s rare to catch something interesting without scaling a high wall and eventually having to face somebody with “Armed Response” emblazoned on their car.

Thanks for the pictures go to Hamish McCollester. Hamish is a film maker- check out the trailer for his latest flick over at JASON’S BIG PROBLEM.

Streetwalker- Mercedes Coupe De Grace Edition

Robert Emslie — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 15:11:41 +0000

Another week, another Mercedes kicked to the curb and with a For Sale sign taped to its window. Today we have a W126-series 560 SEC of indeterminate age, and of determinate condition.

Built between 1986 and 1991, these range-topping coupes brought the power to the people with both the M117 275-bhp 5,547-cc V8 as well as every option MB could throw at it. The car is so big that it has robot-butler arms that hand you your seat belt and then retract out of the way like a good servant.

This black on black coupe asks $4,200 to take up residence in your driveway, and that seems a little steep considering the condition. There’s crazing in the lusterless paint- and black already shows each and every imperfection in excruciating detail. The stainless is also dented in places, and the bumpers show scuffing in places. Inside, things are different and the interior presents well, with no cracks in the dash and leather that looks pretty decent.

If you’re jonesing for a big benz with locomotive-like power and presence, this might be right up your exceptionally wide alley. The claim of “Xlint” running is a plus, as these are wallet-draining to have repaired. Still, it’d be a good idea to have it run over with a fine-toothed comb to make sure there aren’t any surprises down the road.

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Streetwalker- Mr. Bond, Your Benz is Ready

Robert Emslie — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 17:30:20 +0000

Once again the curb-side car lot is rife with three pointed stars. Normally, I wouldn’t give a ‘91 500SL much of a glance, unless there was something special about it, and that’s the case with this Benz with a gun-shy seller. You see, in addition to the sporty styling, smooth V8 power, and cosseting luxury interior, this car has another feature you might not expect- it’s rocking bullet-proof glass.

That’s right, for just shy of eleven large, you can pick up your “pharmaceuticals” with the knowledge that nobody’s going to pop a cap in your ass while you pull away. Just slide that half-inch thick laminated side window into place and you’ll be a snug as a thug in a rug.

Other than the warrior-class windows, the car looks stock, and the seller has been good enough to include both an AutoTrader ad for another 500 for reference, as well as a nearly-full roll of Scotch Tape!

If you regularly drive though some sketchy neighborhoods, or have a vengeful Ex with an arsenal, you might want to consider this ride.

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Streetwalker- Tride OK C10

Robert Emslie — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 16:45:43 +0000

This past weekend my favorite curb-side used car lot brought forth a cornucopia of interesting iron. Not only did we come across the time capsule Mercedes 240D, but half a block down sat its polar opposite- a Chevy C10 pickup truck.

This 1971 Chevy C10 Cheyenne in a semi-fresh coat of diuretic mustard – which is showing some poor masking of trim – rocks the 350 V8 under its dark yellow hood. The trailer mirrors and tonneau snaps are about the only external embellishments, and the rubber floor-matted interior is equally austere. Despite the plain-jane appearance, there is something of note there on the dash- next to the For Sale sign soliciting $5,000 for the truck – which is a gayly colored sign advertising “Tride OK”.

Now, maybe the seller’s 2nd grader was helping out with trying to sell the truck, or perhaps he’s just a result of our failed public education system they’re always talking about, making the truck not the only thing that’s “like a rock.” Whatever the reason, if I had a Tride, I’d probably offer it to him for this truck.

Other than that, I think his five grand asking price may not be as good a deal as the earlier 240D, but it’s not crazy either. Ideally, for that kind of cheddar, I’d like to see a better paint job, and one that perhaps deals with the rust rather than just painting over it. But maybe you’ve always wanted a mean mr mustard C10, and this is priced right in your sweet spot. Who knows?

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