Mystery Car: Get Back To Work Edition

How hard can it be? There have only been, what, a dozen diesel cars sold down there?
How hard can it be? There have only been, what, a dozen diesel cars sold down there?

Reader dwegmull was skipping out from his responsibilities at work returning from lunch, and he stumbled across a car that caught his eye. We suspect that might have been because he was searching for any opportunity to procrastinate on his return to work, but nonetheless it is rare enough to be interesting. Mostly, it’s interesting because of the little badge on its flanks which defeat the claim that Americans never buy diesel-engined cars. There! You see, at least one American did!
Your mission, should you choose to accept it: Name the car,  and take a shot-in-the-dark guess at the license plate. Bonus points to anyone who can identify the camera-phone he was using from the reflection. The answer, except for the model of phone, will be revealed later, whenever I get around to it. On your marks, get set, GO!

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41 responses to “Mystery Car: Get Back To Work Edition”

  1. FЯeeMan Avatar
    FЯeeMan

    Oldsmobile Diesel from whenever they made those miserable things.

    1. FЯeeMan Avatar
      FЯeeMan

      And I’ma gonna guess the plate says “Mexico”.

  2. Maymar Avatar
    Maymar

    Cadillac Seville Diesel? The badge seems to match.

  3. engineerd Avatar
    engineerd

    A 1980 Cadillac Eldorado with the 5.7L Oldsmobile diesel powerplant. The phone is either an iPhone or Storm. The license plate says “SMOKEY”.

  4. LTDScott Avatar
    LTDScott

    Chevette diesel

  5. Blueplate Avatar
    Blueplate

    Since Caddy and Olds have already been picked, I’m going to shoot the moon and guess “Buick Electra Diesel”. The camera phone is a Sony Ericsson. And the license plate says “Arizona, Grand Canyon State.”

  6. iheartstiggie Avatar
    iheartstiggie

    1979 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham V-8 Diesel

  7. goingincirclez Avatar

    Definitely a Cadillac. The Oldsmodiesels were so-badged in a different style and location.
    Also,

    1. goingincirclez Avatar

      I forgot to mention that based on the curve of the fender vs. trim location in dwegmull’s photo, I’m going to guess a bustle-back Seville.

      1. Tomsk Avatar

        Same here.

  8. c0de Avatar

    1984 Buick Regal
    Minnesota plates saying “Green Klnk”
    The phone is a BB Storm
    The guy taking the picture is wearing a Scottish kilt

  9. dculberson Avatar
    dculberson

    It’s almost certainly a Diesel Caddy, and I’m gonna guess the plate is “DSLCADDY” although I’m not sure how long the plates are allowed to be in his neck of the woods.

  10. p161911 Avatar
    p161911

    The badge and the fact the trim is falling off says Malaise era GM with an Olds diesel. A Chevette is eliminated because it actually has trim. The few G-bodies that came with these made great emissions dodge cars back in the day when these were young enough to matter. In most states diesels are emissions exempt and the insurance is pretty cheap on a 105 HP diesel engine. If the VIN says diesel, no DOT or insurance hassles.

    1. p161911 Avatar
      p161911

      Forgot to mention the important part of that is to install a monster crate/junkyard motor. I need some coffee.

  11. dwegmull Avatar
    dwegmull

    Here is a hint: the phone is a Crackberry Blackberry Curve 8900.

    1. joshuman Avatar
      joshuman

      I have one sitting in my desk drawer right now. I still prefer the keyboard on the 8310 though.

  12. SNOWMAN Avatar
    SNOWMAN

    I’m going with early 80’s Buick LeSabre diesel. It’s that Buick typeface that is seared into my retinas from many childhood vacations spent riding in one.
    P.S. Im a long time lurker at that other site, but feel the need to start speaking out here. I’m all for a site commited to the strange yet awesome.

    1. Blueplate Avatar
      Blueplate

      Welcome, and given the avatar, a perfect choice of handle.

  13. Brian Avatar
    Brian

    I’m going with an ’82 Caddy Fleetwood Brougham with Mexican plates and the guy taking the picture is clearly the Unknown Comic with an iPhone.

    1. iheartstiggie Avatar
      iheartstiggie

      I thought it was a Fleetwood Brougham too, but the door curve is wrong, isn’t it? I think the FB’s door was straight along the hinge not a curved one, at least in the front…
      /too lazy to look up photo before I post

  14. CptSevere Avatar

    I think it was called above, a Cadillac Eldo from the early eighties. Surprising that it’s still on the road. The engines sucked, and the transmissions didn’t hold up, either.

  15. JeepyJayhawk Avatar
    JeepyJayhawk

    Olds diesel. Phone is a Palm Pre. I’d recognize that uncomfortable shooting pose anywhere. Yep I have a Pre.

  16. Jeff Glucker Avatar
    Jeff Glucker

    Mk VI Golf TDI?

  17. Z71 Avatar
    Z71

    Oldsmobile, Blackberry, Pennsylvania.

  18. Z71 Avatar
    Z71

    Was gonna say Olds, but that’s been debunked (I think)- so Cadillac diesel, Blackberry, Pennsylvania.

  19. Manic King Avatar
    Manic King

    Person taking the picture is wearing brown paperbag?

    1. dwegmull Avatar
      dwegmull

      I am the person who took the picture. I was trying to keep most of my body out of the shot. All you see is my arm, my hand and the phone…

      1. iheartstiggie Avatar
        iheartstiggie

        Honestly, you look like you’re standing in front of the Alamo.

    2. Deartháir Avatar
      Deartháir

      I just assumed he was dressed like this.

      1. iheartstiggie Avatar
        iheartstiggie

        Perfect. Just watched it last night. You just gave me a good laugh, thanks!

  20. EscortsForever wants a BP Avatar
    EscortsForever wants a BP

    I’m going to guess a 1st gen Escort diesel (such a surprise /sarcasm) with the license plate “REDGRN”. I think we’re running out of the possible options that are out there.

  21. JeepyJayhawk Avatar
    JeepyJayhawk

    Did pontiac make a diesel?

    1. Blueplate Avatar
      Blueplate

      Oh yes. I think every GM brand used the same Oldsmobile diesel engine in one car or another.

  22. Charles_Barrett Avatar
    Charles_Barrett

    I was thinking of Pontiac also. The Pontiac T1000 Diesel was a stablemate to the Chevette. The pictured portion of trim might rule out a T1000 because it’s a bit posh (albeit damaged).

  23. FuzzyPlushroom Avatar

    Oldsmobile Delta 88, ’79 or so, plate reads “5-CATS”.

  24. coupeZ600 Avatar
    coupeZ600

    Car smells like patchoulli and french-fries and has a “BIO DSL” plate. There’s a million of those around here.

  25. Alf Avatar
    Alf

    ’67 GTO, license plate reads “XXX”

  26. "Sparky" P Avatar

    My first thought was a Chevette. The missing belt trim insert supports that argument in my own foggy head, though in reality all GMs (indeed, anything with belt trim) were subject to TFOA. There is only madness to my methods.
    I have not a clue.
    On a side note; my evil-stepfather asked my youngest sister if she wanted a baby blue ‘Vette for her 16th birthday. She got all excited jumped around and screamed yes. She knows better. The next day he brought home her first car- a horrible baby blue Chevette. She ended up with no social life and eventually ran it into a tree, which resulted in it only able to drive around in right-hand circles but did not kill it. So we renamed it the “Shove-it”.

    1. "Sparky" P Avatar

      Edit: I think I'm brain dead.

    2. FuzzyPlushroom Avatar

      Now that’s a story.

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