FlatTop

First-gen Scion Xb Tardis: WIN

Bob Ross

When I was in college (78-82) one of my bass instructors drove a Checker Marathon, because back in those days (before SUVs or Soccer Mom minivans) that was the only* vehicle that could carry a full sized upright bass and still fit in a conventional parking space.


[*edit: I should say one of the only...I remembered I briefly owned an early 60s Chevy Greenbriar, which would have fit the bill too.]

I-Like-To-Bike

Or any year VW bus/van could carry a full sized upright bass and still fit in a conventional parking space. I drove a 57 VW van from Philadephia to Chicago and back in 1963. It could barely go 50MPH on level ground. I was only a 16 YO nerd at the time so it was fun driving anything, but in retrospect it was an awful driving experience.

FlatTop

Is there a reason that a bass cannot be carried flat in a station wagon? Just idly curious.

If bought new, a station wagon was certainly a more expensive car than a sedan version. And it was just as certainly not date bait, even when musician-owned. So by default a nerd car.

Checkers were a weird amalgam of parts, selected for both ruggedness and easy availability to the taxi fleets of the '60s and '70s. They were bolted to a body that was strong enough to withstand anything but road salt, which took its toll. These days such a car is a cool collectible in nice shape, or perhaps shabby-chic for a cruddy example. I'm not sure it'd make a nerd car.

ModoVincere

yes, but those were all bought up by the stoners.

RoadTire 

Hey this is a great car to ride in the back seat. Fantastic visibility all around.

qclabrat

fiets beat me to the Pacer, actually a pretty original design. One of my buddies has a tan Checker handed down from his grandparents. We add a stereo with several thousand watts and was a moving party (easily fits 10 people in back) bus for 8 months, when he totaled it. Many scrap parts available but most not worth repairing.

for older cars, its the VW thing (pic not me)


new cars, WRS STi (because more nerds have the cash to buy tech toys)

StanSeven

Yep. Good choices on all three

StanSeven

No way with this. It handles better than 98% of the cars on the road and accelerates like a high end Camero.

FlatTop

I wonder who will be first to autocross a Tesla? Electric cars may become the hot tip in amateur motor sport.

Allen

I own a Miata.
/thread

Bob Ross

For some reason that reminded me of another 70s car that appealed more to nerds than sports car afficianados:

The Bricklin SV-1

ModoVincere

I've seen a couple of those....I think they took about 20 minutes to get to 60mph.

qclabrat

had a friend in HS with an orange Brick, kinda piece of junk, always breaking down
another vote for a nerd car is the DeLorean, esp after the movie

Zinger

I give you the AMC Gremlin. Only because I owned one for a work car once and endured the laughter.

dynodonn

When I personally think of a nerd car, this one comes to mind... the Nash Metropolitan. My dad came up with the perfect description for it, the "rolling tomato can".

Sixty Fiver

My friend inherited one (convertible) from his grandfather when we were in high school... it was a very cool car and actually quite ahead of it's time.

We were uber nerds.

dynodonn

I was given the opportunity to own three of them in one fell swoop, only one was running and in good condition, but passed on the chance since I had long since moved on to family cars and a 60's muscle car by then.

dynodonn

When I had to fix a co-worker's Gremli, and I had to endure some humorous jibes when I brought it down to the hot rod workshop that some friends and I were renting at the time.

mconlonx 

A print sales rep I used to work with once owned an Aztek -- his family, who owned the print company, was friendly with another family who owned a Pontiac dealership and when they needed new company cars, the Pontiac guys gave the printer guys a real good deal on a bunch of Azteks. Our rep was low man on the totem pole and got the bright yellow one... While all his customers laughed about it, he actually said it was great as a sales rep to break the ice and made for a great conversation piece. And other than the styling, he didn't hate it...

Darth Lefty 

It must be a 4wd hatchback or station wagon of foreign manufacture. (Preferably Volvo. Note that this disallows Subaru models made in Indiana.) Extra points for turbo or diesel engine, yellow or powder blue paint. The mechanicals must be in perfect working order; the rest may be neglected.

God I miss my 02 WRX

ahsposo 

Studebakers were nerdy in their time...

dynodonn

The late 70's and early 80's were bad times for auto designs, the Ford Exp was one of them, and in making for a great nerdy sports car.

Sixty Fiver

Steve Jobs owned a Met... it does not get more nerdy than that.

nondes 

I'm surprised the Amphicar hasn't come up yet