1999 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor

1999 was the first year that the police version of Ford's Crown Victoria sedan was officially called the Police Interceptor. Though Ford had always built police versions of the Crown Victoria, from 1992 to 1998, the model was simply called the Crown Victoria P71, referring to the production code. Along with the civilian model, the P71 was restyled in 1998, and it retained much of the civilian model's styling, including a chrome grille, door handle trim, bumper trim strips, and the Crown Victoria's rear fascia and badging. In 1999, along with the new Crown Victoria Police Interceptor name and a Police Interceptor badge on the rear fascia, the grille, door handle trim and bumper trim strips were now glossy black. (An optional "Street Appearance Package" was also available to make the Crown Victoria Police Interceptor look like the civilian model by adding back all the chrome. 1999 was the only year the Ford Crown Victoria had the gloss black grille, as it was changed to flat black for 2000. This 1999 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor belonged to the Public Safety Department at the Milwaukee School of Engineering in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Dodge Power Wagon

The Dodge Power Wagon was a one-ton rated truck that was introduced in 1946. It was based on the WC-series of 3/4-ton trucks and command cars that were built for the military for use in World War II from 1942 to 1945. The Dodge Power Wagon saw few changes throughout its long production run; the only one that was visible from the outside was a new pickup bed in 1951. Other changes included a 12-volt electrical system and synchromesh transmission in 1955, power steering in 1956, and power brakes in 1957, which was the peak year for Power Wagon production. The 230-cubic-inch flathead inline 6-cylinder engine was supplanted by a 251-cubic-inch version in 1961. The Power Wagon remained in production for decades with no changes to the exterior styling. Domestic sales lasted until 1968, and export production continued to 1978. This flatbed example was photographed in the 1999 Days in the Park Parade in Rainier, Oregon. There is no clear indication which model year it represents; I have it labeled as 1960 model, but I don't recall how I determined that.

1954 Nash Statesman Custom Country Club Hardtop Coupe

Nash introduced the Country Club hardtop coupe in 1951 for the compact Rambler model, and when the larger Statesman and Ambassador were redesigned for 1952, they also gained their own versions of the stylish body style. 1954 would be the last year for this design before a facelift in 1955. The 1954 Nash pictured here at the Heritage Days Parade in Clatskanie, Oregon, on July 4, 1999, appears to be a Statesman Custom Country Club. The Statesman was Nash's midrange model, on a 114.25-inch wheelbase with a 195.6 cubic inch inline 6-cylinder engine that produced 100 horsepower, or 110 horsepower with the Dual Powerflyte dual carburetor option. The top-of-the-line Ambassador looked almost identical, but rode on a 121.25-inch wheelbase and were powered by the 252.6 cubic inch Super Jetfire inline 6-cylinder engine that produced 130 horsepower, or 140 horsepower with the optional LeMans dual carburators and high-compression aluminum head.

1969 Cadillac Hearse

This 1969 Cadillac shown here in the Heritage Days Parade in Clatskanie, Oregon, on July 4, 1999, is a former hearse that is now used by the Astoria Clowns of Astoria, Oregon. Cadillacs were restyled in 1969, abandoning the vertically stacked headlights used from 1965 to 1968 in favor of more inboard horizontal headlights. During the 1969 calendar year, Cadillac's production exceeded 250,000 cars for the first time, despite strikes affecting the 1969 production run. Among the 1969 production run were 2,550 commercial chassis. With a 156-inch wheelbase and Cadillac's 375-horsepower 472-cubic-inch V8 engine, these chassis were used by custom coachbuilders to build ambulances, hearses, and funeral flower-cars. The coachbuilders that used these chassis included the Superior Coach Corporation of Lima, Ohio, Miller-Meteor in Piqua, Ohio, and the Hess & Eisenhardt Company of Cincinnati, Ohio. I believe this example was built by Superior.

1946-1952 Bentley Mark VI Standard Steel Sports Saloon

Bentley was founded in 1919 and was purchased by Rolls-Royce in 1931, at which point Bentleys were simply sportier versions of Rolls-Royces. The Bentley Mark VI was introduced in 1946 as Bentley's first post-war model, and was based on the new Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith, also introduced in 1946, but while the Silver Wraith was only available as a chassis for custom coachwork, the Bentley Mark VI was available from the factory with completely assembled and finished all-steel coachwork, a first for Rolls-Royce. Called a Standard Steel Sports Saloon, this same body would be used to introduce the Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn in 1949. The Bentley Mark VI was powered by a 4.3-liter F-head inline 6-cylinder engine. In 1951, the bore was increased to raise displacement to 4.6 liters. The Bentley Mark VI was produced until 1952, and was then replaced by the new Bentley R Type. I am not sure what year the example pictured here is from (judging from the wheels, it might even be a replica).

1962-1974 Checker Aerobus

This extremely long vehicle might look like an aftermarket stretch limousine conversion, but in fact it is a factory production model. The Checker Motors Corporation of Kalamazoo, Michigan, was best known for the production of taxicabs, though the company also sold cars for other commercial use and even to consumers as personal vehicles. Following the 1961 introduction of the new Marathon 4-door sedan and station wagons, in 1962 Checker introduced an extra-long wheelbase version of the station wagon called the Aerobus. Intended for use as an airport shuttle, the Aerobus was available in both 9-passenger 6-door and 12-passenger 8-door versions. More than merely a stretched Marathon, the Aerobus was designed as a limousine, though it still had many parts in common with the Marathon. While the Marathon was introduced with a Continental inline 6-cylinder engine, the Aerobus was initially powered by a 5.2-liter Chrysler V8, though when the Marathon switched to Chevrolet engines in 1965, the Aerobus followed suit. Production of the less-popular 9-passenger version ended in 1969. The Aerobus was initially dropped after 1974 when Checker discontinued the Marathon station wagon, but was revived for 1975 and 1976 with a sedan rear-end before being discontinued for good. The 12-passenger station wagon pictured here represents the most popular configuration Aerobus configuration, and Checker made few external changes to its vehicles from year to year, so there's little to identify what year of Aerobus production this example is from.

1981-1987 Lotus Turbo Esprit

The Lotus Esprit was first introduced in 1976. With a fiberglass body and 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder engine, it received its first redesign in 1978. In 1981 it was redesigned again, this time more extensivley, receiving a 2.2-liter inline 4-cylinder engine. 1981 also saw the introduction of the Lotus Turbo Esprit, using a turbocharged version of the 2.2-liter engine. This generation of the Esprit continued until 1987 when it was redesigned, and the Esprit remained in production until 2004 for a total of 28 years. Each generation of the Esprit saw few external changes from year to year. Pictured here is a Turbo Esprit from the third generation, from 1981 to 1987.

1982-1991 Jaguar XJ-S HE

The Jaguar XJ-S was originally introduced in 1975 as a replacement for the XK-E, which had been in production since 1961. The XJ-S was powered by the same 5.3-Liter V12 engine that had been introduced in the XK-E in 1971. Sales were slow, and in 1982 the XJ-S was redesigned and rechristened the XJ-S HE, featuring a new High Efficiency 5.3-Liter V12 engine that produced more power and torque while delivering better fuel economy. The new engine along with styling changes made the new XJ-S much more appealing, and sales increased dramatically. The XJ-S HE Coupe would see little change through 1991, though there were some additions to the line. Starting in 1983, a 3.6-Liter AJ6 inline 6-cylinder engine was also available, and this engine was used to power the XJ-SC cabriolet that was introduced that same year. The XJ-SC became available with the HE V12 in 1985, and was replaced by a full convertible in 1989. The XJ-S would receive a facelift in 1992 and was renamed the XJS; in this final form it would continue in production through 1996, for a total of 21 years. Pictured here is the XJ-S with the High Efficiency 5.3-Liter V12 engine. Exterior styling was virtually unchanged from 1982 to 1991.

1955 Studebaker Ultra Vista 4-Door Sedan

In 1955, Studebaker gave a facelift to its 1953 styling for the last time before a major redesign in 1956. The 1955 Studebakers were introduced in the fall of 1954, but received an update in January of 1955. Most notably, the "flat" sloping windshield was replaced with a more upright wraparound design that Studebaker referred to as "Ultra Vista." Pictured here is an Ultra Vista 4-door sedan. It is either a Champion Deluxe or a Commander Deluxe. Commander had been Studebaker's top-line model, but the introduction of the new Studebaker President in 1955 bumped the Commander down to a mid-price position. The Commander and the Champion were now very similar, with the main difference being the engines: the Champion was powered by an L-head in-line "Victory Six," while the Commander had a more powerful V8 "Bearcat" engine.

1971-1972 Chevrolet Blazer

The Chevrolet Blazer was introduced in 1969 as a variation of Chevrolet's full-size pickups, which had been redesigned in 1967. An early sport-utility vehicle designed to compete with the Jeep CJ series, the International-Harvester Scout, and the Ford Bronco, the Blazer was larger than its competition, despite riding on a 104-inch wheelbase, shorter than any of Chevrolet's full-size pickups. Though introduced as a four-wheel-drive-only model in 1969, a two-wheel-drive version was introduced in 1970. The Blazer also featured a removable hardtop that covered the cab and bed; this one is shown with the hardtop removed. The Blazer had the same styling as Chevrolet's full-size trucks; the "eggcrate" grill on this example indicates it is from 1971 or 1972, the last two years of the Blazer's first generation. Originally, this Blazer would have been powered by either a 250-cubic-inch or 292-cubic-inch in-line 6-cylinder engine, or a 307-cubic-inch or 350-cubic-inch "small block" V8 engine, with the choice of a three-speed Hydromatic automatic transmission or a three-speed or four-speed manual transmission. The vanity license plate on this customized Blazer at the 1999 Eagles car show in Rainier, Oregon, indicates that is it now powered by a 427-cubic-inch "big block" V8 engine.

1972-1973 Mercedes-Benz SL

In 1971, Mercedes-Benz introduced an all-new 350SL roadster and 350SLC coupe in Europe, and were powered by a 200-horsepower, 3.5-liter overhead-cam V8 with Bosch fuel injection. The 350SL and 350SLC models were introduced in North America in 1972, but the 3.5-liter V8 could not make adequate power while meeting American emissions standards, so the North American cars were equipped with a 4.5-liter overhead-cam V8 engines with low compression that met American emissions requirements. The North American versions also had four round sealed-beam headlights, as the composite headlights used in Europe were not legal in the United States. In 1973, the North American models were renamed 450SL and 450SLC, reflecting the true size of their V8 engines, and in 1974, they received protruding 5-mile-per-hour bumpers. This roadster with the optional removable hardtop, pictured at the 1999 Eagles car show in Rainier, Oregon, has the original bumpers, making it either a 1972 350SL or a 1973 450SL.

1952 Chevrolet Styleline Deluxe Sport Coupe

1952 was the last year for Chevrolet's 1949 redesign, which had seen only minor changes after 1950. As in the previous two years, 1953 Chevrolets were powered by a standard 92-horsepower 216-cubic-inch in-line six-cylinder engine with a 3-speed Synchro-Mesh manual transmission, or an optional 105-horsepower 235-cubic-inch in-line six-cylinder engine with the two-speed Powerglide automatic transmission. The Styleline Deluxe Sport Coupe, as shown here at the 1999 Eagles Car Show in Rainier, Oregon, has always been outshined by the more exciting, but also more expensive, Styleline Deluxe Bel Air hardtop coupe. The Sport Coupe, however, was over 100 pounds lighter than the Bel Air, and looked almost identical below the bottom of the windows. Style was king in the 1950s, though, and the stylish Bel Air outsold the more conservative Deluxe Sport Coupe more than two to one in 1952. Even today, it seems one is far more likely to see a Bel Air than a Sport Coupe at a car show, which makes this Sport Coupe that much more special.

1970 Ford Thunderbird Laudau Coupe

Parked in Rainier, Oregon, during the 1999 Eagles Car Show, this 1970 Ford Thunderbird Landau Coupe represents a Thunderbird era that is often overlooked in favor of the better-known earlier models. The Ford Thunderbird was introduced in 1955 as a sporty 2-seat convertible, essentially creating the personal luxury car market segment. Over the years, the Thunderbird grew, gaining a rear seat and a fixed hardtop coupe to go with the convertible, but still maintaining its sporty image. Then the Ford Mustang was introduced in 1964, and its incredible success as a more affordable sports car forced the Thunderbird to find a new place in the market. In 1967, Ford redesigned the Thunderbird from a sporty 2+2 coupe or convertible to a large luxury hardtop coupe or a landau with either two or four doors. These were the largest and heaviest Thunderbirds yet, but with Ford's 360-horsepower 429-cubic-inch wedge-head 385 V8 engine, they were also among the fastest, allowing the Thunderbird to retain a bit of sports-car performance. Initially, this generation of Thunderbird featured a blunt nose with the headlights hidden behind a large recessed grille, but in 1970 it was redesigned as shown here, with a beak-like pointed nose and uncovered headlights. This look would only last through 1971, as the Thunderbird was redesigned for 1972, becoming even bigger and heavier, with engines more encumbered by restrictive emissions equipment. Any trace of sportiness vanished, and it would take until 1983 for the Thunderbird to begin to reclaim any semblance of a performance image again.

1974-1976 Mercedes-Benz 280C

Mercedes-Benz introduced its "New Generation" series of sedans and coupes in 1968, and continued to produce them under a variety of model numbers until 1976. Though the exterior changed very little from year to year, this hardtop coupe at the 1999 Eagles Car Show in Rainier, Oregon, can be narrowed down by the protruding 5-mile-per-hour bumpers that were mandated in the United States beginning in 1974. With that in mind, this coupe would be a 280C from between 1974 and 1976, powered by a 145-horsepower 2,746-cubic-centimeter (almost 2.8 liter) M110 inline 6-cylinder engine.

1937 LaSalle Coupe

Pictured here at the 1999 Eagles Car Show in Rainier, Oregon, is a 1937 LaSalle Coupe, representing the peak year for a short-lived General Motors marque. The story of LaSalle is an interesting one. It begins in the mid-1920s, when General Motors consisted of five automobile brands: Chevrolet, Oakland, Oldsmobile, Buick, and Cadillac. There were significant gaps between the price ranges of the five brands. In an attempt to fill these price gaps, General Motors created four "companion" makes, each built by an existing brand division. Pontiac was created by Oakland in 1926 to fill the gap between it and Chevrolet. The large gap between Oldsmobile and Buick was filled in 1929 by Oldsmobile's Viking and Buick's Marquette. LaSalle was introduced by Cadillac in 1927 to fill the gap between it and Buick. The companion make program didn't go quite as General Motors expected, though. Marquette and Viking promptly failed in 1930 and 1931 respectively, while Pontiac was so successful that its parent Oakland was discontinued in 1931, leaving LaSalle as the only companion make standing alongside its parent brand. LaSalle's cars were stylish and powerful, but were smaller than Cadillac's and had lower price tags. LaSalle sales helped support Cadillac through the Great Depression, and in 1934 LaSalle cut costs by using shorter wheelbases and engines from Oldsmobile instead of Cadillac, but LaSalle soon faced competition from other smaller luxury cars like the Packard One-Twenty and the Lincoln-Zephyr. In 1937, LaSalle returned to its Cadillac roots, with longer wheelbases and Cadillac's 322-cubic-inch monobloc V8 engine, and sales spiked to a peak of 32,000, more than double the previous year's figure, but that was a good as it would ever get for LaSalle. The success of the junior Packard One-Twenty and Lincoln-Zephyr showed that there was no reason not to have a junior Cadillac as well. Cadillac introduced its own entry-level model, the Series 60, in 1936, and LaSalle was quickly squeezed out of the entry-level luxury market it created by its own parent brand. LaSalle was discontinued in 1940, but not before some designs were developed for potential 1941 LaSalle models. One of these proposals was adapted for Cadillac to become the 1941 Cadillac Series 63.

1999 Porsche 911 Carrera

In 1998, Porsche introduced the first new, completely-redesigned 911 since the original debuted in 1963. The only parts carried over from the previous 911 were the suspension and the 6-speed manual transmission. For the first time, the new 911 featured a water-cooled engine. The rear-engined 911 Carrera was powered by a 296-horsepower 3.4-liter version of the M96 dual-overhead-cam horizontally-opposed “flat” six-cylinder “boxer” engine, with either a 6-speed manual transmission or a 5-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission, and either rear-wheel or all-wheel drive. The 911 Carrera could accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in under 5 seconds and reach a top speed of 178 miles per hour. The new Porsche 911 Carrera shared its front end styling with the lower-priced Porsche Boxster, making the two look very similar, however the Boxster was only available as a 2-seat roadster, while the more powerful and faster 911 Carrera featured a rear seat and was available as either a convertible or a coupe.

1999 Porsche Boxster

The Porsche Boxster was introduced in 1996, replacing the front-engined 968 as Porsche’s entry-level model. The Boxster was the first Porsche road vehicle to be designed as a roadster since the 1953 Porsche 550 Spyder. The Boxster also introduced Porsche’s first water-cooled non-front engine, the M96 dual-overhead-cam horizontally-opposed “flat” six-cylinder “boxer” engine. The Boxster’s name came from a combination of the words “boxer” and “roadster.” The rear-wheel drive, mid-engine Boxster features a 201-horsepower, 2.5-liter version of the M96 engine. With a standard 5-speed manual transmission, the Boxster could accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 6.7 seconds and reach a top speed of 149 miles per hour. With the optional 5-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission, the Boxster could reach 60 miles per hour in 7.4 seconds with a top speed of 146 miles per hour. The Boxster’s mid-engine layout provided a low center of gravity, near-perfect weight distribution, and neutral handling.

2000 Lincoln LS

The Lincoln LS would be introduced in June of 1999 for the 2000 model year. Sharing a platform with the new Jaguar S-Type, this rear-wheel-drive luxury sport sedan was intended to compete with European imports like the BMW 3-Series and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, and would be available in two forms: the LS6 with a 210-horsepower 3.0-liter dual-overhead-cam V6 with a 5-speed automatic or an available 5-speed manual transmission, and the LS8 with a 252-horsepower 3.8-liter dual-overhead-cam V8 with a five-speed SelectShift automatic transmission. Standard features for both included traction control and front-seat side airbags.

Dodge Copperhead

The Dodge Copperhead is a concept car that was unveiled in 1997, with a production planned for release in the 2000 model year. The project was cancelled before reaching production, but the concept was still making appearances in 1999, as seen here at the Portland International Auto Show. The Copperhead was designed as a counterpart to the $75,000 Dodge Viper at a $30,000 price point. Measuring three inches narrower and eight inches shorter than the Viper, but with a foot-longer wheelbase, the rear-wheel-drive, two-seat roadster may have been inspired by the more expensive sports car, but was distinctly different. Among its unique features were cast aluminum wheels measuring 18 inches in diameter by 8 inches wide in the front and 20 inches in diameter by 9 inches in the rear, with tires with snakeskin tread, and color-shifting Copper Fire Orange paint. The powertrain, however, was less unique. The Copperhead was powered by a 2.7-liter, dual overhead cam, aluminum-block V6 engine with a close-ratio five-speed manual transmission. This LH engine was released to the public in the 1998 Dodge Intrepid, though in the case of the Copperhead, Dodge was able to increase the power by 20 horsepower for a total of 220 horsepower. While this was fairly impressive for a V6 at the time, it was still a far cry from the Viper’s powerful V10 engine. In price and power, the Copperhead would have been very similar to another Chrysler product, the Plymouth Prowler, despite sharing nothing in common. That could be one reason the Copperhead never reached production. The Copperhead’s legacy did live on, though: the Copper Fire Orange paint ended up being used on the Copperhead Edition of the Plymouth Prowler.

1999 Ford Mustang Convertible

Originally introduced in 1994, the fourth-generation Ford Mustang received a substantial facelift for 1999, with new sheet metal bringing the large wheel arches and the sharp contours and creases of Ford’s “New Edge” styling, along with improved ride and handling and new seats and interior details. All three available engines also received horsepower increases, from the base 190-horsepower 3.8-liter overhead-valve V6, to the Mustang GT’s 260-horsepower 4.6-liter single-overhead-cam V8, to the 320-horsepower 4.6-liter dual-overhead-cam V8 that would accelerate the Mustang Cobra from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 5.4 seconds.

GMC CCKW 2-1/2-Ton 6x6 Cargo Truck

I spotted this GMC CCKW 2-1/2-Ton 6x6 Cargo Truck from World War II in Elbe, Washington, in the summer of 1998. The CCKW was introduced in 1941 with an enclosed cab. The flat vertical windshield indicates that this truck is an open cab version, built between 1943 and 1945, with a solid roof and doors grafted on later. With over a half-million produced, the CCKW was one of the most numerous vehicles built for the U.S. Military during World War II, second only to the Jeep.

1996 Solectria Force

This may look like a Geo Metro sedan, but, in fact, it is an electric car called a Solectria Force. In the 1990s, the Solectria Corporation of Wilmington, Massachusetts, built approximately 400 of these electric cars from brand-new, motor-less 1996 Geo Metros. In place of the gasoline engine and transmission, Solectria installed a 56-horsepower 40-kilowatt three phase alternating current electric motor and a total of 13 12-volt lead-acid gel batteries under the hood and in the trunk. The Solectria Force could reach a top speed of 70 miles per hour, and accelerate from 0 to 30 miles per hour in 8 seconds and 0 to 60 miles per hour in 18 seconds. It had a typical range of 35 to 50 miles on a charge, though one Solectria Force driver set a record of 110 miles on a single charge. With an on-board charger, the Solectria Force could be fully charged in 2.5 hours from a 240-volt outlet or 12 hours from a 110-volt outlet. The Solectria Force also featured advanced regenerative braking, using the car's front wheels to turn the electric motor when coasting or decelerating, using it as a generator to help recharge the batteries and extend the range between charging.

The Solectria Force pictured here belonged to Portland General Electric, which purchased two of the electric cars for its own company fleet. They made appearances at schools and at community events like the Days in the Park Parade in Rainier, Oregon, on July 11, 1998.

1989 Toyota MR2

The Toyota MR2 was introduced in June 1984 for the 1985 model year. The name MR2 may refer to the car's mid-engine layout, rear-wheel drive and two seats. The first-generation MR2 was powered by a 112-horsepower 1,587 cubic centimeter dual overhead-cam inline four-cylinder engine. A 145-horsepower turbocharged version was introduced in 1988 in the United States. The T-Bar roof as seen on this example was introduced in 1987. For 1989, the final year of the first generation model, the side mirrors and door handles matched the paint color.

M88A1 Medium Recovery Vehicle

Rear View of the M88A1

The M88 was originally introduced in 1961 as an armored recovery vehicle for the M48 Patton tank. It was manufactured by Bowen McLoughlin York in York, Pennsylvania, and was powered by a 980-horsepower Continental V-12 supercharged gasoline engine, with a 10-horsepower gasoline auxiliary power unit. The M88A1 was introduced in 1977 as a recovery vehicle for the new M60 tank, and is powered by a 750-horsepower Continental V-12 twin-turbo diesel engine, with a 10-horsepower diesel auxiliary power unit. In addition to newly-built M88A1s, the existing M88s were converted to the new design. Over 3,000 were built for the United States Army and Marine Corps, however they lacked the capacity to recover the M1 Abrams tank, and have since been replaced by the new M88A2.

1942 International-Harvester M-1-4 Ambulance

The International-Harvester M-1-4 is a 1/2-ton truck that was introduced in 1941 and was used exclusively by the United States Navy and Marine Corps. This example from 1942 is a field ambulance with a collapsible ambulance body built by the Boyertown Auto Body Works of Boyertown, Pennsylvania. One of the very few survivors of the nearly 900 built, it is now displayed at the Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles. The M-4-1 was also available as a cargo truck with removeable troop seats and sometimes fitted with a canvas top. It was replaced in 1942 by the 1-ton M-2-4, which was nearly identical in appearance.

1997 General Motors EV1

This terrible picture is one that I really wish had turned out, as it shows a General Motors EV1 at the 1998 Portland International Auto Show in Portland, Oregon, the only one I've ever seen. The EV1 was introduced in 1996 as a 1997 model, and was the first modern mass-produced purpose-designed electric car from a major automaker. Powered by a 137-horsepower 3-phase AC induction electric motor with lead-acid batteries, the two-seat EV1 had a standard range between charges of 65 miles in the city to 95 miles on the highway. The EV1 was available only as a three-year lease through select Saturn dealers in California and Arizona, at a cost of about $399 per month in California and about $549 per month in Arizona. This car is apparently a 1997 model, as there were no 1998 models built. The 1999 EV1 would feature improved lead-acid batteries, plus optional Nickel metal hydride batteries (available only in California at a cost of $499) that increased the range to 75 to 140 miles between charges, and allowed the EV1 to accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in under 8 seconds. The EV1 program was also expanded to Atlanta, Georgia, and additional parts of California. The reason for this EV1 appearing in Portland is unclear. The EV1 was never available for lease in Portland, but perhaps Portland was a potential future market General Motors had been considering for the EV1. As it turned out, production of the EV1 would end in 1999 after a total of 1,117 cars, and General Motors would soon stop offering lease renewals to reclaim them. By the end of 2003, all of the EV1s were off the road. A few were donated to universities and museums; the rest were crushed.

1998 Volkswagen New Beetle

A newcomer for 1998 was the all-new retro-styled Volkswagen New Beetle, which got a lot of attention. Production of the New Beetle began December 1997 at Volkswagen’s plant in Puebla, Mexico, the sole source. Based on Volkswagen’s Golf chassis, it was scheduled to be on sale in the United States by the end of March 1998. Exports to Europe were scheduled for Fall 1998, and the rest of the world in 1999. Based on the Volkswagen Concept 1 that was presented at the 1994 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan. The base model starts at $15,700 with a 115-horsepower 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder gasoline engine and a 5-speed manual transmission. A 90-horsepower 1.9-liter 4-cylinder Turbo Direct Injection diesel engine was also available, starting at $16,975. A 150-horsepower turbocharged 1.8-liter engine would become available in the fall of 1998. Unlike Volkswagen’s original Beetle, which featured an air-cooled, rear-mounted engine, the New Beetle is front wheel drive with water-cooled engines mounted in the front. With a wheelbase of 98.9 inches, the New Beetle is 161.1 inches long and 67.9 inches wide. Standard features include a fully galvanized body for rust protection, dual front airbags and front seat-mounted side airbags, four-wheel disc brakes, pretensioning front safety belts, front and rear headrests, halogen projector-beam headlights, daytime running lights, air conditioning, pollen and odor filter, six speaker stereo, beverage holders, antitheft alarm system, central locking system with remote, and even a bud vase. Available options included anti-lock brakes, alloy wheels, cruise control, leather upholstery, fog lamps, heated front seats, and power windows.

Dodge Dakota Sidewinder

The Dodge Dakota Sidewinder is a concept truck that was created in 1997, combining the styling cues of the 1997 Dodge Dakota like the offset hood, fenders, and cross hair grille, with those of classic trucks of the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s, like a bucket-shaped cab, a narrow 4’ x 6’ box, a billet-style headerless windshield, and a lack of visible door handles, bumpers and trim. The Dakota Sidewinder is essentially a pickup-version of the Dodge Viper, using the Viper GTS-R’s 8.0-liter V-10 engine, with more than 600 horsepower and 700 foot-pounds of torque, in a rear-wheel-drive pickup. Unlike the Viper, the Dakota Sidewinder has a four-speed automatic transmission, but can still accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in under 4 seconds and reach a top speed of 170 miles per hour. The Dakota Sidewinder has a 112-inch wheelbase and an overall length of 189 inches, with a height of only 56 inches and a curb weight of only 2,700 pounds. The Dakota Sidewinder features a front double wishbone and rear five-bar link suspension for lower ride and sports-car-like handling. It rides on cast aluminum wheels that measure 8 inches by 21 inches in the front and 11 inches by 22 inches in the rear, and features a four-wheel anti-lock braking system with 15-inch disc brakes.

1998 Lincoln Town Car

The Lincoln Town Car was redesigned with a new aerodynamic body in 1998, the same body that it would continue to use for the next decade with little change, along with a new interior and larger brakes. The rear-wheel-drive Lincoln Town Car was powered by a 4.6-liter single overhead cam V8 engine that produced 205 horsepower. The top-of-the-line Cartier trim level featured dual exhaust and increased the power to 220 horsepower, enough to accelerate the 4,000-pound Town Car from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 7.9 seconds and reach a top speed of 130 miles per hour.

1998 Dodge Viper GTS

The Dodge Viper was first sold in 1992, and was originally only available as a roadster. In 1996, the Viper saw a facelift, and the Dodge Viper GTS coupe was introduced. The body of the GTS was made almost entirely of composite materials, resulting in the GTS weighing 42.2 pounds less than the roadster, despite the addition of a solid roof. The Viper GTS was powered by a 488-cubic-inch Lamborghini-designed all-aluminum V10 engine that produced 450 horsepower and 490 foot-pounds of torque and featured a six-speed manual transmission. The Viper GTS could accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 4.7 seconds, cover a quarter-mile in 12.6 seconds at 117 miles per hour, and reach a top speed of 179 miles per hour. The Viper GTS featured 23-inch vented disc brakes at all four corners and had 17-inch alloy wheels that were 10 inches wide in the front and 13 inches wide in the rear. Despite not being changed much for 1998, the Dodge Viper was still really cool. Changes for 1998 included a reduced overlap camshaft for smoother idle with increased spark advance without raising emissions, stainless steel exhaust manifolds that were 24 pounds lighter than the previous cast iron components, and second generation airbags.

Jeep Icon

The Jeep Icon concept car was created in 1997 to explore the styling possibilities of future Jeep Wrangler models. The Icon was designed as a unibody construction with an integrated aluminum roll cage. Chrysler designers widened the Wrangler’s track, reduced its length by 5 inches to 142 inches, reduced its overhangs by 2 inches, and increased wheel travel from 8 inches to 10 inches. They increased the size of the bumpers, tires and wheel arches for a compact, muscular look. Traditional Wrangler design elements were retained, including the general proportions, exposed hinges, bold bumpers, exposed door handles and gas cap, folding windshield, and the classic grille, which was made shorter and wider. The hinges, door handles, wheels and bumper were all branded with the Jeep logo. Inside, the seats were inspired by the design of a camper’s backpack, made of lightweight exposed aluminum tubes and waterproof olive-gray leather upholstery.

1998 Chevrolet Camaro

The fourth generation of the Chevrolet Camaro was introduced in 1993, and In 1998 the Chevrolet Camaro was given a facelift, with aerodynamic flush headlights replacing the recessed headlights that had been a Camaro trademark since the previous generation debuted in 1982. The Camaro's base engine was still the 200-horsepower 3.8-liter V6, but the Z28 and SS featured an all-new aluminum-alloy 5.7-liter LS1 small block V8. The LS1 has the same bore spacing as the LT1 it replaced, but is shorter and lighter, with longer intake runners, a winged oil pan, a .500-inch lift hydraulic roller camshaft, wider camshaft journals, and a coil for each cylinder. The LS1 is rated at 305 horsepower in the Camaro Z28, but with the ram air induction of the Camaro SS is boosted to 320 horsepower, enough to accelerate the Camaro SS from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 5.3 seconds and reach a top speed of 161 miles per hour.

1998 Ford Escort ZX2

The Ford Escort had been redesigned for 1997, but 1998 saw the addition of the all-new Ford Escort ZX2 coupe. The sporty Escort ZX2 took the place of the Ford Probe, and was powered by a 130-horsepower 2.0-liter double overhead cam Zetec inline four-cylinder engine that was not available in the other Escort models. The Escort ZX2 could accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 7.4 seconds.

Hystar Airship

This isn't an automobile, but it was at an auto show. The Hystar Airship is a radio-controlled “flying saucer” spanning 18 feet in diameter. The Hystar couldflay straight up and down, hover in a stationary position, stop in midair, move sideways, and spin in any direction. The Hystar Airship dated back to at least 1986, when it appeared at Expo 86 in Vancouver, British Columbia. This photograph was taken over a decade later, during a demonstration at the 1998 Portland International Auto Show inside the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Oregon.

Isuzu VehiCROSS

The Isuzu VehiCROSS came to America as a 1999 model, and this very-limited production sport-utility vehicle was essentially a concept car. The VehiCROSS was shown at the New York International Auto Show in April 1997, and was being studied for a U.S. release. It was already on sale in Japan, where it had a sticker price of about $24,000, and expected sales of about 3,000 units a year. It is based on the Isuzu Trooper platform and built at the Fujisawa plant. The VehiCROSS is powered by a new 210-horsepower 3.2-liter dual overhead cam, direct injection V6 that produces 205 foot-pounds of torque. Other features include a torque-on-demand system that automatically distributes power between the front and rear wheels depending on conditions, a color rear-view video camera with a 5-inch monitor mounted on the instrument panel that can also be linked to a global navigation system, aluminum shock absorbers with increased damping efficiency and separate tanks for the oil and gas inside the shock, a 17-inch spare tire integrated into the design of the rear tailgate, a Momo steering wheel, Recaro seats, power windows, air conditioning, heated mirrors, and dual airbags.

1999 Mercury Cougar

The Mercury Cougar was originally introduced in 1967, and continued uninterrupted until the rear-wheel drive Thunderbird-based Cougar ended production in 1997. After a one-year absence, this new, very different Cougar would appear as a 1999 model. Based on the Mercury MC2 concept car from 1997, the new Cougar was introduced at the 1998 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan, and was scheduled to go on sale in May 1998. Based on the Ford Contour and Mercury Mystique, the new Cougar shares about 70 percent of its parts with the sedans, including the chassis, engines and transmissions. Unlike the sedans, the new Cougar is a front-wheel drive, four-seat, two-door hatchback, and is Mercury’s first production model to feature its New Edge design, which is based on using distinct creases to accent rounded and flowing shapes. Bold, sheer surfaces are accented by a sharp, rising belt line that starts at the front bumper and extends to the rear, ending at the rear bumper and the shardlike triangular wraparound tail light lenses. The New Edge designs allows for minimal spacing between the bumper moldings and the sheet-metal panels, and crisp corners where the hood meets the darkened lenses of the four-beam projector headlights. The Cougar is available with a 125-horsepower 2.0-liter dual overhead cam inline 4-cylinder engine or a 170-horsepower 2.5-liter 24-valve dual overhead cam Duratec V6, with either a standard 5-speed manual or optional 4-speed automatic transmission. The Cougar comes standard with anti-lock brakes and front air bags, with optional side airbags mounted in the side of the front seats.

1999 Ford F-250 Super Duty

Though Ford’s regular F-150 and F-250 were all new in 1997, the all new Super Duty trucks were not available until 1999. The Super Duty F-250 replaced the F-250 (based on the new F-150) and the F-250 HD (a continuation of the previous F-250) while the F-350 Super Duty replaced the previous F-350. The standard engine was a 255-horsepower 5.4-liter single overhead cam 16-valve Triton V8 gasoline engine that produced 350 foot-pounds of torque. Also available was a 310-horsepower 6.8-liter single overhead cam 20-valve V10 Triton gasoline engine that produced 425 foot-pounds of torque. Both Triton engines featured a new “limp home” mode that allows the truck to be driven a short distance even if all coolant has been lost, accomplished by the engine control computer alternately shutting off fuel to half of the cylinders, allowing them to pump air to keep the engine cool. A 235-horsepower 7.3-liter Power Stroke V8 diesel engine that produced 500 foot-pounds of torque was also available. Five-speed manual and four-speed automatic transmissions were available for all engines. The Super Duty trucks were available with a standard cab, a SuperCab, or a crew cab, and either a 6-3/4-foot or an 8-foot bed. Four wheel drive was available as an option on all models, and a dual-wheel rear axle was available for the F-350. Trim levels included the base XL, the mid-range XLT, and the top-of-the-line Lariat.

1998 Ford Crown Victoria

1998 was a big year for the Ford Crown Victoria, as it saw a major change to the styling of the aerodynamic body that debuted in 1992. In addition to major facelifts to the front and rear, the roofline and windows were also changed to match that of the Mercury Grand Marquis. The Crown Victoria would keep this same basic styling with very little change for the next decade. The Crown Victoria also received changed to its suspension, brakes and steering to give the car better handling while maintaining a smooth ride, including the addition of a Watt’s linkage to the rear axle to help prevent the axle from swaying during turns or acceleration. Other changes include increasing the size of the disc brakes by 1 inch to 16 inches, coil-on-plug ignition, an electric fan replacing the engine-driven fan, and a new “limp home” mode that allows the car to be driven a short distance even if all coolant has been lost, accomplished by the engine control computer alternately shutting off fuel to some of the cylinders, allowing them to pump air to keep the engine cool. An optional all-speed traction control replaces the previous low-speed traction assist system. The Crown Victoria is still powered by the same 200-horsepower 4.6-liter V8 as before, though the less restrictive dual exhaust included with the optional handling package allows it to produce 215 horsepower.

1984-1987 Chevrolet M1009 CUCV Blazer

The Chevrolet M1009 CUCV Blazer was built for the United States Armed Forces from 1983 to 1986, in the 1984 to 1987 model years. Intended as a light support vehicle for the military, the M1009 differed from Chevrolet's civilian 3/4-ton four-wheel-drive K5 Blazer in several ways. Most notably, they were powered by a 155-horsepower non-emissions 6.2-liter Detroit Diesel V8 engine with a TH400 3-speed automatic transmission, and featured a hybrid electrical system that used 24 volts under the hood for the starter, dual alternators, NATO jump start receptacle, and military radio hookups, while retaining 12 volts elsewhere. They also had heavier suspension springs and, as limitary vehicles, they naturally lacked civilian features like radios and air conditioning.

The example pictured here was a retired military surplus vehicle that was acquired by the Rainier Fire Department in Rainier, Oregon, in the 1990s. It is pictured here in the 1997 Rainier Days in the Park Parade on July 12, 1997.

1964 Dodge Town Panel

The Dodge Town Panel and Town Wagon were early versions of what we now call Sport-Utility Vehicles. Introduced in 1954, they were based on the Dodge C-Series line of light pickups. The main visible difference between the Town Panel and the Town Wagon was that the Town Wagon had sliding rear side windows, being more of a passenger vehicle called a carryall while the Town Panel was more of a cargo vehicle called a panel truck. Four-wheel drive became available for the Town Wagon in 1957, with the lengthy name of Power Wagon Town Wagon. The last year of production for the Town Wagon and Town Panel was 1966.

The Dodge Town Panel pictured here was used as a delivery truck by Hallberg's Market in Rainier, Oregon. It is pictured here during the 1997 Rainier Days in the Park Parade, carrying its owner, Grand Marshall Roland Curteman, former owner of Hallberg's. Exterior styling of the Town Panel and Town Wagon was essentially unchanged from 1961 to 1966, but this truck was said to be 33 years old in 1997, making it a 1964 model.

1997 Pontiac Firebird

The fourth generation of the Pontiac Firebird was introduced in 1993 alongside the Chevrolet Camaro, and as with the Camaro, 1997 was the last year of the original styling before a major facelift. For 1997, the Firebird's base engine was a 200-horsepower 3.8-liter V6, with the Formula and Trans Am featuring a 285-horsepower 5.7-liter LT1 V8.

1997 Chevrolet Camaro

The fourth generation of the Chevrolet Camaro was introduced in 1993, and 1997 was the last year of the original styling before a major facelift. For 1997, the Camaro's base engine was a 3.8-liter V6, with the Z28 featuring a 275-horsepower 5.7-liter LT1 V8 that would accelerate the Camaro from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 6.1 seconds and reach a top speed of 155 miles per hour. 1997 was the 30th Anniversary of the Camaro, and a limited-edition 30th anniversary model was available for the Z28 in Arctic White with Hugger Orange stripes, patterned after the 1969 Camaro Z28 Indianapolis 500 Pace Car.

1997 Chevrolet Corvette

The fifth generation of the Chevrolet Corvette was new in 1997, which was big news as the previous generation dated back to 1984. The new Corvette was slightly wider and taller, and had a significantly longer wheelbase that added to the Corvette's stability. The old quad-cam V8 was replaced by a new aluminum-alloy LS1 small block V8 that produced 345 horsepower with a traditional overhead-vale pushrod design thanks to cylinder heads redesigned to maximize airflow, a composite induction system, advanced engine management and electronic fuel injection. For the first time, the Corvette featured a rear-mounted transaxle and was available with a standard four-speed automatic transmission or an optional six-speed manual. The Corvette could accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 4.7 seconds and reach a top speed of 175 miles per hour. Additional features included antilock brakes, traction control, a tire pressure monitor and run-flat tires. A convertible would debut six months after the coupe.

1997 Dodge Viper GTS

The Dodge Viper was first sold in 1992, and was originally only available as a roadster. In 1996, the Viper saw a facelift, and the Dodge Viper GTS coupe was introduced. The body of the GTS was made almost entirely of composite materials, resulting in the GTS weighing 42.2 pounds less than the roadster, despite the addition of a solid roof. The Viper GTS was powered by a 488-cubic-inch Lamborghini-designed all-aluminum V10 engine that produced 450 horsepower and 490 foot-pounds of torque and featured a six-speed manual transmission. The Viper GTS could accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 4.7 seconds, cover a quarter-mile in 12.6 seconds at 117 miles per hour, and reach a top speed of 179 miles per hour. The Viper GTS featured 23-inch vented disc brakes at all four corners and had 17-inch alloy wheels that were 10 inches wide in the front and 13 inches wide in the rear.

1997 Chrysler Sebring Convertible

The Chrysler Sebring Convertible was introduced in 1996 as a replacement for the Chrysler LeBaron Convertible. Though it shares its name with the Mitsubishi-based Sebring coupe introduced in 1995, the Sebring convertible is actually based on the Chrysler Cirrus sedan and features entirely unique sheet metal. The Sebring Convertible was powered by either a 150-horsepower 2.4-liter twin overhead camshaft inline 4-cylinder engine, or an available 168-horsepower Mitsubishi-built 2.5-liter alloy-head overhead-camshaft V6 that could accelerate the Sebring Convertible from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 10.2 seconds, cover a quarter-mile in 17.4 seconds, and reach a top speed of 122 mile per hour. All Sebring Convertibles featured a four-speed automatic transmission, but in 1997 an AutoStick transmission was introduced that allowed gears to be shifted manually by moving the shifter from side to side. The Sebring Convertible's front seatbelts were integrated into the front seats, eliminating the need for a B-pillar and easing rear-seat access. The power convertible top could be lowered in just 10 seconds.

1997 Plymouth Prowler

In 1997, the Plymouth Prowler was brand new, and it came in only one color: Prowler Purple. The rear-wheel drive Prowler was powered by an LHS-derived, 3.5-liter high-output 24-valve sequential multiport electronic fuel injection 60-degree single overhead cam V6 that produced 214 horsepower at 5,850 rpm, with a rear-mounted 4-speed fully adaptive electronically controlled automatic transmission with AutoStick. The Prowler could accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 7.0 seconds with a top speed of 118 miles per hour.

Additional features included an aluminum frame, suspension arms, and body panels and a magnesium instrument panel cross member, cast aluminum 17-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels with Goodyear Extended Mobility run-flat tires and a low tire pressure sensor system, 4-wheel vented disc brakes, stainless steel exhaust manifolds, composite aerodynamic quad projector beam headlights, remote keyless entry system with vehicle theft alarm, power automatic door locks with time delay, dual power mirrors, power windows, electronic speed control, leather-trimmed bucket seats, and a 7-speaker AM/FM/Cassette/6-disc CD Infinity sound system powered by a remote, 320-watt amplifier with eight 40-watt channels, and a three-speaker subwoofer. The original retail price of the Plymouth Prowler was $38,300.

1956 Buick Special Riviera Hardtop Coupe

Buick's entry-level model from 1936 to 1958 was called simply the Special. Starting in 1953, the Special was Buick's best-selling model, and one of the most popular Buick Specials was the Buick Special Riviera hardtop coupe. Buick had first introduced the Riviera hardtop coupe in mid-1949 as part of the top Roadmaster line, and expanded it to include the mid-range Super in 1950 and the Special in 1951. In 1955, the Special Riviera hardtop coupe was Buick's top seller, with 155,000 sold.

Pictured here is a 1956 Buick Special Riviera hardtop coupe in Rainier, Oregon, in July 1996. 1956 was the last year for the Buick bodies that had been introduced in 1954, but the 1956 Buicks were the most powerful yet; the 1956 Buick Special's 264-cubic-inch V8 produced 220 horsepower.

1941 Cadillac Series Sixty-Two Five-Passenger Touring Sedan

The Cadillac Series Sixty-Two had been introduced in 1940 as a new entry-level model. Just one year later, the Cadillac Series Sixty-Two was dramatically restyled with Cadillac's new "Torpedo" styling, with the headlights being incorporated into the front fenders for the first time. Again, this styling would only last a single year, as the 1942 Cadillac Series Sixty-Two featured a broader grille and elongated fenders that extended into the doors. The 1941 Cadillac was very popular, helping Cadillac set new sales records. Like all 1941 Cadillacs, the Series Sixty-Two was powered by a 135-horsepower 346-cubic-inch L-Head V8 engine.

The 1941 Cadillac Series Sixty-Two was available as a four-passenger coupe or as the five-passenger touring sedan pictured here. This 1941 Cadillac Series Sixty-Two Five-Passenger Touring Sedan was in the Days in the Park parade in Rainier, Oregon, in July 1996.