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Saab 99 LE | 1974

The Saab 99 was penned by Swedish industrial designer Sixten Sason, who's work can be seen in the first Saab automobile (the Saab 92) and the design of the first Hasselblad camera among others things. His design for the 99 would establish the look of Saab design language for decades to come.

A rolling Swedish icon street-parked on Potrero Hill. San Francisco, CA.

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Lancia Delta Integrale Evoluzione | 1991

Just when you think your day can't get any better you hear the glorious sounds of this Italian gem rounding a corner nearby. Not your everyday hatchback. Pedgree of one of the best performing rally cars of all time, street-parked in front of BaT headquarters in the Mission. San Francisco, CA.

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Datsun F10 | 1975

With a grand total of six parking tickets this Datsun F10 will have been towed by the City of San Francisco by the time these photos are live. The blankets in the back and the firewood on the roof suggest the owner was about to leave town. Clearly their plans changed. The F10 was Nissan's first-ever front-wheel-drive car to be sold in the US. The faded yellow paint and aging vinyl wood graphics on this example are a look earned only by decades of street-parking. You can't fake that stuff.

Street-parked in the Castro, (Church Street and 15th). San Francisco, CA.

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BMW 323i (E21) | 1978

This car E21 is interesting more for what we're not seeing rather than what we are. What's missing are side marker lights, enormous DOT-spec bumpers and the single exhaust that came stock on the North America cars. This is a Euro-spec grey market 323i, the 320i's evil and better-looking twin. It has a 2.3 liter fuel injected inline 6 mated to the factory dual exhaust. Beyond that, the tourmaline green paint and Alpina-style alloys check all the right boxes.

Street-parked all over town. San Francisco, CA.

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Fiat Sport 850 Spyder | 1973

For a period of 5 years starting in 1978 the US government issued a massive recall of the Fiat 850 for rust issues. Presumably those examples that weren't pulled from the road in the recall likely fell victim to the rust-proofing, because today these are few to be found. The rear-mounted 843cc engine produced a whopping 49 horsepower, pushing the car to speeds of nearly 90mph.

Street-parked on Tiffany Street. San Francisco, CA.

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Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV | 1971

The Alfa Romeo 105 series coupés were the successor to the famed Giulietta coupés. Designed by Giorgetto Guigiaro as one of his first projects for Bertone. This example has the optional ‘turbina’ style wheels, designed in reference to the inlet of a jet engine. And a good parking brake.

Street-parked on Liberty Hill. San Francisco, CA.

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BMW E9 | 1972

Here’s a sweet small-bumper BMW 3.0 CS. The E9 was produced in West Germany between 1968 and 1975. The E9 saw epic success in racing in the 1970’s, winning the European Touring Car Championship 4 years in a row until 1979. The cabin is absent of any b-pillar and terminates at the rear with BMW’s propeller-inspired logo referencing their aviation-based roots. Though parked on the streets of SF, it’s clear this daily driver is well cared for..

Street-parked on the steeps of Bernal. San Francisco, CA.

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Ferrari 365 GTC | 1969

The Ferrari 365 GTC was an evolution of the Pininfarina-designed 330 GTC. It was updated with a 4390cc V12 engine and minor design details. The ‘GT’ in the name stands for ‘Gran Turismo’ - a car for long distance driving. The ‘C’ stands for ‘Competizione’ -racing. Ferrari also made GTS and GTB variations (the Targa and Berlinetta editions respectively.) The GTC was introduced in 1968 and just 168 examples were made over a two year lifespan..

Street-parked on Potrero Hill. San Francisco, CA.

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Renault Dauphine | 1966

At the time of its creation, Renault wanted to name the car "Corvette," but eventually decided it would cause confusion with a car recently released by Chevrolet. Street-parked on Alabama Street between 16th and 17th. San Francisco, CA.

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Nissan Patrol 60 | 1969

No, it's not a Toyota Land Cruiser. The Nissan Patrol was a 4x4 deployed to the United Nations, the Red Cross, and militaries world-wide, at volume pretty much everywhere but in the US. Note the period-correct United Nations badge under the front grille. Street-parked in the Mission on 24th Street. San Francisco, CA.

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Opel Manta A | 1975

The Manta was a rear-wheel-drive coupe built by Opel from 1970 to 1988. As was the case with all 1970's Opels in the US the Manta was imported by GM and sold through Buick dealerships. And judging by the size of the bumpers, this one is from 1975 - the last year GM imported European-made Opels into the US.

Street-parked in the Sunset. San Francisco, CA.

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Datsun 280Z 2+2 | 1977

The 2+2 Z's never get any love. They waste away in boneyards, in favor of the sleeker two-seater coupes. Note to the savvy collector: you might want to mothball one of these before they're ignored into extinction. The 2+2 Z's had a wheelbase that was 7.9 inches longer than the two-seaters, and weighed about 100 pounds more. They clean up quite nice, with some Konig Rewinds and a fresh coat of wax.

Street-parked in the Mission, near Precita Park. San Francisco, CA.

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Fiat X1/9 | 1983

The X1/9 was a joint project between Fiat and Bertone. In an effort to pass new US crash safety tests Bertone engineered the X1/9 to have a super stiff chassis, which in turn yielded great handling. In 1982 Fiat relinquished production for the X1/9 to Bertone and cars such as this example were thereafter badged as such. The X/19 was a targa top, with a mid-engine and one-time-use popup headlights. This one sports the original and very cool Bertone phone-dial wheels.

Street-parked in the Mission District. San Francisco, CA.

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Volvo 142S | 1969

Totally sweet 142S. Dialed stance on stock alloys. Shaved bumpers and trim, added roof-rack. Two doors but still enough room for friends. For the full 4-door experience see the Volvo144. Street-parked on 3rd Street in The Dogpatch. San Francisco, CA.

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Datsun 510 Wagon | 1970

This black box was probably your parent's car back in the 70's. The 510 was offered as a station wagon as well as 2-door and 4-door sedan variants. Street-parked at on San Jose Street at in The Mission. San Francisco, CA.

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Toyota Corona Mark II | 1972

Other than the time-earned patina, this California blue-plate Corona is about as original as they come. Successor to the Mark I Corona and one size up from its compact contemporary, the Corolla wagon.

Toyota time capsule, street-parked at 18th and Folsom. San Francisco, CA.

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Triumph Stag | 1971

This is an early model Triumph Stag, fitted with alloys and a factory hardtop. From 1970 to 1977 Stags sold alongside Spitfires and TR6's. And according to records only 2,871 Stags were exported to the US over that 7-year production run. Given reliability issues it stands to reason only a fraction of those remain today.

Street-parked in the SoMa sunshine. San Francisco, CA.