Wal-Mart Parking Lot Find: Circa 1992 Geo Metro LSi Convertible

A Geo Metro may not seem that interesting to many people, but they have their place as dependable, inexpensive transportation, and they have a cult following much like the Crosley, Nash Metropolitan and Kaiser Henry J had in years gone by and still retain to a degree.

The Metro convertible was the top-of-the-line Metro in the early 90s, and as a reliable source of inexpensive open-air motoring (better than the Cavalier, Sebring and LeBaron convertibles ever were or will be), it is still a great choice.

I spotted this slightly tatty but very usable car in a Wal-Mart parking lot in early 2013, it is still seen around Eugene at the time of publication.

Parking Lot Photo Shoot: 1999 Plymouth Prowler

This was a former DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program car, hence the extra lights on the body.

The Valet Stand: Ferrari 456M GT

Welcome to The Valet Stand, where we look at some of the best cars I've found parked in front of the lobby at the St. Regis Hotel in San Francisco. Today's feature is a Ferrari 456M GT, photographed in late winter 2011.

The 456 was a family car among Ferraris, a 4-seat grand tourer with a V12 in the front. The 456 enjoyed a long production run from 1992 to 2003. I've always seen it as a more relaxed Ferrari, available with either a six-speed manual or a four-speed automatic. Yes, a Ferrari available with a full automatic transmission. And that same Ferrari could do 188 mph so quit whining. Think about the fact that this was the last Ferrari ever to use pop-up headlights, a feature no longer available on anything. This is a 456M, the post-1998 refresh of the 456 line. Despite being made for another five years, only 1,338 456Ms were built, of which 688 were manual GTs and another 650 were automatic GTAs.

Parking Lot Sighting: 1993 Toyota Supra

Parking Lot Spot: 1989-92 Infiniti M30 (Nissan Leopard)

The Infiniti M30 was the Japanese auto industry's first try at a personal-luxury coupe for the US market, and being rear-wheel-drive on the R31 Nissan Skyline platform, was ostensibly an excellent alternative to the Ford Thunderbird, Cadillac Eldorado, Buick Riviera, Audi Coupe and Mercedes-Benz 300CE.

Its undoings were being narrower than Americans were used to, being the flagship of an unproven brand, having no options and no manual transmission option, and sharing more parts with the concurrent Maxima and 300ZX than with the Skyline, along with spotty distribution, and it remains a very rare car, with roughly 12,000 made for the US domestic market only. Infiniti never returned to the personal luxury market, only returning to coupes with a rebadged CV36 Skyline in 2008 as the sporty G37 Coupe.

This is one of only 3 known M30s in Eugene (one being a maroon coupe and the other being a black convertible). In 3 months of knowing this car's existence, I have not seen it move once. Perhaps I might make an offer on it, buy it and restore it at some point.

Dealership Photo Shoot: 1997 Ferrari F355 Spider

Photographed at Specialty Sales in Pleasanton, CA.

Parking Lot Photo Shoot: Nissan R33 Skyline GT-R

Wednesday WTF: Honda Del Sol

It actually got more... unique... between sightings.

One-Off With Shelby Connections: Dodge Viper Prototype Chassis

This prototype Dodge Viper RT-10 chassis was purchased at the official Carroll Shelby Garage Sale in 1994 by the seller and is totally original, right down to the original Goodyear tires and documentation included by the seller. Since it is a prototype and there is no frame number, it is perhaps best suited to a car museum, a Viper enthusiast with space for it, or a collection.

Find it here on eBay with a $5000 USD buy-it-now, 2 days left on auction at time of writing but will probably get relisted.

Parking Lot Sighting: Mazda RX7 FD

I spotted this RX7 on my way out of Wal-Mart with a new memory card for my camera and a refreshing energy drink, and HAD TO shoot it. It has some modifications, but has not been heavily riced or hooned like most other surviving FDs. Pics have not been put through an HDR filter, however, I had to edit them because the RX7 color & detail were washed out in the original pics.

Parking Lot Photo Shoot: 1996 Honda CR-X Del Sol SiR