At the Battle of Puebla, in 1862, the Mexican Army defeated the French, even though outnumbered 2 to 1. This was a huge moral victory for the Central American nation seeking independence from their European occupiers, and is celebrated to this day as a civic holiday in Mexico, and an opportunity to quaff margaritas or CervezaTecate for the rest of us.
Interestingly, the battle commemorated by today’s Mexican holiday also has an automotive connection as Puebla is now the site not of firepower but horsepower. Well, not exactly, but the municipality of Puebla is currently the location of the largest Volkswagen plant outside of Germany, and if you’ve driven a Golf or Jetta in the U.S. the past decade or so, chances are it came from Puebla.
Mexico also has a rich history of car culture, from the stereotyped Tijuana tuck and roll, to the entire lowrider culture that grew here in the U.S., but has its roots in the Latin American immigrants that made up the Chicano communities. These cars, featuring intricate paint schemes and hydraulic suspensions requiring a trunk full of batteries run the gamut of old and new, and are an entire genre unto themselves.
So there’s a couple of choices that are appropriately relevant – but what do you think, if you had to choose what to ride down to the Paseo del la Plaza in, what Cinco de Mayo car do you think would be muy bueno?
Image source: [LateralGPhotography.com]
<img src="http://img115.imageshack.us/img115/4764/050402z1960chevroletelcko0.jpg">
IMG from ElCaminoCentral.com
Never so badly have I wanted to see hydraulics in action…
1964 Chevy Impala, of course.
<img src="http://www.imcdb.org/i009961.jpg" width=400>
<img src="http://www.hollywood-diecast.com/love%20machine2%20(1).JPG" width=400>
>poof!<
<img src="http://blog.al.com/engine-block/2008/04/gypsy_rose.jpg" wdth="500">It has to be an Impala.
LERRRRRRRMA!
<img src="http://hooniverse.info/wp-content/gallery/cache/1807__512x299_4-door-production.jpg" width="320">
<img src="http://hooniverse.info/wp-content/gallery/cache/1804__512x322_2-door-production.jpg" width="320">
Can't decide between the 3-door and the 5-door. The 3-door looks better, but the 5-door makes it easier to transport the revelers.
in the spirit of the day, gotta go for the Cinco-door.
*poof*
You're kidding me, right?
El Camino.
Nowadays, I would have to say something with upgraded exterior armor. Seriously, have you seen the amount of bullets that they're spraying south of the border?
Anything rented from these guys:
<img src="http://www.rentalcarmomma.com/AlamoCoreC.gif"width=500>
I'll try to remember that.
Except that the Alamo had long been located in the Estados Unidos by 1862.
Technically, the Alamo was not in the Estados Unidos in 1862. It was in the Confederacy.
Yeah….
im thining mk1 vw bug. god there are millions of those damn things!
Pretend it's Tuesday.
<img src="http://www.cybermotorcycle.com/gallery/carabela/images/Carabela_Marquesa_125_MX.jpg" width="500">
Image from Sheldon's EMU (European Motorcycle Universe) @ <a href="http://www.cybermotorcycle.com.” target=”_blank”>http://www.cybermotorcycle.com.
Unfortunately I couldn't find a photo of a Lobo with 8 exhaust tips.
<img src="http://photos3.hi5.com/0061/168/242/bLAaKU168242-02.jpg">
Hey, that is my truck you are talking about. Minus the awesome 8 pipes. I have 9.
Renault Cinco:
<img src="http://www.scorpiocars.net/images/Renault/1983%20Renault%205%20Turbo%202.jpg">
BMW Cinco-Series:
<img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_66Xz44hEwsw/TTWOreWYcDI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/lEAKWrlZCK8/s640/2011-BMW-5-Series-Gr.jpeg">
Mazda MX-Cinco
<img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1ybhYD9tcM0/TVZ7dd2JeRI/AAAAAAAAA00/Fevr-QLsDRQ/s1600/mazda-mx5-2009-on-wet-road-posed.jpg" width="300">
Yes, I know these may be the worst choices, but I got stuck on the "Cinco" theme more so then the "de Mayo" theme.
A personal favorite, the 1999-2001 Mexican Market Ramcharger
<img src="http://www.uswd.com/images/00ramcharger002.jpg"width=500>
Since the holiday celebrates getting rid of the French, and a Chebby is the brand of choice in Mexico, I think the best 5 de Mayo car is a Citroen swapped to RWD LS1 power.
<img src="http://images.hotrod.com/featuredvehicles/113_0703_02_z+1966_citroen+engine.jpg">
<img src="http://images.hotrod.com/featuredvehicles/113_0703_01_z+1966_citroen+front_view.jpg">
I love that car! It is one impressive build. http://citroenid19hotrod.blogspot.com/search?upda…
That is the most amazing thing I have seen today. Possibly the week. Thank you good sir.
I think I'm in love.
I just don't understand.
<img src="http://houseofriderz.com/d06rdlrm3.jpg"width="500"/>
You caught a Transformer with it's pants down. Give it a minute to finish.
On another note, with all that gold/chrome you would think the builder would have remembered to coat the jackstands it's being displayed on. Or at least hide them with the cottonball clouds they like to make.
I know, right? It looks like a still shot of a truck that has exploded due to an overload of bad taste!
BTW…congrats on the COTD on [REDACTED]!
The caption on that picture said it is an '84 Nissan. I had no idea what it was.
Thank you very much! 🙂
Well you were right at the end there… It 'was' an '84 Nissan
I can't help but hear that in Gene Hackman's voice:
<img src="http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BODIyMTg1MzUxMl5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwMjkyNzgwMw@@._V1_.jpg" height="420">
Sen. Keeley: "I don't understand."
Mrs. Keeley: "It's a pick up."
Sen. Keeley: "What? …I don't understand. I just don't understand."
Mrs. Keeley: "That blue thing — it's a pickup!"
Sen. Keeley: "I feel like I'm insane."
I want an eclectic celebration of stylistic flourish: Ed Roth, Marcello Gandini, Harley Earl, Wilhelm Hofmeister, Virgil Exner, Chris Bangle, Peter Wheeler, Wunibald Kamm, but keep it all inside.
Yeah, maybe not Ed Roth, then.
<img src="http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd151/Roth_Orbitron/ORBITRON024.jpg" width="350">
That poor thing…
But, at least it had a happy ending!! (wink-wink)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TS-o2TLpMA
Imagine being stopped at a light and having that thing pull up next to you and do that. I think that I'd get out and clap, at least.
I'd probably laugh my head off! Or cry.
I'd go with the (MX-) Cinco de (James) Mayo[youtube 3jqmGTOz4kQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jqmGTOz4kQ youtube]
James May has always had terribad hair. Fact.
MX5. Perfect for any Cinco Party.
Mark Cinco.
<img src="http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/4626/lrmp080102z1979lincolnm.jpg" width=500>
i believe that's "Marco Cinco"
Yeah, but it really needs to be lowered. That's way too high.
Or, any car that will readily accept the installation of a "Continental Kit."
<img src="http://www.shorpy.com/files/images/32472u.preview.jpg" width="500" />
That's probably actually a non-syncro de Mayo.
I don' see no pichur.
Huh. It shows up here…. (scratches head)
Here's the link. Not nearly as funny as I thought it was before the coffee kicked in.
http://www.shorpy.com/files/images/32472u.preview…
When I came back to reply, the picture showed up. Internet weirdness. And yeah, that one's a little lame. E for effort tho'.
Up here in the northern midwest, the ride of choice would be an F-150.
There's only one appropriate car for Sinko de Mayo
<img src="http://www.amphicar.com/images/sunk.jpg">
I could think of another.
<img src="http://www.carstyling.ru/resources/concept/56chrysler_norseman.jpg"width=500>
ummm… mr. kennedy. please hire a *professional* driver.
I would love a Mexican-built Borgward from the 60s… but realistically, we're taking the Goggomobil to El Torito tonight, can't beat 50mpg…
Thumbs up to everything you write forever…just for having a Goggomobil.
<img src="http://www.thesundayhauler.com/store/media/2011_SPRINT/2011DE5HELLMANNS1.jpg" width=500>
el coche perfecto para el 5 de Mayo
And it's labeled an Impala to boot! I lift my can of Pepsi Max to you, cheers!
10 years ago around here it would be a 1975 Monte Carlo, lowered with a hydro kit. today, I'd have to say an 81 Oldsmobile Cutlass.
Mexico is in North America not Central America.
I understand our Canadian friends call us here in the US "Upper Mexicans"…
"Goddamn-Dipshit-Rodriguez-Gypsy-Dildo-Punks! I'll Get Your Ass!"
http://img362.imageshack.us/my.php?image=r59cl2.j…