I love studying/researching/purchasing classic cars, but I have never heard someone referred to as a "bounder." Google tells me it's a "cad, a reprehensible person," but I've never, in my 30 years, have come across this term. The description is mentioned in a review of a '76 Cadillac Fleetwood (large car) and it talks about how other types of people were suited for different types of Caddies. Interestingly enough, even by '76 the car was seen as "chintzy," despite its enormous presence.

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2011/07/review-19 76-cadillac-fleetwood-sixty-special-talisman/

Think of a Talisman as a Sixty Special with Seventy-Five interior appointments. The option list was still long, and it was possible to spend seventeen thousand dollars — more than half again the ten thousand-dollar base of the Fleetwood Brougham — on a completely-equipped Talisman. A new Seville, basically a Chevy Nova with leather, was thirteen grand. (A new Nova without the Seville logo? $3300. Thanks to gslippy and CJinSD for the price note – JB) The pricing had nothing to do with the product, the content, or the value. The pricing was social. It was there to signify Your Place In The World. Vice-presidents stepped into a Calais and joined the world of gentlemen. Respectable country-club fathers drove the Sedan de Ville. Board members were driven in a Seventy-Five, or they drove themselves in a Talisman. Sevilles were for West Coast get-rich-quick types. Eldorados were for women, movie stars, and “bounders”.

Photo credit courtesy of TTAC.

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/bounders

bound·er  (boundr) n. Chiefly British An ill-bred, unscrupulous man; a cad.

that's one of the reasons GM sucked so much: they took Chevys, slapped different tail lights or head lamp assembly components on them, and sold them as Buicks, Olds, Pontiacs, and Cadillacs.

The Cadillac Cimarron was a Chevy Cavalier with leather. . .

No - can't say that I have.

actually, I have. . ..

It's a dated term but sure, I've heard of it.

Never had it directed at me.  I'm a real swell guy with a sparkling personality.

You guys are all bunch of Bounders !!!

HarleyD wrote: It's a dated term but sure, I've heard of it.

Never had it directed at me.  I'm a real swell guy with a sparkling personality.

Interesting to see how language patterns change. It might be a '70s thing, like how extra rec rooms in houses were "bonus rooms." (wood paneling, shag carpet, pool tables, etc.). Or, better yet, the "raised ranch."

It was often used to describe gypsies and nomads

olecowboy wrote: actually, I have. . ..

They didn't call you a "bounder". They called you a "blunder". Totally different.

MHill wrote:

olecowboy wrote: actually, I have. . ..

They didn't call you a "bounder". They called you a "blunder". Totally different.

you know, now that you mention it, my high school counselor did just sit and stare at me an awful lot. . .

i have been called lots of things . most i cant type or else i would get banned ..but never a bounder .

I think that bounder is a british term. I've seen it used a few times while reading to refer to a guy of questionable reputation.

If a bounder is what you kids are calling pimps now a days then so be it.

olecowboy wrote: that's one of the reasons GM sucked so much: they took Chevys, slapped different tail lights or head lamp assembly components on them, and sold them as Buicks, Olds, Pontiacs, and Cadillacs.

The Cadillac Cimarron was a Chevy Cavalier with leather. . .

It gets exhausting having to re-educate you on cars oc, it really does.

Foreign car makers did this exact same thing, particularly Japan.  When Japan entered the US market (via completely advantageous conditions and via means of some protectionism) their cars were extremely similar to each other as were many of the parts.  

I'm not arguing how right or wrong it is to have an approach of commonality of parts use, but every single manufacturer did and does it to significant degrees. 

Bean counting and finance guys can only take a car company so far, when you diminish the role of design you destroy the soul of the car company and its cars.  That has far more to do with the demise of GM than any garbage you babble about quality and reliability of the foreign competitors.

Actually, there was no such thing as the Cadillac Cimmaron. It was "Cimarron by Cadillac."


Cimarron: A Cadillac for the Cynic.

donnyunitas wrote: If a bounder is what you kids are calling pimps now a days then so be it.

I know you like Mopar; are you also on Jalopnik, The Truth About Cars or Autoblog? There is a guy from NE Ohio that is into Mopars that posts there frequently named MoparMan426W and owns a Fifth Avenue.

kosartoslaughter wrote:

donnyunitas wrote: If a bounder is what you kids are calling pimps now a days then so be it.

I know you like Mopar; are you also on Jalopnik, The Truth About Cars or Autoblog? There is a guy from NE Ohio that is into Mopars that posts there frequently named MoparMan426W and owns a Fifth Avenue.

I'm only into the good Mopars, LOL.  I'm really just into their 60's muscle cars and some of the limited late model stuff, mostly a Viper.  For the most part when it comes to cars I'm just into niche cars more than anything, b/c otherwise cars are just cars.

I'm not familiar with that board KTS.

Spirit R/T, Daytona R/T,
Shelby Omni GLH-S.
Viper

Tom Gale is why Chrysler had a resurgence in the '90s. Good man.

The '60s Mopars are great too; I like underrated ones.

Challenger 340 would hold its own vs. the 440 six-pack and 383 "intermediates" like Coronet, Belvedere. Polara/Fury were the top of the line and even bigger. Chargers were ok, but I always liked the simple lines of the Challenger, Dart and Demon series.
Darts had 273 V8 and went up through 318 and even 340. Later on, toward the end of the run, the '75-76 had the 360 E58 police-pack V8 (290 lb/ft of torque!). (The 318 block was the E48) Some Darts had the 426 and 440, but those were either rare or modified.

Plus, the little cars could handle!

The LA-series block is durable and adaptable. The 340s were a high-winding motor that had better breathing than a 360, but the 360 had more torque deep down and was more responsive to the changing needs of the '70s of emissions controls. The 340 had higher compression and was more finicky.

There's an Omni that used to go to Norwalk that ran the 1/4 in mid 10's, the guy drove it there and back.  Had a sticker on it that said "Corvette killer".  Pretty impressive and funny at the same time.

I believe it. Norwalk, Thompson are good. Atco is a good place too...

Omnis are 2200 lbs dripping wet. The 2.2 short block is America's response to that baseline Corolla engine 4A series Toyota was using in the '80s--a small, durable engine with TONS of upgrade potential.

allpar.com is where I go to for Mopar info :)

Son, you're bound to drive me to drinkin if you don't stop driving that hot-rod Lincoln.

Seriously though.

Bounder is a British slang word for someone who is reprehensible.

But , it also means something that bounds. In the case of these big automobiles, they usually are equipped with big v-8s  so maybe it is car junkie terminology  for, a big ghetto sled that has some zip-zip.