(For the record, it’s located off of Rittiman Road just west of Loop 410.)

It is a neighborhood where all the streets are lovingly named after failed and/or obscure European automobiles.  And not your Ferraris or Mercedes, we’re talking the Hillman, the Austin Allegro, the Renault Dauphine, Alfa Romeo, and Fiat.

Heeeeere’s Fiat!  They improved the warranty because they had to.

At least this Austin Allegro didn’t have the quartic (read: square) steering wheel that came standard in the UK.

Alfa’s weren’t all that obscure, being favored by the quirky, swinging, polygamist, condo-dwelling middle-aged people who usually bought Saabs.

It actually unlocks its own doors for you!  But not much else.  C’est tellement de luxe, n’est-ce pas?

Dauphine, French for princess!  Even though the French abandoned the monarchy in the 1700’s!

Hillmans were lower-range cars made by Rootes, which was a second banana British car manufacturer.  Their biggest impact on America was the design of the Dodge Omni and Plymouth Horizon, two hideously ugly early 80’s hatchbacks.

And check out the kreepy kid in the back seat!

Don’t get me wrong, I love Renaults, I really do, I just can’t think of a worse time in US history for them to have hit the domestic market.