I spotted an (insert obscure car name here) classic car today! (Archived)

ab348

uplanderguy said:

ab348, picked the rather mundane white with red interior, LOL. I like dark colors but black is the only one. In fact, I originally chose black and had the dealer change it to white.

I know those of our generation do not like paying an extra $thou or 2 for a paint color other than white or black, but this isn't an everyday car and it isn't cheap no matter how you equip it. I might be tempted to spring for one of the extra-cost colors. Silver or one of their metallic grays aren't in-your-face shades but would work well with the red inside.

stickguy

my theory is if I am getting a sports car or some sort of toy, it should look the part.

andre1969

Michaell said:

fintail said:

These are the last of the V8 Interceptors, get em while you can.

I have somehow started getting pictures on my FB feed of scenes from the original "Mad Max", then and now. Amazing how little has changed for most of the roads in the last 40 years.

@andre1969 - time to pull the trigger! One is in stock, you kinda/sorta need a car, and it's Labor Day weekend, which might result in a better than average deal.

My inflation calculator says that $22,500 in 2002 (approximate price and year for the Intrepid, right?) is around $38K today. But, you're getting so much more with the Charger.

Pretty close, Michael. It was a 2000, purchased in November 1999. $22,389, out the door with tax, tags, and an extended warranty that I never needed to use. So yeah, adjusting for inflation, that's like $41K!

Funny thing is, whenever conversations about how expensive cars are come up, I'm usually the first to say that adjusting for inflation, when you account for all the safety advances, standard features, performance improvements, etc, cars are actually pretty cheap these days. I just have trouble practicing what I preach, I guess.

It blows my mind to think that in 1999, at the age of 29, I had no trouble buying a $41K car (in today's dollars) spur of the moment, but today, at the age of 53, and being in a better place financially, hell, I don't even want to buy a $22,389 car!

I remember the mental accounting gymnastics I did back in 1999, to justify buying that Intrepid. I still had a second job delivering pizzas in the evenings, and was using a 1989 Gran Fury ex police car that had an appetite for premium fuel. Well, I had refinanced my condo a few months before, which saved about $200/mo. I estimated the Intrepid would save me around $125-150/mo in fuel costs compared to the Gran Fury. The monthly payment was $347.66, so I figured the fuel savings and mortgage refinance savings would make the monthly payment, so in essence the car was free!

tjc78

That’s perfect car math!

stickguy

I am renowned for being "frugal" at times, but as I get older (and that happens fast!) I realize that skimping on yourself is silly. If you have accumulated enough money for something you really want to get and it won't be financially risky, just do it. Because you can't take it with you, and you never know how long you are going to last (Jimmy Buffett being the latest person with a massive amount of money passing relatively early).

Besides, if you hoard too well and do without things, and have a lot of money in a pre-tax 401k/IRA, in 20 years you will be complaining about having to take big MRDs and getting hit for a tax bill!

and yes, this was the justification my wife used to coerce me to spend more than I wanted to on the new house.

kyfdx

I just don't get that kind of thinking... (says the guy who bought a Porsche and a new kitchen, all in the last four months)

tjc78

We spend …

Main factors being my Dad passed at 41, wife’s dad at 56 and I’ve already had the big C

sda

I am nearing retirement, but need to get the girl through college. She has about a year and a half to go. As my wife and I have had enough of corporate life, it can’t come soon enough! The plan is to give the Passat to my daughter at graduation and my wife insists, get what you want, no compromising like you’ve done in the past.

uplanderguy

ab348, we must've discussed this before. I hate the idea of 'optional at extra-cost colors'!

When I was a young adult, I only remember Cadillac having extra-cost 'Firemist' colors. Chevy never had any.

We bought a metallic black '11 Malibu that the paint was optional, but it sticks in my craw, LOL.

I just don't love any of the C8 colors now that Caffeine is gone. My wife likes the idea of white to match her Equinox in the garage, LOL.

stickguy

tjc78 said:

We spend …

Main factors being my Dad passed at 41, wife’s dad at 56 and I’ve already had the big C

yes, having a scare with that when you are young makes you more aware that you can't always plan for your really old age.

stickguy

sda said:

I am nearing retirement, but need to get the girl through college. She has about a year and a half to go. As my wife and I have had enough of corporate life, it can’t come soon enough! The plan is to give the Passat to my daughter at graduation and my wife insists, get what you want, no compromising like you’ve done in the past.

getting both kids through college and having them off on their own, and financially independent of us, was a big milestone. With the next being becoming debt free (well, you can have a lease payment as long as the house is paid off!).

we are both tired of the corporate grind (and I only went back to it 3 months ago!) so feeling secure enough to cut the cord entirely is absolutely the goal. Trying to make it another 3.5 years, but will revisit in 1.5 and decide. Buying a new (more expensive house) that we will want to do things with, not helping. Otherwise we could go now, and should be fine, but I hate the idea of having to worry about a budget. Another few years will take care of that (and ideally we work and quit right when Medicare kicks in, if that even still exists in 4 years!)

tjc78

@stickguy said:
yes, having a scare with that when you are young makes you more aware that you can't always plan for your really old age.

The scare was one thing but the early passing of both of our fathers weighed in too. Heck even my stepdad passed early. His biggest dream was a condo in Ocean City. Many times they were close to pulling the trigger but got cold feet.

andre1969

tjc78 said:

We spend …

Main factors being my Dad passed at 41, wife’s dad at 56 and I’ve already had the big C

That's something that's been running through my mind, as well. With financial/retirement planning, in the spreadsheets, calculators and such, I plan out to the age of 100, just in case. My paternal Granddad made it to just one month shy of 102. My maternal Grandmom made it to 91, and it was common for the women on Mom's side of the family to make it into their 90's.

Well, I found my Dad, dead on his couch, a few months after his 71st birthday back in 2017. There was no autopsy; I didn't request one because I knew Dad wouldn't have wanted it, but the coroner guessed it was bladder cancer. Well, Dad smoked like a chimney, drank like a fish, and ran himself ragged taking care of Granddad in his later year. Rarely went to the doctor. Anyway, I figured I still have longevity potential, from both sides of the family, and maybe Dad was just an aberration.

And then, suddenly Mom, at the age of 74, got diagnosed with cancer back in April of this year. It was in one of her kidneys, her liver, and brain. And, on July 26, she died in hospice care. Never smoked, rarely drank, took good care of herself.

So, while it might not be a bad idea for me to plan it out to 100, just in case, I have a feeling that might be overkill. And, I don't have a spouse, or any kids or grandkids to leave anything to, so that takes off some of the pressure to save.

I have heard that a lot of retirees run into this same problem. After being conditioned to live frugally, save and sacrifice for decades, it's hard to flip the mental switch from save mode to spend mode.

stickguy

plan to 100, and if the projections are still having money, don't worry about it. stuff is certainly changing in the next 50 years anyway!

both our moms passed from the big C (68 maybe for hers, 84 by mine) but both apparently put off getting looked at way too long. Her father made it to 75, but mine is 94 and still going (and driving). So, it is a crapshoot!

I do need to get on this sports car thing though once we get the house business straightened out!

Andre, go get that snazzy blue Charger today. You want it, you deserve it. Plus it ain't my money!

stickguy

I have heard that a lot of retirees run into this same problem. After being conditioned to live frugally, save and sacrifice for decades, it's hard to flip the mental switch from save mode to spend mode.

That is going to be my problem. I will be fine living on other income and not saving any of it, but have a big problem thinking about actually taking money out of the retirement accounts (before RMD time of course). Though that does mean working until probably at least 65!

ab348

I have that problem also. I have always been somewhat frugal, have always been a saver, and planned out my work life to allow me to retire comfortably enough given those habits. I also know that given my health history I will not be likely to live to a ripe old age. I am not averse to spending, but I do have a challenge deciding what I want to spend on. Right now I have been pondering some home renovations (new kitchen, possibly relocated to make it a combo family room/kitchen thingy, or leaving it where is with a bump-out at one end to enlarge it) but am unable to decide on a layout and who to hire. I need a good kick in the seat of the pants.

fintail

tjc78 said:

We spend …

Main factors being my Dad passed at 41, wife’s dad at 56 and I’ve already had the big C

I have a similar somewhat fatalist outlook. My dad passed from an aneurysm shortly before 70. His dad passed from cancer in his early 70s. I have a feeling 100 isn't in the cards for me. I'll still put money away, but a retirement account to last to triple digits isn't in my plans.

Paternal grandfather made it into his early 80s after having a big heart attack and some scares. However, the women on both sides frequently approach or make it to 100 - my grandmothers both made it to 93, one of their mothers made it to her late 90s, another great grandmother made it to 100, etc. Doesn't help me though

These are the good old days, enjoy something now.

sda

@andre1969 I know you shared recently that your mom was in poor health. Very sorry to learn of her passing.

explorerx4

@uplanderguy,
We'll come up with some low mileage NB shoes for you.

stickguy

funny story, was at a light behind a newer corvette (I think a C7, might have been an 8). top down. could see the driver top of the head and in his mirror, and fit the profile.

license plate was "oldnfast". I had to explain it to the wife. but it fit.

Michaell

Someone in Colorado has a Corvette with the plates RIP401K

stickguy

I like that one. But must have been a small 401K if a Corvette wiped it out, so not retiring on it anyway!

roadburner

I've always lived on the ragged edge of responsible spending. In law school I used student loans to finance my Arrow GT 2.6 and spend five weeks in Europe with a fetching redhead.
Disclaimer: In those days you could obtain a loan no matter the income of your family- you only agreed to use the money "to further your education." I would submit that both of my choices met that definition.
And I paid the loans off years early.

andre1969

stickguy said:

I like that one. But must have been a small 401K if a Corvette wiped it out, so not retiring on it anyway!

Or probably just hyperbole. Like when I tell people I just took out a third mortgage so I could go fill up the Catalina Which, by the way did gulp down about 91 bucks yesterday!

laurasdada

Michaell said:

Someone in Colorado has a Corvette with the plates RIP401K

That's great!
When I first showed up for my monthly run/walk/breakfast meetup in the 2er, I was derided as to always claiming to be poor. Yet, another car... My retort was that indeed I'm poor because I keep buying cars (Of course, I'm a total dilettante in this crowd.)!
And that they'll lend any idiot money. I'm just that idiot...

fintail

Out today for a quick jaunt in the fintail, saw a G6 convertible, 2x Tempo, 80-83 Corolla, 57 Chevy hardtop sitting out in the elements, Eagle Premier and Summit (a friend spotted these on streetview and wanted me to see if they still existed), and a bunch of maybe 30s-40s looking material under cover behind an interesting looking probably haunted house. Looking on streetview, all of these cars are there going back to the oldest image in 2007 (this is from 2022)

uplanderguy

I joined a C8 forum on Facebook with over 70K members, and some are real, well, you know (although I tell myself that in any group of 70K people, 7K will be...well, you know).

I am amazed at how many C8 owners track their cars.

explorerx4

Walking the kid's dog is good for car spotting.

stickguy

must have been a show nearby yesterday. we went out around noon shopping and passed some oddballs. A hot rodded 69 Camaro (very large rear tires and a serious rumble). An older Beetle parked (on the shoulder, so something probably broke down) in front of a early 70s Datsun 2 door coupe (99% sure it was Datsun, maybe an early 610). And driving, a customized VW bus from the 60s. Lowered, chromed out engine, looked hopped up.

And my favorite, a Triumph TR6. no front bumper on it. Looked very nice. I wanted it.

and today an 80s El Camino.

kyfdx

Is the Equator a GMC/Chevy clone?

stickguy

Rebadged Nissan frontier.

kyfdx

stickguy said:

Rebadged Nissan frontier.

Thanks

fintail

Now that's a hen's tooth - as if Nissan and Suzuki saw the Isuzu Hombre and said "hold my beer".

uplanderguy

andre, sorry to hear of the passing of your mother.

Saw my Baltimore friend this past weekend. His plan is to show his black with red interior '64 Impala SS hardtop, 300 hp 327 with 4-speed, at Hershey this year. If you see him, stop and say 'hi'. His name is Bob.

fintail

Found an unexpected car show while out on the road today, some that caught my eye a bit of diversity, as expected in this region:

This one charmed me - original car save for paint when the car was nearly new due to a fender bender:



2 doors, 99 miles long:



XSive:



1955 is early for one of these:



Also 1955:



Drysdale special, this one appeared to be a high quality restoration:



6 window:




Early 928 in original excellent survivor condition:



The Burdettes would approve:


Big cat:



California:



I think this is one shade off from the fintail:



Pretty pastel green bubbletop:



Special:



427 side oiler in a Cobra replica:



Not seen every day:



Independent:



I assume these are re-creations:




Oops looks like I posted a bit. Have fun!

Michaell

My friend who lived in the house right behind ours when we were growing up had a Cougar of that vintage. His was brown, with a tan vinyl half-roof. Big beast, and I think it had a 351 in it (Cleveland or Windsor, I do not remember).

stickguy

that Pinto was a stylin machine back in the day.

My BIL has a Cobra (Superformance) with a Roush built 427. scary. There may be no such thing as "too much power" but when you have to feather it in 3rd gear to avoid breaking loose, you are getting close. I think it is running in the neighborhood of 500-600 to the wheels and weighs a whopping 2200 or so pounds. And zero electronic assistance of any kind. If you do something to make the tires spin, they will spin until you hit the tree!

andre1969

I'm actually liking that Cougar a lot more than I'd normally admit to. I used to think of these things as sort of fat and garish, and looking a bit like they were designed by George Barris, rather than actual Big-Three auto stylists. But, I like that color. And from that angle it looks pretty sharp. Maybe those rims and tires also give it a better stance, so it doesn't look quite so porky.

I think the stylists did a good job too, differentiating it from the Mustang. I have a feeling most people, unless they're into cars, would know that it was the same basic car.

Personally, I could be really happy with that '62 Cadillac. Coincidentally, the other day I saw that Planet of the Apes movie where they blow up a '61 coupe, and have to admit I cringed! That Toronado XS is nice, too.

Definitely some good variety at that show. And, from the looks of it, a lot of moneyed people!

sda

Like so many cars, the Cougar looked much better with the smaller bumpers before 1973 when the 5mph battering rams became mandatory.

uplanderguy

I like that light green '62 Cadillac myself. I'm intrigued by the short-deck cars of that era but you never see them.

My high-school nurse drove a 190SL just like that blue one, same color. My Stude dealer friend said they serviced it, but I don't recall him saying that they sold it.

I like the '61 Impala, best of the '61-64 years, but I can't stand how the radio pushbuttons spell "CHEVY". It's a 'Chevrolet', not a 'Chevy'! Same that I wouldn't have liked "STUDE" on a Studebaker radio's buttons. I'd look for a '61 Chevy with the straight-line tuning radio, LOL.

uplanderguy

'Lou' featured this car the other day on his site. I say it all the time, but I think the styling is just perfect....so graceful. Bone-stock '65 Impala SS Sport Coupe.

I do find Lou, although affable, to often seem clueless about the cars he's looking at....even basic stuff.

https://www.facebook.com/MyCarStoryWithLou/videos/789955749546912

tjc78

Nice assortment there Fintail. I saw a Toro just like that last weekend driving down my street.

Mark V looked nice. Not my favorite color on those, but there are worse. I really think when I’m in a place to get a classic, I want a Mark V. Most likely a 79 Collectors in white, 79 Bill Blass or a 78 Cartier.

capriracer

Saw a 1954 or 55 Cadillac. 2 tone. Pretty ratty. Needed a muffler and the engine didn't sound right. But it was being driven.

fintail

A few more I neglected to post:

Going to the dragstrip in the mid 60s:



Summer vibes from this:



Fancy with brute:



I think this was another very original car:



My dad would have appreciated this:



Always interesting to see ordinary cars restored to a high standard:



Cartruck:



I met friend there, who was most impressed by this old timer - the non-electric lighting and crank start was fascinating to him:

ab348

stickguy said:

that Pinto was a stylin machine back in the day.

My BIL has a Cobra (Superformance) with a Roush built 427. scary. There may be no such thing as "too much power" but when you have to feather it in 3rd gear to avoid breaking loose, you are getting close. I think it is running in the neighborhood of 500-600 to the wheels and weighs a whopping 2200 or so pounds. And zero electronic assistance of any kind. If you do something to make the tires spin, they will spin until you hit the tree!

No kidding. I dunno if you saw it, but back in May there was a sort of Cars & Coffee get-together on Long Island where there was one of those Cobra replicas. Leaving the event, there was a crowd of yahoos calling for drivers to do burnouts on the road. The Cobra driver did so, and reports vary as to whether he just lost control on his own or possibly some major yahoo threw a bottle at the car and caught him in the head with it. Regardless, he lost control, hit some cable guardrail, and both he and his girlfriend passenger were killed. Ugly.

stickguy

saw a bunch today driving around. Turned out that the lumberyard near us had a car show in their parking lot. What a zoo of people trying to get into that! Thought about stopping but we had been grocery shopping so had frozen stuff and meat to worry about. Plus the wife was hungry so that would not have ended well.

a lot driving around, likely going there. Super nice Buick GS convertible with a family of 4 in it, top down. a bunch of old Ford PUs, and a slammed squarebody Chevy. and a bunch more that have slipped my mind already!

fintail

Saw a Karmann Ghia and a 58-60 Ford pickup on the road today.

I read something to this similar, and it had me thinking:

If Back to the Future was made today, Marty would go back to 1993

If Peggy Sue Got Married was made today, she'd be transported back to 1998.

If American Graffiti was made today, the line would be "where were you in 2012?"

andre1969

Mmkay, this is getting scary now. Remember that blue Charger RT I was liking? Well, I just emailed them about it this morning, and it's still available! I hate to say it, but I think subconsciously, I was procrastinating, in the hopes that the car would be sold. I have never in my life spent that much money on a car, even though adjusting for inflation, it won't be THAT much more than my 2000 Intrepid was.

But, I'm just having trouble pulling the trigger, even though logic says it's the right thing to do. I'm going to have to do something, as the Regal really is turning into a time bomb at this point. If nothing else, its next emissions test is in April 2024, and I know it's not going to pass. I was able to barely get it past last time, by using a code reader to turn off the check engine light and clear out the codes...and I just got lucky that the light came back on after the test! If I can't do that again, it's going to need some emissions work. And on top of that it needs a ton of other stuff.

Anyway, it's been ages since I've bought a car, and I know things have changed with vehicle shortages and such, so I want y'all's opinions. Should I even try negotiating on the price of this car? It actually doesn't seem too bad, as-is, but again, I'm really out of touch with car prices.

Michaell

andre1969 said:

Mmkay, this is getting scary now. Remember that blue Charger RT I was liking? Well, I just emailed them about it this morning, and it's still available! I hate to say it, but I think subconsciously, I was procrastinating, in the hopes that the car would be sold. I have never in my life spent that much money on a car, even though adjusting for inflation, it won't be THAT much more than my 2000 Intrepid was.

But, I'm just having trouble pulling the trigger, even though logic says it's the right thing to do. I'm going to have to do something, as the Regal really is turning into a time bomb at this point. If nothing else, its next emissions test is in April 2024, and I know it's not going to pass. I was able to barely get it past last time, by using a code reader to turn off the check engine light and clear out the codes...and I just got lucky that the light came back on after the test! If I can't do that again, it's going to need some emissions work. And on top of that it needs a ton of other stuff.

Anyway, it's been ages since I've bought a car, and I know things have changed with vehicle shortages and such, so I want y'all's opinions. Should I even try negotiating on the price of this car? It actually doesn't seem too bad, as-is, but again, I'm really out of touch with car prices.

Yes, throw them an offer and see if they bite. Oil prices are up, so I believe gas prices are, too. Not many folks are looking for a full size V8 sedan - most people still want either an SUV/CUV of some sort or a hybrid/PHEV/BEV.

Use the Price Checker link in my signature block to get the results of Edmunds pricing research for your area.

andre1969

If American Graffiti was made today, the line would be "where were you in 2012?"

In 2012, around this time, I was in the process of buying my '12 Ram, a vehicle that was still in production as the "Ram Classic" until just a few months ago, I believe. In some respects, it seems like only yesterday.

Yet, in my mind, the difference between the end of summer vacation 1962, and the later part of 1973, seem eons apart.