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

kyfdx

The first generation... Looked like maybe an '89-'90... Haven't seen one of these for a while.. It was a white coupe, and had the retro Carrera lettering on the lower door (like the '70s model).

It reminded me of how good the older 911s look... Even though it was the model with the retractable spoiler, it still looked older, rather than newer.. the Carrrera lettering helped with that..

jrosasmc

I'd imagine the top-line Benzes of the mid-80s, notably the 500SEL/SEC, are very similar to the 6.3 and 6.9 in terms of maintenance, repair and running costs. True?

andys120

I really like the mid 80s 560SEC.

Mr_Shiftright

Yeah, brutal maintenance costs....great cars at bargain pricing as long as they were well-cared for, but it's going to be "Survival of the Fittest" out there...the first 500 series car that develops a limp or can't run with the pack is going down to an early death--no one but the few and reckless will invest in them. It's best to part out shabby ones to keep the nice cars going.

fintail

Those V8 cars are known for timing chain and cam issues, IIRC. The rough running ones can have serious problems much deeper than the FI malady it might appear to have (the FI is quite strong, and rarely fails).

Still, they are cheap, and are a modern feeling car to drive. They lack the painful air suspension of earlier models. The best of the best sedans - I am talking low miles perfectly maintained garaged cars that you could take to a show - shouldn't bring much more than 10K. Coupes can bring a little more, but they also cost a lot more new, and are seen as more desireable to most people.

I am happy with my 6cyl sedan. It may sacrifice some acceleration, but it is much easier to maintain.

merckx

I saw a new one last night....a BMW 1600 convertable...I suppose it must of been a 1970 or so...It was in really cherry shape...It looked to be a really fun runabout.
Were they formally imported to the states back then?

lemko

...blue and white 1956 Pontiac two-door hardtop.

gsemike

I saw something called a Fire Arrow 2.6 on the road this morning. I'm usually good at recognizing any mass market cars that I see on the road but was stumped by this one. It ends up that it was a Mitsubishi rebadge sold by Plymouth in the 70s.

Plymouth Arrow

The car was in great shape for a 30 year old car with NY plates. I would have loved to know the story behind it. The car is at the point where it has kitsch value. The sticker package was vintage 70s cheese, but I guess that it was sporty looking. I'd take it over a Vega.

andre1969

I worked part time at a veterinary clinic. The vet that owned the place had a white Plymouth Arrow. I dunno the year, though. She traded it in on a Subaru hatchback. This was in 1986, before Subaru gave real names to their cars, so I forget what random jumble of letters they called this one, but it's the 2-door version of what ultimately became the Loyale.

au94

wasn't it the DL?

stickguy

I liked them. Actually, for the day, it was the classic muscle car model. Take a smaller car, and stuff in the biggest engine you could, and put on some "sporty" trim and misc. performance parts (mags, a 5-speed, guages, etc.).

Probably decently quick for the late 70s or whenever they came out.

andre1969

so there was no need to keep it on the Down Low! :P Sorry, couldn't resist. But yeah, now that I think about it, it probably was a DL. I thought it was a nice looking little car for the time. One thing I really liked about it is that, while it was a hatchback, it was styled to look more like a coupe.

As for the Plymouth Arrow, I didn't like 'em at the time because I just thought they were nasty little things, but looking back, I can appreciate the style. And I'm sure one of those light little things with a 2.6 and a 5-speed must've been decent for the day.

One badge-job I always liked from that era was the Plymouth Saporro and the Dodge Challenger. I thought they were neat looking little cars. Plus, I hear a Mopar smallblock will fit under the hood with little trouble! :shades:

au94

anybody know what the sales numbers for these were? I never see them anymore. I knew a girl in college (early 90's) that had one. For some reason her dad had put this one in pristine condition. It was 70's bronze with white interior. Not a bad looking hatchback actually.

Re: the Challenger/Sapporo. I thought those were really cool cars in the day. Just sporty enough etc. I really wanted my mom to get one, but I think she ended up with an Omni instead.

kyfdx

The bronze, with the sunset striping and white interior was their signature look.. They had that on the cover of the brochure in '77... It was just a rebadged Mitsubishi... I don't think they offered the 2.6 engine until later....

The Challenger and Sapporo (also Mitsus), were nicer cars... and had the 2.6 engine standard... but, they were seriously expensive at the time...

regards,
kyfdx
(who got his first new car in '77)

andre1969

for a '76 Arrow



These earlier versions had round headlights and were a bit vulgar looking, IMO. The later models, with the square headlights, were pretty attractive, though. Seems like the later models were common for awhile, but I can't recall ever seeing a round headlight model.

There was also an Arrow pickup truck, but really had nothing in common with the Arrow coupe. It was a Plymouth version of the Mitsubishi-built Dodge D-50 Ram. The front-end clip made it look like an Arrow, but it was a true truck, and not one of those Rampage/VW rabbit truck/El Camino type things.

kyfdx

If I remember correctly, the '76 I was looking at was around $4200 with the options (no A/C).. The '77, which didn't come out until December '76 was $4572 MSRP

I almost bought one, can you tell?

au94

Great ad! Thats exactly what the girl I knew's looked like. Except I don't thin it had the stripe.

andys120

I saw a '69 Dodge Charger in fair shape going up the highway this PM, it was jacked up a bit in the rear. No it did'nt have a Rebel flag on the roof or "01" on the side, in fact it was red with a black vinyl roof.

kyfdx

...being trailered on the way home last night... very nice.. It had the hood scoop, with the "SIX PACK" lettering on the scoop.. In a medium bright blue..

debaser853

When I was in college, I worked as a runner for a transmission shop. One employee had a turquiose Cuda, and another had both a Grand National & a SuberBee. He drove the SuperBee to work once in three months. I remember being very very impressed!

bumpy

behind an ugly tan early-70s fastback Mustang.

andys120

If I'm not mistaken that's a 1962 Galaxie.

kyfdx

It is.. and except for the after-market wheels, it is identical to my grandfather's car...Black w/red interior. He bought it in '62, because my grandmother was going to learn to drive (50 years old at the time), but she never did.... He kept it in the barn, and kept driving his '49 Ford until 1968....

Finally started driving the Galaxie then, it only had 35K miles when he died in '71.. Mint condition.. I begged my mother to buy the car for me, but I was only 13 years old, and she wouldn't... So, my grandmother sold it for $500.

I was scarred for life...

What a blast from the past... Thanks!!

bumpy

Yep. Except for the blingy rims, the one I saw was identical; same color, configuration, dual exhaust, and "500" badging. Rode like a waterbed, too.

fintail

I remember a 62 Galaxie too. Before I started driving, I was looking for a car, and a nice 62 500XL turned up in my town. It was a very clean car - black with red interior, and I remember all the lights worked, even the red/white/blue courtesy lights (I think they were). The guy wanted $2000 for it, which I thought was a bargain. But my dad somehow didn't like it, and wouldn't go for it.

Mr_Shiftright

This was one of my first cars...I was reminded of it because I was going to buy a Galaxie to use to go to college but when I went to the Ford dealer's used car lot I saw this and bought it instead. It was a very good car, too and could give fits to any similar year Chevy.

The tip-off to correct identification is in the front of the car.

I'm not sure this photo shows a totally correct car but it's good enough.

fintail

It's some model that preceded the Hawk

Funny thing...my 23 year old brother now wants a Studebaker Hawk. Apparently he likes how they look. I think he's been spending too much time with my dad - who likes all Studebakers, Hudsons, early 50s Mopars, 49-51 Chevys, 55-60 Fords...oddballs.

lemko

...on the way back to Philly - a beautiful red 1959 Cadillac Series 62 convertible with a white top. It was pulling out of a gas station but I didn't get a good look at the driver. It was probably piloted by either Bill Gates, Rupert Murdoch, or Ted Turner.

jrosasmc

Where's the "Ebay time" car list?

fintail

Didn't have a chance this weekend...I was busy buying an obscure car (a C43, see the CCB thread)

jrosasmc

You actually bought that C43??

jrosasmc

Fin, are you still going to hang onto the fintail?

I always forget, what year is it?

fintail

I bought it. It seemed like the right car. I've had absolutely no luck finding a good one locally, and this one has the right mileage and history. And I got it as cheap as it could go for on ebay I am sure. Actually about 5% under book, with new tires and servicing/reconditioning. I can't wait to get it, detail it out, and enjoy it.

I can't imagine ever selling the fintail. I've had it for over 10 years, so I have an attachment to it. It's a 64.

I actually had a guy test drive the 126 this afternoon - the brother of the finance manager of the local MB dealer. He wants to have it inspected tomorrow, and if it fares well, I think he'll buy it. He was really taken by it. He had a 420SEL that got hit and he wants a replacement, even though his wife doesn't want an older car around. The cold AC and the file full of records impressed him.

jrosasmc

Yeah, the fintail is definitely you. I've seen pics of it and I'm sure you look perfect in it.

A local guy whom I know well wants to sell me his '93 190E 2.3 for $4500. It has 138k miles on it but it has a few issues...it needs an A/C recharge, rear brake rotors and a taillight bulb. It looks tempting since the body looks great (it's black) but I know better than to get a 190 with "needs."

fintail

The fintail fits like a glove. I'll be an old man and still have it. It's not a perfect car, but it's neat. I've had it since I was a teenager and have had a lot of fun in it.

That's too much for anything but the mintest 2.3, Not the engine you want. I'm willing to go as low as $5K for my 126 if it goes to a good home. You'd be better off IMO, as my car needs so little, and nothing serious like AC or brakes. I put it on craigslist yesterday...I've had 4 bites, and 2 of them look like they are very interested.

Here are a few ebay oddities

You'll outclass just about everything on the road in this

So sad

Gorgeous low grille coupe...I am partial to this color

w9cw

SAABS ---yep, these are the older 80s Saab 5-doors with the 8 valve motor (keep a stack of head gaskets in the trunk) -- he puts in 16 valve motors, rebuilds the trannies while he's at it (better do it NOW), and works up the suspension, etc. People seem to love this combination. He was doing a brisk business but after all this is Berkeley not Kansas.

I beg to differ . . . I have an '85 900 2.0L 8-valve that I purchased new which is on its original head gasket and 5-speed manual transmission - 146,500 and still going strong and using no oil between 2K changes. And, I live in central IL.

Mr_Shiftright

You know, it's just 99% of the old Saab 900s that are giving the rest a bad reputation :P

Saabnet itself (the veritbale Church of Saab) reports frequent head gasket failures, so please don't shoot the messenger.

I'm glad you are a lucky one, though.

jaserb

Very nice condition in roughly the same '70s vintage creamy yellow color as my Alfa.

-Jason

jrosasmc

I was fortunate to attend the annual Saab Owners' Convention which was held at Stratton, VT just this past weekend. Although I am not a member of the Saab Club, they allowed me to browse through the car display for an hour or two. In a matter of time I was talking with just about every individual who owns an old-generation 900 (1979-93). Among the classic faults they discussed with me were:

Rusting along the lower door edges; stress cracks in the dashboard (I saw them even on 900s as new as 1993); leather upholstery stitching coming loose; non-working A/C and a host of many others

And I even saw a one-owner '89 SPG Turbo with 960,000 miles on it. Yes, this car was verified, had all records and I got a chance to talk to the owner. He said the car is still on the original turbocharger, but he has gone through four gaskets on the original motor.

fintail

This morning I saw a blue late 90s Ferrari F355 (I believe) Spyder, and a silver Smart car.

I also spotted a decent looking late 70s/early 80s Celica liftback. I liked these cars when I was little, and I liked the 82+ hatchback models even more.

I saw a couple Porsche 356 yesterday

explorerx4

i have a '91 mustang that i am keeping so my kids can drive it. other than that, i could easily give it up. next year is #1, couple of years after that #2. my nephews and nieces have been bugging me for years to drive it. i say 'no problem, after my kids drive it'.

jrosasmc

Is your Mustang a 4-cyl. or V-8? And did you buy it new?

kyfdx

VW Eurovan...

Why?

jrosasmc

Do you remember the Eurovan's predecessor, the Vanagon? Those things with their puny flat-4 motors would accelerate as fast as a molasses delivery truck!

kyfdx

Agreed.... the Eurovan is a quantum leap above the Vanagon... And still 50 years behind a Honda Odyssey...

fintail

I think they made a diesel Vanagon too.

Mr_Shiftright

Never could figure out why anybody would buy one....

jaserb

Says so right in the name! If it's European it MUST be better than all those other vans, right?

-Jason

Mr_Shiftright

yeah but you drive a Cavalier and then hop into a BMW and at least as you write that big check you get to say: "Oh, I get it"...but when you jump out of a Japanese minivan into a Eurovan--what exactly is revealed here?

I've spotted a car I cannot identify----well I GUESS I could if I got out all the books and went flip flip...but I'm going to take a spy photo and post it....

jrosasmc

Just what exactly is the driving experience of a Vanagon or Eurovan like?