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

texases

In '83 they went to the 318i, which was a big improvement: 9.8/17.2 0-60/1.4mi. And yes, 0-60 under 10 seconds isn't what it used to be.

andys120

I often wondered why BMW had problems with getting good performance (for the $$ involved) out of the 320i right when VW was doing great things with the GTI. '83 GTI 0-60 10.6 sec, '80 320i 0-60 12.1 sec.

One word answer: weight.

I went to The Glen (Watkins) in the passenger seat of a 320i once and thorougly enjoyed the ride. It was one of the best looking cars of it's era and the interior set a standard that wasn't matched until the 1990's model Audis came out. The proble was that the extra weight made the 320i seen rather sluggish compared to it's predecessor, the 2002, which set the standard for Sport Sedans in America.

kyfdx

Not in the USA... the '83 model was still the E21 320i.. The 318i didn't get here until the '84 model year..

It's funny.. Even though the E30 318i was a better car in almost every way, even acceleration, it was deemed too slow, and the 6-cylinder arrived a couple of years later..

Not that I'm complaining..

texases

You're right, I was just going off test date, fall '83. I guess I can't complain about BMW's move to 6-cyl in the 3er, they really did improve the car. Now there's a worthy 2.5l 6 cyl.

bocatrip

The Benz might have held up better than those early BMWs but it sure is the leader today in total quality control issues, electrical problems, and unreliability.

Mr_Shiftright

Well fortunes of car companies and entire global empires rise and fall---it's just the cycle of things. Now BMWs riding high. Go figure.

BMW 320i -- what's to love? What's to LIKE? I owned two of them, grew to dislike time. Overpriced, slow, cheesy interiors, noisy rough engine...initially I thought it was just the one I bought, but the second one proved just the same. Made me LONG FOR my 2002.

It's one car I just don't "get" I guess....never thought much of the 318 either.

texases

The 320i seemed to be the Yuppie car of choice in the early 80s, at least in Dallas. I tried to fit in one (luckily didn't) and the salesman didn't try to sell me on the merits, just on who was buying them. I had been hoping for a car that was improved over the 2002, which a friend had and I really liked. No such luck.

lokki

My wife's boss had a 318i in the late 80's and I had an Acura Integra. The Integra ran about $15,000 and the 320i ran about $30,000 as I recall.

I drove that 318i quite a lot over a number of years, and I could never figure out where the extra $15K was hidden in that car. I could account for some of it, but never the whole $15k.

Of course I loved that Integra with that DOHC engine and a 7500 RPM Redline, so I may have been biased.

andre1969

tested three BMW's.

First was a 318i 4-door sedan. 1.8 4-cyl with a 5-speed. 0-60 came up in 11.4 seconds. Had all of 101 hp and 103 ft-lb of torque. It was 176.8" long, which isn't that much shorter than a current 3-series! But it was also only 2450 pounds. I'm sure the new ones are at least a *few* pounds heavier! They thought pretty highly of the car overall, although did say that the 6-cyl 325e would be better suited to US driving needs. They also didn't publish legroom specs, so I dunno how well I'd fit in one. And they rate cargo volume at 15 cubic feet. That's actually pretty impressive for something this small...I wonder if that's a typo? They didn't list an as-tested price, but this model base priced at $16,925 for the 4-door. Some options listed were 4-speed automatic (325e only): $595, metallic paint: $420 (maybe that's why most of them were black, a non-metallic color), leather upholstery (325e only, does that mean you couldn't get it at all in the 318??): $790, AM/FM stereo cassette (318, must be standard in the 325) $505, manual sunroof: $520, limited-slip differential: $370, Cruise control (318i, must be standard on the 325) $240.

The 325e they tested was a 2-door sedan. It had a 2.7 6-cyl with 121 hp. So answer me this then...shouldn't it be called a 327e? They didn't list a 0-60 time but they rated it "4" (5 being the best. I think it had to break 9.5 seconds to be rated 5. At least, they rated a Daytona turbo "5", at 9.4 seconds and a Cressida "4" at 9.6). their observed fuel economy was 24.7 mpg, actually MORE than the 318, which they got 23 out of. Again, they liked the car overall, but said that its $21,000 price tag makes them think twice about buying one.

Next up was a BMW 635CSi It had a 3.4 6-cyl with 182 hp (so in this case, it should really be a 634CSi!). Suprisingly, it "only" weighed 3380 pounds. From the way some of you guys talked about these things, I was expecting something more along the lines of a pre-downsized Caprice! 0-60 came up in a blistering 8.2 seconds, with the 5-speed stick. This car also had ABS standard, the first year for it I believe. CG played that up quite a bit and seemed totally mesmerized by the idea. In the end, they gave the thing a "2" for value (out of a possible 5). The sticker price was around $41,000! Also, they didn't record their fuel economy, although it was city-rated at 16.

texases

...but I saw a Subaru SVX, the one with the partial roll down side windows. Sure seemed odd when it came out, and then disappeared from sight. I haven't seen one in years.

british_rover

A guy that works in the business behind us has a Red SVX in very good shape.

Always thought they would be fun cars too bad they are underpowered and automatic only.

andre1969

those Sube SVX'es were way cool. What was that other sporty coupe they had at the time? The XT or something like that? I thought they were both neat cars. Had kind of a quirky, futuristic look to them.

fintail

That was the XT6, kind of an angular wedge. Seemed very modern when it came out ca. 1985.

fintail

My 1981 Consumer Guide has 2 BMWs.

First is a 320i, 101hp, 2500 lbs, 0-60 in 11.1. The one they tested had an expensive "S" package that pushed the car over $15K. They generally liked it though, while admitting it was pricey, the handling and build quality made up for it.

The other is the oddball 528i. That was the last year the car was offered. It had 169hp and weighted 3180 lbs, 0-60 in 9.4. The car came in at just over $20K. They liked it too...the American press was still having issues with the teutonic 'luxury' ideal, but the handling made all the difference.

texases

I almost bought a used 528i - always liked it, talked a friend's dad into buying one, enjoyed it when he let me drive it :shades:, they got rid of the thermal reactor they had on the 530i, so the car ran pretty well and reliably.

grahampaige

Went to pick up some lights I purchased on ebay from a guy in the same city. In his garage he had a 36 Graham he was selling. It was unrestored, but complete. Man was I tempted. It would have made a great rat car, you know do the mechanicals, throw some rugs over the seats and drive it like it was. It had no rust, though it was fitted with a local body, but I am not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing....

Still thinking about it, but got nowhere to store it

Mr_Shiftright

Might be a fun project but watch out---they aren't worth very much so you'd have to keep a very tight budget on this car.

I think they make better rods that trying to restore them:



There are a few special bodied Graham of certain years that have value but I suspect "yours" is just another ordinary 4-door.

fintail

I thought a 36 would be a more art deco thing, like this

Mr_Shiftright

Yes, the one I showed was a '34, but I couldn't find a '36 rod.

NOTE: A quick way to tell the year (approximately) of 30s cars is whether the headlights are on a "pod" outside the fenders or if they blend in.

right around 1937/38 just about everyone went to headlights-in-fenders.

fintail

Yep, change was constant even then. The skin of a 1930 car is on a different planet from a 1940 car (even though the guts might be the exact same).

Some of those Graham's were supercharged I think...so that could add some interest. Of course, a sedan is a sedan.

lemko

...1957 Chevrolet 210 in primer on my way back from lunch. Seems every '57 Chevrolet survived in some condition.

Mr_Shiftright

Old old rule: "Loved when new, loved when old".

bumpy

But it was also only 2450 pounds. I'm sure the new ones are at least a *few* pounds heavier!

About a thousand more. :sick:

andre1969

About a thousand more.

yeah, isn't it incredible to think that something that's about the size of the '85 Cavalier in my Consumer Guide (which itself was criticized for weighing about 2300-2400 pounds), ends up clocking in these days at close to what the '85 LeSabre (~3500 lb) and '85 Delta 88 (~3576 pounds) were in that book!

grahampaige

Fintail, you got the closest, yes that is a 36, but the one I looked at had a local body, not an American one, so it actually had a boot, and was slightly different, will see if I can find a photo.

no it wasn't supercharged, if it was it wouldn't still be there, I would have sold something else (maybe an vital organ)

They aren't worth much, though are worth more over here strangely, as they are just so rare here, and being an Aussie body, it would be different. So still thinking about it, the prise he was asking was spot on (Not cheap, but exactly what it was worth)

fintail

Oh, I forgot you are down under. I have seen Aussie market Fords and Chevys from that time period with open/touring car bodies that were not made here, as well.

grahampaige

Interesting thing. This one had suicide doors, both front and back

fintail

That's very odd, I don't know why that would have been desired. I always thought suicide doors existed on sedans so the doors could all be hinged in the same place.

grahampaige

it made it easier to get in the car.. most doors of the period that hinged from the A pillar was fairly straight but the suicide door cars usually had the bottom front of the door pass into the bulkhead giving moor room to swing your legs into the car, well that what I think anyway.

The body on this car was a Holden body, they were at the time owned by GM, so it would have been the same body that they put on the local Buicks, etc

andre1969

One thing that I just noticed...on a lot of cars from around the late 30's to about 1948, the fender swoops back into the front door, making the lower part of the door stick out much wider than the upper part. How did they end up accounting for that, when making the door open? Seems to me it would be a hinging nightmare. I'm sure if I actually saw one in person with the door open, it would make perfect sense, but I'm having trouble visualizing it.

I was watching an old movie the other day (I think it was "The Invisible Woman") and there was a scene where a man got out of a car with suicide doors. It looked like it made entry/exit really easy. You just step forward out of the car and then close the door behind you. Seemed easier than the way we do it with modern cars, having to turn to get out of the car, getting out of the way of the door, and then swinging it closed. Just one of those things where the difference in time is probably a fraction of a second, but I imagine that if you got used to suicide doors, the conventional doors would seem inconvenient. At least, until you got adjusted to them.

bumpy

I saw a W126 420(I think)SEL with a red panel between the tail lights that had the same square-groove pattern as the tail lenses. Was that some Euro thing?

texases

Wasn't there a period where lots of people were putting those on their MBs/Corollas/etc? I know they had them for my Scirocco and GTI. Kind of a fad, like the chromed-surround tail light thing that seems to be dropping off now.

fintail

Yep, it was an aftermarket item. Fairly rare on a 126, but I have seen them before.

fintail

These are strange things

The fad continues...beats the 100K one anyway

I like the car, I loathe the colors, and that top doesn't seem right either

Odd American-Euro hybrid

I could see Shifty in this

Really deluxe Buick

Roller skate

When Buick really meant class

Doesn't look bad, but that interior is loud

There was still some elegance

Mopar luxury

Big 'n cheap

Seld om seen

Mr_Shiftright

Morgan Aero 8 -- people either love 'em or hate 'em, there's no in between. Put me in the "no thanks" category (and I used to own a Morgan so I have some affection for them).

NSU 1000 --not bad...needs a valve job but you could do that in your kitchen sink with a pipe wrench. As for "rust", that word always chills me, but of course in the UK they laugh at our repulsion. I think some of the biggest Ferrous Oxide mines are in the UK. They supply most of the world.

Amphicar--might be a good deal, who knows?

Oh a BAROQUE...always wanted one...or maybe a MEDIEVAL (earlier model)...or a stickshift BYZANTINE would be even better. OH, the tears of laughter....a "baroque"...what a name for this thing....PERFECT! Satire is dead!

SENECA---ah, a full size, stripped-down 60s American car with a 6 cylinder and 3 on the tree...does it get much better than that? :sick:

49 Ponty convertible---surprised there isn't spirited bidding on this one...did I miss something?

39 Mercedes Manheim Roadster -- gee, a $590,000 dollar MGTF!

bocatrip

The XT and the SVXs are next to impossible to find these days. The reason? Super Super expensive to maintain. The XT had an air suspension system which incorporated the shocks. If one shock went bad, the part cost more than the value of the car. Thus, it's quick demise. It was a blast to drive, especially the 6. The SVX was a very expensive car for subaru. Kind of wierd/ugly. At one time, I would see so many of them at the wholesale car auctions, but almost no one wanted them.

Mr_Shiftright

SVX is an interesting car and not unattractive but it would have to be very cheap because of unobtanium parts.

The XT I never saw the merit of...nasty looking thing and the 6 is an absolute devil to work on. I don't know where Subaru got a reputation for being tough or good but not from that car. I never yet have failed to sit in one and smell an air freshener. Why is that?

fintail

Today I saw a silver E-type roadster, a black W210 E55, a silver C43, a beige W110 fintail keeping up with highway traffic, and a beautiful black ca. 1930 dual sidemounted Cadillac cabrio (landau bars) being towed by an Expedition.

andre1969

two '79 NYers, one Nightwatch Blue base model, and one creme-on-creme 5th Ave. Frolicking and posing for pics in my yard. :shades:

chuck1959

OH God that makes me sooooo homesick for my'79 NYer Fifth Ave!

british_rover

So that is what four tons of american iron look like Frolicking... :P

fintail

Something odd today...an early 70s Porsche 911, white with red-orange 'Carrera' lettering, and that weird little spoiler that existed back then. That's some kind of rare model, right?

kyfdx

If it is really a Carrera and not a clone... They called the spoiler a "ducktail", then..

british_rover

Look something like this?

That is a Carrera RS which is a pretty hot 911 from what I remember. Shifty will know for sure.

I saw a 356 Coupe today but I think it was a kit car. It was way too perfect and had temp tags on it.

It looked kind of like this one but the bumpers were smaller.

fintail

That's the car, but in white with orange lettering. It may have been a clone...it was out in the rain.

british_rover

Ahh this one then...

fintail

That looks like it yeah. I can't recall if it had those red wheels though

fintail

I saw 2 Nissan Skylines this afternoon. Not uncommon in Vancouver, but rarely seen in Seattle.

boomchek

Saw a couple of Renault LeCars. Both in fairly decent shape.

Also saw a red car that looked restored, and had lines very similiar to this Skoda:


But I thought the windows were slightly bigger.

andys120

Replica Speedster clones are common but I've never heard of any 356 Coupe replicas. The one you saw w smaller bumpers was likely a rare 356A 1955-59)or possibly an ever rarer early 356.

Here's a 356A coupe from the mid 50s, note how low the bumper sits compared to the 356B ('59-'63) in your photo.>