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

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  • kyfdxkyfdx Moderator Posts: 265,525
    Yeah.... I wanted to say it was 1.8 litre... but, that seemed just too weird.. ;)

    I think you are right, though...

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  • bumpybumpy Member Posts: 4,425
    Yep, 1.8, same engine family as the 2.5L V6 in the MX-6/Probe. Not the smallest mass-market V6 but close.
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    Is that the same engine as the 2.5 V-6 that was used in the Contour and Mystique, or were those different?
  • budabuda Member Posts: 2
    two weeks ago i bought a white 1993 dodge dynasty with 93000 miles on it. i paid $2100. it goes in the shop tomarrow to get a new transmission.
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    That sounds like about the right interval for those cars. :sick: Years ago, one of my friends bought a brand-new Dynasty, with the 3.3 V-6 and 4-speed "Ultradrive" automatic. I forget when the first one went out, but I think #2 failed around the 90K mark. Chrysler picked up the first one under warranty, and miraculously, he got them to cover half the cost of rebuild #2.

    Just outta curiosity, how much is a rebuild in one of those nowadays?
  • bumpybumpy Member Posts: 4,425
    Nope. The Duratec V6 in the Countour, etc. was something Ford's European arm whipped up in the early '90s, although Mazda does use later versions in the Mazda6.
  • texasestexases Member Posts: 11,107
    I seem to remember that 1.8L v6 getting the same kind of reaction that the 3L v8 did in the 530i - nice, by why not the i4/i6 instead?
  • budabuda Member Posts: 2
    i manage the buda engine company (allis chalmers) here in shreveport, la. one of the shops we do business with, doing me a favor $875. my wife called some other shops anywhere from $1300- 1900.
  • bumpybumpy Member Posts: 4,425
    For a given displacement, increasing the cylinder count improves the revability and torque characteristics of the engine, at the expense of additional manufacturing cost and slightly greater friction losses.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,414
    I just saw one of the last Lotus Esprits, the kind of rounded ones with a goofy spoiler. I bet that's fun to maintain.
  • magnettemagnette Member Posts: 4,229
    Had a few days in rural England at the end of last week, and particularly at the weekend saw a lot of old cars..

    Alvis 12/50 - 1931. The owner was just putting some items in the back seat - he had just been to the local DIY/Hardware store.
    The next day we saw another, different Alvis, not sure of the model but it was a bit younger, and with it was a vintage Bentley with what appeared to be a VandenPlas body.
    Also on the motorway coming back into London we passed a Rolls-Royce , it appeared to be a Phantom 1, or a late Silver Ghost, certainly it was late 20's - only saw it for a minute as we passed on the other carriageway.
    In Gloucestershire I think there was some sort of old car run, we passed quite a few old cars, including a decent Triumph TR3A, a well restored Jag E-Type mk 11, and even an MG Magnette - a ZB rather than my old ZA, but at least it was running.
    Later we saw a Sunbeam Alpine, a Mk III MG Midget, and an old Morgan - late 60's I think, although it is difficult with them, as they don't change much from decade to decade - and we were only a few miles from the factory in Malvern, Worcestershire.
    Passed a Bristol 404, which was running well, too.
    We even found an old Diamond-T breakdown truck parked on a garage forecourt although that looked like it wasn't going anywhere soon.
    In another garage in the Cotswolds, there was a collection of pre-war Morrises, including a decent Morris 8 van, and everywhere we went we kept seeing Morris Minors, loads of them - including Travellers and even a couple of open tourers.
    Finally - a DB6, which was parked outside a nice country pub (it doesn't get much better than that).
    One really unusual siting, although hardly a classic, was a Honda Element, on North Carolina plates - not a car sold here, and clearly not a local - there is a USAF presence nearby, at Fairford, though.
  • texasestexases Member Posts: 11,107
    I was thinking that Diamond T must be pretty unusual in GB, but come to find out:

    "During World War 2, Diamond T produced a classic heavy truck in the 980/981, a prime mover which was quickly snapped up by the British Purchasing Commission for duty as a tank transporter tractor. Coupled with a Rogers trailer, the Diamond T gave sterling service with the British Army in North Africa, where its power and rugged construction allowed the rescue of damaged tanks in the most demanding of conditions, often under enemy fire."
  • magnettemagnette Member Posts: 4,229
    Yes - they were once quite common (presumably ex-army) for heavy truck recovery, and also there was a firm in South Wales which had a few for heavy/outsize load transport. Most of them disappeared years ago, of course, mainly being replaced as the subsequent Scammell trucks were pensioned off from the British Army.
  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,669
    I just saw an actual Cunningham C4R (ca. 1953) pulling out of a Dunkin Donuts! AFAIK only a dozen or so were ever built. C4Rs were primarily race cars powered by Cadillac or Chrysler Hemi V8s that were campaigned by Briggs Cunningham at Sebring, LeMans and the like. A C4R won the '53 12hrs of Sebring.

    Except for a Carrera Panamericana logo on the fenders, the car I saw looked
    just like this>
    image

    I'll have to keep my eyes peeled, it's Vintage Racing Weekend at NHMS (Loudon NH).

    On a more mundane level I also saw a Plymouth Horizon 4-door looking a bit worn but otherwise clean and straight except for some rust at the door bottoms.

    2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93

  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Great spotting!

    You have to be careful identifying these though. Someone found 14 incomplete chassis from the factory and made cars out of them, so they would have significantly less value. they are kinda bogus cars.

    You're right Cunningham did race in '53 at Lemans, but alas the C4R came in 7th and the C5R came in 3rd. Pretty good considering no other American car had come that close since the late 1920s. The Cunninghams did score class wins, though in '53, I think in the 8 liter class (of which I guess they were perhaps the only ones in class?)

    Of course, Jaguar won Lemans in 1953 because we remember the plaques on the XKs heralding this victory.

    Stutz almost won for America in 1928 but we never won it outright until 1966 and then in splendid fashion.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,414
    Unusual hybrid or mutt or whatever

    Very lowline Rolls

    Fancy Mini

    Be unique

    These are kinda cool

    You'll be the only one

    Most of these didn't survive so well

    "1 of a kind" - I hope

    Be like George Costanza

    A cooler G-wagen

    Amazing fintail

    Lots of bids

    And that Cunningham is one to remember indeed. Reminds me of my college town where a guy who had an Allard would drive it quite a bit in nice weather. You don't forget that shape.
  • hpmctorquehpmctorque Member Posts: 4,600
    I like it!
  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,669
    I'll take the '72 Tatra. ;)

    2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93

  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    spotted outside my mechanic's shop. I fired up my '79 NYer this morning and took it for a drive. It's been sitting for over a week now, so I figured I'd blow the cobwebs off. And literally, I had to remove a spider's web from it.

    I was kinda curious to see if the mechanic was keeping my Intrepid indoors, or at least secured somewhere, so I figured I'd actually drive somewhere, rather than just around the block.

    Well, parked out in front was this ratty DeSoto. It looked like it had been a light blue originally, but was so faded that it was mostly the hue of that pinkish primer they used to use back in those days. The poor thing was really a parts car, at best. Holes in the rear quarter panels. One of the rear doors was smashed. Gaping holes in the floorboards. Interior looked like a rats nest. I'd guess the other three doors, hood, trunklid, and upper part of the bumper/grille (the part with the twin openings), possibly the front fenders, and a lot of minor trim pieces were still salvageable.

    Still, it was kinda cool to see the old beast. I can't remember the last time I've seen a DeSoto, other than my own, outside of a car show. Heck, even TVLand cuts the closing credits of "Leave it to Beaver" now, so you can't even see that one anymore!
  • magnettemagnette Member Posts: 4,229
    Whilst Ford won Le Mans in 1966, it was always my understanding that the GT40 was built here, at Ford Advanced Vehicles, which was then in Slough, Berkshire (so it was actually a British victory !!!)
  • magnettemagnette Member Posts: 4,229
    Another fascinating selection...

    I quite like that IKA Renault Torino thing - it would probably be unique in Britain, possibly Europe - but it is a bit customised, which isn't my thing, really

    Great Tatra - wonderful cars...

    Also liked the Volvo Duett - I see one of these every year or so in East London, the guy has had it for years, still in regular use, although I believe the model was never sold here new.

    The Riley Elf brought back memories - I had a few friends who had these, or the Wolseley Hornet equivalent, when we were all driving Minis back in the day - ( mid 70's in my case) - college students in London tended to have no money, so a small car that cost as little as possible for the insurance was the best way to go...

    Can't say I warmed to the Chrysler Town & Country thing - I'm sure they attract a following but it is a bit of a strange looking beast, with fake wood panels stuck over the steel bodywork....Looks a bit like "coachwork by IKEA"
  • magnettemagnette Member Posts: 4,229
    We never did get 'Leave it to Beaver', and I don't think the DVD is going to be one I could ask for in my local store, with a name like that, so I probably never will see the DeSoto off the credits...
  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    Can't let us have one little win can you... ;)

    The engines were made in the US I think.
  • magnettemagnette Member Posts: 4,229
    Ford is American - and yes the engine was made in the US...
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    The GT40 was based off the Lola, that's true, and I do believe the winning Ford is in fact offically listed in the Lemans record books as a UK car, (leave it to the French to do that) but in REALITY, the Lola was so extensively reworked with massive amounts of Ford money and talent, that one would be hard put to call it a British victory. More like a British-assist and definitely a car with British roots.

    Later GT40s with later victories were pure Ford. No matter how you cut it, a great achievement and a stinging rebuke to Ferrari, who had rested on their laurels too long (but survived to thumb their noses once again at most of the world).
  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,669
    The engines were made in the US I think.

    Oh yes, the 427 "Side-Oiler" was an adaption of Ford's NASCAR motor (seen here in it's usual home with Andretti at the wheel.>

    image

    2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93

  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    So I'm guessing that "Beaver" is slang for the same thing in the UK that it is here in the United States? :shades: Anyway, here's a screen capture of the '59 from "Leave it to Beaver".
  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,723
    that would be mario driving, not jeff, john, marco, or michael. :)
    i think i saw this car at the henry one time i was there:
    image
    it still had the after race tar, etc... on it!
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,414
    In the hot weather today I saw a few oddballs. A 57 Ford wagon, blue and white. A 64-65 Chevelle Malibu 2 door HT, dark red, in the garage of my building. A very nice late 60s Porsche 911, in silver rather than the usual red. A Triumph TR6, and earlier in the day I saw a black late 40s Triumph 2000 roadster on a trailer. And for a while in light traffic I drove behind a dark green MG-TD. Of course the brake lights didn't work (along with the rest of the electrics I am sure) and the driver used hand signals when turning.
  • andys120andys120 Member Posts: 23,669
    I spotted another rarity today, a '65 or '66 Falcon Ranchero, high-line model evidently, it looked to have extra chrome along the sides.

    2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93

  • toomanyfumestoomanyfumes Member Posts: 1,019
    An old Audi 2-door, tan, with tiny taillights and european license plates :confuse: Maybe a 100?

    Also, the professional athlete who lives by me is back for the summer. Looks like he traded his white Bentley GT for a black GT convertible.
    2012 Mustang Premium, 2013 Lincoln MKX Elite, 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander.
  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,336
    on a trip from Philly to Newburgh, NY. These were all on some sort of highway:

    '69 AMC AMX. Looked nicely restored

    1960's vintage P1800 Volvo (Red - and I won't give up the P, since the guy I know that is president of the Volvo club and owns 2 siad he uses it!)

    Local road, a 68ish Ford (maybe a Fairlane?) 2 door, fastback style. COulda been the Mercury version, but it wasn't too close.

    Not seen, but I found out the my former BIL is in the process of restoring a 1965 Corvair Monza. Not something you see everyday either.

    Oh, and in a local pub parking lot Friday, a Ford Dually pickup. With huge chome whells (dubs, or what ever size they actually are) with rubber band tires. Even on the duallys. made very little sense.

    2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.

  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    Damn, it is true! My roommate mentioned that to me the other night, and I thought he was full of it. When he said they were doubling in value I was like what? From $25 to $50?!

    IIRC, it's really only the cheapest of the cheap...the 1.0 3cyl/stick models that get good fuel economy. By the time you got up to the 1.3 4-cyl/automatic version, your fuel economy was down to something like 30/34...and that's before the EPA revised their estimates downward for 2007/2008! So in reality, an Accord, Camry, or Altima would match it on the highway. Even a bigger car, like an Impala, or a LeSabre with the 3.8, would come close.
  • lemmerlemmer Member Posts: 2,689
    26/31 under the new system for the automatic. Doesn't sound so good, does it.
  • texasestexases Member Posts: 11,107
    Isn't the Metro the junker they're driving on that credit report commercial? Gonna have to make a new one - put 'em in a 2005 Suburban!
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    Yup... F-R-E-E that spellls "FREE" Credit Ree-Port dot com Bay-Bee!
  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    Hmhhh I could get 40 mph out of 3800 equipped Bonneville under the right conditions but averaged around 35 mph highway overall.

    Look at these completed listings

    You have to be signed in with ebay to see completed listings.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,414
    Hilarious. Those low mileage one are bringing some insane money.

    A few years ago an old co-worker of mine bought a 99 Metro sedan, the highline model, with 30K on it. She paid something around 5 grand for it, and I kind of smirked. Looks like she could get that money back now.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    That's so crazy---you'll spend hundreds just keeping that junk on the road. You gotta drive a LONG way to justify spending $7,000 on a $2,000 car.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    How do I do that "completed listings" search on eBay Motors?
  • texasestexases Member Posts: 11,107
    Do you have an Ebay ID? It's worth having just for this. Then you do a vehicle search, click the 'competed items' box and click 'show items'. That said, I can't get BR's link to work.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,414
    Strange...it works for me. It takes me to a login page, I log in, and then I can view the completed results.
  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    Like texas said just login under your ebay name and then hit the complete listings link. The completed listings button is usually in the tip right of the listings and on the bottom left of the search options box.

    Another thing ebay has added is price research.

    That is the price research link for the Honda Magnas I am looking at.

    Those are the active listings

    Those are completed listings
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Okay thanks!
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    ...a 1979 or 1980 Chrysler New Yorker Fifth Avenue in that same beige-yellow color as andre1969's ride. This one had the Chrysler wire wheel covers but must've had some problem with the rear suspension as the back of the car was crouching on its axle.
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    Lemko, you'd be proud of me. Tonight I started replacing those aging Firestone Firehawk raised white letter tires that are on my 5th Ave. For anybody who hasn't yet seen pics of that unholy matrimony of police cruiser and luxo-barge, here ya go.

    Now, I refuse to put its OEM wire hubcaps back on, but I still have the old deep-dish turbine style hubcaps that my '79 Newport had. And I'm going back to whitewalls. Just put a pair of tires on the front that I had sitting around the house. They're about 6 years old, with barely any wear on them, and my mechanic deemed them safe. Eventually I'll have new whitewalls mounted on the back, to complete the look. In the end, it'll look sorta like the cars in this St. Regis brochure.

    Just out of curiosity, is the plural of "St. Regis" "St. Regises" or "St. Regi?" :P
  • kyfdxkyfdx Moderator Posts: 265,525
    I loved these when I was a teenager..

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  • oregonboyoregonboy Member Posts: 1,650
    I used to live near a German guy that had a pristine, red GT parked in his garage. He would bring it out on sunny days. :)

    image
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    how 'bout this Opel?

    http://dallasmize.com/opel.htm
This discussion has been closed.