In the city yesterday I saw a Euro W126 280SE that seemed to need a valve adjustment, a BMW Bavaria, and of all things, an unrestored Ponton Cabrio, all moving right along in traffic.
I've recently discovered a show on the HD Theater channel entitled "Chasing Classic Cars". The host is a guy named Wayne Carini - I've only seen a couple of episodes so far.
Nope. I think some of this stuff is staged. I was once approached about a similar show but nothing ever came of it. TV + L.A. --- ugh! These people will drive you nuts.
Another show on HDT is called "Wheeler Dealer", where a couple of blokes in the UK buy and flip an interesting car.
They recently did an episode on the Gen I MR2. Bought it for 500 pounds (about $750) and invested another 700 quid in repairs - they put in a new generator, left front fender (from a junkyard) and windshield. They also refurbished the alloy wheels and replaced the trunk and ignition locks and gave it a service.
They ended up selling it for 1900 pounds ($2850), so about $1K in profit.
I wouldn't disagree with you. One episode showed him paying $68K for a very early (first 1000) Porsche 911 that was being stored in a garage in CA. He shipped it to Connecticut, where he is based, gave it a polish and stored it for a few months before selling it on Ebay with a reserve of $100K. With one day left in the bidding he lowered the reserve to $75K, but the best bid was only $60K.
Win some, lose some, apparently.
But, that same episode showed a gorgeous Ferrari 375MM - apparently, one of only 14 made.
These are dangerous times to try and flip classic cars, unless they are primo material, as in "unobtanium", where you can appeal to people who still have money to burn.
Unload a project car on someone else in March 2009? good luck with that :sick:
I've just found those HD theater shows, too. The failures of Carini to make money on a number of his deals gives the show some credibility, at least. Staged or not, it's good to see them work on lots of old iron (Model A truck, for example). And that show about fixing up cars also has had some 'misses', they spent 1000 'quid' on a car (edit: '80 or so Capri, they pick interesting cars, at least) that they only were able to sell for 750, largely because of having to use cans of spray paint to refinish both front fenders, which they had previously replaced with 'pattern parts' (from China, I assume). Pretty surprising how many decent driveable cars they find for 500 and under.
Oh California is littered right now with $500 drivers. Problem is making money on them and doing so in good conscience. Some of these beaters are pretty dangerous looking.
Me, too. I'm not an 80s "wedge" fan at all. The styling dated itself quickly and has remained so. Reminds me of an old Subaru coupe or a Mustang II. Think how pretty a Miata is next to it.
Yeah, I saw the episode with the Capri. I guess they were OK with selling at a loss. Buyer was a young lass who just needed basic wheels.
Interesting what a budget limit will do .. apparently, the different seasons of the show had different spending limits:
Season 1 - 1000 pounds (Capri, MB 230E, Mini) Season 2 - 2000 pounds (MR2) Seasons 3+ - 3000 pounds
One other show on HDT is "Auto Trader" - same hosts as the ones who flip cars. The part I find interesting is when they take the car that can't be sold, fix some minor issues and increase the value or make is salable.
Recently, there was an episode where a person had a Fiat Brava (4 door hatch) that wasn't worth anything to the dealer as trade. They invested 200 pounds on a new side mirror, door handle and wheel covers, plus a good cleaning, and the same dealer then offered 500 quid. The host refused the offer and told the owner that they could probably get 750 for in if sold privately.
just the other day, almost get creamed by a dump truck. I had a red light, and was waiting to make a right turn. Dumptruck comes from the right, makes an extremely lazy left turn onto the street I was on. Turned so slow across traffic that he made people slam on their brakes. Then, instead of going on up the road, he just stopped. Then started slowly backing up.
Well, an MR2 comes along, about to make that same left. However, the driver was paying attention to the oncoming traffic and not the dumptruck backing up, so he guns it to get across the road, and almost into the back of the truck! Thankfully, the driver was quick enough to cut it to the left, and there was just still enough room to get out of oncoming traffic.
i can't even remember all of them. yellow IS 300. mint early 80's escort with the original dealer sticker on it (i have bought several cars there). bmw 633 with a clueless driver.
2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
'62 Mercedes Diesel Motorhome- I'm no big fan of so-called RVs but I like that one, it doesn't look too big or ungainly but seems roomy inside and the diesel power is a plus.
I'd never heard of these, but I got a tour of a local collection.. He has a special interest in "brass era" cars... but, he's got one... In a sort of ugly gold color...
I don't see it myself, but I guess they are somewhat collectible..
It's really weird to see it in this guy's collection, though... Other than his "domestic only" rule, he has nothing else that would fall into the same genre...
just a little silly- I have never seen any cars lowered so lo to the ground. It appears to be undriveable unless he has a lift kit on the suspension.It looks like he has the seats reversed, shouldn't they for a spider web?
aah the 80's- $6k for an 80's woody. Are these bidders out of their minds. I kinda like them for their takiness and ability to offend the neighbors. But for a lot less money I'll get a Caprice wagon and put some wood shelf contact paper on it.
I was in the Intrepid that day. I still would've been a bit miffed if I got hit, since I just put $1300 into that car, but I guess I'd rather lose that one than the Catalina or any of the others. I would've been more miffed at the dumptruck driver, for trying to back up right there, but I guess if there had been an accident, they would've pinned it on the MR2 driver.
Luckily, the MR2 didn't come anywhere near me when he had to make that emergency maneuver, so the thought that I could've gotten hit never occurred to me. I was making a right turn, and there was a car next to me, ready to make a left when the light changed. Probably gave that guy a good little scare!
about that '77 Cutlass Cruiser that just doesn't do it for me. I think it's just that there's too much going on with the color and texture. If it was solid blue with the woodgrain, or blue with the white top, and no woodgrain, I think it would look nice. But with the woodgrain AND the white roof, it's just too much.
Another thing I don't like about that woodgrain, is how it covers the whole lower part of the car, and only comes up to the fattest part of the car, accentuating it. If instead, the woodgrain was higher up, allowing for some body color to show through at the bottom, it would be nice. I also don't like the area just behind the front bumper, where that flexible part is. The way it cuts into the woodgrain gives the car a poorly thought-out look.
Looking at the GVWR sticker, I'd say that car's a bit of a wuss, only rated at 5790 lb. IIRC, the downsized '77 full-sized wagons were rated around 5500-5600, and had a slightly lower curb weight, so they'd have a slightly higher payload.
However, I have seen some of those '73-77 intermediates rated over 6000 lb, so I guess it all depends on how they're equipped.
Gee you'd think for $27K for that Mercedes RV the least they could have done was paint it.
Shoot for $27K you can get a late model VW Westphalia, converted to Jetta turbo diesel power AND restored to boot.
I can't imagine the defeaning clatter of that diesel, rebounding inside that wooden box, as it runs like bats in hell up a long hill. You'd need earplugs and patience.
This vehicle might be, like many of the old cars we love, better as a concept than as reality.
I like the Rat Rod. I think it's got an adjustable suspension that lifts it upa few inches to make it driveable.
Slantnose Gemballa - I used to see so many for sale when I bought my first duPont Registry in the late 80s when I was a kid. Sir Mix A Lot had one too, but a convertible. I like the Slantnose but don't like the huge whale tail.
Supra is a nice car but 0 interest in it. Nothing really special about it other t han it's condition.
Buick Limited - Wow, that trunk is huge. If you take off the trunk lid, you'll have a pickup bed comparable to many compact trucks today.
I like the Benz camper too. The front looks like a pug face, like someone squished it in, but it's got character.
Olds Wagon - I always liked that generation of GM sedans. I don't know what it is about them, but I like them.
Macho - so 70s and 80s. Funny but no interest at that price either.
Just now got to check the list of cars. I looked at the 77 Cutlass. Unfortunately there were onlyl 23 seconds left in the bidding and I wasn't able to enter my bid.
I looked at the bidding list to see who would give $6000.00. There's something odd in the bidding -- isn't there usually on EBay with the bidding. A person bid from $2900 to $6000 against himself. AFter 5 days he raised his bid. Odd he would do that rather than using hidden bidding as offered by EBay. Like I've said, EBay is like Las Vegas.
I don't get the spelling...it's not like it isn't spelled correctly on the car itself, and any registration documents (if it has any...). How can people get it wrong?
The Datsun might be a good hobby car for $500 or so. There's no upside, but it's very rare anymore. And when was the last time you saw those old style plates? The current BC style came out around 1985 or so I think....I can't even remember the old ones being current.
If the BMW runs right with no smoke plumes or tranny slips, it's worth a gamble, just junk it or part it when it craps out.
about a sight I saw on Tuesday, driving home after I picked up my Intrepid from the mechanic. I passed by a house that had a 4-car carport, with a set of winners underneath. An early/mid 80's Cutlass Supreme sedan, gray, a yellow mid 1970's Hornet 2-door sedan, and not one, but TWO late 80's/early 90's Tempos!
Even though I bust on 'em for having those stationary rear door windows, I wouldn't mind having one of those 80's GM intermediate sedans, as long as it had the right engine, like a 305 or 307. There was a really nice burgundy Cutlass Supreme sedan at Carlisle about a year or so ago...unfortunately it had the 231 V-6. And I think it was an '84, so that would mean it would have the weaker block.
'88 Buick -- good beater for $800. Might run a long time.
Merseddes-- might be phonic--that's how an eastern European would say it.
Datsun 411 -- I like these cars---they are very solid and well made, unlike the tinnier ones to come later. They even made an "SSS" model with dual carbs. Motor is a simple pushrod affair, you could fix it on a picnic table with a hammer and pliers (please don't though). Given it needs engine work, it's about double retail price. If it were around the corner from me and priced at $800 I'd probably buy it. I really like these cars.
64 Caddy 4-door --- parts car
BMW 528e -- a porker, with all the fun engineered out of it, but gee, price is more than fair.
Austin A55 --- V6 automatic --- no thanks. Frankencar.
76 Malibu --- ho hum. Low miles though, might be a decent salt car for you easterners.
I always liked those H-body coupes, too. They look especially good in black! I always thought it was a shame the the Bonneville didn't offer a coupe when it went to the H-body.
I like that '76 Malibu, too. Like you, I've always liked the style of those '73-77 4-door intermediates. The passenger cabins are open and airy, with plenty of glass area. Actually pretty futuristic by 1970's standards. When you think about it, that's essentially the same roofline as a 1986 Taurus.
There's a '77 Grand LeMans sedan that I've seen at the GM show in Carlisle the past two years. It's sort of a caramel color, and looks to be in pretty decent shape. I'm almost tempted to give the guy my contact info and look me up if he ever wants to sell it. Here's a pic I took of it last year. You'd think one LeMans in my stable would be enough, but I kinda like this car. The only downside to it is that it has the Pontiac 301, which can be troublesome. That '76 Malibu probably has a 305 or 350 under the hood. I think Canadian LeManses tended to have Chevy engines, so they might have been spared the 301.
I agree with you about the 73-77 sedans. I always liked their shape, and their frameless doors but I prefer the first year or two of that run as the overall shape is consistent (roundish looks, small bumpers). The later years, although still having the same shape had the more sqaured off front ends like the picture you posted.
My favourite I think is either an early Malibu, or a 73 Olds sedan with the single round headlights, and the double grille thats wraps underneath the front end behind the bumper.
I had my finger on the trigger for that one, but he who hesitates is lost--it was one of those "buy it on the spot" kind of deals and really, as nice as it looked, I wanted to lift the car and play with it for an hour---no dice. I would have flipped it of course for $8500.
Guy down the block has a '96 Harley 883 Sportster that needs a good spiff but he'd take $1500 for it. I don't like Harleys so not for me. You can buy really clean ones for $3500 right now. or less next week.
Personally, I despise the whole Harley LOUD look-at-me movement. I remember a particularly hilarious comment you made regarding routing the exhaust through the helmet. :P
Yes I find them obnoxious but what's worse is they don't handle for beans...having ridden Nortons and BMWs my whole life I hopped on a 2006 Harley and practically killed myself in the first turn. I thought maybe someone had welded the handle bars.
Funny part is all this "American motorcycle" nonsense. If you look a Harley over you'll find a large number of components with suspiciously foreign names affixed to them.
You never see old Harleys around. Some of the 50s bikes were kinda cool looking, not like now.
Here's a bike I'm thinking about buying. Same year as the Harley but look how much less clunky it is---and with shaft drive, too
560SL for $6,500 Your talking about a 20 year old German luxury car. The number of people who feel like they can support such a vehicle has shrunk enormously in the last few months. There must be an abundance of bargains available now. (and more to come)... :sick:
Comments
With a recent paint job... Looked pretty darn good.. Most of these are long gone..
Edmunds Price Checker
Edmunds Lease Calculator
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!
Edmunds Moderator
Do you know this guy?
Another show on HDT is called "Wheeler Dealer", where a couple of blokes in the UK buy and flip an interesting car.
They recently did an episode on the Gen I MR2. Bought it for 500 pounds (about $750) and invested another 700 quid in repairs - they put in a new generator, left front fender (from a junkyard) and windshield. They also refurbished the alloy wheels and replaced the trunk and ignition locks and gave it a service.
They ended up selling it for 1900 pounds ($2850), so about $1K in profit.
I wouldn't disagree with you. One episode showed him paying $68K for a very early (first 1000) Porsche 911 that was being stored in a garage in CA. He shipped it to Connecticut, where he is based, gave it a polish and stored it for a few months before selling it on Ebay with a reserve of $100K. With one day left in the bidding he lowered the reserve to $75K, but the best bid was only $60K.
Win some, lose some, apparently.
But, that same episode showed a gorgeous Ferrari 375MM - apparently, one of only 14 made.
Unload a project car on someone else in March 2009? good luck with that :sick:
Plus, I bet there were 5 Fieros sold for every MR-2...
I loved that car, though.. almost got the salesman to barf on the test drive... :P
Edmunds Price Checker
Edmunds Lease Calculator
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!
Edmunds Moderator
looks pretty good in the photos.
low miles, needs a bit of "touch-up"
high mile, aftermarket wheels and 20% tint
I'd take Gen II, given a choice, though...
Edmunds Price Checker
Edmunds Lease Calculator
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!
Edmunds Moderator
(I prefer the G-II model as well)
Edmunds Price Checker
Edmunds Lease Calculator
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!
Edmunds Moderator
Interesting what a budget limit will do .. apparently, the different seasons of the show had different spending limits:
Season 1 - 1000 pounds (Capri, MB 230E, Mini)
Season 2 - 2000 pounds (MR2)
Seasons 3+ - 3000 pounds
One other show on HDT is "Auto Trader" - same hosts as the ones who flip cars. The part I find interesting is when they take the car that can't be sold, fix some minor issues and increase the value or make is salable.
Recently, there was an episode where a person had a Fiat Brava (4 door hatch) that wasn't worth anything to the dealer as trade. They invested 200 pounds on a new side mirror, door handle and wheel covers, plus a good cleaning, and the same dealer then offered 500 quid. The host refused the offer and told the owner that they could probably get 750 for in if sold privately.
Not a bad ROI.
Well, an MR2 comes along, about to make that same left. However, the driver was paying attention to the oncoming traffic and not the dumptruck backing up, so he guns it to get across the road, and almost into the back of the truck! Thankfully, the driver was quick enough to cut it to the left, and there was just still enough room to get out of oncoming traffic.
yellow IS 300. mint early 80's escort with the original dealer sticker on it (i have bought several cars there). bmw 633 with a clueless driver.
Just a little silly
"Zagato"
Aah the 80s
Priciest one of these around
Good use of a malaise Vette
The first one was sure different from the last
Another Shifty-mobile
Expensive chrome
Cool car, bad color scheme
Motorhome for the diesel nuts
Those were some hard miles
Aah the 70s
Yeah, so "Macho"
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
I'd never heard of these, but I got a tour of a local collection.. He has a special interest in "brass era" cars... but, he's got one... In a sort of ugly gold color...
I don't see it myself, but I guess they are somewhat collectible..
It's really weird to see it in this guy's collection, though... Other than his "domestic only" rule, he has nothing else that would fall into the same genre...
Edmunds Price Checker
Edmunds Lease Calculator
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!
Edmunds Moderator
aah the 80's- $6k for an 80's woody. Are these bidders out of their minds. I kinda like them for their takiness and ability to offend the neighbors. But for a lot less money I'll get a Caprice wagon and put some wood shelf contact paper on it.
And it will look better!
Count me in with the crowd that likes that Mercedes RV. I could live with that.
Luckily, the MR2 didn't come anywhere near me when he had to make that emergency maneuver, so the thought that I could've gotten hit never occurred to me. I was making a right turn, and there was a car next to me, ready to make a left when the light changed. Probably gave that guy a good little scare!
Another thing I don't like about that woodgrain, is how it covers the whole lower part of the car, and only comes up to the fattest part of the car, accentuating it. If instead, the woodgrain was higher up, allowing for some body color to show through at the bottom, it would be nice. I also don't like the area just behind the front bumper, where that flexible part is. The way it cuts into the woodgrain gives the car a poorly thought-out look.
Looking at the GVWR sticker, I'd say that car's a bit of a wuss, only rated at 5790 lb. IIRC, the downsized '77 full-sized wagons were rated around 5500-5600, and had a slightly lower curb weight, so they'd have a slightly higher payload.
However, I have seen some of those '73-77 intermediates rated over 6000 lb, so I guess it all depends on how they're equipped.
Shoot for $27K you can get a late model VW Westphalia, converted to Jetta turbo diesel power AND restored to boot.
I can't imagine the defeaning clatter of that diesel, rebounding inside that wooden box, as it runs like bats in hell up a long hill. You'd need earplugs and patience.
This vehicle might be, like many of the old cars we love, better as a concept than as reality.
Slantnose Gemballa - I used to see so many for sale when I bought my first duPont Registry in the late 80s when I was a kid. Sir Mix A Lot had one too, but a convertible. I like the Slantnose but don't like the huge whale tail.
Supra is a nice car but 0 interest in it. Nothing really special about it other t han it's condition.
Buick Limited - Wow, that trunk is huge. If you take off the trunk lid, you'll have a pickup bed comparable to many compact trucks today.
I like the Benz camper too. The front looks like a pug face, like someone squished it in, but it's got character.
Olds Wagon - I always liked that generation of GM sedans. I don't know what it is about them, but I like them.
Macho - so 70s and 80s. Funny but no interest at that price either.
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
There are many things that I look at and I wish someone I knew had them though not necessarily me....
I remember wanting a Westphalia in about 1971...
I looked at the bidding list to see who would give $6000.00. There's something odd in the bidding -- isn't there usually on EBay with the bidding. A person bid from $2900 to $6000 against himself. AFter 5 days he raised his bid. Odd he would do that rather than using hidden bidding as offered by EBay. Like I've said, EBay is like Las Vegas.
The Cutlass is Odd.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Nicccce SSSSpelling
El Camino
I't sbeen for sale a for a few months now
Old Caddy
Might be a fun beater
Old Brit
I like this for some reason
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
The Datsun might be a good hobby car for $500 or so. There's no upside, but it's very rare anymore. And when was the last time you saw those old style plates? The current BC style came out around 1985 or so I think....I can't even remember the old ones being current.
If the BMW runs right with no smoke plumes or tranny slips, it's worth a gamble, just junk it or part it when it craps out.
6 grand seems a bit steep, the car isn't concours. Something could be up.
Even though I bust on 'em for having those stationary rear door windows, I wouldn't mind having one of those 80's GM intermediate sedans, as long as it had the right engine, like a 305 or 307. There was a really nice burgundy Cutlass Supreme sedan at Carlisle about a year or so ago...unfortunately it had the 231 V-6. And I think it was an '84, so that would mean it would have the weaker block.
Merseddes-- might be phonic--that's how an eastern European would say it.
Datsun 411 -- I like these cars---they are very solid and well made, unlike the tinnier ones to come later. They even made an "SSS" model with dual carbs. Motor is a simple pushrod affair, you could fix it on a picnic table with a hammer and pliers (please don't though). Given it needs engine work, it's about double retail price. If it were around the corner from me and priced at $800 I'd probably buy it. I really like these cars.
64 Caddy 4-door --- parts car
BMW 528e -- a porker, with all the fun engineered out of it, but gee, price is more than fair.
Austin A55 --- V6 automatic --- no thanks. Frankencar.
76 Malibu --- ho hum. Low miles though, might be a decent salt car for you easterners.
I like that '76 Malibu, too. Like you, I've always liked the style of those '73-77 4-door intermediates. The passenger cabins are open and airy, with plenty of glass area. Actually pretty futuristic by 1970's standards. When you think about it, that's essentially the same roofline as a 1986 Taurus.
There's a '77 Grand LeMans sedan that I've seen at the GM show in Carlisle the past two years. It's sort of a caramel color, and looks to be in pretty decent shape. I'm almost tempted to give the guy my contact info and look me up if he ever wants to sell it. Here's a pic I took of it last year. You'd think one LeMans in my stable would be enough, but I kinda like this car. The only downside to it is that it has the Pontiac 301, which can be troublesome. That '76 Malibu probably has a 305 or 350 under the hood. I think Canadian LeManses tended to have Chevy engines, so they might have been spared the 301.
My favourite I think is either an early Malibu, or a 73 Olds sedan with the single round headlights, and the double grille thats wraps underneath the front end behind the bumper.
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
I'd probably buy one of these every 6 months, drive it sell it, and get something else.
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
I had my finger on the trigger for that one, but he who hesitates is lost--it was one of those "buy it on the spot" kind of deals and really, as nice as it looked, I wanted to lift the car and play with it for an hour---no dice. I would have flipped it of course for $8500.
Guy down the block has a '96 Harley 883 Sportster that needs a good spiff but he'd take $1500 for it. I don't like Harleys so not for me. You can buy really clean ones for $3500 right now. or less next week.
People are getting hard up.
Personally, I despise the whole Harley LOUD look-at-me movement.
I remember a particularly hilarious comment you made regarding routing the exhaust through the helmet. :P
Funny part is all this "American motorcycle" nonsense. If you look a Harley over you'll find a large number of components with suspiciously foreign names affixed to them.
You never see old Harleys around. Some of the 50s bikes were kinda cool looking, not like now.
Here's a bike I'm thinking about buying. Same year as the Harley but look how much less clunky it is---and with shaft drive, too
Your talking about a 20 year old German luxury car.
The number of people who feel like they can support such a vehicle has shrunk enormously in the last few months. There must be an abundance of bargains available now. (and more to come)...