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

toomanyfumes

I was just talking to a co-worker the other day who had a 1st gen Aurora. Said he had a lot of problems and it was very expensive to repair.

I know he bought it used and don't know the mileage or if it was maintained so that could make a difference.

explorerx4

i thought it was 20 years, but i haven't checked in a year or so.
you know, the facts get fuzzy after a while.
it's sitting in the garage for $53 a year, until i reinstate the road coverage.
the only reason i would like that kind of coverage is that i could drive the car if i needed to in a pinch or there happened to be a january thaw.

Mr_Shiftright

Well you've got the list...get on the horn and see what's on offer. Times are hard, you know, so a premium is a premium.

hpmctorque

"...It just seemed a bit numb and wallowy..."

I know the first generation Aurora had some issues, especially the first few years, but I hadn't heard this criticism before. The one you drove probably didn't have the "Autobahn Package."

ghulet

....I had a friend who owned one (3.5V6), he put 150k on that car in like two years (he sells steel, territory is pretty much the entire midwest). It was a very reliable, solid car. It was replaced by a Marauder, he now has a Montego (as far as I know).

hpmctorque

The 3.5V6 was only available on the second generation Aurora. The DOHC V8 was the only engine offered in the first generation.

explorerx4

my wife was looking for a new car when the aurora came out.
they were expensive 36k or 37k with the autobahn package.
she ended up buying a loaded SHO which listed for 30k.
for some reason when i sat in the aurora, i felt like i went back to a 60's cadillac.

fintail

Insane resto-rod

Malaisey "rare treat"

Survivor

Subtle elegant and restrained

Weirdo Franken-Jag

Be the only one in town

Almost new

Least appropriate continental kit I've seen in a long time

Nice clamshell

If you like red

Oliver station wagon

Parts available at any corner store

Pricey unknown

Great old name, classy beast

British

Fallen angel

Nice doilies

imidazol97

The Riviera Packard... Why?

The 1962 Olds Starfire is beautiful--without the continental kit. I don't recall I've ever seen a continental spare on that year Olds or any other year Olds.

andys120

I don't recall I've ever seen a continental spare on that year Olds or any other year Olds.

Back then you could buy Continental spare kits for just about any US-made car, even a Henry J! Fortunately they were never hugely popular but some wealthy old timers liked the retro look. Still do. :sick:

explorerx4

3 diatto's. 2 in museums. 1 in a living room.

toomanyfumes

The engine compartment of the slant-six Jag looks like a nightmare.

Mr_Shiftright

might be a tight fit getting to those spark plugs, yes.

Also, it's just a rather bland "piece o' iron" engine compared to the original. American engines of that time, once they age a few years, are better hidden than displayed IMO. They are rather crudely cast and don't have all those machined features you see on some of the Euro cars of that era. For some reason American automakers never dressed up the engines on their luxury models back then.

But an American engine from the 60s, all painted freshly, and chromed-up, doesn't look too too bad. That's what they should have done to this one.

texases

Just what I want - a Jag with the power of a Valiant :sick:

I'd almost rather just have the dead Jaguar engine in my garage, just to look at.

Mr_Shiftright

Those are really good engines, those old I-6 Jaguar powerplants. It's everything attached to them that's a problem.

That engine was in production (1948 to 1987) *just about* as long as the Chevy stovebolt 6, (what?? 1929 to about 1963 or so?) and until recently, just as long as the Chevy small block V8. (1955 to what, early 2000s before retirement?).

One of the great engines in auto history---and certainly one of the most durable.

berri

I don't recall I've ever seen a continental spare on that year Olds or any other year Olds.

Actually, I don't recall many continental kits at all and the few I saw were mostly 50's cars. Probably most common on 57-59 Ford's when I was growing up.

fintail

This evening a Pinzgauer drove by my place...a kind of unusual one, with a cloth canopy over the bed, like a troop carrier setup. Then about 10 mins late a blinged out H2 pickup with what must have been 26" wheels drove by. Talk about opposite ends of the truck spectrum.

imidazol97

I like seeing the cars standard, the way they were originally. This is an example of one that I consider prime at being original.

Original photo without the aliasing showing

bumpy

Somehow I suspect the paint, chrome, and build quality were not that good in the Chevrolet factory back in the '50s.

andys120

-1973 BMW 3.0 CS in Fjord Blue. This was one of those cars that look fantastic from 20 feet away but when you get closer you notice the rust blisters forming on lower fenders and below side windows, the upholstery patched with tape and a few dodgy spots of thinning paint. Not great but cheap, sale price $11,500.

-198? BMW M6, seen on the same lot as the 3.0, faded but decent (dark blue) paint and messy interior, no price posted.

-1968 MGB-GT, one of the nicest I have seen Good BRG paint spoiled by a run on forward part of hood (easy enough to fix), very good chrome and interior. Small tailights indicate pre-'69 car IIRC. Side Markers indicate '68 MY. Same lot as Bimmers.

-1955-57 Porsche Speedster, Ivory, tan top. When you see one you have to assume it's a replica but it didn't have the chrome rims that most replicas have (they were a rare option on originals) but had disc wheels painted to match bodywork with moon style hubcaps like a Beetle. Glimpsed on highway going in opposite direction.

Pretty good sightings for one 30 mile round trip!

Mr_Shiftright

Not sure that BMW 3.0 CS is "cheap" at $11,500. For that money it shouldn't be rusted at all. (fat chance---these cars invented rust).

british_rover

Really I thought rust was a British or Italian invention. :P

fintail

It's a British invention built under license in Germany, and later in Italy.

texases

"It's a British invention built under license in Germany, and later in Italy. "

Later imported into the US, installed as factory equipment on all Mustangs:

fintail

Haha I saw that. The guy wants 700K for that oxide farm!

And strangely enough, the white thing at right is a Toyota Corona coupe.

This was probably taken in 1975:

Mr_Shiftright

$300 X 2500 rusted cars = $750,000.

Sounds fair to me.

boomchek

Where's the ad?

texases

Here's "Mustang Ranch"

boomchek

Thanks for the link. That's pretty interesting. Too bad the finder's plan failed at getting a finder's fee as the collection appeared on ebay a few years ago and readers quickly indentified the location.

I think because shipping might be a challenge, there's not too many takers. I mean you need to hire a transport company that can not only pick them up locally, and take them to port, but also to ship them to a major port in the US, then clear customs, and then ship it to someone's home. A job like that could cost upwards of $100k I'm guessing? It's 103 cars plus a ton of parts. There's also a big chance of some good parts going missing, or good cars getting damaged.

I always enjoy reading about barn finds though. Maybe because I'm a hoarder myself and could totally see myself collecting cars like that too.

Mr_Shiftright

price seems absurd unless they were all K code fastbacks or K code GT convertibles.

Just today I saw a very decent '66 coupe, 6 cylinder, automatic, turn key ready to drive for $6000. They made a LOT of Mustangs over the years. And it's the rare Fox body Mustang that can even break $8000 bucks in super good shape.

Would be nice, for $700K asking price, to have a complete inventory list with VIN numbers.

ghulet

....I saw the cutest little '63-ish Corvair sedan, in a kind of metallic light blue/gray (Monza, or whatever was the highest line), full hubcaps and a decent amount of chrome for a cheap car. Scariest thing...the right taillight was burned out, and I looked in my rearview, with Corvair turning left with the tiny quick-flashing turn signal. Since the right was burnt out, the car behind barely noticed it was turning.

Second super-exciting thing: a rustish-brown AMC Concord (the years between Hornet and Eagle) sedan, kinda low-line looking, with little chrome and basic hubcaps. Maybe 1978 or 79?

About as exciting as mid-city Chicago gets, I'm afraid.

merckx

I saw a light blue Maverick 2 door...one of the late ones with huge bumpers. But what I was struck by was the car had blackwall tires...and black wheels...and dog dishes. It made the car look painfully plain...Almost as if Ford was punishing you for getting the stripper....I thought,"An import company would've painted the wheels silver".

I think little things like this opened the door for Honda and Toyota..

au1994

Ah man...pictures like that make me sad. Some of those fastbacks and convert's would have been worth saving. On the link, it looks like a blue fastback has the Shelby scoops on the side. Way too far gone, but if its a real Shelby thats too bad.

Some people would like to save stray animals, I'd do it with cars! Provided I was independantly wealthy of course.

texases

"On the link, it looks like a blue fastback has the Shelby scoops on the side. Way too far gone, but if its a real Shelby thats too bad."

Yeah, I also saw some with what looked like the Shelby tailights, but they also might have been the 'California Specials', which were just trim jobs on regular Mustangs, not so much of a loss.

boomchek

I saw a white Maverick yesterday, with a red vinyl top. It actually looked like it was in a really good condition.

fintail

The greater Vancouver area has now been uploaded to Google Earth Street View. I was bored and looking around at a few locations I know well, and in the process saw both a Nissan Figaro and an old style Mini just parked or in traffic. I think that counts.

boomchek

I saw that. I was browsing some locations too with exotic car dealers and such.

I'll post up some links and pix when I have time.

fintail

I looked at a few spots on Burrard for exotic cars.

I should put up some pics of the odd cars I see. I know the 63 Impala that has been languishing in a driveway on my grandmother's street as long as I can remember is featured, too.

fintail

OK, as I am a dork with some time to kill, here are some obscure street view cars:

Figaro (and I guess the E30 is uncommon too):


Mini:


Old Nissan wagon:


And the Impala:

explorerx4

thanks again Boom for clueing me in on the story.
they should probably just sell tickets to mustang fans to take a tour.
it does look like the maroon convertible still has the monroney sticker on the window.
i read through the comments where the story was posted and someone posted that since there were a number of shelby's, the vin tags could be harvested.
i am guessing someone will buy the lot, grab the valuable pieces and leave the rest behind.

boomchek

Are these Vancouver or Seattle? The street names are not familiar.

fintail

The Figaro is in Van, the Nissan in Burnaby, and the Mini in Abbotsford.

I've never actually looked for odd cars on street view before yesterday.

boomchek

Fintail, how can I link Google earth images directly to here? Do I actually have to save them in a photo album first?

fintail

There's a "link" option on the right hand side in street view, but I have never used it. I guess I like to pretend I'm busy, so I just made a screenshot, cut the cars out, and hosted it myself.

boomchek

I tried that link but it doesn't work very well. Oh well I'll just upload the pics myself.

fintail

I saw this oddity last night....a real convertible as opposed to a padded top....but still amusingly pimpy.

imidazol97

I couldn't see the picture well on my monitor so I PaintShopPro'd it. Car really doesn't look too pimpy for me except for the wheels. It's a whole lot better than many "urban" cars seen around Dayton which _are_ pimpy.

Is it a real convertible?

fintail

Yep, it was a real convertible - I looked at the top closely.

The wheels/tires are pretty hot, it had gold trim, and the color itself was special. I could see it in Miami, very unusual to see up here.

imidazol97

The wheels might be very pretty in daylight. A good point is they are not over-sized. If this were Dayton, the wheels might be 24 and bigger with the free-wheeling centers that don't spin even when the car is moving or they keep spinning after the car stops.

Without checking the net I'll just ask: did Eldorado have a convertible in those years?

fintail

IMO chrome wheels don't work on most modern cars. They can look good on some 80s era cars, but to my eyes even that Caddy is too new. This area has been spared from most of the donk/spinner craze...now and then one will be seen, but it is rare.

Nope, no factory Eldo convertible, it's aftermarket.