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

andre1969

if i were you, i would look for something like the Bonne, and start saving your money to put a second story on your garage

Well, I dunno about a second story, but I'm already planning on adding on to the back of it. I'm thinking about doing a 12x40 carport type addition along the back. When the DeSoto comes back from the mechanic, my uncle wants me to keep it at my place, versus putting it back into my grandmother's garage. So that means something has to get kicked out, and that something will be my '79 5th Ave.

fintail

Heck, for the same money you can get something a lot newer and likely less troublesome...which is the better deal?

andre1969

That pricetag is a bit too blue for my blood right now, but for that type of car actually seems pretty reasonable! What would that car have gone for, new? Hard to believe that "pillared hardtop" style has been out that long now. I keep thinking that it just came out!

fintail

Oh, I was comparing it to an overpriced 90s MB in Vancouver, not as something for you. I don't think you'd like the visibility in a CLS...although they do all have a sunroof :shades:

Those cars hit NA roads in the spring of 05...probably cost 65-70K new depending on options.

boomchek

Wow, the CLS is now within reach of a of loaded a mid size sedan shopper. Not bad. Knock off $2k with good bargaining, add $4k max for a top notch warranty, and for $32k you have yourself a respectful, athletic, and stylish anti-camcord ride.

fintail

I can see how it would be tempting...although I would hold out another year or so, and a CLS55 AMG will probably be around the same money.

As it is a weird design and has not been significantly changed in the latest facelift, it will age very well.

Today's odd car spotting - silver Fiat X1/9 on I-90. Odd cold weather vehicle.

british_rover

I didn't like the two CLSes(sp?) I drove but I never drove a AMG model either. I cracked my bad knee on that funky shaped door frame trying to get in the back seat of one so that really soured my opinion of the car.

lemko

...but unusual. I spotted a bronze-colored 2003 Cadillac DeVille flower car at Faulkner Cadillac when I was having my 2007 Cadillac DTS Performance serviced the other day. I didn't think they still built flower cars. What's a flower car? Here's an example:



It's a 1974 Cadillac "Coupe d' Fleur" and belongs to a member of the chapter of the Cadillac-LaSalle club to which I belong. There is a tailgate in the back that opens up a compartment big enough to fit another casket underneath the bed. It's all stainless lined and has casket rollers and everything. Morbid, but fascinating.

explorerx4

i wonder why the roof is raised? so the flowers don't blow away?
not only that, i just noticed it has 2 doors on the side. :confuse:

andre1969

My guess is that those flower cars were comparatively rare, rare enough that it wasn't worth it to build one from scratch. So what the companies probably did was a "conversion of a conversion". They'd probably take the hearse/ambulance style, and then work from that, hence the raised roof. And I'm guessing that back door on the side is welded shut, unless it's still there for storage access?

explorerx4

i'm too much of an optimist to think of something like that.
makes perfect practical sense, though.
re the rear doors, they have to keep the shovels somewhere. :surprise:

Mr_Shiftright

be great for surfing actually.

euphonium

: big enough to fit another casket :

Get cremated - think outside the box.

euphonium

: big enough to fit another casket :

Get cremated - think outside the box.

fintail

I saw a W210 E55 AMG tonight while out in mine. I tried to drive slowly to let it catch up so we could check out each other's obscure cars...but he was going so slow, I just gave up and turned on my planned route. Do I drive too fast, or do people here drive like snails?

fintail

I saw the pizza delivery Peugeot 505 again today...I got behind it. It's an STX V6 model...that has to be both very uncommon and impossible to keep on the road.

Also spoteed another W210 E55, this time waiting for service at the local MB dealer. There was also a Euro W123 parked at the BMW dealer, a small bumper 280E.

I also stopped by the local high end used dealer, where a number of old oddities are camped out...I remember a couple of Model A postal trucks, some expensive 60s Vettes, a T-Bird sport roadster, MB W113, a 59 Mercury police car (?), and an insanely over-restored 51 Ford Woody that looked 10 times better than those things could have been when new.

boomchek

Maybe the guy was delivering pizza to make extra coin for to keep the Peugeot on the road. :P

fintail

Probably need to be a lawyer to keep an old French car on the road :shades:

Here's that woody on the dealership website...they want the moon for it, too

Mr_Shiftright

That's the going price for a quality woody wagon if it's a Ford. Or higher! Fords generally bring the most money, along with early Chrysler Town and Country convertibles.

But it has to be quality through and through, especially the wood. No bondo-boards.

andre1969

on Hulu called "Mother's Day" from 1980, and lo and behold, look at what Mother was driving!

fintail

Even for a 49-51 style? I assumed those would be worth less than the older style. Is a Sportsman worth less or more?

The wood on that thing was amazing...it was like nice furniture.

fintail

Almost like an inspiration for Christine :shades:

Mr_Shiftright

Pre-49 are worth more than 49-51 style. Sportsman is worth more than any Ford woody wagon.

Well restored woodies are like gold. I've seen absolute wrecks sell for $35,000. It's kinda crazy.

fintail

If I was to have a Ford woody, I would want a prewar car. I've always liked the sharp moderne front end of the 37, and the 39-40 is nice looking too. But I'd take a prewar Packard woody over those.

Mr_Shiftright

Some people modernize them, which isn't a bad idea if you are starting off with a real wreck. What they do is leave the exterior stock and put in a more modern drivetrain. This way you don't have to deal with the Ford flathead engine and all its problems.

fintail

That insanely priced car at the local dealer had some updates...brakes and a more highway-suitable rear end, I think. Still kept the 3 on the tree though...that's one of the first things I'd update.

Mr_Shiftright

I know of a very nice '51 that has a small block Chevy motor and an automatic with one of those long vintage floor shifters (Locar?). It moves out smartly and is reliable in hot weather, and, of course, you can AC the car no problem.

It kills the value but if you started out with a shabby car with a bad or missing engine, this is the way to go. It costs a fortune to completely rebuild an old flathead!---and really, poured babbitt engine bearings? No thanks!

fintail

I'd have maybe gone with a Ford engine to keep it somewhat consistent...but yeah, if you are starting with an incomplete car to begin with, there's no harm done with such updates. And of course I love the idea of making insane frankencars out of fintails and W108s with modern AMG engines.

That reminds me of a joke I read...with all of the SBC converted Jags, someone wanted to put a Jag I6 in a Caprice to even things up a little :shades:

Mr_Shiftright

What's even funnier is that the Jaguar I6 is the only truly good part in an old Jaguar.

fintail

Having a reliable engine wrapped in a moody and combative British shell reminds me of the Sterling...when was the last time you saw one of those?

I remember a high school friend of mine really wanted this 1979 XJ6 SBC conversion that was at a little oddball used car lot. He didn't buy it, and was no doubt better off for that. That was a cool car lot for awhile though, always nice unusual cars and the prices were decent. I remember a pristine MB W114 220 - they wanted like 2800 for it...a nice bullet nose Studebaker coupe and an excellent 50 Pontiac sedan brought maybe 4500 apiece, a very clean 64 Galaxie 4-door "fastback" HT went for about 3500...this was in the mid 90s.

fintail

White early 80s 911 targa in the visitor lot here.

imidazol97

Baby blue and white top Monte Carlo.
About 1978 era.

explorerx4

a dark green honda accord wagon for private sale, asking $3850.
in a body shop yard, an early 60's falcon ranchero with woodgrain sides.
i was out putting some miles on our 04 escape which has been sitting for 3 months.
after the initial startup, everything seems to be working ok.
went looking for that lsc, the dealer has 2 lots one near me, so i thought i would take a look.
took a wrong turn and the weather was bad, so i didn't bother circling back.

lemko

...dark blue 1964 Pontiac Catalina two-door hardtop on Roosevelt Blvd and Grant Ave in NE Philly last night.

explorerx4

yesterday is a sea of salt covered cars in after work traffic, a medium blue acura NSX.
it had gold bbs style basket rims with sliver polished outer lip.
detailed to the 9's, it seemed to be an apparition, considering it's mid december.

andys120

Today I saw a black '68 Cougar in nice stock/driver (#3) shape. Not long after I got a quick look at a late Gen I ('63-'64) Corvair Monza coupe, copper-metallic color also nice driver shape and stock except for oversize wheels (16-18"?).

lemko

...oxidized gold 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle sedan and gorgeous black 1964 Lincoln Continental sedan.

fintail

Limited market for this "restoration"

This neat thing is back, I like the patina

Weirdo styling

Would be kinda nice without those wheels and wheelarch trim

British bidders?

He's baaaaack

Unloved bodystyle, nice upholstery pattern

Pretend you're Doc Brown

Whoa

Woody

Good restoration provenance

You've got to be kidding

Oddity

Hilariously insane seller...he has a few others too

andys120

You picked the hot ones this week Fin, most of 'em are already gone. Looks like things are pocking up in the vintage car market, even the Pontiac Astres are moving!

lemko

If I wanted a Checker Marathon, I'd want one in NYC taxi livery, not some monstrosity doing an extremely poor imitation of a contemporary Lincoln. I like Checkers, but no way would I pay $200K for the even best one in the world.

Mr_Shiftright

39 Dodge "John Deere" ---- hideous. Never give a psycho a paint brush for therapy.

56 Chrysler -- 4-door "show cars" are kinda sad. They just don't have any sizzle for the show. Clean old car, though. I'd let it go at the bid.

61 Dodge Coronet -- hard car to love, even with the big engine.

420 SL -- bid is fair enough

190SL -- a 190 SL in Britain is a scary thought. Hope it doesn't break in half on the first bump.

1978 Olds --- opening bid demanded is $3000?? --- it must be nice to look reality straight in the eye and deny it.

48 Packard "bathtub" convertible -- that's a nice car to own. They drive really well and some are very well equipped, too. Bids are too low---strange.

62 Pontiac "bubble top" -- am I missing something here? Well, if 4 people think so, I guess that's what it's worth.

77 Astre Woody -- eBay should have reverse auctions where the seller bids how much he'd pay someone to haul this away.

33 Pierce Arrow-- these are such nice driving cars for their period. I don't think the bid is real, though.

'39 Talbot-- "This car MUST be saved!" No it doesn't. :shades:

Checker Marathon -- I'm not sure how Checker ever got its reputation. I guess sheer toughness. These are crudely slammed together cars, back-breakers to drive, and at this point, they use all Chevy powertrains. What you are getting here is something like an International Harvester Travel-all with a Chevy truck engine and leather upholstery. All for only $200K? Sign me up! About 7X actual value IMO.

boomchek

I feel bad for the wife and three kids who got a new Checker every 2 years as the seller claims. With all due respect to Checker as a taxi cab, getting this monstrosity of a limo, new every 2 years would be like a never ending car nightmare.

Mr_Shiftright

Checkers are no fun to drive...at all...ever....in any way....except maybe when people try to hail you.

ghulet

....and why get a new one every two years, who'd know the difference? I mean, it's not like an '80 was any different than a '65, except for the bumpers and whatever current Chevy powertrain happened to be under the hood.

ghulet

loaded, pretty LeSabre, nothing exciting, but hard to dispute the price unless something's wrong (I can't afford it, and it probably wouldn't fit in my garage):

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BUICK-LESABRE-1976-LOWRIDER-ANTIQUE-CLASSIC-RATRO- D_W0QQitemZ140369550357QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Cars_Trucks?hash=item20aead5c15

Mr_Shiftright

Most unfortunate wording in his ad---don't call a car a "ratrod" for gawd's sake. No wonder he's not getting any bids.

fintail

Andre has been quiet for a couple days...maybe he's out there buying a new land yacht :shades:

andre1969

That LeSabre does look nice...and even the "Buy-it-now" seems too low to be true. I mean, $3K or so is probably about all it's really worth, but usually people think these things are worth more than they really are, and price accordingly.

Is that interior correct though, with the white vinyl seats but black everything-else? I thought they'd at least do the ceiling and vinyl and plastic on the door panels in white as well, with the dash and carpeting (including the lower doors) in black. Regardless of whether it's correct, it is nice.

Red's not my favorite color...I'd rather have something like this in blue or green, or even burgundy. At least the landau roof is white though. And now, the closer I look, is that a little rust poking through on the passenger side quarter, just ahead of the rear wheel?

As for length, I want to say these things got porked up to about 226-227". Not exactly petite. And to think the Electra was probably about 5-6" longer!

ghulet

....I thought the interior colors were a bit odd, too. I mean, I don't know what color the carpet, dash, steering wheel would 'normally' be on a red car with a white interior, but I was thinking red, perhaps, more than black. I mean, if the car were blue with white seats, I'd expect blue carpet, etc.

As to the length, you're probably right....LeSabres vs. Electras, as with Eighty-Eights vs. Ninety-Eights, they really weren't too much smaller, just had less standard equipment and smaller engines, in general, at that time.

andre1969

Now that you mention it, that would probably make more sense...red carpeting, dash, plastics, etc, rather than black. I think the black vinyl on the door panels is what really threw me, though. I'd expect that to be the same color as the seats.

I wonder if anyone ever tried to make an all-white interior? I bet something like that would look gorgeous when it's new, but would be a pain to keep clean, and would look terrible as it aged.