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

ab348

Off the road after Labor Day? Seems a little early. Where do you live, Tuktoyatuk?

Mr_Shiftright

Maybe his Mustang is white?

explorerx4

Here in New England, that's when people close up their summer cottages.
Close as I can get to one of those. The emoticons don't seem to be working for me.
When I have to start wearing a sweat shirt to drive it in the morning, then I start thinking about wrapping it up until next spring.
I never listen to the radio, or use the heat or a/c, other than just to make sure they still work.
Yes, it is white! Black top and interior.

fintail

I keep my old car on the road all year, but only in nice weather. It used to get bi-annual oil changes, but now that it only does ~1000 miles a year, once is enough. Around $50 and other items get inspected too, fair enough for me to keep me clean and not spill a few quarts of dirty oil on a parking garage floor. It's been so long since it's needed a lot of attention that things are going to be coming due though...brakes and tires are a decade old, and I think eventually it will need a valve job, along with the high speed cooling issue needing attention.

Mr_Shiftright

Well back East the rule is that you can't wear white after Labor Day, so I'm glad to see you are following local custom.

hpmctorque

"...back East the rule is that you can't wear white after Labor Day..."

Florida is the exception to that rule, especially in the retirement communities, where any color and any shade is acceptible year round.

Mr_Shiftright

Why am I not surprised to hear that?

jljac

I wish I could put a flathead six under the hood of that Chevy Cavalier. Even a Studebaker Skybolt six would be an improvement.

When I bought the Chevy, it I thought that the same company that sold the Vega and Chevette would finally get their act together. Silly me. It seems that Chevrolet has not sold a good small car since the Corvair.

So I am looking for another car, but all the Daytonas and Challengers seem to be Dodges, I found a Commander, but it was a Jeep. The Land Cruiser turned out to be a Toyota. All these vehicles are using Studebaker model names.

Maybe I should buy a Subaru with a hill holder, that lock out device that works by pushing a button under the clutch pedal so the car does not roll backwards when you park on a hill. My 1960 Studebaker Lark had one of those and it worked fine. At least there will be one component of the car I can rely on.

hpmctorque

"Chevrolet has not sold a good small car since the Corvair."

Well, the early Novas weren't bad for their day.

Maybe the new Cruze will break with the past (hopefully, not break as in the past). I think the Cruze will be Chevy's last last chance with small cars. Well, okay, they're also planning to come out with a redesigned Aveo and Spark for 2012 and 2013, respectively. All three better be above average, for GM's sake. Also, for the sake of us taxpayers.

andre1969

Hmmm, probably not the worst place to be stranded on a blistering day. It's never fun to be stranded, but if it happens...

I still remember that day. It got well up into the 90's, and I had to work a bit late, getting out around 5. The LeMans was out in the parking lot, baking all day. It started up, but reluctantly.

The liquor store is in the opposite direction from home, so I actually have to pass the house to get there. A little voice in my head said to drop the LeMans off at home, and take another car to go out to the liquor store. But, did I listen to that little voice? Nope!

I went to the store, stocked up, and the owner of the place came out to look at my LeMans, and complimented me on it. I made a little joke along the lines of, yeah, after getting some praise, watch the damn thing not start! The owner walked back in the store, and, sure enough, it would't start! I had to go back in, and ask if I could leave it out there until I could either get it started or towed away, and he said sure.

One of my roommates came and brought me, and the beer home. And to add insult to injury, the latest issue of Collectible Automobile had arrived in the mail. Their feature car this particular month? The 1973-77 LeMans!!

I got a ride back up to the store around 9:15-9:30 pm. They were closed, and even though it was fully dark, it was still horribly hot, and you could still feel the heat radiating off the parking lot. But, thankfully, it had cooled down enough, that the car fired right up.

That was the last straw though. After that, the next time I drove it was to the mechanic, and that's when it got the new aluminum intake manifold, distributor, coil, etc. And while the car still never ran all that great, at least it never left me stranded again!

fezo

Labor Day seems pretty early to close up a convertible.

A friend of mine begged off coming down to hang out in the ocean because he had to help his sister close up her pool! There's a whole month minimum of decent pool weather. People are crazy....

andre1969

A friend of mine begged off coming down to hang out in the ocean because he had to help his sister close up her pool! There's a whole month minimum of decent pool weather. People are crazy....

My grandmother's cousin would always have her last big pool party on Labor Day weekend, but I can't remember when she actually closed the pool down. I think usually by the last weekend in September, although one year, I think her son, who lives with her, took over care of the pool and had it open until mid-October!

As for putting the convertible away, well, mine's in dry-dock for a bit, until I can get it to the repair shop to have it looked at. It started holding the gears too long, not shifting into second until around 35 or so, and then doing it very harshly. And it won't go into direct Drive until around 65! It's not so bad if you take off fast and then do nothing but highway driving, but around town it's a pain. The mechanic thinks it's just the shift modulator (and I think Imidazol97 said that, too). Probably not too major, but not something I know how to mess with. I was going to put it in the shop today after work, but other things came up. So, it might have to hold off till next week.

Normally, I'd still drive it throughout September, a bit less so in October, and even an occasional nice day in November. And, once I get it in the shop and fixed, hopefully I'll still have that time to play with it before winter sets in.

Mr_Shiftright

Have you played the Vehicle Rating Game at http://survey.edmunds.com/rating? First round prizes being awarded soon!

andys120

I saw a '68 Dodge Charger parked on a city street just as if it were 1970 or something pale yellow, bumble bee stripe in rear, average condition (faded paint less than perfect chrome & body.

Very large compared to say a '10 Charger.

wevk

"Car collectors are paying record sums--such as about $30 million for a Bugatti in May--for these objects of affection."

$1.1 Million Ferrari Enzo
“Today, that car is worth $12 million,” says Glickenhaus, who had a short-lived Hollywood career producing movies such as “Frankenhooker”, about a monster made from parts of prostitutes."
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-08-25/classic-obsession.html

euphonium

In light of how much is being paid for what - it makes it easy to decide about renewing the Hagerty Insurance on the 66 Mustang for only 300 dollars.

fintail

I just renewed mine the other day...$125, which is the fancy plan with towing :shades:

Regarding that article...it's cool if the cars are actually driven, otherwise, over-monied [non-permissible content removed] who accumulate too much are still just hoarders, only with fancier clutter.

explorerx4

You know Connecticut - Land of Steady Habits!
Usually, I put the car away in October, but the last couple of years, earlier.
Besides, I can still open the moon roof in the Fusion, so all is not lost.

Mr_Shiftright

That's about what Enzos were worth 2-3 years ago, about 1 mil. They haven't moved around much, like the old stuff.

I'm wondering if these investment percentages includes all repairs, insurance, storage, etc. I'd like to see the accounting on some of these cars.

I'm also wondering why people don't regard all these people being quoted at touts for their own industries.

I'm hearing the old "buy X now...it's only going to go up. Get in NOW or you'll miss the bus!"

X = (real estate, dot.com stocks, etc.)

magnette

Having not had the Magnette on the road for years, until last Autumn, I have tried to use it a little bit every week since - although that had to stop a few times as we had snow for a week or more (not common in London, and nobody copes with it), and then there was a three week gap when the fuel tank had to come out, etc , but I try to keep it active even if it just round the block. What I haven't done, however, is get it reliable enough to go more than a few miles at a time - still only local trips really. I keep it in a lock-up garage near our house, and even if I don't take it out I go and see it every few days, to make sure it's ok. I think (as does my better half) that it is the equivalent of a lot of blokes who go down the garden shed, or out fishing - just a break away from the world...

fezo

Oh, don't pull the old moon roof is as good thing one me! :P

andre1969

Oh, don't pull the old moon roof is as good thing one me!

It's not, but I think sunroof/moonroofs are cool when it's snowing out. It's neat to be able to look up at the sky as the snow comes down on you. And I remember the first time I drove a sunroof car in a big city (my '68 Dart in Baltimore). I was remarking about how I wish I had a convertible, but one of my friends said yeah, but in a convertible you'd only get this kind of view if the top was down. And, well, we weren't in the kind of neighborhood where you do that kind of thing!

fezo

Oh, a nice open roof in snow can be mighty neat.

I remember back in high school I was in a state chorus and we were practicing in the day for a performance that night. This is February up in the hills of northwest NJ. Six of us guys went out in this guy's Galaxie convertible in snow flurries. If the conductor knew that a good percentage of his tenor section was out doing that would have blown a fuse. We were fine that night. Ah, youth...

explorerx4

do you have a car with a moon roof? Don't knock it until you have tried it. emotorcons still not working.

fintail

A real crossover

Interesting mileage claim

"Opera Sedan"

Time warp

Bluebird

Not a great ROI

Weirdly two-toned fintail with a custom front end

Decent looking survivor getting good bids for a non-runner

They all end up on ebay

Pile of unobtanium

Blue

I could see Andre in this

Good old name

Heavy

So German

Send it home

lemko

Love that 1978 Cadillac Sedan DeVille!!!

tjc78

That's a nice one. The interior is a bit spartan for a Caddy though. I wonder what the reserve was, didn't sell at $5102.

tjc78

do you have a car with a moon roof? Don't knock it until you have tried it

I opened mine this morning for the first time since May. I always, "have to have it" but use it so little.

andre1969

I opened mine this morning for the first time since May. I always, "have to have it" but use it so little.

Once spring was here and the weather got nice, I probably opened the Park Ave's sunroof every day I drove it, unless it was so hot that I had to run the a/c, even in the morning, going into work. I hope I don't end up wearing the thing out!

Today would've been a great day for it, but I drove my LeMans instead.

lemko

The DTS is the first car I ever had with a sunroof. I rarely use it. I'm deathly afraid of it getting stuck open and a random rain shower occurs.

tjc78

I've had them in quite a few cars, and only had one that was ever a problem it was a faulty part from the factory and fixed up under warranty.

stickguy

That is my one big must have. most everything else is negotiable (cruise? never use it), but the roof I need.

It is open year round, unless the sun is brutal shining in, it is rainging, or just freezing. 50 and above, open it goes! And the rest of the time, the shade stays back.

I know that on my TL, there is a crank in the tool kit in case the motor goes and you have to close it by hand. I think they got rid of that by 2005, since my accord and Odyssey both don't have it (that I know of!)

tjc78

I guess I am too much of a wuss. With all the heat and humidity we had this summer the roof and sunshade were fully closed with the A/C set on freezer setting.

andre1969

I kinda like that '74 Catalina, but I think about $3000 is the highest I'd go. If this seller really thinks he can get $8250 for it, then either I'm grossly out of touch, or I want some of what he's smoking! Main thing that bugs me is how the back bumper's rusting out, and the lower trim looks kinda messed up. I wonder what kind of sins the repaint might be hiding?

I notice there's no pictures of the undercarriage, although the engine bay doesn't look bad. I wonder what that cylindrical thing is mounted on the driver's side fender well, just ahead of the master cylinder? Whatever it is, my '76 LeMans doesn't have it.

I think that trunk has been re-painted. I remember most GM cars from this era having a sort of white/gray/black speckled paint pattern on the metal, sort of like what used to be on old-fashioned cookware, or inside of an old stove. And I do see a little rust coming through the inside lip of the trunk lid. Overall though, the interior does look good.

While I like green in general, I'm not so crazy about that particular shade. Still, a pretty neat old beast...I just dunno if it'll fetch anywhere near $8250!

fintail

I open my roof a lot too, more than I run the AC. Of course, its a lot less hot and humid in this area than out there. I also like to drive with the shade open - just to let light in and let some life into the gigantic expanse of Germanic greyness. I think there's some kind of override key to crank it if it fails.

My W126 had an old fashioned metal sunroof, it would tilt up and slide back, but wasn't glass. Probably one of the last cars to use that type. Fintails and cars of the period could be optioned with a cool manual sunroof operated by pulling down a handle, twisting, and pulling back.

fintail

I'd much rather have that fairly basic 78 Caddy than the Pontiac...but I think I remember you saying how you liked that kind of hybrid hardtop design. Either that, or you disliked it.

tjc78

Fintails and cars of the period could be optioned with a cool manual sunroof operated by pulling down a handle, twisting, and pulling back.

I always thought the early 90s VWs with the manual crank sunroofs were pretty neat, with less to go wrong.

andre1969

I'd much rather have that fairly basic 78 Caddy than the Pontiac...but I think I remember you saying how you liked that kind of hybrid hardtop design. Either that, or you disliked it.

Actually, same here. That Caddy IS nice, even though it's basic in Caddy terms. It's been ages since I've seen one with a solid bench seat! And the cloth, rather than leather seats, is probably pretty rare. That's a nice color though, and I think that helps dress it up and make it look classier, even though it's a basic model.

As for that hybrid hardtop, I actually like it alot! I can see it looking disjointed or clumsy to some eyes, but I think it sort of a funky, cool look about it. In that era, most 2-door cars were going for formal, closed-in rear quarters with huge C-pillars, so having something this open and airy was a nice change of pace. However, I have seen some Delta 88's where they'd just cover over the rear-most quarter window, giving it that closed in feeling. At least they kept the roll-down window, though. I think that Olds model was called a Crown, or something like that? I think it also had a big stainless steel strip that ran up and over the roof sort of like the Ford "basket handle"?

fezo

I've got two moonroof cars now and have had many others. I like them but they bear no resemblance to the convertible feel.

I see the number of folks who'll use the roof instead of AC. There are a bunch of times when I'll have the AC or heat going with the roof open. Certainly not the most efficient use of gas but you only go around once...

I've had 100 degree days that I used to drive with the top down and AC on.

stickguy

funny, but the only time I had a problem with a sun/moon roof, it was with my Mazda 323, and that was a crank version. Just some tightening/adjustment required.

I also prefer the roof over AC, but, I also consider putting the AC on as an absolute last resort. I hate it.

yes, I am the guy on the 85-90 degree day with the windows open, enjoying the fresh air.

Mr_Shiftright

Well praise heaven that the 1963 Datsun 312 sedan comes with the matching engine as an extra---that way we can re-install and rebuild it and get it ready for Pebble Beach!! ("gee, I'd pay 50 grand for that 312, but the engine is not matching, so I dunno.....")

1929 Armored Truck --- totally cool, but asking price is ridiculous and it has been rebodied after all. I first I thought it was a Russian sports car. :P Ready for a museum. Value? I'd say maybe $25K--$40K if it's all there inside, has all the accessories, and is not totally mickey-moused. Otherwise, bid was close to correct.

Why did someone save a 1977 Honda Civic? Why did someone pay over $6000 to *have* a 1977 Honda Civic? This world of ours is so mysterious sometimes. You could buy a nice 60s Triumph Bonneville 650 for that money. :surprise:

63 Benz---I dunno about this one. Seems risky at this bid, and looks like an automatic, which doesn't like to sit for years and years. Might be okay, roll of the dice here. Be brave I guess. Worth saving at any rate.

61 Custom Fintail--- what a roach. Put the poor thing to sleep. Have mercy, man.

Cadillac "Opera" Sedan --- "built by the Grandeur Motor Corp. of Florida." LOL! I just love this stuff. Oh, the grandeur! Do people kneel in the street as it drives by?

61 Bonneville Bubble Top -- claims a complete nut and bolt restoration to "factory standards" but then adds "IT IS A FAIRLY LOW MILEAGE (65,OOO) ENGINE THAT RAN TOO GOOD TO TAKE IT APART."

I never realized that Pontiac installed engines with 65,000 miles on them from the factory. Live and learn. His price is too high by at least $10K. The market doesn't bail out people who spent too much on a car.

fintail

Oh yeah, I forgot about those. I guess sunroof failure became less of a worry, I haven't really ever seen a car with a stuck open roof.

fintail

Didn't some mid 70s specially optioned Cutlass or equivalent also have a covered rear quarter and kind of a "basket handle" look? I swear I've seen something like that before.

I don't know if this link will work...I just googled it and found an ad for the Delta 88 "Royale Crown Landau"

I think those downsized big 77-79 Caddys have a lot more presence to them than anything the brand has made since. GM was hitting some rough patches by the late 70s, but still had a few instances of decent design.

fintail

Look what the Civic guy claims to have into that car! I know that's a well regarded shop he took it too, as well.

Mr_Shiftright

I find them rather uninspired, but the 4-doors look better than the coupes by a long shot IMO. The 3-box, high-roof, full-face chrome grille, formal look was so "yesterday" by 1979. Tired, tired, tired. Can't you just see Detroit stylists dragging themselves to work every day? You could see how stuck in the mud Detroit was. Fortunately, Ford, and Audi busted it all out with the "aero" look soon after. I actually like the Seville of that era, exterior-wise, but not the interiors at all, which strike me as cheesy and garish. But the right colors, in and out, and I could almost go for one as an extra car to carry people and stuff around. Maybe black on black.

andre1969

So what's your opinion on that '74 Catalina, Shifty? What do you think it'll ultimately bid up to?

As for the '77-79 Cadillac, the main thing I don't like about them is that "6 headlight" look, accomplished with the big turn signal mounted just inboard of the headlights. I think it looks better though, than putting the turn signal between the headlights, like Pontiac tried with the Grand Prix from '77-80, and the Catalina/Bonneville in '80-81.

I thought the big Cadillac got really attractive in the freshening it got for 1980. But, I'm sure it took a performance hit going from the 425 to the 368. Then again, maybe not. MT got 0-60 in around 10.6 seconds out of a 1980 Seville with the 368. And while smaller, the Seville wasn't all that much lighter.

Unfortunately it went downhill from there, with the V-8-6-4 coming out for 1981, then the little aluminum 4.1 for 1982-85. The Olds 307, offered from 1986-90, was a welcome improvement over the 4.1, but I imagine still a bit slower than the old 368.

In that timeframe though, I always preferred the Buick Electra to the Caddy DeVille/Fleetwood. It just seemed cleaner, sleeker, and more tasteful.

fintail

Well, I am too young to remember them when new, but when I compare them to other domestics of the period, they seem pretty nice and clean to me - not to mention comparing them to the baroque beasts they replaced. I'm not comparing them to the Euro highline competition, of course.

I think a bustleback Seville is really what you want

Mr_Shiftright

The '74 Catalina might go to maybe $4200. It's just a used car, so what's a nice old used car worth these days?

A '74 Pontiac Catalina is really, in terms of collectiblity, a zero interest item for collectors. It's simply not on anyone's radar, so while supply of low miles cars of this type might be scarce, so too demand is equally scarce.

Really you have to value cars like this against 2001 Malibus or old Lincoln Town Cars, not against legit collectibles.

andys120

-'66 Marlin- Those orginal tires might hold air for a car that has gone nowhere in 44 years but you'd be taking your life into your hands over 20 MPH.

-74 Catalina/400, Andre is welcome to that bloated ark, I'll take that sweet '61 Bubbletop w the 8 lug wheels.

-'29 International Armored Car. I've always been fascinated by vehicles designed to carry money. I once saw a tractor trailer pulling out of a garage in the Boston Federal Reserve Bank, it was groaning and clanking under the weight. I nearly fainted thinking about that load! :sick:

-'33 Horch 780b Would you pose a rare car worth hundreds of thousands in front of some tacky antique store tourist traps? :sick:

Mr_Shiftright

I don't have my Horch Buyer's Guide handy at the moment...but that car better have every authentic nut and bolt in place.Talk about parts made out of "unobtanium".

Also the ad copy is very strange indeed. He bought it in 2008 for $750K and is selling it for $400K? He was offered a deluxe luxury vacation by Audi but "didn't want to go to Mexico"?

Someone should be extremely careful before buying this car off the Internet.