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

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  • uplanderguyuplanderguy Member Posts: 16,861
    A couple years ago or so, Betty White's pastel light green '70's Seville was on eBay. Really distinctive in that color with a white vinyl top. I think that styling has really stood the test of time well, and I like the interior styling as well. When we got our '77 Impala coupe in Nov. '76, I had more than one person tell me it reminded them of a Seville.
    2024 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 2LT; 2019 Chevrolet Equinox LT; 2015 Chevrolet Cruze LS
  • berriberri Member Posts: 10,165
    they actually offered leather in the Cordoba

    That's "fine Corinthian leather" Ricardo!
  • berriberri Member Posts: 10,165
    The Fintail has been dwarfed! Oops - is that politically correct these days?
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    Yep. Well, I am in it for at least a short term commitment. I seem to be getting along with it fine so far. Honestly, it's probably a bit much, but I had to try it at least once :shades:
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    Really shows how cars have grown again
  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,347
    I know it is hard to cover 50 years, but in the modern line-up, what would the fintail be analogous to? a C class or an E class?

    and adding 1K in that time for a small car is not all that bad. Think of a Golf that went from less than 2K to more than 3.

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

  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    edited February 2013
    That's a tough one, that people have debated about fintails. Depends on the fintail. A W112 300SE fintail is usually considered an S-class. W110 4cyl cars are considered an early E-class. C-class isn't seen to have existed until the W201 (190E etc). My car is a higher line W111 fintail - kind of upper middle class in the lineup. Some say that the "S" and above fintails should be considered S-class, as "S" designated more trim. I consider it a low S-class or a loaded E-class.

    My car weighs in at almost 3K even, the new car is at about 4300, I think. Old car is smaller, has nothing inside compared to the new one.
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    Mr. Griswald, your car is ready!
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    You didn't order the Metallic Pea?

    Saw a Turbo badged K-car NYer, little old lady driver, looked immaculate.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    edited February 2013
    Saw a couple of old diesels in the past hour - a W123 300D with 4 MB mileage badges on the grille, and a very clean W126 300SD turbo in a somehow very agreeable dark brown, quietly clattering down the road, a maintained car.

    Also a car transporter carrying a big 66 (?) Buick convertible with no top and substantial rust in the rockers, and a 69-70 Cougar on the same truck.
  • jrosasmcjrosasmc Member Posts: 1,711
    Per that white diesel E-Class sedan you were showing to us - did it replace your previous E-Class? My apologies, but what did you have before - an E430 or an E55? I can't remember which model it was :)

    I also wanted to forward this ad from Bring a Trailer: http://bringatrailer.com/2013/02/23/bat-exclusive-restored-1969-mercedes-benz-30- 0sel-6-3/

    I've heard that those cars are horrifically expensive to own and properly maintain.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Price is okay on the 6.3 but I'd have a marque expert go over it first. Parts are pricey indeed. Fun to drive, though, and a real "Q" ship---"oh, another dumpy 4-door Mercedes"-----er, no....
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    I had an E55, and yes, I replaced it. Didn't want to start hoarding cars - if I held on to it for years longer, it would be hard for me to sell, as I become attached. And, I had the itch for something new, along with finding a good deal.

    A 6.3 is an awesome car but a real money pit. That advertised car looks nice, could have issues hiding, no doubt has had a lot more than the price spent on it. There was one at the local MBCA show a couple years ago with something like 15K miles on it.
  • ab348ab348 Member Posts: 20,284
    Why, look at that old blue Benz! I don't think we've ever seen it here before. ;)

    2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6

  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    ...what appeared to be an aborted project car in a carport in Willow Grove, PA - a filthy red 1955 Chevrolet with a missing decklid. Looks like he gave up over 20 years ago.
  • tjc78tjc78 Member Posts: 16,951
    80-81? El Camino in pretty nice shape out today. It sounded like something substantial was under the hood.

    2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic

  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    He wouldn't be the first dreamer to realize "oh, restoring an old car from scratch is a LOT of work....AND I don't know how to do it". :P
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    Hey, it's an obscure car! :P

    Saw this mess this morning:

    image

    Also a VW fastback and a ~50 Chevy
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Hopefully not your new diesel, and a Testarossa that looks like it hit something else.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    The W212 is actually an E63, been sitting there for weeks. It's at a bodyshop. Readhead has been given a love tap, and the ATS in the background is the first wrecked one I've seen (light rear impact).
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Good brakes. ;)
  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516
    Retro rod Mercedes Ponton:

    Guy wanted $36k, they offered him $28k. I think I like these better in original condition rather than slammed with chrome rims.

    image

    2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX

  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    He should have done older style alloys and not such low profile. :(
  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516
    EDIT: Pawn Stars offered him $20k, not $28k. After their offer he dropped down to $28k but wouldn't go down any lower, and Rick wouldn't go anything over $20k so no deal was made.

    2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX

  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    edited February 2013
    Yikes. I vaguely remember this car. He should have taken the 20 and ran - not going to be easy to sell that. MB people won't like it, I doubt custom car people will want it, will take some time to sell.

    Would be so much better as a resto mod - put correct tires and wheels on it.
  • uplanderguyuplanderguy Member Posts: 16,861
    edited February 2013
    ...bought by a son for his parents' 60th anniversary. They had one and always spoke longingly about it. It's not the same exact car like Herb Younger's '65 Impala SS found by his son is, but it's a great story IMHO. I'm a sentimental sap and from a small PA town, and the Dad was a Mopar dealer for 27 years in a small NY town so this whole thing just really appeals to me. There's a brief snippet showing a '57 or '58 Chrysler Windsor too, in it:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSaQWdWxvbM&utm_source=ExactTarget&utm_medium=ema- - il&utm_term=&utm_content=&utm_campaign=Hagerty%20Weekly%20News%2002-27-2013
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  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    edited February 2013
    That's a cool presentation. I can get into the sentimental stuff too. Makes me feel good about choosing Hagerty. I appreciate the driver quality of the car, too - not overdone, not a heap, just something fun.

    If my dad was still around, I'd love to find the 60 Ford wagon he had back in the 90s, and give it to him - he sold it on a whim and regretted it soon after. I still have no idea what happened to it - not many red and white on red and white Country Sedans out there, but it was never seen again.
  • uplanderguyuplanderguy Member Posts: 16,861
    I had J.C. Taylor for years, and I had a good experience with them on the one claim I had in twenty years. When I sold the first two cars and cancelled the insurance, and shortly after bought another Studebaker and wished to renew, I was turned off by the attitude of the woman I spoke to on the phone there. I decided to try Hagerty and thought they were great. They actually seem like 'buffs' there.
    2024 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 2LT; 2019 Chevrolet Equinox LT; 2015 Chevrolet Cruze LS
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    Yes, there is definitely a car enthusiast contingent there. I chose them because of the "agreed value" idea - I didn't want to spend a few hundred dollars having a relatively low value car like mine appraised. I've never filed a claim, but the rates seem fair, they support the hobby, and nobody seems to say a bad thing about them.
  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,723
    A maroon mid/late 90's T'bird V8 Bill Elliott edition.
    Can't be too many of those around.
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    edited February 2013
    Saw a late 80s Range Rover that looked a little rough, a ~1991 300E that looked brand new, a very nice 190E, a battered Karmann Ghia with an old fashioned roof rack, and a ~1970 Mercury Montego on a car hauler.
  • tjc78tjc78 Member Posts: 16,951
    Saw two more early 80s El Caminos. That is three this week, hadn't seen one for a long time before that.

    2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic

  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    ...very rough white early 1990s Buick Roadmaster Estate wagon at a repair shop at Bleigh and Oxford Ave. in NE Philly. The whole car was filled with junk. Sad. I'd much rather have a proper full-size station wagon rather than any SUV, minivan, or crossover.
  • uplanderguyuplanderguy Member Posts: 16,861
    I'd much rather have a proper full-size station wagon rather than any SUV, minivan, or crossover.

    Me too. The wife and I actually entertained the thought of trading our '93 Caprice Classic in on a new '96 wagon when we heard they were being discontinued. The wife always wanted an "Estate" wagon. Cooler heads prevailed however.
    2024 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 2LT; 2019 Chevrolet Equinox LT; 2015 Chevrolet Cruze LS
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Probably early 90s or so, coupe, V6.

    Not too many of those still around.
  • uplanderguyuplanderguy Member Posts: 16,861
    I bought an '89-model Beretta GT new on 9/3/88. I was vascillating between it and a Z24 Cavalier (which was built near where I lived). I called my insurance man to see which would cost more to insure. He told me the Z24, even though it had the identical engine and trans. I ended up going with the Beretta which looking back I think was a bit sharper looking.
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  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    The girl I dated in high school had a black 88 Beretta GT.
  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516
    I think Berettas were sharp looking for the time, even up to the mid 90s.

    You rarely see any on the road anymore. Now that has become an obscure car!

    2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX

  • uplanderguyuplanderguy Member Posts: 16,861
    Mine was red (commonplace), but it did have a light beige ribbed corduroy interior, when most all of them were grey inside. It was before they started adding dopey (IMHO) graphics and spoilers and ground-effects, etc. Mine had the optional aluminum lace-style wheels, but the Beretta GT was one of the few cars of that time IMHO that even the standard steel wheels with trim rings looked kinda nice (note that I'm talking about the GT, not the base Beretta).
    2024 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 2LT; 2019 Chevrolet Equinox LT; 2015 Chevrolet Cruze LS
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Hers was gray inside.

    Funny thing was her brother got one, too. Now that was just strange.

    And he liked the body kits because he traded up and got a 2rd one, a GTZ IIRC? He'd scrape the lip on the driveway every time.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    I think I see more of its sibling Corsica and even similar era GPs than Berettas.
  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516
    edited March 2013
    Somebody posted this photo on their fb feed. It's amazing that both are full size sedans but they seem "off scale" when parked side by side next to each other. The LS400 looks tiny, the LS460 looks gigantic.

    image

    2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX

  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Wow, much higher hip point.

    Either that or the suspension is sagging on the old one. :D
  • texasestexases Member Posts: 11,107
    Almost makes me wonder if there's some Photoshopping going on. Here's how they compare, new, old:

    Curb Weight - (lb.) 4233, 3859
    Wheelbase (in.) 116.90, 110.80
    Length (in.) 200.00, 196.70
    Width (in.) 73.80, 72.00
    Height (in.) 58.10, 55.70
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    The new one looks a lot more than 2" taller, more like half a foot.

    Maybe the new one has an air suspension raised all the way up?
  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516
    Could be the angle of the shot too, where the hood and belt line look much higher than on the old LS making the new one seem bigger than it really is.

    2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX

  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    I could see air suspension behind it - look at the wheel gap in the new one, whoa.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    SUV like.

    My Miata used to be like that. Bigger tires means the gap is smaller now.
  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516
    The original LS had 15" wheels, the new one has 19" wheels. That's got to make a bit of a difference in height too.

    2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX

  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,415
    Old LS is like a GS now. Everything is a size larger.
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