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

Mr_Shiftright

It's been my experience that if the person's XJS is running regularly, that it's running with various non-critical things wrong with it. You have to have a lot of forgiveness and tolerance--trying to make them 100% is exhausting.

See how tempting they are? You know you want to go buy this one....

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/6173854500.html

or this one:

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/cto/6171671320.html

bhill2

Hey, that '94 is only a couple of hours from me. Wow, a convertible and only $3500! Wait, I just remembered I have a toilet. It's much easier to just flush my money down that.

Mr_Shiftright

or you can toss it on the Weber while you're cooking tonight.

fintail

I like the pic of the second one, apparently the car isn't worth getting out of another car in order to take a pic.

texases

bhill2 said:

Hey, that '94 is only a couple of hours from me. Wow, a convertible and only $3500! Wait, I just remembered I have a toilet. It's much easier to just flush my money down that.

Knew a couple years ago with an XJ6-they got rid of it after the monthly repairs exceeded the  $600/month payments. Said it was like flushing $100 bills down the toilette...

bhill2

Mr_Shiftright said:

or you can toss it on the Weber while you're cooking tonight.

Nah, that would cause smoke pollution. Maybe I could throw it in the Weber (once the coals are hot).

kyfdx

Can they do GM V-8 swaps, like they used to do with the late '70s model? Or, does OBD-I make that problematic?

tjc78

The gauges might be a problem, but I'm sure you squeeze in a 350 with a carb or late 80s 5.0 Mustang/LSC engine with the computer.  Those are speed density not all that much to make them run. 

ab348

Assuming you're talking about the XJS, my sense is that it wasn't the engines that were the problem with long-term ownership/use, it was everything else. Switches, seat and window motors, etc etc.

explorerx4

Spin the wheel. Pick your money pit.
http://www.motorcarsinc.com/used-jaguars.aspx

Mr_Shiftright

ab348 said:

Assuming you're talking about the XJS, my sense is that it wasn't the engines that were the problem with long-term ownership/use, it was everything else. Switches, seat and window motors, etc etc.

There's quite a bit of truth to that--the basic XJ/XJS 6 cylinder engine was around for almost as long as the Chevy stovebolt 6. Replacing the engine doesn't solve your problems at all--if anything, it makes some things worse, especially the stress on the frame and the loss of that smooth, smooth powertrain feeling.

It's everything ATTACHED to the engine that's the problem.

texases

But the V12 could be a real pain, right?  Fuel lines buried under stuff, leaks, etc. 

Mr_Shiftright

Well they actually raced that engine, believe it or not. They were a pretty good engine, but here again, the fuel injection and the electronics can bedevil you.

Oh, they also liked to catch fire and they get about 10 mpg.

texases

The fires was one thing I remember about those Jag V12s...bake the rubber fuel lines inside layers of hot engine components, then have the leaks put gas right on those hot components, what's the problem???

Saw a Starion/Conquest yesterday, no badges, bad YELLOW respray.

Mr_Shiftright

texases said:

The fires was one thing I remember about those Jag V12s...bake the rubber fuel lines inside layers of hot engine components, then have the leaks put gas right on those hot components, what's the problem???

Hard to find those injector lines, too.

ab348

I don't know if I even knew these existed? From BaT:




1995 Mercedes-Benz E320 Cabriolet

Colors are pretty bland though.

texases

I remember them being crazy expensive, like 2X the base price of the sedan.

fintail

Low production, and they were indeed expensive - that thing was 75-80K when new, in those dollars. I see them now and then, I think quite a few sold here when new. Values are still soft - I see nice low mileage ones some distance from 20K, even in MBCA ads. A couple years ago there was a 50K mile one for sale locally for 15K.

I don't care for the accessory dash trim piece or modern stereo, but I love the 90s era MB white over grey.

Michaell

texases said:

I remember them being crazy expensive, like 2X the base price of the sedan.

Yeah, something like $75K in the early 90's

explorerx4

I'm pretty sure I posted a few weeks ago that I've seen a green one at work a few times.

stickguy

you people gotta stop posting links to BaT. Besides sucking down an hour of my time, I find way too many things that attract my attention.

I really like these, but can't believe the bids on a real ratty car that is going to suck down a whole lotta money to set right.

http://bringatrailer.com/listing/1974-toyota-corolla/

texases

Those old Corollas were good in their day.   Not something I'd want to drive today, though. 

fintail

Wouldn't want to crash in it for sure.

The market is warming up to old Japanese cars now, healthy bids for that. I've seen really decent money for period Mazdas.

ab348

Heh. I remember my brother coming by with one of those Corollas in the late 1970s - purchased from a coworker for cheap - and taking me for a test drive. As we started to pull away he said "don't put your feet on the floor there" pointing to an area near the front passenger seat. I pulled up the rubber mat and could see the asphalt going past. Up here they were total rust buckets after just a few years. Can't see spending that kind of money for one of those.

stickguy

I bought a Corolla well used. I think it was a 75, and I got it in 83. Loved that car. Was an E-5 (fancy pants, 5 speed stick). Brown over brown. I'm sure it would be a penalty box today, but after a few junky domestics (gremlin, hornet) and the Opel from Hell, it was wonderful.

somewhere along the line, it got crunched on the DS right behind the front wheel, leading to hole in the floor. I pulled back the mat (not even sure it had carpet!), banged it flat, and put a roof shingle I found in the garage over the hole (with a bit of tar/glue stuff to hold it in place), put the mat back over it, and was good to go. Nice solid floor, and no leaks!

fintail

Japanese cars of that era didn't rust so fiercely here, but the interiors would eventually kind of biodegrade. That and general fall-apart seemed to finally do them in by the late 90s.

Mr_Shiftright

Pretty Low Miles E320 cabriolet, last year of production:

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/scz/cto/6173600684.html

Mr_Shiftright

stickguy said:

you people gotta stop posting links to BaT. Besides sucking down an hour of my time, I find way too many things that attract my attention.

I really like these, but can't believe the bids on a real ratty car that is going to suck down a whole lotta money to set right.

http://bringatrailer.com/listing/1974-toyota-corolla/

They were really good little cars but have the build quality of an Italian TV dinner tray.

fintail

And no doubt it could be had for less. Those might not ever go insane in value, but I don't think they will depreciate much past this point.

Mr_Shiftright said:

Pretty Low Miles E320 cabriolet, last year of production:

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/scz/cto/6173600684.html

Mr_Shiftright

Yes, for the low mileage cars, prices should stabilize--but a miled up, regular production Benz will always drop like a stone. I've seen these same cars in good shape but with 180K on them for $6500.

fintail

I saw one a couple years ago at a somewhat janky local auction - it had apparently sat outside for years with a leaky top. Rotten and moldy inside, parts car.

I almost went to look at the 50K mile $15K one locally, but I don't need another old car, and I wouldn't want to wear it out in DD usage.

Mr_Shiftright

Well, considering that you can still buy a 40 year old 450SL convertible for $10,000, I don't think holding onto an E320 and babying it is going to pay off. It's a nice used car---so use it up!

I'm looking right now at a 2003 SL500 with 5,000 miles on it. What good did it do the owner to not use it? None. He lost a bundle of money and got nearly zero use and enjoyment.

I just don't understand this sort of thing I guess.

fintail

I think the 300CE/E320 still has some special/rare stigma with it, and they are kind of elegant. I don't imagine them going as low as far more common (and thirstier, and less practical) 70s SLs. I wouldn't want to put a perfectly preserved low mileage baby through the commuting grind - do that to the maintained 100K+ car that has had all needs addressed. If anything, using up a low mileage car might cost more than doing the same to one that has been driven.

First year R230, no thanks, the price can't be low enough. First and early run MBs from that era can be troublesome. Maybe he thought it would be a collectible, but even today a perfect 560SL is worth far less than original MSRP - a R230 will never get there/

Mr_Shiftright

Aside from Benzheads, I don't think most people would look twice at an E320 beyond it being a nice used car. Old droptops will always be worth something but relatively speaking, it's a pretty dull car.

fintail

Still, 15K for a 90s era cabrio with expensive maintenance isn't bad. Most from that era fare far worse.

I read on Hemmings that 190SL/Pagoda/107 prices have now peaked and are receding just a little.

Mr_Shiftright

Yes I think you're right---all the SLs are stabilizing or dropping a bit, except for the truly prime, exceptional examples. There are so many tarted-up rats out there!

I just found an outstanding 230SL for a fellow---very original, unmolested Euro car, solid, clean, rust-free, every inch a beauty----about a 95 pointer, in the $60K range.

But a show-quality (beyond show quality) 280SL just went to Germany for $145K.

To most observers, standing a few feet away, they wouldn't notice the difference between the two cars. But the Benzheads certainly would note the price difference between a 230 and 280, and the meticulous attention to detail on the 280SL, down to the decals and diagrams on the relays and, of course, that the AUTHENTIC grommets on the windshield washer bag, which are not the reproduced stainless steel grommet, but the OEM bronze grommet! And of course, all panel gaps would be judged uniform with a thickness gauge.

and thus do monks debate the number of angels on the head of a pin

fintail

The 280SL sounds like someone spent that much on the restoration, making the basis car free. Maybe not poorly bought. It's almost always cheaper to buy someone's finished project than to do it yourself. I assume that car was completed by a well-respected shop.

The local Volvo Amazon wagon is back in DD duty.

fintail

This afternoon: clean early 90s Legend sedan, ~80 Corolla wagon, black on red 57 Chevy convertible, stock.

imidazol97

1964 Fairlane 500 Sport Coupe. White. With a 289 badge on the front fender. The car had pipes out behind the front wheels and wider rear tires than the standard-looking front tires.

fintail

On the road today - 60s Beetle convertible, Vanagon Westfalia (honked and waved at me, I was in the fintail), 56 Chevy, red 80s 911 Targa, 80s 911 Cabrio, E30 convertible.

fintail

On the road this afternoon - 76-77 (I think) El Camino, very clean unrestored looking rig, red and white, L88 badge on grille.

omarman

High school friend had a blue El Camino with factory 454. I've seen 427 swaps before mostly on older (60's) cars but what does an L88 grille emblem look like? I've seen the Corvette L88 hood decals but it's not like the typical Chevy fender emblems.

fintail said:

On the road this afternoon - 76-77 (I think) El Camino, very clean unrestored looking rig, red and white, L88 badge on grille.

fintail

I think it must have been an owner-made item - I can't find an image of one like it. It was a small badge in a blocky period-correct style font, at lower right on the grille. This particular El Camino didn't seem to be insanely loud or anything either, but was obviously cared for.

omarman said:

High school friend had a blue El Camino with factory 454. I've seen 427 swaps before mostly on older (60's) cars but what does an L88 grille emblem look like? I've seen the Corvette L88 hood decals but it's not like the typical Chevy fender emblems.

tjc78

Saw a pretty nice looking white 1989 (ish) 300ZX. Always liked those.

berri

I wonder if those muscle El Camino's have wheel hop issues with the light rear end of a pick up?

omarman

Far north side Columbus around lunch time I spotted a 57ish Ford 2-dr wagon from behind...possibly a Ranch Wagon or Del Rio? Looked restored, nice blue/white finish with wide whitewalls and period wheel covers. But with a deep bark from the loud pipes

berri

Nice looking car in its time

Mr_Shiftright

'56 Chevy 2D HT "ratrod". Very serious sounding engine. Talked to the owner---he's restored the frame underneath, has a 383 Chevy stroker, cammed, Dart heads, Hedmann headers, Black Widow exhaust. Body has surface rust, some cracked windows, sport buckets, nice interior actually but original funky dash. Wouldn't call it a "sleeper" though, because the engine note is "authoritative" to put it mildly. Very cool build. Says he has $16K in it.

imidazol97

The blue in the picture does not do the color justice. I'd describe it as the baby blue of an infant's blanket. No green in it; just blue.

fintail

I've seen that color before, most likely a 1975-80 car. I assume it was badged 450SL. The wheels are 1980s "Centra" brand, a popular aftermarket item back in the day. Whitewalls and wheels seem wrong now, but they were a thing back then.