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Project Cars--You Get to Vote on "Hold 'em or Fold 'em"

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  • lilengineerboylilengineerboy Member Posts: 4,116
    Both of those are very pretty. The 3.0 coupes always looked cool to me.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    The 3.0 looks pretty good and if it isn't rusty (most are) that's a fair enough price. The fuel-injected models are much preferred over the dual carbs. Nice heavy GT type of car, not really a sports car. Great cruiser.
  • jlflemmonsjlflemmons Member Posts: 2,242
    is just another way of saying the rotor seals are gone, this sucker is going to cost you some major bucks. I haven't had much experience with the Wankel's, but every one I know who has says failure to idle on a high mileage rotary is a sure sign of rotor seal wear. And major rebuild cost.
  • british_roverbritish_rover Member Posts: 8,502
    Ohh I like the BMW and the buick too actually.
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    is that BMW 3.0 coupe a "true" hardtop where the back windows roll down? Or are they stationary like a lot of those fake hardtops of the late 70's? Or do they flip out?

    Normally I don't like BMW's from that era because, driving dynamics aside the interiors look about as comfy as a Model-T depot hack and outside they look like little toasters with two kidney beans glued to the front, but I kinda like that 3.0 coupe. Probably because, since it's bigger than those little 2002 things, it just seems better proportioned to my eye.

    Might be the color, too. Usually if I see a 2002 it seems to be a faded-out rusty orange color that's more rust than orange! Or if they're fixed up they just tend to be loud colors like yellow, orange, economy car orange-red. Or white. Or at best, black. That deep metallic blue looks nice on that 3.0 though.

    Did those things really put out 200 hp net? Or is that gross hp?
  • benjaminhbenjaminh Member Posts: 6,557
    2018 Acura TLX 2.4 Tech 4WS (mine), 2024 Subaru Outback (wife's), 2018 Honda CR-V EX (offspring)
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    didn't Olds and Buick keep some semblance of a tailfin on the Electra/Ninety-Eight even after the tailfin fad died down? I'm not talking big, monstrous things that looked as if they could take flight, but rather more like thin blades atop the rear fenders that ran straight out the back, while the trunk lids themselves sloped down. Kinda like what Cadillac stuck with, but a bit lower.

    I think Olds/Buick toned them down on the '65-70 models, but they did seem to make a bit of a comeback on the '71-76. Even the downsized models had a faint vestige of a fin on them. It actually sloped downward from the C-pillar back, but the trunk itself sloped off further.

    Even on my Grandma's cousin's '89 Coupe DeVille, there's a slight fin/blade atop the rear quarter. As I recall, Cadillac tried to bulk up these FWD cars in 1989 to make them look look like they had more presence, and one way they did that was extending the rear to make it longer, and giving it more of a fin than the little '85-88 models had.

    That '71 Ninety-Eight is a pretty car, IMO. I actually like the exterior style of the '74+ models better, as they toned down that peak between the headlight bezels considerably for '74. And I liked the square headlights and little triangular quarter windows in the C-pillars of the '75-76 sedans. I think I like the '71's interior better though. It just has a clean, sleek look to it. Later on in the decade the interiors started going for that antique furniture-looking, overly intricate carved plood look that was just a bit too much. I think they kept the plood to a fairly tasteful level on that '71.

    I saw a '73 4-door hardtop at Carlisle this past weekend. Dark blue with a light interior. They wanted $1800 for it and it looked good except for tears in the driver's seat and a rust spot coming through pretty nasty over the rear right wheel. Still, it kinda made me wish I needed another spare car!
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,429
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    As we used to say, a 240D couldn't pull the skin off rice pudding!

    "You can expect 300,000 miles from a Mercedes diesel"

    Yes, and you can expect to spend double the price of the car getting there as well. 300K automatic transmissions? 300K shocks? 300K climate controls....I don't THINK so....
  • michaellnomichaellno Member Posts: 4,120
    After jumping through too many hoops to count, I got the Subaru for sale on craigslist:

    Dad's old Subaru
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    That should sell.
  • michaellnomichaellno Member Posts: 4,120
    Thanks for the positive feedback .. the muffler will run somewhere between $250-600 (depending upon how much of it gets replaced), but Subarus in Colorado bring stupid money.

    Edmunds TMV says only $1100, but kbb estimated $2350 for private party.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,429
    You'd sell that Subaru fairly quickly here, esp in any college/ski area like Bellingham.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    You have to remember that in 2006 there is a "bottom line" for any car that a)runs well b) looks decent...if it meets that criteria, it really can't go below a certain price, no matter what the books says. These days a fully functioning clean 90s car has got to be worth at least $2,000----unless you want to be driving a shabby piece of junk or a big domestic whale with a gazillion miles on it.
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,689
    I agree. I'd buy it for >$2000 were it a *little* closer to home. Good lookin' car. ;)
    2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
  • stevedebistevedebi Member Posts: 4,098
    "The 3.0 looks pretty good and if it isn't rusty (most are) that's a fair enough price. The fuel-injected models are much preferred over the dual carbs. Nice heavy GT type of car, not really a sports car. Great cruiser."

    I seem to recall that you have to pull the motor to change the muffler system on the 3.0, due to the engine size.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Oh maybe on the old ones with the catalytics built right into the exhaust headers...I think those clunky Bavarias were like that.
  • lilengineerboylilengineerboy Member Posts: 4,116
    I think the 70's 530's and 630's had that too. Thermal reactors right there, cooked everything. The 528i's were a step forward in that respect.
  • jrosasmcjrosasmc Member Posts: 1,711
    I remember seeing some cars with thermal reactors; they were just plain awful. Mazdas with rotaries were the worst culprits- they could backfire even if you wanted them to!

    Shifty, of another important note I read in "Excellence" (the Porsche magazine) recently that 914 values seem to be steadily rising higher, especially the last 2.0 models from 1974-76. The article said that they were the first cars to use Bosch L-Jetronic injection. I'm pretty sure that this was the first fuel injection system that could last over 100k miles without the owner having to do anything to it.
  • lilengineerboylilengineerboy Member Posts: 4,116
    Yeah the 914 2.0l is an RSS search on area classifieds and ebay for me. I miss California where you can find non-rustbucket cars though. There were 2 2002s as a package on eBay that ended today, reserve not met. They weren't rusty but they both needed a lot of attention. I am still tryin to find the auction to post it.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Yep, the 2.0s are the ones to get. A friend of mine who owns a Porsche repair shop keeps promising to build me a motor for a nice black 2.0 he has in his back garage. That would be a fun car, as he would punch it up to 2.2 or 2.4.

    Actually VW produced the first production electronic fuel injection in 1968 I believe--but it's the same basic engine as the 914.

    These early electronic injection systems do work fine but....BUT...they have problems with bad grounding...it behooves any owner to check these and clean them and also install better grounding for the system. So unlike modern injection systems, these need periodic cleaning and maintenance of the electronics...including the throttle sensor (similar to Volvo 140E systems.)
  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,740
    the board is quiet here today. anyway ... just ran across this

    low mile '73 Grand-prix

    '11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S

  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    Hmmm, depending on how much rust there really is "here and there", that doesn't look like a bad car. I like that green, and the white interior is suprisingly clean looking, at least in the pics. I'd lose those rims though.

    I imagine that 400-4bbl would have a lot more kick than the 350-2 in my LeMans.
  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,740
    This seems real interesting for the money. Needs a TON of questions answered, though. And the location of that gas tank scares the HELL out of me! IS that normal? What is supposed to be there?

    I'll just throw this one in here for the discussion factor.

    '11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S

  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,740
    hehe. and i almost posted, "except for that color ..."

    ;)

    I have a tough time living with green on a car. Has to be a real nice shade.

    '11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S

  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,429
    That gas tank looks like it is where the bumper should attach. Scary, that can't be right.

    Esprits are flammable, Shifty will have a lot to say.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Lotus Esprit--basically a sale-proof car. I don't know how he would sell it at that price. Fun to drive, hell to own.
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    that is where the gas tank is on a '32 Chevy. Here's a pic of a 1932 Chevy 4-door, and you can see the fuel filler cap just to the right of the license plate.
  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,740
    so is the tank just supposed to be painted like the body? Or is there some sheet metal missing of the car for sale?
    Its tough to tell in that 4-door showcar pic.

    '11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S

  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,740
    My first thought when I saw that ad was: the owner only put 900 miles on it in 3 years for a REASON.

    so what is a realistic price on such a vehicle?

    '11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S

  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    That rat-rod is at least missing the bumper and its mounts. Back then though, a lot of cars had gas tanks that just stuck out the back like that. The bumper and its mounts would probably add about 8" or more to the length of the car behind that tank.

    As for another piece of sheetmetal, some cars may have offered it, to bridge the gap between the rear bumper and the body of the car, but I dunno if the Chevy did.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    I really don't know. I don't think you could even sell a Lotus Esprit for any price....but maybe...I dunno....somebody might bite at $10,000....???There are so few buyers out there that you can't afford to turn one away, is the problem.
  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,740
    interesting.

    i'm surprised. I mean, I would think there are a ton of young buyers who saw these as kids (like me) and always thought of them as an unattainable supercar like Ferraris and Lambos. And now they see them for a price like this and want to jump all over it without doing their due diligence.

    Hell, if I had more disposable income ...
    then again, there are other vehicles I'm sure I'd pick over the Lotus if I really did have the money to burn.

    '11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S

  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Oh, you might not know how horrendous these cars can be to own....I mean, all they do is break...the Lotus Esprit Club might be the only car club I know of that lists a "fire secretary" They keep track of all engine fires in these cars...my friends who own Fantasy Junction car dealership won't even allow one of these cars on the showroom floor, for fear of fire! It's hard to have a car more troublesome than a Lamborghini but I think Lotus achieved that.
  • benjaminhbenjaminh Member Posts: 6,557
    Transmission went bad months after a new $2800 paint job. The question is why they put such an expensive painjob on an essentially worthless car to begin with....

    http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1985-Oldsmobile-98_W0QQitemZ160035100748QQihZ006Q- QcategoryZ6407QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
    2018 Acura TLX 2.4 Tech 4WS (mine), 2024 Subaru Outback (wife's), 2018 Honda CR-V EX (offspring)
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    That's somewhat of a budget paint job where I live, especially if there was body work involved. However, you're right, relative to the car, it's an expensive job. I would have painted it will a vacuum cleaner or something.
  • oregonboyoregonboy Member Posts: 1,650
    I'm speechless, but I know that this group will not be similarly affected.

    http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/car/213023109.html

    james
  • lilengineerboylilengineerboy Member Posts: 4,116
    Tapped out 'lude
    So this guy wants $1000 for a used up rusty Prelude with a bad trans.
  • benjaminhbenjaminh Member Posts: 6,557
    Wow. That is weird. Where is the 626--the engine? The seats?

    When I had my 88 Olds 98 repainted I went to--you guessed it--Maaco. It cost something like $400. And that wasn't their bottom of the line paint job. It was more than 4 years ago, and it's still holding up. I think I got my money's worth, but I have to admit that at least once every month I wonder if it's going to start peeling or something.

    How could $2800 be a low cost paint job? What's a high cost paint job?
    2018 Acura TLX 2.4 Tech 4WS (mine), 2024 Subaru Outback (wife's), 2018 Honda CR-V EX (offspring)
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    You mean a paint job where they take out the glass, remove the trim and go down to at least primer and/or bare metal?

    About $6,000 on up to around $12,000 for a really nice paint job that would make people go WOW and that will look good 10 years from now and where there is no overspray, tape lines, orangepeel, curtains, fish eyes, dust, dry brush, ripples, checking, bondo, etc. and where door jambs, trunk engine bay, etc. are all done.

    it's all in the details.

    My rule of thumb is that the paint job should cost about 1/4 the value of the car, up to around $50,000---then it levels off.
  • jlflemmonsjlflemmons Member Posts: 2,242
  • gsemikegsemike Member Posts: 2,413
    Around here (Long Island) paint jobs are very expensive. I wouldn't call $2800 an economy job, but these guys make so much money on collision repair, that they've got to make it worth the bother to paint a car.
  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,381
    I love it! At the right \price, I would bring it home!

    Truly bizarre to see the shifter from my old 626 in a 'Cuda body though. Wonder how the heck they made this work? Is it even legit?

    Actually, it wouldn't surpwise me if the Cuda body fit over the mazda, like a cover! It most have been bigger than the Mazda, right?

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

  • johnsterjohnster Member Posts: 3
    Well, it's in decent condition for what it is :P, but really, get a '74 or earlier model without the ugly bumpers. Or better yet, something before '68 when they had a little bit of performance.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    real MG people hate the rubber bumper cars, and with good reason. Ugly and slow and handle like hogs on ice. Depressing to drive, really.
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,023
    they were about 192" long I think, and rode on a 108" wheelbase. I don't think Mazda even today makes cars on a wheelbase that long. Isn't the Mazda6 on a 105" wheelbase?

    I'd guess that Barracuda probably weighed about 2800 pounds stock, with a slant six and no air conditioning. However, the slant six was a heavy engine, about 475 pounds. Going from that boat anchor to a 4-cyl probably saved close to 200 pounds right there.

    That thing is actually kinda neat. I'd like to see it in person. It's weird seeing a Mopar A-body engine bay with strut towers and a transverse-mounted 4-cyl! I wonder what kind of fuel economy something like this would get? It looks like that engine/tranny combo was rated at 26/32 in the 626. The EPA wasn't around during the time of the '68 Barracuda, but with my '69 Dart 225 slant six, I'd get around 15-18 around town and 22-23 on the highway.

    I guess something like that might actually be marginally safer than a real Barracuda, since in a frontal collision, the engine, especially if it was a slant six, would be less likely to shove back into the passenger cabin.

    Neat idea for a cool looking economy car!
  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,740
    engine fires? well ... i did say if I had money to "burn." LoL.

    '11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S

  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,740
    I'm disturbed by this.

    I don't think its necessarily a horrible idea, if you can pull it off safely, but an old 4-cylinder 626 is NOT where I would start.

    '11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S

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