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

lemko

Couldn't you just replace that air suspension with conventional coil springs? I recall a lot of late 1950s cars were ordered with air suspensions that failed leaving the cars resting on their axles. Most of them were retrofit with conventional springs.

texases

I've only heard about this problem with the BMWs. You can read more about it here: BMW world Nikasil article
The problem was only with the 3L (remember that little V8 in the 530?) and 4L V8s for a short period. Google turned up 95% on BMW, 5% on the Jag V8 pre-2000.

Mr_Shiftright

The concept of a HUGE 2-door coupe escapes me. It's so "useless"...it's way too big to be a sports car, and for all the size of it, it's hard to get in and out of the back seat anyway...you can't carry much of anything that is remotely "tall" in the back or the trunk...and it's an early 90s BMW, which means fix it once a month.

If you want a sure fire flop, bring out a 2.5 ton two door coupe with skull-crushing maintenance costs.

210delray

But those late 50s cars had "oxcart" rear axles. It'd be a cinch to replace the air suspensions.

Somehow, I don't think a Benz would be so easily converted. (I'm seeing dollar bills flying away en masse.)

andre1969

The concept of a HUGE 2-door coupe escapes me. It's so "useless"...it's way too big to be a sports car, and for all the size of it, it's hard to get in and out of the back seat anyway...you can't carry much of anything that is remotely "tall" in the back or the trunk...

Well, coupes are usually all about style over substance in the first place, so in many ways they're not supposed to make sense in a practical way. However, I've found that a coupe is usually easier to get into than a 4-door, simply because the door opening is bigger. Some might argue that those big doors are going to be cumbersome in tight parking spaces, but if you don't have much room to begin with, it's going to make a 4-door car hard to get into and out of as well.

I find the visibility in coupes is often better, as well, because the B-pillar is mounted further back, and out of the way of my side vision.

Besides, a BMW 8-series doesn't have a back seat, anyway. It has a leather-clad parcel shelf! :P

seminole_kev

Shifty, it definetly was a prob on some late 90's Jag V8's that went into the XK and XJ.......I think it may have been fixed by the time the V8 S-type came out.

fintail

I think it would cost more to re-engineer the car for springs than it would to replace the air units. The old air cars were conventional cars retrofitted for air, while the moderns were never designed for springs. I'm guessing anyway.

Mr_Shiftright

no back seat? An even dumber idea in a huge coupe IMO.

seminole_kev

Here's a quick article I (re)found that I had read awhile back on it. Just an image of the article, but as it pertains to Jaguar: Nikasil

texases

So now we have the worst of both worlds - the new "4-door coupe" from MB, with others to follow - take a good sedan - E350/500, say, and remove the rear headroom, but keep the 4 doors. I don't get it...

Mr_Shiftright

They must be trying to coat tail on the "smash success" of the Mazda RX-8 (sarcasm was intended).

fintail

Japanese woodie

Might have some good parts, it's cheap

bumpy

Ewwwwwwwwww.

these became outdated in a hurry

time bomb, with the interior from an Azera

modest beginnings

no rollover standards in those days

just needs some Type-R stickers

ready for the carpool lane

finally, a worthy project

fintail

This could be a good deal if it isn't rusty

boomchek

That Olds station wagon customized by Toyota........ you're driving a rolling billboard for a Toyota dealer.

It's funny because when my parents had a 1989 Chevy Caprice wagon, I thought I'd take it over from them and customize it just like in the pics, but thjat was when I was 13 years old.

He'd be lucky if he gets $5k for it. I mean the wheels, and electronics must be worth something.

explorerx4

pretty nice chevelle

so cal got nuttin' on ct

i know this car

don't know what to say

2 door with a real back seat

Mr_Shiftright

What do you mean you don't know what to say? It's an "easy restore". Don't you believe the ad? :P

'71 Vette: Very stiff price for a coupe. I hope he can prove what he says. It's not an LS6 for gawd's sake and not even a 454. Overpriced IMO by $10,000. Case of Barrett Jackson fever here.

Mercedes 220: I can tell it's not going to be good but I can't tell you why. See if you can guess just staring at the ad.

65 Ford T-Bird: I dunno about this. It's not a high dollar car and from the photos parts of the car look pretty ratty. I think it's somewhat overpriced at $4,500 because for $6K-$8K you can take your pick of very nice clean drivers that don't need chrome and interior and all the rest. Some people like 'em. I think they are big clumsy gas hogs that break all the time. If it were a ragtop, well sure...does it mention AC? VERY important option for value on this car.

fintail

About the fintail - I must be missing it. The email address looking like it comes from a young woman? The car itself doesn't look bad save for the stickers on the trunk and the side marker lights on the rear quarter. It has bumper guards, some kind of grille guard which might be a rare piece, white steering wheel...maybe a good parts car.

explorerx4

well, maybe cubic zirconia.

good name

turn toward or turn away?

sounded good until i saw the picture

jump in with both feet!

doesn't look like a ct car, not a ct plate

fintail

The BMW...now that's some resale

Mr_Shiftright

Good price though for that 740iL...but of course, zee price is just zee beginning....you haf relatives in the dealership parts department, eh?

Whoever put those wheels on such a car should be dunked upside down in a barrel.

boomchek

Wow that is cheap for the BMW. I wonder what's wrong with it?

I always liked those Aston Martins. Very classy looks.

Mr_Shiftright

The BMW ad doesn't mention mileage or actual condition.

If the car had close to 200K on it and a few little dings and scratches, $4,995 is actually market correct according to price guides properly adjusted. In fact, it's a bit high if you go by the guide books and make all the right calculations.

Obsolete Luxury Car + extreme high miles = kiss of death.

fintail

When GM could do no wrong

bumpy

Except in styling. That Buick is so horribly misproportioned I can barely stand to look at it. The hood is too long for the body, the front wheels are too far forward, the combination of the rear wheels and the spear look like the back end collapsed, the greenhouse is a debacle, and the reverse-angle taillight housing doesn't even try to match the curves of the rest of the car.

Mr_Shiftright

I like from the windshield forward but the middle and back of the car are very clunky IMO. It's the 4-door body style that doesn't work for the car....pushes the roof up too much, and snips the back end short.

fintail

Yeah as a 4 door it will have some clunkiness...I like the side spear/trim on those period Buicks anyway. Back in the days of positive brand equity.

Mr_Shiftright

Yep you really knew a Buick when you saw one back then. I wouldn't restore a 4-door though while there were two-door hardtops or 2-door post cars still around waiting to be fixed up. You'd spend the same $$$ but have a more valuable car when you were done by half again.

benjaminh

Bidding may have stalled out at less than a thousand, and I think it may have already gone too high. In spite of what it says, it may take an "ultimate" amount of money to again make it into an ultimate driving machine. If it was in good shape, I think I'd enjoy driving this car.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/RARE-CLASSIC-BIMMER-733i-5-SPEED-NO-RESERVE_W0QQi- temZ280088628417QQihZ018QQcategoryZ6009QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

explorerx4: You found a great collection of cubic zirconia! I laughed quite a bit. Thanks.

benjaminh

The 5-speed manual makes this one appealing to me. Even if it goes to 18k, it doesn't seem like a bad price because of the low miles. For less than an Accord or a Camry, you get to drive something special. But, down the road it could be trouble....

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110099099332&fromM- akeTrack=true

Mr_Shiftright

I betcha you wouldn't enjoy driving this car too much, I mean with the 5-speed. It's a heavy heavy car with a heavy heavy gearshift. It's a chore in traffic. I find manual trans 7 series very unpleasant. I can see why $810 is top bid. BMW fanatics don't care about 733s, and especially stickshift ones. Best 7 series? IMHO, a late 80s, early 90s 735 with some decent low miles on it would be a great car for under $3,500.

But having expelled all that wind, gee for $810 you could hardly rent a Malibu for a month. You could always buy that 733 and just abandon it on the side of the road when something bad happens.

stickguy

I started getting all excited with this one. I actually work in Cherry Hill, where this on is. Of course, I then read the description. What a rat.

This is actually at US Auto auction, a local public auction (they like to run infomertials on cable). The usual odd ball "owners" claiming they got a wonderful car for pennies on the dollar. I wouldn't trust anything a place like that sells, and if this rat is so bad they won't even run it through, that should say something!

stickguy

I do like that one. I almost bought almost that same car, but a 2001 in Blue. Decided not to drop the $$ at the time. Modestly equipped, sticker was ~41K, I think I could have had it for ~38,500. So a nice hit of depreciation on the '03. I would seriously consider something like that for less than 18K If I was in the market, but it would have to be local and thouroughly checked out. CPO probably for one of these, but I bet a dealer would want ~23K CPO for one of these, if not more.

british_rover

Reliant Robin Shuttle

Part 2

I just watched the DVD of this last night and it was great.

qbrozen

YIKES!

ALL IN ALL, A NICE EXAMPLE OF A CLASSIC ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE

hmmm... oil leak, non-working AC, bad transmission, cracked dash, ripped leather ... "nice"??? I'd hate to see an "average" condition vehicle from that seller.

Mr_Shiftright

And parts are hard to find....AND...you can buy nice ones for $3,000.....REALLY nice ones.

I think the Golden Rule is this....if it's a 4-door, German, from the late 70s to early 90s, don't "fix it up"...either buy a nice one or just forget it. Don't even THINK you're going to win, because you're not.

andre1969

I think it's a pretty good looking car, although it does have a bit of a stubby look to it. IIRC, these things were on a 122" wheelbase, but were only about 205-207" long. For a 50's car with a wheelbase like that, I think it really needs to be about 8-10" longer. I believe a '56 Plymouth is actually about the same length as a Buick Special/Century, so these really weren't very big cars for that era.

My only complaint about the roof is that the way it was styled around the C-pillar and back window area, it makes it look like it's removable. Like something that just doesn't quite fit right.

I think the Roadmaster/Super versions, which were basically Cadillac C-bodies with Buick sheetmetal and front-end clips, made for more attractive 4-door hardtops. They had a longer rear deck, and I believe the roofline was a bit longer too, so it gave the car a better-proportioned look.

benjaminh

Looks to be sharp. I think Shifty is right I probably wouldn't like driving that giant 7 series from the early 80s. But I bet this one is fun:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2004-BMW-525i-6-Speed-WARRANTY-NO-RESERVE_W0QQite- mZ200084842090QQihZ010QQcategoryZ6008QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

stevedebi

"You could always buy that 733 and just abandon it on the side of the road when something bad happens."

Well, I suppose, but how fast can a 733i go in first gear, which is all that works (forward)?

Mr_Shiftright

'bout 35-40 mph I'd guess....hey no problem...put in a tranny, fix the AC, hammer out the dents, put maybe 5 grand into it, and sell it to Acme Wrecking for $250 in 3 months. How can you lose?

Actually I doubt Acme Wrecking would pay that much for it...it would be a slow earner.

boomchek

what happenned to all the flooded cars from Katrina.

I'm guessing they're not fixable, so did they crush them all, or most of them, or strip them for parts?

Can't imagine anyone restoring them unless it's a rare example of something.

benjaminh

That shuttle flight was hilarious! Those guys are nuts!

fintail

Shady used car lots

xwesx

"Mold'n Oldies?" :P

explorerx4

i'm just trying to follow in the footsteps of fintail, mr_shifty, and some others...

xwesx

For a Dodge, that old truck looks quite decent. Needs chrome to break up all that blue, though.

Considering the abuse those old CV Wagons typically took, that one looks to be in good shape. I bet it does turn out to be a gem for someone... it's all in the eye of the beholder. With continued and timely maintenance, that could take some one another 3-5 years (depending on miles) with very little investment. Even 6 months and it would be one heck of a cheap rental!

explorerx4

except i don't like the color, that dodge pickup looks good. i wish there was a picture of the interior. someone obviously put some effort into restoring it.

something just bothers me about that CV wagon; texas plate, pictures taken over a snow bank, cheap price. :confuse:

for the 'back to the future ' fans:
flux capacitor mobile

210delray

I saw one on eBay; the seller said it was in Katrina but the water "only" rose to the door sills.

It had a salvage title of course!

Mr_Shiftright

The 2004 5 series has been in an accident.

gsemike

How can you tell Shifty? Educate us.

Even without the crash, I'm not crazy about that car. The 6 sp is nice, but the 2.5 isn't much engine for all that car.