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

1187188190192193853

Comments

  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516
    I remember riding in the back of a mid 80s Olds with no roll down windows when I was 12 or 13 years old. I couldn not believe it, and the car had no a/c and it was super hot outside.

    I thought the owners (friend's parents) took out the cranks cause they didn't like kids rolling down the wondows :confuse: :confuse: but I had no idea they just came like that from the factory until a few years later.

    2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX

  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,604
    Oh, it's gotta have more than 88...it's not the 123 engine!
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,604
    LOL...I just watched a clip on the Vancouver/CBC news about the head restraint safety stuff released today, and they showed a host of live action car crashes. They used ancient footage, all of it 20-30 years old! All kinds of late 70s/early 80s cars. Do they not think people will notice?
  • texasestexases Member Posts: 11,146
    You're right, I was looking at an old one. 134 hp to drag that 5000 lbs. aroud.
  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,888
    although i have not heard the whole story, and will not ask, my daughter says to me today, 'dad i have to tell you something'.
    the explorer was stuck in the mud, so i put it in 4wd high. it still couldn't move, so i put it in 4x4 low. it was like the mud wasn't even there, anymore.
    i guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. i just checked, it has a bunch of mud on it. :blush:
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • jlflemmonsjlflemmons Member Posts: 2,242
    Let's see here, now ...

    Bad Kit Car, only $4000!!!

    "The chassis was reinforced with steel to keep chassis strong." You've got to be kidding. These chassis could handle a 300HP V8 without mod, so what got cut out of the original chassis???

    Also, the '87 chassis was nothing to write home about. Only the '88 GT chassis had the hot suspension set up.
  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516
    Ha! I never understood kit cars. Doesn't matter how much time effort or money you put in, it'll still be a kit car, probably based on a Fiero anyways.

    Some dude here in Vancouver Lambo kit cars that builds Diablo replicas.

    They look pretty decent and very real, but he wants $99k USD for them. For that money I'd rather find a used original.

    2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX

  • oregonboyoregonboy Member Posts: 1,650
    Pretty good example for not too much money

    Unlike most people, I would considar a 4-cyl BMW, but I'd rather have a 6. And an automatic in a 3-series... no-way, no-how. :P

    james
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,762
    Sounds like a fun opportunity for a car wash with the young'n! ;)
    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
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,604
    Both those 126s might be worth the risk...the SEC looks nice somehow.
  • xwesxxwesx Member Posts: 17,762
    Oooh. I like the dump truck. A lot. If the guy would trade that straight across for my '69 C20, I would be on the highway tomorrow. :blush:
    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
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    GREAT dump truck...you could load the Alfetta on it, and take the damn thing to the dump, where all Alfettas really should be. Alfa's worst car ever? Probably!
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,604
  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516
    That Civic hatch with the boom in the back is not too bad. Would bring out the teenager in me.

    The sound system and labour put into that would exceed the asking price.

    2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX

  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Actually that car would be a great candidate for a street rod project. The engine is probably frozen, the transmission on those early XJs is absolute junk, and the interior is shot...so there you go...Chevy V8, TH400, some seats out of a Monte Carlo, premium sound system, Flowmasters, badda-bing, badda-boom! You got a nice ride for way less than restoring this old thing.

    How do you destroy the rear seats in a 2-door coupe? Dogs?
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,604
    I thought that coupe looked pretty decent, cosmetically. Certainly worth that in parts, if one was insane enough to restore one.

    Another Jag
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Well dumping that V12 was a good idea, lest you burn to death someday, but now you have a nice 351 Ford engine in a totally worthless car that no mechanic will touch at any price. Seems a pointless waste of time and money. You don't even get thumbs up or attaboys...you get a metal tent of trouble built around an American engine.
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    "Metal tent of trouble" Well said!

    Notice the poster said it needs some TLC?

    I think that might mean it should be junked.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    No need---these cars are self-junking :D
  • jrosasmcjrosasmc Member Posts: 1,711
    What do you make of this '90 300SE:

    http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mercedes-Benz-S-Class-1990-Mercedes-Benz-300SE-Be- autiful-Classic-Clean_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6336QQihZ019QQitemZ290101655500- QQrdZ1

    Personally I think it's questionable, as the ad says "head gasket replaced...don't worry about the high miles." Shifty you can also feel free to comment about this heap.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,604
    That leak sounds like a rear main seal to me, a very common issue on these cars as they reach a high mileage. It's a very expensive job, at least a couple grand from what I recall. I had an 89 300SE...it had an even smaller leak, but needed the same seal. I sold the car when I bought the C43 in 2005, before having it done. I got 5K for my car...it had about 188K or something on it, and I was the second owner...it was completely pristine, I can easily say the nicest miled up late 126 I have ever seen (that's why I bought it), and in the best color combo as well. Black on brown does nothing for me.

    A nice miled up 300SE like that is worth maybe 3500-ish these days - with absolutely no needs and a passed inspection from a good shop, so the price might be OK if the car is truly legit. I'd really want to know about that leak, and also about the condition of the valvetrain...those engines can end up burning oil if not maintained. These cars also are not known for head gasket issues...so I have to wonder.

    Those comments by potential bidders are iffy too. One rarely sees such raves for a car like that.
  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516
    I think the price for that car is a bit too much, even though the car looks very clean in the photos.

    I bet he sunk a ton of money into it and that's why he's getting rid of it.

    The comments sound like testimonials from supposed strangers that you see on infomercials.

    2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX

  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    What engine is in that Tempo Diesel?
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,097
    What engine is in that Tempo Diesel?

    I'm not 100% positive, but I think the Tempo used a 2.0 Diesel from Mazda, which put out about 52 hp. My 1985 Consumer Guide lists a 1985 Topaz with the 2.3 gas engine (a Falcon 6 with 2 cylinders lopped off) at 0-60 in 15.8 seconds, so I'd imagine with the Diesel it was more like a half minute? :P

    Here's one thing I've always wondered about some of those smaller Diesels, like the Isuzu 1.8 (Chevette), Mazda 2.0, and BMW 2.4 6-cyl (offered in the Fairmont-based Continental and the Mark VII too, IIRC)...did they at least boost their torque levels as the hp dropped? I know industrial-type engines like that would often increase their peak torque, even though hp numbers were low. In the case of GM's Diesel 350 though, both hp AND torque were really low. HP was around 105-120, depending on year, and I think peak torque was around 190-200 ft-lb, really more on par with your typical 3.8-4.0 liter gas engine than a 5.7.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Torque is related to displacement, so without the cubes, it's not gonna happen no matter how many cylinders you have.

    Horsepower is related to "breathing".
  • texasestexases Member Posts: 11,146
    That 71 Monte Carlo always looked good, like a Malibu with something extra. Doesn't apply to the later ones, though. I always got a kick checking the oil at the gas station, the fan duct seemed about six feet long.
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,097
    I always got a kick checking the oil at the gas station, the fan duct seemed about six feet long.

    Yeah, that and the Grand Prix from that era...heck, it looks like you could fit two V-8's, one behind the other, in that engine bay!

    They tacked some extra length onto the later Montes as well compared to the Malibu, but it wasn't quite the same. I had an '86 Monte and an '80 Malibu. The Monte was about 8-10 inches longer than the Malibu. Most of it was up front, but instead of making the whole engine bay longer, they just had a bunch of empty space between the grille and the radiator. I had an '82 Cutlass as well, but because it had a sloped-back front-end, the distance between the front of the car and the radiator wasn't as prominent.
  • gsemikegsemike Member Posts: 2,425
    That is about the most catostrophic minor accident I've ever seen. What exactly are you paying 2 grand for?
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Beware of anyone who uses the words "easily" and "restorable" in the same sentence.

    What's all that white stuff on the ground in some of those photos? :P
  • texasestexases Member Posts: 11,146
    Come on, akangl, give the pickup guy a break - you know it's not yet time for the spring car wash, there's still snow on the ground! I wouldn't wash my cars until it was gone, and yes, it would take an hour at the power-wash to get that accumulated grime off. Do it any earlier, and it'd be dirty in an hour.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Be careful at those power washes. I've seen them take the paint clean off a car! (if you hold the wand right up to the paint I mean).
  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,788
    goes to this brain surgeon.

    I hope he is just making that up and didn't actually turn down $1k for it.

    '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: 33,788
    ahhh... well, the mazda was with us for a short time, at least. It may be leaving in the near future.

    i got myself a new job and as a result of not being able to commute with the wife anymore, i'd like to have another car available for her to drive. My Honda, alfa, and the pickup are all sticks. Try as I might, she is very resistant to learning to drive a manual.

    ANYWAY, i think the most logical solution is to replace the mazda with a pickup with an automatic. So I'm on the prowl. I'm thinking no more than $5k (well, i want to PAY $4500). And I'm hoping to fetch $1200 for the mazda. $3k difference would be the ideal situation.

    So what do y'all think? Personally, I'd really like a '97+ Dakota Extended Cab (oh yeah, it should be an ex-cab to fit a toddler in his carseat in the back). I had a dakota of that year and really loved it. 14 mpg and no antilock brakes made me not want it anymore, though. but as a backup truck, it would be sweet. I'm not sure I can get one in my pricerange, though (i'd like it to have less than 110k miles). I would think they should be that low, but I have yet to spot one. Seems like I might have better luck with a Ram 1500. Although a Chevy with the 5.7 and maybe 700r4 tranny should be pretty reliable and fairly common, no?

    '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

  • gsemikegsemike Member Posts: 2,425
  • texasestexases Member Posts: 11,146
    '97 528i's sell for $6000-7000 on E-Bay, but I'd take off $2000 just because of the wheels :mad:
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    '48 Chevy Coupe -- probably, like all postwar 40s coupes, they hit a brick wall, value-wise, at around $20,000 no matter how nice they are. The 2 door hardtops will bring more, but those are usually '49 on up. Problem with a '48 Chevy is that you have an anemic and primitive 216 cid engine with babbited bearings and splash lubrication, circa 1915 engine technology, whereas for the same money you can buy a Rocket 88 V-8 coupe (1949). It's a no-brainer in that case where you're going to put your $20K.

    Given all that, I'd offer $10K for the Chevy, but the owner will probably fall to the ground gnashing his teeth and renting his garments, biblically speaking.
  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,788
    wow! until those pictures, i never realized how much an xj6 looks like an acura RL from the front. ;b

    who the heck would buy those wheels ... forget about the fact that they are on a bimmer. they are ugly no matter what the setting.

    that coupe is sweet. i'm usually all about originality, but that car would make a great hot rod project.

    '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

  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,888
    i am pretty sure the lincoln had a turbo-diesel. same engine as the bimmer.
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    The trouble is the 216's weren't THAT bad providing you had your bearings adjusted and shimmed when they needed it.

    Trouble is all of the guys wheo knew how to do this are dead.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Have you looked inside those engines, with those little dippers attached to the rods to scoop up the oil and throw it on the pistons? They called it "splash" lubrication but it's more like "slap-dash" lubrication.

    But you know, if you put along at 45 mph on back country rods, they'll go a long time.
  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516
    Belive it or not, there is a demand for fuel efficient wagons like that.

    I get a lot of people coming onto the lot looking for older Accord, Camry and Corolla wagons.

    2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX

  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    I remember those engines and you are correct.

    They didn't have many freeways back in those days and 45 MPH was the norm. The guys who knew how to work on them are long gone.
  • texasestexases Member Posts: 11,146
    I know I'd like the option of a wagon instead of a heavy SUV/CUV. Too bad there are so few out there now.
Sign In or Register to comment.

Your Privacy

By accessing this website, you acknowledge that Edmunds and its third party business partners may use cookies, pixels, and similar technologies to collect information about you and your interactions with the website as described in our Privacy Statement, and you agree that your use of the website is subject to our Visitor Agreement.