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

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Comments

  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,100
    that Dodge water truck is an ugly looking thing. I kinda like it though...probably because it IS so offbeat and ugly! Still, I have no idea what I'd do with it, and I think I'm gonna lay off the heavy machinery unless the backup truck from "Duel" ever ends up on eBay again! :)
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    And you thought you'd seen the worst of it:

    How Can He Bear To Look At It?
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,100
    That xB actually doesn't bother me too much. I guess because stylistically, it's essentially a scaled-down van, and vans have always been a popular candidate for customization. Now do that to an xA or a Echo or Tercel, and instant barf-o-rama!
  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516
    The "clean" BMW 2002 "does not need a paint job"

    Yeah, I could just drive it around with rust holes on the body, and no one will notice. :confuse:

    2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX

  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,791
    funny you should mention a GT6. I just came here to post this one.
    i've always liked the looks of these. real sharp cars.

    '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

  • grahampaigegrahampaige Member Posts: 51
    Those shearlines, are reasonable common this side of the world. They were Austins attempt at a limo. Went down about as well as a Yugo Limo.. Were not really a bad car, just expensive for an Austin. I guess they were killed by badge snobbery.

    They get used as wedding cars a lot now.
  • texasestexases Member Posts: 11,148
    Sounds like what happened to the VW Phaeton.
  • jlflemmonsjlflemmons Member Posts: 2,242
    This Mustang lost a lot of value with the mods.
  • jlflemmonsjlflemmons Member Posts: 2,242
    also about $800-$1000 above top dealer retail.

    '97 Acura CL
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    It'll sell though at that price. As the "real" ones go up and up, they drag the clones and customs up with them.

    I see a definite trend in the classic car hobby to both drive cars more and to modify them for practical everyday use.

    The *worst* thing you can do to a collector car is to cut the sheet metal in some way unless you are going full-bore, custom rod.
  • texasestexases Member Posts: 11,148
    Yes, while it certainly won't get original V8 convertible $$, it'll do better than 6cyl $$. At least they're not passing it off as an original. I saw a number of conversions of '66 and '67 with EFI V8s at a recent club meeting, so some Mustang owners are not too worried about changes. It's not like this one was better off with the 6cyl...
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,100
    I think that Mustang is pretty cool. I don't mind it when they change and update things, as long as they keep a fairly stock look overall.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    I'd junk every 6 cylinder Mustang engine I could find personally. It really hurts the car's value, ironically enough even though it's an original matching # engine. Kinda like an automatic E Type Jaguar.
  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,791
    so we went for a drive today to visit a "classic car retailer" or whatever you'd call such a store.

    I can't imagine this person really thinks he's got showcars on his lot, yet everything is priced as though it were.

    The car that caught my wifes attention was a red '66 convertible mustang with the straight 6. Piss poor repaint on the car, cracking in some spots. Had some rust starting on the floors, but maybe 95% solid. The car seemed to be all there on the surface. Not knowing a helluva lot about current prices for such a vehicle, my best guess was $12k TOPS. any guesses as to his asking price before I reveal?

    Also had a '55 Tbird on the lot that my wife liked. I knew that was way out of our league no matter what. I looked it over for fun and found a car that needed ALOT of attention. Rust starting everywhere. Again with the piss poor repaint. bad chrome. the whole deal. The man still wants $35k for it!

    Bunch of other stuff there, but either in horrible shape or horribly overpriced.

    OH, I got a good one I almost forgot. A fully restored chrome bumper Midget. $11k! I don't know of a midget in the world anywhere worth $11k!

    '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: 58,607
    There's a high end lot like that here with a classic selection. The quality is OK, but the prices are ludicrous.
  • texasestexases Member Posts: 11,148
    "instant classic" = "rental car"

    I wonder how many of these Mustangs and the Cutlasses started out with Avis, etc....
  • texasestexases Member Posts: 11,148
    So how much was the Mustang? We have a shop here that deals only with '50s TBirds, fully restored - must be near $100k for them, I'd guess. How do they keep in business? Not like they sell 10 a week, maybe a year.

    Edit-checked it out, it's Amos Minter Thunderbirds, they have them for sale $30k - $130k. If you're an early Tbird nut, check them out at amosminter.com.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    A "fair" '66 Mustang 6 cylinder would be worth about $10K-11K all day long; a restored 60s Midget if real nice perhaps $9,500 tops tops.

    '55 T-Bird as a clean, rust-free #3 driver about $27,000. A really really sharp car, #2 older restoration, fresh not 100 pt restoration perhaps $50K--$55K. If supercharged E or F code T-Bird, those are quite rare and expensivo $$$.

    "Asking prices" are just an exercise of your First Amendment Rights. Asking prices have nothing to do with market value, nor does Barrett-Jackson for that matter. You can take as much as 50% off B-J or asking prices to hit "true value" and where most of them can be bought if you take the time to look.

    Of course, super-rare cars in limited numbers of 100 or less can only be bought in one place at one time and therefore B-J prices might be more accurate because there are so few comps.
  • jlflemmonsjlflemmons Member Posts: 2,242
    I believe the base Ciera had the quad discrete lights. The Brogham had the composites (and they were glass, not this crap plastic being used now)
  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516
    The Mustang I'm guessing he was asking $24999?

    2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX

  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516
    I think you are right. Plus the 88 was the last year of the square C pillar. The 89s had the rounder C pillar without the extra window:

    89 and up side view:
    image

    88 and older side view:

    image

    2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX

  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,791
    not too far off ... well, to the list price, anyway. The price dropped twice in 15 seconds while talking to him. The ad under the windshield wiper of several cars stated $22,900. The faded markings on the windshield indicated $22k. And the gentleman stated $19,500.

    He did say he will negotiate, etc. But, what's the point when you start at double fair value? I just don't bother wasting my time at that point.

    Personally, I think an early '60s bird is the way to go. I mean, what's a real clean convertible go for? $15k?

    '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: 33,791
    A "fair" '66 Mustang 6 cylinder would be worth about $10K-11K all day long; a restored 60s Midget if real nice perhaps $9,500 tops tops.

    so my instinct was right on the stang. the man is nuts.

    $9500 for a midget is even way more than I would have thought possible. Even if $8k is possible, then I can't fault the man too much for asking $11k. So maybe i should give him a little credit for that.

    However, in my personal opinion, there are so many much nicer vehicles for that kind of money. i mean, you aren't far from nice MGB territory at that point.

    i'm surprised there were no comments on the Triumph hardtop I posted.

    '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: 33,791
    so i got my wife to drive a sebring this weekend, too. It was a '98 with 85k miles. She didn't like it.

    that's fine with me. Let's me try to push the classic car possibility more.

    dealer with the sebring was pretty shady. the car had obviously been repainted and he wouldn't comment. he also had a '95 bimmer 325 vert with 78k hard miles on it. He was asking *choke* $12k!!!!! I had to work REAL hard to control myself when he said it. He saw my obvious disgust, though, and had to point out the low miles. uhhhh... yeah, right.

    '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

  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    I hope that Scion isn't a man's vehicle. That ride looks too girly for Hillary Duff.
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,100
    According to http://encyclopedia.classicoldsmobile.com/cutlass/ciera/88.html, at least, all 1988 Cutlass Cieras should have had the composite headlights. As long as the statement Base models now featured composite headlamps like all other trims had for the previous year. is correct, that is.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Triumph? Oh, was that the GT6 you posted?

    Pretty awful car, you'd want to steer clear of those. They are basically Triumph Spitfires, but with the build quality of Italian TV dinner trays and accomodations for a midget...a small midget....I can't say anything good about them, wish I could. At least a Spitfire droptop has the wind and the rain in your hair (well, so does a Triumph hardtop for that matter....), but it's also got a more supportive aftermarket, fewer parts to mess with, and is easier to restore by a long shot----and potentially more value.
  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,791
    hehe.

    well, i can say one good thing ... i think they're purty. ;b

    and, on that one in particular, the owner must be taking a bath. total engine rebuild? repaint? $7500? Ouch!

    '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
    Yeah, the GT6 looks good in a photo---in real life, they tend to be a bit clunky if you walk around them---but that's totally subjective on my part.

    Some people just don't do the math when they start a restoration. At least they could be honest and say "Look, I put way more into this car than its worth, so here's the discount price---I'm ready to take my lumps".

    RE: Overpriced Mustangs and T-Birds: as far as I'm concerned, when I see shabby cars priced 2X market value, I don't even stop to look at them---these cars aren't for sale, these are just bait looking for that rare, naive stupid buyer that hasn't figured things out about the collector car market.

    20 years ago you could snag a "fish" with an overpriced pile of junk, but those days are over. People have lots more info at their disposal and they aren't apt to overpay for junk anymore....once in a while you'll see this at auction, but it's more likely they will overpay for *nice* cars--that's different---that's an impulse buy for a glittery object.
  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,791

    '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

  • 210delray210delray Member Posts: 4,721
    Do these eBay idiots not know by now to start the bidding with a low, low price?

    Like when I sold my perfectly fine '97 Camry 3 years ago and started the bidding at $400?
  • texasestexases Member Posts: 11,148
    I'm always amazed at how few MBs/BMWs/other 'high end' cars actually sell on Ebay. I'll go to 'completed items' to check out what a realistic market price might be, and 90% to 100% are no-sales, many with 0 bids because of crazy minimum bids.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Well a really perfect example might bring that price, but it's unlikely someone would buy such a car on Ebay without a long investigation.

    Many "sales" on eBay aren't sales at all---the buyers kick the car (don't pay in auction parlance) when they sober up (no matter what eBay says, you can't force them to pay you), or the finfal bid is a shill so as to get the second highest bidder into a negotiation with the story "oh, the first bidder backed out at $120K, but you can have it for 110K".

    Lots of monkey business on eBay.
  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,791
    opinions?

    hey, you think this will drop in the alfa? ;b

    This is different. Description leaves alot to be desired, though.

    '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

  • texasestexases Member Posts: 11,148
    That Pontiac's an oddball - new running gear, wierd interior, but the body looks clean/original, out of sync with the rest of the car.
  • stickguystickguy Member Posts: 53,717
    Wow, that interior looks like it came right out of a bordello.

    But, at least now we know where all the Vega GT steering wheels ended up.

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

  • lilengineerboylilengineerboy Member Posts: 4,116
    hey, you think this will drop in the alfa? ;b

    No, its for an Accord like mine lol. If you want something to drop in the Alfa you should get the S2000 motor or the Pontiac Vibe motor.
  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,791
    we talked about the s2k motor here, didn't we? i saw pics of a spider someone did that to. took ALOT of work because the engine is so tall. Nothing seems to drop easily into the alfa.

    '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
    450SL--if the photos are accurate, it looks bad to me---interior smacks of being a re-dyed, gussied up street walker.

    If it's just bad camera work, then the car is worth an eyeball---I'd never buy a 450SL on the blind. It's also a not-so-good year, 1976. Send an inspector.

    Japanese Motor: What an Alfa Spider needs is a V-6, 3.0L from an Alfa GTV. It would be a lot easier than converting a front driver to RWD. Maybe if you had a newer European Spider, which is FWD, that type of conversion would be easier, but then, how you gonna get a Euro mid-90s Spider into America?

    Pontiac: The typical good taste of street-rodding. It's all about being outrageous, after all.
  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,791
    Did I ever tell you I contacted someone who does 3.0 alfa conversions?

    He wants $10k for the job! So... I figure its a $5k-$6k car now. I put $10k into it and I have .... a $5k-$6k car. woohoo!

    '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
    True, but it would be sooooo much fun to drive, and really what can you buy for $15K that's that much fun?

    Miata? Well, okay but everybody has one....

    Boxster? Maybe a 1997--98 model with a lot of miles and not a terribly...er...manly car either (see above).

    Mazda RX-7 TT -- way fun, but KABOOM!

    Porsche 914? -- cool car but bring your egg-timer for 0-60 specs.

    Have you ever heard that 3.0L wind up when it's really tuned just right? Nuthin' like it.

    Now you've got ME wanted one---stop that!
  • texasestexases Member Posts: 11,148
    On the scale of money in/money out for most of the cars we discuss here, that's at the top of the list :P
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Now I'm seriously thinking about this!
  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,791
    I'm sure I still have the contact info somewhere. hahaha.

    he was supposedly working on a do-it-yourself kit. I have no idea if that ever came to pass.

    '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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