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this one's kinda purty, too
I think I prefer the '76, mainly because I think the front-end is a cleaner, sleeker design. Also, I wonder where the seller got the notion that the '75 has overdrive? :confuse: GM wouldn't come out with an overdrive tranny until 1981, and trust me, you wouldn't want it connected to a 455! In '75, I don't think they were even using lock up torque convertors yet.
Dangit, I REALLY need to stay off eBay!!
However, with a bid of $500, you could have lots of money left over to restore it, take it to Carlisle, and get $7-9K for it!
I've got to make it out to Carlisle sometime...show up in a mint bustleback Seville or something
If it's not rusty, these are becoming more unusual
If its as good as it looks, you could do worse for the money
I bought the car from a private seller in Anniston, AL on December 29, 1997. When I bought the car it had 32,978 miles on the odometer. On the way home, I noticed the odometer stopped working.
After driving the car for about 5 months, it suffered catastrophic engine failure. After towing it to my mechanic, he said the crankshaft had "spun". Whatever that means. I planned to have it rebuilt by a performance Porsche shop, but realized 10 grand wasn't just lying around. So, I parked it, Bought a 1988 RX-7 turbo to drive, and started saving.
During this time I also discovered Carfax and learned more about my car. It had been titled in the northeast with 100k+ mileage. And some years later, this car had miraculously turned back the hands of time and had 20-something thousand miles on it. By the time I bought it, it had returned to a little over 30k.
4 years later, I bought a used '87 turbo engine from an auto recycler in South Carolina. I also ordered many new parts (clutch/flywheel/pressure plate, intercooler, engine mounts, etc. I have all records.)and had a local Porsche Certified shop install the engine. Since then,(April, 2002) I have driven the car as my "daily driver" to work at a school about 18 miles from my home. Literally "highway miles".
I've done minor work to the car since then:
New axle assemblies(cv joints, boots and axles), both
Replaced coolant reservoir
New brake rotors/pads (4)
The bulk of the work was done during the engine swap. Everything that was not in great condition was replaced in the engine bay, including the power steering pump, and many other accessory pumps. The timing belt was also replaced then.
Here are things that are wrong with the car NOW:
A/C compressor/condenser were never replaced after the collision.
Headlight lift motor- I don't drive it much at night
Tachometer/boost gauge- hasn't worked since the transplant
Parking brake cable should be replaced soon
Shifter bushings could be replaced
Driver switch for passenger window (passenger switch is fine)
Passenger seat height adjustment
Weather stripping around the windshield should be replaced
Climate controls (fan still blows)
Needs rearview mirror
The original nose panel above the front bumper had been slowly deteriorating at the bolts and eventually came loose while I was driving on the interstate. It was completely bent-up and couldn’t be saved. I have ordered a new, OEM nose panel, and endeavored to have it painted and mounted, but I just want to sell the car instead. The nose panel is, of course included.
It also uses coolant pretty quickly (I add fluid every couple weeks). This could be a coolant reservoir cap problem, as the rubber seal on the inside of it is gone.
There is a small tear (see picture) in the middle of the bumper.
There is a gap (1/8 inch) between the hatch glass and the hatch. This sometimes leaks.
Shocks and shock mounts need to be replaced. This is the most recent (9-19) problem with the car. The wheel bearings were replaced on 9-16, along with the driver side stabilizer bar mount and an engine mount. After these repairs, I noticed a knocking noise from the front of the car. I took it back on Monday and that was the verdict.
I think I'd be afraid of an aluminum engine that was bored out, though! :surprise:
And here's something for Fintail
RE: Porsche Turbo ----- aye yi yi.....somebody put it out of its misery....mein gott!!!
RE: Canadian Volvo -- a 122 with the Borg Warner two speed automatic? Can you say WOOF WOOF!!? It's a $750 car all day long with body damage, but it could probably be squared away for another $1,500 or so and made into a nice grandma putt putt Sunday car to take the kids for ice cream. Harumf....more dumping on SU carburetors....people just don't know how good they really are!
Katrina Benz -- hard to say....SOUNDS good, but...these old coupes are such cows, pardon the expression....very heavy, very rust prone for some reason....but if it ran well and had no MAJOR issues, $3,000 isn't at all unreasonable.....but I'd sure go over that body with a fine tooth comb. I actually saw one break in half after an accident, all due to rust. Nice highway car though....a German Buick....sort of like driving a 3 bedroom house with a turning radius to match. As you can tell, not my favorite old Benz. A 280SE coupe would be so much better in every respect.
That 220SE coupe warrants further inspection. If it is roadworthy and sound, it'd be a good driver at that price. The engine is a sound unit, if not clattery and revvy. It's for all intents and purposes a fintail coupe. As Shifty mentions, rust is the big issue...60s MB just like to rust. Appears to have Euro fogs with NA headlights...either they were added or it is a Euro car. You want the former. It's also on early 70s wheels and the color is likely not original. A lot of these cars got cosmetic updates in the early 70s to look more like the pricey 280SE cars.
Those coupes are an acquired taste...the manual shifters are simply awful (floor shift) and the cars are heavy and slow. HP to weight ratio can't be very good.
I don't know if performance is so awful...an injected fintail is a decent performer for the time, and is fully competent in modern traffic. Late ones like mine put out about 140hp, which is adequate. They don't accelerate fast from a stop due to 2nd gear start, but they handle very well and cruise along at 60mph wonderfully. I don't know if a coupe was much different. The injected sedans were extremely successful in racing during the early 60s, and their 1-2-3 at Monte Carlo in 1960 is still amazing.
Mechanically, the coupes are identical to an injected fintail, although I am pretty sure they are heavier, and they have a lot more detailed interior trim.. There was a 300SE coupe with air suspension and a complex engine, one should stay away from those unless they love the cars.
No fins on coupes, save for the small bumps seen on all cars/
Must be something wrong with it, it's being relisted. Looks like a cute thing
Strange to see a new Subaru in this condition. Oh wait...
Someone doesn't understand "Brougham", but not many nice ones of these left. The Eldo wore the body better IMO
Not many of these still roadworthy
MG Midget --- does seem a tad cheap but it's no MGB...but if it's a mite shabby here and there but runs okay, price is about right. Pebble Beach midget is worth maybe $5,000.
Nice old XJ6 but in the US of A he is a bit delirous at $4,800 for these old barges. You could hardly buy a worse car, but they are PURTY so someone will overpay for it and live in hell for a while. This car would sell for double in the UK if it were RHD. $3,500 would be about right and figure a quick $1,000 in surprises after that. Not a bad sunday drive take the kids for ice cream don't go far on a hot day car.
Toronado seller is nuts at that price. Wake up and take $2,500 and be happy. 1980s cars are sold mostly by the pound.
Maybe because the color reminds me of this beast
If anyone out there wants an XJ6, get an 85-86; otherwise you'll be real sorry.
I'm happy with the German body too. Although old MBs rust, nothing rusts like a vintage Brit.
Well I'm presuming we'll pick a good XJ6 body. Okay, you can keep the Becker if you MUST....probably better than the hand-cranked AM radio in the Jaguar anyway.
Now that Rolls and Bentley are owned by the Germans, my proposal is no longer heresy.
I've never had an aversion to fins, but then again, they have always seemed vintage to me, as I didn't grow up when they signified the excess of the domestics.
A cheap way to get into this club...not saying I want to be a member
I wouldn't mind a really cheap '93 or so Cadillac coupe with the Northstar....they drive pretty decently for the type.
I have always wanted a big caddy convertible but it would have to be a much older one then that. Oh and it would have to be blown with a 12-71 roots superchager through the hood. :shades:
I remember when the Northstar cars came out...I was in high school, and a friend of my dad's bought an Eldo coupe. My dad was very impressed.
Speaking of Caddy converts, these are worth little now.
Andre should do this to his 'Trep
Looks like a nice enough old cruiser for the $
Y'know though, I must be getting more tolerant in my old age or something, because starched up cars used to either hurt my eyes, make me shake my head in disgust, or laugh. But now I don't even notice them anymore, like I've been numbed or something.
Maybe they're the automotive equivalent of a murder or something? Y'know, where the first time you see someone get killed, it really freaks you out, but then if you see it again, your senses become dulled to it? Umm, not that I'm speaking from experience! :shades:
There were also several Allantes. The last 1993 model is the best as it has a decent powertrain to go with that beautiful Pininfarina body.
I agree with you, the late 60s Eldos are a much nicer car in every way.
Too bad they didn't make a convertible version of the '71-78 Toronado...I actually prefer it to the Eldorado.
Not really a project, but it sure is ugly. They have run this Zimmer three times with no bids. Lower the price already.
Has the "Smoky and the Bandit" generation started upping the value of these yet? I think the seats are upholstered that way, not just covers.
ZIMMER: Everytime I see one, my mouth goes agape wondering what the hell would motivate anyone to buy one of these. It's so WRONG in every way. It's the equivalent of wearing a ladies flower hat, a pirate's eye patch, a Civil War shirt and clown pants and telling everyone you're a Victorian gentleman. What a mess of styles, pretense and bad taste!
Actually, in 2-door hardtop and convertible form, '63 Mercurys aren't bad looking cars. The 4-doors are pretty awkward looking though, because of those over-sized roofs.
As for that Trans Am, I've always liked that style, with the quad headlights. I didn't care for them when they went to the style with the headlights above the low-mounted grille, which I think was 1979-81? My cousin had a Trans Am like that back in the 80's.
I think they must have misspelled "cheesy pimp" as "classy person."
FYI, the official Zimmer song:
When there's a glimmer in his eye,
His GOLDEN SPIRIT is nearby,
And you will hear the people cry:
"It's a ZIMMER!
...by Zimmer!"
For it's Zimmer, the man, who makes ZIMMER, the car;
A work of art (by Art)
that stands so smart!
Yes, it's Zimmer, the man, who makes ZIMMER, the car;
A work of art (by Art)
that stands apart!
So follow the excitement, when you hear it!
And before you know it, you'll be near it,
Then you can feast your eyes
On the sweet, shining prize
That's Art Zimmer's GOLDEN SPIRIT!
There's still a neoclassic company in business - weird stuff, uncomfortable proportions
Looks nice, even though it's winking
Deadly dull, but there can't be many left like this. One for the Ford version of Carlisle
Seems like a good old hobby car for the money, for old people like my dad
Immaculate W114 diesel...could be cheaper, but it's hard to find a nice one. It'll last forever and it takes just that long to get to 60
If nothing else, they were pretty lightweight, so I'd imagine a 140 hp 302 in a car that light wouldn't be a bad performer. Also, for some reason, it seems like the Fairmont and the Mustang got the higher-output 140 hp 302, while the bigger cars, IIRC, got stuck with the 129 hp version of the 302. :confuse:
Looks like his song-writing ability is right up there with his car-building!