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

lemmer

I kind of like this old BMW, but it would need to be my daily driver - not so sure about that.

Mr_Shiftright

old 325s can be very reliable, but that car is miled up--so it would depend on the pre-sale checkout I think. If you're getting someone else's BMW with lots of deferred maintenance, the pit is bottomless, but if it was taken care of and is "turn key", they can run a long time.

fintail

Speaking of MGB-GTs

Not a pretty color

No 'ebay time' tonight, gotta get out in the sun and help someone move

oregonboy

That B-GT looks decent. Are those air cleaners stock? They look rather strange. I would prefer another color, like that burnt, yellow-orange, that they came in. It's just so, so 70s, ya know? :shades:

Ok, ok, BRG would be better (but I still like the orange!)

jamez

hpmctorque

I like the styling, size, utility, and fun factor of the MGB-GT, although the latter is just perceived from a college apartment mate who drove a MGA. I never had the pleasure of driving MGB-GT.

Question for Fintail, Shifty, or anyone that's familiar with the MGB-GT: What modern car comes closest to being the spiritual successor of the MGB-GT? The Scion tC, Acura RSX, and the new Volvo c30 come to mind, but maybe there are better examples. I'm thinking that there's probably an Alfa Romeo that would be closer to being a modern rendition of the MGB-GT, but since Alfa hasn't yet returned to the U.S. I'm not familiar enough with their current models to identify the right model.

I realize that modern cars tend to be too refined and powerful to really replicate the recapture the experience of driving a classic, such as the MGB. Maybe the modern retro models, like the MINI, and Volvo c30, should dial in some of the sounds and vibrations of their older counterparts, in addition to the styling cues. The reliability of modern cars should be retained, of course, and the safety and lower emissions are mandated by law, so they'd remain. Recapturing the feel of the old VW Beetle wouldn't be possible with a front mounted water cooled I-4 engine, but I read that VW may reintroduce a smaller, rear engine successor to the current generation Beetle. I hope it happens.

lemko

That Catalina wagon is the same two-tone as my 1968 Buick Special Deluxe wagon! Too bad the engine might be seized. For $1,400 I'd have bought it just for the nostalgia factor!

fintail

Everything is so bloated today, so a really sporty modern equivalent is hard to find - lightweight is dead. But, I could give your choices some merit. I like to think of a C30 as a P1800 successor, which is kind of like a larger Swedish version of the MG when in wagon form.

I think a few Euro choices are closer, it seems like every brand has a sporty small car. I'd like to see a new Beetle not be so girly.

jrosasmc

Funny that you should comment about the older Alfa Spiders having better looks than the later ones from the '80s and '90s. There is just something about those 'Duettos' that oozes sex appeal and interest to the average onlooker. If you've ever seen the Dustin Hoffman movie The Graduate, you'll see why the car became a hit in the States.

Although, a friend of mine back home owns a '93 Spider Veloce (the last year the car was made) and he thinks it's the greatest vehicle on the planet. He loves it to the point that he drives it much more than his other car, a '97 VW Passat. You must recall that the early to mid-90s were not some of VW's strongest years in this country- did you know that the company nearly pulled out of America in '93, due to the fact that they only sold 49,500 cars that year?

boomchek

Some interesting stuff out here,check it out:

Studebaker Lark

Are these worth anything?

Fintails's Specialty

Midget

Clean Malibu

BMW 3.0Cs Coupe

Old Firebird, cheap price

63 Impala I wish it'd be a convertible

Nice Corvair Monza

Jaguar E Type lloks like it's been sitting for ages

64 Impala convertible

fintail

'The early "Graduate" Duettos are timeless designs, pretty much perfect. The later models have some attraction simply from their Italian roadster status...but that old style is so pure.

I don't like those 90s ones where the grille got small and down on the bumper. I can imagine VW had problems then...a college roomate of mine had a 95 Jetta, it was only a few years old at the time, but it was a complete lemon, it seemed like he took it to the dealer on a weekly basis.

fintail

Diesel fintails - the cars that will survive the apocalypse.

I suspect there's a missing part on that BMW, but I can't quite tell what it is.

I'd say those old Chryslers are worth about their asking price - strip the trim if you need the parts, and get the scrap value.

andre1969

I like that '76 Malibu. I always preferred that version of the coupe that had the large, triangular windows in back, rather than the tiny opera windows. I wish they had offered those on the '76-77 LeMans, but by that time Pontiac limited you to the opera window or the louvers.

I had forgotten, too, that the base Malibu that year still had the single round headlights. I guess it was just the Classic that got you the stacked rectangular quads, and then for '77 it was that way across the board? That 305 might not be too bad on gas, either. I guess if my '76 LeMans, with a 350-4bbl, can squeeze out 17.4 on the highway if I'm gentle, the 305 might break 20?

qbrozen

hehe... well, thanks ... i think.
oddly enough, I like the looks of the 4th gen better than the 3rd gen. well.... sort of.

I like the fact that the 4th gen had integrated body-colored bumpers.


But the taillights on my 3rd gen are much more appropriate to the car's style (although a bit busy with so many lenses). [and, not to toot my car's own horn, but the spoiler looks far less conspicuous on an all-black car than in this pic]


And the squared off trunk of the 4th gen without the spoiler looks incomplete to me.

qbrozen

that looks really appealing.
I'm kind of glad its nowhere near me.

qbrozen

If I had to pick one, I'd say maybe a Rabbit or Scion Xa would be "closest."
I think those you named are just too sporty.

OH, OH. How bout a base Mini Cooper?

qbrozen

When I saw your link I thought "you mean there is still an E type someone hasn't started to restore thanks to the crazy values advertised by Barret?" But then I clicked. Yikes! That has nothing going for it on the collector market. A 2+2 = strike 1. A 6-cylinder = strike 2. An automatic! = strike 3. Yup, that car's outta there.

If only it had a stick, it would be the one I want. ;P

Mr_Shiftright

The problem with comparing the MGB-GT to any of the nice small modern hatchbacks is that they might look similar but engine characteristics are very different.

The MGB 1.8 engine is very torque-y, something you won't find in a Golf Turbo, a base MINI or certainly not in a Scion xA.

Probably the closest overall would be a supercharged MINI Cooper S, as far as torque, but then the Cooper S is wayyyyyy faster.

ALFAS -- my only real complaint with the later Alfas is that they are heavy and slow, whereas the Duetto could actually REV---the later 2000 cc Alfas simply run out of breath. I doubt a '93 Alfa could whip a Scion xA much less a '69 Duetto. Sad but true. Nonetheless, a pretty and very reliable car, and fun to drive everyday. MUCH more refined than an MG. An MG feels like something you built out of wood in your backyard compared to the same year Alfa.

MGB-GT: That white car looks pretty original inside and out. Yes, those air cleaners are correct, and despite being a PITA to take on and off, they work very well. You could replace the air filters with fancy "free-flow ones", and replace the dual carbs with a Weber, and spend $800, and you'll gain about 3-4 horsepower at extreme high revs and cut your gas mileage by about 1/3.

One could accomplish as much or more by removing the belt-driven fan and installing an electric one for $150.

You can modify the MGB to get around 140HP out of it before you get into hand-grenade territory. It really scoots with 140HP !!

srs_49

I bought my '87 325 back in '99 for $2500, and it had 125,000 miles on it. Since then, I've put around $5K into the car on repairs and maintenance. Would have been higher if not for the fact that I do almost all the work on my vehicles. Car now has around 188,000 mils on it (odometer stopped working some time back). Engine is still solid, and still on the original clutch.

oregonboy

Old Buick Special
cheap

For some stupid reason, I like this. The guy wants WAY too much for it and it would probably be worth more stock.
Civic/Integra

texases

That is a neat Integra/Civic, except why didn't he put in an Integra motor? That's usually the first step!

lemmer

You might, in reality, have to shave more off that price because it's a tough market right now; also a factor might be the color. I'd say $9995 is a price where you'll get some calls.

The Bimmer is sold and should be gone tomorrow. I put it on eBay on a whim and got $11,100 for it. I am pleased. My 944 is not currently running, so I have no way to get work as of Wednesday morning.

qbrozen

My 944 is not currently running, so I have no way to get work as of Wednesday morning.

oh jeez.
Well, don't go rushing into anything!
Rent-A-Wreck is your friend!

fintail

Never seen one of these before

Pricey Pinto

Had these come 5 years later they might have been a success

andre1969

I've never heard of a Century Gran Sport either, although I'm pretty sure there was a T-type for a few years. I can't believe they're trying to push it off as being more collectible than a Grand National!

Oh, speaking of T-types, I saw a white '87 or so LeSabre T-type coupe out in the parking lot at work. Pretty sharp looking car.

gsemike

Century > Who cares?
Pinto > Who cares?
Vehicross>Maybe somebody wants it

The rare runabout model???? More collectible that a Grand National???? Rare and desirable are two different things. The Century is ready for the junk yard with all the work it needs and the Pinto may be worth 2 grand for it's kitsch factor.

lemmer

Turns out all I had to do was take the extra DME relay out of glovebox and install it and the old 944 roared back to life. Apparently this is a common problem.

...a little hot in Alabama with no ac.

fintail

The hubcaps seem odd, somehow

"This car has gone up in Value of 2k within the last couple of months"

oregonboy

This car has gone up in Value of 2k within the last couple of months

Shoot, I thought you were talking about something like this:
Toyota Camry Late Model, Low Miles and Great Condition

:P

Mr_Shiftright

I'm not sure if the 1979 is the WORST Corvette you could buy, but it's close

Congrats on selling the BMW--that's a very good price you got.

gsemike

Despite the hyperbole, that Corvette is at about market for a clean one around here. They're from a horrible era, but in the right hands can be masseged into a decent driver car. It's interesting that the sellers of these late 70s Vettes and Trans Ams appear sure that they're appreciating but I don't think that the buyers have caught up yet/

lemko

The Riv is nice, but those look like the wrong hubcaps. They look like they may have come off a 1966 Oldsmobile Cutlass/F-85.

andre1969

I'm not sure if the 1979 is the WORST Corvette you could buy, but it's close

I always heard it was 1982..."Step back, son...that things about to CROSS-FIRE!!" :surprise:

I know most of GM's mainstream RWD cars, like the intermediates and full-sizers, took a dive in quality for 1981 compared to 1980, which was the first year they started going overboard with computer controls. I think the Camaro took a dive that year, too. The Citation was bad enough to begin with in 1980, so I dunno if they could've made the 1981 any worse if they tried. A lot of cars were also slower in 1981 than they had been in 1980, even if the hp ratings were the same. They just had all sorts of driveability problems and couldn't reliably get their power to the ground. So I imagine the Corvette followed the same spiral as the rest of GM's cars.

andre1969

I kinda like that Riv, despite the improper hubcaps. It would look nice with some Buick sport rims on it. The Riv came standard that year with an Olds 350-4bbl, so if you're a '79-85 Riv fetishist, this is probably the one to have. In 1980, the 307 was made standard, with the 350 being optional. For 1981 they made that awful 252 CID V-6 standard, with the 307 being optional. I think after a few years though, they got smart and made the 307 standard. The 307 was a good engine, but the 350 would be better suited to a car this size, IMO.

gsemike

I think those hubcaps are original. I could swear that I saw them on when new and I was a fan of those cars when they were new.

andre1969

I just did a bit of digging around, and sho' nuff, they are original. I guess it doesn't get any more indisputable than this. :shades:

fintail

Odd W126...can't be more than a handful of these on this continent

Careless use of "classic"

Pillars of dubious stability

Decent looking fintail

Not a bad looking tank

Back when Toyota had a little courage

fintail

Almost seems like a Nigerian scam ad title

texases

W126 - at least this is a real limo, compared to stretched Lincolns and Hummers

Civic Wagon - just saw one of these outside of Asheville, NC, in good shape

'52 'Hemi' - not bad, but no engine pics, pretty plain looking. If I wanted a 50s car it would need more, well, something...

Toyo - just "a little rod knock"...but for $200, drive it till it croaks.

andre1969

Yeah, Chryslers tended to be real yawners, style-wise back in those days. I mean, just compare that thing to a Buick Super or Roadmaster, and see what a world of difference there is. They did give the 4-doors a really nice updated roofline with a reverse-slant C-pillar, sort of like a '58 Chevy, and IMO that spruced up the '53-54's considerably.

If I was going for one of those early 50's Hemis, I think my choice would be a '53 DeSoto Firedome. I think that's partly because my Granddad had one when I was a kid and I liked it, but I always thought they were pretty, for an early 50's Mopar.

Mr_Shiftright

Early 50s Chryslers, like Pontiacs, were regarded as Grandma/Grandpa cars.

lemmer

Anybody know what these old Acura Coupes are worth. I always kinda liked them.

Mr_Shiftright

That's about high retail price. They are just used cars and have no collector value, so they are likely to further depreciate. Good cars.

lemmer

If it checks out, what would you pay for it?

Mr_Shiftright

I'd say $4,500 is all the money in the world for the car, for a nice clean one.

lemmer

M3 or CLK430. Yes, I know I am begging for maintenance costs.

oregonboy

Easy choice. the Merc is an automatic, I would go with the BMW. :shades:

Mr_Shiftright

the M3 might be all right. The price is exactly retail asking, so the seller has been to the price guides (there is a big deduct for mileage here) and if he's a member of the BMW Club well that's a good sign generally.

About the only caveat is that you'd have to have the clear understanding that you will be nickeled and dimed all year long, so I'd budget at least $100 a month to keep it on the road, presuming as the owner claims that there is nothing major to be done at this time.

The Benz to me is just another used car and I don't find any appeal in it personally. I think I'd get bored pretty quick---but your needs may be different, and the mileage is less than the BMW and it's two years newer, so that's something to chew on. Maintenance and reliability issues would probably be worse than the BMW.

lemmer

I had my low mileage 323ic for right at 14 months (and only about 6000 miles) and spent right at about $1700 on maintenance and repairs. Half of that pertained to the stupid convertible top. Anyway, I am no stranger to the BMW costs.

The CLK appeals to me just because it is as fast in a straight line as the M3 and the interior is a lot nicer. Other than that, I prefer the M3.

Of course, I could also buy a Lexus SC300 and get a nice interior and V8 power like the MB, but without the huge maintenance costs.

Mr_Shiftright

that's true, you buy a Lexus and basically you just turn the key on and forget it. I don't think the Lexus V8 is a very strong engine compared to the other cars but it's a nice environment for leisurely driving. It's a softer car all around IMO.

lemmer

Just went and drove a Lexus SC. Kind of felt like what a Cadillac should have been in the mid-90s. Very nice, but I am not sure it is for me. I am not sure how they made such a huge car with less room in in the front seat than my 944. The magazines really loved those Lexuses back in the day. Maybe it takes time for them to grow on you.

I have a friend with a really nice, very well maintained 1995 Audi S6. He wants $6-7K for it. It is at the local Audi dealer right now getting a couple new coil packs for some ungodly amount of money.