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One always wonders about the Alfa cylinder head at this mileage. No mention of engine work.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Alfa-Romeo-Spider_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZalg- oQ3dSIQ26ituQ3dUCIQ252BUAQ252BFICSQ26otnQ3d12Q26poQ3dLVIQ26psQ3d54QQ_trksidZp390- 7Q2em263QQcategoryZ84154QQitemZ290338072032
It's in New Jersey (Qbrozen's state) but I have no idea where Sparta is.
Cracked dash, ripped seat, rusted spare, the aforementioned overspray, the speedo. Lots of things bugging me on this one. It has been hit in the rear. Not sure how bad. I see the bumper is krinkled on the left and drooping on the right. Passenger door doesn't look like its sitting right, either.
This needs a real thorough inspection before further consideration, IMHO.
'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
One telltale sign, I think, is the gauges. Pics are blurry, but it looks to me like the coloring is nice and bright. It is quite rare to see examples where they haven't faded horribly. Indicates to me, as long as they weren't replaced, that it spent a good amount of time out of the sun.
'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
You gotta eye-ball these old Alfas really closely to get an accurate sense of value. Now I'm thinkin' $3500 - $3800 is all the money if it runs great.
It has been hit in the rear
... those are never good words to hear.
I saw the quick respray but didn't consider the 'why' to include any major bending. It's obviously not the original color, but it's not an offensive shade.
I figured rust-free and fairly mechanically sound would free up some cash for fixing the speedo and the seats.... ... Seems like he's already done the ball joints and most of the heavy lifting in the engine bay.
My problem is that I prefer the 74 to the 88 on principle.... doesn't have the heavy bumpers or the silly spoiler... I also prefer those nonoriginal Panasport copy wheels to the disco wheels on the Graduate. Plus I owned a 74, not that memories of our youth ever influence our decisions.....
The final problem with the 88 is that the price of entry is probably more than I can get away with from from Frau right now. sigh.... Maybe if I argue that the seats constitute furniture?
Anyhow....
I've just sent the seller a message asking about accident damage.... we'll see what he says.
better choice, fusion awd.
When I used to sell Hondas I had a customer who came in and was looking at some Civics, and asked me if they're safe. She didn't think so because she said her friend had one and got into an accident and totalled the car. :confuse: So in her mind it wasn't a safe car. :confuse:
I asked her if her friend walked away from the crash, she said yes. I told her then that the car did it's job, absorbed energy around the occupants so that the occupants can walk away,
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
Back in 1992, I got run off the road and hit a traffic light pole in a 1969 Dodge Dart, sideways. Totaled the car, although it was still driveable. At least I had the satisfaction of knowing that I "totaled" the traffic light, too. Pulled that sucker off its base and vaulted it about 20 feet! :P And, 5 years later, the state of Maryland was STILL trying to sue me over it, although I was found not at fault.
I've often looked back and wondered how much it would have cost to fix that Dart. Even though it was technically totaled, the damage didn't look THAT bad at a quick glance. Mainly just the passenger-side door smashed flat, and into sort of a Vee-shape when viewed from above. Yet it still opened and closed! However, the rocker panel and floor on the passenger side were also buckled in about 4 inches, and the rear quarter panel, just above the roll-down rear window, was twisted a bit. On the driver's side, the seam where the rocker panel joined the rear quarter, under the door, was split. And the hood and trunk were now misaligned, a sign that the whole car had twisted just a bit. The front fender was also dented, because I also took out a sign when I hopped the curb. And the front right tire was at a funny angle...knocked out of alignment at the least, but probably more hidden damage.
So, in retrospect, probably best that I let that car go.
Oh, today, coming into work, I saw an '05-ish Accord coupe, in that same shade of red. Nice looking car. Shame yours got totaled, but again, thankfully it did its job, and you're still here with us!
After the accident, I had the car towed to my dealership (thanks to AAA). My dealership was stunned at the amount of damage and when I told them I was unhurt, they were even more so. They had a picture of my car hanging up in the body shop for a couple of months as an example of the safety of the car. I even went to work that day. The tow truck driver gave me a ride since he had to go in that direction anyway. :shades:
74 Repainted Spider
So, I offered him $5500 but didn't make his reserve.
If he contacts me, I'll show him this one which is already in Dallas -45K miles for $5500.
79 Spider in Dallas
It's not my first choice because it's a 79, but it's already $650 cheaper since I wouldn't have to have it shipped to Dallas (and obviously I get to see it before I pay).
Opinions on the 79 Dallas Spider vs. the Mass 74?
Thanks,
Lokki
Did the '74 seller have an answer as to what happened to the bumper if it has never been in an accident??
By the way, Royal Purple manual trans fluid for manual trans cars calling for ATF (which the spider is) did wonders for my spider's gearbox.
'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
Were those Diesels fuel-injected or carbureted? Reason I'm asking, is because one of my friends had an '82 Delta 88 Diesel for his first car, and after that he always had pickup trucks that were new enough to be fuel injected. His latest truck needed some brake work, so I offered to let him borrow my '85 Silverado, and he was afraid of it, because it was carbureted. He said he's never had to pump a car in his life to start it, and was afraid of getting stranded by it. So that made me think...maybe the Diesels were fuel injected?
I tell ya, these spoiled, fuel-injection-raised kids today! :P BTW, what happens, exactly, when you pump the gas pedal on a fuel injected car before starting it? Does it just run the risk of flooding it, or can it do worse things?
no pictures of the engine.
wood grain on dash does not match doors and looks like contact paper.
paint is not as good as it looks most pictures.
i like:
one heck of a sofa for less that 2k!
I don't know if pumping the gas has any impact on a modern FI car - I don't think it does anyway, it is all computer controlled. I am pretty sure the owners manual in my fintail, with its prehistoric FI setup, says to pump it once or twice in extreme cold - but I never pump it and it always starts right up without a problem. When the car has been idle for a while, you are supposed to "prime" the engine by leaving the key in the "on" position for maybe 10-15 secs, which operates the fuel pump and gets it ready to start by building pressure in the system. So, kind of like pumping, automatically.
That car has to be up there in the record books for plood sqare footage - even on the radio knobs! I suspect the varying patterns are factory applied - it is 1981 GM after all.
when i get my facts straight, i think i have a story about one of my SIL's who had one.
i'm going to let my wife ask her about it.
My recollection of the Cadillac diesel engine was that it was a big nasty noisy thing--agricultural.
the no start situation does usually have something like 'press the gas pedal all the way to the floor and release'. maybe that sends some sort of "oh crap it won't start" message to the ecu. :surprise:
being in Connecticut, i picture your commute something like 'Ice Road Truckers'.
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w83/British_rover/Motorcycles/CB750F1.jpg
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w83/British_rover/Motorcycles/CB750F2.jpg
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w83/British_rover/Motorcycles/CB750F3.jpg
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w83/British_rover/Motorcycles/CB750F4.jpg
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w83/British_rover/Motorcycles/CB750F5-1.jpg
These are from the day I picked it up with my Boss's purple Ranger Barney.
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w83/British_rover/Motorcycles/CB750F5.jpg
Now the bike is mostly dissembled. Head light off, forks almost off, engine just in the cradle by a couple of bolts. I need to bring a buddy over to help me list the engine. When I was 18 I could dead lift an engine from a 78 CB750Kall by myself from the floor to my work bench.
To preserve my masculinity I am going to postulate that the DOHC engine from a 79 CB750F is much heavier then the SOHC engine on the 78 750K.
Looks like a great project. And you can see the engine, no bodywork needed!
That reminds me, followed a scooter for a while to work today, probably one of those Chinese ones. At least the rider has ambitions - it had a "Harley Davidson" sticker on the back :P
The bike I bought probably needs an engine. That will cost me a few hundred bucks for a used one but I can sell all the usable components of my engine and probably net out to zero out of pocket.
It needs a few other things to like left and right side controls, calipers, carb rebuild etc.
All in and all with the initial 100 bucks I should be out less then 800 bucks. I have some of my old motorcycle gear and already bought some more on sale. I just need a helmet now and gloves.
Insurance is less then a 100 bucks a year as my insurance company pro-rates me for the shorter riding season up here.
For 4,000 bucks you could have three pretty nice classic Japanese bikes that will rarely break down.
As long as you don't want an older brit bike or harley your maintenance expenses won't be too bad.
I have room for one more bike in my garage now and if I shuffle things around better I can get a third one in.
I'd like a Cafe racer style first or second gen gold wing for the next bike
and maybe a Yamaha FZR 750 from the 80s in blue/white or red/blue/white.
or like this one
I also like the early mid 80s Honda Sabers with the V4. Fun bike tons of power unique sound.
The only cruiser bike I really like is the 1987 and 1988 Honda Super Magnas.
Rare bike only made them two years and only made a few thousand of them. Came in red, blue or black. Really ahead of their time with a water cooled V4 either 700 or 750 CC and shaft drive.
I don't like shiny cruisers or Harleys - too big and ostentatious. I like old BMWs, old military style bikes, and older style sportbikes. I do have to admit something else - I wouldn't complain if some kind of automatic clutch system could be made to work on an old bike (I know a couple modern bikes have it) as I am both lazy and distracted easily, and the whole shift-clutch system as I have experienced takes too much of my attention. I have this vision of simply being able to shift via the hand grip with no other work required.
Not too fond of Japanese bikes (a couple of them I am, though)--all my life I rode BMWs and British bikes, with a Ducati or two thrown in. I don't like heavy bikes that you need a crane to get off the ground or any bike with the "armchair" position. Cafe racers are a super slick way to go. Gorilla bars, a bizarre fashion, are, IMO, a death wish. Older guys don't like to ride cafe style, but I do. :P
As for reliability---unlike in cars, the Germans match the Japanese all the way.
I sooo don't like Harleys in any size shape or fashion.
British bikes are trouble, but they are wonderful to ride if you want the "pure" experience of a sharp-handling, very handsome, lightweight twin cylinder bike that sounds great and is easy to repair.(which you will do often). They aren't that fast however. Why exactly anyone wants to go 150 mph on a motorcycle on the roads we have in the USA, with our drivers on them, is another question. :P
I like some of the BMWs too. I really like the early 90s K75s with the three cylinder laying down on its side. Those seem like nice bikes but I have never ridden one. The problem is K75s in good shape blow my budget away too. Those bikes still seem to be in the 3000 dollar range.
Honda did make Hondamatic bikes for years on the late 70s and early 80s. They are a little troublesome and more underpowered but still plenty quick. I see CB450 hondmatics all the time on craigslist. Not sure they made the older standard style goldwings with automatics the newer full dress touring models did come that way.
Not a big fan of touring bikes but I think a a first gen goldwing stripped down like a very large cafe racer is a hot looking bike.
Didn't the GM diesels also have lights related to water in the fuel?
Right now there are two decent looking bikes I know of that don't require using a clutch - Aprilia Mana, which is kind of a naked sports style bike, and Yamaha FJR1300, which is a touring bike. I don't mind either of them, but the touring bike would have to be without the hard luggage - I don't like how those attachments look. Neither of them are exactly cheap, but I do think they both get good reviews.
I also really like old German sidecar bikes, but the originals cost a fortune (price a real R75 or KS750 - in Europe they can bring 50K properly restored), and I don't trust the Chinese/Russian copies.
Its called the Honda DN-01
http://powersports.honda.com/street/crossover.aspx
They are calling it a crossover. I think the term crossover just jumped the shark/nuked the fridge.
You could also get a Piaggio MP3
They make them up to 500 CC and are automatic with that cool tilting double wheel up front design. Probably the best urban assault commuter you can get.
The three wheeled thing is really weird to me. It reminds me of the "Can-Am" bizarre 3-wheeler, which I have actually seen on the road before.
Odd tuner, high price
Rare brick
Unusual bike
This thing has been for sale for at least a year and a half
The Saab - maybe it's the color that turns people off. A miled up Saab is a tough sell even at that price. People that need basic and cherap transportation in that price range will be looking at $2k Civics, Accords, and Corollas.
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
The MP3 is a fun scooter. The problem with the Can-Am spyder is that it doesn't lean. In high speed corners it feels really weird and they had to do funny stuff to it to keep the bike from getting tippy.
The MP3 leans over I think to a maximum of 40 degrees so it rides more like a traditional motorcycle or scooter but has twice the breaking and turning grip with the two wheels up front.
Wow---an Aztek motorcycle! Now we can celebrate UGLY in another medium!
All the Turbo Japanese bikes looked kind of like that then. Our parts manager has one of those CX500 turbos and it is an odd looking bike. Very quick though and the plastics are unobtainum. His ex-wife knocked it over once, on accident she swears, and chewed up the right side plastics. He has managed to replace the indicators and all the parts she broke but the one large fairing which he can't find.