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

fintail

Only if it has a Rolls grille and a moonroof :shades:

wevk

The "Suicide Knob" were a big item back then:

http://www.thehotrodgirl.com/suicideknobs.html.

explorerx4

Jay Leno video
I remember seeing at the 1964 World's Fair

oldbearcat

While I was at the University of Cincinnati in the 60's , a couple of Chrysler engineers brought one on campus, and, had it go through its paces for our class of budding mechanical engineers. It was an amazing vehicle for its time.

Regards:
Oldengineer

andre1969

I remember reading that one reason Chrysler scrapped the turbine concept was simply because it wasn't all that competitive at the time. A 4,000 lb car that could only seat 4 people, got 11 mpg, and did 0-60 in about 13 seconds simply was not competitive in the mid 60's.

But by the early/mid 70's, suddenly 11 mpg and 13 second 0-60 out of a 4,000 lb car that could hold 4 people in relative comfort seemed like the stuff of dreams! Chrysler did play around with turbines again, as I recall. At least I'm pretty sure I've seen pics of a Dodge Mirada that had been converted to turbine. But, it never really went anywhere.

I've heard they would run fine on almost any fuel, no matter how crappy it was.

qbrozen

Where to begin listing what is wrong here?

here's an oddball

Mr_Shiftright

The BMW wagon looks like a good deal if it's a) not a scam b) not a pile of German rubble disguised as a car.

stickguy

hey, the M6 must have wifi. pretty rare for a 1987. I figure this because it has a new "router".

but, getting past his weird ad and atrocious spelling of automotive part names, I love the car! would not want the maintenance cost, but I love the car.

I also like the wagon (being as I have a soft spot for them). just not with a slushbox. And that is the little V8, but hopefully late enough not to have the liner issues (probably would have had to be replaced by now).

if it was a 525 with a stick, at that price, I would be heading to long branch right now to look at it (well, I would be trying to convince you to run down there, since you are closer, and know a hell of a lot more about looking at an old BMW!)

isellhondas

Hey, that M6 has new breaks and new routers!

stickguy

Good. I hate when my router breaks, it really screws up getting onto the internet.

fintail

I like how the breaks 'n routers M6 also carries technical details for the 2005+ M6. Relevant!

Wagon looks like it could be a fair deal.

Mr_Shiftright

I always see strong prices for 80s era M6s in the price guides, but when they come to auction, they bomb. It's just not a well-understood car, and really, in the USA versions, nothing special because the Euro version had more HP and better performance. You have to "hand sell" them inch by inch to a narrow audience.

isellhondas

Anybody who would buy one of these without knowing EXACTLY what they would be getting into is a fool.

On the other hand, if the buyer is well aware of the pros and cons it could be a good thing.

Mr_Shiftright

I just don't find the USA versions of the M3 or M6, at least back in the 80s I mean, all that exciting, to the point that I would pay double for one over a regular 3 or 6 series coupe.

isellhondas

I totally agree with you. I find them interesting but unappealing.

I had one traded in once and the guy gave me a thick folder of repair invoices. One dead evening I spent an hour reading through them.

Staggering doesn't begin to describe the prices this poor guy paid to keep it on the road.

isellhondas

I guess I am totally out of touch. This pile of rusted junk has a bunch of bids and it's at over 1500.00.

I'm thinking there HAS to be some impossible to find parts lurking in all of that rust somewhere?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1956-BMW-Isetta-rare-early-bubble-window-/1405305- 31178?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item20b845bb6a

Mr_Shiftright

Well they are valuable and Isetta's aren't that complicated a car, so someone might break even on a restoration, especially if they have extra parts for it.

isellhondas

I must really have no grip whatever on the value of these!

A guy in my high school had one and he drove it around the running track one night. We all thought it was a joke.

He got drafted a couple of years later and I remember him trying to sell it for 200.00. It was red and it looked and seemed to run fine.

I had a harrowing ride in it once and I think I would ratehr walk than do that again!

texases

Speaking of 'no grip on value', how much do you think a restored VW Westy with the 'Syncho' option is worth? Well, guess again!

fintail

Crazy people with way more money than they can be trusted with...

Mr_Shiftright

Well he apparently "got a deposit" on it, which could be wishful thinking, but it IS a Westy unlike no other. It's not "over the top", it's in orbit.

Really you'd have to price it against highly customized hot rods or some such. It's no longer the car that the factory built.

I guess it's no worse than a stretch Hummer or some Maybach that will depreciate like a cinder block dropped off a bridge.

Still, that's a lot of motel bills you have to "save" to pay for this baby!

Well, at least you won't ever get a speeding ticket.

Is the new owner goin' 4-wheelin'? Why do I think not?

You have to remember, these Synchro Westys aren't cars---they are a CHURCH that you belong to.

ISETTAS -- their value has gone down now that they are no longer the flavor of the month with the big bucks set who wanted something cute for the Hampton summer house---but still, you could pull $40K at the right auction (down from $60K!!)

texases

Yep, those Westy fans are NUTS! Look around that web site, seems like about $40k is the minimum price of admission...ouch!

Mr_Shiftright

It's no sillier than buying a huge RV to go "wilderness camping". And I doubt it would suck dry a 100 gallon set of gas tanks in a day's drive like a Winnemongo would.

isellhondas

Wow!

I do know that even average Westys bring crazy money. the appeal to a small "cult" of people who almost worship them.

texases

Too bad there isn't much in between a Westy and an RV with a V-10 and a 10,000 lb GVW. No more Toyota pickup-based ones. I would think something with a modern 3.5l V6 and lightweight construction would good - compact, not too bad on the gas, enough room to travel in (a Westy is just too small for me).

wevk

2011 VW California Van

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nv0wwQc024A

fintail

What about one of those kind of neat Sprinter based things? That's what I would look into if I was feeling insane enough to want to do anything in an RV.

andre1969

I would think something with a modern 3.5l V6 and lightweight construction would good - compact, not too bad on the gas, enough room to travel in (a Westy is just too small for me).

I think a few companies build motorhomes off that Dodge Sprinter chassis, but I think they're pretty expensive.

For the most part, there doesn't seem to be much of a market for motorhomes below, say, a 24-foot class-C motorhome. It may not be the case anymore, but at one time, it wasn't cost-effective to make those motorhomes too small, because then everything inside had to be miniaturized and custom-built. So, sometimes you had those little suckers that weren't much more than conversion vans costing more than a real motorhome!

About 10 years ago, I came close to buying a 1974 Travco 220 motorhome (22-foot) with an industrial 440. Despite its relatively compact length, I'm sure it still would have guzzled with the best of them!

texases

I see that it's available in GB, as are lots of reasonably-sized campers. I imagine you could find it over here. But like I said, I'd want something a bit bigger.

stickguy

pretty slick.

If you really want a compact RV, build it off the transit connect chassis. Might have to stretch the wheelbase a tad, but you can pop the top.

Mr_Shiftright

I always liked those Dodge camper vans they made in the 80s. They were nicely equpped. Some even had pop-tops and roof AC and little ladders on the back doors. I wouldn't mind fixing one of those up. I could get a SAT hookup and talk to you guys while I drove around.

explorerx4

During my senior year in college 9 of us took one of those motorhomes from around Boston to Ft Lauderdale.
I am pretty sure we averaged about 6.5 mpg for the trip.

srs_49

Number of years ago my sister and her husband had a motorhome. They kept it parked on the cul-de-sac in front if their house, which made it almost impossible for anyone else to park around it. This was in one of those yuppity northern Virginia areas - Fairfax County, I think.

On one trip my sister was driving so her husband could get some sleep. He figured it would be OK as she was on an interstate - the only roads where she felt comfortable with it. Only thing was, it was a toll road and she got the thing stuck in the toll plaza, so my BIL had to be roused up to get it out.

andre1969

Here's a 1981 Champion for sale:
http://louisville.craigslist.org/rvs/2271457434.html

I think it's kinda neat because it's a bit wider than a regular van, but still narrower than a regular motorhome. It actually looks pretty big on the inside too, for its external dimensions. Sometimes pictures can be deceiving, though.

Mr_Shiftright

the "project" would be to change that interior---UGH!

texases

"the "project" would be to change that interior---UGH! "

I thought that came with all RVs! Even the new ones they show on those 'how it's made' type shows have some pretty garish interiors...

fintail

I don't think the target market for such vehicles is exactly the paragon of refined taste

hpmctorque

I'd say the interior goes perfectly with the exterior paint job. Wouldn't change a thing, unless I redid both. Of course, with what you'd spend for that you could buy a new/newer one. Wouldn't touch it.

oregonboy

Hey, at least it wasn't avocado-green!

andre1969

Sometimes I wish I'd bought that '74 Travco 220 I looked at back in late 2000. But, in retrospect, it was probably best I didn't. All the joys of an old car AND an old house, all rolled into one! But, it was only $2900 and ran well. It looked identical to this: http://selectric.org/Travco/index.html

stickguy

not tiny, but that seems much more manageable size than some of the beasts you see running around now.

just take an old school bus and give it the hippie treatment.

qbrozen

too bad no interior pics.

stickguy

talk about rolling the dice.

on top of everything else, a slightly blinged out M5 in the heart of Brooklyn? maybe not.

texases

Looks to be sitting oddly, too - low in the back, high in the front. No engine pics, either, I'd be worried about what shape that rare/expensive engine is in, give all the repeated "WORN/AS IS" warnings in the ad.

omarman

Here's a link to the seller's CL advert for that BMW M5 which has a link to lots of pics -- including interior and engine, etc.

qbrozen

ugh. I'd expect better seats for that price.
Stick, what do you mean about blinged out? What am I missing? Looks pretty standard to me, no?

isellhondas

With gas at current prices I'll bet a person cold damm near steal a motorhome!

lemmer

I bet some owners would love for you to steal their motorhomes about right now.

I have a friend who bought two huge ones for taking to college football games; said he'd rent on out and use the other. It seemed like a bad idea to me even back when the economy was going well...

texases

He did the opposite of me - I thought about buying one years ago (when in Anchorage), but decided it was WAY cheaper to rent, no headaches, nothing but pick it up and drop it off.

Why don't you ask him about the 'cash flow' on his RVs? Or maybe you want to keep him as a friend :P

hpmctorque

I think the seller is fishing for that "can't really afford one but gotta have an M anyway" guy. I know you're really good with a wrench, but the cost for parts could still lighten your wallet a lot.