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

Mr_Shiftright

Hmmm....didn't see much I'd like to own except the '35 Riley Special. I"m sure the early Fords will sell, but some of the cars listed are just old used cars--money pits of no real interest.

fintail

Maybe nothing super fun, but lots of weirdos. I like the veteran material. A lot of the prewar American stuff is export model, which is historically interesting esp when they have local bodies (like the 32 Ford and 38 Chrysler). I love the weird Adler, which is a rare "Stromform" model and I bet will bring more than estimate. Condition isn't great on most, but that's typical for an old school museum - barn finds with 50 year old paint jobs.

lemmer

Wirewheel.com I was there with a guy who wanted the Intermechanica 356. It was a decent car, but I'd rather have a real Porsche for $14K. Pretty much all the cars were just drivers with a few scratches and bruises, which was nice because they didn't mind if you climbed all over their race cars to sit in them.

Mr_Shiftright

yeah, it sounds like a VW, and there's that big ugly hump in the floor, which the original doesn't have. But really, not a bad toy for $14K and replacing the VW engine when (not if) it blows up is a whole lot cheaper than replacing the porsche engine if it ever (not whem) blows up. :P

texases

"and replacing the VW engine when (not if) it blows up"

Recent 'Pawn Stars' reminded me of your comment that big-bore VWs are not long for this earth. Guy brought in a pretty sharp looking Cabrio, opened the 'hood', real sharp engine. Hopped up, 1800 cc, etc. 'How's it run?' 'It doesn't - blocks cracked, oil flows out.' :sick:

Mr_Shiftright

Oh big bore VW engines are like hand grenades with a loose pin. Aside from the stresses, nobody does the "math"---they bolt on big bores and cheapo flat top pistons, then flycut the cylinder heads, and they end up with compression ratios which are simply not sustainable.

You CAN build a reliable big bore engine but you really gotta spend some bucks to do that---maybe $6,000 or so.

qbrozen

95%? I think someone failed elementary math.

texases

This is probably the first '95% restored' claim I wouldn't argue too much about, compared to the jokes that we usually see. Why do you think it's so far off?

qbrozen

Well, for one example, I don't consider spray painting an engine while its in the engine bay to be "restoring" a car. The untouched rusty frame and exhaust don't lend themselves to the "restored" impression either.

So we need dash, carpets, steering wheel, bumpers, grille, correct badges, remove the body to blast and paint the frame, remove engine and give it a proper look, at the least, etc. And, in the end, its still a straight 6 truck.

I would call it "80% freshened," at best.

texases

True. But I guess I wouldn't throw much more money at it. 'Restored' is overstating it, you're right.

Mr_Shiftright

It was a typo--he meant 59% restored.

Looks like a real "rattle-can" resto job but really, for the current bid, it's okay. For $3K in a 60s pickup, you usually get some gawd-awful pile of junk.

gsemike

Been quiet here. i guess that it's already getting late in the season because not that many listings.

Poorsche

GTO Could be good if it's indeed restored and not just refreshed. Bet that it was originally vornado green and they should have kept it that way

GTO Wannabe

Some things to like here but not $10,000 worth

Calling Andre I always thought that this year was unique and pretty cool

Calling Andre again

Surprised this ever came with a 6

Weird choice to start with just the paint and stop there as well

qbrozen

1970 VW KARMANN GHIA 6,350 OR TRADE FOR A AUDI S4 OF EQUAL VALUE.

I wouldn't want to see that S4!

andre1969

I never was that crazy about the big '70 Pontiacs, although that does look like a nice example. IMO, that was sort of the opening salvo for the whole retro craze, although in those days they were calling it "neo-classic". That goldish color looks really close, if not identical, to a '69 Bonneville 4-door hardtop I once owned.

That Chevy truck looks like it could be fun!

As for that '70 Montego, the "V6" is a typo, although these cars did come with a standard inline-6. Can't remember if it was the 200 or 250, or the 240 that they used in the big cars.

gsemike

As far as the big 70s Pontiacs go, I always that they the 70 looked kind of lean and kind of funky before the completely bloated up

ab348

When they were new, I didn't care for the '70 Pontiac fullsizers. But now they are the ones I really like. That convertible is lovely.

Mr_Shiftright

Karmann Ghia--- not a bad lookin' Ghia, if it's not a rust bucket underneath. Trading for an old S4? Well that's a death wish.

70 Camaro----$7500 should be plenty.

1970 GTO -- older frame-on resto, obviously a color change---maybe $14K would do it.

70 Impala -- $3500 is about right on this--shoulda starter out with a better car

andre1969

With those big '71-76 Pontiacs, I actually prefer the '75-76 versions, which were more squared-off, with blockier sheetmetal. Unfortunately, performance was down by that time, so the earlier ones are probably more desireable, for those looking for one of these behemoths.

I never did like the '71 Pontiac...just too beaky and overdone up front. But I'm starting to like the '72-73. Maybe it's just the angle, color, etc, but that silver '72 convertible actually has a taut, muscular look to it IMO. With the '74, I'm not so crazy about the grille, which is a bit too upright and Mercedes-ish.

The '70 is probably a better car than any of those models, though. One minor annoyance I have with them though, is that year Pontiac started offering a 350 V-8 with a Chevy Powerglide in the Catalina, I guess to make the price lower. I think the vast majority still had the 400/Turbo-Hydramatic though. Still, I look at it as the start of a downward spiral for Pontiac. Suddenly, it wasn't as big of a step up from a Chevy as it used to be.

But then, Buick and Olds offered 350's in their LeSabres and Delta 88's, so maybe bringing the Catalina down from a 400 really did keep them more in line.

fintail

That nice Pontiac convertible would go well this this immaculate original car I spotted at a local small town car show a couple years ago:

qbrozen

Interior looks OK. Exterior is pretty good from 100 feet away. :confuse:

Mr_Shiftright

Calling it a "woody" is a real stretch. Maybe a "Plywoody"?

omarman

Rusted, no title, 1971 front clip, needs everything and seller wants $8500. :confuse:

Mr_Shiftright

VIN # makes no sense--that should be fun when trying to register it on a Bill of Sale.

Engine # is correct; however, a "completely rebuilt" 911T engine would cost $15,000, sooooo...........? Receipts would be nice.

Well he *might* get that but it would be rather foolish, since you can buy nice "drivers" for $20K and stunning cars for around $30K.

If you could get full receipts on the engine and offer $5K, you'd be okay because you can sell the engine and the rear clip if it isn't rusted.

fintail

I drove my old car to work a couple times this week, as I wanted to test the thermostat, and several co-workers had never seen it. The car was a hit, I was surprised that people seemed to love it. One guy in particular, who is probably the biggest gearhead there aside from me, was all over it - the seats, speedometer, and engine layout fascinated him. Had the car out in the hot weather this afternoon - running as sweet as a nut and looking decent. Old cars don't have to be expensive to be fun. Tomorrow is the annual local MBCA gathering, I'll likely be the only fintail there as I am every year. Gotta represent.

tjc78

Old cars don't have to be expensive to be fun

I think you have the "perfect" type of old car. Its odd enough to be a hit and in a condition that you can actually drive it.

When I am in the market again for an old land barge that is exactly what I want. It doesn't have to be a show car, but just look good, not rusty and be able to be reliably driven.

fintail

I think the same way whenever the idea of cosmetic restoration crosses my mind. Maybe a "10 footer" is the best kind of old car to have - you can drive it, but not worry about it.

Old car made it to the show and back just fine, and was well-received, as usual it was the only fintail there. I'll try to put some pics on photobucket this evening. Still seems to be running a little hot though, don't know if it is the car or the warm weather coupled with a mostly uphill freeway blast. Also noticed an odd smell coming from the car on the way back, the smell reminds me of an empty oven being on, a hot smell. All fluids seem to be OK and it runs fine, so maybe I am imagining things.

gsemike

Marvel Mystery Oil makes everything better

texases

At LEAST it has the original tires! :sick:

stickguy

brings back memories. In HS, I had a '74 (I think, could have been a '75) Gremlin X. same steering wheel and stripes. But mine was yellow (many shades!) and a 6 cyl with a 3 speed stick on the floor.

Mr_Shiftright

Quick call to the crusher for that one.

andre1969

Not to be nitpicky...but would a tire still hold air after 30 years? And would a Gremlin have come with radial tires? I know most normal cars had radials by '74, but AMC was backwards enough, I could see them still putting bias-plys on them.

ab348

My folks bought a new AMC Sportabout in 1975. There were several on the lot and the one in the color they wanted (beige) had bias-belted tires, not radials. They had the dealer switch the wheels/tires from a white one on the lot so they could get a set of Goodyear Polysteel radials instead.

xwesx

I imagine it would. When I bought my '69 C20 back in 1997, it still had all its original tires (with three of the four still holding air - about 25 PSI each), and that was 28 years later, with the truck sitting in the same spot for 23 of those 28.

Actually, I managed to find the original spare, buried under years of detritus out by their shed. I took it to a tire shop where they reconditioned the rim (it was a bit rust along the bead area) and remounted the original tire. I still have that thing sitting in the back of the truck, holding 60 PSI, as a spare. I even used it a couple of times in the past.... boy is it a rough-riding tire!

texases

Yeah, it could hold air. Just not at 60 mph! I imagine it would blow out pretty quickly.

stickguy

Just needs a little TLC in the garage, and good to go!

http://southjersey.craigslist.org/cto/3202696942.html

texases

Yeah, it could hold air. Just not at 60 mph! I imagine it would blow out pretty quickly.

fintail

I like the attitude of the seller, the caps are hard to read, but the gist of it is funny.

qbrozen

i want to send him a message just to laugh at him.

What a maroon.

gsemike

"A CLUNK FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE" = cracked frame. It happened on my friends 99

lemko

I think he forgot to place the decimal point between the 16 and the 00. I doubt this rusted hulk is even worth that much for scrap.

qbrozen

probably the cracked rear shock tower, yes? Common on those. They sell reinforcements, but they have to be installed BEFORE it happens.

Mr_Shiftright

I especially like the quote:

"THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AND HAS BEEN ON SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR A YEAR AGO. IT PASSES INSPECTION NO PROBLEM BECAUSE NOT ALL CARS EVEN HAVE AIR BAGS. "

boomchek

Sounds like a parts car more than anything. Even if you spend the $1000-$2000 to make it roadworthy, you're still stuck with an old BMW with a rebuilt title

bhill2

What a maroon.

You have made my day. It is so nice to come across someone else who appreciates the immortal Bugs Bunny.

qbrozen

The one thing that might give my diecast car collection a run for its money is my collection of bugs bunny memorabilia. Actually, the diecast car collection pales in comparison, mostly due to the fact that a great deal of the bugs bunny chotchkies reside in a large glass display case I acquired from a Warner Bros store when they were shutting them down many years ago.

In comparison, the cars are all crammed in a 30-year-old pressboard bookcase.

Not my pics, but this is the same case:

explorerx4

Either those cars were under valued by the auctioneers or there was some serious auction fever.
They all have their selling prices next to the thumbnail picture.
If you click on the individual car, they have the estimate on the right side.

fintail

I suspect some under-estimating to attract bidders - realtors like to do similar in hot housing markets, underpricing and creating a bidding war by newly hopeful potential buyers.

The Adler Stromform that caught my eye brought over 5x low estimate, and most cars I clicked on at least doubled low estimate. Crafty...

xwesx

The 1938 Maybach Zeppelin DS8 Roadster took the sales crown by a country mile (appx USD1.73M, from what I can tell) - approximately double the next nearest, which was a 1911 Rolls-Royce. And, in turn, that was about double the next nearest group. I guess there's still some value to those extremely old cars after all.

fintail

Just like the top 1% of wealth holders are faring well these days, the top 1% of the vintage car population is, too. Big brass cars seem to be strong too, especially Brighton eligible stuff.

steine13

Winner of the cake-taking contest:
http://lansing.craigslist.org/cto/3172698567.html