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Comments
I think those early Datsun 200SXes have some interesting styling details. Unfortunately, none of those details work very well together! When I was a kid, some friends of the family had one of those for awhile. They also had a Ford Maverick. Both of the cars were kind of beat-up by that time...this was the early 80's. My grandparents sold their '72 Impala to them in 1982 for $600. I think it replaced the Maverick, but not sure. Dunno whatever became of the 200SX.
I kinda liked the style of 200SX that followed, the style that ran from around 1980-83? The little notchback hardtop coupe was attractive, I thought.
I had completely forgotten about the 200SX...although in little Greenville, PA, we didn't see a lot of Datsuns then.
I see some '68 Buick in the side sculpturing; some Avanti in the quarter windows. I do kind-of like the taillights. But what is the purpose of that piece of trim above the fuel filler cap?
When I was a kid, my uncle had a 200SX fastback like this - I think it came after his Omni 024, and before a Chrysler E-class that was bought used:
I also remember a friend of the family had the notchback variant, I think it was two tone brown. Japanese cars of this period were extremely popular in the PNW.
The trim above the fuel cap on the 70s car is garnish - the Japanese makers loved a little gingerbread.
Speaking of a 735...
'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
That 200 SX is a lot better to my eyes...although I never liked cars that had three sets of side glass like that. In GM-land, I think that's why I didn't like the '74-76 Buick, Pontiac and Olds full-size two-doors. Ford did this trick a bunch, too.
For some odd reason, I actually like those '74-76 GM hardtop coupes, that tried to blend in the "Colonade" look, but still being a true hardtop. My first choice would be a '76 LeSabre. I think it works a bit better on the GM cars than some others, because of the way the C-pillar swoops. It makes me think, just faintly, of the old "Basket Handle" roof of the old '55-56 Crown Vic...just if it was moved back a bit, to allow a small roll-down window ahead of it.
With Ford cars of that era, the back window actually retracted into the C-pillar, rather than roll down. On the Mark IV, which had an oval opera window, the window that opened only retracted about half way, I think. On midsized cars, if you got a base model Torino or Montego, the back windows opened, but on the nicer models, with an opera window, they were stationary. Gotta love that attitude of making you pay more, but taking something away in the process!
Chrysler didn't really get into that habit of the 3-window look on their coupes until the 1980-83 Cordoba/Mirada which, interestingly, were done by former Ford stylists!
Fin, never have you made a more generous comment!
My father traded a half a cow for a Dodge Colt in the mid 1980s. It was a mid-70s model, two doors, manual transmission. For some reason, the picture of that Datsun reminds me of it (even though his was oxidized red w/ black vinyl interior that literally burned our legs in the summer).
My middle school science teacher had one of those in a medium-light blue metallic.
Are these finally getting some love? - childhood dream car for me, and this one looks amazing, excellent colors, and even the original plates.
Well low mileage 928 beauties have always gotten a lot of love--it's the 928 beaters that most people have the sense to shy away from.
Also that's an S4 AND it has a sunroof, so those are 2 plusses you will probably never see on craigslist 928s that are a wreck.
Buy 'em nice, treat 'em nice and you'll have a great car that will still cost you a lot of money! LOL!
@fintail.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bodVVtqmbZE
I will always associate the 928 with this movie scene
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/cto/4392406398.html
Probably won't see this too often.
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Oh, Andre needs that Pancho!
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Classic. The 928 also makes me think of this
http://youtu.be/lnkwtKX1S0I
I didn't know a non-GTS model could pass 20K so easily, even if it is nice. A late S4 is probably as good as it gets in that category though.
That ambulance does have to be pretty rare.
I like the 928 as well. First exotic car I saw as a kid was a 928 in the early 80s in Poland, where there were no exotics whatsoever. It was black and was parked on the street with a bunch of guys around it looking in and admiring it.
I still like them too, probably the last few years of production would be my favorite models.
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
They're probably crushed by now, but there's a junkyard down below Culpeper, VA, that used to have a 1961 Pontiac Bonneville ambulance, and a 1964 hearse.
The difference is due in large part I think to our ages, but those cars never did a thing for me stylistically. The roof reminds me of a '73 GM Colonnade coupe (although I do like those), and the wheels look like a plastic wheelcover IMHO only.
While I know a 928 can be a great GT, I just can't get past the 'googly eyed' headlights....
I was considering an inexpensive 928 not all that long ago. I believe it was something like $8k. But, man, that thing turned out to be a real fright pig. I'm also not a huge fan of the looks, but a v8 porsche? That's appeal enough.
'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
"inexpensive 928" HAHAHAHAH! April Fools!
And he had trouble losing a 77 Coupe de Ville
And the Big Butt ! You have to think of a 928 as a "cheap" supercar. It's quite luxurious inside --like living in a leather cave---it's more of a GT car, for long distance, high speed cruising. People still do race 'em, however. I had one and it's quite a seductive car--but everything costs $1500 dollars, no matter what it is.
I was expecting an AMC Pacer/928 comparison. I'd probably go for a GTS if I was after one, as values for those are rising already - but that blue S4 is awfully pretty.
Regarding Risky Business - it is a movie after all
- even a 928 of that era had a ~150mph top speed and a sub 7-second 0-60, not exactly lethargic during what was still a dark malaise era.
@texases well, ok, inexpensive to purchase, anyway.
'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
Another nice W126 on ebay - I prefer the 89+ facelifted interior, but this one looks good. Let's see where it goes.
. I'd say $8500 is all the money on a car like this, if you were a smart shopper.
Wow; the seller is asking $15K as a BiN price? In the Q&A section, he says, "I would take care of all these blemishes at the Buy It Now price." Yeah, I should hope so! Throw in a jacuzzi and you have yourself a deal! LOL
What do you do with a gas-eating monster like that anyway? Look rich for cheap I guess. Well, "rich" until Hans and Dieter get ahold of your credit card.
The thing's 25 years old, folks. A person could buy a much newer and just as nice Mercedes for the same $15K.
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/4401702559.html
11 year old relatively high miles W220 I don't know if I would roll those dice unless I can be assured airmatic and ABC are sorted. Be careful.
For the 560 - buy it now is indeed too high, that kind of money would be for something with lower mileage and more perfect condition, like the blue one from a couple weeks ago. Shifty's guesstimate is probably in the ballpark, anything much more than 10K would be tough - if really only needs a grand worth of work, seller needs to do it.
Hard to say without seeing the car in person. As for rolling the dice, you're doing that with ANY luxury German brand out of warranty, let's face it.
In the day, I worked with a guy who had that same car except as a wagon. Also an automatic. His quote, as I remember it was "It has no noticeable acceleration".
2009 BMW 335i, 2003 Corvette cnv. (RIP 2001 Jaguar XK8 cnv and 1985 MB 380SE [the best of the lot])
I don't know if one would look rich for cheap in a 27 year old MB - it's considered a vintage car now. No buyer is going to press it into daily service, it will likely be a sunny day car, and maybe taken to local MBCA events. My local show always has a nice few 126-124 era cars. True that any old car has risks - but less complexity = less risk.
The Datsun was insanely slow, but still could make you feel like you were living on the edge. Just go 50-60mph and imagine crashing.
Really? Are MB events that lacking in cars showing up that it has to fill it with modern and commonly found 4-door sedans? Well, I guess as a social occasion, no harm in that, but can this be the least bit interesting to anyone else?
Commonly found, but not so common in pristine condition. These cars are getting old now - oldest 126s are soon to be 35. Time is moving on and genuinely pristine survivors become less common.
Most MB events I have attended feature a ton of well kept 107s - a dime a dozen compared to a mint 126. The type of person who'd pay 10K for an obsolete luxobarge is the type who would be interested in one at a show - and these people do exist, as the cars sell. A nice 124 or even 140 would get some glances too - 500E and V12 models especially.
Okay. I just don't get it, I guess.
There's at least a small cult out there who reveres 80s era MBs - seeing it as the pinnacle of brand quality, and something that doesn't exist anymore.
Pricey cool parts to add to your 928
That white car pictured, wow.
Hmmm...that's the kind of folklore that might not stand up to scrutiny. They are just mass produced cars. The last hand-built Mercedes were in the early 1950s.
Maybe it's a generational thing? With regards to the W126, at least, I hold it in high regard. There wasn't much out there like it at the time. The first BMW 7-series was kind of a clunky looking thing, slab sided, with a somewhat droopy tail, and looking like it was designed by several different committees. And was Audi even a serious contender back then? I don't remember seeing much of Audi, until the early 80's, with the likes of the 4000 and 5000 models. And I wouldn't put a 5000 in the same class as a Benz S-class or BMW 7-series.
By the time the W126'es successor came out though, the Japanese were starting to crowd into this market with the Lexus LS and the Infiniti Q. And even Cadillac's stock in trade was no longer the big, grandiose battleships, but cars that were closer in size to a Benz S-class. And, over the years, BMWs and Audis seemed more on par with the S-class as well. So today, I guess, the S-class just doesn't seem quite as unique as it did when it was new. I think it's also aged very well.
As of this minute, with 3 hrs left in the auction, that F100 is up to $8223 and reserve has not been met.
Looks OK on the outside. But no interior pics and, man, something that size with a 6-cyl and automatic? Gotta be quite the pig.
'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
I wondered how BMW could design the beautiful 6 and clunky 7 at the same time...
62 Bel Air -- it's not too bad from a stoplight but it runs out of steam pretty quick. Not a car you'd want to pass anyone in.
F100--the dealer has good feedback though. I think the bids are fair at $8200. He should let it go, or if he wanted more, he should have shot the undercarriage. It could be just a tarted up old truck.
I sure like a '62 Bel Air Sport Coupe ('bubbletop'), but they're rarely seen, and ones you do see make you think every single solitary one was a 409. I like the '62 bottom and '61 roof, a one-year-only kind of thing. I'd probably take one, even with the cheapo interior, over an Impala of the same year.
Yeah, that is interesting, and I agree, the 6-series is a nice looking car. Maybe BMW was just better at styling coupes in those days? Looking at pics of the old Bavaria, I think the coupe looks pretty sharp too, but the sedan, also kind of clunky.
I guess the same thing has happened with the domestics over the years, where it seemed they'd usually put more styling effort into coupes than sedans. It's almost like they'd put the emphasis on getting the coupe just right, but then they'd style the sedan so that it would use as much of the coupe parts as possible. Sometimes it would work, sometimes it wouldn't.
I've seen some old Consumer Reports tests of cheap big cars from that era, and usually a 6-cyl Ford, Chevy, or Plymouth was good for 0-60 in about 15-17 seconds. A base V-8/automatic would usually knock that down to around 12-14 seconds.
Nothing to crow about, but those times would only get worse as the years went by and the cars got heavier. By the mid 70's, it was a miracle if a compact with a 6-cyl would do 0-60 in 15-17 seconds. Full-sized cars got so heavy that for a few years, V-8 power was standard across the board...350, 351, or 360.
And, in those early 60's cars, the gearing was short enough that the cars probably jerked you around some so you felt like you were taking off and having fun, even if you really weren't.
Actually that 62 Chevy with a 235 Powerglide isn't as gutless as you might think.
It'll keep up with modern freeway traffic just fine.
True, but hand built isn't part of it. It's comparing it to newer cars, relative material/build quality, etc, timeless styling too. I don't know if any car today will be ahead of the curve as much as those cars were when new. And they still feel like machines that will last forever when cared for - which isn't a feeling had by some later models.
Yes these days it seems that a lot of mid level cars have pretty much the same tech as upscale brands. You can buy a $35k mid size sedan and it'll have pretty much same or similiar options as something that costs $100k. I wonder if we reached a plateau in terms of automobile advancement.
Back in the 80s and early 90s there was a lot of difference in lower end vs upscale models: ABS, airbags, multi zone climate control, power adjustable seats, better sound systems, etc....
It's hard being ahead of the curve nowadays. Maybe new propulsion technologies might give a brand an edge, but that's about it.
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
yes, what you say makes sense on one level, but I still see them as money pits. Some say timeless styling, some say old and stodgy.