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

stickguy

the MB at least does not seem rusty. if it wasn't a 4 door, could make an interesting resto mod. If you were insane.

Mr_Shiftright

ab348 said:

I rather like that Jag.

Seems like he was going a good job and wasn't really all that far away. I guess he spent more than he could afford and had to bail.

Mr_Shiftright

explorerx4 said:

That Jeep looks like a G Wagen only better.

I really like those old Jeep station wagons a lot. Classic looks, unpretentious, but very tough. A little turbo diesel in one of those, with a 5-speed would be nice, with an overdrive 5th gear. Some vintage AC, rack and pinion, disc brakes, bigger tires and some tunes.

isellhondas

Mr_Shiftright said:

The Few......The Brave.....Apply Here:

Would Make a Lux Chicken Coop

I'm Speechless on This One

Yeah, well....good luck...

Kinda Surprised He's Giving Up at This Point

I Like These But I Don't Like Rust

Good Parts Car

See now, I thought you would be all over that Jag....no?

Mr_Shiftright

I know better. The 3.8s are notoriously difficult to restore. They have a very complex body construction that makes it devilishly difficult to "get in there" and root out the rust or straighten the panels.

My favorite Jaguar would be an early E-Type coupe.

isellhondas

They can be nasty too but at least you can see better once inside!

Mr_Shiftright

Yep, all Jaguars are a royal pain to work on. I always thought the MGB was the easiest Brit car to master.

fintail

My cousin (wide range of ages in my family, she's 60, I think) has had this Falcon wagon sitting around for ages. She recently decided to get it back on the road. I think this is the most light it has seen for a long time. 1962, I believe.

fintail

My cousin (wide range of ages in my family, she's 60, I think) has had this Falcon wagon sitting around for ages. She recently decided to get it back on the road. I think this is the most light it has seen for a long time. 1962, I believe.

explorerx4

Is she turning it into a PHEV?

stickguy

I like the vintage K-whopper behind it. Sharp.

Falcon is probably terrible to drive stock. But, keep the body and create a GT 350 underneath, and you be talking!

berri

What's the story on the semi truck? Don't see lots of cab over engine semi's these days. The metal roof rack on that Falcon wagon is actually functional rather than decorative like most these days.

fintail

Tesla powertrain in a Falcon would be quite a sleeper

I don't know about the truck. I think they have an orchard, or at least live adjacent to one (eastern WA, hence the clean condition of the car), it might be used for hauling there. Her husband is into vehicles. I think. Maybe I'll remember to ask her/

isellhondas

fintail said:

My cousin (wide range of ages in my family, she's 60, I think) has had this Falcon wagon sitting around for ages. She recently decided to get it back on the road. I think this is the most light it has seen for a long time. 1962, I believe.

Yes, it's a 62 and it probably has the 170 engine. Not horribly underpowered and so easy to work on when the need arises. The weak spot on those was the front suspension. Since it's up in the air, grab the RF wheel at 3:00 and 9:00 and wiggle it back and forth! Idler arms didn't last long and neither did tie rod ends or upper ball joints. You'll have to check the ball joints in a different manner. Front end replacement parts are not expensive and easy to find. Once replaced they won't go bad again. Nice wagon and worth some effort and cash to end up with a nice little car! I like the fact it's a wagon!

fintail

I think she has some sentimental attachment to it, not sure how long it has been in the family, but it has been awhile. I'll check it out if I am over there again in the summer/fall - I suspect/hope they know how to deal with the suspension. Give it a cut and polish and a good detail, and I think it would be presentable, too. I always liked the curved rear glass on those wagons.

I might send a message about the semi tractor too - I think something like that, with its round lights, has to be late 70s-early 80s vintage, maybe.

ab348

She could do a full resto on it and make it like this one. Sadly I think it would be a money-losing proposition.

https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/cars-for-sale/ford/falcon/1999275.html?refer=blog

fintail

I think a full resto on most cars is an easy way to run in the red. I like the color combo of that 61 though, reminds me of my dad's 60 Country Sedan.

Speaking of that car, I was browsing around lately, and found this ad apparently created from an ebay auction maybe? - this is very much like my dad's car, save for the iffy skirts, dumb ride height, and wrong in many ways wheels. I remember that upholstery pattern and door panels clearly. I'd still like to know what happened to the car, but as we didn't keep any documents, and my dad wasn't sentimental, when it sold, it was gone. Never saw it again.

Found this on another forum, I have to say this is worth it (if it is solid and is as good as it looks) - given the increasing collectibility of older Japanese cars, and the rarity of this one.

stickguy

Like that prelude. Never heard of a convertible version before. Actually looks much better. Reasonable price. But top looks like a bear to put on with all those snaps. And I doubt very watertight.

isellhondas

That Falcon would just make a great driver as is. I wouldn't go crazy trying to make it a show car. In it's time it represented sensible cheap transportation for the masses and I think it is still up to that task. I like it!

ab348

Fin, I see there's another red/white 1960 Country Sedan on that site but with a few more issues. I wonder what those are like to drive these days.

Mr_Shiftright

Slow and steady. Should be no problem on a freeway but you'd have to be careful on entrance ramps. Brakes, of course, need some distance adjustments on the part of the modern car driver.

berri

I learned to drive in my dad's 60 Ford. It was a tank. Very long and very wide, while you sat kind of low behind the wheel. They also tended toward tin worm in areas around the wheel wells and on the rocker panels. Like the 59 Chevy, it was a rather unique style and look though.

fintail

I saw that one I think, the one missing the rear rocker/quarter panel stainless trim? That kind of has me concerned. I see the seller also calls it a Squire, maybe it was de-wooded, or rusted out in the rear quarters (I understand these cars love to rust) and the trim not replaced. I see both red cars have a 352, same engine as my dad's car.

I did some practice driving in it when I had a learners permit ~25 years ago. It feels every bit as wide as it is, and the gunsights on the fenders are handy.

ab348 said:

Fin, I see there's another red/white 1960 Country Sedan on that site but with a few more issues. I wonder what those are like to drive these days.

fintail

My dad's car was lucky enough to escape the rocker/quarter panel rust, but the front passenger floor went, via a leak. He patched it himself. The rest of it was solid. The car attracted a lot of attention even back in the 90s.

The car in that ad is like my dad's - 352, red and white on red and white (no AC though), and no reverse lights, which were optional that year.

berri said:

I learned to drive in my dad's 60 Ford. It was a tank. Very long and very wide, while you sat kind of low behind the wheel. They also tended toward tin worm in areas around the wheel wells and on the rocker panels. Like the 59 Chevy, it was a rather unique style and look though.

berri

I forgot all about those gun sights Fin

The cars had those indentations on the rear fender that were mirror image of the tail lights. I remember a lot of people in the Chicago area would put red reflective tape in them to imitate taillights. My dad didn't like "crap" on his cars though.

fintail

I remember the bumper design too. I thought the optional reverse lights might have been meant for that, but they were round lights tacked on, inboard:



I remember that grab handle for the rear hatch/gate, too. It was a cool car, always attracted attention, and eventually was pretty reliable. It had been off the road for several years, and my dad sort of re-commissioned it, as it wasn't running when he brought it home. Sold it on a whim - I am not sure why, as he liked it, but he had a few old cars at the time, and my parents weren't getting along perfectly then, maybe that was part of it. If I found a nice one just like his for sale, it'd be very tempting (but a logistical nightmare, as the old car I already have is more than enough). These cars are so rare though, the odds are pretty slim. I suspect his car was exported or maybe somehow written off or sold to a hermit, as I have never seen or heard of it since, and there are only so many of these out there.

ab348

^^^ That rear perspective is a great shot.

berri

I like that shot too. I think it was one of the last wagons with a two piece tailgate. Most everyone had moved on to the tailgate with a moving glass window instead. That is a feature they should bring back.

imidazol97

fintail said:

I remember the bumper design too. I thought the optional reverse lights might have been meant for that, but they were round lights tacked on, inboard:



I remember that grab handle for the rear hatch/gate, too. It was a cool car, always attracted attention, and eventually was pretty reliable. It had been off the road for several years, and my dad sort of re-commissioned it, as it wasn't running when he brought it home. Sold it on a whim - I am not sure why, as he liked it, but he had a few old cars at the time, and my parents weren't getting along perfectly then, maybe that was part of it. If I found a nice one just like his for sale, it'd be very tempting (but a logistical nightmare, as the old car I already have is more than enough). These cars are so rare though, the odds are pretty slim. I suspect his car was exported or maybe somehow written off or sold to a hermit, as I have never seen or heard of it since, and there are only so many of these out there.

There were factory option reflectors for that spot on the bumper.

fintail

Cool, I was thinking I had seen something like that. That car is highly accessorized - reflectors, back up lights, antennas, passenger mirror, full wheel covers.

imidazol97 said:

There were factory option reflectors for that spot on the bumper.

isellhondas

I would be happier without the rear antennas, spotlight or rear reflectors but that's me. It's still a VERY nice car! Add a hokey Continental Kit or fender skirts and I am GONE! I'm seeing these more and more and I can't understand how anyone thinks they improve the looks of a car!

Growing up I NEVER ONCE saw blue dot taillights and I have to think they would be illegal in a lot of areas!

fintail

I like the antennas. I didn't notice the spotlight, thought it was just a weird mirror . I wouldn't want the spotlight on a 60 either, it's not a police car nor a car from 1948.

ab348

I can't stand spotlights on any old car.

omarman

I saw blue dot tail lights on cars and even trucks when I was growing up. But I saw and heard lots of other "accessories" like straight pipe exhausts, etc. that may not have been legal but still on the street. For a while anyway!


At a Speedway near my home I've seen guys try to buy beer with no picture ID. When the cashier refuses to make the sale, they shrug, go out and get into a pickup with a bunch of other guys and drive away! Not legal to drive with a license but still there they go down the street.

fintail

I suspect enforcement of those lights was by discretion, depending on LEO mood and behavior/profile of the driver. Plenty of similar things go on today.

isellhondas

ab348 said:

I can't stand spotlights on any old car.

I grew up in a Chevy town where the ultimate "short" was a 1948-1954 Chevy. Of course they were lowered and the manifolds were split. A straight pipe on one side and an 18 inch glass pack on the other. Such a sweet sound! They sold phony dual spotlights that were called Appletons. Guys would buy these and mount them. I nevr cared for them. We never had blue dot lights and IF the Chevys we bought happened to have a windshsield visor it was promptly removed and scrapped! I don't care for them at all but I have to wonder how much some of those Fulton Visors woujld be worth?

Then, if we had an extra 100.00, a day long trip to Tijuana was in order for a FULL Tuck and Roll interior!

isellhondas

omarman said:

I saw blue dot tail lights on cars and even trucks when I was growing up. But I saw and heard lots of other "accessories" like straight pipe exhausts, etc. that may not have been legal but still on the street. For a while anyway!


At a Speedway near my home I've seen guys try to buy beer with no picture ID. When the cashier refuses to make the sale, they shrug, go out and get into a pickup with a bunch of other guys and drive away! Not legal to drive with a license but still there they go down the street.

Cops would pull us over and they would measure the distance between our frames and the payment. If they were tool low we got a fix it ticket. Then they would have us rev up the engines to check for exhaust noise.

If we were driving along and spotted a cop we would quickly step on the clutch and hope it didn't rap!

omarman

If we were driving along and spotted a cop we would quickly step on the clutch and hope it didn't rap!

A girl I knew from New Albany had a Mustang with straight pipes and always, always soft pedaled the gas until we were a few blocks from her house. We were just kids then and thought we were getting away with something but her dad put it into perspective..."You don't think I can hear those pipes when she opens it up 3 blocks away?!"

berri

Nothing wrong with a good set of pipes

isellhondas

berri said:

Nothing wrong with a good set of pipes

Especially on an old Chevy. Find a nice hill in a quiet residential neighborhood and drive down that hill about 35 MPH and throw it in second gear.....so sweet!

fintail

Here's a fun (long) discussion about an expensive VW bought at a famous auction

texases

A hu hu hundred and tw tw twenty five K??? Wow...

Mr_Shiftright

What a mess. You'd be amazed at what I see sometimes. One of my favorites recently was a Porsche 356C coupe, welded together from two halves of two different cars--but laterally, side to side, not front to back. (I guess it doesn't matter much, but structurally? Yikes!).

Of course, badly re-stamped engines, swapped body plates, faked Chevelle SSs, faked fuelie Corvettes (body from one, frame from another, engine from a 3rd car).

That really sucks that the auction house is saying "not our fault--we don't authenticate".

ab348

fintail said:

Here's a fun (long) discussion about an expensive VW bought at a famous auction

A very sad story indeed. The price those VW 23-windows bring is insane, but then of course the numbers certain muscle cars bring is even more insane.

I always wonder how many of these "gems" are similar to that one.

toomanyfumes

Wow, that was an interesting discussion..

ab348

Mr_Shiftright said:

That really sucks that the auction house is saying "not our fault--we don't authenticate".

Yeah, though I can't say I'm surprised.

I remember B-J reversed a sale of a Dave Kindig car a few years ago and returned the money to the buyer when the history of the car was misrepresented. Don't know how often that happens though. And this isn't B-J.

I do wonder why the buyer never stuck his head underneath the thing to see some of those hacked-together pieces. He clearly wasn't at all conversant with what one of those was supposed to look like in the first place. Maybe the Mecum venue doesn't make that feasible, I don't know.

Mr_Shiftright

That's why auctions are risky. You don't have the time or equipment to really go over a car.

I always find it interesting how things develop as I look over a car, and take my time.

"They" say that the pros can walk around a car for a few minutes and know all there is to know. That might very well be true at a dealership where the trade-in man is looking at cars that are 3 to 7 years old, but on these classics you really do have to "get in and get under".

Speaking of which---some things haven't changed:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bV1Nkruquwg

Michaell

ab348 said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

That really sucks that the auction house is saying "not our fault--we don't authenticate".

Yeah, though I can't say I'm surprised.

I remember B-J reversed a sale of a Dave Kindig car a few years ago and returned the money to the buyer when the history of the car was misrepresented. Don't know how often that happens though. And this isn't B-J.

I do wonder why the buyer never stuck his head underneath the thing to see some of those hacked-together pieces. He clearly wasn't at all conversant with what one of those was supposed to look like in the first place. Maybe the Mecum venue doesn't make that feasible, I don't know.

Having attended the Mecum auction in Denver last year, the cars are out on the floor, available for inspection. You might get strange looks if you crawl under a car, but nobody is going to stop you.

Mr_Shiftright

Oh, I know, I've done it before. But some cars are locked, and if you don't have your little toolbox, it's hard to do some things---I.D. numbers aren't always easily seen and most people don't own a paint meter or carry a magnet. Some owners are very touchy, too. You also may not get a chance to try out the convertible top or the heater, etc.

I always liked the motto my friend Johann used: "Remember--every car at an auction is an abandoned car".

stickguy

just read that whole thread. Wow. Learned way more about early buses than I ever expected. And confirmed I should probably stay the hell out of the collector car market.

though I do know enough to have a pro inspect anything I was interested before paying the money.