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

fintail

Here's a kit, sounds like a bit of a job:

http://weistec.com/m156-head-studs-and-maintenance-package.html

But probably a lot better than waiting for total failure, and especially good if you can do the work yourself.

fintail

Cars of this time were not the zenith of the brand - not as iffy as a few years before, but it was still an uphill movement. I would almost imagine those engineers, who value complexity for the sake of complexity, would be just as susceptible to issues, if not more.

ab348 said:

Hmm. From reading online forums for years I assumed this was unique to GM's Northstar engines. Glad to see German engineers are not immune.

stickguy

That looks like the heads are coming off. And probably a whole lotta parts to get to them. Could be a fun weekend.

Mr_Shiftright

fintail said:

Some people today would want that Gucci Seville .

I am not sure if 70s MBs had horsehair or foam seat stuffing, but whatever it is kind of deflates with time, and you often see wrinkles on period cars, especially 116s.

The term we use for that is to call the seats "baggy".

fintail

And here's where the new market is in 2018

Mr_Shiftright

fintail said:

Here's a kit, sounds like a bit of a job:

http://weistec.com/m156-head-studs-and-maintenance-package.html

But probably a lot better than waiting for total failure, and especially good if you can do the work yourself.

Cars like this are in a bad place--they are just a bit too expensive to roll the dice on, and accept a possible total loss, but not worth enough to repair if you pay someone else to do it. The Porsche 996 is another example. You can buy a nice one for $20K, but if the engine cuts loose, it's $20K to repair.

omarman

Mr_Shiftright said:

fintail said:

Here's a kit, sounds like a bit of a job:

http://weistec.com/m156-head-studs-and-maintenance-package.html

But probably a lot better than waiting for total failure, and especially good if you can do the work yourself.

Cars like this are in a bad place--they are just a bit too expensive to roll the dice on, and accept a possible total loss, but not worth enough to repair if you pay someone else to do it. The Porsche 996 is another example. You can buy a nice one for $20K, but if the engine cuts loose, it's $20K to repair.

Sometimes you're the windshield
Sometimes you're the bug
Sometimes it all comes together baby
Sometimes you're just a fool in love

stickguy

Fin, that is nuts IMO. I actually really like that vintage PU. But would at least need to be an extra cab SR5. This one is too utilitarian. And not comfortable with the non reclining bench seat. Without even headrests (that aren't the rear window!)

qbrozen

fintail said:

Here's a kit, sounds like a bit of a job: http://weistec.com/m156-head-studs-and-maintenance-package.html But probably a lot better than waiting for total failure, and especially good if you can do the work yourself.

"Valve buckets"? That is a new one on me.

texases

They're the caps between the OHC and the valve, I'm guessing the adjustment shims are underneath.

fintail

No Xtra Cab until MY 1984, I think. Neat truck and the current bid shows there's a new movement - I think quite a few Japanese cars of that general area are up and coming, if they are in nice shape. If it was a 4x4, it'd be bid a bit higher.

My brother had one like this, a final year 83 model. He loved it, loaned it to a friend who crashed it. Insurance settlement was three times his purchase price, but he couldn't find a decent one to replace it even here, people are holding on to the good ones.

stickguy said:

Fin, that is nuts IMO. I actually really like that vintage PU. But would at least need to be an extra cab SR5. This one is too utilitarian. And not comfortable with the non reclining bench seat. Without even headrests (that aren't the rear window!)

isellhondas

fintail said:

Depending on the shocks, maybe not bad. Probably no harsher than my car with "sport" suspension and runflats. I worry most about the dash cracks - I suspect that job will be at least $1500 for parts and labor to replace, if you can find a new pad. The wood will be easy, and I even have an original head unit for that car just laying around.

For 107s, I think the most desirable are the best 560s, and the earliest 350/450s, pre-74. They bring much more in Europe than here.

Whatever you do, don't ever put Armor-All on your dash or it WILL crack! Ask me how I know.

isellhondas

omarman said:

Both seat cushions have been re-stuffed with OEM material.
What is "OEM material" for Mercedes seats circa 1973? Seller seems to rather avoid calling it out - whatever it is.

I'd still like to have a Gucci Seville with the luggage. I'd pass on the green Granada Mercedes.

Wow, never saw one! Were these really produced? I kinda like it!

omarman

Even well kept examples I've seen for sale over the years are missing the original luggage. And when someone pointed out that the Gucci Museum in Florence had a perfect Gucci Seville, it turned out to be the next gen FWD slantback.

Mr_Shiftright

Here you go: The ad says it "drives like a cloud"---I guess that means all "poofy"?

http://www.2040-cars.com/Cadillac/Seville/1979-cadillac-seville-limited-edition-gucci-beautiful-lt-300-produced--845091/

explorerx4

Almost had the 'Big One' when I saw the words 'original diesel engine', but luckily read further and saw it was replaced by a gas engine.

Mr_Shiftright

Gee, imagine what it would be worth if you had the original luggage AND the original diesel engine!

steine13

That headliner tho...

Mr_Shiftright

Lotsa Gucci-goo

explorerx4

Why are all those signatures on the glove box of the is car?
https://newhaven.craigslist.org/cto/d/1967-ford-mustang-deluxe/6560464211.html

Mr_Shiftright

15 minutes of fame. You know, Shirley. (I told you never to call me Shirley).

omarman

My uncle Larry's last car was a '69 Superbee and I always like those cars. But the '70 models were just too much "taxi" and not enough "super." This '70 Superbee project looks just too far gone. Still they want $5K and point out some missing parts. No engine, trans, etc.

stickguy

so that is what, a VIN tag, title, and some scrap metal?

isellhondas

Well, if they only made 300, that might explain why I've never seen one. Those were the " dark days" of diesels, V-6 engines in Cadillacs and 4-6-8 1981 Cadillacs. Things got even darker in 1982 when the wonderful HT 4100's wre introduced.

Mr_Shiftright

omarman said:

My uncle Larry's last car was a '69 Superbee and I always like those cars. But the '70 models were just too much "taxi" and not enough "super." This '70 Superbee project looks just too far gone. Still they want $5K and point out some missing parts. No engine, trans, etc.

If it was an original Hemi car, it might be worth restoring, but if it was a 383 engine code, then I don't see the point of it. It's just a rebadged road-runner.

sda

Mr_Shiftright said:

omarman said:

My uncle Larry's last car was a '69 Superbee and I always like those cars. But the '70 models were just too much "taxi" and not enough "super." This '70 Superbee project looks just too far gone. Still they want $5K and point out some missing parts. No engine, trans, etc.

If it was an original Hemi car, it might be worth restoring, but if it was a 383 engine code, then I don't see the point of it. It's just a rebadged road-runner.

Dad had a close friend that bought a new '69 Superbee. It was orange with white band stripe on the rear, black lift off fiberglass hood, 4 sp, 440 six pack, black steel wheels with narrow red stripe tires. He had power steering installed to make it easier for his wife to drive. I remember riding in it and the brute force of being pushed back in the seat when he drove it. And the V8 sound , to me a 10 year old, beyond compare!

berri

When I was growing up in the Chicago area, Mr. Norm's Grand Spaulding Dodge was the area's muscle car king. He had fast paced commercials like the stock car racetracks and I believe he also worked on Plymouth's besides Dodges. His dealership and expertise in this was big and powerful enough that he worked closely with Chrysler Corporate. They even figured out a way to stuff a Hemi into a Duster. god knows how I don't recall the area having a comparable place for GM or Ford muscle cars. However, I think Yenko Chevy's were limited to just a couple of Chevy dealers there at the time. Chicago was a huge GM market back in those days. Somewhere over 50% of sales there often were GM makes back then. As a kid I leaned Mopar, probably because most everyone else was always arguing Fords vs. Chevy. Interesting times.

berri

Say sda, this is ironic - just saw a 70 Plymouth Superbird sell at Barrett Jackson Palm Beach auction for $260K. Get this; cream colored with an automatic. Go figure! I don't recall ever seeing a Dodge Superbee in person, but did see a Plymouth Superbird once in a parking lot years back. Never knew what to make of those elevated spoilers. The elevation always made me think of a T-Tailed aircraft like B727 or DC9 which would increase lift rather than drag to keep the rear end down on a race car. But then no flaps, right

qbrozen

Only thing that makes sense to me is the first sentence:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1989-Land-Rover-Range-Rover/142753971816?hash=item213cccbe68:g:psAAAOSwbDZazh7E&vxp=mtr

fintail

No bids? No way!

stickguy

That probably drives nice but is hideous looking. At the price of a brand new one.

texases

What a joke. And why have an auction with a crazy high starting price? Isn't that what the reserve is for? This way he gets no information on what it's really worth.

qbrozen

i don't think he cares what it is really worth. As shifty would say, he'll need to buy a birthday cake for it each year cause it ain't goin nowhere.

I don't get the "glossy paint" comment. Must be a REALLY bad photographer.

Mr_Shiftright

qbrozen said:

Only thing that makes sense to me is the first sentence:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1989-Land-Rover-Range-Rover/142753971816?hash=item213cccbe68:g:psAAAOSwbDZazh7E&vxp=mtr

Always a good idea to start off telling bidders that if you don't understand the starting price, you're just stupid.

Aside from my usual birthday cake remark, I'd also add that this is an appropriate car for another one of my favorite comments---"this car really isn't for sale".

If you want to actually sell the car, rather than "troll" with a bare hook hoping to catch one hapless stupid fish by the tail, then you have to price it competitively. Did the seller actually consider what ELSE a person could buy for $75,000?

Answer: Some really nice machinery.

I would use the "Restoration Cost Formula" or "Hot Rod Formula" in this case. Add up your receipts, divide by 2, and start negotiating from that number.

So, $71,000 in receipts / 2 = $35,000 asking price. Negotiate like crazy and if you get in the high $20Ks, fall on your knees and thank heaven.

ab348

That Rover reminds me of the black & blue one Wheeler dealers made over a few years ago. In their case they went from matte pebble black to gloss white. And it looked far better than that thing.

qbrozen

hey, I got bad news for ya, buddy: it is barely worth the asking price EVEN IF IT WAS A RUNNER.

I give him props for taking so many undercarriage pics, but it just shows off how much is wrong with it. I call BS on the 50k miles unless they were the hardest miles possible. The mismatched (and wrong size) tires and swiss cheese muffler are the smallest worries here.

stickguy

If you can wait a month, I will be in that town for a pit stop and can take a look! Not the type of car I expect to find there though.

qbrozen

take a look at what? none I've posted, certainly. ;b

stickguy

The non running Rover. I’ll be in that boonies town.

fintail

If anything that "50K" car might never have spent a night in a garage.

Funny that "be realistic with your expectations" guy isn't realistic with his expectations.

qbrozen

stickguy said:

The non running Rover. I’ll be in that boonies town.

that just needs to go to the scrap yard. The labor alone far outweighs the value of the vehicle when fixed.

explorerx4

All that work put into that 'restoration' and they used OEM parts.
That just means it's gonna break again soon.

explorerx4

If you like big malaise metal.
https://hartford.craigslist.org/cto/d/live-auction-3-classic-cars/6567605188.html

stickguy

yeah. nothing in that auction for me!

tjc78

I’d rock the Tbird. That’s a rare car

The Lincoln’s aren’t my favorite colors, but I’d take the 79 Continental too.

fintail

T-Bird is pretty cool, I know I have mentioned I like the 77-79 angular design. Moonroof has to be quite rare, if it had T-tops, it would really be something.

ab348

I like that T-bird also, though I wonder what the seller means in the ad when he describes it having a new seat.

andres3

Kia Stinger at $40K has no moonroof option and a spare donut in the trunk.... Hmmm.....

qbrozen

? Premium 2.0T is $38k and has a moonroof.

berri

I think the manufacturers have been seeing how high they can push sticker prices the past few years given the low interest rates. HyunKia now has credibility in the US, so they can join in. Of course car (vs. truck/SUV) sales have been chilly lately, so I suspect you can get a chunk of the sticker reduced. But that particular car looks kind of greedy and it is another 2+ grand if you want awd. That buys a pretty nice crossover. I also think that is getting into Audi A3 pricing.