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

texases

Just that it's from that era is enough. I read an old comparison article of fast pony cars in Car and Driver. They ALL had lots of drivability issues.

Mr_Shiftright

"Fuel injection is intelligent; carburetors are stupid"

(I didn't make that up, I just read it somewhere)

berri

IIRC 426 hemi Cuda's (and midsize as well) were a handful in real driving.

Mr_Shiftright

They are ornery in low speed operation, yes, and also like to overheat. You wouldn't use one as a Parade Car, that's for sure.

explorerx4

Probably pretty rare.
https://hartford.craigslist.org/cto/d/real-barn-find-1960-mercury/6599993891.html

texases

explorerx4 said:

Probably pretty rare. https://hartford.craigslist.org/cto/d/real-barn-find-1960-mercury/6599993891.html

Thank goodness!  Not a look I like. 

ab348

Price seems optimistic but you'd likely be the only one at most shows. I don't mind it.

berri

That was an unusual styled car. I think the 59 pulled that styling off a little better, but just my personal thoughts.

stickguy

even by the standards of 1960, that unit is Homely.

berri

Maybe this is why by '61 Mercury basically became a Ford.

explorerx4

I kind of feel like the rear glass is a windshield from an earlier car.

ab348

explorerx4 said:

I kind of feel like the rear glass is a windshield from an earlier car.

Both the front and rear windows are compound-curve glass, probably made from unobtainium today.

Mr_Shiftright

Yeah, it's homely and overpriced by about $4,000--$5,000, but you'll have the only one at Show N' Shine. Seller will be singing Happy Birthday to this baby if he hangs tough on price.

fintail

Took the old dear out for a spin today, fired right up and ran fine, enjoyed the sun. Got one noticeable thumbs up, and turned heads as usual:

benjaminh

fintail said:

Took the old dear out for a spin today, fired right up and ran fine, enjoyed the sun. Got one noticeable thumbs up, and turned heads as usual:

Beautiful car imho. True classic. Apologies for not remembering, but is it c.1960 or so?

andres3

fintail said:

Took the old dear out for a spin today, fired right up and ran fine, enjoyed the sun. Got one noticeable thumbs up, and turned heads as usual:

You just don't see one of those too often. Saw one of those older gull-wing MB models at a recent car event, it was in great shape too.

fintail

Thanks.

The W111 fintail was made from 1959-1965, and from the exterior is virtually unchanged. This is a later run car, 64, which benefits from advancements like dual circuit brakes and 4 speed auto.

benjaminh said:

Beautiful car imho. True classic. Apologies for not remembering, but is it c.1960 or so?

fintail

A gullwing, now well into 7 figures, is in another universe, but they do have early FI in common.

I remember the first time I was able to drive around LA, I thought there would be fintails and odd cars everywhere. Nope, the good ones were put away a long time ago.

andres3 said:

You just don't see one of those too often. Saw one of those older gull-wing MB models at a recent car event, it was in great shape too.

benjaminh

fintail said:

Thanks.

The W111 fintail was made from 1959-1965, and from the exterior is virtually unchanged. This is a later run car, 64, which benefits from advancements like dual circuit brakes and 4 speed auto.

benjaminh said:

Beautiful car imho. True classic. Apologies for not remembering, but is it c.1960 or so?

Well, so that's what a Mercedes looks like for the year I was born....

fintail

If you bought a MB sedan from MY 1961-65,it was almost certainly a fintail, unless you got a final run ponton/Adenauer or an early 600.

Of course, by that time fins and chrome were passe, and MB had a more modern car available too:

benjaminh said:

Well, so that's what a Mercedes looks like for the year I was born....

bhill2

fintail said:

Thanks.

The W111 fintail was made from 1959-1965, and from the exterior is virtually unchanged. This is a later run car, 64, which benefits from advancements like dual circuit brakes and 4 speed auto.

benjaminh said:

Beautiful car imho. True classic. Apologies for not remembering, but is it c.1960 or so?

I may have posted this story before, so forgive me. One of my father's co-workers, who had been sent over to Germany to help open a new subsidiary, came back with a fintail (either a 220S or a 220SE, I think the latter). Keep in mind this was semi-rural Washington state in the early 60s. VW Beetles were considered a curiosity. The speedometer was, of course, scaled in kilometers. His high-school aged son loved it; you wouldn't believe how much cred was conveyed by an exotic European car with a speedometer that went up to 180. He even worked up a routine. He would get some fellow students or such into the car, find a secondary road, run it up to '100' (in third gear), shift into high, and give a spiel about how these cars were designed for the autobahn and even at 100 were just loafing. Pulled it off, too. Seemingly no one looked out the side windows to see that the scenery was going by at about the speed expected for a car traveling at highway speed. I have no idea what happened to him, but I've got to wonder if he didn't make a fortune selling annuities or stock options or such.

fintail

Funny story. Even better as the fintail speedometer (unusual vertical display, if you recall) tends to be a little optimistic. US spec gasoline models display up to 120, diesels up to 100 IIRC - the latter is a wish upon a star.

bhill2 said:

I may have posted this story before, so forgive me. One of my father's co-workers, who had been sent over to Germany to help open a new subsidiary, came back with a fintail (either a 220S or a 220SE, I think the latter). Keep in mind this was semi-rural Washington state in the early 60s. VW Beetles were considered a curiosity. The speedometer was, of course, scaled in kilometers. His high-school aged son loved it; you wouldn't believe how much cred was conveyed by an exotic European car with a speedometer that went up to 180. He even worked up a routine. He would get some fellow students or such into the car, find a secondary road, run it up to '100' (in third gear), shift into high, and give a spiel about how these cars were designed for the autobahn and even at 100 were just loafing. Pulled it off, too. Seemingly no one looked out the side windows to see that the scenery was going by at about the speed expected for a car traveling at highway speed. I have no idea what happened to him, but I've got to wonder if he didn't make a fortune selling annuities or stock options or such.

explorerx4

Could be wrong but it seems like some of the same things were paid for a few times.
https://westernmass.craigslist.org/cto/d/1975-ford-ranchero-gt-351/6598145939.html

stickguy

only $10 per HP. Cheap!

Mr_Shiftright

A rather bodacious HP claim for what's on the engine. Normally that much HP would cost you around $7500.

omarman

I just glanced at the info posted by seller and noted that the paper work identifies the engine as a 351/400M which is not a 351 Cleveland. There was no 351 C option for 1975-on...just saying.

My 1975 Elite driver's ed car had the same 351 base engine, no 4bbl option, etc.

Even if the seller's ad implies a 351 Cleveland upgrade, the hooker headers identified as 6125 HKR fit the 351/400M.

berri

An Elite - pretty nice ride back then for driver's ed. My driver's ed was in a Dodge Coronet.

ab348

berri said:

An Elite - pretty nice ride back then for driver's ed. My driver's ed was in a Dodge Coronet.

@omarman must have gone to one of those schools in the ritzy part of town.

xwesx

That is one ugly Ranchero.

tjc78

omarman said:

I just glanced at the info posted by seller and noted that the paper work identifies the engine as a 351/400M which is not a 351 Cleveland. There was no 351 C option for 1975-on...just saying.

My 1975 Elite driver's ed car had the same 351 base engine, no 4bbl option, etc.

Even if the seller's ad implies a 351 Cleveland upgrade, the hooker headers identified as 6125 HKR fit the 351/400M.

Looks like a Cleveland block to me, but everything else says otherwise.... interesting.

omarman

3 hours left on the ebay Ranchero. Current bid is $4,700 with reserve not met.
edit to add ebay link here .

Listed on another site the seller stated, "Paint is old. Has a new 351 crate engine with 500 miles on it... driver's seat repaired with duct tape. all glass is good. electric windows. 3 years and 14,000 invested. no money and no time to finish. would let go for 10,000 or best reasonable offer."

Forget the duct tape for seat repair. Bring the wood.

Mr_Shiftright

I wish they'd bring bench seats back, don't you?

stickguy

no

Mr_Shiftright

put your joke glasses on, stick

fintail

That thing is way too hipster for me - buy it and your mustache wax budget will go through the roof.

qbrozen

Mr_Shiftright said:

I wish they'd bring bench seats back, don't you?

I know you were making a joke about the wood bench, but my truck does have a front bench and I love having that way more than having a console in the way.

berri

Got a necker knob on the steering wheel to go with it

Mr_Shiftright

CHEAP CORVETTES:

The Least Popular C4

A Newer C4, but still of limited interest

It's an L98 but it's tired

Here's a case where "no engine or transmission" is a GOOD thing!

andres3

What do you all think of this as a more fun cushy comfortable commuter car:

2005 Audi A6 with the solid 3.2 V6 in beige inside and out (which I like). Good condition from the pictures.

Pros:

15,000 miles
Single Owner (said to be a Doctor in Coronado with a 2-mile commute to help explain the low mileage).
No "major" accidents (this one is a bit alarming since the word "major" is used.
Everything said to work "great."


They are asking $10,800 lowered from 12,000 originally asked for.

Is this a deal? A steal? A rip off? Any problems with the old 3.2 V6? The low mileage concerns me being 13 years old. I suppose replacing everything made of rubber is in order?

xwesx

andres3 said:

What do you all think of this as a more fun cushy comfortable commuter car:

2005 Audi A6 with the solid 3.2 V6 in beige inside and out (which I like). Good condition from the pictures.

Pros:

15,000 miles
Single Owner (said to be a Doctor in Coronado with a 2-mile commute to help explain the low mileage).
No "major" accidents (this one is a bit alarming since the word "major" is used.
Everything said to work "great."


They are asking $10,800 lowered from 12,000 originally asked for.

Is this a deal? A steal? A rip off? Any problems with the old 3.2 V6? The low mileage concerns me being 13 years old. I suppose replacing everything made of rubber is in order?

Such low miles can mean a blessing or a curse!

If the guy is maintaining it well, despite the casual use, then perhaps no harm, no foul. Exhaust system may have taken the most wear and tear since it is likely that there are many drives with a lot of condensation in there that never dried out due to short duration (i.e., it didn't get hot enough!). So, very possible that the cat, mufflers, and even the pipes could have more wear than you might expect.

Not the best era for Audi, but, then, you're no stranger to that era, so go in with eyes open!

qbrozen

andres3 said:

What do you all think of this as a more fun cushy comfortable commuter car: 2005 Audi A6 with the solid 3.2 V6 in beige inside and out (which I like). Good condition from the pictures. Pros: 15,000 miles Single Owner (said to be a Doctor in Coronado with a 2-mile commute to help explain the low mileage). No "major" accidents (this one is a bit alarming since the word "major" is used. Everything said to work "great." They are asking $10,800 lowered from 12,000 originally asked for. Is this a deal? A steal? A rip off? Any problems with the old 3.2 V6? The low mileage concerns me being 13 years old. I suppose replacing everything made of rubber is in order?

Still A LOT of dough. Even if given an A+ by an Audi mechanic and you just HAD TO have it, $8k is more than enough.

Mr_Shiftright

Early 2000s Audis are lethal. I'd have nothing to do with a V-6 from that vintage, personally. I'm not averse to "risky purchases" at all, but not at $10,8K. Too big a roll of the dice on a car with a less than stellar reputation.

lemko

How about this 1963 Chevrolet Impala I saw at Spring Carlisle? Not much left of the trunk.

xwesx

Nice! That'll buff right out.



The last of the metal parts, I mean...

isellhondas

Mr_Shiftright said:

Early 2000s Audis are lethal. I'd have nothing to do with a V-6 from that vintage, personally. I'm not averse to "risky purchases" at all, but not at $10,8K. Too big a roll of the dice on a car with a less than stellar reputation.

The electronic gremlins on that Audi will eat you alive! Our store got burned on so many "nice" trade in's that they just dumped every one at the auction or wholesaled them.

isellhondas

lemko said:

How about this 1963 Chevrolet Impala I saw at Spring Carlisle? Not much left of the trunk.

Actually, that's a 1962! A can of rubbing compound and a couple of headlights and you're set!

isellhondas

Mr_Shiftright said:

I wish they'd bring bench seats back, don't you?

Go around a corner and you just might get a nasty splinter somewhere you don't want it!

omarman

That's all I have to say about that.

berri

Funny!

fintail

Hipsters love that patina.