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

ab348

Well, they added a rear wing, so that likely explains the extra money.

I'll buy the Grabber Blue version and save a bundle. Wait, what?

stickguy

I like grabber blue more anyway.

Davercee

Oh yeah! It's the grabber blue, all the way!

fintail

Likewise

Oscar

CL600 https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/cto/d/tacoma-mercedes-cl600-s600/6930356205.html
The repaint will cost more than the car. Any deferred maintenance will be frosting on the cake.

Oscar

Porsche 928 https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/cto/d/seattle-1983-porsche-928/6930346860.html
I'll sell mine for half of that and count myself lucky.

steine13

Oscar said:

CL600 https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/cto/d/tacoma-mercedes-cl600-s600/6930356205.html
The repaint will cost more than the car. Any deferred maintenance will be frosting on the cake.

More like frosting on the shorts..

fintail

Ventured to the top of page 2 of FSBO listings pre-2000 for this batch:

Rare Fox, dumb listing price, proud asking price

Flippers flippers everywhere

Could be OK, lots of style for the dough

Something basket

High mileage droptop

Rare 140

Lots of looks for the money

When the brand had more relevance

Ideal configuration

Great color combo, too bad about the issues

Picture it: high school parking lot, 1993

These must cost nothing at home

Game show spec preservation special

Low mileage claim

New Tubes

End of an era

Sharky

Pretty, seems reasonable

ab348

The reason that 1990 4-cylinder Mustang has 34K miles is because it is a 4-cylinder Mustang. I drove one once, what a nasty car, underpowered and noisy.

That '66 VIP is really interesting but the seller's claim it is like brand new is undermined by the picture with the headliner torn and hanging down into the pic. Ooops.

I wonder what the Taurus seller thinks "tubes" are.

fintail

For the VIP, also the paint condition, engine bay that looks like the car was parked underwater, and interior wear. Most dubious super low mileage claim I have seen in a long time.

Tubes might = hoses, could be a terminology or even ESL issue. My mom's 93 Taurus had the same wheels, a little nostalgia (car didn't make it to 100K, head gasket went on the 3.8 of course, and she walked away - her last domestic car as she is now in the Team Toyota cult).

stickguy

lots of money for a Fox Mustang in pieces. Is an ex-cop car really worth a premium?

and I love that Rabbit convertible. at that price, if as described mechanically and not rusty, I would be all over that. even in triple black! Can always get seat covers. Too bad it is 4,000 miles away. though of course, if on this coast, the odds are heavy it would be a rust bucket.

xwesx

I really like the Previa van (and the JDM RHD unit as well, save for the ridiculous price). My father came within a hair's breadth of getting one of those (1992 MY), but ended up with a second Camry instead.

tjc78

I think the cheap Vette may be the pick of the litter here.

Thanks for posting these, great lunchtime diversion from the office (while the emails pile up!)

I'm sure our networking team is like who is looking at CL ads from 3000 miles away, lol

berri

That CRX spells "rice grinder" Neat cars for the money back when

Oscar

https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/cto/d/seattle-1983-porsche-928/6930346860.html
I like these post war Packards but that color I am not so sure it was a factoty color. Looks loke that turquoise GM used on many of their cars in the late 80's early 90's

fintail

I found this sad pic on a fintail group - one less survivor thanks to a distracted driver (who will receive a slap on the wrist, if that):



And someone in Spain found a cache of new old stock aftermarket/accessory rear window blinds. I know these were popular in Oz, and I kind of like them:



I think I can get a set for around $150.

ab348

fintail said:

And someone in Spain found a cache of new old stock aftermarket/accessory rear window blinds. I know these were popular in Oz, and I kind of like them:



I think I can get a set for around $150.

You should!

stickguy

go to Lowes. $20, can get a nice vinyl mini blind that will work just fine!

fintail

I think I'd go for the period accessory. Not sure how easily they mount though. Pic from a manual:

fintail

Page 1 FSBO another zoo:

The sky is the limit?

Rare, you could do worse

Good luck with sale

Gotta sit in the back

Apocalyptic

Driver cat, I suspect the 1982 price relative to current price is similar to local real estate

Nobody likes the C4 it seems

Neat survivor from optimistic flipper

Seldom seen so cheap...ah, wiring harness

Rare bird

Looks pretty clean for a car that usually had a filthy late life here

I had one of these once, cool car, but the market is nowhere near there yet

Another one usually looking clapped out

Andre-mobile

No, that's the Buick

Color suits it

Another cheap C4 with funny/dopey pic

stickguy

Olds is weird, but at least cheap. Both vettes look nice, and bang for the buck. I like the fiat too.

ab348

fintail said:

I think I'd go for the period accessory. Not sure how easily they mount though. Pic from a manual:

Unfortunately the pics don't tell much about how to mount them, just how they should be positioned so you can see out the rear window.

ab348

The Comet isn't a bad car but an unfortunate paint choice for that interior, and the wheels need to go. Not so sure how easy it is to replace that rear window, you might need to remove/replace the top.

I like that '89 C4 and the price seems very reasonable.

The '56 Plymouth is pretty clapped-out looking but maybe the price lets a devotee spruce it up enough to have a unique car to take to events.

That poor Olds wagon...

xwesx

That S500 (I think that was the model) seems really expensive at $12,500 asking considering everything identified on the PPI. I wouldn't mind taking something like that on, but would have to be a vastly lower level of entry.

omarman

I like the '62 Chevy parked on the street behind the Comet.

fintail

That car is somewhat rare. The 90s era 500E/E500 were a limited run of V8 E-class built in conjunction with Porsche. They were quite expensive when new (maybe 80K+ at the time) and were the hottest E available. For MY 2003, MB brought back the E500 moniker, this time for the normal V8 E-class, nothing specially tuned or limited about it.

Good ones bring 25K (and low milers more), but this one has many thousands worth of needs, and would be a gamble.

xwesx said:

That S500 (I think that was the model) seems really expensive at $12,500 asking considering everything identified on the PPI. I wouldn't mind taking something like that on, but would have to be a vastly lower level of entry.

xwesx

Oh, I see. So, market-wise, they "priced it accordingly." I still think it is too much of a leap for the needs. maybe $8K.

fintail

Had the old car out today, no issues, no gratuitous pic as I am not hosting my own, and we still can't upload. Car ran fine with no issues, got a wave and plenty of looks (it seems people either wave or smile, stare like the car is a spaceship, or ignore it). A week from tomorrow the car will be in for its annual service and checkup at a very honest indy shop, where I set a budget and say "do what you can do". It always comes in under budget, as I think many of the needs are more than my budget. But I am not aiming for perfection, rather, to keep it roadworthy and relatively safe to drive. Turn signals are working fine now so I don't have to bring that up. I am hearing a faint squeak - maybe a wheel bearing, shocks are clunky on some roads, been a few years since fluids were changed, maybe one of them will get it.

fintail

It's that time again, welcome to CL FSBO Page 1 pre-2000 Monday morning edition:

Not many around

All it needs is jorts, a tucked in t-shirt, and white sneakers

Cool truck, hot price, gack those seat covers

Surprised it isn't more, given the cult

Unusual JDM

Reverse slant

And another

Heavy duty

Seldom seen anymore

Kind of unloved

Good preservation, but for a price

Hey look it's that green SLC I drooled over 10 years ago, looking at a little faded

Normal price 500E, nice hose repair

I saw one of these on The Price Is Right last night, original price was 31K

Once everywhere, now a unicorn

sda

I remember the intermittent wiper accessory. I installed one similar on my Sunbird. It worked pretty well. One funny thing with it, the wipers did two swipes instead of a single swipe in between intervals. Still better than having them on constantly or frequently having to do manual on/off because having them on low was too fast.

xwesx

sda said:

I remember the intermittent wiper accessory. I installed one similar on my Sunbird. It worked pretty well. One funny thing with it, the wipers did two swipes instead of a single swipe in between intervals. Still better than having them on constantly or frequently having to do manual on/off because having them on low was too fast.

I was going to post nearly the same thing! My father installed one on his '79 F150, and it worked great. When I am manually cycling them on/off in my old rigs, I often think about installing something like that until I snap back to reality and remember that, 1. I rarely use the old rigs, and 2., I managed just fine even when I drove them as dailies.

tjc78

I like the Bronco. Price seems fair for the condition.

ab348

That Courier is in remarkable condition and a screaming deal. I'd buy it at the asking price in a heartbeat.

I like that poor unloved Allante, which looks quite nice for the money. Of course the early Northstars are a time bomb waiting to go off.

I remember you posting about that green 450SLC. Price seems fair but it looks like it is right on the edge of needing both paint and interior.

The '70 Ford wagon and especially the two slant-back Mercs just seem like money pits.

fintail

I prefer the later run Allante, nicer looking trim and a better steering wheel. Once a Northstar is repaired, is it good, or will it fail again?

No doubt one will never get their money back out of those Fomoco cars. They need to be half price.

Here's what the SLC looked like 10+ years ago - a lot shinier. I wonder if the paint is just dull, or if it really has bad clearcoat. I know MB had clearcoat then, but I don't know if this color had it (I think it did though, I suspect it was metallic vs non-metallic). I suppose re-spraying it with clear wouldn't be too big a job - certainly not a case where you'd repaint the car, as a quality job would easily exceed the value of the car.

I think the interior would come back to life with a detail and maybe seat cushions - MB seat stuffing of that era collapses over time, and apparently isn't a huge job to replace. I'd also want an original radio, and the rear deck with speakers cut in bugs me, but that could be fixed. With the needs, I'd want to be in closer to 5K - it's still a thirsty barge with parts that aren't cheap, but the small bumpers and not too restrictive emissions junk save it.

stickguy

Courier needs a manual trans. And a V8 swap!

stickguy

Lot of power and weight in that ford wagon for drum brakes. Good luck with that

sda

Unless drum brakes are perfectly adjusted, they can be really scary. I remember those in my 62 Galaxie would throw the car into another lane during hard braking if you weren’t careful. A lot of corrective steering and a bit of luck required. The power brakes in a 65 Cutlass I had were quick to fade and then the effort to get the thing to stop became very high, quite the opposite of the light touch normally needed to stop in less demanding situations. It would lock the left rear tire and cause the car to swerve. Drum brakes, not a fan.

xwesx

I did a little more work on the Econoline this weekend with my son.

He spent the last week reworking the wiring I installed about 25 years ago for a stereo system. I had about a week to get it working the first time around (including a bunch of other prep work before heading to Alaska in 1995), so it was somewhat rudimentary, with improper wire choices, so it did not stand the test of time well. He proudly lit it up last night and proclaimed, "Dad, this is the best stereo system we have." I challenged him with that claim citing the Q7, and he said, "well, it might be a tie over all, but this one has better base." Hahaha

Afterward, we pulled the front (grille) off the van to access the battery area, and I removed the extremely rusty tray there to replace with a plastic unit that I just bolted into the original holder arms. Much more secure now. We also replaced the flasher unit, which now works perfectly with the emergency flashers, but is inoperative with blinkers... ? I hate electrical gremlins.

Finally, I pulled the engine housing off to adjust the idle speed, and it was rather fortuitous because it turns out that a small rubber fuel line, which is hidden under the air housing, was leaking! Not a little, either. We swapped that out, no more leak, and now it is ready to go for another driving ed night for my son.

ab348

Interesting (there are likely better words) that the 450SLC only covered 500 miles in the last 10 years. I wonder what the seller would say to a $5K offer.

ab348

xwesx said:

We also replaced the flasher unit, which now works perfectly with the emergency flashers, but is inoperative with blinkers... ? I hate electrical gremlins.

Fords may very well be different, but I know on the Cutlass, there are two different flasher units, one for blinkers and one for 4-ways. I believe they are wired so that the current travels through the 4-way first, so that the blinkers do not operate if the 4-ways are activated. Sure you have the correct flasher?

xwesx

ab348 said:

xwesx said:

We also replaced the flasher unit, which now works perfectly with the emergency flashers, but is inoperative with blinkers... ? I hate electrical gremlins.

Fords may very well be different, but I know on the Cutlass, there are two different flasher units, one for blinkers and one for 4-ways. I believe they are wired so that the current travels through the 4-way first, so that the blinkers do not operate if the 4-ways are activated. Sure you have the correct flasher?

It is possible I do not. I have never pulled it apart before. On my '69 C20 pickup, there is one flasher unit for all of the above. The emergency flashers work PERFECTLY though, which I cannot say has ever been the case before, so I'll have my son snoop around under there to see if he can find a twin flasher unit that might be the culprit. Thanks for the suggestion.

ab348

This is likely unique to GM cars of the Cutlass vintage, but I had a difficult time a few years ago when my blinkers began acting up. The flasher unit that plugged into the fuse box area which I assumed was the culprit was in fact the one for the 4-ways. The blinker flasher was tucked up under the dash and just sort of hung from a part of the wiring harness.

fintail

A very relaxed car that'll never see more than 15 mpg probably became less than endearing to the owner, unless he was really into it - and with those miles, probably not. The car brought $6K or $6500 at that auction, IIRC - and it was cleaner then.

I'd go no more than 5K all-in, too - after taxes etc. Figure maybe $2500 for a coat of clear and interior renovation, along with maybe a little towards tires or the major service I suspect it needs. So you'd be in for say $8K, and you'd have to be very patient to recoup that at selling time, unless the market changes a lot. It's a dangerous game with something like that, unless you really love it and don't care about a loss. I do have to say I enjoy the color combo on that car, and the general 70s chic style, but not enough to buy one unless it was really beautiful and really a bargain.

ab348 said:

Interesting (there are likely better words) that the 450SLC only covered 500 miles in the last 10 years. I wonder what the seller would say to a $5K offer.

fintail

Were flashers/hazard lights something that came with the 1968 safety regs? Fintail doesn't have them. I'm just happy the turn signals came back to life, hold my breath and knock on wood and hope they keep working.

Thinking of drum brakes, I am sure my dad's 60 Ford had them, I can't remember if the 66 Galaxie or 68 Fairlane had front discs or not. Funny, as my dad always did his own brake jobs on old or modern cars, I think he kind of enjoyed it.

ab348

fintail said:

Were flashers/hazard lights something that came with the 1968 safety regs? Fintail doesn't have them. I'm just happy the turn signals came back to life, hold my breath and knock on wood and hope they keep working.

Thinking of drum brakes, I am sure my dad's 60 Ford had them, I can't remember if the 66 Galaxie or 68 Fairlane had front discs or not. Funny, as my dad always did his own brake jobs on old or modern cars, I think he kind of enjoyed it.

4-ways were required in the 1967 model year as part of the first wave of federally mandated safety regs I believe.

The Cutlass has 4-wheel drums and they are serviceable but not great.

sda

GM introduced the collapsible steering column in 67. I think shoulder belts and side markers became required in 68, and in 69, locking steering column and headrests. GM introduced door side beams on their full size cars in 69.

ab348

The collapsible steering column was in that first wave of federal mandates. You might recall that Ford was unable to design a workable one that first year and so they went with the "flowerpot" deep-dish steering wheel for 1967 models.

stickguy

Nice 3 on the tree on the big Ford.

fintail

I wonder what engine is in that 67 Ford with a 3 speed. I recall the wheel in the 68 Fairlane was a two spoke with a thick horizontal bar and a lower horn ring.

Fintail has a locking steering wheel and I am sure it is collapsible. No shoulder belts, but there are mounting points hidden under the B-pillar vinyl trim (you'd have to cut it). Ahead of its time a little, I guess.

fintail

FSBO Page 1 time again:

"MATCHING VIN NUMBERS" says a lot

In 20 years probably where SLCs are now

Transposed digits x2, price is too darn high

Good luck with that

Rare, but money pit

Might be OK

Lifespan = indefinite

Cool look but that price LOL

Character by the truckload

Worth a fraction of this 15 years ago no doubt

Lacking in details but looks fair

Well-preserved example of something becoming scarce

Honest hauler

Maybe a little dear, but most are ruined by now

Oh hello there

Cloth?

These creative paintjobs remind me of something seen in Cuba

Not too common this late, optimistic price