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

stickguy

odd story on the Turbo Z, and a lot of mods that may be an issue, but I love the basic car (if it was more stock).

That is a nice looking Alfa. Even in a weak color.

And the red VW bus, why is the front end sitting so high? Usually that means the engine is out, but I know that isn't the case here!

explorerx4

@stikguy,
VW bus is LS swapped, JK.

tjc78

explorerx4 said:

@stikguy,
VW bus is LS swapped, JK.

I bet it’s been done.

bhill2

tjc78 said:

explorerx4 said:

@stikguy,
VW bus is LS swapped, JK.

I bet it’s been done.

Oh that one would be amusing in an 'S' bend.

stickguy

oh, there is way more than 1 of them out there. This one even has twin turbos.

https://gmauthority.com/blog/2020/09/twin-turbo-ls-powered-vw-microbus-is-no-hippie-van-video/

fintail

I think these spammy banner ads are becoming sentient, what are the odds:



Now I feel guilty for not driving the car lately, but mother nature is not cooperative.

xwesx

Their color modification tools are not working properly; why is this car not blue?!

fintail

Close enough, I think these cookies and tracking software items are working too well. Big brother!

Here's something else that popped up in social media, quite a project:

xwesx said:

Their color modification tools are not working properly; why is this car not blue?!

sda

fintail said:

Close enough, I think these cookies and tracking software items are working too well. Big brother!

Here's something else that popped up in social media, quite a project:

xwesx said:

Their color modification tools are not working properly; why is this car not blue?!

That hurts the soul to see that so horribly disrespected.

fintail

I like to think the car was already a basket case, rather than a low mileage time capsule or something. It's so expensive (relative to their value) to recommission such cars, that they'll just rot away unless someone wants a labor of love.

The same thing happens in the other direction, the stancebro crowd seems to like old MB sedans, maybe because they are stylish, relatively cheap, and I think can easily be adapted to air suspension. Not my cup of tea, but it beats the car rotting away behind a barn (or in a leaky garage) or being sent to the scrapyard:

sda said:

That hurts the soul to see that so horribly disrespected.

ab348

Camber on the wheels of that fintail suggests a drift car, maybe unintentional result of a hack lowering job.

fintail

I suspect it's on air suspension - which existed on the highline model fintails and 108/109s, I suspect it's a relatively easy conversion. On a factory air suspension car, they only look like that when broken

andres3

ab348 said:

Camber on the wheels of that fintail suggests a drift car, maybe unintentional result of a hack lowering job.

The kids love camber.

texases

I'd be surprised if it was a drift car, it's 'stanced' for looks.

fintail

Kids love camber and 800 mile tire life.

A drift fintail would also need an engine swap or similar mods, these cars are not known for their rubber burning and traction breaking ability.

fintail

My friend's 300CD is approved to be fixed:



Only comparable the insurance company could find was 25K (which my friend knows is more than his car is/was worth), so it got the nod. Wreck apparently damaged a tie rod, and the car has a couple other issues that will be dealt with while it is being repaired.

sda

fintail said:

My friend's 300CD is approved to be fixed:



Only comparable the insurance company could find was 25K (which my friend knows is more than his car is/was worth), so it got the nod. Wreck apparently damaged a tie rod, and the car has a couple other issues that will be dealt with while it is being repaired.

That does look worse than the original pictures. I know it won’t be the same for your friend but glad it will be repaired and not sentenced to the scrap yard. It is a sharp looking coupe.

tjc78

Need some after pics!

fintail

Although an imperfect car, it is likely still nicer than 90%+ of survivors. As real structural damage appears minimal, he got lucky - I am sure this would have easily totaled his 2008 E-class.

fintail

Here are some projects, making your car look newer than it really is. Many of these have surfaced in Mexico - de-finned fintails, likely to more resemble a W108. Never seen one in person:

xwesx

deFintail! How cruel.

texases

They got used in soup, I think...

ab348

That's like cropping a dog's tail, or declawing a cat. Ought to be a law!

fintail

I was thinking maybe the cars had rear end damage, but most of the work appears to be fairly well done - I think a modernization when the fins suddenly looked very dated.

I've also seen this kind of thing in the past, this is a hard no for me:

stickguy

That just looks awful. Just stand alone, even if you never saw the original.

omarman

needs trunk irons.

fintail

This appeared in another forum I follow. 1988 model, apparently 12K miles (believable per the pics), asking price 5K. Assuming it has been maintained and has no needs, something like this seems like a fair deal (as I bet there could be negotiation) on a special interest car - 80s and 90s stuff is starting to get some love, this car is well over 30 years old now, and very few survived like this:

gsemike

Beretta looks so base, I don't think there will be many takers for 5 large

tjc78

Base model but there are a fair amount of options. It’s got digital dash, that’s bonus points right there.

omarman

The Beretta that I test drove in '89 didn't have digitalis but that was ok with me. My test car had a V6 but I don't recall if it was a "GT." Probably not because I recall the sticker being just under $13K. Can't save everything but always wonder why some cars like that get saved. Some things from 1988 still command a lot of interest though.

Michaell

Soul Glo!

The sequel was just released yesterday or today, I believe.

omarman

Saw it last night.

fintail

I think the wheels and trunk rack do the most harm to how that Beretta looks. Still, 5K is the new 3K, and these are the cars that late Xer/older millennials will remember from their youth.

stickguy

price is reasonable, for something I wanted back in my younger days but couldn't afford or did not work logistically. Now that I can afford a toy/collectible, I am more concerned about finding a good one than paying a few $k extra. $3k vs. $5k for someone very rare, or at least in good condition, is fine even if "the book" says I overpaid. Different story if talking about some BaT unit going for $30k when market was pretty much below 10k.

tjc78

omarman said:

Saw it last night.

Me too. The first one was so much better

Michaell

tjc78 said:

omarman said:

Saw it last night.

Me too. The first one was so much better

We watched it last night as well. Sequels are rarely as good as the first movie, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

omarman

A friend texted me this morning after watching it last night. Her favorite line from Leslie Jones, "Did you run all the way here from Africa?"

steine13

A colleague was selling one in 93 or -4...I considered buying it and never regretted passing.

There is love for THIS???

fintail

I wouldn't go as far as love, but 5K is the new 3K, and 80s/90s nostalgia is a big thing now. For 4K or so it could be a worthy hobby car for someone with fond memories, perhaps.

steine13 said:

A colleague was selling one in 93 or -4...I considered buying it and never regretted passing.

There is love for THIS???

fintail

Finally caught a break in the weather, and took the old dear out for a spin. I think the car was idle for 9 or 10 weeks. I was a little concerned, as there was some cold weather in that time, and the car is in an unheated garage, I had my jumper pack with me, but it wasn't needed - car fired up on the first turn of the key like it had been parked yesterday. Well into a new year now,, some things are comfortable with the passage of time:



Potential maintenance this year - maybe some suspension/driveline maintenance, maybe brakes, fluids, etc.

xwesx

Looks happy! I think it is enjoying its time inland.

stickguy

did you find a new local indy mechanic? I assume you don't want to drive it back over the hill for that!

fintail

I think the drier climate won't hurt. Once the weather is more uniformly dry, I'll probably end up driving it a lot for weekend errands and drives on the back roads/rural highways/ Only drawback around here is some rough roads in the city proper.

xwesx said:

Looks happy! I think it is enjoying its time inland.

fintail

I haven't contacted any yet, but I have one in mind - listed as a MB specialist, and also old cars in general. They have a google review from someone who was on a road trip in a 62 Studebaker that developed an ignition issue, and were able to get it back on the road - a good sign. I'll be visiting them in the next month or two, I'll just drive the fintail there and see what happens.

stickguy said:

did you find a new local indy mechanic? I assume you don't want to drive it back over the hill for that!

gsemike

Long Island Marketplace 1960-90

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/702404957049404/?ref=category_feed&referral_code=undefined Despite those filler panels, might be kind of clean. Price is still nuts but maybe for less for a Caddy guy?

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/125688276119312/?ref=category_feed&referral_code=undefined A Reatta that the owner is actually into

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1587739571419271/?ref=category_feed&referral_code=undefined Always liked the color scheme of the 10th anniversary TA and 400 4 sp, but safe to say he is wanting big money here

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1055185891657272/?ref=category_feed&referral_code=undefined Dart convertible is a cool alternative MOPAR. This is a full resto, but he is not out of his mind pricewise

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/3264659553649702/?ref=category_feed&referral_code=undefined Used to belong to Jon Voight

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/874407843401212/?ref=category_feed&referral_code=undefined
Any chance this isn't an iron duke

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/903644720370984/?ref=category_feed&referral_code=undefined Chrysler had some designs that were bonkers

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/3377044639064394/?ref=category_feed&referral_code=undefined These Zs have gotten up there. This looks nice but is crying for a stick

texases

That TA: why list at $11,111? Just to get folks to look?

fintail

I notice the Caddy has base hubcaps like on a TPiR car not long ago, uncommon. Are those Lincoln hubcaps on the red Firebird?

K-Car woody makes me think Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, the "Gran Detroit Farm and Country Turbo".

gsemike

texases said:

That TA: why list at $11,111? Just to get folks to look?

I think that FB doesn't let you list for best offer or any price it deems too high

stickguy

I like the Z, but yes, would have to be converted to a manual.

Texas, I think there is an issue with marketplace forcing pricing to be what they think it should, so people post odd asking prices and just list the real price in the text. But I am not positive on the exact details.

gsemike

And those are Caddy hubcaps. Might be low end model. Don't be surprised to see velour seats (no pics)