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

fintail

I wonder if it is more grime than rust, but some of the trim/cosmetics on that car leads me to believe it sat outside for some time, and Japan can be a rust haven. It wouldn't be a good flip if it wasn't done half-arsed,

qbrozen

Definitely rust. Could be just surface rust, but tough to tell from just pics.

fintail

That looks like the kind of surface rust that happens in my region if a car sits outside for 40 years, but who knows what lurks underneath. I also wonder on a lot of this JDM material, if the cars we see are the rejects - Japanese people like vintage cars too, and I have some doubts the best examples are being exported where some hipster flipper can sell at a relatively affordable price and still make a good profit.

gsemike

Classics on Long Island - 1960 to 1990
Always liked 67 Impalas Looks straight but would need to be gone through thoroughly

Another 67 Ready for an engine swap

Looks like a decent buy for a big-block Chevelle around here

Thought that this looked decent but what's that about the price?

Given wagon mania, this looks alright

Just add a flux capacitor

texases

What's with the Delorean? $1800?? That's even odder than the Montego.

fintail

Apparently that dealership might not exist anymore

boomchek

Delorean ad might be a scam or might actually have an $18k asking price but it's stuck in facebook's annoying car valuation filter that won't let sellers post a higher price than facebook allows for a car from that era.

tjc78

@boomchek said:
Delorean ad might be a scam or might actually have an $18k asking price but it's stuck in facebook's annoying car valuation filter that won't let sellers post a higher price than facebook allows for a car from that era.

I was thinking 18K.

Also welcome back!

gsemike

fintail said:

Apparently that dealership might not exist anymore

That strip was a lot of here yesterday gone today lots

boomchek

tjc78 said:

@boomchek said:

Delorean ad might be a scam or might actually have an $18k asking price but it's stuck in facebook's annoying car valuation filter that won't let sellers post a higher price than facebook allows for a car from that era.

I was thinking 18K.

Also welcome back!

Thanks. Back for a bit, maybe for longer. As I mentioned in other chats, I've just been busy with work, 2 kids, and life in general. Always nice to see same names here from years ago.

tjc78

We are all as crazy as ever!

fintail

Welcome back, been awhile!

Yeah, I bet fb's moronic filter is part of it. That Delorean looks pretty pristine, even at 18K it'd be a deal.

boomchek said:

Delorean ad might be a scam or might actually have an $18k asking price but it's stuck in facebook's annoying car valuation filter that won't let sellers post a higher price than facebook allows for a car from that era.

boomchek

fintail said:

Welcome back, been awhile!

Yeah, I bet fb's moronic filter is part of it. That Delorean looks pretty pristine, even at 18K it'd be a deal.

boomchek said:

Delorean ad might be a scam or might actually have an $18k asking price but it's stuck in facebook's annoying car valuation filter that won't let sellers post a higher price than facebook allows for a car from that era.

Thanks, it's been a few years. Yeah I despise facebook's marketplace with a passion. Filters suck, photo cropping sucks, half of the listings are sponsored ads that are outside of set search parameters. Craigslist is still my number one platform for browsing.

texases

I think it was a scam, a complaint about that dealer with the$1,800 Delorean as the source of the problem.

fintail

quick CL browse in the 20th century, :

Probably fun for the money

Or get a new one for 10x the price and use it as a truck just as often

Patch the top and drive it as-is

Getting thin on the ground even here

Love the colors, seller should address the needs

Terrifying engine bay

Cruise the vistas, could be a worthy project at the right price

Mileage and condition, for a price

90% of these were this color combo

Cringey title and price, nice car for half the price and sans wheelarch trim

ab348

The '58 T-bird is interesting. If he addressed the body issues he couldn't tout the original paint so much, but I agree it would be good to have the seats redone. I can relate to not wanting to spend money on a car you are planning to sell though. Maybe an aggressive bid would get it.

qbrozen

Absurd price on the RX7. Seller must think it is a mint GSL-SE with manual trans.

$10k for that Vista Cruiser? HUH? Extra zero there, methinks.

tjc78

The 79 Pickup is a good deal, isn’t it?

qbrozen

I didn't see it. Is that the ad that was deleted?

tjc78

Yeah it’s gone now.

fintail

It was a decent squarebody for something like 5K. If the seller was honest, and he didn't appear to be dodgy, it was a fine deal. It had some upgrades, didn't look rusty (it takes a long time for cars here to rust), paint looked good, etc.

re: the T-Bird, I think if the seller isn't going to touch the needs, he needs to be well on the lower side of 15K, maybe a third off his asking price, at most.

stickguy

I can't see a Vista cruiser and not think of Red Forman.

fintail

I suspect the Red Forman connection doesn't hurt values either, an entire generation knows that show and the car.

Had the old dear out in the smoky/hazy heat yesterday - the car was back in the garage by 1pm, it seems I have less of a tolerance for being in the hot car as I get older, really need to keep moving to make it tolerable, drive with multiple windows down, etc - didn't bug me when I was younger (maybe hotter now, too). Ran fine with no issues, at the gas station a guy really wanted to talk about the car, and got a few waves and thumbs up. Gratuitous pic as it has been awhile:

sda

stickguy said:

I can't see a Vista cruiser and not think of Red Forman.

Our neighbors had a Vista Cruiser in the identical metallic brown as what was on the show. I rode in it several times. They bought it new. It was the same color as mom’s 69 Olds 98 LS.

boomchek

Looks nice Fintail! Have you had to do much maintenance or repair work on it over the years you had it?

fintail

Thanks. The needs come and go, every few years it seems to want attention for something, but has generally been very reliable. Worst incident is when a piston ring broke, which was quite a job to eventually repair - but thinking about it, that was 24 years ago, so it owes me nothing. This year I am going to have car gone over and have some things replaced, maybe some suspension bushings, engine mounts, etc.

boomchek said:

Looks nice Fintail! Have you had to do much maintenance or repair work on it over the years you had it?

boomchek

fintail said:

Thanks. The needs come and go, every few years it seems to want attention for something, but has generally been very reliable. Worst incident is when a piston ring broke, which was quite a job to eventually repair - but thinking about it, that was 24 years ago, so it owes me nothing. This year I am going to have car gone over and have some things replaced, maybe some suspension bushings, engine mounts, etc.

boomchek said:

Looks nice Fintail! Have you had to do much maintenance or repair work on it over the years you had it?

That's great. The sad thing is that 30-50 years from now fixing up cars from today's era and keeping them on the road won't be so simple due to the electronics and miles of wiring harnesses to deal with, not to mention sensors, programs and all the other electrical gremlins that will accompany them.

xwesx

fintail said:

Gratuitous pic as it has been awhile:

Define "a while."

fintail

Weeks!

xwesx said:

fintail said:

Gratuitous pic as it has been awhile:

Define "a while."

fintail

The only saving grace for modern cars is that you can plug a computer into them and the car will tell you many of its ailments. Otherwise like you say, all of the screens and sensors and computers and bleeding edge tech will prevent most modern cars from approaching 50 years old, even if gasoline engines are still in use at that point in time. Add to that how easy it is to total a modern car, and we'll have low survival rates after that 30 year mark.

boomchek said:

fintail said:

Thanks. The needs come and go, every few years it seems to want attention for something, but has generally been very reliable. Worst incident is when a piston ring broke, which was quite a job to eventually repair - but thinking about it, that was 24 years ago, so it owes me nothing. This year I am going to have car gone over and have some things replaced, maybe some suspension bushings, engine mounts, etc.

boomchek said:

Looks nice Fintail! Have you had to do much maintenance or repair work on it over the years you had it?

That's great. The sad thing is that 30-50 years from now fixing up cars from today's era and keeping them on the road won't be so simple due to the electronics and miles of wiring harnesses to deal with, not to mention sensors, programs and all the other electrical gremlins that will accompany them.

andres3

fintail said:

The only saving grace for modern cars is that you can plug a computer into them and the car will tell you many of its ailments. Otherwise like you say, all of the screens and sensors and computers and bleeding edge tech will prevent most modern cars from approaching 50 years old, even if gasoline engines are still in use at that point in time. Add to that how easy it is to total a modern car, and we'll have low survival rates after that 30 year mark.

boomchek said:

fintail said:

Thanks. The needs come and go, every few years it seems to want attention for something, but has generally been very reliable. Worst incident is when a piston ring broke, which was quite a job to eventually repair - but thinking about it, that was 24 years ago, so it owes me nothing. This year I am going to have car gone over and have some things replaced, maybe some suspension bushings, engine mounts, etc.

boomchek said:

Looks nice Fintail! Have you had to do much maintenance or repair work on it over the years you had it?

That's great. The sad thing is that 30-50 years from now fixing up cars from today's era and keeping them on the road won't be so simple due to the electronics and miles of wiring harnesses to deal with, not to mention sensors, programs and all the other electrical gremlins that will accompany them.

Might modern cars survive for prolonged years in "half-working" state? IT has been said 90% of AWD Volvo's go/limp around in 2WD mode.

fintail

I think some already are, yeah. Older MBs can soldier on through a lot of neglect, with complex features not working, but the car still runs and drives.

andres3 said:

fintail said:

The only saving grace for modern cars is that you can plug a computer into them and the car will tell you many of its ailments. Otherwise like you say, all of the screens and sensors and computers and bleeding edge tech will prevent most modern cars from approaching 50 years old, even if gasoline engines are still in use at that point in time. Add to that how easy it is to total a modern car, and we'll have low survival rates after that 30 year mark.

boomchek said:

fintail said:

Thanks. The needs come and go, every few years it seems to want attention for something, but has generally been very reliable. Worst incident is when a piston ring broke, which was quite a job to eventually repair - but thinking about it, that was 24 years ago, so it owes me nothing. This year I am going to have car gone over and have some things replaced, maybe some suspension bushings, engine mounts, etc.

boomchek said:

Looks nice Fintail! Have you had to do much maintenance or repair work on it over the years you had it?

That's great. The sad thing is that 30-50 years from now fixing up cars from today's era and keeping them on the road won't be so simple due to the electronics and miles of wiring harnesses to deal with, not to mention sensors, programs and all the other electrical gremlins that will accompany them.

Might modern cars survive for prolonged years in "half-working" state? IT has been said 90% of AWD Volvo's go/limp around in 2WD mode.

fintail

Quick CL browse:

Probably a 20K car 15 years ago, reminds me of housing

Euro

Maybe painted in the 70s

Seldom seen

Somebody's Baby

Very cool truck, very irritating ad

No "AMG package" that year, wheels are several years newer than the car, but looks nice for the money

Needs some luv

I think the longterm market won't support such prices

Cool car but good luck with the price

Frankentruck

The 90s

SHO car

Rare, seems more than fair

Jo(h)n Voight special

fintail

Crazy project, guy is putting a fintail body (may be more hipster patina than serious rust, as the sills etc look OK) on a 300CE platform:

qbrozen

Spot here concerns me, especially given its location. Could have easily been fixed before dropping it on the car. No idea why someone wouldn't if going through all this trouble.

boomchek

Crazy project. Surprised wheelbase is about the same.

fintail

I was thinking some of the panels look kind of doubled up, maybe if there is something weak on the fintail part, the part on the new chassis would compensate.

Not sure what would possess someone to embark on this project - seems like a lot of work, but I suppose of the underside of the fintail was rotten, and the newer car was wrecked or something, it could work, if one loved both cars.

kyfdx

Maybe that's just a test fit, before he does the body/frame work?

sda

@ab348 Has the Cutlass left the stable? Any last pictures?

ab348

sda said:

@ab348 Has the Cutlass left the stable? Any last pictures?

I have had the money for a couple of weeks but they do not seem to be in a big hurry to get it shipped. I needed a few days to get all the stuff that goes with it packed up but that has been done for a while now. I called the shipping agent on Tuesday to try to get them moving and she said someone local to me here would call this week, but nothing so far. I want it gone because I hate the idea of having it here when I no longer own it.

fintail

Had the old car out today, coolest day in weeks, only in the low-mid 80s tops, I was only a bit warm rather than dying of heat exhaustion. No issues with the car, and it was fun to know the horn works. Lots of stupid people out today, and it can be amusing giving them a little blast, as old MB horns are much louder than those on most modern cars - people look from a block away.

Something I've noticed, cruising around town at <50, I get none of the blowby residue that accumulates under the dipstick hole at highway speeds. That's another issue I am going to have looked at when the car goes in for its annual service and a few repairs (maybe next month).

sda

For the blow by, does it have a PCV valve? I imagine it doesn’t.

fintail

Nope, although there's some kind of crankcase pressure/ventilation part that can go awry. The car isn't consuming too much oil, so I like to hope there's nothing seriously amiss - but the oil that accumulates under the dipstick at high speeds bugs me. I've also wondered if maybe the dipstick isn't seating properly, itself.

sda said:

For the blow by, does it have a PCV valve? I imagine it doesn’t.

fintail

Quick visit to CL:

Bamboo

Sturdy upholstery

Parts

Convertible

Mr. Drysdale-approved

Not sure if you can get there from here

Pre-outdoorsy fad

Pretty rare this early

50 shades of brown

Survivor

Either has a hidden malady or is a bargain

qbrozen

Now how exactly do they know the Imperial “drives great” when it doesn’t have seats?

Justy looks clean.

On the Toyota… those wheels! Good grief. Brake light seems to be stuck on since parking brake does not appear to be engaged. But, even with those, I agree it seems to be a bargain.

fintail

Just a minute of browsing:

Should be an experience

Cool rare option, nice colors

A classy car with a classy reputation

Of course it has suspension mods

Skytop

Just broken in

Turbo

These always make me think "Vegas Vacation"

Now that's a period color

Look closely

I've always had a thing for these early models, at half the price, maybe

texases

Re: the Plymouth - what the heck? How? Why?

ab348

Hyundai must have copied that Plymouth when they came up with the Veloster.

That Lincoln bubble top is sort of fun, but I'd worry about all the oil bottles in the trunk.

texases

Re: the XJS - I guess that would be the model to have, with the 6 instead of the V12.

tjc78

Lincoln is a 78. Nice shape and yes you almost never see the fixed panel moonroof.

Same colors as my 79 Coupe was.

That car was certainly a special order, very rare to have the Town Car option and no opera windows.