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

lemko1968

This was my 2007 Toyota Avalon Limited:

![](https://us.v-cdn.net/5021145/uploads/editor/ae/zkkapytpkdt5.jpeg "”)

lemko1968

1948 Chrysler Town and Country:

lemko1968

1956 Jaguar Mark VII saloon:

lemko1968

1941 Chrysler convertible sedan:

lemko1968

1951 Studebaker Champion:

lemko1968

1955 Cadillac Coupe DeVille. This one has factory A/C:

sda

lemko1968 said:

1955 Cadillac Coupe DeVille. This one has factory A/C:

The complexity of those first cars with a/c was incredible and were very expensive. I always got tickled thinking about the movie “Driving Miss Daisy” when Miss Daisy asks the chauffeur before they went on the trip in the similar year Cadillac, did you have the air serviced? He responds “Yes”, then mumbles with frustration, “but she never will let me use it.” (Something to that affect)

tjc78

@lemko1968 said:

This was my 2007 Toyota Avalon Limited:

![](https://us.v-cdn.net/5021145/uploads/editor/ae/zkkapytpkdt5.jpeg "”)

My 06 had that same color interior. I preferred the wood color with that darker grey than the blond wood you got with beige or light grey.

explorerx4

Forward to about 10 minutes. The under hood reveal is hilarious.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuqdnwzUO7M&t=692s

stickguy

I watched this one. Never saw anything close to this (real life, or internet). Anybody but the wizard and I would think they staged it!

I would not go near that thing to try and clean it out. Maybe douse it in gas and have a weenie roast?

gsemike

explorerx4 said:

Forward to about 10 minutes. The under hood reveal is hilarious.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuqdnwzUO7M&t=692s

Wow, that is wild

fintail

Took a friend for a ride in the fintail today, someone who is a few years older than me but has maybe never ridden in a car of that age. Not a huge car guy, so it was interesting to see what caught his eye the most. The operating differences were probably the big deal - he noticed the umbrella handbrake, notchy gear selection, unusual gauges, etc. He was also amused by the looks it received, and he noticed when a guy in a 55 Chevy gave a wave, and a guy in a 350Z gave a thumbs up. I think many people think it is a 50s car, he remarked something like he could imagine the car on "Happy Days". The car ran fine, started without issue after being idle for maybe 2 weeks.

andres3

I'm looking for someone with an extra 3.0 V6 Audi motor in their garage or back yard.

lemko1968

Here's a 1965 Jeep Wagoneer that's the polar opposite of the wreck in that video:

fintail

CL quick browse:

Pretty thin on the ground today

Nice design, cool interior

Big and basic

Shoebox car, breadbox price

Sad, would be saved elsewhere

I think a certain demographic might be trying to cash out of these things

See above, and what a color

Grandma should have garaged her baby

This must have sat outside a bit too

Shorty

Not usually so preserved

Color name: "90s"

Special edition via Pep Boys, becoming rare

90s futurism

" built when Detroit knew how to build tough trucks" - seeing as there are still plenty of these around, indeed

project

"needs lots of work"

Low survival rate I suspect

ab348

I like the Mark VIII, the '72 Ranger, and the time warp Camry.

stickguy

those MGs, a lot of work is a serious understatement.

I actually have a fondness for the Monza. Too bad it isn't a 4 speed!

fintail

Took the old dear out for a drive today, got a few compliments - one guy called the car "a piece of art" or something, and a couple others had kind words, I heard a woman tell her young daughter who pointed out the car that it is "very old". Car ran and drove fine - I recently realized in all the house commotion, I forgot to book the yearly servicing for the car. Will have to try to slot it in soon or get in when weather is good.

Wide angle pic from earlier on this warm day, note the "For Sale" sign on the house is gone (closed Friday), now the real fun begins.

stickguy

congrats! I wish I had an extra lane of driveway that did not block the garage.

sda

fintail said:

Took the old dear out for a drive today, got a few compliments - one guy called the car "a piece of art" or something, and a couple others had kind words, I heard a woman tell her young daughter who pointed out the car that it is "very old". Car ran and drove fine - I recently realized in all the house commotion, I forgot to book the yearly servicing for the car. Will have to try to slot it in soon or get in when weather is good.

Wide angle pic from earlier on this warm day, note the "For Sale" sign on the house is gone (closed Friday), now the real fun begins.

Congratulations on your new home. Have you moved in? How exciting.

fintail

stickguy said:

congrats! I wish I had an extra lane of driveway that did not block the garage.

Yeah, lots of off-street parking - 3 paved spots, and a spot beside the garage (previously used as a garden area, will likely remain that way although parts car storage is tempting) along with the garage, which is fairly spacious itself.

fintail

Just closed, not moving in til next month - have some cosmetic upgrades and a few repairs to complete, want it all done before I move in. Hoping to be in by the weekend before Thanksgiving.

sda said:

fintail said:

Took the old dear out for a drive today, got a few compliments - one guy called the car "a piece of art" or something, and a couple others had kind words, I heard a woman tell her young daughter who pointed out the car that it is "very old". Car ran and drove fine - I recently realized in all the house commotion, I forgot to book the yearly servicing for the car. Will have to try to slot it in soon or get in when weather is good.

Wide angle pic from earlier on this warm day, note the "For Sale" sign on the house is gone (closed Friday), now the real fun begins.

Congratulations on your new home. Have you moved in? How exciting.

Michaell

Congrats, @fintail!

Great to have the time to address the issues before moving in - should make settling in all that much easier.

boomchek

fintail said:

Took the old dear out for a drive today, got a few compliments - one guy called the car "a piece of art" or something, and a couple others had kind words, I heard a woman tell her young daughter who pointed out the car that it is "very old". Car ran and drove fine - I recently realized in all the house commotion, I forgot to book the yearly servicing for the car. Will have to try to slot it in soon or get in when weather is good.

Wide angle pic from earlier on this warm day, note the "For Sale" sign on the house is gone (closed Friday), now the real fun begins.

Congrats! Looks like a nice quiet neighborhood. Fintail looks great outside! So is your garage spacious enough for two vehicles? Or would it be a tight squeeze?

boomchek

fintail said:

CL quick browse:


I think a certain demographic might be trying to cash out of these things

Makes me wonder when the old timers that had attachment to these early 20th century vehicles pass on, will they retain their value and stay maintained by younger generations or become neglected?

Personally I think it's a cool car, but even if I had tons of disposable income and were building a car collection I wouldn't add anything from this era as it just doesn't interest me one bit.

fintail

Thanks. Goal is to need nothing more than appliances (already ordered, but there are mild delays) at move-in. I will be busy between now and then.

Michaell said:

Congrats, @fintail!

Great to have the time to address the issues before moving in - should make settling in all that much easier.

fintail

It's a nice area, on the border between 30s/40s bungalows and more sprawling 50s/60s houses. Both cars will easily fit, and I suspect a lawnmower and snowblower won't be a problem either. Garage is roughly 600 sq ft.

boomchek said:

fintail said:

Took the old dear out for a drive today, got a few compliments - one guy called the car "a piece of art" or something, and a couple others had kind words, I heard a woman tell her young daughter who pointed out the car that it is "very old". Car ran and drove fine - I recently realized in all the house commotion, I forgot to book the yearly servicing for the car. Will have to try to slot it in soon or get in when weather is good.

Wide angle pic from earlier on this warm day, note the "For Sale" sign on the house is gone (closed Friday), now the real fun begins.

Congrats! Looks like a nice quiet neighborhood. Fintail looks great outside! So is your garage spacious enough for two vehicles? Or would it be a tight squeeze?

fintail

The stock/restored cars have already crested, one can buy ordinary prewar cars cheaper than 30 or more years ago. These fancy rods might have crested to - these high end late 80s/early 90s builds that were a big deal in their day when affluent boomers and silents were into it aren't relevant to younger xers and anyone younger, I think. Someone may have put 150K into that roadster, but I can't imagine the seller will get asking price now, and I don't see that changing for the better with time. Not knocking the car, just noting tastes are changing as time moves on, but I suspect many sellers won't keep up.

boomchek said:

fintail said:

CL quick browse:


I think a certain demographic might be trying to cash out of these things

Makes me wonder when the old timers that had attachment to these early 20th century vehicles pass on, will they retain their value and stay maintained by younger generations or become neglected?

Personally I think it's a cool car, but even if I had tons of disposable income and were building a car collection I wouldn't add anything from this era as it just doesn't interest me one bit.

boomchek

I agree. They're not really my cup of tea, even though the one in the ad looks well done. And definitely not for the next generation after ours, as my 12 year old son's car interests right now are anything European or JDM with a few domestic cars like fox body Mustangs or a Vette.

ab348

That "Ford" roadster was an ill-advised spend even 20 years ago. I'm not sure what 1933 Ford pieces are even still there, perhaps a piece of a frame or cowl with a serial number stamping is all, most likely. The rest is an assemblage of aftermarket and non-Ford bits - all in the best street rodder tradition, but it really makes for a bit of a mongrel. When you built something like that yourself with the pieces that you could obtain easily, the end result was one thing, but when all you did was keep writing cheques to buy components from catalogs and have someone assemble them, I don't have a lot of admiration for that.

fintail

I remember back in the early 90s, fancy build rods were a big thing, and early V8 Fords were the most popular. I seem to recall a guy building a higher end rod off a 36 Ford phaeton, then trying to sell it for something like 75K - this was in a small town, so it didn't sell. I think these also suffer from the seller's idea that his or his backyard mechanic's labor is worth the same as a renown shop, so they count it that way when claiming how much was "invested".

Today a restored stock example would likely be worth as much, and maybe be easier to sell, as they aren't built to one free spending guy's specific taste.

fintail

Iconic or exotic 80s and 90s cars are the future.

boomchek said:

I agree. They're not really my cup of tea, even though the one in the ad looks well done. And definitely not for the next generation after ours, as my 12 year old son's car interests right now are anything European or JDM with a few domestic cars like fox body Mustangs or a Vette.

explorerx4

@boomchek,
A Fox Body pic for your son.

boomchek

explorerx4 said:

@boomchek,
A Fox Body pic for your son.

I remember you had that Mustang forever, at least since the early days of me being on Edmunds forums (I joined in 2003 iirc).

It's nice to see you still have it. Finding a nice clean stock example is tough these days.

tjc78

Unique color on this Caddy…

https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/cars-for-sale/cadillac/fleetwood/2525199.html#&gid=1&pid=50

sda

tjc78 said:

Unique color on this Caddy…

https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/cars-for-sale/cadillac/fleetwood/2525199.html#&gid=1&pid=50

Very nice indeed.

ab348

Code 49 for 1972, a stock Cadillac color that year. Very attractive.

tjc78

I’m usually a Lincoln guy… but I want that Caddy.

Not sure if it’s worth a divorce but,….

stickguy

the car hoarder in my neighborhood apparently has another old caddy for his collection. Already had an Allante, and a late 70s/early 80s I think fleetwood (the"downsized" RWD version). Hard to tell because they sit under covers.

new one is an early 70s barge Eldorado. But it is a coupe, not a last of the convertibles model. Don't see nearly as many of those compared to the ragtops.

tjc78

My wife does not like my latest idea of keeping a classic car in the garage down the shore… I mean it’s a three car garage. Shouldn’t it have a car??

Michaell

tjc78 said:

My wife does not like my latest idea of keeping a classic car in the garage down the shore… I mean it’s a three car garage. Shouldn’t it have a car??

Seems logical to me - if you plan on communting to the shore by public transit. Or bicycle.

Otherwise, you'll always be bringing a car with you; no need to carry the expenses of a car that will sit a majority of the time.

tjc78

Ha ha. We only live about an hour and 15 away. Take the new car down and cruise in the classic to dinner, etc.

Never Gonna Happen … just a dream LOL.

In all honesty not a great place to store a classic even in a garage. We are across from the harbor and three houses from the bay.

Michaell

tjc78 said:

Ha ha. We only live about an hour and 15 away. Take the new car down and cruise in the classic to dinner, etc.

Never Gonna Happen … just a dream LOL.

In all honesty not a great place to store a classic even in a garage. We are across from the harbor and three houses from the bay.

One good storm surge and … poof!

fintail

Two sources for projects today:

I thought these were longer than that

90s GM

Almost twinsies

Related, misdiagnosis (I don't think this has that part, but on the right track maybe)

Cool spec but too much patina

Welcome to 2001

Usually these are either pristine or empty shells

Big engine, looks nice, probably a fair deal at this price in this market

Plaid

These N cars are popping up a bit lately

Usually not a fan of this color combo, works in this application

Economical

Looks amazingly clean, another probable misdiagnosis, reminds me of my mom's year newer car (which likely had the same issue)

Orphan, amazing effort put into the pics

stickguy

I like that vintage El Camino, but that seems pricey for a plain jane model like that.

tjc78

Ha ha an early 90s 3.8 Taurus that’s overheating… almost guaranteed to be a head gasket.

Caddy looks interesting for that price.

The guy with the 93 Imperial is interesting having a parts car. I guess there is an enthusiast for everything.

explorerx4

Did that first Cutlass used to have a bull bar on the front?
That El Camino is a V6, too bad.
Allante sure has a lot of buttons on the seats.

fintail

Marketplace is suggesting things for me based on my history, let's see if the algorithm works:

Depreciation floor

I suppose a lot of car for the money

Early 90s pocket rocket

No grille I assume

GT

Green

Getting scarce, great color combo

Nice design, now it gets saved or lost

Cool but dear

Worth more 35 years ago

stickguy

I like that vintage Sentra. Would be happy to have one. but not that one. Appears to have led a hard life.

Cool Civic. never see those on the road (though JRGO just put up a video about picking up a very ratty one with a friend of his, complete with Hondamatic). This one is interesting color, and seems reasonably sound. Fun project for a moderately handy hobbyist with some old school skills and tools! But the price seems ambitious.

like the mazda. Can't say I have seen one in the last 20 years. Hate the black wheels (which only appear in 1/2 the pictures though!)

texases

That rolling road block Falcon with the 170/AT combo sure does seem overpriced.