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

fintail

I can't recall the last time I saw one of those - even a plainer Ford wagon is a rare sight anymore, even at a show.

I remember in the 90s, my dad took the rear end out of a 70 Squire to put in his 60 Country Sedan (I don't know what the benefit was supposed to be). The Squire was weathered far beyond redemption so it was being parted out, but was a cool car with the hidden headlights -dark blue on black with probably most every option, and I seem to recall it had a 429. I think once the drivetrain was taken, it just went to the crusher.

tjc78

Wagons usually had a higher axle ratio than sedans. Since you mention it was a high-option car it most likely was a Traction-Lok as well.

fintail

Ah that might be it, I remember my dad mentioning Traction-Lok in some context. The Country Sedan was a 352, which was the largest offering that year, so maybe it could have been an easy upgrade to the newer part. I also now seem to recall he was concerned about a rear end noise in the older car. He kicked himself from the moment he sold that car.

steine13

>> You mean cars aren't people too?

Exactly.

I know this, but I don't follow my own advice.... I've been known to "visit" former cars of mine if I know where they are parked.... just to see how they've held up, whether they're still running...

What can I say, I'm sentimental. Never dumped a girlfriend, never quit a job either...

I'm working on buying car #38, though.

Cheers -Mathias

fintail

I guess I am not so bad then - I have never visited an old car. I kind of don't want to know what happened to them, as few will carry on my OCD cleaning habits. My last daily driver was traded in, so I knew I would probably never see it again (dealer claimed he had someone who would want it before it hit the lot).

I would like to find out what happened to that Country Sedan my dad had, though. He sold it in the mid 90s, regretted it from that day forward.

andre1969

I have a friend who saw two of his previous cars abandoned along the side of the same road! At different times, of course. His first car was a 1976 or 77 Cordoba that was involved in two separate accidents. Both were fairly minor, but I think the second was enough to total it. The other party was at fault, so he got paid out and the insurance company took it. But didn't junk it, I guess, because he saw it abandoned, with no tags, along a desolate stretch of road awhile later.

His second car was a 1978 Newport that was totaled when a 1990-93 Accord tried to make a right turn from the left lane, right in front of him, and he couldn't stop in time and T-boned it. The Accord was trashed, but the only thing that disabled the Newport, I'm thinking, was that the fender was pushed just far enough into the tire to rub it. Oh, and it bent a rear axle when it hopped a curb. That one I know got junked, because I saw it, ironically, at the same towing company/junkyard that impounded my ex-wife's '88 LeBaron when it got stolen! :blush:

His third car was an '82 Cutlass Supreme sedan with a 260 V-8 that he got something like $600 in trade for, when he bought a used '95 Grand Marquis in 1999. The Cutlass was white and easily identifiable, because it had one Chevy Rally wheel on the rear. Well, awhile later, he was driving down that same road, and there was his Cutlass, abandoned with no tags!

As for me, I saw my '80 Malibu about a year after I sold it. Talked with the owner. They had it up to about 115,000 miles (I sold it with 100K) and said they loved it. After I sent my totaled '69 Dart GT off to the junkyard, they had it for a little over a year and then it was gone. I know where the guy who bought my '68 Dart lives, but don't know if he still has it. He wanted to restore it, but if he was smart, he would have given up long ago! :P

As for the rest of my previous cars, I have no idea.

Mr_Shiftright

I've had more cars than birthdays, and very very few are ones that I long to see again. Generally when I sell a car, I'm already divorced emotionally, since I would rarely sell out of distress. A few I was really glad to see go and if I never see them again, all the better.

But there are a handful I'd like to have back again...my '63 Riviera, '57 Morgan, Jaguar XK140, MGB roadster, my little Honda 600, TR250, BMW 2002 all come to mind. I'm sure there are a few others.

Aside from the XK140, most of them are still accessible to my budget I guess, but you know, been there, done that...

stickguy

I see my Accord on occasion, but that is because the women that bought it lives a couple of miles away, on a thru street that I use frequently, and you can see the driveway where it parks. So I know they still have it. And I did see it parked at our local commuter station not long ago.

I know a silver Accord is on the common side, but they never fixed the broken front bumper, and that is a dead giveaway (I would know that damage anywhere!)

The oddest one though was I swear that I recently saw the Scion tC i traded back in 2005 for sale on CL (when i was just browsing). identical car, and it had the plate frame from the Honda dealer I traded it out. The ad said 1 owner, but that seems odd (who would put a Honada dealer plate frome on their Scion if they were the only owner?).

I thought about going to check it out, but it felt stalkerish.

The other car I always saw, and that I regretted selling, was my mazda 626. The mailman bought that, so I heard about it occasionally when I saw him, and I saw it parked at the P.O all the time. he put another 100k+ on it, so a good deal for him.

fintail

I'd like to know that my W126 is still on the road and in good shape, and maybe that my C43 is still going - the other couple cars I have experienced, I don't care for so much. It'd be cool if any of them are still around, but no feelings if not.

fintail

The abandoned car thing might be an omen to anyone who wants to buy a used car from that guy.

Thinking back, I know the leviathan T-Bird my mother had when I was little ended up in the backyard of a car hoarder friend of my dad....it was still there when we moved from that area 25+ years ago, could be there today if the city hasn't got on him (had 20 or more cars hidden away). I remember my dad traded his poopy brown S10 Blazer, and I would see it parked on a main street back around 1994-5, never moving - my dad theorized it died, as it was not the best made vehicle. When I was away at school, my mom sold the old Tempo to a local guy who worked for a car repair place, and wanted to give it to his kid. Several years later, maybe around 2005, I saw it in a parking lot, still looking pretty OK. Had to have been over 200K miles by then.

ab348

In 1997 I bought a 1978 Olds Delta 88 as a beater and then ended up semi-restoring it. Nothing too crazy, but I replaced the rear bumper, some interior pieces, a few emblems, etc. After 6 years of faithful service I sold it. I saw it around time a few times in the first couple of years and then never again. I have no doubt the rusties got to it as it was starting to go in a few spots. But I wonder where it went, if for no other reason than a lot of the bits I replaced on it would be worth something to those in the Olds community.

qbrozen

my 540 lives close by, but I have yet to see it.

andre1969

The abandoned car thing might be an omen to anyone who wants to buy a used car from that guy.

The last two cars he got rid of, a 1995 Grand Marquis and a 2004 Crown Vic, I sometimes thought I should have bought, just to have a beater. In 2004, the Grand Marquis had about 175,000 miles on it, but was getting a bit tired. The check engine light was on, one of the headlights was deteriorating (he had to replace one, because the plastic actually cracked through), paint was getting thin and it was starting to rust in that unfinished area where the top of the C-pillar joins the roof, a little smoke and clatter on hard acceleration, etc.

He got $600 in trade for it. When I found out how little they were going to give him (I was with him when he bought it) I seriously considered offering to buy it off him for that! But, decided not to.

Well, the 2004 made it to about 230,000 miles, when he traded just a few months ago, on a used 2009 Grand Marquis LS Ultimate. The '04 aged much better for the most part, although both the front and rear bumpers were peeling. However, mechanically it seemed more solid. One issue it had though, was that the a/c would cut in and out at random, and I think the dealer wanted well over $1,000 to fix it.

That one, he only got like $300 or $400 in trade, but this time I wasn't there when he did the deal. I did tell him though, to check Central Avenue, down past the community college, to see if it shows up abandoned one of these days! :P

He said he wouldn't have sold me the car, even for $300-400, because he'd feel guilty if something broke on it. But I told him that at that price, even if it lasted a few months it would be fine. And as for the a/c, hell my attitude is that as long as the windows still roll down, it's no big deal!

lemko

My Grand Marquis just turned 105,000 miles today.

tjc78

It's still a baby.

My 04 GM is sitting at 78k.

andre1969

I think the '09 LS Ultimate that my friend bought had mileage in the low-mid 50K range when he bought it. But I'm sure it's in the 60K range by now.

Every once in awhile, I'll see a low-mileage, recent CV, GM, or Town Car pop up locally and get tempted. But, my 2000 Park Ave only has about 88,500 miles on it, so I guess it's a relative baby, as well.

I've gotten pretty spoiled by the sunroof in my Park Ave, so I guess if I wanted a Panther with a sunroof, I'd have to limit it to Town Cars? Guess I can always have an aftermarket one put in a CV or GM

tjc78

Finding a factory moonroof in a CV or GM is practically impossible. I think the only years were 03 to maybe 05 or so. I've seen exactly one and that was a car on a Panther forum.

I would take a LTC over a Park Ave, but I love Panthers. In all reality the Park Ave in supercharged trim has more power, better FE and rides just as nice. It's FWD, though and a little smaller.

lemko

Just saw a black 2007 Lincoln Town Car at the local Ford dealer on Saturday. Two minuses were it had 77K miles and was black. I already have one black car and it is a royal PITA to keep clean. I don't need another one.

tjc78

Unless the wife wants a black car, I'm done with black. The LaCrosse is Carbon black and while I don't believe it's as bad as jet black it is bad enough. We took a trip to the Poconos last weekend and the car looks like heck.

If I went with a late model Townie I wouldn't want black because it looks too much like a livery car. They look great in white and the burgundy color IMO. Beige interior, please.

I've got my Panther fix at the moment. The 04 that was my Grandfather's runs and rides like a dream. The cloth top wouldn't be my choice, but it could be worse.

My car is currently "Panther of the Month" on a Panther website.

berri

Funny, I saw a pix of a black TC around that vintage in the Chicago Tribune today where it had driven into the Apple store in Lincoln Park.

wevk

http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2012/10/03/neil-armstrong-corvette-heads-towa- rd-preservation/

Mr_Shiftright

Well the car is a mess, so it'll have to be restored. I can only hope it is not over-restored like so many of them are. They end up looking like old people with plastic surgery. Restoring the fenders is a good idea but date-coded mufflers? That's getting a bit much in my book. I hope they drive the thing and enjoy it and not make it a trailer queen with Armstrong photos stuck all over it.

fintail

Had my project car out on another cold day - started right up and ran sweetly, it likes cooler weather. Probably a sign the FI cold start system is worn, as they run better in cold with age. It did crank a little slow on the first time, which means the 6 year old battery might be wearing out. That's a good lifespan for a generator car, I guess.

Something I wonder about - could an automatic fintail be push started? I wonder this, as the car can be started in gear.

Bad news - my indy mechanic closed his shop, at least temporarily. He ran the place almost singlehandedly, only employing like 2 other guys - and got overwhelmed. I think he needed a break, and kind of collapsed. I know sometimes he was having to book work weeks out. Luckily, I do know another shop who isn't afraid of either of my cars. The new place is ran by a middle aged guy who employs some old timers, so it might actually be fine.

Mr_Shiftright

only if your automatic has a rear pump. e.g., GM's old 2-speed Powerglide.

fintail

It is the old 4-speed fluid coupling-based (no torque converter) system you probably remember from back in the day. I was thinking, if it starts in gear (2nd gear start), maybe other things are possible.

Mr_Shiftright

well roll it down a hill and try it! :P

fintail

I might do that. I wonder how it would work, with no clutch to pop. Put in second and see what happens, I guess.

I am happy, might have finally found storage for the car, as it now looks like I will need to be out of the current garage by the end of the month. It will be a bit more expensive, which irks me. Sometimes I wonder why I keep that car - but I forget that when I drive it.

xwesx

This one has 139,000 miles, 4.9L V8 (front-wheel drive... it's the first V8 I've ever seen that is transversely mounted), Brougham package, which is leather, some other stuff, perhaps the faux convertible top? The body is silver. Paint is good, tires are good, no leaks, starts and runs well, is very clean. Sounds like it has a loose heat shield on the exhaust. The only issues it has is the leather seats in the front show some wear. Not torn, but worn on the door sides of the front seats due to accessing.

realistically, what's it worth? I'm thinking maybe $3K?

Mr_Shiftright

That would be somewhat generous for a base 1992 Seville, but if the car checks out with a mechanical inspection, and is really clean top to bottom, that'd be an okay price. Fair retail. I'd prefer you paid about $1800.

tjc78

IDK if that is a car you want to touch. It's certainly a nice machine, but it is a first year model. They are known to pop head gaskets, and you have to remove the intake manifold to R&R the starter. They also have funky liquid cooled alternators. In other words, potential money pit.