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

fintail

Or middle (chosen for year and wheels, subtle whitewalls wouldn't offend here either):

fintail

CL world:

Once common, now uncommon, priced very high for condition

Kramer would probably approve

Great spec and colors, and the price they carry these days

Ditch those headlights stat, terrible trend

Mullets are coming back

So that's how they did the Ghia window

Lots of flash for the cash

Pretty bizarre condition for age and mileage

You used to be able to find these all day for 1/10th this price

Might be reasonable

These exist

Luba Potamkin would approve

Seems fair

Hardtop cosplay

ab348

The Mustang II is pretty much a basket case. Any time I see one of those triangular aftermarket air cleaners I give it a hard pass.

The '79 Cadillac coupe could be a nice car. Too bad the front seat upholstery appears stretched to within a millimeter of its life. Perhaps the seat foam has turned to dust.

kyfdx

I really liked the late '80s Caddys. Not just the Seville, but the Sedan DeVille, as well. No idea why. I was really into BMWs and Porsches, by then.

Four of us rented a sedan to drive to Naples, one year. (17 hours, each way). Even though they looked downsized, they were huge inside. The back seat area was enormous.

texases

That ES300, if it has a clean carfax, would be a good cheap driver. I liked my '96 for 15 years.

stickguy

I always really wanted one of those Z cars. looks pretty nice, good project for someone that is somewhat handy. looks like the hard work is done. still seems pricey though, but you gotta pay to avoid the rust demon!

gsemike

texases said:

I'd rather go older...


or younger...

Even though it's a fancy Nova, I like that one on the top

xwesx

While I love the fact that @fintail is willing share so much browsing time with us, and provide excellent commentary in the process, further comments on the postings go right over my head for the most part because I can never figure out which link is being discussed. Hahah!

fintail

xwesx said:

While I love the fact that @fintail is willing share so much browsing time with us, and provide excellent commentary in the process, further comments on the postings go right over my head for the most part because I can never figure out which link is being discussed. Hahah!

The reply function helps

Spokane CL is pretty slow, I check it once or twice a day at most, and keep a mental list of what I have seen.
Not sure why, hoping to happen across some weird oldie that I need as much as a hole in my head. Local FB Marketplace is a gongshow, so many misdescribed cars and terrible ads

gsemike

This is marketplace for you. Same exact pics listed in two locations w crazy low price. Scam scam scam

fintail

Lots of that on Marketplace. Sometimes they do vintage cars too, making it look like maybe someone inherited a car and is clueless. Pristine 67 Vette roadster for 10K etc.

stickguy

darn. I would have paid $850 for a non running rust bucket MGB.

oldfarmer50

It seems that ever since CL started charging $5 for a car ad many of the scammers switched over to Marketplace. It must have gotten expensive to blanket Craigslist in dozens of cities with the same ad when you have to pay $5 a pop.

fintail

I last drove the old car on November 6th - real snow started the next day, and didn't really fade away until about a week or so ago. It has been quite warm since, so it was time to get back on the road. I last started the car in January, then let it sit. It cranked a little slow (battery is from 2014) but started on the first turn of the key, and soon settled into a smooth idle, and ran fine. The hazy sunshine is kind to the car:



Parked on one of Spokane's endless amount of time warp streets that appear untouched by time, a few more period cars in the background and one could say this is 1963 (or maybe 1923 with older cars):




And as this is a project car thread, the car decided it wants attention. The driver's side rear brake is leaking. I usually check for leaks/spots before and after every drive, and when I got back today, I noticed a spot under the car. I looked under the car and could see fluid on the inside sidewall of the rear tire. Fun! Brake reservoir didn't look lower than normal, so for now a minor leak, but it'll need attention asap.

sda

Is the brake master cylinder a single or dual circuit? If single I would not prolong having it serviced. Always like seeing fintail being enjoyed!

fintail

sda said:

Is the brake master cylinder a single or dual circuit? If single I would not prolong having it serviced. Always like seeing fintail being enjoyed!

Dual circuit. I noticed nothing odd when driving, but I will really keep an eye on it now, probably only driving it again when I take it in for repair. Driving season is coming soon and it's overdue for a service anyway, so I guess this will even out last year, which had no real issues.

texases

Does it have a solid rear axle? It could also be an axle seal.

fintail

texases said:

Does it have a solid rear axle? It could also be an axle seal.

Swing axle, although I suppose a leak somewhere could end up at the wheel. I am kind of afraid to put the car on a jack and see what I find - something will need to be repaired that is beyond my materials and ability.

ab348

texases said:

Does it have a solid rear axle? It could also be an axle seal.

Brake fluid is usually easy to differentiate (pardon the pun) from gear oil.

fintail

ab348 said:

texases said:

Does it have a solid rear axle? It could also be an axle seal.

Brake fluid is usually easy to differentiate (pardon the pun) from gear oil.

Yeah, thin fluid. When I first saw it I hoped it was just water from somewhere, but nope.

xwesx

Speaking of batteries, I finally picked up my 2013 Forester from the friend we let borrow it back in August. She put it on a charger when she stopped using it a few weeks ago, just to keep the battery topped up, so it started great when I grabbed it on Thursday night. However, Friday morning, it started really hard, despite the car having been plugged in to warm the engine for a couple hours. The temperature was about -18F (-28C).

We drove into town (about twenty minutes) and shut it off at the university. When we came back about a half-hour later, it again started somewhat difficultly, which caught my attention. However, we had a schedule to keep, so off we went to Anchorage! In Healy, about two hours south, we again shut off the car for a quick rest break, and it almost didn't start up again! Temperatures were still in the -20F range.

I had my son call down to O'Reilly in Eagle River to make sure they had a new battery on hand for us when we arrived, and we stopped in at about noon to get it. Shockingly, the new battery was $270 (I think I spent about $140 on the old one in 2012).

All told, the battery lasted us a little over eleven years across two cars and one substantial collision. Not to shabby.


The RedTop is dead. Long live the RedTop!

texases

11 years - impressive. I don't remember the battery life we had in Anchorage, but I also don't remember having to replace many. In Dallas, on the other hand...
'Hot weather degrades batteries, cold weather reveals their condition' I remember reading somewhere.

Michaell

texases said:

11 years - impressive. I don't remember the battery life we had in Anchorage, but I also don't remember having to replace many. In Dallas, on the other hand...
'Hot weather degrades batteries, cold weather reveals their condition' I remember reading somewhere.

And, I'm on my 3rd battery for the Outback in 8 years...

explorerx4

I saw something about a class action settlement regarding Subaru's and batteries.

xwesx

Yep

texases said:

11 years - impressive. I don't remember the battery life we had in Anchorage, but I also don't remember having to replace many. In Dallas, on the other hand...
'Hot weather degrades batteries, cold weather reveals their condition' I remember reading somewhere.

Yep; that's a very true statement. Hot weather definitely degrades batteries faster! I expect that a battery should last about seven years, at least in this climate, but the only one I had that out-lasted this one was the 12/04 battery (NAPA) that was in my plow truck. I got fifteen years out of it, but that one didn't see nearly the cycles this one did.

I first installed it in the 2010 Forester with about 30,000 miles on it back around March 01, 2012, and used it in that car until its fatal crash on March 01, 2017 with 107,500 on the ticker. Then, I installed it in the 2013 Forester in June of 2017 where it stayed until Friday. I don't recall the mileage on the newer Forester, but I'll say it was right at 60,000 after driving it home from the dealer in Illinois. The car had a tick over 113,000 miles at O'Reilly. So, what's that... about 130,000 miles total on the battery?

The truck gathered maybe 500 miles during that same timeline.

xwesx

explorerx4 said:

I saw something about a class action settlement regarding Subaru's and batteries.

That is true, and Michael's Outback might be affected.

https://www.subarubatterysettlement.com/

Nothing to do with the batteries themselves, but more the way that the car uses it over time. Battery drain while off will definitely shorten the life of any battery, and it is the primary reason why batteries *tend* to not last as long in a modern vehicle as in something like my plow truck (all factors being equal). So, if the car drains more than it must, you're in for a frustrating time!

If you drive the car daily, you may never notice the extra strain (until the battery quits from old age 2-3 years later!), but let it sit for a week or two, and you'll be lucky if it starts when you try it.

I know this well with my Audi Q7.

Michaell

Hmm, thanks! The Outback doesn't get driven every day, but it doesn't sit for many days in a row, either.

andres3

Yeah, spent about $300 for the Bosch battery in my S4 my shop did for me recently. 2023 dollars don't go very far.

ON the bright side got a killer deal by negotiating well on the windshield; he tried to get me to blurt out Safelite's quote, but I knew that was a recipe to get $200 off or less... ended up costing $399.99 for aftermarket glass which was $250 less than Safelites' quote.

fintail

Treasures or not?

Amazing condition, and those miles

Odd. uneven

Same one as before?

Ah so it does have hood damage, I wonder about the rest of it

The sword

Seems steep for the needs

Seldom seen, switch the wheels back stat

Period piece

EX - manual - moonroof - something must be wrong as this seller usually prices optimistically to put it nicely

Those seats don't work in this application

Might be fair

At one time all of this JDM import flipper stuff would have entertained me, but it's becoming more common with time

Not owned by a periodontist

Forthcoming seller

4x4

Luxury model

ab348

I like the ‘91 Chevy pickup in Idaho except for the hardware store roll mat material that became a replacement headliner.

stickguy

I would love a CRX but I think it would have to be an Si. I test drove one of those new back then. It was a lot of fun!

the Accord looks very clean. that would likely be a rotted out mess around here.

oldfarmer50

texases said:

11 years - impressive. I don't remember the battery life we had in Anchorage, but I also don't remember having to replace many. In Dallas, on the other hand...
'Hot weather degrades batteries, cold weather reveals their condition' I remember reading somewhere.

I went to start up the Mustang and the 8 year old battery wouldn’t do the job. I hooked up the trickle charger to it and it started right up. When I take it in to the shop for an oil change in a few weeks I’ll replace it.

tjc78

That generation of Accord is just such a great design. All business.

International would be an awesome sleeper/cruiser project.

The Chevy pickup is interesting with that color combo.

Wheels on the Z are just awful, also I usually love white but not on that car.

Flame suit on …. I don’t hate those Mopar mid 80s convertibles. That one isn’t a great color.. but in the right colors and wheels they aren’t that bad.

qbrozen

I like the Suburban ad.

"The interior is awe inspiring. " .... so I'll go ahead and include no pictures of it.

xwesx

Well, you know, awe can be both good and bad....

texases

Do you think this is worth $9500? The folks over at NPoND don't:
https://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv/cto/d/palmdale-1976-cadillac-seville/7597445203.html

qbrozen

No. Engine bay gives me an idea of how little care went into the details. Maybe $6500, give or take a nickel.

ab348

What is NPoND?

$9500 may be a bit high but the condition seems pretty good. Engine compartment looks about like what I’d expect.

texases

Yeah, this nicer one's only bid to $6200 so far.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/175658706741?hash=item28e6132735:g:o8IAAOSwAC5kGM81

Michaell

ab348 said:

What is NPoND?

$9500 may be a bit high but the condition seems pretty good. Engine compartment looks about like what I’d expect.

Nice Price or No Dice - a Jalopnik feature.

texases

Yep, sorry, used to be NPoCP (Nice price or crack pipe).

fintail

Jalopnik is still around? Those Sevilles seem like old MB sedans, buy the nicest one you can afford, as there's no financial upside in restoration - labor of love.

gsemike

Michaell said:

texases said:

11 years - impressive. I don't remember the battery life we had in Anchorage, but I also don't remember having to replace many. In Dallas, on the other hand...
'Hot weather degrades batteries, cold weather reveals their condition' I remember reading somewhere.

And, I'm on my 3rd battery for the Outback in 8 years...

Interesting. We have a 14 Outback 2.5. I believe it's on it's second battery

gsemike

ab348 said:

What is NPoND?

$9500 may be a bit high but the condition seems pretty good. Engine compartment looks about like what I’d expect.

Agree. Engine compartment is dusty but doesn't look shot

stickguy

paying for condition. If you happen to want one of whatever car it is, restoring (even repairing) is so expensive these days, and parts hard to find, better to "overpay" for a clean one with no big needs than to get a bargain and spend a fortune trying to sort it out.

plus you are only talking about a few $1,000 here. Not like a car that normally doesn't crack $20K selling for $50k. and not like they are making any more!

fintail

A handful of CL things:

Looks well cared for, rare in this trim, probably fair in today's money

Still for sale, I love the color combo, probably fair as these are crossing into special interest car territory

Ambitious rear stripe

Greenwood

Future obscure car

Getting thin on the ground

I imagine it acts like a sail in crosswinds and then there's the price (local CL seems overrun with this JDM stuff all of a sudden, at least ship over some cars)

"Sweeten the deal" with a functional exhaust please

I like the list of what it doesn't have, also no mention of the whiskey dent

Not many left so untouched, price seems to reflect the trend

Admirable preservation, but I am not sure the author knows what "boho" means, this is more like "frugal grandpa"

Lasts forever in this climate, cool on those wheels/caps (period Celica/Supra would be cool too), seems fair

fintail

Project car update - found a garage who seems like they will take the fintail in for its leaky brake. The proprietor wasn't too scared of it other than unsure about parts availability, somewhat older guy which is reassuring, and the place gets good reviews (and lists "classics" on its site). Fingers crossed they can deal with it, and I can get back to driving - irksome to miss out on spring driving weather. I kept an eye on the reservoir, and noticed no real change on the round trip (maybe 3.5-4 miles with several stop signs and lights), so it's drivable anyway.

stickguy

good thing on old stuff like that. They might be "quirky", but still pretty simple, and at least mechanical and not electronic. I don't think you need to worry that their scan tool can't talk to your ECM!

parts, you might have more trouble finding an electronic module for a 15 YO car.

fintail

I told him I wasn't looking to have the fuel injection pump rebuilt or something crazy, just some pretty routine maintenance. Everything should be available pretty easily online, or worst case, from MB itself. i just didn't want to get into it - if I take the rear brakes apart, the car will end up getting flatbedded back to a shop to be made roadworthy again.

The lack of ability to be scanned and the fault told will make old cars harder to take to shops as time goes on.

stickguy

I forgot you have the FI. that is probably a specialty item. I remember an episode of wheeler dealers where they redid a BMW 2002Tii, and Mike had to find the (apparently) last guy (some old dude) that could rebuild the kugglefisher (however you spell that( FI block. and that was probably 10 years ago.

Just watched a Rainman Ray video last night. Had to replace the mechanical distributer on a 1985 Chevy. And set the timing by ear because he said he hasn't owned a timing light in 10 years. Or worked on a car with a carb in ages either.