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

stickguy

looking back at your last list of oddities, that Ford PU and camper looks like the buy of the bunch.

ab348

stickguy said:

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.

Now you're really making me feel old. About 20 years ago when I had my Buick Electra Park Avenue a piece buried inside the distributor (pickup coil maybe?) failed and would cause the engine to simply die intermittently. I decided I could fix it myself. I ordered the part which was installed around the distributor shaft. I read up on how to do the job and how to remove the distributor itself and replace the piece since I had never done that before. I remember those said to make a witness mark on the firewall to help line it up when it was time to reinstall it. I did that and got it out of the engine, then did the replacement of the failed piece on the workbench. Turned out one of those extremely tiny wires used in those GM HEI distributors had fatigued and broke. When I got it all done and reinstalled the distributor I took it for a test drive and found the timing was slightly advanced over what it had been, so I reset it by eye/ear and it ran fine after that.

fintail

stickguy said:

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.

The place I found locally (fingers crossed once they inspect the car they are OK with it) advertises that they do carb work, which I think bodes well. The FI on 60s MBs is solid, but if it does go wrong, it's expensive. I want to say a rebuilt FI pump is around 4K. The only issue I've ever had with mine is a cold start relay/solenoid that failed, probably the original part, when the car was 50 years old. Expensive part, but not a difficult repair.

I remember my dad had some of timing tool, but he often just did it "by ear".

In another venue I know someone with an early Pontiac Sunbird, a pristine low mileage car that needed a transmission solenoid or something - not a huge job but some labor involved. He was turned away from a
few shops, I think. This will become more common with time.

fintail

Last time went over like a lead balloon, here we go again:

Not sure what you'd do with it

Needs wide whites

Nice color, probably fair

And its domestic counterpart, probably fair too

This lifestyle vehicle trend is fun

Low mileage cult car with a catch

A little dear for its needs

Not a bargain but fun stance, reminds me of a teenager's car from a 50s-60s movie

50 footer

No tail

Special

Optimistic

The slowest?

What did it cost new?

stickguy

motley bunch. I do like that they advertise the Taco overlander as never being offroad! Other than that one, only thing in here I like is the Corvette. nice color. Just needs a trans transplant!

Could make a good platform for a budget restomod. Upgrade suspension and brakes, probably seats, and can put in a crate powertrain of some sort. a 6 speed behind a EFI 350? that should take care of the laziness issue!

tjc78

Limo - maybe a tailgate vehicle?

SC - definitely looks like a solid car and price.

Mark - As much as I’d rather have this over the SC… I’d wager the Lexus will be easier to own even with triple the miles.

Taco - someone will pay it. Why I have zero idea

Eldo - those can be rusty even when they don’t look to be. Maybe a decent deal it is checks out. IMO the early years of that generation look better to me.

Hillman- seriously they put Fox body wheels on it lol.

DeVille - That generation seems to have disappeared from the roads. Couldn’t tell you the last time I’ve seen one.

qbrozen

Hillman says new interior so I wanted to see it. Nope, not a single pic.

ab348

I suspect that if someone hadn't fallen for the de-badging trend, the seller of the Hillman would know that it is a Hillman MINX.

The Caddy limo must be a funeral car with such low miles. Seems like a decent deal but as was said, what might one do with it? The '93 Sixty Special is also somewhat interesting but also from that scary era where there are lots of early GM electronic bits that are now NLA.

The slushbox Miata might appeal to a fringe market but the price seems high given that.

The Eagle resurrects one of my least favorite and most meaningless used car ad lines: "In good shape for the year". WTH does that even mean?

stickguy

It means “I’ve seen worse”

fintail

Always seemed like a backhanded compliment to me - most cars that age went to the scrapyard years ago, so for it to be intact and maybe moving under its own power makes it good for its age.

texases

Friend had an Eagle like that, I found it very cramped inside, much tighter than our '85 Cherokee XJ.
That Studebaker has rust by that external air vent, just like out '56 did.

ab348

texases said:

That Studebaker has rust by that external air vent, just like out '56 did.

I'm old enough to remember seeing Studes on the road back when I was a kid, and recall seeing a lot of them rusting out around that fender vent.

xwesx

If I had to choose between the Lexus and the Lincoln.... I dunno; I think I'd go for the Lincoln!

The Tacoma pickup is funny. I had a friend who owned a clone of that truck back in the day, and it had the advantage of a manual transmission, too. She bought it new and probably paid half of that price (maybe not, but I recall she didn't actually want a pickup, but bought that one because it was the most cost effective for her compared to the other things she was considering).

xwesx

Miata.... bleh. Auto transmission is a travesty in that generation; it is a little sad that the wipers only work some of the time, but who wants to drive a convertible in the rain, anyway?! I like the Eagle; he needs to knock the price in half. Heck, he'd probably get a bite even at $3K.

xwesx

Last one....

I like the deVille; probably the buy of the bunch if it isn't laden with too many electronic gremlins. The Eldorado looks nice, but "50 footer?!" No way I'm getting any closer, then!

The 'vette looks really nice. I like that generation of car, whether it is slow or not! Hopefully, it doesn't live up to the hype of its fabulous license plate!

Hahaha, I think the person selling the HHR wants their money back on it. That's gotta be a joke! There's a reason we almost never see these cars anymore, and it isn't because they're all stashed away as garage queens or in museums!

fintail

xwesx said:

Last one....

I like the deVille; probably the buy of the bunch if it isn't laden with too many electronic gremlins. The Eldorado looks nice, but "50 footer?!" No way I'm getting any closer, then!

The 'vette looks really nice. I like that generation of car, whether it is slow or not! Hopefully, it doesn't live up to the hype of its fabulous license plate!

Hahaha, I think the person selling the HHR wants their money back on it. That's gotta be a joke! There's a reason we almost never see these cars anymore, and it isn't because they're all stashed away as garage queens or in museums!

I am waiting for the PT Cruiser preservation society to come along. The oldest ones are heading for 25 years old now, so it is just a matter of time, then the HHR will follow suit.

tjc78

Remember the craze when the PT first came out? There were huge ADMs on them.

fintail

In WA, dealers were buying PTs from Canada (very good exchange rate then) and selling them here. I recall loaded ones with 25K++ stickers.

tjc78 said:

Remember the craze when the PT first came out? There were huge ADMs on them.

andres3

all of those PT buyers must have not realized it was just a Neon underneath, or they just didn't care about reliability at all.

oldfarmer50

fintail said:

xwesx said:

Last one....

I like the deVille; probably the buy of the bunch if it isn't laden with too many electronic gremlins. The Eldorado looks nice, but "50 footer?!" No way I'm getting any closer, then!

The 'vette looks really nice. I like that generation of car, whether it is slow or not! Hopefully, it doesn't live up to the hype of its fabulous license plate!

Hahaha, I think the person selling the HHR wants their money back on it. That's gotta be a joke! There's a reason we almost never see these cars anymore, and it isn't because they're all stashed away as garage queens or in museums!

I am waiting for the PT Cruiser preservation society to come along. The oldest ones are heading for 25 years old now, so it is just a matter of time, then the HHR will follow suit.

Gee, maybe I can buy my old one back. Nah, I’m still trying to corner the market in old Azteks.

I bought the PT for my wife because she thought it was “cute” but it was a poorly constructed car in every way.

fintail

oldfarmer50 said:

fintail said:

xwesx said:

Last one....

I like the deVille; probably the buy of the bunch if it isn't laden with too many electronic gremlins. The Eldorado looks nice, but "50 footer?!" No way I'm getting any closer, then!

The 'vette looks really nice. I like that generation of car, whether it is slow or not! Hopefully, it doesn't live up to the hype of its fabulous license plate!

Hahaha, I think the person selling the HHR wants their money back on it. That's gotta be a joke! There's a reason we almost never see these cars anymore, and it isn't because they're all stashed away as garage queens or in museums!

I am waiting for the PT Cruiser preservation society to come along. The oldest ones are heading for 25 years old now, so it is just a matter of time, then the HHR will follow suit.

Gee, maybe I can buy my old one back. Nah, I’m still trying to corner the market in old Azteks.

I bought the PT for my wife because she thought it was “cute” but it was a poorly constructed car in every way.

Give it another decade, really preserved highly optioned Azteks (tent etc) will fetch weird money now and then at auction.

I remember test driving a PT Cruiser with a friend around launch, in the spring of 2000 - he had a thing for those (and the Prowler). I remember it really turned heads. I recall my mom had one as a rental several years later, and she hated it - of all things, the window switch location really bugged her.

ab348

fintail said:

I remember test driving a PT Cruiser with a friend around launch, in the spring of 2000 - he had a thing for those (and the Prowler). I remember it really turned heads. I recall my mom had one as a rental several years later, and she hated it - of all things, the window switch location really bugged her.

My only experience with one was also as a rental and I too hated the window switch location being in the center console. No idea why anyone thought that was a good idea. But that was just one of many irritants I had driving it for a couple of days. I quickly went from being pleased to get it as a rental to hating most aspects of using it.

andre1969

ab348 said:

My only experience with one was also as a rental and I too hated the window switch location being in the center console. No idea why anyone thought that was a good idea. But that was just one of many irritants I had driving it for a couple of days. I quickly went from being pleased to get it as a rental to hating most aspects of using it.

Accountants thought it was a good idea. My old '88 LeBaron turbo coupe had the switches on the console. It eliminates some redundancy and wiring, because you now have just one set of switches on the console, rather than a master set on the driver's door, and then an additional switch on the passenger door.

One of my co-workers had a PT Cruiser convertible for a rental years ago. It had the switches for all four windows on the console! No switches on either door up front, and none in the back.

It's been ages since I was in a 4-door PT Cruiser, but someone please tell me they didn't do the same thing there as well. I'd like to think that the back doors at least had their own switches!

tjc78

I think Jeeps have the controls in the middle too.

Not sure about the PTs, but the early Neons only had power windows in the front doors.

stickguy

Center is cheaper for making the car for RHD markets.

kyfdx

E46 BMWs have the window controls in the middle.

texases

My only experience with a PT was a convertible we rented to enjoy our trip through Yosemite NP. Get to Yosemite, check into a hotel, come out the next morning and the key won't turn to start the car. Tried everything. Call the rental company, they flatbed a Monte Carlo to us, guy gets in and starts the PT right up. Grrrrrrrrrr

oldfarmer50

fintail said:

oldfarmer50 said:

fintail said:

xwesx said:

Last one....

I like the deVille; probably the buy of the bunch if it isn't laden with too many electronic gremlins. The Eldorado looks nice, but "50 footer?!" No way I'm getting any closer, then!

The 'vette looks really nice. I like that generation of car, whether it is slow or not! Hopefully, it doesn't live up to the hype of its fabulous license plate!

Hahaha, I think the person selling the HHR wants their money back on it. That's gotta be a joke! There's a reason we almost never see these cars anymore, and it isn't because they're all stashed away as garage queens or in museums!

I am waiting for the PT Cruiser preservation society to come along. The oldest ones are heading for 25 years old now, so it is just a matter of time, then the HHR will follow suit.

Gee, maybe I can buy my old one back. Nah, I’m still trying to corner the market in old Azteks.

I bought the PT for my wife because she thought it was “cute” but it was a poorly constructed car in every way.

Give it another decade, really preserved highly optioned Azteks (tent etc) will fetch weird money now and then at auction.

I remember test driving a PT Cruiser with a friend around launch, in the spring of 2000 - he had a thing for those (and the Prowler). I remember it really turned heads. I recall my mom had one as a rental several years later, and she hated it - of all things, the window switch location really bugged her.

Same window switch location as the Jeep Wrangler.

sda

Dad’s 75 Renault 30, my 85 Renault Alliance convertible, 89 Jetta Wolfsburg, 98 Catera and 08 HHR all had the window switches mounted on the center console. Later HHRs benefitted by having the switches moved to the driver’s door.

fintail

ab348 said:

fintail said:

I remember test driving a PT Cruiser with a friend around launch, in the spring of 2000 - he had a thing for those (and the Prowler). I remember it really turned heads. I recall my mom had one as a rental several years later, and she hated it - of all things, the window switch location really bugged her.

My only experience with one was also as a rental and I too hated the window switch location being in the center console. No idea why anyone thought that was a good idea. But that was just one of many irritants I had driving it for a couple of days. I quickly went from being pleased to get it as a rental to hating most aspects of using it.

IIRC the window switches were up on the dash, pretty high up. This was a later model, late 00s, maybe they moved? Old MBs have window switches between the seats too.

I was amused that she was irritated, as she is the demographic (early boomer) who I thought would fall for the car. Speaking of rentals, I recall several years later she had a Fiesta, trunkback sedan - she hated that too. Maybe not surprisingly, she really liked a Corsica rental she had earlier in the 90s.

Switches are visible here, above the radio, this is an 07:

fintail

CL Time:

Getting thin on the ground, pricing doesn't seem to reflect the cosmetics

Customization to one person's taste, quite high price, lead image is a photo of a photo with a live laugh love font overlay - welcome to Idaho

Remarkable condition for one of these at this mileage, owner wants to be funny

Those headlights

One image from 12 miles away, Idaho

Back to the 90s, seems fair these days

Weirdest two tone pattern I've seen in a while

As these approach 30 years old surprised they haven't become collectible

But some cars never seem to get there

So what you're saying is for another 20K of work on top of the 20K price I can have a 25K car

Project for uplanderguy (don't mind the spelling)

Based

Seems fair

Base model of base models, they don't make em like this anymore

tjc78

That may be the worse lineup you’ve ever posted 😎

oldfarmer50

They like their Chryslers out your way.

I have a Sebring convertible like that except 4 years newer and a bit more miles. I paid less than half what is being asked but I guess that’s the new world we live in,

The TC was known to combine the worst of Chrysler build and Maserati electronics.

The Plymouth cloud car must be a record holder. They were good general transportation. They all went to the scrapyard in my area.

fintail

tjc78 said:

That may be the worse lineup you’ve ever posted 😎

I take that as a compliment

I think the Morris Minor and maybe Sebring are OK. Heck these days even the Tercel is probably not the worst deal.

fintail

oldfarmer50 said:

They like their Chryslers out your way.

I have a Sebring convertible like that except 4 years newer and a bit more miles. I paid less than half what is being asked but I guess that’s the new world we live in,

The TC was known to combine the worst of Chrysler build and Maserati electronics.

The Plymouth cloud car must be a record holder. They were good general transportation. They all went to the scrapyard in my area.

This has always been a slightly higher cost of living region, I think, and cars reflect that - just made worse with inflation. And with the lack of rust, old cars retain a little more value than some points east. I bet nothing in the list has noteworthy rust. Anything really solid and roadworthy for under $2500 or so will take a lot of luck here.

My aunt had a first gen Stratus until she stopped driving a couple years ago (I think she's 90 or 91 this year). When I visited a few years ago, I looked over the car and noticed how clean it appeared - little old lady car. It had like 170K on it! Apparently she never had any real issues (4cyl).

stickguy

I would be happy to take that Z3 to stick in the garage. love the colors too.

kyfdx

stickguy said:

I would be happy to take that Z3 to stick in the garage. love the colors too.

My friend has a '98 Z3. We picked it up in Terre Haute, about 7 years ago. White over red interior. Bigger 6-cyl and 5-speed. He's considered selling it. But, he was driving it on Thursday, when he stopped by the house.

It's very nice, and fun to drive. I guess it's as popular as a Miata, or more so. But, they made a bunch of them. They'll never be any more collectible than the Miata, I don't think.

oldfarmer50

fintail said:

oldfarmer50 said:

They like their Chryslers out your way.

I have a Sebring convertible like that except 4 years newer and a bit more miles. I paid less than half what is being asked but I guess that’s the new world we live in,

The TC was known to combine the worst of Chrysler build and Maserati electronics.

The Plymouth cloud car must be a record holder. They were good general transportation. They all went to the scrapyard in my area.

This has always been a slightly higher cost of living region, I think, and cars reflect that - just made worse with inflation. And with the lack of rust, old cars retain a little more value than some points east. I bet nothing in the list has noteworthy rust. Anything really solid and roadworthy for under $2500 or so will take a lot of luck here.

My aunt had a first gen Stratus until she stopped driving a couple years ago (I think she's 90 or 91 this year). When I visited a few years ago, I looked over the car and noticed how clean it appeared - little old lady car. It had like 170K on it! Apparently she never had any real issues (4cyl).

My convertible is a Florida transplant that was a summer car for the previous owner when it came up here so it’s pretty clean.

I had a 97 Sebring like that Breeze and got rather crusty.

fintail

oldfarmer50 said:

fintail said:

oldfarmer50 said:

They like their Chryslers out your way.

I have a Sebring convertible like that except 4 years newer and a bit more miles. I paid less than half what is being asked but I guess that’s the new world we live in,

The TC was known to combine the worst of Chrysler build and Maserati electronics.

The Plymouth cloud car must be a record holder. They were good general transportation. They all went to the scrapyard in my area.

This has always been a slightly higher cost of living region, I think, and cars reflect that - just made worse with inflation. And with the lack of rust, old cars retain a little more value than some points east. I bet nothing in the list has noteworthy rust. Anything really solid and roadworthy for under $2500 or so will take a lot of luck here.

My aunt had a first gen Stratus until she stopped driving a couple years ago (I think she's 90 or 91 this year). When I visited a few years ago, I looked over the car and noticed how clean it appeared - little old lady car. It had like 170K on it! Apparently she never had any real issues (4cyl).

My convertible is a Florida transplant that was a summer car for the previous owner when it came up here so it’s pretty clean.

I had a 97 Sebring like that Breeze and got rather crusty.

On that note, I visited with a friend today, who has an 09 Escape, original owner, long commuter, I think past 250K now - still running and driving fine, but has a few quirks. I noticed a very minor bubbled area on a rear wheelarch, kind of surprising, but maybe not with the winters here. I bet in in some areas it would be Swiss cheese.

gsemike

What's on Marketplace on LI

Because Brooklyn Take a pic with your feet on the dash. That's good marketing

Manual Frontier with low miles

Another Frontier Short on details but could be a good deal

73 Grand Am Some unfortunate rust but ineresting car. Power buckets must be extremely rare

84 vette. Pretty rough but still has the cross fire injection. I thought that was always torn off by 1986

texases

That RX350 - "Excellent condition" - glad I wasn't drinking my coffee when I read that!

stickguy

texases said:

That RX350 - "Excellent condition" - glad I wasn't drinking my coffee when I read that!

I was thinking the price was really good so it might be a scam. Until I saw the picture of the front end.

stickguy

that Vette has some unfortunate design choices.

I actually love the black Nissan. If I could find one up here like that and clean underneath, would be an option to expand the fleet while saving money (Flip the Maverick for a PU and a sports car!).

the blue one, if I had a lift, tools and more talent, could be a fun project. But I would really want a good inspection of the undercarriage on that one done.

tjc78

Name the price it sold for.

ab348

It's apparently the ultra-rare "Presiane" model, so the price could be astronomical.

qbrozen

I need more. It says odo reads less than 6k but is there proof it hasn’t rolled over? Is it mint throughout? All original? Everything working? Where, when, and by what selling format was it sold?

kyfdx

I'm not sure you could pick an old car that is less desirable than that one..

tjc78

@qbrozen said:
I need more. It says odo reads less than 6k but is there proof it hasn’t rolled over? Is it mint throughout? All original? Everything working? Where, when, and by what selling format was it sold?

Mecum. 100% looked the part. As new, down to the tires.

tjc78

Well optioned too.

qbrozen

Mecum? Boy… I’ll guess like $12k-$14k