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

stickguy

For that much park it in the driveway as a conversation piece. Basically a lawn ornament.

fintail

First drive of the year, first time on the road in a little over 4 months, gratuitous pic:



No issues at all - started right up, drove fine, stopped fine. In a parking lot I did notice a slight fluid trail that I was hoping was not from my car as it led to my spot - didn't seem to be though, hopefully a coincidence. Got a random "beautiful car" from a car passing by, and turned some heads as always - I don't know if a new Lambo would get as much positive attention. This also marks something of an anniversary - I bought the car in (late) March of 1995 - 30 years! Time flies. I had no idea I would still have the car so many years later.

explorerx4

Charged up the Mustang battery 100% then ran the starter with power to the distributer disconnected until the oil pressure came up.
Recharged to battery to 100% and connected the power to the distributor, took longer than I thought.
It was the best startup the car ever had after sleeping for the winter.
Usually, it runs rough for 30 seconds or so, but this time it was smooth from the get go.

oldfarmer50

explorerx4 said:

Charged up the Mustang battery 100% then ran the starter with power to the distributer disconnected until the oil pressure came up.
Recharged to battery to 100% and connected the power to the distributor, took longer than I thought.
It was the best startup the car ever had after sleeping for the winter.
Usually, it runs rough for 30 seconds or so, but this time it was smooth from the get go.

On the Sebring I keep it on the battery tender all winter and start it up once a month and run it until it reaches operating temperature.

gsemike

Long Island in Spring - still in the 40s here, but special interest car listings are popping up

BMW Wagon

VW Golf Sportwagen 4Motion even. I don't know what the reliability on these are but I like it!

3 pedal black GTO Curbstoner car but looks nice

If this looks good underneath

I don't think these Torinos are there yet, but not a bad car

You'll be the only one at cruise night but the bodywork scares me

Subaru van

stickguy

if honest, the Golf is a good deal.

The Jeep could actually be a good buy based on the ad. With these the frame rust makes all the difference.

fintail

I suspect if the Torino was a 72 it would be worth a bit more.

texases

Yeah, amazing how those battering ram bumpers ruined the looks:

explorerx4

Two things about the Gran Torino ad, car for sale has a seapped in 460 and the is a twin in green parked on the street.

gsemike

explorerx4 said:

Two things about the Gran Torino ad, car for sale has a seapped in 460 and the is a twin in green parked on the street.

Good eye on the green one. They both seem to have the same hood that doesn't fit it at all.

Would be good to know more about the 460. The car definitely was not born with it. Was it pulled out of an LTD wagon and painted or was it build the right way.

Also agree about the year. 73 is a weird transitional year, as it was for many cars with the 5 mph bumper mandated for the front only. Even a later 76 Starsky style would be more desirable

fintail

I think the movie "Gran Torino" had/has a positive impact on the 72 as well, and it is a unique design with some presence.

kyfdx

460 was the standard engine for Lincoln for quite a few years ('72-'76, for sure).

I'll guess they just pulled it out of one, rather than building a different Ford motor.

sda

@fintail Nice color combination. Looks rather plain with the bench seat and no center arm rest. https://youtu.be/X1VhlzuT3-Q?si=oX27vfYa6bFOeQ9A

fintail

sda said:

@fintail Nice color combination. Looks rather plain with the bench seat and no center arm rest.

That's a fun color combo for the car, which I think I have seen in period promo material. Clean those whitewalls stat!

The bench seat was a factory option, the upholstery on the seats and door panels does not appear to be OEM. For typical bucket seat cars, there was an accessory cushion that fit between the seats and could act as a seat. I don't think there was a center armrest accessory for either configuration. The area between the seats has a tray, no console.

That car is the same model as mine, but I have automatic and power steering, It sounds quite the same. Interesting that it is a South Africa built car - there was also an assembly facility in Australia, as both markets were apparently strong enough to justify it. Price looks just shy of 16K, not sure what the market is like there, someone put some time and money into that car no doubt.

bhill2

kyfdx said:

460 was the standard engine for Lincoln for quite a few years ('72-'76, for sure).

I'll guess they just pulled it out of one, rather than building a different Ford motor.

In the early 90s I drove a Ford vanpool van provided by our employer (a public university; budget-conscious and not exactly a hotbed of automotive enthusiasm). I thought the thing merged on the freeway better than most vans. Come to find that it had a 460 in it. I'd still like to know who got that through and how.

sda

fintail said:

sda said:

@fintail Nice color combination. Looks rather plain with the bench seat and no center arm rest.

That's a fun color combo for the car, which I think I have seen in period promo material. Clean those whitewalls stat!

The bench seat was a factory option, the upholstery on the seats and door panels does not appear to be OEM. For typical bucket seat cars, there was an accessory cushion that fit between the seats and could act as a seat. I don't think there was a center armrest accessory for either configuration. The area between the seats has a tray, no console.

That car is the same model as mine, but I have automatic and power steering, It sounds quite the same. Interesting that it is a South Africa built car - there was also an assembly facility in Australia, as both markets were apparently strong enough to justify it. Price looks just shy of 16K, not sure what the market is like there, someone put some time and money into that car no doubt.

I didn’t think the upholstery was OEM either. Doesn’t yours have a center fold down arm rest in the back seat? Did MB use GM’s Hydramatic or Borg Warner’s auto trans
or did they produce their own?

fintail

sda said:

fintail said:

sda said:

@fintail Nice color combination. Looks rather plain with the bench seat and no center arm rest.

That's a fun color combo for the car, which I think I have seen in period promo material. Clean those whitewalls stat!

The bench seat was a factory option, the upholstery on the seats and door panels does not appear to be OEM. For typical bucket seat cars, there was an accessory cushion that fit between the seats and could act as a seat. I don't think there was a center armrest accessory for either configuration. The area between the seats has a tray, no console.

That car is the same model as mine, but I have automatic and power steering, It sounds quite the same. Interesting that it is a South Africa built car - there was also an assembly facility in Australia, as both markets were apparently strong enough to justify it. Price looks just shy of 16K, not sure what the market is like there, someone put some time and money into that car no doubt.

I didn’t think the upholstery was OEM either. Doesn’t yours have a center fold down arm rest in the back seat? Did MB use GM’s Hydramatic or Borg Warner’s auto trans
or did they produce their own?

Yes, I have a center rear armrest.

Starting in 1962 I think, MB used an in-house automatic, a 4 speed (2nd gear start) with a fluid coupling instead of a torque converter, maybe not unlike a Hydramatic. Before that, B-W units were used, and MB had the "Hydrak" semi-automatic.

tjc78

@bhill2 said:
In the early 90s I drove a Ford vanpool van provided by our employer (a public university; budget-conscious and not exactly a hotbed of automotive enthusiasm). I thought the thing merged on the freeway better than most vans. Come to find that it had a 460 in it. I'd still like to know who got that through and how.

The ancient Chevy Express van can be had with the modern 6.6 making 400HP.

I have to think unloaded it could smoke quite a few sporty cars.

gsemike

Interesting 1972 new Yorker.

Nice low miles outer borough car but long list of needs.

https://www.facebook.com/share/18hFJEiMBk/

explorerx4

I had a 70 Sport Fury with pretty much the same color scheme.
The high back front seats are nice.

ab348

Finally got to look at the listing. Quite the barge! The stamping plant must have loved punching out those giant rear quarter panels. I like the colors inside and out. Learned something I didn’t know - not only is the heater core that it needs not readily found, but for those that have one available it is an expensive part. Apparently it is an odd combo of a heater core and A/C evaporator.

sda

ab348 said:

Finally got to look at the listing. Quite the barge! The stamping plant must have loved punching out those giant rear quarter panels. I like the colors inside and out. Learned something I didn’t know - not only is the heater core that it needs not readily found, but for those that have one available it is an expensive part. Apparently it is an odd combo of a heater core and A/C evaporator.

I really that is has the rare sunroof. And, cleanly styled before the big bumpers and bumper guards of 73.

fintail

Surprised the Chrysler isn't green, but that's close enough.

stickguy

How did people deal with those in the city?

texases

Sounds like it better not get cold or hot outside while you’re driving. AC needs to be hooked up = it’s trashed.

gsemike

@stickguy said:
How did people deal with those in the city?

I guess that generally there were less cars.

Some of these blocks where they've added bike lanes, this yacht would barely fit

texases

Well, plenty of huge crew-cab pickups driving around these days...

gsemike

https://www.facebook.com/share/1FyLmPhNpj/

A brand new motor w 70k miles???

explorerx4

Replacement engine has 70K on it, is my interpretation.

gsemike

@explorerx4 said:
Replacement engine has 70K on it, is my interpretation.

Me too. Not quite brand new

explorerx4

Leaving the Yankeees/Guardians game today I saw this, a Buick Enclave replacement, an EnCavedIn.

kyfdx

explorerx4 said:

Leaving the Yankeees/Guardians game today I saw this, a Buick Enclave replacement, an EnCavedIn.

I see the problem here.. you should have been at the Reds vs Marlins game in Miami.

stickguy

Should have been in NY where the really good game was happening.

explorerx4

@kyfdx,
Why would I want to watch 2 teams with losing records play each other?

Michaell

explorerx4 said:

@kyfdx,
Why would I want to watch 2 teams with losing records play each other?

Because, Florida in April.

explorerx4

@kyfdx,
In Cleveland, mid 70's and sunny with a slight breeze during the game. Perfect baseball weather.
Plus that picture.

fintail

Drove the old dear today , lovely warm spring day and it is "Drive It Day", a UK thing where old car owners are encouraged to take their cars out for a drive for exposure and a charity event. Car started and drove fine, got a nice shouted compliment from a guy in a 2nd gen Prius, saw an oldier hippie looking woman taking a pic of it, etc. Enjoy it now, as summer here can be hot enough where I don't want to take the glassy non-AC out:



I think next month I will take it in for the annual service, then it will come home and get the annual detailing.

oldfarmer50

Hey, here’s an oddball question.

A coworker knows a guy that has a 1954 Cadillac Coupe for sale. According to him the guy bought it years ago and has kept it in excellent condition. He likes the idea of buying it because that’s the year he was born. He also says it’s completely original. The seller wants $21,000. Assuming condition is as represented, is it worth it?

Not the actual car but looks like this:

texases

Seems like a decent price, if no rust, decent paint and interior, all the accessories work, and if he can handle the unavoidable maintenance and repairs yet to come. Or if he has plenty of money to hire out the work.

If he doesn't know his way around classic cars he needs to pay someone who does to do a pre-purchase inspection.

fintail

Spring is here and CL material is coming out of hibernation:

Star of the show today - needs everything and it's nothing 75K can't address, but plenty of memories come back, along with differences between our car and this

These can often be found for what seems like little money, but they look really cramped to drive

I bet you could get this

And this for under 20K combined - another that hasn't taken off even for nice cars

Nice color but the price might be overestimating demand

For Enos Burdette cosplayers

Good name for a car

I see patina probably from outside storage, kind of a shame as these angular malaisemobiles are neat in their own way

Wide whites would do a lot, another one where demand is not growing

Yellow

Red, has the right bumpers

"Hot hatch" is being wildly generous but seldom seen anyway

Low miles, lower ROI

Rare style, nice color, but young ones don't care

Yuppiemobile

Another one not appreciating yet

Kind of cool look on those tires/wheels

Seldom seen, proud seller

stickguy

shockingly little obvious rust on that 60 Ford. Makes a restore slightly easier, but zero chance you could do it without getting buried.

I like those Fiats. That one I swear you posted in the past.

I do like that MGB. Fun little toy.

but the Malibu wagon is probably the coolest!

fintail

The 60 Ford brings back some old memories, and thinking back it was ~35 years ago when my dad bought it. Same color combo as our car, and ours had that same upholstery pattern, I seemed to recall the seat inserts had kind of a plaid effect. I clearly remember the cool silver metallic trim on the door panels, and the rubber floor lining in the rear cargo area. That car is a 6/3 speed, where ours was a 352/auto. I see the CL car has reverse lights, which our car did not have. I also notice the CL car has a blanking plate for the clock (upper right of the instrument panel), an oval clock would go there, which our car had. 35 years, 5 more years than the age of the car when we got it, and it seemed like a cool vintage car even then.

stickguy

restored or at least at solid driver level it would be cool to have to tool around on. Even more so with a gentle resto mod (crate small block and a 5 speed, disk brakes and upgraded suspension, and real seats up front) but stock looking outside.

ab348

Somebody locally had a bad way to start their day yesterday. Rear-ending a car in heavy traffic on the Macdonald bridge crossing Halifax harbor probably wasn't on their bingo card. Likely an expensive repair for what looks like a well-preserved vehicle.

kyfdx

That might have totaled it..

fintail

Yeah very likely totaled unless the car was something unique. Unsure what model it is, but I don't see the trunk mounted CHMSL, and those wheels are off an early 90s R129 SL. The car appears to have the deeper front spoiler of a 560SL.

fintail

stickguy said:

restored or at least at solid driver level it would be cool to have to tool around on. Even more so with a gentle resto mod (crate small block and a 5 speed, disk brakes and upgraded suspension, and real seats up front) but stock looking outside.

It'd be a unique labor of love for someone, with so few around. Gotta keep that color combo too. One will never break even, so have fun with it.

explorerx4

My guess is that there is more damage on the right side of the car than the left.
Too bad, nice looking car.

oldfarmer50

I noticed that at least one of the cars said “no title”. How could you ever register it regardless of restoration. Are there special exemptions for cars over a certain age?

stickguy

In some states yes. I think they do it on bill of sale.