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I spotted an (insert obscure car name here) classic car today! (Archived)
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Those things were pretty cool. It's a shame they didn't make more of them. I read that they only made five of them in the 24" stretch, and two of them in the 36" stretch (one was a gift to Frank Sinatra, and is supposedly still in his estate, and the other was used in the Cannonball Run movies, and is supposedly still around). I wonder how many of the 24" stretch models are left?
I read that you can actually make your own Imperial Limo. It just takes two regular Imperials and an R-body to do it, plus the know-how and/or financial resources to make it all fit together!
Ford is currently in the process of reducing the different types of vehicles it offers on a world-wide basis. That is a good move.
Not Avalon!
After your post, I came up with OHVille. smiley emotorcon.
How many people in this galaxy wants a car like that anyway? This is a good example of "rare does not equal valuable". If it's a freak show, you're going to get freak show money, not Hemi Cuda money, right?
Apparently it was crashed and totalled in the 1960s and lay in the bottom of a swamp in Florida. It was eventually dredged up and restored in a fashion. In 1990 it went on a boat to Japan to find a new owner, during the last big Ferrari Bubble, but alas, the Japanese economy blew up and the car was a "no sale".
On the way back in the container ship, it was put in a hold with a 30s Horch. The Horch broke loose in a storm and bashed back and forth against the Ferrari for a few days whilst in heavy seas. Needless to say, when the boat reached port, there wasn't too much left of the Spyder.
At that time, it was given completely new steel sheet metal fore and aft of the doors, instead of aluminum.
In 1993 it underwent some further restoration.
All in all, a rather hard life I'd say.
Ya think! :surprise:
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Also bought a Multipla that couldn't hit reserve.
He never lived it down, despite the fact that he was only charged with leaving the scene of an accident.
a bit ratty (I could see rust out at the lower front wheel well, down toward the floor) and the windows were hazy.
It was at a house near me where the guy has 3-4 old car that normally sit outside under tarps. Don't think they are doing the cars any good!
also has a 1975ish road runner that is usually uncovered (and I think has plates). Plus something else that I can't remember what it is, but I think a large Mopar of some kind.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Well, by the time that thing finally blew its engine (can't remember now if it was '08 or '09...the years are blurring together now) it looked horrible. Paint had fallen off in a few spots, exposing bare metal, which was rusting. The vinyl on the roof and spare tire hump was peeling. And the paint had faded considerably in general, cracking here and there.
Strangely though, my '79 New Yorker, which has sat outside since I bought it back in May of '07, doesn't seem to have decayed any. It needs a good wash and wax, but that's about it. I'm looking into finally getting a carport built across the back of the garage so soon, hopefully, it'll be out of most of the weather.
During lunch, I ran home, and the weather was so nice that I dropped the Buick off and came back in the Catalina. Took the "scenic" route back, and when I went past one house that always has two cars under covers. Usually they'd be partially blocked from view by cars parked in front, but today I could see them more clearly. Looks like two Corvettes...a 2nd generation and a 4th. I wonder what kind of condition they're in? I hate to think of nice Corvettes being forced to live outdoors!
What happens is that moisture collects under the tarp and coats the horizontal surfaces of the paint---then, once the sun comes out and beats down on the tarp, it superheats the moisture underneath, causing it to blister and distress the paint.
In addition, the tarp allows water to condense inside the car, attacking upholstery, carpeting, etc.
In addition, the tarp allows water to condense inside the car, attacking upholstery, carpeting, etc.
Now that I think about it, the interior of my buddy's Mark V was deteriorating pretty quickly, too.
Now, I've heard some people say that carports can be bad for a car as well. Is that true? I know a carport won't be as good as a fully-enclosed garage, but wouldn't it still be better than having the car parked out in the driveway?
The MB specialist I used to patronize restored a W111 coupe for an eccentric guy, who then parked the car outside under a tarp for a couple years. When he saw the car later, it needed everything done again - the interior especially was completely ruined. I am sure letting the car sit outside and uncovered is better than using a plastic tarp.
I finally found where they were coming in the garage, plugged the hole, and haven't had any problems since. That surprises me though, since I'm sure it wouldn't be hard to find other gaps to get in.
I caught the last two mice partying in the camper with traps. One really started to stink by the time I was able to dispose of him. It probably took two weeks to get rid of the stench.
I've also had mice in my car before. Left the car in the garage for a week and came home to probably a quart of dog food stuffed in the insulation under the hood. I've never had them in the boat thankfully. Last thing I want is chewed up wiring etc.
I agree on the issue of covers. If they don't breath then you're asking for trouble. I had that happen with our boat last year. I laid it up in a different storage facility that apparently had moisture issues. Even though I have a quality Sunbrella canvas cover that has plenty of areas for air flow, I still had a mildew. I used several DampRid containers too, but it still wasn't enough to keep the mildew out. I will say marine vinyl is durable and relatively easy to clean, but it still doesn't make any more fun to scrub.
Speaking of cars, I passed a VW Passat W8 with paper plates yesterday. Don't see those often.
Every once in a while I find some somewhere under the hood.
Another time, I found some evidence of something going up one of the tailpipes.
After that, I covered them with a plastic sandwich bag.
Last month, I found a deceased chipmunk near where I park the Explorer.
The funny thing is, I parked it with the back towards the garage door, which I never do.
When I started it, I thought I heard something hit the garage door, but it was probably just my imagination.
Nice luggage, big money
"Memphian"
Pimpy
Money pit brought some money
Wacky
Not for the faint of heart
"Dutch Jeep"...words you don't often see together
I think this is the engine you'd want
Or if you prefer a Poncho
The 70s
Odd hybrid
Czech style...seller rubs me wrong somehow
Conversion van with all the subtlety and elegance of modern Russian money
The funny thing is, I parked it with the back towards the garage door, which I never do.
When I started it, I thought I heard something hit the garage door, but it was probably just my imagination.
I know this is wrong, however, I am visioning a chipmunk being shot out of a tail pipe and I am laughing.....
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
That '74 Olds Delta 88 is really sweet. Nice color, and a nicely finished interior. The Catalina seems a bit tacky in comparison. I think Olds did a really good job in those days of giving the people what they wanted, in a car that seemed much more upscale than a Chevy, but not that much more expensive
The person who lives across the street from me has a '74 Corvette convertible with manual transmission and no power accessories, not even power steering. He's the original owner, and several years ago he had the engine rebuilt so it would run much better. All I know is that, with it's low restriction exhaust system, it sounds like a beast. He told me it's legal. The next time I see him I'll try to get more details.
A friend of mine has a Corvette that he keeps stored for the winter. One day he gets in the car, turns on the AC, and a foul stench blasts him from the vents. Apparently, mice had been stored dog kibble in the HVAC duct work all winter. I forget how much it cost to repair, but I heard it was a lot!
This is one thing I always thought was sad...POINTS by 1974? And on a Corvette?!
I think Chrysler put electronic ignition on all its V-8 cars in late 1971 (not sure if that was 1972 model year, or if some late '71's got it), and I think even the slant six got it for 1973. When did Ford start with EI?
As for GM's electronic ignition, is there anything inherently bad about those HEI systems they used in the 1970's? My '76 LeMans had it, but it's been swapped out for something else. I've heard a few sources say it wasn't all that good, but nobody's ever given me details.
Oh, I was impressed with my '67 Catalina this morning. It got a bit cool last night, around 48 degrees. I drove it to work. Got behind the wheel, pumped the pedal once. Turned the key, and it started on the first try, and went into fast idle to warm up. Just like GM intended! And the fast idle even kicked off without any issue. I think this is the easiest first-start of the day I've EVER had with the car! Now yesterday, when I started it, it took awhile to get started, but it also hadn't been run since I got it back from the mechanic the previous Thursday night.
It's amazing the difference it makes when you find a mechanic who knows what he's doing!
I always thought that it was actually decent compared to Chrysler and Ford. I know some Ford guys that actually swapped out the DuraSpark modules for HEI.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
Not yet, but I went out to the parking lot around 11:30 to check on the car. At this point, it had been almost 4 hours since I drove it in to work. Oil showed full on the dipstick. And stupid me, the coolant was still under pressure, so when I turned the radiator cap to check, some blew out. Not hot, just a little warm.
I've also only driven the car about 25-30 miles since it came back from the mechanic, so time will tell, I guess. But, no new stains in the drip pan on the garage floor!
I had forgotten that the smaller of the 2 rear side windows on these actually rolled down.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
Not sure how they manage to climb up them, but they do.
Usually, I get a stick and hit the downspout a couple times to give them a headache.