I agree with that. If you can afford a 6 or 7 figure car, you can afford to use it as it was designed for. Too many awesome old machines sit and deteriorate as garage or trailer queens. It's a real crime. If I had something like a gullwing, early Ferrari, Bugatti, Duesy, 540K etc, I would take it out, on a closed course if anything. But it would certainly be driven, and likely at least several hundred miles per year.
I saw a '55 Chevy Belair convertible today, top down (nice day here), it was black and had sides that were kinda wavy, the paint was good but not brilliant. It looked representative of what you'd expect an original '55 Belair to look like.
Definitely not over restored but desireable just the same.
Early Mustangs are often over restored, but then they were basically just slapped together back in the day.
...a white 1975-78 Ford LTD Landau with the flip-up lights and a mysterious green MG. It looked like an MG Midget with a fixed fastback roof and the letters BGT on the decklid. Can anybody tell me what this car is?
someone actually dumped a car that looks like this:
at a construction site at the plaza I was working. I don't know what the story was behind it, but it looked like it was in okay shape. It's been awhile, so I can't remember it to a tee, but it certainly seemed salvageable. I guess it could have been stolen, but around these parts, especially back then, it was common for people to just dump cars they didn't want anymore around here. It sat there for a few weeks. At one point, someone yanked the rear suspension off of it, and it just sat there like a dog with a broken hind leg. A few other pieces got taken off, and someone would break something or throw something at it occasionally, so over the course of time it started looking more and more beat up. And then, one day, it was gone!
Or actually, out on the road. Someone near me now has a '70s vintage Chevy LUV pickup. Sounds like it has a V8 swapped into it. Not in bad lookin gshape considering how badly these rusted.
oh I like those little guys. In fact I'd rather have the hatchback than the convertible MGB, but I'm a bit of an oddball I guess. Not a big convertible fan.
I agree - I'm not a big ragtop fan, either... I'd be more interested in a Miata or Solstice if it came in a hardtop... In fact, I really liked the hardtop Solstice they showed in Detroit 2 or 3 years ago. It looked like an old 240Z from the side
I guess I'm just too much of a sucker for style. I don't look at a small 2-seater as being practical for anything other than looking good in anyway, so IMO you might as well just go all the way and get a convertible!
One thing that really disappoints me though, about them, is that in most of them you sit so low, with a high beltline, and with the windshield so in-your-face, and almost curving up over top of you, even with the top down, most of those little 2-seaters don't feel open and airy to me. They still come off as cramped and claustrophobic. Honestly, I feel more out-in-the-open in a pickup truck with the windows down and the rear sliding window opened up! :surprise:
Well, in a convertible it's sort of all or nothing - most of them look great with the top down, and not so great with the top up...
As far as practicality, yeah I agree - I can't really comfortably fit in a Miata or a MR2 Spyder...I'd never actually buy one
I really liked the looks of the Solstice coupe - I wish they would have built it along with the convertible.
I do like the new folding hardtops like Mercedes, Cadillac, Lexus uses...the new G6 convertible has that, too... that's sort of the best of both worlds.
that I'd probably buy would be either a Chrysler Sebring or a Camry Solara. AFAIK, these are the only two left that have any remote semblance of 4-adult seating. But I don't really like either one. I like the looks of the Sebring, but not the interior. And performance ain't the best, even with the V-6. OTOH, I don't like the looks of the Solara at all, but I do like the interior. I also hear the Solara ain't so hot in the "shake, rattle and roll" department, as it's an aftermarket conversion and not a factory built-from-the-ground up design. But on the plus side, the Solara should be a much better performer, with its 5-speed automatic and stronger V-6 engine.
Too bad Toyota and Chrysler couldn't collaborate here...maybe take a Sebring body, and put a Solara engine, tranny, and interior in it! :P
Just about any convertible I can think of, I'd rather just have the coupe version - it will be lighter, stiffer, perform better, cost less to buy...again, I'm just not a ragtop fan.
Getting way off topic here, but..... If I had the money to have a "collection" of cars, it would be fun to have a convertible to drive on warm summer evenings.
But, if you're talking about a daily driver, give me the coupe every single time.
Also, where I live, it's cold 6 months out of the year, and we don't get a lot of sunny days....maybe if I lived in San Diego, I'd think a convertible was more useful.
a '67 Catalina, and for the most part, in a car that size the disadvantages of a convertible don't show themselves as bad. Whereas nowadays a convertible body style pretty much insures you have no trunk and no back seat, this sucker is still a comfy 6-passenger car with a big trunk. And 200 lb isn't that big of a deal, when you're talking about maybe 3800 lb versus 4000 lb, and have 400 cubic inches to pull it around! It can be a little jittery and shaky, but because it's a big car, I think that helps dampen the effect somewhat.
Also, because it's a big car with a big interior, fairly low beltline, and you sit kinda high in it, and the windshield is pretty far away, with thin pillars, you really feel like you're out in the open when you drop the top. It might be a feeling that makes some people feel vulnerable and exposed, but I love it!
A couple of years ago, I sat in a bunch of 2 seaters at the Denver Auto Show. The only one I was reasonably comfortable in was the BMW Z4.
I'm very interested in the Saturn Sky (Solstice equivalent), and when it gets introduced next year, I'm going to head down to the dealer and have a close look.
The wife and I have talked about a "fun" car for warm summer days, but she's thinking of the newer Thunderbirds, since they have more room. I, of course, would love to get a used Boxster or Z4, or maybe the Sky. Perhaps the new retro Mustang convertible might be a good compromise.
I thought about that. From what I read, that conversion "only" costs like $3995, which seems like a steal to me! FWIW, there was a company back in the late 70's that would turn any car into a convertible...for $10,000 plus the car. Obviously, most of the conversions were done to Lincolns and Cadillacs, as not too many people were going to spend $6-7K on a Caprice and then another $10K to turn it into a convertible!
many of the factory jobs are actually done by an outside shop. I believe it is Asc that did the 300C, which is really a fully engineered convertible, and not a "shop job" by any means. I think ASC builds many convertibles in their shop already.
I believe it will cost more than 4K for them to do it though!
this one was in racing trim sitting on a parked flatbed trailer with racing numbers and decals on it (I live near a Speedway). It's amazing what a tiny, fast, cool race car the Mini Cooper was.
My biggest problem was that it felt like a big, cushy cruiser - which is fine - but it had that tiny 2.7 V6 and you had to live at redline to get it to move at all. Put a bigger, more relaxed engine in it and it wouldn't have felt like such a mismatch. I also thought the first Sebring (the one that replaced the LeBaron) was much better looking than the current car.
92 Buick Riv, white with a maroon landau top. Looked to be in great shape, paint still shiny, not rips in the top.
Merc 240D not much longer for this world
ca. 75 Olds Cutlass. Saw it in th parking lot at work, looked pretty good this model had the bucket seats and floor shifter. It had single round keadlights ifthat helps for the year.
I just thought of another 'vert that could probably hold 4 people in relative comfort. The PT Cruiser. I guess the reason I forgot about it is because with that big basket handle the thing just doesn't quite feel like a "true" convertible. One of my co-workers had one as a loaner though, when his 300C went into the shop, and we went out to lunch in it. I could fit in it pretty comfortably. Dunno if I'd want one, though.
Lancer, I've tried sitting in those cars you mentioned at various auto show, and those back seats aren't even K-car class, let alone fit for two adults! :P Those seats are just back there so the manufacturer can add another pair of seatbelts, and keep the insurance rates down!
a Studebaker wagon,early 60s look, I think it might have been a lark? Not my specialty though. Look OK, but was all in primer, or a really dark crappy paint job! Was driving around though.
This time it's a '74 Spider. Lots more fun, without all the superfluous luxo-garbage. My '87 had power windows and mirrors, leather seats, air conditioning, a hardtop, and a dorky little ducktail spoiler. The '74 has none of that, but it has a pre-smog engine - soon to get Euro camshafts - and about 400 fewer pounds to haul around. While it isn't "fast" in the way a Honda S2000 or BMW Z4 is fast it's definitely quick enough to be a lot of fun, where the '87 always felt underpowered.
Oh, and this time it's strictly a fair weather / tinkering in the garage toy. My '87 was a year round daily driver, and it wasn't really cut out for the job.
I've enjoyed going back and reading some of the old posts. They brought back tons of memories about cars I have seen or been associated with. When I was in HS my best friends parents had:
a 1st gen Dodge Caravan, that was a STICK!! never seen one since that was a stick. This was the passenger configuration too.
a 82 or 83 Buick LeSabre with the 5.7L diesel. This car defined slow, I think it was rated at 105hp.
a 72 Pinto wagon with the original clutch at ~170k miles. This was actually a pretty fun little car.
About the time we were juniors in HS (88) they bought a 1st gen Mazda 929. Those were really nice cars. Also bought a 323 for my friend and his sister to share. Both of those cars ran for over 10 years with no major problems.
A few oddballs out on this warm humid day....blue Volvo Amazon/122 wagon, Datsun B210, Fiat roadster from maybe the late 70s, unrestored but solid c.70 Nova SS, and the fintail was like an oven - modern AC cars are spoiling me.
Some of those Oddballs like the Lagonda and the GAZ 13 would make good entries in the "Mystery Car Pix" topic.
That two-tone Siata is a beauty, a great example of Bertone design.
I have to disagree on the colors of the '58 DeSoto, I think they're perfect, coral and white are a quintessential Fifties color scheme and that car looks like one of the best DeSotos in the world. It's odd that '58 which was the most disastrous styling year for GM and Ford would see some of the best MoPar styling ever.
I guess if any car can pull of a pink color, it's a big American car from 1955-1960. I'd prefer a powder or sky blue/white combination. If someone was just giving it away, I wouldn't turn it down though.
I saw a nice Mercedes 300 SEL turbodiesel (or maybe that should be SDL?), from the 1974(?) to 1980 generation. I can't keep those W series numbers straight, but it's the one with the quad round headlamps and the chrome protruding bumpers. I've always liked this generation of the S-class, along with the W126 series that you have. This particular car was in good shape, but in a rather gaudy bright red with a touch of orange.
saw a 57 'vette in perfect condition while out on my weekend errands. Then on the way home the local Ford dealer was having a Mustang show. Not a lot of the older 'stangs there, but they did have 2 new Saleen's. They wanted 41 and 42k for them.
That old MB would be a W116, from 73-80. You saw either a 280SE/SEL, 450SE/SEL, or a 300SD. There was also a Euro 350SE, but they are very unusual. I think those cars look a lot better with the Euro lights, and the goofy DOT-spec bumpers that can double as park benches don't help either. The color sounds right for the time, I have seen 116 in red and orange before. I've only seen one red 126, an old man in my area has a decent red 300SD. It's unusual to see someone under 50 driving these cars, even today.
57 Vette....I think I might take it over a new one, for a fun car anyway.
I went out to a "heritage day" event that was held at a local mansion nearby. There was supposed to be a small car show there too, but the weather looked really iffy. I was going to take my convertible, but it needs to be cleaned up, and with a hole in the roof I didn't want to drive it if it was gonna rain. I thought about just taking the LeMans, which I had just washed all the pollen off of, but then I just felt weird, putting a car that "new" in an antique car show! Something like the GM Nationals at Carlisle is one thing, but here it just wouldn't have seemed right.
So, I just drove the Intrepid and figured I'd just look at the other cars. Well, turns out with the way the storms kept threatening to blow up, only two cars showed up. One of 'em was my buddy who has a 1978 Mark V Diamond Jubilee. He actually has two of 'em, but brought the one he recently purchased. It only has like 11,000 miles on it.
The other car was a 2-tone pink 1959 Dodge Coronet 2-door hardtop. Turns out this guy knew my buddy with the Mark V, and actually lives like right around the corner from me! Small world. Anyway, I thought this Coronet was pretty interesting in that it was just the base model Dodge back then, but this one had power windows, swivel seats with a power driver's side, one of those "autronic eye" style headlight dimmers, and a few other upscale touches. And the best thing of all was the engine...it was a D-500 package, with a 383-4bbl! I think it put out like 325-330 hp that year.
This guy had it converted to 4-wheel disc brakes, and I'm thinking about doing the same with my DeSoto. One thing that bothers me though, is that the disc brake conversion kit uses front rotors and calipers from a Volare!! When he said that, I told him that I hoped they were at least from a Volare copcar! :surprise: Would something like that be beefy enough for a '57 DeSoto? Truthfully, a '59 Dodge probably isn't much more than maybe 100-200 lb more than some of the heavier Volares, like the V-8 wagons (around 3600-3800 lb I guess), but a '57 DeSoto easily tops 4,000 lb.
As for the rear brakes, this guy took the rear-end out of an E-body ('70-74 Barracuda/Challenger) and put it in. The E-body was wide enough that the difference in axle width was negligible. That got rid of the nasty tapered rear axle where you need a special wheel puller to get the rear drums off. Then, later on, he changed them from drum to disc, using a kit that he believes uses rear discs from some model of the El Dorado.
I've thought about doing it, since my DeSoto needs brake work, anyway!
Just had to laugh at that - yeah, you would think if you're going thru all the trouble of converting to 4 wheel discs, you could find a more suitable donor than a Volare!
Thanks, it had to have been a 300 SD, because I remember the "300" and "Turbodiesel" badging. Just wasn't sure about the letters. So this had to be the short-wheelbase version, not that it's really all that short!
Of those 1st generation Vettes, the 56-57 rates as the best in my book. Of course, with the '57, you can get a Fuelie too!
those big 80's Benz coupes. I guess by that time they were one of the last true hardtops still around.
I'm impressed that they were able to get the rear window to roll all the way down! As big as the windows are, it doesn't look to me like there's enough room for them to roll all the way down. I guess that's the difference between Benz and the domestics, though. Benz would find a way to make it roll down, where the domestics would just make it stationary.
Boomer Esiason used to drive one, when he lived here... I guess a family man would choose this over the typical Porsche or Ferrari that most of the "bonus babies" drive..
Comments
Definitely not over restored but desireable just the same.
Early Mustangs are often over restored, but then they were basically just slapped together back in the day.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
*edit - MGB GT:
at a construction site at the plaza I was working. I don't know what the story was behind it, but it looked like it was in okay shape. It's been awhile, so I can't remember it to a tee, but it certainly seemed salvageable. I guess it could have been stolen, but around these parts, especially back then, it was common for people to just dump cars they didn't want anymore around here. It sat there for a few weeks. At one point, someone yanked the rear suspension off of it, and it just sat there like a dog with a broken hind leg. A few other pieces got taken off, and someone would break something or throw something at it occasionally, so over the course of time it started looking more and more beat up. And then, one day, it was gone!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
BMW Z3 Coupe... weird... kind of like that MGB GT on steroids..
Early BMW 2002.. with the round tail-lights...
Edmunds Price Checker
Edmunds Lease Calculator
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!
Edmunds Moderator
One thing that really disappoints me though, about them, is that in most of them you sit so low, with a high beltline, and with the windshield so in-your-face, and almost curving up over top of you, even with the top down, most of those little 2-seaters don't feel open and airy to me. They still come off as cramped and claustrophobic. Honestly, I feel more out-in-the-open in a pickup truck with the windows down and the rear sliding window opened up! :surprise:
As far as practicality, yeah I agree - I can't really comfortably fit in a Miata or a MR2 Spyder...I'd never actually buy one
I really liked the looks of the Solstice coupe - I wish they would have built it along with the convertible.
I do like the new folding hardtops like Mercedes, Cadillac, Lexus uses...the new G6 convertible has that, too... that's sort of the best of both worlds.
Too bad Toyota and Chrysler couldn't collaborate here...maybe take a Sebring body, and put a Solara engine, tranny, and interior in it! :P
But, if you're talking about a daily driver, give me the coupe every single time.
Also, where I live, it's cold 6 months out of the year, and we don't get a lot of sunny days....maybe if I lived in San Diego, I'd think a convertible was more useful.
Also, because it's a big car with a big interior, fairly low beltline, and you sit kinda high in it, and the windshield is pretty far away, with thin pillars, you really feel like you're out in the open when you drop the top. It might be a feeling that makes some people feel vulnerable and exposed, but I love it!
I'm very interested in the Saturn Sky (Solstice equivalent), and when it gets introduced next year, I'm going to head down to the dealer and have a close look.
The wife and I have talked about a "fun" car for warm summer days, but she's thinking of the newer Thunderbirds, since they have more room. I, of course, would love to get a used Boxster or Z4, or maybe the Sky. Perhaps the new retro Mustang convertible might be a good compromise.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
I believe it will cost more than 4K for them to do it though!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
-Jason
Well, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the Saab 9-3 and (outgoing) Volvo C70 'verts...the CLK, too, I suppose but then we're talking real money.
Merc 240D not much longer for this world
ca. 75 Olds Cutlass. Saw it in th parking lot at work, looked pretty good this model had the bucket seats and floor shifter. It had single round keadlights ifthat helps for the year.
My wife has severe allergies to pollen, so that effectively rules out a convertible, not that I particularly want one now.
On lovely spring days, we have to ride with the windows up and the a/c on.
jaserb, "Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous" #2867, 19 Apr 2005 11:44 am!keywords=allin%3Amsgtext%20limit%3A.ef2c24d%20jaserb
Edmunds Price Checker
Edmunds Lease Calculator
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!
Edmunds Moderator
Lancer, I've tried sitting in those cars you mentioned at various auto show, and those back seats aren't even K-car class, let alone fit for two adults! :P Those seats are just back there so the manufacturer can add another pair of seatbelts, and keep the insurance rates down!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Oh, and this time it's strictly a fair weather / tinkering in the garage toy. My '87 was a year round daily driver, and it wasn't really cut out for the job.
-Jason
a 1st gen Dodge Caravan, that was a STICK!! never seen one since that was a stick. This was the passenger configuration too.
a 82 or 83 Buick LeSabre with the 5.7L diesel. This car defined slow, I think it was rated at 105hp.
a 72 Pinto wagon with the original clutch at ~170k miles. This was actually a pretty fun little car.
About the time we were juniors in HS (88) they bought a 1st gen Mazda 929. Those were really nice cars. Also bought a 323 for my friend and his sister to share. Both of those cars ran for over 10 years with no major problems.
Someone at work has turned up in an 84 or 85 Audi 5000....I pity them
Here's one you don't see every day...I kinda like it
Nicer later 300
Decent looking cheap oddball from same seller
Another pretty Mopar from same seller
If a normal Fiero just isn't good enough...
If a normal DeVille just isn't good enough
Good name, strange but kinda neat styling
A really obscure brand (for a whole car rather than a body), I guess you could do worse for the money
A good one to take to a Packard show
Someone will save it
Pretty car, but not my first choice of color
That two-tone Siata is a beauty, a great example of Bertone design.
I have to disagree on the colors of the '58 DeSoto, I think they're perfect, coral and white are a quintessential Fifties color scheme and that car looks like one of the best DeSotos in the world. It's odd that '58 which was the most disastrous styling year for GM and Ford would see some of the best MoPar styling ever.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
57 Vette....I think I might take it over a new one, for a fun car anyway.
So, I just drove the Intrepid and figured I'd just look at the other cars. Well, turns out with the way the storms kept threatening to blow up, only two cars showed up. One of 'em was my buddy who has a 1978 Mark V Diamond Jubilee. He actually has two of 'em, but brought the one he recently purchased. It only has like 11,000 miles on it.
The other car was a 2-tone pink 1959 Dodge Coronet 2-door hardtop. Turns out this guy knew my buddy with the Mark V, and actually lives like right around the corner from me! Small world. Anyway, I thought this Coronet was pretty interesting in that it was just the base model Dodge back then, but this one had power windows, swivel seats with a power driver's side, one of those "autronic eye" style headlight dimmers, and a few other upscale touches. And the best thing of all was the engine...it was a D-500 package, with a 383-4bbl! I think it put out like 325-330 hp that year.
This guy had it converted to 4-wheel disc brakes, and I'm thinking about doing the same with my DeSoto. One thing that bothers me though, is that the disc brake conversion kit uses front rotors and calipers from a Volare!! When he said that, I told him that I hoped they were at least from a Volare copcar! :surprise: Would something like that be beefy enough for a '57 DeSoto? Truthfully, a '59 Dodge probably isn't much more than maybe 100-200 lb more than some of the heavier Volares, like the V-8 wagons (around 3600-3800 lb I guess), but a '57 DeSoto easily tops 4,000 lb.
As for the rear brakes, this guy took the rear-end out of an E-body ('70-74 Barracuda/Challenger) and put it in. The E-body was wide enough that the difference in axle width was negligible. That got rid of the nasty tapered rear axle where you need a special wheel puller to get the rear drums off. Then, later on, he changed them from drum to disc, using a kit that he believes uses rear discs from some model of the El Dorado.
I've thought about doing it, since my DeSoto needs brake work, anyway!
That has got to be a lot of weight on that little Fiero chassis.
Of those 1st generation Vettes, the 56-57 rates as the best in my book. Of course, with the '57, you can get a Fuelie too!
Edmunds Price Checker
Edmunds Lease Calculator
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!
Edmunds Moderator
I'm impressed that they were able to get the rear window to roll all the way down! As big as the windows are, it doesn't look to me like there's enough room for them to roll all the way down. I guess that's the difference between Benz and the domestics, though. Benz would find a way to make it roll down, where the domestics would just make it stationary.
Edmunds Price Checker
Edmunds Lease Calculator
Did you get a good deal? Be sure to come back and share!
Edmunds Moderator