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

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Comments

  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,803
    Hmmm... I KNOW I've read that Alfa ad before somewhere. The whole speech about the L-jet and the "checks every box on the sports car list" thing is very very familiar. He doesn't state miles, but if I'm not mistaken, it looks like 120-something thousand in the pic of the dash.

    And a "firm" price of $6k means he's got a "firm" deathgrip on that car.

    Bertone = i'm nuts, I know, but I liked that chopped-top version much better. That one you posted just looks like an 740 with 2 doors missing.

    '11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S

  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516
    That's rare to see that Benz with no power options and a manual tranny, and no a/c. Less stuff to break?

    I always liked the Bertone Volvos even though they do seem like ordinary 2 door boxes now, they have some charm to them.

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  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,665
    That parts car C126 is somehow tempting, that's the ultimate beater. It's even a good color.

    Regarding the Euro W116, at that time a lot of Euro-spec S-class were bare-bones cars. Cloth interior, manual everything. Really, that's what the S-class started out as, a large-ish high quality car with advanced technical specs, but not doused in American style luxury. You couldn't even order power windows/locks/seats/auto climate control etc on a fintail. Several of these Euro 116s have been shipped over, I have seen a few of them in my area alone. If it's not rusty, it would be somewhat cool to have.
  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516
    Yeah the SEC is decent. I wonder if the costs to fix it would exceed the price of a decent runner.

    But then once again the wheels, seats, and sunroof motor are worth over $1k on that car. So worse comes to worse it's a decent parts car.

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  • oregonboyoregonboy Member Posts: 1,650
    Wow... just, wow. Thats all I can say. Nothing there that I would pay actual money for, except the Merc coupe (if I believed in fairy tails). But an amazing assortment of "bargains".

    The 6 series, would eat me alive. The 2002 has nor mention of rust; a total deal breaker. The IH van is perfect for a hippy whose daddy owns a chain of gas stations, but those days are long past. (It would look so cool with flowers painted on the sides by hippy-chicks.)
  • texasestexases Member Posts: 11,161
    At least the 633 has 'new emblems front and back'. It'd almost be worth it to get my 6er out of my system, if only the A/C worked - of course, I could buy it in Oct, scrap it by summer....
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,665
    If you lose a major powertrain item, the car is totalled. When a very nice one is worth 5 grand and everything costs so much, there's not much wiggle room. Drive it til it dies, then break it up. As you say, a handful of parts are worth the price. Those vintage wheels are worth a few hundred to someone by themselves - some W126 enthusiasts (yes, they exist now) like to run period custom wheels on their cars. I forget who made those, I want to say they are old Lorinsers.

    Oh yeah, and those cars are thirsty.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    I think the SEC has serious fuel injection issues. You might as well just go buy a nice, good running one---they are very cheap. Hardly anybody wants one. I don't even know if the parts are worth anything, since very few people restore them. But they might work on a 380SL.
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,109
    According to my old car book, they made 4652 Impala Landau coupes in '78, and 22,771 Caprice Landaus. In contrast, they made 33,990 Impala coupes, and 37,301 Caprice coupes.

    The Landau was about a $390 option. While a V-8 Impala coupe cost started at $5393, the Impala Landau was $5783. I hope that option got you more than just the roof, because $390 is an awful lot just for a vinyl roof!

    Nice car, though. Might be a bit too much red for some people, but I like it.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,665
    Only a few engine bits would work on a 107, I think.

    Now that I think of it, I think those are "Centra" wheels.
  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516
    I'm starting to warm up to those SLs (107) even though I like the looks of the nwer ones much much more, even more so than the current generation. A friend had one of the 89 and up SLs and he said it cost him a ton to keep running too. :sick:

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  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,665
    No open MB will be a cheap car to keep around. The 107s are guzzlers and they need maintenance - the newest ones are about 20 years old now, and there's a bit to keep up with. The 129s are also kinda thirsty and they can have electrical glitches. A 107 will be cheaper, but it will be a lot less sporty and less sporty looking. For either, I would get the newest best one I could afford. The cheapest MB is often the most expensive.

    The 129 was introduced in NA for MY 1990, but grey market cars could be registered as 1989 I suppose, especially there with the more interesting used car market.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Just remember it'll be about .40 cents a mile in gas to drive one + repair costs that will make your socks roll up and down.

    But if you must, a 560SL is the best---it's faster, more 'economical', much better handling---better car all across the board.

    Oh, ---I forgot---an engine rebuild is $16,000.
  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516
    Oh, ---I forgot---an engine rebuild is $16,000.

    Ouch, better to just buy another car then. :sick:

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  • lemmerlemmer Member Posts: 2,689
    How much to throw in a junkyard engine (and immediately sell it on eBay, with full disclosure of course)?
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    why would you have to disclose anything? Nobody much cares about matching #s on those cars, it doesn't affect value. The used engine might even have lower miles.
  • lemmerlemmer Member Posts: 2,689
    If I put an engine in a car and put it up for sale a week later, I would definitely give a full explanation of that to the prospective buyers. For the sake of my conscience, I would rather tell people too much rather than too little. But I agree that it shouldn't really have much of an effect on value.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    I'd probably brag about it. "disclosure" sounds so....forbidding. :P
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    yikes, bump, a lotta fright pigs in there.

    The Firebird looks okay however.

    The 56 Buick is overpriced by a bucketful. It's a 4-door no matter how you cut it.

    300Z -- ah, "all it needs" is the computer "hooked up". Yeah I'm sure the Nissan and GM ECMs and harnesses just plug into one another.

    Not the prettiest 50 Dodge body style.
  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,665
    The clean 124 coupe looks decent, but the worn one looks like a project car that should be half the price it is. More of the cheapest MB being the most expensive.

    Never seen a 350 stuck in one of those Zs before...what a good use of resources.
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,109
    Funny you'd post a truck for me to find when I logged on this morning, as my '85 Silverado decided to die on me this morning. :sick: Probably just a bad battery, but I still thought it was a bit ironic.

    The B-pillar is kinda interesting on that 1950 Stodge Dodge. Probably the most exciting styling feature on the whole car! That era of Mopar was a good, roomy, sturdy car, and actually a decent performer once they started getting Hemis in them, but flashy styling was definitely not their strong suit!
  • lemkolemko Member Posts: 15,261
    As for that era's Mopars, they won't knock your socks off, but they won't knock your hat off either. Mr. Keller wanted it that way.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Didn't he also say, when commenting upon cars like the low, low '53 Studebaker: "Who wants a car you can p--s over?"
  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,803
    "fresh, never run LT1"

    translation:
    It is put together wrong, seized up, and will never run, but I'm now not legally responsible.

    '11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S

  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,109
    but this 1976 LeMans Sport Coupe looks pretty nice. Buy-It-Now seems a bit much, though.

    The bucket seats and center console are nice, but I think I still prefer the more upscale interior of my Grand LeMans, plus its power windows and seat. I think this one is the color that mine was before it got repainted.
  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516
    MB 300CE "excellent for it's age" WOW that's gotta be the worst excellent car I've seen. When customers describe their trade ins over the phone and tell me it's "excellent" shape, I wait till I see it with my own eyes beofre giving a "ballpark figure"

    As for that 300ZX, they probably tried to wire it up, but gave up because something's not compatible (the harnesses, ecm), or they don't know how. They might as well sell it as a parts car cause I can't see anyone toying with that.

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  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,803
    ok. what volvo did you post?
    listing was flagged. :(

    But, as a side note, I think they tried to be cool a few times. Like the P1800, the aforementioned Bertone, and the '04+ S60/V70R. Oh, and I'd add the C30 to that list. Volvo is cool, dammit!!

    '11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S

  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,665
    It was a ca. 80K mile '95 T5-R, in the period light yellow with the original titanium 5 spoke wheels. The ad was legit, it was even from a well known local dealer.
  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,803
    ooo... how much?
    I've seen a couple of those pop up lately on swedespeed. There is a black one now, as a matter of fact, for only $3k. Too bad they are never close to me .... or, I guess I should say that's a GOOD thing.

    I gotta think that sometimes people flag postings because (a) they want the car and don't want anyone else seeing the ad or (b) they are selling something similar for more money and don't want the competition.

    '11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S

  • fintailfintail Member Posts: 58,665
    Looks like he wants 10K for it - the ad is reposted ...so I guess that isn't cheap, but the car looks like a good example.

    Around here there are a lot of control-issue types who flag any ads they don't like, especially if a dealer is selling a car "by owner". This appears to be the personal car of a dealer.
  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,803
    Sure, its nice looking. Looks real clean.
    But $10k is absurd.

    I mean, hell, I just saw a posting of a '98 C70 HT Coupe with 60k miles for $7790. Hmmm... a faster, newer, better looking, safer, probably more reliable volvo with lower miles for less money. Tough decision.

    '11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S

  • qbrozenqbrozen Member Posts: 33,803
    ya know, this didn't sound like a bad deal UNTIL I got to the part about the window regulators. Too bad they died in the DOWN position!

    '11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S

  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,109
    I don't know if the same is true for newer mechanisms like what that Renault probably has, but with the older type, with the little cannister motor with the wheel on the end, you can just take the motor loose, push the window up, and then reattach the motor, and it'll hold it in the up position.

    I actually kinda like those Medallions. Sort of quirky-cool. I remember looking at a used one when I was in college, and being impressed at how roomy it was, too. I imagine it would be a pain to keep one running reliably though. Parts must be a pain to find.
  • lemmerlemmer Member Posts: 2,689
    What is the deal with failed window regulators anyway? My 944 apparently has this issue. The window fell down in its track. I took the door panel off and "fixed" the window, only to have it fall back down in the track the next time I put the window down. I put it back up and left it there. The motor works, it is on the track, but the regulator "gives out" if I let the window down more than a few inches. What the heck is the regulator doing?
  • michaellnomichaellno Member Posts: 4,120
    I remember test driving one of those in a previous wife-time.

    The one thing I remember about the car was that both the speedo and tach used the same numeric scale .. 10, 20, 30, etc.

    The salesman told us that he often had the test drivers take a particular corner at 40 to demonstrate the capabilities. Except that, one day, someone was looking at the tach and took the corner at 4000RPM in 2nd gear! Salesman told us he was a bit white faced at that move.

    Not sure why we didn't buy it .. I remember test driving a stick-shift Camry as well. IIRC, we ended up buying an Izusu Trooper.
  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516
    That's gotta be the last of 3 surviving/running medallions left in North America. Wasn't the Eagle Premeir based on the Medallion with slightly different bodywork?

    image

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  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    That car is worth maybe $5 in its current condition.
  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516
    It's worth $5 depending on how much gas is left in the tank, and for how much I can return the gasket they bought for it. :sick:

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  • toomanyfumestoomanyfumes Member Posts: 1,019
    Back in the mid '80's my parents bought a Plymouth Turismo. It also had a speedo and tach with identical 2 digit numbers. It was probably their first car with a tach, since my dad always bought Oldsmobiles 'till he got a lemon of a '76 Cutlass.

    One day my Mom said, "Every time I get the car past 30, it slows down. I asked her to show me which "speedometer" she was looking at, and of course it was the tach.

    I wonder how fast she got it going to try to hold 30 MPH. :surprise: :blush:
    2012 Mustang Premium, 2013 Lincoln MKX Elite, 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander.
  • Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Good luck finding parts and service for a Peugeot. Every repair is serious downtime while you wait for the UPS truck. He might get $1100 if it were REALLY clean and nice.
  • hpmctorquehpmctorque Member Posts: 4,600
    "Wasn't the Eagle Premeir based on the Medallion with slightly different bodywork?"

    The Eagle Premier was on a different platform from the Medallion, but both were Renault designs. The Premier was newer, larger and more upscale than the Medallion. In an effort to supplement the Eagle Premier's rather weak sales, Chrysler introduced a Dodge badged version of that car, the Monaco, I believe. Is that correct, andre?

    The Premier Monaco shouldn't be confused with earlier Dodge Monacos, as the earlier ones were real Dodges.

    Back to the Eagle Premier, it was actually a nicely styled, roomy car, and extremely comfortable. The same could arguably be said of the Medallion, adjusting for the fact that it was in a smaller size class. Unfortunately, both were plagued with serious quality and reliability problems. Those issues sealed their demise.
  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516
    Thanks for the refresher. I think I still have an old Eagle borchure from 1989. If I am correct, Eagle was an offshoot line with same idea as a Geo, to offer Japanese competing vehicles from a domestic company for people turned off by domestic cars hence the name change.

    Did the "Passport" brand exist in the US as well or was it only a Canadian thing? It was GMs branch to sell rebadged Opel Kadetts (Passport Optima), and Isuzus I think.

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  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,967
    price listed for the merc is 50k, but wholesale is listed in the same ad as 60+? :surprise:
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • andre1969andre1969 Member Posts: 26,109
    yeah, the Dodge version was called Monaco. Kinda odd that they'd sell it at Dodge dealerships, as it sort of competed with the Dynasty, but I guess they tried to get as much mileage out of that platform as possible.

    One of my cousins had an Eagle Premier. I don't remember what ultimately became of it. He had an '80's 5th Avenue before that, but his wife got into a multiple car pileup with it (not her fault). The car got totaled, but from what I heard, it held up admirably. At first he said he loved the car, and that it was a lot better than the 5th Ave. I'm sure it was better, in aspects like handling, fuel economy, driveability, and even comfort. He passed away in 1990 (diabetes), and his widow didn't have the car long after that, so I'm guessing it ultimately proved troublesome.

    I've heard that the Eagle/Monaco, in a way, are considered the progenitor of the Dodge Intrepid. They were the same basic idea, a large-ish FWD car with a longitudinally-mounted engine that was set up that way so it could accommodate an FWD or AWD setup. Although in the end, no Intrepid/Concorde/300Ms were ever offered with AWD. I don't think the Eagle/Monaco ever was either, but that was the original intent.

    Oh, on the "Passport" brand, I've never heard of it. Now GM did come up with the Geo brand, to sell its imported cars. I think it ran from 1989 to 1997. It included the Geo Prizm, Tracker, and Sprint/Metro. For 1998, they just started calling them Chevies.

    I googled "Passport Optima" and came up with pics of a Daewoo designed thing that was sold in the United States as the Pontiac LeMans.

    I'm not sure what, exactly, Chrysler was hoping to accomplish with the Eagle nameplate. And considering what became of it, I don't think they knew, either! Plymouth was the cheap division, Dodge was the slightly upscale, sportier division, and Chrysler was the luxury division, so I'm not sure where that left Eagle. I guess it was sort of an attempt to carry on American Motors, which is where Jeep came from. But while Jeep stood on its own, Eagle sort of withered away. I always thought the Eagle Vision was a cool car. I liked it better than the Intrepid or Concorde. I guess it sort of got replaced by the Chrysler 300M.
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