I spotted an (insert obscure car name here) classic car today!

Mr_Shiftright · April 2017

You can put a B20E head on there, an IPD camshaft--that perks them up. I'd keep the "SU" type carburetors though.

fintail · April 2017

The one I see is on stock wheels/hubcaps, and I suspect has no modern upgrades. It's a typical old Seattle car, maybe cleaner than many, cared for or it wouldn't still be on the road,.

ab348 · April 2017

Mr_Shiftright said:
You can put a B20E head on there, an IPD camshaft--that perks them up. I'd keep the "SU" type carburetors though.

Can you balance those babies?

Mr_Shiftright · April 2017

Sure---well as much as you can balance any older 4 cylinder engine. It's a good little engine--very simple and strong....well, you'd want to replace the fiber timing gears with steel ones. That's about the only weak spot I can think of. And you don't ever want the automatic transmission they came with.

texases · April 2017

I think 'balance' as in 'carb balance'...

ab348 · April 2017

texases said:
I think 'balance' as in 'carb balance'...

Yes, that was my reference. I just happened to see the WD ep with the PV544 that the owner garaged for 10 years because he couldn't find anyone who could properly balance the twin SUs.

stickguy · April 2017

I was thinking about that too. One of those things that if you know what you are doing and have the right little gadget, and some patience, it is really simple. And when you get someone with none of those 3 attributes, bad things happen.

fintail · April 2017

Recent sightings - spotted the older guy commuting in an early 70s 911 I see now and then, a mildly battered 7 series Volvo, very clean late 80s Riviera, the 75-78 or so Corolla I see now and then, W123 with hubcaps, S2000 with an aftermarket hood but no fancy exhaust - quiet as a Camry.

Mr_Shiftright · April 2017

ab348 said:

texases said:
I think 'balance' as in 'carb balance'...
Yes, that was my reference. I just happened to see the WD ep with the PV544 that the owner garaged for 10 years because he couldn't find anyone who could properly balance the twin SUs.

They are really simple to balance...the PROBLEM is not the balance...the problem is that the throttle shafts wear out so you need to re-bush the carb body and install new shafts. Until you do that, you will never get a proper idle or fuel mixture. So now you know...you've been let into the Sacred Knowledge of SU carburetors.

Oh, and knowing your Jetting Table helps as well.

fintail · April 2017

Out in the damp today saw a dark green Karmann-Ghia, a MGB-GT (living on the edge!) and that battered but running fine W123 pizza delivery car.

fintail · April 2017

Didn't see anything on the road today, which was unfortunate, finally a nice day here.

I took stock of some of the covered never-moving stuff in the garage where the fintail sleeps. We have: 55 Chevy sedan, 64 Pontiac convertible, ~66 Continental convertible, Avanti II, 66 Toronado, Gallardo, 90s Legend Coupe, 00s MB SL, 94-96 Impala SS.

The Toronado moved once last year. The Gallardo moves now and then, I think the same for the SL and maybe the Legend. The rest appear to have been in the same place for at least a year. I don't get it. There's also a 70s era pleasure boat and trailer there that I don't think have moved.

Michaell · April 2017

Saw a late 70's 528i the other day. It was behind a mid 00's Malibu; amazing how small the BMW was in comparison.

texases · April 2017

I just wish the current 5er was a bit more like that 528i, instead of a rolling techno fest. Friend's dad bought a '79 with a manual, let me drive it, surprisingly. Great car. I looked for a used one years later, found one, but it was a beater. I rented a 2013 a couple of years ago, wasn't very impressed.

Michaell · April 2017

texases said:
I just wish the current 5er was a bit more like that 528i, instead of a rolling techno fest. Friend's dad bought a '79 with a manual, let me drive it, surprisingly. Great car. I looked for a used one years later, found one, but it was a beater. I rented a 2013 a couple of years ago, wasn't very impressed.

I had a HS girlfriend whose dad drove one; can't remember if it was a 528i or something with more oomph. His had a stick, and he used it to tow his Three Quarter Midget racer to Ascot Speedway in Gardena, CA.

For those of you wondering, a Three Quarter Midget (TQ) is a smaller version of a Sprint Car, using a 750cc motorcycle engine.

roadburner · April 2017

Michaell said:
Saw a late 70's 528i the other day. It was behind a mid 00's Malibu; amazing how small the BMW was in comparison.

I recently conducted a walk around of the G30 5 Series for our sales staff. I always throw in a bit of history for perspective and I noted that the current seventh generation 5er is a foot longer than the E12 and weighs bout 1,000 pounds more as well. My favorite 5ers were the E28 and E39; I had a 1997 535is manual that was just a wonderful car. The E39 was so good that-much to the chagrin of BMW-many enthusiasts and automotive journalists still consider it to be the benchmark.

fintail · April 2017

What sticks in my mind most about the E12 is the center exhaust location, slightly off center:

These are rare birds today even in the PNW, especially hard to find one in nice condition. I think I had a model of one when I was little.

Regarding weight, I think my W212 weighs just over 1000 lbs more than the fintail - half a ton.

kyfdx · April 2017

fintail said:
What sticks in my mind most about the E12 is the center exhaust location, slightly off center:

These are rare birds today even in the PNW, especially hard to find one in nice condition. I think I had a model of one when I was little.

Regarding weight, I think my W212 weighs just over 1000 lbs more than the fintail - half a ton.

Talked a friend of mine into buying a used '79 in 1985. Of course, BMWs were typically high maintenance at that time. He sold it about three years later, mostly due to the high maintenance/repair cost. Funny thing is, about 10 years later, he told me it was still the best car he had ever owned. (528i with stickshift).

It was that ugly gold/tan color that seemed to be on about 50% of BMWs at that time.

texases · April 2017

"Funny thing is, about 10 years later, he told me it was still the best car he had ever owned. (528i with stickshift)."

In '88 or so Car and Driver had a small article on them. According to a BMW authority they interviewed, the E12 528i was a 'best buy' in used BMWs, combining good performance and driveability.

"European Car' magazine tried to hop one up in their 'Barnyard Bimmer' series, but went overboard, with a high-power 3.5l crate engine and stiff suspension/big wheels and tires. They never got it to handle to their liking, IIRC. That trailing arm rear suspension just couldn't deal with all the upgrades, I think.

fintail · April 2017

On the road: - 78-81 Celica, pristine as-new looking 900 series Volvo (debadged), Suzuki Esteem wagon, the same W126 300SD I see a few times a week, early 70s Dart/Valiant sedan on slotted mags.

texases · April 2017

What looked like a nice '55 Chevy two door, in the expected white over red. I'd try for something different if I had one.

Edit - I just checked the '55 Chevy brochure, and the only one with that white over red scheme was the convertible. And the other two-tones were split top/body, not along the fender trimline as is always done now.

tifighter · April 2017

The lines on this car have aged well.

I'm sure this is all the money for one of these; although a full restoration can't be that cheap.

texases · April 2017

Very nice. I wonder, why is the engine call a "Turbo-Air"? And why the wire wheel hubcaps...

Mr_Shiftright · April 2017

Lovely car and yeah, you couldn't do a show restoration for the price being asked. You are buying a restoration for .50 cents on the dollar and getting the car for free.

"Turbo-Air" has always confused people. It refers to air-cooling, not turbocharging.

explorerx4 · April 2017

Meant to post this here.
This was kind of fun.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f14LHl_G1R8

fintail · April 2017

Today on the road, saw a late 80s 900 Turbo, an 80s Tercel 4x4 wagon, and this was at work again this afternoon:

ab348 · April 2017

tifighter said:
The lines on this car have aged well.

I'm sure this is all the money for one of these; although a full restoration can't be that cheap.

My brother did one of those Corsas over. Amateur restoration by his own admission, deserved better. He bought it locally in the late '70s, parked it in his garage for 25 years before finally taking on the resto. Did everything himself. Ran well in the end and was a gas to drive. His had nice-looking factory wheelcovers, not wires. Was white outside, black inside.

PF_Flyer · April 2017

Not pristine, but it is 50 years old. Love the body color hubcaps and vent windows! Classic car plate in a Mercedes Benz Club frame

uplanderguy · April 2017

If anybody is driving on I-70 east, from Indianapolis, or I-71 north from Columbus, on Monday the 17th and sees a turquoise '66 Studebaker on a trailer, it's mine! I'm anxious. It needs an exhaust from the manifold back, darn it, but I'm told it's the original exhaust, so I guess I can't gripe much.

uplanderguy · April 2017

RE.: "Turbo Air"--Chevy used "Turbo" to describe all of their engines in the mid-and-late sixties, I remember. "Turbo Thrift" was the six; "Turbo Fire" was most all V8's except the big blocks, and those were "Turbo Jet".

PF_Flyer · April 2017

uplanderguy said:
If anybody is driving on I-70 east, from Indianapolis, or I-71 north from Columbus, on Monday the 17th and see a turquoise '66 Studebaker on a trailer, it's mine! I'm anxious. It needs an exhaust from the manifolds back, darn it, but I'm told it's the original exhaust, so I guess I can't gripe much.

Now that would be a great catch if someone could actually get a shot of it. Not often that yuou can be certain of where and when something will be

uplanderguy · April 2017

RE.: That red '65 Corvair Corsa discussed above--the only way I could like that car better is if it were painted Evening Orchid.

I've heard over the years that there were some small improvements in the '66 Corvair over the '65, but I think the small styling details of the '65 are perfect. Not always, but I usually think the first year of a restyle is the best; after that, things got changed just to change.

Mr_Shiftright · April 2017

Are you going to the big Studebaker show May 4th? Events, contests, human sacrifices!

kyfdx · April 2017

'56 Chevy blew by me today on the freeway. So fast, I didn't get a good look at it, except it had KY historical plates, and some wider rubber. White/turquoise paint job. Looked mint, from a quick glance.

You don't see many '50s era cars blow by you, while doing 70 mph.

fintail · April 2017

And to think, that was the base model car. 250S would be model years 1966-68 in the US I think, I believe by 69 it went to 280S.

PF_Flyer said:
Not pristine, but it is 50 years old. Love the body color hubcaps and vent windows! Classic car plate in a Mercedes Benz Club frame

uplanderguy · April 2017

Are you going to the big Studebaker show May 4th? Events, contests, human sacrifices!

Indeed I am! That's the Studebaker Drivers' Club International Meet this year, earlier than normal. Only every fifth year in South Bend. Too soon for me to take the 'new' car, though--I'll be lucky to have it titled and licensed by then, yet with a new exhaust.

Again, Studebakers are being allowed to drive on the track at the old Studebaker Proving Ground, now owned by Navistar, about 15 miles west of South Bend on U.S. Route 2. I did that a couple times with my old '63, and it was great fun. It's sort of a medium-speed parade out Route 2, with folks in folding chairs along the road, waving, and the big old wrought iron gates at the proving ground were open and they waved you right in on the track. It's a banked, three-mile oval. Wonderful times.

Last time I did it, several years back, South Bend police treated us wonderfully on the drive out to the Proving Ground, blocking off people merging onto Route 2 so that we stayed together.

xwesx · April 2017

Once every five years?! I would bend over backwards to have your "new" car ready to go by then! If you expect delivery on 4/17, you'll have a solid two weeks to get it ready to go.

May the 4th be with you!

andre1969 · April 2017

Spotted in the parking lot today, the ultra-elusive, 2000-05, Impala "convertible" in base level trim!

How's that for "obscure"

texases · April 2017

Even includes the snaps for the tonneau! See those on some Caddys around here.

fintail · April 2017

Must be someone from Joisey or FL who moved.

Those are seldom seen out here, but I have seen a few, one even on a Camry.

uplanderguy · April 2017

I remember when I saw my first dealer information (ordering info) on the 2000 Impala. I was disappointed. The only one I would've wanted is the base car BUT with the 3.8 V6, Custom interior with split front bench, and lacy (sort-of) aluminum wheels.

That top is beyond-ridiculous!

uplanderguy · April 2017

Short video taken on the Studebaker Proving Ground track during the 2012 International Meet. Fun times.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zUIpIizsvI

andre1969 · April 2017

I can recall the dealer I bought my 2000 Intrepid from as getting in a few base model Impalas with the 3.8. That dealer sold Chevies, Dodges, and Isuzus at the time. Isuzu went away, and for whatever reason they dropped Chevy and picked up Jeep/Chrysler, but then shuttered the whole showroom around the time of the Great Recession.

Those Impalas were priced pretty low too, around $19,500 I think. Even though I preferred the Intrepid, mine just had the 2.7 V-6, so I'll admit to getting a bit of buyer's remorse when I saw those 3.8 Impalas. When I had bought my Intrepid, the only Impalas they had on the lot were pretty well-loaded LS models, and they were stickering around $26-28K.

fintail · April 2017

I remember browsing a Chevy lot with a friend back in 2001 - they had a bunch of police package Impalas on the back row. My friend went nuts over this, thinking they were for sale to the public (they had monroney stickers), called the dealer when they opened the next day (small town, closed Sunday), but no dice.

I remember one of the first ones I saw was a nicely optioned one bought by the little old lady who lives across from my mom. I think she still has it, and she has to be 90 by now.

fintail · April 2017

You need to get your car on the road so you can partake in that.

I wonder if any MBs ever drove there.

uplanderguy said:
Short video taken on the Studebaker Proving Ground track during the 2012 International Meet. Fun times.

ab348 · April 2017

uplanderguy said:
I remember when I saw my first dealer information (ordering info) on the 2000 Impala. I was disappointed. The only one I would've wanted is the base car BUT with the 3.8 V6, Custom interior with split front bench, and lacy (sort-of) aluminum wheels.

I have a similar story from when they came out. My GM-fanatical buddy and I visited the dealer one day and looked at a line of just-delivered new Impalas on the lot. We were not impressed in any way, either inside (I remember the "oak" color cloth seat upholstery being rather odious) and out (the headlight design and the use of only 2 round taillights on either side). We were standing next to one discussing that when an older sales guy came out to greet us. My buddy made a comment on the look and the taillights and the sales guy just shook his head. "They should have called it Biscayne", he told us. I had several rental versions over the years, all of them with the base engine, and was not impressed. That was the engine that always sounded ticky to me.

tifighter · April 2017

Posted just because-

https://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/ctd/6082561387.html

So this really happened?

tjc78 · April 2017

Not all that classic but a Lumina APV aka DustBuster minivan. Haven't seen one in a long time.

ab348 · April 2017

tifighter said:
Posted just because-

https://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/ctd/6082561387.html

So this really happened?

Yes, apparently, and not just with Sevilles:

Michaell · April 2017

fintail said:

On the road: - 78-81 Celica, pristine as-new looking 900 series Volvo (debadged), Suzuki Esteem wagon, the same W126 300SD I see a few times a week, early 70s Dart/Valiant sedan on slotted mags.

Yesterday I saw a pretty good looking mid 80's Celica coupe. Baby blue, like my moms '84 lift back.

fintail · April 2017

I saw another old Celica, this one a 86-89 liftback. Also GM oldies day - 90-93 Lumina Euro, later Corsica, early 90s Cutlass Supreme with the wraparound rear glass.

For that shorty Seville, there also might have been a convertible model, or maybe that was the one with the stretched hood.

I spotted an (insert obscure car name here) classic car today!

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