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

sda · May 2021

ab348 said:

sda said:
The interior in the 93 LeBaron convertible is the same (and very nice) as what I had in my 92 LeBaron GTC. I’ve only seen that interior in a handful of cars. BTW, my GTC was a 5sp, 2.5 Turbo. I regret selling that one.
I see a black leather interior. Is that rare?

It wasn’t totally black, it had some gray tones to it. I don’t recall the name Chrysler called that color of interior but the leather seemed to be of good quality and the seat was multi adjustable which I found very comfortable.

tjc78 · May 2021

I know this may get me flamed... but I’d love either of those ‘verts to use at our summer place by the beach.

ab348 · May 2021

I think the bigger problem on the LeBaron are the non-functional rear quarter windows. I am skeptical of the sellers claim they are easily fixed.

tjc78 · May 2021

How bad could it be? Regulator and or motor at worst. Ad doesn’t say what powertrain. Assuming it’s the 3.0 Mitsubishi and 4speed trans.

ab348 · May 2021

tjc78 said:
How bad could it be? Regulator and or motor at worst. Ad doesn’t say what powertrain. Assuming it’s the 3.0 Mitsubishi and 4speed trans.

On a 30 y-o fairly uncommon model. Should be fun.

sda · May 2021

On my 92 LeBaron convertible one of the rear windows didn’t line up flush. I removed the rear seat and interior panel. I found the window was on a cable and pulley system and there were bolts that could be loosened for adjustment. After a little trial and error I adjusted it where it was in full alignment and worked as it should. I don’t know about replacing the regulator but perhaps the window coming off the track is an adjustment issue.

fintail · May 2021

Check the 99 ad, it's on sale now! (but there's a catch)

tjc78 said:
I know this may get me flamed... but I’d love either of those ‘verts to use at our summer place by the beach.

steine13 · May 2021

>> titled once to the original owner
Funny. I subscribe to the myth of the one-owner car, and I can often pick them out when they show up at the used-car lot where I'm a repeat offender... my kid got a message from Subaru that her 6MT Crosstrek is on the truck to the dealership, so I'll get my 2012 Fusion back... i'll be the 5th owner. I also was the third owner, much like the guy who wrote the ad; it was a cashless sale to our daughter when she moved out. That car was so clean I'd have bet "one owner" but there was a lease in Ohio ["southern car!"] and then it was owned by the wife of a biology professor. Definitely garaged and properly maintained.

>> Lincoln's black steering wheel - I think that's an aftermarket wrap
I've always disliked steering wheel covers, they scream cheap and cheesy... but I stumbled across "Wheelskins" in an online forum. Stitched-on leather covers, supposedly custom sized for the model. My base model 2017 Gd Caravan has a steering wheel that is vinyl, and clearly built to these specs:
(i) make it cost less than $0.98, and
(ii) make it feel so nasty that people step up to the next trim level.
Which would have brought power sliding doors, so no thanks.

For $55 shipped, I ordered a cover, which arrived promptly, and promptly didn't fit -- too narrrow for the rim. I took pictures, and they sent me a wider one, which fits perfectly, at no charge. For practice, I stitched the original one on our old 03 Sienna, and I have to say I'm impressed. It's pleasant to the touch, and it looks pretty good, too. The diameter of the wheel fit perfectly; the diameter of the rim was a little less than ideal, but the material adapts well and doesn't shift. This is a great option for sprucing up older cars, or covering low-rent steering wheels.

cheers -mathias

mrwhipple311 · May 2021

Mathias post above got me thinking "so I'll get my 2012 Fusion back... i'll be the 5th owner. I also was the third owner,"
My 1998 S10 I was the 4th owner and 8th owner. After being the 3rd owner for 7 years I needed a 4wd and sold the S10 to my brother in law who was the 5th owner. He then sold it to his business (6th) and transferred it back to himself (7th ) .
My 4WD died after a few years and I had got rid of it. Heard thru the grapevine at thanksgiving 2019 that he had bought a new truck and was going to be getting rid of the S10. I called him and said "I'll take it; how much?". I then became the 8th
The first owner leased it (1st) and then bought it (2nd). When think about it the 3rd owner is the only person who only owned it once!

sda · May 2021

steine13 said:
>> titled once to the original owner
Funny. I subscribe to the myth of the one-owner car, and I can often pick them out when they show up at the used-car lot where I'm a repeat offender... my kid got a message from Subaru that her 6MT Crosstrek is on the truck to the dealership, so I'll get my 2012 Fusion back... i'll be the 5th owner. I also was the third owner, much like the guy who wrote the ad; it was a cashless sale to our daughter when she moved out. That car was so clean I'd have bet "one owner" but there was a lease in Ohio ["southern car!"] and then it was owned by the wife of a biology professor. Definitely garaged and properly maintained.

>> Lincoln's black steering wheel - I think that's an aftermarket wrap
I've always disliked steering wheel covers, they scream cheap and cheesy... but I stumbled across "Wheelskins" in an online forum. Stitched-on leather covers, supposedly custom sized for the model. My base model 2017 Gd Caravan has a steering wheel that is vinyl, and clearly built to these specs:
(i) make it cost less than $0.98, and
(ii) make it feel so nasty that people step up to the next trim level.
Which would have brought power sliding doors, so no thanks.

For $55 shipped, I ordered a cover, which arrived promptly, and promptly didn't fit -- too narrrow for the rim. I took pictures, and they sent me a wider one, which fits perfectly, at no charge. For practice, I stitched the original one on our old 03 Sienna, and I have to say I'm impressed. It's pleasant to the touch, and it looks pretty good, too. The diameter of the wheel fit perfectly; the diameter of the rim was a little less than ideal, but the material adapts well and doesn't shift. This is a great option for sprucing up older cars, or covering low-rent steering wheels.

cheers -mathias

Nice job hope you enjoy. I had a great experience from them as well. I wasn’t fully satisfied with my original installation on my Accord. They promptly sent me new thread at no charge. The leather wrap remained firmly attached, enhanced the feel and made the car more enjoyable to drive.

steine13 · May 2021

>> I had a great experience from them as well.
@sda -- I should have properly thanked you for recommending wheelskins. I got confused by the multiple forums where I looked for information on the Impreza and clean forgot the PM you sent me. Must be getting old... which tracks. I 've been hanging around this particular forum for more than two decades now.

I was going to go with a made-to-order microfiber cover, but I think I like the leather better. Whether it'll fit right over the protrusions at "10 and 2" on the Impreza wheel, time will tell. These are definitely worth a shot.

If my Impreza actually gets built. It's 8 weeks to the day that I ordered the car, and I don't have a VIN yet.

xwesx · May 2021

steine13 said:
>> I had a great experience from them as well.
@sda -- I should have properly thanked you for recommending wheelskins. I got confused by the multiple forums where I looked for information on the Impreza and clean forgot the PM you sent me. Must be getting old... which tracks. I 've been hanging around this particular forum for more than two decades now.

I was going to go with a made-to-order microfiber cover, but I think I like the leather better. Whether it'll fit right over the protrusions at "10 and 2" on the Impreza wheel, time will tell. These are definitely worth a shot.

If my Impreza actually gets built. It's 8 weeks to the day that I ordered the car, and I don't have a VIN yet.

Well, hopefully when it does get built, they don't end up putting sub-standard chips in it just to get it through the line.

Don't feel too bad about the wait, though. I'm nearing the end of month 15 waiting for the bicycle I bought mid-March of 2020. At this point, I'm feeling more and more certain that I won't see it in time to ride this year, either.

fintail · June 2021

Temps were in the 60s today, as opposed to the mid 80s last Sunday, and I think mid 600s during the middle of the week - good day to cruise around. The old dear ran fine and got a surprising amount of attention - several waves, and when I was at a store parking lot, 3 different people talked to me about it, including a guy who's grandparents had a couple of fintails and he knew some of the features, and a maybe 20 year old guy in a BMW E39 who was all over it, and knew the cars are called "fintails" - nice to see younger people into it. Pic on the scenic cruising road:

ab348 · June 2021

That pic with the reflections of the road stripe showing lets us see just how straight the body sides are on your car. Very nice.

fintail · June 2021

Thanks. I'll admit I know how to find the angle that hides flaws/patina - the car is pretty straight, but not exactly as-new. There are a few dings/bumps, biggest being on the driver's side lower front fender (easy to hide with angle/shadow), and passenger side rear door (I just photograph the driver's side).

ab348 said:
That pic with the reflections of the road stripe showing lets us see just how straight the body sides are on your car. Very nice.

tjc78 · June 2021

I can’t remember. Is the original paint?

fintail · June 2021

The paint on the car is a weird story. Apparently the third owner, or inbetween the second or third, had some paintwork. It was a trim-off job, and the color match is perfect, imperceptible. It is blended well enough where almost nobody can tell, but I can find a few areas where something has taken place. The odd thing is that it is apparently a marine type paint, very hard and durable, but doesn't have the exact shine as automotive paint. How it looks in these pics is as good as it gets, which is actually not bad, as it has just a bit of a mellow look which suits the other finishes of the car. I think the car spent its first 10 years or so outside in southern CA, and the paint may have had an issue. The car moved north around 1977.

tjc78 said:
I can’t remember. Is the original paint?

tjc78 · June 2021

Whatever they used it’s held up great, in the pictures you’d never know it was repainted anywhere on the car.

fintail · June 2021

I should take some pics of the areas I've found where I can tell work has taken place - it's a virtually perfect color match. I can't seem to get the same shine out of it as others can with original paint, however, and the owner of a well-regarded detail shop told me it appeared to be marine paint. It's very "hard", to the point where not much comes up even in an aggressive polish. From 10 feet away, however, it looks brand new, so I am content with it.

tjc78 said:
Whatever they used it’s held up great, in the pictures you’d never know it was repainted anywhere on the car.

sda · June 2021

fintail said:
I should take some pics of the areas I've found where I can tell work has taken place - it's a virtually perfect color match. I can't seem to get the same shine out of it as others can with original paint, however, and the owner of a well-regarded detail shop told me it appeared to be marine paint. It's very "hard", to the point where not much comes up even in an aggressive polish. From 10 feet away, however, it looks brand new, so I am content with it.

tjc78 said:
Whatever they used it’s held up great, in the pictures you’d never know it was repainted anywhere on the car.

For the dents you mentioned have you considered Paintless Dent Removal? Regardless Fintail looks great.

fintail · June 2021

The car has a number of tiny dings that I probably would never bother with, and the door "patina" is no doubt too big or oddly shaped for PDR. but the one on the front fender, maybe. Back in the day I tried a toilet plunger on it, no dice. I did that one, too = when I got the car I tried the little factory hand crank jack on the car, and it kind of leaned into the car too much. It might pop out.

sda said:

fintail said:
I should take some pics of the areas I've found where I can tell work has taken place - it's a virtually perfect color match. I can't seem to get the same shine out of it as others can with original paint, however, and the owner of a well-regarded detail shop told me it appeared to be marine paint. It's very "hard", to the point where not much comes up even in an aggressive polish. From 10 feet away, however, it looks brand new, so I am content with it.

tjc78 said:
Whatever they used it’s held up great, in the pictures you’d never know it was repainted anywhere on the car.

For the dents you mentioned have you considered Paintless Dent Removal? Regardless Fintail looks great.

texases · June 2021

You might be surprised what a skilled PDR hand can do:
https://youtu.be/IkZiuMiC978

fintail · June 2021

The door boo-boo is more of a crease - user-inflicted, too. That happened in 2014 when a MFI part finally gave up the ghost, and I had to have the car towed to my nearby indy mechanic for the repair. I thought I would be helpful, and push the car out of its partially underground parking spot. I cut a corner, and scraped it on a door sensor. The fender-jack dent seems like it might pop out easier - maybe something to tend to this year, as there are a few things I might have done (brakes might be ready, engine mounts, etc).

The car also has a couple of small dents on the roof - prior owner didn't drive the car much (bought it ostensibly for his wife, who wasn't impressed) , and kept it in a garage where he stored stuff on the car. A boat was placed on the roof, and it happened.

stickguy · June 2021

Be careful pushing out an old dent. Could crack the paint I think? Or maybe I just made that up.

xwesx · June 2021

Yikes. Garages are such dangerous places!

fintail · June 2021

I think the driver's side dent would pop out without paint damage as it is shallow. The other side scrape/dent did scrape the paint too, I have some suspicion it wouldn't be easy. I fear the roof issue would be impossible without damaging the headliner. All of this is now "patina" and doesn't irritate me too much, as it all kind of vanishes from a few feet away.

For the scrape, a young friend got a band aid sticker for it, apparently this is a thing, and it added a little humor:

fintail · June 2021

Something on BaT I kind of want

Perfect colors, amazing condition - but too nice to drive as a year round DD in this climate, and it's a little old now. Still, tempting, what a beauty. This was the first production turbodiesel car.

stickguy · June 2021

I love the color combo on that car. And classic MB design. Just not at all something I would want.

xwesx · June 2021

fintail said:
Something on BaT I kind of want

Perfect colors, amazing condition - but too nice to drive as a year round DD in this climate, and it's a little old now. Still, tempting, what a beauty. This was the first production turbodiesel car.

Wow. That's a nice one! Price reflects it, too, though, so definitely not a driver.

sda · June 2021

fintail said:
Something on BaT I kind of want

Perfect colors, amazing condition - but too nice to drive as a year round DD in this climate, and it's a little old now. Still, tempting, what a beauty. This was the first production turbodiesel car.

That is really nice. Any update on your friend's repair on his wrecked MB?

fintail · June 2021

Apparently it is in-process. He's out of town for a few months - but they didn't total it, anyway. Last time I talked to him, the shop was unable (through lack of knowledge, I suspect) to find some parts, so he was sourcing them himself.

sda said:

fintail said:
Something on BaT I kind of want

Perfect colors, amazing condition - but too nice to drive as a year round DD in this climate, and it's a little old now. Still, tempting, what a beauty. This was the first production turbodiesel car.
That is really nice. Any update on your friend's repair on his wrecked MB?

steine13 · June 2021

Regarding the 1978 300SD on BaT -- that car has always seemed wrong to me. The S class Diesel was not offered in Germany back then. I'd say it took until the 90s before Diesel became "OK" for top-of-the line models. Plus, those bumpers.

Aside from that, with a lot of cars that were "special" in their time, I wonder if the actual experience of owning it would live up to expectations. You'd have to be a pretty hardcore fan (cough, fintail), to want one of these.

But to look at -- yeah, my first impulse was the same: I want it. These were something alright.

fintail · June 2021

That has amused me too, while not available in Europe, the diesel variant was the USDM S-class volume seller at least into the mid 80s - maybe with the MY 1986 W126 update, the gassers took over as by then gas was cheap again, and the efficient image wasn't as valuable.

That 1978 car is a little old for everyday use now, but I think it would be fine to drive. It's a turbo - it won't be fast, but should keep up with most traffic. It'll no doubt cruise along fine and be comfortable. What might worry me most is the dash pad - old MB blue dashes are known to crack easily - other colors don't do it nearly as much. That car would need to be kept out of the sun. The bumpers could be handy - want to pull off and have a picnic? Built-in outside seating. Detailing the car and want a place to set your supplies? Built-in shelving. Need to bump something/someone? Plenty of room.

The styling on those (and other period MBs) is just so "right" to me, even when I was a kid, they just seemed perfect. That MB was probably at its zenith relative to the rest of the automotive world at that time no doubt helped, too. Alas, 15K+ is too rich for a toy right now, especially as I already have one who could always use a little gift.

steine13 said:
Regarding the 1978 300SD on BaT -- that car has always seemed wrong to me. The S class Diesel was not offered in Germany back then. I'd say it took until the 90s before Diesel became "OK" for top-of-the line models. Plus, those bumpers.

Aside from that, with a lot of cars that were "special" in their time, I wonder if the actual experience of owning it would live up to expectations. You'd have to be a pretty hardcore fan (cough, fintail), to want one of these.

But to look at -- yeah, my first impulse was the same: I want it. These were something alright.

bhill2 · June 2021

"...old MB blue dashes are known to crack easily - other colors don't do it nearly as much.

I'm here to tell you that tan ones will do it too.

fintail · June 2021

Was that an issue in your 126?

bhill2 said:
"...old MB blue dashes are known to crack easily - other colors don't do it nearly as much.

I'm here to tell you that tan ones will do it too.

bhill2 · June 2021

fintail said:
Was that an issue in your 126?

bhill2 said:
"...old MB blue dashes are known to crack easily - other colors don't do it nearly as much.

I'm here to tell you that tan ones will do it too.

I have no complaint. It was 30 odd years old when it happened, and it sat out all day in the So. California sun when I (or my wife when she won the arm wrestling match) was at work.

fintail · June 2021

My friend with the coupe is so worried about cracks he effectively won't park the car outside now, and even doesn't really like driving it on sunny days, as he worries. I think one can get a dash cap at least for W123s, which is what I would do to protect it, some kind of covering. The fintail's cracks were mostly there before I got the car. Of course, new dash pads for these cars have been NLA for eons, and are a huge chore to install anyway. I've seen fintails with caps, but never seen the caps for sale.

bhill2 said:

fintail said:
Was that an issue in your 126?

bhill2 said:
"...old MB blue dashes are known to crack easily - other colors don't do it nearly as much.

I'm here to tell you that tan ones will do it too.

I have no complaint. It was 30 odd years old when it happened, and it sat out all day in the So. California sun when I (or my wife when she won the arm wrestling match) was at work.

gsemike · June 2021

First Car Challenge - anything up to 5 grand
Lexus GS These were high style when new. Besides paint issues, still looks decent. Pic of front seat exlcuded
GT Convertible Pretty vague on work needed but good to see the trans is already replaced
E350 with 107k Looks decently clean
RAM looks alright until you see that bed. Scary
Let's go back to the future in this 91 Toronado
Shelby Turbo Charger. Could these get some love?

stickguy · June 2021

I like the Shelby. Didn’t see any bed pictures on the Ram.

tjc78 · June 2021

My dad had an 86 Shelby Charger when I was a kid. Pretty cool car for the 80s. Quick too.

The Lexus would probably be the best first car. I actually like the Toro. Has to rare in that condition and I’ve never seen a white over black one.

fintail · June 2021

Most of those Toros I see are kind of a burgundy color. It looks cleaner than the Lexus or MB. Shelby might look good with a detail.

I recall seeing rusted 10-15 year old trucks like that in Detroit a couple years ago, alien to me, as I see solid 70s and 80s trucks still on the road here.

qbrozen · June 2021

I'd be on board with the Shelby, if it were a manual.

explorerx4 · June 2021

Those GS's had a lot of electrical issues when they first came out.

qbrozen · June 2021

explorerx4 said:
Those GS's had a lot of electrical issues when they first came out.

how dare you! Everyone knows Lexi are infallible.

tjc78 · June 2021

@qbrozen said:
I'd be on board with the Shelby, if it were a manual.

They only came that way so you are all set!

xwesx · June 2021

tjc78 said:
I actually like the Toro. Has to rare in that condition and I’ve never seen a white over black one.

Same here. The Toro looks pretty darn nice! I don't know that I've seen one in that condition in decades.

qbrozen · June 2021

tjc78 said:

They only came that way so you are all set!

I would have thought so, but the ad claims automatic

stickguy · June 2021

The ad, would be lying. I never, ever trust an ad that says manual either if I can’t see the shift lever or clutch pedal!

tjc78 · June 2021

That Shelby has an added Shelby decal on the hood. That’s not factory.

It’s one of about 400 total in that color. 87 was a short run for regular Shelby Chargers. About half the total run was converted in the GLHS.

fintail · June 2021

Auction ended, probable record price for a non-6.9 W116

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

Comments

Helpful Tools

Most popular vehicles