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

fintail · September 2022

I'd be at about the same with my W126 had I kept it. I can't really justify having more than 2 cars though, for storage alone, not to mention running costs and time etc.

tjc78 said:
Your long ownership with the Fintail makes me kick myself in the rear for ever selling my 89 Town Car. If I still had it ownership would now be at 22 years.

bhill2 · September 2022

fintail said:

bhill2 said:
We got 26 years with our '85 380SE, If it hadn't gotten destroyed by one of California's famous fires, we would still have it at 31 years.
You might still need another old MB or something similar. It may not really compare, but it might be soothing. 126s are slowly but steadily appreciating.

Well, we sure appreciated ours. It turns out that putting the solar system and battery backup in the new house essentially deleted one car worth of capacity from the garage. I'm still tempted, however, that thing had a "carved from a single billet of steel" feeling about it that I have never felt in another car.

fintail · September 2022

Just build an addition, problem solved!

126s were so ahead of their time at launch, it took the competition nearly a decade to catch up. They are maybe the best mix of a modern and vintage car, timeless classic styling but they don't drive like an antique. For your 380SE, nice presentable driver with no pressing needs should be able to be found for around 10K. For a pampered baby, maybe 20K.

bhill2 said:

fintail said:

bhill2 said:
We got 26 years with our '85 380SE, If it hadn't gotten destroyed by one of California's famous fires, we would still have it at 31 years.
You might still need another old MB or something similar. It may not really compare, but it might be soothing. 126s are slowly but steadily appreciating.
Well, we sure appreciated ours. It turns out that putting the solar system and battery backup in the new house essentially deleted one car worth of capacity from the garage. I'm still tempted, however, that thing had a "carved from a single billet of steel" feeling about it that I have never felt in another car.

qbrozen · September 2022

Alright, @fintail , I could research this, or I can just go straight to the MB man. What would be your take on a 1995 C200 (Elegance??) with 50k miles and the ABS light on? Obviously not a US car. It has the auto trans and M111 engine.

No, I have NO Idea why the hell I'd ever consider another MB. This would be for my kid.

fintail · September 2022

qbrozen said:
Alright, @fintail , I could research this, or I can just go straight to the MB man. What would be your take on a 1995 C200 (Elegance??) with 50k miles and the ABS light on? Obviously not a US car. It has the auto trans and M111 engine.

No, I have NO Idea why the hell I'd ever consider another MB. This would be for my kid.

Neat that it's a grey market car. Simple engine, relatively simple car, but one big thing would concern me - wiring harness. That was right in the middle of the problematic years, and I'd want to know it has been changed out (I believe they can be inspected for a date code). W202 can also have underside/suspension rust issues in harsh climates, especially around the "spring perch". I had a W202 many years ago, the now-rare C43.

tjc78 · September 2022

@fintail said:
I'd be at about the same with my W126 had I kept it. I can't really justify having more than 2 cars though, for storage alone, not to mention running costs and time etc.

It will happen for me, but not until the kids are older and I have more time to tinker. I’d also like to be able to drive it around down the shore, but even in the garage there not a good climate for the car. If I wouldn’t have it for the weekends it would never get used.

qbrozen · September 2022

fintail said:

Neat that it's a grey market car. Simple engine, relatively simple car, but one big thing would concern me - wiring harness. That was right in the middle of the problematic years, and I'd want to know it has been changed out (I believe they can be inspected for a date code). W202 can also have underside/suspension rust issues in harsh climates, especially around the "spring perch". I had a W202 many years ago, the now-rare C43.

Thanks.
hmmm... well, it is at auction, so no way to know about the harness. No rust issues reported, and they are usually real sticklers on that. Was the wiring harness related to corrosion? So, if a super clean car, would it be less of a concern?

andre1969 · September 2022

I haven't seen it in a couple years now, but my Granddad's old '85 Silverado, that he bought new in the summer of '85, might still be around. I sold it in 2017, to a friend of a friend, and I think I saw it in the background of a facebook pic a few years ago.

Sometimes I regret letting it go, but in my defense, it was getting pretty bad. At this point, I guess my record for length of ownership is the DeSoto. I forget the exact day I bought it, but it was sometime in late September, 1990. So, going on 32 years.

Lemko would have me beat, though. I know he bought his '89 Brougham brand-new, so depending on the exact date, he'd be at 33, maybe even almost 34 years!

gsemike · September 2022

stickguy said:
for sure up here. In HS I bought a Duster. I got it in 1979, and I think it was a '74? but the rear fenders had already rotted off, right up to the center crease. I think the rest of the body was OK though (no clue what the underside looked like though!) I doubt it was lasting another 40 years without massive work.

we pop riveted some sheet metal and primed it white. never bothered to finish up the work (sanding/filling/painting) but it did not look too bad like that!

A guy I know held on to his 340 Duster that was his first car. Sat in the garage for literally 20 years while life was happening. But he did get to it, restored and modded it. Nicest one around these days and he's owned it for over 30 years

stickguy · September 2022

Mine was a slant 6, with a 3 speed on the floor. Wasn’t going to save that.

oldfarmer50 · September 2022

andre1969 said:
I haven't seen it in a couple years now, but my Granddad's old '85 Silverado, that he bought new in the summer of '85, might still be around. I sold it in 2017, to a friend of a friend, and I think I saw it in the background of a facebook pic a few years ago.

Sometimes I regret letting it go, but in my defense, it was getting pretty bad. At this point, I guess my record for length of ownership is the DeSoto. I forget the exact day I bought it, but it was sometime in late September, 1990. So, going on 32 years.

Lemko would have me beat, though. I know he bought his '89 Brougham brand-new, so depending on the exact date, he'd be at 33, maybe even almost 34 years!

Didn’t you also have several late 70s New Yorkers? What happened to them?

oldfarmer50 · September 2022

I see that Hoovie just picked up a salvage title 2012 CTS-V. I remember seeing one on an old Top Gear show where they took it on an airport runway and got it up to 180 or so.

andre1969 · September 2022

oldfarmer50 said:
Didn’t you also have several late 70s New Yorkers? What happened to them?

I still have them. I bought the first one, a '79 5th Avenue Edition, back in October 2001. The second one, a midnight blue base model, I got back in May of 2007.

fintail · September 2022

Virtually all MBs from ~1992-1996 have a biodegradable wiring harness, something seen as "green" and poorly designed, as they started degrading about 25 years ahead of schedule. Most MBs of that era still on the road have had the harness switched out, but low mileage cars may have dodged it - so far.

Kent Bergsma says not to be afraid, but as someone who doesn't like that kind of work, I am afraid - budget a couple grand for it at least, if not DIY. Or if you are DIY, plan on a project:

https://youtu.be/SG0YdX8uImg

http://www.badmercedes.com/

qbrozen said:

fintail said:

Neat that it's a grey market car. Simple engine, relatively simple car, but one big thing would concern me - wiring harness. That was right in the middle of the problematic years, and I'd want to know it has been changed out (I believe they can be inspected for a date code). W202 can also have underside/suspension rust issues in harsh climates, especially around the "spring perch". I had a W202 many years ago, the now-rare C43.
Thanks.
hmmm... well, it is at auction, so no way to know about the harness. No rust issues reported, and they are usually real sticklers on that. Was the wiring harness related to corrosion? So, if a super clean car, would it be less of a concern?

qbrozen · September 2022

Thanks, fin. I let it go. It is a shame because it sold darned cheap. Right about $1k. With shipping and taxes and fees, I probably would have been into it for about $3500.

fintail · September 2022

If the harness was done, that would be a fine price. Too bad there's no way to find out. I see nice 202s, assumedly with the harness done as they are still on the road and made it this far (let's say 100K mile cars) for maybe 5K.

qbrozen said:
Thanks, fin. I let it go. It is a shame because it sold darned cheap. Right about $1k. With shipping and taxes and fees, I probably would have been into it for about $3500.

stickguy · September 2022

was that one of your JDM specials? Were you really looking to start a teen off on a RHD car?

though I bet that would freak out the driving test person at the DMV!

qbrozen · September 2022

@stickguy said:
was that one of your JDM specials? Were you really looking to start a teen off on a RHD car?

though I bet that would freak out the driving test person at the DMV!

I’ve been focusing on LHD models from there for him. Most of the german, swedish, and italian cars there are LHD. Bidding on a Volvo 240 tonight.

stickguy · September 2022

sneaky. with the speedo in KM, he will think he is going a lot faster than he really is!

qbrozen · September 2022

Volvo went for stupid money. Looking into a '84 280SE for tonight's auction.

fintail · September 2022

Oh a W126, and another model never sold new in the USDM (although we did get the W116 and W108 280SE - I think it's the same engine as the W116). Got a link? I know those cars well, be interesting to see how it is equipped.

qbrozen said:
Volvo went for stupid money. Looking into a '84 280SE for tonight's auction.

qbrozen · September 2022

fintail said:
Oh a W126, and another model never sold new in the USDM (although we did get the W116 and W108 280SE - I think it's the same engine as the W116). Got a link? I know those cars well, be interesting to see how it is equipped.

qbrozen said:
Volvo went for stupid money. Looking into a '84 280SE for tonight's auction.

No link. You need an account to login. And you won't know the equipment anyway because the pics are very limited. Although .... lemme see if I can do the VIN thing ...

OK, here is what I got. A rather short list. And only 25k miles.

Model 280 SE
Colour MIDNIGHT BLUE (904U)
Upholstery (052A)
420 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 4-GEAR
430 HEADREST IN THE REAR, LEFT AND RIGHT
440 TEMPOMAT (CRUISE CONTROL)
498 VERSION FOR JAPAN
524 PAINTWORK - PRESERVATION
533 SPEAKERS FRONT AND REAR - WITHOUT RADIO
543 SUN VISOR WITH MAKE-UP MIRROR L. AND R., BE-
570 FOLDING ARMREST, FRONT
592 ALL-ROUND WD-GREEN GLASS,HEATED REAR WINDOW-VSG
640 15-HOLE LIGHT ALLOY RIMS
668 PACKAGING FOR SHIPPING VEHICLES WITH TIE-DOWN HOOK
673 HIGH-CAPACITY BATTERY
804 AEJ 06/1/M/X
812 REAR-MOUNTED LOUDSPEAKER

fintail · September 2022

Interesting. I checked via a code list (do you have or want it?), 052A is for "galaxi blue" cloth, I assume cloth rather than velour given the apparent basic spec of the car. I suspect the code for those wheels is an anachronism, as the 15 hole wheels didn't debut until the facelifted 1986 model cars (when the 280SE was discontinued), I bet it is on bundts (or maybe even steel wheels with plastic hubcaps, which are somehow cool to me). I can't find that 804 code either. Cars with really low miles can worry me a little, but if it is sound, that could be something - those cars have a following now.

qbrozen said:

fintail said:
Oh a W126, and another model never sold new in the USDM (although we did get the W116 and W108 280SE - I think it's the same engine as the W116). Got a link? I know those cars well, be interesting to see how it is equipped.

qbrozen said:
Volvo went for stupid money. Looking into a '84 280SE for tonight's auction.

No link. You need an account to login. And you won't know the equipment anyway because the pics are very limited. Although .... lemme see if I can do the VIN thing ...

OK, here is what I got. A rather short list. And only 25k miles.

Model 280 SE
Colour MIDNIGHT BLUE (904U)
Upholstery (052A)
420 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 4-GEAR
430 HEADREST IN THE REAR, LEFT AND RIGHT
440 TEMPOMAT (CRUISE CONTROL)
498 VERSION FOR JAPAN
524 PAINTWORK - PRESERVATION
533 SPEAKERS FRONT AND REAR - WITHOUT RADIO
543 SUN VISOR WITH MAKE-UP MIRROR L. AND R., BE-
570 FOLDING ARMREST, FRONT
592 ALL-ROUND WD-GREEN GLASS,HEATED REAR WINDOW-VSG
640 15-HOLE LIGHT ALLOY RIMS
668 PACKAGING FOR SHIPPING VEHICLES WITH TIE-DOWN HOOK
673 HIGH-CAPACITY BATTERY
804 AEJ 06/1/M/X
812 REAR-MOUNTED LOUDSPEAKER

qbrozen · September 2022

low miles is very common with JDM vehicles. It is blue cloth.
Here is a pic of the backseat, at least, and one of the wheels.

someone online had the same question about 804. According to the posts, it is the change year of modification (?). https://www.slkworld.com/threads/data-card-request.578171/

fintail · September 2022

That's the standard cloth as expected. Nice color. The 6cyl W126 could also be had with a manual, but I doubt many of those were sold outside of Europe. I stand corrected on the wheels, those were offered first on W201/190E, but not on USDM W126 S-class until the facelift, but apparently could be ordered elsewhere.

Maybe the mystery code has an administrative function. Is there a build date on the decoder? Maybe a very end of year/beginning of year car.

qbrozen said:
low miles is very common with JDM vehicles. It is blue cloth.
Here is a pic of the backseat, at least, and one of the wheels.

someone online had the same question about 804. According to the posts, it is the change year of modification (?). https://www.slkworld.com/threads/data-card-request.578171/

fintail · September 2022

CL zoo:

Somebody loved it

Surprised there's no hipster cult after these

The 2 doors seemed cool in their own way

Now a vintage car

Barnfind looks

The fate for many of these

Not sure what it is worth, locally issued plate and frame from the 70s/80s era dealer caught my eye

Kit car

Restoration needs restoration

Unique

One of the most interesting cars I find, and of course photos are photos of photos probably taken in 1996

Keep it slow around sharp turns

Period sleeper

Not sure if you can get there from with here given values

Rare convertible, seller didn't think that detail was worth mentioning

Eight

Gnat

Peak Accord, surprised it hasn't sold

Coming out of the woodwork

The 90s

stickguy · September 2022

nice looking Miata. clean originals are going up in value.

and I have a strange attraction to the Fiat. Though the thought of wedging my wife and me into it and driving around gives me a chuckle. But when I was in middle school, my sister (just out of HS at the time) had a yellow one. her 6'3" BF (future husband) hated it. partly because he was too tall, but mostly because he was the one constantly working on it! I remember I could sit in it and put my fingertips on the driveway with the door closed.

sda · September 2022

My 92 Miata was very similar to the 90. 92 was the last year of the 1.6. Mine was white with those same wheels. Its one of the cars I wouldn’t mind having back. A fun and reliable car.

stickguy · September 2022

I remember back in the early-mid 90s going to look at a used 1990 Miata. the popular blue they had. I remember it had brand new tires! and was family owned in a wealthy town at a big house so they did not cheap out on it. lowish miles. Pretty sure they wanted 10K for it. Probably could get that back for it today!

but a few years into a new house with at least 1 young child at the time, could not quite justify getting it. but it was a lot of fun. and I was a lot more limber in those days.

ab348 · September 2022

Both the GMC Suburban and the Blazer seem like decent vehicles at not-crazy prices.

I remember in 1989 the lease I had on my '85 MR2 was ending and I went to the leasing company office to buy it. The buyout price was crazy low and the owner wanted to keep it to flip himself. He had gotten a new Miata to park out front in that blue color to try to get me into a new lease with it. I normally like blue but I didn't care for that shade and wasn't interested in it anyway, so I wrote the check for the buyout and left in my MR2.

oldfarmer50 · September 2022

fintail said:
CL zoo:

Somebody loved it

Surprised there's no hipster cult after these

The 2 doors seemed cool in their own way

Now a vintage car

Barnfind looks

The fate for many of these

Not sure what it is worth, locally issued plate and frame from the 70s/80s era dealer caught my eye

Kit car

Restoration needs restoration

Unique

One of the most interesting cars I find, and of course photos are photos of photos probably taken in 1996

Keep it slow around sharp turns

Period sleeper

Not sure if you can get there from with here given values

Rare convertible, seller didn't think that detail was worth mentioning

Eight

Gnat

Peak Accord, surprised it hasn't sold

Coming out of the woodwork

The 90s

The 92’ Blazer style has stood the test of time.

My favorite would be that 59’ New Yorker but black would be a better color.

sda · September 2022

First year Miata was offered in non-metallic red, white and blue. Base, A and B packages. My 92 had the A package. Alloys, PS , am/fm cassette, optional a/c. B included pw, cc, headrest speakers. At the time I wish mine had cc as I drove to the mountains and Greenville, SC several times which was a 2hr drive and cc. would have been nice.

sda · September 2022

This was my Miata, 92, 5sp. I bought it in 97 w/42K mi. It was my weekend fun car. My primary car was a 96 Mazda Millenia L, with Bose and cold weather package. I removed the sunroof deflector soon after this picture was taken. I thought it messed up the clean profile of the car.

andre1969 · September 2022

The pics of that '59 New Yorker are, umm, interesting. If you're going to pull out some old photos and snap them with your phone, wouldn't it be just as easy to go out and take NEW pics of the car?!

oldfarmer50 · September 2022

andre1969 said:
The pics of that '59 New Yorker are, umm, interesting. If you're going to pull out some old photos and snap them with your phone, wouldn't it be just as easy to go out and take NEW pics of the car?!

Maybe he’s “selling it for a friend”.

texases · September 2022

Or 'it looks like hell'...

fintail · September 2022

I hope everyone in hurricane territory has made it through safe and sound. There will be some project cars created by the disaster, in looking at reports of the destruction, I found this sad sight:

And a couple of possible survivors:

tjc78 · September 2022

Such a shame. They really got pounded down there

texases · September 2022

Another one in the news:

ab348 · September 2022

Why would cars like that Superbird and whatever the newer supercar is be parked outside?

Michaell · September 2022

ab348 said:
Why would cars like that Superbird and whatever the newer supercar is be parked outside?

Who says they were?

stickguy · September 2022

This storm is not going to help with the shortage of cars for sale. Though probably saved caravans and carmax from taking some big losses.

texases · September 2022

Michaell said:

ab348 said:
Why would cars like that Superbird and whatever the newer supercar is be parked outside?
Who says they were?

Yep, the McClaren (and a Rolls parked next to it) escaped from the garage they were parked in:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/mcclaren-owner-who-boasted-about-1-000-000-supply-car-watches-it-float-off/ar-AA12pydJ?ocid=entnewsntp&pc=U531&cvid=1e78bcb5988146ba899e55d28e69517c

fintail · September 2022

Here's what became of the Rolls-Royce:

Beware of used cars from FL for the next many months.

qbrozen · September 2022

Not just FL. Myrtle Beach flooded too, so I’d imagine any SC coastal area.

tjc78 · October 2022

@qbrozen said:
Not just FL. Myrtle Beach flooded too, so I’d imagine any SC coastal area.

Your place ok?

kyfdx · October 2022

qbrozen said:
Not just FL. Myrtle Beach flooded too, so I’d imagine any SC coastal area.

It seems that Hilton Head/Savannah came through it, okay. Also, most of the OBX in NC managed to miss a lot of it, as it headed NW and inland. But, the top 2/3 of SC, and the bottom 1/3 of NC coastline had some major surge and flooding. Plus a foot of rain.

tjc78 · October 2022

@fintail said:
I hope everyone in hurricane territory has made it through safe and sound. There will be some project cars created by the disaster, in looking at reports of the destruction, I found this sad sight:

And a couple of possible survivors:

Here is the guy talking about this. So sad

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRmXvB5r/

stickguy · October 2022

those don't actually look too bad (well, the orange one probably has a rumpled roof). but definitely will get fixed.

explorerx4 · October 2022

Weird that the orange one was painted on the bottom.

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

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