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

fintail · November 2023

Pick your pleasure, pick your treasure:

Hen's tooth

Mighty

What things cost here these days

PATINA

I wonder about the summer price

It's had maybe too much work done

I think this is the curbstoner again

Maximum price with minimum details, thanks

The 90s in vehicle form

Getting rare

Super rare, I'd like it with more original wheels

ab348 · November 2023

Those G-body Cutlasses are pretty flexy at the best of times so I hate to think what a 455 might do to one.

I like the interior on that 810 but the lack of any wider shots inside makes me suspect that the plaid cloth has worn thin in places.

explorerx4 · November 2023

That Jeep GC look pretty good.

qbrozen · November 2023

Too bad those first 2 are automatics

fintail · November 2023

I suspect the 810 is also a middling repaint along with possible interior decay. It would look at lot better on maybe period 280Z wheels or a stock wheelcover. I have a little soft spot for some period Japanese cars, especially hardtop coupes.

gsemike · November 2023

ab348 said:
Those G-body Cutlasses are pretty flexy at the best of times so I hate to think what a 455 might do to one.

I like the interior on that 810 but the lack of any wider shots inside makes me suspect that the plaid cloth has worn thin in places.

I thought that those were full frame so would be rigid but that particular one looks like an old 455 was just slapped in. If engine is out of a 77 wagon, its a low powered boat anchor. If the engine is built, I don't think the drivetrain will hold up

texases · November 2023

A number of body-on-frame cars were considered 'flexi flyers' at the time.

I'd prefer a well-tuned Olds 350 over a 455 in that Cutlass, anyway.

gsemike · November 2023

texases said:
A number of body-on-frame cars were considered 'flexi flyers' at the time.

I'd prefer a well-tuned Olds 350 over a 455 in that Cutlass, anyway.

Still, these have come into favor for drag cars because the bones are there. I've seen where the foors will rot but I think that frame is going to be OK

fintail · December 2023

Cars For Sale:

I remember that decal style, had a promo of this

JDM? No? Then nix those mirrors.

About as cheap as these get today, and this is what you get

"Do You appreciate the craftsmanship of a solid mature Volvo?" - I just liked the ad copy

Still trying - just no demand here for something like this unless it is absolutely pristine

The "Overland" fad can't wane soon enough, this is nutty

Project is unfinished, price is not

Optimistic price given the condition

These early "egg shaped" (as I call them) models are getting rare

Rare and neat but needs a lot

These seem to know how to decay, mint ones bring wacky money

A real one isn't much more expensive these days

stickguy · December 2023

that Shay roadster might actually be fun. much better than an original.

qbrozen · December 2023

I’m with stick. I wouldn’t want an original.

Lacking way too much detail on that, though. I’d be interested to know more.

oldfarmer50 · December 2023

I had the opportunity to buy a 1970 240Z back in 1976 for $1,000 but passed. Shame, it was in much better shape than that one.

I never heard of a Shay roadster but yeah, I’d like to take that one for a spin.

explorerx4 · December 2023

In Volvo ad - IYK, YK.
Lincoln could be a good winter beater, already has snows.

fintail · December 2023

Carz 4 Sell

Skeptical of that mileage claim on Somebody's Baby

"No parting out" - I think nature is helping with that

Scammy

I suppose rare not ruined by the vapedrift crowd but it's a little rough, fun that these are a 40 year old car now

Maybe a 20 footer but the color works

Ad gives me the local Porsche curbstoner/dealer vibe, but in looking at it, probably fair if you really want one (I don't believe the Queen had this model)

Lower mileage ones are getting scarce, probably some life left

Patina, maybe give it a big detail and negotiate the price for a driver

Mileage might be close given the interior condition

stickguy · December 2023

regardless of being a scam, I love that Corvette. Nice engine upgrade that won't really detract from originality. But I would rather a later model for the disk brakes. though likely an easy enough upgrade.

oldfarmer50 · December 2023

On the 280zx I’d like to look at his “recipe” to see what’s cooking. I’m always suspicious of “just needs a…” claims.

On some of the others I notice missing titles. On the parts cars that’s not necessarily a deal breaker but in NY I don’t think you’d ever be able to register a car like that. Is it easier on the west coast?

kyfdx · December 2023

I have no love for the ZX.

sda · December 2023

I like the Rover TC 2000. My BIL had a Buick Regal Custom, black with tan cloth interior, 3.1 V6 very similar to that one. A comfortable car but totally numbing.

ab348 · December 2023

Those Rover 2000TCs were nice cars when they ran well. The problem was that they seldom did.

I am not getting the "scammy" vibe on the Corvette. What are you seeing?

fintail · December 2023

oldfarmer50 said:
On the 280zx I’d like to look at his “recipe” to see what’s cooking. I’m always suspicious of “just needs a…” claims.

On some of the others I notice missing titles. On the parts cars that’s not necessarily a deal breaker but in NY I don’t think you’d ever be able to register a car like that. Is it easier on the west coast?

I believe WA has a fairly simple lost title process. Maybe even easier in ID, which is one of those low regulation areas that also has a local rep for title washing.

fintail · December 2023

ab348 said:
Those Rover 2000TCs were nice cars when they ran well. The problem was that they seldom did.

I am not getting the "scammy" vibe on the Corvette. What are you seeing?

Price seems low for the apparent quality and features of the Corvette. The boomer stereotypes who own such material tend to want full bubble auction prices for their cars, at least locally. Also very generic pics with no visible plates.

gsemike · December 2023

fintail said:

ab348 said:
Those Rover 2000TCs were nice cars when they ran well. The problem was that they seldom did.

I am not getting the "scammy" vibe on the Corvette. What are you seeing?
Price seems low for the apparent quality and features of the Corvette. The boomer stereotypes who own such material tend to want full bubble auction prices for their cars, at least locally. Also very generic pics with no visible plates.

And those mechanical upgrades, yet no pic did seem perculiar

On the other hand, the mechanical upgrades notes are very particular, not what I'd expect to see on a scam ad

fintail · December 2023

gsemike said:

fintail said:

ab348 said:
Those Rover 2000TCs were nice cars when they ran well. The problem was that they seldom did.

I am not getting the "scammy" vibe on the Corvette. What are you seeing?
Price seems low for the apparent quality and features of the Corvette. The boomer stereotypes who own such material tend to want full bubble auction prices for their cars, at least locally. Also very generic pics with no visible plates.
And those mechanical upgrades, yet no pic did seem perculiar

On the other hand, the mechanical upgrades notes are very particular, not what I'd expect to see on a scam ad

I suspect the ad copy and pics were lifted from a legit ad, probably one with a price 50% or more higher.

gsemike · December 2023

Christmas Shopping on Long Island

Can't remember last time I saw an Aries K no less one in this condition These used to all over at one time

Cool 500 but that cancer on the passneger side is scary

If this Caddy looks good close up could be decent

1950 Ford Could be cheap entry into local cruises

Not a car but still a project I wish him luck

oldfarmer50 · December 2023

My son had a K car like that 1988 Plymouth Reliant. Cost $300 with 130k miles. Total beater but he got 10k miles of use before he tore the oil pan out and tried to drive it home. Sold it for $100.

texases · December 2023

A discussion over on the CarTalk forum about a rusted out 190SL selling for $63,000. Questions about whether it was a ‘numbers matching’ car. @fintail - would that make much difference, regardless of condition?
https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-63k-fixer-upper-1960-mercedes-190sl/194053/27

kyfdx · December 2023

I've noticed they don't seem to care much on Euro cars, unless it's a $million Ferrari.

The Porsche 356 Registry even allows replica vehicles..

fintail · December 2023

texases said:
A discussion over on the CarTalk forum about a rusted out 190SL selling for $63,000. Questions about whether it was a ‘numbers matching’ car. @fintail - would that make much difference, regardless of condition?
https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-63k-fixer-upper-1960-mercedes-190sl/194053/27

Yeah, for MBs, numbers matching isn't a big deal unless it is something extremely rare and valuable (like a rare spec gullwing maybe), and even then people are forgiving. For something relatively ordinary like a 190SL, not really relevant.

I suspect the price on that intensive project is from it being RHD, I suspect that's quite rare. Otherwise, I can probably get a nice driver/local show quality usual LHD 190SL for around 100K, no point paying 60K for a full restoration project.

gsemike · January 2024

If you want to get in the game for not a ton of money

What if you don't have 30 40 grand just to get started? Classics are so crazy here that these looked interesting

Jensen Healy

Pontiac Chieftain

Weird year Rachero

Daytona Shelby Z

explorerx4 · January 2024

Jensen seems like a steal.
Ranchero is a bit off but not too pricey.

gsemike · January 2024

explorerx4 said:
Jensen seems like a steal.
Ranchero is a bit off but not too pricey.

Rachero is a frankencar and weird year with that LTD II front end but maybe a presentable driver for 4 figures

explorerx4 · January 2024

The Ranchero looked like that for 77 and 78.

fintail · January 2024

explorerx4 said:
Jensen seems like a steal.
Ranchero is a bit off but not too pricey.

You mean there wasn't a Ranchero SS?

(there was an Escort SS though!)

Jensen-Healey does look good for the money, probably has some fun quirks too.

oldfarmer50 · January 2024

gsemike said:
If you want to get in the game for not a ton of money

What if you don't have 30 40 grand just to get started? Classics are so crazy here that these looked interesting

Jensen Healy

Pontiac Chieftain

Weird year Rachero

Daytona Shelby Z

My question on all of those are parts available? I’ve seen some fairly high production cars half that age where you couldn’t fix them.

gsemike · January 2024

oldfarmer50 said:

gsemike said:
If you want to get in the game for not a ton of money

What if you don't have 30 40 grand just to get started? Classics are so crazy here that these looked interesting

Jensen Healy

Pontiac Chieftain

Weird year Rachero

Daytona Shelby Z

My question on all of those are parts available? I’ve seen some fairly high production cars half that age where you couldn’t fix them.

The Daytona and Ranchero platforms and engines were used in so many cars for so long, I'd imagine most parts could be had

kyfdx · January 2024

fintail said:

explorerx4 said:
Jensen seems like a steal.
Ranchero is a bit off but not too pricey.
You mean there wasn't a Ranchero SS? (there was an Escort SS though!)

Jensen-Healey does look good for the money, probably has some fun quirks too.

I thought the Escort was a GT?

ab348 · January 2024

explorerx4 said:
The Ranchero looked like that for 77 and 78.

The seats in this one sure aren't original. Don't know if that is a center console or a cooler between them.

stickguy · January 2024

the console in the Ranchero is very weird. The Daytona could be fun but that one looks to have been seriously monkeyed with and is probably a nightmare.

Love the Jensen. Always had a fond spot for them. I would also be shocked if it was not hiding a lot of rust underneath, and parts availability, I assume is not good.

qbrozen · January 2024

@gsemike said:
If you want to get in the game for not a ton of money

What if you don't have 30 40 grand just to get started? Classics are so crazy here that these looked interesting

Jensen Healy

Pontiac Chieftain

Weird year Rachero

Daytona Shelby Z

Oh that poor poor Pontiac.

Shelby seems like a deal if it isn’t rusted.

gsemike · January 2024

ab348 said:

explorerx4 said:
The Ranchero looked like that for 77 and 78.
The seats in this one sure aren't original. Don't know if that is a center console or a cooler between them.

Pretty sure those seats are out of 90s GM intermediate

gsemike · January 2024

stickguy said:
the console in the Ranchero is very weird. The Daytona could be fun but that one looks to have been seriously monkeyed with and is probably a nightmare.

Love the Jensen. Always had a fond spot for them. I would also be shocked if it was not hiding a lot of rust underneath, and parts availability, I assume is not good.

Daytona ad says no rust. Would like an engine pic. Seems like a kid has been fiddling with it. I appreciate a young guy being into that car, but work needs to be double checked

stickguy · January 2024

well, they always say no rust. but you want to verify that.

I was not referring to rust in that case. The wheels, and "changes" to the interior with wires running all over the place, screams to me of hackery.

explorerx4 · January 2024

Interesting video. You need to do your homework.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pivxkaR95o4

Here is the BAT listing.
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1995-nissan-240sx-21/

gsemike · January 2024

Good video. I like the Flying Wheels channel .

It is interesting, the car appear to be likely a fake, but who would fake it and why? It's not like it's some 6 figure car

stickguy · January 2024

I watched that last night. Not sure it is a fake, more that the mileage may or may not be legit, but it has definitely been hit and repaired.

oldfarmer50 · January 2024

explorerx4 said:
Interesting video. You need to do your homework.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pivxkaR95o4

Here is the BAT listing.
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1995-nissan-240sx-21/

That car is suspect as hell and it sounds like the sellers are shady too. So they were kicked off BaT for shill bidding but Mecum welcomed them with open arms? I smell a lawsuit coming somewhere down the line.

oldfarmer50 · January 2024

gsemike said:
Good video. I like the Flying Wheels channel .

It is interesting, the car appear to be likely a fake, but who would fake it and why? It's not like it's some 6 figure car

And they seemed to saying that the quality of the work was good for the most part. Why do a good job if you’re a scammer?

qbrozen · January 2024

@oldfarmer50 said:
That car is suspect as hell and it sounds like the sellers are shady too. So they were kicked off BaT for shill bidding but Mecum welcomed them with open arms? I smell a lawsuit coming somewhere down the line.

From the little I read, story is that the seller contacted BaT and said they need to pull the auction. BaT didn’t do so and/or didn’t respond. Seller then made the high bid to avoid selling to anyone. Seller quit BaT after that. I’ve made my beef with BaT known, so I am definitely leaning towards believing the story.

fintail · January 2024

On the subject of standard equipment in ~1980 Cadillacs and a base MB of the era, I saw this car linked in a group I read now and then and it is a good example.

This car isn't perfect, but the color does it - appears to be "China Blue", effectively the same color as the fintail. It looks like a clean enough old car, not rusty, etc. Biggest issue for many would be the (lack of) speed - this thing would be borderline dangerous in many modern driving situations. Maybe good for an in-town hobby car.

In 1982, for your $23K base price, which was probably the same as a nicely optioned Seville Elegante, you got: manual windows, manual seats (but I believe all 123s had vacuum locks). vinyl interior, analog display stereo, and 67 horsepower.

sda · January 2024

fintail said:
On the subject of standard equipment in ~1980 Cadillacs and a base MB of the era, I saw this car linked in a group I read now and then and it is a good example.

This car isn't perfect, but the color does it - appears to be "China Blue", effectively the same color as the fintail. It looks like a clean enough old car, not rusty, etc. Biggest issue for many would be the (lack of) speed - this thing would be borderline dangerous in many modern driving situations. Maybe good for an in-town hobby car.

In 1982, for your $23K base price, which was probably the same as a nicely optioned Seville Elegante, you got: manual windows, manual seats (but I believe all 123s had vacuum locks). vinyl interior, analog display stereo, and 67 horsepower.

That does put things in perspective compared to the standard features standard on the Cadillac of the same time frame. That 240 D could be Fintail’s slower little brother.

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

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