Just A Car Geek

Weekend Quickies, Saturday, July 21, 2012

2012-07-21T11:51:00.009-04:00

1988 Volvo 240 Wagon - Hmmm...Tempting. Tempting. If this car is all the seller says it is, it wouldn't take a lot to make it a nice car again.

This is not a great ad. There is just one (lousy) picture and no mention of mileage, the reason for the mis-matched wheels, recent work, etc. But hey, for $700.00, it might be worth a call.

Decent 240 wagons are getting tough to find these days. The people who own them love them and aren't giving them up.

Located in Pittsfield, MA, click here to see the Craigslist ad.

1973 BMW Bavaria 3.0 - Boy, I like this car. At least I like the way it looks. (I love black over red.) Sadly, this is another ad with no real information.

The Bavaria was unique to the North American market. Roughly 8,000 were built with the 3.0 engine in 1973.

Rust was the huge enemy of the Bavaria. This car *looks* to be rust free, but as with any old car, it will need to be checked thouroughly for bad rust repair.

Located in Meridan, MS, click here to see the Craigslist ad.

1975 Mercedes Benz 450SLC - I posted a picture of a newer SL today on the Just a Car Geek Facebook page. This is an older SLC.

SLCs are tremendous bargains these days. Classic styling and a big 4.5 liter V8. In the US they are rarer than the drop top SL, but usually sell for less.

Like most Mercedes Benz cars, the SLC is well engineered and durable. However, when something does break, parts are extremely expensive. Finding a well maintained one is a must.

This is a European spec 450SLC. The seller says it has been "been meticulously maintained" and he has all the service records from day one (including those from Germany).

The car does have some rust bubbles, which should be taken car of right away.

Located in Houston, TX, click here to see the Craigslist ad.

Honda vs. BMW - One More Post

2012-07-15T07:22:00.006-04:00

One more post about my old BMW and the new Honda, then I'll let it go. Some random thoughts and observations...

I used to think that I must be an alright looking guy - I based part of that on what girlfriends have said ("Yeah, you're alright." or "I've been with worse." Things like that.), but mostly I based it on the looks I'd get when driving down the street. I now realize that no one was looking at me. They were looking at the car. No one checks you out in a base 1992 Honda Civic.

I am now practical - I went to a party Saturday night. A number of people there knew that I had gone to Virginia to pick up a car the previous weekend. I hadn't mentioned what kind of car I was getting. Someone asked me what I got. When I said "a Honda Civic" everyone replied - damn near in unison - "Oh, that's a practical car." Great.

I am no longer envied - One friend, after seeing the Honda, said, "This is the first time in the 25 years I've known you that I'm not jealous of the car you're driving." His ride? A Ford Taurus wagon.

I'll need to make new friends - I have a friend who drives an Audi. For most of the 6 or so years we've been friends we've argued the merits of Audi vs. BMW. What do we argue about now? Can I really come up with a credible "my 20 year old Civic is better than your 5 year old A4" argument? Uh, let's see... I get better gas mileage with my 1.6 than you get with your 2.0 turbo... My no name 175/70/13 tires cost a lot less than your 235/45/17 high performance Contis... I will have a stronger left arm from rolling down the window instead of hitting a switch... None of those work. I need to make a new friend with an old Hyundai. (Are there any old Hyundais still on the road?).

I am a source of amusement - I picked up a friend on the way to the above mentioned party. She is decidedly a non-car geek. She had not said a word all week about the Civic. We parked the car and started walking to the restaurant. About a block away we saw a guy parking an Aston Martin DBS Volante. I stopped, waited for him to get out and complimented the car. I asked a few questions and he gave me some detailed answers. As we were walking away, my friend looked at me and said, "Why didn't you tell him all about your Civic?" She then started laughing so hard I thought she was going to pee on herself. I wish she had. Jerk.

Everyone has owned or knows someone who has owned a Civic - This is a plus. I have not yet heard a bad word about a Honda Civic. Not one. They seem to run forever.

I might just keep this car - My original thought was to keep it for awhile and then sell it. Maybe buy another BMW. Now I'm thinking that it might not be too bad as a daily driver. I can then go out an buy an impractical second car. A TR7, maybe? It's one of the few cars I've always wanted to own but never have. Hmmm...

OK, I'm done. No more posts about the Honda for awhile. With any luck at all I'll get back to the usual JaCG stuff this week.

1992 Honda Civic - My New Ride - No One, But No One - Including Me - Saw This Coming

2012-07-14T13:13:00.007-04:00

Meet the new car. Yep. It's a 1992 Honda Civic. A base 1992 Honda Civic. Power windows? Nope. Power locks? Nope. Right side mirror? No way. Sunroof? Nope, a solid roof. A tachometer? Hell, no. It doesn't even have a clock. I have the original window sticker. It has zero options. (It does have A/C. I believe that was dealer installed and therefor wouldn't show up on the factory sticker.)

It looks like it hasn't seen a coat of wax since its initial dealer prep. The drivers door makes a noise upon opening and closing that large amounts of grease has not yet cured. It has a few small dents and dings. The driver's seat, which has an aftermarket seat heater in it (!!!), has a tear. The seats feel like they are made of poured concrete and not foam. (Part of the reason JaCG has been on hiatus is that I was dealing with some kidney issues. The seats do absolutely nothing positive for my recovering kidneys.) However, they are really well shaped and hold you in place very nicely.

On the plus side, it hasn't used a drop of oil or coolant in the 700 or so miles I've had it. (The first of which were a 500 mile - one day - trip from Richmond, VA to Massachusetts. It performed flawlessly. Slowly, but flawlessly.) According to one of the repair receipts that came with it (I have all of them - or most them - dating back to its original date of purchase-) it had its head gasket replaced about 30,000 miles ago. At the time it had its valve seals replaced. The body does not have a speck of rust on it. It's truly amazing. It really is a 20 year old rust-free Honda.

So, you ask, how and why did I wind up with this fine piece of Japanese automotive history? The how is easy. It was given to me. The why is a little tougher.

My brother bought this car a number of years ago for his stepdaughter. She used it to commute back and forth to college. After graduating, she gave it back to him. He parked it in the garage at his "second home." It was a third car to him. And, since he always drove one of his other vehicles to his second home, it rarely, if ever, got driven. He's been offering it to me for a year or so.

Why I took it is twofold... With the exception of the BMW, I shop before I buy a car. I really shop. I'm not a super savvy buyer, I just like driving an assortment of cars. As long as I know deep down inside that I'll eventually buy one, I don't feel too guilty taking up people's time by test driving their car.

The problem was that the BMW was fading fast. The brakes had gotten to a point where it was dangerous. I didn't have time to shop. I was going to have to make a decision and make one fast. This Honda buys me some time. I can shop 'til I drop or the Honda drops, whichever happens first.

Secondly, my brother knows me too well. He used the old "I guess if you don't want it some kid will buy it and customize the hell out of it." To me that's the automotive equivalent of saying, "If you don't take this dog we'll just have it put to sleep." Ugh.

The more I think about it, the more it intrigues me, though. It is sparse. It is slow. I have no idea how it handles as the mis-matched 175/70/13 tires give out way before the chassis does.

What can I do to it - cheaply - to make it a semi-enjoyable ride for the next 3 - 6 months? By cheaply, I mean cheaply. I do not want to spend thousands on this car. I need to keep in mind that for a few thousand dollars I could have bought another E36. I don't want to spend that much on a 1992 Honda Civic.

Obviously, I don't want to rice it out. I want it to look like a car that a middle aged man would drive. (Because that's what I am.)

First thing I need to do is get some new wheels and tires. (** Update - Since I wrote that line one of the mismatched 175/70/13 tires stopped holding air. This is now really important.) 20" chrome spinners are not my style. I'm thinking about a set of 1987 - 1991 CRX Si rims. They are 14" and take a 60 series tire. I'm not going to win any gymkhanas with this set up, but at least I'll be able to take a sharp curve at something more than 15 MPH. From what I remember, they look pretty cool, too. If you or someone you know in the New England area has a set they're looking to sell cheaply, email me.

Performance is going to be a tougher issue. It is hampered by its automatic transmission. A free flow 6" exhaust is out of the question. Again, I'm a middle age man. Can you chip these things, or is it too old?

I'm here looking for ideas. I honestly know next to nothing about older Japanese cars. I never owned one. (My ex-significant-other had a CRX Si. But, she bought it new and had a warranty. I never had a chance to take it apart. I once had an Isuzu Trooper, which isn't really a car. I wouldn't even call it a form of transportation. I hated it. I didn't want to even look at it, let alone work on it. I just wanted it to go away.)

I'll keep you posted on its progress or lack of. Who knows? Maybe when I'm done with it, some kid, disappointed in the Volvo 700 / 900 Series or old BMW 5 Series station wagon his parents gave him, will swap me straight up. Stranger things have happened.

Feel free to laugh.

A Goodbye To An Old Friend...

2012-07-12T11:08:00.014-04:00

I sold my 1995 E36 BMW last week.

When I told the people close to me what I had done, they reacted with sympathy. One said that it must have been like ending a relationship.

In many ways my relationship with that car was a lot like some of the best relationships I've had with people.

In our minds, we all have an image / description of our perfect mate. For the most part, we spend time seeking out people that fit our image and description.

Every once in awhile however, you encounter someone who doesn't fit that mold. They walk into a room or pass you on the street and you're instantly drawn to them. You have no idea why. They just have that "something." That's what it was like with the BMW. I like dark green or red cars. I like 4 door sedans or hatchbacks. A white 2 door coupe was not anywhere on my list of desirable cars.

Back in 1997 I was driving a Saab 9000. I bought it a few year earlier at a place called Northeast Motors in North Hampton, NH. It was a perfectly nice car. It was reliable, comfortable and somewhat entertaining. It was a green and, of course, it was a 4 door.

I was in New Hampshire one weekend in 1997. I decided to take a drive past Northeast Motors. I honestly wasn't looking for a new car. I just wanted to see what cool / interesting cars they had on the lot.

In the front row was their typical collection of Audis, Saabs and Volvos. Just past them, sitting by itself, was the BMW. I was instantly drawn to it. I stopped. The salesman who sold me the Saab, Niles, still worked there. He recognized me and the car.

"What's up with that BMW?", I asked. "Just took it in.", he replied. "We haven't even cleaned it yet." "Can I take it for a drive?" I asked."Sure. I'll get the keys and a plate."

I drove it for about 20 minutes. That was about 19 minutes and 50 seconds more than I needed to drive it to know that I wanted it. Niles is the type of car salesman you dream about. (If you dream about car salesman, I guess.) Low key and knowledgeable. No pressure. "What do you think?" he asked. "I don't know, let me think about it." "You have my number.", he said. "Call me if you have any questions."

And I did think about it. In fact, for the next 24 hours it was all I thought about. It was like that person with the "something." It was like being attracted to a short, blue-eyed, blonde. It made no sense. My "perfect person" is supposed to be a tall, brown-eyed, brunette.

I called Niles the next day. "I want it." I told him. "Take the Saab in trade and arrange it with the bank so the payments are no more per month than I'm paying now for the Saab." Twenty minutes later he called me back. "Done.", he said. "I'll fax you the paperwork for your approval." I picked it up the next day.

My then significant-other - a real life tall, brown eyed, brunette - was surprised to see it. "I thought you hate white cars. I thought you only like 4 door cars. You'll grow tired of it in a couple of years." she said. "You're right. I'll probably just keep it for a year or two and then trade it in on something else.", I replied.

My significant-other and I split up two years later. The BMW stayed around for another 15 years and 200,000+ miles. I never grew tired of it.

For all of those 15 years it was a faithful companion. There were times, like there are in human relationships, when I'd get pissed off at it and swear we were done. During a heavy snowstorm I spent a night sleeping on the hardwood floor of my office at the radio station I worked at. AWD Audis, Subarus and lesser FWD cars were cruising through the snow effortlessly, yet I couldn't get the BMW up the small parking lot incline and into the street. I swore I was going to sell it the next day. I didn't. Like I do with any human I love, I made some concessions and sacrificed a little to keep it around. I bought a Jeep to drive in the snow.

For 15 years it was like that. A few fights now and then, but many, many, many more good times.

The cold reality is that the BMW is not a human. Last October a large tree branch fell through its rear window during a freak snowstorm. It was the beginning of the end. I looked around for another car, but instead replaced the window. From that moment on - as if it was telling me it was time for it to leave - little things started going wrong. The exhaust broke. The steering rack, which had been leaking a little for awhile, started gushing power steering fluid. The clutch throw out bearing went from humming to growling. The brakes went bad. The headliner started falling down. The driver's side window regulator broke. Twice. The CD player grabbed a Tom Petty CD and wouldn't give it up. (I really like Tom Petty. Just not all day / every day.) Bulbs burnt out. The list of little things seemed endless. If it were a human I would have spent every waking hour and every cent I had to keep it alive and keep it around. It wasn't a human, however. I needed to look at the cold, hard financial reality. It was time for it to go.

It will live on for awhile. I sold it to a guy in Connecticut. He works at a garage and can use the tools and lift after hours. He was going to replace whatever is needed to make it safe and use it as a commuter car for a little while. I sure hope he likes Tom Petty.

Next... The temporary replacement. No one saw this coming....

Whoa! GM Gets Controversial...

2012-06-11T10:01:00.002-04:00

This is pretty f'ing amazing. My dad was a GM exec. Back in the day, GM was the most conservative of companies. I remember the stories. An ad like this would have been unthinkable.

I'm still a little cynical, wondering if the corporate culture has changed, or if GM, stuck with a car that was expensive to develop and is not selling very well, is pandering to the gay community in hopes of selling a few more Volts.

Either way, the Ford dealers had better stock up on pickup trucks, as I suspect Chevy sales will decline dramatically in the bible belt. A brave and unusual move (whatever the reason) for GM.

Weekend Quickies, Saturday, June 2, 2012

2012-06-02T13:13:00.000-04:00

1969 Austin America - I've always been fascinated by these cars. I even bought one once with the intention of restoring it. Unfortunately, that never happened.

On paper, the America was a brilliant little car. It was FWD, roomy, and had BMC's Hydrolastic suspension, which gave it a smooth, comfortable ride. It should have given VW - it was being sold as a competitor to the Beetle in the US - a run for its money back in the 1960s.

Sadly, we don't drive on paper. In the real world the America had more than its fair share of problems. Relatively few were sold here.

This America is a true survivor. The interior, most of the paint and the drivetrain are original. It had been sitting since 1985 and the seller replaced many of the parts that tend to fail from lack of use.

The only downside to this car is the transmission. It's an automatic. The transmissions in these cars (both automatic and manual) share their lubrication with the engine. The automatic is especially sensitive to dirt and tiny metal filings. Failure is quite common. As the seller mentions, it's extremely important to keep clean oil in these cars. Change the oil and filter every 2500 - 3000 miles.

Located in Louisville, KY, click here to see the eBay listing.

One of my favorite Austin America stories is this one. Anyone who has ever bought an old British car can relate to it.

1968 MGC GT - Another piece of interesting BMC history. Essentially, the MGC was created to replace the Austin Healey 3000.

MG encountered 2 big problems with this car. First, even though MG did a considerable amount of work to the basic MGB to create the MGC, it was still perceived as just an MGB with a bigger engine. Secondly, it was not really a sports car. The 3.0 liter 6 had little torque. It had a top speed of 120 MPH, but took over 10 seconds to get to 60. The 3.0 liter engine was also heavy which gave the car a tendency to understeer.

On the plus side, the MGC could cruise all day long at highway speeds and were extremely comfortable compared to the MGB.

In total, 4,457 MGC GTs were built. (MG also built 4,542 roadsters.) Roughly half wound up in North America.

This MGC GT needs some work. The interior is shot, but the body looks good. In one of those very common used car "I know what you mean, but the way you said it is amusing" lines, the seller states, "it was running when it was last used." (Kind of stating the obvious.)

Located in the "Concord / Pleasant Hill / Martinez" area of California, click here to see the Craigslist ad.

1973 Pontiac GTO - This was a one year only car. The GTO was an option package on the new for 1973 "A- Body" LeMans. In 1974 the GTO package became an option on the Pontiac Ventura, a Chevy Nova clone.

This car will remind no one of the great GTOs of the 1960s. However, compared to most cars of the mid-1970s, it has some power. The 400ci V8 put out 230 hp and got to 60 MPH in under 8 seconds.

This car has a 3 speed manual transmission. It has been completely restored. There are plenty of great cars you can buy for $13,000.00, but if you're a Pontiac buff and are looking for a fairly rare piece of Pontiac history, this car might be worth checking out.

Located in Elkin, NC, click here to see the Craigslist ad.

1986 Lands Precedent Sportswagon - Thankfully Just 1 of 2

2012-06-01T08:36:00.014-04:00

This was most likely a brilliant idea back in 1983. A luxury minivan / station wagon. Japanese companies were building minivan / station wagon hybrids, but they were relatively inexpensive and not very luxurious. There was a lot of money floating around in the 1980s. This could have been the mini van / station wagon for those who had "made it."

There's one big problem here, however. This thing is ugly. At certain angles it looks decent. The rear has a nice, clean modern look to it. Looked at straight on, the nose looks generic, but OK. The doors - Citroen sourced - look nice. Somehow though, it doesn't work. Maybe it's the huge C Pillars, maybe it's the huge rear window. Maybe it's the overall proportion. Whatever the reason, it's ugly.

It didn't have to be ugly. In the 1980s, you could pretty much dial any random phone number in Italy and find a person who could design a beautiful car. It's one of the things the Italians do very, very well. You would think that the folks at Lands Motor Company - the creator / builder of this thing - would have thought, "OK, we have our concept. We know what we want. We've just spent a sh*tload of money. Let's spend a little more and have a carozzeria clean it up and tweak the design a bit. Let's make it beautiful." That obliviously didn't happen. (A website called Daddytypes.com says it was designed by Alain Clenet, who also designed and built the ghastly Clenet retro-car. I don't find that hard to believe at all.)

The interior has the same problem. All the right pieces are there. It has all the right accessories. (And some wrong ones, too. An "electric wet bar?!!?") It has real wood accents scattered throughout it. But it's all not well placed or well designed. The instrument panel would look more appropriate on a boat. (A cheap, homemade boat.)

There is not much information available on the internet about this vehicle. There was a brief discussion about it in November, 2011, on Supercars.net. Jalopnik featured it in September, 2005.

This is one of those cars that I'm pointing out just because it exists and for no other reason.

Back in 2007 someone (I'm not sure if it has changed hands in the past 5 years) was asking $35,000.00 for this vehicle. It's now being offered on eBay with no reserve.

Located in College Station, TX, click here to see the eBay listing.

1983 BMW 733i 5 Speed

2012-05-31T06:00:00.000-04:00

The E23 was the first BMW to be called a 7 Series. It replaced the E3 (2500 / 2800 / Bavaria) in BMW's lineup. It took me awhile to get used to it. The E3 has a delicate, sporty, almost Italian look to it. The E23 looks big and purposeful, in the typical German luxury car way.

This E23 is a fairly rare US spec car with a 5 speed manual transmission. Being an uber-luxury car in its day, most E23s came through with automatics, as that seems to be what most US luxury car buyer wanted.

This is a 3 owner car. The original owner kept it until 2008. The seller bought it last year.

This is not a great ad. The seller doesn't mention how many miles are on the car. A picture of the instrument cluster in his Photobucket album seems to show 166,000. He also doesn't mention the year of the car. At the end of his ad he calls it a 29 year old car, so I'm assuming it's an '83.

All-in-all, this car is in nice shape. It seems to have been well maintained. The only real downside is some minor rust. Unless it's taken care of right away, it will become major rust. Rust looks especially horrible on white cars. (That is coming from personal experience, by the way.)

The asking price is $6000.00. At first glance that seems high. But, it is a 5 speed manual. Combine that with the overall condition of the car and the price starts to look fairly reasonable. The seller is open to offers.

Located in Montclair, NJ, click here to see the Craigslist ad.

A big thanks to Dan for sending me the link to this car!

A Pair of Renault (R5) Le Cars

2012-05-27T08:48:00.015-04:00

Imagine what the folks in charge of Renault would be thinking if the only car blog they ever saw was Just a Car Geek. They would most likely be scratching their heads, wondering how the Le Car did not become a best seller in North America. ("Sacre bleu! How did we fail?") We (you, the incredibly smart readers, and me, the barely literate writer) love and appreciate the Le Car.

I was going to take Memorial Day weekend off, but when I saw 2 Le Cars for sale on eBay, I knew I had to write something...

1982 Renault Le Car 2 Door - This is a one owner car. The seller says it was parked after the owners wife passed away. He doesn't mention how long ago that was.

This car has the very, very desirable canvas sunroof. It also has some louvers on the rear window. I usually hate aftermarket louvers, but these look kind of cool in a funky, retro way.

It needs a master cylinder, the carburetor "cleaned" (read: new carb) and a tune-up. The body has some rust. I can see some along the rockers and I assume there is some in the rear wheel wells, as they all rusted there. There is a dent in the left fender. The interior looks to be in good condition, although the seats have covers on them and could be damaged.

All-in-all this is a decent Le Car. It wouldn't take much work to make it a perfect one.

Located in Annapolis, MD, click here to see the eBay listing.

1982 Renault Le Car 4 Door - Renault didn't sell many 4 door Le Cars in North America. It was introduced here in 1981.

I'm not sure the 4 door made much sense in the United States. The Le Car was looked at as basic transportation here. (Renault's ads, pricing and lack of performance options - which were available in other countries - encouraged that.) It was fun and extremely comfortable, but it was basic transportation none the less. Folks who needed a 4 door car (i.e. families, car poolers) tended to look for slightly larger, more substantial cars.

This 4 door Le Car is located in Canada. It has the typical rust around the rear wheel well. (Which is not surface rust. The rust starts from the inside. Repair it and then coat the inside of the rear wheel well with a good undercoating / rust inhibitor. Plan on doing it again in 5 - 10 years.) Other than that, it looks to be remarkably rust free.

The seller has done quite a bit of work to this car, but it still needs a head gasket.

Located in Regina, SK, Canada, click here to see the eBay listing.

1965 Vanden Plas Princess 4 Litre R

2012-05-25T06:01:00.001-04:00

I wrote about one of these almost 3 years ago. I haven't seen another one come up for sale since. For the sake of time - and because there really isn't anything new to add - I'm going to copy what I wrote in the earlier Vanden Plas post ...

During the late fifties and early sixties, Rolls Royce and BMC discussed some joint projects. One involved a smaller, less expensive Bentley. That idea was ultimately scrapped, but it was the seed for the Vanden Plas Princess 4 Litre R.

The Pinninfarina styled Vanden Plas Princess line had been around since 1959. In 1964 the body got a slight restyle. The tail fins were eliminated, giving the back end an almost Mercedes or Lancia look. (Depending on what angle you looked at it.) The front end remained very similar to the earlier cars. (The nose was later copied by Volvo for their 164) The biggest change in 1964 was the addition of the letter "R" to the name. That "R" meant that there was now a Rolls Royce engine under the hood (bonnet).

The 4 liter Rolls Royce engine gave the car some decent power and, like all Rolls Royce engines, was smooth running and quiet.

The interior of the Vanden Plas Princess 4 Litre R featured everything you'd expect in a 60s British luxury car, including "picnic" tables.

There were around 7000 of these cars made between 1964 and 1968.

This car needs restoration, but it has a lot going for it. It runs and it's not missing many pieces. That's huge when you're talking about a rare RR engine and a limited production car.

The seller says it has "no major rust", although it looks like it has a lot of surface rust. It needs a gas tank and a muffler, which may indicate that it's rusty underneath.

This would be a very nice car to see restored and at car shows.

Located in San Diego, CA, click here to see the eBay listing.

1994 Chevy Elumino Pickup (!!!)

2012-05-25T06:00:00.001-04:00

Uh, ya know, if I lived in Sioux Falls and had $1400.00 burning a hole in my pocket, I just might buy this thing. Just because. For no other reason than "just because."

I really don't know what to write about this. It's a Chevy Lumina van that someone turned into a pickup truck.

It looks like - based only on the pictures - the conversion was done decently. I assume the diamond plate behind the cab adds some rigidity. It has new tires, brakes and ball joints. It still has the handle for the passenger side rear sliding door. That has to be useful for something.

Really, I'm at at loss for words.

Located in Sioux Falls, SD (right next to the Pizza Hut), click here to see the Craigslist ad.

A big thanks to Cory for sending me this link.

1978 Alfa Romeo Sprint Veloce Update

2012-05-23T15:17:00.006-04:00

Remember this car? I posted it back in August, 2009. (You can see the original post here.)

Shortly after posting it I heard from its new owner. He's an Alfa fan and had great plans for the car.

The other day he posted a link to his progress in the comments section of the original post. This car may very soon be the nicest, coolest Alfetta GT in North America.

You can follow the progress on the Alfa Bulletin Board. The thread is 14 pages long. It includes some pictures and videos, including this one of the Alfetta being dyno'd. (There's really no reason to watch the video, all you need to do is listen. There is nothing much better to the ears than the sound of an Alfa engine at full throttle!)

If you receive JaCG via email you'll need to click here to see the video.

1967 OSI 20m TS

2012-05-23T07:19:00.008-04:00

I am old enough to remember the days before the internet. (Some of my younger friends believe I am old enough to remember the days before electricity. Bastards.) In those pre-connected days, you could go an entire lifetime without seeing or even knowing about a car like an OSI 20m TS.

Times have changed. This is the second North America based OSI I've seen come up for sale on eBay.

OSI (Officine Stampaggi Industriali) was created by Luigi Segre (former president of Ghia) and Arrigo Olivetti. Prior to this car they created some bodies for Alfa Romeo, Fiat and Innocenti. The OSI 20m TS is based on the German Ford Taunus.

In 2009 I featured an OSI that was in decent condition. (See the post here.) This one is not.

This 20m TS is in need of a total restoration. As the seller mentions, the mechanical parts - being from Ford - will be easy to find. Body and trim parts will not. The good news is the body - which is very prone to rust - is in decent condition. The rusted areas are small enough to be fixed with patch panels. The seller is including some spare parts - including the grill - with the car.

Restoring this car will be a labor of love. Although the 20m TS is a rare, semi-exotic, drop dead gorgeous car, they don't sell for a lot of money. Nice ones can be found in Europe for $15,000.00 or less. The seller is asking $4500.00 for this one.

Located in North Salt Lake, UT, click here to see the eBay listing.

1965 AMC Rambler Marlin - Grandpa's Car

2012-05-22T06:00:00.004-04:00

As I've mentioned in the past, I admired AMC. Compared to the US "Big 3", they had very little money do develop new cars. Still, they somehow managed to create cars that, while maybe not always great, grabbed some attention and in some cases were ground breaking.

The Marlin was one of those cars.

Based AMC’s intermediate-sized Rambler Classic platform, the Marlin was roughly the size of a Chevy Chevelle. For most of AMC's existence, Dick Teague was their chief designer. The design of the Marlin was based on an earlier, smaller, Teague and team designed AMC prototype called the Tarpon.

Like all US car manufacturers in the 1960s, AMC offered all sorts of drive train, interior and luxury options. Virtually any AMC car could be ordered mild or wild.

This car has a really cool history. It has just 67,000 miles on it. It is being sold by the grandson of the original owner. He has all the records for the car, including every tank of gas. (First fill-up - 11.1 gallons at a total cost of $3.50!)

This car is neither mild nor wild, it is typical of how most cars came optioned in the 1960s. It has the optional 287 V8. Other options included a clock, AM radio, rear defroster, power steering and power brakes.

This is not a perfect car. It was refreshed in 1994, (The original owner - who was sick with Alzheimers at that point - was taken for a final ride in it. The seller has photos) but time has taken its toll. It needs paint, but has no serious rust. The interior needs some work, but nothing is missing.

I love stories like this. It shows that our relationships with our cars are often not that different than our relationships with our pets and even our friends. The fact that this is a Marlin - a limited run, controversially styled car - makes this story even better.

Hopefully this Marlin will wind up back on the east coast. I's love to see it at a car show someday.

Located in Redmond, OR, click here to see the eBay ad.

Two Quick Ones For A Monday...

2012-05-21T13:00:00.002-04:00

1991 Renault Alpine GTA - Renault came very, very close to officially importing these cars to the US. US spec models were built and sent to the automotive press for review.

Unfortunately, sales of Renault's US bread & butter cars, the Allaince and Encore, started to slip and Renault had to face the fact that a public that was reluctant to buy $5,000.00 Renaults, certainly weren't going to buy $30,000.00 Renaults.

This car is in Canada. It has 61,000km on it. Being a 1991 it won't be eligable to enter the US for another 4 years. But, as we all know, where there's a will there's a way. (If you're gutsy enough.)

Located in Thornhill, ON, Canada, click here to see the eBay listing.

1968 Opel Kadett L - As the seller asks in his ad, when was the last time you saw one of these cars?

The Kadett L was positioned between the notchback and the fastback. It was a bit better equipped than the notchback, but not as sporty as the fastback.

Not as sporty is something of an understatement. The engine is a 1.1 liter 4, which put out 55 HP. The interior is functional and not much else.

I like Opels. My first car was an Opel. Personally, I'd hold out for a Kadett Rallye or, better yet, a Manta Rallye. But, if you're an Opel collector and want something unusual, this car might be worth checking out.

Located in Staten Island, NY, click here to see the eBay listing.

Weekend Quickies - Saturday, May 19, 2012

2012-05-19T08:36:00.008-04:00

1988 Sterling 825SL - I'm pretty certain that the seller's claim of there being just 14 Sterlings "left in existence" is wrong, but there aren't many.

I've written about Sterlings in the past . The idea - Japanese reliability with British style and luxury - was brilliant. The execution was awful.

This Sterling looks to be in overall good condition. The seller say it needs a few "maintenance things" that need to be repaired, including a ball joint.

This car is now 24 years old. Because most of the things that were prone to failure have most likely failed and been replaced, this car is probably more reliable now than it was when it left the dealer's lot.

Located in Lake Worth, FL, click here to see the eBay listing.

1990 Lada Niva - I like these. I've posted a few before. (You can find an earlier post here.) They are small SUVs, but they look purposeful, not "cutesy" like so many other small SUVs.

While never sold in the US, they have a small following here and a few have made their way here from Canada, where Lada vehicles were officially sold for many years.

For some reason, most Ladas in the US seem to be in the Washington / Oregon area. This one is in New Jersey.

This Niva looks to be in good condition. It has a small dent in the left rear quarter panel.

If you're an east coast Lada Niva fan, this is a vehicle you could check out in person and possibly drive home.

Located in Clifton, NJ, click here to see the eBay listing.

1954 Ford Crestline Skyliner - Ah, the old days... Back when US car companies took chances.

I have no idea what this car is worth when restored. I'm posting it because I have never seen one before.

Over the seating area is a green tinted plexiglass panel, which Ford said offered "freshness of view." It was built for just one year and, as the seller states, 13,144 were built.

Located in Memphis, TN, click here to see the Craigslist ad.

1990 ASC / McLaren Mustang - 1 of 65

2012-05-18T06:00:00.002-04:00

I've previously written about the ASC/ McLaren Capri. (You can find a post here.) After Mercury discontinued the Capri, ASC (American Sunroof Corporation) started modifying the virtually identical Mustang. (McLaren, who was very well known for their race cars, was brought in by ASC to tweak the suspension. Their involvement beyond that was minimal.)

Unlike the Ford built Mustang convertible, the ASC / McLaren is a 2 seater. The top folds nicely and neatly below a metal cover. Other differences include lower body moldings and a unique rear spoiler. Unfortunately, the drive train was basically the same as the stock Mustang. (Not that that's bad. It's just that more power is never a bad thing. I wonder how much more horsepower McLaren could have wrung from the engine if they had gotten involved with the drive train, too.)

This is a rare car. The ASC / McLaren Mustang was built between 1987 and 1990. It was expensive and not heavily advertised. Its popularity peaked in 1988, when 1015 were sold. In 1990 a disagreement between Peter Muscat, the original designer of the ASC / McLaren Capri, and ASC over licensing and royalties brought the car's run to an end. Just 65 were built in its last year.

This car appears to be in nice shape. The asking price of $7990.00 is realistic.

Located in Panama City, FL, click here to see the Craigslist ad.

Goliath (Hansa) 1100 Kombi - It's Back

2012-05-17T19:58:00.006-04:00

This has to be the same Goliath 1100 I featured back in July, 2010. (See the post here.) How many green Goliath Kombis can there be in New England?

At some point it went from Vermont - which, being a New Englander myself, I consider Northern New England - to "Southern New England", which I would say is Connecticut or Rhode Island.

Curiously, assuming it's the same car, it is now being listed as a 1960 Goliath. From the little I know about Goliath details, this is most likely a 1959.

Goliath cars were sold in the US. In 1958 - the last year of sales figures I could find - they sold around 3500 cars here. They had over 150 dealers.

Click here to see the eBay listing.

1987 Volkswagen Jetta 2 Door - In Search Of A Good Home

2012-05-17T06:00:00.000-04:00

I'm really surprised that I don't see more older Jettas restored and either at shows or being used as daily drivers. It's nice looking, fun to drive, fairly reliable and parts are still plentiful and relatively inexpensive.

This is a somewhat rare Jetta 2 door. The Jetta was, in VW's US lineup, a step above the Rabbit / Golf. It was a bit more luxurious. Many people bought them a "family cars" and the 4 door was better suited for that purpose.

I really like this ad. Probably because I can relate to it. In my younger, more impulsive days, I've been in the same situation.

Basically, the seller saw the car, fell in love with it and bought it with the idea of restoring it. The realities of time and room have now put him in a position of having to sell it.

This Jetta is unmodified and in pretty nice shape. The seller calls it "99% original." The body is being described as needing "minor minor work", but "totally acceptable and show-able as is." I can see some rust and a small dent in the fender, but nothing terrible. The interior is nice, except for the headliner, which has some mildew from sitting.

This car's only really problem is bad valve seals. The seller says it ticks and smokes under heavy load. You could easily find a used replacement engine, or have the head redone.

There's a good chance that if you're between the ages of 30 and 40, you either owned a Mark 2 Jetta, knew someone who owned a Mark 2 Jetta and / or desired a Mk II Jetta. Here's a chance for you to relive a bit of your youth for very little money. (The seller is asking $1100.00, but is "open to offers.")

The seller writes in his ad, "I would really like to see this car go to a good home where it will receive the love and care it deserves." Me too.

Located in Yonkers, NY, click here to see the Craigslist ad.

1988 Yugo - A Car Built For The 99% That Now Appeals To The 1% (Of Car Geeks, That Is...)

2012-05-16T06:00:00.004-04:00

The last time I posted a Yugo I got a pretty scathing email from a reader. (Now, I assume, an ex-reader). He didn't understand why I would "waste (my) time" writing about "the worst car ever sold in North America." He ended his email by calling my post "internet pollution."

"The worst car sold in North America..." If 0 - 60 numbers, top speed, luxury and absolute reliability define your idea of a great car, the Yugo certainly might be the worst car sold in North America in the past 25 years.

However, if personality and character mean a lot to you (and they probably do if you're a regular reader of this blog), then the Yugo was not the worst car sold in North America. It had plenty of flaws, that's for sure, but it was a throwback to the days when brands like Simca, Hillman, Skoda, etc., sold imperfect, but personality filled cars in the US. 99% of the car buying public don't remember those days and / or don't miss them. 1% of us - even those of us too young to have bought some of those brands new - do. To us, the Yugo represents the last time we had that kind of choice.

Would I put my son / daughter / girlfriend / wife / significant other / mother in an old Yugo? No. I want them in something safe and reliable. But I respect the Yugo for what it was. In this day of cookie-cutter low end cars, the Yugo represents the last of a now dead breed. If I had unlimited car funds and space, there would most likely be one in my collection.

If I was in the market a Yugo today, this car would be one I would take a long look at.

This car has a 1500cc engine in it. I assume it's from a Fiat. Since the Yugo is based on an old Fiat, that's a fairly easy and somewhat common swap. It has a "sport grill" with integrated fog lights. It's been given a high end paint job and wears a set of factory stripes. It has an aftermarket sunroof that besides giving the inside of the car an open airy feeling, actually looks pretty good.

This is a Texas car. The upside of that is it is rust free. The downside is the Texas heat has started to take its toll on the interior. It's not horrendous yet, but given the condition of the rest of the car, it's worth repairing. (In general, someone needs to find a way to efficiently and profitably introduce Northeast interiors to Southwest bodies. It's sad that here in the Northeast we have all these cars with great interiors and crusty bodies, while in the Southwest the opposite holds true.)

Located in Fort Worth, TX, click here to see the eBay listing.

1974 Honda Civic Convertible

2012-05-15T20:07:00.007-04:00

I can't honestly say that I'm all that impressed by the looks of this car, but I am impressed by the work that went into it.

It sounds like the seller created this himself. He did a nice job.

The seller says the car "was stripped down to the shell and almost entirely re-built." All the modifications are sheet metal. After cutting the roof, the frame was strengthened using two rectangular 1.5" x 3" rails x .125" wall thickness and a roll bar." This is obviously not a quick chop job.

What impresses me the most is the top. Many, many convertible conversions - even those done by professionals - have awkward looking, odd fitting tops. This one is tight, looks as good as a convertible top can look on a Civic, and seems to fold nicely behind the rear seat.

If I were to buy it, I'd remove the dopey looking "key" on the trunk along with the orange wiper blades, door handles, mirrors, etc. I'd also fit different wheels and re-chrome the bits that were once chromed (i.e. the Civic badge on the trunk).

I'll sum up this post with the a paragraph the seller wrote in his ad... "Please understand that this car is for someone looking for a unique vehicle and not a daily driver, in fact you need to be a bit little loony to want something like it in the first place. So if you are looking for a car to take to shows, races etc or you are an extrovert, and just want to knock everybody's socks off, this will be the best money you will ever spend."

Located in Huntington Beach, CA, click here to see the eBay listing.

Weekend Quickies - Sunday, May 13, 2012

2012-05-13T10:26:00.000-04:00

1968 Michelotti Shelette Jolly - I've never seen one of these before. If the seller is correct and this is just 1 of 5 left in the world, there's a better than average chance I'll never see one again.

Jolly cars were basically used as beach cars. Some as taxis and some privately. The most popular Jollys are ones based on a Fiat 600 or a Renault 4CV. The common trait of all Jollys is open, doorless bodywork.

This Jolly is based on a Fiat 850. It was designed by Giovanni Michelotti. Somewhere between 80 and 120 were built. According to one website, the engines were all Abarth tuned.

If you want something unique for your beach house and have an extra $85,000, this car would be perfect. (Me? I'd take a standard 850 at less than a 10% of the price.)

Located in Swisttal, Germany, click here to see the eBay listing.

1970 AMC Javelin SST Mark Donohue Edition - This is pretty interesting. The person selling this is calling it a Javelin Mark Donohue Edition. In 1970, AMC built 2701 Mark Donohue Editions celebrating Donohue's and AMC's successful entries in SCCA Trans-Am racing.

According to all the websites I've seen, all Mark Donohue Editions came with a wing on the trunk, a functional Ram Air hood, an AMC 360-cu.in. V-8 and special graphics. This car has all those. They also all supposedly came with floor mounted shifters. This one does not have that. Is this an early special order, or is it not really a Mark Donohue Edition? (Donohue Editions did not get special numbering, so making a counterfeit would be fairly easy.)

If you really care about this being a "real" Mark Donohue Edition, do some serious research. If you don't care much about that and are just looking for a nice Javelin, this car is worth checking out no matter what it is.

Located in East Templeton, MA, click here to see the eBay listing.

1969 Buick Electra - This is for Mother's Day.

As I've mentioned in the past, my dad worked for General Motors. GM provided him with company cars that he would use to commute to work. He would buy a car - GM built, of course - for my mom.

In 1969 he bought her a Buick Electra. I was pretty young and I don't member all the details of my mom's Electra, but I remember it was gold and a 4 door.

I tried to find a gold 4 door Electra to post, but there just weren't any for sale. This was the best I could do.

When I was kid I didn't realize just how massive these cars are. The 1969 Elektra is 18 feet long and 6 feet wide. (A Hummer H1 is 15 feet long and 7 feet wide.) Wow.

This Electra 2 door is a 2 owner car with just 109,000 miles on it. It needs a bit of work, but is in overall good condition. If you buy it, please don't customize it. Restore it to its original glory. (My mom would be proud of you ;-))

Located in Cincinnati, OH, click here to see the eBay listing.

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms that read JaCG!

Weekend Quickies - Saturday, May 12, 2012

2012-05-12T06:00:00.002-04:00

1972 Reliant Scimitar GTE - I'd really love to own one of these.

The Reliant Scimitar body is fiberglass. The engine is a Ford 3.0 liter V6. That combination gives this car a 0 - 60 time of 8.5 seconds and a top speed of 121 MPH.

This car was imported from Great Britain in 1984. It's RHD. (Reliant made a handful of LHD Scimitars. I can't find an exact figure. Many seem to have wound up in the Netherlands.)

This car has had the same owner for the 30 years. It's been well maintained.

These cars have a great worldwide following. Parts, even those unique to the Scimitar are not too tough to come by.

Located in Farmingdale, NJ, click here to see the eBay listing.

1995 (?) Alfa Romeo Spider - I can't swear to this, but I've recently been told (by someone who met someone with one of these cars in the US) that it is fairly easy to import a 916 series Spider into the US. Alfa built the 916 Spider and Coupe with the US market in mind. Supposedly, they meet most, if not all, US safety and emissions standards.

Having said that, this car has at least one giant red flag... The seller is listing it as a 1995 Spider. However, if you look at the build plate, it shows a build date of 1996. Hmmm...

Ask the seller and the EPA / DOT a lot of questions before bidding on this car.

Located in Blainville, QC, Canada, click here to see the eBay listing.

1987 Alfa Romeo Milano - It's been awhile since I've posted a Milano. I'll spare you my usual gushing about these cars. (You can search the site if you really want to read all that again.) I will say that of all the cars I have ever owned - and I've owned a lot - my Milano is the car I miss the most.

This is a Gold edition Milano. It's the middle model. (In 1987 Milanos were sold as Silver, Gold, Platinum and Verde editions. All had the same drivetrain except for the Verde which had a 3.0 liter version of the V6. The Silver, Gold and Platinum editions had a 2.5 liter V6. The Silver was the price leader, the Platinum came loaded.) It has just 45,903 miles on it.

There's only one problem I can see with this car... You'll want to drive it everyday, everywhere. In no time flat this will be a high mileage car.

Located in Dublin, OH, click here to see the eBay ad.

Beautiful 23,000 Mile 1997 Saab 9000 CSE

2012-05-09T20:24:00.007-04:00

I know that there are people out there who will vehemently disagree with me here, but in my opinion, the 9000 was the best all around car Saab ever built.

The 9000 was one of the "Type Four" platform cars. The basic platform was designed in conjunction with Fiat, Lancia and Alfa Romeo.

The 9000's body was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro and Saab designer Björn Envall.

This car is a 9000 CSE. The CSE came with a 200 HP turbocharged I4. The CSE also came equipped with everything you'd expect to find in a European luxury car.

This Saab 9000 CSE has just 29,000 miles on it. JaCG reader, Rocky, who sent me this link, drove by it yesterday and reports that it is as nice in person as it it in the pictures.

The only real downside to this car is the automatic transmission. They are prone to failure in the 9000. To their credit, Saab replaced many out of warranty. Of course today, with Saab out of business, that's not going to happen. It's possible that this car has had its transmission replaced, but since most didn't fail until they had much higher mileage, that's unlikely. Plan on replacing the transmission at around 100K or so.

Located in Seekonk, MA, click here to see the Craigslist ad.

1967 BMW 2000CS

2012-05-07T14:34:00.007-04:00

Until Chris Bangle's BMWs started hitting the streets in the mid-1990s, this was considered the most controversially styled modern BMW.

The 2000CS was designed by Karmann and BMW's Wilhelm Hofmeister. From the nose rearward, it was considered a great design. (This was the first BMW to really accentuate the "Hofmeister kink", the low forward bend in the C-pillar. It is still a BMW styling cue today.) It was the nose itself that caused the controversy. Some found it blunt and aggressive looking, others found it just plain awful looking.

Based on BMW's Neue Klasse (New Class) platform, the 2000cs was built by Karmann. Worldwide there were 2 versions available; the 2000C and 2000CS. Both used BMW's 2.0 liter M10 engine. In the CS it had twin carbs and produced 120 HP. Between 1965 and 1969 13,691 Neue Klasse 2000 Coupes were built.

The seller of this 2000CS is vague in his description of the car. He writes; "runs and drives, excellent frame and decent body."

It's the "decent body" line that worries me. Like many cars built by Karmann in the 1960s, rust is the big enemy of the 2000CS. While mechanical parts, which are shared with much of the other Neue Klasse cars, are easy to find and relatively inexpensive, body parts, many of which which are not shared with the rest of the Neue Klasse cars, are not as easy to find and can be very expensive. (I don't see a lot of rust or body damage in the pictures. The hood, which is front hinged, is obviously one problem.)

According to one website, there are less than 1000 running / driving 2000 Coupes left in the world. If you're looking for a unique BMW, this car is worth checking out.

Located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, click here to see the Kijiji listing.

A big thanks to Eneson for sending me the link to this car!