Shaun...I've got a truck and a trailer.:cool:

I had a 60's vintage Rambler and everyone loved it, only car I ever had where complete strangers would wave at me. Built like a tank, parts are easy to find, easy car to work on.

Only downside is like most 60's American made cars the brakes and steering were somewhat vague.


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Other-Makes-FLAT-HEAD-1959-AMERICAN-RAMBLER-LOOKS-GREAT-RUNS-GREAT-56-57-58_W0QQitemZ110289163983QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item11 0289163983&_trkparms=72%3A727%7C39%3A1%7C65%3A12%7 C240%3A1318&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/AMC-1959-Rambler-Classic-Cross-Country_W0QQitemZ270275345171QQcmdZViewItem?hash=i tem270275345171&_trkparms=72%3A727%7C39%3A1%7C65%3 A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1964-AMC-AMERICAN-RAMBLER-4-DOOR-6-CYL-RUNS-3SPD-MANUAL_W0QQitemZ150292937634QQcmdZViewItem?hash=it em150292937634&_trkparms=72%3A727%7C39%3A1%7C65%3A 12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245

Scott, you've got the right idea! A little 62 Falcon would be a cool little car.

Jim, I would looooove the FJ40, and while it does have more character than my 4Runner, it's a tough sell as a restoration.

Paul: truck + trailer? Is it a 20 yard dump? think of the fun you could have with that!


I may be looking at another 73 2002 that's been stored for 5 years, ran fine when put away. $700. going to bring a can of Seafoam and a battery with me.

http://providence.craigslist.org/cto/791862783.html

http://nh.craigslist.org/cto/838388554.html

http://hartford.craigslist.org/cto/831898487.html

http://richmond.craigslist.org/ctd/798304684.html

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/cto/840267097.html

There's plenty more out there...you get the idea, right? :)

This one's a bit ourside your price range, but who knows?

http://nh.craigslist.org/cto/843995754.html

This one's been dropping in price from $1k:
http://maine.craigslist.org/cto/802984178.html

http://hartford.craigslist.org/cto/807086669.html

http://newjersey.craigslist.org/cto/783942338.html

http://longisland.craigslist.org/cto/839425798.html

Thanks Jim! that 405 in ME would be nice, and in Cambridge, I'm sure someone around here still works on these things. Are these cars reliable?

I'd love one of the Fiats, but worry about reliability.


BTW, in my travels I found an 84 Jaguar XJ6 Vanden Plas for next to nothing. beautiful car and well kept, but isn't this the exact vintage that is plagued with electrical faults?

Anyone know about early 80s Jags? My understanding is that the I-6 is bulletproof, but otherwise the car could be a nightmare.

French...Italian...reliable? ROFLMAO!!!

Do you want cool, economical and reliable? If so, you're dreaming, Shaun! Pick any two. :)

Oooh, the Opel GT Jim posted is pretty nice!

yes, yes, I do like to dream. I've been spoiled by years and years of relatively reliable cars, from Saabs to Toyotas, I've never had a major failure (and typically very few minor) until well after the car doubled my perceived value for price paid. and every 911 I've owned went way beyond reliable.

"I may be looking at another 73 2002 that's been stored for 5 years, ran fine when put away. $700. going to bring a can of Seafoam and a battery with me."

Is that one of the cars that I emailed to you?

Shaun, I do hope you're successful...I'm just not going to count on it. Your parameters are pretty daunting.

Yup. Supposed to be in CT at 4PM tomorrow, so I'll have the 4Runner at lunch.:(

Went to NH today to look at 2 junk early 911s in a field. nothing left of them, they've been there since 1997 and have been consistently vandalized since then. Owner said someone even stole the motors last summer. There was a note in one from the owner, must have been years old. it read: "Please stop stealing parts off these cars." if they had panned out, I could be looking at a real car.

this is pretty much how I go through life Jim.

Clearly. ;)

An eclectic mix in our area...

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/ctd/839102997.html

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/cto/845857272.html

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/cto/845775160.html

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/mld/cto/845636910.html

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/cto/845610838.html

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/mld/cto/845600456.html

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/cto/845442717.html

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/mld/cto/844813088.html

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/cto/844096922.html

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/cto/840192936.html

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/cto/841235028.html

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/mld/cto/842198983.html

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/cto/837920354.html

All those look like fun. called on the 73 (with 74 sticker on windshield) 2002, no answer.

Shaun, have you thought about calling a few local dealers and asking them to keep their eyes peeled for any "interesting beaters" they get in on trade? Sometimes that can yield the results you're looking for... stuff they're not going to fix up and put on their lot... stuff they'll just wholesale to the low rent lots "on the other side of the tracks," so to speak.

Yikes... I didn't realize Penny Saver was nationwide... http://www.pennysaverusa.com/

interesting idea John, thanks. Loved Penny Saver when I was in NY. forgot all about it.

Stay away from a cheap XJ6 or any Jag for that matter. Terrible mileage. They are wonderful cars when well sorted. I've owned two 80's vintage cars and a beautiful 76 coupe. Rarest production Jag ever made. Everything is expensive on them. They can be an expensive siren (think O' brother where art thou). Problem is the nice ones are worth $5,000, the crap ones that need $10,000 worth of work are $2,000. In the 80's when Japanese cars needed little maintenance to keep going these things still needed a real tune and lube that took a few hours by a knowledgable tech and nobody did them, therefore things broke. Gas tanks rust, rear IRS and inboard brakes are expensive, trannies are hard to get repaired these days, the list goes on.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1221776862.jpg

Thanks Jerry, yes, I went to a few Jaguar forums and was horrified. Nothing Italian, French or British for me. I think a 2002 is the best solution.

beautiful car! I saw one of those years ago and was transfixed.

how's the new bike?

The new bike is great. I'm a big VFR fan at this point. It does a lot of things well. I did a 400+ mile round trip through the mountains here a few weeks ago over 2 days for a work conference. Packed enough stuff on it for the trip and still was able to have fun in the twisties.

I Just sold the CB for $2,800. One of the few vehicles I've turned around and either broke even or made a few bucks.

That car was gorgeous. I actually sold it back to the guy I bought it from. He just won his class with it at the All British Field Meet in Peoples Choice in Portland over the labor day weekend. It was held at the track there I was racing at so I got to see the car again. Very cool.

I vote 2002 as well............

I bought SAAB 900S for 300 bucks, installed some leftovers I had on the shelf (intercooler, cams, E85 conversion) and had been driving it for 2 years without problems.

Moving a big sofa? No problem.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1221807810.jpg

Fitting R-tires and driving it on the track (90 laps, original brakes, no fade), no problem:
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/M16yk6oKfbw&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/M16yk6oKfbw&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

It's best car i ever had and I drive it more than I drive my Audi S4. It's (believe it or not) quicker than S4 as well.

Glad to hear it all the way around Jerry!

Goran, I've had two Saabs and they've been incredible cars. 88 900Turbo and a 92 9000Turbo.

The 88 lasted to 245k miles when I was hit from behind. I was stopped taking a left into a store parking lot when a Mitsubishi somethingorother hit me doing 35. The entire front end of his car was literally gone, completely demolished. My car, at 10 feet, needed a new 1/2 inch bumper strip. it was amazing. In reality, the bumper was pushed in 2 inches and the engine jumped off the mounts and my seat broke backward. It was an awesome little car, fast and handled great with Bridgestone RE71s, one of my favorite tires to date.

9000T was even better, such a gorgeous car, head gasket went at 234K.

If I could find a 91/92 9000T in excellent shape for under $2K, with all the pricey stuff (TCS) done to it already, I'd go for that car. That's a dream though, and here's one: http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/cto/844867650.html

Looking at a 2002 today though.

How about a Norton Commando

or a Triumph Bonneville

Blown headgasket on a og900? No problem!

Above clip was taken just prior I've blown mine. I was fiddling with boost and ignition timing until 15 yr old head gasket just couldn't take it any more. Drove the car back to vacation house (running mostly w/o coolant), took a trip to nearest town an bought new gasket (40$) and torque wrench (20$). 6 hours later I've taken off the head and changed the head gasket :) Two days later I was on the track again, overtaking Boxter S!! By then, R-compound tires were worn to the cord and we drove home.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1221827593.jpg

Acceleration 50-120mph is just amazing in this car. It's roughly the same as my old 930.

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Except for the torque steer, both my NG900 and 9000 Aero were incredible cars. At highway speeds, both would absolutely fly. I think the OG900, NG900, and 9000 are about the best european car bargains that money can buy. Unique, reliable, cheap, and can be made scary fast.

Shawn, you should look for an SPG. I've seen a number of them for $2k or less.

2002 turned out to be not as described.

I've got about 2 months to find a car.

How's this?

http://www.davebarton.com/031806-002-med.jpg

'That is reliable car as well. Not very fun to drive though.

if they stuffed a Mustang 5.0 motor under the hood, it would be fun. Better though, it says "I want kids" to prospective dates.

I'm going to see what I can liquidate in early parts to seriously look at this thing:

http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/cto/844867650.html

Doesn't fit my original criteria, but I love these cars. back to bed, woke up sick. :(

FWIW in my experience seventy or eight percent of women don't give a flying fruit what kind of car you drive.

I think it is more of an excuse we guys use to justify buying cool cars. :cool:

Exactly.

And the 20-30% that are overly concerned about what you drive are not women an intelligent guy should want in his life anyway... they're just high maintenance gold diggers.

The answer is simple. Early 60's Mercedes 190c. The gas versions have a tiny 4-cyl, and get great mileage. They call these cars the "heckflosses" (fin tails). i bought a superb version for $1500....baby blue with a dark blue MB Tex interior. They are insanely cheap.

Driving the 911's, my Triumph TR4, Jaguar, etc....no other car got the attention that the Mercedes did. It drove like a dream, felt like i was riding on a cloud, and had a cool 4 speed on the column.

It had a 5 body trunk, and a gigantic rear seat. Underpowered, but it was awesome.

Here's a picture of one (the pics of mine are on my other laptop...)


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1222007636.jpg

Damn that is a cool looking car!

Here's my old Mercedes parked next to the TR....

<BR>

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1222093230.jpg

My parents had a heckfloss while I was growing up in Menlo Park, CA in the early 80's. I have many fond memories of that car.

Love those MB Pontons.

A classic with good MPG... I'm partial to the non-porsche occupant in the other garage bay. My '77 1300cc Fiat X1/9

http://www.wavetreck.com/pics/sil_9.JPG

a heckfloss would indeed be way cool, and fit the bill perfectly.

Unfortunately some reality hit the loading dock today, so we'll see if Scott is right.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/413484-if-you-left-your-69-targa-field-tx-6.html

I agree 75% of women don't look at what you drive and make decisions based from that.

But they do look at your overall picture and make decisions, and if you show up with a well kept classic car, it does say something.

Kinda like that if you give a Chic flowers you always want it to be done at her work. Bringing them home for her are great, but a Lady does like to show it a bit. Gives them a Ego boost. A nice classic car is the same way.