I saw it on e-bay
Former Moderator
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Houston/Durango
Originally Posted by S1997' timestamp='1358011224' post='22262657
My TR 4a was red. I loved it! Kids came along, and I had to part with it, alas. I'd love to have it back. 
Here you go.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1965-...t_36890wt_1182
Ok, I'm salivating!
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 34,131
Likes: 126
From: Canton, MA
Every now and then I see a car that I would love to have, even though the car never made a big impact on me when it was new. Today I spent some time admiring the great photo collection that accompanied the auction for this 1974 Pantera:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1974-...t_65962wt_1182
I deeply dislike the front bumper on these cars, but leaving that aside, what a wonderful time capsule this example is. It looks like the low mileage representation could actually be correct. And I really like the Pantera in what looks a lot like the light BRG that Leland used in later years. I can't say if the paint is original, and I notice that the auction does not make that representation. I see some orange peel effect in a few of the close-ups. That is usually a sign of a respray, but many cars came from the factory with a less than stellar paint job. Maybe our resident expert on this model can give us his thoughts.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1974-...t_65962wt_1182
I deeply dislike the front bumper on these cars, but leaving that aside, what a wonderful time capsule this example is. It looks like the low mileage representation could actually be correct. And I really like the Pantera in what looks a lot like the light BRG that Leland used in later years. I can't say if the paint is original, and I notice that the auction does not make that representation. I see some orange peel effect in a few of the close-ups. That is usually a sign of a respray, but many cars came from the factory with a less than stellar paint job. Maybe our resident expert on this model can give us his thoughts.
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 22,675
Likes: 490
From: St-Redempteur,Qc.
Sorry I haven't been around for a while. WAY too busy at work. So here is the interesting car of the day, I call a car like this an expensive trap.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Jagua...#ht_500wt_1182
This is a Jaguar XK 140. They are great collector cars and they have good value and great appearance. The 140 is the favorite of many collectors. The 140 had more power than the 120 it replaced. Even though the subsequent 150 had more power than the 140, the lines changed and many people did not like the slightly bloated look of the 150.
So why do I call this car an expensive trap? The lines, the feel, the "spirit" of the car are still there. The first thing you see is the car as it should be rather than all the work it will need. It doesn't take a lot of vision or imagination to see what the car will look like when it is restored. And that is the trap. The car needs every bit of a full restoration. You might save a few bucks on welding over a car with more rust, but you are still going to disassemble this entire car, strip every part to base metal, fix a lot of rust, (look at how the doors sag and the "rough" bottom edges on the left side). You will have to buy a ton of new, expensive parts and end up either replating or replacing all the chrome. The interior "looks" like it is there, but you can't really use any of it. The car isn't good enough or original enough to keep as a "survivor". Someone will pay a lot of money and then spend another $75K to $100K to get a car that is barely worth the cost of the restoration, unless they can do all the work themselves.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Jagua...#ht_500wt_1182
This is a Jaguar XK 140. They are great collector cars and they have good value and great appearance. The 140 is the favorite of many collectors. The 140 had more power than the 120 it replaced. Even though the subsequent 150 had more power than the 140, the lines changed and many people did not like the slightly bloated look of the 150.
So why do I call this car an expensive trap? The lines, the feel, the "spirit" of the car are still there. The first thing you see is the car as it should be rather than all the work it will need. It doesn't take a lot of vision or imagination to see what the car will look like when it is restored. And that is the trap. The car needs every bit of a full restoration. You might save a few bucks on welding over a car with more rust, but you are still going to disassemble this entire car, strip every part to base metal, fix a lot of rust, (look at how the doors sag and the "rough" bottom edges on the left side). You will have to buy a ton of new, expensive parts and end up either replating or replacing all the chrome. The interior "looks" like it is there, but you can't really use any of it. The car isn't good enough or original enough to keep as a "survivor". Someone will pay a lot of money and then spend another $75K to $100K to get a car that is barely worth the cost of the restoration, unless they can do all the work themselves.
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 34,131
Likes: 126
From: Canton, MA
Well, the Pantera didn't generate much conversation, maybe this will:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1955-...item2c6ba5b191
While others think about buying a replica Cobra, I think I'd be more inclined to get a replica Porsche Spyder. You don't see very many of them, and they more fit my style and my image of a sports car. Plus, I have alwasy loved the lines of the little Spyder. Also, i like how the engine is amidships rather than hanging over the rear like most other air cooled Porches. These Spyder replicas look pretty faithful to the original, and while the engines are pure VW, they are at least in the family and generally conifgured the same.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1955-...item2c6ba5b191
While others think about buying a replica Cobra, I think I'd be more inclined to get a replica Porsche Spyder. You don't see very many of them, and they more fit my style and my image of a sports car. Plus, I have alwasy loved the lines of the little Spyder. Also, i like how the engine is amidships rather than hanging over the rear like most other air cooled Porches. These Spyder replicas look pretty faithful to the original, and while the engines are pure VW, they are at least in the family and generally conifgured the same.
Former Moderator
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 17,122
Likes: 629
From: Houston/Durango
Well, the Pantera didn't generate much conversation, maybe this will:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1955-...item2c6ba5b191
While others think about buying a replica Cobra, I think I'd be more inclined to get a replica Porsche Spyder. You don't see very many of them, and they more fit my style and my image of a sports car. Plus, I have alwasy loved the lines of the little Spyder. Also, i like how the engine is amidships rather than hanging over the rear like most other air cooled Porches. These Spyder replicas look pretty faithful to the original, and while the engines are pure VW, they are at least in the family and generally conifgured the same.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1955-...item2c6ba5b191
While others think about buying a replica Cobra, I think I'd be more inclined to get a replica Porsche Spyder. You don't see very many of them, and they more fit my style and my image of a sports car. Plus, I have alwasy loved the lines of the little Spyder. Also, i like how the engine is amidships rather than hanging over the rear like most other air cooled Porches. These Spyder replicas look pretty faithful to the original, and while the engines are pure VW, they are at least in the family and generally conifgured the same.
Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Mish-she-gan
Dang, I'm glad it is not summer. I might be on my way to Columbus. Love it. It certainly looks great, and that Todd Cooperider noted in some of the pictures is a top notch detailer.
We have lots of dune buggy types in MI who really can get some hp out of those VWs.
We have lots of dune buggy types in MI who really can get some hp out of those VWs.
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 34,131
Likes: 126
From: Canton, MA