Lane County Area Photos of Interest

New Companion Site

2010-04-01T07:19:00.000-07:00

From now on, all posts for cars that are listed on various Craigslist sites and at dealers specializing in project cars are on my other blog, http://www.lowcostprojectcars.blogspot.com. In keeping with the title of the blog, most of the cars are projects priced under $20k, but there may occasionally be a higher-priced and/or restored car from time to time.

Down by the Railroad: Pictures of assorted cars and junk found near the Eugene, OR Union Pacific railroad tracks

2010-03-24T17:05:00.000-07:00

Derelict drive-through coffee shop, circa early 1990s. This used to be Fast Lane Coffee's Oakway Mall location in Eugene, if I remember right. Never in my life would I imagine I would find one of these in a junkyard.

Dead trucks, camper and random junk near the same junkyard-type lot that the coffee stand was in. There was a house with a large Free Souls Motorcycle Club banner displayed prominently directly across from this, so I left as fast as I could.

Smashed 1960 Dodge Pioneer 2-door sedan with top removed. I doubt that this car has ANY usable parts at all, except possibly the Pioneer script on the rear fender.

BMWs and a Datsun Z-car, again, but with better chances of being rebuilt than the other ones I posted about two weeks ago.

Partial 1940 Ford two-door sedan, nose into the weeds next to the wing off of an outlaw-style race car.

Abandoned Building: Danebo Flowers & Gifts, Eugene, Oregon

2010-03-24T16:46:00.000-07:00

During my photographic travels of today, I decided to take a picture of this long-abandoned florist's shop in West Eugene, fairly close to where I live. This flower shop closed sometime in the 1990s, and was one of several casualties of the neighborhood's business slump, caused by a heinous murder at a nearby convenience store in the early 1990s (the infamous Dari-Mart Murder), and not remedied until a new subdivision with a shopping center, two gas stations and a replacement for the store the murder occurred in were built in approximately 2003.

Viewed from the front. Notice the graffiti on the unbroken windows.

From the side. That appears to be the remains of a topiary of some sort on the opposite side of the tree from the sign.

Poster advertising professional florists still hanging on a wall. Despite the abundance of broken glass and other vandalism inside the building (I didn't go inside, but I saw it through the windows), it's strange that this poster and the office window next to it are intact.

Empty 40-ounce malt liquor jug on window ledge, behind filthy glass and peeling paint. Someone's definitely been inside this building since it ceased business, and it wasn't me!

The building being slowly taken over by ivy. This used to be the side door.

Considering that there is a childcare facility directly across the street from the part of the building still bearing signage, and that the rest of the neighborhood has been extensively redeveloped, it surprises me that this building hasn't been renovated or demolished.

Castoff: Roadside Fiat Spider

2010-03-21T18:44:00.000-07:00

I spied this relatively well-preserved circa-1980 Fiat 2000 Spider sitting beside a road in Eugene, Oregon that borders the railroad tracks on St. Patrick's Day, but it was almost completely covered by a tarp. But when I saw it again a couple days later, the wind blew the tarp off almost all the way. While this car appears to be in restorable condition and still proudly wears its classic Pininfarina lines well, it is not as likely to be restored than a 1968-73 in similar condition due to the complicated electronic fuel injection, NHTSA-mandated impact bumpers and the later models having somewhat less attractive styling than the original design, which debuted to rave reviews in 1967 and was inspired by the Corvette-based 1963 Rondine show car, also built and designed by the good folks at Pininfarina. (stock photo below)

Returning to Nature, Part 3

2010-03-20T18:56:00.000-07:00

1960s Mercedes-Benz 220S "heckflosse" (fintail) sedan and 1970s Ford Econoline van. The Mercedes may have a possible future as either a parts car or a project (older Mercedes are often worth more in parts than as a whole car, particularly in this condition), but the Ford next to it is little more than scrap metal.

1960s Dodge walk-in delivery van, returning to its elements in the same yard as the Mercedes and Ford van. About the only usable parts that one can see here are the Dodge script and possibly the side mirror.

Burnt 1950s school bus of unknown make with 1940s-50s-era locomotive carcass behind it. Again, worthless except as scrap or photographic subjects.

1970s or 80s Toyota Tercel, parked in front of a West Eugene home. There were hornets flying out of every opening in this car they could fit through, including those on the wheels.

Returning to Nature, Part 2

2010-03-20T18:42:00.000-07:00

This 1970s-era Chevrolet Malibu stock car appears to have not moved in years, and is pretty well hemmed in by vegetation, both dead and alive. It is located next to the yacht and bicycle in Part 1.

Returning to Nature, Part 1

2010-03-20T18:34:00.000-07:00

Today at Lane County Photos of Interest, we have a multi-part series of vehicles returning to nature.

Here are a derelict yacht, an old bicycle and a few garden implements including a wheelbarrow and potting bench, returning to their elements in a West Eugene front lawn.

A Car Graveyard in the Heart of Eugene

2010-03-17T16:20:00.000-07:00

I have known about this stash of 1970s/80s era cars and parts, mostly BMWs and random parts thereof, located in the Whiteaker area of Eugene, Oregon, for many years, and have always wanted to get close to them, take pictures, and maybe even rescue a car or two. Well, I got the first two out of the way, and building a Revell plastic model kit of an E21 BMW 320i, similar to one of the cars here, will have to do for now as far as rescuing a car from here goes.

The cars here include a W107 Mercedes-Benz SL roadster with a hardtop and some front-end damage, an early-model Datsun 240Z that was so badly wrecked that it would be impossible to rebuild but undoubtedly has at least a few usable parts left on it, a chrome-bumper BMW 2002 that looks to be a viable project car if it's not too rusty, an E21 BMW 3-series coupe, an E30 3-series coupe that would make great parts cars (or 24 Hours of LeMons/ChumpCar race cars, if one could be bought for under $500), and an extremely rusty "boattail" 1970s Buick Riviera. The parts include many doors, boot lids and bonnets from BMW E3 (Bavaria) and E12 5-series sedans, numerous tires, wheels, suspension struts, hubcaps and other bits that (for the most part) look to have come from BMWs and Datsun Z-cars, and many nuts, bolts and other fasteners. Due to all the interesting stuff out front, I would think that the garage/warehouse directly behind these cars would have similar if not better contents.

2002, E21 3-series and Buick Riviera in background, E30 parked in front

SL, Z-car and E30, E21 and Riviera in background

SL and BMW body parts

SL with 1970s slot-mag wheel, janitor's plastic mop bucket and unidentified steel disc wheel in foreground

Ninkasi Brewery: Construction Photos

2010-03-17T15:56:00.000-07:00

I was in the Whiteaker neighborhood of Eugene, Oregon today, and snapped these pictures of the Ninkasi Brewery, maker of many types of fine, craft-brewed beer and ale. This brewery was a former plumbing company headquarters in its previous life, and has had the original building extensively remodeled to incorporate a tasting room and a far more modern esthetic than its previous iteration. Construction is far from finished, though, and much more is being added to the old plumbing-company building as I write this and these pictures show. The strange thing about the location of this brewery is that it is slightly more than 100 yards from the JESCO Club, an establishment used chiefly for Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, which also has a tavern located two doors down from it. Clearly a foolish place for a building that AA meetings are held in.

Tasting room and brewing tanks.

From the side, looks like it might be the start of the brewhouse or a bottling facility.

From the back (Blair Boulevard).

In addition to the brewery, a warehouse appears to be under construction in the shell of this long-abandoned bakery outlet store. Little can be seen in this picture, but I was also in this area a few weeks back when most of the doors were open, revealing hundreds of gallons of beer and ale contained in single bottles, palletized six-packs and draft kegs.

This Bridgeport beer bottle (brewed in Portland, Oregon, and a rival of Ninkasi) was lying in the grass between a sidewalk and the street across from the side of the brewery site seen in Picture #2. Oddly, there were no Ninkasi bottles in the area, or other alcoholic-beverage containers for that matter.

An Update, At Last!

2010-03-17T15:27:00.000-07:00

I have been busy with many other things, and am just getting back to work here.

If anyone's noticed, I have added advertisements to my blog, and I will be paid for people clicking them to go to the service or product that the ad links to.

Anyhow, more pictures are on the way, and enjoy!

New Name, New Web Address, New Content

2010-02-18T14:00:00.000-08:00

Hello, readers, this is your webmaster here, and I have some announcements!

1: We are no longer StreetShots & More, and no longer strictly a car website. We are now Lane County Photos of Interest, and our focus is to expand beyond cars only to encompass nature photography, old buildings (including long-unused commercial space and old agricultural buildings such as barns, pumphouses and sheds), old trailers and motorhomes, interesting graffiti, sunsets and sunrises, and anything else we deem worthy of photographing.

2: Our page appearance has changed, but the guestbook, subscription and sharing features, weather forecasts and search have not.

3: I have changed my title from "StreetShots Admin" to "Photog" (rhymes with frog).

4: We hope you enjoy the new content and new look, and please add our new address to your Bookmarks or Favorites!

Taking a break

2010-01-28T08:08:00.001-08:00

Hello readers, we are taking a temporary break from publishing new material here.

But don't worry, we will be back, with great pictures and car ads!

-

Crimson and Clover: 1947 Ford Truck Restoration Project, $2500

2010-01-22T22:36:00.000-08:00

After an accidental one-week absence, Vintage Truck Friday Night has returned. Today, we have a 1947 Ford truck with a color scheme reminding the author of a popular oldies song.

This 1947 Ford pickup project's mixture of red, green and red-oxide primer paint colors got that good old song Crimson and Clover by Tommy James and the Shondells going in my head, so that title became the heading of this post.

The truck is in better than average condition for a well-used 63-year-old truck, and appears complete with the exception of the gearshift knob, original bumpers and taillights, the tailgate and passenger's-side inside door handle, all of which are readily available in reproduction form. Oddly, all four hubcaps are still present despite the shift knob and inside door handle being gone, considering that they could easily have been stolen or destroyed in its long existence. There appears to be little rust, although Bond-O and riveted sheetmetal patch panels may be issues here. The styling of these trucks is very nice, and this appears to be an easy project. The flathead V8 is still present, but no word on whether it runs. The transmission is said to be a 5-speed, but is probably a 3-speed or a 4-speed and erroneously called a 5-speed due to that configuration's ubiquity in sporting and economy cars today and/or the owner not knowing the gear configuration. One thing's for sure about the transmission, it's definitely a manual. The period-correct aftermarket turn signals add safety while keeping the truck's appearance close to how it might have looked when new. The price of $2500, the simple nature of early V8 (1932-48) Ford engineering, and the large variety of reproduction parts make this an attractive proposition for restoration, especially for a novice or someone looking for a straightforward project.

Find this project here in Chewelah, Washington:

http://spokane.craigslist.org/cto/1559350874.html

French Exotic Duet: Two 1979 Matra-Simca Bagheeras

2010-01-19T23:50:00.000-08:00

To all you fans of obscure European sports cars, here's something to get your heart racing, particularly if French cars are more to your taste than German, Italian, Swedish or British ones. In Madison, Wisconsin, someone is selling two 1979 Matra-Simca Bagheeras, which are unusual in many ways, such as having three-abreast seating, being named for the panther in Rudyard Kipling's classic novel The Jungle Book, and being rare grey-market imports as opposed to the slightly more common full Euro-spec Bagheeras imported on an individual basis by enthusiasts. (However, I must say that no Bagheera is 'common', anywhere.)

While the second car is not pictured, the blue one featured here is said to have very little rust in the monocoque-style steel understructure (the body panels are made of polyester plastic and thus don't rust), has a very good interior and a clear Wisconsin title. Molds for the special US-spec bumpers are included, along with 8 finished units. However, it is not said how many are front or rear. The black car is said to have nearly enough parts to complete the blue car, or could be brought back to life by a dedicated enthusiast, but there are no carburetors or intake manifolds for either car.

The seller also includes free technical and parts assistance from a North American Matra Registry member and Bagheera owner, and makes mentions of an "M550 factory code" and the importer Geo. (George?) Goodrich of Santa Clara, California, neither of which I could find any information on via a Google search. If any readers know about the "M550 code" and/or Mr. Goodrich, please leave a comment.

Find these cars here:

http://madison.craigslist.org/cto/1550141932.html

More Street Shots: From Decomposing Hippie Busses to a Fiat 1100

2010-01-18T10:30:00.000-08:00

1940s Reo school bus, converted to motorhome. This bus appears to have been there for many years, and is slowly returning to the earth.

Close-up of Reo bus' front end. Notice that the bonnet has fallen off and the engine has been overtaken by blackberry vines.

Late 60s Chevrolet school bus, also returning to the earth. This bus has evidently been sitting in the same spot since the early 90s, and a pole thicket has grown up around it.

Front of Chevrolet school bus. For the record, I did not trespass onto the property, I just used my camera's zoom lens to take a closer look at the bus.

1961 Volvo 122S Amazon, front view. The originality of this vehicle is impressive, and it would be very well worth restoring.

Volvo Amazon 122S, side view. Notice the PV544-style hubcaps, which are original.

Inside of Volvo Amazon. Restoration is definitely in order, but everything looks good. Notice that the radio opening has not been cut out to install a modern sound system.

Rear view of Volvo Amazon.

Circa-1959 Fiat 1100. This was once a very nice-looking little car, but has suffered gross neglect and even a gunshot to the windshield.

Not a Gordini: 1964 Renault R8 Project Car, $1200

2010-01-14T22:18:00.000-08:00

I admire the honesty of this car's seller in stating that it is not a Gordini, hence the title of this post. This 1964 Renault R8, while somewhat dinged up and disheveled, appears to be a good restoration project, has good glass and appears very complete and original with the exception of the steering wheel and roof rack. I like the styling of this car and the subsequent R10 better than the Dauphine which preceded them, but not as much as I like the quirky and overtly French appearance of the 4CV. The seller states that s/he will only sell to a Renault enthusiast, which will hopefully rule out the scrap-metal dealers, parts pullers, car hoarders and 24 Hours of LeMons and ChumpCar racers.

Another especially appealing (or unattractive, depending on one's point of view) feature of the Renault R8 is how the designers of the instrument panel made it bear an uncanny resemblance to the front of a bookcase stereo receiver dating to the Reagan administration when it is actually the speedometer and gauges of a car built when DeGaulle was president of France and the car was imported to the US and sold new during the Johnson administration, well before rectangular black plastic stereo equipment reached ubiquity.

The asking price of $1200 is quite reasonable considering that one can find the less desirable Dauphine in similar or worse condition than this car for more money on eBay more often than one can find any kind of R8 there at any price.

Find this car here, in Corvallis, Oregon:

http://corvallis.craigslist.org/cto/1551477306.html

Rare Vintage RV: 1959 Bigfoot Motorhome on 1959 Ford F250, $2,500

2010-01-13T23:14:00.000-08:00

Although this site is technically not an RV website, I sometimes find it hard to resist posting something unusual, such as the 1960 Bedford Dormobile or 1944 Flxible bus that I posted previously.

This 1959 Bigfoot Class-C motorhome (then known as a chassis-mount camper), based on a Ford F250 cab and chassis, needs tires, brakes and paint but runs well, and appears to have all of its original appliances and fixtures, with what I can see of the interior in excellent condition. This motorhome has a 292 V8 and 4-speed manual transmission, and is available in Dayton, Oregon for $2,500 or trade for a 1958-59 Ford or Edsel car.

Vintage RVs are an increasingly popular collector item, and are getting harder to find, especially with the interior as good as in this one and as original as this is.

Find this motorhome here:

http://eugene.craigslist.org/rvs/1520475749.html

One-Off Sports-Racer Project: Triumph TR2-based "Gibbens Special", $2500

2010-01-13T22:20:00.000-08:00

While nothing is said regarding this car's history or provenance, or even what kind of supercharger the engine has, this one-off open sports-racer, based on a Triumph TR2 chassis and mechanicals is an intriguing project. So intriguing, that I felt compelled to post all four pictures of the car. The styling is a pleasant mix of Lotus Super Seven, 1932 Ford and MGTD, and the body appears to be in good condition. However, nothing is said about condition of the body, mechanicals or chassis, and there would be a long list of things needed to return this to the road or racetrack, but at the price of $2500 for what may be a genuine 1950s or 60s special race car or would at least be a great change of pace from a stock Triumph or a Lotus Super Seven-style sports-racer, this seems like a great deal.

Find the car here, in "G Valley" (Grass Valley?), California:

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/cto/1546463378.html

Unusual Project: Heavily Modified 1976 Lotus Esprit Chassis with McLaren M6GT Replica Body, $10,200

2010-01-13T21:58:00.000-08:00

This 1976 Lotus Esprit chassis was converted to take a McLaren M6GT kit car body made by Marauder (although the pictures seem to say Manta Montage more than Marauder to me), and has had many suspension, brake, chassis and engine upgrades performed by professionals. Quite a bit of work still needs to be performed, but this could be a very nice car and much better than the other M6GT replicas out there, many of which are Volkswagen-based and can't back up their appearance with the kind of performance suggested by the body.

Find a detailed photo gallery of the car here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31392838@N04/sets/72157608499289035

And for the link to the car for sale, here it is. Find this Lotus/McLaren in Carnation, Washington here:

http://seattle.craigslist.org/est/ctd/1544954015.html

British Stovebolt: Chevrolet "Stovebolt Six"-engined 1954 Bentley, $14,500

2010-01-12T15:54:00.000-08:00

This 1954 Bentley R-Type sedan is different from most others in its engine/transmission type. Instead of the Rolls-Royce/Bentley inline six and modified, General Motors-licensed Hydra-Matic transmission or 4-speed manual gearbox that came with these when new, there is a 1950s-era Chevrolet "stovebolt" six-cylinder engine and Powerglide two-speed automatic. Not what you'd expect when you lift the bonnet on this!

As far as condition goes, what I can see of the interior looks good for a 56-year-old car but could use a good cleaning, the body is said to have very little rust, but no mentions of dents, Earl Scheib-type paint jobs or Bond-O are made. The engine was said by the previous owner to be "tired", and s/he also stated that the transmission leaked fluid. The engine conversion was done "years and years ago" (the seller's words, not mine) in California, and it was used as a wedding limousine at one time. The car is right-hand-drive and appears to be quite original apart from the engine and transmission, and the seller mentions a good-quality Bentley engine and transmission somewhere in Ohio that is not included with the car and must be purchased separately. If restoring this car to original condition is desired, transmission linkage and mounts for the engine and transmission will need to be sourced, and those parts are mostly located in the UK.

Find this project here, in Skagit County, Washington:

http://portland.craigslist.org/wsc/cto/1548474478.html

Pint-Size Utility Vehicle: 1958 Crofton Bug, $3500

2010-01-11T22:08:00.000-08:00

The Crofton Bug was the final series-production version of the moderately successful Crosley car and truck lineup, which was originated in 1939 by radio, TV and appliance magnate Powel Crosley, Jr. The Crosley range started with two-cylinder light cars and a couple of delivery wagons with similar styling, underpinnings and mechanicals, that managed to pull off the daunting task of being both cute and ugly at the same time.

After World War II ended, Crosley introduced an all-new line of light cars, this time with more conventional styling, a four-cylinder overhead-cam engine and a cute quarter-ton pickup truck available with two styles of cargo bed. Unfortunately, the postwar Crosley range was beleaguered by competitors from the UK and Continental Europe, such as the Austin A40, Fiat Topolino, British Ford Anglia and Prefect, and of course, the Volkswagen Beetle, all of which were more practical and (comparatively) better equipped, not to mention more reliable thanks to the fact that none of them had an engine block made of welded sheet metal that developed unrepairable pinholes within a very short time.

Even with the addition of a conventional cast-iron engine block and crankcase and a sports car available with or without doors to take on the sports-car market leader of the day, the MGTD, the Crosley was seen as little more than an oddity to most people, who went on to buy either conventional American cars or the European small sedans and sports cars that were highly popular in the days before people bought Hyundais, Kias, Scions and Daewoos as low-priced new cars. Crosley's last new product before bowing out of the car business was the 1950 Farm-O-Road, which was essentially a miniature Jeep with the Crosley iron-block engine and a full line of accessories suited to everything from the duties of farmers, ranchers and golf-course greenskeepers to tops, rear seats and side curtains intended to turn the Farm-O-Road into something similar to a car.

This Crofton Bug is essentially a Crosley Farm-O-Road in every way but its name and dealer network, is complete except for stock wheels and belly pan, and is very restorable. Crofton Bugs were produced from the mid-1950s to early-1960s, and are quite sought after by collectors and enthusiasts. Even with the 1990s-era wheels and ugly maroon paint, this Crofton makes the junkyard-like area in which the pictures were taken look better by de-emphasizing the Plymouth Acclaim and Ford Escort wagon rusting in the background.

Find it here, in Salem, Oregon:

http://salem.craigslist.org/cto/1515441379.html

West Eugene Street Sweep: Everything from a Pierce-Arrow to a Volkswagen Beetle

2010-01-10T22:24:00.000-08:00

VW Bus high-top camper. Note the extremely rare original "sport" hubcaps.

1964-65? Ford Falcon and Ranchero. Both are in very rough condition.

Falcon and Ranchero, again. Notice extensive body damage on Ranchero.

Very well-preserved Ford Pinto, likely a 1970 or '71 model judging from license-plate letter combination, hubcaps and slim bumpers.

Front view of above Pinto. You don't often see any kind of Pinto, especially not one in this good of condition.

1967 Dodge Dart. Very nicely restored.

1935 Pierce-Arrow. Never in my life would I have thought I'd find one of these in this state of neglect, on a gravel street, 75 years after it was made. The car next to it is a 1939 Buick touring sedan with added-on portholes.

Circa-1952 Cadillac sedan and 1966 Buick Riviera in the same carport as the Pierce-Arrow and 1939 Buick.

1935 Pierce-Arrow, viewed from the front. This must have been someone's pride and joy that they poured many hours and dollars into restoring, only to let it deteriorate in an exposed carport.

Look closely at this picture, and you will see a 1970s Jaguar XJ6-C inside the carport.

Derelict 1974 Volkswagen Super Beetle Sun Bug edition.

1972 or '73 Fiat 124 Spider. The elderly owner of this car was gracious enough to let me into his carport, take pictures and even sit behind the wheel.

Fiat 124 Spider interior. You can see that some restoration is needed, but it's not to the point of needing to be gutted and completely redone. A good cleaning, new seat covers and new carpet would do this car a lot of good. The dashboard and console are in unusually good condition and are very original.

Front of Fiat 124 Spider. The grille badge is not correct (where there would be a circular red badge with "FIAT" written in the center and a gold laurel wreath encircling it, there is instead a badge from the vinyl top of a mid-70s Mercury Cougar.

Very nice Ford Mustang II hot rod.

Equally nice Colonnade-body Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme.

Early 1980s Toyota Celica coupe, in nicer condition than most others.

Dodge Route-Van camper conversion, circa 1955, and Chevrolet Camaro Rally Sport, circa 1978.

1959 Chevrolet El Camino, in need of restoration.

Morris Minor 1000, circa 1959. This would be an excellent project car.

Ford Galaxie 500 coupe, late 1960s vintage.

Datsun 620 pickup, converted to utility trailer. Normally, just the bed is used to make a trailer, but here we have most of the cab as well.

Oldsmobile Cutlass hot rod, circa 1969.

Of Fiats and VWs

2010-01-10T21:18:00.000-08:00

   On my latest sweep of my neighborhood, I intentionally went in the direction of the red-and-primer Fiat 850 Sport coupe that I saw last week, photographed and posted here: http://streetshots-streetshots.blogspot.com/2010/01/more-street-shots-import-edition.html, hoping to catch the owner of the car or a caretaker of the property. What I saw were two Basset Hounds roving the lawn, a youngish man with dark hair looking out the window at me, and a light green Fiat 850 Berlina (two-door sedan) in the carport along with the 850 sport coupe rusting next to the fence.

   Not wanting to be accused of casing the neighborhood, I went on my way, taking many more photos and chatting with neighbors and car owners alike, and en route to my house, I saw the man who was looking out the window at me moving his 850 Berlina out of the carport so that he could get to his workshop. I asked him if I could possibly photograph the Berlina for this website, and not only did he say yes, but he moved it out into the driveway into a more level position so that I could take a nicer picture, repeating the kindness of the man with the $400 Fiero.

   Once I got behind the chain-link fence, I saw that the 850 Berlina was an unfinished restoration, with an Abarth-style steering wheel and maroon vinyl characterizing the partially-disassembled interior and some minor damage to the front. The little car also had very nice Panasport 8-spoke alloy wheels and some expensive high-performance tires, and we had a nice conversation lasting about 15 minutes, largely about Fiats. I looked closer at the 850 coupe, and I discovered that the interior was largely complete but with all upholstery and soft trim in poor condition and that it had some very expensive Fondmetal alloy wheels, two of which I learned were in the car's boot.

  Between the glass, the metal and wood trim, much of the sheetmetal, and the wheels, there were easily $2,000 in parts there. Also, the owner of the 850 Berlina (the coupe was stored there by a friend of his) told me that his friend had two early-70s 850 Spiders, and I asked him if by any chance they came from Scott & Sons Auto Wrecking (a long-established Eugene-area junkyard that is largely if not completely liquidated at the time of writing), and he said yes.

   Regarding Scott & Sons, I had tried for years to extract a weathered but very restorable and complete 1978 Dodge Magnum, a 1950 Ford 1 1/2-ton truck and a 1947 Citroen 11CV restoration project from the (now deceased) owner's grasp, and more recently a 1965 Hillman Imp, only to find that all four were sold and that I had no money or garage space for any of them.

   Back on the topic of the Fiats and the owner/caretaker, I was told that one good 850 Spider would be built out of the two Scott & Sons cars, and I noticed that there were assorted parts belonging to water-cooled Volkswagens and rear-engined Fiats (mostly 850s, but there was a rusty US-market 500 Nuova add-on headlight shell serving as a dog-food dish on the porch and a few pieces appearing to be from 600s or possibly even 126s in the carport), there was a disassembled VW Rabbit in the workshop and assorted random items in the shop as well as the carport. I bade the Fiat and VW owner goodbye and thanked him for his time and generosity, and headed home.

850 Berlina, from the side.

Rear view of 850 Berlina.

A closer look at the 850 Sport coupe.

(Sorry, no pictures are available of the Rabbit or the two 850 Spiders.)

Mafioso Style: 1971 Cadillac Fleetwood, $2250

2010-01-08T21:39:00.000-08:00

This 1971 Cadillac Fleetwood, with 85,000 miles and lots of work completed, is a stereotypical Mafia car, but would be good for other things besides filming mob movies. Everything about this car states that it is a classic American luxury car, and would be a surefire attention-getter at car shows or a great daily driver car for those who can afford to keep up with this car's gluttonous appetite for petrol. Some work is still needed, but the car is gorgeous and seemingly usable as it sits now.

Find it here, in Spokane, Washington:

http://spokane.craigslist.org/cto/1522967005.html

Classic Bus: 1940s Flxible, $1200

2010-01-08T21:28:00.000-08:00

For all you bus enthusiasts and lovers of king-sized oddball vehicles, here's a great project. This 1944 Flxible (not a typo, the name was spelled this way so that the word "flexible" could be trademarked) interstate-style bus is said to be close to running condition, has a partially-completed or -remodeled motorhome conversion inside with all seats removed, has an overhead-valve straight eight engine with manual transmission and is priced at $1200. This bus will be quite a chore to move, and will certainly present problems with everything from finding parts to storing, but will be a great project for the right person.

Find it here, in Washington State:

http://spokane.craigslist.org/cto/1512984417.html

Vintage Truck Friday Night @ StreetShots

2010-01-08T21:17:00.000-08:00

Tonight is our inaugural Vintage Truck Friday Night here at StreetShots, and we have some choice restorable classic haulers here for our first round of VTFN.

Here is a 1947 Ford 2 1/2-ton C.O.E. (cab over engine) flatbed truck. It runs and drives, has a 1953 Mercury flathead V8 (the last and best-developed of the breed), has a working Eaton 2-speed rear axle, and has great potential as a project. More and more truck enthusiasts are turning to heavy-duty models such as this since the 1/2- and 3/4-ton pickups are becoming scarcer and more expensive. Unfortunately, these cabovers are also being street-rodded, and are unattractively cartoonish for the most part. A restored C.O.E. would attract a lot of attention at the car shows, and I see a nicely resto-modded 1956 Ford C.O.E. around Eugene during the summer months that could easily pass for a stocker. While I like this style of cabover, I'm holding out for a nice 1947-53 Chevrolet or GMC and more disposable income for my turn to restore a C.O.E.

Find this project, located in Republic, Washington and priced at a very reasonable $2,000, here:

http://spokane.craigslist.org/cto/1527673968.html

As far as old trucks go, most people prefer Chevrolets, Fords or Dodges, with others favoring GMC, Willys, International, Diamond T, Reo or Studebaker. But one will have to look long and hard for someone who knows about and likes Hudson trucks. This 1937 Hudson Terraplane, with its art-deco styling and striking curves, has no bed, rear fenders, headlight lenses or title, but all those issues can be rectified, some more easily than others. No mention is made of mechanical condition, but it's logical to expect that the engine and other mechanicals need a complete overhaul and restoration. An original-style bed might be hard to find for this truck, but a flatbed, stake-bed or wooden box bed would also look great. This project is priced at a reasonable $1500, is located in Colville, Washington, and can be found here:

http://spokane.craigslist.org/cto/1505897283.html

I'm a sucker for a nicely and authentically restored Model A Ford, as well as for a nice vintage truck, be it a beater that's been thrashed around a farm or ranch since it was new or a perfectly restored museum piece. This 1929 Model AA Ford long-wheelbase flatbed is one of my favorite body styles on all As, and would be an excellent project. An extra engine is included, and the truck is purported to be solid and straight. The flatbed with "headache rack" may even be salvageable with new wood and a fresh coat of paint. The asking price of $1750 firm is more than reasonable, and the truck is located in Dayton, Washington. No word on whether the trailer is included, but odds are that the trailer isn't even for sale. This would be an excellent project for a father, grandfather, uncle or family friend to teach restoration and appreciation of classic cars to a child with, and Model As are both easy to work on and easy to find parts for, thus making them a great first antique car or truck project.

Find this truck here:

http://spokane.craigslist.org/cto/1539514789.html

Carport Find: 1986 Pontiac Fiero 2M6

2010-01-08T02:42:00.000-08:00

Front view. This car appears to have either been wrecked at one time or pieced together from two or more Fieros.

(Found via Craigslist, I didn't think to ask to photograph the interior)

The cockpit. This car has clearly been disassembled, and like the rest of the car, has seen better days.

Rear view. This car was very dirty and had random items piled on it, and the owner was nice enough to remove the items so that I could take a nicer picture of his car. He also found something resembling a disassembled turkey baster, that he had apparently misplaced, under the junk piled on the Fiero's rear deck, and was happy to have found it. I'm glad he found it, especially while helping another petrolhead.

From the side. This is a very sad-looking car, and it is now something of a collector's item, as are all Fieros. The 2M6 is pretty rare in comparison to the SE and GT, which more people opted for over this V6-powered model and the 2M4, which was powered by a Chevette-based 4-cylinder engine. Most 2M4s and 2M6s have been scrapped, parted out or turned into replicas of high-dollar sports cars such as the Ferrari Testarossa, 308 and 355, Porsche Carrera GT and Lamborghini Diablo, Murcielago and Countach.

I happened upon this car whilst walking around my neighborhood taking pictures, and I recognized the car from this Craigslist ad, http://eugene.craigslist.org/cto/1532053206.html. The owner of the car had just walked out of his house with his dog, which he was taking for a walk. I asked the owner if I could take pictures of the car for this website, and he said yes. He also cleared a sizable quantity of junk off of the car's rear deck so that I could take a better picture, and I remarked that he was one of the most inviting of all the people whose cars I've photographed.

This car will be going to the junkyard if the owner can't get rid of it by February, so if you want a Fiero to fix up (you will need an engine, transaxle and all cooling and fuel components, since they're no longer with the car), a donor for a kit-car project or a parts car for other Fieros, act fast! It's only $400.

More Street Shots: Ford Edition

2010-01-08T02:22:00.000-08:00

Very rare Ford Falcon Station Bus (passenger-carrying version of 1961-65 Econoline). Appears very complete except for grille and original hubcaps.

1983-86 Ford F350 tow truck. One does not often find a derelict tow truck parked anywhere except in a junkyard or on the premises of a repair shop, but here is one in a residential driveway.

1986 Ford Escort GT. The owner of this Escort also had a very similar red car, a 1980s Mustang hatchback and a 1970s Courier pickup on the premises, and drove an Explorer as regular transportation, so it's obvious that they are dedicated to the Blue Oval. I decided to take pictures of the two Escorts only, since these are not often found in this good of condition.

Here is the red Escort, with the Mustang, white Escort and Explorer all visible in the background. Notice the original alloy wheels and decals, and the overall good condition of the car. Those aren't dents in the side, they're reflections caused by the Sun.

Classic Street Racer: Modified 1969 Lotus Europa, $3500

2010-01-08T02:05:00.000-08:00

'69 Europa, as it appears now.

'69 Europa, as it appeared when first built to this specification.

Nice interior... I love the dash and steering wheel. The seats aren't bad either.

This Lotus was built in the late 70s/early 80s by a driving instructor and race-car driver who is associated with Team Continental of Portland, Oregon (http://www.teamcontinental.com). The original Renault engine and transmission were pulled and replaced with an Audi 4000 5-speed manual transaxle and 1.8-liter fuel-injected Volkswagen engine, which are still with the car. However, the VW engine is seized, and will need to be replaced. Other upgrades include the fender flares, Minilite-style alloy wheels, rear disc brakes, a second custom petrol tank giving the car a total of 21 gallons in fuel capacity and a second brake pedal for left-foot braking. The car will need to be repainted, although the interior is good enough to use as-is. The transmission needs shift linkage and brackets to be fabricated, and the original builder of the car can be contacted for information regarding the car and its modifications, including sharing more photos and giving advice on upgrading and improving the car.

Oddly, the car is listed as being located in Albany, but one of the pictures appears to have been taken in the Harlow Road area of Eugene. I remember seeing a red Europa with yellow Oregon plates in almost exactly the same area as the picture appeared to have been shot not too long ago, but I recall it being a twin-cam body style with the lower rear quarter panels.

You can take this classic street racer home with you for $3500, and find the ad here:
http://eugene.craigslist.org/cto/1542602340.html

Right-Hand-Drive Rarity: 1979 Citroen 2CV-based Three-Wheel Speedster, $12,500

2010-01-08T01:10:00.000-08:00

Citroens of all types are rare in the USA, the last officially-imported models coming Stateside in 1975 with unofficial grey-market imports trickling in between the late 70s and roughly 1993, and three-wheel cars are rare too, with the exception of the increasingly common ZAPCAR electric pickups and sedans. But combine the elements of Citroen and three-wheeler, and add right-hand drive and an attractive boattail speedster body style to the equation, and you get something truly distinctive.

This car was imported to the US from England, and the brand of kit used to convert the donor Citroen 2CV to a three-wheel sports car appears to be a Lomax. The Lomax kit car was and is popular in the UK as well as Continental Europe, and information on these kits and other three-wheeled kit cars can be found here: http://www.3wheelers.com/lomax.html.

This car comes with a full soft top assembly, side curtains and a spare wheel, parts are readily available in the US, the owner claims 57 miles per gallon, and three-wheeled vehicles are legally considered to be motorcycles in the USA, regardless of body configuration or seating capacity, so there are less stringent emissions and safety regulations in most states with these.

And no, you don't need a motorcycle endorsement on your driver's license to drive a three-wheeled car.

Find this car, located south of Seattle, here:

http://portland.craigslist.org/clk/cto/1542484753.html

Low-Mileage Orphan: 1951 Kaiser Deluxe 2-Door Sedan, $4000

2010-01-08T00:17:00.000-08:00

I'm a big fan of Kaisers, and this has to be one of the nicest of the 1951-53 "Anatomic Design" Kaisers penned by Howard "Dutch" Darrin available anywhere for under $5k. This car is claimed to have been parked in a garage with only 3 miles on it since 1977 (if anyone believes that, I've got a bridge for sale), but it definitely shows signs of being a low-mileage survivor car. Unusually for any Kaiser, especially this generation and the facelifted 1954-55 models, and for a car residing in the Puget Sound region, there is very little rust, mostly located in the lower rocker panels.

This is a great buy, and it is located near Whidbey Island, Washington.

Find this car here: http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/cto/1537086056

Rare in the USA: 1984 Jaguar XJS Spyder by Lynx of England, $1995

2010-01-08T00:06:00.000-08:00

This 1984 Jaguar XJS convertible is rarer than one might imagine, since this is the Lynx Spyder conversion not often seen in the USA, as opposed to the part T-top/part ragtop XJSC, the Hess & Eisenhardt convertible of the late 80s or the factory-built 2-seater XJS convertible made after the execrable XJSC and the Hess & Eisenhardt convertible ceased production.

This car, #43 of roughly 65 made, is a restoration project needing paint, minor bodywork, upholstery and new top fabric, and (of course) electrical work, due to the pesky Lucas electrical system. It was kept in California for many years, and only recently arrived in Washington. It was last registered in 1999, and has spent the last few years outside, thus necessitating the top and upholstery replacements. All of the custom Lynx-only components are intact and usable, including the unique power-actuated rear quarter windows.

There are some issues with the emissions-control devices being disconnected, although they are still present, the spare tire and jack are missing but readily available, and there is currently no title, although the owners are in the process of rectifying that problem at the time of writing.

That said, this is an excellent project car for the right person, and it is located near Olympia, Washington.

Find this rare and desirable project car here:

http://seattle.craigslist.org/oly/cto/1534899661.html

Another Seattle Find, Vintage-Style Hot Rod Project: 1923/1981 Model T Ford Replica, $5500

2010-01-07T23:53:00.000-08:00

Although I am something of a purist when it comes to original, metal-bodied vintage cars, (or fiberglass in the case of Corvettes, Kaiser-Darrins and many older low-volume American and imported cars), making hot rods from or otherwise modifying fiberglass-bodied kit cars or proprietary body shells is more than acceptable to me. This 1923 Ford Model T replica (titled in Washington State as a 1981 homebuilt) is a great example of a 1950s/60s-style hot rod built with more modern and more reliable chassis and mechanical components. Everything looks great from what I could see, the Buick V6 engine is partially disassembled but ready to put back together, and the asking price is very affordable at $5500. All that I would change on it would be to either replace the shortened pickup bed currently on it with a color-matched "turtle deck" rear boot assembly or to replace the track-roadster front nose and associated bonnet with a color-matched or chrome (not brass) repro Model T grille and repro Model T hood in the same color as the body in order to improve esthetics. The low asking price provides a lot of leeway in making changes and/or upgrades to the car, since I estimate the value of this as a finished car to be at least $15,000, leaving nearly $10,000 to play with as far as changing or upgrading.

Find this project, located in Edgewood, Washington here:

http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/cto/1539543032.html

A Genuine Freebie: 1973 Datsun 240Z Project Car

2010-01-07T21:23:00.000-08:00

Note: This is NOT the car being given away in this ad. This is a file photo of what it could be when restored.

While searching the Seattle Craigslist, among the random household items, ratty furniture, camper shells and scrap metal usually found in Craigslist free-stuff sections, there was a genuine classic car: a 1973 Datsun 240Z. This car is an automatic with two sidedraft carburetors, it does not run, it is purported to have a straight, solid body with rear-hatch damage, and has title issues along the lines of needing "registration only" from the Washington DMV, which as an Oregon resident, I don't understand anything about. There are no pictures in the ad, making it a true pig in a poke, but this could be a great project for the Z-car enthusiast, or even a 24 Hours of LeMons or ChumpCar racer for those who partake in one of those two race series.

Find it here, in Seattle, Washington:

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/zip/1120673165.html

Extremely Rare Steel-Bodied Dune Buggy: 1963 National Refuse VWEEP

2010-01-07T19:10:00.000-08:00

(This image and the one below were found on TheSamba.com, since this particular eBay auction wouldn't let me save pictures, but this is the same car.)

UPDATE, 1-14-2010: This VWEEP failed to sell, with zero bids and a starting price of $1,295, with no reserve. Keep posted to StreetShots & More for possible updates!

This oddity was apparently manufactured by National Refuse Company in Tucson, Arizona (possibly a manufacturer of garbage-truck bodies?), with few made and even fewer around today. While the engine is missing and it is in rough condition, it is still restorable, and with the original decal (shown above) preserved, or better yet, reproduced, a new coat of refrigerator-white paint, some original low-back VW bug seats in plain black vinyl, a stock VW flat-four of 1500cc or 1600cc displacement and a quality restoration, this would be a great conversation piece among VW and off-road vehicle enthusiasts alike. A clear Wisconsin title is included with the vehicle.

If I had the money and time for a proper restoration, I'd be all over this one.

Find it here, in South Beloit, Illinois: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Volkswagen-Thing-WVEEP-1963-VOLKSWAGEN-VWEEP-REAL-RARE-EVER-SEEN-ONE-NOT-ME_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem35a62b517eQQitemZ230421123454QQptZUSQ5fCarsQ5fTrucks#ht_500wt_1182

More Street Shots: Import Edition

2010-01-07T15:05:00.000-08:00

Late-60s Fiat 850 sport coupe. This design was one of Fiat's most attractive sub-1000cc car designs, and was done in-house by Mario Boano, formerly of Carrozzeria Boano. This appears to be an abandoned or partially finished project.

Same Fiat, different view. You can see the surface rust taking over the grey primer, and the overall neglect of the yard and house.

Rear view of Fiat 850. It's a shame that this car has to sit in that neglected yard like it does.

Datsun Roadster and 510. Both in very nice condition from what I could see, and just a few houses away to the right of these cars, there was a neglected brick house with a long driveway leading to a Honda N600, a mid-60s Buick Wildcat and numerous 30s-40s-era cars and trucks behind them. I didn't want to commit trespassing, so I'll just be patient and wait until I can find an owner or caretaker of the property so that I can look at and photograph the cars and trucks legally.

Split-window-era Volkswagen Microbus. This bus appears to be rusty but restorable, and I've heard of all kinds of cars, from VWs to Bugattis, in far worse shape than this being restored.

Volkswagen Rabbit, circa 1979. This car doesn't appear to have moved from its current spot in years, but is still appealing with its dealer-applied decal package and weathered esthetics.

More Street Shots: General Motors Edition

2010-01-07T13:07:00.000-08:00

1965 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu four-door sedan. A nicely restored example of a body style often shunned by enthusiasts.

Buick Regal T-Type, circa 1986. Very nicely executed, and I love the Grand National wheels on it. The chrome lower-body trim is a little over the top, though.

1960 Pontiac Ventura. This sad-looking classic looks to have sat in the same place for years, and is overripe for restoration. It might make a good parts car, though.

1960 Pontiac Ventura (view from other side). You can see that it is missing a wheel, and that brake drum is probably too rusted to do anything with.

1976 Oldsmobile Omega. Very nicely preserved example of a car that plays second fiddle to the very similar Chevrolet Nova all too often.

Same car, viewed from side.

Another view of this '76 Olds Omega.

1954 Chevrolet two-door sedan. Very nicely restored from what I could see.

Another view of the same '54 Chevy.

Quick Takes: Some Pictures Taken In The Summer of '09

2010-01-06T22:20:00.000-08:00

1964 Chevrolet Impala two-door hardtop. It's not an SS, but it's still a desirable car and is very complete aside from much of the chrome trim and the engine.

1980s Jaguar XJ6. This car was in pretty sad shape all around, but as a Jaguar enthusiast, I felt obligated to take a picture.

1956 Chevrolet Delray. This is the "pretty" side, the other side of the car was grey primer and Bond-O with all the side trim removed.

Chop-top Volkswagen bug, circa 1965. Very tasteful job of modification, and one of the better full-custom bugs I've ever seen. Unfortunately, this car now has an ugly decal job reminiscent of tuner Hondas over much of the body. Hopefully the owner will have a change of heart and remove the decals, or will sell the car and the new owner will take the decals off.

1965 Ford Mustang, customized circa late-1980s. This has sat in the same place since at least the mid-1990s, and appears to have been a nice car at one time.

Mild custom Volkswagen bug, circa 1973. Very nicely done from what little I saw of it, although a set of T-bar bumperettes or even Mexican-market late-model bug bumpers painted the same color as the body would improve the appearance further.

1937 Graham. This is a very nice "resto-rod" car that is driven often, and it maintains much of the look of a restored '37 Graham with the reliability, ease of service and great parts availability of late-model Chevrolet components comprising much of the engine, drivetrain and chassis. The owner of this car also has a Model A Ford hot rod and a 1938 Pontiac, and is also something of a petrolhead.

Great Potential, Great Price: 1957 Mercedes-Benz 190, $2400

2010-01-06T17:33:00.000-08:00

This 1957 Mercedes-Benz 190 was found on another Craigslist-browsing session, and is a European model according to the seller. The car is said to turn over and should run, and would be a great project car. The "Ponton" series Mercedes-Benzes are appealing when restored, and are less costly to restore than the 300-series sedan, the 300SL sports cars, and the 170-series sedans that preceded these. The asking price is $2400, and the car is located in Cottage Grove, Oregon (south of Eugene).

Find the car here @ http://eugene.craigslist.org/cto/1534087164.html

Model Car Coverage: Yat Ming Road Signature 1/18 Scale '61 Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato

2010-01-06T11:31:00.000-08:00

Our inaugural model-car feature is a pretty special one: a combination of British engineering and Italian styling, made in Hong Kong by a company that built replicas that were mediocre at best until only about 5 years ago. This is the Yat Ming Road Signature 1961 Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato, in an attractive light metallic green over black color scheme.

Front view, close-up.

Interior view. Almost looks real, doesn't it?

Rear close-up. California "black plate" added by owner.
Left 3/4 view.
Side view.

This replica, as well as many other styles of Aston Martins and other marques, is available from an online store called Diecast Direct (http://www.diecastdirect.com)

Unfinished Project: 1966 Nissan Patrol (no price listed)

2010-01-06T10:19:00.000-08:00

During my several-times-daily scouring of Craigslist, I found this partially-completed 1966 Nissan Patrol project. Almost everything about it that I could see was excellent, from the correct decal on the back to the correct door handles. There are a few issues that need to be corrected, such as one wheel being completely incorrect and aligning the vent flaps correctly.

The Nissan Patrol was sold in the United States via Datsun dealers from 1965 to 1967, to compete with the Land Rover, Toyota Land Cruiser, the International Harvester Scout, and the Jeep. Sluggish sales, poor parts and service availability and changing vehicle-safety and -emissions regulations, as well as the fact that most Americans who bought early sport-utility vehicles preferred Jeeps, Scouts and the then-new Ford Bronco over similar imported vehicles, all contributed to the Patrol's demise in the US market. It continued to be produced for the rest of the world into the 1980s, and was especially popular in Africa and the Australian Outback.

Find it here, with no city or price listed:

http://eugene.craigslist.org/cto/1539515134.html

Found on the Internet: Derelict European Classics

2010-01-05T22:02:00.000-08:00

Two early 1950s-vintage Lagondas, a convertible and a sedan, reposing quietly somewhere in Europe.

Unrestored 1920s Alfa Romeo 6C1500 with Zagato roadster coachwork. In restored form, these and their closely related, better-known 6C1750 brethren are some of the most beautiful cars ever made in my opinion.

1920s-vintage Hotchkiss limousine, located somewhere in Europe. This would be a daunting project at best, but it would be beautiful if restored nicely.

1950s Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing coupe. You're looking at a million dollars rotting away here, possibly more if it has the belly pan covering the underside of the car. The Rudge aluminum wheels alone on this are worth at least $500 each as they sit.
Extremely rare Iso Grifo Spider, sharing garage space with a highly desirable Mercedes-Benz 300SL "Gullwing" coupe.

Rare British RV: 1960 Bedford CA Dormobile Project, $1500

2010-01-05T13:51:00.000-08:00

While not often seen in the US, the Dormobile campers built by Martin Walter Coachworks in Folkestone, England were a true pioneer in the recreational-vehicle world. Most of their conversions were done on Volkswagen Busses, British Ford Thames vans or Bedford CA vans, although there were other brands of small van converted by this firm.

The vehicle that's the subject of this post is a 1960 Bedford CA Dormobile, in rough but restorable condition. The Bedford marque was a British General Motors product produced along with the Vauxhall, another British GM product. Therefore, Bedford was to the UK as GMC is to the US. This particular vehicle likely came to the US via Canada, since that country was a British commonwealth in 1960 and Vauxhall and Bedford vehicles were exported in a moderate quantity to Canada into the late 1960s to early 1970s.

This particular Dormobile needs full restoration, but it is definitely worth doing, since there are very few of these left worldwide, and vintage RVs are steadily growing in popularity. Also, the original interior in this still appears to be present but tatty, and many Dormobiles of all types have been converted to a different style of interior.

This Dormobile is on eBay in upstate New York, for a nominal $1500 Buy-it-Now price, here:

cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1960-Bedford-Doormobile-vintage-camper-rat-hot-rod_W0QQitemZ150109145518QQcmdZViewItemQQptZSalvage_Parts_Cars?hash=item22f333c9ae#ht_2387wt_1167

Low-MIleage American Luxury: 1971 Lincoln Continental, $2995

2010-01-05T13:39:00.000-08:00

I've always been a fan of these big land-yacht luxury cars, due in part to me growing up around a Cadillac and a Chrysler, both of which were top-of-the-line models in their day.

With 40k miles on the clock and excellent original condition, this 1971 Lincoln Continental is good enough to bring in a high four-figure or even low five-figure price, but as a result of the state of the economy in the US, and high gasoline prices, you can take this home for $2995 or offer.

Find it here, located in Albany, Oregon eugene.craigslist.org/ctd/1537785516.html

Lavelle Vineyards European Sports Car Show: Set 2

2010-01-05T10:21:00.001-08:00

1967 MGB-GT. Very nicely restored, correct silver enamel finish on wire wheels as opposed to the chrome plating seen all too often.

1966 Sunbeam Alpine. Probably the most authentic restoration of an Alpine I've ever seen, although the roll bar is not period-correct.
1958 Austin-Healey 100-6 two-seat roadster. The color scheme is original, but the chrome wire wheels are not correct.

Sunbeam "Alger" (Alpine converted to Tiger specification), the owner tried too hard here to make it similar to a Shelby Cobra.

Jaguar XK140 engine compartment. Notice that the spark-plug wiring is not correct, the caps on the carburetors are too highly polished and should be brass rather than chrome, the radiator-hose neck is also too highly polished, the coil wires are all wrong, and the air cleaners (one barely visible to the left of lower center) are incorrect. I pointed all of that out, and am very lucky that the owner was not around.

Countryside Find: 1925 Buick Roadster

2010-01-05T09:48:00.000-08:00

This 1925 Buick roadster was photographed on a two-lane country road near Junction City, Oregon on a hundred-degree day in August 2009. It is definitely a project, but all the hard work such as structural-wood replacement, metal work and primer application seems to have already been completed.

Hard-to-find single taillight and spare-wheel holder are still present, but rear bumpers are conspicuous in their absence.

Once again, no bumpers, but the fenders appear straight and retain their decorative scallops, rare original headlamp lenses are intact, and grille appears to be very nice. Due to the absence of the Buick logo on the grille, I originally thought this was a Packard when I first caught a glimpse of it while going by it en route to the golf course, but it likely wouldn't have been parked by the side of the road exposed to the elements if it was.

The dash looks pretty good but needs further restoration, and what might be the original color is visible along the top, near the windshield.

Original hub cover with Buick script looks great after 84 years, and may have been restored. Turquoise paint on wooden wheels looks good, may have been original color.

The running boards and door handles are missing, but this looks like a great project nonetheless. I don't know if this car is still available for sale, since I haven't been out that direction since these pictures were taken.

Lavelle Vineyards European Sports Car Show: Set 1

2010-01-04T10:15:00.000-08:00

1955 Jaguar XK140 coupe. Inaccurate details abound under the bonnet (to be covered via text and a picture in another post), but otherwise very nice. I saw a small part of the restoration whilst visiting a local sports and exotic car repair shop/restoration facility/dealership.

Ferrari 400i. One of only two Ferraris at this show, and much nicer than the pimped-out 360 Modena that was the other representative of the Prancing Horse.

1955 Austin-Healey 100-4. A very good and very authentic restoration, not to mention driven frequently- and in the rain too. I saw this very car being driven during a rainstorm several years back, with the top up and sidescreens on; obviously the owner uses his car as it was intended to be.

Replica of MG TD Midget, circa 1953. Inaccuracies include the screwed-on dashboard, everything about the seats, the gearshift and handbrake (wrong boots, handles and locations),the hollow black-painted fiberglass inside the doors, the black cut-pile carpeting (the original would have had loop-pile carpet or rubber mats) and the locking glovebox. Steering wheel and gauges wrong as well.

Same replica MG TD. Inaccuracies include the doors protruding farther from the body than original, chrome-plated hinges, chromed strips on running boards, vent pattern on bonnet and flat front on grille. (the original had a slight "V" shape to the front)

Circa-1965 Volvo 122 "Amazon"

2010-01-04T09:53:00.000-08:00

This Volvo 122 was spotted on a tree-lined suburban Eugene street in August 2009. It was originally one of three very similar cars (two drivable Volvos and one parts car) that I first spotted in the early 1990s. The parts car and second drivable Volvo are long gone, but this one still remains, as a testament to the reliability, durability and long life of the pre-Ford takeover Volvo.

The red paint appears original, as does just about everything else, and this car is a great example of a "survivor" car (unrestored, well-preserved original) and thus shouldn't be restored. A set of the forthcoming new "Pacific Wonderland" Oregon plates or restored year-of-manufacture vintage Oregon plates, some new tires and a good cleaning would do this car a lot of good.

Side Street Find: Manx-Style Buggy

2010-01-04T09:43:00.000-08:00

This Manx-style dune buggy was found on a side street in an unincorporated neighborhood of Eugene, Oregon in July 2009. It appears to have sat in the driveway for years, and to be a partly-finished project. Unfortunately, I can't say whether it's VW, Porsche or Corvair-based, or what kind of engine it has, because it sat on private property. I'm going to venture a guess and say Corvair, due to the fact that it had 5-lug wheels, the left-side fuel cap and a hint of coil springs peeking out from the left side.