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Undiscovered classic cars?

Agree, I've always love the XJS....Still do and want one, I toyed with buying one instead of the XK8...but as a daily driver I figured the XK* would be more reliable(so far i figured right, over a year and no problems *Knock on Wood*)

Got another undiscovered classic....Chevy S10 pickup, especially the 350 versions.
 
S-10? why not Ford Ranger or F-150? I mean there's what millions of each. I don't remember a stock 350 powered s-10, but I've seen a couple v-6 turbos, and one with a 454 shoehorned into it. Way too common and ugly though IMHO. If I were to pick a truck... Chevy Luv, early Datsuns, and maybe eighties El Caminos.
 
late 80's elcaminos....with the rubber monte carlo front end /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
I am pretty sure some late 80's S10 came with 350's....otherwise there is alot of conversions running around. I said S10 as I see alot of nicely kept, and modded ones running around. Walking through an 'anything goes' cruise night last night I saw I couple nice ones.
 
I'll throw in early Toyota pickups too - And 4Runner 4x4 SUV's - before SUV was a commonly tossed around term. I consider my 1995 4Runner to be one of the last good SUV's with real off road capability around - even though the 3.slow v-6 engines in them suck... Comparitively, the 4 cylinder toyotas don't have as much power, but are nearly indestructable, and last forever - 99% of the 1,000,000 mile toyotas you've heard about had the 20R (or one of the several variations of it) 4 cylinder motor.
 
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Got another undiscovered classic....Chevy S10 pickup, especially the 350 versions.

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I wasn't aware that they ever shoehorned a 350 into one of those little trucks? Or are you talking about a conversion?

As for the XJS becomeing a classic someday? I agree. In fact before I found the Shark - I'd actually looked at a couple.
 
I keep thinking of James May's fun on a recent episode of Top Gear in a worn out XJS. I'll third the nomination. I always thought the xjs convertible was very cool, and the coupe is not bad either. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif
 
I've got a book on how to convert an S10 or Sonoma to V8 power...its actually quite easy!
 
I figured it was either a factory opinion or just a very common conversion. Either way I bet those things would go!
 
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I keep thinking of James May's fun on a recent episode of Top Gear in a worn out XJS. I'll third the nomination. I always thought the xjs convertible was very cool, and the coupe is not bad either. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif

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you watching internet versions of these videos, or is it on the telie regularly now? If it's on the telie, I'd like to find out the normal programming schedule for the show! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
sweet... thanks /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Mustang IIs, they were under-appreciated. Murcury Capri (both the rebadged Mustang T-top, and the little convertable)
and the Merkurs. Those things have quite a following.
VW microbus/ pickup.
Pacers and Gremlins
Jeepsters (Commandos)
How about the Model "A" replicas they sold through Ford dealers in 1980. They had Pinto running gear. They ran beautifully, and looked pretty good. Even had decent weather protection And they go pretty cheap.
 
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Pacers and Gremlins

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Okay! I think we've reached the outer limits now! hehehehe

But, what about the AMX?
 
I think your right about the Gremlin & Pacer. Horrible design! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/pukeface.gif But I’ve known a few folks over the years that love them.

As for the AMX? I think it’s fair to say they along with the Javelin have been collectables for some time now. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif
 
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Except for the giant wing, the deep chin spoiler and the side skirts. They kind of kill the 'sleeper' aspect.

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I wasn't indicating that the Evolution was a sleeper and you couldn't find one in this country anyway. The M-B 190E-16 is the street version and is the "sleeper" with a rear spoiler that is only 2 inches above the trunk lid (I measured it). It is the one with all the luxury "extras" mentioned in my original post--the Evolution was a stripped-down, purpose-built race car that couldn't be licensed for the street or possibly even titled in this country. But the 190E-16 also came with the Evolution's Cosworth 16-valve head, tuned exhaust, five-speed manual, self-lowering suspension, ABS, etc. that I mentioned previously.
 
Suzuki Swift GTi.

An excellent pocket-rocket from the late '80s. 16 valve four with 7500 RPM redline and four wheel disk.

There was also the similar Chevy Sprint Turbo triple, but the four-cylinder 1.3L Swift is better.
Great fun to drive...very "point-and-shoot".

There are probably a good number left in the $500 range, but the kids are starting to figure out that they are a great alternate to an early Civic.

Very appropriate considering rising gas prices too.
891226.JPG
 
I think the kids are starting to take note of almost any Turbocharged car that's inexpensive anymore... Pop a new turbo in them for less than a grand, and tune it, and you can usually get almost double the horsepower out of most of them... Granted the old bottom end might not hold up, but if it blows - you're out what $1500-2000? and you can keep you new turbo for the next project as long as it didn't eat engine parts.
 
Bret is going to probably agree with me here, but the Porsche 928 and BMW 635 get votes in my book. I had 928S4, put 40,000 miles on it and sold it for $6K more than I paid for it. And yes, I never should of sold it.

I think the e30 325is is a good candidate as well...
 
What about the Ford Maverick/Mercury Comet.
 
Oh yea! good one Tony. Those were good cars. And I always thought they looked good too.
How about the early 80s Escort Diesels. there's a rare one.
Or the mid 90s Celica Convertable. Special made, only a couple thousand a year.
 
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