- Joined
- Feb 14, 2007
- Messages
- 17,851
- Location
- SWMO
- Car(s)
- Mustang SVO - Frontier Pro-4X - BRZ - D21 Hardbody
I know I have a reputation for Mustangs around here, and I guess it may deserved, but how many have I had that have actually run? :lol:
For the last few years I have been drooling over the low mileage 25 year imports that keep popping up on Craigslist or Facebook. The problem with them is always price. I can't/don't want to drop $9k+ on a car that I will drive occasionally. When I saw that a friend of mine (who is a small car dealer, more on that in a second) had this 1991 Infiniti M30 up for sale I contacted him and wanted to see if he was still interested in my Merkur. He didn't even hesitate. Only problem was I was in the middle of a busy week and couldn't get down to his lot until the following week.
When I arrived at his lot there was barely a spot to park the truck and trailer. As with most small lots, there was lots of not so great looking vehicles sitting about. The Infiniti was one of them. Admittedly the Merkur wasn't in tip top shape, so I went ahead and took the Infiniti out for a test drive. Except... the battery was dead. After a jump (and me tightening up the battery terminal), the Infiniti fired right up. Right away I noticed a small "blow" in the exhaust. No problem, I can fix that. When I sat in the driver's seat I noticed the seat belt wouldn't go into the latch on the non-original seats. No problem, I can fix that. The A/C control doesn't come on. No problem, I can fix that. The radio doesn't come on either. No problem, I can fix that. Tires have plenty of tread, but are from 2011. No problem, I can fix that. The back seat, which is still leather is in really bad shape. No problem, I can fix that. So far, it's feeling like this isn't such a great deal.
On the road it drove fine, the exhaust has an interesting sound with leak. Wherever it is. I can feel that the struts are done for after 93k miles and nearly 28 years. No problem, I can fix that. I return to his lot and I am just not 100% convinced I want to trade. He's dealing with a body shop guy when I return on a Volvo wagon that's almost as nice as the day it rolled off the dealer lot 30 years ago, except for about a dozen hail dents. Said he has a guy that will pay asking price ($6,500) if those are fixed.
As I am waiting I keep mulling it over and I finally decide I want this car, despite all of it's foibles.
So I unloaded the Merkur, he parked it in the only open spot, I loaded the Infiniti and drug it through the pouring rain the 95 miles home.
Since it was raining, I didn't even unload it when I got home.
The next day I unload it and realize it's not all bad. Sure the front fenders and bumper are a few shades different, but... No problem, I can fix that.
Yesterday, I spent a good 8 hours, scraping old bubbled purple tint off the back glass and quarter windows. As well as cleaning the exterior the best I could. Which involved clay bar, rubbing compound and wax. While it looks much better, it's still 28 year old paint (except those fenders and bumper).
So today I took it out to the track to get some photos of it cleaned up.
Best feature? Frame less windows!
Obligatory proof photo.
And lastly, a shitty burnout video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7u4HKqEZCE
For the last few years I have been drooling over the low mileage 25 year imports that keep popping up on Craigslist or Facebook. The problem with them is always price. I can't/don't want to drop $9k+ on a car that I will drive occasionally. When I saw that a friend of mine (who is a small car dealer, more on that in a second) had this 1991 Infiniti M30 up for sale I contacted him and wanted to see if he was still interested in my Merkur. He didn't even hesitate. Only problem was I was in the middle of a busy week and couldn't get down to his lot until the following week.
When I arrived at his lot there was barely a spot to park the truck and trailer. As with most small lots, there was lots of not so great looking vehicles sitting about. The Infiniti was one of them. Admittedly the Merkur wasn't in tip top shape, so I went ahead and took the Infiniti out for a test drive. Except... the battery was dead. After a jump (and me tightening up the battery terminal), the Infiniti fired right up. Right away I noticed a small "blow" in the exhaust. No problem, I can fix that. When I sat in the driver's seat I noticed the seat belt wouldn't go into the latch on the non-original seats. No problem, I can fix that. The A/C control doesn't come on. No problem, I can fix that. The radio doesn't come on either. No problem, I can fix that. Tires have plenty of tread, but are from 2011. No problem, I can fix that. The back seat, which is still leather is in really bad shape. No problem, I can fix that. So far, it's feeling like this isn't such a great deal.
On the road it drove fine, the exhaust has an interesting sound with leak. Wherever it is. I can feel that the struts are done for after 93k miles and nearly 28 years. No problem, I can fix that. I return to his lot and I am just not 100% convinced I want to trade. He's dealing with a body shop guy when I return on a Volvo wagon that's almost as nice as the day it rolled off the dealer lot 30 years ago, except for about a dozen hail dents. Said he has a guy that will pay asking price ($6,500) if those are fixed.
As I am waiting I keep mulling it over and I finally decide I want this car, despite all of it's foibles.
So I unloaded the Merkur, he parked it in the only open spot, I loaded the Infiniti and drug it through the pouring rain the 95 miles home.
Since it was raining, I didn't even unload it when I got home.
The next day I unload it and realize it's not all bad. Sure the front fenders and bumper are a few shades different, but... No problem, I can fix that.
Yesterday, I spent a good 8 hours, scraping old bubbled purple tint off the back glass and quarter windows. As well as cleaning the exterior the best I could. Which involved clay bar, rubbing compound and wax. While it looks much better, it's still 28 year old paint (except those fenders and bumper).
So today I took it out to the track to get some photos of it cleaned up.
Best feature? Frame less windows!
Obligatory proof photo.
And lastly, a shitty burnout video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7u4HKqEZCE