Joe Elliott

The Worst Things For Sale is Drew's blog. It updates every day. Subscribe to the Worst Things For Sale RSS!

The Worst Things For Sale is Drew's blog. It updates every day. Subscribe to the Worst Things For Sale RSS!

Hospital combed for cause of sweet infection

Pest control was called to Rockwood Hospital, Cardiff after elderly patients noticed honey oozing from the ceiling and dripping down the walls.…

This 1983 Ferrari Quattrovalvole (VIN ZFFMD14A0D0047731) wears an unusual but handsome and restrained dark blue over blue color scheme, and benefits from what’s claimed to be about $15k of very recent engine-out work. Cosmetics are of a good driver quality, and the seller says that the car runs very well. Find it here on eBay in Austin, Texas for $29,500 OBO. Special thanks to BaT reader AMF for this submission.

The car shows quite a few paint imperfections, most notably in the form of a chipped up driver’s door that the next owner will likely want to respray. This dark grayish blue color is really nice though, and much better suited to the car’s relatively low-key looks when compared to more popular reds. Wheels have been switched to standard imperial sized from OEM metric Michelin TRX items, though they look essentially identical and wear tires with 90% remaining tread, according to the seller.

This lovely blue is brighter but still nice and subdued somehow. It works beautifully with the exterior, which overall the cabin appears to be in similar condition to. Notably there’s no terrible power seatbelts as were fitted to later Mondials, but some blocky pod-like aftermarket speakers fitted to the dash aren’t ideal. Says the seller: “All the switches and dials work well, the windows, power antenna, glovebox and fuel door releases and climate control do what they’re supposed to do. The dashboard and instrument binnacle are un-cracked.  Carpet and lower dash are likewise without fault.”

Again, the seller: “Fewer than 500 miles ago, Brian Crall did about $15,000 of out-of-body engine rebuild work at Hill Country Ferrari Service in Austin, Texas. It is now running as good as new, if not better.” Unfortunately no specifics are provided, but with any luck records are available, and hopefully they’ll detail new cam belts at the very least.

Here it is tucked tightly back into the bay, showing factory style red finish on the intake plenum and correct red plug wires.

Mondials catch a lot of flack, much of which may even be deserved. They’re nice looking in their own way though, make a great sound, and posses many of the same intangibly exotic qualities that makes Ferraris so special. This one’s recent engine-out service, great colors and realistic asking price mean it could very well be worth a closer look.

The Worst Things For Sale is Drew's blog. It updates every day. Subscribe to the Worst Things For Sale RSS!

 

Share and Enjoy:

The post Indexed: since August 9, 2006. appeared first on Indexed.

This 1991 Alfa Romeo SZ (VIN ZAR16200063000298) is a rare modern classic and one of only 1,000 produced over a short manufacturing run from 1989 to 1991. Featuring early CAD styling and construction by Zagato, this 45k mile example was recently purchased from a Japanese collector after being sold new in Europe, and is currently offered for sale with a Vermont state title. The car sports a new timing belt and is further said to be in great running condition. Find it here on eBay in San Francisco, California with reserve not met. Special thanks to BaT reader Kyle K. for this submission.

Angular, bizarre and interesting but certainly not very pretty, this type of thing is a Zagato specialty. Bodywork consists of fiberglass reinforced plastic panels bonded to a steel substructure, a process which often led to inconsistent gaps right from the factory. This one displays nicely as photographed however, and paint is said to be original–it shows some age in a few areas like rock chips on the nose, but remains very presentable overall.

The cabin shows wear consistent with the exterior, including some creases and scuffing on the heavily bolstered leather seats. Modifications include Sparco foot pedals and an aftermarket stereo system by Kenwood. The remainder of the interior looks very well kept, with the switchgear, extended leather dash and center console showing little evidence of use.

Power comes from a 3 liter Busso V6 which featured 12 valves, a signle camshaft for each cylinder bank and output of just under 210 HP. Few details are given regarding servicing and maintenance, aside from the seller noting replacement of the timing belt earlier this year at 43,000 miles. Aftermarket plug wires and a replacement distributor cap are also clearly visible.

Though styling remains controversial, these cars were serious performers with excellent driving dynamics, and values look ready to take a big leap soon.

This 1978 Maserati Khamsin (chassis AM120US1290) is described as all original and one of just seven Fly Yellow US spec cars built. Overall condition looks to be quite good, though factory lacquer paint shows lots of cracking, some of which has led to rust developing underneat. The dry sump quad cam V8 is said to start easily and run strong however, and mileage is quoted as just 21k. Find it here on eBay in Delaplane, Virginia with reserve not met.

Gandini’s original design saw taillights mounted floating in the glass tail piece seen below, but US legislation necessitated their move to just above a massively enlarged and lowered impact bumper–fortunately, Euro conversions aren’t impossible, and seeing as this car already needs some bodywork, the next owner might as well budget this work in. Said work is made necessary by heavy lacquer paint checking seen in several places, most notably along the left rear C-pillar, driver’s door leading edge, and cowl area just below the windshield on the same side, the latter of which is beginning to show some worrying looking rust and should be tackled ASAP. Note the asymmetrical hood vent, just one of countless fantastic design details.

The interior definitely has some character, but overall looks very well preserved. Black with purple under a yellow exterior is about as 70’s Italian as it gets, and is reminiscent of some of the wilder factory combinations seen in Lancia’s incredible Stratos. Rear seats look just as good, as does the trunk which is complete with a fully stocked factory tool roll, jack and owner’s manual.

Said to be matching-numbers, the quad cam, 16 valve, dry sump 4.9 liter V8 is said to start easily and run strongly, and the factory ZF 5-speed reportedly shifts well through all gears. These cars were engineered under Citroen ownership, and as such make use of that company’s signature oleopneumatics in several areas including headlight operation, DIRAVI power steering assist, brake and clutch power assistance and more. The seller recommends the system be gone through prior to adding too many miles.

Keep the original parts on a shelf for history’s sake, but the Euro bumper and taillight swap should almost be considered mandatory here. Hopefully that windshield rust isn’t too bad underneath, as this one seems to have a lot left to offer.

I visited here in 2011, just after it had re-opened following a complete restoration. I posted a small gallery and the accompanying text 20 months ago. Here it is again, with added images. In addition to what’s displayed, plus temporary exhibits, they have an impressive collection in storage, so I imagine that, 5 years later, some exhibits … Continue reading "DTW Summer Reissue : Museo Nazionale dell’Automobile Torino"

505-day trip won't engage much commercial interest

An airplane powered by nothing more than the Sun's rays has completed its 42,000-km (26,098-mile) journey around the world after landing in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.…

The Worst Things For Sale is Drew's blog. It updates every day. Subscribe to the Worst Things For Sale RSS!

The Worst Things For Sale is Drew's blog. It updates every day. Subscribe to the Worst Things For Sale RSS!

This 2004 Volvo V70R is a 104k mile example equipped with a 6-speed manual transmission. The seller has owned the car for about 10 years and has had all major repairs performed by the Volvo specialists at European Auto Factory in Santa Clara, CA. The angle gear and collar sleeve were recently replaced, and the AWD system is now functioning well. The car is finished in Flash Green with Atacama leather interior, which is said to be a rare color combination. It remains in good cosmetic and mechanical condition with no aftermarket modifications, and is sold with a clean California title.

The exterior is in good overall condition, with no significant dents or paint damage. There is a minor ding in each of the rear doors, and the Carfax report shows a minor to moderate front end impact early in its life. According to the seller no evidence of the prior damage is visible. The front bumper was repainted in 2009.

The only exterior modification is an aftermarket trailer hitch and wiring harness. An electronic brake controller is installed under the dash and integrates with the wiring harness.

The Atacama natural leather interior was a $1500 option in 2004 and shows some wear on the front seat bolsters, though no tears or split seams are visible. There is considerable scratching around the “spaceball” shifter and on the cupholder cover as can be seen in the photo gallery below. The only known electrical issue is a “position light bulb failure” message on the information display although all lights are working.

The rear seats and carpets look to have held up well.

17″ Pegasus wheels show some curb rash on the passenger side and wear Yokohama tires with plenty of tread.

 

The 2.5L turbocharged inline-five is unmodified apart from a drop-in K&N filter. The seller performed basic maintenance himself including a Mobil 1 oil change every six months, and states that the car uses no oil between changes. While preparing the car for sale, the seller discovered that the AWD system was not working properly and had the collar sleeve and angle gear replaced to resolve the problem. Receipts are available for that work as well as a number of other repairs over the years including:

• Lower control arm bushings 59k miles
• New clutch and throwout bearing 68k miles
• Replaced brake pads and rotors 73k miles
• Fuel pump replaced 79k miles
• Steering column lock replaced 85k miles
• Front lower ball joints, driver side drive shaft, 4-wheel alignment 90k miles
• Rear control arm bushings 91k miles

The original timing belt and tensioners are still installed.

A Carfax report can be viewed in the gallery below and numerous repair receipts are included in the sale. The V70R provides a compelling mix of performance and utility, and this looks to be a well cared for example in a rare color combination.

Share and Enjoy:

The post Why Clippy drinks. appeared first on Indexed.

Share and Enjoy:

The post A quirk of capitalism. appeared first on Indexed.

The Worst Things For Sale is Drew's blog. It updates every day. Subscribe to the Worst Things For Sale RSS!

The Worst Things For Sale is Drew's blog. It updates every day. Subscribe to the Worst Things For Sale RSS!

2/12/2017 Update: Just a bit more than half a year later and this 1961 Facel Vega Facellia drophead coupe has returned to market with a ~10% price drop. The car is noteworthy for retaining its original Pont-à-Mousson twin cam four, one of five or so left in this configuration according to the seller. There’s more on this subject contained within the full story below, and the car sounds to be ready to drive as-is–says the seller: “The engine, gearbox, differential, and brake systems have all been professionally overhauled by a local vintage expert within the last 200 miles. It starts and runs great, it shifts well, there’s no play in the steering, the brakes modulate well and have great pedal feel.” Find it here on Craigslist in Spokane Valley, Washington for $39,400. Special thanks to BaT reader Jon A. for this submission.

From 7/8/2016:

This 1961 Facel Vega Facellia drophead coupe is offered by its longtime owner, and is notably believed to be one of only five retaining with an original Pont-à-Mousson twin cam four-cylinder. Despite the design’s reputation for failure, this one has been treated to a professional rebuild, along with full restoration of all other running gear. Just 200 miles have been added since completion, and the car is described as a nice summer cruiser with older, presentable cosmetics. Find it here on eBay in Spokane, Washington with a $43,130 BIN.

Red is an older respray from original silver, and though finish shows many chips mostly located along panel gaps, its shine and coverage have held up quite decently. Much the same could be said of body and brightwork, each displaying minor dents and fading, respectively, however the car looks perfectly good for a nice driver and could easily be enjoyed as-is for many years to come. That said, its pretty, delicately detailed lines are probably best suited to a more subdued color. The convertible top is new, and looks to fit very well.

While it looks like there may be some rust hiding beneath the rubber mats, the interior is in nice shape overall, however there are a few flaws, most being correctable. Dash top upholstery has begun to separate from the lower edge, the console top is scuffed, and the wheel is scratched and lightly cracked as well. It’s a beautifully designed cabin though, and overall seems to fall into the same category as the exterior–call it good-looking driver level.

This is a very rare sight, as nearly all of these cars have received engine swaps due to failed camshafts–each one is supported by only two bearings as opposed to the more typical four or five, allowing excessive flex that eventually leads to outright failure. Later cars were fitted with Volvo fours, and many of these twin cam equipped models were retrofitted as such by the dealer network when still nearly new. Incredibly, this one’s said to start easily and run well following a full rebuild, which also encompassed the gearbox and differential. Brakes have been gone through as well, and the car is reportedly an excellent driver.

There’s no word on whether any preventative modifications or other “aftermarket development” has been performed on the engine, but we can’t imagine adding a few support bearings would be as easy as it initially sounds–casting an entirely new head would probably be the only real solution, and even then the cams themselves (and potentially valvetrain) would likely need to be re-engineered as well. Considering it’s importance and rarity, we’d pull it and put it on a nice running display stand and swap in an Alfa, Fiat, or similar twin cam–the seller says it already feels very Italian to drive.

hang in there, world. 

The Worst Things For Sale is Drew's blog. It updates every day. Subscribe to the Worst Things For Sale RSS!

The Worst Things For Sale is Drew's blog. It updates every day. Subscribe to the Worst Things For Sale RSS!

The Worst Things For Sale is Drew's blog. It updates every day. Subscribe to the Worst Things For Sale RSS!

Conservative commentator George Will made news over the weekend with his announcement that he was leaving the Republican party over Donald Trump. The last straw, it seems, was Trump’s statement that a judge of Mexican descent could not be trusted to preside over the Trump University lawsuit impartially. You might get the sense that Will is deeply troubled by racism, until you start looking at stuff he’s written over the years.

Here’s further context for the quotes and paraphrased statements in the cartoon.

1. Willie Horton ad — From Will’s 1995 column, “22 Questions for Colin Powell”:

What exactly was objectionable about citing Horton and his rape victim as a consequence of that prisoner-release program?

(A common refrain on the right is that Al Gore introduced Horton during a 1988 debate with Dukakis, which is debunked here; Gore only brought up the furlough program.)

2. George Wallace — From 2007 Newsweek column on third-party candidates:

A candidate can succeed in giving an aggrieved minority a voice—e.g., George Wallace, speaking for people furious about the ’60s tumults.

An aggrieved minority? Oh-kay.

3. Hurricane Katrina — From September, 2005 column “A Poverty of Thought”:

America’s always fast-flowing river of race-obsessing has overflowed its banks, and last Sunday on ABC’s “This Week,” Sen. Barack Obama, Illinois’s freshman Democrat, applied to the expression of old banalities a fluency that would be beguiling were it without content. Unfortunately, it included the requisite lament about the president’s inadequate “empathy” and an amazing criticism of the government’s “historic indifference” and its “passive indifference” that “is as bad as active malice.”

That flooding metaphor sure was tactful three weeks after the devastation of New Orleans. Will proceeded to lecture the locals on out-of-wedlock births.

4. More on Will and voter ID here.

This 1976 Lancia Scorpion benefits from new upholstery and a recent, extensive mechanical restoration as well. Resprayed some years ago in its original color, the car looks great inside and out and is claimed to have never had any rust. Find it here on Craigslist in Vancouver, BC, Canada for $16k CAD (~$12,250 USD today). Special thanks to BaT reader AMF for this submission.

This color is one of the best factory options, and is said to have been resprayed a number of years ago, the seller noting only a few minor flaws picked up since. The ad also claims no rust ever, and sheet metal looks very straight down the sides. Additionally, black plastic and rubber trim show very well, and the factory soft top is also said to be in great shape. As always, some Euro market Montecarlo bumpers would be a definite improvement, but the car is good enough on its own to pull these big DOT items off with relative ease.

The seller notes what sounds like a recent reupholster job using “UK imported” leather, and the results do look very nice. Ditto the dash, carpets, and door panels, not to mention the center console. Overall cabin condition is pretty impressive, especially considering what a weak point it usually is with these cars.

Says the seller: “The mechanicals have all been professionally gone through, engine, transmission, clutch, upgraded precise shift linkage, brakes, fuel pump, Weber carb, starter, alternator all either rebuilt or replaced. The front shocks were replaced and the timing belt and battery are new, so its ready for you to enjoy for many years of service free driving.”

It’s rare to see these cars offered as sorted drivers, as even relatively good ones almost always need at least some level of sorting. This one sounds to be ready to go however, and definitely looks to be one of the better examples still on the road.

The Worst Things For Sale is Drew's blog. It updates every day. Subscribe to the Worst Things For Sale RSS!