Posts Tagged ‘Feature’

Want Some Candy? Stretched 1972 VW Bus

February 12, 2015

Have you ever seen a car on the street that drew your attention, and you maybe wanted to snap a picture, but worried about whether the occupants might have a violent reaction? Well, today’s feature could have been a RustyButTrusty feature vehicle, but for the concern that photography might have alarmed its inhabitants. Fortunately, online classifieds come to the rescue, and that’s how you get to see this 1972/3 VW Bus stretch (don’t call it a limo) for sale for $2000 in Berkeley, CA.

1972 VW Bus stretch right rear

For quite a while, this bus was parked outside the day care center attended by the RustyButTrusty junior intern, provoking mild concern from the center’s management and worrisome parents. Turns out it’s pretty harmless – more of an art camper in the works than a residence. Now you might ask yourself, who’s selling this vehicle? Thanks to photography, you can see it’s the friendly artist above. And why is he selling? Well (and this will make a deal-sniffer’s ears perk up), he’s leaving for several months’ travel in early March and doesn’t have time to keep it. Needless to say, there are issues, but power is not among them as it’s been converted to Ford Ranger 2.9 V6 power, with fuel injection, and the standard VW transaxle with manual gearshift. Compression is tolerable, but the van is said to have some wiring issues which are causing it not to start.

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Mainstreaming – 1987 Peugeot 505 STX V6

January 28, 2015

With the 505 being Peugeot’s attempt at being a little less weird, you could argue the PRV V6 powered 505 is the most milquetoast of them all. With a V6 pushing out 170hp, four doors, comfortable seating, and smart styling, on paper it was competitive with its contemporaries from BMW, Alfa, Saab, and more. However, by 1987, Peugeot’s reputation in the North American market was already cemented, and not in the best way. The PRV engine did not help either, other applications including the DeLorean and six-cylinder Volvo sedans, none of which had the greatest public perception of reliability. That said, any car that’s survived to the ripe old age of 28 will probably keep going with proper care and attention. Check out this 1987 Peugeot 505 STX V6 for sale for $2500 in Los Gatos, CA.

1987 Peugeot 505 STX V6 left front

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Last of the MBicans – 1992 Mercedes 300 SE

January 27, 2015

There’s a lot of moaning, and probably has been since the curved dash Olds was phased out, that the real insert-marque-here no longer exists. And so it is with Mercedes – since about the W211 E-class Mercedes, where the company made a distinct shift in thinking, adding more style to their cars and adjusting the quality to the expectation of their clients, not engineers and automotive journalists. They don’t make insert-thing-here like they used to, and while the things they used to make are great in their own way, we probably have fewer people losing control of their cars, getting electrocuted by home appliances, or hurting their kid with a poorly designed toy. For a car that won’t electrocute you even though it is made like it used to be, check out this 1992 Mercedes 300SE for sale for $3500 in Fremont, CA.

1992 Mercedes S320 left front

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