Some of you may cry over this one

shaolinfox30 · Post by **shaolinfox30** » Tue Dec 21, 2010 9:15 pm

n20capri · Post by **n20capri** » Fri Dec 24, 2010 5:49 pm

Why cry? Looks like an awesome build!! Good stuff.

U-MAN · Post by **U-MAN** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 3:20 am

Ditto, to what Mike said ! They used some good parts, and did some good work. There isn't anything that can't be made better

shaolinfox30 · Post by **shaolinfox30** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 4:06 pm

Oh I personally agree whole wholeheartedly,(just looke at my personal album) but I know there are some purists out there that would wag their fingers in disappointment

lightning95sc · Post by **lightning95sc** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 5:38 pm

I'm diggin' it. As a matter of fact, I think Mike's car is what a McLaren should have been from the factory.

Look at all the other "special edition" fox conversion cars. There is as much emphasis on added performance as there is on handling and asthetics, which is why those cars carry more value than ours.

Chuck

85GTTops · Post by **85GTTops** » Tue Dec 28, 2010 10:32 pm

What a perfect way to ruin a rare vehicle. Sheesh, grab a 2.3L beater for crying out loud. They're a dime a dozen.

Anyone with a wallet and basic car skills can make a car go fast. It takes real skill to restore and/or maintain a rare car or truck within factory specs. Finding factory fox parts alone will bring most owners to their knees. Then add the factor of age and authenticity with so few models to go by, one can see why touching rare birds like these should be shunned.

shelbyscarab · Post by **shelbyscarab** » Thu Dec 30, 2010 1:53 pm

Looks nice to me. Love to do some of that to mine.

As long as he doesn't get into extensively modding the exterior and interior.

I remember a candy orange ASC from a few years ago that was for sale that the owner went nuts on. plus it was poory done. It was bad. wonder what happened to that one......

Sandy · Post by **Sandy** » Thu Dec 30, 2010 6:14 pm

There are two mindsets to this.

These aftermarket "tuner" "Upgrades. are very successful in achieving better handling, more torque, more horsepower, and of couse, any wheels except "stock", will do. For some enthusiats that is great!

For others, we like to keep special cars" stock".

Both sides should not critique the oppisite way of thought.

But, I think think the "all telling" could be explained thusly:

A guy bought new an original ubber low mileage, first year, first front wheel drive modern day Oldsmobile Toronado. This Toro was a 1966, first year on the market, and the Motor Trend Car-Of-The-year. Every option that was available, original owner. Sold in 2002, when the owner passed away.
Car gets bought by a 25 year old who thinks it's a "Cool-Car". He has no idea of the car's historical contrubution, how rare it is today (2010) but just thinks it's a cool ride. (Rember it was the FIRST modern-day car with Front Wheel Drive, and other "Firsts" !!)
So, he procedes to cusromize it with chrome running boards, a continential kit, fender skirts (that don't fit right) and pulls the engine and drops in a Corvette and adds a blower. Sells the Toro's leather bucket seats & drops in ersatz Recaros, made in China.

The car glistens in the sun and grabs a trophey or two at a local cruse-in.

The guy is happy with the car and is in love with it. All his pals love the car too.

There 's a Big Oldsmobile Show comming up on the East Coast. Our guy goes. The National Toronado Club is in attendance.

They nearly puke at the site of his Toro !! How could YOU do THIS to THAT car ?? You riuned it !!!

Neither person can understand the other's point of view.
They both LOVE cars. But, they see them under different "light" !!

One wishes to please himself, and make the car "better" ~
The other group wants to preserve the authentacity of the original.

Neither will ever understand the other's side.

But, we get along, in the name of love for our cars.

shaolinfox30 · Post by **shaolinfox30** » Thu Dec 30, 2010 7:28 pm

Well said Sandy......well said friend.

Sandy · Post by **Sandy** » Fri Dec 31, 2010 12:26 am

Regarding ME

IF I lived in a nice rural area, with faming, and undeveloped spaces, and the like, I would drive mine much more. However, I live in "Hell's Kitchen" of traffic, speeders, drivers with "1 to many" beeers in their belly, with overpopulation exploding, and billions of hunDUHs, Toyopets, and "Missins" whose owners are about into cars as this group here is into raising doberman pinchers! They use it, abuse it and trade it in at lease's end. Yup, they don't even OWN it ! So, we and our love for a 21 to a 27 YEAR OLD Ford - is totally miles beyond their grasp !
It does not look like anything special to them, such as a 1941 Cadillac, so.... our cars are "fair game" and crashable.

When I take mine out (May to October) it's usually on a Sunday morn, around 7AM to 8 AM ~ when the "me-too" car group is still scrambling their eggs, and not other's cars !!
If I do get a tailgater, I'll put on the turn signal, in advance, and turn - just to loose the offender.
So far - So good. Karen (MY BRIDE) after being asked by ME, stated that if I lose my battle, she will sell the both 'Verts, and my 10,000 mile "1-OFF" 1993 Cadillac 60 Special - but, keep the 1986 McLaren Coupe. She is not sure on the Town Car Limited Edition and might keep the Jeep Cherokee - just for Winter use.

I had to ask her, as I was curious. She was angry at me, for asjing such a question!! I am holding my own and improving slightly. The new chemo I am getting is
HORRIBLE !!!!!! Sick for 8 days - then 5 good days and back again and again and again! Sick 16 days a month, in hospital 4 days a month. Home okay for 11 days. (Today is 1 of those 11

)

But Dr. says he will tke me off this premium juice from hell in 8 weeks ( that is a total of 4 infusions of it. I am dealing right now with # 2. Two more to go, over a month from now.

U-MAN · Post by **U-MAN** » Sat Jan 01, 2011 1:57 am

Hi ! Well ..,I can see this from both sides.As for me,I like to make changes that give the car a brighter look, Mo' shiney, under the hood.I just can't take all that semi flat black in there. The outside, that stays stock, Just clean. Our cars are different in their own rite. Not to sound over the top. But , each car is a work of art. There should be no two the same . Going around at car shows, I'll look for cars that the owner has made some of their own pieces that were used . To me that what makes the car yours.

Sandy · Post by **Sandy** » Sun Jan 02, 2011 2:12 pm

In the olden days (of, say 1955 to 1965) it was different. Car buyers either saved up the money, or took out a loan in order to buy a car. The car was theirs! There was some "respect" for a man's automobile.
Today THAT is all gone ! Today, most expensive cars are leased. The mental thought-line is that one has no financial "investment" in said automobile. It's "use it - abuse it - trade it back in," for new one.
Folks do not even take care of it ! "It's NOT mine" mentality" !

When I worked (pre-Chemo) selling Dodge cars & trucks, our dealership was a drop off dealer for MOPAR leased vehicles. We were paid to change the oil and all filters, check and replace brake pads and to do an all-around inspection.
I cannot tell you how many of these 3 year old cars, with 60,000 PLUS miles were still wearing their original, factory-installed oil filters !!
AND probably the factory installed oil.
That is how they (the public) treats their leased cars !!
So......
How carefully are they going to drive? They almost always tailgate, pass on the right, cut others off and hit the side of the car parked next to them in any parking lot, giving you a door ding.
They simply do not care about their car as they have no vested interest in or with it.

So then, how are they going to treat mine !

But, on Sunday morning at 7AM...... they are sleeping, and I can cut down on the chances of something bad happening, so weather permitting, feeling good (or at least decent) that is when I take them out for exercise.
Best place to go is the 65MPH interstates. E'body is going the same direction, no intersections, no red lights, nobody slamming on their brakes because the wife suddenly remembered she wanted to go into that Quick Check convenience store, and you can take the car up to speed. Take an exit that you know, get off, go around and get back on going back to where you began and the car had a good ride. Run the heater if it's October to keep it working and/or the A/C in the summer.

Kentennis · Post by **Kentennis** » Sun Jan 02, 2011 2:28 pm

Had ours out yesterday for a 'Top Down Run'.

Probably be the Corvette's turn today. 'T' tops off.

Finally getting some decent weather here, after the record setting cold December.

mrheehee · Post by **mrheehee** » Wed Jan 05, 2011 11:41 pm

I'm still trying to decide what to do with mine. It's a driver, a 1988 ASC vert with 100,00 miles. It's white with blue interior, so it's the most common color combination built in the highest production year, I think? It's original with a few replacement parts, like a new rear axle from Ford Motorsports (the original was completely shot). The muffler system had rotted away so most of that is new, but no different than stock, using the original tailpipes. I replaced the headlights with a pair of one-piece lights, the originals were literally falling apart and produced very little useable light. After seeing the price of tail light covers I replaced the rear lights as well and put the originals in a box to keep if I ever sell the car. It had an alarm put in it who knows when. It is completely rust free. The transmission slips going into overdrive. The paint is in good condition, as is the interior.
I've restored several cars, mostly Triumph TR6's, and those were as original as possible, right down to the fuses with the little slip of paper inside labeled "Lucas" (shudder), so I understand that mind-set.
But I don't see these cars ever reaching that kind of popularity, possibly because there are so few. There would seem to be more than enough low-mileage cars in rare colors for the collectors.
I bought it because I liked the way the top stows completely, the Mustang vert reminds me of a VW vert with the top hanging out when down. At the time I hadn't seen one, I saw it on eBay and bought it instead of a Mustang GT vert (that sold for a lot more, in similar condition)
I'd like to upgrade a lot of things while keeping an original appearance (except the lights) because I like the way it looks, even the wheels.
I'm thinking a crate motor, rebuilt transmission, frame connectors and new suspension components all around. Nothing as extensive as the one linked to in the first post, but let's face it, it handles poorly and is not quick or fast by today's standards.
I would retain all of the original components in case one day everyone else is like "Hey look what WE found!" and the prices go up....but with everything going the way it is I doubt that will happen and I'd like to have fun with it.

So I'd like your opinion - stock appearance with updated drivetrain and suspension?

I promise no chrome running boards or pleated velvet interior...

darkhorse40 · Post by **darkhorse40** » Thu Jan 06, 2011 9:21 am

I like as original as possible, but whatever makes you happy within your means should be the highest priority.