I'm thinking these two are crack pipe examples. Especially the second one.
Exhibit one. Merc 190E cossie under knife missing the engine, yours for only $7,500:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mercedes-Benz-190-Series-16v-/321708310377
Exhibit 2. XJS with an LT1 'borrowed' from a Corvette for a bargain price of 'only' $16,995. Nice car, ut you're E36 M3ting me really for that much I'd want a mint V12.
http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/dealer/jaguar/xjs/1729073.html
Yeah, having owned a '88 XJS I think that's crack pipe. Reading between the lines, all that has been done is to put the LT1 motor in it-- everything else is 30 years old and probably shows it. There is a lot of shiny Armorall there, but condition is a question mark.
On the plus side, that's a XJSC, which is somewhat more desirable than the coupe, but probably not as desirable as the later true convertibles. And you can find the later true convertibles for less than that.
Crack pipe on both.
The primer on the Cossie Benz scares me.
Both Crack pipe
I had the chance to buy a Merc 16v in rough but running condition for $6000 about 2 years ago. Also, the Jag is nuts. I know of 2 v12 cars currently for sale under $2000. Not to mention a LT1 is garbage.
Crack. Large amounts of it.
Basil Exposition wrote: Yeah, having owned a '88 XJS I think that's crack pipe. Reading between the lines, all that has been done is to put the LT1 motor in it-- everything else is 30 years old and probably shows it. There is a lot of shiny Armorall there, but condition is a question mark. On the plus side, that's a XJSC, which is somewhat more desirable than the coupe, but probably not as desirable as the later true convertibles. And you can find the later true convertibles for less than that.
Agreed it's crack. I just have a soft spot for XJS Cabriolets. This is my parents 3.6L 5 speed manual with the TWR body kit and US spec lights. I loved that car.
Appleseed wrote: Everything on the Cossie Benz scares me.
FTFY
In reply to NordicSaab:
I agree that both are crack pipe, but, I can't wrap my head around anyone thinking an LT1 is "garbage" 
Nick_Comstock wrote: In reply to NordicSaab: I agree that both are crack pipe, but, I can't wrap my head around anyone thinking an LT1 is "garbage"
But, but but... Optispark!
In reply to Tom_Spangler:
Just don't feed them after midnight and don't get them wet and all is good.
I know two LT1 owners that dyno'd over 700 hp and one that claimed over 1000 but was almost always broken.
I never had any issues with my opti. And I can't recall anyone from our club having any either. I know the opti has it's weakness but the LT1 as a whole was a good engine on it's own and a solid foundation for a big HP build.
It's just that the LS engines eclipsed it in every way. I wouldn't necessarily build a swapped car around an LT1 but I also wouldn't swap out an LT1 for an LS engine either.
Nick_Comstock wrote: Just don't feed them after midnight and don't get them wet and all is good.
That Optispark GIZMO is a real gremlin :)
Nick_Comstock wrote: In reply to Tom_Spangler: Just don't feed them after midnight and don't get them wet and all is good. I know two LT1 owners that dyno'd over 700 hp and one that claimed over 1000 but was almost always broken. I never had any issues with my opti. And I can't recall anyone from our club having any either. I know the opti has it's weakness but the LT1 as a whole was a good engine on it's own and a solid foundation for a big HP build. It's just that the LS engines eclipsed it in every way. I wouldn't necessarily build a swapped car around an LT1 but I also wouldn't swap out an LT1 for an LS engine either.
Yeah, I never had any issues with my 95 Z28, either, though I didn't have it for all that long. I was mostly kidding anyhow. IMO, the LT1-Optispark thing is a typical internet-exaggerated problem.
In reply to Tom_Spangler: I agree, even though I had one fail on my 97 Formula. I'm pretty sure it was because I neglected to replace the water pump that had a bad seal, just kept topping off the rad with dex-cool. Of course once it died and I got the estimate to replace it, I just had it towed home and did it myself. I think part of the reason it's so exaggerated was due to the price of a replacement. When mine died they weren't making aftermarket ones yet and the local dealer price was 400+. I had one shipped in from a dealer in Ft Walton for under half that, about what a good OEM HEI distributor would run. The only thing I hate about Optispark is where they mounted it, right where a water pump seal failure would kill it.
I had an Opti with 192,000mi on it. Name one distributor that can do that.
LT1 is quite possibly one of my favorite engines, a big part of it is because everyone else thinks its a boat anchor.
Wait... So whats crack pipe about the jag?
Take a clean, mint jag (non-running). Probably a couple grand.
Add lt1 drivetrain (with auto or 6 speed, probably another grand or two).
Presumably buy any of the swap pieces, another grand.
Have everything working happily together; a buttload of time.
Im not saying it is worth $16k, but it certainly (in my mind) is worth $8k... And if the car itself is mint and nothing is hackjobbed on the install, $10k-$12k doesnt seem unreasonable...
In reply to HiTempguy:
But we all know you never get your money back on modifications. I would call $8 k to the right buyer fair if it was absolutely perfect, and I mean perfect in every way. Swaps don't add value, they decrease it unless its something seriously special where the engine itself has special value.
This is pretty damn special; a reliable jag that actually moves at a quick pace.
It has nothing to do with mods adding value. This is a niche product, somebody buys it because of what it is, not what its worth. If I wanted a sbc powered jag, you can bet your ass that this would be a front runner compared to doing all the work myself.
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