Jon thinks that the chopped VW hotrod is a better look, but I like this clean-looking 1974 VW Beetle with flared fenders, square light conversion, new motor, bushing, brakes, axles, tires, lines, new floor, and a $3,800. The asking price is $8,995 and if you’re interested you can contact ed via ewoodruffjr@stny.rr.com or at 607-857-9038. Oh, and if you hear it’s sold before I do, please drop me a line so I can update this entry!
I don’t know much about it’s history, but Ken (who I think is in the Washington DC region, or at least his ISP is) has had this car now for twenty one years (he traded it for his Mercedes), and before that it was in Germany (or so he was told). Anyway, it’s the last of his car collection that he’s selling off — if you’re interested, email him an offer at stages_504@hotmail.com.
I admit that I’m not personally sold on the color or the addition of the rear wing, but those are easy to change depending on whether you agree with me or not… Other than that, it looks like a very clean A-series (I think) Laser 917.
Normally this isn’t something I’d list here, as it’s more of an engine swap project, but the story is funny so I thought I’d tell Charles Dinger’s story. If you want to make him an offer, you can write him at cjdinger@lycos.com.
If the type of person who appreciates this level of madness is interested, this prime vehicle is for sale. Family legend has that it was built by a movie studio as a movie prop car, and used in The Last of Sheila, among others. I don’t know. (Please see review, below) My late father always said that James Mason fell out of the aluminium trunk and dented it. Again, I cannot confirm any of this. The prop department, I’m told, repowered it by a Chevrolet engine (no doubt to the delight of those who consider British engines to be leaky and in the same category as unexploded ordnance). Some of their work was good, some mediocre. Other than that there’s not much to say. Windows are soon to be back in, they were taken out recently for the addition of power lifts. Sony C D player to be in dash, speakers in doors. Seats are original Rolls Royce and come in factory plum velvet, which matches the rest of the interior. Very rare coachbuilt option and very creepy, like being in a coffin. Parts alone (bumpers, hood, trunk, chrome, hubcaps, windshield, dash etc are worth $10,000. I had considered having the body used as a mold for a kit business but manufacturing really isn’t my forte. I’m a Certified Public Accountant. Not the kind of car you take to clients… If anyone is interested, people go insane when they see me parading around in it. Perfect for a kit business. It out draws Ferraris for attention. It’s really the perfect car for exhibitionists. If you’re too shy to take your clothes off but still want to streak — just jump in this car and go! Just remember one thing: this is not a Pebble Beach car. It’s just a very basic, simple Rolls-Royce with an unbreakable American engine.
EDIT: Oops, typo! Let me include the full correction note:
James Mason fell out ON the trunk (since repaired by Warner Brothers). He was riding on the top of the rear seat for effect, so that when James Coburn drives the car up, in a head-on shot, loaded with friends (Raquel Welch, James Mason, Ian McShane, Dyan Cannon), those in the back seat could be seen. Originally, they couldn’t be seen in the shot. So they reshot it with James Mason and Dyan Cannon ridin’ high. Coburn hit the gas (he owned Ferraris and liked thing to go fast). James Mason tumbled out backwards. AAAAHHHHHHH !! Gahd Dammmm! was all he was reported to have said. Now, forty years later, if something like that happened, the lawsuits would bankrupt the studio.
“The Last of Sheila is one of the great underrated films of the ’70s: a bitchy Hollywood whodunit and a clever parlor game (cowritten by Anthony Perkins and Broadway composer Stephen Sondheim). Several celebrity chums are invited aboard prankster James Coburn’s yacht for a cruel game of “guess the deep, dark secret.” Everyone has one; but naturally some are more wicked than others. Richard Benjamin, James Mason, Dyan Cannon, Joan Hackett, Raquel Welch, and Ian McShane are the odd cast of participants. However, the stakes are unexpectedly raised when murder gets added to the not-so-fun agenda. Plenty of inside jokes and red herrings in this nasty and unforgettable film. It’s just what you’d expect from the twisted minds of Perkins and Sondheim.”
— Bill Desowitz
See, this is why people who can’t draw or sculpt shouldn’t make cars. I hate to slag something that someone has obviously put a ton of effort into, but all I can think when I see this is “world’s ugliest 80s Camaro — someone call Guiness!”. If you disagree with me, it’s on eBay as item #4636844659… so far, zero bids with five days to go. It’s basically a sloppy set of flat fiberglass panels put over a 1970 Chevy Chevelle SS chassis. Personally I think they’re insane with a starting bid of $2500.
Jeez, I feel so guilty now having written all that.
It’s already met the reserve, and honestly, I’ll be shocked if it goes much higher. It looks pretty complete though, and if you read the info below (click the “Astra GT” link above), you’ll see that if you buy this kit assuming nothing is broken you might be able to get it running over just one weekend. It’s a very simple car to put together.
Those are the shots from the eBay auction, and it’s Ite, #4636128020. Only two days of bidding left! Like I said, I don’t think the owner knows what a rare piece of US specialty car history he has here, so this thing’s a steal if you understand the basics of, say, using a wrench. No special tools are needed to finish this car!
I have to admit that I don’t know much about this car… it just happened to be parked up the street from me so I took some pictures. Obviously it’s an old Camaro body on top of a 4×4 chassis (Bronco, Jeep, whatever, I didn’t look closely because I wasn’t alone and didn’t have too much time). I’m going to guess and say that unless there’s a lot more engine in it than I’m thinking that the asking price is somewhere in the $2000 range, but who knows… sometimes people have funny ideas about what things are worth.
Anyway, here’s a few more pictures. Oh, and it’s located in Toronto, Ontario. If you find out that it’s sold, please drop me a line so I can note that here.
Hey, it may not be a kit car, but it’s definitely homebuilt!
Checking eBay right now, there are three Sterlings for sale right now! Let’s start with this conender for the worst paint job (ok, it’s far from the worst, but I really hope this is just some primer issue or something), item #4634666497, an engineless Solid Sterling currently sitting well below its reserve. I’m guessing it won’t sell this time around…
Then there’s this awesome classic looking 1976. It’s built on a beetle transmission with a build bus engine, as well as Karman Ghia front disc breaks, and more. I love this one, it’s really gorgeous, and currently ending in one day and is currently at about $5,000. Item #4632774902:
Then there’s this old beater Sterling that’s at $2000 with two days left. It’s definitely a project car (although very do-able), but what makes it interesting is that it appears to be built around not a VW, but around a Corvair chassis. Looks like it’s been sitting in a field for about five years? Item #4633247100.
But it’s cool what you can still find at a low price! Sure, you can pay $90,000 for a used first-gen Diablo, but with $10,000 to spend, you can do some amazing things in the kit car game.
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