engine and drivetrain Looking for '02 era (but non-02) car purchase suggestions...

[Mike Self]

was in Japan--very reliable, lotsa interior room--it could haul all the removeable sheet metal from my Fiat Topolino inside, and tow the rest on a trailer behind--had the 3 liter V6 engine and a 4 speed w/ overdrive tranny. The only dodgy thing was the K or L (I forget) Jetronic FI--it didn't like to sit and once or twice was hard to start after sitting for a couple of months.

When the owner returned home, he put tires on it and drove it to Seattle from Ohio without a hiccup.

Slightly smaller but carbureted would be a Volvo 122 wagon. Probably some still survive in California--122s are mostly gone in Ohio--for that matter so are the 24x/26x Volvos.

A Peugeot 404 wagon would be cool, but slow and even slower with A/C. Bulletproof mechanicallly though. (I worked at a Renault/Peugeot dealership when they were new) The onlyl thing that killed 'em around here was rust. The bumpers are stainless steel, but the body wasn't.

Happy hunting

mike

[Skippy_the_Bush_Kangaroo]

This is my daily driver a 1984 Toyota BJ42, but the design dates abck to the '60's. It ticks some of your criteria, is easy to work on, parts are easy to get ( easier in the states), theres a wealth of knowledge out there for them, you can get A/C or take the roof off, can fit people in the back, safe- ish, is pretty fuel efficient ( mines a diesel).

Driving dynamics aren't too bad, I've had to do some dramatic lane changes and quick stops in mine.

And I get just as many favourable comments in that as I do in the 02.

[THE1ST3]

Series Land Rover, IH Scout or Travelall, Jeep Wagoneer, Toyota FJ 40/60

[jmon0261]

Hey Barry-

Are diesel engines smog exempt? If so a MB wagon might fit the bill. You could mix up a batch of Bio Diesel and be on your way.

[BMWonly]

Wonder why nobody has suggested any Opels ??? I know my 71 GT is too unpractical, but there are the sporty Mantas and the utility versions of the Opel Kadett and 1900 (Ascona). They were the main competitors in the early seventies (on the street and the track).

Not too many came with A/C, so that might be an issue, but there are dealer installed versions available.

Dieter

[Timmer]

Barry,

Hemming's is always there for something interesting; although not quite the '02 era:

http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/carsforsale/microcar/unspecified/1096647:html

Tim.

[eurotrash]

The shizzz...

http://bringatrailer.com/2010/07/17/rare-euro-wagon-1960-opel-caravan/

[Gordon]

Wonder why nobody has suggested any Opels ??? I know my 71 GT is too unpractical, but there are the sporty Mantas and the utility versions of the Opel Kadett and 1900 (Ascona). They were the main competitors in the early seventies (on the street and the track).

Not too many came with A/C, so that might be an issue, but there are dealer installed versions available.

Dieter

Check this Opel wagon out in Fresno

http://fresno.craigslist.org/cto/1784087464.html

Opel GT and Manta's are so cool, GM really screwed up when they stopped importing Opel's from Germany around the 76 time frame.

G-Man

[BarryA]

friend's 1900 wagon for a few days in the mid 70's - great car, & definately worth checking into parts availablity, etc.

Have owned Suburbans, Tahoes and such before (excellent vehicles for their purpose) and really like the early FJ series Toyotas, but all of that stuff is bigger & heavier than I need or want at this point, and I have zero need for 4wd (not into winter sports or back country camping).

Despite my other half's ambivilance toward Volvos, a 122 wagon is probably going to wind up in my driveway sooner or later - would love to build a milder version of the 122 2 door wagon that was shown at SEMA a few years ago (minus the roll cage, 20" wheels and monster motor) - link to photos below......

http://www.volvoclub.org.uk/press/releases/2006/sema_2006_amazon.shtml

[Harv]

I miss my old 145.

John

My buddies 142 That used to be an old beatter of mine till he got it.

[Dutchie3719]

You looked at Opel? The Kadett / Ascona are both pretty roomy and practical. I hear the Manta may have even handled better than our 02's

[tjones02]

Too bad they didn't make more of these... a Neue Klasse Wagon!

http://www.02forum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=193

Here's a few "local" Volvo wagons.... etc.

1963 VOLVO 122S ESTATE WAGON - $6500 (campbell)

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/ctd/1857698953.html

1966 Volvo 122s wagon - $6200 (San Francisco)

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/cto/1847114310.html

Ah Ha... 1967 Volvo 122 Wagon - $1450 (Olympia)

http://seattle.craigslist.org/oly/cto/1855364547.html

1968 VOLVO WAGON 4CYL. 4SPD - $1250 (TRINITY)

http://redding.craigslist.org/cto/1818476511.html

68 volvo 122 - $3000 (Seattle-Tacoma)

http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/cto/1846590137.html

Low price leader... 1966 Volvo 4door wagon - $900 (NW Portland)

http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/cto/1853919326.html

LOVE the 1972 Dodge Monaco wagon

http://bakersfield.craigslist.org/cto/1797902319.html

Expensive and odd but VERY COOL 1969 Citroen DS-21 Break (Safari-Wagon) Manual LHD - $19795 (Beaverton; Oregon)

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lgb/cto/1855441910.html

Not a suggestion for a Triumph Dolomite Sprint but a great article though...

http://automobile.automotive.com/134775/1004-triumph-dolomite-sprint-vs-bmw-2002tii/index.html

On that note... Here's one that fits... well... a few of your criteria anyway. Triumph 2000 and 2500 Estate. They're funky cool, kinda like a cross of a Stag nose with a Cortina wagon body and a 6cyl under the bonnet. Let's see how they add up to your list...

1. Yes

2. Yes

3. I'll answer that with "it's British"

4. Mechanical Yes, Soft parts- Don't know

5. Resounding Yes

6. Buy in Yes but finding one in the US or shipping one from across the pond..... I'll have to say.... Nah, not likely.

7. Maybe... If it's not got a bad case of the dreaded tin worm. :b...

8. Yes

9. Doubt it... Can U say "Vent Window"?

Happy Hunting!

[TobyB]

Series Land Rover, IH Scout or Travelall,

HOLY PANTS- 3 cars that would be LESS reliable than my Citroens.

I DO like the Benz wagon idea- you can kind of adjust your year to

adjust funkiness

(yes, the wagons from the early 60's DID have tailfins!)

and there are lots of motor options.

The Datsun wagons look cool- but, as John Morton called 'em,

they were shitboxes. We had one. You'd want to spend a

significant amount of time customizing and improving one...

t

(ps, love this thread. Still want an FJ40. Know better...)

[BarryA]

added notes below.............

Too bad they didn't make more of these... a Neue Klasse Wagon!

http://www.02forum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=193

I'd do a NK wagon in a heartbeat - if they existed in numbers larger than I could count to on my fingers.....

Here's a few "local" Volvo wagons.... etc.

1963 VOLVO 122S ESTATE WAGON - $6500 (campbell)

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/ctd/1857698953.html

Bit pricey - especially for a very early car - but nice

1966 Volvo 122s wagon - $6200 (San Francisco)

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/cto/1847114310.html

Also a bit pricey, and the color doesn't work for me at all (generally not a big fan of non-OE color repaints).....

Ah Ha... 1967 Volvo 122 Wagon - $1450 (Olympia)

http://seattle.craigslist.org/oly/cto/1855364547.html

Have talked to this guy - it's a possibility, and I kind of like the almost Florida green over apple green color combination.....

1968 VOLVO WAGON 4CYL. 4SPD - $1250 (TRINITY)

http://redding.craigslist.org/cto/1818476511.html

Missed this one - certainly a possibility if the "floorboard rot" does NOT also include frame, rocker, door and tailgate rust...

68 volvo 122 - $3000 (Seattle-Tacoma)

http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/cto/1846590137.html

If this is one I think it is, it looks scary in the photos, especially for this $$...

Low price leader... 1966 Volvo 4door wagon - $900 (NW Portland)

http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/cto/1853919326.html

Have talked to this woman, too - also a possibility, but a bit more rust than I really want to deal with....

LOVE the 1972 Dodge Monaco wagon

http://bakersfield.craigslist.org/cto/1797902319.html

Interesting, but it's gonna need it's own refinery to supply fuel and a pair of tugboats to park it.....

Expensive and odd but VERY COOL 1969 Citroen DS-21 Break (Safari-Wagon) Manual LHD - $19795 (Beaverton; Oregon)

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lgb/cto/1855441910.html

Conceptually, I love Citroens, but even if the $$ was within reach, I don't know that I'm ready for the maintenance committment that would needed....

Not a suggestion for a Triumph Dolomite Sprint but a great article though...

http://automobile.automotive.com/134775/1004-triumph-dolomite-sprint-vs-bmw-2002tii/index.html

On that note... Here's one that fits... well... a few of your criteria anyway. Triumph 2000 and 2500 Estate. They're funky cool, kinda like a cross of a Stag nose with a Cortina wagon body and a 6cyl under the bonnet. Let's see how they add up to your list...

1. Yes

2. Yes

3. I'll answer that with "it's British"

4. Mechanical Yes, Soft parts- Don't know

5. Resounding Yes

6. Buy in Yes but finding one in the US or shipping one from across the pond..... I'll have to say.... Nah, not likely.

7. Maybe... If it's not got a bad case of the dreaded tin worm. :b...

8. Yes

9. Doubt it... Can U say "Vent Window"?

Happy Hunting!

[BarryA]

Hey Barry-

Are diesel engines smog exempt? If so a MB wagon might fit the bill. You could mix up a batch of Bio Diesel and be on your way.

start making the rounds of the mom-and-pop Chinese restaurants in Fair Oaks and Citrus Heights collecting used fry oil. There's also the issue of M-B parts cost - we had a gas 1972 250S for several years that was a solid, nice driving car, but when anything broke, parts and/or repairs would blow as big a hole in my wallet as anything Jana's '73 Targa incurred.