This why I shouldn't be scanning the for sale ads on the AACA website.
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| 1948 Lincoln Continental offered at 35,000. Or B/O |
I often find something that I would really like to own.
Sometimes the price is low enough that I can swing it. Barely.
Other times it's more than I can handle without a major reorganization of my hobby car fund.
Look at this car, it's one of the final models of the Lincoln Continental. It doesn't have the delicate ship's prow of the original model, but it still is easily recognized as a Continental. This particular car has a rebuilt engine, a reupholstered interior and recent paint. The seller has owned it for quite a few years and uses it to take long tours. He says that he drives it all over, it never just sits.
If you are looking for a vintage car, you should be looking for something like this. Asking price is 35,000 dollars and believe me, you could never restore a car for close to that price. And it is a well sorted out machine.
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| I'm always loving on the green. |
This is quite a bit more expensive than what I would generally consider.
On the other hand, this Cadillac is offered at 11,000 dollars.
The '65 Cadillac is perhaps the personification of the marque I appreciated as I was growing up. In other words, this is a Cadillac that really looks like a Cadillac!
This is a clean, gimmick free design, in many ways similar to the 1961 Lincoln Continental.
The price of the old Lincoln would be quite a reach, it is more than twice what I've got tied up in my current hobby fleet. Of course I've toyed with the idea of financing a car...
After looking at these cars I will admit that they tug at the old heartstrings.
But would trying to acquire either of these cars be a good idea?
And, if I were to buy one of these cars, would it be something that would make me happy?
Probably, maybe, who knows?
I'd been reading that the new Navigators and Aviators have been having a bit of a problem with fragging transmissions. Even worse, was the report that some Navigators were spontaneously catching on fire!
Then I read that the Nautilus will be going out of production after '23 due to poor sales. It was reported to have transmission problems also.
The "new" Continental was discontinued after three years of poor sales.
What does it matter to me? It wasn't like I was ever going to buy a new one!
Of course, there is an even better solution. There are benefits of buying used.
I really like my Navigator. Why not just drive the Navigator? It's been around for 100,000 miles and 17 years. If it was going to catch on fire, it probably would have done it already!
It only has a bit over 100,000 miles, so it's got a lot of life left.
I've been driving it more than my '06 Mustang, probably because it's been raining so much, and I don't want to get it dirty. And, the Navigator is parked in the driveway and readily available.
I have even got to thinking, maybe it would be best if I only had one hobby car at a time, and drove the heck out of it for a few years. Then sell it, trade it in, whatever, and start over with another car. Why have other cars just sitting around costing me money?
Why do I think that I need a collection?
I have other "family cars"
Is this kind of talk Heresy? Maybe.
The point was driven home as I was working on my garage door. I realized that those two Mustangs are just sitting in the garage.
Do I really want to keep any car for my entire life? Is there anything that I want that much?
Dangerous talk? Again, maybe.
I should make a real effort to keep my cars in the rotation.
Am I just saying this because I was frustrated about my '96 Mustang and the smog situation? Probably.
Or maybe, this is just what I get for thinking!
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