The cars in the front lot at St. Vinnies have a good shot at being adopted; the ones whose future is murkier are relegated to the back lot. But that makes it even more appealing, from a CC point of view. Let’s walk on back, and see what tugs at our heart strings.
Tired of getting looked down on by all those tall 4×4 pickups? Here’s the solution. Just yank off that aerodynamic roof thing and slap an old pickup bed on the back, and you’ve got the bad-assest pickup in town.
A beautiful yellow W123 300 (bio)Diesel German Shepherd! What a gem; it’s got at least another half-million miles in it yet. What’s it doing back here? With this price tag, maybe it’s getting prepped and detailed? Or just getting it started?
A miniature Chevy.
A Skydog.
A Dynasty, a very refined and highly bred Kanine.
A Regal hound if there ever was one.
Um, what was that Japanese breed again. Looks like his former owner kicked him a few times.
Another hardy American working breed. This one undoubtedly has a lot of life in it yet.
A Greyhound, a retired racing dog.
Given that it’s got a RAM AIR V6, it undoubtedly was unbeatable.
This Japanese breed has become the most popular in Eugene. Who would have thought back when this one was born?
A Geohuahua.
Another one of those fad breeds that didn’t last.
A toy bulldog with such big puppy eyes. How can you resist?
This Green Lab admittedly does have the mange. I don’t feel good about its prospects.
An Australian Shepherd. Perfect for the outback.
A miniature Cadillac, a breed that fell out of favor decades ago. They’re almost extinct now. This one could really use some TLC. I’m sure it will reward its new owner in response.
Another yellow German Shepherd, this time a turbo-diesel. Maybe a two-fer deal is in order? Wouldn’t it be great to have a parts car in the right color, and these two would love the company?
From a time when little pups were popular.
It must not be housebroken for it to be back here.
Another one…
These are so good with older folks. Well behaved.
It’s trying so hard to smile, and those big eyes. Come on, you know you want it.
Another lot, fenced off. Is it the waiting line for euthanasia?
This is a grizzled old guy. Seen better days, but in the right hands, who knows?
Another extinct breed, the Ply Mouth. Not sure how it got its name, but these were once so common.
This is where the extinct breeds seem to be hanging out.
The Yakima roof rack is probably worth as much or more than the rest of it.
This Buick looks to have been abused some.
A Suzuki! Now there’s an exotic Japanese breed.
Can’t say the same for this.
This guy has a colorful coat.
A genuine Chrysler. Not a very long-lived breed, but this one is an exception. If it’s still alive, that is.
These wagons really knew how to perform if motivated with a stick.
A British pedigree of the highest caliber. Here, Rover! Rover..Come! Rover….!!
Another Mazdog.
An American Bulldog.
It’s not polite to make fun of this. And to think someone actually created this breed. On purpose.
A Rat Terrier.
Good luck finding a home, feller.
Did someone get tired of you?
A Silver Lab.
This is what happens when fad breed fall out of favor.
Bulldogs were once so popular…
As were these, with a certain clientele.
Yikes; another one.
Here’s a perfect companion for hikes in the woods.
This one just loves to swim.
What’s left to say?
Another Durango. Are these prone to being sent off to the pound?
A practical choice. Least likely to bite.
It’s big, and fairly young. But I’m not sure I can recommend it.
And here’s a new arrival. I’m sure this will find a new home in no time.
It’s a good thing I don’t live out there, or I would have a constant urge to rescue cars from that place. Like that Buick LeSabre. Then I could have bumper stickers printed up like “I [heart] my rescue Buick” to let everyone know that I am not just a Buick lover but a virtuous one too!
Those Daezuki Renos were rare when new.
I’d be tempted to take a couple home. For me the F150 and the Focus wagon (if it’s a manual). They’re even a matching maroon!
the gray regal, 1st buick on list. 96? if it has a strong heart -aka- the 3800, will be a life companion. least till tinworm infects. I had one, as my very first GM. was a close friend’s mom’s final car. “the geezer car” 3.8 made up for the rubbermaid dash that besmirched the traditional faux wood caddie wannabe design cues that worked so well for the breed. likely would still be driving if the frame sections under footwells had not dissolved.
I live in NH and I have been pricing flights and mulling over the feasibility of flights and finances. Yeah, I need another old car like I need a hole in the head. I too, would love one of those Buicks. Excellent idea for the sticker.
The thought of picking up a used Range Rover at St. Vinnie’s, and from the back lot no less, would fill my bank account with dread. Just the same, I’d be tempted.
It’s surprising the air suspension isn’t already visibly collapsed.
@NLPNT :
“It’s surprising the air suspension isn’t already visibly collapsed.”
Maybe, like a hydropneumatic Mercedes this is a good thing, indicating the system is still working ? .
I was flabbergasted to find my ’84 300TD’s suspention holds up for a month so I did a major service on it and years later it’s still working well and doesn’t sag .
-Nate
I just went out to check my mail. My neighbor’s 2014 or 2015 CLS550 is resting on its bump-stops because he drove his convertible to work today.
I (semi)recently helped recommission an ’84 or so 300D Turbo Diesel and a 1991 300D 2.5 Turbo. They’d been sitting for years since my friend’s husband was murdered, but they took almost nothing to get running on the diesel fuel that had been sitting in their tanks. Such a welcome relief from the horrors of gasohol! Unfortunately, the newer one had bent suspension mounts from a trip into a ditch. I don’t recall testing the A/C because of the time of the year that we worked on them, but otherwise the W123 only needed maintenance to be a daily driver. I remember when rich teenagers bragged about how fast their parents’ mid-’80s turbo-diesel Mercedes-Benzes were, but by 2019 standards the 1984 300D felt at least as slow as a 240D did in 1989.
TOPIC DRIFT :
The post ’81 turbo versions are not slow unless they’re in need of help .
They shouldn’t smoke much either .
My ’82 240D slush box is smooth as silk but really I don’t like merging into freeway traffic at 45 MPH and slowly gaining speed…
-Nate
Being in the back lot they all certainly have some sort of relatively expensive fix required. Of course it’s not obvious what that problem is — except for the Subarus which almost certainly need head gaskets.
The pricing makes this more like a euthanasia clinic for the tired dogs, rather then giving them a fair chance for re-homing.
Will “iron” really bring that kind of money?
?! $5K for a dead non turbo Mercedes Diesel ?! .
That’s a joke, the blush has gone flying off the rose almost a decade ago .
Yes they’re great cars but only fools (like me) and diehards will bother with them anymore .
The Ford F150 looks pretty good, I wonder what it needs to return to yeoman duty ~ for the right price even a new engine or tranny would make this a good buy .
Lots of other interesting rigs in there too .
-Nate
Who said it’s dead? Undoubtedly not. They don’t sell “dead” cars.
My bad Paul ;
Most places put the dead one out back, where I like to look first .
In any case this isn’t a $5K car unless it has new tires, upholstery and ice cold AC .
-Nate
The black Corolla wagon. If the AC works. Second choice the F150 with the best front end styling of that era’s Ford P/Us.
What’s the best EXBRO5 pick there so far? The Xterra maybe? Interesting but not surprising to see that people mostly donate their old sedans and the occasional wagon. Nobody’s donating old RAV4s or CRVs or Cherokees or RX300s. Or maybe they sell immediately.
The white Eurovan could’ve come from an ex-hippie–look at all those bumper stickers!
Plenty of trucks from the red F-150’s vintage still exist in my area as 2nd-hand work vehicles. GMT400 Chevys & GMCs are even more common. THESE trucks were built to last!
That boat & trailer would look great being pulled behind the Xterra or Durango.
Thanks, Paul, for an entertaining twist on the tired old used car lot ramble. I have little taste for that sort of thing anymore, but I read this all the way to the end, just for fun.
The boat floated up from California, given the CF registration. From a “low end” donation lot, my brother bought a two-fer, a boat and travel trailer. The fiberglass family runabout with 292ci Chevy six Mercruiser outdrive on a decent trailer seems like a good buy, the damaged and leaking camper, not so much. I forget what he paid for them, but not much.
I’d take the tercel, the wine LeSabre and the older regal.
You made this one special fun today, Paul (especially as a dog owner who has done a couple of “rescues” of older ones)—thanks!
I immediately gravitate to the two Tauruses. Unless they’re just worn out from crazy-high mileage, I figure that (being in your backyard) it isn’t rust that’s the problem, so I’d be curious to know more. And, yes, the F-150 wagon seems worth further usefulness….
Re the PT cruisers. Their owners probably passed on and their grandkids wouldn’t be caught dead in one.
Full disclosure, my 88yo mom and her similarly aged boyfriend, each have a PTC and when they shuffle off I can’t see any kids or grandkids stepping up to take possession.
Maybe nowadays PT has to be understood to mean “Pre-Terminal”
@Robert ;
A friend of mine bought a P.T. Cruiser new and after he fell upon hard times the tranny blew .
He hung onto it and eventually gathered the funds to have it fixed, the car still looks as new and he still loves it .
Yes, he’s a Baby Boomer too .
-Nate
Looks like the worn-out, backlot, high mileage junk they’d run at a local dealer used car auction to worm up the crowd. There were always a few bottom-feeders who would pick up some of these cheap and sell them to the desperate as buy-here-pay-here.