Is this the best condition 27-year-old car you've seen?

[MrZ]

The other day I came across this 1992 VP Commodore for sale, and the condition is literally mind blowing. It looks as if it never left the showroom floor. I have never seen a car this old in this kind of condition (not counting classic cars that have been restored, obviously):

https://richmonds.com.au/portfolio/1...ecutive-sedan/

If this had of been in Melbourne, I'd probably have considered buying it. Shame it doesn't say how much it sold for... any guesses?

Also a shame it's an Executive, as power windows would have been nice, but aside from that, it's a great colour that I haven't really seen before. I think this is the best colour honestly. I love that it's still got the factory cassette head unit, when 99% would have swapped it out for a CD player. Hardly any VPs exist these days, can't even remember the last one I saw.

[oldel]

Nah, if you look for old euros you'll find ~30 year old ones in near mint condition all the time. Mines a $2k basket case where a previous owner modified the interior, but plenty of mint ones for around $10k because people looked after them.
So I've seen a lot of near mint, near untouched cheap 27 year old cars.
Some guy in NZ is selling his e34 540i with 70k kms on it and would be happy with around $10k. I'd rather have a 210kW v8 e34 with electric everything inside (back when they were robust - nothing electric is broken in my 1990 $2k e34)

[MrZ]

Doubt you will find any with only 70,000 km on the clock, though. Also, a car that cost $100k new such as a E34 BMW is hardly comparable to one that was only $30,000 new. I'm fully expecting that there are old Porsche 911s and other high end cars that are in equal condition. But ordinary mainstream ones??

[oldel]

Yeah, that one I just mentioned I found for smoo in NZ was 70,000kms. That's why I specifically mentioned it for comparison.

I know the high prices are why they were looked after so well, absolutely. My cheapo 525 was $85k, a 535i was about 95k, a 540 was $120-130k and a m5 was $140k. (I only know new e34 prices off hand and also mentioning them because they sold 1 million of them worldwide so it's not a rare car and there's lots in australia - cheap!).
I know why they were looked after, doctors and dentists bought them, looked after them and didn't even hand them down to their kids to ruin.

So yeah, finding a good commo would be rarer, but that wasn't the question you asked. You asked have you seen unrestored near mint 27 year old cars and yes, it's very common with euros (because they were expensive, therefore looked after). Guaranteed they are cheaper now than that commo would be as well.

No offence intended if you don't get my point but some people find the best newest car they can afford. I've always had more interest in finding the "cheapest"/"best" oldest car I could afford which is why I recently got into 80-90s euros (nothing newer) Cheap, good condition, heaps of info (forums/fbg/manuals/books) and parts still available.

[Bossxr8]

The mang mang is still showroom fresh. Very little of the mang has escaped.

Someone buy it and chuck a barra in it.

[MrZ]

Originally Posted by oldel

So yeah, finding a good commo would be rarer, but that wasn't the question you asked. You asked have you seen unrestored near mint 27 year old cars and yes, it's very common with euros.

Ok fair enough. Let's limit it to:

AU only (not NZ for example)
Commodore/Falcon only (no HSV) or any other car that cost under 50k when new.

Under this criteria, I think this Commodore would be amongst the best you'd find.

[oldel]

Have fun

[MrZ]

Originally Posted by oldel

Have fun

Not really. 95% of cars in the late 80s/early 90s would have cost under $50k, so the rules are not very limiting.

[smoo]

Originally Posted by MrZ

Ok fair enough. Let's limit it to:

AU only (not NZ for example)
Commodore/Falcon only (no HSV) or any other car that cost under 50k when new.

Under this criteria, I think this Commodore would be amongst the best you'd find.

Ok, well, I'll bend your rule a bit. The first thing that came to my mind is this XE wagon.
Although I think it will be on the market for some time at $35k.

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/c...1?bof=KbkSvfq8

[MrZ]

Originally Posted by smoo

Ok, well, I'll bend your rule a bit. The first thing that came to my mind is this XE wagon.
Although I think it will be on the market for some time at $35k.

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/c...1?bof=KbkSvfq8

Nice. But you're always going to find cars in better condition in NZ, because they don't have the harsh sun that we do.

[Rallye Sport]

Originally Posted by MrZ

Nice. But you're always going to find cars in better condition in NZ, because they don't have the harsh sun that we do.

They do have alot more rainfall than us, leading to rust...
Lets face it though any car that's lasted in that condition has been garaged and not exposed to weather of either kind mentioned.

Its certainly a nice car, appreciate it for what it is, why does it need the moniker of "The Best"

[lance]

Originally Posted by smoo

Ok, well, I'll bend your rule a bit. The first thing that came to my mind is this XE wagon.
Although I think it will be on the market for some time at $35k.

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/c...1?bof=KbkSvfq8

I saw an almost identical Xe wagon at the Hamilton All Ford Day a couple of years ago that was in better condition than the one on Trademe. This thing was like brand new, he wanted $18k for it at the time..

[lance]

Originally Posted by MrZ

The other day I came across this 1992 VP Commodore for sale, and the condition is literally mind blowing. It looks as if it never left the showroom floor. I have never seen a car this old in this kind of condition (not counting classic cars that have been restored, obviously):

https://richmonds.com.au/portfolio/1...ecutive-sedan/

If this had of been in Melbourne, I'd probably have considered buying it. Shame it doesn't say how much it sold for... any guesses?

Also a shame it's an Executive, as power windows would have been nice, but aside from that, it's a great colour that I haven't really seen before. I think this is the best colour honestly. I love that it's still got the factory cassette head unit, when 99% would have swapped it out for a CD player. Hardly any VPs exist these days, can't even remember the last one I saw.

I remember seeing an Austin Allegro at a classic car auction around 2005, it had 7,000 miles on it and was literally like new..

[FERG_51]

I want an AU series1 forte in that condition. Im sure there would be a few out there

[TICKFORD220]

Looks tidy,although pics can hide alot,been to look at heaps of mint cars that werent that mint in person
Dont get hooked on pics alone.

[XR Martin]

There's an XB wagon on carsales that probably takes the cake.

Edit. Saw it last night and now it's gone.

[redxm]

single pegger skid machine

[Big_Daz]

Originally Posted by MrZ

The other day I came across this 1992 VP Commodore for sale, and the condition is literally mind blowing. It looks as if it never left the showroom floor. I have never seen a car this old in this kind of condition (not counting classic cars that have been restored, obviously):

https://richmonds.com.au/portfolio/1...ecutive-sedan/

If this had of been in Melbourne, I'd probably have considered buying it. Shame it doesn't say how much it sold for... any guesses?

Also a shame it's an Executive, as power windows would have been nice, but aside from that, it's a great colour that I haven't really seen before. I think this is the best colour honestly. I love that it's still got the factory cassette head unit, when 99% would have swapped it out for a CD player. Hardly any VPs exist these days, can't even remember the last one I saw.

Wow, thats a pretty mint example....

Take away the pinstripes on the side and my parents bought the exact same car new in 1992. In 1999 when I got my license it was the first car I did a proper skid in also...

[anobserver]

How about a neat ea ghia?

https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/brow...990/1263653447

[MrZ]

Originally Posted by anobserver

How about a neat ea ghia?

https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/brow...990/1263653447

Nah, that car is a joke. A Fairmont Ghia with *red* stripes?! Seriously... only the "S" had red stripes. Fairmonts had chrome. And all sorts of stuff has been replaced on this, resprayed, etc. Not in original condition by any stretch. Those arent Ghia alloys, for example. And twice the amount of km. He himself says it's only 8/10 exterior condition. That Holden was 10/10, aside from slight marks on the front bumper, I couldn't notice anything wrong. So let's say 9.5/10 at least.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by redxm

single pegger skid machine

Have to stick to form and do it in the wet, like most of the p platers who owned them did

[blue sleeper]

Ah yes the VP if you crash you get a permanent Holden imprint on your skull/face.......

[anobserver]

Tend to agree on the ea, maybe its a 'parts bin' special to cash in on prices. Its just that beyond the au i dont see that many older fords around, its a bit of a novelty.

Try this one, this Ford is in better nick, but its not a Falcon...

https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/rodd...kms/1258752487

The car reminds me of going to a local (Gold Coast) launch of the Telstar in the eighties, it was a rebadged Mazda but it was the next great sales hope after the tf Cortina bit the dust.

It also reminds me of a time in the late 80s when i was housesitting for this bloke and he had a near new 626. To an impoverished young bloke used to driving clapped out dungers, it drove like a dream. I still remember it.

One night with not much on tv i took it out for a spin, just cruising northbound in the left hand lane of a divided four lane road. It was a bit dark on this new section of Ferry Road with fewer street lights just before where Cotlew St now joins in a t junction. Suddenly a car with no lights on passes in the opposite direction in the adjacent lane right next to me. Scared me witless.

Turned around, drove back to the house and parked it. I never told him what happened and wasnt game to drive it again after that.

[Ratmick]

Originally Posted by anobserver

Try this one, this Ford is in better nick, but its not a Falcon...

https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/rodd...kms/1258752487

The velour is strong in that one

[NX74205]

Originally Posted by MrZ

Those arent Ghia alloys.

They are for EA Ghias.

But yeah, I'd agree it's not original - those red stripes you mentioned, the incorrect rear reflector badges, the blacked out B-pillar (EA Series 2 had body colour B pillar), black EB mirrors instead of body colour EA ones, and the fact that it's been lowered.

I like the colour, but that's not worth what he's asking.

[Vesper Martini]

Originally Posted by MrZ

Nice. But you're always going to find cars in better condition in NZ, because they don't have the harsh sun that we do.

What?

[Tassie f100]

Originally Posted by Fiji

I love a good Minter.

If anyone interested I can get you a commodore vs with 130000km for about $5k.. brand new Interior from new never say on, seat covers the whole time.

Engine transmission good. A few marks on outside but no dings or damage.

But you said anything over 100,000 kms was ready for the scrap heap

[Vesper Martini]

Originally Posted by MrZ

The other day I came across this 1992 VP Commodore for sale, and the condition is literally mind blowing. It looks as if it never left the showroom floor. I have never seen a car this old in this kind of condition (not counting classic cars that have been restored, obviously):

I find this very subjective because IMO a 1992 VP was never in good condition.

I had a 1992 GT4 the difference is night and day.

I quick look on carsales set to 1992 and there loads of 27 year old cars I would consider better condition
look at this 1992 NSX
https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/det...19370252/?Cr=8

[Hulsty]

Nice car, nearly exactly the same as what my mum had, minus the strips and different hub caps. Mum's did plenty of kms, any issue was it did a harmonic balancer. With the thundering 14'' wheels and skinny tyres it used to light them up in 1st.

[kcodezd]

How about this 84 XF GL? It still has the original tape deck.
https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/det...6987436/?Cr=88

I could nearly see myself in it.