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Am I crazy?

B

BobV

Well-Known Member
You don't have to answer that.... :wth

OK, my 91 Saleen is pretty well sorted out... All the major stuff is fixed, A/c works, etc. BUT, it's a 130k mile car, with some modifications and has led a "less than pampered" life. We've all been told that "original is king" when it comes to future collectability...

Enter the guy that owns an all-original, garaged 86 Saleen with 42k actual miles. He wants a toy that he can autocross and opentrack. His 86 is too nice to tear up... So he wants to swap for a different car. I'm thinking about it..... :confu

Pluses - 86 is original, period. Battery and alternator replaced - That's it. Last year of the "4-eye", 1st year EFI, 2nd year of Saleen production, only 201 86's built.

Minuses - Can I enjoy an original car? 86 Saleens did NOT get the 5-lugs or the brake upgrades - that started in 87. They also had stock GT seats - not the later Flofits/Recaros.

My 91 is lower production (#39 of 92), but some say the 90-93 aren't as desirable due to the big airbag steering wheel...

I've always had a soft spot for 86's. Our 1st "married" car was a Canyon Red 86 GT...

5G85E75J53K33Gb3H1ca4e246c195405310ee.jpg


Opinions?????? :char
 
Since YOU'RE not gonna track the 91, let someone else do it!
 
what would you do with the 86? polish it? Look at it? Save it to resell? Show it?
It all depends on what you want.
I can't leave anything original so I would not want it myself for fear of ruining it. I'm glad there are those who preserve original cars but I'd drive the wheels off it and modify it to the way I think it should be.
You have worked pretty hard to put the 91 back to "original" condition but you can still drive it. I'd keep it.
But that's just me and you asked!
 
Just keep it and make it a bit nicer every time you can spent money on it.
You know what you have parked on your driveway.
Pamper it and drive it. Don't look at the miles on the odometer.
Keep it original.
 
"tarafied1" said:
What would you do with the 86? polish it? Look at it? Save it to resell? Show it?
Click to expand...
All of the above. Basically the same thing I do with the 91! Mark-> :nut <-Me :hide
Actually, I do drive the 91 to work about once a month, 2-3 cars shows and 5-6 cruise nights. I think I've put ~2000 miles on it in 2 years.

Frankly, I'm to the point where it's just not as much fun working on these things all the time (especially when you can't move for 2 days afterwards). I kinda enjoy having something "perfect" that I can jump into and enjoy as I please - spend a few weekends cleaning each year and some light wrenching. Part of the 91's frustration is that it will never be anywhere close to perfect unless I blow it apart and rebuild, which is something that I don't plan to do, and would be foolish from a $ standpoint. Every time I make a list of "winter projects", it ends up being $2-3k. A 20 y/o car with 130k hard miles tends to need a lot of stuff just to keep up.

They are only original once, and this one definitely has that going for it. The 4-eye cars have a following. Just not sure if they will end up being as collectible as the later Saleens with more content... :shrug
 
&quot;BobV&quot; said:
... Every time I make a list of "winter projects", it ends up being $2-3k. A 20 y/o car with 130k hard miles tends to need a lot of stuff just to keep up.
Click to expand...
I am there, If I could trade one of mine for an original, I would. But then again, I would still have one to drive and play with.
 
You could always make the swap and then sell the '86 and purchase a couple Saleen project cars like the '91 was when you got it. It seems that you enjoy the working on them/restoring them part more than the drive the wheels off of them.
 
Just a thought, but maybe we could make a chump car out of the 86 :thu
 
Hell, just buy the '86 and keep your current Saleen...both of best worlds!
 
I have a buddy who is into the 4 eyed cars and has one of each and he is also a Saleen fan and has a newer one a those, from what I get exposed to from him and his associates I would tell you to go for the early Saleen 4 eye car as a buy and hold for a while. Especially if its a nice lower mileage unmolested car.
 
&quot;BobV&quot; said:
Frankly, I'm to the point where it's just not as much fun working on these things all the time (especially when you can't move for 2 days afterwards). I kinda enjoy having something "perfect" that I can jump into and enjoy as I please - spend a few weekends cleaning each year and some light wrenching.
Click to expand...
Get the '86. It sounds like just what the doctor ordered.
 
More pics. IMO, could use an engine detail, but I'm not seeing any red flags so far....

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pic3.jpg


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Last edited by a moderator:
&quot;BobV&quot; said:
I've always had a soft spot for 86's. Our 1st "married" car was a Canyon Red 86 GT...
Click to expand...

Sounds like one of the voices in your head is telling you which way to go.
The cars from our younger days are usually the ones we want now.
Go for it
 
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