Will there will be a run on S197 cars shortly?

Rich

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I remember how everyone thought I was crazy in 1979 for buying a 1970 Mustang with a spun rod bearing for $1000. The guy I bought it from offered me $10,000. 8 years ago. He thought I should sell it back to him since I parked it in my garage and never repaired it. I think I will hold on to that car a while longer. I think I can get a little more for that old 70 Boss 302.
Well, let's be honest here...$1000 in 1979 wasn't exactly chump change. I can understand why people thought you were crazy. Why did you not fix it and drive it?
 

WJBertrand

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I see plenty of S197s around here but I think only about one in 30 (maybe less) is a V8 GT. GT prices seem to have flattened somewhat, hanging in the low $20,000 range for clean ones.


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eighty6gt

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Blueprint engines will be selling complete powertrains including calibrated ecm soon. 305 chev small block? Maybe I'll finish my gm swap kit parts.
 

Norm Peterson

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Within the next year or two. The 2005-2014 cars were in rare company. The Camaros and Dodges of the same era were more complex, much heavier -dodge cars only slightly less so as they are essentially identical today - the interiors have taken a similar quantum leap as the Mustang's.
Realize that 2005 cars are 16 years old now. And the tech in them is way out of date.
I'll be keeping my '08 GT for the same reasons I bought it in the first place . . . and that's not even considering the matter of avoiding having to get an EV.

It's got a reasonably competent chassis that responds well to minor modification, it's fast enough for any street driving I'll ever put it to, and its emphasis was still on driving rather than today's extraneous complexity and emphasis on technologies that I never needed before (most of which I'd rather not have now). Near as I can tell, it's as fast in a straight line and probably faster around a road course in its current state than an original showroom-stock Boss 302.


Norm
 
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Pentalab

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Within the next year or two. The 2005-2014 cars were in rare company. The Camaros and Dodges of the same era were more complex, much heavier -dodge cars only slightly less so as they are essentially identical today - the interiors have taken a similar quantum leap as the Mustang's.

Since the electric rumor for 2028 came down the pipe I bet a lot more people are getting a lot more excited to lock in their "last ride." It seems like Mustangs are a dime a dozen, but the supply will get very dear very quickly. You can't get a fox body where I'm from any more for less than 5 figures that isn't full of holes. The S197 is almost the same car, just has chassis engineering from this century.

In the past, people would let cars that weren't that old just slip by, be destroyed or lost (SN95's!) I think since they are the last of the breed the S197 cars will be a lot more coveted.

Mustangs won't be worth 50 cents in 10 yrs from now. Watch gasoline prices increase. Getting oem parts, or replacement aftermarket parts for them will be tougher. Next up will be no more aftermarket tunes...or any engine or exhaust modifications. Bring back photo radar, and mine goes up for sale the next day.
 

tjm73

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omg-omg-omg-skyis-omg-omg-omg-the-sky-is-falling-53656936.png

Nothing is changing enough to really matter for at least the next 30-40 years. Are EV's coming? Yes. In fact, they are already here. But they will get better and be more widely adopted. Is it worth getting excited about? No. Because their are too many gas cars/trucks around to simply walk away from them like flipping a switch. It will take 20-30 years to change over from the last few years IC is widely sold.

We are not even close to ready to start a mass switchover to EV. For a host of reasons. The largest of which is producing the needed electricity. Followed by distributing it. It will costs a lot of money and time to build just that part of it. Decades. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

The real issue, as Pentalab alluded to, is modifying cars. Most of us don't realize (or chose to ignore) that the laws to effectively stop modifying cars have been on the books for almost 50 years. Much of what is being done is and has been illegal for longer than some of us have been alive.
 

Juice

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Modifying/hotrodding you car is not illegal. Removing or disabeling emission equippment IS. As long as you use CARB approved upgrades, it is perfectly legal. Which brings me to my latest mods, LTs and minicats.

There are three reasons you are allowed to 'replace' your catalytic converters, per Flowmaster. (Going with their SS 3 way)
1 missing
2 failed
3 certain age, sorry dont recall the years.

I have posted this before, it is those who chose to ignore the law are the ones fucking it up for the rest of us.

Ps: funny thing, the JBA LTs were sold as Carb legal except CA emissions states. See attached pic. lol

IMG_20210128_120020619.jpg
 

eighty6gt

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I'm building up a car to drive on my property and off road, an S197. Harder for the laws to get me when the car hasn't got a plate. I may build a fleet of them if people are interested in coming to have fun driving vehicles that run on alcohol.

Other big project is go kart EV's, friend is looking at motorcycle based EV's. The market seems crowded but it isn't that great, and over priced.

Still fairly sure that S197's have nearly or have already found bottom here and are starting to go back up.
 

Charly

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Nice discussion, I am of the opinion if you are buying a car for investment you need to look toward the limited high priced Mustangs, GT 500, Bullet, etc., but if you want a car to use and have fun with buy what you like and don't worry about other people's opinions. I purchased an 07 GT a few years back 3 owners, out of Texas, located at a used car dealer in N.J., with 75K and have been improving it as parts wear out, replacing OEM with performance upgrades. I enjoy driving the 5 speed, country roads are fun and I feel good in the car. Owning for investment is one path, owning to enjoy and drive your car is entirely another path. Pick you path wisely.
 

Juice

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I'm building up a car to drive on my property and off road, an S197. Harder for the laws to get me when the car hasn't got a plate. I may build a fleet of them if people are interested in coming to have fun driving vehicles that run on alcohol.

Other big project is go kart EV's, friend is looking at motorcycle based EV's. The market seems crowded but it isn't that great, and over priced.

Still fairly sure that S197's have nearly or have already found bottom here and are starting to go back up.
Off highway use, there are no restrictions. Good luck passing inspection though, which is the main point I was getting at.
 

eighty6gt

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Yeah, we'll never even have inspection here, no population density. I will plate the car in the near term.
 

Ret

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Bought car because of style from the 60's. In my late 20's I bought a 1970 Mach I. Had to order it and wait for some time for it to come in. Finally got the call that it was in. When I got to the dealers the salesman told me the car was being detailed and lets go ahead and do the paperwork. When we got to the car the front seats had been badly slashed with a knife or some other tool (disgruntled Ford worker?) and the hood had a wide black stripe of dull black paint down the middle. Unfortunately, the tape had been removed too soon and the edges were saw toothed. The dealer left the car sit in the back lot for about a month waiting for the hood to be repainted and they replaced the seats, unfortunately from a wreaked Mach I and the seats reeked of urine.
I drove the car for about a year flying a flag with a Lemon on it. Sold the car about a year later. It was a awesome car to drive. Needles to say I've never bought another Ford product.

Fast forward to age 81 and I see a Mustang for sale locally and stop and look at it. It had 118000 miles so bypassed the car but it was a 2008 and looked a lot like my Mach 1. That led to me finding my 2008 Mustang GT/CS Convertible with 62,000 miles on it. Been driving it for a year and a half now, no lemon flag and finally getting to enjoy my mustang... Went to the local Ford dealer here once, no help and not interested in helping with what I wanted to change on the car. Don't take the car to them for anything.
 

Juice

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No emission counties are great. 10 miles up the road from me, no emissions required. My county, required. And no safety sticker till you pass smog. Under 5k is visual only. Thanks to covid, Im excempt! Hahaha
 

Pentalab

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View attachment 76269

Nothing is changing enough to really matter for at least the next 30-40 years. Are EV's coming? Yes. In fact, they are already here. But they will get better and be more widely adopted. Is it worth getting excited about? No. Because their are too many gas cars/trucks around to simply walk away from them like flipping a switch. It will take 20-30 years to change over from the last few years IC is widely sold.

We are not even close to ready to start a mass switchover to EV. For a host of reasons. The largest of which is producing the needed electricity. Followed by distributing it. It will costs a lot of money and time to build just that part of it. Decades. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

The real issue, as Pentalab alluded to, is modifying cars. Most of us don't realize (or chose to ignore) that the laws to effectively stop modifying cars have been on the books for almost 50 years. Much of what is being done is and has been illegal for longer than some of us have been alive.

IF gasoline prices skyrocket, due to CARBON TAXES, road improvement taxes, the environment, and anything else you can dream of, look out. Getting a carbon tax instituted is the hard part. Increasing the carbon tax year after year after year..is the easy part. IF gasoline prices went up say...40-60%, the next vehicle may well be a hybrid. Any prius is in excess of double the mileage I get on my 2011 Fusion, with it's 2.4 l eng and 6 speed auto tranny. Pure 100% EV is pie in the sky right now. My neighbor's own em, and all hate em. At every dealer in town is typ 6-12 EV's for sale, USED...and they can't give em away. I have seen em for 1/2 the original price..and only 3-6 months old.

I did some rough calcs, and to achieve 100% electric EV usage would require tripling the grid power at a minimum. 2 choices, hydro electric, and / or nukes. Then 25-37 kv 3 phase power down every residential street, then all new 3 phase drop lines into each home. Assume 2 x vehicles per household. It would take 30 years of an entire re-design / rebuild / re-engineering feat to pull it all off. Any left wing / green aversion to nukes......and EV is off the table. Wind and solar is a non starter...no way to store the energy. About the only viable alternative would be increased usage of hybrids.
 

Pentalab

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Modifying/hotrodding you car is not illegal. Removing or disabeling emission equippment IS. As long as you use CARB approved upgrades, it is perfectly legal. Which brings me to my latest mods, LTs and minicats.

There are three reasons you are allowed to 'replace' your catalytic converters, per Flowmaster. (Going with their SS 3 way)
1 missing
2 failed
3 certain age, sorry dont recall the years.

I have posted this before, it is those who chose to ignore the law are the ones fucking it up for the rest of us.

Ps: funny thing, the JBA LTs were sold as Carb legal except CA emissions states. See attached pic. lol

View attachment 76270

IF your oem cats have failed doesn't mean you get to install JBA catted H's the next day. Most LT's are not emissions compliant. Mini cats are not legal. IF they wanted to bring the hammer down, I can see it being passed into law. IF it's a federal law, then it's gonna be a bad day for folks. "sri, only oem software allowed". "sri, hand held tuning devices are no longer legal". "sri, no tampering with any part of the oem exhaust system". "Sri, no mods or tampering with any portion of the oem engine or oem transmission". It will end up being all show, no go. Or...(gov't approved / exempted off road use only). About the only thing you might end up being able to..'tweak' is the wheels / tires / suspension. I can see them modifying the CAFE rules down the road..so the gas guzzler's won't be allowed to be even built. That or the.....'gas guzzler' tax will be increased substantially. It will all be part of the....'green initiative'...and Helen housewife won't give a shit about some whining hot rodders.
 

Juice

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Fuck the prius. Real world mpg is a tic over 40. A basic 4 banger gas car can do that. Buddy loves VWs, he tells me very high 30s on average. Why would anyone want a more complex hybrid is beyond me.
Give me a hybrid that gets over 100mpg and I will consider it.

Look up the VW XL1. Advertised mpg of 300. In testing, in the real world, it returned a measly 160 mpg. And that was 6 years ago. Where is it? Cause it beats the crap out of the prius.
 

Juice

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IF your oem cats have failed doesn't mean you get to install JBA catted H's the next day. Most LT's are not emissions compliant. Mini cats are not legal. IF they wanted to bring the hammer down, I can see it being passed into law. IF it's a federal law, then it's gonna be a bad day for folks. "sri, only oem software allowed". "sri, no tampering with any part of the oem exhaust system". "Sri, no mods or tampering with any portion of the oem engine or oem transmission". It will end up being all show, no go. Or...(gov't approved / exempted off road use only). About the only thing you might end up being able to..'tweak' is the wheels / tires / suspension. I can see them modifying the CAFE rules down the road..so the gas guzzler's won't be allowed to be even built. That or the.....'gas guzzler' tax will be increased substantially. It will all be part of the....'green initiative'...and Helen housewife won't give a shit about some whining hot rodders.
Thats kind of missing the point. I would rather be stopped by the emission police and have illegal cats vs NO cats.
Second, it should be a non issue if the pcm passes the obd tests without tuning tricks.
Third, if Im going "off road" use, then NO cats will be installed. I have no idea why cats are sold as "off road" use only. Thats an oxi moron.
Its good to be emissions excempt!
 

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