The Official Curbside Classic Sales Lot: All $895 Or Less

Paul Niedermeyer
by Paul Niedermeyer

Ever wonder where Eugenians get all those wonderful Curbside Classics I bring to you three times a week? After almost two years, it’s finally time to reveal the secret: the St. Vincent dePaul (a mere coincidence) Car Donation Sales Lot. Admittedly, the front row here facing Hwy 99 doesn’t sport a lot of heavy Curbside appeal, but those in the know quickly work their way to the side and back lot, where the really fine sixties, seventies and early eighties vintage iron is held for the true connoisseurs. This is where no less than TTAC’s Editor-In-Chief bought his first car, and returned it here in considerably worse shape a couple of years later. Recycling at its best. It might still be in the back lot where it sat for years; let’s go look.

Before we do that, let’s peruse the front section a bit, where the cars most likely to sell quickly hang out. Here’s a nice Fifth Avenue, subject of a contentious CC Deadly Sin. Plenty of GM A-Bodies abound around the front; which one shall we use for our upcoming CC?

And here’s an N-Body, also awaiting a future CC. We’ve done that vintage Camry, and that generation Civic is awaiting its turn too.

There’s some clean old Explorers on the front row, but I can’t be bothered. The rougher SUVs, vans and trucks are parked along the side, and here’s a very early two-door XJ with an equally early Trooper II ( CC here) ; two compact SUV pioneers.

Here’s a nice clean Grand Marquis for $895. Hurry! And a FWD Continental sedan awaits just past the Dakota.

A Mercury Topaz; companion to our recent Ford Tempo CC. Eugene’s inexhaustible supply of Volvo 240s are endlessly recycled through the St. Vinnies lot.

Now here’s some global variety: another Cutlass, a MB 190 (no, it’s not a 2.3 16), a Toyota van, and a Festiva. Four of the biggest car-building nations represented here, except China and Brazil. Too bad there isn’t a Zap on tap.

Time to head into the side “reserve” lot. You have to show your CC credentials before you’re admitted here. And we’re greeted by the welcoming committee: a couple of big bruisers from the early seventies. The Olds Delta 88 looks to be a ’73, and the Ford LTD might be a couple of years younger. Maybe you could offer them a two-fer price. And no worries; both are headed to CC before long, but we want to catch them in their full glory on the street, where they belong.

Here’s the lovely tail of that big 88. Did I hear you ask about rust? Perish the thought. In Oregon, we have moss, lichen and other organic materials growing on our cars, but we’re certified 100% rust free.

You say you like early seventies iron, but hanker for something a little smaller? Here’s a cute little Datsun B210, one of a surprising number still around in Eugene. Edward had a soft spot for these, and if there had been a nice coupe when we were shopping here ten years ago, he might have well ended up with one.

Here’s another Panther, and one of my favorite Buicks ever, the last Skylark. Its bizarre styling will make it the equivalent of a B210 in another decade or two. Time to buy now, before prices rise on this rare coupe version.

A Mercury Tracer! These are getting hard to find too. Shall I put a hold on it for you?

For some reason, the back lot is not open to the public. Maybe you have to make a donation first, or it’s for repeat buyers. There’s a lovely New Yorker (coming to CC soon), a Panther wagon, and a Corsica. Still my beating heart!

Speaking of K cars, a sweet Dynasty awaits you here. And that ’65 F-100 would make a fine parts car for my rapidly disintegrating Ford.

You say you fancy yourself in something sportier? Here’s a well-aged Firebird next to a similar vintage Mustang. Notice I didn’t say “fast”.

Let’s go back to the front and see what we might have missed. Here’s a serene and luxurious Park Avenue and a nice early Astro van. They make a nice pair, don’t you think?

Did I save the best for last? Quite possibly. This fine BMW 528e is priced at $796; it’s a stick too. The Continental Mark VII and Saab 900 Turbo haven’t been price-stickered yet. From the looks of it, they just got donated, so hurry on over, if you fancy one of them.

Well, we didn’t find Ed’s old ’81 Mazda 626. I hope someone took it and showered it with the love and attention it so needed and deserved, but I fear for the worst. Conveniently, or ominously, Eugene’s Pick And Pull yard is just down the road.

And this gem of a ’67 T-Bird that I shot here last summer is gone too. But I doubt it went to the boneyard. Maybe I should stop by here more often. And what would Steve Lang do with these? Sell, Finance, Keep or Kill?

Paul Niedermeyer
Paul Niedermeyer

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  • Darnells Auto Wrecking Darnells Auto Wrecking on Jan 17, 2011

    I have my eyes on the Mark VII, which is said to run & drive but needs work on the air-ride system. Anyone know anything about the air-ride on those and/or if it's possible to replace it with Fox-body LTD, Fairmont or T-bird/Cougar shocks? Paul, if you're watching, have I got a suggestion for you, for a similar nature CC to this: It's on Maxwell in Eugene across from the restaurant equipment store and has a great mix of interesting project cars, junk and late-models.

    • Paul Niedermeyer Paul Niedermeyer on Mar 25, 2011

      If you're still watching, yes; I have seen it. There was an Opel GT that I wanted to nab,but now it's gone. I'm still bummed about that. And I assume you've seen my new CurbsideClassic.com site?

  • Smlfox Smlfox on Jun 06, 2011

    Oh, the last model Skylarks. Odd looking cars, but extremely comfortable. My sister's first car was a 95 Sedan. She got it when it was two years old with probably 2,000 miles...if even that. My grandmother bought it brand new in 1995, but never drove it. The car salesman (a close family friend) always said it was the only car he ever sold where the buyer never set foot in the showroom. My grandmother had asthma and couldn't stay out long so my mom did all the paperwork. Grandma just went and picked which car she wanted. But I digress... When my sister got it, it had made various trips around town and one trip from Southern Virginia to Washington, D.C. when my father's 92 Loyale was starting to have brake issues. She drove it 60 miles a day to school (30 to and 30 back) and took it to school with her. It had the Dynaride suspension package, and let me tell something: it rode smoother on the roads through the foothills of southern Virginia than any car I've driven or rode in. She traded it in on a 2000 Cougar in 2001 with no more than 30,000 miles on the clock...if even that. I'm 5 years younger than she, and was in 8th grade when she sold it, but we both still fondly reminisce about it.

  • JLGOLDEN Enormous competition is working against any brand in the fight for "luxury" validation. It gets murky for Cadillac's image when Chevy, Buick, and GMC models keep moving up the luxury features (and price) scale. I think Cadillac needs more consistency with square, crisp designs...even at the expense of aerodynamics and optimized efficiency. Reintroduce names such as DeVille, Seville, El Dorado if you want to create a stir.
  • ClipTheApex I don't understand all of the negativity from folks on this forum regarding Europeans. Having visited the EU multiple times across different countries, I find they are very much like us in North America-- not as different as politicians like to present them. They all aren't liberal "weenies." They are very much like you and me. Unless you've travelled there and engaged with them, it's easy to digest and repeat what we hear. I wish more Americans would travel abroad. When they return, they will have a different view of America. We are not as perfect or special as we like to believe. And no, many Europeans don't look up to America. Quite the opposite, actually.
  • Dwford Let's face it, Cadillac is planning minimal investment in the current ICE products. Their plan is to muddle through until the transition to full EV is complete. The best you are going to get is one more generation of ICE vehicles built on the existing platforms. What should Cadillac do going forward? No more vehicles under $50k. No more compact vehicles. Rely on Buick for that. Many people here mention Genesis. Genesis doesn't sell a small sedan, and they don't sell a small crossover. They sell midsize and above. So should Cadillac.
  • EBFlex Sorry BP. They aren’t any gaps
  • Bd2 To sum up my comments and follow-up comments here backed by some data, perhaps Cadillac should look to the Genesis formula in order to secure a more competitive position in the market. Indeed, by using bespoke Rwd chassis, powertrains and interiors Genesis is selling neck and neck with Lexus while ATPs are 15 to 35% higher depending on the segment you are looking at. While Lexus can't sell Rwd sedans, Genesis is outpacing them 2.2 to 1.Genesis is an industry world changing success story, frankly Cadillac would be insane to not replicate it for themselves.
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