Some of you read my thread about repeated screw-ups on the part of the Illinois DMV which delayed my getting an Indy that I purchased on ebay back on September 20th.
Long story short: THE INDY ARRIVED TODAY! I have to brag with some pictures!
Stuck in the bowels of the InterCity Truck:
There was a Mustang GT, an engine on a pallet, and a GORGEOUS Aston Martin that had to be offloaded prior to rolling my Indy off the truck: In addition to these cars, the truck was also carrying two other Aston Martins and a 1960's Chrysler 300 that looked to be in TOP condition.
My Indy, right after it came off the lift:
Apparently I'm the second individual owner, which the odometer seems to confirm:
And suddenly, I have two Fieros!
I don't like the idea of the Subaru living outside, so until I can figure out how to wedge a 4-post lift in my standard 2-car garage, the '88 will live in a friend's garage. The Indy will need a few little things done to it. Mostly though, it's a museum piece. I can't believe I have one in this condition.
I'll post more pictures later if anyone's interested, but now, I have to go to bed. It's been a hellish day at work and I didn't even have a chance to drool all over my new toy until a few minutes ago (nearly midnight.) But, after almost a quarter century, I got an Indy! I couldn't go to sleep without driving her and posting some pictures!
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03:14 AM
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ohioindy Member
Posts: 2137 From: Wooster Ohio Registered: Nov 2003
The Indy won't be nearly as nice to drive as a late V6, but that particular car is a time capsule and deserves to be kept as such. I have driven an Indy and then jumped into my 88 GT, and for driving there is no comparison, but so many Indys were trashed that to find a low mileage one is pretty rare.
Nice find. Enjoy!
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09:30 AM
turbo86se Member
Posts: 2098 From: Carroll Valley, PA Registered: Oct 1999
Originally posted by ohioindy: I like how you dress up for her arrival
Ha! Yeah, I thought about that. The suit was on because I had JUST rushed home from work to find the InterCity truck already parked on my street. Then I realized that I might as well leave it on for such an auspicious occasion!
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Originally posted by Gokart Mozart: What's behind the back wall, in front of the Indy?
My water heater, a fan (for working in the garage on 110-degree summer days here in Vegas,) and cabinets.
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Originally posted by BillS: The Indy won't be nearly as nice to drive as a late V6, but that particular car is a time capsule and deserves to be kept as such. I have driven an Indy and then jumped into my 88 GT, and for driving there is no comparison, but so many Indys were trashed that to find a low mileage one is pretty rare.
Agreed. My '88 feels "tighter", faster, and seems easier to steer at low parking lot speeds, even though (obviously) neither car has power steering. Maybe the Indy's tires are just low? I haven't had a chance to check the pressure. The GT is a far superior car, but they're both time capsules, I love 'em both, and feel VERY priveledged to have both of them. Someone must like me.
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Originally posted by turbo86se: I don't see any pics of the Suby!!! (former WRX owner myself)
You WRXers are interested in seeing Foresters? I wouldn't think that a Forester is fast enough for you to be interested! Then again, from what I understand, both the Forester and the WRX are derived from the Imprezza -- am I correct?
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[This message has been edited by davikan (edited 01-12-2008).]
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10:51 AM
davikan Member
Posts: 688 From: Las Vegas, NV USA Registered: Jul 2005
I have some info on replacement decals somewhere around here. I will look for them, but I am pretty sure that Ohio or someone else will beat me to the informatin and get it posted before I do.
I have some info on replacement decals somewhere around here. I will look for them, but I am pretty sure that Ohio or someone else will beat me to the informatin and get it posted before I do.
Where can I get top quality door and glare strip stickers for the Indy? Only one door sticker arrived.
This is the one mod I've decided to do. She looks a little naked for a Pace Car.
I would not use the one original door sticker and one new. One being 24 years old and the other being new could be an issue. I have purchased Indy stuff here… http://www.phoenixgraphix.com/gm/1984if.htm ... and it is very nice stuff. His “Indy Fiero Package” is you best deal even you don’t need all of it.
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Originally posted by whadeduck:
Come to the dark side...........we have cookies.
What cookies???? I didn't get any cookies???
[This message has been edited by ohioindy (edited 01-10-2008).]
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01:47 PM
KaijuSenso Member
Posts: 911 From: Westland, MI Registered: Jan 2007
Wonderful find! We need to know the history of the car. From whom did you purchase it? From what city? Why were there so few miles? When, and where did the original owner purchase it? Is it an auto or stick? Are there any unusual upgrades (options) that we need to know about? Are those the original tires? Did this Fiero ever take a lap around the the Indy track? What is the VIN? Oh, last thing, we need pix of the interior.
Originally posted by kevin: Wonderful find! We need to know the history of the car. From whom did you purchase it? From what city? Why were there so few miles? When, and where did the original owner purchase it? Is it an auto or stick? Are there any unusual upgrades (options) that we need to know about? Are those the original tires? Did this Fiero ever take a lap around the the Indy track? What is the VIN? Oh, last thing, we need pix of the interior.
Cordially, Kevin J. Sullivan
First of all, for those that don't want to read a lot, here are some details:
-I Purchased the car off ebay, from a dealership in Champaign, IL -The low mileage is due to it coming from the family of a "real car guy" who had other collector cars before he died. -The car was originally purchased in Illinois - probably the Champaign area. I am the 2nd individual owner. -Manual transmission. -The only upgrade/mods that I know about so far is updated refrigerant (or something like that) for the A/C, and some tasteful pinstriping on the exterior mirror housings and in the center of the spoiler. I normally would hate this and want to paint over it, but it's done really well, and was apparantly done by hand by a master pinstriper. I'll probably not bother doing anything about it. (I'll post pictures of this and the rest of the car later.) Other than that, the car doesn't have power windows or door locks, but I'll easily overlook such things in exchange for the condition of this car. The leather seat bolsters are smooth and supple as the day they were stitched together. The new car smell inside the car is HEAVENLY. -From what I can tell, yes, the tires are original. -I was told that yes, this car has been around the track in Indianapolis. -The VIN is: 1G2AF37R5EP260583 There's an Indy registry someplace-isn't there? Who needs this information so the registry can be updated with my car?
I will post interior pictures soon. For those who want a history of the car (as I understand it) read my next (insanely long) post.
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05:16 PM
davikan Member
Posts: 688 From: Las Vegas, NV USA Registered: Jul 2005
OK, for those of you who have time to spare, here's the car's history:
I purchased my Indy on ebay back on September 20th. The seller was a big multi-brand car dealership in Champaign, Illinois.
It took this long for me to take possession because the Illinois state DMV put the wrong VIN on the title. Several weeks into a title search, they sent a new title WITH THE EXACT SAME MISTAKE ON IT. A few weeks into a second title search, a corrected title was received by the dealership.
The following history of the car is what I’ve pieced together from talking to the dealership’s sales manager, and from phone/e-mail conversations I’ve had with a member of the family who sold the car to the dealership.
The car was purchased in the Champaign area by a gentleman who was a real car guy: he built hot rods and customized cars all his life. He bought the Fiero for his wife, who (obviously) didn’t drive it much. The car apparently never left the Champaign area (or at least the state) before it came to me in Las Vegas. When the gentleman died, his will specified that the car go to his niece. Needing extra cash for college expenses, the niece and her family decided to sell the car.
There was obviously much grief over this process, but apparently there were a lot of other collector cars taking up space: the Fiero was one that had to go.
The deceased man’s sister started bugging the relative I spoke to, telling him to get the car sold ASAP. He dragged his heels, trying to convince her that there was a market for such a Fiero, and that top dollar would be paid if he could just do some online research to find that market. She kept pushing to get it done sooner than later, so he eventually sold it to the dealership for something in the vicinity of $4500.
Yup, you read that right. $4500 for an Indy Fiero with 4,300 miles on it.
This part I’m fuzzy on, but from what I understand, the man who sold it to the dealership was told that it would be kept locally—either at the dealership as a historical display car or as a garage queen at someone’s personal residence. This was a big selling point to him. On the phone with me, he spoke of the car as “another family member, not just a car.”
When the family got word that the car had been placed on ebay, they were angry. During the hellish title search process, the dealership contacted them to ask for additional paperwork, and to ask for a few extra items (original purchase paperwork, etc…) that they had promised would go with the car. They told the dealership that if the new owner wanted these items, they would have to be contacted directly.
The dealership gave me the number of the man who they bought the car from. When I called him and he found out that the car would be going to someone who was going to pamper it, he seemed sincerely happy. He sent me the extra items without allowing me to pay for shipping.
Both of us lamented the fact that he had been pushed to sell the car without finding the appropriate market to canvas, as the family got far too little for the car, and I paid far too much (alas, willingly.) Cutting out the middleman would have been far better, had the sellers known about Pennock’s, or just placed the Indy on ebay directly.
One nice twist to the story (one that doesn’t benefit MY wallet, but a nice twist nonetheless) is that the owner of the dealership attends the same church as the family. When he heard that the family had been misled and what they sold the car for, he asked the lady who had pushed for the quick sale to come into his dealership. When she did he handed her a substantial check (well into the 4 figure range.)
I sure wish I could get a rebate too, as I paid $14k. Too much for a Fiero? Maybe. Am I really sorry that I got fleeced? Well, not when I step into my garage and start drooling. A 4,300 mile Indy sitting next to a 8,600 mile ’88 GT T-Top? I consider myself very blessed. Very lucky indeed.
I will sacrifice other purchases for a while, maybe eat Ramen noodles to save back the extra money that I had to spend on the car, but: I got something that I’ve wanted for about 24 years. I will gladly sacrifice other purchases to be able to say that.
If anyone restoring an Indy needs pictures or other information, shoot me a message. I’m glad to further Fiero madness wherever I can!
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05:19 PM
jscott1 Member
Posts: 21676 From: Houston, TX , USA Registered: Dec 2001
Congtatulations! I would be interested ti see pics of the engine compartment. I'm curious to see one without oil stains all over it and figure out what else I'm missing.
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05:46 PM
blakeinspace Member
Posts: 5923 From: Fort Worth, Texas Registered: Dec 2001
I thank you for all the info and the story. I am surprised the dealership voluntarily did that for the young lady in college... It is good karma like that that makes the Fiero world a special place. Congratulations on your purchase, and + at you for the story. You waited a long time to sit in that seat... I can only imagine the frustration!
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06:13 PM
ohioindy Member
Posts: 2137 From: Wooster Ohio Registered: Nov 2003
Edit A little cool trick for you Indy people out there. Google your VIN and if Rick has it on http://www.fieropacecar.com/ The “Know VIN List” will show up. I thought it was cool
[This message has been edited by ohioindy (edited 01-11-2008).]
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07:40 PM
Jan 12th, 2008
Gumby Member
Posts: 213 From: Medicine Hat,Alberta, Canada Registered: Jun 2006
No i don't think you paid too much for it because YOU WANTED IT! It is in good hands and willl be looked after to preserve some Fiero history. Next up... bigger garage??
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12:30 AM
fierobear Member
Posts: 27083 From: Safe in the Carolinas Registered: Aug 2000
No i don't think you paid too much for it because YOU WANTED IT! It is in good hands and willl be looked after to preserve some Fiero history. Next up... bigger garage??
HELL NO, he didn't pay too much. I have an Indy with 15,000 miles, in perfect condition, and I paid a lot more for it. If anyone is interested, I'd take $10,000 for mine.
Congrats on the Indy. I hope you can bring it to Westfest.
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03:18 AM
Toddster Member
Posts: 20871 From: Roswell, Georgia Registered: May 2001
Congtatulations! I would be interested ti see pics of the engine compartment. I'm curious to see one without oil stains all over it and figure out what else I'm missing.
I hope these help. PM me with an e-mail address if you need higher res files. More pix of the interior to follow!
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12:47 AM
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jscott1 Member
Posts: 21676 From: Houston, TX , USA Registered: Dec 2001
Hi there, First off, fantastic looking car! I have a request for you: can you take a pic of the door armrest? I am doing an Indy clone, and I need to show the upholsterer how to do the armrests.
P.S. I hope to get my engine looking anywhere close to your condition... but man, is it going to take some work!
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03:32 AM
davikan Member
Posts: 688 From: Las Vegas, NV USA Registered: Jul 2005
Originally posted by AutoTech: Having a car like that would make me go bonkers, always worrying about it getting dirty.
Car fanatic friends of mine already roll their eyes at me when we talk about how little I drive my '88 GT. Come to think of it, most people who know me know that I'm a little bonkers to begin with... Now, I'm just bonkers x 2 Fieros!
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Originally posted by ktthecarguy: I have a request for you: can you take a pic of the door armrest? I am doing an Indy clone, and I need to show the upholsterer how to do the armrests.
Sure. I will post pix within the next couple of days.
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04:07 AM
davikan Member
Posts: 688 From: Las Vegas, NV USA Registered: Jul 2005
Isn't there an even nicer Indy floating around here on Pennock's? I thought I saw a thread about one with 193 miles on the odometer, as well as power door locks and power windows, neither of which mine has.
(BUT I AINT COMPAINING!)
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04:10 AM
ohioindy Member
Posts: 2137 From: Wooster Ohio Registered: Nov 2003
Isn't there an even nicer Indy floating around here on Pennock's? I thought I saw a thread about one with 193 miles on the odometer, as well as power door locks and power windows, neither of which mine has.
Originally posted by ktthecarguy: I have a request for you: can you take a pic of the door armrest?
Wrinkled coverings on my armrests are one of my Indy's few issues. I don't think that it's worthwhile to do anything about it though. Wrinkled armrests on a 24-year old car are par for the course, I would think. As I promised, other interior pictures are posted below as well...
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07:08 PM
carnut122 Member
Posts: 9122 From: Waleska, GA, USA Registered: Jan 2004
...Rob
