TjRubley.com

New Years Day I took a trip down to the Sports Car Shop in Eugene. My close friend Paul works there and the owner, Bob, approached me about pictures that they needed for a couple of the incoming cars. One of the cars is a 2006 Jaguar S Type R:

I’m a ‘prosumer’ quality photographer with only a little gear in my bag. But considering the equipment, I’m okay with how these turned out. Especially this close up of the leaping cat and Jag badge. I made wallpapers out of these in 1680 and 1152 resolutions:

This is quite a striking car in person. I didn’t get any seat time in the car, but the specs speak for themselves: (Edmunds.com)

The standard engine is a supercharged 4.2-liter V8 rated at 400 horsepower. A six-speed automatic transmission sends the power to the rear wheels. Performance is exemplary, with a 0-to-60 time of just 5.3 seconds, according to Jaguar, and an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph.

I’ll be going back down to shoot outdoors later this week. I’ll get details then regarding price, miles, etc… Stay tuned!

dc

Looks like the NSX market isn’t immune to the recession either. A scan of NSX Prime Marketplace (the place to surf NSX anything online) a year ago and you would’ve been hard pressed to find any NSX for less than $28-30k. There are at least 3 right now for less than that and with decent mileage. Both of these stood out to me because of the color combination’s, decent mileage, and the somehow reasonable looking $25k price tags.

First up is this Black on Ivory NSX For Sale in San Diego:

quote from seller’s NSXPrime listing:

Black/Ivory

5 speed
72,044 miles

Only mod is Flowmaster Exhaust, but it still looks stock with the original tips.
A/C Head Unit was replaced a few months ago.
Clean Title. Runs strong. Selling because it doesn’t get driven enough.
Extra set of Stock 1991 Wheels+Tires Included.

Next is a Silver on Black NSX For Sale in Florida (I presume):

quote from seller’s NSXPrime Listing:

1991 Acura NSX
5 Speed Manual transmission
Not in snap ring range
68,000 miles
Only 467 sebring silver cars ever produced!
Car has only ONE OWNER before me. It has never been in an accident.
I trailered the car to PA at the end of 2007.

All original with the exception of
-new koni adjustable struts (originals ones included)
-custom exhaust
-8000k philips HID (self installed)
-window film
-upgraded chrome wheels from 00 model (original ones included)

No issues except
-climate currently only blowing on high, needs hvac rebuilt
-super tiny ding on lowest part of front right fender
-front spoiler is scratched, I will include a new one, but you install.

Service Records
-When I was reviewing the records I left it outside overnight during a rain storm, all of them blew away and I had to go hunting for them. I believe I lost about 20 pages.
-engine serviced, timing belt and water pump around 55,000 miles
-clutch and transmission rebuilt around 45,000 miles
-lots of other work, 90% of work done at Acura of Pompano Beach / Rick Case Acura.

Buyer will have one choice of
1. chrome wheels currently on the car.
2. solaris silver wheels nearly perfect

I would soooo love to have an NSX in the garage. Even though a collision would bankrupt me, the rest of the package is so well balanced and reliable. As prices come down, it’s even easier to justify the thought. I’d go with the black one for the great color combo, but that’s getting a bit nit-picky as both are beautiful. I wouldn’t kick either one out of bed for that price!

dc

I had never heard of this hardtop option before, but check out this really cool aftermarket option from Zeintec. It’s called the Zeintop and by removing a couple panels from your early first generation Boxster, it fits in place like a hard top but also incorporates a hatchback design that utilizes the stock trunk area. The result is remarkably similar in design and look of the much newer Porsche Cayman.

And according to this thread on Pelican Parts, there is a promotion offer right now that prices the top at around $3k! Mix in a low miles, second hand Boxster like this one, and viola, a budget Cayman for around $20k:

quote from seller’s Craigslist posting in San Francisco:

1998 Porsche Boxster-17,500mi-Original Owner-Very Clean - $15500 (saratoga)

[...]

This white, 1998 Porsche Boxster is offered with less than 17,500 miles. I’m the original Owner of this beauty and kept the Boxster in the garage. It is an instant classic. Its extremely clean. Enjoy the thrill and excitement of your new Boxster.

As most readers have noticed, I’m watching used Boxsters and this sure looks like a really interesting option!

dc

I think I may have found another candidate for Eric, who’s looking for an early Porsche 911 driver for under $20k. Check out this 1970 Porsche 911 For Sale on Craigslist:

quote from seller’s Craigslist posting:

This is an amazing car that has been covered and stored in a dry So Cal. garage for 15 years. It has the 2.2L engine with dual Zenith carbs. About a year ago, I replaced the fluids, got two new batteries, replaced some fuel pump and line and started it up. I then pumped up the tires and drove directly to my local Porsche specialist. They rebuilt the carbs, did full tune up, rebuilt brakes and changed lines, installed water shields, replaced exhaust return tubes and conducted a general safety inspection. Next were four new Kumo 205/60 15’s and an Audio Shoppe custom installed Pioneer P4900 IB CD deck (detachable face and Ipod ready) and 4 speakers. It’s been back to the mechanic for a few adjustments since, but that is the major work done. Since then I hve put on about 900 trouble free miles. It has a period aftermarket steering wheel with Porsche emblem.. and the horn works! The original manual, full set of service manuals and tool kit bag.

Now for the other side of the coin. The car backfires something fierce when down shifting. Mechanic says it’s a timing issue. It has the Marelli distributer and needs to be converted to the Bosch. That will allow the timing to be set properly and should cure the problem. Only the seals that could be reached with the engine in the car were changed. It leaks a bit (most do) but new seals won’t hurt. Paint is not original, but a very good match, I think it was painted in 1979 or so. It has a couple paint dings, the biggest is in the right rear quarter (a slight crease about 2 inches long). The dash has a couple of cracks, the headliner is a bit dingy and the right turn signal works every other day or so.

All in all a VERY GOOD car, and with a little more attention would be a GREAT car.

The previous spot I had for Eric was $15k but needed paint. This car likely needs some freshening from the long time it sat, but the paint should be good (though maybe not original color or quality). Worth a look as early 911’s still show good value and are rarely spotted at this price… for now.

dc

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year, here are the entries for the end of December:

1990 Honda VFR750R RC30 For Sale in Rochester - The title and registration, combined with the the obvious care and thoughtful upgrades, make this bike a standout. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen one listed for sale in recent memory. What do you guys think of the $16k asking?

An RVF400 and VFR400 For Sale in the Bay Area - Naturally the VFR400 with original looking bodywork would be my pick. Too bad it doesn’t have registration. The RVF400 is probably the cooler bike mechanically, but restored plastics would be at the top of my list. But with a title and registration, and an asking of only $3k, it’d be a great rider while you tried to determine if it was going to be a track bike or light restoration for the street.

Honda NSR250 MC18 For Sale - With no title, this great little bike will be attractive to collectors and track day enthusiasts. As a track day bike, do you pick something like this or a new Aprilia RS125? I sat on the latter this past weekend at the Seattle International Motorcycle Show, it’s amazing how beautiful it is in person…

1988 BMW M3 w/ 38k Miles Back on eBay - in my previous post, I guessed that the winning bid would be around $25k. Considering brand new M cars are apparently immune to the sales slump, do you think this legendary M car will find a buyer this time?

2001 Ducati MH900e Mike Hailwood Evoluzione - The seller has it listed with a $13.9k buy-it-now shown. Having covered only a few thousand miles, this looks like a great buy considering brand new Sport Classics go for about this much!

1995 Aprilia RS250 Chesterfied Replica - Oh man… I’m very tempted to get myself the best xmas present ever and buy this before the auction ends in a few hours. It’s even titled and street legal. It’s only a couple hours away and I’ve taken all of next week off… But I probably won’t though, so I’m posting it here in case someone else can snag it.

1998 Bimota SB6R For Sale on eBay - For a buyer with some skills or connections to a good technician, this could be a steal. Current bid is around $7k. What do you think it’s worth once it’s running properly?

Stunning 1991 Porsche 928 GT For Sale with 5 Speed - I’m a big fan of the 928 anyway, but in this color, trim, and with the 5 speed, I think this looks like a great example. Current bid is just under $14k (no reserve auction) and 8 days to go. I’ll update after auction for the final sale price.

1993 Ducati Superbike 888 SPO: Just In Time For Christmas - The only other Ducati’s of this vintage and price range that I would consider would be a 748, or a Superlight. And even in that company, I think the 888 is the bike of choice.

1998 Suzuki RGV 250 SP Lucky Strike Replica in Washington - This bike looks incredible, but the only problem is the asking price. It’s $16k! It does have very low miles and a title, but this is an outrageous premium considering the market and other examples of the Lucky Strike replica’s that we’ve posted on this blog.

1988 BMW e28 M5: Possible Project Car? - Obviously this one has a lot more miles than most cars I post on here. And I don’t know what showroom they’ve been hanging out in, but this car clearly isn’t that condition. Despite the fact that this car could’ve really benefited from a detail before shooting pics, the car looks complete and pretty good shape. If the motor was sound, this could be a pretty cool project car considering the asking. Which way would you go: fix it up as a nice driver or maybe enjoy as a weekend track toy?

I stumbled on to this Craigslist posting for a Porsche 914 that is being sold to fund chemo treatment for the family dog, Pippen:

quote from seller’s listing:

I am using the money to pay for my dogs Chemo-Therapy. My cat is in love with her (see pic below). The other is her as a puppy. Must Sell. Please make me an offer. Thank you.

Please visit http://www.savepippen.com/ for details.

Beautiful 1973 Porsche 914 for sell, not trade. It is a 1.7 liter with a clear title. The vehicle looks real good for its age. It is a restoration vehicle and a lot of work has been done to the vehicle already. The inside could use some TLC. I have original paperwork on all work completed (by a shop) on the vehicle since 1987. There has been approximately 3 owners. We believe the 77,000 miles on the car are original, according to the dealer we bought the car from years ago; I have no paperwork to suggest either way.

Some of the work done on vehicle since 1987: Replaced Clutch - 1987; Transmission Repaired & Replaced Main Shaft - 1987; Clutch Kit - 1999; Alternator Exchanged - 1999; Replaced Front/Rear Struts - 2000; Transmission Serviced - 2002; Bosch Rebuilt Starter - 2002; Replaced Front Brake Pads - 2003; Replaced Voltage Regulator & Alternator Belt - 2003; Updated Stereo w/Speakers - 2003; Replaced fuel hoses coming from tank (tank seals are in great condition) - 2008.

The missus and I are dog owners ourselves and we’ve been fortunate not to have any serious issues with our dog, Sam. We couldn’t help but try to assist in spreading the word about this story. If you’re in the market for a 914 in the Pacific Northwest, this might make for an easy decision under the circumstances.

dc

Got some last minute Christmas shopping to do for your favorite BMW enthusiast? Check out these BMW posters that you can buy right now on eBay:

BMW 3.5CSL Cutaway/Artist Shin Yoshikawa / Car Poster!!

US $24.95 End Date: Wednesday Jan-07-2009 9:41:37 PST Buy It Now for only: US $24.95 Buy it now | Add to watch list

1968 BMW 2002/1600 POSTER/PICTURE/PRINT/PHOTO-1969-1970

US $8.50 (0 Bid) End Date: Wednesday Jan-07-2009 21:11:06 PST Buy It Now for only: US $9.99 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

BMW M-635 CSi 8" x 10" Out of Print Car Poster! WOW!

US $7.95 End Date: Thursday Jan-08-2009 0:55:19 PST Buy It Now for only: US $7.95 Buy it now | Add to watch list

BMW M Power: Pen and Ink Signed Bartell Car Poster RARE

US $99.95 (0 Bid) End Date: Thursday Jan-08-2009 1:02:39 PST Buy It Now for only: US $99.95 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

BMW Z4 M Roadster Factory Orig German Issued Car Poster

US $12.95 End Date: Thursday Jan-08-2009 1:07:19 PST Buy It Now for only: US $12.95 Buy it now | Add to watch list

BMW 2 & 3 Series Pen and Ink Signed Bartell Car Poster!

US $99.95 (0 Bid) End Date: Thursday Jan-08-2009 1:07:41 PST Buy It Now for only: US $99.95 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

2006 BMW Z4 Roadster Factory BMW Ag Car Poster WOW!

US $9.95 (0 Bid) End Date: Thursday Jan-08-2009 1:08:10 PST Buy It Now for only: US $12.95 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

BMW Z3 Roadster,1996 Factory German Issued Car Poster

US $9.95 (0 Bid) End Date: Thursday Jan-08-2009 1:09:35 PST Buy It Now for only: US $12.95 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

BMW 320 Gp5/M3 fire/Car Poster Re print/Race/Race/stuck

US $9.95 (0 Bid) End Date: Thursday Jan-08-2009 17:22:54 PST Buy It Now for only: US $13.95 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

Original BMW Car poster/M5 Halt/Print/Race/Hot lap

US $15.00 (1 Bid) End Date: Thursday Jan-08-2009 17:26:04 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

Original BMW Car poster/M3 Coupe 2/Print/Race/Hot Lap

US $19.95 (0 Bid) End Date: Thursday Jan-08-2009 17:28:29 PST Buy It Now for only: US $24.95 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

Original BMW Car poster/M3 Coupe Corner/Print/Race Lap

US $19.95 (0 Bid) End Date: Thursday Jan-08-2009 17:28:44 PST Buy It Now for only: US $24.95 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

BMW art Car poster/Nelson E30 M3/Print

US $39.95 (0 Bid) End Date: Thursday Jan-08-2009 17:28:56 PST Buy It Now for only: US $49.95 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

Original BMW Car poster/M5 AUGE/Print/Race/Hot lap

US $15.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Thursday Jan-08-2009 17:29:09 PST Buy It Now for only: US $19.95 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

Original BMW Car poster/3 series/side/Print/Race Lap

US $15.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Thursday Jan-08-2009 17:30:19 PST Buy It Now for only: US $19.95 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

BMW 850/More Smiles/Car Poster Re print/Race/V12

US $9.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Thursday Jan-08-2009 17:30:30 PST Buy It Now for only: US $13.95 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

Original BMW Car poster/williams F1/Print/Race/front

US $15.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Thursday Jan-08-2009 17:30:46 PST Buy It Now for only: US $19.95 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

Original BMW Car poster/Sauber F1/Print/Race/Hot lap

US $19.95 (0 Bid) End Date: Thursday Jan-08-2009 17:31:13 PST Buy It Now for only: US $24.95 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

Original BMW Car poster/Z8 @ Speed/Print/Race

US $15.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Thursday Jan-08-2009 17:32:27 PST Buy It Now for only: US $19.95 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

BMW hillclimb champs/Nurburgring/Poster/race print

US $9.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Thursday Jan-08-2009 17:41:40 PST Buy It Now for only: US $12.75 Bid now | Buy it now | Add to watch list

dc

This is a really well done promotional video for the Suzuki GSX-R, circa about 1993. Take a look:

Find a vintage GSX-R for sale now on RareSportBikesForSale.com

Source: Hell for Leather

dc

Check out this great looking e30 M3 for sale on eBayMotors:

I’m not usually a fan of the Cardinal Red interior, but it works well with the dark gray exterior. And with 44k miles, it should be in fantastic shape. Here’s a quote from the seller’s auction listing:

Up for sale low mile E30 M3, Diamantschwarz-metallic, cardinal red interior, Car is in unbelievable condition for age and mileage. It is bone stock except for two things, it has 16X8 BBS wheels and BORLA stainless muffler. Its defiantly collectors item, it have bean garaged all his life, newer tracked, two owner car first owner was 75 years old second 60 years old.. Car did got professionally detailed, it cleaned up awesome, interior looks like new, It has had some body work ( hood and right front fender and front bumper have bean sprayed) Who ever did job was a good painter it matches perfectly and you need to be professional to see that, None of panels have bean replaced all the vin tags are original and present. Headlight bezels are original to. I think it got sprayed due to rock chips. It has new tires, intake blocks. Full tune up was done 5K miles ago and I did change all the fluids. Car Drives quiet, smooth and tight, it needs nothing, it has clear CARFAX

I expect more and more of these low mileage examples to surface due to the crap economy. This one looks great with the BBS upgrade rims and diamantschwarz exterior. Any guesses on winning bid?

Update: Reserve not met at $19.3k

dc

Saturday morning, Paul, Scott, and I bombed up I-5 to catch the Seattle International Motorcycle show. It was a cool show with most manufacturers represented and lots of bikes to sit on, which is what makes these shows so much fun to attend! Here’s the raw and unsorted pictures from the show:

My pick of the show is fantastic Aprilia RS125. At only 280lbs, it’s light as a feather and makes my Ducati at 380lbs feel a bit chunky! Too bad the 125 isn’t street legal though…

Here’s a review of the RS125 on Motorcycle-USA.com

dc