An Interesting Ride in The Montego

"MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner" (montegoman562) 04/28/2014 at 10:58 • Filed to: None

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So it was nice on Saturday and I had to pick up a few things at Home Depot (paint, painters tape, new rollers, etc. Nothing too big and all easily trunk stored) so giving it was a nice day and I was driving with no baby with me, logical vehicle choice is CLEARLY the 1968 Mercury Montego MX. (TL:DR at bottom)

Well it became interesting when I didn't even get half way when a landscaping truck is behind me stopped at a red light. Now the guy is really eying up the car, not unusual, it's a bright red, loud '68 muscle car with it's exhaust pipes aimed right at him. It got weird when he hopped out of his truck to see more of the car, then jumped back in when the light turned green. So we go up, make the turn on to the next street and he pulls up next to me (and I was just going to catch a loud late 90's Mustang to play with too!).

And that's when it gets interesting.

He sticks his hand out the window and makes the very well known "money" gesture with his hands. It could have only been cooler if he did this:

So, he then yells "for sale?!" I signal him to pull over and we'll talk. Because yes I love my Montego. I truly do. But in life, everything is for sale for the right money.

So he walks up to the car now that we're stopped (public place, don't worry haha). And asks again if it's for sale, I repeat the above line that everything is for sale for the right price. He asks, well, how much? I said $10,000 (expecting a lower offer, but I'm not stupid enough to start low).

So he asks what motor is in it and tell me he's a big fan of classic Fords and it's a great looking car. At this point I shut off the car and hop out because he seems genuinely interested. I tell him it's a 302 V8, which I've upgraded to a 4 barrel Holley, Edelbrock intake, and the exhaust. This is where I instantly lose respect for the guy.

"They didn't put 302's in these cars". OK first, I know my car, you guys all know I have way too much knowledge in my head about late 60's Ford Muscle.

"I assure you, it's a 302, it's the original engine, and it has just over 60,000 miles on it."

"No, they put 352 V8's in these" "Ok, man, Ford didn't put 352's in these, the Windsor line of motors had 289, 302, 351. Then they had the 351 Cleveland and then they stepped up to the FE Big Blocks, which is obviously out of the question for my car."

He wouldn't budge. "A 352 is the correct motor for this car. And what carb do you have on here? 600 CFM?"

"No it's a 390 CFM 4 Barrel from Holley"

"They never put those on these engines, even 289 Mustangs had 600 CFM"

"I know they didn't put them on these, I put it on there, it's not stock, and 600 CFM was too much fuel for this otherwise stock 302. I'm also pretty sure 289 Mustangs didn't come stock with 600 CFM Holley's."

So anyhow, we went back and forth for a while, he never counter offered the 10k price. But he did tell me that he had a Ford 352 V8 for sale for 500 bucks which apparently had a 2 speed POWERGLIDE transmission hooked up to it, which after I said "Powerglide is a GM transmission" he said no, it was definitely Ford and my Montego should have a 2 speed Powerglide, if it was a numbers matching car (which my car is). I assured him again, the C4 3 speed automatic was correct for the car.

He then just before leaving after again complimenting the car (i'm not sure why he would giving he thought everything in it was wrong but oh well) offered me a flat trade on a 1985 convertible GT Mustang.

I declined. (obviously)

At the end of this debacle of idiocy from the random guy who sought out MY CAR to show interest in purchasing it who knew nothing about it, and ended up not even offering anything real, it got me thinking about the credit cards being completely paid off with the sale of my car and to top it off we're in the market to get a new house so paying down debt would be awesome.

My dear, dear Montego. But everyone has a price. I just don't think I could actually sell it at a number where I'd be happy enough with the cash to be able to part with it. Especially because in another couple years my son (almost 1.5 year old) will love it. And how in the world would I find another Montego if I ever wanted another one?

(TL:DR random guy who didn't know what he was talking about wanted to buy the Montego, never offered a price, offered a trade for an 85 GT Mustang convertible, and was of the belief that Powerglide transmissions belonged in Fords)

What do you guys think? Should I explore the market?

offroadkarter > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 04/28/2014 at 11:04

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Now was your chance to say "Oh no you're right, this was a special 302HO build ordered by Lee Iacocca himself. He drove this car for 3 years and I bought it off him. At 10 grand this is a steal for a one of one car!".

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > offroadkarter 04/28/2014 at 11:25

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Haha, the original window sticker and a simply VIN decode clearly shows all the info I told him.

That's what I get for not having that framed and in the car yet...

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 04/28/2014 at 11:38

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Summary of his remarks: "DERP"

Although now that you mention it, the next time I'm looking to buy something from anyone who might be familiar with the Fry meme, I'm obligated to do that.

shop-teacher > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 04/28/2014 at 11:45

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I've put my Buick up for sale for similar reasons a couple of times. Never got anything except people offering to trade me Sportsters. The Sportster, apparantly is worth roughly the equivelant of some wampum and a pack of gum. Can't hurt to try though, if someone pulled out $10k in cash, I'd certainly smile and wave goodbye. There are lots of cool old cars to have fun with.

sourlemons > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 04/28/2014 at 12:05

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Was it THIS GUY???

sourlemons > sourlemons 04/28/2014 at 12:06

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Or This Guy?

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > shop-teacher 04/28/2014 at 12:11

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damn you and your responsibility!

Yeah I think if 10k was in front of me my mind would make a decision quite quickly.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > sourlemons 04/28/2014 at 12:12

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Haha I wish.

But no it wasn't. I would hope either one of those two would at least know that Ford didn't make a powerglide transmission - gm did AND that they didn't make a 1968 Ford 352 V8.

Those guys also would have at least offered something, despite it being a drastically low ball offer like they always do lol

V8Demon - Prefers Autos for drag racing. Fite me! > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 04/28/2014 at 12:26

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If the price for the engine he offered to sell included the Powerglide, you should have taken it. Powerglide cases are becoming rare and people are snatching them up. I know an owner of a local performance shop who is starting to stock up on them.

Jayhawk Jake > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 04/28/2014 at 12:28

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Don't explore the market. The only way you should sell it from what I'm hearing is if someone like Jay Leno comes up to you and writes you a blank check because he absolutely has to have one of these cars because his father owned one new and he wants to use it to drive on the weekends and enjoy some nostalgia.

Selling it to a random idiot who doesn't know anything about it would be a mistake.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > V8Demon - Prefers Autos for drag racing. Fite me! 04/28/2014 at 12:28

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It did, but if it's actually hooked up to a 352 Ford FE V8 block, I highly doubt it's a powerglide.

I also doubt this guy knows the difference between a 4 cylinder and a v12.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Jayhawk Jake 04/28/2014 at 12:30

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Well, this guy didn't have cash anyhow. I honestly think he saw a guy who maybe might want a different motor and stopped me purely to gawk at the car and possibly sell an engine.

But even if a random idiot shows up with 10k, it's going to be hard to turn away a $7,000 profit.

JR1 > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 04/28/2014 at 12:44

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For a 7k profit it might have been worth selling. But in a few years if your kid gets emotionally attached to the car it will be too late you have to keep it then so his dad can have the coolest car in his grade, as I am sure he will tell all his friends.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > JR1 04/28/2014 at 12:46

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aaaand theres one of my big hangups on selling it. That could pay down a lot of stuff. The Montego doesn't have a loan on it, so even tho its a 7k profit it would be 10k in straight up cash-ness.

JR1 > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 04/28/2014 at 12:53

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If the car makes you happy and it is something you and your son can work on in the future you can't really put a price on that. Unless of course you find another car that is a great deal and can sell the Montego and still be in the green.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > JR1 04/28/2014 at 13:09

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Yeah, it's a tough situation.

shop-teacher > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 04/28/2014 at 14:13

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Ha! You have no idea how many times I've told myself that!

V8Demon - Prefers Autos for drag racing. Fite me! > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 04/28/2014 at 14:16

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They make adapter plates to hook a Powerglide onto anything so you never know. A friend had one behind a tall deck windsor for a little bit a few years ago. Weren't the FE blocks similar in appearance to the early-mid 50's Cadillac blocks? Could be a possibility he's holding on to one of those....

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > shop-teacher 04/28/2014 at 14:17

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responsible teachers...

what are you trying to do, teach our kids responsibility?! HOW DARE YOU! lol

no seriously I doubt I could get the 10k for it. If I did I think the decision would be an easy one (sad, every sad, but easy...besides they have medicine for depression)

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > V8Demon - Prefers Autos for drag racing. Fite me! 04/28/2014 at 14:20

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I gota say I don't kno on the caddy blocks.

Want his number? you can buy it off him

shop-teacher > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 04/28/2014 at 14:25

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Seriously, what's wrong with me? :) $10k is well above market value for my Buick as well. Honestly, if I saw 80 $100 bills in front of me, I think that'd be all folks. On one hand it would be hard, but it's also an opportunity to find and own something else cool.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > shop-teacher 04/28/2014 at 14:32

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I don't think I could say no to 80 of em either. I wouldn't need as many pills with 100 of them though.

anyway, 10k is a tad under "Average retail" on NADA and 8k is kinda right in the middle of low and average so i'd prolly be fine there

V8Demon - Prefers Autos for drag racing. Fite me! > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 04/28/2014 at 14:35

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I have a block sitting next to my garbage cans right now that will not fit in the shed. My wife puts up with a lot of stuff, but I feel that wouldn't go over very well.

STREPITUS > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 05/04/2014 at 17:00

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Off topic: Met a guy on Woodward last night with an amazing Mercury Meteor. It was basically an SVT Cobra with a 50 year old Mercury body. His family has a bunch of amazing cars and great stories.

If you see a matte gray Meteor with a red roof and red side stipe and Torq-Thrust style wheels, absolutly talk to the guy.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > STREPITUS 05/05/2014 at 10:09

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I will definitely find that guy lol

Haven't been to woodward in a few years. The first year I went the car has hated me ever since. Overheating issues. It's a pain in the ass on actual woodward to drive the car in that heat, no AC, no power brakes, black vinyl seats and you're barely moving so no air flow.

Might be worth it to go up the weekend before and hunt for a Meteor though...

STREPITUS > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 05/05/2014 at 10:19

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He told me he hangs out at all the cruising spots - Woodward, Down River, etc. I ran into him at the Shell station at 13.5 on Woodward. He also has an Olds Wagon and a bunch of other Fords. If you do make it out ourways, be on the lookout for a green Mustang GT too on the Shell side of Woodward (not the couple green ones that hang out on the Potbellys side) - thats me!

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > STREPITUS 05/05/2014 at 10:29

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awesome.

Well I'm planning a Metro Detroit OPPO Meet up for the end of May, you should definitely join in!

And make sure you come down for the Michigan Ave Cruise in Wayne MI. I'm in it every year. (short commute with a tempermental old car, as I live in Wayne lol)