One of the stranger things I have seen a previous owner do...

"505Turbeaux" (505turbeaux) 01/14/2014 at 08:25 • Filed to: None

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besides for the sheet of acid and bag of moldy pot I found in the door panel of a 63 Bus I bought, but it was the 60's, man. So anyhow, after finally going through all of the boxes of parts and paperwork that came with my 88 Audi 90 Quattro, I found a true labor of love. First thing I pulled out was the window sticker and original bill of sale, showing I bought it from the original owners son, laminated. Cool. Then comes out the owners manual, deconstructed and placed into a small photo album, also laminated, kind of a pain in the ass, but hey, they wanted to keep the fingerprints off it, sure. Then I proceed to pull a box with 5 family photo albums...WITH THE ENTIRE BENTLEY SERVICE MANUAL, ELECTRICAL BOOK, THE '88 ONLY WIRING BOOK, and ALL AUDI TSB's in plastic sleeves. Can you imagine how god damned long that must have taken them to unbind what has to be 1000 pages, and place them into laminated sleeves? I think it is great, don't have to wash my hands to use the manual, but holy hell that is a lot of work. Also as a bonus I got all the service records in a folder, also laminated. I think the reason I think this is so odd, besides for all the work involved, was these people spent TWENTY FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS servicing this car in the past 3 years, and when I got it the interior was so blown out I had to change my clothes to get in it, and take a shower when I got home. The drivers seat was so busted I had to put pillows behind me to even sit up straight. That has all been rectified, but man people are weird. Sorry about the occasional all caps, but I had to make my surprise known. Enjoy

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > 505Turbeaux 01/14/2014 at 08:35

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I wish mine had even a fraction of that level of documentation. I bought mine from a guy who got it because his friend owed him money and gave him the car as repayment. Then the friend went into hiding from debt collectors. The history reports I have show it as a northeastern car originally but at one point it was used in road racing and had an aftermarket ECU chip soldered into the board along with coilovers and a front brake conversion from the UFO brakes to typical calipers.

505Turbeaux > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 01/14/2014 at 08:38

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for the number of cars I have bought like yours, this was a pleasant surprise. My last 5000CS Q avant had not one piece of info, not even some awesome debt collector story :)

getchapopcorn > 505Turbeaux 01/14/2014 at 08:48

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Did you really find an entire damn sheet?!

505Turbeaux > getchapopcorn 01/14/2014 at 08:49

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um, yeah I really did. No good stuff left on it though that I could tell through, um, science

highmodulus > 505Turbeaux 01/14/2014 at 08:50

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Meth is a hell of a drug?

#or OCD

505Turbeaux > highmodulus 01/14/2014 at 08:51

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lol had to be both

Jordan Clifford > 505Turbeaux 01/14/2014 at 08:55

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cocaine is a hell of a drug.

getchapopcorn > 505Turbeaux 01/14/2014 at 08:58

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As to the story: it's always nice to know/be reminded that there are people out there just as weird as us.

505Turbeaux > getchapopcorn 01/14/2014 at 08:59

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lol, or as OCD. I reap the benefit of the hard work in this case though. I wish some of my other cars came with this level of crazy

Textured Soy Protein > 505Turbeaux 01/14/2014 at 09:27

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I scan all my service receipts so I can show them to potential buyers...in a nice convenient zip file.

505Turbeaux > Textured Soy Protein 01/14/2014 at 09:28

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lol yeah that is terribly convenient vs this

With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username > 505Turbeaux 01/14/2014 at 09:41

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Somewhere that crossed a line from OCD to psychopathic. My previous owner records are like: 11-17-93: chevron 89 octane @ 1.899/ gal. 8.77 gals. 26.4 mpg. New air filter. 11-21-93: put car on jack stands. Covered with blanket. Left for Australia. 12-6:93: returned from Australia. Removed blanket. Checked for fluid drips. Removed from jackstands....

Nothing > 505Turbeaux 01/14/2014 at 11:23

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My '90 Saab 900T (long since sold, unfortunately) came with that level of documentation. Every receipt from day 1. I purchased it in sometime in 2003/2004 and it came with a big old binder. I bought it for $1100 and it was the most fun $1100 vehicle I've purchased (thus far trumping the $900 Miata, although that car was in a little rougher shape than the nearly immaculate 900T).

Note the CD player in the interior shot. Old school...you had to put the CD into a case and insert the case into the CD player.

505Turbeaux > Nothing 01/14/2014 at 11:26

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haha that was the option, most turbos had the graphic equalizer in that slot, Clarion brand. Man that was a pretty 900 in that color. SAAB's, Volvo's and Mercedes are the cars I see the most with full documentation.

Nothing > 505Turbeaux 01/14/2014 at 11:34

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The guy selling it was interesting. Didn't wash it, it had steelies with the requisite Hakkapalitas and the original alloys. It even came with the Thule rack. The picture was on Autotrader in black and white. When I asked what color it was, he said "kinda mucus'y".

505Turbeaux > Nothing 01/14/2014 at 11:36

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lol was this in Denver? I bought my Bavaria out there from a very similar sounding guy. Also black and white ad, in 2001? Also I bet those Hakkas were on it in the middle of the summer

Nothing > 505Turbeaux 01/14/2014 at 11:39

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Yup, in Denver. He replaced this with a 9000 Aero. It was winter when I bought the car, but could tell the tires had been used year round. I put some new Yokos on the stock wheels.

505Turbeaux > Nothing 01/14/2014 at 11:41

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hmm, near the tech center?

Oh yeah and all you Denver Opponauts, I might be back for good this summer. I don't know if y'all can handle my level of automotive crazy though. Yeee-haw

Nothing > 505Turbeaux 01/14/2014 at 11:51

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Nope, this guy was off 70th and Wadsworth, Arvada area. I should cheap car shop again, you meet some interesting characters. Another one of my cheap car purchases, an '85 Ramcharger, the guy had a nice lifted Willys Wagon. So lifted that he swapped the wheels/tires to get in and out of his garage. He didn't have beadlockers, so he couldn't lower the pressure enough on his 40-whatever-inch Super Swampers to get out.

Desu-San-Desu > 505Turbeaux 01/14/2014 at 12:27

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Oh man....what I wouldn't do for those Bentley manuals...

Bird > 505Turbeaux 01/14/2014 at 12:49

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She doesn't have the Service Manuals (yet...), but my girlfriend ( Ferrero1911 ) has probably the most documented Fiat 500 Abarth in the country. We'd love to hear suggestions of what to do to preserve the window sticker and build sheet. She has everything...the build sheet was wedged in the engine bay just above the exhaust. I don't think they were supposed to leave it there. Pictured above we have 'The Book', build sheet, window sticker, LA Auto Show brochure, special dealer brochure you had to ask for, printed manuals you had to specially request by mail, manual on Scorpion flash drive, and our lanyards from the Abarth track day.

Inside 'The Book' we have everything else that ever had anything to do with her car. Those are the weight tags from her wheels. All those tags inside a new car when you get it...she has those too. The Tirerack ads that came with the wheels....yep, those too.

She has receipts for everything. Oil changes to cleaning supplies...

I told her in 40 years she needs to sell it at a Barrett Jackson auction as a well documented, one female owner car....Owned by a little old lady...

505Turbeaux > Bird 01/14/2014 at 12:54

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straight awesome. Now let's see if a Fiat lasts 40 years (I hope so, been looking at an Abarth myself lustily for some time)

gabdere > Bird 01/14/2014 at 13:02

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I'm so jealous! I have nothing on my GTI previous to my ownership. Can't wait to buy my first NEW car!

Bird > gabdere 01/14/2014 at 13:03

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It was her first new car, and she pre-ordered and waited to get it...so she's a little fanatical.

Bird > 505Turbeaux 01/14/2014 at 13:04

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I guess time will tell if it makes it. It's doing good so far though! Also, it's a ton of fun to drive.

505Turbeaux > Bird 01/14/2014 at 13:05

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I like the crazy angry sound. they are def fun to toss around.

505Turbeaux > Desu-San-Desu 01/14/2014 at 13:06

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well, they made them real easy to scan if you need a couple of pages here or there!

Desu-San-Desu > 505Turbeaux 01/14/2014 at 13:09

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LMAO. In case you haven't noticed, neither Haynes nor Chiltons makes a repair manual for the 1991 80 quattro, so I've been surviving with no manual whatsoever for quite a while.

For right now, though? Wiring diagrams. Wiring diagrams are a must. Vacuum diagrams are a close second, lol. Oh, and instructions on how to tighten the handbrake.

505Turbeaux > Desu-San-Desu 01/14/2014 at 13:13

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I got the haynes for a non quattro 4 or 5 cylinder with the car. Nice hard bound one too, but it is good to have the Bentley. Vac isnt too different besides for the pink line for Diff lock. Handbrake is easy too I can walk you through it!

camaroboy68ss > 505Turbeaux 01/14/2014 at 13:16

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Very nice, I wish my 68 camaro had even one scrap of its original paperwork. I didn't get anything, no protect o plate/ original owners manual, build sheet (really need it to get it certified to confirm its rare status), heck even the factory tire pressure sticker on the inside of the glove box was gone.

Build sheets are usually just tossed out unless the worker was lazy and would hide it in the car.

Desu-San-Desu > 505Turbeaux 01/14/2014 at 13:18

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Lol, ok. Maybe once it warms up. I don't have a garage, so working on my car with frost on the ground is none too appealing. You can e-mail me at CarverGeek.San@gmail.com if that is easier for keeping track of the conversation.

liquid1036 > Bird 01/14/2014 at 13:19

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Very nice! I tried to do something like this when I bought my Audi A4, still have a lot of the documentation from the beginning when I first got it but stopped. :-(

Ferrero1911 > 505Turbeaux 01/14/2014 at 13:23

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I hope it lasts that long! I have receipts for everything that's ever touched the car too from the towels to the wax.

Ferrero1911 > 505Turbeaux 01/14/2014 at 13:23

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Kinja'd with a double comment....

505Turbeaux > Ferrero1911 01/14/2014 at 13:25

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awesome keep that thing going forever. Though you sure sound like someone I would want to buy a car from!

minardi > Bird 01/14/2014 at 13:25

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Am also keeping all the documents for my Abarth, (am crazier) including the receipt for gas. I keep all of these in a vintage Abarth vinyl folder.

Ferrero1911 > minardi 01/14/2014 at 14:10

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I think keeping gas receipts would drive me crazy. Sometimes it doesn't print at the pump!

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > 505Turbeaux 01/14/2014 at 22:39

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I got every receipt and gas slip for 20 years with my car. However I had to give up the original title even in its cool 1970's green with weird font. (damn RMV).