"roflcopter" (roflroflroflcopter)
05/23/2015 at 17:38 • Filed to: NPoCP
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"roflcopter" (roflroflroflcopter)
05/23/2015 at 17:38 • Filed to: NPoCP | 1
| 12 |
I saw, quite literally, the one car that I would least have expected to see on a used car lot in Florida. I’ve seen everything from a Jaguar XJ220 to a Lamborghini Reventon in this town, but nothing could have prepared me for what I came across yesterday. Can you guess what it was?
When I first saw it off in the distance I thought it was an immaculately restored Volvo, as I got closer I realized it was probably a Fiat, and once I got past it and saw the rear end I knew I had to turn around and inquire about this beauty. The owner was a seedy used car salesman with an eastern European accent(makes sense) and he said that he is the second owner of it, it was imported from Hungary, and he claimed that it was the only one in the US. That last claim is a bit far from the truth, but it is indeed quite rare to see one on this side of the world, much less in the US.
This Lada is a 1980 model 1200, a little bit of research shows that it was up on the Mecum Action block in Kissimmee back in January, whether the story of him being the second owner and needing to import it somehow using an auction, or if it was all a lie is up for debate. What I do know is that it was completely spotless, dare I say showroom condition, on the outside and pretty close under the hood and on the interior.
After a bit of talking I asked him what he wants for it, and he said that after it costing him nearly $5,000 to import(could be true) he is looking for no less than $14,000 for the signed copy of the clean and clear Florida title to this beautifully polished turd of Soviet engineering. Think anyone will find it worthwhile with a price tag like that?
Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
> roflcopter
05/23/2015 at 17:43 |
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Where is this at?
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roflcopter
> Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
05/23/2015 at 17:54 |
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On Navy Blvd right down the road from the Volvo/Merc dealership, about 2 blocks west on the north side of the road.
My hovercraft is full of eels
> roflcopter
05/23/2015 at 17:54 |
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Hungarian Automobile Club badge on the front + on the back window. The other badges on the grille include ones that were handed to professional drivers after driving X km without being involved in any mishap (balesetmentesen = accident free).
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roflcopter
> My hovercraft is full of eels
05/23/2015 at 17:55 |
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Thanks for the tidbit! If this thing was about 40% of what he wants for it I might actually be tempted, that’s just a LOT of money to spend on a 35 year old econobox.
duurtlang
> roflcopter
05/23/2015 at 18:16 |
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For some reason there are a few of these on German Ebay as well, offered directly from Hungary. They seem to be in excellent condition. You could have one of those for about half the price of this Florida one. Including shipping to Florida that is. $7-8k range, all in up until whatever problems Florida customs and Florida registration might provide for a (legally importable because >25+ years old) Russian vehicle with European paperwork.
pip bip - choose Corrour
> roflcopter
05/24/2015 at 05:45 |
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worth every cent too.
Spasoje
> roflcopter
05/28/2015 at 22:14 |
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I’m 99% sure it’s not the only one in the US. There’s an online company that collects classics like these in Hungary for shipment to the US:
http://cooleurocars.com/coolest-euro-c…
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roflcopter
> Spasoje
05/28/2015 at 22:25 |
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No, it’s not the only one, but definitely pretty rare. I do believe this to be one of an even smaller group with legitimate paperwork and completely legal for the road. My research did not find another one with all of that going for it within the US. Seems to be one or two in Canada though.
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Spasoje
> roflcopter
05/28/2015 at 22:30 |
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Hmm..maybe I can get my hands on one of those two when the time comes hehe
I can understand the $14k price, but ONLY if it’s 100% in perfect shape - i.e. museum-quality restoration. $5k to import it actually sounds about right though, given my own experience doing the same.
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roflcopter
> Spasoje
05/28/2015 at 22:41 |
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The car was pretty immaculate as far as I could tell, but the $14k seemed a bit much to me, I think I’d rather spend the $7-8k to buy and import one myself and have one that is more drivable and less of a preserved classic.
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Spasoje
> roflcopter
05/28/2015 at 23:09 |
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I’m really suspicious of the whitewalls (not stock) and all the stickers - that reeks of ‘upgrading’ the car with luxuries that don’t belong on it just to mask its less-than-ideal condition. Very common with communist-era classic cars - mine being no exception, unfortunately.
I’d actually recommend the same thing - DIY and you’d be more satisfied, not to mention you’d spend less. I guarantee you this owner spent less than $14k on the car, even after import taxes, etc!
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roflcopter
> Spasoje
05/28/2015 at 23:20 |
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I’m not exactly in the market for you currently(and would probably import a Eunos Cosmo before one of these) but maybe one day I’ll get to have all of the Soviet-era fun one can handle.