$600, a Hope, and a Prayer

"505Turbeaux" (505turbeaux)
03/09/2015 at 10:00 • Filed to: 505s 505

Or, how I traveled 6 states and almost 400 miles to drive an unseen, untested 31 year old French car home for sub $1000 money all in. And made it...

Ok so let's start at the beginning. Noone has ever said to me I make the most rational decisions. I am always roughly 8 seconds away from pulling the trigger on something with wheels on it that will eventually either break my heart or cause people to shake their head out of misunderstanding. I buy cheap weird cars, and almost never lose money, even if I have to bring it over from somewhere. So anyways, last weekend there came to light that there was a collector of Peugeot 505's in New Jersey that was dropping 6 of them on the market for anywhere from ?? for the one parts rig, to $600 for 3 of them, up to $3500 for an '82 TD in fantastic condition. What piqued my interest was an '84 505 STI that looked cared for, rust free and I was told it runs and drives, and would make it back to Maine. I had just sold my 504 and 505 wagons recently, so I had the itch. The other 2 at that price were both 4 speed automatics which I have had nothing but issues with, this one being the pushrod 2.0 4 cylinder and the 3HP22 ZF, which is a fantastic but high strung setup. I mull over it for a bit while grocery shopping, my brain was saying ~you just cleaned out your collection, do you want to go back~. Duh, anyone with the same problem as I would do the same thing. $600 isn't even close to my keep under the mattress money. I contact the seller. And so it begins...

I had only seen one side picture, and one from the back (above), but judging by those, I was in love already. Paint looked shiny, I knew right off it had 15" wheels instead of TRX that were common on the STI. Everything looked to be there. Seller reports the interior to be in good shape, the only thing he did say is there is a bad ignition switch - slow when activating the starter motor, but there is a backup pushbutton feed to the starter. Fine, whatever, noone said French electronics had a lifespan of 31 years ever, ever. Anything else? Not that he can recall. I seal the deal, he says just give him cash when I get down. Made me nervous as he had an STX he was looking for $1000 for that hit ebay and went for more. I didn't want to have any price reconsiderations so I offered 3 times to send him a deposit. He wouldn't take it. Ok, risk #1. Get another picture, note it has Euro headlamps on it. Now I am in love.

So I go back and forth, ask some pointed questions so I feel good about it, but I knew it was going to be worth it. I start planning some travels because that is out of my range of where I can get someone to drive me down and follow me back. I will just be on my own, and also on my own if I break down. Figure on a day, finish planning a route, pack a tool roll and some NOS belts, hoses, relays and tuneup parts. Here we go!

Ok, the day is finally here. Woke up at 2:30am to catch a 3:15 bus to Boston. My lovely girlfriend packs me a chicken cordon bleu sandwich and cookies (you are the best girl), and drives me to the bus station. Due to the snow, there is a line out the door to get on the bus. Oh damn! Go to the ticket desk, get the second to the last ticket available. Phew. Tried to sleep on the bus, some guy was snoring his face off next to me. Tempted to hold his nostrils closed, but he was about twice my size (in girth at least). Ah well, smooth trip. Arrive Boston at 5:05am. Because of course I did.

I was going to take the Megabus from Boston, to NYC. That was packed too so I decided on taking the Acela. Since business class is all that is left, I say screw it and take that. May at least be comfortable in my travels. Take a table, grab a coffee and throw some whiskey in it to celebrate. Smooth trip, though we did stop randomly in the middle of a marsh in CT and I thought my plans were going to fall through somehow.

In NYC! Getting so close I can almost smell old French exhaust. I have a couple of hours to burn so I go hunt up an Irish bar outside Penn station for some lunch. See a special for fried pork chops, mashed, and soup for $6. Fantastic, my kind of place. Go back and catch the train out to northwestern NJ on the final leg. All goes without issue. Seller picks me up at the train station as planned.

And I am there, looking at my new car in the metal. Pleasantly surprised to see it was exactly as advertised. Starts up nice and smooth. I let it run and heat up to be sure a radiator hose isn't on its final leg. In the mean time I go around this gentleman's compound to see what else he was into, and see the other Pugs for sale. And I see this $600 87 GLS

the $1000 STX V6

the GORGEOUS 82 diesel. Stunning

a Hesketh V1000! Holy crap!!!

His hot air balloon transport vehicle, bought new. Mercedes 309D

old 'burban

This might have been the most impressive thing, he has TWO original White Yellowstone tour buses.

a goddamn Munch Mammoth 1200 motorcycle. I couldn't stop looking at all his stuff. I stopped taking pics eventually.

Ok enough Jalop porn, on to the trip. Car is running at the perfect temp by this time. Fill her up with super, get on the road.

Take it easy getting to my target, which is NYC for a planned photoshoot with JBH and an Oppo meetup, and staying with a great friend in Brooklyn. Just in case something cropped up, I wanted to have full daylight to suss it out. Note, the tach runs about 500 RPM too high. Mileage is lower as well, has to have been replaced at some point. These were a weak point on the early 505 so I am not surprised. Hey it all works!

Stop and give the old girl a wash, New Jersey hand wash style and get the windows and carpets cleaned. Didn't matter, it was salty again by the time I hit the city. Looked good for a second at least.

Running on 3 Red Bulls and frustrated from traffic and paying $14 tolls for roads that will eat your car - literally, I meet up with !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! in Manhattan for a !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! we had planned a few days before. While on the subject the cover photo and all the good pictures on here are his. My brain was so done with being awake (this was 6:30pm mind you, still no sleep since 2:30am) so I was so tempted to push on to CT and stay at my folks house 2 hours down the road. Meh, I'll stay, I need beer by this point to counteract the Red Bulls and my nerves. Jbh had a !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! on it as well

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Photoshoot done, my friend from Brooklyn makes it out to meet us for dinner, which was fantastic. My friends father (RIP) was a Peugeot mechanic, and he brought me something very special from his collection of his dad's stuff. A uniform patch from the time he worked there. JBH hits the road and we head downtown for an Oppo meetup with TheBloody, Kyle Cheromcha, and RicoRich and my friend I was staying with. We went to the Library on 2nd and A in Manhattan, and pretty much I knew I was taking a subway, so I got good and drunk. We started waving the rally flag my friend also brought from his dad. That looks like this

Made it back to his place. Decided to make it a full 24 hours awake, actually 25. I was rocking out on some Eagle Rare and Pitfall on Atari. Fuck it, vacation style.

Wake up some time around 9:30am. Breakfast of English muffins, eggs, and wild boar sausage like a boss. Thanks man!

Now this is the time where I really stop taking pics and get down to the business of getting this beast home. So I will include a few of Jbh's in here for filler. I take the subway and hour back uptown, get in, fire it off and leave. Pretty spectacular riding car on the open road. It does in fact have OE Peugeot shocks on it, which is the only way to be. I know alot of modern cars that could take a lesson from this thing. Still, sweaty palms happened in CT when I hit hell traffic twice. Would like to give a shout out to the lovely young lady in the S4 avant on the Merritt who blew me a kiss.

Now I wish I could tell you I had a lick of drama to make this more interesting, but there wasn't any of it. I made it back 40 hours after I left. The old girl ran smooth, quiet as it could be pushing 4K RPMs at 75 mph. Heated seats worked, windows worked, power door locks still worked. Beyond an issue with the heater temp control valve sticking on cold (I fixed yesterday, and it was warm out this weekend) it is just like an old Volvo. Not fast, but solid. I now trust this car implicitly.

So here I am, alot of love on the highway and alot of people taking pictures of me driving it. Not sure if any are in the Jaloppoverse, but feel free to post some if you have a shot of an old Pug headed North this weekend. I took the risk, I beat my body up to make it happen, and it paid off. I would do it again in a second. Super special thanks to those that came out to support me on my trip. Now the adventure of tearing some stuff down to revitalize it is here. Just to be sure I could jump in it tomorrow and drive it to California if I wanted to. Oh yeah, and I was pleased to find this in the warranty book yesterday when I was detailing out the interior. Thanks for reading.

DISCUSSION (78)

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > 505Turbeaux
03/09/2015 at 10:11

Balloon 'n' Peugeots guy appears to be some kind of wizard.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > 505Turbeaux
03/09/2015 at 10:12

Awesome. I want to be along for one of these adventures!

Kinja'd!!!

http://oppositeblog.kinja.com/

505Turbeaux > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
03/09/2015 at 10:12

thanks man! It wont be the last one!

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > 505Turbeaux
03/09/2015 at 10:17

Im mainly jealous because you got a seemingly nice running and driving car for $600. The fact that its an awesome classic Peugeot makes it like 10000x cooler! You got a great find!

505Turbeaux > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
03/09/2015 at 10:18

pays to keep your eyes open. I am still stunned it is actually such a good runner

area man > 505Turbeaux
03/09/2015 at 10:24

Awesome story, glad to have been a small part of it. I had a decent hangover but that's mainly because I didn't eat dinner. Still can't believe the heated seats work.

Agrajag > 505Turbeaux
03/09/2015 at 10:25

Awesome!

I now trust this car implicitly.

I love the moment when this happens with an old car purchase. One minute you're frantically scanning gauges and listening for odd noises, then you suddenly find yourself just enjoying the ride.

505Turbeaux > area man
03/09/2015 at 10:25

yeah man, I was in tough shape on Sat morning. It kept me sharp though. Goddamn whiskey and beer. Super awesome we got an Oppo grew out

wunderwagen wants a longer roof > 505Turbeaux
03/09/2015 at 10:26

That is one good looking vehicle, and if it is that good I can see why you love them. Excellent post for the morning! Thanks!

505Turbeaux > Agrajag
03/09/2015 at 10:26

It is the best feeling, when your grip on the wheel loosens, your right foot mellows out and gets used to the amount it takes to maintain speed. Such a good time

Carl (@stuffcarlsays) > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
03/09/2015 at 10:27

A spirit animal, indeed.

Pixel > 505Turbeaux
03/09/2015 at 10:30

You either have better luck or better taste in stupid-cheap cool old vehicle than I, as my attempts never go that well.

So did you drive through my neck of the woods(Providence), or did you do the 91/84/90 route?

area man > 505Turbeaux
03/09/2015 at 10:31

It was. and somehow I missed that Kevin=thebloody! I thought he was another one of your friends. Kevin if you're reading this man I'm an idiot.

505Turbeaux > Pixel
03/09/2015 at 10:31

yeah I took the 15/91/84/90/290/495/95 route from the city. I havent been through Providence in years!

I think this one was just good luck :)

TotallyThatStupid > 505Turbeaux
03/09/2015 at 10:31

TL:DR (but I will later)

You rock. Well done.

extraspecialbitter > 505Turbeaux
03/09/2015 at 10:37

That's the nicest $600 car ever. Ever.

Ever.

Where did you hear about the 505, if you don't mind me asking? Grapevines?

505 - morphine not found > 505Turbeaux
03/09/2015 at 10:38

Awesomesauce! This is just perfect, congratulations man, and nice write-up too. Sounds like an adventure i would have if i ever was to get a 505 from France, though i don't really speak French, and it would be prohibitively expensive for me to travel there, but i do sometimes daydream about driving one back, thorough the Alps... Anyway great story, and delighted it turned out so well!

There is something i want to clear up in my mind though. In Europe the STI designation, without an exception, means the all-alloy, OHC, Jetronic injected Douvrin engine, either in 2.0 or 2.2 size (motor codes ZEJ and ZDJ respectively). So do the TI and the GTI designations. However, I know the USDM designations deviated from this, and you say yours has a pushrod motor. Which is what i have in mine: also 2.0 but normally only supplied with a carburetor in the 505 (motor code XN1) even though an injected version existed in the 504. So which one is it?

505Turbeaux > 505 - morphine not found
03/09/2015 at 10:40

is is called the XN6 over here when supplied with K-jet, 1971 ccs. It was used in some government 604's in France, but besides for that it is an American anomaly. 96 HP all in and all strangled down.

and thanks!!!

Rock Bottom > 505Turbeaux
03/09/2015 at 10:41

I kept waiting for " ... and that's when the brakes failed, the stereo caught on fire, and the loud knocking noise under the hood started ". I've brought home $3,000 cars in worse mechanical condition than this! You lucky dog!

505Turbeaux > extraspecialbitter
03/09/2015 at 10:41

Peugeot of North America group on Facebook was how I found it. I jumped first and won. Unreal.

Thanks man

505Turbeaux > Rock Bottom
03/09/2015 at 10:42

lol exactly my thoughts right there

CalzoneGolem > 505Turbeaux
03/09/2015 at 10:51

On one hand I'm jealous of you going through cars like you do and on the other hand I'm disgusted at what a car slut you are.

505Turbeaux > CalzoneGolem
03/09/2015 at 10:52

haha I will never deny it. My Cargina invokes hot dog in a hallway levels of shame

CalzoneGolem > 505Turbeaux
03/09/2015 at 10:55

That's a tombstone engraving if ever I saw one.

JR1 > 505Turbeaux
03/09/2015 at 10:56

Hot damn you got that for a steal. A weird French car for only 600? That car must have a lot of character. Nice write up.

505 - morphine not found > 505Turbeaux
03/09/2015 at 10:58

Aaaaahhh. OK, heard about that, seems to have forgotten - because yeah, it is Americas-only. Great, that's better than an XN1 in one aspect: has four ports instead of the two square ports of the XN1, so if you ever want more power, it lends itself much better for that. Also, injection - cool!

505Turbeaux > 505 - morphine not found
03/09/2015 at 10:59

Good to know! I only really know the 2.2i well, and the 504 4 bangers and the diesels

OPPOsaurus WRX > 505Turbeaux
03/09/2015 at 11:16

awesome trip. I cant help but laugh going through Providence. The highway has such tight turns and seeing all the people that have kissed the wall

Kinja'd!!!

glad everything went well. I hope to own a french ride one day What do you think sets what you got from other more common comparable cars (maybe camry/accords?)

theuserformerlyknownasaluminumfoil > 505Turbeaux
03/09/2015 at 11:18

Bloody fantastic story! I am loving your car though! How hard is it to find one in a manual transmission variety?

505Turbeaux > OPPOsaurus WRX
03/09/2015 at 11:19

ah no providence for me, I went through worcester back to 95 that way.

Differences - styling (half by Pininfarina), ease of maintenance, seat comfort is legendary, suspension is beyond legendary with OE Peugeot shocks installed. Reliability on this engine and tranny setup are well beyond average. On the downside parts arent that hard to find, but not at every Autozone

Rico > 505Turbeaux
03/09/2015 at 11:20

Glad I got to meet you guys, best of luck with your new toy!

505 - morphine not found > 505Turbeaux
03/09/2015 at 11:20

You know, if you ever feel like adding horses to that, it's completely possible. OZ and NZ froggers (aussiefrogs forum) still have access to hot cams, originally designed by Wade cams, in stage 1-2-3 too, the latter competition only. They love this engine, rally 504 always use some XN version. So with a stage 1 cam, a small bit machined off the head for higher compression, and a programmable injection/ignition in place of the bosch unit, you should be able to get to the dizzy heights of 120-140 HP. Of course with the 3 speed auto it's not worth the effort/cash, just saying to get it out of my ever-daydreaming system.....

505Turbeaux > theuserformerlyknownasaluminumfoil
03/09/2015 at 11:20

harder, but they are still around. Just takes some looking around and patience! Thanks!

505Turbeaux > Rico
03/09/2015 at 11:20

you bet man, thanks for coming out!

theuserformerlyknownasaluminumfoil > 505Turbeaux
03/09/2015 at 11:22

Thanks to you! Are you going to mod this at all, or keep it as lovely as it is? Great read, I'm itching for a road trip now!

505Turbeaux > 505 - morphine not found
03/09/2015 at 11:22

haha I am leaving her bone stock, but nice and interesting to know this exists! Hell my AC even still blows cold, so I am leaving it be!

505Turbeaux > theuserformerlyknownasaluminumfoil
03/09/2015 at 11:24

I am leaving it bone stock except for the rims since I dont want to have to find TRX tires (came with 15" instead, and they look great, so they stay). Not much of a modder anyways

DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully > 505Turbeaux
03/09/2015 at 11:37

I've done the same twice, since October. 600 miles for a $300 Volvo 740, and 500 miles for a $900 940 wagon. They turned out to be the two I've been happiest after buying, and this includes my '13 Mazda3.

Frank Grimes > 505Turbeaux
03/09/2015 at 12:24

whoa bro what an amazing adventure. I want to drive a Peugeot some day. and experience the frenchness.

Fred von Halem > 505Turbeaux
03/09/2015 at 12:26

We had three 505s growing up in Connecticut. Thanks for writing up your adventure!

505Turbeaux > Fred von Halem
03/09/2015 at 12:30

nice! Do you happen to remember if they were from Reynolds Garage in Old Lyme? (I grew up in CT)

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > 505Turbeaux
03/09/2015 at 12:32

Kinja'd!!!

Whaaaaa.....!?!?!?!?

ohms > 505Turbeaux
03/09/2015 at 12:32

previous previous owner again =)

so so so so proud to see she didnt let you down! If you're ever in nyc again, i'll buy a round!

i was remembering more of her history - owner before me bought it from his neighbor, then drove it to ny from cali. he did the headlight swap. i found it on craigslist cuz my gf was bugging me to buy a 4 door car, automatic, with AC, as the requirements. i thought it sure beat any honda commuter. she daily drove it to school and back, and i drove it at nights for errands/hanging out. we drove it to ohio and back for a weekend roadtrip once, cruise control and AC all the way. and drove back and forth to dc from nyc nearly every weekend for 1 summer. the LSD still locks up easily, so snow donuts are fun (she never had the grunt to really get them loose otherwise). i did oil changes, other filters, a few vacuum lines, some electrical/ground cleaning, and had the front end rebuilt while i had her. oh, and the rear end was freshened up with new fluid and new seals, and one u-joint replaced cuz it was getting slack. if youre on 505turbo.com forums, you can see my old posts and projects on her. at some point in a winter someone dented the front fender, but that was also just a few months before i sold her i think. never did get to replace it or repair it, it bothered the hell out of me. original paint as far as i know.

505Turbeaux > ohms
03/09/2015 at 12:35

I am figuring out what to do with the fender. I might take it off and hand it off to a friends dad who does high end bodywork. It still drives fantastic. Shocks appear to be Peugeot OE because it has that glide. Should be back down with it all freshened up within a month. Maybe for New Caanan CC on the 19th April. Ill let you know!

505Turbeaux > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
03/09/2015 at 12:35

no shit. In Awe

Fred von Halem > 505Turbeaux
03/09/2015 at 12:37

They were most definitely from Reynolds.

505Turbeaux > Fred von Halem
03/09/2015 at 12:40

haha awesome. Good people, when I had my SW8 down there in college they still had a bunch of parts around. Now they just sell Subaru, good people over there

ohms > 505Turbeaux
03/09/2015 at 13:19

shocks are indeed OE, when i had her serviced at Ramsey Peugeot, the owner/mechanic, i forget his name now, wanted to buy them.

I took her to the katies cars and coffee once in virginia!

Also, get ready for nigerians, haitians, and other africans yelling at you "THAT CAR IS ZEE BEST!! HOW MUCH!! HOW MUCH YOU SELL!!"

505Turbeaux > ohms
03/09/2015 at 13:21

Katies is the haunt for many an Oppo down in that neck of the woods. I will have to hunt and see if any pics were ever posted of it!

Yeah I knew by the ride those were the real deal shocks. Amazing!

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > 505Turbeaux
03/09/2015 at 13:50

I really, really, really love how this car looks. I suddenly want a Peugeot 505, which I didn't even know what such a thing was 10 minutes ago. That car is in immaculate condition, even more so for $600!

505Turbeaux > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
03/09/2015 at 13:52

has one small dent in the drivers fender, but that is IT. Goddamn AC even blows cold still. Fantastic cars with one of the best front end styling treatments, ever

theuserformerlyknownasaluminumfoil > 505Turbeaux
03/09/2015 at 14:02

Thats cool.. I kinda wanted to know what kind of aftermarket these Pugs have.. But I'm glad you're keeping it pretty much stock, I love those 505's.. so badass!

dieselectric > 505Turbeaux
03/09/2015 at 14:06

That is one sweet Pug and a great story, despite the lack of drama. Getting to see the owner's collection of crazy rare vehicles was worth it right there! And those Euro lights...yum.

Coincidentally, I also have a $600 Peugeot story - I'll have to do a writeup, but the narrative revolves around my fiance' and I taking a weeklong road trip to the Olympic Peninsula, getting a craigslist tip from a friend, and buying a 505TD wagon on the spot. We then had to drive separately the rest of the trip. Five years later, we are now married and the Pug is still a daily driver.

505Turbeaux > dieselectric
03/09/2015 at 14:08

first of all, you are out of the gray. And this is an excellent story I want to hear! Are you an author on Oppo?

dieselectric > 505Turbeaux
03/09/2015 at 14:17

Thanks! I'm not sure what it takes to become an author, but I just recently started commenting on kinja/jalopnik after being a reader for a bit.

RallyWrench > 505Turbeaux
03/09/2015 at 14:43

"I could jump in it tomorrow and drive it to California if I wanted to."

This should happen. Beers on me.

"Now I wish I could tell you I had a lick of drama to make this more interesting, but there wasn't any of it......Not fast, but solid. I now trust this car implicitly."

Funny how you always have to get a good trip in on any new/old car before you really trust it. I do the same thing.

Also, after seeing the better pics of this one, it was definitely the better choice over the gold car. Love those Euro lights.

Also also, I want an Econoscope on my dash.

505Turbeaux > RallyWrench
03/09/2015 at 14:45

lol maybe some day I will make that trip. I do trust it 100% now, and 120% after the old owner before my seller found me.

Trying to figure out why my econoscope doesnt have a green. Wonder if the autos only had yellow and red?!?

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > 505Turbeaux
03/09/2015 at 15:07

2 questions

1: How was that Eagle Rare?

2: Where in North NJ. I grew up in North NJ.

505Turbeaux > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
03/09/2015 at 15:10

Eagle Rare was fantastic

and

Oldwick!

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > 505Turbeaux
03/09/2015 at 15:13

Awesome! Good to know!

I grew up a short ride up 287 from Oldwick in Morristown!

505Turbeaux > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
03/09/2015 at 15:15

yeah, I know people from there. I need to ask you on the messenger

pip bip - choose Corrour > 505Turbeaux
03/10/2015 at 04:04

WIN!!

Hi there > 505Turbeaux
04/06/2015 at 14:12

4k rpm at 75mph. I'm glad you like the car etc but that is ridiculous. More forward gears.

Shiftright > 505Turbeaux
04/06/2015 at 14:43

Sending some French / 505 love your way

505Turbeaux > Hi there
04/06/2015 at 15:29

it isnt as bad as my Volvo 2.1 242dl was, almost, but the sound deadening is a bit better. I agree, I just wish the 4hp22 wasn't such a steaming pile reliability wise. Maybe once I get new knees I will manual swap it

505Turbeaux > Shiftright
04/06/2015 at 15:31

got it, thanks!

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > area man
04/06/2015 at 15:32

Lol no worries, also fun fact. I got stuck in the subway so missed my train. Had to be one of THOSE people sleeping it off in Penn lol. Good times!

Hi there > 505Turbeaux
04/06/2015 at 15:40

Knee replacement can be pretty shitty, best of luck you man. I'm really hoping they come up with better methods and equipment before I require new ones. Hopefully ~20 years left on the stockers ;-)

505Turbeaux > Hi there
04/06/2015 at 15:41

yeah I am too young for this crap. I have one that is toast and another that acts up once in a while. Lol keep em stock! (if you can haha)

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > 505Turbeaux
04/06/2015 at 19:02

Gorgeous! I've never been as big a fan of the 505s, but your article has turned me onto them somewhat! (Coincidentally, I've always really loved the 204, 304 and 504 sedans, especially the 504 sedan with euro-spec lights/bumpers - 80's giant plastic bumpers for the lose!) The 204 and 504 are my favorites (Love the curves on the 204!) - Interested to know what made you sell your 504?

I've got quirky tastes and my preference for a "weekend car" that I could still drive very often are mostly FIATs...a classic 500, 126, or 127 would do nicely, or a newer Barchetta roadster......however, the 204, 304 and 504 are still also high up on my list......maybe I should add a 505 to it as well! :D Not easy to find parts for any of them up here in Nova Scotia, Canada though...

Beep! > 505Turbeaux
04/07/2015 at 02:23

Awesome car, seller, adventure, and write-up!

Thanks for sharing!

505Turbeaux > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
04/07/2015 at 07:29

you know, this was mentioned alot in the commentary, and that pleases me. "I really never gave the 505 a second glance until I read this article". That is great and I am happy to have written something that evokes that!

Anyhow, I am always stunned by the lack of Peugeots in eastern Canada. I always kept an eye opened for them up there (being so close in Maine) and rarely saw them, even less than I would see them for sale here!

505Turbeaux > Beep!
04/07/2015 at 07:29

my pleasure, thanks!

505Turbeaux > dieselectric
04/07/2015 at 07:43

If you want authorship on Oppo do a search for "club openings" over there and post to one of those threads. The mods will add you.

Sorry about the super late response!

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > 505Turbeaux
04/07/2015 at 22:06

There's an original diesel 504 for sale in Quebec at the moment for around $4000....I actually saw it for sale last year for $1500, so somebody must've bought it to flip it. Swap some Euro-spec bumpers and lights on it and it would look awesome! Bummed I never picked it up when it was cheaper, but as a substitute teacher without his own place and looking for a full-time job, it wasn't financially viable :(

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-voiture-coll…

505Turbeaux > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
04/08/2015 at 07:52

funny enough I remember seeing this one. I have had a diesel 504 wagon I did the same with, bought sub $1000, sold for around 4K with 75K miles on it. Great cars but slow as death!

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > 505Turbeaux
04/09/2015 at 15:43

Aside from the not having the funds, that was the only other issue I was considering...their ruggedness is pretty legendary, but the diesel models are slow as molasses moving backwards...haha! :)

505Turbeaux > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
04/09/2015 at 15:52

yeah add an automatic transmission to the mix and I think it is working itself into a state slightly above absolute zero, where molecules are barely moving around