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I got a pretty nice 77 wagon the other day.


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sorry, nothin's for sale except my soul.

 

this car is so much fun to drive, i'm lovin it! it's really peppy, probobly cause it's got 155/80/13s and im used to driving the 84 wagon with 205/75/14s.

 

i'm having a great time with it, the only driving i've been doing really is driving my son to and from school. it's smooth as butter i say. woohoo.

 

i've got the black jackmans ready to get mounted with some snowshoes to take me through the winter. thinkin i'll go 175/70/13s. studded cooper weathermasters. nothin but the best!

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A shame to drive that in salt/winter. It will rust fast. It's a death sentence.

 

Remember, it's a classic car at this point, you should reconsider. Additionally, it's an appreciating asset. More so than your hatch. The seller could have got a plenty more if he advertised it nationally. "Essentially", he gave it to you, not knowing it's value. Sometimes sellers can't see the forest through the trees. A rust free, gen 1, of anykind, that is in reasonable condition, will easily sell in the thousands. You just have to market to the right people.

 

If you do drive it it the winter, Wash under the front wheel wells frequently. You have no inner liners and if you still have the original fenders, there is already the start of rust under them due to the sealant.

 

I hate to see vintage cars used as beaters when collectors are seeking them, but thats my opinion.

 

Just food for thought. Congrats on a sweet deal!

 

Todd

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A shame to drive that in salt/winter. It will rust fast. It's a death sentence.

 

Remember, it's a classic car at this point, you should reconsider. Additionally, it's an appreciating asset. More so than your hatch. The seller could have got a plenty more if he advertised it nationally. "Essentially", he gave it to you, not knowing it's value. Sometimes sellers can't see the forest through the trees. A rust free, gen 1, of anykind, that is in reasonable condition, will easily sell in the thousands. You just have to market to the right people.

 

If you do drive it it the winter, Wash under the front wheel wells frequently. You have no inner liners and if you still have the original fenders, there is already the start of rust under them due to the sealant.

 

I hate to see vintage cars used as beaters when collectors are seeking them, but thats my opinion.

 

Just food for thought. Congrats on a sweet deal!

 

Todd

 

here's some other perspectives to concider:

 

this is the second reference to my intentions with this car being to use it as a "beater." to me a beater is a car you don't care about. you don't care if it's dented, etc. the freewagon i am retiring is a perfect example of a beater. i said this 77 wagon will be my daily driver. my wife uses the jetta as a daily driver for ten years now. she loves it, pampers it, and it is pristine. sitting in it after it's been cleaned, you'ld think it's brand new. it's not a beater just because it's driven every day. so this 77 wagon i do not intend to use as a "beater".

 

they don't use salt in colorado PERIOD. they use sand and mag chloride. that plus a lack of salt in our landscape (no oceans) is why colorado cars such as this one which has seen 30 or so winters already look so good. thanks for the lecture, but i know how to take care of my cars already.

 

to me it would seem compleatly ASSININE to NOT use this car in the winter. it's a freakin subaru! if it doesn't touch the snow it doesn't need to be a 4wd. old subarus are the cars that i love, and i need a 4wd in the winter because of where i live, and in the summer because of what i do. what do you want me to do, buy a 4runner? i suppose your answer is that it's fine for me to drive a subaru, just not a nice one. screw that.

 

" "Essentially", he gave it to you," ......I don't know exactly what you mean here, but it bugs me. and this car in not rust free, read the original post.

 

just so we're clear, my intentions with this car are to drive it this winter as is, and in the spring hopefully i'll be done with another project that i will put on the road. then the wagon becomes a project. the other project is a lifted hatch i have. when i get done making it nice, i'll post a pic here and you can tell me how it's too nice to take off the pavement!

 

sorry if i seem a little touchy, i'm sure your a great guy and all, but i took that post as condisending. you have no reason to think i am an idiot, so don't talk to me as if i am. thanks.

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Well, I'm sorry you took it personally. I was just expressing an opinion, based on 28 years of SUBARU experience, recent market research and a dealership in the family in the 70's.

 

A few followup points:

 

  • Yes, salt is worse that Mg, but I have seen some rusty CO cars. far worse than TX or AZ cars. Winter exposure cannot do anything but make matters worse for a 30 years old car.
  • Yes, it is 4WD and it's a SUBARU, but this car has survived nearly 30 years and is a classic. That makes it different from a new 4WD SUBARU. Additionally, there are alot of 4WD/AWD cars that never see snow.
  • Beater to me means that the car is taking the wear and tear off some other car, that the owner "deems" to have greater value. Hence me making the argument that your "daily driver" has more value than say your 4WD hatch. (Financially speaking. And your Jetta has more value than your 77)
  • And heavens no, I don't think your an idiot!:) That's what has made this board great since Billy C and I initially created the concept for it back in 97..... people can express opinions, learn, teach and be entertained!

I just have seen so many people DESTROY these cars, that it makes me ill. Now that they are becoming more rate and there is more interest in restoring them, I feel compeled to educate people where I see a need.

 

It sounds like you have a good plan. So, don't take my post personal, don't read into it. We all are here for the love of our favorite car....

 

Todd

 

 

www.vintagesubaru.com

subaru3@aol.com

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yes, i see your points. there are truths in some of the opininions expressed in BOTH our posts. i'll try not to take offence, and i hope you are not offended when somebody treats there own car differently than YOU would your own.

 

i can promise you that i can keep this new wagon both looking good and running smooth as long as i care to. i will make you proud. and to me, the best reason to have a nice looking and running old subaru is to drive it. that's what makes ME proud.

 

group hug?

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*scratching head* You sure that's a 77?

 

Looks it to me.That's '77 stage II or an early '78.

 

If the rear bumper is slightly rounded with shorter bumper ends than the later '78 and '79 then that's the style I'm looking for.

 

 

 

 

edit:just checked again,that's them! That makes it a definite '77 or early '78.After May of '78 I think it is,they switched to the more squared bumper with longer endcaps.

 

 

Dammit! just looked down and saw I'm wearing the Flappy's shirt!!!! aaaaaarrrrrgggg!!!!!

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Again, I'm still learning Gen1 stuff...

 

I was just under the impression that 76-77 cars had the turn signals mounted inside the headlights, like so:

1977-a.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

But what you're all saying is the change to the signals mounted outside the headlights...

1978-a.jpg

 

happened mid-year 77.

 

Right?

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The body of '72-'77 Stage I cars has and indentation,or crease running through the fender,door(s),and rear quarter.

 

Stage II has the turn signal rim on the outer corner.Like this:

00_000002.JPG

 

Here's a Stage I beauty from down under.The GSR!

128Gsr_002.jpg

 

Sorry to hijack.

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