I have been interested in purchasing a classic for some time now, however, I am no where close to making up my mind as to what car I actually want. Cruiser, hot rod etc.... anyway, in reading and doing research I keep finding "S-code / R-code" etc... listed in different ads. I did a google search for classic car codes / ranking systems and I can find a comprehensive chart as to what these codes actually mean.
Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Thanks,

Matt

 

Codes are synonymous with options or option packages, and are manufacturer specific. In the air-cooled Volkswagen world, they were called M-codes. It could be something as simple as a cigarette lighter on a Mustang to a 440 six-pack on a Challenger.

There probably won't be any one place that will have them all. However, like here at SL, a make or, even better, model specific website will have all that info.

 

Cool, didn't know it was unique to the manufacturer.
Thanks.

 

My olny experience with a classic car was my very first car. When I was 15 I bought a 1966 mustang (made the same year as me ). It was a wore out piece of poop when I first got it. I spent a lot of time and money over the next two years or so fixing it up....new motor, new trans, new paint, etc. But once it was done, it looked awesome. And because I kept it all pretty-much stock, I got all my money back when I sold it. Bought it for $1,800..sold it for $5,000. Classics are fun if you can drive them. Otherwise, they are an expensive hobby. Good luck and have fun!

 

expensive hobby is an understatement especially with muscle cars.

i'm putting my foot in the door for classic toyota's i'm lookin for corona's , second gen corolla's and first gen celica's.

 

I am basically looking for a turnkey car. Something with only minor work needed. I suppose upkeep is another story. It would be a weekend warrior anyway.

 

Did someone say Classic Cars? lol. Ok to shed some light on ur situation, the codes that they r talking about r found in the Vin#/Protect-o-Plate/Build Sheet of the car and referes to certain engine packages or other various body/suspension/drivetrain packages which vary from manufacturer. Be wary though with these as the cars of the past are not like today and it's very easy to clone a car and try to sell u something that it's not. Matching vin# on the engine block and a build sheet are highly prized in proveing the car's authenticity. Ever notice how there are more SS Chevelles or 427 Camaros today than were actually built? And half the clones aren't even good, I've seen a guy try to sell an "SS 396 Chevelle" and the damn thing had a 307 small block in it and he wanted $15K. BE CAREFUL.

Now as far as what you want is something only u can decide. There are so many different muscle cars/classic cars out there that u'll find urself saying "O that's a nice car" "O that's also nice, I like that too". Narrowing it down to afew models is best in makeing ur decision and being happy in the end.

If u want a turnkey car that is a popular model be prepared to pay alot of $$$ and I mean alot. All this Barrett Jackson BS has driven up the prices to rediculous amounts and now everyone thinks their sh*t is worth big $$. If u want a Camaro or a Chevelle be careful for all the clones. Mopars forgetabout it. Any remotely popular model goes for a rediculous amount of $$. I've seen rot boxes with no body panels or anything askin $10K.

Ur best bet is to buy a less popular model which u can find for a much more reasonable price. I use to have a 1971 Chevy Monte Carlo( Basically a fancy Chevelle) that I pices up for like $2,700. Floors were good, drivetrain, interior all good just need alot of body work but was in reasonable shape to drive and have fun. Well I got rid of it as it was such a money pit (that's the nature of the game, u gotta pay it u wanna play lol). Anywho the point is that it was a less popular model and was actually rarer than a Chevelle as I rarely saw one at the local cruise spots. If u don't mind buying an oddball year, a sedan, a wagon, or a car that's not that popular u can walk away with a real good deal. Like for example if u want a 70 Camaro u may consider a 75 as it's vertually the same except for the crappy urathane bumpers which can easily be swaped for earlier style ones. Also another thing to remember is that if the car is more than 25yrs old u don't need to do a smog test, only visual so u can rip out those cats n other emissions related junk.

Remember to check every nook and crany of the car. People will literally apply a glob of bondo to a rotted panel and make it look pretty just to make a quick buck. Crawl under the car to check for rotted floor pans and rusty frames. Just giving a body panel afew taps u can hear it there's metal or bondo. Simply looking down the side of the car u can see if the body is good and straight or full of bondo and wavy. Chevys and Fords u can literally find any and every part anywhere for cheap. 60s Chryslers are the worst for body rot, and all 70s n 80s cars were very bad for rot. Check the bottom of the fenders and quarterpanels for rot and bondo as well as the rockerpanels as they are the most common rust areas. As u look into certain cars u know the trouble spots to look for: Example Gm A Bodies (Chevelle, Cutlass, Skylark, Monte Carlo) All rot on the lower rear windsheild channel, and there is a panel between the windsheild and trunk lid that almost always rots out. Also check to make sure the Registration is clean and in the sellers name. Cars from 1973 and newer were required to have a title which makes it safer in transfering ownership and proving u own the car. Older cars only had a regie and whoever had it can claim ownership. I almost got screwed on a deal as the regie was in a previous owners name to the guy who was trying to sell it to me. The car can come up stolen or something and u will get screwed.

Best of luck, and plz be careful with what u buy.

 

Most of the R or S codes refer to engines. There are books to identify such codes available. I'd try doing a Google search for a list of the different publications. Some books are for specific manufactures tho. Good luck and happy hunting!

 

Titling is dependent completely on the state the vehicle/owner resides in. A 1982 "Whatever" doesn't need a title in the state of Georgia, but a 1968 "Whatever" in California does.

 

^^^^

Thanks...good info!

 

getting into a classic car can be tough & expensive ( all us old guys cringe when we think of what cars we "should have kept" ). I'd suggest hit a couple large shows where classic/muscle cars are on display to get some ideas on what types you are interested in. Walk thru the car corrals at these shows and you'll get an idea on how big a check to write for something in clean condition.
I'd also talk to the car owners, and various clubs out there for that particular "marque" as they usually are more then willing to hand out advice.
Best bets as noted earlier are "standard" versions of a car that you can tweak. It's more affordable to buy a small block Chevelle then some big block SS ( true or clone ); I personally wouldn't buy a classic car again for pure performance ( as we can mod our current rides to perform as good or even better nowadays ); i'd get back into one for the style and joy of driving something I had when I was younger ( I owned 2 '66 Chevelles, and a '70 1/2 Camaro among others--not "show cars" but still fun ).
Do some research, and take your time..... you can find something if you look for it. good luck

 

^^^^ so true!! awwww man a '70 1/2 always wanted one of those!! hugger orange please with white stripes..

 

I heard endless stories about my dad's '68 427 Vette...and about how he sold it in '73 for $1500.

Christ, book value on that sucker is pushing 6 digits now.

 

funny thing is when we sold our cars ( regardless of condition ) we never ever thought it would be sooo hard to get one later. In fact my camaro ended up becoming an ice racer ( being a student I couldn't afford to fix what I broke )... and now i walk these shows and see ones in "average" condition going for near 5 figures. Clean ones in the 20's.... sniff sniff
To an earlier comment: if you've never had a 1st or 2nd gen camaro, then the mid-later 70's could do nicely as a toy/project car. But once you've spent some time and memories in a particular year/style, those other models just wouldn't work.
Good suggestions for the younger crowd though.
Lastly, though many of the tuner cars out there ( even on SL ) can run with or outrun a large portion of the classics..... torque steer is nothing like kicking the **** out sideways while grabbing 2nd and having your head snapped into the back of the seat.
damn, hate when i drool on my keyboard...

 

my parents each have an MG ('69 and '70, British Sports cars). they are the coolest things. I wish I could drive stick cuz i'd cruise around in one of those babies any day of the week. they are the hotness and you defnitely get looks when you are riding in one. my dad has had about 6 or so in the past couple years and yes its kind of an expensive hobby trying to restore them but its so worth it.


His and Hers lol.

 

man i wish i can get my hands on the car ive allways wanted ...a 1961 impala/biscayne/caprice/bel air.. just as he stated one car is actaully 4 diff models as the impala will cost ya way more than a caprice but its the same car so do watch out for that...anyways with the price deal he was talking about i went to this shop cuzz i seen a 61 impala outside for sale so i walk in and ask what they wanted lady say's 65,000 you pick the color..so a fully restored car will cost anywere around there//// post pics of what ya get..

 

all these rides are maintained by old timers in my town. They get together and chill every Monday durring the summer.

On Air











Someday!

 

those are some nice pix--us "old timers" sure like those old cars.... we just had a huge show up here ( Wis Dells ) with nearly 1000 classic/muscle cars, all 20+ years old... I walked around, & just kept thinking "win the powerball"... "win the powerball".....

anyhow, sorry for the crappy image here ( 25 yr old pic scanned ), but thought i'd toss a pic of my old 'maro... nothing too fancy, but could shred the "N50-15's " easy enough. Just not the same as lighting up the wife's tires on her TC. Someday there will be another in my garage..

 

my old car i had

 

those were the types we drove around in winter.. when it was more important that you could fit 6 buds in a car... plenty of beer in the trunk.... and road trip!!!!!!

which of course i'd frown on now....