roughly 65% of my memories of growing up involve this car.
January 9, 2012 3:02 PM Subscribe
Sentimental old crouton car filter: 1985 Pontiac Parisienne, north Delaware area. Stored in garage, but hasn't run for years. I'd like to see it go to a better use than junked so that a random non-profit can make a few bucks selling it to be squished at a junk yard.
My parents bought the car to take me to preschool, and it was driven pretty much daily until the time I graduated from college. I'm pretty attached. It's been housed in a garage for the past six years. Parts of the exterior are a little rusty and the paint is fading from the hood, but otherwise seems like it's in pretty decent old-car condition. (I know absolutely nothing about cars, but I am a bonafide, medical bracelet-wearing crouton-petter. The strength of my feelings on this are surprising even me.)
For sentimental old reasons, I'd love for the car to be put to a better use than getting compacted in a junk yard.
Any ideas? We aren't looking for money, and I know that it'll probably be taken apart for parts, but it's somehow better to pretend that it'll either be fixed up and driven, or that it'll live on in other Pontiacsthat have loving forever homes. I saw a guy on the street around 5th and Race about three weeks ago, with one that was shiny and beautifully cared for, and we chatted about how it would run forever. Stupidly, I didn't ask if he wanted the care, but there are people are out there.
My parents bought the car to take me to preschool, and it was driven pretty much daily until the time I graduated from college. I'm pretty attached. It's been housed in a garage for the past six years. Parts of the exterior are a little rusty and the paint is fading from the hood, but otherwise seems like it's in pretty decent old-car condition. (I know absolutely nothing about cars, but I am a bonafide, medical bracelet-wearing crouton-petter. The strength of my feelings on this are surprising even me.)
For sentimental old reasons, I'd love for the car to be put to a better use than getting compacted in a junk yard.
Any ideas? We aren't looking for money, and I know that it'll probably be taken apart for parts, but it's somehow better to pretend that it'll either be fixed up and driven, or that it'll live on in other Pontiacs
Response by poster: Thanks for the advice, Stagger Lee, especially the link to the AACA website.
Follow-up: If I don't know a spark plug from a hole in the ground, would it be possible to pay someone to come out and see if they could get it running? Maybe a posting at one of the community colleges in the area with an automotive program? I'm willing to pay up to a couple hundred bucks for somebody to come give it a little love, if that means giving it a second life.
(Make-A-Wish actually accepts car donations, and positively jumped at the chance to take the car, but I'd really rather that it go to somebody who can use it.)
posted by joyceanmachine at 3:34 PM on January 9, 2012
Follow-up: If I don't know a spark plug from a hole in the ground, would it be possible to pay someone to come out and see if they could get it running? Maybe a posting at one of the community colleges in the area with an automotive program? I'm willing to pay up to a couple hundred bucks for somebody to come give it a little love, if that means giving it a second life.
(Make-A-Wish actually accepts car donations, and positively jumped at the chance to take the car, but I'd really rather that it go to somebody who can use it.)
posted by joyceanmachine at 3:34 PM on January 9, 2012
No good advice concerning the post-you "life" of the car but cars function so significantly in our lives that some extent of "crouton petting" is understandable. I had to sell an old car for parts once and before we parted, I removed one of its logos. It is still in a box in a closet and I should get rid of it but I invested in that logo the "soul" of the machine. Not to trivialize the real thing, but if all else fails, choose to believe your car will be a noble "organ donor" and will live on, in some wise. Full disclosure: my first full-on perfect-for-me car was totaled in an accident (not my fault). I felt it could be saved, the insurance company disagreed. If second-hand versions were available, I'd be driving something different today. I have photos of our time together but I cannot brook strangers using the model as an example of a dangerous vehicle. They do not know WHAT WE HAD.
posted by Morrigan at 4:54 PM on January 9, 2012
posted by Morrigan at 4:54 PM on January 9, 2012
What if you could have it made into a car seat sofa for yourself? The rest could become parts and you'd have a significant part of it that you could hold onto -- actually use in your day-to-day life even.
posted by macadamiaranch at 5:22 PM on January 9, 2012
posted by macadamiaranch at 5:22 PM on January 9, 2012
That sounds like an ideal car to submit to a site like Bring A Trailer, especially if you set the price super low but say you are looking for an enthusiast.
posted by Forktine at 5:37 PM on January 9, 2012
posted by Forktine at 5:37 PM on January 9, 2012
Check out Hemmings Motor News online or look at the magazine in a library. Just about every imaginable model of US car ever made is on sale. If someone is looking for that car, and it's got a premium value on it (which could mean it sells for $1500 instead of $1000) you will find out at Hemmings. If nothing else, the car will go for parts to an aficionado of Pontiacs.
Just to get you started, here's an 86 Parisienne claimed to be in excellent shape offered for $5350.
posted by charlie don't surf at 4:44 PM on January 10, 2012
Just to get you started, here's an 86 Parisienne claimed to be in excellent shape offered for $5350.
posted by charlie don't surf at 4:44 PM on January 10, 2012
Follow-up: If I don't know a spark plug from a hole in the ground, would it be possible to pay someone to come out and see if they could get it running? Maybe a posting at one of the community colleges in the area with an automotive program? I'm willing to pay up to a couple hundred bucks for somebody to come give it a little love, if that means giving it a second life.
The community college is a good idea.
You can absolutely pay somebody to look at it if you lack the time and inclination to do it yourself.
It might be worth calling some local mechanics and seeing if they'll do an inspection. Try to find someone credible and reliable. Vehicle inspections are usually in the 75$ area where I'm at, and then they'd leave you with a list of things that need to be fixed. Not a bad place to start.
...but seriously, you can check to see if the engine turns over and all the lights work yourself, for free. ;)
posted by Stagger Lee at 7:47 AM on January 11, 2012
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It's not a two door, is it? That may be your only hope at salvaging value, it's a well known fact that cars are always cooler when they have less doors. :) Those old four door boats don't hold onto value honestly.
Check if it will still run. Get oil/clean gas in it, charge the battery, and fire it up. If it will, and has sitting insurance, you can find it a home somewhere. You'd be off to a good start. If it won't run, do some basic poking around. Run carb cleaner and clean gas in it, give it an oil change, check all your fluids, spark plugs, belts, etc. Get it running, that can be fun with a car you love, and it's pretty basic mechanical stuff.
Six years is a long time to sit without proper storage measures, but take it for a run and see how it's held up.
So if you've got a running, insurable vehicle... go find it a home. If you don't know anyone that can use a car, advertise it through the American Auto Club website or Craig's or whatever. Words like "free to a good home" or "price negotiable" will go a very long way. There may be charities that accept car donations, but I don't know any.
If it's not insurable or doesn't run, you're in for a fight. Then what you've got is a part's car. A four door 80s boat of a part's car, since it's relatively unlikely that it'll be a project car. Try advertising it on the AACA website, under the appropriate Pontiac section. Someone might have a similar make/model that wants parts. There's always Craig's or ebay or whatever too.
tl;dr: Try to get it running, take some pictures, and advertise it on the AACA website.
posted by Stagger Lee at 3:23 PM on January 9, 2012