- Welcome to autobanter.ca.
Recent posts
#11
Show and Shine / Re: The Not So 'Cherry' 81 380...
Last post by Firm - Feb 27, 2026, 11:06 AMlol, yeah, I didn't even think to check those. I also forgot to check the exhaust on the parts car, mine is junk from the cat-back, would be nice if the parts car had a good exhaust system I could grab, doubtful though.
#12
Show and Shine / Re: The Not So 'Cherry' 81 380...
Last post by Blueprint - Feb 27, 2026, 10:46 AMQuote from: Firm on Feb 27, 2026, 10:09 AMYeah, I am not into LS swapping it, if you need an LS there are plenty of Corvettes, Camaros & Firebirds available cheap that were designed and engineered for the LS.
Oddly, my local U-Pull has a 380SL, I stopped in yesterday and it does have a complete motor in it. No telling whether it's good or not, but I could pull the valve covers on it and inspect it as well. $500 for the engine, so that's another option as well. Just a lot of heavy work to pull the complete engine out of a car in the yard and then swap it into my car.
Nice to have access to a parts donor locally ! Trunklid springs, maybe?
#13
Show and Shine / Re: The Not So 'Cherry' 81 380...
Last post by Firm - Feb 27, 2026, 10:09 AMYeah, I am not into LS swapping it, if you need an LS there are plenty of Corvettes, Camaros & Firebirds available cheap that were designed and engineered for the LS.
Oddly, my local U-Pull has a 380SL, I stopped in yesterday and it does have a complete motor in it. No telling whether it's good or not, but I could pull the valve covers on it and inspect it as well. $500 for the engine, so that's another option as well. Just a lot of heavy work to pull the complete engine out of a car in the yard and then swap it into my car.
Oddly, my local U-Pull has a 380SL, I stopped in yesterday and it does have a complete motor in it. No telling whether it's good or not, but I could pull the valve covers on it and inspect it as well. $500 for the engine, so that's another option as well. Just a lot of heavy work to pull the complete engine out of a car in the yard and then swap it into my car.
#14
Show and Shine / Re: The Not So 'Cherry' 81 380...
Last post by Johnnymac - Feb 27, 2026, 09:28 AMWell it sounds like you at least won't lose a bunch of money on this if you part it out. I wonder how hard it would be to just sell the rolling chassis, there could very well be a collector out there that has a rough bodied one but good mechanically and would be interested in making a swap of engine/powertrain into your unit.
Would be sort of a cool car to do a different engine swap, maybe an LS. But then I don't know how much you like modifying your cars out of original specs.
Would be sort of a cool car to do a different engine swap, maybe an LS. But then I don't know how much you like modifying your cars out of original specs.
#15
Show and Shine / Re: The Not So 'Cherry' 81 380...
Last post by Oliver - Feb 26, 2026, 09:16 PMMy buddy sent me a link to a dirt cheap local '81 380SL that's grey on black but it has a bunch of rust. $2800.
#16
Show and Shine / Re: GBA's 2017 PriusPrime (and...
Last post by GreatBigAbyss - Feb 26, 2026, 06:41 PMMost bike shops rent them for the day or weekend. Take one out!
#17
Show and Shine / Re: GBA's 2017 PriusPrime (and...
Last post by dkazzed - Feb 26, 2026, 06:23 PMI've always wanted to try fat biking. I just take my regular bikes out and hope for the best. 
#18
Show and Shine / Re: The Not So 'Cherry' 81 380...
Last post by Blueprint - Feb 26, 2026, 05:03 PMQuote from: Firm on Feb 26, 2026, 03:07 PMQuote from: Blueprint on Feb 26, 2026, 08:42 AMBig fan of R107's here. Before the TR6 landed in my lap, these were the one classic car I thought was plausible. Unlike most, I prefer them with the NA-spec round headlights and 5 mph bumpers - that's how I remember them as a kid, and the bumpers emphasize the horizontal lines of the car. The later 560SL is the perfect spec, with that powerboat motor, front lip spoiler and Gullideckel wheels. Silver over blue interior for me.
The 450SL is the original spec, but these are much older now. The 380SL was the gas crisis version, and early single chain motors had catastrophic failures. Firm's has the double chain, so factory build or TSB'd at some point. Guides, as in other cars, are a weak point. I used to read a lot on the cars and follow every BaT listing until the TR6 arrived. Beyond the single chain and guides, IIRC there's a front crossmember / suspension issue to look out for, and the HVAC control module is a weak point. Otherwise, built like a tank and weighs like one.
Hoping you save it!
Yep, you're likely more knowledgeable on these than I am. Fortunately the front suspension/crossmember is good on this one. The build quality is impressive, and I am hoping I can revive this one and drive it a bit....I've heard they're nice relaxing and comfortable to drive, and not at all sporty. The community and knowledge base is really strong too, which should make owning and maintaining one easier. My sense is that these make a really nice affordable and practical classics for someone who wants a toy that they can really use regularly.
I often see them compared to power boats - big heavy 'vert with smooth V8 torque...that drinks like a boat
Perfect cruiser! #19
Show and Shine / Re: The Not So 'Cherry' 81 380...
Last post by GreatBigAbyss - Feb 26, 2026, 03:26 PMLS swap it!!!
#20
Show and Shine / Re: The Not So 'Cherry' 81 380...
Last post by Firm - Feb 26, 2026, 03:07 PMQuote from: Blueprint on Feb 26, 2026, 08:42 AMBig fan of R107's here. Before the TR6 landed in my lap, these were the one classic car I thought was plausible. Unlike most, I prefer them with the NA-spec round headlights and 5 mph bumpers - that's how I remember them as a kid, and the bumpers emphasize the horizontal lines of the car. The later 560SL is the perfect spec, with that powerboat motor, front lip spoiler and Gullideckel wheels. Silver over blue interior for me.
The 450SL is the original spec, but these are much older now. The 380SL was the gas crisis version, and early single chain motors had catastrophic failures. Firm's has the double chain, so factory build or TSB'd at some point. Guides, as in other cars, are a weak point. I used to read a lot on the cars and follow every BaT listing until the TR6 arrived. Beyond the single chain and guides, IIRC there's a front crossmember / suspension issue to look out for, and the HVAC control module is a weak point. Otherwise, built like a tank and weighs like one.
Hoping you save it!
Yep, you're likely more knowledgeable on these than I am. Fortunately the front suspension/crossmember is good on this one. The build quality is impressive, and I am hoping I can revive this one and drive it a bit....I've heard they're nice relaxing and comfortable to drive, and not at all sporty. The community and knowledge base is really strong too, which should make owning and maintaining one easier. My sense is that these make a really nice affordable and practical classics for someone who wants a toy that they can really use regularly.