Looking for a middle-ground Coupe...
I spent some time with the Sahara Coupe mentioned here on Harbor in Costa Mesa, CA. yesterday.
http://www.autotraderclassics.com/find/vehicle/vehicleDetail.xhtml?adId=168981&conversationId=88661
Aside from the automatic (which could possibly be updated to a five-speed) the car has undergone a horrible engine conversion in the past. It appears to be a 3.3 early motronic first edition but without the management stuff or sensors but it's FI... Deep, (faint) grinding, bearing sounds from the engine make it surprising it runs at all...
Also, the metal is pretty thin IMHO...especially the spare-well that there are sections that show asphalt instead of paint...rockers are bubbling and will need attention soon.
As I listened to the motor run and viewed the crudely hand-painted black radiator fins...I decided I didn't dare drive it as likely I wouldn't have gotten back to the 405 (2 blocks) without some sort of transmission trouble!
Dealership's owner did offer me $1,000 in trade my e24 that I brought along but only IF I bought the coupe there on the spot at full price!
On the long drive home all I could think about was Yikes...! is this the best one can do for $12k?