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Great Or Not-So-Great? 1985 Gatsby Cabriolet

I’ve always been on the fence when it comes to appreciating neoclassic cars like this 1985 Gatsby Cabriolet offered for sale here on Craigslist and located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.  On one hand, there’s no denying the head-turning charm they possess, but on the other hand, there’s a sense of inauthenticity I can’t seem to get past.  Nevertheless, this Gatsby “barn find” is certainly intriguing and appears as if it might just be a good cleaning and tune-up away from seeing the road again.  Special thanks to Barnfinds reader Dean for the find! 

The price shown in the title of the Craigslist posting is “$12” which I’m assuming is code for $12,000.  Unfortunately, the listing for this car is one of those hastily-written-in-all-caps ads that provides hardly any detail.  Was the car built from a kit or was it bought as a turn-key model when new?  Many Gatsby’s used Ford platforms (Thunderbird, Crown Victoria) and I wonder what car served as the foundation to build this one?

According to the seller, the car has been “SETTING [sic] FOR A LONG TIME” and it appears that for some reason no one bothered to keep it covered.  Although the thick layer of dust covering the body is potentially effective in marketing the car as a “Barnfind,” it’s unfortunate to see the interior unnecessarily coated in such grime.  No mention is made as to the condition of the soft top and whether it’s still functional.  The carpet looks pretty dirty and the color doesn’t quite match the upholstery or the beige-colored vinyl that covers the dashboard and door panels.  The steering wheel looks to have suffered the most from being exposed and one wonders what became of the column cover?  There also looks to be a clump of loose wires located behind an oddly placed toggle switch under the dash that needs to be addressed.

The seller mentions the car is powered by a Ford V-8 but doesn’t bother to tell us the mileage, whether it runs, turns over, etc.  The air cleaner has been removed (it can be seen sitting on the passenger side floor in the photo of the interior) and that red wire – perhaps related to the weird toggle switch – is awry.  The overspray (or lack thereof) seen on the inside of the cowl might be an indication that the car was painted by an amateur and thus, a kit model.  What do you think?  For the most part, this Gatsby appears to have been stored well but it is certainly in need of some attention.  $12,000 might be a not-so-great price if one were to attempt to revive this revival.

Comments

  1. Avatar canadainmarkseh

    It seem like retro cars like this are never a big hit with the buying public even when done by the manufactors. These pre ww2 designs seem to appeal to a small market. As for this car it looks fairly well proportioned. The styling however is a little box with blunt two dimensional curves. I think its a sign of the time it was built where a blend of old and new were attempted. I like its look I think it even looks a little better then the Excalibur. I’d have no problem parking this car in my garage. These kit cars do have a place in history and the older they get the more unique they are, they were an attempt to bring nostalgia to people that could not afford the real thing but still had money to spend. If it were mine I’d clean it up and get it road worthy, then just enjoy it.

    Like 2
  2. Avatar Farhvergnugen Member

    Red wire prob for aux cooling fan. Looks like it would get hot in that plastic tub of a front end.

    Love that swim platform on the other end.

    Like 4
  3. Avatar Dick Johnson

    Howz ’bout a road test on these types? Does it have the ambiance and presence of a large TC/TD, or does something get lost in the translation? What few kit cars I’ve driven, these types have eluded my grip on the wheel. Of course we don’t allow just anyone to drive our “Wobbley and Hardley” TC.

    Any owners out there that care to share their input on ownership?

    Like 0
  4. Avatar DETROIT LAND YACHT

    This sad / poorly-proportioned / weak-on-the-details / parts bin special makes me cringe.Much the same as the Excalibur…Clenet…and Stutz replicas of that era. They all had that slapped-together Frankencar look & vibe. They were the kind of cars that somebody’s chain-smoking grandparents bought upon retiring & moving to Boca. That being said…there are some very nice replicas out there.There’s even ONE pre-war replica that I would gladly be seen in. (and in fact have done so to rave reviews)

    THIS is what a prewar turn-key replica car should look like:http://www.auburnspeedsters.com/1-25.JPG

    Like 8
  5. Avatar Will Fox

    Eeeew. A garbage kit car; always hated these. I’d torch it & take the insurance check.

    Like 5
    • Avatar Ike Onick

      What would you spend the $600 on?

      Like 6
  6. Avatar Dirk

    Very clever idea to use a Spridget body tub as the basis for a retro-type car but I always thought that the designers went a little too far overboard with it. If the design had been a little more moderate, restrained, and not so extreme, it might have been more successful design-wise and not so cartoonish to the point of being laughable. As it is, it’s a bad joke and an embarrassment to be seen in.

    Like 3
  7. Avatar Ben T. Spanner

    Head turning? No stomach churning. Huge plastic car with the interior room of a Spridget. Sold to and endorsed by Chiropractors. Nasty when new, and has not aged well.

    Like 6
    • Avatar Jake

      It’s made of steel. It has a steel body and a V8 engine.

      Like 1
  8. Avatar Jack M.

    I have read the word “setting” many times in Craigslist ads, usually in the Southern States. I feel that the people actually believe that it is the proper term to use!

    Like 3
    • Avatar Dick Johnson

      Ya’ gotta’ be settin’ me.

      Like 3
      • Avatar Ike Onick

        Looks like someone set all over this creation

        Like 3
  9. Avatar Lawyer George

    Purchase price: $ 12,000.00. Trade in value on a Bradley. $800.00. “But I paid $12,000.00. Next place listed for sale is sitting along side of the owner’s flea market display at a giant swap meet. Offered at ever decreasing prices for a few years and finally sold for $ 900.

    Like 0
    • Avatar Emily Haney

      Just wondering if you know what state this car was originally from? missouri?

      Like 0
  10. Avatar Dick Johnson

    Ok. I’m a whole lot slow. Nobody is going admit to having driven one. Just curious if any suspension mods to these Bizarro cars have yeilded any decent handing rides. I think I’ll go dust off my wife’s Liberace (Buddy Rich and Stan Kenton for me) records. She has one that has “Lee” sitting in his Excaibur. Should make for a good skeet target.

    Like 1
    • Avatar Phil Newberg

      I recently purchased a 1985 Gatsby. The same one as shown in the Volvo Auto Museum. Equipped with a 302 V-8 plus all the goodies. It is scheduled to receive a new top & interior. It’s great to drive, but a little difficult to get in & out for me — an elderly adult. Not my everyday driver, but a delight to own.

      Like 1
  11. Avatar Booya

    Anyone who read the book would never have named this car that way.

    Like 1
  12. Avatar John

    These were kits based on a MG Midget tub

    Like 2
  13. Avatar CanuckCarGuy

    I’m not normally a fan of neoclassics, but in its defense this one isn’t as ostentatious as others we’ve seen here. If it was cleaned up, and bought well below the asking price it wouldn’t be a bad weekend touring car. Not something I would set out to own, but certainly worthy of an owner.

    Like 2
  14. Avatar Skorzeny

    Gross.

    Like 0
  15. Avatar Jake

    The only ‘kit’ part is the fiberglass fenders. The rest is fabricated out of steel.

    Like 0
  16. Avatar javier H.

    I have my own Gatsby I have restored it as a hobby and the truth is I had allot of fun with this beautiful car

    Like 1

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