Should I buy an 85 MGM CP?

[jpc]

Hi, I'm a longtime admirer of Ford's Family of Fine Cars. Now I need a vehicle with more space. Sensible options would be a Taurus wagon or Mazda 5. Haha. So instead I went to see this 85 MGM Colony Park.

Three questions.

1. What is it worth? It's original and unmolested, minimal surface rust in a few places, seems to run well. The oil looks like oil, the coolant looks like coolant, the exhaust smells like exhaust. OK. There are a few drips of oil on the underside near the engine/transmission boundary-- it's not the middle east down there, nor is it totally dry. The wood grain looks great. The interior is very clean.

2. How does Ford get away with no temp gauge? Doesn't that make you crazy?

3. What trouble spots should I look for?

Thanks.

[tjc78]

Hard to put a value on it without some pictures, etc. What is it worth to you? He is asking $3500 IMHO that is high unless it is really nice. If it checks out and you really like it, check out KBB, Edmunds, and search Completed Listings on Ebay to get a good ball park of what others are paying and then make an offer.

My wild guess if it is nice with no frame rot (check passenger side near front where the A/C condesation drains from, common rust spot) and interior isn't trashed probably 2300-2500 is a decent figure.

Also another thing to think about is that being 85 it has the earlier fuel injection system (CFI) it can be more troublesome than the 86 and later SEFI models.

[jpc]

Well, I bought it.

It'll be nice to have a hobby car that was built in large numbers, by an automaker that's still in business, with easy parts availability and forum support. Ask me how I know.

Anyone want to buy a '68 AMC Ambassador SST 2-door coupe in original condition, with 10K on rebuilt engine and 3-speed auto? It's good, just less practical now that I have dogs. That's what the MGM CP will replace.

[hypostang]

Wow!!! man, do I love those woodgrain clad wagons !!!

[79lincolnlover]

Welcome to the party! Nice wagon. Is the paint white or light blue??

[jpc]

Thanks! It's light blue, dark blue interior, more pics soon.

"SOON..."

[1987cp]

Looks nice! I sometimes think everyone should have a Colony Park at some point in their lives.

Lots of good info here on replacing that anemic 5.0 CFI under the hood.

[sly]

1: probably rear main seal or PCV valve area leak... unless it's gushing... just top it off every couple of fill-ups or so.

2: the old all iron engines can typically handle more temp rise than anything with aluminum heads/block. They'll typically spew coolant and steam out from under the hood before the temp really gets high enough to do anything major. That said... it's still better to have that temp gauge and is an easy add-on with aftermarket gauges (electric ones you only end up poking one wire through the firewall and you can locate the gauge where you want to).

3: well... since you already bought it... I'm sure you'll find them. Passenger side frame rail (air conditioning drips like to rot that side), main seal leaks as mentioned in #1, uber soft shifts from the trans, if yours has the plastic TV bushing for the trans cable, get a brass one ASAP (not sure of the 85 has that or the slip over ball kind... check http://www.lincolnsonline.com/tech/00052.html and see if it looks the same). Of course... check all vacuum lines, hoses, belts, rubber parts for cracks/breaks and replace as needed. Coolant flush would probably be a good idea, trans and oil fluid/filter change might not be out of the question as well. Definitely keep an eye on the trans fluid color for a while to see if it darkens. It should be a nice reddish color when wiped off the dipstick. If it's brown or black... there's a rebuild in your short term future.