Welcome to the first episode of Wheeler Dealers USA, where your host Mike will buy, fix, and flip a scruffy classic for fun and profit!
This month's episode features a hot Swede from the days of high-pressure turbochargers, a 1990 C900 Turbo!
We found this gem on the craigslist a mere 4 miles from the shop with what was described as a bad head gasket, asking price: $500
After consulting with our mates we looked at the car and discovered it probably had a massive vacuum leak.
A deal was struck and we brought the old girl home for the princely sum of just $350 squids!
We got her back to the shop by just driving. Initial diagnosis seems spot-on, there's a vacuum leak or a timing issue, but once you build RPM's (and boost), it runs awesome! (Seriously, this thing hauls the mail. I've never had a stock 80's turbo car, and I've had nearly all of them, pull like this. Not even F2T's...)
The engine is the venerable B202 16 Valve 2.1L turbo 4-cylinder. Notice that it's mounted "backwards" in the engine bay. The pulleys are by the windshield and the clutch is by the headlights. The transaxle sits under the motor. It's had the head totally rebuilt in 2009, but less than 1000 miles ago.
The interior is the weakest part. The driver's seat is split, the headliner is missing, and it's pretty grungy.
The paint, however, looks entirely saveable.
Follow along as we repair the mechanical issues, polish up the cosmetic ones, and get this old girl back on the road and with a new owner. Target date: September 21!
