XD 351 ESP Auction

[au350hp]

I remember these very well when they came out. I thought there was nothing better & there are probably those who still feel the same way. This is going well so far.
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1981-For....c100677.m4598

[GT450]

Always liked ESPs but nver really cared if it didn't have a V8. I suppose the flat tyre on this one is an optional extra.

[jaydee]

" ...the owner placed the original Uniroyals back on the car from when the car was purchased new to retain the originality of the car."
First thing I spotted, I think they were called Steelcats, were a great tyre.
Nice low kay car, lot of bidding interest.

[ozpacman]

I don't know whether it's just me being picky, but even given the fact that this car is 37 years old, that interior looks pretty well worn for what's supposed to be an original sub-100,000 km car.

It also mentions the bolsters were re-done. That seems to be a lot of wear for that sort of mileage.
What do you guys think?

Beautiful car though just the same, I'd love to have it!

[au350hp]

Originally Posted by ozpacman

I don't know whether it's just me being picky, but even given the fact that this car is 37 years old, that interior looks pretty well worn for what's supposed to be an original sub-100,000 km car.

It also mentions the bolsters were re-done. That seems to be a lot of wear for that sort of mileage. What do you guys think?

It is a fair point, but think about AU & B series XR drivers seats, and most are plum ducked by 100,000kms. The seats in the ESP were not the easiest seats to lower yourself into as to avoid crushing the bolster. There is always the chance the owner may have been 6ft3'' and 250 pounds as well. Overall I think the car presents very well online, and I'd be surprised to see it pass $45k. Good luck to the seller regardless.

[macman]

Originally Posted by ozpacman

I don't know whether it's just me being picky, but even given the fact that this car is 37 years old, that interior looks pretty well worn for what's supposed to be an original sub-100,000 km car.

The interior is worse than mine with 220,000k's, doesn't match up IMO.

Originally Posted by ozpacman

It also mentions the bolsters were re-done. That seems to be a lot of wear for that sort of mileage.
What do you guys think?

Bolsters re-covered and also closed door respray for a car with under 100,000k's. Seat wear indicates a lot of in/out movement which comes with distance travelled. But paint can just be due to age or being left outside.

Originally Posted by ozpacman

Beautiful car though just the same, I'd love to have it!

Agreed, but it's a slightly strange one.

[PepeLePew]

I'm not a big guy and in my old XD ESP i had in the late 80's to late 90's i used to practice gymnastics every time i got in it. Still didn't work, those fabric bolsters wear like a bitch doesn't take long at all. I'm still practicing gymnastics it's only the cars that have changed. Never had that colour wear on the seat bases though in the years that i had it.

[Mercury Bullet]

Barns...barns everywhere!

Shearing sheds even....

Nice car!

[GASWAGON]

351 Manual with matching numbers and still original windscreen and wheels/tyres and 'apparently' sub 100,000k's on the clock.

Not bad!!!

[Crazy Dazz]

Meh, I remember when the Cleveland was discontinued, the ESPs were touted as the most collectable, and supposedly a successor to the "GT". But they were nothing wonderful.
There were some improvements in the XE, most notably the live axle, but the XD was a dinosaur. Underneath it was still an ageing 60's platform and a 4sp manual.

The ESP was basically cosmetic, with improved shocks. (Bilsteins IIRC)

[stock1991]

XD ESP = raw power with no tech

[pottery beige]

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

Meh, I remember when the Cleveland was discontinued, the ESPs were touted as the most collectable, and supposedly a successor to the "GT". But they were nothing wonderful.
There were some improvements in the XE, most notably the live axle, but the XD was a dinosaur. Underneath it was still an ageing 60's platform and a 4sp manual.

The ESP was basically cosmetic, with improved shocks. (Bilsteins IIRC)

poor mans GT??

[JG33]

Originally Posted by stock1991

XD ESP = raw power with no tech

All 149kw of neck breaking power.

[stock1991]

Originally Posted by JG33

All 149kw of neck breaking power.

it's all about the raw and the no tech

[Rob 351]

149kw's seems healthy when the Commodores of that era had about 120 kw.
They were certainly no XY GT, but they were healthier than 149 kw's suggest because of the lack of weight.
IIRC they only weighed about 1450 kg's which sharpened them up a tad, and you only had to make them breathe to unleash the beast!
Drop em an inch or so, nice set of Simmons, nice package!

[290GTP]

Originally Posted by Rob 351

149kw's seems healthy when the Commodores of that era had about 120 kw.
They were certainly no XY GT, but they were healthier than 149 kw's suggest because of the lack of weight.
IIRC they only weighed about 1450 kg's which sharpened them up a tad, and you only had to make them breathe to unleash the beast!
Drop em an inch or so, nice set of Simmons, nice package!

Yeah XD 5.8 manuals were running 15.8 second quarters, so they were the fastest Falcon since the 4V XB GT.

Flip the air cleaner lid upside down, extractors & dual exhausts would see low 15s or high 14s pretty easily, if you knew how to drive.

They were fast for their time.

[Mercury Bullet]

Originally Posted by 290GTP

Yeah XD 5.8 manuals were running 15.8 second quarters, so they were the fastest Falcon since the 4V XB GT.

Flip the air cleaner lid upside down, extractors & dual exhausts would see low 15s or high 14s pretty easily, if you knew how to drive.

They were fast for their time.

Are you sure?

XCs 351 was at 165kw and around equal weight.

They were strange years, buy a new car and get less power.

[290GTP]

Originally Posted by Mercury Bullet

Are you sure?

XCs 351 was at 165kw and around equal weight.

They were strange years, buy a new car and get less power.

Pretty sure XC power was quoted without accessories where the XD was with accessories, accounting for the difference. Carbies, compression, heads & cams were the same for both models.

V8 XC's weighed about 1715 kgs. 1/4 mile times were around 16.3 for a manual car.

As stated above, XD's were much lighter with plastic petrol tanks & bumpers and other weight saving measures, which ended up making the XD nearly 150 kg lighter than the XC.

Pick up an XC front bumper, those suckers weigh a ton.

[Ford17]

Looks like Dick had one back in the day.

It appears in the first 20 seconds of this clip:

[PepeLePew]

Light and while the 351 wasn't exactly stressed it produced it's grunt where it's supposed to, always felt fat even when cruising around. Dual 2.5" with headers and super turbos, sounded luvvily. I'd worry about km's....so easy to swap out a dash in these...i got sucked in when i bought mine by the dealer, young and dumb. It was love at first sight....'ah just before you sign i have to let you know the kms aren't accurate they're actually XXXXXX'. I refuse even to say it here, the difference was MAJOR.....certain South Rd dealer in Adelaide before they switched to 4x4.

[Mercury Bullet]

Originally Posted by 290GTP

Pretty sure XC power was quoted without accessories where the XD was with accessories, accounting for the difference. Carbies, compression, heads & cams were the same for both models.

V8 XC's weighed about 1715 kgs. 1/4 mile times were around 16.3 for a manual car.

As stated above, XD's were much lighter with plastic petrol tanks & bumpers and other weight saving measures, which ended up making the XD nearly 150 kg lighter than the XC.

Pick up an XC front bumper, those suckers weigh a ton.

Na, my cobra was 1400 odd kilos and it was slightly heavier than the sedan.

Engine pulled 120 something rwkw at 30k km after tune.

[290GTP]

Originally Posted by Mercury Bullet

Na, my cobra was 1400 odd kilos and it was slightly heavier than the sedan.

Engine pulled 120 something rwkw at 30k km after tune.

Didn't know they made 6 cylinder Cobras, interesting.

[Mercury Bullet]

Your correct, I was going off memory. Best info I could find was 1700 which is a whole 120kg over a 5.8 xd.

That doesn't change the power difference. I don't buy your argument, both are quoted rated To SAE standard which I believe is some (not all) accessories. I.e same same.

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by jaydee

" ...the owner placed the original Uniroyals back on the car from when the car was purchased new to retain the originality of the car."
First thing I spotted, I think they were called Steelcats, were a great tyre.
Nice low kay car, lot of bidding interest.

Uniroyal Wildcats...at least they were on XE ESP's

[GASWAGON]

I'd buy it if i had the money.

But, i have been thinking today.......I'd much prefer a nice XE 351, Manual ESP.

Loooooove the tuff XE headlights and Silver with lower coloured trim!!!

[au350hp]

Originally Posted by BFBarraWGN

I'd buy it if i had the money.

But, i have been thinking today.......I'd much prefer a nice XE 351, Manual ESP.

Loooooove the tuff XE headlights and Silver with lower coloured trim!!!

Same, but red was always my preference
https://goo.gl/images/2C3Htd

Silver one here.
https://goo.gl/images/Qcyb2j

[FTe342]

If thats worth $40K what would this one bring?

[GASWAGON]

50K for sure.

Original XE 351 manual ESP are pulling $60-80K these days.

How many kilometres on this XD???

[FTe342]

Well I sold it for $17k unregistered about 10 yrs ago. Mint interior, I found the last piece of cloth in the country to get the drivers seat outer bolsters recovered. The rest of the seats had never been sat in. About 60,000 klms I think. Was factory auto converted to manual when I bought it but I got an FMX from a ex-police Chaser to convert back to auto before I sold it with original steering wheel etc. I thought it might be worth $30k now

[GASWAGON]

Aah o.k.

I thought from pics it was original manual!

Matching numbers, 351, Manual + LSD all original would surely be worth 40-50K for XD???