Hey there fellas. I've got a few questions for those of you driving 164s (or previous owners thereof). I'm pretty familiar with 122s and 544s (I spend many weekends under my 64 PV), but I think I need to buy a more modern car as well to keep up with today's traffic, and as fun as the PV is to drive, long hauls down to Eugene or up to Vancouver, B.C. are a bit of a grind.

Specifically, I'm thinking about calling on a '75 164E that's in my local paper (by my standards it's practically a new car). I've always just loved the looks of the things; they just exude class. The guy's asking $1000, which is probably a very good price if it's in any kind of decent shape. What I need to know is, what am I getting myself into, potentially? Rust probably won't be a big concern up here in the Northwest, but are there any inherent problems with the cars that I should look out for? I've heard that the front ends on these are a bit of a bear to keep in good order, and I've heard mixed reviews of the reliability of the B30 motor. I don't know if it's a slushbox or a stick. If it's a 4 speed, I'm sure the 'box is bulletproof, but how about the old automatics? Thanks in advance for any insight you can give me.

---Ethan