I kinda like the '61 Caddy. I can live with the wheels, even. But, I think that's my least favorite of the 4-door hardtops. On the '61 I think the 6W design looks better. Or better yet, a 4W 1962, which would have had a thicker C-pillar.
I think that wraparound rear window is fine on something like a Chevy or maybe a Pontiac Catalina, but I don't think it looks quite right on the Caddy.
I'll even underbid Shifty on the SLC, 6-7K is probably a realistic actual sale price. Not much demand for those, which is unfortunate, as they do have their own style. 5 years ago here, a beautiful green 73 model (small bumpers, less emissions) with 55K on it brought 6K at auction. Wagon is high priced and should be no more than 10K, but they have a cult behind them, and it might sell above that. Killer is that it is a non-turbo.
Those wraparound window Caddys are odd ducks to me, too. Rare, anyway.
Something like that is already into sunny day or Sunday driver status for me - 33 years old now, and driving it in the daily grind will ruin the value it has. If it sells, it will be to an enthusiast, not as a commuter.
$5K is all it's worth to me, is what I meant, because I've owned quite a few older Mercedes and I know what it costs per month to keep them in top shape.
Interestingly, in the "V: The Final Battle" miniseries, the Visitors were parading around in '77-79 era stretch Lincoln limos. I guess these were still too pricey by 1984, to sacrifice.
I never liked how on that era Town Car sedan, the rear-door window was virtually a perfect square (or at least, rectangle). That always bugged me about '61-64 GM full-size wagons too, although I know those bodies were provided by an outside supplier (Ionia).
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Notice that it's missing the accessory belts? Suffice to say someone watched a little too much Fast & Loud and got in over their heads. Part it out. That's all
Even at the big auctions, I think only one has broken $100K and several have been in the $60-80K range the past several years. I'm really not even crazy about them...I'd much rather have a later Gran Turismo Hawk or even a '56 SkyHawk, without the fins and supercharger. One-hundred thirty folks have it on their 'watch list', but most are probably like me--wishing we could see what it really goes for when it does, which we most-likely will not be able to.
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On first-impression stuff, I'd say that $70K one is nicer than the eBay one.
Although, now that I look closer, I don't believe the white with gold insert interior is correct, and the foglights don't belong. There's an extra, non-factory gauge cut into the dash too. That's not $180K difference though.
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Yeah, you could probably correct those deficiences for less than $180,000, if you were careful. You could in fact, probably gold-plate the entire car for less than that.
One thing that I can't stand on the "$250,000" one, is the dented glovebox door. Sheesh, they used that same engine-turned door on every single '56-61 Hawk; one would think he'd easily find another door to replace it with.
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Re.: the Pacer---I clearly remember looking around our Chrysler/Plymouth/AMC dealer with a teenaged buddy of mine, and a salesman came out and said, "Do you guys want to see the new car?". I knew AMC had a new one coming out and he led us into a corner of the Service Dept. The only thing I can think of was, he wanted to see what young people thought. It was a yellow, low-line model with dog-dish caps. I was stunned. I remember saying, "It looks like a bug squatting to....(expletive deleted)." The salesman wasn't amused. I will say I appreciated the cars later for lack of a blind spot and generally roomy interior.
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Wow! LOL I actually like this car, and the price seems pretty reasonable (especially compared to everything else posted over the last few days!). LOVE the look-alike radio-controlled unit; I wonder if that comes with it? Hahahha.
2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
I've owned both, and the MGB is the far superior, even if the more primitive in engineering. I don't know what they hell they did to the ride height on the MGB, but it's all wrong. It must also be a roach because it's priced way too cheap. Don't see the lever for the overdrive trans either.
Oh, on the subject of that Caddy on "CHiPs", it was a regular Sedan DeVille, and not a Fleetwood. I'm guessing it was a '73?
Yes, I'll confess, I have "CHiPs" on the DVR. It's set to hold the last five episodes, and I just looked...that one was recent enough that I still had it.
Oh, how's this for a continuity error? In the establishing shot, all the windows are up. But then Ponch goes up to the car, and all windows are down. He even reaches in the car to pull up the lock button! But then just as he's about to press the button on the door handle to open it, he stops and thinks the better of it.
Oh, nice looking '73 LeSabre 4-door hardtop that the lady's driving, who leads them to the trap!
well, I actually kind of like that pacer, in a sick kind of way. Even though I am sure the engine could snap the car in half, but that is part of the fun!
replace the silly blower engine with a nice small block chevy, and maybe you could even drive it.
Had the project car out on a chilly New Year's Day - I think a good 4 weeks + since it was driven last. First turn of the key, it started, ran for 3 seconds, stalled. Second turn, started like nothing happened, ran like a new car. That's not too bad, I guess. Turn signals are working better, AM radio reception seems better than I remember. Weird thing - when I rev it, or when it idles high and slows, I hear a little pop like a misfire - but I only seem to hear it inside the car, not if I am outside with the hood up. I wonder if something is loose, and the right frequency of vibration sets it off.
Looking decent enough too - a driver's side view, as many seem to be from the other side.
I'm starting to work on the old Dodge Dakota truck I bought. First up, front end work. Needs ball joints and tie rods.
My first concerns when I buy an older vehicle is safety---before cosmetics or convenience or even reliability. A truck overheating is inconvenient--a truck busting loose a ball joint is scary.
I know ball joints were considered an improvement, but I've often heard over the years about ball joints breaking, but haven't heard about king pins doing the same thing in older cars, or trucks. Might be just because generally they're before my time, I don't know.
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Thanks for the compliments Of course, I post a pic now and then to show off, as the car is photogenic. Up close, not so perfect, but probably not too bad for its age.
The fintail has kingpins, they were worn when I bought the car, and I had them replaced several years after. Not a small job, and not cheap parts - but I found a full set on ebay for some crazy low price like $60 back in the late 90s, and put it in motion. The worst problem was bad camber creating excess front tire wear - I was able to get maybe 3000-4000 miles out of the front tires, until they were shot.
Studes had kingpins right up to the end. Corvettes did up through the '62--I'm told they're the same part no. as the '49 Chevy. When I first bought my Lark, it needed a front-end rebuild. The western OH Stude club sold remachined/refurbished king pins so I bought from them, and all the other front parts were available from Stude vendors. I had been getting a shimmy at highway speeds, but the parts fixed that. BTW, I had the repairs done at a former Stude dealer in Wooster, OH. Someone suggested him at a multi-make car show I was walking around. I called him and he said he still had a couple of the old guys working. I said "I can bring the Shop Manual" and he says, "Oh, we have that already". I wish he and his guys were still around.
It seems that trucks stuck with kingpins for a good while.
Fintail, that was a great price you got on kingpins. Stude stuff was always pretty cheap, but I'm almost sure I paid more than that for refurbished ones.
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Thanks for the compliments Of course, I post a pic now and then to show off, as the car is photogenic. Up close, not so perfect, but probably not too bad for its age.
Yeah, photos do tend to hide a lot of flaws. Another trick I learned, is that everything's better when wet...
BTW, yesterday, I spotted these two relics while out and about. First, my '85 Silverado's cousin at the gas station...
And then, on the way home, this W126...
That's about the extent of the automotive excitement around here, lately.
Oh yeah, the fintail looks amazing when wet, or in the snow. Been a long time since I've had it out in either, though - they aren't exactly rust-repellers, and I like to keep it as dry as possible.
That W126 is a 300SE, late run car, sold in the US from 1988-91 - so at a minimum, it is 24 years old now. Probably has 200K++ on it. It's either loaded up, or the rear suspension is going, looks like it is dragging its butt. I had one of that model years ago, good car, insane build quality and material quality. A few quirks, I6 mated to a 4-speed auto in a heavy car means 3500rpm or so at 70mph, so 20mpg on the highway. Dual firewall and smooth engine makes it seem fine though, mine felt like an electric car on some roads, the engine was so balanced, NVH was zero. The engines can leak or eat a headgasket as the miles pile on, and if not maintained, the transmissions will go, which I guess is like any other car. They also aren't rust-averse.
Maybe in harsher climates, 126s are finally starting to dwindle, but on the west coast, they are still everywhere, as I am sure Shifty can attest to. I still see 116s here and there.
I think MB must have used kingpins on larger sedans at least until the beginning of the 70s, as the line that replaced the fintail (W108) shares a lot of suspension pieces.
I was happy with my deal, I am pretty sure mine were brand new too, not refurbished. They also came with a bunch of new little fittings. A decent sized labor job to have installed, but once done, and with a few other suspension renovations, it tracks pretty well for something of its age and unrestored status, and doesn't chew up tires now (I wasn't going to get wide whites until I knew they wouldn't be ruined).
Fintail, that was a great price you got on kingpins. Stude stuff was always pretty cheap, but I'm almost sure I paid more than that for refurbished ones.
"Maybe in harsher climates, 126s are finally starting to dwindle, but on the west coast, they are still everywhere, as I am sure Shifty can attest to. I still see 116s here and there."
Yep, still as thick as flies around here (no offense intended). I think the rather benign climate and the relative affluence of the owners accounts for this---as well as the pool of skilled repair talent in the metro areas.
Judging by the article below, Cuba won't yield many project cars. The few low mileage, unmolested 1950s U.S. models squirreled away in government garages or owned by privileged cronies should bring good money, when they're eventually sold.
Interesting that the Deluxe name was affixed to such a low end car, like Chevy was doing a jedi mind trick on the buyer. I would be curious to see how the car would look with a good detailing but.... meh
...and that car has the Exterior Decor Group, optional, which got you the wheel opening moldings and roof drip moldings. It also has the optional full wheel covers. Picture this car without all that stuff! I do remember this era of Chevelle being a nice-driving car, by the standards of the day.
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Probably if you visited the dealer around introduction time in the fall of 1972 and drove this back to back with a '72 model similarly equipped, you would have thought this was better - quieter, smoother, roomier. But man, those bumpers were bad.
Well I hope it doesn't have "all original parts" because if it does, you've got some money to spend--tires, brakes, belts, hoses, fluids, engine and transmission seals, etc.
I like '73 Chevelles, simple grille, etc., but the fact is I can hardly think of a '73 car that had more of a railroad-tie front bumper than the Chevelle that year. I can remember our new Nova was sitting next to a Chevelle when we bought it and my Dad commented on that. Our salesman, whom Dad bought several new cars over the years from, said, "Lot more car to stop over there". He was probably right, but they could've sculpted the bumper better, which they did in '74, although I didn't like the grille or taillights of the '74 nearly as well.
For the '73 model year, the Torino became the best-selling intermediate, followed by the Olds Cutlass. That was a real slap in the face at that point in time, to Chevy. I believe the '74 Chevelle regained the number one position, although it's a little fuzzy as the Monte Carlo was not part of the Chevelle line and the Cutlass Supreme was, which clouded things up a bit.
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Comments
I think that wraparound rear window is fine on something like a Chevy or maybe a Pontiac Catalina, but I don't think it looks quite right on the Caddy.
Those wraparound window Caddys are odd ducks to me, too. Rare, anyway.
that Ford PU? Hideous.
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http://www.ebay.com/itm/Studebaker-Golden-Hawk-Golden-Hawk-57-studebaker-coupe-289-supercharger-automatic-restored-/221633275118?forcerrptr=true&hash=item339a5f64ee&item=221633275118&pt=US_Cars_Trucks
I can't imagine that's a serious listing. Either a joke or a typo.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
here's one for $69K asking price and it looks just as nice:
http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/dealer/studebaker/golden_hawk/1693604.html
Although, now that I look closer, I don't believe the white with gold insert interior is correct, and the foglights don't belong. There's an extra, non-factory gauge cut into the dash too. That's not $180K difference though.
http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/ctd/4783962041.html
Somehow the paint doesn't look right on this one:
1965 MGB - Classic British Sports car - $6500
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
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replace the silly blower engine with a nice small block chevy, and maybe you could even drive it.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
but, it is worth the money if it really is 100% rust free, since that would make it 1 of 1 in the world!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
https://longisland.craigslist.org/cto/4812502643.html Fiero V8 conversion
Looking decent enough too - a driver's side view, as many seem to be from the other side.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
My first concerns when I buy an older vehicle is safety---before cosmetics or convenience or even reliability. A truck overheating is inconvenient--a truck busting loose a ball joint is scary.
The fintail has kingpins, they were worn when I bought the car, and I had them replaced several years after. Not a small job, and not cheap parts - but I found a full set on ebay for some crazy low price like $60 back in the late 90s, and put it in motion. The worst problem was bad camber creating excess front tire wear - I was able to get maybe 3000-4000 miles out of the front tires, until they were shot.
It seems that trucks stuck with kingpins for a good while.
Fintail, that was a great price you got on kingpins. Stude stuff was always pretty cheap, but I'm almost sure I paid more than that for refurbished ones.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
BTW, yesterday, I spotted these two relics while out and about. First, my '85 Silverado's cousin at the gas station...
And then, on the way home, this W126...
That's about the extent of the automotive excitement around here, lately.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
That W126 is a 300SE, late run car, sold in the US from 1988-91 - so at a minimum, it is 24 years old now. Probably has 200K++ on it. It's either loaded up, or the rear suspension is going, looks like it is dragging its butt. I had one of that model years ago, good car, insane build quality and material quality. A few quirks, I6 mated to a 4-speed auto in a heavy car means 3500rpm or so at 70mph, so 20mpg on the highway. Dual firewall and smooth engine makes it seem fine though, mine felt like an electric car on some roads, the engine was so balanced, NVH was zero. The engines can leak or eat a headgasket as the miles pile on, and if not maintained, the transmissions will go, which I guess is like any other car. They also aren't rust-averse.
Maybe in harsher climates, 126s are finally starting to dwindle, but on the west coast, they are still everywhere, as I am sure Shifty can attest to. I still see 116s here and there.
I was happy with my deal, I am pretty sure mine were brand new too, not refurbished. They also came with a bunch of new little fittings. A decent sized labor job to have installed, but once done, and with a few other suspension renovations, it tracks pretty well for something of its age and unrestored status, and doesn't chew up tires now (I wasn't going to get wide whites until I knew they wouldn't be ruined).
Yep, still as thick as flies around here (no offense intended). I think the rather benign climate and the relative affluence of the owners accounts for this---as well as the pool of skilled repair talent in the metro areas.
http://autoweek.com/article/classic-cars/ten-cars-youre-likely-see-cuba
http://longisland.craigslist.org/cto/4790802913.html
Interesting that the Deluxe name was affixed to such a low end car, like Chevy was doing a jedi mind trick on the buyer. I would be curious to see how the car would look with a good detailing but.... meh
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
For the '73 model year, the Torino became the best-selling intermediate, followed by the Olds Cutlass. That was a real slap in the face at that point in time, to Chevy. I believe the '74 Chevelle regained the number one position, although it's a little fuzzy as the Monte Carlo was not part of the Chevelle line and the Cutlass Supreme was, which clouded things up a bit.