Vintage Car Thread - Discussion and Parts Requests

[AtomicEraTom]

I love that era for cars, and '58 was great, minus their X-frames!

Have you considered something from the mid sixties? There's a certain level of elegance and professionalism that cars from say 1965-1976 (1979 for Fomoco) seem to possess.

A fine example from the beginning of that style is the 1965 Chevrolet Impala-Caprice.

They may also be a little more highway friendly, and easier on the pocketbook than a fifties car, though the postwar styles ones tend to run cheaper than the flamboyant models of the second half of the decade.

 

[David Conwill]

I have three sixties cars, remember? This isn't just about buying something bigger, but about something more in line with my personal sense of style and nostalgia, which all syncs up about 1954.

A fine example from the beginning of that style is the 1965 Chevrolet Impala-Caprice.

You're talking about what I recently heard termed "the Great Brougham Epoch", and while I find those cars interesting and kind of fun, I have zero interest in owning one.

 

[kiwilrdg]

Their proportions are pretty tank like.

You say that like it's a bad thing.

 

[jamespowers]

Have you considered something from the mid sixties? There's a certain level of elegance and professionalism that cars from say 1965-1976 (1979 for Fomoco) seem to possess.

You are kidding right?

 

[Fletch]

60s & 70s landyachts already have a certain following. Like dance band 78s. Not that that ought to mean a dang thing of course.

 

[AtomicEraTom]

No? I've had a couple vinyl topped, Brougham behemoths and they were great cars, especially if you can get a model with overdrive. They float down the highway and perform very well at highway speeds, especially if you have good highway gears, low 3's or so. You have a big Eldorado, I figured you'd understand

You are kidding right?

I like that title lol It certainly was an era that hung on pretty good, too. So what's your plans for your earlier ride? Going to do any safety/economy upgrades, or drive as-is?

You're talking about what I recently heard termed "the Great Brougham Epoch", and while I find those cars interesting and kind of fun, I have zero interest in owning one.

 

[LizzieMaine]

I always thought the late-60s early-70s cars had a certain dignity to them that was missing from the cars of the late '50s. If a 1959 car is the loud young guy at the party who's had too much to drink, a 1969 car is the older gent nursing a ginger ale and shaking his head in dismay.

 

[David Conwill]

So what's your plans for your earlier ride? Going to do any safety/economy upgrades, or drive as-is?

I have kind of a formula for when I get a '54. It should work for a ‘49 to '54 anything and result in a really nice, drive-anywhere car:

1. Original engine mounted to an overdrive automatic.
2. Aftermarket cruise control unit; maybe power steering and/or brakes.
3. Disc brakes with a dual-reservoir master cylinder.
4. Slight lowering.
5. Seatbelts.
6. Input jack in the radio.
7. Wide whitewall radial tires.
8. 12V, negative-ground conversion.

 

[AtomicEraTom]

Sounds like a good plan. Any particular reason for the lowering, or just because it looks cool?

I have kind of a formula for when I get a '54. It should work for a ‘49 to '54 anything and result in a really nice, drive-anywhere car:

1. Original engine mounted to an overdrive automatic.
2. Aftermarket cruise control unit; maybe power steering and/or brakes.
3. Disc brakes with a dual-reservoir master cylinder.
4. Slight lowering.
5. Seatbelts.
6. Input jack in the radio.
7. Wide whitewall radial tires.
8. 12V, negative-ground conversion.

 

[David Conwill]

Sounds like a good plan. Any particular reason for the lowering, or just because it looks cool?

I like my ‘50s cars to look like the advertising illustrations...

...rather than the way they tend to sit in real life...

 

[Fletch]

At least the real-life car will fit in a parking space. If you believed the ad pictures, a 2-door sedan was about the length of a hearse!

 

[David Conwill]

At least the real-life car will fit in a parking space. If you believed the ad pictures, a 2-door sedan was about the length of a hearse!

This is why I want a Special. The Roadmasters and Supers are!

 

[jamespowers]

No? I've had a couple vinyl topped, Brougham behemoths and they were great cars, especially if you can get a model with overdrive. They float down the highway and perform very well at highway speeds, especially if you have good highway gears, low 3's or so. You have a big Eldorado, I figured you'd understand

Oh, I understand. I understand they were a mess and need plenty of straightening to be useful today. Smog crap is just one issue they have. The vinyl tops cause horrendous rust. I had the top torn off my Eldorado with the intention of replacing it. When my body man saw it he said that it looked better that way---and it did! It was possible to get smooth top eldorados on special order. There were several made so I can use them as patterns. I also don't have to worry about rust holes anymore. One was enough to fix. I officially hate vinyl tops now.

 

[Rathdown]

Last year my business partner and I decided we needed company cars so we opted for a pair of '72 Cadillacs; a black Fleetwood Brougham, and a gun metal grey Series 75 Limousine. Why '72s? Well, we found the Series 75 first and bought the Fleetwood to match a few weeks later. The Fleetwood is used for trips toNashville (we both hate flying) and taking our wives out to dinner. The 75 is used for three martini lunches at least once a week and for the occasional weekend in Washington DC . Yes, they get crap mileage -- so who cares? The total investment was under $20K for the pair, well less than half of what we'd spend on a new Cadillac (which looks crappy). Both cars consumed something around $1500 to get them reliably on the road after purchase. What these cars deliver, in spades is respect. Pull up in front of any decent hotel and you have 100% of the attention of the bell hop and valet parking attendant. Even in Nashville.

 

[AtomicEraTom]

The 77 Eldorado I was looking at (still for sale, btw. I have too many irons in the fire) was a vinyl-top-delete model. I just like the way the tops look. My Caddy has one and my 79 Electra had one. The smog stuff is junk, too. The technology they had for controlling emissions then was junk even then. They can do much more today and not rob performance.

Oh, I understand. I understand they were a mess and need plenty of straightening to be useful today. Smog crap is just one issue they have. The vinyl tops cause horrendous rust. I had the top torn off my Eldorado with the intention of replacing it. When my body man saw it he said that it looked better that way---and it did! It was possible to get smooth top eldorados on special order. There were several made so I can use them as patterns. I also don't have to worry about rust holes anymore. One was enough to fix. I officially hate vinyl tops now.

There's a certain authority that cars from that era, especially Cadillacs carry. They're elegant, timeless classics, without being ostentatious.

Last year my business partner and I decided we needed company cars so we opted for a pair of '72 Cadillacs; a black Fleetwood Brougham, and a gun metal grey Series 75 Limousine. Why '72s? Well, we found the Series 75 first and bought the Fleetwood to match a few weeks later. The Fleetwood is used for trips toNashville (we both hate flying) and taking our wives out to dinner. The 75 is used for three martini lunches at least once a week and for the occasional weekend in Washington DC . Yes, they get crap mileage -- so who cares? The total investment was under $20K for the pair, well less than half of what we'd spend on a new Cadillac (which looks crappy). Both cars consumed something around $1500 to get them reliably on the road after purchase. What these cars deliver, in spades is respect. Pull up in front of any decent hotel and you have 100% of the attention of the bell hop and valet parking attendant. Even in Nashville.

Don't blame you one bit. I always figured they sat higher for ground clearance for things such as snow.

I like my ‘50s cars to look like the advertising illustrations...


...rather than the way they tend to sit in real life...

You mean they make cars that aren't the size of a hearse?!?!?!

At least the real-life car will fit in a parking space. If you believed the ad pictures, a 2-door sedan was about the length of a hearse!

 

[jamespowers]

Last year my business partner and I decided we needed company cars so we opted for a pair of '72 Cadillacs; a black Fleetwood Brougham, and a gun metal grey Series 75 Limousine. Why '72s? Well, we found the Series 75 first and bought the Fleetwood to match a few weeks later. The Fleetwood is used for trips toNashville (we both hate flying) and taking our wives out to dinner. The 75 is used for three martini lunches at least once a week and for the occasional weekend in Washington DC . Yes, they get crap mileage -- so who cares? The total investment was under $20K for the pair, well less than half of what we'd spend on a new Cadillac (which looks crappy). Both cars consumed something around $1500 to get them reliably on the road after purchase. What these cars deliver, in spades is respect. Pull up in front of any decent hotel and you have 100% of the attention of the bell hop and valet parking attendant. Even in Nashville.

Nice! Just be careful how you drive them. They have plenty of power:

A Limo is a limo no matter when it was made and you get respect. Figure it this way: If you have a vintage limo you get respect because they realize that you spend more money in the long run in a vintage limo than you do just buying a new one off the lot. They require upkeep and love and care. You already mentioned gas too.
Funny thing is that my wife and I were taken to the airport for our honeymoon in a 72 cadillac limo. Good choice.

 

[jamespowers]

The 77 Eldorado I was looking at (still for sale, btw. I have too many irons in the fire) was a vinyl-top-delete model. I just like the way the tops look. My Caddy has one and my 79 Electra had one. The smog stuff is junk, too. The technology they had for controlling emissions then was junk even then. They can do much more today and not rob performance.

An original smooth top?! Those are pretty rare. I would be tempted to buy it if the price was right. Give them 3 grand and send it out here to me.

 

[AtomicEraTom]

I had him talked down to 2,000 once upon a time. Just never followed through.

An original smooth top?! Those are pretty rare. I would be tempted to buy it if the price was right. Give them 3 grand and send it out here to me.

Would still LOVE to have it. Wanna borrow me 2 grand, Jimmy?

 

[jamespowers]

I had him talked down to 2,000 once upon a time. Just never followed through.

Would still LOVE to have it. Wanna borrow me 2 grand, Jimmy?

No but I would pay that much for it and have it sent out here. That thing looks great! Send me the contact info.

 

[AtomicEraTom]

You know you wanna lend me the money. I'm good for it. You know where I live. lol lol lol

No but I would pay that much for it and have it sent out here. That thing looks great! Send me the contact info.