Anyone have classic cars ready for Summer cruising?

[circlew]

Nice cars!

My neighbors the Wilson's had a 1972 Chrysler Newport in Sherwood Green. Talk about a long car, I used to tell them that when the front bumper arrived in Goshen, the back one was just leaving Blanchester! I rode in it a few times on short trips. Another neighbor, the Ledfords, had a 1967 Ford Country Sedan (Galaxies 500) that was yellow.

 

[twintubdexter]

<span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">I love two-tone cars. That red & black Ford is really beautiful. The neighborhood runs a close second. Very nice.</span>

 

[justjunque]

You all have some beautiful cars!
I always thought of myself as a "car guy", but I never had the budget to really get into it.
Plus, I don't work on them myself, so maintaining an older vehicle would be expensive.
I still have a couple of poor man's "special interest" vehicles, but I've left them sitting for so long that they probably would need complete rebuilds at this point.
I have an all black 1973 Chevrolet Impala four-door sedan that I bought to try to bring back my childhood. It didn't work. So that car sat and rotted for around ten years.
Now, I gave it to a guy who got it running. We figured, in exchange for the car, he would work on my other car for me.
The other one is a 1986 Pontiac Grand Prix with the 2+2 package.
That one has been sitting in a garage for around twenty years.
I've just lost my passion for it.
I still admire beautiful cars when I see them, but I think my health issues, financial issues, and depression have taken all of the enjoyment out of owning them.
I really admire you all for keeping your vehicles up so well.
Good work, everyone!

Barry

 

[warmsecondrinse]

Re: Reply #21

"I still admire beautiful cars when I see them, but I think my health issues, financial issues, and depression have taken all of the enjoyment out of owning them.
I really admire you all for keeping your vehicles up so well.
Good work, everyone!"

That's pretty much my situation except that I kind of DID think of myself as a car guy. Never say never as lord knows I've had my life turn around on a dime with no warning whatsoever, but I can't imagine how I'd ever get the time, energy, money, and workspace together at the same time.

Best case scenario for me would be to have my daily driver and a mid-'70's Imperial, New Yorker, Newport, or Town & Country for fun.

Jim

 

[twintubdexter]

Barry,

<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;">I think the type of classic car owner who does any restoration, major or minor, deserves a little more credit for their vehicle than someone like me who purchased a "finished" product. About 15 years ago I bought my neighbor's 57' Thunderbird, a car he purchased new and a model I never liked but was talked into. A car that's very easy to get new parts for, I ordered about $1,500 worth of stuff and then had the engine pulled and rebuilt. The cost was, for me, astronomical, especially for a car I hated. When I complained to the mechanic his wife said "didn't anyone ever tell you a classic car is a money pit?" The car sat in my garage for 12 years along those new parts. I gave it an occasional start. I finally had it loaded on a flatbed and sent to a "car" friend in Phoenix so he could sell it. I just didn't want to deal with it.</span>

 

<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;">That Buick Wildcat in my photo was purchased just as you see it. The previous owner went to an incredible amount of work and effort especially since parts for that thing can be difficult to find. His bank account obviously was much larger than mine. The car sort of fell into my lap. I never spoke with him. I don't take credit for anything except for the car being clean. Like you I have issues...a back that needs major surgery, a left shoulder that needs replacing (left handed too) and a recent serious illness diagnosis all severely limit what I can now do. Please try and not let depression get the best of you. I always liked the 1986 Grand Prix and the similar Monte Carlo. Be happy to own one. Everyday it becomes more rare.</span>

 

<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;">My very first car, a 62' Buick Electra Coupe, had the same Nailhead V8 as the Wildcat. When I open the hood (getting difficult for me) it's like seeing an old friend. We all love our first cars.</span>

 

[kevin313]

So many beautiful cars!!

I didn't realize we had so many car collectors here - how wonderful to see! I hope you all get a chance to get those beauties out on the road this summer!

Here's mine - a 1964 Dodge 440 4-door sedan. Not a particular special car, although 1964 was Dodge's 50th anniversary and there is a gold ring around the center of the steering wheel that marks this occasion. But it is a good, reliable original survivor (56,000 miles). It has the 318 V-8, push button automatic Torque Flite transmission, heater, AM radio, power steering and power brakes.

One of the reasons I've kept this car so long is that it was made here in Detroit in June of 1964...just like me ;-)

 

[warmsecondrinse]

Dodge 440

Push Button gear selector! ))

I'd love a car that had this kind of interior design yet still met today's safety standards. I'm sure that'd violate some laws of physics but it's a nice idea.

Jim

 

[combo52]

1990 Chrysler Maserati TC five speed

A very comfortable fast car, with only 5000 miles on it.

Unfortunately I’m going to lose two garage spaces this year so this one is available if someone’s interested contact me.

I also have a 1981 Chrysler imperial that needs to be sold this year I’ll try to find pictures of it

 

[cfz2882]

'81 imperial

Do you still have the original fuel injection on the imperial or was it retrofitted to carb like most were?

 

[combo52]

1981 imperial

It’s still fuel injected and it still runs fine, it had some problems with electronic fuel injection 15-20 years ago but never since.

I’ll try to find some pictures including pictures of under the hood.

John

 

[deltablu]

The convertible has been out but not with the top down yet.

The 442 hasn't snuck out of the garage quite yet. It's still been pretty chilly here.

 

[combo52]

A Few Pictures Of The 81 Imperial

From yesterdays Straight-Eights spring Fluff-UP meet down near National Airport.

 

With the orignal Fuel-Injection System, started and runs great.

 

[warmsecondrinse]

Re: #30

Very, very nice!

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

But not a Frank Sinatra is it? Well, yes, a super-cool ride, I dig it!

Somehow one was safe to own near the vacant lot where I got Phil Ochs’d for my bike in...

— Dave

 

[rp2813]

Dodge 440

From the late '60s to mid '70s, a friend of mine had a 1964 white 4-door Dodge 330 with that same engine and blue interior.   That car could move pretty good!  His dad owned a Chrysler/Plymouth/Imperial dealership, so the 330 was likely a trade-in.  I always liked the vertical "Park" lever that would simply flip down.  That steering wheel looks naked compared to those found today with multiple levers hanging off both sides.

 

 

 

[norgeway]

NOTHING ON EARTH

Handles or drives like a OLD Chrysler product, the power steering has never been equaled and the brakes are sheer perfection, you can steer with one finger and stop with the tip of your toe, the torsion bar suspension keeps the car flat and smooth,,,Just nothing like one.

 

[cfz2882]

'81 imperial-

really cool that it is all original with EFI intactGreat big alternator too-probably 16 pole like Cadillac alternators of the same era.Injection looks like an adaptation of the "lean burn"system introduced ~1975 on certain Chrysler products.

 

[ea56]

When I took Drivers Training in HS in 1967 the car we drove was a white 1966 Dodge Coronet 440, just like the CHP drove then. Of course by then the push button AT had been changed to column shift. It was a pretty powerful car for teens to learn to drive in, but then most cars had V-8s then and lots of torque.

Eddie