Speed queen awn432 future collectible?

[lorainfurniture]

Please correct me if I’m wrong, is the awn432 the last washer ever created without electronics? Last washer with a traditional transmission?

Speed queen is more or less completely sold out. I have 10 of them on the way, and my understanding is “that’s it”. There are still a ton of them out there, many people bought full truck loads.

I was thinking about just keeping one. I have a place where I can store it boxed for potentially decades.

What do you think?

 

[frigilux]

From one Eugene to another, I think keeping one boxed is a great idea. How exciting would it be for someone to acquire a new-in-box vintage Speed Queen at some point in the future?

 

[combo52]

Last Real Washer Without Electronics

Is now a 24" WP Thin Twin, full fill, cast-iron transmission, there is also the much larger 27" TT but it has a tiny electronic board for water temperature regulation.

 

John L.

 

[norgeway]

I think

It might be a good idea. I remember a.story a friend of my. Dads told me he was a. Desktop Plymouth dealer in my hometown. The last. Desoto he got in dec of 1960 was on the lot in the summer of 61. One day the phone rang and a man from. Moore sills NCAA asked about the car. He sold it over the phone that afternoon a roll back drove up. He asked why he didn't just drive it. The man replied. When I'm a d man I will have the only new. Desoto in the world and it will be worth a fortune

 

[norgeway]

Excuse

My spelling I'm using the phone and the buttons are to small for old fat fingers

 

[johnrk]

1967 Eldo convertibles

I remember well when Cadillac decided to sell special edition 1976 Eldorado convertibles to commemorate that it was the last year, ever, for convertibles. They were all white with red and blue pinstripes. Some of those sold for three to four times the list price, and a bunch were salted away in warehouses. Well, as we know, within about 10 years Cadillac itself was selling Eldo convertibles again and not long afterward, Mustangs, etc., were coming out as drop tops. Those Eldos, complete with yellowing paint, hit he market as novelties at best.

There will always be freak cases of unused or little-used manufactured items popping up in the future. It's to be expected these days. [this post was last edited: 11/20/2017-05:56]

 

[gyrafoam]

I believe the '66 was the last "Full-Size" Eldo convertible I remember. I ADORED them! Seems like they made them again during the 1971-1976 period as well. I don't recall an Eldo convertible at all between the introduction of the front-wheel drive 1967 to the 1970. After about 1973 they started cutting the horsepower back so badly the largest engine available (500 CI) was also the most lame and fuel-thirsty. Just 'sayin.

I plan on keeping my 432 so somebody can enjoy it after I am long-gone!

 

[johnrk]

Gyrafoam

I accidentally put '1967' in my post, have corrected it.

Nineteen sixty-six was the first year that Cadillac switched to using the same GM bucket seat that other divisions were using. The ones before were larger and better made. The red interior below is the '65 with the older style bucket; you can see with the black '66 interior that this is the generic full-sized GM bucket.

The problem with the '66 Eldorado was that it had the same wood paneling on the upper doors that the Sixty Special and Brougham had. Because of its location it was very susceptible to sun damage. The '65 paneling didn't go up to the windows. And of course, the DeVille convertible didn't have it at all on the doors.

I had a white Olds 98 convertible in the 70's on that same body. It was amazing to drive with the top down--like piloting an aircraft carrier.

The sixties Eldo convertible considered the most attractive is the '64 because Cadillac deleted the fender skirts. Amazing what a difference it made!

The '65-66 Cadillac dash is one of the best they ever designed. I dated a girl back then whose mother had a '66 and it was especially nice because the glove box was in the middle and there was extreme room on the passenger side, rather like some of the era's T-Birds.

 

[gyrafoam]

John you are right about the wooden panels on the '66. They didn't wear very well. I didn't care.
I always enjoy photos like that. The '68 Ninety-Eight is so pretty. I had a ' 70 in Baby Blue. It was a sofa on wheels. Fantastic and smooth ride and very powerful.
Thanks to the funeral business, I grew up with all those old GM cars. There were many years when the Ninety-Eights were better cars than the Cadillacs. We also had some great Electras.
They were all very powerful and fun to drive. I never cared for those leather seats until they finally offered a biscuited bolster with some decent support.

 

[johnrk]

Hearses

have always been fascinating to me. The most beautiful for my taste was the coaches from the late fifties into the 1966 redesign of the Cadillac chassis, particularly the Superior lines. When I first started in hospital work in college in the early 70's, Houston was transitioning over from cars to vans for ambulances. I just loved seeing the last of those high-top Cadillacs come in. Having benefited more than once from modern ambulances, I can see why they changed--but those oldies are still beautiful. I'm so glad that there are dedicated collectors out there.

Cotner-Bevington did some interesting work on the Olds side of the business. You know what I've seen so much in vintage brochures, but basically never in the flesh? The available limousines modified from Pontiac, Buick and Oldsmobile sedans. Some were quite attractive and some looked like they were styled by a high school kid. I don't know how many were sold at the time, but they sure seem to be scarce as hen's teeth now.

 

[gyrafoam]

We tended to use Miller-Meteor, Superior and Cotner-Bevington. I vaguely remember the Henny-Packards. I think we had a '53 or '54 with the "bull nuts" tail lights and that was a straight-hearse. Mostly combinations until our ambulance service drew to a close in 1969. Those were M&M Combinations. Most firms in Atlanta were out of the Ambulance business by 1970 (thank the Heavens!) however, Turner's over in Decatur was still running Combo's well into the late 1970's!
The Ambulance business was the absolute best public-relation tool the funeral service industry ever had. However, it was a pain-in-the-ass, expensive to maintain, and dangerous for both attendants and passengers!
The Cotner-Bevington products were superb. We had more than a few Ninety-Eights over the years and they were much more dependable than the Cadillacs and faster.
The 6-Door Limousine was designed so the middle seat back could be flipped from one side to the other. You could use the car as a formal limousine or a pallbearers car. Funny how the public never mentioned or cared what type of hearse or ambulance you used, but would comment about a non-Cadillac Limousine. The Ninety-Eights were GREAT funeral cars. Over the years we had a number of Buick straight-hearses and they were fine cars as well. We had a '38 Carved-Side that sat out in the garage for years we would drive around the block for exercise once a month. Started first hit every time.It was auctioned off in 1980. Should have kept it! As late as 1991 we ran a Buick hearse.

 

[frigilux]

Steve-- Funny you should mention Miller-Meteor. My dad worked for them in Minneapolis-St. Paul from 1970 until his death in August of '72. I'd go with him in the summer to deliver new hearses all over the midwest. He'd come home twice a month on weekends and there would be a hearse parked in our driveway for a couple of days. Can't say the neighbors were thrilled, LOL. Oh, and there's a Frigidaire connection: He'd often take a hearse to their wash garage to get detailed. They had a beautiful 1958 Frigidaire set to wash and dry towels/rags, etc. Always loved going there!

 

[Chetlaham]

@lorainfurniture: Do it up, Go for it! How many forum members have had their day made watching another member score a new in box machine? Or your self having a NIB after 30 years?

 

[gyrafoam]

I think you need to store them all.

When there are no more traditional top-loaders left you will be able to name your own price.

 

[lorainfurniture]

I already raised the price

$999. I only have 11 432’s, maybe 2 8 series, and I think a 9 series. When everyone else runs out I’ll raise the price to $1500.

Only problem I see with storing long term is inflation. I just read a thread on here about a nib maytag washer, sold for a few hundred bucks. I’ll likely keep one, just to put it on display when the time is right. I can’t really justify hanging on to $7,000+ worth of machines on speculation.

 

[gyrafoam]

The conundrum.

And yet, as a successful businessman you understand taking risks.

 

[combo52]

Saving A NIB SQ TL Washer ?

I will not be saving any, as stated in another thread used SQs do not sell for very much and SQ has sold a ton of machines in the last ten years, so there will be plenty available for many years to come.  

 

Quite a few of the SQ TL washers we have sold have been already sent on to another home when the orignal [ usually older ] owner sells the house and the new home buyer does not like the crude TL [ energy wasting ] washer and replaces it.

 

  I have been saying for years here on AW that any of you guys and gals that want a traditional TL washer should grab a higher end WP built DD washer built from approximately 1985-2000, these were the best all around TL washers the world has ever seen, great performance ,durable and easy to repair.

 

  Many of the over 800 SQ TL washers we have sold over the last ten years have replaced a WP DD washer built in this time period and it always makes me sad to haul away the DD washer and leave behind a machine that does not perform as well as the DD washer.  

 

John L.

 

[norgeway]

John

I will leave all the d d. Whirlpools just for you. They are the only washer I hate as much as I do a. Maytag. Lol. I agree with you about most things but. Not dds. Lol. I would rather use a wringer

 

[norgeway]

The best

Top load washer ever built was a belt drive whirlpool or a 20 pound norge