My son really wants an older Cadillac as his daily driver ... he is very good mechanically, but I don't want him under the hood of his car every damn day. I would much rather him drive a Civic or something. Many of his friends have 50s cars and drive them daily but I believe they have some sort of unlimited amount of money from their parents, which my son won't get. Should we go ahead and start looking for this caddy or should I hold my ground with a civic? He doesn't want to feel "left out" because many of his friends have old cars, but I don't want him miserable when his car won't start...
My son drives a 57 Chevy BelAir 2dr sedan which I maintain. It is as dependable as any 45 year old car can be that has lots of love and a few bucks thrown it's way. His only complaint (not too loud, but this Texas), is no A/C.
This isn't probably the endorsement you were looking for but many years ago a friend of mine was given a '64 Caddy demo derby car that had been through 3 demos already and left to rot in a pasture. He drug it home, changed the fluids, hoses and radiator. Put some fresh gas in it and fired it up. It ran like a sewing machine. He ran it in 2 more demos, finished 3rd in the feature after getting hung up on another car and sold it to somebody else who ran it the next year.
What's that tell ya' ?
Those old '50s cars make fabulous drivers and are great cars to learn on 'cause they are simple - just the basic necessary systems. Be advised, they do take more maintenance (as late as '57 pr '58 the spec was to lube the chassis every 1000mi!) and their suspensions feel like buckboards as far as handling goes but that is the charm. My wife drove a 100 point concourse winning '56 Bel Air hard top (We bought it that way, I can't take credit) for 5 years. It had it's problems - burned generator/regulator, broken rear pump in the PowerGlide, blown seal in the PowerGlide torque converter that oiled down half of Bakersfield, etc. but it was a pleasure to own and drive.
One caution - the vintage of Caddy you are talking about is sky rocketing in value so you may be knocked out by sticker shock. I would LOVE to have a pink '59 Caddy convertible w/ white upholstery, wide white wall tires, spoke wheels and gold plated trim accenting the acres of chrome!
[ May 23, 2003: Message edited by: willys36@aol.com ]</p>
The Caddy is a questionable car due mostly to the sheer operating expenses of those old tanks. The 50s are available but parts are high and not always readily available. The 60s are cheaper but still low mileage, huge cars, huge engines. The 70s the same. The 80s, well, let's just pretend that never happened.
I hate to be a realist, but the 50s and 60s Chevies are affordable, reliable, repairable, and ultimately saleable.
I stuck with GM 'cause that's where you started.
Let me mention the other C-word----Chrysler Corporation, you remember the boys who brought you the indominatable 392 Hemi and others. 50s and 60s Plymouths and Dodges are around and priced pretty right. Parts are available at your local auto parts store, everywhere. How about a 63 New Yorker or Belvedere? Big, goofy looking, different...you get the picture.
I found a 64 Buick special am my son bought it for $600 from the original owners wife and drove it home. Whe install a duel reservoi mastercylinder and new duel exhaust and battery. Replaced the carb gaskets, the carb leaked and installed new cap, rotar and wires, the others were old. It makes a great summer ride and turns a lot of heads, black/black and very little crome except a new set of cragar wheels, 14X7 front and 15X7 rear and new tires. I think my son has $1400 in the car now not including the sterio system. The old nail head V8 runs strong and has like 72k on it. Gramaw it still out here selling grampaws cars.
Originally posted by tm454:
<strong>I found a 64 Buick special am my son bought it for $600 from the original owners wife and drove it home. Gramaw it still out here selling grampaws cars.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Yeah , there are a lot of old Buicks and Oldsmobiles out there and the prices are still pretty reasonable. They were good cars and have similar styling to a Cad.
My first demo derby car was a 74 Caddy...They are all I want to run. It held up great and started every time, that is until the transmission fluid ignited!
If his friends have them then he knows whats involved and I'm sure they will help him.
Once you do the basics like tuneup, belts and check everything out most of the stuff if he does not abuse the car will be just aggravating repairs.
The bird in picture i have rebuilt everything on the car and every wire replaced and every nut in last 14 years. But we drive it a lot!
I drove it about 200 miles today for work had it up to 110 on I-75 playing with a Mustang and all was fine, Well not really!
got home and fuel Gage quit working. Its always something stupid but will take a 1/2 day to figure out why.
Its great training for him.
Could have been worse dad! He might have come home and said I want a race rice burner with 12 inch dia exhaust and a 4 foot high rear spoiler.
Considering the name of this sight I find it hard to believe any registered member would prefer his son to drive a Civic than a classic Caddy. Hey, if the kid is willing to maintain the car (or take the bus when it isn't working) then what's the problem? If all his friends have similar cars, all the better. They can help him with it, and he can return the favour when they need help. Seems to me this is what kids do when it comes to their first cars. I can't imagine being the only kid with a Civic to pull up next to all my friend's classic Caddies and so on when they get together, talk about being a fish out of water! Plus most of the kids who have Civics these days stick Nitrous systems on them and quickly wrap them around the first telephone pole they can find. Buy the Caddy!!
My thoughts. If he is paying, he chooses, if you are paying, then you may guide his choice. But at my ancient age, I still remember my dad trying to talk me out of buying my 36 5WC. Well, I still have it 45 years later and it is worth more today and has provided me with countless hours of pleasure and tons of learning. After a while, my dad became a little proud of that car.
Now the down side of the old Caddys is fuel consumption which will probably be the highest expense he/you will incur. An upside is insurance on the vehicle will be much less expensive than on a (cough, cough) Civic, but his life will be much safer!!!
My first demo derby car was a 74 Caddy...They are all I want to run. It held up great and started every time, that is until the transmission fluid ignited!
Glad I am in good company, Barry. Getting old is not for sissies or thin skin!!!
Trees
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