Classic car guys, I’m thinking about buying this
- Thread starter Twofingerlou
- Start date
At that point in time it wasn’t a big deal and four door cars never had the same value.I love old Chevys as well. My maternal grandfather had a '59, if that's the one with big rear fins and a single taillight assembly on each side. It was kinda salmon pink, with a 283. Rusted out deluxe...I remember a young man bought it and put the engine straight into a Chevy pickup.
Here's one of my life's big regrets: when I was in college, my dad was coming off a horrendous divorce and moved to Gilmer, Texas, to live with my grandparents while getting back on his feet.
It was closer to drive there from Ruston, LA, than it was to go to where my mom lived, so I started spending weekends there ...getting to know my grandparents and enjoying the small town as it turned out.
Sorry for the lengthy intro. An old guy who ran a local muffler shop put an old car out for sale, and dad called me to come over and look at it.
It was a '56 (my favorite) four-door Chevy. Black with a white painted top. Original hub caps, original rubber mat in the trunk. It was super clean and appeared all original-- $3000.
I don't recall what engine, but I remember it started immediately and purred like a fat happy kitten.
Dad and I discussed buying it together somehow, but it just wasn't practical at the time, so we reluctantly decided against it. Probably the deal of a lifetime
A Mustang about like that and in that color is the first car I was ever in to do a ton. I wasn’t driving I was the passenger. It was a six cylinder automatic probably about wound out.
haggardfan1
Friend of Leo's
Yes, but even then it would have been a great purchase opportunity with untold sentimental value.
Yeah I remember my uncle bought my aunt a 64 1/2 Mustang 6 cylinder Gold color and she loved it. They let me drive it and I was only 13, man I thought it was cool. My 65 was a 289 stick and a few mods to the motor and drive train. It hauled ass from light to light.My mother had a 1966 Mustang when my parents divorced. It was Shoreline Gold, I think, kind of an OD green if I recall. Six cylinder, manual transmission. She loved it.
We had to move into a garage apartment on her parents property. My grandfather convinced her that the Mustang wasn't safe for her work commute--about nine miles on I-10 from Vidor to Beaumont.
So she put it up for sale, and a kid who worked at the nearby Weingarten's grocery store bought it immediately, he'd actually asked her previously if the car was for sale.
I wish I had it today, but I was about five years old and didn't know what I know now.
She bought a 1970 Chevelle four door with the 307 engine; one of the worst dogs Chevy ever built. That car would barely pull out of its own tracks. I think she always regretted selling her Mustang.
MarkieMark
Friend of Leo's
My family had a 66 convertible in the early 70's.My mother had a 1966 Mustang when my parents divorced. It was Shoreline Gold, I think, kind of an OD green if I recall. Six cylinder, manual transmission. She loved it.
We had to move into a garage apartment on her parents property. My grandfather convinced her that the Mustang wasn't safe for her work commute--about nine miles on I-10 from Vidor to Beaumont.
So she put it up for sale, and a kid who worked at the nearby Weingarten's grocery store bought it immediately, he'd actually asked her previously if the car was for sale.
I wish I had it today, but I was about five years old and didn't know what I know now.
She bought a 1970 Chevelle four door with the 307 engine; one of the worst dogs Chevy ever built. That car would barely pull out of its own tracks. I think she always regretted selling her Mustang.
I remember replacing a broken motor mount after my mom hit a large pothole. I even remember exactly where that pothole was....
It was a decent running little car, with all the usual issues to be expected. Wind noise, water leaks....
My dad sold that car for $75 because the front suspension was worn and sloppy.
At the time you could buy everything to rebuild the front suspension for under $150.
I was always a little sore about that one.
I have rethunk all this in light of the many replies you got here, and with the personal memory of a driver's license new in 1969, and for the next few years having a burning desire to get in any car my mom, dad, uncle, friend, neighbor, sister, or car salesman would let me drive, and seeing how fast it would go without me hitting anything, which sadly many of us sometimes did.
A 65 Impala, especially with all that motor and such a cool gearshift, would've suited me just fine back then. And if I had hold of one today, I might like to see if I couldn't make it run and drive, then see how fast it would go without me hitting anything.
I still hope that if it were me I would run and not look back. Time, money, work. But I wouldn't blame you a bit if you did this. If you do, can I drive it?
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Swirling Snow
Tele-Afflicted
Just two words.... Big Block!
nvilletele
Friend of Leo's
The mention of Positraction always makes me think of Marissa Tomei.
(Not saying anything about the “rear end” bit though)
500.00 plus freight/towing.
I bought a '67, fastback, 327, three on the tree, was showroom beauty with a four inch bent frame in passenger rear quarter. Most beautiful green I've ever seen, something from House of Kolor I believe. Lost the chrome trim edge on the hood lip front, never could find a replacement piece, with my OCD and the bent frame, I just gave it to my brother. That was around the year 2000. Paid $4,500.
It needed a big block engine and Interstate highways to enjoy it monster physical presence, made a great way to cruise to Carolina beaches except when it was raining.
The green beast, called it Oakey, had a Cadillac named Dokey. Now, I wish I had the money I sunk into those things.
MarkieMark
Friend of Leo's
Is always the answer...
Why just one when you can put in two?
MarkieMark
Friend of Leo's
Even none can be interesting.
Twofingerlou
Tele-Holic
Big blocks are sweet and I love the sound of one screaming, that said they aren’t very cost effective anymore for what you’d get out of an average build.
If that's what you want, go for it. Just remember, RUST NEVER SLEEPS! When this body style was new it was one of my favs.
Good Luck
Good Luck
I've been into is for years and it's not about making money. It's just like guitars, there's no rhyme or reason.
You're speaking from experience???
Twofingerlou
Tele-Holic
Hobbies are hobbies everybody has their thing. I have various ones and cars happen to be one of them. Some people like to golf which I’ll never get but to each their own.
Only a little direct, most vicarious.
Right. Initially when I read OP's post a bit ago it seemed like they didn't know that. I had the impression that he was thinking "I'll just put a few hundred and some elbow grease and it'll be a cherry ride!", without realizing it would have to be a labor-of-love-years-long-money-pit (which I agree is fine so long as you know and accept that going in). Sounds like I was wrong, and I didn't mean for it to sound as condescending as it probably did.
I should read through this thread to see how it all turned out. It has been 2 months to the day!
