Any sense buying this?

[pentoman]

If I were to have had a recent inexplicable urge to buy something American and old, would there be any sense in buying something like this:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1966-67-CADILLA





I'm not saying I'm going to buy this car so I don't care about that make/model, just about the concept of buying one. I would like something original and unrestored, ideally from the late 60s or early 70s but doesn't have to be - could you find a car that is realistically useable? Approximately as 'useable' as, say, an MGB from the same era.

I know fuel consumption will suck, handling will suck etc, and I'd have to buy a rust free one as I'm not interested in a restoration project, but if I found a rust free old 'yank tank' could it be driveable with reasonably regular love and attention (which would be more likely the physical than the financial kind). I'm not expecting it to get me to work every day, but I would like to be able to take it on a long drive without it catching fire too much.

Also if it needed financial love, is it likely to be expensive? Obviously parts will be rare... but I feel like ebay US may overcome that?

Apart from rust are they fragile? Or are they tanks that will go on forever?

[pentoman]

Hmm this one's quiet near me... sounds well maintained, and it's cheap

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CADILLAC-COUPE-

And of course there's the 7.7 V8... 375hp. OK that's NET hp, let's say 330 real BHP. How many of those are likely to be there still?

[pentoman]

Excellent, that's what I wanted to hear.

A question for you since you're wise in the ways of old Caddys..

On here
www.dreamcars.co.uk/cars.htm

Why is this:


a cheapish seeming £7k

but this:

£42k
?

Is it just because it's convertible??

[nick_bbb]

I use my '67 Dodge everyday it is doable, like you say petrol is the only prob. Lot's of details about how it's gone over here...

www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=47&t=358581

[pentoman]

nick_bbb said:

I use my '67 Dodge everyday it is doable, like you say petrol is the only prob. Lot's of details about how it's gone over here...

www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=47&t=358581

Thanks, good reading. Sweaty reading in the case of the bit about the 120mph escapade.....!

[chevy-stu]

I would have thought any late 60's cadillac or similar would be way more ususable than a similar year MGB. Pick one that's not too collectable and you'll get bargain, aolt of peple buy these cars based on certain year/spec etc... Get a good unrestored original 'dry state' car and you'll be laughing..

[steve-p]

It's probably stating the obvious but as a daily driver, they are a bit on the big side for just about any car park

[pentoman]

Brilliant

Last week I just went through a phase of wanting a '70 or '71.. Charger, Barracuda, Plymouth GTX or something like that, but I'm coming back out of that phase now (they're too desirable and expensive).

So what else from '55-67 might I find that is
a) not highly valuable (under £10k)
b) likely to be useable, and not require restoration or great expense
c) looks good

thanks

[steve-p]

Check out the classifieds at Classic American magazine:

www.classic-american.com/

You can download the adverts as a PDF. It often surprises me that there are some nice cars to be had for under £10K. A lot of cars are relatively unknown in the UK so they don't carry a price premium.

[chevy-stu]

pentoman said:

Brilliant

Last week I just went through a phase of wanting a '70 or '71.. Charger, Barracuda, Plymouth GTX or something like that, but I'm coming back out of that phase now (they're too desirable and expensive).

So what else from '55-67 might I find that is
a) not highly valuable (under £10k)
b) likely to be useable, and not require restoration or great expense
c) looks good

thanks

Chargers, challengers etc... are soooo expensive now, 10 years ago, could pick one up for 5k.

early 70's mustangs are still reasonable money, or I'd go late 60's so not stupidly huge like.. this, bit more of a cruiser
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1967-DODGE-USA-

buick rivieras seem about 10k too, (ok, maybe not this particular one.. )

[Pete B]

If your willing to pay up to £10K then start looking stateside, your basically looking at £2K to get anything in, That leaves you with £8K to spend which in effect is $15,000, click on to ebaymotors.com give Kingston Shipping a call & before you know it it's on your doorstep. Forget Dreamcars they'rrrrrrrrre waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay toooooooooooo expensiveeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!