I want to buy and daily drive a 70s station wagon. Am I mad?
Discussion
I am currently tempted to sell my 18 plate Mustang and use some (most) of that money and buy an early 70s station wagon.
It appears to be a lovely example, with under 50,000 miles from new in "time warp" condition.
If I did buy it, it would be daily driven, it would see rain, snow and salt. It would not be garaged.
It would be washed every few weeks, that's the best I can do.
How stupid is this?
Is it financial suicide?
Are these land yachts actually reliable?
All I know is I love them... But I don't know if it would be smart to buy one...
Bare in mind, I am not handy with a spanner whatsoever. I cannot work on cars myself in any way.
It appears to be a lovely example, with under 50,000 miles from new in "time warp" condition.
If I did buy it, it would be daily driven, it would see rain, snow and salt. It would not be garaged.
It would be washed every few weeks, that's the best I can do.
How stupid is this?
Is it financial suicide?
Are these land yachts actually reliable?
All I know is I love them... But I don't know if it would be smart to buy one...
Bare in mind, I am not handy with a spanner whatsoever. I cannot work on cars myself in any way.
A 70's station wagon should be no different in running & maintenance issues to any other Yank from the period. Yes, you'll have potential issues with any replacement body parts much the same as any shoebox from the period. Mechanical things should be quite simple - you'll perhaps need to check if any emission equipment that was originally fitted was removed correctly. Bear in mind that the '70s was a period of low compression smog engines so don't expect too much performance. Perhaps don't choose any of the smaller engines vehicles in heavier wagons - or conversely overly large engines (from an economy perspective) - having said that Chevy's 305 cu in in their 70's Caprice and wagon seemed to be a good combo?
The particular one I am looking at is a 7.5 V8.
Which I believe had 215hp and 350 ib-ft, but outputs are hard to confirm for the specific variant used in the car I am looking at.
I don't expect performance. I expect to sail the M25 every day, letting my anchor down at port-work.
I don't expect double-digit MPG but I am seriously put off by sourcing parts.
Which I believe had 215hp and 350 ib-ft, but outputs are hard to confirm for the specific variant used in the car I am looking at.
I don't expect performance. I expect to sail the M25 every day, letting my anchor down at port-work.
I don't expect double-digit MPG but I am seriously put off by sourcing parts.
TREMAiNE said:
The particular one I am looking at is a 7.5 V8.
Which I believe had 215hp and 350 ib-ft, but outputs are hard to confirm for the specific variant used in the car I am looking at.
I don't expect performance. I expect to sail the M25 every day, letting my anchor down at port-work.
I don't expect double-digit MPG but I am seriously put off by sourcing parts.
So presumeably a Ford or Mercury? with 460 cu in? - plenty of oportunity here for increasing those HP figures and if done thoughtfully shouldn't affect MPG in a negative way. Love the idea of an 8 seater without it being a MPV or 4X4.Which I believe had 215hp and 350 ib-ft, but outputs are hard to confirm for the specific variant used in the car I am looking at.
I don't expect performance. I expect to sail the M25 every day, letting my anchor down at port-work.
I don't expect double-digit MPG but I am seriously put off by sourcing parts.
I do think it's overpriced.
I would rather have one that is a little more worse for wear and 'used' as I wouldn't feel as guilty using it as my daily car.
BUT, with my Mustang being worth strong money at the moment, I could walk into this and still have some cash in my back pocket.
My lack of mechanical knowledge and fear of it letting me down on a regular basis is the only small thing holding me back...
I've wanted one for years... I might have one for years... Can't imagine how hard it'll be to sell on.
A 1973 Pontiac Grand Safari
455 Cubic Inch
9 seater including driver
Power clamshell tailgate.
2.4 tons and nearly 20 feet of sheer American BEAUTY.
I would rather have one that is a little more worse for wear and 'used' as I wouldn't feel as guilty using it as my daily car.
BUT, with my Mustang being worth strong money at the moment, I could walk into this and still have some cash in my back pocket.
My lack of mechanical knowledge and fear of it letting me down on a regular basis is the only small thing holding me back...
I've wanted one for years... I might have one for years... Can't imagine how hard it'll be to sell on.
A 1973 Pontiac Grand Safari
455 Cubic Inch
9 seater including driver
Power clamshell tailgate.
2.4 tons and nearly 20 feet of sheer American BEAUTY.
Love it. Presumably 7.5 litre = 455 cu in. I'm no Poncho expert but didn't Pontiac manage to hold back major engine downrating thru' 73? - does that have the face backwards 'kiddy' seats in the rear?. In terms of keeping it reliable if you don't have a clue about maintaining Yanks you really need to find a local to you Yank specialist and have him service it etc regularly.
70's yanks drive well compares to the 50's and 60's do but i'm not keen on the plastic interior's much preferring
the earlier period jukebox tin dashboards,but it's your money your spending not mine.
Should be as reliable as a 70's car can be and so easy to drive,
Took a Chevy Caprice Wagon on a European road trip and it never missed a beat.
Have noticed the wagon advertised and thought probably one of the best 70's wagons i've seen ,
Only problem i can see is there's not many people out there with £29K + to spend on a wagon
so if and when it's time to sell you will either have to be patient and wait for the right buyer or
lose money to get it sold, DD are not the cheapest out there and are inclined to be cheeky with
their asking prices ,eg, MK10 Jag £100K, They use to trade as Straight Eight in Goldhawk rd
back in the day.Problem is looking at others they will not be so glamorous looking as this one
even though will be cheaper, Like all these obsessions they won't go away so might as well get on
with it with this one or another.
the earlier period jukebox tin dashboards,but it's your money your spending not mine.
Should be as reliable as a 70's car can be and so easy to drive,
Took a Chevy Caprice Wagon on a European road trip and it never missed a beat.
Have noticed the wagon advertised and thought probably one of the best 70's wagons i've seen ,
Only problem i can see is there's not many people out there with £29K + to spend on a wagon
so if and when it's time to sell you will either have to be patient and wait for the right buyer or
lose money to get it sold, DD are not the cheapest out there and are inclined to be cheeky with
their asking prices ,eg, MK10 Jag £100K, They use to trade as Straight Eight in Goldhawk rd
back in the day.Problem is looking at others they will not be so glamorous looking as this one
even though will be cheaper, Like all these obsessions they won't go away so might as well get on
with it with this one or another.
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