My 1973 Cadillac, Huggy Bear

[eddyramrod]

Angle, bolted across under the apron, from shoulder to shoulder.  No pics because it's a pig to get at!

[Split_Pin]

I would say you need to poke around to make sure it's safe. I'd be concerned more about suspension mounting points than anything else.

I really didn't want to investigate the rust on my Corsa but I'm so glad I did. The front lower arm mounting point was holed and I reckon a few more years would see it break off the chassis rail.

I then had nothing to lose and went around the rest of it and gave it a thorough stabby corrosion assessment, and was actually pleasantly surprised. Now I know what I'm dealing with which is one concerning bit, and 2 others which just need a small patch at each rear spring seat.

Anyway, when you know, you know.

[eddyramrod]

I've walked around under Huggy both on a lift and over a pit, so I know there's a bloody good chassis under there!  Strong and substantial are the key words.  The visible bits are just decoration really.

[PhilA]

It's got the original engine and transmission so generally that'll have been liberally coating underneath in rust prevention agents over the years.

Like mine, the bits where water sits rusted through, the rest is solid and the chassis looks like it was made last week.

Phil

[GingerNuttz]

Could always put it through a pre mot and let someone else judge if it's safe. 

[PhilA]

So long as the brakes work there's not much else to go wrong. 

Phil

[Bren]

Just makes sure you don't run anybody over in it. If the impact does'nt see them off the lung cancer from the filler will.

[jonathan_dyane]

This is something with a separate chassis built like a brick shithouse.

It will be fine

[stripped fred]

I now want an American car. How do I get on Craigslist..?

[eddyramrod]

Plenty in this country!  Huggy came from Derby, off eBay, as did my previous Cadillac.  So they are about!  You just have to look for them.

[eddyramrod]

49 minutes ago, PhilA said:

So long as the brakes work there's not much else to go wrong. 

Phil

And they will be working soon!  I have the parts, I can get it round to the garage when I've done with this batch of bodywork.

[Bren]

I would love an american car. Muscle cars? Boat has sailed. An early 70s LTD or blues brothers monaco would be nice - even a ford 150 would be useful.

[Datsuncog]

Unloved Yank tin aplenty, round these parts anyway...

Well... maybe not aplenty, but there are some out there which will doubtless provide hours of misery entertainment without all that faffing around with import taxes.

I just found out the other day that someone I know has a 1972 Chevrolet Chevelle drop-top in their garage, parked up for 20 years... it's pink...

[Roobarb]

5 hours ago, stripped fred said:

I now want an American car. How do I get on Craigslist..?

@stripped fred This is my ‘local’:

https://minneapolis.craigslist.org

But this covers most of the US depending on what you put in:
https://www.searchtempest.com
My zip code (Midwest of the US) is 55364 if you want it as a valid zip code starting point. 

I hope it brings you as many happy hours of enjoyment that this and a Craigslist App has brought me!

[eddyramrod]

I just followed that Craigslist link.  I searched for 8 cylinder automatics, 1949-90; no other refinements.  There's some nice stuff around the $3000 mark, but it's then going to cost you that to get it here, and you don't get to inspect it until it arrives.  Danthecapriman and Joloke both got bitten by that when importing theirs; Jo's Mustang still isn't on the road.  Buying over here, you do at least get that chance.  I didn't do it with Huggy; 200 miles each way would be a bit much (for me) just to inspect a car.  I took a chance and while I've had jobs to do, the only one that was expensive was the front brakes, at £400 including labour.  What I'm doing now should have been done when the previous filler-work was done, then I wouldn't have to be doing what I'm doing for some years yet.

But, those of you who are saying you'd like one: do it!  Even a cheap ratty one is so much better than anything built on any other continent.  Maybe not for build quality, ok, but there's nothing to touch them for character.  They also tend to be very well equipped, especially at the top of the range (Cadillac, Lincoln, Imperial).  One thing I will say: get the oldest running car you can find within your budget.  Older tends to be simpler for DIY repairs!  Oh and join a club, such as the American Auto Club North West, which is Manchester-based.

[motorpunk]

6 hours ago, Datsuncog said:

Unloved Yank tin aplenty, round these parts anyway...

Am I alone in wanting to take the handbrake off that and give it a gentle nudge to encourage it into the sea?

[eddyramrod]

I think you mean take it out of Park!  But why would you?  It'll make a perfectly acceptable daily driver so you don't need to use your V8 for little town trips,which they generally don't like.

[mitsisigma01]

What is the blue car and how much is the unloved yank.... Asking for a friend ?

[danthecapriman]

90’s Dodge Spirit.

[eddyramrod]

Plymouth Reliant, one of the much maligned K Car family, looks like late 80s.  It's most likely a four pot auto, FWD.  I would have no hesitation at all using it as suggested.

Edit: or it could be a Dodge Spirit, yes.

[bunglebus]

Hasn't it got the Chrysler "bumhole" badge?

Not that I know much about yanks after the 70s really

(It says Dodge on the grille on closer inspection)

[danthecapriman]

15 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

Hasn't it got the Chrysler "bumhole" badge?

?

[eddyramrod]

Actually if that little Dodge is cheap enough I would like that as my daily!  Anyone want to buy it and swop for a Volvo?

[mitsisigma01]

Calling Mr Cog to the beige phone, pricecheck on Dodge Spirit please? 

[mitsisigma01]

I can see some similarities to the Mitsubishi Sigma, they were cohabiting with Chrysler and Dodge around the late 80s early 90s

[danthecapriman]

22 minutes ago, mitsisigma01 said:

I can see some similarities to the Mitsubishi Sigma, they were cohabiting with Chrysler and Dodge around the late 80s early 90s

Pretty sure some of those Dodge/Chrysler cars had Mitsubishi engines.

[mitsisigma01]

The good old 6g72 lives on in many forms, just not many over here☹️

[Rod/b]

3 hours ago, mitsisigma01 said:

What is the blue car and how much is the unloved yank.... Asking for a friend ?

It’s registered as a Chrysler. Good job they don’t tax on engine size 

[danthecapriman]

4 minutes ago, Rod/b said:

It’s registered as a Chrysler. Good job they don’t tax on engine size 

Interesting. If it is indeed a Chrysler version then it’s a US export model only. I didn’t even know this age of Saratoga was a thing tbh!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysler_Saratoga

[PhilA]

Gearboxes on those are a weak point and they're terminally dismal (if not moderately comfy in a dusty-couch squishy sort of way).

The price of 50's-80's tat around here is high, in a lot of cases. You can buy 'em cheap but they're guaranteed to me million-milers with every single moving part worn out (look at my Pontiac, for example- that's what $5300 gets you, I'm at least $2500 in parts deep and still needs more before it can hit the road here) but if you want something slightly less iconic than a '76 Monaco there are still a few hanging about but the big malaise series generally got snaffled up in the north east and the rust got those ones.

You also have to realize that the attitude towards mechanical problems and rust is significantly different here (and varies state to state) with a number of states not requiring any kind of safety checks annually and those which do generally tend to focus on exhaust emissions and little else. I'm sure it'll be in the pipeline but the era of the "bent MoT/blind tester" here is still prevalent. As a result often the reason for the car being taken off the road is because it's terminally broken and wasn't worth paying the tow fee for the scrap yard because it certainly didn't have any trade-in value so out to the back it got pushed, where it has sat until you found it. The little old lady with money to burn is a dying breed these days, so giffer cars tend not to be the same as they once were. 

Firing on 5, incorrect parts, leaking with hardly any brakes is the way they usually end up with the original carburetor in a box in the trunk missing bits because nobody can find a diaphragm for a Quadrajet these days. If it can be made to pop, bang, splutter and limp its' way around the block it's "runs, steers, stops, drives" and that means anything from the above to actually being able to get in it and go places reliably.

Everything up to the late 70's where electronic control started to happen is frankly simple technology, usually trailing Europe and Japan technologically by about a decade, with a shiny new face bolted on. My "All New For 1951!" car has an engine and gearbox designed in the 30's and 40's, the chassis is early 40's, suspension is admittedly new but everything else about the car is tried and tested, solid and understood. That's how America liked its cars until the 80's.

 

So, there are cars out there, original stuff and modified, good and bad. The good stuff ain't cheap. "I know what I got", and as such eBay etc have driven the price of junk up.

 

But, for the experience of driving a behemoth that's well out of its comfort zone? Yes, do it. Do it now.

 

Phil