Jump to content
News
Reviews
Discussons
Activity
Create New...
Close

balthazar

In Hibernation
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    40,855

  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    583

 Content Type 

Everything posted by balthazar

  1. balthazar
    ^ It was the evolution to the current one; no crown points, no merlettes ("duckies"??), streamlined Wreath. Emblem may have seen intermittent implementation, that's been the practice before. Note that the above is not all-inclusive nor without examples of selectivity. For example, I fail to recall where specifically the '82 emblem was used- not on the hood/decks of cars nor in print advertising for the most part. Cadillac has always varied it's usage & placement of emblems per various constrictions/ design intent.
  2. balthazar
    ^ The rear is definitely noticeable, but the front is less generic than most of the other luxury sedans out there IMO. Don't mistake me; I'm no sudden Lincoln fan, but they finally moved the needle off 'zero' for the first time in decades for my eye. Lincoln is still seriously messed up, of course.
  3. balthazar
    Not an old emblem, but something more in line with a modernized version of what is the marque's lifelong ID. The unadorned crest is not that- it appeared in post-war times only on the senior '70-71 cars (and even here it sometimes had vertical wings depending on placement) before it was dumped. It unfortunately looked cheap then and looks cheap now. I understand you think it looks "cleaner", but you are one person. Have been reading forums all across the web on the Cadillac emblem discussion, and you would be surprised how many recognize the heritage on the table here and have advocated it stay as is, or very close to it. Many of those who have stated they want something totally different come from the POV that everything Cadillac-based needs to be scrapped- many (or most) here are not offering a serious critique, but are taking an opportunity to 'pile on'. Other than the '99 alteration, we haven't seen any change in the Cadillac emblem in 45+ years. That covers a LOT more good than bad, and the market recognition is irreplaceable. On a very rare occasion, 'less is more', but for most consumers by far; more is more. The stripped Elmiraj emblem is just a market test at this point- we'll see if anything alters in production. The '07 Pontiac emblem offering never came to pass.
  4. balthazar
    I do like the widened Crest- lower/wider is generally more unique & fresh than '2x2'. Still looks naked, and it's NOT going to sell one more car than if it has the Wreath... that's just fidgety folk who marketing has convinced anything different is 'better'.
  5. balthazar
    You think the equus is acceptably styled but the MKZ is ugly/awful? I would not agree there. Fusion looks good but it's not a 'luxury' look.
  6. balthazar
    I do notice the MKZ out on the road- it's got some visual distinctiveness to it.
  7. balthazar
    Frames on vintage trucks are not usually a concern, at least in my experience. They tend to sit higher (even if they sit on 4 flats for 20 years) and they're often thicker steel than cars of the same vintage. I look at my '40- has a rock-solid frame even tho it was at least 25 years in service, and I have no idea how many years it sat outside. I had a '46 Ford and a '57 Ford F-250, and both their frames were also very solid, and the '46 was as rough looking as the '55 above. $500 is close to scrap price, so that seems unlikely, but with no title, you have a strong bargaining point for a good $400 off right there (technically, of course, it's illegal to resell a vehicle in NJ without one). I think you've got strong odds of picking it up between 600-1000.... but yes- what's the story on the motor/trans/other rot. If you get more pics, please post them up, Roger.
  8. balthazar
    A big swing & a miss; it's "Elmiraj". It's right up front, center, in that 3/4-frontal shot. How can you miss it? Point is, Cadillac is/should be about the details. Obviously, they're testing the waters on tweaking the emblem, so they see a point in examining it even if you do not. Look around the internet- the topic has been heavily discussed on numerous forums, it has significance.
  9. balthazar
    not bad, but they left the Wreath off.
  10. balthazar
    They still sell this in the U.S. ?
  11. balthazar
    Air-assited shifting, I believe. Ach... now you're going to make go research that... EDIT :: Not much out there. I see a reference on a military 6x6 of the period where an 'air shift button' allows engagement of front axle drive. Step 1 mentions 'air actuated gearing' : http://www.caranddriver.com/features/how-to-shift-a-semi-feature Modern Hi-Po trans with air shifters (Liberty, Lenco) are programmable for precise RPM shifts. Bottom line is... I'm not sure.
  12. balthazar
    Saying nothing about the packages themselves, the chosen names of 'Exclusive', 'Individual', and 'designo' are really pitiful. ESPECIALLY 'designo' (is it really lower-case?) At least 'Black Label' sounds half like something luxurious (and half like a Canadian lager).
  13. balthazar
    ^ That's what the Standard Catalog of Light Duty Trucks states... tho the series is NOT without mistakes. EDIT :: Here's the '55 GMC brochure page : http://oldcarbrochures.org/NA/GM-Trucks-and-Vans/1955_Trucks-and_Vans/1955_GMC_Models-Features/1955-GMC-Models-amp-Features-26 Says GMC covers all series with automatics, the 4-spd HM, the 8-spd HM and the Twin HM. I should know by now never to quote a Krause book unless I've cross-checked it. Here's the whole brochure Roger : http://oldcarbrochures.org/NA/GM-Trucks-and-Vans/1955_Trucks-and_Vans/1955_GMC_Models-Features There were also a HD 3-spd manual, HD 4-spd, a 5-spd, a 10-spd and an air-shift feature. Ahhh, choice; wasn't it wonderful??
  14. balthazar
    ^ The point is, they risk forcing even more incentives as the 'value shoppers' start looking @ & associating MB with 'cheap lux'. This is Buick territory, price-wise. They don't have a successful brand to handle 'cheap lux'? -don't go there then. Of course people will buy it short term, it's a $29K mercedes- why else are they buying?!?! RE Chevy vs. MB, Chevy's base price spread is 12K ~ 111K, MB's spread is 29K ~ 212K - who's got the larger spread? Pull the anomaly that the Corvette is out and Chevy's spread is 12K~53K. Mercedes is not Chevy, are they? Why are they down in the bargin basement- it's NOT to go after the so-called 'younger buyer'- that's a fallacy. MB doesn't have an ABA issue relative to the rest of the segment- you guys are reading their marketing spin. A $29K mercedes is there for a single solitary reason- sales volume. Let's see; a 33K RWD Cadillac ATS, that already out handles the 3-series, or a 'discounted' $29K FWD mercedes.
  15. balthazar
    ^ Look at the price range of MB-branded vehicles, then look at them reaching DOWN to the average transaction price of a new car and I don't see how you could draw any analogies to Chevrolet.
  16. balthazar
    Good question. GMC didn't even record model production (just the total), they sure didn't track HM installation. Only avail on the 1/2-ton, BTW.
  17. balthazar
    mercedes has positioned themselves as a luxury brand. A $30K FWD model does not fit that mold. Mercedes is either a luxury make or a full-line brand, but they cannot be both long-term.
  18. balthazar
    Wish mercedees could decide on a single design 'language'. And this is nothing short of a 'value buy' to boost sales, which I fail to recall being in their 'mission statement'. Oh well, not like this isn't the first (or 10th) obvious grab for numbers. Daimler shouldn't be in this price class.
  19. balthazar
    In person inspection is the only way to answer your question. Rot repair is one of the most expensive segments of restoration. But patching is a lot cheaper than sourcing new panels, in general. That hole in the hood edge- for example- if the rest of the hood is solid, weld in a patch. If you could get this at around $1000, and there's no huge surprises, I think it's a decent deal.
  20. balthazar
    Something frequently surmised, now proven by 'science'.
  21. balthazar
    good to see the time-honored practice of contemptuous & generalizing prejudging is alive & well.
  22. balthazar
    Having no trunk lid is also a transgression (at least in PA) - wonder how all those millions of pick-ups get away with that? Same difference. Vehicle Code has some questionable laws in it.
  23. balthazar
    The LAST THING we need is another bloated, inefficient agency at the federal level, blowing thru money and causing staggering red tape & confusion, making Star Trek parody videos. I was just in the state DMV office yesterday looking for commercial plate info. I had the teller telling me to ignore the printed application she just handed me (which allows sole-proprietors to forgo a CorpCode) and get a Corp Code. She also told me I needed a FEIN (which I am not required to have). To put a Comm plate on my personal vehicle, I have to bring my title & proof of ownership in, re-title & re-register my vehicle under my business name (with proof of that), then apply for a CorpCode, Then apply for Comm plates, then get Comm insurance, then letter my truck. I'm telling you from experience- fly under the radar as much as possible. The 'front desk' guy had me report back to him, as apparently my question wasn't familiar to him, and he's only 10-ft from the tellers. Can you imagine that row of hoops at the federal level?? PleaseGodno. No inspections here in stupid Jersey either - but I have never seen a vehicle driving without a hood or front fenders (that wasn't a hot rod). Bumpers have been a cosmetic item for decades, so the rare missing-bumper vehicle isn't a safety issue. Lights are another, widespread issue.
  24. balthazar
    ^ Sporty with those white-letter tires. Always hated those rims, tho. '67 GTO hardtop, black Cordova over burgandy, minty, gassing up. '70 Cutlass Convert, red, minty, rolling.
  25. balthazar
    The Count on Sesame Street and Fisher Price do so daily.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.

Hey there, we noticed you're using an ad-blocker. We're a small site that is supported by ads or subscriptions. We rely on these to pay for server costs and vehicle reviews.  Please consider whitelisting us in your ad-blocker, or if you really like what you see, you can pick up one of our subscriptions for just $1.75 a month or $15 a year. It may not seem like a lot, but it goes a long way to help support real, honest content, that isn't generated by an AI bot.

See you out there.

Drew
Editor-in-Chief

I've whitelisted
Continue without support

Write what you are looking for and press enter or click the search icon to begin your search