balthazar

For '55 (when the design was penned), the Mark II was pretty well in step with the era. It 'became' relatively understated by 1957-58 when everyone else began swinging from the chrome trees. Then Lincoln made up for being passed by with the '58s... Buick had nicely integrated gauges in '59... It outclasses the Mark II handily. ...but they were 'tacked on' in '60: ...in fact... the whole dash was cheapened up stylistically for '60, which is why they'll ALWAYS play 2nd fiddle to the B-59.

Mark II has such a beautiful, timeless, classy exterior, and such a disappointing, phone-it-in interior.

I need money; anyone need a spotless-record driver for the transport of sensitive items?

^ Would be a good piece for a C&G Wiki~Shhhhh!! • • • Give me a few days, I'll give it a whirl.

The earliest HydraMatics were 4-speeds also. '47 Cadillac HM : 1st: 3.82:1 2nd: 2.63:1 3rd: 1.45:1 4th: 1:1 4-spd autos @ GM went from the first production 1940 units thru the Super HydraMatic (Pontiac SC & Bonne) of 1964... and thru the same year for Olds. 'Junior' full-size cars (Catalina, GP, Starfire, etc) got the 3-spd Roto-HydraMatic for 1961-1964. Cadillac dropped it's 4-spd auto after '63 for the new 3-spd Turbo HydraMatic for '64, as did Buick (tho at Buick, the ST400 replaced the infinitely-variable DynaFlow ('48~'63)). • • • Even limiting the discussion to General Motors automatics, the volume of history, information & specifics is voluminous. For example; few know Buick built transmissions for Olds, first manual units, then in '36 Buick began building the 'Automatic Safety Transmission' for the '37 Olds, too. Buick reluctantly offered it in '38... but the trans really wasn't very successful and it was dropped entirely in '39. Buick had been working on the side on it's proprietory DynaFlow, the spiritual successor to their earlier mid-'30s 'Roller' auto trans (that was cancelled at the last minute due to excessive costs). The 'modern' HydraMatic was introduced in Olds' models for '40, and Cadillac for '41- it's design & genesis beginning -as customary for the first 50 years of GM- at Cadillac Engineering.

If only that were a fish-eye lense shot of the Beat.....

Still haven't heard anything from the insurance Co that's paying one client's renovations bills. Stage 3 involves $1200 of flooring that I am NOT about to cover without checks from Stage 1 & 2 rolling in first. I don't mind covering materials as long as I'm sure I'll get reimbursed before the credit card comes due.... but this is a first-time relationship with this unknown Co. :/ • • • I find I have been avoiding even numbers for some time now.

^ Yep; it was the auto trans option on the "F/S Jr" Cats & GPs. RHM375, reverse where it belongs; at the bottom. Super HydraMatic & Roto HydraMatic were replaced by the Turbo HydraMatic in '65 for O-P-Chv... Buick & Cadillac got a jump starting in '64 (tho Buick called their's a 'Super Turbine 400'. My '64 GP was still able to overpower the open rear and execute side-to-side wheelspin thru the RHM. I grew to find them.... charming.

edited by Oldsmoboi: I changed this to a spoiler so other people who would like to take a guess can have a swing at it without seeing the answer first.

I'd take a clean '64 Catalina coupe, SlimJim & all, over a brand new Cruze ANNYYDAAY. Far more interesting & durable AND it appreciates in value.

'56 T-bird on a trailer, slicks on the back and shoeshine numbers on the window. • • • stang- those are 'new' Pontiacs to me but still cool.

Seen this vid before via Buick channels- it's a kick-ass car. It was always a point of pride that the vintage Pontiacs I owed started up with the quickest flick of the wrist- no electronics or FI needed.

Insurance Co is into me for $2K right now, that may be up to $4K by months end if they don't start coughing up checks. I have too much work right now, but that's not a complaint.

I would like to- I don't have work booked for this weekend and I don't have to be a roadie.... but so tired from working doubles all week. Hmmm.....

BMW is basically a 3-model line-up AFA volume goes; the rest are niche products. Aaaaand the 1-series is still flopping, which frankly is a puzzle, as I have a tough time telling them apart when viewed separately on the road. One would think the more reasonable price would draw more 3-series buyers away...

IIRC it was the Lincoln Versailles pitted against the Seville That was done also, but I was referring to this:

'Unique selling point'?? I don't get that. Why do some people buy BMW and some buy mercedees (and some audi and some something else)?? A complex combination of preferences is usually what drives those with disposable income, and Cadillac offers yet another choice. Why does someone buy a Cadillac? Because they like it and it suits their needs. Duh. What is mercedees 'unique selling point' ?? They have a minivan, a cargo van and a 40-yr old military cast-off and BMW doesn't?

Roger- I believe that Dodge fire truck is a '35, some of the details in your pic are a bit hard to make out. Lifted the tarps on a gold '63 Corvette convertible (327/4-spd) that has been sitting since about 1969.

Series 90, body 19 is one of 4 cars built. ALL '40 V-16s are hyper rare; Cadillac only built 61 total in '40. I so wish the beautiful '41 got the V-16 also; a 'suitcase-fendered' '41 V-16 coupe would be awesome.

Saw a gold '63 Corvette convertible, 327/4-speed, been under tarps since the late 1960s...

Casey Kasem, FTW! BTW- that's not a Chevelle, that's just a Skylark with trim changes!

^ Same series of ads, Ford pitched against the Cadillac Seville in a laughable attempt to convince people they looked exactly the same.

Ad world is full of pointless car commercials... AND lux brands comparing with other brands. We've all seen it and it's nothing new. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHoYZCvN2_A

>>"CTS-V vs. C300? That was irrelevant to begin with."<< It wasn't intended to be relevant; it played to the perception out there for the many unawares that it might take a V to dust a c300. Towing it away is the visual for 'putting it on the trailer'- drag race speak for 'lost the race'.