balthazar

I know exactly how Razor feels. It's not so much what is said as how it's said. Pontiac was given a '64 GTO by the original owner within the last about 10 years, and they restored it EXACTLY as it came off the line (leaving certain unpainted parts bare, which meant they began to flash oxidize in short order). This was just 1 car, a keeper for Pontiac's large collection of significant vehicles. Nissan did something like this for a short while: buying, reconditioning & selling 240Zs. I believe the venture was discontinued due to the financial loss the program ran quickly into, not sure. I think the first gen Seville and the '67-70 Eldorado are 2 excellent choices for a limited factory-reconditioning program, but I disagree with retro-fitting everything to modern standards. Now we're talking about a potential $15K value '67 costing $50-60K to upgrade everything. And the interior??? Completely defeats the purpose to change out the interior... I could maybe see the motor & trans, but otherwise keep most everything factory or forget it.

> What do the letters “AC” specifically stand for in AC Delco? "Albert Champion " - correct: VenSeattle > What do the letters in “Delco” stand for? "Dayton Engineering Laboratory Company - correct: Flybrian > What is the significance of ‘United Motors Company’ and ‘International Motor Car Company’? "...two of the proposed names... before they settled on... "General Motors"" - correct: VenSeattle > What 3 independent truck manufacturers were bought & merged to form GMC? "Reliance Truck, Randolph Truck and Rapid Truck were all combined to make GMC." - correct: wildmanjoe > What 3 auto manufacturers were party to the initial talks of consolidation to form what would become General Motors? "Ford Motor Company, Reo Motor Car Company (Reo=Ransom E. Olds; and his current company at the time), Maxwell-Briscoe" - correct: VenSeattle > What year was the first Buick engine built? > What year was the first Cadillac engine built?

Cool- snipe it, Fly! Most vintage Pontiac fans are waiting for the real Club deMer to surface- it's been MIA since the '50s but is rumored to have 'escaped'. It's the unofficial Pontiac Holy Grail.

I don't know how much limiting mazda does; weren't first year sales on the order of 90K units?? Didn't the miata go many years with no changes, too?

RE: the CoachCraft '49: I'm divided. One one hand, I am always interested in seeing 'another take' on a factory design, and while this one is certainly unique, some degree of Cadillac's inate grace is gone. Cadillac discouraged outside coachbuilders for long decades for this very reason...

Cadillac had airbags & ABS in the 1970s.

You didn't criticize, Jimmy Neutron, you made an erroneous statement. Or indeed did you mean it as a backhanded criticism?? The Seville's initial development began with the X-body chassis, this is true. However, the R&D was so extensive, involving nearly every component of the body & chassis that it was mandated to have a unique code. The Seville's body is likewise summilarily dismissed as a 'Nova body' when my research has shown the two to only share portions of the floor pan and door hinges.... yet you'll read otherwise in more than one source. Ask yourself why. Did you know that the target price of the Seville, back when the program started, was $7500? Actual price after :rolleyes: a complete Nova chassis was slid underneath :rolleyes: somehow made it's way to $12K+. Ask yourself why. Who said this?? If you are thinking it was me, read my statement again: >>"The problem might be finding 20 yr. old Caddy's worth restoring (I mean, who wants a 'brand new' 86 Eldo?)"<< No one, but an '80s mercedes is likewise of strictly limited appeal. In other words, older, '50s & '60s mercedes and Cadillacs will by & large always be more valuable & collectible than '70s and '80s equivalents. Point was- if this is going to be done, pick vehicles that are of significant collector interest. A '60s mercedes would be much more interesting than a mid-'80s. Do you find that fact to be "hate"? P.S. : I was forced to register at wikipedia to correct numerous entries... tho the one that sparked my action was the prolific member who argued with me that he "had read somewhere" that the '48 Tucker had a V-6... instead of the flat 6 it does. Not exactly obscure information to verify. Wikipedia, as FlyBrian stated, is only as good as it's input, which is not unilaterally reliable, unfortunately.

OMG! GM doesn't market the Tahoe primarily as a fuel-efficient economy 'green' vehicle that will single-handedly Save The Earth? I can't believe it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :rolleyes:

I actually like the '70-73 quite a bit (esp the RS) because I am so sick to death of the '67-69s (sorry 68!).

I didn't say what year it was tho, did I? ...1964. Actual wood texture > any wood put into production cars in the last 25 years.

enzl=>>"MB's of 20-40 years ago are not 'less complex' than the average Caddy."<< They absolutely are. Cadillacs on average have much more power equipment than most mercedes of the same vintage (I am talking about the 50-70s). And what about the amount of stainless & chrome trim? How about square footage of sheetmetal? Even something as simple as the gas cap supports my point: 1965 Mercedes fuel filller: 1941 Cadillac fuel filler: Once you get into the '80s, mercedes begins to match Cadillac's equipment level, but (see below.... >>"The problem might be finding 20 yr. old Caddy's worth restoring (I mean, who wants a 'brand new' 86 Eldo?)"<< No one, but an '80s mercedes is likewise of strictly limited appeal. >>"OTOH, an original 76 Seville (on the Nova platform) would be interesting, and, not too expensive."<< A 1st gen Seville is a great choice, but it is NOT - contrary to popular opinion- "on the Nova platform".

I agree wholeheartedly... but that's not the way things work. Instead we have weight-discrimination lawsuits.

A bandaid over a severed hand.

I've been looking at them non-stop for at least 3 weeks... >:[

Kaylan's post contradicts you, empowah. Must depend on the year/model of saab...

Mach5, you know your proposal would have astronomical cost, right? The average 30-50 yr old Cadillac is also much more complex than the average mercedes of the same time period- thusly the restorations would be much more expensive... I understand the sentiment but it's not practical beyond a very limited quantity. Of course, Cadillac DOES have a number of their past dream cars & production models already, maybe a few dozen in their collection, but those are not for sale.

Also guilty of teh... but the most frustrating error by far is I often type don;t... why my finger won't (<just did it again!) go over far enough to hit the ' I don't (<had to look at the keyboard!) know.

Since my '59 project has taken way longer and gone way deeper than I originally envisioned, I am loath to start another body-off project... even one as simple as this (fuse panel: 2 fuses!!!). I am going thru the mechanicals (fuel system done, brakes half done, cooling done, new oakwood floors half done, ignition & exhaust left), and I will drive it occasionally with it looking... exactly... like... above. It has bare frame rails out back and I think I'm going to leave them that way for now. They were extended about a foot; I am whacking that off, moving my J-hooks up and building a crossmember out of 1/2-in thick 4" angle iron to mount a hitch to tow the '59 with (and house some taillights (only legally required to have 1 brake light)). But I envision the sheetmetal to remain just like it is for as long as I can. Gonna be fun to fill the rearview & sideview mirrors of all the overpriced 'German engineered' luxobarges on the roads around here, watch them nervously sidestep to other lanes than mine when the light turns red and I have to haul the beast down. :D

So which is it: does the speedo dim with all other instrument lights or can it be dimmed/left bright independantly?

I'm hoping my mother's frequent insomnia transfers to me: I have a thousand projects lined up and no time to do them. I don't lay down until I'm completely drained, so I fall asleep in about 2 minutes and I seldom wake up in the night. Only need about 6 hours/night, but still don't have enough time to do what I want.

Actually, a regular cab pickup would unquestionably be better; much wider fields of vision with the windows closer to you.

Those multi-function stalks beg the eyes off the road. Hate them.

In that case there's only one thing to do, and you already mentioned it...

CD/BP- ever seen these babies lit at night? They illuminate behind you in the pitch black enough to see from the driver's seat... experienced many times first-hand.