Practically Used Homestead Wheels

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White Elephants

The Big Three all offered humongous sedans, coupes, and more sporty hardtops with large-bore engines and a squashy ride. Remember the car in "The Blues Brothers"? It jumped a half-open draw bridge, dodged the Chicago Police and the Illinois National Guard, only to self-destruct just as Elwood and Jake completed their "Mission From God." It was a '74 Dodge Monaco Police Special with a Hemi. You can get a better-preserved only slightly less powerful one today for $500.

I've already cited the joys and sorrows of owning a pristine, $4,500 1970 Cadillac convertible. A Caddy two-door hardtop or sedan in similar shape costs $1,500 to $2,500. Hardtopped Lincoln Continentals, Chrysler Imperials, and '67 and later Ford T 'Birds cost about the same. These cars go cheap because they are seen as gas-guzzlers and too expensive to repair as they approach 100,000 miles. My son Sam and I disagree.

In 1983 when he was still learning to drive, Sam invested $65 of his paper-route savings in a great, low-slung 1970 Pontiac GranPrix with a 446 Big Block with a 466 carb and automatic everything. It had at least 120,000 miles when he got it, was kinda ratty if you looked hard, and spewed soot when started ...but it did start every time. And it ran clean and economically enough if he kept his foot off the accelerator.

You can get a GranPrix, Ford Torino, boat-tailed Buick Riviera, or other luxury coupe in better shape than Sam's '70 for about $1,000, or in great shape for $2,500. Just now entering college after leaving the Army with a chest full of medals and a bum hip thanks to Desert Storm, Sam needs an easier-entering, softer-riding vehicle than the '78 Blazer and '69 Porsche he had been driving. He just bought—you guessed it—a '72 Grand Prix (a "J" model, without the potentially troublesome power accessories). For all practical purposes a "new" car, it has 32,000 miles on a rebuilt 454 CID, 20-mpg Small Block V-8. All rust is repaired and it has a new exhaust & brakes and a near-perfect white vinyl interior. It does have patchwork paint from body repairs, but it only cost $950. The closest new model is Pontiac's V-6-powered G(T)P It gets 25 miles to the gallon and comes with new paint but costs $24,050 more than the '72. That's a lot for a paint job.

How'd you like a "modern" front-wheel drive but with old-style luxury. Look over the '66 to '72 Olds Toronado sports coupes. Not many were made; those that survived have had early FWD problems upgraded but suffer from a stigma. So, a good #4 can be had for about $3,000 and a very good #3 for under $5,000. Replacement CV joints and other parts are becoming more readily available; I'd bet that the '68-'70s will become classics.

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