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Convertible vs. Hardtop Coupe - which is better for a collector car?

74 messages,  Last post on Jan 25, 2008 at 7:44 PM

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What is this discussion about? Classic Cars, Coupe, Convertible

Messages Page 8 of 8

#66 of 74 Re: Here's a 4-dr '64 Cadillac for your review [andre1969] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Jan 09, 2008 (9:30 am)

Replying to: andre1969 (Jan 09, 2008 6:33 am)
That's why you should never buy a car on the blind. There is nothing like a pair of eyeballs. Depending on what I saw in real life, as opposed to the photos, my estimate of value on this car might vary as much as 30%.
 
Personally I'd rather see a car a bit weather-worn and original then restored badly and crudely.

#67 of 74 Another '64 Fleetwood by parm

Jan 12, 2008 (9:45 pm)

http://www.ellingsoncarmuseum.com/Active/2007%20Cars/1964%20Cadillac%20Fleetwood- /1964_cadillac_fleetwood_tn.htm
 
Ok. Here's a 1964 Fleetwood I found for sale with a listing price of $10,950 offered by a dealer in MN. Don't know anything about the history of the car in terms of where it spent most of its life. However, I've received photos additional photos of the interior, engine and trunk and they look pretty decent to me. The car is reported to be, and looks to be, in unmolested, original condition. Interior is in good shape, while used, it's not abused. Is it a #1? No. Is it a #2? Nope. But, I'd say it's a pretty good #3. Anyway, this car looks nicer than the white Fleetwood on Ebay located in Scottsdale, AZ. More importantly, the seller appears to be pretty realistic on his price. The price may be a bit high because, after all, the seller IS a dealer and one would assume he's willing to accept something less than $10,950. Still, the price isn't hideous either. Finally, a seller/dealer who isn't delusional!

#68 of 74 Re: Another '64 Fleetwood [parm] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Jan 13, 2008 (11:37 am)

Replying to: parm (Jan 12, 2008 9:45 pm)
Gotta be careful though if it's an actual museum car. They just sit and rot.

#69 of 74 Re: Here's a nice '64 Wildcat coupe. What'll it sell for? [parm] by parm

Jan 21, 2008 (8:11 am)

Replying to: parm (Jan 04, 2008 2:07 pm)
http://www.barrett-jackson.com/staging/carlist/items/Fullsize/Cars/60682/60682_F- - ront_3-4.jpg
 
I said this .64 Wildcat Coupe would go in the mid $20'sK. Well, it sold for around $33K. Either this car was nicer than I thought, or there was a free/open bar that day. LOL!
 
My Barrett-Jackson rule of thumb is: estimate what you think the car would realistically sell for, then add 35%. Well, if you add 35% to $25,000, you're alarmingly close to $33,000. UNCANNY!!!!

#70 of 74 Andre 1969 Question re: 57 DeSoto by euphonium

Jan 25, 2008 (1:59 pm)

Having purchased a new 57 Plymouth Fury 301 with Torqueflite that developed my patience quite a bit, I'm curious to know how well your 57 DeSoto has worked for you. Particularly the engine and transmission. Thank you.

#71 of 74 Re: Andre 1969 Question re: 57 DeSoto [euphonium] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Jan 25, 2008 (3:31 pm)

Replying to: euphonium (Jan 25, 2008 1:59 pm)
Those torqueflites would break the reverse gear servo sure as shootin if you slammed it into reverse on a high idle. Very common weak point on the V-8 cars. The engines were okay but always had hot-start problems and they ate starter motors.

#72 of 74 Re: Andre 1969 Question re: 57 DeSoto [Mr_Shiftright] by texases

Jan 25, 2008 (3:39 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Jan 25, 2008 3:31 pm)
"Those torqueflites would break the reverse gear servo sure as shootin if you slammed it into reverse on a high idle"
 
Hope those weren't the same trannys that Chrysler used in their '60s TV ad, the one with the car being jammed from drive to reverse to drive repeatedly at speed...

#73 of 74 Re: Andre 1969 Question re: 57 DeSoto [texases] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Jan 25, 2008 (3:42 pm)

Replying to: texases (Jan 25, 2008 3:39 pm)
The very same, yes. Torqueflite 8.
 
In TV land, nothing ever breaks and the road is always clear and your wife or husband never looked better.
 
Andre, try this and let us know if it breaks.

#74 of 74 Re: Andre 1969 Question re: 57 DeSoto [texases] by andre1969

Jan 25, 2008 (7:44 pm)

Replying to: texases (Jan 25, 2008 3:39 pm)
Hope those weren't the same trannys that Chrysler used in their '60s TV ad, the one with the car being jammed from drive to reverse to drive repeatedly at speed...
 
Well, the closest thing to tranny abuse I ever had was with my '68 Dart. It accidentally got thrown into park at about 35 mph once. The original owner of that car had no left arm, so the turn signal was rigged on an extra long stalk that still came out the left side of the column, but then, through a series of right angles, went under the steering column and came up and out on the right side, near the gear shifter. I let one of my friends drive the car, and he tried to signal left with the gearshift lever! The car stopped immediately and stalled out, but didn't seem to suffer any long-term damage from it. And that was in late 1992. That car did quit running about 9 years later, but I think it was from a bad fuel pump.
 
As for the '57 Torqueflite, supposedly you're not supposed to be able to throw it into reverse if you're moving forward more than something like 10 or 15 mph. It has a safety lockout. It also has lockouts for first and second gear. I think it's 45 mph for first and 70 for second.
 
My DeSoto has no brakes, thanks to a leaking rear wheel cylinder, and needs a carburetor rebuild. However, the engine and transmission have never given me a bit of trouble. But then, this car never was a daily driver for me. I've had it since September 1990, and I doubt if I've put 5,000 miles on it. As far as I know, it's the original engine/tranny.
 
I never saw the commercial where they were throwing the car back and forth between drive and reverse but yeah, it would've been the same basic transmission most likely...a Torqueflite 727. There was also a lighter-duty version called the 904 that was introduced for the 1960 Valiant, but eventually was used with bigger cars and engines. My Dart has a 904, and I think my '79 New Yorkers have something called an A998, which is a slightly beefier version of it, with the "A" standing for lockup torque converter. There was another version called the A999, which I think is what smallblock copcars mainly used. I think that's what my '89 Gran Fury had.

Messages Page 8 of 8

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