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1950's Cadillacs

82 messages,  Last post on Feb 10, 2011 at 1:28 PM

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What is this discussion about? Cadillac, Classic Cars

Messages Page 7 of 9

#53 of 82 Overcontetended by hpmctorque

Sep 26, 2010 (4:34 pm)

I think you're right on target, shifty and andre. Since the new luxury cars have more gadgets and features than I feel I need or prefer, I think my reaction will be to either stay with the older luxury cars (pre-'08 or so), or go down scale.
 
Those multi-hundred page owners manuals are a turnoff to me. Also, with the proliferation of speed cameras and speed bumps, not to mention traffic, who needs 400 horsepower?
 
On the other hand, while I enjoy reading about classic and collector cars, I'd never want to own a carburated car again. I'm using carburater metaphorically here, since I'd put vacuum wipers and even hand cranked windows in the same category. And, oh, a/c is also a must have for me. I guess what I'm saying is that the features the luxury brands were adding until recent years were appealing, but some of the more recent electronic ones detract from the driving experience.

#54 of 82 Re: Overcontetended [hpmctorque] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Sep 26, 2010 (4:37 pm)

Replying to: hpmctorque (Sep 26, 2010 4:34 pm)
I like what some people are doing with "retro-rods". They build motors with aftermarket fuel injection----you don't even need a laptop to program them---they sell you a little gadget along with the injection system and the motor, and you just make a few simple adjustments (the motors are pre-run with the injection in place and calibrated for you).
 
So you CAN have a 50s or 60s car with more torque, better gas mileage, faster cold starts and more power at altitude. What you can't have is a totally "correct" car.

#55 of 82 Re: Overcontetended [Mr_Shiftright] by isellhondas

Sep 26, 2010 (5:34 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Sep 26, 2010 4:37 pm)
Yeah, I know but pretty soon your '55 Chevy isn't a 55 Chevy anymore.
 
It still looks like one but it's something else.
 
Carburators work just find providing you can find someone who knows how to work on one!

#56 of 82 Re: Overcontetended [isellhondas] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Sep 26, 2010 (6:31 pm)

Replying to: isellhondas (Sep 26, 2010 5:34 pm)
yeah, it's called "reading directions". Everyone likes to twist and turn those little screws, don't they?

#57 of 82 Re: Overcontetended (Mr_Shiftright)[isellhondas] by hpmctorque

Sep 26, 2010 (6:58 pm)

Replying to: isellhondas (Sep 26, 2010 5:34 pm)
Deciding between a "correct" old car and one with modern mechanicals would be a really tough call for me.

#58 of 82 Re: Overcontetended (Mr_Shiftright)[isellhondas] [hpmctorque] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Sep 26, 2010 (7:03 pm)

Replying to: hpmctorque (Sep 26, 2010 6:58 pm)
A few trips on a hot summer day, with vapor lock, overheating and spongy brakes would cure you of most of your nostalgia I think. Of course, some people like the challenge of nursing the smoking, bullet-ridden fighter plane back to base, so if that's your thing, well then, authenticity, by all means!!
 
Some old cars are more competent than others, and some more vulnerable to depreciation if altered. It depends on the car: If it were a '50 Caddy 4-door, I'd modify it without blinking. If it were a '55 Eldo, then probably not--or all the mods would be hidden from view and easily reversible (like say electronic ignition and radial tires).

#59 of 82 Re: Overcontetended (Mr_Shiftright)[isellhondas] [hpmctorque] [Mr_Shiftrigh by hpmctorque

Sep 26, 2010 (8:47 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Sep 26, 2010 7:03 pm)
Well, yeah, while the nostalgia's there, as evidenced by my participation in the classic car discussions, the patience with old technology isn't, so I could be persuaded by your arguments. As it stands, though, I'm in that category of enthusiasts who loves chatting, viewing and listening to collectible cars (and new ones too, for that matter), but prefers not to own one. I suppose that makes me an armchair collector, if such a term exists. The history of the cars, and the people and companies associated with them fascinate me to no end too.

#60 of 82 Re: Overcontetended [hpmctorque] by andre1969

Sep 27, 2010 (5:23 am)

Replying to: hpmctorque (Sep 26, 2010 4:34 pm)
On the other hand, while I enjoy reading about classic and collector cars, I'd never want to own a carburated car again. I'm using carburater metaphorically here, since I'd put vacuum wipers and even hand cranked windows in the same category.
 
I guess carburetors don't bother me so much because I still deal with them on a regular basis. I have a feeling though, that if I was removed from carbs for a long period of time, it would be hard to go back.
 
I had a similar experience with crank windows. Never bothered me in the past, but lately, I just haven't been getting cars with crank windows, even old cars. I think the last car I got with crank windows was a 1967 Newport, back in 1999, and I only had it a few months before getting rid of it soon after buying my Intrepid. I didn't drive it much, either.
 
Well, the Intrepid had power windows, and so did every car after that...5th Ave, pickup, LeMans, NYer. And now the Park Ave. My '67 Catalina has crank windows, and in the past they didn't bother me so much, but after I got it fixed up and started driving it a lot more, I kept thinking damn these crank windows SUCK!! Part of the problem too, is that car is so big, that it's hard to reach the passenger side. Just for kicks, I took a tape measure to that car...62.5" of shoulder room up front...probably more than any car made today.
 
Windshield wipers? Yeah, that's something else that I had forgotten about, how bad the old ones were. Now my Chryslers actually have interval wipers, and I think they work better than the ones on my Buick! But I remember the last time I got caught in the rain in my '76 LeMans...2-speed wipers with the settings of "fast" and "faster", and no delay. Oh, the humanity!!
 
Air conditioning, I can still live without, although a black convertible top and black vinyl interior don't make the best combination for really hot weather, especially when you're stuck in traffic. Those old cars tend to "breathe" better than newer ones, since they had better fresh-air ventilation to make up for the relative scarcity of a/c. By the 1970's though, they it was less likely that you'd have a rear door window that rolled down all the way, and in coupes a window that opened at all became a rarity. With the more integrated HVAC systems, it was less likely you'd have those nice fresh air vents under the dash. And front vent windows went the way of the dinosaur. Cars also became more airtight, with better insulation and padding, which also meant they kept in more heat. And with more rakish windshields, rear windows, and curved side glass, more of the sun's rays came into the car, and the roof gave the interior less shade.
 
I think in a daily driver, a/c would be mandatory, but in my old cars, I can deal without it for the short periods of time I usually drive them.

#61 of 82 Question about 1951 Cadillac by lemko

Sep 27, 2010 (6:38 am)

I saw a very nice black 1951 Cadillac Series 62 sedan at my club's national fall meet. Were the grille "bullets" that would house optional driving lights painted black or body color? The surface would have a chrome cover or house driving lights, but would the shell be black or body color? A friend who was with me suggested they might've been painted black to match the "waffle" pattern on each side of the grille.
 
Here is an example for clarification:
 

#62 of 82 Re: Overcontetended (Mr_Shiftright)[isellhondas] [hpmctorque] [Mr_Shiftright] by isellhondas

Sep 27, 2010 (8:55 am)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Sep 26, 2010 7:03 pm)
Well, I kept my brakes bled and I never had a vapor lock on any old car I owned.
 
If they overheated, we had the radiators rodded out and in extreme cases, whe had a "four row" radiator installed.
 
But, I lived on the coast where it never got very hot in the summer.
 
Someone driving a correct old car has to respect it's age. You don't drive 80 MPH in the left lane. You don't tailgate people and you drive carefully.
 
If you aren't willing to do these things, you can just buy a modern car or take a nice old car and Mickey Mouse...modify it.

Messages Page 7 of 9

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