I’ve been very lucky as of late. Last week I found a 1976 Cadillac Eldorado with only 33,000 original miles sulking in a friend’s garage. New battery. An oil change and the beauty flew like a wing of God. I still have goosebumps over that ride and for $4,000. Definitely worth the thought. Then I found a more contemporary 1988 Lincoln Town Car on the side of the road. Perhaps this would be the first opportunity to plan for the government’s impending debt-icide for this country? What do you say John Q government subsidizer? As a dealer, should I now plan to start accumulating these insatiable steel coffins of eternal debtnation?
I think not. That’s the funny thing about these “special” programs. They are connivingly stupid, corrupt, parasitic and bring out the absolute lowest forms of “free ridership.” Over 99 percent of the American public will never participate in the cash for clunkers program in any way, shape or form. Well that’s not completely true. They’ll have their dimes put into the kitty of subsidization along with the dollars of foreign governments that will be rewarded with interest payments for generations to come. There may be a mention of “a million Americans” benefiting from this . . . but what about the other 299 million? Where’s their Yaris? Well, folks, how would you like a two for one special? Courtesy of Jim Q Bureaucrat’s arsenal of financial vaporware.
For every dollar spent, the government must cut two dollars away from its spending. Where to start? Perish the thought but how about the National Highway Traffic Safety Association? I don’t really need to be reminded to have a seat belt. Besides, Europe and Japan have these wonderful diesels and microcars that I would love to get my hands on.
So with that I would allow all cars to come into this country and let the US Customs Service focus on something really important. Like pistachios.
Finally, if we just eliminated the Department of Education, private financing of election campaigns, outsourced all of our violent felons to the North Koreans, and repealed the estate tax then, perhaps, maybe, we would have enough to fund this stupid program for everyone. Just stipulate that their has to be a seven mpg improvement in fuel economy and give those who already drive a car with 30+ mpg highway a small tax credit for keeping their car.
And that’s why I like old Cadillacs.
By 1976, the Eldorado was past its glory days; like an aging great racehorse which has been allowed to on a little too much weight, and hobbles around on weak knees. You can still see the greatness through the decline, though, and it’s magnificent.
There is much to admire in that car! The idea of sending it off to the dogfood factory to make a few thousand dollars to be used towards buying a car that’s (by comparison) two bicycles welded together and powered by a lawn mower engine (1.4 liters? Please! The A/C compressor in the Eldo has more capacity than that!)
Dear God! Please don’t do that. Rent it out as an economy apartment instead….. just don’t send it to the crusher.
CAFE standards.
Cash for clunkers.
Putting tool booths on previously free freeways.
What other indignities we are willing to suffer in order to avoid increasing gas taxes?
Last Fall, I saw a blue metallic Eldo like this one with big whitewalls, curb feelers, and blinged out in 1970s style. It brought a tear to my eyes. Seriously, as it was a leftover when “pimpin’ a car actually meant something.
Lokkii: If I’ve read things right, that ’76 wouldn’t qualify for the CFC program. I believe it’s for cars 1986 and up.(?) Hopefully that stipulation will prevent losing lovely classics to the crusher.
It’s not my style but it certainly has presence. It looks to be in really nice shape too.
@ Lokki
aah yes the famous Frigidaire A-6 six cylinder axial compressor – the all time champ of freon pumps
those babies could spit ice cubes out of the dash vents – 42,000 BTUs
Holy Mary, I’d take either one. When American luxury meant something. I’d even buy a well cared for 1976 Chrysler Imperial with the smog choked 440. I want a land yacht in all it’s boat like glory. Wire wheels, whitewalls, V8 driving the correct set of wheels, interior like someones living room, opera lights and all!
aah yes the famous Frigidaire A-6 six cylinder axial compressor – the all time champ of freon pumps
So that’s who made them is it? I remember one my friends dads was a well to do dentist and he drove Eldos like these. Got a new one every two years. With the a/c on full blast if you took a deep breath and exhaled in front of the vent you could see the condensation. You could the whole car down in the time it took to back out of the driveway.
I look at an Eldo like this not long ago, but it had a vexing electrical problem (at least the seller was honest) and it scared me away. That and $1.50/L gas.
These cars had become bloated and slow by then, but they at least had…something.
I checked out a friend’s mid 70’s Lincoln. 460 Cu inch engine covered by a hood that was 8 feet long. You would not believe the size of the hinges on the hood.
Riding in that baby was like being lulled to sleep in your mother’s arms. Potholes, expansion joints, road debris, even running over a Honda Fit could do nothing to disturb the ride. I think the gas tank held 25 gallons, pretty nasty fillups.
Time was, you bought a car like this because you could afford to do so. We didn’t need people elected from California to dictate what the showroom had for sale. Somewhere along the line we quit being customers and turned into consumers.
GS650G that was extremely funny! Well done.
Oh I used to have a GS850G. As heavy as a tank but also as indestructible, too.
There’s always one of these at the car shows I frequent. Among some of its many features it had a huge wreath and crest on the steering wheel, long before giant OEM logos became de rigeur.
Also, I still need to own at least one vehicle before I die with a stand-up hood ornament.
educatordan:
I’d even buy a well cared for 1976 Chrysler Imperial with the smog choked 440
Hate to pick nits, but Chrysler killed the Imp after the 75 model. Your confusion is understandable, however, as they took the exact same car in 76 and called it a New Yorker.
As one who lived through a love affair with big iron in the 70s, I have to declare GS650G as the winner. The 70s Cadillacs were horrid. Loose, juddering bodies and cheap interior materials that rattled and squeaked. The Chrysler was the best road car, and the most beautiful, but it is, unfortunately, disqualified by that gawdawful Lean Burn system. The Big Lincoln, however, was the best big car made in the US up to the present day. The 460 was smooth and torquey, the bodies were solid, and there was NOTHING before or since that rides as smoothly and as quietly. I have driven all 3. Never liked the Cad. Tried to love the Chrysler, but it didn’t work out. The Lincoln is the keeper.
I remember the 1976 Eldo having an 8.2 Litre badge on it somewhere–can’t tell from that photo.
“What other indignities we are willing to suffer in order to avoid increasing gas taxes?”
There’s willing, then there’s able. There’s a relevant write up in today’s oil drum called The 2012 Oil Crunch vs. Cash for Clunkers. It analyzes how Joe Six Pack will be able (or not) to pay for gas after he cashes in his old pickup: http://www.theoildrum.com/node/5497
Apologies in advance to the Prius haters.
jpcavanaugh :
June 17th, 2009 at 1:30 pm
Picking nits is what people do all the time around here. :)
You can’t blame Chrysler, how long had they been making that car? I’ll bet the tooling was long since paid for and each one sold was almost PURE profit. :P
@ educatordan
“… I’d even buy a well cared for 1976 Chrysler Imperial with the smog choked 440.”
Well, my like-new 76 New Yorker ihas been on auction for almost a week and with only 2 days to go has only been bid up to $510.
Cash for Clunkers looks better and better for me right now.
…”got a custom Continental, got a Eldorado too.”…
commando1 :
June 17th, 2009 at 2:06 pm
Too bad I don’t actually have any money right now. :(
Are you selling it on Ebay? I might be watching your auction and fantasizing. Is it a Turquoise Blue model with a white interior?
Damn I need a big rear drive sled!
jpcavanaugh: I have to declare GS650G as the winner. The 70s Cadillacs were horrid. Loose, juddering bodies and cheap interior materials that rattled and squeaked.
The phony “carved” wood on the mid-1970s Eldorado dashboard was the worst…right up there with the cheap contact paper posing as “wood” grain used on the upper door panels of various DeVilles and Fleetwood Broughams.
The Lincolns of the 1970s were much better built and trimmed cars than comparable Cadillacs.
Funny…I remember seeing Eldorado convertibles quite commonly in south Florida in the 70’s…don’t ever recall seeing a coupe, though.
I must admit, it’s quite a find you have, but I think the ‘vert is the way to go – every car is better sans top on a nice day, even a 1972 Olds Cutlass wagon with its top unceremoniously removed with a reciprocating saw (that took 3 blades!).
Don’t forget to pop in your Terminator DVD and watch this wrong wheel drive vomit comet get a sound thrashing.
http://imcdb.org/images/001/958.jpg
@ educatordan
“Are you selling it on Ebay? I might be watching your auction..”
It would be totally inappropriate for me to enter a reply that is simply and merely shameless self-promoting for my financial benefit.
BTW, you’re warm….
As one who lived through a love affair with big iron in the 70s, I have to declare GS650G as the winner. The 70s Cadillacs were horrid. Loose, juddering bodies and cheap interior materials that rattled and squeaked.
Were there any good cars 1973-1976? Yay some Chrysler POS was the best turd. Everything was oversized and choked up. The downsized Caddies were great in 1977. The 425 was a nice motor.
The motor in that Eldo is a full 500 cubes with a whopping 190hp hahaha.
GS650G:
Funny! And True! I own a 1971 Lincoln Continental Mk 3. It has alot of rust so I don’t drive it, but I sure love it. Everything on that car is oversized. Some of the neat, ahead of their time features on my car include automatic climate control, auto-off hi-beam headlights via a sensor on the driver side fender, and rear (vacum operated? Anyone know how they work?) rear wheel anti-lock brakes Lincoln called ‘Sure-Track.’ It also has an 8-track! And a rear window de-froster and defogger! A great car. If I only had the money to fix it up. But I can dream!