Find or Sell Used Cars, Trucks, and SUVs in USA

1973 Chevrolet Caprice Classic Convertible on 2040-cars

Year:1973 Mileage:17000
Location:

Innisfil, Ontario, Canada

Innisfil, Ontario, Canada
Advertising:

 This is a 1973 Caprice Classic Convertible that has been in my family since the mid 70's...we are the second owners...mileage is actually about 117000.

I grew up in this car and wanted my children to do the same, that's why when I started the restoration, money was no object...I wanted the car to be as close to original as possible, so they would experience the car as I did...But as the saying goes, s_ _ t happens! 

In 2009 after spending over $28,000(including labor) to get the car to the condition you see in the pics, I had to stop the restoration before it could be finished(physical and financial reasons). Car was being restored to be a very clean driver, not a trailer queen.

The car still needs to be gone through. It hasn't even gone on it's maiden voyage yet to get all the kinks worked out. The way you see her in the pics is the way I got her back from the shop when I had the restoration stopped in November 2009. She still needs finishing touches and the new owner will have to do a little work but the majority of the hard work has been done and with your added small investment you will have a great deal for half of what I put into it.

As noted above, during the restoration the cowl tag was loose and got lost

Anyone familiar with the 73 Caprice knows it doesn't share certain parts with other years and they can be expensive. When just over 7000 were produced it doesn't help when those parts aren't supported by the restoration industry(at least when I started the resto). For example: Cost to rechrome front and rear bumbers and polish brightwork...$5500, NOS grills...$1100 and NOS wheel well moldings...$700.

I have a lot of extra parts, some that still have to go on the car, that will go with the car...original, used and NOS...it's a few boxes...about $1500 worth.

Here is everything done to the car that I can remember:

MOTOR is the Numbers Matching 400 2bbl and was rebuilt from top to bottom(air cleaner to oil pan). Other new parts in the engine bay include:

 - new hoses, belts and tower style clamps, under hood insulation

 - new wiper motor, washer pump

 - new master cylinder, power booster, alternator, battery and starter

 - new rad and A.I.R. injection pump

BODY has all rust free panels, fenders, doors, trunk lid and hood. The quarters are reproduction. Car was painted the original shade of dark green, looks great on this body. Front grills are NOS, tail lights are mix of original and NOS. Front and rear bumpers along with the bumperettes were rechromed and all trim was polished except the trim at the base of the convertible top. Lower body trim has been cleaned, just needs the painted black stripe applied. I never had them installed because I found 2 NOS pieces and was looking for the other 6. Buyer can finish as he/she pleases as they will get all the pieces.

CONVERTIBLE top frame was cleaned up, painted and had a new header bow added along with the new original style convertible top material, glass window and new well liner and weatherstrip pieces. Instead of buying a new electric top motor I had the original electric top motor rebuilt because the housing has a date code stamped on it...new top relay was also installed.

INTERIOR floor has a patch put in on the drivers side. The floor was then cleaned up and sprayed with rust preventative paint before adding the new factory style sound deadening under the new original style carpet. The front and rear seats were covered in NOS material I found at SMS Auto Interiors and finished in the exact pattern of the originals. The rear side panels have holes cut in them for speakers that my father had installed years ago...don't know if I still have the speakers, might have lost them in the resto, I will include them if I find them.

TRUNK was cleaned up, had a small patch put in and then covered with GM splatter paint.

SUSPENSION items that were worn out were replaced.

BRAKES are new front and rear...new pads, shoes, rotors, calipers, wheel cylinders and brake lines all the way up to the master.

TIRES are new and you also get 3 sets of the original hubcaps...the original set, a very nice used set that looks NOS that is on the car and an NOS set.

List of items I noticed need to be finished or addressed:

1 - top worked before the resto and once the new top was added but about one month after I got the car back, I tried to put it down but the top only moved about 8 inches. I sent the electric motor out to Hydro-e-lectric and they told me the motor was a little week but still good...I had it rebuilt anyway and also a new relay added but it still only moves about 8 inches. I remember never having any problem with the top so it has to be some kind of adjustment but I can't afford to have someone look at it...remember that's why we're here at auction.

2 - shifter is a little sloppy going into gear...don't know if it's adjustment or vacuum or ??

3 - turn signals need bulbs.

4 - plastic piece between front bumper and header panel has spiders in paint(see pic)

5 - some light scratches the size of a 50cent piece at the bottom of the passenger side door right where the lower body side molding goes...so it would be covered.

6 - there is a leak in the small A.I.R. injection tube that goes into the drivers side exhaust manifold.

7 - stereo needs to be connected...speakers are missing...I will include them if I find them.

8 - sill plates need to be installed

9 - needs the cowl screens

As I said above, the car still hasn't had it's first ride down the two lane blacktop to work out all the kinks...just cant afford to finish and insure her...that's why we're here. 


I have sold a couple of rare cars on ebay and both buyers said the cars looked better in person over my description. Maybe I'm picky but I try not to leave anything out in my description as I don't want the buyer to have any surprises.


If I have missed anything or you have any concerns, please ask and I will try my best to answer your questions.


I reserve the right to end the auction early as I have the car for sale locally.

Buyer is responsible for paying and arranging for vehicle pickup.

Car is sold AS IS, NO WARRANTY included, implied or sold.


PAYMENT


All moneys must be transferred into CANADIAN FUNDS.

DEPOSIT - A NON REFUNDABLE $500 deposit is due within 24hrs of the end of the auction....You may use PAYPAL ONLY FOR THE DEPOSIT!

BALANCE - is due within 5 days of the end of the auction and must be via WIRE TRANSFER, CERTIFIED CHECK OR CASH IN PERSON.....NO PAYPAL FOR THE BALANCE!

In case of Wire Transfer or Certified Check, the car will be released once funds have cleared my bank.

Thank you and good luck bidding.

 

Auto blog

2016 Chevy Malibu exhaustively tested with four decades of data

Fri, Mar 13 2015

Chevy is preparing to unveil its new Malibu sedan at the upcoming New York Auto Show next month. But when it does, it's not like it will have appeared overnight. The development of any new vehicle – especially one as widely produced by a major automaker as the Malibu – involves rigorous and relentlessly punishing tests. In the Malibu's case, that meant 1.5 million miles of driving from the scorching heat of Arizona in July to the frigid cold of northern Canada in January and everything in between. The Bowtie brand also says it incorporated four decades' worth of data taken from vehicles driving in locations around the world since 1972 in order to make the Malibu the best it could be. We'll have to wait to find out the results of all that exhaustive testing, but you can catch a sneak peek at the new sedan in the video above. Four Decades of Data Used to Test 2016 Chevrolet Malibu Recorded customer use drives durability testing for next-generation midsize sedan 2015-03-11 DETROIT – Data collected over decades from across the globe is helping ensure the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu can handle the world's worst roads even if the all-new midsize sedan never drives on them. Data collection boxes are placed in cars in real-world driving conditions around the world. Since 1972, these devices have accurately recorded the harshness and frequency of every jounce, bump and shudder inflicted on the car on roads in the U.S., Russia, Saudi Arabia and developing markets. "Although most Malibu owners will never put their car through similar abuse, we test all new vehicles in extreme climates, inclement weather and on punishing road surfaces," said Dan Devine, Malibu validation engineer. "The 2016 Malibu is definitely up to these challenges." Tests like these ensured the current generation Malibu was dependable and durable, two qualities that in turn helped Malibu stand out from its rivals in important quality surveys, such as J.D. Power's Initial Quality Study and Vehicle Dependability Study. General Motors engineers analyze the data to calculate the precise amount of damage potholes and other hazards create over 150,000 miles. Then the conditions are replicated at GM's Milford Proving Ground in Michigan on three unique road courses, each riddled with simulated potholes of increasing severity. Engineers run preproduction cars through the course up to hundreds of times.

GM to idle car production at five factories as Americans continue CUV love affair

Mon, Dec 19 2016

In case you needed another reminder that Americans have fallen out of love with sedans, General Motors today announced plans to idle five factories in January in a bid to cut its inventory to 70 days. Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly ( Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac CT6, Chevrolet Volt and Impala) and Fairfax Assembly in Kansas ( Chevy Malibu) will stop production for three weeks. Lansing Grand River ( Cadillac ATS and CTS, and Chevy Camaro) is going down for two weeks, while Lordstown, OH ( Chevy Cruze) and Bowling Green, KY ( Chevy Corvette) will go idle for a week each, Automotive News reports. GM's shutdown reflects a broader problem with the company's supply – at 847,000 vehicles, the company's supply increased unsteadily from a low of 629,000 units in January of 2016. That's more than a 25 percent increase in the past year. Citing information from Autodata, The Detroit News reports that at the end of November, GM had a 168-day supply of LaCrosses, 177 days' worth of Camaro, 170 days of Corvette, 121 days for Cruze, 119 days for ATS, 132 days for CTS, and 110 days of CT6. Meanwhile, inventory of the company's more popular vehicles is actually below the professionally accepted 60- to 70-day supply, The News reports. The Trax, Colorado pickup, and GM's full-size SUVs are sitting below 50 days and experiencing year-over-year sales increases. GM needs a rethink of its inventory levels, which is something that's apparently coming. "We're going to be responsible in managing our inventory levels," GM spokesman Jim Cain told The News. Another unnamed spokesman told Automotive News the company's day-to-day supplies would "fluctuate before moderating at year-end." But at least one analyst thinks this won't be the last time Detroit needs to stop production to level things out. "Incentives are elevated, residuals are declining, and rates are rising," Brian Johnson, an analyst with Barclays, told The News. "And while GM in particular may benefit in the months ahead from new product launches, it's important to recognize that GM's inventory is elevated at the moment, and it wouldn't surprise us if they need to announce another production cut – which could pressure the stock." Related Video: News Source: The Detroit News, Automotive News - sub. req.Image Credit: Paul Sancya / AP Plants/Manufacturing Buick Cadillac Chevrolet GM GMC Crossover SUV Sedan bowling green cadillac xt6 fairfax

This map reveals the cleanest vehicles based on location

Thu, Apr 28 2016

Naysayers love to point out how dirty the electricity grid mix is when it comes to charging electric vehicles. Curmudgeons are eager to jump into any conversation about EVs to enlighten the lucky listeners about how plug-in cars contribute to pollution, sometimes even throwing in a dash of climate-change denial for good measure. (Thanks, buddy. Pray, tell me more about the plight of oppressed SUV owners.) Unless someone buys an EV just because they think they're cool (which, yeah, they often are), they probably have at least a passable understanding of their environmental pros and cons. As many EV owners are already aware, location has a lot to do with any particular plug-in car's carbon footprint. Still, there's always more to know, and knowledge is not a bad thing, especially if one uses it to do the right thing. That's why this handy-dandy map from Carnegie Mellon University is so interesting. CMU researchers have compiled information about the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions of various EVs based on where they're charged, as compared to gasoline-powered vehicles. The researchers looked at the Nissan Leaf, Chevrolet Volt, and Prius Plug-In Hybrid versus the gasoline-dependent Toyota Prius hybrid and the stop-start-equipped Mazda3 with i-ELOOP and compared grams of CO2 emitted per mile. CMU takes into account the grid mix, ambient temperature, and driving patterns. CMU takes into account the grid mix based on county, as well as ambient temperature and driving patterns in terms of miles traveled on the highway or in the city. For instance, if you drive a Nissan Leaf in urban areas of California, Texas, or Florida, your carbon footprint is lower than it would be if you were driving a standard Toyota Prius. However, if you charge your Leaf in the Midwest or the South, for the most part, you've got a larger carbon footprint than the Prius. If you live in the rural Midwest, you'd probably even be better off driving a Mazda3. Throughout the country, the Chevrolet Volt has a larger carbon footprint than the Toyota Prius, but a smaller one than the Mazda3 in a lot of urban counties in the US. The Prius and Prius Plug-In are relatively equal across the US. Having trouble keeping it straight? That's not surprising. The comparisons between plug-in and gasoline vehicles are much more nuanced than the loudest voices usually let on.