Really nice 78 Caprice Estate

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chev...d0fQQitemZ260624751887QQptZUSQ5fCarsQ5fTrucks

 

What a weirdly optioned car, crank windows, but power locks? Radio delete, but AC equipped? 305 instead of the 350? Full bench, but atleast has rear defrost, tilt wheel and cruise. The guy who ordered that car was a tad bit of an oddball. Sure is a looker though!

 

In my world, who cares if it's in mostly perfect shape, if it doesn't have equipment that 95% of prospective buyers would want? I wouldn't give it a second look......

I remember back in the 70's Consumer Reports, in their 'auto' issue recommended that when ordering a new car, you didn't order optional stuff like a bigger engine, power windows and locks, etc. Then they started looking at used car buyer's preferences and found out people wanted the extra goodies like PW and PL, and they didn't add all that much to the bottom line when new. The extra options also helped when you went to sell the car, allowing you to recoup some of your extra investment in the options. Big convenience factor, too. I drive a lot, and since I spend a lot of time in my car, I want it to be a comfortable place. I even paid $850 bucks out of my own pocket once to equip a company car (that I didn't own) with some extras that I wanted.....

 

I agree Krash. Yes, the exterior on that '78 Caprice does indeed appear to be mint (although one of the fancy hubcaps belongs to a more recent Caprice) - and I love the dark, bold-grain Di-Noc, but it doesn't have the options you'd hope for on such a wagon (not even the rubber bumper trim and guards), and to my taste, the interior color/pattern detracts from the overall look of the car instead of enhancing it. Reminds me of my own Subaru Outback - I like the exterior color, but it only came with one color scheme for the interior: two-tone, far too light beige color with even lighter colored floor carpeting and mats. Someday when it's old enough to justify this, I'd like to re-do with charcoal grey seats and black carpeting.

 

"The car was recently purchased from th 95 year old gentlemans estate." "This gentleman must have been quite excentric - as the date on the calendar of his old notebook is 1913."

Yea it sounds like the guy was kinda odd. I don't know though, I could easily deal with crank windows and no radio for a car that is that rust free and in that good of condition . If I were interested in it, the old radio would have been comming out anyways and replaced with a new one. When I'm looking at a car, I look at condition first and then the options. I would much rather have a completely rust free car with low miles than power windows.

 

It's not one or the other with me, it's both.

 

I could deal with crank windows too, as you don't drive one like this very often anyways. I would have to put a radio in however as that would drive me nuts!!!

 

I'm with KK on this one 100%. I want what I want and don't want what I don't want. I don't like roll ups or bench front seat. When I spotted this car the first time I looked at the interior pix first and moved on.

 

I do think that in terms of collectability, unusually optioned cars draw a lot of interest. I'd be willing to live with the crank windows, and add my own stereo. I do have to agree though, that the upholstery is odd...:confused:

 

Did anyone on here get this? Just came across this thread, saw the auction didnt meet reserve. Called the guy, but it was sold

 

Doubt very much it was anyone here.......

 

Yeah.....I'm sure we would have heard by now if it was a member that bought it.

 

I agree with KK. For me if it isn't optioned out nicely then it's a no-go. Some would buy it just because it is different, but I buy them to drive and enjoy, and without PW and a radio, and decent motivation, it isn't fun to waddle around.