Hey fellas I know this is a CP site - but since a few guys here were the first to point out that I have this really bad 68 Chev sickness where I say one thing ("I'm selling everything...") and then did something else (bought the two Caprice Estate wagons) - I figured I'd share my latest dumb-ass maneuver.
The car on the left was recently on ebay - the car on the right I've owned since 1988 - so now I have twins!
All I can say is that its a good time to buy stuff in the US - the day I brought this in the exchange rate was 1.01 - the day I brought the car on the right into Canada back in 1988 across the Ambassador bridge the exchange rate was probably 1.38.
Awsome! You know for years when I bought in the States I was treated like Canadians we were sub-standard. Can you believe that subway wouldn't take Canadian money 1/2 a hour over the border. What goes around comes around. Sock them away and you will be rewarded.
Can you get us some close up shots of your engine call outs beside the side marker lights on all your '68s. Especially the SS427's. Are any red with silver type?
Also a close up of the big hoods would be great! Thanks.
Another black SS427 convertible? -yawn- JUST KIDDING, I'd love to have any one of your fleet, and it's not a sickness, it's a gift!
I recently picked up a 69 Bel Air parts car out of Phoenix- you may have seen it on the 427 Impala site. Prices and exchange are good, it's just all the other stuff in daily life that get in the way.
By the way dave, what are the particulars on the "new" black car?
-- Edited by 68post on Tuesday 7th of December 2010 07:57:39 AM
I see lots of ads in Canadian papers/websites for guys selling stuff to Canadians just because there US brothers are not buying at the level they used to. There are some good deals down there right now and I think its going to get better in the next year or two.
There are some very sad stories however - some real hurt for some folks.
Hey Carl - I thought you were younger - maybe I just feel old - ouch my back.
You raise a timely topic that the wife and I were talking about last week. We have no kids so what is she going to do with all my junk when I get hit by the beer truck?
Outside of the unexpected accident, what about the aging boomers? Starting in about 5-10 years the market is going to be flooded with muscle /collector cars that guys in their late 60s and 70s dont need anymore.
I have 14 cars not including drivers and if you sell them all at once that puts a lot of downward pressure on prices - (not that that will matter to me). I just instructed my wife to call up all my best buddies and have a garage cleaning party - get really loaded and at the end of the weekend everything has to be gone.
You can't eat them and the bank wont take them as payment on a loan.
I'M SINGLE WITH NO KIDS, MY FATHER ASKED ME RECENTLY WHAT HE SHOULD DO WITH MY CARS AND COLLECTIBLES IF ANYTHING EVER HAPPENED TO ME. I TOLD HIM TO DO WHATEVER WOULD BE EASIEST FOR HIM. I SUGGESTED HE CALL THE WRECKERS AND SELL THEM FOR SCRAP. THAT GOT A PRETTY SOUR LOOK FROM HIM.LOL
I'll get some shots of the hoods/emblems when it stops raining. Thanks for all the generous comments guys.
The "new" rag is what I have been looking for for a while - a never rusted, never smashed, genuine original #s matching automatic that is not perfect, but much better than driver quality. The car came from California in 1973 and in discussion with the past two owners (going back to '73) the car has never been outdoors since then. Other than the paint codes (factory Ash Gold) the car is pretty much bone stock and has some very nice options (tilt, tach, am/fm PW, PDB, posi, etc).
I drove this thing over the Malahat to Victoria yesterday and it runs very smooth and strong. I have farted around with other cars long enough and I'm getting a bot long in the tooth so I figured its time to get what I really wanted.
The black car on the right was originally an L72, 4 speed, 4.10 triple black car (since I bought it in '88 its had a 385 hp 427) - I already sold it because I never enjoyed driving that car after 22 years. That car always wanted to run and around here you cant drive 1 mile without hitting a light!
A '68 Grand Parisienne with 427!? Incredible and rare - are there pictures of that car on the website - it must be one of one?
I really want an original 427 '68 Poncho and I would buy that rusty green fastback, but right now I can't even get $10k for a #s matching SS427 Impala fastback with a solid frame and all the bling on it (louvers/hood etc) so I just cannot rationalize spending huge bucks on the 427 CP. I sure hope someone buys that car and keeps it alive.
I agree about the easy part of your idea - what ever is easiest for those who are left. I suggested to my wife that she call one or two guys who really know the parts and get them to help distribute the stuff to guys who can use it - just to make sure the stack of spare SS427 hoods dont end up in the steel bin.
1 OF 1...I WISH!!! IT IS ACTUALLY 1 OF 30. I DON'T BELIEVE THERE ARE ANY PICTURES OF IT ON THIS SITE. I'M A RED-NECK HILLBILLY WHO FEARS TECHNOLOGY AND THUS HAS NO CAMERA. THIS WOULD BE IT'S TWIN. MIGHT EVEN BE MY CAR, I HAVE NO IDEA. RAY MAY KNOW AS HE POSTED THIS PICTURE ELSEWHERE ON THIS SITE.
Hey I just realized that its nice and relaxing on this forum to actual spell like a Canadian without the usual responses from the dudes on the US forums -
"...hey dummy - you spelled color wrong..." or
"its not a CENTRE console you knob - its a CENTER console..."
Dave, Dave, Dave.............. Good for you!! When there is a passion, go for it....... When the beer truck does hit, then it will not matter any more!
Enjoy whatever passion you have while you are here... It is only a short time!!!
-- Edited by 67Poncho on Tuesday 7th of December 2010 01:48:16 PM
Hey I just realized that its nice and relaxing on this forum to actual spell like a Canadian without the usual responses from the dudes on the US forums -
"...hey dummy - you spelled color wrong..." or
"its not a CENTRE console you knob - its a CENTER console..."
I suggested to my wife that she call one or two guys who really know the parts and get them to help distribute the stuff to guys who can use it - just to make sure the stack of spare SS427 hoods dont end up in the steel bin.
Just get your wife to call me at 519-482-9572 and I will be there in hours.... No sense getting rid of anything
Not wanting to be a downer but just a bit of advice. Some of us had a very good personal friend who had 11 cars. Many guys on here knew him only through posting here and he was well loved. He passed away last New Year's at age 50 without ever marrying, just him in his big house and 11 cars. My wife and I were the last people on earth to see him alive. We all loved him, but he never really enjoyed any of the cars because at the end of the day one man can't drive 11 cars at once. Some of them rotted away because it's tough to keep that many cars in top shape in fact only two or three were licensed and safe to use on the road. Other people with no car would have loved to have the cars he didn't drive and enjoy but he kept them all.
That's all, there is some advice in there, take it or leave it, guess I am missing him.
I hear what you are saying Ray as I too am single, big house, garage and more than 11 cars........... But, I treat these like my kids and I am sure Hillar did the similar same thing.......
Getting more irked everyday, I have people telling me the same thing and here lately when people ask me why I have so many, I tell them because I can, I do, I want and I will!!! This is me.... If you don't like it, look away but most of all I request these people not be jealous!! (as many are)
I do enjoy them and I license 5-6 different ones at a time in the summer but that being said, license and insurance is a lot cheaper here..... My cars are like kids, thay are all different.....
Guess he had his quirks just like the rest of us do and that was what made him, him and why you miss him so much!!
Just 2 pennies........
-- Edited by 67Poncho on Tuesday 7th of December 2010 07:48:16 PM
Hey fellas I know this is a CP site - but since a few guys here were the first to point out that I have this really bad 68 Chev sickness where I say one thing ("I'm selling everything...") and then did something else (bought the two Caprice Estate wagons) - I figured I'd share my latest dumb-ass maneuver.
The car on the left was recently on ebay - the car on the right I've owned since 1988 - so now I have twins!
All I can say is that its a good time to buy stuff in the US - the day I brought this in the exchange rate was 1.01 - the day I brought the car on the right into Canada back in 1988 across the Ambassador bridge the exchange rate was probably 1.38.
I wondered who bought that black convertible on E-bay. Now I know. I would love to have even one of your collection, and I understand why you have so many. It's a passion.
You are right, it's never been a better time to buy in the States what with the poor economy and the exchange rate advantage.
It's funny, but when the economic conditions weren't so great, the exchange rate was poor and the 427 SS cars were overpriced a few years ago I held back on getting one of these 68 SS427 cars even though I had the money at the time.
Now the exchange rate is better, as are the prices, but I'm reluctant to spend a lot of money just in case the economy here falls on hard time (though there's no sign of that in our Province to tell the truth) just as I'm getting ready to retire in the next couple of years.
At the same time I understand going for what you really want; my wife has been telling me for years to get rid of some of the cars, and spend more $$ on one or two that I really want (say a 68 SS427 convt and a 61-62 Catalina Super Duty). I just haven't been able to convince myself to do that - too many interests.
I hear what you are saying Ray as I too am single, big house, garage and more than 11 cars........... But, I treat these like my kids and I am sure Hillar did the similar same thing.......
Getting more irked everyday, I have people telling me the same thing and here lately when people ask me why I have so many, I tell them because I can, I do, I want and I will!!! This is me.... If you don't like it, look away but most of all I request these people not be jealous!! (as many are)
I do enjoy them and I license 5-6 different ones at a time in the summer but that being said, license and insurance is a lot cheaper here..... My cars are like kids, thay are all different.....
Guess he had his quirks just like the rest of us do and that was what made him, him and why you miss him so much!!
Just 2 pennies........
-- Edited by 67Poncho on Tuesday 7th of December 2010 07:48:16 PM
Vincent, I happen to be happily married but I can assure you I understand your being irked with people who don't understand you.
Not everyone wants to be married, not everyone wants to drink beer, not everyone wants to travel, not everyone wants to be a millionaire and so on and so on and son on.......
Personally, I have very little use for television, I hate beer, opera bores me and I don't care if I never visit New York city.
Last time I checked it was not illegal or immoral for you to have a yard full of cars and have fun with them.
DaveJ, I hope you're having fun, is all I can say!!! You should be with a collection like that!
__________________
1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars (now converted to a "factory" 4 speed)
All I'm saying is don't leave your family out to dry. I'm here witnessing first hand the serious and divisive problems that a massive collection of cars creates for the family and estate. It is incredible to witness how ruthless people can become. Poor Hillar's father is 86 and I can't describe how he is being treated by Hillar's sister all over a bunch of old cars. I suppose seeing him today in such a poor state, a man that was full of life and vigor was a a bit too much for me.
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