Finally! A winter warrior joins my MC family

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Posting this here ... because I know some of you will appreciate this, considering you know I've been searching for a "winter" car for a WHILE now.... he he.

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I FINALLY have a bona fide winter warrior! Introducing my 1979 Caprice Classic sedan:
http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/1979caprice/Welcome.html

Some of you may've already noticed the page on the website that Ray B created for me ... Ray included a link to the "Winter Beater Caprice" in the left column of the home page:
www.chevyasylum.com/cort

This dark blue and silver Caprice is my first true "2-tone" car; I've wanted a 2-tone for a LONG time.


I've been looking for a winter beater for a while, but with my 1987 Monte Carlo LS/CL starting to show a bit more rust on it this year than it had since I bought it in mid-2003, this was THE year to ensure it hibernated for the winter. Over the last few years, I've toyed with the idea of different "winter" cars...
...the 2009 Dodge Charger SXT (maroon) that I rented for my Route 66 road trip (September 2009) AND my trip to TN/AL (November 2009)
...a 1993 Cadillac Eldorado (owned by Alex of the First Gen MC Club)
...a 1996 Ford Thunderbird (owned by a lady at my dentist's office that I've known for years)
...a few different 1987/1988 MC LSs
...a 1977 Caprice Classic sedan
...a 1978 Caprice Classic coupe
...a 1978 Buick Riviera
...a 1996 Buick Riviera
...a 1996 Cadillac Eldorado
...a few different 2006 Lumina/monte carlo LTZ coupes (maroon/tan; silver/black; white/tan)
...and a few others.

My "ideal" car would've been a RWD coupe (namely the late 1980s Monte Carlos, the 1996 Ford Thunderbird or the 1978 Buick Riviera). I decided that I'd be OK with a RWD sedan (the Charger or Caprice) or a FWD coupe (the 1996 Buick Riviera, Cadillac Eldorados, etc.).


Similar to finding my '87 MC LS/CL, this 1979 Caprice Classic had been advertised for sale for over a year. I passed on it a year ago because I wanted a coupe. But, this year, the seller lowered the price to $500 ... and I grabbed it. My friend Randy W (from several MC groups/boards) picked it up for me in Missouri, Wednesday, November 11, 2009.

Despite the price, this '79 Caprice Classic is a solid car, and the miles on the odometer may be actual ... not over 100,000. Many thanks to Randy for doing some extensive work to make sure it is "winter ready". Among other things, Randy replaced...
...spark plugs (AC Delco)
...valve cover gaskets
...rear shocks (Monroe Sensa-Tracs)
...engine oil/filter (Pennzoil 10w30 and AC Delco PF454 oil filter)
...transmission fluid/filter
...alternator
...AC compressor
...power steering belts
...wiper blades
...starter
...radio (new CD player)
...battery
...front shocks
...idler arm
...mirrors on both sides
...front driver's side fender and front fascia and hood (damage from a previous accident)

Sunday, December 13, 2009, Derek and Janie (friends from central IL) met Randy in Springfield IL to pick up the car. I should have it from them sometime this week...!



Cort | 36swm.IL | "Mr Monte Carlo"."Mr Road Trip" | pig valve.pacemaker
CDshowcase | Sat.Dec 19, 5p-10p.central | Thu.Dec 24, noon.central = www.WRMN1410.com
"Uh, what model is it?" ... Johnny Cash ... 'One Piece At A Time'
 
The only thing I don't like about the later 70's models are the control arms rust out where the shock mounts to them. (Lower control arms that is)

Outside of that, you can take on a Kenworth and probably live to talk about it. :D
 
Cort - Which engine? (350? ? ? <g>)

Some years ago I had a 1993 Caddy Fleetwood Brougham (yeah, I know -- not really my type of car, but it was a company car). Had the Chevy 350 with throttle body fuel injection. Lots of fun at stoplights. . . no fun at gas pumps. The kid at the local station used to tell me " . . . you'd better shut it off -- the pump can't catch up!"
 
Perfect. - a necessity in the Midwest. I lived in Cleveland, OH for the first 13 years after I got out of college, so I have a keen appreciation for a fine Winter Beater.
 
Congratulations, Cort, on your newest "arrival"!;):p

0061bAImg.jpg
 
Oh wow. Congrats on the great Beater.
I used to drive the Impala twin of your car, it was a beast and I always felt safe in it.
(that back seat is a veritable couch) ;) stock up on pillows and blankets.
 
Congratulations on the new wheels Cort. Hey, if you ever come across a 1969 Buick Riviera - pink outside...(yes, it was a girlie car) with red plastic interior (surely they weren't leather in those days)...take a picture. I had one and sure wish I still had it....along with my baby blue 1965 Mustang with the white plastic interior! I remember the Mustang was $2,700. Hey that was a fortune back in those days..

Would you look at this...there's one in the Smithsonian..!
 
Free the Naugas..!!

Free the Naugas..!!

Oh my gosh Steve. Those poor little Naugas..:(

http://theinvisibleagent.wordpress.com/2009/03/28/the-nauga-monster-1960s/

They were everywhere and now there are none...only the 'collectables' are out there. In the old days, a Nauga was even on the Johnny Carson show..!

They were so plentiful you could invite a Nauga to your party..:D And now they are practically extinct..:eek: Such a cryin' shame..
 
Congratulations on the new wheels Cort. Hey, if you ever come across a 1969 Buick Riviera - pink outside...(yes, it was a girlie car) with red plastic interior (surely they weren't leather in those days)...take a picture. I had one and sure wish I still had it....along with my baby blue 1965 Mustang with the white plastic interior! I remember the Mustang was $2,700. Hey that was a fortune back in those days..

Would you look at this...there's one in the Smithsonian..!

Janie:

My sister had one of those 65 Mustangs too. I will never be able to look at a vintage Mustang without thinking of her car. Keep reading!

She was a junior or senior in high school (about 1972-73), and my parents sold her quarterhorse for another "horse." One day she & 2 friends pulled up in in front of a grocery store and saw 2 or 3 dudes walk hurriedly out of the store, holding a bag and carrying a gun. Thinking they're immortal, my sister & her friends decide to pursue the bandits! There really were bullets in that gun!!!
My sister turned off a side street, drove around and made it back home, where my dad called police with the bandits' license tag #. They hid my sister's Mustang in the garage for a while so Daddy could patch the bullet holes. The car then went from a blue (just like in the photo you posted) to red.
Blue was much, much prettier! I'm glad they only had to patch bullet holes in the car, not my sister or her friends.
 
LOL! How ironic ... it seems that this board has garnered the most responses to this post ... and I posted this on my car-related boards, too! Go figure, eh? LOL!!!!

John ... I don't own the garage, I rent from a friend of mine just west of town here. It is a heated garage ... and the older 4 MCs stay in it all year round. This is the first year that I've been able to put the '87 MC LS/CL daily driver in during the winter. Haven't decided yet what I will do with the Caprice come spring ... woops.

Steve ... 350 V8, which Randy converted to fuel injection for me ;).

Marsha ... I'm not sure yet. I think the '87 MC LS/CL is confused, since it is sitting/sleeping in the garage instead of playing in the snow (and salt, etc.). None of the MCs have "seen" the Caprice yet. May or may not happen before spring... he he he.

Bina ... yes, yes it is a couch. I need to, um, utilize that ... appropriately ... someday ;).

Janie ... I remember you telling me about your Mustang before! Don't know of any of those Rivieras right now ... but, I'll keep my eye out for ya, girlfriend ;).



Cort | 36swm.IL | "Mr Monte Carlo"."Mr Road Trip" | pig valve.pacemaker
CDshowcase.HOLIDAY | Thursday.December 24 | noon-3p.CENTRAL = www.WRMN1410.com
"Somebody snitched on me" ... Barry Gordon ... 'Nuttin' For Christmas'
 
Several pictures of my "Winter Warrier" 1979 Caprice Classic have been added...
http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/1979caprice/Welcome.html


While I haven't had time to prepare a few pics I took of it Saturday, 12/26/09 ...WITH ~10" OF SNOW ON THE CAPRICE..., newer pics on the website include...
...a better interior pic
...some emblem pics
...2 pics of it and the 2009 maroon Dodge Charger SXT I rented for my September 2009 Route 66 adventure and my November 2009 trip to TN/AL.



Pics of my MCs, all of which are hibernating this winter:
http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/mccollection.html

http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/mc1972/72monte.html

http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/mc1976/76monte.html

http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/mc1979/79monte.html

http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/mc1981/81monte.html

http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/mc1987/87monte.html




Cort | 36swm.IL | "Mr Monte Carlo"."Mr Road Trip" | pig valve.pacemaker
WRMNshowcase.legos.HO.models.MCs.RTs.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort
"When you kiss your little baby, you've kissed the face of God" ... Kenny Rogers/Wynonna ... 'Mary, Did You Know?'
 
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