What MOPAR should I buy?

[Daprofessor]

I am not sure if this is the correct forum (and i am sure not all of these are MOPARS) or a place to ask but ..I want to purchase a v8 land yacht preferably from 77-85 w/ 4 doors.

Which one of these should I buy...I only can afford one at most for $3500-4500 that is .


I broke it down to this
Buick Lesabre
Chrysler Newport?
Cadillac Brougham/Fleetwood
Lincoln Town car
Pontiac Bonneville
Chevrolet Caprice Classic
Dodge Monaco ( or St.regis/diplomat?)
Plymouth Gran Fury/Fury

I dont want a Crown Vic or Grand Marquis

I heard that Chrysler had terrible quality control in the 80s(and others say they all did)....and that Pontiac had the best because they were based in Canada? Forgive me for my ignorance ..just trying to find a project car(that may also be used as a daily driver). I would perfer something from late 70s aswell like 77-79 because my gramps used to have.. one just something to remind me of him(and also because it may become a daily driver so I would need to save on gas)

 

[tbm3fan]

Hmm, I know the 1977 Caprice was Motor Trends Car of the Year and they liked it a lot. Really caught Chrysler and Ford flatfooted when it came to the first downsize of full size V8 cars. The 77 and 78 are the years their fans tend to look for and consequently hard to find in good shape and not messed up with 22-24" rims.

 

[LeBaron1973]

I am not sure if this is the correct forum (and i am sure not all of these are MOPARS) or a place to ask but ..I want purchase a v8 land yacht preferably from 77-85 w/ 4 doors.

Which one of these should I buy...I only can afford one atmand for $3500-4500 that is .


I broke it down to this
Buick Lesabre (GM)
Chrysler Newport?
Cadillac Brougham/Fleetwood (GM)
Lincoln Town car (Ford)
Pontiac Bonneville (GM based in Michigan)
Chevrolet Caprice Classic (GM)
Dodge Monaco ( or St.regis/diplomat?)
Plymouth Gran Fury/Fury

I dont want a ford or Grand MarquisB

I heard that Chrysler had terrible quality control in the 80s(and others say they all did)....and that Pontiac had the best because they were based in Canada? Forgive me for my ignorance ..just trying to find a project car(that may also be used as a daily driver). I would perfer something from late 70s aswell like 77-79 because my gramps used to have a 74Monaco..just something to remind me of

The best thing is to search the internet for photos and information on these cars, maybe go see some or even attend a car show when it warms up again for you.
Just like buying new, see and sit in them and then buy the best one you can afford, nothing is as expensive as a cheap car.

I bought a 73 Imperial LeBaron sedan for $5000 and have since spent another $3000 or so repairing/replacing parts.

Bought a 79 Cadillac Limo here in Australia for $7500 and so far another $5000 with maybe another $5000 before she's complete - air conditioning repairs and new padded roof etc.

That's how it goes, pay a little more and minimise other expenses.

I wish you happy motoring whichever vehicle you select.

 

[1978 NYB]

Get a Formal.....74-78 C-Body.

 

[1978 NYB]

 

[cantflip]

Consider this one, he's on here and looking to sell... if it was leather interior I might have taken it already.

http://www.forcbodiesonly.com/mopar-forum/showthread.php?21012-1978-NYBS-in-OK

 

[detmatt]

Welcome to the site from the Motor City! Decent budget, go for a Mopar! (Chrysler, Plymouth or Dodge)

 

[commando1]

I'm more interested in giving an honest answer to this gentleman and helping him rather than blow our own horns.
Professor, you would be far better served to look at the RWD GM B/C bodies from 1971 - 1996.
Parts are plentiful and anybody can fix them.
THE 71 -76 are the last of the old behemoths and the downsized 77 - 90 are really nice too.
Myself, I still long for the 91 - 96 cars, especially the 94 - 96 Impala SS.

 

[1978 NYB]

Get a Formal.....74-78 C-Body.

View attachment 63465

That is an honest answer!

 

[Big_John]

I'm more interested in giving an honest answer to this gentleman and helping him rather than blow our own horns.
Professor, you would be far better served to look at the RWD GM B/C bodies from 1971 - 1996.
Parts are plentiful and anybody can fix them.
THE 71 -76 are the last of the old behemoths and the downsized 77 - 90 are really nice too.
Myself, I still long for the 91 - 96 cars, especially the 94 - 96 Impala SS.

Stan is really correct here. Despite our prejudice, a GM car might be the way to go.

IMHO, since you seem to have no preference, it comes down to what is available and what will give you the best bang for the buck. Look around and ask questions on forums like this.

 

[WorkerBee]

What year and model car did your Grandfather own?

 

[cantflip]

I'm more interested in giving an honest answer to this gentleman and helping him rather than blow our own horns.
Professor, you would be far better served to look at the RWD GM B/C bodies from 1971 - 1996.
Parts are plentiful and anybody can fix them.
THE 71 -76 are the last of the old behemoths and the downsized 77 - 90 are really nice too.
Myself, I still long for the 91 - 96 cars, especially the 94 - 96 Impala SS.

Stan is really correct here. Despite our prejudice, a GM car might be the way to go.

IMHO, since you seem to have no preference, it comes down to what is available and what will give you the best bang for the buck. Look around and ask questions on forums like this.

I responded earlier with one of the nicer cars for sale posted here. But, if your really on the cheap and don't care... I drove a '93 Roadmaster for years as daily transport... liked the car very much. parts are still mostly easy to get but GM went out of stock on the common little crap very shortly after production ended... I believe the aftermarket has caught up with most of it by now. These cars are now almost valueless, and can be had in useable condition for under $2k. watch out for the '94 up models, they have a few common moderately expensive flaws with their water pump and distributor arrangements. One thing I dislike, to my knowledge all are limited slip. I can drive it on a slick road giving it lots of respect, my wife can/has turned it around.

AS to Stan's desire for the SS... only the beaten ugly ones go cheap. Try a Roadmaster or Fleetwood... great commute cars... still a few years before I think they will have any real value. Yes, I watch them too. No, I don't predict the market very well.

 

[commando1]

I had a 94 Impala SS and a 96 Roadmaster wagon. I miss them
Had a 71 Estate wagon. Miss that one.
Had a 78 LeSabre Sport Coupe. Miss that one, too.
Had a 72 Riviera. Another one I miss.
HowTF did I end up in a NYB... lol

 

[65 500]

I had a 94 Impala SS and a 96 Roadmaster wagon. I miss them
Had a 71 Estate wagon. Miss that one.
Had a 78 LeSabre Sport Coupe. Miss that one, too.
Had a 72 Riviera. Another one I miss.
HowTF did I end up in a NYB... lol

Got tired of walking ?

 

[crv]

Where in Australia are you?, there's a '73 LeBaron (which I used to own many years ago) in Adelaide. Beautiful cars the 73's, got any photos of yours?

 

[cm23uoc]

I had a 94 Impala SS and a 96 Roadmaster wagon. I miss them
Had a 71 Estate wagon. Miss that one.
Had a 78 LeSabre Sport Coupe. Miss that one, too.
Had a 72 Riviera. Another one I miss.
HowTF did I end up in a NYB... lol

Moderators: Change his nick to GM-Stan. ;)

 

[cantflip]

I had a 94 Impala SS and a 96 Roadmaster wagon. I miss them
Had a 71 Estate wagon. Miss that one.
Had a 78 LeSabre Sport Coupe. Miss that one, too.
Had a 72 Riviera. Another one I miss.
HowTF did I end up in a NYB... lol

I always felt your NYB was a superior car in many ways to above cars. Well the LT1 cars had it all over the NYB fuel economy and still played very well power wise. Maybe its too much nostalgia, but I remember my old pos Imperial handling way better than the Roadmaster which is another big leather sofa on wheels. How was the SS in comparison? I don't remember if they upsized the sway bars or not, and I never really did much work on them.

 

[cantflip]

oops! 71 Estate... that thing shoulda had enough torque to drag a house of its foundation... still not sure about a sharp corner though.

 

[LeBaron1973]

Where in Australia are you?, there's a '73 LeBaron (which I used to own many years ago) in Adelaide. Beautiful cars the 73's, got any photos of yours?

I'm in Lockleys (5 minutes North of Adelaide Airport), my car is in Menasha Wisconsin with a friend and I hope to drive it next year.

I'll ask Perry for some then set up a photo site to post them from.

Where are you???

Currently here I have a 1978 Lincoln Mk V Emilio Pucci Edition, a 1978 Lincoln Town Car in Brown with Tan leather interior and Tan Vinyl roof, (will be for sale when I return from the US/Canada) a 1979 Cadillac Fleetwood Limousine in Blue with Blue velour interior and White padded roof (originally an all white vehicle before importation, I bought it from Ballarat in Victoria), and my RHD car is a 2014 Ford (Australia soon to be RIP) FG GT Falcon Boss 335 (KW = 450 HP) Sedan in Kinetic Blue with grey leather interior and the six speed Auto.

 

[crv]

I'm in Eudunda, in the Mid-North. Nice collection you've got there. The '73 LeBaron is one of my all-time favourite cars, have you seen the silver/black top one in Adelaide?