O.K. just putting this out there so its clear what I am looking at. My first car was a 1974 Imperial and I have wanted another for years. I am familiar with the PITA of the rear discs, but in all but the lowest mileage garage queens that is probably a subtraction in selling price. Even in the mid 80's I couldn't get the park brake shoes and hardware.
My goal is a weekend cruiser, not a commute car. My priorities are: leather and clean interior... do not want to have to find that missing piece that matches. 440 engine, yes 400's are good, want the 440 even if its only a build core now. I am not a fan of the age related vinyl top issues, rust bubbles under vinyl is a major detraction as is a top that has sat in place and rotted so I have to wonder what its going to be like when replaced. No vinyl, money reduced, I could live with... I have done convertible tops before, I am willing to try this. Rust in general is not on any one's wish list... I will avoid most structural and visible rust through. I'm not stuck up about rust, I'm a second rate mud slinger and a third rate welder... spent the summer of my childhood gluing the family trickster back together with bondo...by the time I was 12, I did for some of the neighbors too. Thank you PA state inspection, learned early that I did not want to be a bodyman. Color matters, but isn't a deal breaker. I would pay a premium for a color I real like and I wouldn't disregard any car based on color alone.
Price vs. condition vs. attraction... I love the idea of the 3000 mile car, but I would double its mileage in the first few months just getting it home and showing it off. There are still very nice examples of these cars out there, I knew so many people who bought one thinking it was an investment as the era died, they were a bad investment then and I don't expect it to be a good one now. But bought for love, nothing else matters... single digit fuel economy, poor resale value and unlikely to ever recover repair expenses.
I am cheap. I don't flip cars. I work crazy hours sometimes and don't travel well so I may go months before I get to look at something not in my backyard. I am realistic and not fixated on one year, color, etc. except leather... not worth trying to replace an interior on one of these. I prefer 4 door or maybe 2 door hardtop, but I wouldn't rule out the Crown roof option.
My goal is a weekend cruiser, not a commute car. My priorities are: leather and clean interior... do not want to have to find that missing piece that matches. 440 engine, yes 400's are good, want the 440 even if its only a build core now. I am not a fan of the age related vinyl top issues, rust bubbles under vinyl is a major detraction as is a top that has sat in place and rotted so I have to wonder what its going to be like when replaced. No vinyl, money reduced, I could live with... I have done convertible tops before, I am willing to try this. Rust in general is not on any one's wish list... I will avoid most structural and visible rust through. I'm not stuck up about rust, I'm a second rate mud slinger and a third rate welder... spent the summer of my childhood gluing the family trickster back together with bondo...by the time I was 12, I did for some of the neighbors too. Thank you PA state inspection, learned early that I did not want to be a bodyman. Color matters, but isn't a deal breaker. I would pay a premium for a color I real like and I wouldn't disregard any car based on color alone.
Price vs. condition vs. attraction... I love the idea of the 3000 mile car, but I would double its mileage in the first few months just getting it home and showing it off. There are still very nice examples of these cars out there, I knew so many people who bought one thinking it was an investment as the era died, they were a bad investment then and I don't expect it to be a good one now. But bought for love, nothing else matters... single digit fuel economy, poor resale value and unlikely to ever recover repair expenses.
I am cheap. I don't flip cars. I work crazy hours sometimes and don't travel well so I may go months before I get to look at something not in my backyard. I am realistic and not fixated on one year, color, etc. except leather... not worth trying to replace an interior on one of these. I prefer 4 door or maybe 2 door hardtop, but I wouldn't rule out the Crown roof option.
