Having had my 1976 Eldorado for just over a year, I still check the ads and Bring a Trailor site religiously. Very tempted to buy another car; this time an older caddy. Just with my 92 Bentley - had it for almost 10 years, but have been eyeing 1960/1970s Rollses.
On the other hand, I think it would be nice to hold on to the car's for decades.
What about you? Do you tend to hold? Or switch?
Leonard Grayver
I had my '60 CDV for 15 years, and only sold it to finance the '72 Eldo that I purchased in 2007, and still own, and will for many many years.
I have had my '70 Ranchero Squire for 28 years.
Bruce. >:D
PS. I have always had to sell my car to purchase the next one, as being on wages all my working life, I never had the wherewithal to buy and keep more than one, except when I had my Hot Rods, but I had to have a driver whilst I was building them. Now, with a retirement home looming way ahead in the distance, I will have to one day rationalise. Hard ti find a retirement home that will allow me to park 3 cars and a boat.
This August , I will have owned my '49 fastback 41 years.
I've only had my 76 Eldorado for one year but I've wanted this car for 40 years and cannot imagine just moving on to a different one. I also have a hefty chunk of change into making it back into a regular, reliable vehicle capable of driving cross country without worry so I want to enjoy it for a good long time.
Now the previous owner was different. He buys cars, owns them for a few years, then sells them to get a different car. He likes the experience of something new all the time.
Different strokes, eh?
Great topic, thanks for posting.
The short answer is I buy a car I want and keep it. Never sold one yet.
It takes a lot of time to cure minor issues often through trial and error (annoying rattle, intermittent electrical, and etc.) and bring these cars to mechanical perfection so that they drive as new. I love driving them and that is how they are enjoyed. My career and family are huge time demands, but you have to drive places and using the classic kills two birds with stone. During the season, my classics are pressed into service as daily drivers in nice weather and where destinations and traffic are safe.
1970 DVC, red purchased November 2005, and still own it.
1970 commercial coach made Cadillac with factory warranty - FOUR door convertible, purchased November 2009 and still own it.
1970 SDV, silver purchased November 2012, and still own it.
Since these are toys and not investments, not too concerned about if I'm upside down or whatever - they are fun and usually do not deny them any attention required, but it takes time. The red DVC is mechanically as new - perfect, the silver SDV is almost there - got a bug or two yet to fix, but very enjoyable, and the four door convertible is just about mechanically restored and will go off for paint hopefully this month - just finished wiring.
Enjoy your Cadillacs!
Forever
Len,
You are, as they say, a glutton for punishment. 8)
You spent a lot of money straightening out your 76 Eldo so keep it for a while. You also have a 92 Bently (moneypit) and are considering an older Rolls? Another maintenance nightmare.
Stick with Caddy's would be my advice. You live in the land of rust-free cars. Any decent mechanic can keep a 60's or 70's Cadillac running with fairly reasonable parts.
Now back to the topic. I have a few keepers. These are cars that I have lusted after for many years and when the right car came up and I had the funds to pull the trigger, I bought them. I will own them until I either cannot drive any longer due to age, or I die first. I'm pushing 60 so I think I have a few miles left in me.
1976 Eldo Convert, Black, Red Interior.....................Purchased 2003
1980 Eldo Custom convertible..................................Purchased 2008
1960 62 Series Convertible......................................Purchased 2010
1970 DeVille Convertible..........................................Purchased 2013
1966 Olds Toronado................................................Purchased 2013
1960 Eldorado Seville.............................................Purchased 2013 (Under restoration)
1985 Eldorado Biarritz Convertible..........................Purchased 1990 (Not running but stored indoors and keeping for reasons even I do not understand...)
These are my current "Keepers" The 76 Eldo believe it or not would be the last one I would ever sell if I needed to scale down to owning only one of these cars.
Having bought my first Cadillac Convertible, a 70 DeVille in 1977, I have owned a lot of other collectible Cadillacs and Packards through the years. Most of us here are pretty committed to the years we like and tend to keep the cars for a long time.
Brian
My '61 for 18 years, wife wont let me selll it.
The '76, 11 years, I don't want to sell it.
'03 Tbird, original owner.
STS, original owner with 24k miles.
'70 convert, 7 years.
When young, I didn't keep cars very long, but from middle age onward have tended to keep them a long time.
I've owned my '49 Cadillac Club Coupe for 33 years since 1984. Couldn't sell it even if I wanted, as the wife would object. I think it gets better every year and it did win prizes for some years, though it now needs a paint job and is "for display only" at GNs.
I sold a '32 Ford in 2012 that I had bought in 1974, making 38 years. I had gotten tired of dealing with 2 old cars and was made an offer I couldn't refuse
I usually keep daily drivers a long time, too. In Oct. 2013, I finally sold a '79 VW Rabbit that I had bought new, after almost 35 years. It still ran well after almost 300K miles, but was on its 3rd engine and had been given a major paint and body makeover in 2001. The young buyer made a hot rod out of it.
I bought my 72 Eldo new in 1971 and kept it for 42 years. My 66 CDV was my daily driver for 22 years (93-2015). The others are the new kids,21 years, 14 years and 5 years. In the 70's, before I bought my Eldo I used to get a new car just about every year, but after the Eldo nothing new (I wanted a new eldo and was waiting for them to change style) seemed worth buying, so I stayed with it (Eldo) and aded great cars when they came along.
Greg Surfas
Kept a 37 Buick convertible for almost 30 years, always wanted a Cadillac of the same year but they are not very common here in the UK so added another convertible to it. When I did eventually find the Cadillac and restored it I had no use for the Buicks. The hardest thing then is the sentimental attachment. Had to let it go eventually but it was a real wrench. Didn't like that situation but it just wasn't being used. Don't have 30 years left so I guess it won't be a problem again. ;D
Sadly, I need to sell one car before replacing it with another due to funds. 25years ago I stopped counting my cars and had reached 55, get bored quick and like trying different models/. So probably owned over 100 over the years (mainly British stuff). The previous owner of my Eldo had owned it for just over 20yrs and apparently it had one owner in the US (which equals 19 years) Wish I had the money and space to keep cars because over the last 10yrs I`ve owned a 55 Chevy Bel Air 4 door, 57 Chevy Bel Air 2 door hard top, 78 Trans Am, 84 Corvette, 97 SuperDuty F250 truck, E150 DayVan, and three Harley`s, but sadly all gone now :( Now got my Cadillac Eldorado Barritz Custom Classic ;D
My dad bought the 63 I have, new, May 10th 1963. My mom and I picked the car up from the dealer when it was ready for delivery. Dad gave the title to me in August of 1991. I've been fortunate to have been able to drive this car since it was new, I don't plan on turning loose of it any time soon. ;)
Had mine 4 years next week. It's my first and plan to keep it. I have had the plane as a partner since 92 and by myself since 97 so longevity seems to be in my blood.
Jeff
1987 El Camino (my first purchase), 30 years
1977 Eldorado, 19 years
1968 Eldorado, 18 years
2001 Monte Carlo, almost 17 years
1989 Riviera, 3 years (purchased new by my folks)
1995 Riviera, 1 year (purchased new by my folks)
I acquired my 76 coupe deville since February 1, 1977 and intend to take it to the grave with me. I consider this style much more appealing than the 76 Eldorado because of its lack of skirts and the layout of the front fenders sticking out to hold the car back when traveling 50 or more MPH. As it is said: "TO EACH HIS OWN". EAM
I purchased an '83 Eldorado with 58k in '92 and decided that I was not going to give up on it come hell or water... it literally died in 2013 with 315K miles on the 4100 engine that came with the car . In the last five or eight years, I had to "shift the transmission" from 1st through 2nd, as it had a tendency, when hot, to jump to 3rd, and the 4100 couldn't do much with 3rd at 20 mph. I think I had- Maaco paint the car 3 times. My wife and I replaced the vinyl top. Obviously, I loved the old car, Old Red and I were pals for 24 years... and every Sunday, I'd wash and spray wax it. We lived in flat FLorida, and I rarely, if ever, down shifted--- I am certain that I annoyed hundreds of people over year... never wishing to push my luck with the engine.
I'm definitely in the "buy and hold" camp. Had my '59 Fleetwood for 28 years. Debated long and hard about whether to do a serious re-restoration or move on, but decided to move on, trading it (in part) for a '60 Seville in December, 2012. And then Dan LeBlanc's '61 Fleetwood somehow found its way across the continent and into my garage a few months ago. Will I keep these cars for 28 years? Perhaps.
Compared to most of you guys, I'm still fresh at this stuff even though I've owned some Caddies over the years. 8) :D
I bought my 64 SDV 2 years ago and plan on keeping this car FOREVER! It's one of my favorite looking Cadillac's besides for the 59 and the 49-56 models. It's condition, low miles, and the fact that everything is there and it runs well is another reason I will never sell it. I will be buried with this car. :)
72 SDV I owned for 2 years. Great performing car, and bulletproof but the body needed work and it wasn't a Cad I truly wanted.
68 CD owned for 2 years as well. Very cool sleek sexy car, but sold to buy another dream car of mine.
61 Lincoln Continental (10 years) great car, but it needed too much work and after comparing the styling to Cadillacs, they are bland and boring looking to me now.
94 Cadillac Fleetwood that I've owned for 8 years now, don't know if I will ever sell just because the car still runs great (very reliable), is huge inside and it's comfortable to drive. It's still my daily driver too. They're becoming a rare sight and people are starting to compliment it since you never see these cars anymore and because of how big the car is.
78 Lincoln Continental I still own (5 years), and I will never sell this car either. It's the last of huge Lincolns, the car rides like your riding on clouds, it's ultra comfortable and looks really cool. Also, another dream car of mine that I don't think I can ever part with.
1976 Olds 98 Regency 42 years (purchased new Nov 1975 after my 70 Coupe de Ville was totaled in accident)
1982 Ford Pickup 35 years (purchased new by my dad August 1982))
1989 Sedan de Ville ( purchased October 1989 one of the most reliable cars I have ever owned)
1994 Concours (purchased March 1995) 22 years
2009
DTS (purchased April 2010) 7 years
Guy R Moore
CLC #12650
64CaddieLacky,
One of my best friends parents bought a 79 Lincoln Continental because it was the very last year of the large cars before being downsized in 1980. They normally bought a new Cadillac every single year, but since this was the last year they had to have one. The 1979 was equipped with a 400 engine, and the 78 was the last year of the 460 engine. My friend got the Lincoln often to drive because both of his parents did not like it. It was very cool driving around in this large brand new car. It was triple teal. My driver at the time was a 1968 Thunderbird with a 429 engine 4bbl and it was fast. The 400 cu in engine powered Lincoln seemed very slow by comparison and the Lincoln was best at hauling a lot of people super comfortably. 1978 is probably a great year to own with the 460 engine - I would keep it too. I really like the styling of the Lincoln Continental Coupes (not Marks) 1970-73 too.
1979 Lincoln 400 was 2 bbl; 460 had 4 bbl so that didn't help.
1978 is generally preferred among the Lincoln crowd.
Funny thing is that most Cadillac owners don't really care about Lincolns. ;)
Bruce. >:D
Bruce your right.
Lincoln was a pretty good war time president.
After that, not so much............A 57 Eldorado was pretty good though.....
Mike #15848
Interesting Post,
Seems that I keep most of my cars and don't sell them.
The first was the 1956 CDV got the old girl for $525.00 in San Francisco 39 years ago. Just got thru rebuilding the engine and tranny on her for at least the 4th time. I am done this is the last rebuild for me on this gem. But it is a great driver with AC and all the other options.
The next one was a 1953 CDV which I bought from long time member Elmer Brown. He gouged me for $2500.00 in 1982 or about 35 years ago. Had to bring it home from Bakersfield to Concord.
Then a 1949 Cadillac 62 series followed me home in 1985, about 32 years ago. A parts store owner made me go look at this in Concord, Ca. I think this was another $1500.00 purchase were I barely had the money to buy it. Wife is still with me after 43 years.
Then the 1938 65 Series, 5 passenger, limo enticed me in 1988. This came out of San Jose and I paid way to much for it $3500.00. The guy let it sit in his backyard for 10 years, it used to be a nice car, but no so much when I towed It home. But most of the parts were there. This one is next to get restored - if I don't kick the bucket first.
Finally, I am living in Golden Colorado when a friend calls me from Livermore, California about the 1937 LaSalle Coupe he just found. $1500.00 later my buddies brought the LaSalle to Nevada where I picked it up and towed it home. What a mess this one was. This was in April so it only snowed around 5" inches there and back. What fun. Oh this one was brought home in 1996, 21 years ago.
This one was restored and we drive it on tours and such.
The Johnny
Forever. pass it on to the next generation ...my dad had the 47 caddy for 45 yrs...now me and then my son ;D
John your writing style is always very engaging and informative. I particularly enjoyed your use of a number of memorable phrases such as a car that "followed (you) home", and how another car owner "made (you) go look at" his car. I bought my first 1956 Cadillac, a CDV, in 1976 and had to part ways when I got married 7 years later. It was a car from hell, and when it failed to start on the day of my wedding, that was it. We parted ways after 7 years. That "marriage" ended on the day the one to my new Bride began. I did keep a lot of tough to find parts though, as I warned the wife that I "would have to buy another '56 someday". She did not take me seriously. Still have all of those parts after 41 years. I also had a '56 SDV, (kept it 7 years), but went 30 years without a another '56, until I acquired my current ride, a 1956 Cadillac Limousine which I have owned for 5 years.How about keeping parts without a car for 41 years? Anyhow, the wife hates it.When I told her I had to buy it because I have so many parts for it, she was unmoved. The day I test drove it, several buddies were over at the house all driving their vintage '50s Caddies. All long and black, just like in the Johnny Cash song. One was a '57 Limo that my buddy has owned 39 years.What a site to see them all parked out front. A neighbor later remarked that it "looked like a meeting of the 5-Families" at my place! Clay/Lexi
In response to the original post:
I have had my 1962 Oldsmobile Dynamic 88 convertible since 2005.
I had my 1955 Cadillac Coupe DeVille from 2009 through 2015.
The 1963 Corvair Monza, 1985 Buick Riviera and 1992 Allante (all rides for the Mrs) lasted only a few years.
Bought my 1937 Buick Special Business Coupe in 1970...when I was 23. Still have it. That's 47 years.
Bought the 1985 Lincoln Town Car new in fall of 1984. Still have it. Almost 33 years.
Bought the BMW Z-3 new in 2000. Still have it 17 years later.
Purchase our 1940 LaSalle series 52 Coupe in June of 2016. Plan to keep all these cars for the remainder of my life...with the possible exception of the 37 Buick
Bob. R.
Quote from: The Tassie Devil(le) on May 06, 2017, 07:39:58 PM
Funny thing is that most Cadillac owners don't really care about Lincolns. ;)
Bruce. >:D
That's for sure! EAM
I do Love my Cadillac and it is a good thing because I am poor and cannot afford to replace it anyway. I purchased it in October 2014.