Here’s the latest Impala in Jason Bagge’s life-for now! He acquired it, like he has so many other times with his vintage rolling stock, by being in the right place at the right time. Sometimes this can be both a blessing and a curse.
How so? Simple. One good deal leads to another. And another. So there are times when Jason goes from zero old Broughams/Darts/etc to four or five. Then it’s pruning time!
Heck, approximately a year and a half ago, a silver-blue 1976 Caprice Classic sedan sat in this very spot. That was another one I told him he should keep. It never works. 🙂
Such is the case with this fawn-colored 1976 Impala pillared sedan.
I know what you’re thinking: “Wait a minute, that’s a 1975 Caprice! Yes, it does indeed have a 1975 Caprice Classic nose. But it really is an Impala. Some previous owner must have changed it at some point, or it was in an accident and they couldn’t find the correct grille and filler panels. At any rate, it was done right, and the paint matches!
But back to the multiple-old-car dilemma.
Around the same time he got the Impala, he also scored a nice 1974 Chrysler New Yorker Brougham four-door pillared sedan.
Then a 1973 Maverick with aftermarket Montgomery Ward A/C showed up, for a mere $900.
And just this week, a 1972 Dodge Dart Swinger. He will almost certainly be keeping the Dart, as it is absolutely identical to the Dart his parents had when he was a kid. Paint, top, interior, everything. He grew up in a car just like this one!
Something had to give, so the Impala was listed on the electronic bay, along with his previous 1978 Mercury Marquis and 1973 Chevrolet Bel Air. Yes, as a matter of fact, it IS hard to keep track of all his cars! In the approximately four years I’ve known Jason, he has, conservatively, gone through about 50 1970s-era cars.
Ask him his favorite, and he will probably say, “The next one!” Ha ha!
Of course, the Impala was at the opposite end of the spectrum from this morning’s Vega Cosworth, though with a base price of $4,706 before options, an Impala was a much better deal.
Heck, even the top of the Chevrolet full-size line, the Caprice Classic Landau coupe, was cheaper than the dual-cam Vega, at $5,284 versus $6,066 for the Vega-matic. And yes, Jason had a Landau as well.
Two, in fact!
The auction ended Tuesday, topping out at $3,650. Not a bad deal for a clean, rust free land yacht. But Jason has had trouble with fake bidders, or bidders that bid with zero intention of following through. Such is the state of ebay in The Year Of Our Lord 2018. So on the perhaps 50/50 chance the winning bidder flakes out, this car may still be around and available. If anyone’s gotta have it, let me know and I’ll pass the word. Until then, ladies and germs, keep calm and Brougham on!
Wow ;
That’s a sweetie and cheap @ $3,700 .
I didn’t like these when new but they’re comfortable old cars now .
-Nate
The Impala is part of automotive history – and deserves preservation. On that account alone.
On no others.
I mean no personal attack. But…let’s be candid. I was a newly-minted driver and looking out at the sea of auto choices…I look at such bloatmobiles and just wanna puke.
Time has brought wisdom and perspective. Those cars both served a purpose, met a demand, and were the result of the confluence of regulations and demand.
There was nothing in that market for an enthusiast’s needs. Can anyone wonder why the Super Beetle sold, sold well, even used?
This car isn’t for you. It’s not for me, either. This was the car our fathers and maybe grandfathers aspired to, or thought necessary to wind their way through the world.
We did not. But, there were lots of choices, ranging from the Super Beetle to a Cricket, a Corolla, a Pacer, a Fiat X-1/9, a Maverick and to the Trans Am Burt Reynolds used in Smokey and the Bandit.
Now, that New Yorker… THAT could be for me if I wanted to assume the mantle of a Brougham-bro. Those big Mopars were something else.
I have no idea why your even comparing Super Beetles(no stellar piece of equipment in it own right it you’d like to go over a list of its issues) to an Impala, as if those car even existed in the same sphere where one would be considered against the other………
My world, as a new driver, heading out on my own.
A lot of the advice I got, was get a big, heavy car…like a real American. You’ll be “safer.”
Well, maybe.
For me, it depends on the brougham. Normally I don’t care for the 1971-76 big Chevys, preferring what arrived in ’77. However, that black Landau coupe is something I would definitely take home and love, if only I had the space.
Also…..no ones driving around in big bloat mobiles today as family cars either huh?
Time has just changed the shape of the whale and made it taller…….
On the other hand….I’d love to have me some Maverick.
I’ve got a soft spot for that car. Family had one, once the Jeep Wagoneer went away.
$900 is weekend mad-money.
These were generally rated as the best of the big-3 full-sizers at the time, but comparing them to the 1977 downsized Impala/Caprice really shows how much improved the 1977s were in design, interior appointments, and space utilization.
if you know your Impala history the 1976 Impala took on the looks of the 75 Caprice Classic, when the Caprice for 76 went with the square headlights.
Must be a great old cruiser!