This past summer, I had a need, as I often do, for frozen Jewel-brand Supreme pizzas, Gordon’s gin, Canada Dry tonic water, and other miscellaneous must-have household items. As is my wont, I headed over to the nearby Jewel-Osco to restock, and as I parked, what did I spy, but this rough but still running silver-over-gray 1977 Caprice Classic sedan. Rough. But still with us!
Yes, I still see 1977-90 Caprices around town. Not as often as I used to, but they’re still around, here and there. Of course, most of the running examples spotted on the road are the later 1986-90 versions, in varying states of condition.
But a 77-79 version is pretty uncommon. So before I waltzed in to the grocery store, I took a few pictures for posterity. This was a fairly upscale one, with its optional two-tone paint. A reminder it’s been forty two years since they were new, at least via model year. As was the case for years, they first started appearing in Chevrolet dealerships in Autumn ’76.
I saw a similar coupe, worn but much less rusty than this one, a while back. Those coupes were nice looking, with that bent-glass rear window and trim lines. Of course, many more sedans were sold.
Caprice Classic sedans, in The Year Of Our Lord 1977, sold 212,840 units. Caprice Classic coupes, a little less at 62,366. An additional 9,607 Caprice Classic Landau coupes sold.
Clearly, the sedan was the more popular body style. In addition, 33,639 3-seat and 22,930 2-seat Caprice Classic wagons were built.
Two of those ’77 Caprice Classic wagons, with Estate woodgrained flanks, were prominent in my neighborhood when I was a kid. One was root beer brown; the other, cream. I have no idea whether they were 6- or 8-passenger models though!
When new, these right-sized B-bodies sold like dollar beer at a Cubs game. But naturally, many have fallen the past forty-odd years to use, abuse, and just plain attrition. But they’re still out there, every now and then.
These were Chevrolet’s bread and butter cars then. What is today? Just based on what I see on the road, I’m guessing the Equinox, as they are freaking EVERYWHERE in my Midwestern city. I’d rather have a Caprice, myself.
So, have any of you fine folks seen an uncommon old car out in public recently?