I've been thinking about buying a car that I could haul the family around in on road trips and to shows. I'd like to get a mid-60's B-body chevy. What would your ultimate family cruiser be?
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I've been thinking about buying a car that I could haul the family around in on road trips and to shows. I'd like to get a mid-60's B-body chevy. What would your ultimate family cruiser be?
When my kids were little we always kept a van conversion. It was nice to have the TV/VCR etc to keep them busy. We had an 87 Dodge D250 long wheelbase and an 89 Chevy 3/4 ton. That was before gas was $3 gallon though. The chevy had a 38 gallon gas tank and the first time I filled it up I had to look under it to make sure I wasn't pouring it on the ground.
If I were going to do a hotrod family grocery getter I'd go with a 66 or 67 Chevy II wagon. You could go with a SBC and a 700R4 or 4L60 and get 20-24 mpg.
What about 1963-1965 Falcon 4dr wagon. cheap to fix/ restore, cheap to buy. original 6cyl can get about 20 mpg, if a v8 car, about the same. switch to a EFI 302 and get closer to 30 mpg.
Mine would be a two seater and a good baby-sitter for the kids!!!!!:LOL: :LOL: :LOL: :LOL:
Big ole 48 4dr Desoto:)
If it had to be a GM product, I would go with 60 or 61 Olds bubble top. Sharp cars, lotta room, not very expensive, although parts may be a bit of a challange. Different, comfortable, and good looking.
Jack
Under ideal circumstances, I would have to say my 57 Olds. Great old car, heavy, stable, comfortable for 4 with the rear console, plenty of power with the 371 c.i. and the 3x2's.:D But with an mpg of 6-10 and today's gas prices, it doesn't get the long haul use it once did. :( In order to make it better, it probably needs an upgrade to a 502 with Mooneyes 3x2 injection and a 700r4. That's just what the old girl needs, unfortunately there are to many other priorities right now.:(
my pick right now: 1964 Ford Galaxie 500/XL ,auto/390 ,four barrel ,if you keep your foot out of it , it's not to bad on gas but the two barrel will drink it down ? .:cool:
2 door hard top w/ plenty of room :LOL: & still have a little room in the trunk :eek: :LOL:
no air bags...
no nav/com...
very comfortable:cool:
T L
I'd have to say one of those old Dodge airport limo's (I know a wrecking yard a guy has with about 3 of them in it) a seperate seat and set of doors for each kid. all shaved and frenched. Good sound system, probably some dvd setup for kids, updated drive train with a kick ass engine like the Mopar 472 crate motor pumping out 500 plus hp. geared for cruising on the highways, ,aybe a quick change rear end for around town fun, taking the girls to soccer games and what not. maybe tangerine orange with a white top?
I think mine would be one of those 57 Pontiac Bonnevilles they looked huge as a kid. Second choice would be a 64 chevy Impala 327 4speed with power steering and air maybe not stock but not too wild.
65 Impala SS, would be my first choice, and was my first car. Do an EFI motor, and overdrive with 3:08 gears. Add a Vintage Air system and a good stereo system. Or if gas is not a concern a Vista Cruiser wagon with a 455.
Ron
mine is going to be this 67 buick wagon, real soon!
300 cu. in 2 brl. and a power gld.
PS. sorry if it didn't load up picture, seems like I'm
having trouble loading pic. anybody else with problem??:HMMM:
When my Kids were little we drove a 55 Nomad with a 365" Cad & Hydro.
That'll work for me. I broke so many SBC the Cad fixed that problem.
right now my 66 ford custom 4 dr does a really good job over 25 mpg with the 289 3 in a tree , just wish it had power steering and power brakes and a 4 on the floor and it would be more wife friendly, its got a trunk any gangster would be proud of :LOL: can fit at leat 5 big bodies:HMMM:
other than that and wash my mouth out , a 4 dr toyota landcruiser fj60 oil burner, under powered,unbreakable had over 360 thousand miles on original engine and trans when someone crushed the side in while it was parked , the buckets were toutching together after so it was beyond saving:CRY: :CRY:
My dream cruiser would be a 1960 Plymouth Fury. Slam that ugly mother, stuff a 440/727 in it, and marry an Arab so she could supply the gas! (Or maybe an Albertan!) Shudder!!!!
:LOL: :LOL: :LOL: :LOL: :LOL:Quote:
(Or maybe an Albertan!) Shudder!!!!
The forty's fat fender sedans have enough room for the whole family and can still be made to be a cool street rod. Of course I am a little prejidice.
Ever time I think about this a certain B-body comes into mind. I found this picture on another site and I think it's perfect.
Something like this, with a modern EFI motor for mileage and good manners. Maybe one not quite this nice so I would not be afraid about getting a ding.
1935 Studebaker Dictator
I cart my wife and three kids all over in my 64 Galaxie 4dr. the kids love it. no radio, no TV, no a/c, just windows down and loud(ish) dual exhaust. I had to install seat belts for the three car seats and re-cover the seats so my wife will come along, but it has been worth it for sure. We've put about 2500 miles on the old 289 2bbl this summer. We get about 20 mpg the whole way! Doesn't matter what you get as long as you can bring the family along. This has a ton more space than our SUV does. The kids don't 'have' to fight over touching. sounds like (whiney voice) "he's touching me!"
I saw this monster at Rhinebeck and Burlington last month. There is enough roof length for a corporate jet to land and take off!! I never did see the owner though.
i have never had any trouble haulin the ol lady and the brats around to shows
the milage aint bad if you keep your foot out of it:LOL: :LOL:
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x...d/IM000261.jpg
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x...mobmain5-2.jpg
lots of room for heathens!
Wow that Galaxie and that Impala are badass!
the trunk comes in kinda handy the secret pass words are
"your driving to fast"
"when are we gonna be there?"
"were hungry"
"we need to pee"
"so and so touched me"
"can we stop at that flea market?"
or any other situations that fall under "failer to comunicate"
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x...cture268-1.jpg
Couple years in the making, but I have mine.
57 Plymouth 2dr Post
Tri Power 354 Hemi
Overdrive 4 speed
Cruise Control
AC
Stereo
Reclining Pass seat (wife loves it)
20 MPG (premium fuel)
i love it mike kinda reminds me of Cristine:D
Quote:
Originally Posted by IC2
That wagon is just drop dead gorgeous!!!! Now if I could just find one and make it into a two door, then.............:LOL: :LOL: :LOL:
48 Ford Convertible
dave you couldnt just cut it in half? :3dSMILE: i agree as well the wagon is a beaut:3dSMILE:Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave Severson
Find a nice Seville or Deville. They're good for up to 4 passenger and comfy.
I have a 300HP Eldo Touring Coupe that is a super cruiser. It goes effortlessly at 80 all day and got 28.8 MPG over a couple hundred miles and down to 24.8 for 465 miles last year averaging 75.
It's quiet, smooth but performance suspension, 4 discs stop it, has good A/C and music. Mine has factory 12 CD in trunk. It's dependable. More dependable than some relic from the 60s if you care about comfort and safety.
Sure something old can be made to be dependable but you gotta go through the learning curve every time you drive it till you get to that point as stuff breaks and you replace it.
^^^ Good car... I had a '94 ETC and it was great cruisin' car (for 2) until I gave it one too many passes down the drag strip :LOL: