Thread: What's your ideal family cruiser?

Tweet

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!!!!!

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. 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 ? .
2 door hard top w/ plenty of room & still have a little room in the trunk

no air bags...
no nav/com...
very comfortable

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??

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 can fit at leat 5 big bodies
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

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!!!!

(Or maybe an Albertan!) Shudder!!!!