Cruisers

I know that there's more interest around here for sporty cars, but every now and then I do get the hankering for something with a bench seat and a column-shift automatic. Then I see this and really start wondering: http://classicmotorsports.net/reader-rides/3614/

Am I alone?

Honestly, yes, and more when I'm seeing a bunch of cool ones at events. Knowing that they were driven across multiple states to get there.

(an event at the Salt Flats comes to mind... )

A buddy an I have thought of making a cruising car that we can drive from Michigan to the Utah/Nevada border just for that. Maybe not column shifter- but for sure a cruising car more. Too many current projects keeps these ideas in check, though.

Eric

Me too. The most practical "muscle-car" would probably be something like an early 70's Impala convertible. Interesting. Easy to work on and get parts for. Gobbles up miles like they aren't there. A/C for times when it's too hot to have the top down (or during the steamy unexpected Summer t-storms). Not so valuable that you care much about it getting caught in a t-storm.

...then my g/f looks at me sideways... and I get back to wrenching on the Spitfire...

My friend had an early-'70s Impala when we were in school. I never saw that car move under its own power.

After driving Tim's 59 Edsel cross country I have an even deeper hankering for an old cruiser. Mine would probably be a GM though. I just love the mid 60's styling from GM. (Grand Prix, Rivera, Olds Starfire, Toronado)

We think of them as "bulletproof" but I recall getting an annual tune up for points condensor cap and plugs. The engines lasted 60,000 to 100,000 miles before becoming blue smokers and needing major transmission work not to mention rust repair. The good was ease of repair and a few modern parts will make them last a long time. My wish would be the smaller intermediate size with straight 6 like a 60's Rambler. Cheers Ron

I owned so many of them type cars, i lost track of how many. close to a 100.

and from 1949 on all would cruise at hyway speeds all day long.

and some really old ford V8s(1930s) you couldnt kill em,and dont think we didnt try!

i know this will sit well!, never seen a sports car in the 50-60s that had anything for my daily drivers.

the few teabaggers around would never take up a challenge. except this rich boy showed up with a 1955 Mercedes Gullwing, i had just got my new 1957 Corvette fuellie,4speed. now back then we went from a standing start until someone gave up,,or we run outta road. in Lynn Mass, it was highland ave. a three mile long divided hyway, sparsly populated.

we started and on acceleration l was ahead 3-4 lenths, held it for to about 120-130, finally he started to close,BUT we ran outta road. still won and some of the guys were down at the end of road, laughin!

now you have to be careful, street racin IS addictive, had my 1st one in 1949(15yrs old), but never forgot that incredible rush.

Neat story. So that would make you ~23 years old racing in your new vette against a gullwing Mercedes, assuming new vette means new from the dealer. Either you were both very rich boys or the buyer demographics and relative price of sports cars have changed a bit in recent years. I had a Corvette when I was 23 as well, but is certainly was nowhere near new.

How about a Ford Skyliner, the one with the retractable hardtop from the late '50's? A neighbor had one, and I was always facinated...

Think about it... Lots of interesting mechanical stuff to fool around with. Maybe toss in a bit newer engine and tranny, radials and a bit of suspension work so it doesn't wallow quite so much. That would make a fun cruiser.

Stu

I had a black and chrome 65 Ford Falcon wagon with a straight 6 and vacuum operated wipers. The back windows were painted, pre window tinting days, to hide my drums. I used the car to carry my gear to gigs all over the northeast. Added bonus, I could sleep in it behind the bar after the job.

I called it the Black Bastard and used it until I upgraded to a full sized van so I could haul my dirt bike and have more space to party in.

Anyone here remember Van Ins? Shag carpet on all the walls, Star Wars mural, Cragar mags, sidepipes? Now that was comfortable cruising.

Mike

In reply to David S. Wallens:

In college I had a '71 Buick Electra 225 4-door. Of all the cars I've owned, It was one of my all time favorites. If I could have only one classic, it wouldn't be a cruiser boat like that, but if I could have several, one of them would be something like that.

In reply to rconlon:

I had a '66 Pontiac Tempest "Sprint" with an overhead cam inline six. Plenty of room, nice sound from the motor, & for its' time, it ran pretty strong.

I've always been a fool for inline sixes, especially with multiple carbs. Whether they be in a Healey, Jaguar, Datsun, or in this case Tempest, the sound and vibrations of a good six suit me well. In fact the old '50s Chevys weren't bad if you knew how to pump them up.

In reply to David S. Wallens:

Early '70s cars, were hard to watch. Once the feds hit with the bumpers & smog junk you needed a stop action camera to know whether they were moving under their own power or just coasting downhill.

I have zero inclination to ever own one of the old style muscle cars.

In fact I have owned one, a 455 HO Pontiac, and quickly sold it. Didn't brake, didn't handle and wouldn't go around corners in anything resembling a dignified pose. Everything I loathe in a car and none of the good qualities.

The only thing they are good for is going in a straight line. Big deal. My little 4 cylinder Pontiac is now set up to be faster than any of the old muscle cars in a 1/4 mile including the famed Hemi Cuda (beats the 1/4 and 0-60 by 1 second each), and gets good mileage as well.

I think that you had to be brought up to admire these awkward barges to appreciate and want to own them now. I was always a sporty car kind of guy that viewed the roaring rubber burning types as all sound and fury, signifying nothing, so have zero desire for them today.

Live and let live, mind you.

But that's why we're discussing a 'cruiser'. I wouldn't buy one of these to handle or go around corners or make any attempt at being sporty. We have proper 'sports car' for that purpose.

Something full-sized, so there's plenty of room. Convertibles by nature are better for cruising. The brand really doesn't matter. GM, Ford, Chrysler... they're all about the same when it comes to these cars. Personally, I'd drop in a small-block EFI crate engine with an automatic o/d, a new vintage air HVAC set up, a nice but subtle stereo system, and 4 wheel power discs that will fit under stock rims. The end result would be a nice, comfortable car for getting from A to B in comfort and with reasonable efficiency and safety.

In reply to David S. Wallens:

I once had a car that hit all those buttons. Inline 6 w 3 carbs., bench seat, auto on the tree, leather, tons of truck space & it drove & rode like a dream when it went. Though if you wanted to keep your license you had to really watch the speedo. "Those aren't phone poles we are passing, they are other cars doing the speed limit!"

Unfortunately, Mark X Jaguars are mighty hard to fix out on the road. And as any '66 Jag. owner probably knows, there are a lot of fixes needed on the road!

Yes a muscle car is something else in another category. I was at the BIG - no huge - Syracuse show this year and did not see one American straight six among the 1000s of entries. An early Mustang with a 6 is still not expensive and would make a terrific cruiser. Cheers Ron

I had/have a '70 Olds 88 455 2bbl convertible. Was bought by a buddy out of a museum then liqudated to me when he moved.

I added a modern AC system to it (the OEM one was shot) bt otherwise it really didn't need more engine or even more brakes.... the poor handling was the biggest issue.

I drove it for a summer (including a nice cruise down the Blue Ridge Parkway) and enev though it was taking up the parking space of 3 of my little cars, I couldn't bring myself to sell it.

So I gave it to my Dad. he drives it a few times a years (including doing the occasional wedding with it) and I get to drive it just often enough to satisfy my periodic desire for another big cruiser... by the time I leave I'm happy to get back into a "normal" car.

Bill

I bought my 68' Fairlane because I wanted an old car project - the only old car project I could afford without a ton of rust happened to be a four door sedan (Im 23 and in college). I have better brakes on it, a bigger rebuilt engine, a little suspension work and three years time into it. It'll never be as quick or handle as good as my daily driver but I get the biggest kick out of driving it. I smile from ear to ear.

Mines a 70 Wildcat Custom 455. I think I could almost fit my Carrera in the trunk! I gotta admit it's nice to drive a big roomy car once in a while.

I had a '65 Skylark convertible for awhile I received in a trade. The Skylark back then was hopelessly plain: bench seat, blah dash with a sweep speedo, very few style items in the interior to make you want to be there. It was predictably a car you piloted, not drove. But I will tell you...I will take an American barge convertible for pleasant summer cruising over a sports car any day. It was quiet, smooth, and the air flow with the top down didn't buffet you to death. Room for you and five of your friends. Had it been just a bit sexier (like a LeMans) I probably would have kept it. Next convertible I get will be a bit smaller (Corvair, Falcon) but there is something to be said for US cars from that period.

Would I want a big land yacht like a full size car? Probably not. They have a bit more style but no more (and usually less) driving enjoyment than the mid or compact sized cars. Too thirsty for a trans-continental drive when something with a six could do it just as well. Unless you're back into the 1950s and talking Packard with me, I'm probably not going there. My Grandmother's '66 Thunderbird left me (sadly) cold. I wanted to like that car, but it just didn't do a thing for me.

I've never liked (US) Ford dynamics. Wonderful engines, horrid driving cars. Euro Fords are completely different...wonderful.... never understood how the same company could make cars at each extreme of my scale...

When I was in college I had a tired '66 Riviera (2nd gen). Guy in my complex had a '65 T-bird... worth at least twice as much at the time.

He offered me an even trade... after taking his car around the block I refused. I hated everything about this car.... even though it was in nicer shape than mine.

Compared to these types of cars, a Corvair drives a lot more like a European (or more modern US) car. A Falcon, sadly, drives like a Mustang. :-)

A first gen Toro/Eldo is a nice driver as well... not "good" but head and shoulders above other full sizes.

It's so funny you say that about the Falcon/Mustang. Every single time I've almost started shopping for one of those twins I've been deterred by reading someone saying about how gawdawful they are to drive, and these criticisms don't always come from someone with a sports car background. Oddly, I've never driven one of them in all my automotive experiences. I just love them for the styling.

OTOH, I generally enjoy driving my '65 F100. Maybe I'm more willing to accept the ponderous driving experience in that because it's a truck?

I'd take a '63 Riviera in a heartbeat. Ford never did anything for me...perhaps a big old Mopar would be fun with enough cubes and a convertible top. If I was to go REALLY huge, it would be either a 62-3 Lincoln or Cad convertible.

I have fond (?) memories of my mom's '64 Pontiac Parisienne station wagon with 283 small block and 2 spd powerglide automatic. Gang of us would play hookey from school and go skiing most Fridays in the winter.

Ahhhhh --- the good ol'days