As you probably remember, last November I sold my '56 Sedan de Ville, after owning it for 34 years, because I wanted something less old. I was happy to have a car less and lot of space in the garage! And, to tell the truth, I did not search for a replacement car.
Some time ago, Brian Faull (he is on this forum on a regular basis) asked me what kind of car I would like to have. My response was that a '69 to '72 de Ville would be fine, either as a 4-door or Coupe, not white or black. I forgot about this until recently as Brian sent to me a link to a Craiglist: there was a 1972 Coupe, with less than 20'000 miles for a decent price. The car was green, with a green vinyl top and green trim. I'm not especially a fan of green (politically and with the color), but this green was after all good looking.
Usually I don't do phone calls because my English over the phone is not the best but sometimes...I had to do it. I phone to the seller, had a good impression and finally, I spent also a phone call to Brian.
After a while, when the dust was down, I decided to buy the car and let ship it to Brian for an inspection as well as repairs if needed. Sure, the transport from Florida to Pennsylvania was not cheap, but doing repairs in Switzerland costs twice what I will have to spent at Brian's place.
Yesterday, I got document from the seller like copies from titles, the window's invoice and the car broadcast showing the options. The only option I'm missing is the trunk lid pull-down. I can live without it...
Yesterday, Brian sent me a list of issues he found. Well, a car with a low mileage does not automatically means a perfect vehicle! And this car has some issues like brakes (I'm not surprised), dried bushings and less pleasant, perforating rust at some places. Well, after all that car is 45 years old!
When Brian will be ready with the numerous repairs, the car will be ready to make a long journey to Switzerland. I will report here how things are going.
Oh, by the way: with all that green, the car has a new name: Popeye.
Roger congratulations! Wish you and your new/old car all the best. Do keep us posted! Clay/Lexi
Thanks Lexi! It will be an adventure, that's sure.
I'm trying to add more pictures, it seems that the other ones I have are too large. Some more work...
A new try to publish pictures.
The previous ones are when the car was loaded in Florida to go to Brian. These are at Brian's place.
Wow. Looks great. This shade of green is very nice.
Thanks Dan! That shade, Sumatra Green Irid. code 44 will not be seen very often.
Not a lover of green either usually Roger but that combination is very pleasant. Low mileage gems like this never turn up in our European countries.
Quote from: Steve Passmore on May 02, 2017, 01:02:35 PM
Not a lover of green either usually Roger but that combination is very pleasant. Low mileage gems like this never turn up in our European countries.
That's right Steve, but sometimes cars with more miles/km are technically in a better condition than Popeye!
While I am also not a huge fan of green, that is a lovely shade. I would not kick that car out of my driveway! Love it! (and I would not change the color either). Clay/Lexi
Quote from: lexi on May 02, 2017, 01:18:55 PM
While I am also not a huge fan of green, that is a lovely shade. I would not kick that car out of my driveway! Love it! (and I would not change the color either). Clay/Lexi
Same here! Nice! I'm guessing the rust is underneath the car? The painted bits look to be in very good shape!
It looks good and will far out perform the 56. Serious brake work is part of
every purchase here, along with the timing chain and tires. An HEI could
be fitted, change hoses, and don't be surprised if it needs a new radiator.
If there is any hint of a transmission problem, get it out and install a $30
soft gasket/seal kit.
good luck, Bruce Roe
The rust is at the lower part of the front fenders. Somebody in this forum already wrote that cars from that time were more rust prone as before.
The radiator was already replaced with an aluminum one; maybe it's good, maybe not. I'm not a fan of aluminum but, for the moment, I'll leave it. Of course, old hoses, wheel cylinders, master cylinder (leaking) will be replaced. I suppose that the car still had the OEM brake fluid...
I asked Brian to have a look at the timing chain & gears and tires will be replaced.
About the nylon covered gear: I know at least 2 1972 cars in Switzerland with a rather high mileage; the people are not aware of that problem and (touch wood), there is no problem for the moment.
Congrats!!
Wow!
Enjoy . . .
That project took too much time; I'm most probably the most responsible for that, asking too much. Anyway, after more than 2 years, the car is ready to be shipped to Europe. The shipper will (I hope so) take the car away next week.
The wheelcovers are in the trunk for the transport. The hood ornaments with be removed too before shipping.
I will arrive just in time for the season!
Good luck, Roger, with your new car.
Thanks Jay!
Stunning car in remarkable condition. I am a fan of the color combination and would have ordered it that way. I Love the 1972 Coupe and Sedan DeVille's.
Quote from: Bill Young on May 12, 2019, 09:37:08 AM
Stunning car in remarkable condition. I am a fan of the color combination and would have ordered it that way. I Love the 1972 Coupe and Sedan DeVille's.
Thanks Bill! The underside was not so nice. A lot of work was needed t have it presentable and that it could pass the Swiss inspection prior to licensing.
Hallo Roger !
Glückwunsch zum " neuen " Cadillac !!! Hoffe den 72;er beim nächsten Grand European zu sehen.
Gruss aus dem Jura Gérard
Thanks Gerard! As you know, the GE is not sure at all. Anyway, I bought a more recent car to be able to participate at such event with less stress.
Good luck. Last time I got a stored car into first class service took me
3 full time months (OK I am slow). More often I get the brakes, tires,
mastered locks, and timing chain done immediately to be roadable, then
do lessor stuff (radiator, hoses, wiring, suspension, and accessory
upgrades, bearings, belts, SS exhaust, etc) along the way. Bruce Roe
Awesome Cadillac, the 1971, 2 and 3's are my favorite Cadillac closed car style.
Second on what Bruce wrote, timing chain, trans, breaks and add just about everything rubber.
Green is good because green cars are not on the road much, makes it unique and visible to other drivers. I have a "Patina Silver" 1970 SDV, and if it were not for the dark blue vinyl top, it would blend in a little too much for me with modern traffic.
Of course, the timing gears/chain were on the list of things to do. Brian saw also a bad eccentric for the fuel pump, rear engine support and many little things which were replaced. Mechanically, it should be like a new car.
On July 18, the car arrived at the Swiss customs in Zürich. At about 2 PM, the man who arranged the shipping and me went with a trailer to load the car. If the drive to Zürich went well (less than 2 hours drive), the drive back to Bienne was another matter: when we drove over 60 km/h, (about 38MPH), the trailer began to swing! Due to the shape of the front bumper, the car was not forward enough, plus the trunk was full of material! After a while, we left the freeway to take "normal" roads. We were lucky: a few miles after the freeway exit we used, a small truck went in fire. The delay to cross this incident was 1 1/2 hour! Even with our rather slow pace, we arrived safely in Bienne at the man's shop. Anyway, it was a long day as I got home at 8 PM.
And the car? Well, I can say it's in a good shape. Sure, there are here or there some imperfections, but this is an original car not repainted, except for the hood (and it shows it: the color is a tad different…). In other words, I'm happy!
Now, the man you see in one of the pictures will let install the new tires which were in the trunk, check for the front end alignement and do what's needed to get the car licensed. Maybe I can drive it at the end of next week!
Congratulations, Roger, Popeye looks great!
Geoff N.
Thanks Geoff!
Wow!
Roger,
Congratulations....looks like a real nice find. Also it has the hard to find right side mirror
Ralph
Thanks Ralph! In the actual trafic situation, I'm indeed glad to have that mirror.
I have a plot of ground that I use to rent space for RV and boat parking. Many of the people that come in have these monstrous hitch connections that incorporate sway bars in them. Until a year ago, I'd never seen this. One man explained to me that on some of the larger RV's, the tongue weight on the towing vehicle wasn't always heavy enough to stop the trailer sway at speed.
With this hitch, he said he could tow the RV at 70 mph and it would sit rock steady behind him. Prior to the anti-sway hitch he said over 45 mph would cause him problems and even worse on windy days or when semi truck would blast by him.
The first time I ever towed a car was a couple of years ago. I was told not to look at the car in the mirror. I did a few times and watched it bouncing and swaying, but never felt a thing in the truck I was using to tow it with. Still I just ran up the right lane at 60 mph.
Thanks Geoff! ;)
;D Any time I can help!
Quote from: 35-709 on July 20, 2019, 09:59:23 AM
;D Any time I can help!
8) Maybe I'll be able to pay it back sometime. You have my number and go by here all the time.
Roger,
Rule of thumb is tounge weight should be 10% to 15% of the loaded trailer weight. That's going to work out to around 600 lbs to 1000 lbs of tounge weight, which probably going to need an equalizer hitch if you are pulling it with a 1/2 ton Surburban.
Gary Pennington
Thankfully the vehicle got to the destination without damage.
Using a tandem axle trailer, the tongue weight doesn't need to be that high, but the biggest problem I saw with this loading was all the weight in the trunk. Really give the pendulum effect to the towing mass.
Too much weight on the tongue will raise the front of the towing vehicle, thus making for an uneven loading.
Plus, with radials on the towing vehicle, plus radials on the trailer, once sideways movement starts, it would be hard to control.
I always recommend Cross Ply tyres on a trailer.
Bruce. >:D
Nice Roger!
What happened to the emblems on the hood? Had you removed them such that they not get stolen?
Gruess
Nicolas
Quote from: DeVille68 on July 21, 2019, 02:22:11 AM
Nice Roger!
What happened to the emblems on the hood? Had you removed them such that they not get stolen?
Thanks Nicolas! Yes, it was recommended by the man who arranged the shipping. The parts were into the trunk and will be installed again. Same procedure with the wheelcovers.
If you are coming to the 2-days meeting at the end of August, you will see it.
Quote from: The Tassie Devil(le) on July 20, 2019, 08:50:25 PM
Using a tandem axle trailer, the tongue weight doesn't need to be that high, but the biggest problem I saw with this loading was all the weight in the trunk. Really give the pendulum effect to the towing mass.
Bruce, the man who towed the car is well equipped and he towing cars on a regular basis. On the same trailer, he can load a '59 Cadillac and drive much faster because the front overhang is smaller, therefore the car is a tad more forwards. Plus, as you noted, the heavy weight in the trunk (56 kg just for both brake drums and both rotors, plus 4 new tires and numerous various items.
One of my motivation to let overhaul the car in the USA was the timing sprockets. I asked Brian to put the assembly into the trunk to have a good view from those parts. Indeed the nylon sprocket is looking like new, but how long? I'm glad I did the move!
Always a good idea to change items like that out, for piece of mind. Hope the new-old car drives well and meets with your expectations Roger! Good luck with your August drive and meet. Clay
Hello Roger,
For my money, this is one of the nicest colors for '71 - '73. Have fun.
Christopher Winter
Since today, the car is totally mine. The guy who prepared it went to the government agency early afternoon; I have the "title" and the car is into my garage! Sorry, I did no picture I was catch by surprise!
Congratulations Roger! I wish you and your new old car many miles of happy motoring. Clay/Lexi
Thanks Clay!
Today, I drove Popeye for the fist time. During that 3/4 of an hour, I was really happy: the suspension is acting the way I like, soft, almost like a ship on calm water! There will be somme little things to improve (the car is 47 years old, I always have to remember that it's not a new car), like a better cleaning of the inside trim/chromed parts. Overall, I'm really satisfied!
Quote from: Roger Zimmermann on August 14, 2019, 01:13:40 PM
Today, I drove Popeye for the fist time. During that 3/4 of an hour, I was really happy: the suspension is acting the way I like, soft, almost like a ship on calm water! There will be somme little things to improve (the car is 47 years old, I always have to remember that it's not a new car), like a better cleaning of the inside trim/chromed parts. Overall, I'm really satisfied!
Ummmmm..... So, what happened when the time went to 46 minutes? ;)
Bruce. >:D
When parked into the garage, I opened the hood and lubricated the hood hinges which was not done since a long time! It was maybe after the 46th minute!