Well, a dump truck almost killed me. Thank God for the aircraft-carrier sized front end of this beast. Airbags? Who needs 'em when you have as much protection as this. Now, it's on to another classic Cadillac. I like the '76 Eldorados, so maybe I'll find another one soon.
Wow, I'm glad your OK. That is some hit. Good thing you weren't in a small car.
Roy
glad you were able to walk away from that one
cars can always be fixed or relpaced unllike people
now a good parts car for your next one
Jack,
I'm so sorry to see that mangled mess. Glad you are OK. Such a shame.
I might have a few leads on cars for you when you are ready. I am in your area, in Huntingdon Valley, PA.
Brian
Thanks, guys. It was horrendous. I was slammed into by a dump truck that ran a light while I was doing 45mph. I did suffer some severe cuts to my chin and lower lip, thanks to the lack of a shoulder harness and that steel steering wheel wrapped in plastic. Had to spend a few hours in the hospital, but no overnight stay. Ouch. But, I made it, could have been killed....now, time to move on.
Brian....that's awesome to hear. I really hope to get another one of these. They are special, as you know, being an owner as well.
Hi Jack,
Boy, you are one lucky fella.
Sorry to see the car in such a way, but at least you were wearing your seat belt, which stopped you from receiving worse injuries.
Bruce. >:D
Hello Jack
Wonderful that you were able to walk away.
How about moving up to a better vehicle....a LaSalle?
...or a nice black car? lol!
Kidding aside, you were very fortunate and I'm extremely glad for you it wasn't worse.
Now for the poor Caddy's last rites: Ashes to ashes, rust to rust...
40 years after car was designed, it behaved exactly as it should in a crash. Absorbing the impact and saving the driver. 45mph is a LOT of energy that has to be dissipated.
I don't think they even thought that car would still be around when they built it. Pretty good.
That's a miracle. You are very fortunate. That is one of my biggest fears of driving the old cars.
What a shame about the car but, thankfully, YOU are ok.
I feel your pain.
We're considering another daily driver for my wife. I've been considering putting together some solid early-to-mid 70's car for her. Big car, nice performance, power windows and A/C that's dependable would be perfect for her needs. Then I see things like this, and am reminded that I'd probably have to kill someone if they wrecked the car. Some days I can deal with it, other days, I think about how rare these cars are getting.
Running a stop light is inexcusable. I'm sure the guy had no license and no insurance. At least that's the way it goes around here.
Hello Gene
Fantastic to hear that you are considering purchasing another Cadillac. The seventies automobiles were strong, highly optioned, durable vehicles evidenced by the photograph above.
Correct me if I am wrong but the tenor of your post indicated that you would do great harm to the culprit of the destruction of your car, but no mention of concern about your spouse?
I thought only LaSalle owners felt that way.
Since it would be her DD, _she'd_ probably be doing the damage to the other driver!!! ;D
No, we're best friends. If she was hurt, I'd be devastated. Luckily, she's a pretty safe driver, and kind of a gearhead, like me.
Such kind and positive replies! Thanks, everyone. I have decided I am not patient enough for the insurance check, and went ahead and took a leap of faith on another '76 Eldorado convertible. I'll give you some details in the coming days, for those who are interested. I guess I'm addicted. This must mean I'll have to become a full-fledged member.
Jack Larson
Devon, PA
Jack,
A wise move. Out of all the cars I own, and have owned, my black 76 Eldorado convertible is my favorite car. It runs great, but if it ever need some engine work I would do a custom rebuild with all of the 1970 (400 HP) internals which would give the car a lot more power.
Other than that, when I am driving this car, top down, 8 track groovin', I am a happy man.
Keep in touch.
Brian
Just curious. How much ballpark would a rebuild to 400hp be about?
Ballpark, about $4000.00 to do the bottom end totally, plus finding the right cam and heads. About...
The modified chapter guys would know for sure.
My car runs like a Rolex and you can't feel it idle, so I don't see this happening anytime soon, but you never know.
You could drop a 500 directly into a 1980 with the 368 too...
Brian
Quote from: waterzap on November 06, 2012, 04:14:42 PM
Just curious. How much ballpark would a rebuild to 400hp be about?
A 68-70 472 with a mild cam should get you there easily. Mild head port, intake and headers, with a decent exhaust should get you closer to 400 HP at the wheels. That's about 1 hp/cu. in. at the flywheel. W0ot!
Jack,
Glad to hear that the long hood protected you. As a 76 Eldo owner myself thats good to know.
I guess new cars really need all those airbags because there're made of plastic and are designed to fall apart. If your considering parting out that car let me know. The car could live on in others.
Stay safe and healthy,
Joe
glad you are well...sad to see a Cadillac die such a tragic death but as a parts donor it will help others live on and it passed with honor giving all it had to protect its owner..you should play taps..no Nissan or other modern jap/crap would do that..
Luckily that side impact was where it was. T-bone at the door would have been much worse to you as far as injury. That front side area has a lot of mass...
Brian
You are so right, Brian. I also thought the same thing. I'm still waiting for the insurance folks to come take a look at it. Everyday they drag their heels, it's $45 at the lot where it's being stored. I believe the mess with hurricane Sandy has probably slowed the whole process down. I'll keep y'all posted, and will post some details and pictures of my soon to be in possession "replacement" Eldo.
I was lucky to walk away from this, even though originally they strapped me to a board before loading me in an ambulance 9so the walking away didn't happen for about 5 hours). It took me 6 days to get back to work, and another week to finally get to see the car. When I saw it, I choked up pretty good knowing that this was one severe crash. There must have been an angel or two looking out for me.
Jack L.
Devon, PA
Make sure the insurance company compensates you for the time you spent waiting for them.
I was in a head-on in a Trans Am. It was in a neighborhood, so the speeds weren't that great. Still, I got stretched pretty well. My head hit the rear view mirror, in spite of me being strapped in the seat tightly with a 3" lap belt. By the next day, I was moving around kind of slow for a college kid. :-)
Although nowhere near as bad as your car, they did total it, but I kept the car and rebuilt it. Luckily, the frame or body weren't bent too badly. I later sold the car to a collector who still has it, and the funds allowed me to put a down payment on a house. :D
In an earlier part of your account you mentioned something about the steering wheel? What was that about?
Also curious did you get out of the car yourself and were 'up walking around' when the emergency folks came and strapped you down or did they have to get you out?
I suppose even though nothing hit that side of the car it looks like the whole car could have got tweaked enough for the door to not open easily. With my deer hit on my 80 a couple weeks ago the fender got pushed back about 1/4 inch and that was enough that the door wont easily open.... and that was just a couple hundred pound deer not a dump truck.
sad loss, I'm sorry
I can relate to this incident on 2 counts.
Back in July '96 I was t-boned while driving ly '70 Fleetwood. A idiot ran a red light and clocked me at about 50 MPH on the left front fender. I had my 2 young daughters in the car with me. The car was a mess, but the worse injury was a concussion by me when my head hit the side glass. My 2 girls were shook up and upset, but otherwise fine.
The car that hit me, a Mazda 929, was completely destroyed. I remember getting out of the car and chasing the driver of the Mazda threatening him life and limb. It was a blurr, but had I caught him, I'm sure he would have been hospitalised.
I fought with the insurance company for a good month. Finally I got my settlement, which was satisfactory, and had the car repaired. I entertained purchasing a number of late 60's ealy 70's Cadillacs, but I just couldn't give up the Fleetwood. I'm still enjoying that car today.
At the time I also had a 1986 Celebrity. Had I been driving that car that day, I doubt I would be here typing this. Those big old Cadillacs have a lot of metal in them, and they are incredible in that circumstance. As much as we don't ever want to be there.
A few years later, my mom was driving her 1977 Fleetwood when an elderly man driving a new Focus ran a red light and t-boned the car in the right rear door. It spun the car around and put it into a chain link fence in a playground. The Focus actually split in two. My mom was fine, if a bit shook up. The door on the Fleetwood still opened and closed as if it was never hit. The Fleetwood was written off, and they purchsed a beautiful solid 1982 Fleetwood which is still in the family.
For some time before that, she was talking about getting a smaller car. Well after that there was no more talk of that. Hence the purchase of another Fleetwood.
So, hang in there. The best memory of that car will be the one of how it saved your bacon. Nothing will ever replace it, but I'm sure you'll have a re-enforced feeling of safety while driving your new Eldorado. You just can't change the laws of physics. Big is always better in a collision. No matter what they say.
Mike
Its odd that someone is selling a car that looks almost like yours.
http://forums.cadillaclasalleclub.org/index.php?topic=121663.0