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How long do you tend to keep your cars?

Started by LenInLA, May 04, 2017, 04:24:12 AM

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LenInLA

Having had my 1976 Eldorado for just over a year, I still check the ads and Bring a Trailor site religiously. Very tempted to buy another car; this time an older caddy. Just with my 92 Bentley - had it for almost 10 years, but have been eyeing 1960/1970s Rollses.

On the other hand, I think it would be nice to hold on to the car's for decades.

What about you? Do you tend to hold? Or switch?

Leonard Grayver

The Tassie Devil(le)

#1
I had my '60 CDV for 15 years, and only sold it to finance the '72 Eldo that I purchased in 2007, and still own, and will for many many years.

I have had my '70 Ranchero Squire for 28 years.

Bruce. >:D

PS.   I have always had to sell my car to purchase the next one, as being on wages all my working life, I never had the wherewithal to buy and keep more than one, except when I had my Hot Rods, but I had to have a driver whilst I was building them.    Now, with a retirement home looming way ahead in the distance, I will have to one day rationalise.   Hard ti find a retirement home that will allow me to park 3 cars and a boat.
'72 Eldorado Convertible (LHD)
'70 Ranchero Squire (RHD)
'74 Chris Craft Gull Wing (SH)
'02 VX Series II Holden Commodore SS Sedan
(Past President Modified Chapter)

Past Cars of significance - to me
1935 Ford 3 Window Coupe
1936 Ford 5 Window Coupe
1937 Chevrolet Sports Coupe
1955 Chevrolet Convertible
1959 Ford Fairlane Ranch Wagon
1960 Cadillac CDV
1972 Cadillac Eldorado Coupe

1949

 This August , I will have owned my '49 fastback  41 years.
MICHAEL LYNCH
Wisconsin

7gen

I've only had my 76 Eldorado for one year but I've wanted this car for 40 years and cannot imagine just moving on to a different one. I also have a hefty chunk of change into making it back into a regular, reliable vehicle capable of driving cross country without worry so I want to enjoy it for a good long time.

Now the previous owner was different. He buys cars, owns them for a few years, then sells them to get a different car. He likes the experience of something new all the time.

Different strokes, eh?

Scot Minesinger

Great topic, thanks for posting. 

The short answer is I buy a car I want and keep it.  Never sold one yet.

It takes a lot of time to cure minor issues often through trial and error (annoying rattle, intermittent electrical, and etc.) and bring these cars to mechanical perfection so that they drive as new.  I love driving them and that is how they are enjoyed.  My career and family are huge time demands, but you have to drive places and using the classic kills two birds with stone.  During the season, my classics are pressed into service as daily drivers in nice weather and where destinations and traffic are safe. 

1970 DVC, red purchased November 2005, and still own it.
1970 commercial coach made Cadillac with factory warranty - FOUR door convertible, purchased November 2009 and still own it.
1970 SDV, silver purchased November 2012, and still own it.

Since these are toys and not investments, not too concerned about if I'm upside down or whatever - they are fun and usually do not deny them any attention required, but it takes time.  The red DVC is mechanically as new - perfect, the silver SDV is almost there - got a bug or two yet to fix, but very enjoyable, and the four door convertible is just about mechanically restored and will go off for paint hopefully this month - just finished wiring.

Enjoy your Cadillacs!
Fairfax Station, VA  22039 (Washington DC Sub)
1970 Cadillac DeVille Convertible
1970 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1970 four door Convertible w/Cadillac Warranty

Jon S

Jon

1958 Cadillac Sedan De Ville
1973 Lincoln Continental Coupe
1981 Corvette
2004 Mustang GT

76eldo

#6
Len,

You are, as they say, a glutton for punishment. 8)

You spent a lot of money straightening out your 76 Eldo so keep it for a while.  You also have a 92 Bently (moneypit) and are considering an older Rolls? Another maintenance nightmare. 

Stick with Caddy's would be my advice.  You live in the land of rust-free cars.  Any decent mechanic can keep a 60's or 70's Cadillac running with fairly reasonable parts.

Now back to the topic.  I have a few keepers.  These are cars that I have lusted after for many years and when the right car came up and I had the funds to pull the trigger, I bought them.  I will own them until I either cannot drive any longer due to age, or I die first.  I'm pushing 60 so I think I have a few miles left in me.

1976 Eldo Convert, Black, Red Interior.....................Purchased 2003
1980 Eldo Custom convertible..................................Purchased 2008
1960 62 Series Convertible......................................Purchased 2010
1970 DeVille Convertible..........................................Purchased 2013
1966 Olds Toronado................................................Purchased 2013
1960 Eldorado Seville.............................................Purchased 2013  (Under restoration)
1985 Eldorado Biarritz Convertible..........................Purchased 1990  (Not running but stored indoors and keeping for reasons even I do not understand...)

These are my current "Keepers"  The 76 Eldo believe it or not would be the last one I would ever sell if I needed to scale down to owning only one of these cars.

Having bought my first Cadillac Convertible, a 70 DeVille in 1977, I have owned a lot of other collectible Cadillacs and Packards through the years.  Most of us here are pretty committed to the years we like and tend to keep the cars for a long time.

Brian
Brian Rachlin
Huntingdon Valley, Pa
I prefer email's not PM's rachlin@comcast.net

1960 62 Series Conv with Factory Tri Power
1970 DeVille Conv
1970 Eldo
1970 Caribu (?) "The Cadmino"
1973 Eldorado Conv Pace Car
1976 Eldorado Conv
1980 Eldorado H & E Conv
1993 Allante with Hardtop (X2)
2008 DTS
2012 CTS Coupe
2017 XT
1956 Thunderbird
1966 Olds Toronado

jagbuxx #12944

My '61 for 18 years, wife wont let me selll it.
The '76, 11 years, I don't want to sell it.
'03 Tbird, original owner.
STS, original owner with 24k miles.
'70 convert, 7 years.
Frank Burns #12944
76 Coupe d'Elegance EFI Galloway Green Firemist
70 deVille Convert San Mateo Red
61 Coupe Deville Bristol Blue
41 Series 61 Deluxe Coupe 6127D Black
08 STS 3.6 1SC  Thunder Gray
16 GTI Gray
03 T-Bird Black
16 Grand Cherokee Summit, Granite
19 Tiffin Phaeton 40AH
07 Corvette Blue
20 MB S450 White

"Whatever the occasion, there
is no better way to arrive than in a Cadillac.

Jay Friedman

#8
When young, I didn't keep cars very long, but from middle age onward have tended to keep them a long time.

I've owned my '49 Cadillac Club Coupe for 33 years since 1984.  Couldn't sell it even if I wanted, as the wife would object.  I think it gets better every year and it did win prizes for some years, though it now needs a paint job and is "for display only" at GNs.

I sold a '32 Ford in 2012 that I had bought in 1974, making 38 years.  I had gotten tired of dealing with 2 old cars and was made an offer I couldn't refuse

I usually keep daily drivers a long time, too.  In Oct. 2013, I finally sold a '79 VW Rabbit that I had bought new, after almost 35 years.  It still ran well after almost 300K miles, but was on its 3rd engine and had been given a major paint and body makeover in 2001.  The young buyer made a hot rod out of it.
1949 Cadillac 6107 Club Coupe
1932 Ford V8 Phaeton (restored, not a rod).  Sold
Decatur, Georgia
CLC # 3210, since 1984
"If it won't work, get a bigger hammer."

"Cadillac Kid" Greg Surfas 15364

I bought my 72  Eldo new in 1971 and kept it for 42 years. My 66 CDV was my daily driver for 22 years (93-2015). The others are the new kids,21 years, 14 years and 5 years. In the 70's, before I bought my Eldo I used to get a new car just about every year, but after the Eldo nothing new (I wanted a new eldo and was waiting for them to change style) seemed worth buying, so I stayed with it (Eldo) and aded great cars when they came along.
Greg Surfas
Cadillac Kid-Greg Surfas
Director Modified Chapter CLC
CLC #15364
66 Coupe deVille (now gone to the UK)
72 Eldo Cpe  (now cruising the sands in Quatar)
73 Coupe deVille
75 Coupe deElegance
76 Coupe deVille
79 Coupe de ville with "Paris" (pick up) option and 472 motor
514 inch motor now in '73-

Steve Passmore

Kept a 37 Buick convertible for almost 30 years, always wanted a Cadillac of the same year but they are not very common here in the UK so added another convertible to it. When I did eventually find the Cadillac and restored it I had no use for the Buicks. The hardest thing then is the sentimental attachment. Had to let it go eventually but it was a real wrench. Didn't like that situation but it just wasn't being used. Don't have 30 years left so I guess it won't be a problem again. ;D
Steve

Present
1937 60 convertible coupe
1941 62 convertible coupe
1941 62 coupe

Previous
1936 70 Sport coupe
1937 85 series V12 sedan
1938 60 coupe
1938 50 coupe
1939 60S
1940 62 coupe
1941 62 convertible coupe x2
1941 61 coupe
1941 61 sedan x2
1941 62 sedan x2
1947 62 sedan
1959 62 coupe

manxie

#11
Sadly, I need to sell one car before replacing it with another due to funds. 25years ago I stopped counting my cars and had reached 55, get bored quick and like trying different models/. So probably owned over 100 over the years (mainly British stuff). The previous owner of my Eldo had owned it for just over 20yrs and apparently it had one owner in the US (which equals 19 years) Wish I had the money and space to keep cars because over the last 10yrs I`ve owned a 55 Chevy Bel Air 4 door, 57 Chevy Bel Air 2 door hard top, 78 Trans Am, 84 Corvette, 97 SuperDuty F250 truck, E150 DayVan, and three Harley`s, but sadly all gone now  :(  Now got my Cadillac Eldorado Barritz Custom Classic  ;D
78 Eldorado Biarritz Custom Classic

dadscad

My dad bought the 63 I have, new, May 10th 1963. My mom and I picked the car up from the dealer when it was ready for delivery. Dad gave the title to me in August of 1991. I've been fortunate to have been able to drive this car since it was new, I don't plan on turning loose of it any time soon.  ;)
Enjoy The Ride,
David Thomas CLC #14765
1963 Coupe deVille

Jeff Rosansky CLC #28373

Had mine 4 years next week. It's my first and plan to keep it. I have had the plane as a partner since 92 and by myself since 97 so longevity seems to be in my blood.
Jeff
Jeff Rosansky
CLC #28373
1970 Coupe DeVille (Big Red)
1955 Series 62 (Baby Blue)
Dad's new 1979 Coupe DeVille

J. Skelly

1987 El Camino (my first purchase), 30 years
1977 Eldorado, 19 years
1968 Eldorado, 18 years
2001 Monte Carlo, almost 17 years
1989 Riviera, 3 years (purchased new by my folks)
1995 Riviera, 1 year (purchased new by my folks) 
Jim Skelly, CLC #15958
1968 Eldorado
1977 Eldorado Biarritz
1971 Eldorado (RIP)

EAM 17806

#15
I acquired my 76 coupe deville since February 1, 1977 and intend to take it to the grave with me. I consider this style much more appealing than the 76 Eldorado because of its lack of skirts and the layout of the front fenders sticking out to hold the car back when traveling 50 or more MPH.  As it is said: "TO EACH HIS OWN".   EAM
Ev Marabian

1976 Cadillac Coupe DeVille, 1989 Chevrolet Caprice Classic, 1990 Pontiac Bonneville and 1996 Buick Skylark

James Landi

I purchased an '83 Eldorado with 58k   in '92 and decided that I was not going to give up on it come hell or  water... it literally died in 2013 with 315K miles on the 4100 engine that came with the car .  In the last five or eight years, I had to "shift the transmission" from 1st through 2nd, as it had a tendency, when hot, to jump to 3rd, and the 4100 couldn't do much with 3rd at 20 mph.  I think I had- Maaco paint the car 3 times.  My wife and I replaced the vinyl top.  Obviously, I loved the old car, Old Red and I were pals for 24 years...  and every Sunday, I'd wash and spray wax it.   We lived in flat FLorida, and I rarely, if ever, down shifted--- I am certain that I annoyed hundreds of people over year... never wishing to push my luck with the engine.     

David Greenburg

I'm definitely in the "buy and hold" camp.  Had my '59 Fleetwood for 28 years.  Debated long and hard about whether to do a serious re-restoration or move on, but decided to move on, trading it (in part) for a '60 Seville in December, 2012. And then Dan LeBlanc's '61 Fleetwood somehow found its way across the continent and into my garage a few months ago.  Will I keep these cars for 28 years? Perhaps. 
David Greenburg
'60 Eldorado Seville
'61 Fleetwood Sixty Special

64\/54Cadillacking

Compared to most of you guys, I'm still fresh at this stuff even though I've owned some Caddies over the years. 8) :D

I bought my 64 SDV 2 years ago and plan on keeping this car FOREVER! It's one of my favorite looking Cadillac's besides for the 59 and the 49-56 models. It's condition, low miles, and the fact that everything is there and it runs well is another reason I will never sell it. I will be buried with this car. :)

72 SDV I owned for 2 years. Great performing car, and bulletproof but the body needed work and it wasn't a Cad I truly wanted.

68 CD owned for 2 years as well. Very cool sleek sexy car, but sold to buy another dream car of mine.

61 Lincoln Continental (10 years) great car, but it needed too much work and after comparing the styling to Cadillacs, they are bland and boring looking to me now.

94 Cadillac Fleetwood that I've owned for 8 years now, don't know if I will ever sell just because the car still runs great (very reliable), is huge inside and it's comfortable to drive. It's still my daily driver too. They're becoming a rare sight and people are starting to compliment it since you never see these cars anymore and because of how big the car is.

78 Lincoln Continental I still own (5 years), and I will never sell this car either. It's the last of huge Lincolns, the car rides like your riding on clouds, it's ultra comfortable and looks really cool. Also, another dream car of mine that I don't think I can ever part with.
Currently Rides:
1964 Sedan Deville
1954 Cadillac Fleetwood 60 Special
1979 Lincoln Mark V Cartier Designer Series
2007 Lexus LS 460L (extended wheelbase edition)

Previous Rides:
1987 Brougham D' Elegance
1994 Fleetwood Bro
1972 Sedan Deville
1968 Coupe Deville
1961 Lincoln Continental
1993 Lincoln Town Car Signature Series
1978 Lincoln Continental ( R.I.P.) 1978-2024 😞

jock82

1976 Olds 98 Regency 42 years (purchased new Nov 1975 after my 70 Coupe de Ville was totaled in accident)
1982 Ford Pickup 35 years (purchased new by my dad August 1982))
1989 Sedan de Ville ( purchased October 1989 one of the most reliable cars I have ever owned)
1994 Concours (purchased March 1995) 22 years
2009
DTS (purchased April 2010) 7 years

Guy R Moore
CLC #12650
1989 Sedan de Ville
1994 Concours
2009 DTS'
1976 Olds 98 Regency

Guy Moore CLC# 12650