My dad and mom were 40 and 42 when I was born, so it was a different generation.
Mom didn’t drive and therefore didn’t really understand cars. However, she knew enough that she wasn’t comfortable with the 1965 red Thunderbird that I was driving back and forth across the original Alligator Alley. I was 19 at the time and worked in Fort Myers but visited my parents in Coral Springs frequently.
One day my dad called me to say the next time over he’d like to go golfing. So we made a time and got out onto the course. He said he had some things on his mind, one being that Thunderbird. He felt that it was time to move on and he was willing to help me find and finance a car.
I agreed, and on my next trip to Fort Myers, I sold the Bird to a high school friend. I got a ride back to the East Coast from the painter I’d been working for. I told him I wouldn’t be coming back to Fort Myers.
The next day, a Saturday, my dad and I started out looking for my next car. I was never a Camaro or Mustang person, I preferred big cars. So, with that in mind, we looked at everything from a $50 1973 Grand Ville (the dealer was called anything on wheels, for those from around the Fort Lauderdale area) to some nice looking, low miles New Yorker Broughams, Lincoln Town Cars, and Ford LTD’s. But nothing fit.
I did have my sights set on a 1978 NY Brougham four door in silver over red leather. But Dad warned me that Chrysler, at the time, was a hit or miss vehicle for reliability.
After a full 7 hours, we gave up.
The next day, as we were starting out again, we pulled into a small car lot. Out front, he had a salmon-colored very low optioned LTD. The salesman saw us look at it and promptly brought us the keys. We were not interested in that car at all and had both spotted a sharp dark blue Caprice Classic with tinted windows.
My dad was introducing himself when the salesman interrupted him to discuss this LTD. My dad nicely said that we were not interested in this car, but we both wanted to look at the Caprice Classic. Then it happened; the salesman raised his voice to my dad, telling him that “he was trying to sell him a good car” pointing at the Ford. I believe the tornado sirens went off, and I backed up because this man was about to see hell on earth!
My dad reared up and said, “Hey, you are not going to sell me a damn thing. Do you understand? I MIGHT buy from you, but you won’t sell me!”
Smartly the man retreated and came back with the GM keys.
I’m a person who likes options –as many as I can get please. And this car was loaded. In fact, except for power windows (the elderly people ordered the car without in the event of driving into a canal), Comfortron and a tape deck, this one had it all.
So we bought this 27,000 mile, 8 year old car for $2000.
This would have been in August 1983 and in December of that year, I took out my soon to be wife for our first date.
By March of 1984, my parents, Cindy and I were taking a road trip. Dad was driving, and Cindy and I were talking in the back seat. I asked her to marry me, and she said yes!
From there, in August of 1984, she and I drove to Ohio where I was born, to attend a sister’s wedding. That trip was so comfortable. Cindy started to really enjoy that car. I did have to teach her that the tilt wheel goes up when exciting and down for driving. How? Well, one night she was working late. I went out and rolled the power seat up and high, and dropped the wheel!
To this day, she puts the wheel up every time!
We were married in December of 1984.
Of course my car was decorated!
At that time, the song 99 Red Balloons was being overplayed all the time and I didn’t care for it. Well her cousin learned about this, and filled my beloved Caprice with red balloons!
By June of 1985, her dad was pushing me to move up to a newer car. I had really had zero issues with my Caprice, and declined.
Well, one Saturday afternoon, I got a call at work. His parents were looking to buy a 1985 Mercury Marquis Brougham (the little one) and had a 10,000 mile 1981 Bonneville Brougham. They wanted to use my car as the trade-in and sell me the Bonneville for the difference between the trade-in and book.
Reluctantly I agreed, but told them I would make the payments to them. They said sure, but after four payments were made, they gave me a card that simply read “the 1981 Bonneville Brougham was paid in full. Happy birthday”.
I saw that Caprice a few times after it was sold, and it was being kept up nicely.
Funny, but it’s one of the few cars I wish I had today.
Related CC reading:
Curbside Classic: 1972 Chevrolet Caprice – Cadillac Carbon Copy?
Curbside Classic: 1973 Chevrolet Caprice – Old Beater
Curbside Classic: 1973 Chevrolet Impala Sedan – 666, The Number Of The Beast Or No More Sixes
Curbside Classic: 1973 Chevrolet Impala Sport Coupe – The Minato Connection
“99 Red Balloons” is a song about a batch of balloons being mistaken for enemy aircraft, leading to nuclear war. Somebody really thought this was what a newlywed couple would want to be reminded of?
I’m a fan of both of these cars (the Bonneville would be better if more powerful engines were offered, but otherwise ’81 was my favorite year for the box Bonneville/Parisienne, with upgraded interior trim and a gorgeous Pontiac-specific dashboard that was replaced by a Caprice dash the next year). I’m curious about how it felt going from the pre-downsized Caprice to the Bonneville that was supposedly just as roomy (or even roomier) than the big ’71-’76 models. I thought the downsized ’77 and later cars felt considerably more crowded inside, even though space for four was still plentiful.
Somebody really thought this was what a newlywed couple would want to be reminded of?
I recount to you a reception I was present, where “Me and Mrs. Jones” by Billy Paul began to play. The couple and most of their friends (and the DJ) were much too young to have been around when the song was current, showing no signs that they had a clue regarding the content. Those of us, including myself, who were familiar with the song? Mortified. I’ve never seen a reception turn so tense at the drop of a hat, just like that.
A college buddy of mine had “Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)” and “Nothing Compares 2U” at his wedding.
Um. “Brandy”, that’s a song about a barmaid, at least nominally, though she can easily be interpreted elsewise. That’s not definitely here nor there, though it’s still a bit of an odd choice to play at a wedding.
But “Nothing Compares 2U” is just…at a wedding? Nnnno. No. Final answer: No.
It sort of reminds me of the bizarre spectacle of hep teen-agers happily dancing to The Cyrkle’s “Red Rubber Ball” (seen on EwTube some years ago, but it seems to have vanished). Did they not, like, listen to one or two of the lyrics?
Nailed these tunes!
Red Rubber Ball:
The roller coaster ride we took is nearly at an end;
I bought the tickets with my tears, that’s all I’m going to spend!
So much for being “extra careful”.
The ’77+ large GM cars had front passenger floors that were 2″ or so higher than the driver’s floor, to make room for the catalytic converters. A difference you could feel, for sure.
Yes, remember this very well. We had a ’77 Bonneville Brougham with a 6-way power seat on driver’s side and being able to raise the seat made the difference in floor height from the passenger side seem even greater than it was.
One of the stations here “94.7 The Drive” plays the song periodically. Sometimes the “German version”, as well.
@la673- first, I/we never knew the meaning of the song. We just knew that in the Fort Lauderdale area anyway, it was way overplayed. The stations would play both versions twice to four times hourly.
Sad to hear what it was truly written about.
Second, the Bonneville was really a much nicer car in every area. It had the unpopular Pontiac 265 which, coupled with the lock up torque converter three speed 200 metric would give 25-26 mpg all day long on the highway, and 18 was the normal in city. (I also don’t drive my cars hard) The Caprice was good for 18 highway and about 12 city with its 350-2.
As far as room, the Caprice felt like it had more foot room, but the Bonny felt bigger on other inside dimensions.
My guess is that if you were to ask my wife, she’d prefer the Bonny.
I cannot imagine proposing with my parents in the front seat, They must have overheard your proposal. Wish you would elaborate a bit,
Me too – I had to reread that paragraph to make sure that was what I read.
If I had done that, Dad would have blurted out that I was doing everything wrong before my girlfriend would’ve had a chance to answer!
My mom/dad were “45/40”, when I arrived.
MIne were 37/47.
In June of 1974 I ordered a 1975 Caprice Classic convertible – I still own it , today! It only has 77,000 original un restored mile on it!
what color?
My dad bought a new 2 door 75 Impala 350 2 barrel.It was the slowest most gutless V8 car I ever drove.He traded that in on a 77 Monte Carlo 350 4 barrel, much better.
@CC Fan my car had dual exhaust that was loud?!!
No, they honestly didn’t hear anything. Dad had the radio on and they were busy talking. When we arrived home, she told them! But they knew in their heart. They accepted Cindy as a fifth daughter, and her and my mom were very close.
@JT- and I thought I was the only one. It was not always easy having a sister 20 years older, and the multiple generations. Sometimes the conversations were tough.
Chip, I am very much enjoying your series. I think I may be a year older than you, and got married about 6 months after you…and our wedding car was also a B body GM. A LeSabre in my case.
I remember 99 Luftballoons quite well. It’s on multiple mix tapes I have from that era, so no doubt I played it at my wedding reception as well. I know that music was played at the reception (I was in charge of it), but frankly I have no specific recollection. It was the 80s, and let’s just say one of those parties where conditions were not exactly ripe for recollection.
Your story about proposing in the back seat while the ‘rents were driving is sweet. Your family sounds very close. In a good way 🙂
Here’s my LeSabre from May of 1985. It carried those markings for the rest of its life…as my friends used spray snow to write on it.
@Bruce Granger- I’d love pictures. That car was on my favorite list. It even had the econominder gauge! It was missing Comfortron
Another enjoyable chapter here, and great pictures!
The tilt wheel story is interesting – I recall people doing that a lot (i.e., raising the tilt steering wheel when exiting the car) in the 1970s and ’80s. But it’s something that’s receded in my memory… haven’t seen someone do that in ages. I guess modern cars with that big clunky lever under the steering column aren’t quite a conducive that that as older GM products.
I rarely used the tilt-away feature in my old Pontiac, in part because then I’d have to manually reset it to driving position when I got back in, and there was no memory for your favorite position. I think I’d use it much more if I had it now though due to my aging body and chronic back pain issues. The flat-bottomed steering wheels in some newer cars makes the tilt-away less necessary though.
@Eric703 and la673
I’m lanky and have always preferred to have the tilt wheel feature. I loved the swing away wheel in my 65 Thunderbird!
I guess my dad started it. He had it on his 67 LeSabre, and ordered it for his 1973 Caprice (which came through with a standard column), then on two Lincoln’s and pretty much every car after that.
Now I’m fully disabled with back issues and use it even more! In fact, we were trading in a 22 Silverado last July and chose an 18 Sierra primarily for the old style tilt feature. I agree – they now use the clunky set it and forget it system.
Funny thing is my wife is more about making sure our cars have that now than I am!
I’m blessed. Cindy is a terrific woman.
Thank you for all the kind words. I’m learning to write slowly!
Ahhh, I miss the days of low mile, older, inexpensive cars! Elderly folks would buy new, keep for awhile, but would then freak out when the car hit 10 years old, no matter how few miles it had.
And your father was absolutely right on older Chryslers from the late 70’s. The only ones safe to buy came directly from owners who had kept them for a long time, insuring for you that it was one of the good ones.
I remember these fine (IMO) Chevies .
Your happy story, well written is a joy to read .
-Nate
The last year was 1976 for the fully sized Caprice Classic 4dr, 2dr coupe & 2dr convertible,they even manufactured a brougham luxury model series. I like the way how both you and your dad stuck to your guns and you didn’t let that car lot salesman try to force you to buy a car you both did not want to buy because he thought that he could take advantage of two individuals that were idiotic simpletons and you both showed him that you were not pushovers. Even though the elderly couple who brought the ride brand new without power windows it’s still was a very nice ride even for what you both spend the money for. It’s a shame Chevy/GM downsized it from 77 to 91.
Good job and two thumbs up to both you and your dad for sticking to what type of ride you wanted the salesman was the jackass he thought he could take advantage of both of you and your dad.