Anyone miss the larger cars?

[MossRoad]

Size is relative. When I was in college (late 60s) I had a Mercury Comet. In its day it was considered a small car. Fast forward about 20 years, I saw one similar to mine in a junkyard. I was amazed how big it seemed compared to late-80s vintage ones. I put the front seat all the way back, I could not reach the pedals, yet could still fit comfortably in the back. You could almost live in the trunk it was so big. Wish I'd picked it up...didn't look like a rustbucket.

Compare that to your claustrophobic modern car. They may be better in most ways, but styling and comfort are not among them.

I agree. I had a friend that used to have a Comet. We'd drag race on back roads. I had a Nova. Similar size. Considered compact car back then, but I had seat belts for 6 people in the Nova. He had 5 in the Comet because he had bucket seats in front. Funny what size is considered small back then VS now.

 

[ultrarunner]

View attachment 402108

Does this count?

I've got a mint 67 Fleetwood... it is big.

I can put 8' fluorescent bulbs in the front seat and new rubbermaid garbage cans in the trunk... the rear footrests are nice too.

I rode in the car new as it belonged to a family at church and later I worked for him... nice guy. This car was his baby... retired Navy Commander and had a office machine company.

One day he was having some trouble with the door lock.. told him I could fix it and I did... had not worked for them in 25 years and one day his wife calls and says Doug isn't up to driving anymore and he wants me to have it...

I had no room in Oakland CA so I picked up the car and drove it to Olympia WA and put it in the shop... had a nice drive up... stopped for gas 3 times... only stop once with the BMW...

Doug grew up in Washington State and had driven his fleetwood in every state except Alaska and Hawaii... he was tickled when I told him I drove it to Washington and it never missed a beat... kept a picture of it at his bedside from the day I picked it up.

 

[MossRoad]

I've got a mint 67 Fleetwood... it is big.

I can put 8' fluorescent bulbs in the front seat and new rubbermaid garbage cans in the trunk... the rear footrests are nice too.

I rode in the car new as it belonged to a family at church and later I worked for him... nice guy. This car was his baby... retired Navy Commander and had a office machine company.

One day he was having some trouble with the door lock.. told him I could fix it and I did... had not worked for them in 25 years and one day his wife calls and says Doug isn't up to driving anymore and he wants me to have it...

I had no room in Oakland CA so I picked up the car and drove it to Olympia WA and put it in the shop... had a nice drive up... stopped for gas 3 times... only stop once with the BMW...

Doug grew up in Washington State and had driven his fleetwood in every state except Alaska and Hawaii... he was tickled when I told him I drove it to Washington and it never missed a beat... kept a picture of it at his bedside from the day I picked it up.

My father-in-law had one similar to that. I got to drive his daughter to the prom in it! It was HUGE! hahahaa towards the end of its life, he used it to haul firewood!!! :laughing:

 

[Looking4new]

WOW! What a sweetheart of a car. I would get it appraised and then insure it to the hilt.

 

[ultrarunner]

It's been sitting in the shop/barn in Olympia for 5 years... I do start it and drive it up and down the driveway when I'm there which unfortunately has not happened this year... my other choice was to park it outside in Oakland which was not a viable option...

The time I drove it up I was doing a lot of things around the house and stopped at an appliance store in Lacey...

When I got to the counter the guys were talking were talking about it... noticed it had California plates and still had the commander decal on the bumper...

They asked me about the car and told them I had just driven it up yesterday... they were amazed... then I had to add, "Well... it's a Cadillac isn't it"

 

[Scooby074]

Anyone miss the larger cars?

Nope. As pointed out, newer cars, while lighter, protect the occupants better. And you cant ignore the benefits of increased mileage.

 

[NoTrespassing]

The subject came up at work today when discussing gas prices. When I was growing up during the Carter administration, gasoline when through the roof if you could even buy it. Honda Civics were just entering the scene and after doing the math I really wanted one. All my buddies had V8s and could barely afford to drive them.

I was never able to afford a new Civic and never had anything that got really good mileage but after gas went up in 2006 I vowed to fix the problem. I went out and bought a brand new 08 Hyundai Accent and on a good tank can get up to 40mpg. If I ever buy another big car it will be for recreation only. I hate having to drive our 4x4 suv when it snows. I swear I can see the gas gauge moving.

 

[ultrarunner]

Forgot to add that as kids... the family that owned the car was always driving for youth sports... as a 5th grader me and 9 of my classmates had no problem piling in to get a ride to the game...

In 1967 Fleetwoods only came with 4 seat belts... two in front and two in back... not sure what would happen if I had 10 kids in it today going down the road... different times for sure!

 

[davennall]

The wife and I always have always loved the larger cars.We have owned 4 buick lesabres(1993,2000,2002,2004)lincoln 1999 and a 1979 caddy coupe deville.I call them old fart cars that are just plain cruisersToday we purchased a 2004 lincoln town car with 34,000 miles in excellent condition.We love the ride and room the bigger cruisers have to offer verses todays offerings:dance1:

Hi,Coobie. My wifes car is a 2004 Buick Le sabre. 240,000 miles and still runs and rides great. Looking kinda ragged these days( louisiana roads are not for the faint of heart) but I cant see anything out there that can fill the old gals shoes. Gonna be hard to replace her. 3.8 liter six cyl. that still gets 28 mpg.

 

[TomSeller]

Hi,Coobie. My wifes car is a 2004 Buick Le sabre. 240,000 miles and still runs and rides great. Looking kinda ragged these days( louisiana roads are not for the faint of heart) but I cant see anything out there that can fill the old gals shoes. Gonna be hard to replace her. 3.8 liter six cyl. that still gets 28 mpg.

Those 3.8L 90 degree V6s were very good engines.