Awsome Low mile Caprice

[camarojoe]

I don't know "exactly" why, but its pretty much the same way til this day... Central/Western PA was always a rural type area, with steel mills/coal mining/railroads as the main source of employment for most folks in the 50s, 60s, and 70's. People worked hard for their money, and usually were pretty frugal with purchases as well. Not many "highly optioned" cars of any sort came out of the area, although there were a few exceptions.

Another reason I'd guess is simply because it's also COLD here 75% of the year, so frills like AC were rarely ordered, even by dealers for lot inventory. AC was useful for about a month, and needed servicing/recharging annually. Power windows would tend to freeze up in the winter, and they were generally viewed as an expensive hassle to many, therefore that option also seems rare on older stuff around here. In fact, until cars started coming standard with them, they were fairly "rare" way up into the 90's in most cars around here.

As far as the AM radio thing, I think FM was pretty oddball anywhere in the US back then, as most of the best stations were still AM. Heck, FM radio still sucks around here in 2010! So to answer your question, I'd guess cars lacking in options existed as a combination of both frugality and practicality.

[agtw31]

i bet this caprice gets ass kicking gas mileage.

my 1st wife's dad always orderred his cars,they lived in the kent,ohio area.

he got every option available but a/c on his cars.

he told me a/c was a waste of gas,and added weight to the car(he was a truck driver)

he had a Chrysler Cordoba with a 400 in it,and no a/c.
he got 20 mpg on the highway out of that car.
i was shocked,those cars were serious pigs.

[olredalert]

------Stick a 700-R in it and drive it til it disappears in a pile of rust. .......Bill S

[Canuck]

I was iving in Winnipeg or Winter-peg as it was often known as in the late 70's. I was purchasing a New 77 Cutlass and found many of the cars with A/C had "armstrong" wind up windows. The particular Cutlass Brougham I bought had every option except a radio. Dealer rationalized this as by 1977 a lot of customers were replacing factory sound systems with aftermarket units.

Paul

[black69]

nice car. I wish I had those low mile tires off it. My odd ball 71 cuda came with the double white stripe tires. If you ever look at old autoshow pics (say chicago autoshow for example), you always see the double stripe. I know I will never find a mint set like whats on this car. cool car, dig the tires

[Canuck]

Double white wall tires are available from these guys:

http://www.dbtires.com/tires.html

Check page 14 of their PDF catalogue.

Paul

[TimG]

The car is pulling some $$ if the bidding is real.

[agtw31]

[ QUOTE ]
I was iving in Winnipeg or Winter-peg as it was often known as in the late 70's. I was purchasing a New 77 Cutlass and found many of the cars with A/C had "armstrong" wind up windows. The particular Cutlass Brougham I bought had every option except a radio. Dealer rationalized this as by 1977 a lot of customers were replacing factory sound systems with aftermarket units.

Paul

[/ QUOTE ]
they didn't put radios in them because the radios were being stolen during delivery.

[musclecarjohn]

love that car...wow,what a time capsule!

I used to have a 4-door Caprice in same color that used to be my dads. I liked driving it had plenty torque from the sb400 (infamous 4-bolt main). I always liked the clean look of the rear bumper/tailights/trim and fins on deck lid and the fiberglass fender skirts was cool too.

I also once had a triple black 71 Impala w/bb402 that was in need of resto but sold it. At the time I had way too many cars (not enough space) and had part with a few