Just purchased this one today in Nevada, Iowa. This '75 Victoria 3-way was originally "Terragon Gold"(light metallic green) with "Maharajah Jasper Green" cloth interior. The rear floor also has the same green Maharajah cloth, which really gets obnoxious! The table still has its factory carpet. The car is documented as having 31,000 actual miles! This car has always been funeral director owned and has always been in Iowa, even since taken out of service around 8 years ago. Unfortunately, the owner that owned it up until 6 months ago left it sit outside, which caused the black lacquer re-paint to turn to crap. The original vinyl top is perfect! The car rides and drives like a 31,000 mile car should. None of the expected old Cadillac exhaust manifold or lifter noise! No rust holes or previous repairs anywhere! This one is going to be my guinnea pig for practicing my buffing skills. I figure that I can't screw that paint job up too badly!
Just purchased this one today in Nevada, Iowa. This '75 Victoria 3-way was originally "Terragon Gold"(light metallic green) with "Maharajah Jasper Green" cloth interior. The rear floor also has the same green Maharajah cloth, which really gets obnoxious! The table still has its factory carpet. The car is documented as having 31,000 actual miles! This car has always been funeral director owned and has always been in Iowa, even since taken out of service around 8 years ago. Unfortunately, the owner that owned it up until 6 months ago left it sit outside, which caused the black lacquer re-paint to turn to crap. The original vinyl top is perfect! The car rides and drives like a 31,000 mile car should. None of the expected old Cadillac exhaust manifold or lifter noise! No rust holes or previous repairs anywhere! This one is going to be my guinnea pig for practicing my buffing skills. I figure that I can't screw that paint job up too badly!
Nothing has really suffered on this car, other than the paint. There are no rust issues at all, but that lacquer will have to be stripped off prior to re-paint. It is still a 31,000 mile car that runs and drives like new. I drove it about 10 miles. The vinyl top is still perfect and the interior is still like new. I don't see this one as being "rough" at all. It's total list of needs amounts to a muffler, 4 new tires, and a paint job. I've seen a lot of rough cars...... this is not one of them. Shannon actually sold it about 6 months ago to a Funeral Director in Nevada, IA.
The most important thing to me in looking at any '74 thru '76 coach is what it looks like when you get down on your knees and eye-ball the lower fenders, doors, and quarter panels. Most of these old girls that spent their lives in the Mid-West look like a roller coaster on these lower panels, even when they are "done". I would far rather buy a car showing all of her sins but no real rust than buy a car that is "done", but should really be stripped back down and "re-done" correctly. I would never even consider buying a '74 thru '76 hearse of any kind that had real rust issues or poor quality previous rust repairs. They just aren't worth putting that kind of money into. I had to act quickly to save this one as all of the Goth idiots were calling him wanting to park it in their front yards!!
For the sake of truth, justice, and the American way, that pic was taken by Steve Loftin, though my father owned the car at the time....
This is a picture of my other 73 that was taken by Steve Lichtman some years ago...
How's "Inveraray Green" sound?? Not sure where the name comes from.? You'll have to look it up on the '75 Cadillac color chart. It is a very dark green.
For the sake of truth, justice, and the American way, that pic was taken by Steve Loftin, though my father owned the car at the time.
Glad it's coming along, Bruce, it was too nice to leave to deteriorate.