Vehicle Description
Harkening back to a time when bigger was almost always better, this
1976 Chevrolet Caprice is a spacious ride that's received the
benefit of good care and shelter during its substantial lifetime,
so it's looking good and running strong. It's also about as
original as a classic can be, including its still-sharp exterior,
its plush interior, all the way to its drivetrain.
The burgundy color this Chevy wears is not just its original shade,
but the very paint it rolled off the assembly line with and, more
than four decades later, it still produces a nice shine. It's
accented by a vinyl top that's come through the years in good
shape, avoiding the loose fit and bubbling that so often plagues
the feature after a few years' worth of exposure to the elements,
and the opera windows it sports on its sides are downright cool.
This is one lengthy cruiser - there's a lot of steel extending
backwards behind its substantial doors. Taking a lap around, you
won't find any major issues that jump out at you and its alignment
remains strong, with doors, hood and deck lid that open smoothly
and long stretches of trim running the lengths of its sides that
are nice and level as they transition from fender to door to rear
quarter panel. The bumpers in both front and back could use
re-chroming to bring out their best, but both are straight and show
no signs of having run afoul of any unyielding obstacles.
Very few original interiors have weathered time as well as this one
has. The broad front buckets, as well as the bench seat in back,
are in factory configuration, but may well have received
refurbishing over the years, as they have a "newish" look to them,
don't appear to have borne the weight of many passengers and offer
sofa-like comfort. The level of functionality still on display in
this Chevy is particularly impressive, given its age - all of the
control knobs and switches seem to work as intended, and the
featured power windows are as prompt as you could want. Comfort and
convenience features on board include power windows, power door
locks, a tilting steering column and cruise control. A period
correct AM/FM radio - likely the original - sits at the center of a
straight looking dash area and the air conditioning is in top form
- fire it up and it cools the cabin in short order. The trunk area
is substantial, to say the least - even with a full size spare
sitting inside there's plenty of room.
The running condition of this Chevy is a definite strong suit. The
original 350 cubic inch V8 sits under the hood in the expansive
engine compartment and it still shows plenty of eagerness, firing
right up and idling smoothly when called upon. The 3-speed
automatic transmission just behind it has also been there from the
start and shifts with plenty of precision. Combine smooth power
steering with the Caprice's long wheelbase and coilover suspension
in both front and back and you get a pillow-soft ride. Power brakes
at all four corners, with discs in front, provide dependable stops
as this bicentennial ride brings smiles to onlookers while it
cruises on its 15" stock Chevrolet wheels outfitted with Michelin
Road Handler Plus tires. A look below will reveal an undercarriage
that's still reassuringly sturdy and shows only a little patina
from the elements on its straight frame rails and sturdy floor
pans.
This 1976 Chevrolet Caprice has been treated well during its
lifetime so it's still well-positioned to provide plenty of
nostalgia-inducing miles. Call today!
