Topic: 1989 Cadillac Brougham d'Elegance - Dent buys something completely different

[Arthur Dent]

A replacement vinyl is not a ton of money. Apparently there is some extra structure when stripping it off. The car has been repainted at some point. They went from a lighter to slightly darker hearing aid beige which means someone (or two someones) choose for this car to be beige twice!

Strangely filler plate decay do not seem to be an issue around here. I've rarely ever seen it even on the most beater of cars. Must be our climate I guess? Which is odd given we get hot summer/cold winters but it seems to be very common elsewhere. Maybe a moisture thing?

[ArticSteve]

A replacement vinyl is not a ton of money. Apparently there is some extra structure when stripping it off.

I wasn't thinking of that.  Strip it off, remove all the fastners, bondo the holes up and paint it black.  Just a random thought.

[ArticSteve]

Strangely filler plate decay do not seem to be an issue around here. I've rarely ever seen it even on the most beater of cars. Must be our climate I guess? Which is odd given we get hot summer/cold winters but it seems to be very common elsewhere. Maybe a moisture thing?

I always assumed it was the intensity of the solar radiation.

[Arthur Dent]

A replacement vinyl is not a ton of money. Apparently there is some extra structure when stripping it off.

I wasn't thinking of that.  Strip it off, remove all the fastners, bondo the holes up and paint it black.  Just a random thought.

It apparently is not as easy as that. They only offered the coupe (rarely) without the vinyl roof, otherwise the roof underneath is not fully finished and so required metal work to get it flat and finished nicely. Which is unfortunate.

[revalations]

I had a tin top 1981 Coupe Deville in medium grey. Also, more recently had a 1995 Fleetwood that was also a rare vinyl delete car.

I like the look but they can be a real ugly mess underneath. My friends parents had a nice colonnade Cutlass that literally rotted from the roof downwards because of the vinyl top. Remember having a cutlass myself with rust under the top, my uncle called it “warble flys” like what happens to cattle.


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[Arthur Dent]

Finally insured and registered. Out for a few short drives today. A few small issues to resolve like the speedo cable needs lubed and the sun roof is making some noise but overall seems to run good.

[revalations]

Looks like a nice comfy ride. All she needs is a nice long set of horns on the hood!


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[ktm525]

Looking good. Is this your new daily?

[Bubba]

Finally insured and registered. Out for a few short drives today. A few small issues to resolve like the speedo cable needs lubed and the sun roof is making some noise but overall seems to run good.

 

[Arthur Dent]

I put it on cheap classic insurance so I won't be driving it to work but as an occasional driver.

[ktm525]

need horns. Go full AB douche

[Firm]

Nice, enjoy!

[Arthur Dent]

Went to a mini car show / cars and coffee thing. Not great weather so low turn out.

I've had this plate on a number of cars but sort of works for the Cadillac with its 307cid engine. VFK307 - very fine kar 307?

[ktm525]

Went to a mini car show / cars and coffee thing. Not great weather so low turn out.

I've had this plate on a number of cars but sort of works for the Cadillac with its 307cid engine. VFK307 - very fine kar 307?

Uhh you look like you are taking up 4 spots. 

[HeliDriver]

Went to a mini car show / cars and coffee thing. Not great weather so low turn out.

I've had this plate on a number of cars but sort of works for the Cadillac with its 307cid engine. VFK307 - very fine kar 307?

Uhh you look like you are taking up 4 spots. 

Classic 'Berta scene!

Makes me wish for the days I had my old beater Pathfinder. I'd squeeze in between those two and crawl out the back hatch.   

[ArticSteve]

Tremendous looking rear end on those vehicles.  Nice job.  And those black walls look appropriate.

[Arthur Dent]

I drive a luxury car now - aren't I supposed to take four spots up? And stop using my turn signals? 



I did my oil change yesterday. No issues there. Fixed the rear tail light. Bad connection created by a previous owner with the tow hitch install. Sold the tow hitch as well so subtract $100 from the budget.



Less successful with the speedometer cable removal (its noisy, I need to lube it). Came out of the transmission easily.




Access is tight. Got to this point with not much give on the speedometer coming out.

The silver cylinder is the speedometer cable. It, in theory, is released by pressing down on that tab. Unfortunately, mine does not release. Room is extremely tight for such a big car. I'll have to give this go another time. It would be a heck of lot easier if there was just another inch of slack. Given how big the car is access is annoyingly tight.

[warp]

Finally insured and registered. Out for a few short drives today. A few small issues to resolve like the speedo cable needs lubed and the sun roof is making some noise but overall seems to run good.

Beautiful!!

How are the headlights...I think with a lot of these older vehicles, restoring and cleaning the headlights is a must....we are so used to bright LEDs nowadays that older halogens are perceived as really dim specially if the glass is clouded over.

[Arthur Dent]

Headlights are poor. Brakes are poor. Handling is poor.  It is essentially a late 70s car sold into 1989. 

They are sealed beam headlights so no polishing needed. They can just be replaced. That said they are in ok shape just dim by today's standards. Some owners have replaced tail lights with LEDs for example that won't be me. It is what it is and I don't plan to drive through snow storms for example.

[Bubba]

Headlights are poor. Brakes are poor. Handling is poor.  It is essentially a late 70s car sold into 1989.