Like a lot of you guys I have other automotive interests besides what we talk about here. Im also into the 67-72 style Chevy trucks. I have several, one of which is a 71 4x4. We purchased it in a million pieces from lots of different places. It was our first real father son and son project. Both my boys were in their early teens when we started putting it together, now they are 26 and 27. Early on we vowed to keep this truck in the family forever. Both of them spent a lot of time behind the wheel when they got their licenses. I gave it to my younger son awhile back. He recently has run into a financial snag (one of many Ive helped him out of) and was thinking about selling it. Instead I gave him the chunk of money he needed, but I took the truck back. I was talking to a friend about it and said he would really like a 4x4 and offered to trade me his 41 Cad 2 door fastback for it. His uncle purchased it brand new. It has a couple of rust spots in the floor and trunk and you can see in the pics its a project. He has all the parts for it and even a bunch of spare stuff. The frame has been proffesionally upgraded with a Nova front clip and 75 (I think) Caddy rear end. It also has the 500 inch engine and turbo 400 installed. All the wiring in the car and the heater is gone. Brake lines are all in, but he hasnt put fluid to the system yet. I love big cars, especially Caddys. So I was telling another friend about this deal and how I wasnt too sure about it because of the sentimental family value the 4x4 had. Plus my sons didnt seem to thrilled about it. My buddy said, you know I was going to give you a call about that 4x4. How would you like to trade me for my 61 Unibody? Ive watched him put this thing together from a stocker to where its at now. He has a Volare front clip and a later 9inch rear. It also has a totally rebuilt 350/350 combo in it. Its a running licensed truck. It just needs a little body work and paint (no rust in it at all). Funny how when it rains it pours. Keep the original 4x4, its just sitting in the barn, probably to never be used again until my sons get up into their 40s and maybe get nostalgic. Get the Caddy. Finish up the misc stuff, put some nice tires and wheels on her, leave the body alone for now and just enjoy a big cruiser? Get the 61 Ford. Its a very cool little truck with a nice rumpity engine. Paint it bright red and toss some chrome reverse rims on it? Or keep looking for a big ol convertible? Sometimes its harder for guys like me that just love cars in general and dont really have a particular one that I love more than another. Its a disease lol
I just went through this. Long story short. if the "kids" don't wan't it and you want something more, do it. Life is too short to deal with trying to keep everything.
get the cadillac. it seems your willing to cut loose the 4x4 so i wouldnt worry much about that. put much wt or hp in those ford and the doors either wont shut or they pop open. really just do what you want to do. had a 61 unibody and loved it. begging for a 351 windsor/c4 though. sometimes a bird in the hand.......
Ya can't please everybody, so please yourself. **** sounds like a song, **** did I say that out loud, never mind
I don't see that you're gonna mess up any way you go here. You might get your sons involved in the decision making and go from there. Me, I've always been a ****er for a SWB Unibody. Larry T
get the Cadillac and build something never seen before you paid for the truck do what YOU want to with it
Well, here's where you have to decide what "kind" of a hotrodder you are! Early models or late models. Cars or trucks. Cruiser or stoplight racer. As for "saving" anything for kids, if they have no interest now they never will so please yourself. They'll just turn whatever you have to money when you get in line for the Heaven Train.
I'm a Caddy nut so I'm biased, but strictly looking at it from a dollars and cents point, the Caddy will bring major bucks finsihed out right. You seen what pre 48 Caddys go for? I'd bet you could get enough for the finished Caddy to buy another 72 Chev, a unibody truck AND a big 'ol convertible.
What kinda shape is the '71 in? 1/2 or 3/4T? Here's another "dilema" for ya.....I'm thinkin' of getting rid of all of my hotrod parts and need a PU, always dug those trucks. I think you should keep the '71, you already vowed to keep it forever.....although that unibody Ford is pretty cool.
Don't make this into a "when 2 fools met" story, one for offerin, one for not takin the offer. GET THE CAD!
Caddy! Caddy! Caddy !!!!!!!! Go Caddy, Go! Cadillac all the way! (there is a reason my username is what it is - I love the old cruisers)
One more vote for the Caddy. Trucks are a dime a dozen (I know, my daily is a '62 Chebby SWB). The Caddy is pure cl*** and it doesn't seem to need that much. Besides, you can always make it fast, too!
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