By 1975, word had gotten out that the convertible was about to be extinct at General Motors. Except for Cadillac, all divisions folded their tents and only the luxury marque would field a drop-top for ’76 before being done, too. As a result, some people bought up the last of the supply thinking they had future rolling gold mines on their hands. We don’t know if that’s the case with this ’75 Caprice convertible, but we’re told it’s never been titled and only driven 400 miles. So, it’s as close to a brand-new, 46-year-old car as you’re apt the find. Located in Sarasota, Florida, this time machine is available here on eBay where the bidding stands at $40,099 but the reserve is still there. Thanks, Larry D, for another unique find!
The Caprice didn’t get its first convertible until 1973 and it would only be built for three years. Just over 20,000 of them rolled off the assembly line in total, with 1975 being the biggest year at 8,349. Chevy executives realized that gold fever had struck and did what they could to keep up with demand. The convertible wasn’t necessarily killed off by a lack of demand, but more by safety legislation that never came to fruition. Convertibles would come back later at GM and other manufacturers, but never at the pace of the 1950 & 1960s.
This automobile is being marketed as the last factory-built Caprice convertible, but we don’t know if that is a literal or figurative statement. The build date was in May 1975 and the window sticker says this well-equipped car was just shy of $5,000. According to online calculators, that’s about the same as $25,000 today, assuming an annual inflation rate of 3.5%. But if you had invested that same amount at twice the rate, you’d be sitting on more than $100,000 today.
The Chevy here is a beautiful machine with tons of options. It has a 400 cubic inch V8 with a 4-barrel carburetor, which wasn’t exactly a barn burner in a car this big with all the detuning Detroit had to do. The photos provided could be better, but from what we can see of the red paint and white top/interior, everything is pristine. As it should be for a few hundred miles. We’re told the car was only used for parades, so we guess the local authorities looked away with it came to the lack of a license plate since the car was never titled. We’re not told of any work that may have been done over the last four decades, like putting on new tires or changing fluids periodically.
Regardless how this car came to be unused probably doesn’t matter. What does matter is what it’s worth given the presentation? I’ve always been attracted more to cars that were gently used with some miles rather than put up on pedestals. Those cars are likely to be more reliable in semi-regular use.
Only 400 miles, but it has a trailer hitch….HMMMMM
In a parade could haul a float full of 17 year old cuties! (Never a bad thing to be the richest guy in town.)
Most parade cars towed a float.
Tow/haul, who cares? I was more concentrating on the cuties. I can see them now. To think, those queens are now around 60 years old! (at my age, that is youthful and beautiful) The girls of the 1970s were very pretty, IMO.
Parade work?
Could have been ordered this way from the dealer/factory and not used as intended.
Yes, a trailer hitch – these Caprices are more than capable of pulling a boat, golf cart & trailer, etc. Dealer might have used this as his own demo. Then it was sold and tucked away.
I’ve had a few of these, and the painted surfaces and interior surfaces look great.
My first’ 75 iwas n the same colors, with a GM accessory hitch and wiring, heavy duty cooling and a big block. Former owner pulled his boat to the lake every weekend.
How could I bid on this car without becoming a member?
I would think that if a dealer had this,they’d take a
truck out of inventory to haul something.
I always thought that these were over-the- top in styling,
etc.We had one locally in a bright Lipstick Red with a white-
interior that was just too much.
These are huge cars,that probably go through gas like
crazy.
Wouldn’t it be cool no beyond cool if you could order any car you want. Any year, any make. Yea I know the cost for something like that would pay off the National debt but I could dream. Mine would be the 1973’ Grand Prix. Black over white interior with red pinstripe and the pre-catalytic converter 455’ 4bbl duel exhaust. Not a jet but I know will smoke the tires off if you held it down.
Time machine buddy, time machine. Start the research, we will all get in line to buy our cars from you! Oh BTW, just be careful not to upset the fabric of the universe, I hear it tears easily.
Ok but let’s make my Grand Prix first then turn it into a time machine.
I’m not that intelligent but I imagine there are rules enforced to protect the fabric you speak of. Oh heck with it let’s go balls to the wall fuk the fabric of the universe. Some of those cars would be worth it.
I’m with you Paul, you may be going, but you will be going in style…and with a smile on your face. Out of curiosity, what brand new car would you order? For me, not sure. Today I think I would reproduce my Dad’s 55 Plymouth. Not a great car, but dependable, just like my Dad. That would bring back some great memories.
Paul, boy am I getting senile, I now see you wanted the Pontiac, started the whole dealie. Don’t get old Paul, it has too many downsides.
I respect you mentioning your Dad I didn’t mention Dad but the Grand Prix I talk about is what he had when I got my DL @16 years old and he let
me drive it anytime I asked. I guess he was like that car stout and powerful.
I’m no spring chicken 😜
Right with ya brother. There was a time, literally up to 2000, that you could’ve spec build a vehicle.
I built my 1999 Jeep Cherokee at the dealer, took 6 months to get. Essentially a 2 door with 5spd manual and loredo package.
Mine would be the 71 Pontiac Grandville convertible, 455 w/ac! If we’re talking 70’s era of course. Or maybe a 78 Plymouth Trailduster Sport with the 440 and heavy duty brakes, suspension, trailer package.
I have the car, black, white top, white buckets. 73 Grand Prix SJ 455, factory sunroof, power everything, not new, but it’s got 25,000 into it, rebuilt motor, transmission front end, paint interior, sunroof was just replaced with a factory unit, w new motor and cables, tracks
That’s what I drove when turned 16. I think I saw your 73’. For me it’s the mother, Mrs. Brady
45 is on the HIGH side for this
I think it can fetch at least 30k advertised on donk planet or donk channel. I’ve seen these cars go for ridiculous amounts. The 71 gets a lot of attention. I have 74 myself.
Owned a ’74, hauled a 19 foot mark twain, boat had a Chevy 350, I had lots of friends, but, no not that important car.
I have to agree that, even with the low mileage, I’ve never seen a pristine scissor top over 25K. I think this would be a no brainer around 20K.
To the gas comment, my 75 Grand Ville, choked engine and all, gets 15 mpg all day long. My wife’s V6 Grand Cherokee gets 18, go figure.
For a period of time, full size four doors and wagons did a lot of trailer pulling. We towed our boat with a Bonneville, and our good friends towed a large travel trailer with a four door Catalina that had a trans cooler added. In the 70’s, the SUVs really weren’t s luxurious as full size passenger cars. The friend with the Catalina had it stolen and stripped in North Philly and he broke down and bought a suburban. Vinyl seats, rubber mats, and Dad and I put the aftermarket AC in one weekend.
Low rider!
Oh my God! The Bradymobile! Recall
seeing one in the final season of the
show. Still recall Greg and Marsha
using one in a driving test to see which
of them was the better driver. I can just
see my family and I cruising this thing
over to Old Town some Saturday nights
to get some Puerto Rican fries.
I should install a trailer hitch on my 1986 White 4 speed Ford Escort Pony.
You could trailer a horse, oh wait would you be putting the pony before the cart? Or wait, the pony before the horse? Or wait…
I also have 75 caprice convertible it looks just this barn find I bought it new in 1975 it wasn’t delivered till July of 1975 so we think may be the last one made dealer cost over $5300.00 it’s well equipped
Do you want to sell the one you have?
The last Caprice Convertible was given to Zolly Frank of the Z Frank Chevy fame. The last time l saw that car, it was sitting behind his leasing company office rotting away.
Kind of surprised that as loaded as this one is (incl. Comfortron AC), it doesn’t have cruise, FM or the wire wheel covers. Those (& posi) are about all that’s left. A nice survivor, but you really couldn’t use it much. The value is directly related to the mileage on one of these, and to pay a premium for the low miles, it would need to be kept that way to keep the value.
What is involved in the transfer of ownership on 46 year old car which has never been titled or registered?
Is the warranty still good? Why would there be so much over spay under the hood?
This car was probably just shy of $7000 when new. My parents bought a loaded ’76 Caprice 4 Door Hardtop dealer demo with every option except 454 and Comfortron. Still have the window sticker. It was $7410. Got my drivers license with it in ’79. Since it was the last of the “Big Chevies” the dealer wouldn’t knock anything off the price even though it had a couple thousand miles on it.
The 74 had a much better looking front end
First of all, there’s Dealer plates, so that’s question 1, question 2, probably ordered w trailer pkg
$46,700 now, reserve not met.
So this car has 400 miles on it? It was delivered to a dealer in
West Unity, Ohio, which is 1,195 miles from Sarasota Florida. How did it get to Florida? Curious minds want to know.
Transporter, they charge x amount of dollars for enclosed trailers, you wouldn’t drive this rare car all those miles in 1 shot
I don’t know if anyone has seen the Brady Bunch episode where Greg and Marcia drive their dad’s red 74 Caprice convertible to see which one of them was the better driver (it wound up being Marcia). Theirs was a 74 so it had different front end styling, but it was this color red. I think the interior color on theirs was red, though, not white. That is what this car reminds me of. Crazy to find one of these with such low mileage.
Marsha, Marsha, Marsha!!
As a young teen, I wanted to spend some time w Marsha in that car
Yup, maneuver through the cones to the last cone with the egg on it!
Had. One. Twin to this one. After one year my dealer told me to park in on the lot pick any car or pickup I wanted. And he would trade even up. It was towed 9 times in one year. We were just married. Wife loved it. Horrible car. We traded for totally loaded short Bed with buckets. Wonderful truck
There was a real frenzy to snap up the last of the Chevy convertibles. Magazines and newspapers declaring there would never be a soft top again. Dealers were asking full list, some were registering and then selling as used at huge markups (dealers weren’t allowed to ask over list on a new car), one local dealer went with the $500 floor mats/$200 pinstripe routine. Everyone thought they had their golden egg. 7 years later, Chrysler re-introduced the factory convertible. Not the same by any means but, a factory drop top.
still have the same 1974 ,in germany… and 68 and 69 and 71…
SOLD for $76,100 (!) to what is apparently a 0 feedback shill bidder.
Is this car still available and if so how much