It’s possible that the “sheer look” of GM’s downsized B-Body of 1977 was styling chief Bill Mitchell’s last great achievement. Even today, it looks better than a run-of-the-mill full-size car has a right to, and the racy backlite of the coupes make them particularly compelling collector cars. And, like this ’79 Caprice, they’re still being found in garages and barns. This one is currently on Craigslist with an asking price of $5,200.
This highly-optioned Caprice has been off the road for 25 years until its recent emergence as a “garage find.” Even though it’s listed on Craigslist in St. Louis, the car itself is apparently located in Chicago, so a good look at the undercarriage will be a smart play; the seller mentions a “couple of rust holes in the left sill.” It’s painted the same light blue as so many of them were, but it’s probably a good candidate for a fresh coat.
The interior is dirty but complete. My experience with ’70s GM cars is that the interior plastics fade into a rainbow of similar but different hues. This Caprice has power windows, a power seat, air conditioning, tilt wheel, and an AM/FM radio, in addition to a dashboard-flanking wallop of fake wood.
The seller doesn’t include any good underhood pictures, but says that there’s a running 305 under there, and “not a vacuum hose is out of place.” When I was in high school in the mid-’90s, one of my friends drove a ’77 Impala coupe with a 305. Acceleration was sedate, and I recall his joking about its “Chevette transmission.” I vaguely recall that Chevrolet used a light-duty transmission, probably the TH200, in these big cars; perhaps our commenters can augment or refute my recollections.
Although this Caprice runs and shifts, it’s not quite ready for the road. It will need brake work, exhaust work, and to be safe, perhaps some new tires. The seller claims that the Goodyear GT/4s have 95% tread, but I don’t think they’ve made those tires in a while. If you need a trailer, the seller will throw one in for an extra grand.
The “downsized” Caprice had a long, successful life, but the first styling cycle of 1977 was arguably the best of the bunch, and the coupe, with its “Hot Bent Wire” folded glass, is probably the one to have. Has the Caprice’s time come? Is $5,200 a fair price for this garage find? Let us know in the comment section.
I dont know which is most funny, the price or the miles,at least it matches, 10 cent per driven mile🥳
52,000 miles? And almost as many rust spots it appears. What body panels don’t have “patina”? And I cringe to think what’s on the under carriage. These aren’t anything special and the asking price is far too high.
The backlight makes the car…surprised it ended up on a Chevy instead of an Olds or Buick. Our family had a 4dr “77 Delta 88, 350 automatic…it moved good for a high school kid with a new driver’s license.
As a long time buyer/collector of the two door coupes, my opinion is that if there is any rust through at all, that price is too high. That car from the pics, in my area (NW Ohio) would maybe fetch $3000.00 assuming it runs great. I paid $5000.00 for one that was nearly rust free top and bottom front to back complete, clean and all original except fresh paint with 20000 more miles a few years ago. Prices are going up, but not that high!
Back in he early 90’s I bought a ’78 Impala for a 3rd car. 65,000 on the clock zero rust and the 1700 bucks I paid for it included a new paint job. I put a set of Rally wheels on it and big tires on the back. It was sharp looking car. When it was painted I had the guy remove the vinyl top which really set off the back window. The R-12 A/C would freeze you out on even the hottest days. But the acceleration with the 305 you had clock with a calendar. We really loved that car, especially when my wife’s ’85 Cadillac was down, which was often. I had to get rid of it when the kids started to drive, I couldn’t insure that many cars.
Probably tried to sell it 20 years ago and nobody would give them anything for it. Stick it away for another 20 and watch it climb in value lol. I remember a time when you couldn’t give away a 10 year old second hand caprice. Now they’re showing up at car shows. Don’t get me wrong, I like the cars but not enough to spend this kind of money on something that will likely need more than just a set of brakes and a new battery.
I was under the impression that the THM200 wasn’t used in B bodies until 1980 but that’s just an impression.
By that time Chevettes moved on to the THM180 which was lighter still, reliable enough at that level of power and weight but a good incentive to learn to drive manual.
Had a 77 Caprice back in the day. Had a 350 with 350THM. Factory installed.