It’s possible that the downfall of the Alfred Sloan hierarchy of brands really took hold in the 1970s. Look at this Caprice Classic – it could easily be mistaken for a 1974 Cadillac if you didn’t know much about cars. Surprisingly few of those Caprices were convertibles in this penultimate year (only 4,670 of them), and this attractive example has under 90,000 miles.
I have to mention a short anecdote about Chevy envy; it’s real, and I’ve experienced it. Last fall, a neighbor down the block pulled into my driveway with a nice original 1972 Impala convertible, and he most likely regrets doing that. Every time I walk by his house, I peek in the garage to see how the Impala’s doing. Whenever he’s outside, we talk about the Impala. You see, I love ’70s Chevrolets, and the ’72 Impala is my favorite. I’m glad I can be acquainted with one in any way (especially without having to pay for or maintain it).
With the proliferation of air conditioning and the fear of government rollover standards, the convertible went away for a while, and the Caprice was a fitting send-off. It’s a glamorous car in a ’70s way. The selling dealer says this one is silver, and the color is an interesting contrast to its green interior. I think I like it. (By the way, check out the bowtie exhaust tips – good or bad?)
That interior is appropriately spacious, with a big bench seat and that easily-identifiable ’70s dashboard. In the ’70s, the automaker didn’t want any passengers messing with the radio or the heater controls, so they packed them all around the steering wheel. I know that the gauges are sparse, but I love that wide Chevy speedometer and those kind-of-weird underdash vents that a lot of GM cars had.
I’m a big fan of greens and blues, so this interior gets my seal of approval (although it didn’t ask for it). It’s possible that this is an original color combination; there were several silvers available on the 1974 color chip guide. Anyone know?
What’s under the hood confuses me a little. The seller says it’s a 350, as does the air cleaner. All my materials, including the original dealer brochure, say that the 400 two barrel was standard in the Caprice. Was there a midyear change in standard engines? A replacement along the line? It doesn’t matter much in terms of power (the 400 was rated at five more horsepower than the 350), but it’s a question you might want to ask if you look this car over.
Aside from that, it doesn’t look like there are any surprises under here.
The selling dealer kindly posted several pictures of the undercarriage, which is fundamentally rust-free. Where are the oil leaks? Either they cleaned them up for glamour shots or this thing is nearly drip-free, which is a rarity in my world of cars.
There might be a little paint mismatch on the front fender, but light does funny things and silver is hard to match, so I’d call that a minor issue worth investigating. I’d still love to buy this Caprice and let others experience Chevy envy, but I’ll hold out for a ’72. Neither will fit well in my garage, but that’s a problem for another day. If you’re a ’70s Chevy kind of person, this one is for sale on eBay with a high bid of $11,100.
Marcia Brady’s road test car.
It’s Mike Brady’s alternate universe car!
The first car my parents had when I was a kid was a 1973 Caprice. That was the car we went everywhere in from the days when I was a baby (born in 74) until about 1989. By the late 80’s or early 90’s, no one (including me) wanted these cars. I’d love to have one now – especially a convertible.
Rt front fender slot darker ??
Front fender is a different color. Possible front end damage and repaired or whole new front clip. I absolutely love this year in a drop top. Had a 69′ drop top but it wasn’t as nice as this one. Traded it for a 66′ T-Bird Landau.
Agreed, The more I study the pics, I think the drivers side shows some color variation as well. Like the author said, Could be lighting and silver is hard to match if you don’t blend the panels, but it almost looks to me like the drivers front fender and door don’t quite match the rear quarter. Guess you’d have to be there, but then again it’s hard to expect any car that old to not have sustained some kind of fender bender.
CAPRICIOUSLY love this CAPRICE! From the era of aspirational names. The car and name are the BEST of Cadillac luxury and class at a much lower price. Loved my 72 CAPRICE Classic. The 77 downsizing and end of convertibles in 76, should propel the price to ASPIRATIONAL heights!
Never been able to understand why the Olds & Buick counterparts to this were less valuable/desired.
Is that silver original? Seems odd with the green.
What a great 1st picture 📸
Bring back the crotch cooler vent!
My parents bought a’74 Impala new. First V8 car I drove when I first got my license. I think it had the 350 and I was very disappointed at how anemic it was. Also, the build quality was beyond belief awful. Bubbles in the paint, sagging molding and dash parts. Pretty car, though.
I bought a ’73 4 door Caprice Classic with 43K miles for only $900 in 1979. Why? Because I had to pad the pedal to eke out 12mpg in normal driving with the 350 engine. It was big and wide – but so were the bumpers.
My girlfriend and I enjoyed the comfort and size of the interior – she made me take her out in it one last time before I sold it.
I’m big on nostalgia, but I think this era was on the downside from Chevy/America’s car peak in the ’60’s.
This is a beautiful year for a Chevy Caprice. It was so elegant. The convertible and the new two door design were my favorites. I bet if you really looked the car over, you would find that the exterior was a shade of green. The current color combination is unheard of. Too bad there are no power convenience options or the black rubber moldings on the bumpers. And I agree, that V-8 is not a 350. None the less, it’s a keeper!
Great car. Chevy put out some pretty cars in early 70s and ’74 was in my opinion the prettiest. They did a good job blending the big bumpers into an elegant package. I like the silver color, but I’m also thinking it may not have left the factory in that color. The green interior is a strong contrast but it definitely works. Somebody will get a wonderful 70s cruiser here. GLWTS
Sloan’s vison for GM was abandoned in the 1950s and 1960s and GM set up Chevrolet to sell to all market segments. GM’s primary concern was that the government was going to break them up. GM dominated US market at the time. If the company were to broken up, Chevrolet would be able to stand on it’s own selling pickups, economy cars, sports cars and luxury cars.
Boy, these are BIG cars. Overall length is 222.8 in.
A friend of mine had a triple burgundy 1975 and we
would meet up at the local car show. Just about the most beautiful car I’d ever seen, Until at one show he did not have the car.
He had struck a deal with some guy for storage as it would not fit in his garage. Come spring the storage guy doubled the agreed asking price,
he had him over a barrel so to speak.
So my friend had to sell it as finding a dry safe place ( not a barn ) was
hard to find in Toronto.
nice car. factory color interior but i am sure the outside did not come in silver. those wheels and exhaust tips have to go they do nothing but hurt the elegance that this car has.
The ’74 full size Chevy is my favorite after the ’72. The ’74 grille and light cluster most closely resemble the previous Cadillac. I would like for the photographer to have come in closer to the subject so we can better tell the color. Is it silver, spring green or some charcoal shade. The green interior may appear peculiar but IIRC the choices were black, green or neutral. Being a somewhat rare fifty year old car it’s certainly worth a look.
Compared to the ’71, this ’74 is maybe 200 or more lbs heavier with those 5 mph bumpers. & that’s why the straight 6 motor was discontinued for ’74!
IMO, the ’71 is the most attactive of this gen. & 200 lbs less weight means better accel, mpg, braking & handling – tho i think even the ’71 is still too big & heavy – Chevy should have stuck with variations of the even lighter ’70 model – through ’77. Incredibly, i believe the ’70(excluding those with big block) might have actually been lighter in weight than the boxy totally redesigned ’77(tho the latter being a box had more room inside) – depends on whether u wanted more room – or better styling.
My mom bought a 71 350 3 speed on the columb. Only saw one other since hers. Had a lot of get up and go with that trans.
Without looking it up one would want to recall that other safety features were also being introduced. I believe side guard door beams appeared with this generation. This made the car wider. GM designers applied that dramatic fold/tuck to the lower door so that the rocker panel could remain closer for the occupants to enter and exit the vehicle without brushing against the door opening.
I like it. Other manufacturers had crotch vents too. I wish they would bring them back. They would be a great addition to ventilated seats.
Ended at $20,900.
Reserve Not Met.
My parents had a metallic blue Caprice Classic Sport Sedan. White vinyl top, dark blue cloth interior. It was loaded, with a 454 ci and Turbo Hydramatic transmission. A land yacht!
I agree with you, Norma D. That color combination is weird. Silver usually has black, red or white interiors.
No pics of the top up. Does it work? 74 had the scissor folding top I believe, and they were “difficult” to say the least.
I almost traded my 1972 MG Midget in on a 1973 Caprice convertible. It was a cranberry color with a white top and interior, power everything. And it was only $3200 off the showroom floor. But, we’re jaded in this millinery. We’re so used to high prices that the $3200 seems cheap. Back then it wasn’t.
This is a gorgeous car. Only I feel the stance isn’t quite right. It looks like it should be lowered by an inch, inch and a half.
And Rick W
1975 was the last year for GMs convertibles not 1976.
Cadillac was the only GM offering in a convertible in 1976.