If you’re a fan of the largest cars American had to offer, you want to shop the 1970s. This 1976 Chevrolet Caprice Classic Landau coupe was one of the longest cars Chevy ever produced at 222.9″, and the Landau package was top-shelf, too. It’s listed here on eBay, with bidding at $7300 and a buy-it-now of $14,000. The winning bidder can pilot this majestic vehicle home from Fairfax, Virginia. Like many nameplates, the Caprice began as a trim package on a better-established car, the Impala. Introduced in 1965, it graduated to stand-alone status the next year. By the time the 1970s hit, American car companies were in a “longer, lower, wider” race, exacerbated by the 5 mph bumper requirement. Just as dimensions were peaking, the gas crisis hit, annihilating the strategy of aligning size with luxury. Despite the label “malaise era”, these cars are having their day in the sun, as collectors connect through nostalgia with the past. The 1976 Caprice may mark the last year of Large – GM put all its models on serious diets starting in 1977 – but it’s the first year of those handsome, staggered, square headlamps.

This example has about 141,000 miles on the clock, so it’s no spring chicken. Residing in the engine bay is Chevy’s ubiquitous 350 cu. in. V8. Standard carburetion was a two-barrel Rochester, and output should be around 145 hp. Most Caprices came with Chevy’s Turbo-Hydramatic three-speed automatic transmission. The underside is undercoated, so the status of the floors is hard to determine. The seller points out rust under the “elk grain” vinyl top, and along the lower edge of at least one fender.

The camel vinyl interior could use renovation, speaking of which: isn’t this brown over camel color scheme quintessentially ’70s? Monotone neutrals were intended to evoke understated luxury. (By the way, I’m not complaining – if you want a ’70s car, you might as well buy it in ’70s colors!) Chevrolet touted the spaciousness of the cabin, the deep pile carpet, quick-start ignition, power steering and brakes, sound insulation – you get the idea. The Landau in particular was distinguished by vinyl side trim, color-keyed wheel covers, and sport mirrors (the driver’s side controlled from inside the car). All this came at a price: the Landau sold for around $5300, while the standard Caprice Classic sold for just over $5000. This example has air conditioning, and it works!

Large corner windows, the suggestion of wheel spats, wrap-around tail lamps and those great headlamps set the Landau coupe apart from its competition. While the Impala sold in higher numbers, the Caprice still represented about 9% of Chevrolet’s 1976 production. About 22,000 Landau coupes were sold that year. Today, this model is known as a “glasshouse” car after its windowed roof, and prices have been drifting up. That said, I think this seller would be wise to consider a reduction to his reserve in order to move this one along. What do you think?