I’ll admit it, I’ve owned a bunch of full-size Chevies, models that are technically known as B-Bodies. I’m really not sure why, it probably has something to do with their ubiquitousness – they were everywhere at one time. And, 25 or 30 years ago you could pick up one with sporting intentions, even a convertible, for a song. My favorites are the ’65-’70 vintage but I’ve considered later editions too. And for your review today, that’s what we have, a 1976 Chevrolet Caprice Classic Coupe (C to the fourth?). This big Chevrolet is located in Hampshire, Illinois and is available, here on eBay for a current bid of $17,100, reserve not yet met.
Change was in the air for Chevrolet’s full-size car in 1976. Models included a Caprice coupe (such as our subject) a four-door sedan and hardtop, and then a repeat of body styles at the lower level Impala. Each trim level still had a station wagon, one with, and one without faux wood flanks. The lowest trim “BelAir” model was dropped after twenty-six years of continuous production. The Impala “Sports Coupe”, a true two-door hardtop, was discontinued too, leaving the “Custom”, which is more of a two-door sedan with a B-pillar, as the only two-door Impala still on the bench. The bicentennial year of 1976 also marked the final use of the 400 CI small block and 454 CI big-block V8 engines use in passenger cars. Adios was also in order for Chevrolet engines finished in orange, a mainstay that dated to 1955 – they’d go blue in ’77. And ’76 was also the conclusion for this generation of the “Behemoth B-Body” as 1977 would usher in a considerably smaller, lighter full-size model that would expand across GM’s five automotive divisions.
OK, so the big deal here is that this Caprice has a recorded 11K miles and is being marketed as such. There is no documentation, just a shot of the odometer. The images aren’t that hot either but the one of the engine shows a very clean, original-looking motor, so maybe the mileage claim is good. Speaking of the engine, it’s the standard 145 net HP 350 CI V8. It’s not described as such but the fifth VIN character “V” gives it away. The seller doesn’t describe how this Chevy motivates, but I can tell you from experience with a ’75 model, essentially the exact same car, the power is a lot less than thrilling. It’s adequate, but barely. The only transmission available was a three-speed Turbo-Hydramatic automatic.
These are big cars! I wouldn’t put them in whammer-jammer territory but they’re close. This version of the B-Body was introduced for model year ’71 and it took auto critics by surprise due to its size and “Cadillacesque” lines. For ’72, the front end settled back into a more Chevrolet-looking face but things came off the rails in ’73 with bigger, heavier bumpers, considerably weaker engines, and the preponderance of disco-era duds like a stand-up hood ornament, fender shirts, landau tops, wire wheel covers and tires that seemed to morph from white-stripe to white-wall. Fortunately, opera windows never befell this version of Chevy’s big car. This Luxo-barge has it dialed back a bit with its lack of a vinyl landau top, a styling cue that I never understood, and what are probably newer tires with narrower white stripes – and the seller mentions that he removed the curb feelers and mudflaps for “a cleaner look” – talk about a visual. Sure, it looks like 11K miles and it’s in excellent condition – it would seem to need nothing. The seller adds, “one owner original title 11578 miles never driven in the winter maybe once in the rain, never rust applied“. I’m not sure what “rust applied” means, I guess – no rust.
The interior images aren’t terribly revealing – it’s amazing how some sellers do such an excellent pictorial with a cellphone camera and others – well not so good. Anyway, the interior is a typical GM spongy red fabric bordello-looking environment (not that I would know what that looks like) but it appears to be in fine nick. There’s even plastic sheeting on the floor; no idea if it’s original or would last without deteriorating for 45 years. Some big Chevrolet’s from this era went back to using a vacuum gauge as they had in ’65 and ’66. Their purpose served as an MPG minder – high vacuum good, low vacuum bad – can’t tell if this example is so equipped. It’s an interesting feature, one that was probably felt to be helpful in a post-oil-embargo, fuel shortage world where manufacturers were trying to hawk 4,500 lb. V8-equipped models (kinda like today with Suburbans, Tahoes, and Yukons).
There you have it. And now it’s what to do with it time. It is suggested, “could be a museum car, or show and drive“. Yeah, you could show it but these aren’t what one generally finds at a car show or the type and model that draws a crowd. That honor seems to go more often to full-size convertibles with big engines or way over-played muscle cars. But, if one would want to do that, it’s their prerogative and it would have to be driven to get to the show so that accomplishes both suggestions. This Caprice is probably not rare enough, or special interest enough for a museum. Gentle motoring would fill the bill. Big cars like this aren’t exactly “fun” to drive, but they are an enjoyable experience thanks to their ride and the fact that there’s just nothing like them being built today. Of course, if you drive it, then the low mileage claim slowly slips away. Well, you can’t have your cake and eat it too so if a big coupe like this appeals to you, just go for it and just enjoy it however you choose, right?
Our driver training car back in 1971 was a new, gold, 4-door Impala. Wonderful car, floated down the road. In the early ’80s I owned a ’69 Impala custom coupe, also a great ride. I always preferred Impalas to Caprices: A little more understated, I felt like the Caprices were over-decorated. (Just my opinion)
Boy you sure sound excited for pathetic numbers
I always saw these cars at the gas station. Ha, Ha, Ha
A set of rally wheels would make this look good. It wouldn’t pass anything however…including a gas station.
These never had a rally wheel option. The wire caps were the only upgrade.
Of course not, but they would still look good on this one.
A lot of youngsters on the site today, complaining that a Chevy 350 is a gas guzzler. Many buyers of these cars came out of 383 or 440 Mopars, 429 or 460 Fords, 455 Buick, Oldsmobile or Pontiacs. They would have almost doubled their mileage driving this car.
Not a youngster, And you’d likely get a bit better gas mileage driving something that made more torque around town. You have to keep your foot in this thing all the time to make it go anywhere.
No way…
Yes..This thing i wud of considered thrifty with just a 350 2 bbl..Ive had all 3 diff 455s,,440s,460,and 3, 472s..All wud make this look like a fuel sipper on highway,also because by 76 they put VERY low gears in these..Prolly 2.41 or 2.56..Comically slow..beautiful body style..
I had a 4 door one of these when I was 20 engine seized up when on a date so goes my dislike of Chevrolet. It rode nice and I liked it until it let me down and walking in the rain to call for a ride.
With no intention of buying a Caprice when I walked into the dealership but there it sat in front of me on the showroom floor. Traded in my 70 Malibu and bought the Caprice. It ranks second worst cars I have purchased over 50 years. Under powered 350 with poor performance and gas mileage along with poor workmanship in assembly and even the paint was poor. Looked great on the showroom floor but my 70 Malibu was a better car when I traded it in than the brand new Caprice. I would guess many didn’t have the same experience as myself but mine was junk.
I love these last-of-the-big-car Caprices.
I had a friend who was the “Corvette” salesman at our local Chevrolet store. I used to go see him there fairly often. I was there one Friday night. They had a black on black new ’76 Caprice coupe with a red pinstripe down the side. That car was really sparkling under the lights of the showroom. I kept looking it over so my friend probably smelled a fish on the line. He told me to sit down in it. I did and oh that new-car smell was just overwhelming. He went to get the key for it.
He told me to listen to that stereo it had. (Remember this was 45 years ago). I turned the key and adjusted the radio to suit my taste. I noticed the radio said it was a Delco with Cross-Fire Stereo. The left front and right rear had the same sound. And conversely, the right front and left rear had the same sound. To me, at that time, it was the best sounding radio I had ever heard.
And here 45 years later, I have a soft spot for these big ’76 Chevrolets. And I remember well my friend said I had better grab that car because they were going to some little Chevrolet for their full-size car in ’77.
He was a great salesman but I still didn’t bite.
This model year full-size Chevrolet is probably the least saved, least seen of any Chevrolet full-size 76 in prior. While some may lament this is the last of the “big” chevys, I say good riddance. While this example is outstanding condition wise the car itself is just terrible. The roofline and the square headlights style wise just don’t work on this design. These are the first “ all plastic“ years at GM and the quality of these cars it’s just hideous. Then toss in the newly smogged over, first catalytic converter 350s…… augh…….
Terrible looking car. It looks like the front half came from one of the Big Three and the rear half came from another of the Big Three. Along with all of the above down comments this is just, Yuck!
Needs an LS. Looking at the bidding, I’m guessing it is going to get donked instead.
I had a 76’ Olds 98 Regency that drove good rode good and looked good but when it needed a gearbox, which was n experimental part for that year and expensive to fix along with couple other issues I decided to trade it in for a 76’ Caprice. It was nice enough with the 400 4BBL. Driving home in Chevy the water pump went out. Dealership said bring it next day they’ll take care of it. I told them I need a car to run errands so they let me use the 98’ I traded. They had already fixed the gearbox, reupholstered front seat. I drove that Olds one block and regretted trading it in. So after a year I traded Chevy in for 1980’ olds 88 Royale. Caprice was a good car for me but I sure miss Oldsmobile.
I remember those almost aways had vinyl tops.
Boy, would I like to have o’ these. Make
mine a 4-door please. With my family,
I need ’em. That and the fact that the
insurance companies here in Florida
will charge you 3 times the going rate
to insure a 2-door model like this one.
And if the car is painted red, your monthly rate would be 4 times the cost
of insuring a sedan or a minivan. That’s
because they classify anything with 2
doors as a sports car which would keep
me from buying it. If it were a 4-door,
I’d consider it.
These were everywhere in the 1970’s as family vehicles and still around then in the 1980’s as teenager cars handed down within a family or inherited from the grandparents or by then just a cheap car a teen could afford while fitting in a “boatload” of friends inside while cruising on cheap gas. I am sure eventually they rusted out, drivetrains crapped out, or they became demo derby cars and they were then gone except for a few of the convertible “boats” you would still see in parades in the 1990s and 2000’s.
Looking at the first photo I just realized I never saw one from a “bird’s eye view” back then to realize the interesting curve of the rear roofline to accommodate the curved rear glass. All these decades later still learning something new about cars and trucks that once populated our streets and roads. Thank you Barn Finds!
These cars were recently featured in Classic Car magazine. They referred to the rear windows as “opera windows on steroids.” When I first saw this picture I hoped it was a Bicentennial Edition. I saw a few of those back in the day with a red, white, and blue theme carried out in the paint, interior color, and pinstripes.
Those were 74s–Impala, Nova and Vega only.
Those were the Spirit of America editions. They were all white with red and blue pinstripes.
These cars were built like tanks. I have a first place demolition derby trophy from exact copy of this one for sale….
I had a couple of these back in the day, Impala, not Caprice. I did drive a friend’s Mom’s 1976 Caprice 4 door hardtop once. Really liked it, in spite of the fact that it was a run down hulk.
Not a “bucket list car, but I wouldn’t mind having one. This one looks pretty nice. I believe it is a well kept 111,000 mile car, not an 11,000 mile car.
My first car was a dark red version of this car. Sold it because the heater core went out. My friends and I went everywhere in it. Gas was $0.78 this brings back lots of memories.
I visited USA in 1989 and hired a Buick in San Diego and drove up to Los Angeles to see the Spruce Goose and Queen Mary before catching a plane to San Francisco. Cost of fuel for 305 miles was $21. Hired a Toyota Camry in Baltimore for the drive up to Hershey for the Fall meet. Cost of fuel for 302 miles was $10.76. Americans were complaining about the proposed gas price increase and if it went over $1 per gallon they would have to buy smaller, imported cars! Now I believe it’s over $4 per gallon which is still cheap in comparison to ours in UK where it is £1.54 per LITRE! There are 3.8 litres to the US gallon so that’s about $6 per US gallon.