Disclosure: This site may receive compensation when you click on some links and make purchases.

Orange Crush: 1973 Chevrolet Caprice Classic Sport

032316-Barn-Finds-1973 Chevrolet Caprice-1

Orange you glad to see this car? (Hello? Is this thing on?) This 1973 Chevrolet Caprice Classic Sport Sedan is here on craigslist in Cedar Mill, Oregon with an asking price of $7,000! That price may seem high, especially for a four-door sedan; but this is an original car other than a drivetrain rebuild. This Caprice has been in the same family since new and has always been parked in the garage when it wasn’t in use; it has just 118,000 miles on it.

032316-Barn-Finds-1973 Chevrolet Caprice-4

This semi-survivor car (the engine/transmission/differential were rebuilt at the 110,000 mile mark) has “no rust”, according to the seller. That’s a very good thing, but it’ll need paintwork and a new vinyl top if you’re planning on bringing this one back to how it looked when it left the factory 43 years ago. I can’t tell if this is a “light copper” or a “light orange” paint scheme; either way I really like this unusual color. I love the design of this second generation bodystyle, my dad had a ’71 Impala as a company car and it was a great car.

032316-Barn-Finds-1973 Chevrolet Caprice-5

1973 was the first year for the federally-mandated 5 mph bumpers so they’re a bit more visually intrusive than previous generation bumpers were. This car looks like it’s in fantastic condition, other than needing some exterior cosmetic tweaks.

032316-Barn-Finds-1973 Chevrolet Caprice-2

There is enough room for you and five of your friends in this car, easily. This Caprice sedan looks like it’s loaded with power windows and locks and the interior looks great, in general.

032316-Barn-Finds-1973 Chevrolet Caprice-3

This is the base engine, a 6.6L 400 V8, with a non-whopping 150 hp. With the AC cranked it’s a wonder how this 19-foot long, 4,300 pound car got off the line, especially with six people on board. But, that’s the way things were, somehow we all lived to tell about it. Orange you glad that cars like this still exist in this fine condition? They really bring me back to this era and the memories are priceless.

Comments

  1. Avatar Texas Tea

    I doubt this one gets much interest. The first one of these I saw made me think, “no kidding!” That’s the most God awful thing ever. I was seventeen years old working at a Gulf station and was sure it was the end of the road for G.M. How wrong I was. It was the end on the road for the Big “3” in many ways. Horse power, body styling, on and on. I have always referred to it as the buck tooth days of automobiles. The engineers didn’t know what to do with the damn 5 mp bumpers in their designs. Now I’m just an old bastard that yearns for the old days.

    Like 0
  2. Avatar Chebby

    Neat old whip. I’d pay $1,800 for it.

    Like 0
  3. Avatar Paul R

    Great parts car to restore a 2 door.
    Yea, its a 4 door hardtop, but it has 2 doors to many to have much value.
    Never understood the concept of why 4 door cars were not cool, and still aren’t today.
    My Dad always drove 2 door hardtops even with 4 kids when a 4 door would of been much more practical.
    Dad drove Oldsmobile’s exclusively, most were 442’s and all were 2 doors.

    Like 0
  4. Avatar Barzini

    That’s a bold color for a big car but I find it irresistible. It’s probably a reaction to the muted colors used today for most cars.

    Like 0
  5. Avatar RJ Guzik

    GM and-or Chevy called this color Mayan Gold-

    Like 0
  6. Avatar Ceezy

    I think this car may have some 26 inch wheels and an even brighter paint job in its future.

    Like 0
  7. Avatar jim s

    this would make a nice daily driver if the seller is willing to take a offer. nice find.

    Like 0
  8. Avatar geomechs Member

    I sure remember when there were lots of these running around. Our shop had at least one in every day. I almost forgot that this was about the time the 400 SBC was gaining in popularity. Most of this model, at least out west, ran 454’s. Really tragic now because so many of those cars are sitting out in the boonies with the engines gone. Someone needed the motor to make a ‘Numbers-Matching’ Chevelle SS.

    Like 0
  9. Avatar Ed P

    The nice interior is really surprising considering the faded paint and decayed vinyl top. Being a 4 door hardtop should make this car more desirable than a 2 or 4 door sedan. Nice cruiser.

    Like 0
  10. Avatar geezerglide85

    I had a Caprice Classic 2dr ht 1973 I bought when I graduated high school in 1976. It had the 400 and ran great for such a big car. But I remember it only got about 6-10 mpg. Of course I was never light on the gas. Had it about six months and traded it in a brand new F-100 (stepside 302 w/ 3 on the tree) but that is another story

    Like 0
  11. Avatar Nessy

    I like this 4 door hardtop better than the coupe and always did. I feel the same about most GM hardtops of this era as I would take one over a coupe on almost anything GM offered at that time. A convertible maybe another story. The coupe’s rear side windows looked like an afterthought on this model. It looks loaded with options and the color fits the time. High price is pushing it too far but otherwise, AOK.

    Like 0
  12. Avatar Jubjub

    Love these ’73 GM colors. I had a LeMans Sport coupe in Valencia Gold. I think it’s the same color as this. And it’ll buff back out decently. There were several nice metallics, Ascot Silver was a good one too. There’s a current Mini Cooper color very close to it.

    Like 0

Leave a Reply to Ceezy Cancel reply

RULES: No profanity, politics, or personal attacks.

Become a member to add images to your comments.

*

Get new comment updates via email. Or subscribe without commenting.