AM Blog
August, 2010 (Archived)

ARCHIVE:

- Current Blog

2010:

- 07/2010
- 06/2010
- 05/2010
- 04/2010
- 03/2010
- 02/2010
- 01/2010

2009:
- 12/2009
- 11/2009
- 10/2009
- 09/2009

Friday, August 27, 2010 7:16:28 PM

Classic car crash! If you're going to have one, you'll want to be in a 1974-1975 Cadillac, Buick, or Oldsmobile with the factory Air Cushion Restraint System (ACRU). Air bags had been undergoing testing for almost a decade before they were installed in select production GM full-sized cars for 1974. GM anticipated selling 100,000 cars a year with the option, but after three years had sold just 10,000. What? People in the seventies didn't care about walking away from accidents? Or did the big cars back then just give them a false sense of safety?

Incredible as it may seem, cars equipped with ACRS decades later that were involved in accidents still had the air bags deploy and operate as expected! This is an incredible topic to read. We provide you with a millisecond break down of exactly what happens in an accident when the air cushions deploy. And it all happens so fast, it's truly amazing. Must read! Have a great weekend!

Post 2: Wednesday, August 25, 2010 1:53:09 PM

MILEPOSTS Garage
Ford's Better Idea for Service In 1968 Have you ever heard of a department at Ford called the Service Research Center? If you haven't, don't be surprised. One of their duties was to address the customer experience when returning cars to the dealer for service. All too often, customers were unhappy with the repair that was performed, or one of the things they took the car in for didn't get fixed! The Service Research Center at Ford did a study to determine why this happened, and came up with an interesting suggestion to address the problem.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010 7:09:26 AM

The Classic Car Showroom at Automotive Mileposts is featuring a 1969 Ford Thunderbird Tudor Landau in Champagne Gold Metallic with matching Nugget Gold Vinyl interior. It has the original White Alligator-grain vinyl roof. The '69 Thunderbird is powered by Ford's incredible 429 Thunder Jet V-8, which develops 360 horsepower. Of course, power steering, power front disc brakes, C6 automatic transmission, full instrumentation, AM radio, and heater/defroster are included.

Options on this one are power windows, 6-way power front seat (it's a bench seat), deluxe seat belts, factory air conditioning, tinted glass, etc. This one offers a great color combination and it's in very good condition. If you haven't driven a T-bird of this vintage, you should. They are dependable and easier to work on than the older model Birds. Seller has arranged for interested parties to make an offer, so price is flexible.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010 4:44:07 PM

Your private invitation to the choice of 1976, the 1976 Cadillac, has been extended. AM Blog readers once again get advance notice of the next section to be published. The 1976 Cadillacs were the end of the line for America's most popular, full-sized luxury car make. The Cadillacs that followed would be smaller and more efficient in keeping with the demands of the time.

1976 was the last year for the Calais series, which was introduced in 1965 as Cadillac's most affordable line. The big 500 cubic inch engine would go out of production after 1976 as well, as the smaller Cadillacs to come would be lighter and a smaller engine would be fitted in the interest of improving fuel economy.

While many were sad to see this icon of the American good life pass by, the last year of the big Cadillac turned out to be a sales success for Cadillac. After failing to set new production records for two years, a new one was set for 1976. It seems the improving economy and the fear of what lay ahead prompted quite a few customers to drive home in one of the last big Caddies in 1976. A couple of new options were introduced for the year, including a Weather Band radio that provided weather reports at the touch of a button. New Wire Wheel Discs were a popular option, and added that extra bit of flash and sparkle. The Calais Coupe and Coupe deVille could also be fitted with Opera Lights from the Fleetwood series, which gave even Cadillac's lowest priced model the distinction of a Fleetwood Brougham. We hope you can find a few minutes to visit our latest section.

Saturday, August 21, 2010 10:57:08 AM

Advance viewing of the 1975 Cadillac section is now available. Per usual procedure, we are announcing this to our blog readers before we make the formal announcement, so you have a chance to preview the pages. As such, there may be items updated over the next few days as we recheck information and proofread. (If you notice any mistakes, please let us know so we can be certain to make corrections.)

The 1975 Cadillacs got a slew of new standard equipment, and some very hefty price increases during the model year as well! Automatic Climate Control—now with a new "Economy" setting—was now standard equipment on every Cadillac. The High Energy Ignition System was also made standard. Fuel efficiency was maximized by the addition of a catalytic converter, which allowed the engine to be retuned for better performance and efficiency. The huge Eldorado 500 cubic inch V-8 was now standard on all Cadillacs, too.

New 1975 options included the glass power Astroroof, a Passenger Recliner Seat, Fuel Monitor System that advised when you weren't driving the car in an efficient manner, and an Illuminated Entry System that lit the interior and door lock to assist in entering the car in darkness.

The new Cadillac Seville was introduced in the spring of 1975 as a 1976 model, and this new "international size luxury" Cadillac brought a lot of people into the showrooms, but an economic recession put a damper on sales for the year, allowing 1973 to retain its title as the best sales year ever for Cadillac. Take a few minutes and visit the Standard of the World in American-Built Cars for 1975: Cadillac. And, enjoy your weekend!

Post 2: Monday, August 16, 2010 5:30:59 PM

Sneak peek at the 1974 Cadillac. Even with attractive new styling, the fear of gas rationing and fuel shortages caused a panicked public to move to smaller, lighter, more efficient cars in 1974. The nightly news opened with stories of long lines across the nation, as people waited to buy gasoline, and images of closed stations, due to no gas to sell. Good news perhaps for manufacturers with small economy cars to sell, but no such thing in Cadillac showrooms.

New exterior styling updated the original 1971 body quite nicely, and an attractive new instrument panel inside took organization and ease of function to a new level. 1974 brought the starter interlock system, which required the driver (and front seat passenger, if occupied) to fasten their seat belts before the engine could be cranked. This was universally very unpopular, and the legislation that created this need was attended to quickly. Dealers were being told by customers to disconnect the starter interlock before the end of the 1974 model year.

Bright new Firemist paint colors were introduced in 1974, among them Persian Lime, Terra Cotta, and Cranberry. These colors are now sought after by collectors, as they stand out from the other colors used at the time. A High Energy Ignition System was introduced in 1974 as well, and it offered an improvement in starting performance and a more consistent idle. The difference was so great, it would become standard next year.

The 1974 Cadillacs were attractive, dependable, and popular. Some Cadillac enthusiasts list the '74 models among their all-time favorites. We hope you enjoy your visit to 1974, and we'll still be adding final touches over the next day or two, before we make the official announcement.

Monday, August 16, 2010 7:50:53 AM

Attention 1966 Thunderbird fans: In The Classic Car Showroom right now is a 1966 Ford Thunderbird Town Landau with the 428 engine option. Plus, it has factory stereo tape, air conditioning (it works!), power windows, reclining passenger seat, and more. On top of that it's a very unusual and rare color combination of Sahara Beige paint, black vinyl roof, and Burgundy vinyl interior. SHARP! It's in great condition, seller advises it runs and drives as it should, and it would be a great collectible for someone who doesn't want to do a restoration. Check it out!

Saturday, August 14, 2010 8:51:57 AM

A quick update to let everyone know that we're working on the 1974 Cadillac section right now. At last count, there were 71 different interior trims offered that year! It does take a while to go through and research them, but things are moving along well, and we should have this section ready to go soon. Enjoy your Saturday.

Post 4: Thursday, August 12, 2010 11:25:54 AM

The 1960-1968 Imperial Contents pages have been updated to provide navigation links at the bottom of the pages. (That should be it for updating links today...possibly...)

Post 3: Thursday, August 12, 2010 9:59:16 AM

The 1966-1970 Oldsmobile Toronado Contents pages have also been updated to add bottom navigation.

Post 2: Thursday, August 12, 2010 9:23:45 AM

We have updated the 1969-1971 Continental Mark III, 1972-1976 Continental Mark IV, and 1977-1979 Continental Mark V Contents pages to add bottom navigation. We have also changed the text color on some of those pages to provide more contrast, which should make it easier to read.

Thursday, August 12, 2010 7:24:53 AM

The 1963-1965 Buick Riviera Contents Pages have been updated to include the new bottom navigation.

Post 3: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 6:06:48 PM

We've just been notified that the 1972-1976 Ford Thunderbird Contents pages have been updated with the new bottom navigation, and should be online shortly. Have a great evening, everyone!

Post 2: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 5:18:39 PM

We've been working this afternoon on updating navigation (linking) on the 1961-1971 Ford Thunderbird Contents pages. The navigation in question has been added to the bottom of the page, and includes links to other pages in that section for other topics, such as paint codes, production, etc. These links are provided elsewhere on the page, but having them at the bottom as well should be more convenient for our readers. That way, when you reach the bottom of the page, you won't have to scroll back up to click a link for more information on that year, make, and model. The 1972-1976 Ford Thunderbird Contents pages should be updated soon also. The 1977-1979 Ford Thunderbird Contents pages had the links at the bottom of the page included when they were published last year.

We have also changed the color of the text on some of the pages. Some of you have reported that the black text on dark red background was difficult to read in certain lighting conditions, so we changed the text to white to make it stand out more.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010 9:44:21 AM

1973 Cadillac (Sneak peek for blog readers)
Automotive Mileposts continues its journey into what was the 1970s with the 1973 Cadillac section. This was a great year for Cadillac, and the U.S. auto industry as a whole. Record breaking sales and production set the pace for what was hoped would be a decade of prosperity. Record breaking sales would happen again later in the decade, but that would not be the case in 1974 or 1975.

Cadillac introduced quite a few new standard features for 1973, including the color-coordinated litter container mounted to the side cowl in the front passenger's footwell area. The container was plastic, with matching carpeting to blend with the floor covering. It could be easily slid off of its retainers to be emptied. Other firsts for the year included a front passenger's adjustable reading light for Fleetwood Brougham models. This light allowed the front seat passenger to view maps or read without disturbing others in the car. The Fleetwood Brougham also had the front door modified to eliminate the double door seam at the B pillar.

Cadillac's new styling touches were effective, and very popular. We will be working on this section throughout the day today, and will announce its publication tomorrow. We hope you enjoy visiting the special world of Cadillac 1973.

Sunday, August 08, 2010 8:34:23 AM

1972 Cadillac
Very few changes were made between 1971 and 1972 as far as Cadillac styling is concerned. A new grille with a horizontal theme appeared, and the parking and turn signal lights were moved from the bumper to the area between the headlamps. On Coupe deVille and Sedan deVille models, the model script was placed on the rear roof quarter panels. New exterior paint colors and interior upholstery fabrics were introduced, and that was about it.

Standard equipment remained about the same, except the Lamp Monitor option introduced in 1971 was now standard. Cadillac revised its Flow-Thru Ventilation System to remove the louvers from the rear deck lid. They were replaced by one-way valves in the door area that exhausted inside air.

New options were also limited. An American made, steel-belted radial ply whitewall tire became available, and it featured a unique whitewall stripe design so people knew you had radial tires.

Cadillac celebrated its 70th Anniversary in 1972, and set new sales and production records for the year. Over a quarter of a million cars were assembled for the first time in a single model year as well, so Cadillac was doing a lot of celebrating in 1972. This is a sneak peek notice for our blog readers, we'll still be adding things throughout the day today, and we'll make the announcement on this section tomorrow. We hope you like our 1972 Cadillac section!

Thursday, August 05, 2010 5:29:28 PM

GM Scissor Top Parts, Diagnosis and Repair
This is your one stop problem solver page for all GM "scissor top" convertible top issues. Introduced by General Motors in 1971, the scissor top design utilized inward folding structural members that took up less room, folded down completely behind the seat, and allowed for a full width back seat. Used on cars such as the Chevrolet Impala and Caprice, Pontiac Grand Ville, Oldsmobile Delta 88, Buick Centurion and LeSabre, and Cadillac Eldorado from 1971 through the end of production, these top assemblies are unique in their operation and diagnostics.

We explain the operation in detail so you can identify what isn't working as expected, and we tell you what to check for when there's a problem, where the various components are located, and we have also provided links to scissor top parts on eBay, so you can get what you need to fix your car. We believe GM convertible owners with top issues will find this page helpful and informative, and hopefully it will help them get their convertible top working properly. We also provide instructions on raising the top in an emergency, a procedure which all GM scissor top owners should know about.

Wednesday, August 04, 2010 12:29:29 PM

1971 Cadillac
Our first classic car of Phase Three, the 1971 Cadillac, is now online. All new styling was beautiful and elegant, with softer lines than in the past. New rooflines were distinctive, but still immediately recognizable as Cadillac. In our opinion, the two stand out models of the year were the Fleetwood Sixty Special Brougham and the Calais series Coupe and Sedan.

The Fleetwood Brougham had a gorgeous new roofline, and could be ordered with Opera Lights for the first time. This gave the exclusive Brougham a very elegant look, just that little extra touch that really stood out. And we thought the Calais models without the vinyl roof option really emphasized Cadillac's stunning new body work. Also, we think the satiny Darlington Cloth used in the Calais was more attractive than the Debonaire Cloth used in the DeVilles, although another fabric was also available as standard, and the DeVille buyer could also opt for extra cost leather, always a good choice in our opinion.

Sales were down for 1971 due to a UAW strike that was one of the longest in GM's history. In doing this section, we're amazed at how different the Cadillacs were early in the decade when compared to those later in the decade. This body style would be the final full-sized Cadillac introduced, and would survive through the 1976 model year, with heavy restyling mid-decade.

Post 3: Sunday, August 01, 2010 11:18:07 AM

The Classic Car Showroom at Automotive Mileposts is featuring a Dynasty Red 1973 Cadillac Fleetwood Eldorado Convertible with Red Leather interior right now. Still in the hands of the original owner's family, the red Eldorado has a white top and accent striping. With less than 60,000 miles on it, it is in very presentable condition, although it hasn't been driven much lately. It isn't loaded, but it does have most of the options people want, such as Automatic Climate Control (yes, it blows cold air), AM/FM stereo with factory tape player, power antenna, etc.

The major options we noticed missing were power door locks, Tilt and Telescope steering wheel, and cruise control. But it's RED! Check it out, if you've been wanting a '70s model Eldorado Convertible, this could be your dream car. It's sharp!

Post 2: Sunday, August 01, 2010 8:43:29 AM

We've just completed Phase Two of the site build out, and now Phase Three begins. The first classic cars to be published in Phase Three will be the 1971-1976 Cadillacs. For years, we provided many years of Lincoln cars on this site, and just four years of Cadillac Eldorados. Late last year, we added two years of "standard" Cadillacs, and two more earlier this year, but That only brought the total up to eight years. So now, we're attempting to even things out a bit as the Cadillac enthusiasts have been very patient for a long time.

We've just completed the 1971-1978 Eldorados, and since we have access to all of that information, we're going to do the rest of the Cadillac line before we pack everything away. In preparation for the six new years about to be added, we updated the 1948-1976 Cadillac Contents page with a history of Cadillac Motor Cars, and new graphics. Cadillac has an interesting story, and for a luxury car so often affiliated with older customers, Cadillac has led the way with new technology and innovations many times over the years. We hope you enjoy reading the article.

Sunday, August 01, 2010 8:23:31 AM

July 2010 is officially behind us now, and the month has been archived to make way for the new month. Click the link in the left column to go to last month's blog, or any other previous blog.

We'll have an update for you later today. Enjoy your Sunday!