FULL REVIEW: 1970 Chevrolet Caprice (not Impala) 454 was the Everyday Man's Luxury Car
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- Опубліковано 25 лип 2024
- Detailed description, walkaround, and drive of my all original, 45k mile 1970 Chevrolet Caprice with an LS4 454.
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I had a 1970 Caprice with a 350 cu engine and I drove that thing from Chicago to Phoenix towing a 40 foot park model trailer when it was ten years old. Then I continued to drive it over 300,000 miles before I sold it. Greatest car I’ve ever owned and I’ve owned some beauties.
I remember being a kid in the 70's sitting in the backseat of these cars on long 500 to 2500 mile roadtrips to family events. (69' Impala 2dr, 67" Riviera, 71' Pontiac GP, 71' Galaxy 500 2dr)
I want an old car just to make me feel like a little kid again.
Well I sure am glad I got over my Packards. So I can afford a Chevy like this.
Look now b4 they are gone.
Adam's collection is unique because he collects cars that many considered utilitarian an nothing special.
That Caprice would be special even in the early 1970s. Today it's achingly awesome. The 454 torque mill and upgraded suspension are the 2 options I would want. The condition of it takes it to the top level. Envy!
The fact that the car rocked on the initial start of the POV portion of this video shows how solid and powerful this GM product truly is and something that can not be recreated or replaced by time or history
This is one of the most beautiful cars that you have shown so far. I love everything about it. I really enjoy the vast knowledge of each car that you show.
We had 1970 impala. Very nice.
That's a fabulous looking rare car, it has the options you'd want, especially the 454, a real rare gem, I myself came across a 70 Caprice 2 door hardtop at a salvage yard in Colorado, I don't recall where, but it too was a beauty, it had the color keyed wheel covers, 6 way power seat, power windows, 8- track AM/FM, & it even had a rare option you'd never expect to find, it had a light to let you know when you were low on wiper fluid, it was in perfect condition, too bad I didn't have the money, that would have been quite a cool car to cruise in, no wonder I love these big land yachts
I was never a GM fan but these he's shown have really provided a reason why so many people loved them.
I needed a 454 for an SS454 Chevelle in 1992. The donor was a 1971 Caprice much like this one. It was an LS5 390 hp with the heavy duty tow package. At Bunker Hill (IN) dragstrip the Caprice hit 14.9's at 95.3 mph. It pushed the Chevelle to 13.19 sec @ 99.1 mph. Both cars are long gone but still make me smile... Thanks for the memory!
My parents had the same car but 2 door with the LS5 390 hp 454. It was black on black with all the options. Dad worked for a Chevy dealership and he picked this car up semi-new. The salesman that ordered this car was fired from his job because he was not authorized to 'special-order' this level of spec. Wish I could post a picture of the car here. The car was so classy looking. I drove it for all the special occasions i.e. prom, homecoming, etc. LOVED that 454! I nearly crashed it once when the power got away from me and I fishtailed down a residential street filled w parked cars. Loved that car! Parents babied that car and sold it 14 years later in 84 with only 54k miles on it.
Best way I’d describe this era of passenger car is unremarkably perfect. It’s so normal for being a rare car. I’d imagine it gets looks because of its condition and the fact it’s a bit of a time capsule. Older folks know they are looking at something from their childhood, but it’s not clapped out.
I really love this example.
Inverted jelly moulds on wheels! That's what modern cars look like 😳🙄
I was raised in the 70s and 80s in Los Angeles. My parents drove a Mercedes. But my grandparents had a 1965 Impala. It's cars like these that really excited me. They had a glamour, appeal and different attention to detail that was a little more flashy than my mom's 280SEL's subtlety. I really think your Caprice is a knockout!
With a quadrajet carb, nothing like flipping the air cleaner lid and putting your boot into it. Man, the sound when the primaries kick down from the secondaries is like magic! Great car!
WOW Adam you are so young...only 40. Its amazing how you can appreciate these Beautiful American Classics being so young. I was born in 1960 so these beauties were all over the road when I was a kid, I LOVED them. Your Knowledge and historical appreciation is simply incredible for someone so young and for someone who never actually saw these classics on the road in their heyday.
LOVE your videos and Thanks.....
Perhaps he knows how to read to become so well informed. Now isn't that interesting.
My first car was a 1955 Packard Patrician, so I was spoiled from the start. The engine was so smooth that a nickel could be balanced on its edge with the engine running.. Excellent review.
My mom was always a Chevy owner. The Caprice and Impala from ‘65 - ‘78 always had a rich look. The hard tops were so beautiful. My dad special ordered a ‘69 Olds 88 hardtop with a 455 and all power options including what was called a Wonderbar for the FM stereo. This is such a beautiful car. I actually really like the blue interior with the black exterior. The cars of today lack individuality and uniqueness. They basically look very similar and are very cheap inside like you said. You cars that you review for your viewers are really unique beauties. Always enjoy your informative reviews.
Enjoyed this. Awesome car. I miss my old 73 Caprice very much. My first car…it was given to me in 78. I learned to drive in it, worked on it myself and took care of it. Beautiful design. Someday I’ll get one back. A man can dream. Cheers.
Such a beautiful car. My best friend’s grandmother had an identical one but in silver.
I also had a test drive like that from the passenger seat. It was so unnerving that I told the guy to put me out of the car almost 2 miles from my house and I WALKED home. I told him I’d pick up my car later from our earlier rendezvous point because I “needed” to run some errands in the area. SUCH a scary ride!!! Lol
That car is a great example of an era that faded quickly once the mid-70's hit. It's fun to look back at these well kept examples, this car must've been garaged its whole life! It's good to see a millenial from Detroit appreciating these cars :)
Happy Thanksgiving Adam, This Canadian car had its Thanksgiving - Action de Grace back in October.
They used to call slotted wheels as shown on this Caprice, rally wheels, these were introduced to help cool the brakes back in the day. They were introduced for the same model year as the Camaro, 1967. This type of wheel was produced in many iterations and sizes right up to 1982 for the Corvette that last used them.
Totally agree with what you said about how the love of a car has evaporated-modern day vehicles have little soul. Why? Not sure, but it seems that financial, and productivity pressures along with arguably needed governmental regulation (emissions, fuel economy, safety) are big factors.
No soul. They are vanilla and bland
New cars are more like appliances. They do most everything well but nothing stands out as being special about them. I love these old land yachts and it’s great to have a place to go where I can see and appreciate them again. Thank you Adam!
Regulations killed american cars trouble is they're made by people that have no clue, 16 year old boy would write better laws, politicians they're lawyers and they don't drive they're driven.
You can have any interior color you want as long as it is GRAAAYY.
You can have any exterior color you want as long as it is black, white, gray or dark blue.
New cars are just an appliance.
I’m primarily a Ford/Mercury person, but this car is just about perfect in every way. You have great taste in cars, and completely nailed the lack of soul, vs. all around pleasant experience of cars like this! I’m “only” 45, but I get the same reactions you do.
Hello from Quebec! Nice to see a car built and bought here on your channel!
Oui.
Happy thanksgiving to Adam an all the viewer of this great channel a amazing collection an presenter of this channel coming from a 40 + year veteran dealership owner thanks to all
Thanks for the comprehensive review, Adam! The lines and interior of this are just fantastic!
I clearly recall the first 1965 Caprice I encountered, a new purchase by one of my Seattle Times paper route customers! I was in love! I was raised in huge Mopar iron, but saw that GM knew how to make these so appealing! As they became common to see, I was infatuated by the 2 door roofline of the Caprice in 65 and 66.
Later, a good friends family drove a 69 Kingswood wagon with the 396. I had the thrill of driving that a couple times myself, and thoroughly loved it! The rich “panty cloth”, faux wood grain and A/C were always something I looked for and admired.
So true, how the “soul” of a big, comfortable car is something of a bygone era. Thanks so much for saving and treasuring these!! 🙏🏻
This car was built at the GM plant in Sainte Thérèse Quebec, which became the city of Boisbriand in 1974. This GM plant was inaugurated in 1966 and shut down in 2001. As a young kid of the 1970s i can still recall seeing all of these car models coming out of the factory and we use to live only one mile away. Great souvenirs. Thank you for sharing this with us. Johnny, Montréal, Canada 🇨🇦
I am two hours drive West of you and recently learned that my old 1979 LeMans sedan was probably built in that plant. The Wikipedia page lists the models made at St. Therese.
It seems they started off with Caprices and Impalas dropped down to Vegas and Monzas and finished on a high with the Camaro and Firebird. R.I.P. GM St Therese. :-)
Adam, I was always wondering the same thing... how a "younger" guy is so interested in cars, essentially from a generation earlier! Being about 10 years older than you, I recall 60s and 70s cars being on every driveway and every road... and riding in them. Watching your awesome channel reviews, and reviews on channels like Curious Cars brings me back to my childhood. Thanks!
Hey! are you from Northbay?
@@jeantetreault132 Yes.
I immediately thought of Bill when I heard the phrase 'button tufted'.
@@RodBeauvex When Adam panned the camera across the back seat (of this Canadian car), I was absolutely expecting him to comment: "Canadians will be chipper here"! LOL !!
Growing up in tye late 80s,these were cars our granddads had.. We always wanted, but by time we got to drive, they had been sold, or wrecked.. Luckily i got to drive my stepdads 64 impala to prom, and got to own a 76 coupe deville
I remember when the Caprice debuted in 1965 (and the Chevelle in 1964) and Chevrolet began its sprint upmarket. Whether it was collusion or corporate espionage, Ford did the same thing in 1965 with the LTD. Both were beautiful and highly successful cars. But the thing in this video that made me feel nostalgic was the car's ventilation system. I had a '72 Torino without AC, but dashboard vents with manual controls. In cold weather they were great! You could stay toasty with the heater, yet have cold, brisk air keeping you alert and invigorated. Still miss that car!
A very comprehensive and informative video. As with all big block engines, the motor never has to work that hard. And it shows. Which provides a more pleasant driving experience. I own a 2021 Nissan Versa. With the manual transmission. And guess what. The engine is always stressed and working hard. Not pleasant. With a hard plastic fantastic interior. Just horrible. But epic MPG. We as your subscribers learn more about the subtle details of GM. And how they did business. Cost cutting etc. Really fun to watch. And learn.
4- cylinder engines usually sound over-stressed because of their 2x engine RPM secondary imbalance , which makes them 'buzzy' at higher RPMs. Engine mounting and isolation make a big difference, I have a Hyundai I30 with the 1.6 turbo diesel, which should be buzz city given that it's a small 4 cylinder diesel with no balance shafts, but at lower speeds (less than 2500 rpm, which you rarely exceed under normal conditions) it's actually quieter and smoother than my brother's old 5-cylinder Volvo- probably because Hyundai paid a lot of attention to vibration damping in the engine mounts. Of course it redlines at 4200 whereas a typical spark ignition engine is barely reaching peak torque at that speed, and the exhaust note is a little... agricultural.
Your videos are so great! I love all the background info you provide. My mom had a 68 Bonneville Brougham and I wonder if the interior was done by the same designer, same type of fabric and with buttons on the strato-bench seat. This was also the first car my parents owned with power windows. It had been ordered by a local oil company owner (small town MO) with most every option, disc brakes, 428, cruise, AM-FM 8-track, power locks, cornering lights. No hidden headlights which I recently discovered was an option. The first owner was also the local Michelin dealer so the car also had radial tires. The Bonneville was not quite a year old when the passenger door was backed into at the swimming pool. The local GM dealer told him it was going to be a month before it could be repaired so he traded it in on a new Toronado. It was on the dealer's lot the next week and in our driveway the following week. Sadly it was traded before I was old enough to drive! On a side note the passenger window did not power up properly, but would go up outside the track and had to be pulled into the channel as you powered it up. I guess improper quick repair!
This is beautiful man congratulations on your purchase. From Toronto - just a few miles west of where you found this gem.
Talk about a sweet Chevy! The only reason I could think to order the 454 for funeral duties would be concerns over being able to easily make it up hills and steep driveways.
I'm 72 y/o. I was 21 in 1970. In my opinion, cars from the 70's and 80's were unrefined, they got better and better until 2000, when they started getting too complicated. Now, even quality mechanics don't know what to do because there's too much electronics involved. Nevermind my opinion, your Caprice is beautiful !!!!
The Caprice has a long and fabulous history in Australia and New Zealand, RHD. This same car, 1970, with a magnificent two tone blue, and the 327, featured in my life, 1973, as the chauffeur driven wheels for the chairman of the company I worked for. These are collectors items over here and very valuable...quite common. Caprice has been a top of the line badge in Australian GM production for decades. That upholstery, the buttons, I have seen on a late 80,s Caprice, brocade upholstery, chauffeur driven, Australian Ambassador to New Zealand's car.
Younger people missed out on the full front bench seat. That's why the "de-fogger" fan in the back. You can steam the insides pretty fast. Though, back in the day dynamic cruise control would have been nice. Going between 40 the 80 is not the safest.
😋😯
I really enjoy listening to both your stories and depth of knowledge. It feels like you and I are having a chat over coffee. It’s a very pleasant experience.
Thankful for your channel, Adam! What a great journey you took us on. Keep up the wonderful work!
I thought this car looked familiar. I used to see it once in a while running around the Oshawa/Durham Region classic car scene. It was those chrome exhaust extension tips that I remember most - saying to myself "I wish the owner would take those off", which it appears you have done. Car is stunning in person. A real survivor. Great history on it.
Yes I did and it’s that car!
It’s most unfortunate we never crossed paths while you where at CHQ in Oshawa.
@@RareClassicCars do you sell any of these cars you buy ?
A buddy of mine is familiar with this car and knows the previous owner. According to him, the throttle linkage on this vehicle was altered early on with intent of making the throttle response less aggressive for the sole fact that the car was used in funeral processions. I can only image the first owner squawking tires on every throttle tip in just after he bought it. Not the most dignified thing to do during a somber event.
@@scarbourgeoisie Ha! I suppose that makes sense.
If you're only in your late thirties, meaning you were born in the early 1980s, it is really remarkable that you have such a love for these cars from before you were born. When did that start? As a child? Maybe similarly, I had a coworker born in 1965 who looooved cars from before 1959 - he said cars started looking "too modern" in 1959 - and he claimed to have been that way since he was a child, also loving jazz and Western swing music from the 1930s and '40s above all other kinds of music.
I remember now deceased Mr. Cheathum, bought a new 1970 Chevrolet Impala Custom 4dr.! It came from the factory w/350 cid V8, automatic, power steering, AM radio w/1 spkr., leather seating, and manual f. disc/r. drum brakes (power was optional!)-blue and a white top! He only drove it to church (all day Sunday!), to the corner store (daily!), to carry his grandson to school and Kalamazoo Michigan, etc.! He inherited land from his home state in late 1990; he died a year later! His family passed it on to Hursel Cole, 32 yrs ago this Spring!!
Thanks for sharing all these forgotten and fabulous cars from one of the best era,s !!! they drive so so good.
I consider myself fortunate to come from a generation with cars of size, style, charm, class, personality, elegance. The youngsters don't understand it. They say they rusted, had bad handling, bad brakes, and their 6 cylinder whizzbang is faster. Maybe so but these cars are amazing.
I would agree, this four dr. styling is as close to perfect as it can be. Perfect flowing lines, although simplistic, will always look great.. Yeah, seems like the 70s models had some cost chiseled out compared to the 69 models, most notably in the grille/bumper/headlight area. Will agree, the two door coupe models are an "acquired taste", not for everyone. But, they will always hold a very special place in my heart. Our family never had alot of money, surely not enough for flashy new cars. Our cars were usually used, or the basic models with few accessories. As a kid, my heart dropped when the parents arrived home in the 69 Caprice coupe that actually had a few accessories. Most notably, the hideaway headlights, and a 396, even though it was the base engine with 2bbl carburetor. The front seat was kind of a hybrid bench design, it had the bucket seat backs with center arm rest. I do remember that the suspension was woefully "under-sprung", mushy and excessive wallow with the heavy big block engine. My parents put alot of miles on this car in just a few years, so it was sold off in a few years, replaced by a 73 Caprice coupe.
Your four door is beautiful, especially with the 454.. The choice of blue interior confuses me though, especially if this was a funeral car. The heavy duty suspension option is the best option for sure. The "rally wheels" sure do look great, regardless of their relatively simple design. I would agree, that the 70s models were GM at the top of its game for sure. I'm confused about the price point though, $50 more than the Bonneville?? Did the Caprice come with more standard equipment than the Bonneville?
I would eventually be gifted the 73 Caprice coupe, a car that I wish I could own again today. Yeah, the 400 small block was pretty much choked to death with emissions crap, but I removed most of it. No way of overcoming the low compression though. This car had the split bench seat though, wish they had sprung for the heavy duty suspension, this option would be included on their 77 Monte Carlo though. This car outlived the parents next two cars on its original engine and transmission. The crazy "constant velocity joint" driveshaft had to be replaced every 70K miles though. Amazingly, this car never had many squeaks or rattles, and always felt pretty solid on the road. I kept it running until 245,000 miles, when the northeast weather finally consumed it to the point of being unsafe to drive.
Sure wish I could have it back today...
Love the Caprice. You have an excellent time capsule there. Beautiful. 👍🏻Thanks for sharing it with us.
Adam.. Sir.. A "454" on a Caprice.. .. this makes total sense... you need it with a car of that weight. My Mom had a 1975 Caprice Classic Sedan. It had a 350 in it, and the gas mileage... 9 miles to the gallon in the city in SoCal. My Grandma told us the car should have had a "400" in it to pull the weight, and as a result.. it would get better gas mileage and performance. My neighbors had a 1972 Chevelle Super Sport with a "454" / Cowl Induction, that they had bought new and kept in a garage and drove only a few times a year to keep it running right. I "LOVE" the memories you bring back to me with your cars. Many.. Many Thanks.
My grandmother got a 1970 Caprice in November 1969, after the death of my grandfather.
Bronze with white vinyl roof and a beige cloth interior. Center armrest only in the four door, split seatback for two door. And she had power windows and six-way power seat. 350 V8. And color keyed wheel covers. Rallye wheels, which yours has, were optional.
I noticed your power windows are slow; of course, this is 51 years old.
And the engine sounds like a typical GM Chevrolet. And that is nice.
Another beautiful classic Chevy.
We owned a 1967 Chevy impala sport coupe in Grenda gold with a 283 v8 and a power Glide transmission. Unfortunately this generation was prone to body rot - the engines; however, ran forever.
Thanks for sharing!
I had a 1968 Caprice. I really miss those days from an era gone by.
I appreciate you, in that you are a younger man that really gets these cars! You really appreciate and care for the best era of American automotive history! 👍😋😁
Really enjoyed this video Adam. You're younger than me by about 4 or 5 years, but we have the same interests in automotive history and classic American automobiles. Like you said in the video as you age you tend to want the more mellowed out sound instead of Flowmasters. Maybe sometimes but not everyday. Definitely a joy to watch the videos. Seeing how you pick them up and what you're doing to bring it back is very appealing. My collection is much smaller, and definitely in need of a larger garage and or an addition to my existing one. The storage facility you use is amazing. Looks like an old assembly plant as I'm sure these buildings still exist. Keep them coming.
Scott Sardinha
Fall River, Massachusetts
Adam: Happy Thanksgiving! My parents had an Impala and my grandparents had a Caprice. Talk about a trip down memory lane! Thank you for another informative and entertaining video.
Another masterpiece by Adam. Most valuable information regarding compression ratios and comparisons between brands.
Back then, a couple of the guys I worked with bought these and I've never forgotten how really nice they were. You are sooo right about "soul." My 2021 Equinox has about as much as my washing machine.
Excellent video Adam!! These old cars take me back to my childhood in the 70's. My Grandma's best friends had a '73 Caprice 4 door. When the hubby died in the early 80's, his widow traded this beauty for a 4 door Citation CL, with the tan cloth interior. My Grandma owned a '76 Nova Concours with the 305, which went to my Dad in '85 when Grandma quit driving, with 45K miles. Dad loved that car. It was fast compared to most of what was on the road in the late 80's, and very comfortable. When I started driving in '87, it was a blast driving this Nova. Dad was a speed demon, let me bury the needle on the 100 mph Speedo if we had a stretch of deserted, dry road☺
Gorgeous car. Back in the day I always thought the '70 looked like a later 60's car and the '69 was the newer, more modern look. This is a beautiful ride but I do think the wraparound double front bumper and horizontal tail lamps were more attractive and modern looking, especially when had with concealed headlights, which '70+ couldn't have. The seats on this Caprice are as deluxe as a Cadillac! You scored on this one for sure.
Great video proud owner of a 62,000 mile 72 Impala Custom I love big chevys with big power
Love the video. I love how real your videos are. My grandfather bought a 72 2 door hard top Caprice brand new. I loved that car and wanted to drive it when I turned 16, but they sold it before I turned 16.
I rewatched this video Adam and enjoyed greatly a second time. The Caprice was in my opinion a well designed vehicle by Chevrolet. Thank you for sharing this video with your followers! I wish manufacturers would generate more cars vs. SUV’s, particularly with gasoline prices increasing daily! I enjoy your channel greatly and always look forward to your postings.
Beautiful car! Love those rear fender skirts!
Bonjour Adam ! Thanks for all your vids. You're really doing a great job at showcasing these classics.
Love the interviews with the designers. You can tell there's a mutual respect coming from these legends.
Merci
Thanks Adam for your showing of another gorgeous classic car . I love your taste in these big beautiful cars . ❤️
Great review of a great car! I drove a 1973 Caprice with a 400 block in 1987. Looked much the same. It was rusting by the time I got it, but I used it to commute 110 miles a day. I bought it when my previous commute was a mile. Obviously I could not keep up that commute when it got, from memory, around 8 miles a gallon. But it never failed me! Two things on the design limitations. One, rear wheel drive made some snowy hills tricky. And the steering was the same as my 17 foot Larson motorboat, 😂. Soft and General.
Still a great car.
That is probably the one car you have that I would choose out of them all. My great grandfather lived in Ontario, Canada and he drove a full-sized Chevrolet car from that era as a taxi. My favorite of all the cars I have owned was a 2013 Chevrolet Caprice PPV 9C1 in Alto Grey with 9C3 features like carpet, matching front and rear seats. It was only lacking the console with manual gear selection and the handbrake. I have been looking for a clean 2011-2013 9C3 for a while now. I wish I had never totalled that car. I loved it more than the 2016 Chevrolet SS sedan I got later, I just didn't feel the need for all the extra luxury items which added weight and dilluted the driving experience. The LS3 6.2L didn't even feel significantly quicker than the L77 6L engine both cars were governed to 155-160mph depending on how the aggressive the ECU intervention was. Once I put grippy 275 rear tires on the PPV it was capable of 0-60 a hair under 5s just like the SS. I managed a high 8s 1/8th mile with the PPV with only a few minor modifications on E85 pump gas.
She's an absolute beauty, an iron fist in a velvet glove so to speak.
Had a 70 Impala Custom coupe.
It was a blue green metallic with black cloth interior.
Had a 400 two barrel.
It was a smooth operator, especially on the highway.
You're right about the roofline but I still loved that ol' girl. I was running stock caps with black wall 15 inch 70s in front and 60s in back and installed air shocks to give her a subtle rake.
Factory duals minus the resonators. I can still hear her like it was 1981 again. Thanks for sharing...
The "use overdrive during high speed pursuit" legend was in the 1991-93 Caprice police package cars. When I ran a taxicab company in Sacramento, California during the early 2000s, we had a few of them that we bought from the California Highway Patrol.
I had a 1974 Impala 4 door with the 400 cu. in. small-block V8. I converted it to the GM HEI from a later model small block chevy mostly because I felt the quality of (even US made Blue Streak) points had fallen off and I didn't like having to deal with adjusting them with the hard-to-access window at the back of the engine compartment. I never regreted it. Your Caprice is a beauty!
Happy Thanksgiving Adam, another great, informative video. I well remember reading an article in Consumer Reports in the early to mid ‘70’s comparing a fully loaded Caprice to a Cadillac. They found there was not much of a difference, despite the great price differential. The Chevy Caprice was truly a great value.
A wonderful review! A truly wonderful car! You always do a great job in your reviews and test drives. As always, thanks for sharing!
Great find! I was born in 1970 and while I don’t obviously remember the cars I rode in during the early 70s, this Caprice evokes so many of the memories I have as I grew up in the later 70s. My Dad was a Chevy man, so we owned Impalas and Impala-based wagons. The massive speedometer was a mainstay in all of the Chevy’s we owned. You are right, the cars that GM made in this era were great values for middle class buyers and this Caprice is no exception. It was nice, but not too nice.
Thank you for mentioning the 1969 to 1970 LTD I own a 1969 LTD and yes I do appreciate the uniqueness of it & the quality its smoothness, the power, handling it's quite a nice vehicle you don't even think you're in a big car sometimes driving it believe it or not!
Again, thank you for a review of another wonderful car. I enjoyed learning about this car and some of it's features, particularly how the ventilation systems worked -- both the Astro Ventilation and the heater/defroster unit. I'd also wager that the rear window defroster on that car was a rather rare option. I agree with you about the interior -- very rich looking for the price point.
The 71 had louvers in the deck lid
Great review video ! I used to own a 85 Chevrolet Caprice sedan which I enjoyed to own and drive and it was my very first car.
Great video! I love this era GM cars. We DEFINATLEY need a night-display on this car. One of my fondest memories was looking at the nighttime dash lights of my father's Impala.
I just discovered your channel, and absolutely enjoyed it. I was in my early twenties when those cars were around and sold them for about 15 years. Your Chevy is drop-dead gorgeous.
As I listened to all the even small details you are impressed with, you were taking the words right out of my mouth. The interiors today are nothing like they were back then. I think 1993 was about the last year GM turned out bodies and interiors like your chevy.
We were shocked when the 1994 GM cars came out. All those scenic cruiser windows that made the cars horrible. The horrible frameless windows whose rubber gaskets melted onto the glass when you opened the doors ( to save on materials) Cadillac with their endless use of rubberized plastic around the taillights. If you remember the back windows didn't even roll down on the coups as the glass was stationary even on their high-end models.
I was selling Buick at the time and customers puked over the newly redesigned models.
You spoke of the cheaper uninteresting interiors in the higher-end GM cars while cars like your chevy used button-tufted patterns out of (panty cloth) and so did Ford. I think Cadillac went to such plain (especially in the Eldorado, was people in that market accepted it because they wanted to be associated with the brand so GM got away with it. They put the extra money into cars like your chevy to make eyes pop to the lower-end market. That's just my guess. Cars equipt like your chevy were of tremendous value. You are so right about the roof like on the coups with that beveled rear window. The 4 door Caprice in the right color with its understated elegant lines could have passed for a much higher line model in the GM line.
It's hard to believe cars like that were such low prices compared to today. I still have tucked away the price booklet every salesperson was issued at the beginning of the 1973 model year for Buick. Base price and every available option.
A Centurion hardtop sedan (one step above the LeSabre) was base-priced at 4390.00. The Electra 225 Custom ( later called the limited) started at 4927.00 for the 4 door. The Riveria started at 5221.00. Like I said everything went to hell after 1993 for GM. Some of the ugliest cars ever.
You have the exact same taste as I do when it comes to the cars of yesteryear. Love your channel.
I have owned my 1970 Impala 2 dr since 1978. It was stored away in '83 and in 2006 I had the suspension and body re-done. The car is fun to drive and definitely a head turner. Drivability is ok but better since I added rear sway bar and a new steering box. Old box was 4 turn lock to lock. New one is 3 turn and it feels a lot better, especially on the highway. Your car is probably the best 70 I've seen. 70 Caprice interior was the best GM ever put in a chevy in my opinion.
Another wonderful portrait of one of your cars and one I really like. The 4th generation GM full size cars are by far my favorite ones. Besides the styling, I love the way how it is all business and no nonsense. A huge engine in a huge car, very little luxury inside but everything you need.
I really appreciate the practical tips thrown into the presentation. Great stuff. Hope you have many more to come.
This car has tremendous class. Your car collection is truly amazing!
Adam, that's a gem of a find! Those era of cars from all the big three (and four, including AMC) were incredible. Years back a friend came across a '70 Caprice, but not nearly as clean as yours. It was a retired state police patrol car. It to had the big block (454) and basically no frills about it. Base interior and exterior, if I remember right it did have A/C and some kind of cruise control and that was about it. It may have had the 390 HP (or higher, being it was a LEV) option with the 3 speed automatic (turbo 400), taller gears (3:23's or something like that), non-posi (definitely a one legger), possibly the HD suspension (even though it shagged in the rear a little when you got it, springs were probably sprung) being it was a LEV. That car could really roast right rear wheel, he ran it (open track,test and tune days and some bracket racing just to see what it could do) at the local drag strip when it would hookup (not smoke that right rear tire) it turned some decent times upper 14's to low 15's about 80+mph for an older car it was pretty impressive. What I thought was cool, is when you opened the hood all you saw was engine!! That big, (mostly) orange 454, no plastic trim, chrome, nothing but serious engine! It actually drove and rode fairly good, not quite the "riding on a cloud" feel, but overall pretty good. That big block didn't seem to work hard moving that car, when you nailed it the feel of that brute torque and horsepower was just awesome and with the gearing it was very long legged, just kept pulling hard! I would almost equate that (but not quite and without all the black smoke..lol) to a modern diesel pickup with a performance device. He sold it sometime later and the rest is history. Thanks Adam for great review video. Keep them coming always a pleasure to watch and learn some background history.
Another great car, and wonderful review!
I was so disappointed when you ended the video and hadn’t really gotten on it. Thank you very much for the “encore” segment where you floored it. It’s really interesting to me to see how these classics perform, especially since I grew up in the mid to late 60’s. Your channel brings me so many fond memories. Keep up the great content.
cool car, I love the detail in the stories you tell. you make this seem so effortless.
I too think these cars just evoke more style, and I daily drove a ‘70 Chevelle wagon for five years…having said that, you need to take a ride in my Hellcat…..there are still exciting new cars out there, and I opted for the red leather interior, and it is stunning.
😍
Admittedly the Hellcat is the last of the Mohicans, an outlier in today’s world, rear wheel drive, 707 hp, but this 454 was also an outlier in its day.
If discussing the traditional Detroit Three; current FWD in cars is all but extinct
I daily drove a '66 Chevy wagon for 9 years in the 70's and early 80's. Still have it. In the meanwhile, my '08 Chrysler 300 hemi AWD scratches all the itches. Best all around vehicle I've ever owned.
Wow, I wish I could find one of these, holy crap that's a beautiful car.
Yeah, they've become very rare, especially with a big block.
I always remember that Chevy's 3 tail lamps on Caprice or upper models. 2 tail lamps on lower model biscayne. That car is beautiful!! It's gorgeous inside. I personally liked the coupe and loved the curved back window. So handsome. You gave the best explanation of older cars, soul. They had soul. Outstanding review as always.
My dad bought a new 1970 Impala with a 350 engine. My brother later got it and drove it until the frame rusted away. They both loved that car!
You certainly have a beautiful rare classic in that 70 Chevrolet Caprice, especially considering it's 454.
It's interesting to note that in 66 when Caprice became its own model line above Impala that Canadian Pontiac introduced the Grande Parisienne using styling cues from the Grand Prix.
Happy Thanksgiving. My dad was a Chevy dealer in 60s and 70s. He had a 70 Caprice with the top 454 and a 4speed w posi. Triple red. I always wanted to find him one but alas was never able to.
You did it again!! Beautiful car,and great presentation!
Thank you, and happy Thanksgiving
Great video ! You’re very knowledgeable and your delivery is spot on. Truly fun to watch and hear. Congrats
Another home run, Adam. What a gorgeous Caprice, with a fabulous engine option. I agree, this was a great era for GM. The quality was good, the driveability was probably at its peak, and with a 454, how could you miss? I'm surprised there's no AC, but I guess for Michigan and Canada, it's not needed much. I agree with you about SUVs. We have a Highlander and an older Altima, both nice vehicles, but I find myself wanting to drive the sedan if I have a choice. It just feels better, lighter, easier, in spite of the 2.5 4 cyl.
I've been waiting for this video for several weeks. It was well worth it. Now I'll mope around till the next one comes along. 😂😂Thanks for another excellent session in great classic cars. Happy and blessed Thanksgiving to you and your family.
A very beautiful car. The interior is stunning, especially in that blue. I wonder if it has heavy duty suspension, giving it that firmer ride? These car had real bumpers, which could take a small bump unscathed.
Speaking of SUV's, trying driving around Toronto during rush hour, where woman driving large SUV's rule the road with aggression and anger.
What a beautiful car and informative video. Adam you were born to do this. Your videos keep getting better and better. Like the way you are injecting yourself recently. You are one of the best out there. Please keep em coming!
Happy Thanksgiving. Adam. I'm thankful for you showing us these classic cars. God bless you
If you decide on a super cold day to drive this car, be aware that the cables used for the ventilation controls can and do easily snap off or break completely when they are cold. My first car was a 1970 BelAir that I bought in 1982. It was a beautiful car. The second year I had it though, the cable for the defrost control snapped completely. It was not an easy fix as I recall. If the controls feel unusually stiff, leave them be.
This is the first video of yours I've seen. I remember as a kid looking at a 1966 Caprice with a 427, bucket seats and the gauge cluster in front of the shift lever. I completely agree about the feeling you get driving a 'normal' size (now called huge) American car. I had a 1966 Impala when I lived in Belgium and the Europeans couldn't believe how big it was. I need to look and see if you've got a Buick Electra "Deuce and a Quarter" video.
This video was the fastest 44 minutes of my life. Love your conversation and insight. Thank you
I agree with so much of what you say. When you floored the car, I got an immediate grin on my face. Loved that! My aunt & uncle had a 1970 Impala 2-door hardtop (not the formal roofline) and it had the 350 V8 (I don't recall if it was a 2 bbl or 4) but it was a beautiful car to drive. I was allowed to drive it a fair bit when I got my licence in 1973, and thus began my appreciation of GM cars, having grown up in a Mopar family.
Hi Adam,
Nice review of the 1970 Caprice 454. I owned a triple black coupe in around 1974 to about 1977. It was the second car I owned and after high school. I kept the window stickers for both and still have the Caprice detailed sticker preserved in plastic. I took it out after watching your video and I took allot for granted about that car. It had the LS5 engine so 454/390 HP and manufactured in Janesville WI. 1970 was the last of the really good muscle car years.
Base price was $3474. Most expensive option was the 4-Season A/C at $384.45. Next highest option was the Stereo Tape (8-track) with Stereo Radio at $372.85. The LS5 engine option was third at $242.25. CRAZY! Total options were $1730.85 putting total dealer price with destination cost of $89.50 at $5294.35.
Fender skirts were another option at $31.60. Took those off and stored in dad’s garage then bought the chrome wheel opening moldings from the Chevy dealer and installed with the enclosed screws. Just seemed to make it look more sporty. Then installed rear air shocks made by Gabriel and raised the rear-end a couple inches. Installed Keystone 5-spoke mag wheels that had the black painted insets and larger Goodyear white lettered tires. Still have only 4 pictures left of the car. One of the best cars I’ve ever owned and your video brings back really fond memories of that time period! Cars had a visual personality back then...not so much now. Thank you!!
Thanks for the note. Would you mind sending me an email at rareclassiccars@yahoo.com with a pic of the window sticker? It'll help me understand the option cost for mine. Thx!
Happy Thanksgiving, Adam. This one brought back great memories. My best buddy’s parents had a ‘70 Caprice with the 400 c.i. It had some real power and torque as well. I’ve always thought the taillights in the bumper were really sharp and also thought they would have been the perfect design for Chevy to experiment with a sequential turn signal. FYI, as I watched this video I had the Lions vs Bears game on in the background. As usual, the Lions keep shooting themselves in the foot with penalties! Thanks for sharing. 👍👍👍 ~ John
It was called a 400ci in full-sized Chevrolet cars but, it was a 402ci 4.125" bore with a 3.76" stroke, compared to the 396ci it replaced with a 4.094" bore.
Tremendous video and car. You surely picked a winner with this one. The 2mph bumpers fit perfectly on this car.
WOW! What a beautiful car. The interior is incredible. BIzarre story having a 454 as a ‘flower’ car at a funeral home…..great video Adam.