1978 Chevrolet Caprice Classic 4-door from North America - Comments

Besides normal maintenance, one catlytic convertor.

Rear brake cylinders and lines twice.

Front brake lines.

Front brake rotors several times.

Master cylinder.

Drivers seat (from being worn out from use).

2 paint jobs.

Front windshield (from years of wind, sand, rain snow, and hail erosion).

Rear differential.

All transmission and differential seals.

Rear and front main seals (front main replaced along with a timing chain).

Two timing chains, one at 321,000 miles (broken) and one at 567,000 miles (preventative maintenance).

2 head gaskets at 463,000 miles.

Manifold gasket at 403,000.

Valve cover gaskets several times.

Several oil pan gaskets.

Oil pan (wrecked from hitting a beaver in Ontario)

All 4 ball joints twice.

Tie rod and tie rod ends twice.

Heater core at 478,000.

Wiper motor at 510,000.

A/C compressor.

A/C recharged several times.

2 alternators.

Dimmer switch at 663,000.

Horns at 335,000.

That's all I can think of, off hand...

For anyone who says American cars aren't dependable, eat this. The mileage is no joke. For 20 years I traveled around the Midwest selling vacuum cleaners, me and Cherry (my red '78 Chevy). After 23 years over 700,000 miles of nearly trouble free driving, Chevy and this car deserve a standing ovation.

This car was never and still is not pampered or severely abused. The only pampering I gave it was its rustproofing and 2 paint jobs, and now I'm looking at #3. All I've ever done is changed the oil every 3000-5000 miles on highway trips, changed the tranny fluid every 60,000 and kept tires on it. It doesn't really use much oil anyway, I've never had to add between changes.

Gets near 20 MPG on the highway at 70 MPH. The motor and tranny are still original, There's still a bit of Chevy Orange paint showing on the engine block, under all that grease and grime.

The only time I've been stranded, except for snow or mud, was near Ft Dodge, IA when my timing chain went out one time. And there was the one time I skidded of a bank one icy March Morning in MN, nose first right into the Des Moines River. Cherry was buried over her hood in ice, water, and mud for nearly 7 hours until a tow truck could get to me. We took her to a garage, gave her a bath, and let her dry overnight. When I started her the next morning, she spit and sputtered at first, puking some slime and ash you wouldn't believe out the exhaust, and after a few minutes, was running like new and ready to go again.

This car doesn't have On-Star, GPS, ABS, and all that other computerized jazz. But it does have something many modern cars don't R_E_L_I_A_B_I_L_I_T_Y. Her only options are an AM/FM stereo radio (which I finally upgraded to something more modern), power drivers seat, power locks, split bench seat, rear defogger, engine block heater, A/C, and the 350 V8.

Thank you for 23 years Chevy, maybe she'll go 1,000,000 miles yet!!!

That's one awesome Caprice, they are great cars, as are all Chevys. My dad had a 1986 Chevy pickup with a full dumping bed, and she went through a lot of towing a payload tortures. Even with all the strain, the motor went through 400,000 grueling miles until the head cracked! Cherry sounds like quite a car.

I, too, have the honors of owning a '78 Chevy Caprice Classic. I bought it assuming it would make it through the summer. That was five years ago. I have not done a thing to it other than put brakes, tires, change the oil on occasion, and put new shocks on it. I originally paid $300 for the car, and have bought my wife four newer cars since my purchase. Before this purchase, I wasn't a big fan of Chevrolet. This was an eye-opener.

I currently own a '78 4-door sedan Caprice, and having read your review, mine should be just about broken in now!

(199500 km = 123990 miles). An inspiration to Caprice (and Impala) owners, and a testament to the marque.

Well, reading all your comments about this car I am happy to be a new owner of a 78 caprice sedan. I am only 20 years old so this will be the first car I own that is older that me. I have gone through a lot of cars in the 4 years I've been driving and chevy have always worked best for me. My latest car is a 85 cutlass supreme which is in decent condition for a 200 dollar car. But it is dying and my fiance's mom said she had an old car out in the back yard that had been sitting for a year or two and I could have it. Well, I didn't think much of it so I looked at it and tries to start it up, and wouldn't you know it. It wouldn't start. Well, with a new battery and new plugs and wires it is running like a champ. Great job chevy.

WOW! OVER 700k MILES! I am seriously impressed. I sure hope my car makes it to 700K miles. I've got a '76 Monte Carlo that is very dependable (see my review under Chevrolet Monte Carlo). My grandmother just gave my dad her 4 door '78 Caprice Classic and it still has only 63,000+ on the odometer. I wish the best for you and your Caprice and hope it makes the 1 million mile mark.

I am the happy owner of a 1978 Caprice Classic in Denmark. It has had only 2 owners (me included) and after nearly 25 years only 90.000 miles. Added dual exhausts and new pneumatic pluming to the rear suspension. The beauty is 100% original. Only problem is front left window post corrosion under the vinyl covering.

I was the proud owner of a 1977 Chevy Caprice Classic, but it was a 2 door model. It looks like I'll be getting the car back soon and I'm looking for other Chevy enthusiasts to share ideas and experiences with. I made the mistake of selling to my ex-husband and he has realized that he doesn't have time to work on it so he's giving it back to me. I had this car for 4 years before I sold it and it was the most heart-wrenching thing I've ever done. A lot of folks don't think I should restore it, but how can you argue with destiny?? Anyone with any ideas is welcome to share!! All ideas are greatly appreciated!!

Thanks,

Dana.

I'm also drive a 1978 Caprice. I bought the car off a old women about a year ago. It had 98,000 Miles on it looked like it just rolled off the line at GM back in 78. I've put the car though a hard time to what every 1 tells me and it still runs and looks like it would in 78. I'm building a 350 for it though its got a 262 crane cam running 11.1 compression open headers at times ported and polished heads with and performer intake and gear drive timing so I'm going to see how well my upgrade will be hope your runs as good as it those for a long time..

Thanks,

Mike I.

I love my 78 chevy I am 21 years old and my grandma used to drive me around in the car when I was a child. That's chevy for you a tradition of quality. Almost like driving one of the family. Good luck with cherry, I've got 78000 on mine keep it going!

Dbr.

"7th Aug 2002, 02:43

I am the happy owner of a 1978 Caprice Classic in Denmark. It has had only 2 owners (me included) and after nearly 25 years only 90.000 miles. Added dual exhausts and new pneumatic pluming to the rear suspension. The beauty is 100% original. Only problem is front left window post corrosion under the vinyl covering."

Hi mister "happy owner"! I live in Denmark too and wish to by one! I saw one (http://www.bt-bilsalg.dk/) there for almost 40 000 Danish Crowns!... when I can read that some find it for $300!!! Anyway, I really want to be in contact with you to help me on this buy. Please?...

You can contact me at caprice@zubro.com.

Thanks in advance!

G.

I have a 1988 Caprice Classic. It's fully loaded with all options. It has 318,000 km on it (approx 200,000 miles). It's been a great car. All the power options still work and are original. Seats/windows/doorlocks. The AC is still ice cold from the factory, I've never had it maintainanced. I would buy another Caprice in a Heartbeat (pun there).

Thanks.

I also own a 78 caprice classic-light tan half top and paint-4 door. I bought the caprice in august of 2001 at a small local owned dealership as is. Have had the normal changes with hoses, brakes, fluids, tires, etc... The car quit on me a couple of times from me misjudging my gas hand- I quickly adjusted and put an end to that problem. The 78 caprice is a great highway cruiser and can be easily controlled in small or tight areas.

Great review.

Can't imagine a modern Chevy ever reaching this kind of mileage, because they're not designed to last beyond the warranty period anymore.

Now we have timing belts that require frequent replacement, ECU's that fail and cost a fortune to replace.

Brakes and rotors designed to be replaced every 2 years or 40,000 miles and transmissions that can't stand up.

I have owned a 78 Caprice Classic and it has been through harsh Illinois winters and summers, but my Chevy has always been reliable, it has all of my respect. Thank You.