Water pump at 250000.
Heater core at 200000.
Radiator at 180000.
Signal light switch at 260000.
Absolutely amazing automobile.
Car was given to my Dad for $400, by someone who wanted the eyesore off the property.
Dad drove it for 6 years, gave it to me.
Now with 300000km (180000 miles), the 79 Caprice has never stalled, hesitated, or missed.
It has started and run flawlessly for over 100,000 of ownership, not bad for a 26 year old car.
Only problem I ever had was engine pinging at low altitude, turns out to be a vacuum leak, replaced the hose myself!
The most reliable, dependable car you could ever ask for.
Good on gas, 19mpg in city, 26 mpg on the highway, not bad for a 70s car.
Wish like heck this car would live forever, but rusting out like Canadian cars tend to do.
Nice review. Although I should point out that the 1979 Chevy Caprice was built in the US, not Canada. ;)
I have a Chevrolet Caprice 1979, made in Venezuela. It's the the best car of all after 30 years, better than Daewoo, Mazda, Toyota, and Ford. It's big, luxurious and powerful on the highway. The other cars in Venezuela are called alligators, even with open mouths.
14:49.
I do not think the reviewer was referring to where the car was made, but where it "lives." Having visited Canada many times, I definitely understand that Canadian winters, while wonderfully scenic and fantastic for winter sports, are very rough on cars.
This review reminded me of a story - I used to find cars for friends of mine who needed something cheap, and I found this one guy a 1979 Caprice Wagon. Well, it cost only $250, but looked like something in a junkyard - very dirty, but all there.
Anyway, he took it home and broke the ignition somehow so he couldn't shut it off, and it being about 8:00 PM and no repair shops open he just let it idle all night till eight AM the next morning! He said it used no more than 3/8ths tank of gas, and was idling just fine when he jumped in it and took it to get the ignition fixed. The fellow drover it for a couple of years after that, too.
I don't know if that one had the 350, the 305, or the 307, but the junkyard man said it was a 305.
There are at least a half dozen ways to turn an engine off without having to use the ignition switch. Apparently the guy in the above comment knew none of them.
Correct - my friend knew absolutely nothing about the mechanicals of automobiles. And the great thing about even a $250 Chevrolet Caprice was - he had no need to! Wonderful, wonderful cars.
Your friend was extremely lucky. Most people who know "absolutely nothing about the mechanicals of automobiles" should be riding the bus, not buying $250 cars, unless they have 24 hour access to a mechanic who will fix them for free.
No need for luck if you drive a Caprice. But the thing about $250 cars is they are, after all, disposable.
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