You don’t hear the term “cream puff” used to describe cars much anymore, so maybe I’d better explain it for the benefit of our younger readers. A cream puff is a used car in particularly good shape, with particularly low miles, that has obviously led an easy life. They’re often nothing special, just well-preserved old cars–like these two. (It’s also a delicious dessert made of choux pastry.)
Yesterday, we looked at a couple of cheap projects in need of some (okay, lots of) assembly. In the nearly four years I’ve been doing this, I don’t think a single Saab has lost a Showdown, and we’re not going to break that streak today. The two-for-one Sonett deal won hands down. The Mazda RX-7 had its fans, but I think the fact that it was a former race car put a lot of you off.
I’m with you. Those two cars for $500 are a screaming deal, for exactly the right person. The trouble is finding that person. I’ve always been intrigued by the idea of making one good car out of two marginal ones. I’ve done it a dozen times with old RC cars, but never in full-scale, and I think it would be a fun project. Or a giant headache that I end up selling for less than I paid for it after several fruitless years of tinkering. It could go either way.
When I was growing up, Christmas meant baked goods, and lots of them. My grandmother was half Swiss and half Danish, and she baked up a storm every year, as did my mother. Between the two of them, we were all on a non-stop sugar rush from Thanksgiving until New Year’s. It’s amazing I stayed as thin as I did as a kid. I’ve tried, with varying degrees of success, to revive some of their recipes: my lemon-curd-filled cupcakes are really good, and my skruppers (Danish pastry made with lard and yeast, layered with cinnamon and sugar) are passable, but not yet quite right. But I have yet to attempt one of my mom’s masterpiece gingerbread houses. This year, we’re in the middle of moving, so I haven’t been able to bake anything at all. But I can still treat you all to a couple of cream puffs. Here they are.
1978 Chevrolet Caprice Classic – $6,500
Engine/drivetrain: 305 cubic inch OHV V8, three-speed automatic, RWD
Location: Mesquite, TX
Odometer reading: 39,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
General Motors was the first of the “Big Three” to introduce a drastically downsized version of its full-size cars in 1977. Ford and Chrysler advertised their 1977 models as being real full-size cars, but the joke was on them: the smaller big Chevy was a huge hit. As before, the Impala was the less-expensive model, and the Caprice, like this one, was the fancy version.
This ’78 Caprice is a one-owner car, with only 39,000 miles on it. It’s powered by a 305 cubic inch V8 with a two-barrel carb, and a Turbo-Hydramatic transmission, driving a rear axle with a super-tall gear ratio to improve fuel economy. Don’t expect miracles when you step on the gas. It is a nice, durable combo, though, and the seller says this one runs and drives fine.
It’s as clean inside as you would hope it would be with so few miles. The seller claims the seats are leather, but I’m sure they’re vinyl. I doubt you could even get leather seats in a ’78 Chevy, except maybe the Corvette. There are some strange scuffs on the passenger side of the front seat visible in one photo, and a weird stain on the floor in back, but the rest of it looks like new.
It looks good outside, though the paint could use a waxing. All four original hubcaps are there, as is all the trim. I thought there was a filler piece missing above the rear bumper, but after looking at photos of other Caprices, I think it’s just sticking out farther than it should. It might be due to the trailer hitch.
1979 Mazda 626 Coupe – $6,250
Engine/drivetrain: 2.0 liter OHC inline 4, five-speed manual, RWD
Location: Millbrae, CA
Odometer reading: 79,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
Now this is a car you don’t see often anymore: the first-generation Mazda 626. They were never a common sight on the road anyway, especially the coupe like this, and most of them were claimed by rust years ago. Last time I saw one in person was several years ago, in Portland, where you can still find one good example of any car, it seems.
This generation of 626 is rear-wheel-drive, with the same basic chassis layout as the first-generation RX-7. Instead of a rotary, the 626 is powered by a 2.0 liter four-cylinder, in this case backed by a five-speed manual. This one has fewer than 80,000 miles on it, and it runs and drives just fine. It just had a tune-up and a valve adjustment; now that’s something you don’t hear much these days, either.
The interior photos in the ad aren’t great, but they get the point across. It’s in beautiful shape, and it has cool houndstooth upholstery. It’s all original, and the radio works fine – but the air conditioning doesn’t. It kicks on, but it makes a funny noise instead of cool air.
Outside, it has been partially repainted, but the new paint doesn’t quite match. The original paint was faded to the point that you can tell what’s new and what’s old. But considering how few of these are left in rust-free condition, it’s a minor quibble. There’s also a dent in the rear bumper, but that’s trivial. It has cool alloy wheels that are more often associated with an RX-7, but I guess they were available on the 626 also.
These are both probably too old, and too nice, to use as everyday cars. And I’m not sure either one of them qualifies as a “classic” as such. But there is something to be said for ordinary cars that have survived decades virtually unscathed. The prices are probably more than you’d expect, but as I’ve said before, that’s just where the market is right now. Choose your favorite, enjoy your holiday, and I’ll see you back here on Friday!
Gotta be the Caprice. I need to keep it from being ruined and turned a donk.
Both are honest, durable cars. I went Chevy because I have wrenched a lot more on a 305. Admittedly, the Quadrajet with a 700R4 is a faster drive drivetrain than this one, but the same durability and repairable apply here.
For old times sake I have to choose the Caprice. I had an ’86 which is still the same car. 4.3 V6, 24 gallon fuel tank, 25 mpg. Solid as a vault and as reliable. I loved that car.
Had Mazda adopted the oscillating center vents yet, I know 80s 626s had them. Anyway, with or without, the Mazda is the easy choice for me. More interesting looking, manual transmission, better size.
Autopian should do a story on unique car ventilation features.
My aunt had a “downsize” Caprice with a 305, and one of my pre-teen memories is her ripping around in that thing because, bless her dear departed heart, she was totally shit-faced most of the time.
It was a stout car, my dad was impressed by the ride and handling. It also had a sweet interior that felt way better than dad’s Dodge and the neighbor’s Ford.
The Chevy is located in Mesquite, Texas, and has Mississippi plates. It clearly says “Impala” on the dashboard.
The seller (“name shagg”) has it listed as a “Chevy caprice”, but then states:
“This is a clean cleann 1 owner 1978 Impala, this Impala is clean inside out,runs and drive the interior is 10/10 clean leather interior floors and body is a1 no rust no rust..this is the one you want.”
It even comes with the original AM radio. That “leather” is about as authentic as the PU Leather found on imported Amazon stuff. I wonder what the date code on the tires might be…
There is a Mennonite church in the next county over from me. In the 80’s nearly every car in the parking lot was a white 4-door Impala. Apparently, everyone had to buy the most modest, plain-jane car possible, which was one of these. Talk about control and conformity!
This was not a good era for GM (or Ford, or Chrysler…).
The Mazda has the advantage of a 5-speed manual and RWD, and was put together much better than the Chevy. It has a cool stock steering wheel, too.
Clues from the pictures: the trunk has been repainted, and is missing the Mazda and 626 badges. There are two cars in the garage that are covered in tarps/blankets/stuff. The 8 plate is from just a few years ago, so it may not be an original California car, or it had to get replated after an accident that resulted in a salvage title… or it might just have been missing one of the plates. The seller has detailed it to within an inch of its life, and fixed a few issues. It could be a “flip”, so check the documents carefully.
Neither are really worth the prices that the sellers are asking. The Grampamobile is a definite no; the 626 would be a unique, enjoyable ride, so the Mazda it is.
Is the 626 perhaps the last car to use the GEN idiot warning light? There’s definitely not a generator charging the battery under the hood?
Did Mazda still use GEN label on all their vehicles around these model years?
I assumed all automakers had switched to either ALT or BAT as their charging idiot warning light label when generators had been phased out.
What a nice Christmas ???? day rabbit hole gift ????
I like Mazda and if I want big and floaty, I can drive my pickup, which does have leather seats.
Those wheels, that backlight glass, that upholstery… that Mazda is seriously nifty.
If the Impala was a wagon, maybe I would have picked it. But as they sit, Zoom Zoom. I bet the 626 is faster than that sad malaise-barge too. Or at least no slower. I’ll fix the Mazda’s A/C, at least it has it.
I’m with those that don’t believe the Chevy only has 39K on it (and that it’s an Impala, sez so right on the dash), old-foggeymobile or no. That had better be documented for this price for a near poverty-spec example.
You could definitely get leather in late 70’s Caprices (the fancier version of this car) – my aunt had a loaded wagon with electric everything and cowhide. I agree that this car is vinyl inside though.
I bet the Impala is faster. There was no Zoom Zooming in a 70s Mazda.
There sure is no zoom zooming in that base malaise-barge either. I drove 10yrs newer, fuel-injected versions of these from my college motor pool and even those accelerated like they were chained to a tree. At least the Mazda would be rather more fun.
At least in the Impala you can spin the rear tires! I drove one (78 Caprice 305) in high school. Classmate had a 455 powered Buick convertible. We left an event out in the country (end of year party at teacher’s house) and I left just before him. The next school day he asked me what kinda engine I had – a 454? Nope, a 305 2-bbl I replied. He looked a bit upset and then told me he couldn’t keep up with me as we headed back to town.
The late 80’s/early 90’s fuel-injected ones sure couldn’t, at least on dry pavement, and they have both a decent amount more ponies and a much better transmission with an extra gear. I don’t have much hope for this one.
The Impala looks like a cheap respray and at least the rear offside door is mismatching. Then what’s going on with the roof? Ex-vinyl roof car that has been stripped and contrast painted? The trim pieces where the roof covering normally ends are sloppily overpainted too. And the 39.000 miles are on a 5-digit odometer.
The Mazda looks much cleaner and better kept even with the slightly mismatching panels. at least the paint is shiny and the interior is really clean.
Kinda want both; and, having had fond memories of a small-block big-ass Chevy (albeit 14 years older) nostalgia almost forced my hand.
But I have fond memories of my better half’s five years newer GLC which was, as the name indicated, a Great Little Car. Yes, it was FWD, but Mazda knew what it was doing with conventional ICEs, and I bet that transmission is smooth as silk. So zoom-zoom it is.
The steering wheel of the Impala (That ain’t no Caprice – Look at the brochure and tell me what you see: https://www.lov2xlr8.no/brochures/chevy/78cap.html) reminds me of those in our 1970’s-era driver simulation machines – The ones where you sat in the darkened interior of a prefab building (We’d call them FEMA trailers now) in a row of driver’s seats watching a film of the vantage point of someone driving along a street filled with suicidal people opening their car doors into traffic, casually walking into traffic, or driving into traffic without a care or thought in the world.
Your reactions to the steering wheel, accellerator and brakes would record on a machine in back and you’d get your score at the end of the session.
I didn’t know it then, but it prepared me for the crack-addicted, phone-chewing Altima drivers of today’s world.
So I chose the 626.
at my school, we always called it the Stimulator.
+1 for the yellow car!
Easy choice. The Caprice would be fine for bombing around the countryside once in a while or for getting a bunch of friends out for dinner or a movie. That’s not as useful as a little grocery-getting runabout that would be fun enough that you’d never mind driving it. Mazda all the way.
I feel like they both may be fibbin a bit on the mileage, went with the Caprice as there’s a lot of common parts. The Mazda does not inspire the same confidence.
If only modern Mazda still made cars like this; RWD in both sedan and coupe form…oh wait, the kind of people who actually buy cars new think they need an SUV to survive an accident/winter driving conditions.
It’s okay, because we still have the Miata, Right?
…right?
You left out the Zombie Apocalypse and Nuclear Plant Meltdowns.
That’s why people “need” SUVs.
I thought it was because they are convinced they are going DIE if so much as an inch of snow falls?
Damn that is a spartan Impala. Most of my gradeschool friends mom’s had Parisiannes or Delta 88’s.
I want nothing to do with the caprice so 626. I bet it has an interesting story.
I had an ‘82 626 2-door 5-speed I bought a year old. Filled in until my promotion the next year when I got a Saab Turbo. Since our other car was a Toyota PU, it felt plenty sporty. 🙂 That Chevy was not bad for the malaise years, but gimme the Mazda. I’m in my 5th Mazda now.
Japanese stick shift 2-door that’s as clean as can be…or a ‘square’.
I think Mazda.
Actually the right term is “Box,” sorry.
Yellow, stick shift, RWD coupe? Zoom-zoom, baby!!!
My thoughts exactly. And a 110 mph speedo. Spent too much time in B-bodys and Panthers as a child. Give me something new.
I voted for the Mazda. It’s yellow and doesn’t have a tow hitch like the Caprice.
Neither for me today. The Mazda is close, having a manual transmission, but I just don’t remember these as being particularly interesting or engaging to drive compared to more sporting Mazda packages.
The Chevy is right out because, while it’s nice enough example of a memorably ubiquitous and rather bulletproof car, the interior/exterior color combo is just unflattering for it, and for the personal reason that the relatively low seat height and overly high dashboard position makes it awful to drive for a runt like me. The upholstery is soft and couch-like, and you sink in it if it’s the slightest bit worn.
Seriously — somebody put Torch behind the wheel of one of these things and let him speak his (overactive) mind on it — these Chevys need a “You must be this tall to drive” sign with a line stuck next to the 5’7″ mark. Shorter drivers have increasingly bad visibility over that long hood and the dashboard doing its best to imitate the tall glareshield of a small aircraft. Parking one of these feels like trying to parallel park an aircraft carrier while peering out of the little cupola next to the launch catapult unless you’re tall enough. No power seat means no sale for me.
Is this not also the early 305 that ate camshafts.
I always prefered Ford to GM seat height in this era car.
As the drivers of these aged, they compensated for that little difficulty by wearing a hat, often a plaid trilby.
After looking at the ad, the Mazda looks like there’s a lot of mismatched paint work.
At this asking price I would not go above $4,500-$5,000.
Decent paint jobs have become expensive as hell these days…