Funny how the simplest of styling touches can make or break a car. General Motors offered their four door sedans in two different styles back in the 1970's; not sure why but they did. The better looking of the two was something they called a "hard top" that featured only "A" and "C" pillars giving a nice, clean, dare I say "sporty" look to the profile of the cars. Like on the Buick Electra we just looked at and this Delta 88 featured in a brochure for 1974 Oldsmobiles. Note the unseat belted kid. Hysterical. By the way, the "A pillar" is the front pillar that holds up the windshield while the "C pillar" is the large pillar or post holding up the back of the roof. Some people refer to the "C pillar" as the sail panel.
The term "hard top" was derived from cars that looked as though they were convertibles but had fixed roofs instead. The term is more apropos on two door cars than four door cars in my opinion but GM's 1971-1976 four door hard tops were some handsome automobiles. On the other hand there were the formal sedans that had a "B pillar" between the front and rear doors like this 1974 Oldsmobile Delta 88 "Town Sedan".
The term "hard top" was derived from cars that looked as though they were convertibles but had fixed roofs instead. The term is more apropos on two door cars than four door cars in my opinion but GM's 1971-1976 four door hard tops were some handsome automobiles. On the other hand there were the formal sedans that had a "B pillar" between the front and rear doors like this 1974 Oldsmobile Delta 88 "Town Sedan".
It's a subtle nuance but it makes a big difference. I have to imagine that if this poor old thing was a hard top it would sell much quicker and for perhaps more money. If you're wondering, it's for sale for just $2995 about 45 minutes south of down town Cleveland, Ohio. Price is fair for a forty one year old car in what appears to be mint condition. Just has to find a buyer. That's going to be tough.
My dad had a 1972 Cadillac DeVille hardtop that was absolutely a blast to drive with all the windows down. With no "B pillar", the wind would whisk through the car making it feel as though you were on a speed boat. You felt the wind all around you but it didn't bother you. Much. I loved that. With that big fat "B pillar" right there, with the windows down the wind gets buffeted and pounds passengers. Not fun.
The story behind these low mileage old cars in great shape is usually the same - grand dad's last brand new car he hardly used before something happened to him. Nice meaning family members storing the car for years either for sentimental reasons or a misguided belief that it would be worth something some day. Why couldn't Grand Dad had splurged on at least a coupe?
My Mom drove a red 1974 Town Sedan Royal looking just like this one, but red. Power everything and with enough knobs and buttons to get the kids in trouble and keep Dad busy looking replacing fuses. Was a blast to cruise down the highway, but really guzzled gas in the city. It had the Rocket 455 with decent HP and Torque as it was the last year without Catalytic Converters.
ReplyDeleteThe Hard tops and coupes looked much more sleek, but were less practical. You would not want to go through a car wash in one of the hard tops with the no-post doors.