Survivor-Quality Landau: 1977 Chevrolet Caprice
UPDATE 2/27/24
The seller texted me and indicated that the correct mileage on the car really is close to 13,000 miles and has not turned over. That would explain the overall condition of the vehicle. The listing has been refreshed and the price changed to $20,000 OBO.
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General Motors put all of its full-size cars on a diet in 1977 to be more fuel-efficient. As a result, the Chevy Caprice was shorter and lighter but had comparable space inside for people and their things. This ’77 Landau with the interesting three-sided rear window looks like a well-maintained survivor that may need nothing more than a new home. Located in Berkeley, California, this bronze-on-red beauty is available here on eBay where $15,500 is the magic number.
By 1976, Chevrolet’s full-size cars had become somewhat ungainly in their overall size. After the OPEC oil embargo of 1973 sent buyers scrambling to cars that sipped less gasoline, General Motors acted. The Impala/Caprice had its wheelbase reduced to that of the previously smaller Chevelle, and hundreds of pounds of weight were shaved as the rest of the car was “right-sized.” The lighter Chevies could get by with smaller engines, so a 305 cubic inch V8 became standard on the upper-end Caprice. The 350 was optional and was the engine the seller’s car was built with.
True hardtops were long gone, so both the two and four-door models of the Caprice had framed doors. The 1977 Caprice Landau coupe had a semi-fastback look, with a unique rear window that had sharp corners where it would otherwise have been a wraparound. The Landau came with a half-vinyl roof. Though the seller’s car has 137,000 miles, it presents as an auto with a lot less use, perhaps a tribute to the seller’s or a previous owner’s diligent care.
The seller tells us this Caprice is in “highly original condition.” And it’s well-equipped with things like factory air conditioning, tilt steering, and a rear defroster, which we assume all work as they should. The carpeting (with the seats removed) and weatherstripping (around the doors?) have recently been replaced and the Chevy comes with not one but two build sheets. To help you decide if this car is for you, there are two walkaround videos for your perusal. Video 1. Video 2.
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Comments
Beautiful, nicely optioned Chevy, it’s hard to believe it has such high mileage and still looks so good. I’d expect the velour driver’s seat and the steering wheel to show a lot of wear. I wish I could buy it.
This appears to be a pretty nice car. I had a ’77 red-on-red Impala back in the day & loved it. This would make a great daily driver.
Sold Chevs for a short time – very short time, when these cam out. I had a two door in two tone blue and silver as a demo until a sold it a week after I got it. I really like that thing – as a big car. The 305 was a bit anemic – sign of the times. But I was amazed how laser straight the metal was and it was much quieter than anything else we had on the lot. I then started selling the heck out of those things to the point where the boss wanted me to push people to Monte Carlos and some other junk on the lot, like some leftover 76 Novas .. Thus endeth my auto selling career.
My girlfriend’s parents had a 1977 Impala ( red on red 4-door). This was in CA but they bought it brand new in Philadelphia before they moved out. That car had a 305ci engine with a 1- barrel carburetor – straight from the factory! I couldn’t believe it when her dad told me. Then, he showed me. Sure enough, that 1977 Chevy Impala with the 305 – had a one barrel carburetor! The gas needle on that car BARELY MOVED and had very good “ pickup and go “. I was impressed. That was a great car – I’m sure this one is too. Good luck – price doesn’t seem too far off from a deal for someone!
The 70’s Chevrolet 305’s came with a Rochester 2GC carb. The large round opening on the top of the 2GC may have looked like a one barrel, but they actually are a two barrel carb.
https://nationalcarburetors.com/NEW-Chevrolet-1977-305-Rochester-2GC_p_971.html
I always loved the look of the 70’s big two door Chevy’s with that bent back window. A friend of mine had one for a demo when they first came out.
My dad had one just like it bought it brand new when he traded it in in 10 yrs later over 3000 thousand miles
Another one back for another try. I drive an 87 daily with 260k on it. My car looks almost as nice and everything functions as it should. I have maintained it since I bought it in 1999 with 80k on it. Now to think these cars are worth this kind of money is foolhardy. They are nice. The insides wear like iron if cared for as do the drivelines. If live where the tin eater doesn’t hang out even better. To be fair my car is a 35 to 45 hundred dollar car if I decided to let it go. This unit being a two door and nice should be in the 6 to 75 hundred range. Keep in mind this unit could have a metric two hundred in it and not a 700r plus what about the front end 137k likely will show ride wear as joints and steering stuff age. Many so so cars are priced ridiculously, by so so I mean not big money investments, “which 90% of the car world is now” so overpriced malaise era units, old four doors and rusted wore out things are just not huge money or desirable vehicles. Not everything old is a goldmine.
Funny how a lot of people who badmouth 4-door classics probably drive something with at least that many doors now.
I agree. However so many people get nostalagic & pay these outlandish sums for a car when new was half that price or less. I wasnt crazy about them. I enjoyed driving its predecessors 76, 75, 74 & 73 Caprices.
Great riding cars inspite of the fuel prices & consumption.
I’m impressed. Back in the seventies I overlooked these cars and thought if it wasn’t a GP or a Cutlass, then it didn’t rate?
I have changed my view. I think this is a good car with lots of miles yet to be driven.
This is a good example of actually miles compared to some that are questionable?
It could easily pass go as 37,000 miles, except this one is honestly listed.
I don’t think this seller will have any problem selling this vehicle at the asking price.
Good find.
Just my oponion!
Still too big for us, but looks like a great find. The BIN is still affordable, if a little rich.
I had ablack on black one special ordered with a 350 police engine and a brushed stainless ateel top. Wish i never sold it.
!?! what ?
Wow, you gotta post a picture of that, please
Chevrolet with its market share was rewarded with unique styling and this may be the best example. It’s easy to compare it to the Caprice/Impala Custom roof and rear window. Those cars required special trunk lid tooling but sold like hotcakes. Compared to the 4-door that all looked like cookie cutter cars. Love the Landau and firethorn paint on its last year.
it will need a motor rebuild
taxi !!!!!
I had an 85 Caprice coupe with the 305 4bbl. A delightful car, Very smooth driver. This one looks like the driver side fender and door paints don’t match. Could be the lighting.
Ya, just like a 96 Impala SS and a Crown Vic..
NO, they are not taxis
They were cars that were used as taxis.
This isnt just a 2 door fast back, as our dear RD apparently isnt aware, its a rarer specimen. Intended for a very important job on the superspeed ways. I provided proof and pics for JO’D and others in the past, the last time an even nicer 77 Caprice was featured on BFs.
This is the predessesor to the Monty SS Aero Coupe, also a purpose intended specimen.. if were gonna review and share factoids on classic cars, lets not overlook one of the most fundemental aspects of such a specimen.
For those in the know it gets a lil frustrating to read most of these comments, especially the write up.
Regardless of its race car pedigree, its fully loaded, in beautiful condition, a 350 and a great color.
Sure it doesnt have cool racing stripes or a bird on the hood, but its got all the makings of a quintessential American muscle car; plus power windows ! :)
I had the same car, but a 79, it was tight, quite, smooth, comfortable and had plenty of get up n go; it could easily spin the tire ;)
I owned a 78 & a 79 Caprice Classic Landau 78 had all the bells & whistles except for the Moon roof. the 79 had the Moon roof. Both were the same color as this car “Fire mist metallic” I believe & they had the red Landau top. I worked at the Chevy plant in St. Louis & both were company cars. If ya got a company car it had 3K miles in it or up to 7500K We got really good discounts back in the day. They rood like Baby buggies. I followed my job to Bowling Green, Ky to work at the Corvette plant. For a year I made that 340 mile trip hauling two to 3 guys back & forth. I never got tired from that drive due to that car rode so well. If this car was in the mid west I’d buy it.
Check the market, $4k will get you a 15 year old Camry, with alot of miles. $15k for a fun car is the new $7500. That may change soon than later.
V12, are your comparing a foreign evasive species tin sh@t box to an American, 2 door, near bullit proof car ??
Pardon me if i miss understand you,
but a camery is no way worthy a comparison.
I could host a Ted Talk as to what happened to the American economy as a direct result of so called ‘mericans who lack basic character and spent their money at walmart and buying cheap, foreign, knock offs of our quality American made products.
For us stalwart Americans, this Caprice holds a torch in a coming dark age for this once great nation.
Toyota is NOT American, and it being made here is insult to injury. Its made here to same THEM money, by-pass our tariffs and further fool the fools that need to feel better about their sell out purchase and let them think for some wildly twisted reason its ok to put a US flag sticker on their sh@t box of shame .
Ahhh,.. thank you Barn Finds, ive been needing a platform to get that off my chest.
Yes folks, its not ‘the government’ , its not the corperation, its YOU . We the people, the consumer builds or destroys based on what we buy. Ok ya, if one has no love or loyalty to this Nation, this doesnt apply to them. But if you say or feel love or loyalty to our Nation.. HEY YOU
put your $ where your mouth is ;)
Why Fords and Chevrolets (RAM is a foreign company now, Dodge is dead) dont have flag stickers typically ?, because a Ford doesnt need a sticker, it IS American.
This one you probably could get for less than ask, cause of the miles, caly price.
We had one exactly same colour car, with all the possible options that GM put in them. We got it from the wife of a lawyer that was getting a new car. It was in immaculate condition, low mileage. Our interior was beige though. Ours had a 350 V8 engine in it. We are from Northeastern Ontario Canada. We sold it for a simpler car, a 2 door 1977 Chevelle Malibu Classic. The people that purchased it from us lived 8 hours in Western Ontario. We never saw it again!
At 15k. They may need to sleep before they dream,.,
I don’t know if they’ll get that price either, it isn’t much cheaper than it was less than a month ago.
https://barnfinds.com/37k-miles-1977-chevrolet-caprice-landau-coupe/