Which would you Choose?

[bobss396]

I like the Nova myself. For sure an HEI conversion to make it more reliable. How handy are you? This also comes into play. The only downside to the Nova would be if it had drum brakes up front. Discs are way more easier to work on and stop a ton better than drums. Junkyard parts through 1972 are the same, 1973 the suspension changed. Worst case, aftermarket kits are available. Radial tires are a must have.

[Ace-Garageguy]

1 hour ago, bobss396 said:

I like the Nova myself. For sure an HEI conversion to make it more reliable. How handy are you? This also comes into play. The only downside to the Nova would be if it had drum brakes up front. Discs are way more easier to work on and stop a ton better than drums. Junkyard parts through 1972 are the same, 1973 the suspension changed. Worst case, aftermarket kits are available. Radial tires are a must have.

All the above.

And a set of junkyard steel rims to keep your snow tires mounted on.

And a set of snow chains. There are situations where there is just no getting around without chains.

[Falcon Ranchero]

Thanks for all your opinons and knowledege, guys, I appreciate it. Still not sure entirely if I will even be able to make this choice; still waiting for a couple other factors to set in, but if anyone would like to check these cars out a little more, here are the links to the respective cars:

1988 Lincoln Town Car - Cars & Trucks - Sault Sainte Marie, Ontario | Facebook Marketplace | Facebook 

69 Chevy Nova - Cars & Trucks - Sault Sainte Marie, Ontario | Facebook Marketplace | Facebook

[Falcon Ranchero]

2 minutes ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

And a set of snow chains. There are situations where there is just no getting around without chains

Unfortunately, chains are; pretty sure they're illegal in our city because of little bits flying off and blowing tires. Bottom line nobody around here ever has chains on their wheels, or at least i've never seen them. Though I do know how they would add to the traction. If this winter is anything like last winter, there will be grass on Christmas, so not really worried about traction, but of course snow tires still are a must.

[webestang]

For me the Lincoln could be a good daily but I would not daily drive the Nova unless I put many upgrades into her. But that Lincoln does have a lot of miles and 80's electronics (dealing with the ECU in my 88 5.0 right now) like mentioned earlier. Good luck on which ever you chose or hold out for something more "winter" friendly. 

[Muncie]

Thank you for posting more details and pictures.

I'm still thinking out loud on that vinyl top on the Lincoln.  The photographs show a dark stain at the bottom of the top between the rear door and back window.  The more detailed pictures fail to show that area.  It might be something else but I'm thinking rust. It's one of the places rust starts under a vinyl top.  Rust starts and the vinyl has to be removed to replace the metal - big job, expensive...  Replacement metal would probably have to come from a donor car and it's a big possibility that any potential donor car would have the same problem (Most Lincolns that I can remember had vinyl tops)

Edited September 10, 2024 by Muncie

[bobss396]

Bad vinyl tops hide lots of ills. Especially the plush ones, they trap a lot of water in them and are slow to dry out. My sister had one on a '77 Impala that rotted the top of the windshield frame. 

Other benefits to the Nova, it has little power accessories that could potentially go bad. One plus may be AC in the hotter months, but most of them I had seen had no AC, just vents.

[NOBLNG]

Those vent windows on the Nova work beautifully for keeping you cool…as long as you’re moving at more than a crawl.?

[stavanzer]

1 hour ago, NOBLNG said:

Those vent windows on the Nova work beautifully for keeping you cool…as long as you’re moving at more than a crawl.?

Called 4/40 Air when I was a Kid.

(4 Windows Open, 40 miles an hour)

[bobss396]

20 hours ago, stavanzer said:

Called 4/40 Air when I was a Kid.

(4 Windows Open, 40 miles an hour)

2 of my old cars have them, they really move air through the car. Vent windows were hassled out of existence by insurance companies. They were convenient for breaking into cars.

[NOBLNG]

1 hour ago, bobss396 said:

2 of my old cars have them, they really move air through the car. Vent windows were hassled out of existence by insurance companies. They were convenient for breaking into cars.

Plus, the car companies could charge extra for air conditioning.?

[Falcon Ranchero]

So the Lincoln’s ad is no longer a thing, which means it sold so is no longer an option. Just as well because I liked the Nova better anyway. Funny thing, I had a hunch of where it lived based on sightings of it in past years (yes, I was aware of the Nova’s existence before the sale ad) and so we went looking for it and sure enough it was out on the front of a driveway. No one was home, but looking at it, there are some rusty spots and bubbles just around the wheel wells that weren’t visible in those photos. Most notably, there’s a pretty rough spot on the back driver’s side wheel well; may not be surface rust. I still like the thing, but $6,800 seems a little steep now that I seen these imperfections. There was a 66 Galaxie earlier in the year that had no such imperfections and was $6,500, but sold before I could even wrap my head around it. At least $5000 is the Nova’s worth.

[espo]

16 minutes ago, Falcon Ranchero said:

So the Lincoln’s ad is no longer a thing, which means it sold so is no longer an option. Just as well because I liked the Nova better anyway. Funny thing, I had a hunch of where it lived based on sightings of it in past years (yes, I was aware of the Nova’s existence before the sale ad) and so we went looking for it and sure enough it was out on the front of a driveway. No one was home, but looking at it, there are some rusty spots and bubbles just around the wheel wells that weren’t visible in those photos. Most notably, there’s a pretty rough spot on the back driver’s side wheel well; may not be surface rust. I still like the thing, but $6,800 seems a little steep now that I seen these imperfections. There was a 66 Galaxie earlier in the year that had no such imperfections and was $6,500, but sold before I could even wrap my head around it. At least $5000 is the Nova’s worth.

Being as the body structure is a major component of the frame you may want to get down on the ground and see what the floors and the mounting points of the suspension look like in regard to rust. Rust in cars is sort of like Icebergs. You only see the top third of the Iceberg and not the part that is under water. 

[JollySipper]

Nathan, man! I believe what I might would do would be try to find some kind of smaller, economical little front-wheel drive car....... Something like a Corolla or Altima. Just a little get-around, for now anyway! You could always save your monies for a classic to purchase in the future...........

[deuces wild]

One more vote for the Nova....??

[Ace-Garageguy]

2 hours ago, JollySipper said:

Nathan, man! I believe what I might would do would be try to find some kind of smaller, economical little front-wheel drive car....... Something like a Corolla or Altima. Just a little get-around, for now anyway! You could always save your monies for a classic to purchase in the future...........

Man's got a definite point.

I just bought a semi-creampuff rust-free (but high mileage) 1996 S10 Blazer with leather interior and power everything for $2500. No, it's not a gas-sipper or FWD, but it will always be worth as much as I paid for it, and it gets great mileage compared to my '99 GMC longbed pickup.

AC doesn't work (works fine, except there's a freon leak) but the heater will melt the soles of your sneakers.

I haven't had a vehicle with a decent heater since somewhere around 2018 (when my '92 Silverado dropped a valve), so this is a real treat.  

Edited September 13, 2024 by Ace-Garageguy
CLARITY and ACCURACY

[Sledsel]

I have owned a Lincoln like that. Loved it, drove great, dependable, easy to work on, comfy, heat would burn you out, AC would freeze you. Sold it to get a truck and regretted it. I looked to get another but ended up with a great deal on an '87 Grand Marquis. Love that one too.

[bobss396]

21 hours ago, NOBLNG said:

Plus, the car companies could charge extra for air conditioning.?

Always. Even Cadillacs sometimes came without AC. I saw some of those, big Buicks as well. Dealers often installed them, they were good money makers for them.

[Falcon Ranchero]

19 hours ago, JollySipper said:

try to find some kind of smaller, economical little front-wheel drive car....

That may be the reality; but all summer long I was searchin' for classics every single day, checking Kijiji (our Canadian selling website) as well as Marketplace and the cars you see go for sale are crazy; some real nice notable cars worth a look and the money; great deals, but 90% of those cars were too far away for us right now. In terms of getting a modern vehicle, my dad is going to sell me his truck because he'd like to get a newer one, so I'll have a modern vehicle eventually. I guess my heart was dead set on having a classic car; kinda influenced by things and people around me, like my friend's brother who's younger than us, bought a 1969 Newport; big green four door for $4000 and he only has a beginner's lisence. But I'll see what happens...

[Falcon Ranchero]

Winter driving has drifted off of the list now, so no worries about the Nova rusting further.

[von Zipper]

I had this '86 Lincoln Town Car for 4 years , 5.0 fuel injected automatic with overdrive it would get 24 mpg . It was one of the best cars ive ever owned