A Sad Situation

[Falcon Ranchero]

I've mentioned before about a 1983 Cadillac on a mechanic's lot that's been sitting there for a while. Having found photos of when it first showed up in 2022 and comparing it to a photo I took of it this past summer I just became sad again. Back in 2022 I was really hyped about the car because I was at the age where a set of cool wheels were in order so I kept tryina convince my dad on it. He was talking to the mechanic and he said it needed a gas tank before the owner would sell it. It was owned by some old guy who died, and his son wanted to get rid of it so he brought it there to get a tank but from my understanding never wanted to spend the $700 for a new one. Adding in some sibling dispute about the car, it still sits here, now with grass all around it and obviously still no gas tank. The guy basically dumped the car and the problems associated with it at the mechanic's, making it his problem, even though it really shouldn't be. Plus it's a crime since the car was a garage kept Florida car for over 20 years.

I mean really why should I care as I have a pretty nice car now but this still gets me down when I see it.

[Zen]

Yeah, that's too bad because it will only get in worse condition just sitting there in the elements. See if you can find a tank for it and buy it from the mechanic.

[iamsuperdan]

Not sure how it works down there, but around here, the shop could have put a garage lien on the car, then after a certain time period (I think one year) the car becomes property of the lienholder, who can then do whatever he wants with it. Drive it, scrap it, sell it, whatever.

 

 

[sfhess]

4 hours ago, Zen said:

Yeah, that's too bad because it will only get in worse condition just sitting there in the elements. See if you can find a tank for it and buy it from the mechanic.

Then try to find the plastic bumper fillers.  I know they make them for the pre-downsize Cadillacs.
A lot of these cars were not built very well and were underpowered.  They had a lot of vacuum hoses and valves to help control emissions. 

In some areas the DMV paperwork and expense to put a car that has not been registered for a few years can be an expensive nightmare.  I would like to talk to a guy who lives around the corner from me about the Prelude that has been sitting in his yard for several years, then the thought of standing in line then shelling out a lot of cash at DMV makes me pause.

[peteski]

Looks like it has the (in)famous HT4100 (4.1l V8) engine.  Same as my '85 Eldorado. Hopefully by 1985 many of the original issues with that engine have been resolved.

[johnyrotten]

The mechanics lien option, if it applies, is a route you might want to look into if you want that car. You seem to have a good relationship with the owner of the shop,you could pick that up cheap. Or even offer to barter labor for the car. You never know till you ask. I hate seeing old iron sit and waste away.

[bobss396]

I looked on Rock Auto for a gas tank, under $150. 

The bumper/fender fillers are definitely around.

[Falcon Ranchero]

7 hours ago, johnyrotten said:

The mechanics lien option, if it applies, is a route you might want to look into if you want that car. You seem to have a good relationship with the owner of the shop,you could pick that up cheap. Or even offer to barter labor for the car. You never know till you ask. I hate seeing old iron sit and waste away.

The thing is though, we really have no actual room for this car as of now. We have a small property in a tight neighborhood, plus with our LeMans there really isn’t a practical need for the Caddy, just the fact that I like the car and hate what’s happening to it. As long as someone can take it home and care for it I’d be very pleased. Plus I’m not actually sure the lien option is a thing at this shop, because even when I got the last photo of the car there, my dad had talked to the mechanic about it again and he said it’s still not up to him what happens to the car. So I really have no idea how long this situation is going to last. 

[johnyrotten]

9 minutes ago, Falcon Ranchero said:

The thing is though, we really have no actual room for this car as of now. We have a small property in a tight neighborhood, plus with our LeMans there really isn’t a practical need for the Caddy, just the fact that I like the car and hate what’s happening to it. As long as someone can take it home and care for it I’d be very pleased. Plus I’m not actually sure the lien option is a thing at this shop, because even when I got the last photo of the car there, my dad had talked to the mechanic about it again and he said it’s still not up to him what happens to the car. So I really have no idea how long this situation is going to last. 

That's an unfortunate truth with many "project" cars. Paperwork issues and storage ect. It's a bit sad seeing things rot away,I agree  with that. Most of my projects have come from other's attempts, even this hobby here the majority of my kits and supplies are second hand. I've got a little bit of a soft spot for the neglected and derelict.