Full-size drop-top cool!

Especially on nice spring or summer days we all sometimes think how nice it would be to have a nice, fast, comfortable convertible. If your over about 5'9" this pretty much eliminates old MGs and Triumphs, and even newer stuff like Mazda Miatas or Honda S2000s. And Musclecars? A well-maintained or restored GTO, 442, Mustang/Cougar, Camaro/Firebird, or Cuda/Challenger ragtop can be priced in the stratosphere. Ditto for base models-i.e.- non-SS Chevelle ragtops, Tempest/LeMans, Cutlass, Satellites,and Coronets can all be priced exorbitantly. However, the "Big Three"- GM, Ford and Chrysler, all produced a lot of "Big" cars with drop-tops that can be bought for a fraction of what their "Muscle" brothers can. Impala convertibles can be nice drivers, but 99% of them have small-block motivation. Look for Pontiacs, Buicks, and Oldsmobiles from 1965-75. Bonneville, Catalina and Grand Ville convertibles in this era will all have 389,400,428 or 455 power under the hood. Olds 88 and 98 drop-tops will have 425 or 455 cubes under their long hoods. Buick LeSabres, and Electras will have 430 or 455 cubes for power. Since these cars were considered top of the line and were fairly expensive when new, they'll have a ton of luxury options like factory air, tilt wheel, power windows, cruise control etc, that make them exceptionally nice drivers now, just as they did when new. The same for Fords. Look for Galaxies, LTDs, and Mercury Marquis models. Most will have 390 cubes under the hood, except for 72 and later models which will have 429s or 460s! Mopar guys can look for Chrysler Imperials, Dodge Monacos, and Plymouth Furys. Most will have 383 or 440 power and "Rich Corinthian Leather."  These cars won't be cheap, depending on condition, you'll probably have to spend anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000 for a good one, but that's a helluva lot less than the $25-$100,000 that good traditional muscle car ragtops bring. Might be a nice way to enjoy spring fever!  Mastermind