If I had could justify it, I would easily buy this. Check out that interior (bright green) http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/cto/927347777.html
And if they ever do a revival show of "Cannon" from the 70's. You would have the car they would need. Just a different color.
I am not crazy about green,but that one is nice! Looks like the car on "Uncle Buck" . Those big Mercs were great cars.
That car had alot of interesting features. In 78 you could get it with 4 wheel disc brakes, and it also had a power brake unit that used hydraulic pressure instead of vacuum. It had a special saginaw power steering pump with 4 hose connections instead of 2. Two were for the steering, and the other two were for the brake booster. At the time, only diesel vehicles used such a system. GM used them later in the Astro vans, and the aftermarket has the hydroboost system now. Works great if you are running a big cam that won't make enough vacuum for a regular power brake unit. The only thing bad about that car is the 460 engine, which got you where you were going, but ate fuel like there was no tomorrow. I have never seen one that got better than 15 mpg, and the 460 trucks were lucky to get 10mpg. Fuel mileage just killed the full sized Fords in the late 70's.
The brake system is called Hydro-boost. I have an original '76 Eldorado convertible with 1,642 miles on it and it has the same brake system. It does run off of the power steering pump. The system was used on Chevy 1 ton trucks back to like 1973 or thereabouts. The front drive Riviera had the system,also. I had a 1983 XX Riviera Indy Pace Car a few years ago that had that setup. I think the '84 Riv ragtop I have right now has it,also. Ford used it during the mid-late 70's on many of their big cars. I think even the newer Mustangs use this setup. It's almost like the system used by Ford on the old 60's Lincolns. Hydraulic powered windshield wipers,but run from a pump mounted at the crankshaft. Leave it to Ford.
Junkman, I had a 71 Eldorado convertible once. I don't remember if it had that type of brake booster on it. It was dark metallic green with a white leather interior and white top. I bought it from a retired professional bowler, and after some "delinquents" stole the original hood ornament, he replaced it with a chrome bowler from one of his trophy's. It looked like the bowler was rolling the ball toward the windshield. I was tempted to find some small plastic bowling pins and attach them at the back of the hood.:laugh: The car was from Minnesota, and lower half of the body was held together with a combination of screen wire and bondo. It was nice to look at from about 50 feet away! Later, Randy
Sweet deal, you can't buy anything up here that's not a bucket of rust for under a grand, the mudboggers would love to yank the 460 for there 4BYS....
Racenu, you may not see much really nice for under a grand, but man I see a lot of cheap cars on Craigslist in Seattle and other Northwest cities! If the car above was in Atlanta, they'd be asking 6 grand for it! And it would have rust.... it's a steal for a 2 door! My God, if someone doesn't want to keep it, just flip it on ebay! Might get 2 K might get a lot more if it's reall that nice. I'd buy it if I had the money...
All they really needed was a decent exhaust system. I once owned a 73 T Bird with a 460, whuich got about what you said for mileage. As soon as that strangulation single exhaust started rusting out, it went straight to the muffler shop for a low restriction full dual exhaust. My gas mileage immediately went to 14-15 city, and as much as 19 highway. Unfortunately, the low restriction system also woke up that 460 so much that my right foot grew about 50 pounds.:laugh: It was a tough balancing act. As for that Merc...............hmmmm, just might have to make a call tomorrow.
Now that's a GREEN interior.Nice car,i wouldnt kick it out of the garage for sucking too much gas!uzzled:
