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Best Big 3 Land Yacht

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  • Best Big 3 Land Yacht

    We all know about those massive wallowing barges of cars from the 50's to the late 70's that were ensconced in enough fake wood to make a Viagra commercial and enough chrome to bedeck Buckingham Palace. These were the bread and butter of the Big Three for the longest time. My question is this: what is your favorite one and why? All brands from the Big 3 are welcome even those lesser known ones such as Desoto.

    My personal favorite is a three-way tie between the 1972 Pontiac Bonneville, the 1964 Mercury Park Lane, and the 1956 Dodge Royal Lancer. All 4-doors!




    Jake Robinson Kaywell: Shoo-wops and doo-wops galore to the background of some fine Studes. I'm eager and ready to go!

    1962 GT Hawk - "Daisy-Mae" - she came dressed to kill in etherial green with a charming turquoise inside. I'm hopelessly in love!

  • #2
    Of these three choices, I would pick the 56 Dodge all day long.
    Joseph R. Zeiger

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    • #3
      Originally posted by 63t-cab View Post
      Of these three choices, I would pick the 56 Dodge all day long.
      Come on! I was asking for your OWN favorite land ship, not mine.
      Jake Robinson Kaywell: Shoo-wops and doo-wops galore to the background of some fine Studes. I'm eager and ready to go!

      1962 GT Hawk - "Daisy-Mae" - she came dressed to kill in etherial green with a charming turquoise inside. I'm hopelessly in love!

      Comment


      • #4
        57 Mercury Turn Pike Cruiser convertible.

        Comment


        • #5
          Lincoln Mark III
          Bez Auto Alchemy
          573-318-8948
          http://bezautoalchemy.com


          "Don't believe every internet quote" Abe Lincoln

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          • #6
            I'm with Bez.
            Don Wilson, Centralia, WA

            40 Champion 4 door*
            50 Champion 2 door*
            53 Commander K Auto*
            53 Commander K overdrive*
            55 President Speedster
            62 GT 4Speed*
            63 Avanti R1*
            64 Champ 1/2 ton

            * Formerly owned

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            • #7
              1962 Chevy Bel Air Buble Top, and if it was the 409 all the better. though I do like the looks of the 55,56 Dodge Royals.

              Originally posted by Stude Shoo-wop! View Post
              Come on! I was asking for your OWN favorite land ship, not mine.
              Joseph R. Zeiger

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              • #8
                !958 Lincoln four door. A definite land yacht. Our neighbor, who was the high school auto shop teacher, had one and let me drive it a few times. When you began to turn a corner the outside fender would raise up until the turn was completed. It certainly was comfortable car.

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                • #9
                  63-64 Buick Riviera
                  Skip Lackie

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                  • #10
                    For sheer opulence, a 1966 Cadillac Fleetwood, or Lincoln Continental, or Imperial of the same year when the Big Three luxury cars reached their postwar pinnacle.

                    For performance, a 1970-1/2 Plymouth Gran Coupe (2 door sedan).

                    Craig

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                    • #11
                      Buick Electra, hands down the most comfortable riding and always had enough engine under the hood to cruise with any of the other X cars.

                      Johnny

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                      • #12
                        Well...many of you who are familiar with my rantings over the years already know of my visceral hatred for just about anything GM. It is sorta like a nasty divorce, where one party feels horribly betrayed. My reaction was after buying two brand new 1983 Buicks. My rantings and certified letters not only had GM engineers & executives calling me, but correspondence from the well respected Paul Harvey after I chastised him for putting his reputation on the line for accepting them as a sponsor.

                        That said, my opinion is that all the top of the line interchangeable (Branding) GM sedans would get my vote. There were other makes with well made cars of the era, but the sheer number of GM sedans, dealerships, advertising, public acceptance, and aftermarket support, allowed them to make them in huge numbers, with enough profit to make them well. Add to the numbers, and the huge drop in value of the late model sedans in the "Used Car" market, even relatively poor families could ride in affordable luxury.

                        While Plymouth (Chrysler), Rambler, and even Studebaker, were beginning to use cheap vinyl, thin plastic, and even glued on decals, (Scotsman) GM was still using inside chrome & stainless interior window garnishing, and not putting plastic molding around instrument switches that would rub off in a couple of months. Ford had some great runs with their Merc & Lincoln brands, but the big stumble with the Edsel (not a bad car in my opinion) really hurt their image. I'm not saying that these cars (GM) were all that much greater than some others, but they overwhelmed the market with a popular selection that could be serviced, and repaired in just about any town by an average mechanic with a handful of tools.
                        John Clary
                        Greer, SC

                        SDC member since 1975

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                        • #13
                          In 1980 I bought (for a winter beater) a 1973 Chrysler Imperial LeBaron 4 door hard top in order to save my Indy Pace Car Trans Am from the ravages of a British Columbia winter. It was equipped with the rare TNT 440, triple black(Vinyl top, body and rich brocade interior complete with front and rear heat and air. Oh I forgot to state that it was the former limousine for IBM executives in Alberta for when they flew into the two main cities(Edmonton and Calgary) and their identification was still on the door. It just seemed so wrong that such a huge car could light the tires on the one/two shift.
                          I have had tons(literally) of beaters and this was definitely my favorite.
                          Bill

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                          • #14
                            My dad had a late 60's Olds 98 very similar the one below currently on Boston Craigslist. He bought it "used" from the local Oldsmobile dealer when it was traded in at about a year old (some wealthy old fart bought a new one every year, they must have liked to see him coming into the showroom). I'm sure he paid a pretty hefty price for the day. It was a monster and I remember the vanity on the back of the front seat, with a place for Kleenex and lights, woodgraining, etc., pretty fancy after riding in the back of a 1963 F-85 station wagon. Actually you get a lot of car for the money with the relatively low prices for these big luxury cars today.

                            Here's the listing: https://boston.craigslist.org/sob/ct...401850871.html
                            Dan Peterson
                            Montpelier, VT
                            1960 Lark V-8 Convertible
                            1960 Lark V-8 Convertible (parts car)

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                            • #15
                              What comes to mind is when we had two of this description of car as our everyday drivers (back in their era). They were a 1967 Imperial Crown Coupe and a 1968 Buick Riviera GS. We kept both of them for about eight to nine years. They were a tight fit in our outer garage which had interior dimensions of about 18' wide by about 19' deep.

                              I have owned several others, such as a 1959 Cadillac Fleetwood 60 Special.

                              In 1960, where I worked part time, the company car was a red with black leather 1959 Continental convertible. What made it especially nice was that I did not have to feed it.
                              Last edited by studegary; 01-08-2018, 12:40 PM. Reason: added not
                              Gary L.
                              Wappinger, NY

                              SDC member since 1968
                              Studebaker enthusiast much longer

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