Project Laguna's Replacement

by Mcarlo77 Fri Jun 01, 2012 6:10 pm

Well, here it is...saved from being sold as a Demo Derby car! This car spent most of it's life in the Phoenix area and, as such, is much more suited to my abilities for restoring. Swivel bucket interior is messy as previous owner tried to repaint all the trims, seat backs, dash, etc. Fortunately, I have an excellent set of black trims and panels to install in it. At least on this car, I won't have to bother with replacing/repairing virtually every body panel like on the '76. Now, work begins parting out the '76 so I can get it outta here to make room for this one. If anyone needs anything, let me know.

Hey, Wally (Walluph)...you know where this car came from!

Project Laguna's Replacement 1975la12

by 77mali Fri Jun 01, 2012 6:37 pm

Awesome score Steve. Love the color!

by ant7377 Fri Jun 01, 2012 7:22 pm

I cant believe someone would Demo that ! WHy dont they use whoa nelly cars like Camrys and Altima's?

by 1973 454 MONTE Fri Jun 01, 2012 8:53 pm

Good score.congrats

by Biomedtech Fri Jun 01, 2012 9:57 pm

ant7377 wrote:WHy dont they use whoa nelly cars like Camrys and Altima's?

Hehe, they have a whole separate class for those POS' up here!

by Mcarlo77 Sat Jun 02, 2012 9:47 am

ant7377 wrote:I cant believe someone would Demo that ! WHy dont they use whoa nelly cars like Camrys and Altima's?

Couldn't agree more. Thing is, Derby guys want large, solidly built cars.

This Laguna had been sitting for sale at one of the area yards since last Fall. I expressed an interest when it came in, but couldn't decide what to do with the '76 Project. About two weeks ago, he asked if I wanted anything off of it as he was wanting to get his cash out of it...and, since nobody was stepping up to the plate to buy it, he'd be selling it as a Demo Derby car. For these guys, it's all about turning a profit...whatever it takes. He would have pulled the nose, bucket seats, console, wheels and maybe some other misc stuff and sold them separately. Then, as I understand it, they would still get anywhere from $800-$1000 for these cars from the Derby guys. Well, I just couldn't let that happen...now could I?

by DiscoMalibu Sat Jun 02, 2012 4:17 pm

Beautiful ride, good save! That's crazy, it's ashame that these guys would want to completely destroy such a nice piece of automotive history. No respect for the past Mad

Reminds me of a friend that scored a white '75 Cutlass Salon for a demo at Lebanon valley. I offered him way more than the $100 he bought it for but wouldn't give it up. Still haunts me Sad

by Wallyuph Sun Jun 03, 2012 11:28 am

Steve I was so temped to take a in person look at it but just don't have a place for it. I get nervous every time it storms as I only have room in my shop for one car. So either my 56 Chevy or my 73 Malibu sits in a Cover-it tent shelter. So far every thing has been ok but you never know.

Congrats on the car It definitely looks in better shape than the one you have. I’d love to see it some time now that it’s in good hands.

by jrb75 Mon Jun 04, 2012 9:41 am

Reminds me of the one I had when I was in TN

by FormulaZR Mon Jun 04, 2012 2:14 pm

I hate you. I would love to have that!!! Still can't find anything that isn't either a rust bucket or priced like a Hemi Cuda....

....but congrats!

by Mcarlo77 Mon Jun 04, 2012 7:18 pm

"rust bucket"...you mean like this casualty of MN road salt?!! The '76 Laguna isn't this bad of course...but, it still suffers substantial rust-thru on almost every body panel; not to mention the underside and frame. Son-in-law drove it up to their local convenience store last night and sent me a pic. Tugs at me having to make the decision to part it out.

Project Laguna's Replacement 77mont13

by 77mali Mon Jun 04, 2012 7:39 pm

by FormulaZR Mon Jun 04, 2012 7:46 pm

My company is based out of Avon, Mn (just outside of St. Cloud). I am familiar with the Mn cars....

by jerry46765 Mon Jun 04, 2012 9:26 pm

FormulaZR wrote:I hate you. I would love to have that!!! Still can't find anything that isn't either a rust bucket or priced like a Hemi Cuda....

You can't be serious.
The gang on this site posts tons of great deals from Craigs list and Ebay.

The 73-77 has limited popularity and they made hundreds of thousands of them so they are no where near the price of early 70s muscle cars.

And nice cars are everywhere, even in Minnesota.
Two years ago I found a really nice 80k mile '67 Camaro convertible in Appleton, WI so it can be done.

Thanks -

by jerry46765 Mon Jun 04, 2012 9:28 pm

BTW, that is a nice looking Laguna.
Proof positive that they are still out there.

by Mcarlo77 Mon Jun 04, 2012 10:43 pm

Thanks for the compliments, guys. I'll try to do it justice once I get it home.

Despite the hundreds of thousands of these '73-'77 cars sold, they are few and far between up here in MN. I'd venture to say the majority of those still around are from out of state and a small minority are those that, for one reason or another, were parked in a garage/barn and used very sparingly for the past 25-30 yrs. (a.k.a. my '77 Monte).

Jerry...pretty cool find with that '67 Camaro over in Wisconsin! Truly one of my all-time favorites! Those guys over there are just as passionate about their classic cars as we are in MN...but, they have as bad (if not worse) problem with rust as we do. Think that's what makes us all the more passionate about our classic car hobby since it's such an anomaly for us to own something that isn't slowly rotting away like our daily drivers. Wonder if that Camaro was originally a southern car?

by pila Mon Jun 04, 2012 10:56 pm

Rust is sure the enemy alright. Michigan cars too. My Malibu came from Georgia, luckily !
So at least I had something to work with......and it's never been out in winter Very Happy

by FormulaZR Tue Jun 05, 2012 10:43 am

jerry46765 wrote:
FormulaZR wrote:I hate you. I would love to have that!!! Still can't find anything that isn't either a rust bucket or priced like a Hemi Cuda....

You can't be serious.
The gang on this site posts tons of great deals from Craigs list and Ebay.

The 73-77 has limited popularity and they made hundreds of thousands of them so they are no where near the price of early 70s muscle cars.

And nice cars are everywhere, even in Minnesota.
Two years ago I found a really nice 80k mile '67 Camaro convertible in Appleton, WI so it can be done.

Thanks -

I'm specifically looking for a 76 Laguna. They aren't as easy to find as you make it seem...

I will admit, I probably should have bid more on the white Laguna in Indiana recently...but the auction ended too quick for me to look at it prior to placing a bid - so I will take all the blame on that one...

by 77mali Wed Jun 06, 2012 6:35 am

To not Hi-jack this thread....
http://www.g3gm.com/t5642-76-laguna-s-3#49005

by 77mali Wed Aug 15, 2012 8:22 pm

Steve- any new pics? You drivin' that thing yet?
Very Happy

by Mcarlo77 Wed Aug 15, 2012 9:14 pm

Not much new to report on the project. It does run and we've taken it out onto the local streets for quick test drives, but it runs rough. Haven't spent any time determining if it's the carb, old fuel or what. Didn't want to fill the tank as next on the list is to drop it, flush it out and probably install a new sending unit while I'm at it. Then, do a brake job on it. Been detailing some things under the hood and installed some nicer tail lights and replacement tail light wiring harness. Hard to find the time as the car is sitting at my daughter/son-in-law's house some 25 miles away. Did get my restored Rallys on the car; along with the tires from the scrapped '76 that were only a couple years old. They're not big enough for my liking, but they'll do for now.

by 1973 454 MONTE Wed Aug 15, 2012 9:26 pm

So where are SE pics? You know we like pics

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