Quote:
Originally Posted by mcduffieja
I found the owner on FB. He owns a service that rents out several gorgeous restored crowns and other classic vehicles for weddings and events. It's called Low Country Valet, in Charleston SC. He's also got several Crowns for sale. I'm hoping to meet up with him soon to take a look at his inventory.  |
There you all go. My work here is done. See how that works.
Obviously a very nicely restored and maintained Crown still very much in Commercial Service. I've heard of this company before and I believe I've seen their website, but of course I can't find it now. There is no reason Crowns can't still be in commercial operations once escaping Kalifornia, it's the damn smog tyrants here that are trying to kill them all. I've invited many commercial operators to come in and buy, and save, Crowns for years now, and the smart ones have been doing that.
You can bet every one of your last dollars he's going to want a very premium price for any Crowns he's willing to sell. If he's put the amounts of money into restoring them to anything like a Limousine Service quality level you can expect he'll be asking over $20K at least, at the very least. The proper professional paint job could easily cost $7K+, and that looks like a proper paint job. Simple but using good materials. Any further mechanical work is also going to run the price up a whole lot more. And it's worth every single penny.
The exhaust pipe size looks to be a turbocharged engine for sure, can't tell without seeing if the pan is hanging down, (the Detroit 6-71), or not, (the Cummins). It's like looking to see whats in it's pants to tell what sex it is.
Certainly a post 1970's with that dash, and probably much newer than that. It's extremely difficult to tell the year of any Crown due to the total sameness in their design and build. They didn't change much except in little ways or due to custom modifications since the 1950's era. There isn't any appreciable difference in any significant way between a well maintained 1958 or a later 1980's Crown. As long as they are taken care of they will last forever.
Definitely been well restored and kept in very good and clean condition. Much to be expected for that type of business.
I'd be interested in what you find out, either here or PM me. I hold to the belief that Crowns will become investment vehicles for the right units and some folks are already starting to think the same way.
For all of you on the East Coast I have to keep reminding myself that most have never seen a Crown in person, or even in passing, like this one was on the road, much less been able to lay hands on one. So it would seem like some kind of phantom vehicle leaving one with the impression that they just saw something of significance, but never really quite sure of just what it was.
Take heart though, as time goes on more and more Crowns are finding their way East and ending up in private hands and being driven around so others can witness the magnificence that is a Crown, especially on the Road. Especially for the guy behind the wheel of that incredible drivers bus. Envy that guy.
Cheers to all and enjoy your Crown Spotting.
I have tried to get my son to paint his like that but he said NO!
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