[Chief Wanabee]

At first I was going to post something sarcastic, but I hope he gets it and establishes a new "high water" mark for these cars. It's taken almost 35 years for the Can Am to start to become valuable in the market.

[77 Canamman]

Rich Tucker's 4 speed Can Am sold for $30k in 2008. Worth every penny in my opinion. It is a gorgeous car. Pontiac should have offered the 4 speed, but still they were far ahead of everybody else in 1977.

[pete315]

I just can't understand why someone would buy a brand new Grand Am or Can Am and not order it with A/C. It blows my mind when I see these A bodies w/o A/C.

[erikgto]

Tell you; I'd probably buy one w.o. A/C.

I'm allergic to A/C's. Never use it in any of my cars.

I have to be very careful with A/C's because I get a soar throat really quick. It's a dry air thing. Not enough moisture.

It's also why I really DON'T like cars with Climate Control, those darn things constantly activate themselves when I don't want them to.

Then only way I can somehow get thru the A/C ordeal is by constantly chewing / sucking cough mints or such which keep my throat from drying out.

That's one of the reasons I hate long distance flights; I alway get out with a soar throat or a cough.

Doesn't matter how hot it is; I just roll down the windows if I have to.

On a side note; I also prefer the much less cluttered engine bay on non A/C cars. It just looks better!

Unfortunately there aren't that many Can Ams without A/C. Otherwise I would have waited for one of those. The one I just bought is an A/C car, but it didn't work because the compressor clutch failed. I like functional equipment, but it sure wasn't a dealbreaker for me.

.

[77 Canamman]

Originally Posted by pete315

I just can't understand why someone would buy a brand new Grand Am or Can Am and not order it with A/C. It blows my mind when I see these A bodies w/o A/C.

A few thoughts:

1. Much lower cost. The cost of A/C was approximately 10 percent of the entire new car value back in 1977.

2. Less weight. About 120 pounds more is the difference between an A/C and Non A/C car. Better handling, and better performance is the result.

3. Some people just do not like air conditioning due to the dry air it creates.

4. Less complex. Much less clutter on the passengers side of the engine. Plugs are a breeze to change without that compressor and related bracketry in the way.

[Alvin]

More of This One Here:
http://www.tachrev.com/MecumHou2012Pg9.htm
and here
http://www.tachrev.com/MecumHou2012Pg10.htm

[chicagoland]

With car nuts in the 70's, the common beleif was that A/C robbed power and when modding an old car, you would rip it out.

Wasn't until later when systems got more efficient that performance cars had it no issue.

[77 Canamman]

The old Frigidaire A-6 compressors, while effective, are heavy and use a fair amount of HP. They are still one of my favorites.

[fiedlerh]

Fairly common in the northern states and Canada to order cars without AC. You just don't need it that much.

[Evil Stu]

I saw this car tonight, new home is here in Halifax I guess.

[455Grandville]

Originally Posted by erikgto

Tell you; I'd probably buy one w.o. A/C.

I'm allergic to A/C's. Never use it in any of my cars.

That's one of the reasons I hate long distance flights; I alway get out with a soar throat or a cough.

Doesn't matter how hot it is; I just roll down the windows if I have to.


.

Move to the midwest where we had 109 + deg temp the other day. It's a must have here. They've had several deaths due to heat already. It does make getting to the plugs a PITA on those cars and even worse on the T/A I have

[BR57]

Originally Posted by fiedlerh

Fairly common in the northern states and Canada to order cars without AC. You just don't need it that much.

Absolutely true for Canada. My old man bought his first new car in 1950 and the first 'new' car he bought with A/C was a 1980 Grand Prix, it was a salesman's demonstrator. I can't recall anybody I knew as a kid having A/C in their car except my Uncle in his 67 Coupe Deville.

Now a rear window defroster, if it wasn't standard you soon installed one. This was a very common dealer installed option.
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Yesterday 10:34 PM
Evil Stu: I saw this car tonight, new home is here in Halifax I guess.
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Anyone have any idea how many Can Ams are in Canada these days ? Never being sold in Canada I've never in my entire life seen one. I know Chief Wanabee has one and I have heard there is one in Toronto and now Halifax.

[squirejohn]

Ac on an old pontiac?
not on my 73 GTO or 67 Lemans.
Wife has it on her 91 convertible.
IS there any irony in this?