I am getting ready to order an air conditioning system for my 69 non AC car, and would appreciate some input. For those of you that have installed the Classic or Vintage systems what are the best features of both.

I will not be doing the install it will be handled by a shop. I would also appreciate estimates of what a reasonable installation charge would be.

Thanks
Steve

Steve,
Classic Auto Air's (CAA) unit is serviceable. The Vintage unit is glued shut and can not be repaired in the field. You have to send it to them. They both have a three year warranty. The CAA has larger heater and evap coils. The Vintage unit is more popular. The CAA unit takes about 16 hours to install. They have dealers that install in Florida. They have an installer that operates by oppointment.

Steve,
Classic Auto Air's (CAA) unit is serviceable. The Vintage unit is glued shut and can not be repaired in the field. You have to send it to them

That is Classic sales pitch but I promise you will never have to service the evaporator or heater core (if you run anti freeze in it ) in your lifetime.

I have installed and sold both and still do. But the Vintage Air Gen IV blows away the Classic set up.

A quick history lesson. A few years ago Ford Motor Company hired Vintage Air to design the A/C for the then new $200K Ford GT. When they were finished they had a Gen IV in their hands and adapted it to muscle cars. So you have true OEM quality A/C system. I just got back from the VA dealer meeting and saw some of the torture test Ford required VA to put the ECM and system through. Believe me, it is OEM quality, And they make everything on premise including heater cores. And they do make heater cores for New car manufacturers. Also, the Gen IV has a splitter door to seperate the evaporator and the heater core and also provide a true blend. The system blows far harder (more wind) with less blower noise. The system is all electric no cables.

A bonus with your car (all 68-72 cars) they give you a replacment controller that looks like a factory controller which is very nice as many original controllers are floppy and weak at best.

Another bonus on the 66 through 72 Chevelle is the hose routing is really nice coming through the old heater blower motor area and through the passenger kick with a replacment panel they provide. So the hoses are mostly hidden behind the inner fender.

We sell a lot of these systems and made the Top 25 in vintage Air sales selling Chevelle and Camaro A/C. We have installations going on in our shop on any given day. Doing a 68 Camaro as we speak.

Feel free to call with any questions, We can save you some money VS buying direct and we are in Orlando.

Frank,

Thanks for your comments. Are you a Dealer for Vintage air and do you sell to other shops or do they buy direct from Vintage Air. Since this is going to be an expensive proposition I think I want to get at least two estimates for a complete turnkey install job here locally.

Can Vintage air provide the shops a very accurate estimate of installation time on a non AC car?

Thanks Again,

Steve

Another bonus on the 66 through 72 Chevelle is the hose routing is really nice coming through the old heater blower motor area and through the passenger kick with a replacment panel they provide. So the hoses are mostly hidden behind the inner fender.

I just picked up a Gen IV recently---(They are phasing out the cable operated models for the 66)

The hose routing is actually a drawback as far as servicing hoses goes (This is my opinion), so I'm gonna see what I can do to get those hoses out where I can work on them if needed.

I have a VA in my 59, and just had to replace the lines and hoses due to a
compressor and serpentine conversion. Even with the lines and hoses almost accessible, took all day to just change the heater hoses on this car.
No way I want to have to do this inside the passenger compartment.

But, on another note-----I can understand why most would like to hide as much as possible.

I just picked up a Gen IV recently---(They are phasing out the cable operated models for the 66)

The hose routing is actually a drawback as far as servicing hoses goes (This is my opinion), so I'm gonna see what I can do to get those hoses out where I can work on them if needed.

I have a VA in my 59, and just had to replace the lines and hoses due to a
compressor and serpentine conversion. Even with the lines and hoses almost accessible, took all day to just change the heater hoses on this car.
No way I want to have to do this inside the passenger compartment.

But, on another note-----I can understand why most would like to hide as much as possible.


Not many people need to be able to change hoses. We have never had to any service work on one yet quite honestly. Been pretty trouble free.

Frank,

Thanks for your comments. Are you a Dealer for Vintage air and do you sell to other shops or do they buy direct from Vintage Air. Since this is going to be an expensive proposition I think I want to get at least two estimates for a complete turnkey install job here locally.

Can Vintage air provide the shops a very accurate estimate of installation time on a non AC car?

Thanks Again,

Steve

We are a direct distributor and we supply many shops around the country. We also sell direct to you.

Installation time on your car is 20 hours, that is what we charge. We do the complete system installed for $2500. The hardest part on many cars is removing the inner fender. On a Camaro it is a real PIA. On a Chevelle not so bad since the inner fender is outside of the fender. Your Chevelle inner fender comes out pretty easy if no clip nuts spin. Then it is a entire new ball game and we add for whatever time it take to drill out any spinning clips nuts.

Sounds like Vintage Air has improved a great deal. I got the Sure Fit for my
'69 back in 2006 and was very disappointed with it. The defrost is a joke as there is no fresh air introduced into the cab (the tech on the help line suggested to "roll down the window") and as it uses the old controller with cables, it also uses micro switched that are pure junk and almost impossible to get to replace.

If they solved that fresh-air and micro-switch design, then it might be worth it.

If they solved that fresh-air and micro-switch design, then it might be worth it.

Still no fresh air supply

I have installed a Classic Air system in a 70 Chevelle and a Vintage Air system in a 69 Chevelle. The Classic system is a little simpler to install even though the instuctions are not as good. Hose replacement would be simpler because all the hoses are exposed. I think the Vintage Air system is higher tech ( electonic controls/ no cables ), and much nicer appearance when complete. I like the Vintage Air system but if you are concerned about hose replacement the Classic system might be a better choice for you. I am not a professional installer and these are just my personal observations. Either system is worth the work of installation if you want AC. I don't think either bring in fresh air.

Hose replacement is not something one has to do very often. We run original hoses on restorations that are over 40 years old. And these cars will live charmed lifes from this point forward. They were just "CARS" back in the day and quite abused.

I doubt any of us will live long enough to need to change hoses. And the hoses are ugly! I would hide them behind the fender ifg I had to change them every year