Coke Pop Machine (I think it is a Cavalier 55)

[alebowgm]

Greetings all,

New to this forum and have done a lot of reading tonight. Amazing what you guys have been able to do. I am pretty much a noobie when it comes to these machines and would like to get something not overly expensive just to start with. Anyways, was doing a search online for a machine and came across the following (its not very descriptive).

"Cavalier Coke machine, cools fine, vends, 375.oo or best offer"

I have attached the picture that was included in the listing. Based on what I can see, I think it is a Cavalier 55 model, although I am unsure if it is a single or dual (55D, E) or something else, so first some verification on that would be appreciated. Now, it looks like from the photo that it may need some work on the outside, so my second and third question is 2) what would I be looking at to get that repaired and 3) what would you say the value is based on the pictures.

Finally was looking at an old post and saw that Ltransam suggested to someone else that was purcahsing a Cavalier 55D that they need to look for the following

1. Light -up
2.Coin Mech & Coin box & Cap box
3.Bottle rack

4. BOTTLE RACK SPACERS !!! These are missing alot of times & Are very hard to find .Some one here had some made at won time I beleive there's a total of 4 Thick ones ? & 4-8 Thin ones .

                                                                                       
5.WORKING Compressure .
6. Crome trim on outer door .

Is there anything else I need to look at when/if I take a look at this unit? BrianB I think you did a restore on your machine, but I cant take a look at your photos (they arent loading), any input and how much work was it?

I am very excited so any help you guys can provide is appreciated.

Also this is in S.W. Ontario (Yep, north of the boarder)

[alebowgm]

One other question, what are the dimensions and how heavy is it? I don't have a truck or van, and I doubt it will fit in my car with the back seats down in the trunk, so I will either need to rent a truck (probably not worth it), get someone to loan me one, or get it delivered...

[loman4ec]

First welcome to the site alebowgm. Yes that is a C-55D and it looks to me like a single vend. In my opinion that is the best square top to own. It is also probably the most sought after square top as well. It is bigger than your car but it should be able to fit in a van. I don't have the dimension or weight info but several members have at least one so I am sure they can help. The only parts that are hard to find are the rack parts. If the rack is missing you will have a hard time finding another and the vend motors are not reproduced. Other than that almost anything else is easily available. I would say that the price while not great is a very fair price. In todays market I bet you can haggle a bit and get them down on the price. this model is just about as straight forward as any other machine to restore. Just take lots of pictures and find a good painter. We will all be happy to help you through your first restoration. One thing to be aware of is that this is a single flavor machine so it is not as useful as the slant shelf machines  but with that said in my opinion this is the best looking square top to own other than the westinghouse 44. Good luck and go get that machine. One warning though if you buy one I bet you will have several machines within one year. Once your bitten by the bug you cant stop

[alebowgm]

Just to be sure, cause I am a soda machine vigin, this machine does bottles (like I could use beer bottles, or go find coke bottles)?

[Pat Pixley]

Hello And Welcome to the board glad you found us,
Josh is right on those 55D  they are a cool little machine.
and yes on the bottle Sam's club  has the Coca cola in bottles
and also check Walmart.

 Just so you know this is just the beinging by next year you will
wondering where to store  number 10 at .

Pat

[MoonDawg]

       Welcome. The machine in the picture has a solid metal panel, it does not light up,
but a plexiglass panel can be made.
       The diameter of the beer bottles is not the problem, it is length although this may
be one of the machines that can be modified to vend cans.

[alebowgm]

Hmm, spoke to the guy and he sounds willing to move on the price, so can probably get it for $300. I just need to figure out transportation since I don't have the truck/van anymore that we used to use and no one that I immediatly know has a truck or van I can get access too. He said he is using it to cool beers and he said that it needs work on the outside but as best he can tell all of the features such as shelves and such are there and in-tact. He says the coin mechanism works well.

The guy also says he has a CS-72 that he would be willing to part with for $2000, but I think that is a bit out of my price range.

[Ltransam]

Hello, And Welcome to the Gang !!


  The machine your looking at can have a light up sign added later .Also it can & will vend  cns as Glen mentioned . I have to check my manual But It I beleive it can do 61/2oz 10oz & 12oz bottles .I checked can do the abovedmention bottles . I'm not quite sure how to set it to vend cans .But I believe another member use's his on can maybe he'll chime in . Also a Member here once but a Cav-72 in the passanger side of a Thunderbird . It was the funniest  :laugh:thing I ever saw BUT it made it home .

                                                            Ltransam


                                                                                     

[MoonDawg]

Here it is 

[coke_and_stuff]

Hey Glen this reminds me of a few times I needed to haul some large things in one of my Camaros. I hauled a 5ft lion double sided lion sign one time, My wife came home with landscape timbers wrapped in blankets thank god on top of the dash and sticking out of the back. Next time you gotta put it all in there in one piece and not in pieces.

Joey