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Do people actually use classic cars as a daily driver? I'd love to have one but why have some people criticized their gas mileage and being boats? I always thought they were meant to be fun to drive and look at and tool around town on a nice summer day.
Sometimes, but not too often.
A neighbor above me here was driving a 62 Rambler wagon as his daily driver, one of my neighbors on the south side 10 years ago had 52 Buick, another had a 67 Toronado both with regular plates.
My own car then was a 95 Buick Roadmaster, although not a classic, was definitely a land yacht reminiscent of models in 60's and 50's, but with much better handling, ABS and other modern features.
My brother was driving the 68 Mustang I restored for his 16th birthday for decades... he reluctantly parted with it because it was just too small for the family and no good place to store it... it went to New Zealand and he got a very good price for it.
For over 20 years I drove the 72 Plymouth I bought for $800 in High School... still have it in storage.
When I want to take out the old car it could be my 1962 Corvette or the 1931 Model A Roadster of the Model T Speedster.
There are "classics" and then there are "older classics." IMO, anything is classic that is older than 20-25 years old, low production numbers, highly desirable features, and a great number of people that also want them. That leads to increases in prices over time and makes for a good investment.
The heck with not knowing how to fix them, most millennials cannot drive a stick, so that eliminates a lot of great cars.
Not this again
I purchased my first new car in the spring of 1987, a Thunderbird Turbo Coupe with a manual transmission. When I went to the dealer to pick it up ( I had ordered it and watched it go down the assembly line at the Lorain Assembly Plant), I had NEVER driven stick. What I HAD done is learn the CONCEPTS of how to drive manual. I had no problem adapting my automatic transmission experience to the use of the clutch and floor shifter, and enjoyed that car as my daily driver for over 10 years.
The point is that really, ANYONE without severe mental or physical disabilities who WANTS to, can learn to drive manual in a very short time. It is not a shame that must be borne for eternity.
Do people actually use classic cars as a daily driver? I'd love to have one but why have some people criticized their gas mileage and being boats? I always thought they were meant to be fun to drive and look at and tool around town on a nice summer day.
My friend Tim drives either his 1976 2002 or his 1964 Corvair Spyder every single day. The 2002 doubles as a rally/rallycross car. Untitled by tim wilson, on Flickr
Do people actually use classic cars as a daily driver? I'd love to have one but why have some people criticized their gas mileage and being boats? I always thought they were meant to be fun to drive and look at and tool around town on a nice summer day.
I tried to have an old car as a fun project/hobby; it was a 64 Fairlane Wagon. It was fun, at first. But, because it was only a hobby for me, and I only have mediocre mechanical skills (I was able to tackle a few small projects) the problems accumulated faster than I could fix them. After replacing the carburetor, (because I screwed up the rebuild ) the car ran for about 15 seconds. Then, when I went start it again, the starter died. That's when I knew it was time to sell.
But, (and here is why I quoted you) the family who bought the car fixed it up, and drove it over 30k miles in about a year!!!
My friend Tim drives either his 1976 2002 or his 1964 Corvair Spyder every single day. The 2002 doubles as a rally/rallycross car. Untitled by tim wilson, on Flickr
I have a black BMW 2002 California car that is sitting outside with a car cover...
Do people actually use classic cars as a daily driver?
Many do. I did for quite a few years.
Quote:
I'd love to have one but why have some people criticized their gas mileage and being boats? I always thought they were meant to be fun to drive and look at and tool around town on a nice summer day.
Many people are ignorant. They think that all classic cars are "boats." There were hundreds of thousands of compact and mid-sized cars built and sold in the 1960s and 1970s. Something like a Dodge Dart, Chevy Nova or Ford Falcon with a small V-8 would average 15-18 mpg. Better than any number of modern large trucks and SUVs.
Having said that, the classic cars are fun to drive and look at.
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) the car ran for about 15 seconds. Then, when I went start it again, the starter died. That's when I knew it was time to sell.
