what is the oldest CAR that is modern day practical? NGC

[Groover]

You might run into a snag trying to insure a car of that age as a daily driver. I had a '66 mustang fastback around 2004 and the only insurance I could get for it was for classic car, which limited the driving to 3,000 miles per year only weekends, to and from car events. I drove the car daily and the speedo gear was "broken".... nobody checked on this, but if you do get into an accident, not sure how that would work.


Parts for that were easy to find. In the mid 90's I had a 1967 Dodge Polara (loved that thing, drove and steered like silk), which I drove for a couple of years daily, and was able to insure it but it was a decade earlier. During that time I also had a 1978 Lincoln Continental town coupe (2-doors, and a beautiful machine), but I sold that within a few weeks as it was a ridiculous gas guzzler. My plan was to also get a 1960 Chevy bel-air at the time for better parts availability. I was a bit wrapped up with a few antique car collectors at the time, such a bad influence! I had just moved back to the US after living in Italy, and the bigger classic car for me, the better. 

[blackcat]

You might run into a snag trying to insure a car of that age as a daily driver. I had a '66 mustang fastback around 2004 and the only insurance I could get for it was for classic car, which limited the driving to 3,000 miles per year only weekends, to and from car events. I drove the car daily and the speedo gear was "broken".... nobody checked on this, but if you do get into an accident, not sure how that would work.

True, I’ve had Haggerty Insurance on the el Camino for about 15 years, and I think there are some mileage restrictions but I am always way under 3,000 per year on that car.

[Murray]

Currently driving around in a 1988 landrover 110 3.9 diesel despite the 4 pot calipers on the front the brakes I'd only describe as marginal in the modern world, power steering might be nice too it will even do about 75mph and sit on it but it does take a while to wind it up, the penaties you pay for spectacular off road performance it doesn't even drink too bad although I'd never describe it as good (11litres per 100kms).

I'l suggest something like a Volvo 240 or simlar 80's era I don't think you'd want to go much further back Merc 300D (actually the 300D might be a little pedestrian for modern traffic) from the same era Turbo Brick FTW. Any further back IMO the handling wieght crap brakes and not everything had power steering. In the modern urban enviorment with cramped parking spaces power steering for tight places is sadly a requirement. However odd I don't find having to row your own much of a chore in the 110.

[kirkemon]

I drive a '65 Porsche 356SC daily. Ok, I have a short commute, and I take a motorcycle often, and on long trips I take my Tesla.

[SmithSwede]

I drive a '65 Porsche 356SC daily. Ok, I have a short commute, and I take a motorcycle often, and on long trips I take my Tesla.

Wow.  I don’t know much about cars.   But that is really cool.  Wow.

[kirby1923]

If you want to drive an old car ,one way to get insurance is if you take the risk for comprehensive and just carry liability.
My drivers in SoCal when there are a '65 Healey 3000 and a '69 international 3/4 ton pickup. I've owned both for many years so investment is low and I don't mind taking the risk.

[s1120]

Anything from the mid-1960s onward...

But 1972 was the pinnacle!

WOW thats sweet!!  I can really see the shared lines from my LTD to that also. I do have to say, even though I do own a 72, I think 71 would be the top..  72 was when almost all US makers started detuning a bit. But really today a slightly lowed compression ratio in your old 429 on today's gas is not really a bad thing!! 

[cliffrod]

You might run into a snag trying to insure a car of that age as a daily driver. I had a '66 mustang fastback around 2004 and the only insurance I could get for it was for classic car, which limited the driving to 3,000 miles per year only weekends, to and from car events. I drove the car daily and the speedo gear was "broken".... nobody checked on this, but if you do get into an accident, not sure how that would work.


Parts for that were easy to find. In the mid 90's I had a 1967 Dodge Polara (loved that thing, drove and steered like silk), which I drove for a couple of years daily, and was able to insure it but it was a decade earlier. During that time I also had a 1978 Lincoln Continental town coupe (2-doors, and a beautiful machine), but I sold that within a few weeks as it was a ridiculous gas guzzler. My plan was to also get a 1960 Chevy bel-air at the time for better parts availability. I was a bit wrapped up with a few antique car collectors at the time, such a bad influence! I had just moved back to the US after living in Italy, and the bigger classic car for me, the better. 

With antique tags or similar antique/collector car or bike insurance, use is supposed to be limited because you're not paying for it.  No driving for work, school and limited mileage.   Many I know with such tags & insurance cheat.  Can't tell you what happens when things really go wrong and claims are filed.

If you buy plain insurance, like I have on my 73 Chevy truck, drive it however you want.  there's basically no payout if your vehicle is totaled and there may be limits on what they'll provide for coverage beyond basic use.  There can be other snags.  Decades old models & ViNs don't always fit into new electronic forms and databases with insurance or DMV for insurance or registration.  Had a serious problem with this on my 73 in 2018-19.  Thankfully it was resolved without more significant problems. 

In between these two is agreed value policies, which I've used for years.  Many companies will sell you a policy for a realistic agreed value on any vehicle and charge accordingly.  I've used these for years because I've always had older vehicles on the road that were worth more than scrap weight if totaled or stolen.  Sometimes they require a formal written appraisal from a professional, usually pics to verify its not a POS like my old truck.  It costs more than some policies but is still less (at least for the vehicles I afford) than full coverage on a brand new car.   Use the vehicle however you like, no restrictions.  You pay for what you get.

[Sheepdog]

The brakes are only adequate, but I drove a 1949 Chevrolet Styleside Deluxe that I bought for $35 when in high school. It burned a bit of oil, but the clock worked and the upholstery was pretty good. It ran fantastic for a year, but spun a bearing when I neglected the oil level and took it on the interstate. It is simple, spacious, and easy to maintain. I still see one running around from time to time.

[bodine99]

C-4 Vette many nice ones out the at decent$$. Parts are not a problem. Not fast but nice drivers

[Zoom Zoom]

Al Bundy's car.

Ha. Yep, I forgot about that. My suggestion was because it's very easy to work on, cheap to keep, fairly economical even by todays standards. My first choice would be:





But alas, it's long gone. Still miss it.

John Henry

[Lannis]

Maybe my viewpoint is skewed a bit because of where I've always lived, how I've commuted, and how I travel now .... BUT ...

A lot of posts refer to "being able to keep up with modern traffic".   

1)  When I lived in a big city (twice, once for three years and once for two), I never drove a car into the city, or in the city.   I took the public transport, took a bike, or walked (ran when I were younger and more fit).    There was no need to have a vehicle that would run 90 MPH in bumper to bumper traffic, because I'd never drive on such a road.   If I were ever in a place like that, it would be on a business trip and I was in a rental car; my personal car never entered into it.

2) When I was working and commuting every day into a 100,000 person small metro area, I never needed any performance that a Vespa P200E or an MGB or a 1953 Dodge Meadowbrook (all of which I used as commuters) wouldn't provide.    If there's a "bad" section of road, I just avoid it; you don't have to be on a road you don't want to be on, not around here.

3) In retirement, Fay and I travel all over the USA on the roads.    On our recent 7500 mile trip, we were on a total of 20 miles of Interstate, and we just rode in the slow lane with a reasonable space in front of us.   We were on a big Triumph, but any vehicle back to 1939 would have handled it.

In summary, is there really a significant number of people here who MUST take a horrifying "Death Race 2000" road into work every day, like 400 into Toronto, or I-5 or I-285 or I-95 or some DFW road, and so could NOT use a 1946 Dodge or a 1968 Rambler Rebel because of the engine and brakes?  I'm not a wallflower when it comes to travel, but I don't need Judge Dredd's car to get ANYWHERE I want to go ....

Lannis

[PhilB]

Yeah, it depends a huge amount on where you are.

I'm in rural New Hampshire right now, so I could feasibly get wherever I needed to go in anything (bike or car) made after about 1925 -- that's when cars and bikes generally started having front brakes.  My father has a 1929 Reo Flying Cloud, one of the first cars with hydraulic brakes, and it would do just fine here.  Cruises at about 60mph, does great in the snow, drives well enough.  And it's cool because it's mostly original, over 90 years old, and we're the second owners.

I grew up in Southern California, though, and that's a different story.  I rode scooters from the early 1960's daily, up until the early 1990's, but then the national 55mph speed limit was repealed, and the scooters became marginal.  In SoCal, I wouldn't want to run anything daily (again, car or bike) that was older than the late 1960's.

PhilB

[Moparnut72]

I was in Sacramento this summer for the flat track races. I was on I-80 which was backing up a bit, so I hopped into the HOV lane. Next thing I knew I was running 85+ and felt like I was holding up traffic because I wasn't riding the rear bumper of the car in front of me and the cars behind were pushing me. But normal traffic here runs pretty fast. So I wouldn't want to be in it with a 50's Plymouth Cranbrook with Fluid Drive.
kk

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Maybe my viewpoint is skewed a bit because of where I've always lived, how I've commuted, and how I travel now .... BUT ...

A lot of posts refer to "being able to keep up with modern traffic".   

1)  When I lived in a big city (twice, once for three years and once for two), I never drove a car into the city, or in the city.   I took the public transport, took a bike, or walked (ran when I were younger and more fit).    There was no need to have a vehicle that would run 90 MPH in bumper to bumper traffic, because I'd never drive on such a road.   If I were ever in a place like that, it would be on a business trip and I was in a rental car; my personal car never entered into it.

2) When I was working and commuting every day into a 100,000 person small metro area, I never needed any performance that a Vespa P200E or an MGB or a 1953 Dodge Meadowbrook (all of which I used as commuters) wouldn't provide.    If there's a "bad" section of road, I just avoid it; you don't have to be on a road you don't want to be on, not around here.

3) In retirement, Fay and I travel all over the USA on the roads.    On our recent 7500 mile trip, we were on a total of 20 miles of Interstate, and we just rode in the slow lane with a reasonable space in front of us.   We were on a big Triumph, but any vehicle back to 1939 would have handled it.

In summary, is there really a significant number of people here who MUST take a horrifying "Death Race 2000" road into work every day, like 400 into Toronto, or I-5 or I-285 or I-95 or some DFW road, and so could NOT use a 1946 Dodge or a 1968 Rambler Rebel because of the engine and brakes?  I'm not a wallflower when it comes to travel, but I don't need Judge Dredd's car to get ANYWHERE I want to go ....

Lannis

 

[rocker59]

WOW thats sweet!!  I can really see the shared lines from my LTD to that also. I do have to say, even though I do own a 72, I think 71 would be the top..  72 was when almost all US makers started detuning a bit. But really today a slightly lowed compression ratio in your old 429 on today's gas is not really a bad thing!!

72 was the last year of small bumpers.  In 1973 everyone had to have 5mph safety bumpers.  And they uglied up some great cars.

1972 Mark IV and Thunderbird.  First year of this platform, and only year with the sculpted bumpers.

[JoeKirby]

From 1981 to 1993 my only car was a 1961 Triumph TR4.  Drove it regularly across Ohio and used it through 3 Toledo winters.  My only back up was a 1978 T140 Bonneville.  What I learned is the less vintage the driver is, the more vintage a car you can drive.  Now, I am too old for vintage.

[oldbike54]

From 1981 to 1993 my only car was a 1961 Triumph TR4.  Drove it regularly across Ohio and used it through 3 Toledo winters.  My only back up was a 1978 T140 Bonneville.  What I learned is the less vintage the driver is, the more vintage a car you can drive.  Now, I am too old for vintage.

 Yep .

 Dusty

[Groover]

True on location. When I drove my old classic cars, I lived in Illinois in a smaller town where I didn't need to get on the highway hardly ever, and my drive to work was through town about 10 minutes away. I also had a more modern car for winters. I tried that in Ohio, larger metro area, wasn't as much fun and pretty much gave up on classic cars (I just have old cars now.. lol). Any classic car, it you have deep pockets can be made safe(er) by upgrading brakes, suspension, seats, seatbelts, etc. Driving one as-built back then, then I'd keep that to side roads only.

[old head]

3 YEARS ago, I went to state auction where the state sells off their surplus items once a month.  I picked up a 2000 cherokee Jeep for 1600, drove it home.
It had 180k miles, paint is rough but body was in excellent condition.  ONly the drivers seat is in need of repair.

I replaced tires, brakes, radiator, hoses, belt, plugs, coil pack and had the tranny rebuilt in the next 6 months.  30k later it runs like a top, no issues and is cheap to insure and very easy to work on.  Gas mileage not great but with $2 a gallon gas, its not an issue.

Just an idea to think about.

Old Head

[rocker59]

Maybe my viewpoint is skewed a bit because of where I've always lived, how I've commuted, and how I travel now .... BUT ...
 
1)  When I lived in a big city (twice, once for three years and once for two), I never drove a car into the city, or in the city.   I took the public transport, took a bike, or walked (ran when I were younger and more fit).    There was no need to have a vehicle that would run 90 MPH in bumper to bumper traffic, because I'd never drive on such a road.   If I were ever in a place like that, it would be on a business trip and I was in a rental car; my personal car never entered into it.
 
Lannis

On my commute each day, I have about 12 miles of interstate.  Posted 70mph, but traffic flows 80mph-90mph.  It's not unusual for me to merge onto the interstate  and run 85mph in three lanes of traffic for the entire 12 miles.

Twice per day, every day of the week.  There are the occasional older cars hanging in the slow lane at 65 mph, but during rush hour, they're real-deal hazards to look out for.  Especially during twilight, at 630AM.

This is a suburban interstate in a metro of 530,000 people in Northwest Arkansas. 

[blu guzz]

between the de-powerization of the engines and the hideous bumpers, a real challenge was thrown to the car makers.  in my opinion, it took until the mid 80s for them to start to deal with both situations. In 1984, I was selling Oldsmobiles (remember those) and my Cutlass demo had  descent looking molded color matched bumpers front and back, unfortunately, the energy crisis had hit under the hood - 3.8 litre V6 rated at 110 hp. pathetic but no worse than the other cars of the day. 

[Lannis]

between the de-powerization of the engines and the hideous bumpers, a real challenge was thrown to the car makers.  in my opinion, it took until the mid 80s for them to start to deal with both situations. In 1984, I was selling Oldsmobiles (remember those) and my Cutlass demo had  descent looking molded color matched bumpers front and back, unfortunately, the energy crisis had hit under the hood - 3.8 litre V6 rated at 110 hp. pathetic but no worse than the other cars of the day.

That Cutlass is a Rolls Royce compared to the "diesels" that they put in those things for a year or two.   They ALL blew up, and folks bought an almost-new car with a blown diesel engine, cheap.

"I'll yank out that diesel, drop in a crate GM small-block V8, and have a really nice car for a couple thousand bucks!!"

There were a lot of disappointed people that made that decision .... !

Lannis

[blu guzz]

the diesels caused many drivers to switch to asian imports.  i think it hurt gm's reputation even to this day. 

[redrider90]

Ford Pinto with rack and pinion, disk brakes was a blast to drive and got 30 MPH on the HWY. I bought one for $800 and drove it into the ground. It was a great car.

[Tusayan]

If you had a good mechanic on tap weekly, I think you could drive an early 60s E-Type Jag in modern traffic every day without a lot of stress: 150 mph performance, disc brakes that worked and pleasantly light steering.  I don’t think anybody would drive one in winter weather though and the AC was generally non-existent.

A C2 Corvette of the same model year, now as then, would with similar performance be more reliable but more truckish to drive.

A 1970 240Z would work just fine for me in daily service.

[s1120]

That Cutlass is a Rolls Royce compared to the "diesels" that they put in those things for a year or two.   They ALL blew up, and folks bought an almost-new car with a blown diesel engine, cheap.

"I'll yank out that diesel, drop in a crate GM small-block V8, and have a really nice car for a couple thousand bucks!!"

There were a lot of disappointed people that made that decision .... !

Lannis

The wife and I had a 80 Cutless with that lump in it..  it was her dads, and we got it right before he passed. He cumuited from Albany NY to LI almost every day  and it had over 350K on it.. OK, granted it was on like its third engine..  and a uncountable number of head gaskets...  But I gotta say..when they did run, they ran vary well. They also got amazing MPG.. Granted I think the head bolts were made of pasta...  When we got it it had just blown its head gaskets..again...  and we had a old school bus mechanic put it back together for us. I tell you that guy knew his stuff, and it was a screamer when he was done!  I think with todays better tec and some work with modern gaskets, and hardware, I bet you could build one right..  Sadly GM didnt hit the bullseye with that one, and it was a but a tick in the time line of bad engine designs from GM..[ya Im talking to you Caddy 4,6,8!!] 

[Rough Edge racing]

 I built this 37 Chevy truck in 1995...I installed disc brakes in the front, a sway bar and it was lowered about 2 inches but still has the stock straight axles and steering..The engine is a 50's GMC 302 inline 6 with some modifications, about 225 HP, Camaro 5 speed trans...I drove it on long trips and sometimes in expressway commuter traffic...A tight cab for a 6 foot guy, noisy, but it could roll along at 75 mph ...of course it does not have the stability of a newer truck, so you have to be on top of your driving....I sold it to a guy in Florida who uses it as a daily driver...It was fun, but I feel safer in a newer vehicle rather than that old tin can...
 The other trucks in the photo was also modifed some and driven in traffic but not daily...

         

[wolfeguitars]

Needed a pickup to tow my boat & bike trailer, went to local Ford shop & informed young sales guy..." I'd like a basic white F150 with rubber floors and roll up windows. He laughed & said "don't make that anymore." I replied" pretty sure they do." He checked with sales mangler who said "believe we actually have one with the smaller back seat that was special ordered for a commercial customer who never came for it." After some serious searching about they found it, I adopted it, or "kindly took that turkey off their hands." I love it and plan to have it a couple decades. Friends & family are amazed & fascinated by the vinyl upholstery, roll up windows & rubber mats. It's an oddity for youngsters & they post videos on their social media to amaze their friends. Just wish it had 3 on the column, but the aromatic shifty thingy is helpful when sucking the boat up the slippery ramp.

[boatdetective]

Based on the long wish list, I would recommend a 2012 Toyota Corolla. The idea that an ancient car could perform to today's standards is wildly unrealistic. I distinctly remember when 50-70,000 miles was a LOT for a car.

Having said all of that, I think a good 240 would do fine. Very solid engineering and a fine 2.4L engine. Easy to work on and parts quality was good.