Classic Car DD

If you were going to daily drive a classic car (let's say pre-'80), what would it be? No dream cars or anything. Let's say you had to pay for the car, gas, maintenance, etc.

I daily my e21. 30 mpg's no matter how hard or easy I drive it. Aside from fiddling with the fuel system on mine because it sat out in a field for a couple years before I bought it, I've had to do nothing except oil changes. I can't ever see a new car taking the place of it, just because of how direct it feels. Every newer car I drive just feels disconnected by comparison. I'm trying to ignore the growing lust for a 500 ABARTH however.

Mid-70's Celica w/ the old carb'ed 20R replaced with an injected 22RE. Nothing fancy, but it could be as reliable as a 2009 Corrolla with a little work.

A question this loose and with this group, you could get a thousand answers. Here's a few of mine;

Barracuda (any year) Dart/Duster/Scamp ('63+) Ford Capri mk1 & mk2 (or a mk3 if you want to import) Camaro/Firebird mk2

The great thing about these cars is how there are more modern drivetrains that can be swapped in. Also, besides the Capri, the suspension and brakes were used on a lot of other cars here in the States so there's upgrades and general support everywhere. The problem is the body; keeping the cancer out year after year would be tough on these, especially the Capri. Enough that I'd want to get my own home kit of wax spraying equipment and the like to try and keep the body healthy longer.

70's Corvette, or a nicely done C10.

E9 Bimmer if I could afford it. Maybe a P1800, it's worked out pretty well for Irv :).

X1/9 is a great daily. Economical, cheap parts, way more practical than a two-seater with a removable roof should ever be.

The roof stores above the storage area of the front trunk, there is a rear trunk behind the engine compartment as well.

79 VW Rabbit

79 RX7

70-something Z

While a bit newer than the parameters given, I daily drive my `88 Caprice Estate. It's super cheap to maintain, with gas being the most expensive issue, but even then it's really not that bad. edit: And as a plus, everything still works, including the A/C.

Going before 1980, I would probably choose either a Lincoln Mark V, or a 71-76 GM clamshell wagon. Yes, I like stupid-big cars.

I used to drive my 72 Firebird to work. My 78 T/A has cold a/c and is very reliable, so would make a good DD.

Mk1 Scirocco. Install 5-speed and engine of choice.

924 (hey, I like them, don't hate). Great front-engine, rear-wheel-drive chassis. Insert powertrain of choice. Excellent aerodynamics to aid MPG. A very classic shape, although some prefer the flares of the 944. If so, go with the Carrera GT look. 924s were really let down by their circumstances; as a GRM platform they are fabulous (944s as well, but they aren't pre-1980).

David

I have daily driven my 71 Fiat 850 sedan for the last 3 and a half years. I hope to continue to do so for the foreseeable future.

With Megasquirt and a turbo it is reliable, fast and returns ~48mpg in town. It is like driving a carnival ride, everybody waves at you, stops to talk to you or just gives an approving thumbs up. It is so much fun I feel like I am going to get into trouble just popping down to the store for eggs.

I really miss it and can't wait to get it pressed back into daily service.

The family car: or:

for me:

Or:

Or if we didn't have the Falcon:

I've had enough tiny sports cars to know they aren't great for everyday.

73 MGB GT with Miata or Nissan drivetrain and A/C. BRG with C GT Lemans Flares, Panasports in the correct size for the Lemans look. Been dreaming of that one for a long time.

76 Mustang GT notchback with pushrod Mustang GT injected engine and 5 speed. 4W discs, updated power steering rack, old school sand cast center American Racing alloys, dropped about 2".

32 Ford pickup on modern suspension and brakes probably with late model Toyota 4 cyl. drive train. I've been imagineering that one lately.

I'd like my 82 Volvo 245 4 speed wagon back. We couldn't get the AC to blow cold enough for Houston summers. In retrospect, I should have spent more time/money to sort it out. Both were in very short supply with two kids under two years old. It was such a great car.

this.

May try to get an aftermarket A/C, since it's been done. But in terms of driving, man this is a great car. Last time we took it any decent distance, and had to do multiple fill ups, we'd get 30mpg. The other thing I would do is to install a "hidden" MS system, with catalyst- to avoid getting CO headaches.

ShadowSix wrote: Mid-70's Celica w/ the old carb'ed 20R replaced with an injected 22RE. Nothing fancy, but it could be as reliable as a 2009 Corrolla with a little work.

This. I always loved that body style. Or a 510 wagon with a later FI drivetrain and A/C.

My first car...1971 Datsun 510 ,2-door. Maybe add a later FI engine and 5 speed tranny.

Dang it. I meant to say no modern engine swaps either. I was going to say basically a classic you could jump into and drive without a major rework.

This:

alfadriver wrote: this. May try to get an aftermarket A/C, since it's been done. But in terms of driving, man this is a great car. Last time we took it any decent distance, and had to do multiple fill ups, we'd get 30mpg. The other thing I would do is to install a "hidden" MS system, with catalyst- to avoid getting CO headaches.

That's a great looking car...

In reply to 93EXCivic:

If you aren't allowed to do any major changes, a 911SC would probably be top of the list.

The thing is... being able to make swaps like that is a bonus, so why disallow it? Like that Barracuda I mentioned, why not buy something with a good body but worn drivetrain then plunder a mid-90's truck for its Magnum 5.2 & four speed (I know the trans tunnel may not like this but I think it'd be worth it) automatic for easy starting all year long, improved performance, and nice driving behavior? "Oh, but I don't like nice idle characteristics and 50+ more horsepower without actually doing anything to the engine itself"?

ddavidv wrote:

A resto-modded amazon wagon is high up on my list too.

mazdeuce wrote: I'd like my 82 Volvo 245 4 speed wagon back. We couldn't get the AC to blow cold enough for Houston summers. In retrospect, I should have spent more time/money to sort it out. Both were in very short supply with two kids under two years old. It was such a great car.

Don't feel guilty. At that time, Swedish a/c was just there to take the edge off...

I still want a 79 or 80 242GT in the original silver. Maybe swap in EFI and turbo, although the Kjet works fine- and in some ways better. It may be selective memory, but the B21 in those cars seemed to work so well.

Easy for me as I've thought about this a lot. Volvo 1800ES.

In all seriousness, if something were to happen to my TDI, I have friends with a semi-project ES that would be the first folks I'd call. I would need to do some stuff to it to make it DD worthy for me (a/c, decent stereo, cruise control, different seats), but having spent a good deal of time in the g/f's nice ES these car are just awesome drivers and so incredibly ahead of their time. There's a reason why Irv has put nearly 3 million miles on one. I would, however, have something else to drive when it snowed or there was heavy salt on the roads. Oh, and the 1800's wipers aren't the greatest in the rain in general.

Honorable mention: Triumph GT6 - but again, only if I could do some of the same mods/liveability upgrades. A GT6 in the middle of Summer and arriving at work covered in sweat isn't much fun.