What's the Oldest Car You'd Drive Regularly?

[Cooper911SC]

My Dad’s daily/family car I grew up riding everywhere in.

He bought it in 1967 and DD until we started restoring it (again) around 2009.

2 owner car, has had various engines/gear boxes over the years. A few repaints.

Just a college transportation car...that turned out to be a classic.

He just retired so now it’s more a Cars N Coffee ride.



On another note, one of my clients is an automotive historian and restorer.
He owns a number of early American cars and drives them around Tustin/Orange area regularly.
Not uncommon to see him in a 1908 Carter car or his early 1900’s Chicago Electric.
Many teens and ‘20’s cars to choose from. He drives them locally without a concern.

[wdfifteen]

I have to have a truck, so if it was my only vehicle it would be a pickup with good factory AC. Probably early 70s. I do drive my 65 VW almost every day, but it’s no good for hauling lumber.

[tabs]

98 f150. Wt 4.6l 181k

Btw I am getting a new truck...one part at a time.

The only thing it needs are the hydraulic lifts that hold the hood and Landeau bed cover up..and a few diodes in the dash...other wise she is in fine fettle.

So far

The radiator has been replaced, the Alternator, spark wires and plugs , fuel pump 2 times, AC rebuild, heater core replaced, 4 battery replacments, front brakes 4 times, rear brakes 3 times, 5 sets of tires since nu, and a rear brake line.

It has been garage kept except for apx 21 nights in 21 years.

I drive about 5k per year.

[juliyie]

I drove Circa 1895 Panhard et Levassor not reguraly but sometimes.

This is something off topic but i need your help in regarding buying some power tools for my car , can anyone suggest me some good brands and tools. I have read this guide but couldn't able to make any decision.

[slow&rusty]

I drove this car daily for almost 20 years, I recently sold it with 260k miles. 10 of those years were in Houston which is challenging with the roads, the extreme summer temps and the fact that parts are very hard to find (less than 700 sold)...having said that I loved the car and it was a bitter decision to sell it.

[ramonesfreak]

For me it’s the seemingly constant rain snow and salt. If I lived in California I would drive my 911 daily. For what I pay for my Jeep at almost $50k, I could easily maintain my 911 to keep up with demands of everyday use. It’s sucks having to have something else as a dedicated daily driver that will soon be an expensive rust bucket

Originally Posted by Rodsrsr

Whats the main reason to not daily drive a car from the 60' or 70's? (assuming its been gone through) Is it the lack of creature comforts, reliability? Those cars had decent tech, a/c, pwr windows, cruise control, leather interiors, ect, After all these cars were the daily drivers of their time. Were the cars of the 60's and 70's reliable in their heyday? I would think they may have been over-engineered if anything but I honestly don't know, I was a kid back then lol. I will say that nowadays I rarely see a car broken down on the side of the road but I'm guessing its due to all of the sensors that give the owner a warning something is about to go wrong.

[Skytrooper]

My 71 charger when I get it road worthy.

[fastfredracing]

I made an attempt at daily driving my 1976 k 20 plow truck this winter. I made it a few weeks, but the novelty wore off fairly quickly .

[piscator]

Originally Posted by Cooper911SC

My Dad’s daily/family car I grew up riding everywhere in.

He bought it in 1967 and DD until we started restoring it (again) around 2009.

2 owner car, has had various engines/gear boxes over the years. A few repaints.

Just a college transportation car...that turned out to be a classic.

He just retired so now it’s more a Cars N Coffee ride.



On another note, one of my clients is an automotive historian and restorer.
He owns a number of early American cars and drives them around Tustin/Orange area regularly.
Not uncommon to see him in a 1908 Carter car or his early 1900’s Chicago Electric.
Many teens and ‘20’s cars to choose from. He drives them locally without a concern.

This is wonderful! I could go for this! And I'd love to meet the gentleman driving around in turn-of-century vehicles -- what a kick!

[MrBonus]

I'd probably drive my Ghia regularly as long as I can avoid rain and road salt. The Porsche I wouldn't hesitate to drive 500 miles in tomorrow.

[tcar]

Originally Posted by JackDidley

According to Google and Wiki Ford got hydraulic brakes in 1939. Anyway I just cant see myself driveng a car without them. I am primitive compared to my friends. They need all the bells and whistles.

OK... you're right on the Ford.
Was going by my friend saying he had put the hydraulics from a '32 on the Model A we drove. Said it was pretty easy.
His dad worked on Kirtland AFB and had to have hydraulics (and sealed beams) to take it on the base. He drove it daily before we did.

Sounds like my friend was wrong... came from a '49, maybe...

[Nickshu]

Daily? For me it would need to be electronic fuel injected and have good air conditioning. So basically anything early 1980's and later.

Having owned a '60s classic carbureted car there is no way I would daily that. Never runs the same twice, starting on cold weather is a crapshoot, etc.

While the "classic" pre-emissions stuff is cool I am too young to have enough nostalgia for 50's/60's/70's stuff to overcome the headaches of actually driving one daily.

[Jims5543]

Our 1991 BMW is our road trip car, it has ice cold AC and gets over 30 MPG. It does have a more modern 24V engine swapped in and mated to a 6 speed manual which makes it even more fun to drive.

Last month I drove to Wilmington NC and back which was a 1400 mile round trip road trip.

4 weeks ago we drove to St. Petersburg and back for a Sunrise Sunset tour. 400 miles.

This past weekend we drove to Hendersonville NC, wandered around the mountains, then back, ticking off another 1500 miles on the old girl.

She is ready to go anywhere I want tomorrow if I want. I love that car and plan on keeping her for a long long time.

[gsxrken]

Originally Posted by Nickshu

Daily? For me it would need to be electronic fuel injected and have good air conditioning. So basically anything early 1980's and later.

Having owned a '60s classic carbureted car there is no way I would daily that. Never runs the same twice, starting on cold weather is a crapshoot, etc.

While the "classic" pre-emissions stuff is cool I am too young to have enough nostalgia for 50's/60's/70's stuff to overcome the headaches of actually driving one daily.

My 21-year-old son’s only car is a 1969 Mercury Cougar. I think it’s less how old are you and more what is your tolerance level. It’s simple to work on, parts are cheap, turns heads, and is not a depreciating asset. Makes sense actually if you’re ok with no airbags and crumple-zones. He’s branching Infantry so maybe he’s not a representative sample of risk and pain tolerance, lol.

https://flic.kr/p/2gd9Y6y

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by Rodsrsr

Whats the main reason to not daily drive a car from the 60' or 70's? (assuming its been gone through) Is it the lack of creature comforts, reliability? Those cars had decent tech, a/c, pwr windows, cruise control, leather interiors, ect, After all these cars were the daily drivers of their time. Were the cars of the 60's and 70's reliable in their heyday? I would think they may have been over-engineered if anything but I honestly don't know, I was a kid back then lol. I will say that nowadays I rarely see a car broken down on the side of the road but I'm guessing its due to all of the sensors that give the owner a warning something is about to go wrong.

agree, but they aren't safe enough

I want crush space and airbags out the wazoo for moron protection