I Can't Believe This Was My Daily Driver

74-911 · 06-12-2019, 05:55 PM

As a companion thread to the "What is the Oldest Car you would Drive", what is the daily driver you now can't believe you actually drove (or drive?). I drove this '73 Thing as my DD in the 1980-1984 time frame. Drove it all over San Antonio... way under powered, no A/C, no heater, not even close to weatherproof. I cringe when I think of having an accident in this, must be one of least safe vehicles ever unleashed on public highways. Sold it when I bought the '74 911. The Thing replaced the rusted out '65 beetle I gave to my brother-in-law.

And no, that is not a puddle of oil under the engine, not sure now what that was?

herr_oberst · 06-12-2019, 06:52 PM

^^^^^

If I'm being honest, if that exact car as pictured showed up at my doorstep, I think I'm at a time in my life where I would actually try.

sc_rufctr · 06-12-2019, 07:04 PM

A Mini Moke like this one was my daily from 16 to 20. I sold it just before I joined the Army.
Mechanics and suspension is all classic Mini. A good one is actually worth some money now.

Shifter · 06-12-2019, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

^^^^^

If I'm being honest, if that exact car as pictured showed up at my doorstep, I think I'm at a time in my life where I would actually try.

Not quite your driveway, and not quite yellow, but close. I drive past this on 49th fairly regularly and think about it. Then reality sets in. Been in that same spot for several years.

GothingNC · 06-12-2019, 07:07 PM

Same here, DD my 73 Thing from 1996 until 2004. Even had two child car seats in the back a few times.

GH85Carrera · GH85Carrera's Garage

My first car was a 1960 VW Bug. 36 hp when new, but after 100,000 miles it was maybe 25. 0 to 60 was impossible if there was any headwind. On flat ground with no wind it would get to 65 and felt like 150. A fully loaded 18 wheeler with 13 gears was something impossible to beat from a dead stop to the next light.
I paid 600 bucks for it, and sold it for 650 two years later and bought a really fast car. 1973 VW Bug. 60 hp was fast!

Steve Carlton · 06-12-2019, 07:50 PM

I drove a Z28 that looked just like this, except no cowl induction hood. Bought and sold for $1,800. Oopsie.

Jeff Higgins · 06-12-2019, 08:48 PM

Ah, to be young... I actually went almost a full year, up here in the Seattle area, without a car or any form of four wheeled transportation. I commuted daily from Kirkland to Everett (about 20 some odd miles), having just begun my career in aerospace, on my '76 Sportster. The one I still own. My room mate had a car, so we grocery shopped and ran other errands I could not, in his car. I even rode the darn thing to work in the snow a few times. I have no idea what I was thinking, other than trying to save money towards a house and all of that.

ckissick · 06-12-2019, 09:53 PM

My first car and DD was also a yellow '73 Thing. I drove it for two years in high school and loved it.

Heel n Toe · 06-12-2019, 11:31 PM

I'd like to recommend last year's quirky TV series by AMC to anyone here who enjoys "quirky"... featuring, of course... a yellow VW thing. As far as I know, there will be a season 2.

It's a fun show... very well done and has surprises around every corner. I don't know anything to compare it to... but I thought it was brilliant and unique.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6128254/

KFC911 · 03:03 AM

My buddy's college car was a '74 Capri....red with black interior. It wuz a 4-cyl, so ya never check the oil, just add a qt every tank of gas or so. For a while there was no passenger seat....a big ol' green Coleman cooler served two functions. No one, and I mean NO FREAKIN' one could master the clutch but him, and me if I HAD too

Oh yeah....the driver's side windshield wiper did NOT exist either...particularly in torrential rains.

Easter weekend....circa '82....North Myrtle Beach college pilgramage....three guys....three girls pulled up beside us at the gas pump...

They LOL at us

!

Great cars!

edited: another college buddy had a grey/silver v6 Capri....awesome!

We still laugh about the red "Caprice of schit" though....

GothingNC · 06-13-2019, 03:11 AM

Forgot how slow the Thing was.

VW Thing acceleration. Specs, lol. 0-30 mph ...................6.3
0-40 mph ...................9.7
0-50 mph ..................15.3
0-60 mph ..................23.2
0-70 mph ..................42.2

Eric 951 · 06-13-2019, 03:21 AM

I remember taking my DD 79 924 on Spring Break in the late 80s. Drove from Pittsburgh to Ft Myers Beach in February (17) hrs, which is no big deal, except there were (3) of us. My buddy sat across the rear "seats" the entire trip each way.

KFC911 · 06-13-2019, 03:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GothingNC

Forgot how slow the Thing was.

VW Thing acceleration. Specs, lol. 0-30 mph ...................6.3
0-40 mph ...................9.7
0-50 mph ..................15.3
0-60 mph ..................23.2
0-70 mph ..................42.2

Notorious for blasting into slow azz '74 Pintos....from a snail's launch....ka-boom

!

I broke my leg back in '87....DD was a Supra Turbo....so I switched cars with a gf for a month...a 'vette!

That damn older Chevette nearly got me killed

!

onewhippedpuppy · 06-13-2019, 05:05 AM

I daily drove a 1970 911T in 2004 for a year, would do it again today if they weren’t so expensive. Now that I’m old and soft though, I’d have to add A/C.

First car was a POS 1979 Chevy truck. Total rust bucket but that 350 with a quadrajet would power brake for days.

87911jon · 87911jon's Garage

In the late 80's, I drove a '74 TVR 2500M for several years, commuting from Towson MD to Old Town Alexandria (1.5 hours one way)... looked just like this, except green. Compomotive rims, coil overs, webers, headers...

Adrian Thompson · 06-13-2019, 05:53 AM

This was not only my DD, but also my only car for about a year circa 91/92. A Davrian Mk VI. A Hillman Imp based kit/racer. Fiberglass monocoque, no seats, you sat on formed depression in the tub. Your eyes were about the same height as a Triumph Spitfires door handles when driving. It makes a motorbike look safe and comfy. No HVAC of any form. Invisible green and lower than most modern cars hood height. It was the UK though, so not as many trucks back then.

Do I win a cookie?

herr_oberst · 06-13-2019, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adrian Thompson

This was not only my DD, but also my only car for about a year circa 91/92. A Davrian Mk VI. A Hillman Imp based kit/racer. Fiberglass monocoque, no seats, you sat on formed depression in the tub. Your eyes were about the same height as a Triumph Spitfires door handles when driving. It makes a motorbike look safe and comfy. No HVAC of any form. Invisible green and lower than most modern cars hood height. It was the UK though, so not as many trucks back then.

Do I win a cookie?

Hah! I had a '64 TR4 in high school, I thought that was bare bones, then the DD TVR made me sit up and take notice(!) and now this! Yeah, this could be the mic drop.

Very cool car by the way. I've never heard of that one - heard of the Imp. Brits have more fun with little underpowered cars than anyone. Ever.

Deschodt · 07:44 AM

Drove that daily for a year or so around 98...

(in norcal)

Non event in terms of comfort, fun or practicality - great car on all accounts, but the lack of AC and the trouble with carburators (hot restarts were next to impossible), coupled with the average visibility of low position 6V brake lights and constant maintenance got to be a bit of a PITA. Classic are best as second cars IMO ;-) Doesn't help it replaced a Karmann ghia so I was over oldies as primary cars by then. The final straw was my wife (in a skirt) having to push start me (she didn't know how to bump start so she had to push, OK?) near the GG bridge exit. It became a second car after that...

herr_oberst · 06-13-2019, 08:12 AM

I wonder if Harley Earl ever had to pinch himself just to see if he was really using the Buick "Y" Job as a DD back in 1939?