Classic cars: impossible on a limited budget?

[DuckRyder]

I do think a classic car could definitely be in my future. A car like below is perfect. It is owned by a grandma, truly a survivors car. It is exactly the color and interior design that my wife likes. It has 76,000 miles and is all original. for $9k. I can't buy a car like this now, but it is quite apparent that if I avoid big iconic models, I can certainly own an older car. Thanks for the Hemmings.com reference!

Have you tried to find any Corvair parts?

Things are a handful too, buddy years ago had a turbo convertible... thing made 911 handling look docile.

 

[SammyChevelleTypeS3]

One of the guys at work had an all original '65 Pontiac Laurentian with a 6 cyl. He got it pretty cheap $3-4k but a few years ago, and I doubt it had AC but it was pretty solid and he drove it to work in the summer. Basically this car with less shiney paint and the interior was well used but not terrible. I'm sure Derek on Vice Grip garage has inspired more than a few people to try their hand at getting an old car back on the road, so maybe they are getting to silly prices? View attachment 76293

I love all things Pontiac. The Catalina 2+2 models and Ventura are some hot ones. Pontiac made some awesome stuff.

 

[SammyChevelleTypeS3]

I don't know if anyone considers it a classic...but my 84 Cutlass supreme has been cheaper than the average car over the years. I honestly try to put as many personal miles on it instead of the 2005 Silverado because of things like wheel bearings, fuel pump etc (several hundred $ on the truck, like $60 for the car). It has working air conditioning and gets around 25 mpg on the highway (truck gets around 20 max).

I've owned this car since around 2004 and put it on the road in 2007. It's been a work in progress that entire time, but always a reliable daily driver. I paid $1800 originally, put a few thousand into bodywork and paint over the years and maybe $500 a year on average into repairs and upgrades. All the while the value keeps rising, so I would say it was a better investment than payments on a new car would have been back in 2004.

I been kinda searching for the super rare 76 - 77 Olds Cutlass 442 model. Those had the slopped front end and were design just like my Chevrolet Chevelle TypS3s for cheating the wind on the NASCAR speedways. That was the so called "smog era" cars so they were de-tuned chocked down versions sold to the public. I like the 80s Cutlass and 442s as well. Seen some really nice ones lately on internet and in public.

 

[IndyIan]

For $10k I'd buy a Miata and be done with it. You'll have a lot more fun than you would in any of these ancient hulking land yachts and have less problems along the way.

Miata isn't always the answer... The whole point is to have a chromed up hulking land yacht because they will never be made again. Also they are kind of interesting to drive in their own way. My uncle had a mid 70's New Yorker with the big 440 V8 in it and it was like a literal land yacht. Pitched and rolled in the corners and bumps, burbled along the hwy at an idle and then would raise the nose and glide forward past another car with a muted roar. Good fun if you weren't paying for the gas anyways!

 

[RooflessVW]

Miata isn't always the answer... The whole point is to have a chromed up hulking land yacht because they will never be made again. Also they are kind of interesting to drive in their own way. My uncle had a mid 70's New Yorker with the big 440 V8 in it and it was like a literal land yacht. Pitched and rolled in the corners and bumps, burbled along the hwy at an idle and then would raise the nose and glide forward past another car with a muted roar. Good fun if you weren't paying for the gas anyways!

Sounds awful

 

[Kurtatron]

I owned a Miata for 6 years. 1992, it was an awful highway cruiser. RPMs would be screaming in the high 3000s, wind noise from the convertible was unbearable. I would have to shout at my passenger, if driving on the freeway. I sold it. Sure, it was reliable, but it’s more a California car where there are plenty of curvy roads. Awful car where most roads are straight as far as the eye can see.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

I do think a classic car could definitely be in my future. A car like below is perfect. It is owned by a grandma, truly a survivors car. It is exactly the color and interior design that my wife likes. It has 76,000 miles and is all original. for $9k. I can't buy a car like this now, but it is quite apparent that if I avoid big iconic models, I can certainly own an older car. Thanks for the Hemmings.com reference!

You don't want a corvair. That is heavy lifting even for experienced mechanics and restorers,

 

[PF52]

I'd love to have a Corvair.... Particularly the 2nd Gen version. Gorgeous car.

We used to have a very good Corvair-specialty shop in the area but it has closed recently after an ugly divorce. If they were still there, I wouldn't hesitate to own one. Now, probably not so much.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

This is pretty decent. Spend a bit more get more. Interior looks comfy. The Y block V8 was discarded for a more reliable and ubiquitous 302 likely with a C4 behind it. As long as they did the conversion OK it should be good. You can run into driveshaft vibrations with engine / trans swaps if not done right.

I am not a ford fan or a Red color fan (except Fiat and Ferrari) but this is pretty good deal if its a decent driver.
I would want a stick shift in any classic car except a full sized, bigh block Buick that had the killer switch pitch Super Turbine 400.

https://countryclassiccars.com/1958-ford-custom/vehicle-details/?vin=call for vin 12699#prettyPhoto

 

[350Rocket]

I been kinda searching for the super rare 76 - 77 Olds Cutlass 442 model. Those had the slopped front end and were design just like my Chevrolet Chevelle TypS3s for cheating the wind on the NASCAR speedways. That was the so called "smog era" cars so they were de-tuned chocked down versions sold to the public. I like the 80s Cutlass and 442s as well. Seen some really nice ones lately on internet and in public.

I was never as big of a fan of the 73-77 styling but they are a much better chassis than the g body or the 72 and previous a body. A better platform for upgrading and getting good handling out of. Also the mid 70s olds engine seems to just run forever. Mine is a 76 350 olds pulled from the junkyard in 2005 or so. New timing chain and gaskets at that time.

 

[SammyChevelleTypeS3]

I was never as big of a fan of the 73-77 styling but they are a much better chassis than the g body or the 72 and previous a body. A better platform for upgrading and getting good handling out of. Also the mid 70s olds engine seems to just run forever. Mine is a 76 350 olds pulled from the junkyard in 2005 or so. New timing chain and gaskets at that time.

YES. Factory 73-77 "sucked." YET they are perfect to customize and plenty big enough framed to build / modify all day long to your desire / budget!
We rebuilt a 400cui to 30 over , removed all anti pollution as well as darned cat converter and ran headers and duals out the back end. Factory for that one was 180 hp but I would guess with the rebuild / four barrel, the new open exhaust and ram air set up she had over 200hp. No .. never put on a dyno since she was more for show than go. I had pre 73-77 + after Chevys & Olds. My last new Chevy was a white 1986 Monte SS with the 305cui 4bbl and she moved good too until some fools stole and stripped her.

 

[350Rocket]

YES. Factory 73-77 "sucked." YET they are perfect to customize and plenty big enough framed to build / modify all day long to your desire / budget!
We rebuilt a 400cui to 30 over , removed all anti pollution as well as darned cat converter and ran headers and duals out the back end. Factory for that one was 180 hp but I would guess with the rebuild / four barrel, the new open exhaust and ram air set up she had over 200hp. No .. never put on a dyno since she was more for show than go. I had pre 73-77 + after Chevys & Olds. My last new Chevy was a white 1986 Monte SS with the 305cui 4bbl and she moved good too until some fools stole and stripped her.

I think a 73-77 a body could be considered one of the budget friendly classic cars as the prices will be better on them and they can be made to be decent daily drivers just like a g body.

 

[Chris142]

The Lincoln Continental convertible sedan introduced for 1961 was originally supposed to have a retractable hardtop like the Skyliners, but the car was over budget and Ford used a power-retractable soft top instead, while retaining the reverse-hinged trunk lid to stow it.

This guy is very close to me. I have done some ac work for him. https://convertiblelincolns.com/

 

[SammyChevelleTypeS3]

This guy is very close to me. I have done some ac work for him. https://convertiblelincolns.com/

Thanks 4 posting. I spend countless hours looking at and lusting over old American steel. I have almost every single edition of the Hemming's Muscle Machines magazines since they began around 2004 or 2005? Awesome mag if you like autos. What is great is they are not brand bias and cover all American muscle from AMCs to Buick, Plymouth etc..... even Hudson cars.

 

[350Rocket]

Not sure if people here would consider this a classic, it's 38 years old now. My summer daily driver the past 15 years now. It's been sitting collecting leaves since the weekend since I have to drive the truck for work and leave right from my house to the first job now. I spend less on this car per year than the average person with a 10 year old car likely would on it.

 

[tbm3fan]

Educate me on classic cars. I have been itching for a classic car. I want to have one machine in my possession that is my toy, unlike my economy cars which I care little for.

I don’t want a fast sports car, or loud muscle car.

I want a stylish car. To me, 70s and older cars have style much beyond modern cars, probably because safety and aerodynamics didn’t take precedence in those years. But the style of the Bel Aire, Star Chief, etc are artistic marvels to me. I love their interiors especially.

Is it possible to own one of these for sub $10k? I don’t need an iconic car like a Bel Aire, but something with style iconic of the decade. All I want is weekend reliability, functioning AC and a reasonably clean interior and paint job.

I am mechanically inclined. I have repaired a carburetor and swapped an engine, but have done no body work.

Does anyone have experience owning a classic car?

Let's see. First half Baby Boomer. Check. Started working on cars when 14 1/2 years old. Check. Have five cars between 1965-1973. Did all the work myself except upholstery and the machine work on engine rebuilds. So the picture below shows four as the Cougar is in the garage and these four had to move out of the driveway for the tree trimmers. In order of purchase.

1968 Cougar. Under my care since April 1968. One engine rebuild for the heck of it in 1975. One cylinder head rebuild in 2019 for $500 which is the most spent of that car at one time. Outside of intake, cam, and headers everything is original to April 1968.

1968 Mustang. Bought 1984 for $1800. Over six years spent about $5000 including engine rebuild, upholstery that I did, and paint that I did. Throw in small stuff and you get $5K. No money spent since 1990 as it has been trouble free.

1967 Park Lane. Bought 2003 for $900. No one wanted it back then. All original to this day. Biggest expense the rear suspension rebuild I just did at $475. The front rebuild cost me maybe $200. The Autolite 4300, by the late Jon at Pony Carb, was $350 and the best money ever spent. Changing timing chains, water pumps, brakes are basic expected items. She is super fun to drive in it's own way.

1965 F-100. Bought in 2006 for $1250. Spent $6000 between 2006-2013 including full engine rebuild, seat redone to exact 1965 specs by an upholsterer, and body work/paint by me. Recently did new king pins and a full rebuild of the front suspension and dual master at around $450.

1973 Polara Spring Special. Bought 2010 for $1400. Again no one wanted. Engine fine. Mileage under 100,000. Needed usual wear stuff gone through from brakes, carb, suspension, ignition (made HEI for it). Found lots of NOS trim on eBay back then cheap at the time as there is no more. I bought it. That totals around $1500. My upholstery guy did new vinyl roof and headliner for $1200. I did the paint for $500 using PPG DP40 and PPG Concept SS.

The biggest most constant expense is tires. Did four cars in 2020 and two this year.

 

[SammyChevelleTypeS3]

Cutlass and Buick Regals back then (both from GMC) had very similar front ends. That is a Cutlass I guess?
I can tell you in most states , they will issue you an "antique vehicle" plate and exempt you from regular inspections etc... if your car is over 25 years old.

 

[Scuder]

Cutlass and Buick Regals back then (both from GMC) had very similar front ends. That is a Cutlass I guess?
I can tell you in most states , they will issue you an "antique vehicle" plate and exempt you from regular inspections etc... if your car is over 25 years old.

That car is in Canada. Can't you tell by all the maple leaves?

 

[Kurtatron]

Let's see. First half Baby Boomer. Check. Started working on cars when 14 1/2 years old. Check. Have five cars between 1965-1973. Did all the work myself except upholstery and the machine work on engine rebuilds. So the picture below shows four as the Cougar is in the garage and these four had to move out of the driveway for the tree trimmers. In order of purchase.

1968 Cougar. Under my care since April 1968. One engine rebuild for the heck of it in 1975. One cylinder head rebuild in 2019 for $500 which is the most spent of that car at one time. Outside of intake, cam, and headers everything is original to April 1968.

1968 Mustang. Bought 1984 for $1800. Over six years spent about $5000 including engine rebuild, upholstery that I did, and paint that I did. Throw in small stuff and you get $5K. No money spent since 1990 as it has been trouble free.

1967 Park Lane. Bought 2003 for $900. No one wanted it back then. All original to this day. Biggest expense the rear suspension rebuild I just did at $475. The front rebuild cost me maybe $200. The Autolite 4300, by the late Jon at Pony Carb, was $350 and the best money ever spent. Changing timing chains, water pumps, brakes are basic expected items. She is super fun to drive in it's own way.

1965 F-100. Bought in 2006 for $1250. Spent $6000 between 2006-2013 including full engine rebuild, seat redone to exact 1965 specs by an upholsterer, and body work/paint by me. Recently did new king pins and a full rebuild of the front suspension and dual master at around $450.

1973 Polara Spring Special. Bought 2010 for $1400. Again no one wanted. Engine fine. Mileage under 100,000. Needed usual wear stuff gone through from brakes, carb, suspension, ignition (made HEI for it). Found lots of NOS trim on eBay back then cheap at the time as there is no more. I bought it. That totals around $1500. My upholstery guy did new vinyl roof and headliner for $1200. I did the paint for $500 using PPG DP40 and PPG Concept SS.

The biggest most constant expense is tires. Did four cars in 2020 and two this year.

Now wait a moment, that is a great collection, and impressive work you've done as well. But what about the tool expense? I mean do you have a machine shop? I just have some sockets, wrenches, jacks, and a drill. Painting a whole honking car yourself? Doing upholstery? Sounds like a life-long hobby for sure, but what is the tool expense here?

 

[clinebarger]

Cutlass and Buick Regals back then (both from GMC) had very similar front ends. That is a Cutlass I guess?

Bet there are well over 100 differences between a G-Body Old's Cutlass & Buick Regal. The divider between the grilles is a textbook Oldsmobile trait.