Restored Older Car for DD?

[Phishin]

I'm undecided what I'll do. Too bad El Camino's are so darn expensive right now.

If I'm going to spend $25k for a restored car to be used as a DD, I would just assume buy a new car.

I would like to stay around $8-->$15k. I bet it comes down to finding the car I want and making a compulsive decision.

Lots of people suggesting to buy an older truck. I think that's a good idea. I already have one though. And she is about SHOT. The body is good. Paint is faded and clear coat is peeling. Engine is TIRED. I know I can find a "restored" truck with 5-10k miles on it after restoration for cheaper than I can fix up my truck for.

But it would be fun to work on my old beast.

 

[SteveSRT8]

We went through a 'restore the old truck' phase around here with two or three old Chevy's. Just sold one recently, you never get what you have invested, definitely not the time.

It has to be a labor of LOVE, the kind that keeps you after it when most would stop. Tons of hands on work with my son was a relationship building experience that cannot be equalled easily!

 

[Scott_Tucker]

Don't think that because a car has low miles that it will be in good condition. There is nothing worse for a car than time. I restore cars for a living so I see it all the time. Rubber particularly takes a beating just over the years so suspension bushings and the like can be totally destroyed even if the car has sat in a heated garage. We get cars in that are 25 years old and only have a few hundred miles on them and they need major work on them because of this.

 

[andyd]

Note my sig. The 528e is a reliable DD. It is very easy to maintain for a DIYer. The innards of the M20 are used in the 12 cylinder BMWs. Find a good one for 4K$ and expect to put another 2K$ into it to base line it for daily use. Do not let 150K miles + scare you. Maintenance records are a big plus.

The Rat isn't a daily driver. but with decent maintenance, it could be.

10K will buy you a a very nice 80's BMW. 1995 and up, not so much.

 

[MCompact]

Originally Posted By: andyd
Note my sig. The 528e is a reliable DD. It is very easy to maintain for a DIYer. The innards of the M20 are used in the 12 cylinder BMWs. Find a good one for 4K$ and expect to put another 2K$ into it to base line it for daily use. Do not let 150K miles + scare you. Maintenance records are a big plus.

The Rat isn't a daily driver. but with decent maintenance, it could be.

10K will buy you a a very nice 80's BMW. 1995 and up, not so much.


I sometimes use my 136k mile 1995 Club Sport as a daily driver- and I often do as long as there is no salt on the roads. However, I'm reluctant to mile it up too much since it is relatively rare(one of @400 Club Sports, and one of five built without a hole in the roof), I still use it as my HPDE instructor car, and I'm the original owner. I've replaced the thermostat, a heater hose fitting, a brake light switch, LCABs, and a timing chain tensioner. Nothing else but regular maintenance, brakes, and EHP summer tires. It's a keeper...

 

[HM12460]

I still regret selling my old (don't laugh now!) 1973 Ford LTD 2 door. It was a winter stored car and had lower miles, and I just liked it.

 

[MCompact]

Originally Posted By: HM12460
I still regret selling my old (don't laugh now!) 1973 Ford LTD 2 door. It was a winter stored car and had lower miles, and I just liked it.


I actually kind of miss the 1974 Monte Carlo I drove and modded in high school and college. Still, If I wanted another domestic car from the '70s it would either be a 1972 Z/28 RS or a 1973/1974 Grand Am(I love the electric shaver front end and the quasi-European interior).

 

[FXjohn]

Originally Posted By: Chris142
I DD'D my 73 internationl from 95 till 02. Takes a special type of person to DD one of those. Have to know what parts interchange with other cars as most parts places don't show much in their computer system .


I'd get a mid 90's GM truck with OBDII and call it a day.

 

[FXjohn]

or

http://swmi.craigslist.org/cto/4039365143.html

and then get it rustchecked in Ft Wayne