Whats the most classic vehicle you've driven?

"CAR_IS_MI" (car-is-mi) 09/04/2013 at 14:40 • Filed to: None

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As the early morning humdrum of econoboxes flys past me on my ride into work it hits me; "God this thing is slow".

I don't usually take my hard tail to work due to traffic and road construction, but after two full weekends of rain, I just needed to ride. The bike is a 34 year old, 650cc, parallel twin, which, in its hay day made around 40 horsepower.

As I cruise around 65 using all the bike has, I ask myself "why the hell did I buy this thing?" I've owned all sorts of sport bikes and cruisers that could keep up and outpace all these econo cars, yet here I sit, watching the soccer moms fly by.

But there is something about an old vehicle. Its hard to describe to someone who's never experienced something like it. There is a smell, or a noise, a vibration which would send any cell phone toting executive running towards the closest BMW dealership.

For me its the challenge of keeping something older going. The little quirks that come with knowing an old vehicle. And this brought me to my question: What is the most classic vehicle I've driven (or ridden in)?

While I have been around and worked with a plethora of classic vehicles, it hit me that I have never driven or ridden i. Anything older than my grandfathers old Mark III Continental (at least that I can recall), and the two late seventies motorcycles I own.

As Jalops, were mostly all fans of classic vehicles, but what is the most classic vehicle you have ever driven (or ridden in)?

TheLOUDMUSIC- Put it in H! > CAR_IS_MI 09/04/2013 at 14:42

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1967 Chevy G10 work van. 327 and a 3on the tree.

Hoccy > CAR_IS_MI 09/04/2013 at 14:43

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To make it a bit original: Massey Ferguson 35x

For Sweden > CAR_IS_MI 09/04/2013 at 14:43

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Baja Bug

AbigGRNboot > CAR_IS_MI 09/04/2013 at 14:44

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1964 Biscayne. Owned by a buddy, second owner, all original, 24,000 miles.

Won awards everywhere he took it.

I always thought it looked like a baby Impala.

(not actual pic, but same everything.)

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > CAR_IS_MI 09/04/2013 at 14:44

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This car:

1935 V12 Packard Phaeton Convertible; it was every bit as glorious as you think it is.

Firewrx234 > CAR_IS_MI 09/04/2013 at 14:45

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Most classic (and by classic for this part I mean old) I've driven... is a 1989 Toyota Camry running on 2 of 6 cylinders.

Most classic I've ridden in... 1957 bel air convertible. It's my great uncle's and he drives around the Indy 500 drivers in the parade every year. Beautiful ride.

NinetyQ > CAR_IS_MI 09/04/2013 at 14:45

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Driving and riding in are two hugely different things for me.

For driving, our '52 Buick which you've probably heard of on here. For riding, the oldest thing I've ridden in was probably my great-grandpa's 1916 Model T. The one that made the biggest impression on me though was my cousin's custom-built boat-tail speedster 1923 Model T. I loved that car.

Party-vi > CAR_IS_MI 09/04/2013 at 14:47

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64 year old Jeep as my fair weather driver.

Decay buys too many beaters > CAR_IS_MI 09/04/2013 at 14:48

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Most classic I've ever owned is my '82 XV750, but the "most classic" I've driven are...

My dads 1965 Corvair Corsa Convertible, and my uncle's (who the hell knows what year) Ford Model T. Let me tell you driving that Model T on public roads was one of the most stressful experiences of my life. The controls are totally counter intuitive to anyone who is used to the modern conventional car layout.

CAR_IS_MI > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 09/04/2013 at 14:49

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This sounds awesome!

Kawaii-Gon Jinn > CAR_IS_MI 09/04/2013 at 14:49

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A Type 55 Caddie Tourer

Frank Grimes > CAR_IS_MI 09/04/2013 at 14:50

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61 VW Type 1

Eric Siedlecki > CAR_IS_MI 09/04/2013 at 14:50

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The most classic I've driven is probably my fiancee's 1975 Plymouth Valiant, seen here:

Ridden in though, is probably her dad's 1965 Pontiac Tempest Sedan, seen here:

With a Hot Rod magazine article about it here .

HammerheadFistpunch > CAR_IS_MI 09/04/2013 at 14:51

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My grandma used to own a 1930 (I think) plymouth convertible rambler similar to this one. three on the floor, it was an interesting drive, quite good actually.

Sidenote - floor starters are awesome and should make a comeback.

Frank Grimes > AbigGRNboot 09/04/2013 at 14:51

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The impala is the same car but a package of better equipment and more chrome trim etc.

J. Walter Weatherman > CAR_IS_MI 09/04/2013 at 14:51

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What makes a car more "classic" than another? Simply being older, or something else?

The oldest I have driven was this 1956 Packard I (very briefly) owned.

The classic that I have the most wheel time with was this 1965 Skylark, which was my DD for several years, and probably my favorite classic that I have driven.

The most iconic of the classics that I have driven (and probably most popular among Jalops) would either be my (former) '77 Land Cruiser FJ55, or my father-in-law's '65 FJ45.

dieselwagon > CAR_IS_MI 09/04/2013 at 14:52

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'72 Triumph Stag Mk I (original triumph 3.0 V8, 4-spd manual w/ overdrive!)

J. Walter Weatherman > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 09/04/2013 at 14:52

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You lucky SOB. That is incredible!

AbigGRNboot > Frank Grimes 09/04/2013 at 14:53

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Shortened platform? It appeared much smaller to me.

philipilihp > CAR_IS_MI 09/04/2013 at 14:54

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1999 Saturn SL2. What a classic...

Klaus Schmoll > CAR_IS_MI 09/04/2013 at 14:55

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Wartburg 353, and classic Mini.

liquid_popcorn > CAR_IS_MI 09/04/2013 at 14:55

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1929 Model A, 3-speed. Navy.

Second would be a 1960s Ural motorcycle with sidecar; my wife was my passenger. Tremendous fun until the electricals took a shit and the bike wouldn't restart.

Most classic car I've been a passenger in was probably a 1940 Ford Deluxe Coupe, in burgundy. Fucking gorgeous car.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > CAR_IS_MI 09/04/2013 at 14:56

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The sound, the smell, the feels; all awesome.

From downtown Dayton, Ohio to downtown Bellbrook, Ohio to pick up a wedding party. The trip back was at night, in the rain, with wipers that sort-of worked.

I think I probably ground every gear-change. I could drive a manual, but I was used to a modern synchronized manual, and those old non-synchro trannys Do Not like to be rushed.

It's seriously about the coolest thing I done.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > J. Walter Weatherman 09/04/2013 at 14:57

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Oh it was indeed.

Frank Grimes > AbigGRNboot 09/04/2013 at 14:58

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nope. The sedan roof might make it appear that way but they are identical cars. I actually prefer the biscayne because it is a cheaper stripped down car the drag racers would use and order it with the 427 or 409 depending on the year. With a 4 speed and heavy duty rear end it would be a fun car.

HammerheadFistpunch > J. Walter Weatherman 09/04/2013 at 14:58

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you have a 55 too?

duurtlang > CAR_IS_MI 09/04/2013 at 14:58

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I drove one of these once. The old one. Sadly only around the block, but it was fun none the less. It's so incredibly tiny, yet it had a backseat less useless than some much larger modern cars and I (6'3") could fit just fine in the front seats.

maximillious > CAR_IS_MI 09/04/2013 at 14:59

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1975 Cosworth Vega

AbigGRNboot > Frank Grimes 09/04/2013 at 15:01

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Mazarin > CAR_IS_MI 09/04/2013 at 15:02

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I love that bike. When I get one, that's nearly the exact style I want.

As for the topic - The highlight of my Sr. Prom was driving my dad's 69 Pontiac Catalina Convertible:

J. Walter Weatherman > HammerheadFistpunch 09/04/2013 at 15:02

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Not anymore :(

I had to sell the 55 and the Packard to help pay for my wedding and the down payment on our house a few years back. Now that we are just about done with house renovations, I am saving up to buy some classics again. And now I actually have the garage space to properly store/work on them!

Frank Grimes > AbigGRNboot 09/04/2013 at 15:04

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I hope I am not sounding like a know it all but I just like these cars. They also offered it in a Bel Air trim which I guess was a in between trim biscayne being the cheapest and impala being the top.

HammerheadFistpunch > J. Walter Weatherman 09/04/2013 at 15:06

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I've always loved the 55, but It would have to be a full on restoration with a power swap for me to consider one. My dream looks like this

Frame up restoration with SBC

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > CAR_IS_MI 09/04/2013 at 15:08

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Either the '63 Plymouth Fury, or the '21 Model T.

AbigGRNboot > Frank Grimes 09/04/2013 at 15:11

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Not at all.

As a teen from the 90's at one point there was nothing cooler than a 'six fo' (du dunt duh).

CAR_IS_MI > Mazarin 09/04/2013 at 15:26

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Thanks.

And I had a friend with a Catalina back in the day, thing is a boat! Cool car though, I am pretty sure you need a tug boat licence in most states to drive one.

CAR_IS_MI > duurtlang 09/04/2013 at 15:27

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I would love to drive one of these around the block just to see what it is like. I feel like you might have to limit groceries to two bags worth though, or make multiple trips...

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > CAR_IS_MI 09/04/2013 at 15:35

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There's something about the smell of the burning oil and exhaust on old engines that nothing new can replicate. It's not a complaint. It' s just that older cars appealed to all of your senses at once. New ones mostly don't.

duurtlang > CAR_IS_MI 09/04/2013 at 15:38

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Depending on your bags obviously, but you could fit much more. It doesn't have a very practical luggage compartment though. The engine is in the back, the front does have a small trunk. And there's the back seat, which will house some groceries.

Mazarin > CAR_IS_MI 09/04/2013 at 15:45

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He got it in RI w/ only 42K mi on it. Still had the original bias-ply tires on it. Drove it from RI to Chicago w/ no issues. We found it was sideswiped previously and had rust issues. They "fixed" it w/ about 5 gallons of filler and a Busch beer can. We banged it all out of the driver-rear quarter panel, some chunks were over an inch thick!

J. Walter Weatherman > HammerheadFistpunch 09/04/2013 at 16:34

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Yeah, I loved the car, but a stock 55 is pretty difficult to have if it is your only off roader. The biggest problem was the inability to cruise at highway speeds. It topped out at about 60 mph. Virtually all off roading that I do requires taking a highway to get there, so that was a major limiting factor. Another big problem was the lack of power steering. When you are on a decently rocky trail, you are just constantly fighting against the steering wheel. It gets quite exhausting on longer trails, and I would usually have a sore shoulder the next day after taking the 55 off road.

HammerheadFistpunch > J. Walter Weatherman 09/04/2013 at 16:40

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I was going to mention that. I don't know if you saw the video I uploaded recently about my trail drive but its was baby heads for 2 hours, I couldn't even imagine doing that in leaf spring/no ps. The 80 was so cushy i just ook my hands off the wheel and let the ruts do the tracking while the low range kept my speed up. I could have read a book. It was actually amazingly comfy.

DasWauto > Hoccy 09/04/2013 at 18:30

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Well, you beat me to it. We had a very similar tractor when we lived in the Netherlands. I'd have to ask my parents to make sure but I think it was a 35 as well. After that the most classic vehicle I've driven is an old Zetor tractor (late 70's, maybe '80 or '81), then an early e30 ('85 I think) and my own e30 ('90).

johncalvinyoung > dieselwagon 09/04/2013 at 21:27

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SWEET. That's a pretty uncommon Triumph over here!

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > CAR_IS_MI 09/04/2013 at 23:04

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Oldest I've driven was this '68 Firebird

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Oldest I've ridden in was a 50something Bentley. It was years ago, and I don't remember the car well but I do recall feeling like I was inside a tank.

JasonStern911 > CAR_IS_MI 09/05/2013 at 01:51

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on an extended basis, probably a 1977 bmw 530i:

(not the one, but similar)

That, or if motorcycles are included, a BMW R80:

(again, not the one, but similar)

fintail > CAR_IS_MI 09/05/2013 at 10:49

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As in drove rather than moved or rode in...part of my learning to drive was in a 60 Ford Country Sedan - this was in the 90s, so the car was fairly old then, my dad figuring that if I could park and maneuver the huge thing in tight spaces, I could handle anything:

And I still drive this old thing at least a couple times a month, it's not much newer than the Ford:

Poundingsand > CAR_IS_MI 09/05/2013 at 11:10

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That is a tough question. How do you define classic?

I've borrowed a Citroen 2CV. Also a '78 Mercedes 280SL. And a 68 Porsche 911 Targa. I've owned:

1974 BMW Bavaria

1972 BMW 2002

1976 BMW 2002tii

1965 Porsche 912 sunroof

1966 Austin Sprite (Spridget)

1968 MG Midget

Which is the most "classic"?

CAR_IS_MI > Poundingsand 09/05/2013 at 12:51

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The term "classic" is rather subjective. Those are all Classic vehicles (IMOO).

911e46z06 > CAR_IS_MI 09/11/2013 at 04:22

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This rockin '49 served with distinction for 20 years as my boat-hauler in Alaska. Talk about a maintenance nightmare. Ever tried to get a generator for a 1949 Jeep Willys to an Alaskan town accessible only by boat or seaplane on short notice?