Can You Really Daily Drive A Classic Car?

"J. Drew Silvers" (drewcoustic) 08/14/2014 at 09:41 • Filed to: tips, blog, oppositeblog, old cars, daily driver, will it daily

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When I was fifteen, I began restoring my 1966 Ford Mustang which I drove daily from age sixteen to seventeen - in all of its dual exhaust, low-geared, four barrel carburetor, nine mile per gallon glory (I still have that car). At age twenty-two, I bought a 1979 MGB which was the most moody little thing I have ever owned and liked to set herself on fire when she was feeling just the right flavor of pissy. Following the MGB was a 1979 CJ7, which was my second open top Jeep and lots of fun, but didn't serve much of a purpose in my small stable of vehicles. Career changes and life itself led to me selling off everything but the Mustang and the low mile 1997 Thunderbird my grandfather drove before he passed away, until its 4.6L V8 decided it would rather be a solid block of steel and alloy one night somewhere outside of Atlanta. The question at this point was whether or not I should get an economical beigemobile with fuel injection and air conditioning, only to blend in with everyone else or go back to my habit of buying vintage metal.

I had owned old cars, but hadn't ever depended on one without a backup vehicle (my Mustang is undergoing a slow restoration in my garage at the moment). Then I decided for the sake of personal entertainment, momentary insanity, and actually wanting to write about it on here, I bought my 1963 Mercury Comet on June 13th, 2014 which had been pulled from a barn a month prior to my purchase and brought up to "drive-able" condition.

The day I picked her up:

Specs:

-Sedan

-Built in July of 1962

-170 cu. in. I6

-3-speed manual on the column

-84,563 original miles

My little Comet made the nearly forty mile drive home just fine other than having a stumble here and there in the lower end of the powerband, which is to be expected with a carburetor that had been sitting up for a few decades. The guy who sold it to me replaced two brake lines, the radiator, and the distributor cap and rotor, but that was pretty much it. When I brought it home, I flushed all the fluids, took the valve cover off, and scraped the sludge off the valvetrain before giving it a Seafoam treatment to blow out the cobwebs. Everything ran well for about a week until the lever for the column shift came off in my hand in a parking lot and I had the car towed for the first time.

Broken shift collar on the left and new-ish one on the right:

My uncle isn't a mechanic, but he had the silver one in a box in his garage because it was a spare for my grandfather's 1961 Ford F-100. My grandfather died in 1994 but he sold that truck in 1990. Weird coincidence.

Thirty minutes later, I had it all back together and my steering shaft was also given a fresh coat of grease:

A week later (to the day) I was driving to a meeting, put my foot on the clutch pedal and something "popped" really loudly as the clutch pedal bottomed out on the floorboard and didn't spring back up toward me.

Tow truck number two:

Apparently, the Ford pressure plates of that era have three fingers that retain the entire circumference of the mating surface and they are prone to failure. What happened to me exactly? That "pop" was one of the three cast iron fingers snapping off.

Dropped the tranny:

Dropping the tranny took about thrity minutes, but dropping the driveshaft, letting the fluid drain out, dropping the crossmember, removing the linkage, etc. took another half hour. If you look at the bellhousing, you can see a big hole right by the starter motor bulge where the retaining finger failed to retain itself and went right through it. I JB Welded that closed.

There was only one parts store in all of Metro Atlanta with the clutch kit I needed, so I went to an Auto Zone in the ghetto the next morning and bought it for $250. A little over twenty-four hours after my breakdown, the car was back on the road.

Bonus fun fact: The original owner of the car had wired up a set of the original keys in the engine bay that I found while changing the clutch:

A week after that, the little bit of cancer on the two back doors was slowly growing, so I fixed that:

Not an exact match, but I am going to respray the whole car the right way in the not so distant future.

Two weeks later, after meeting with a client, the generator started making noise on me and seized completely, which required an overhaul.

$20 worth of bearings and thirty minutes of my time later, it was back in the car. But, to prove the barn authenticity of this thing, there was a dirt dobber nest INSIDE the generator housing. (If you look closely, you will also see the imploded remains of the former commutator ball bearing.)

A few weeks went by without incident for the most part other than replacing one of the tires, which I did myself with the spare tire that was in the trunk. By the way, there was a spare TIRE in the trunk when I bought the car. No wheel, but a tire. I pulled the old tire off the rim with hand tools, replaced it with the spare and had it back on the car in about twenty minutes. It balanced out just fine without any added weights, so count that as a win.

Last week, the generator kept falling out of polarity, and since I was getting sick of electrocuting the dog snot out of myself by arcing the field wire to the battery wire every other time I drove it, I set out to buy a new one. Unfortunately, I found out I would have to order one since nobody stocks them around here anymore. I mentioned it to my uncle today and he again dug around in his garage, only to find this:

Yes, that was a spare, new in the box from my grandfather's long gone truck. Five minutes later, it ran like a champ again.

So, the question of the hour which I asked at the beginning of this article: "Can You Really Daily Drive A Classic Car"

Answer: Yes. But you have to be committed to it and like an adventure.

My whole theory behind having this car was that I would be able to drive an uncommon vehicle that may have initial reliability problems due to the age and time spent sitting around, but the odds of a major issue would be slim. Nothing that has happened to this car thus far has caused it to be out of commission for longer than a day because the parts are still available and can be over-nighted without charge by most parts stores if need be.

Insurance (with towing) - $26/mo.

Gas mileage - 25mpg/city

Short of the clutch change, everything I have had to do to it took less than an hour and most of it could be performed roadside in a pinch. I wouldn't want to take it on a fifty-mile round-trip commute as it sits everyday because of the lack of highway gearing, but if it had overdrive, I wouldn't hesitate to do so. The parts are cheap enough that you can keep a hoard of common spares in the trunk, with about $50 worth of good tools and not think too much about a breakdown being a big issue as long as you know how cars work. You wont find a more mechanically simple car to wrench on than an old Ford Falcon or Mercury Comet this side of a vintage VW Beetle.

No, driving a classic car daily isn't the most maintenance free thing to do and it certainly isn't for everyone, but it can be done if you are willing to spend a little time tweaking and repairing here and there.

The trade off is the people you meet, the people who give you a thumbs-up when you're driving to work, the expression on people's faces when you tell them it is your primary mode of transportation, and... for me...having a car that everyone says matches your personality to the letter.

This car makes me smile everyday.

-Drew

http://www.jdrewsilvers.com

CalzoneGolem > J. Drew Silvers 08/14/2014 at 09:47

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I was liking this car before. Now I am in love.

505Turbeaux > J. Drew Silvers 08/14/2014 at 09:57

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100% you can. Hell classic cars were just the daily drivers of yesterday anyways.

Even drove a goddamn BMW 502 3200 super for a summer. Fuck it. If you dont drive it, it aint a car

BJohnson11 > J. Drew Silvers 08/14/2014 at 09:59

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I'm currently trying to decide if I want to take the plunge and DD my 74 C10. I have another vehicle, so right now its the project street/strip truck, and the 454 makes for an awful dding motor (6 mpg is fun!), but its always been a thought in the back of my head.

boobytrapsandtreasure > J. Drew Silvers 08/14/2014 at 10:00

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Drew, I enjoyed reading this. I've often thought about buying and DDing a car much like yours. I came darn close a few years ago to buying a sweet looking black four door Mercury Comet. Sadly there was major structural rust problems with it. The unibody construction was not no much *uni* if you catch my drift. My dad is fond of saying that a six cylinder Ford product from the '60s is one of the easiest and least costly cars to own and maintain. He should know having owned two Mustangs and a Falcon of that vintage with the secretary six pack and three on the tree. I hope you have a long happy experience with your Comet. I live in the Kennesaw/Acworth area. I hope I get to see her on the road sometime.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > J. Drew Silvers 08/14/2014 at 10:05

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The first thing that should be mentioned after how cheap these fixes were is that they're almost entirely a result of age and sitting. With a modern car that starts at a very high level of reliability, you'd often see a decrease in reliability over time, but with something like this that tends to have mostly "sitting" related problems, the opposite is true to a point.

Bandit > J. Drew Silvers 08/14/2014 at 10:14

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Yes. Yes you can. I dd my 2nd gen Trans Am (when it is not in the shop).

DatASSun > J. Drew Silvers 08/14/2014 at 10:16

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I bought the datsun June of last year. Within 2 hours of buying it drove it 3 hours to Austin. Ran great for a year with very minor issues and decent 19mpg . in January the car took a dumb and I swapped a 5.3 with a cam into it. Got the car running two sundays ago . Drove it around for a few hours then again straight 3 hours to austin and got better MPG than the stock 6 cylinder. Daily driving a classic is totally the place to be if you're truly a car guy.

twochevrons > J. Drew Silvers 08/14/2014 at 10:19

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I really enjoyed reading this. I, for one, hold no stock in the whole "old cars are unreliable" argument against daily-driving an older car. Most of that unreliability can be dealt with by proper maintenance, and their simplicity means that if something does go wrong, it's almost always possible to jury-rig it to get you home, and then fix it yourself.

Not long after I had my MGA back on the road, the jet on one of the carburettors blocked up, causing it to run massively lean. I wasn't able to clear it, so I just unhooked its throttle plate from the linkage, richened up the other carb a bit, and drove home on one carb. Easy!

Once I fix up the roof and side curtains, I plan on using the MGA as my daily driver. Maybe not in winter, since it lacks a heater and is somewhat rust-prone, but for the rest of the year, it'd be wonderful! Cars are meant to be used, and it saddens me to see all these classics that are only used as showpieces. Mine might not be the best-looking MGA out there (not by a long shot), but at least it will be out there!

spanfucker retire bitch > J. Drew Silvers 08/14/2014 at 10:23

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You look like Mitch Hedberg.

RazoE > J. Drew Silvers 08/14/2014 at 10:25

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Joe Dirt?

Pixel > J. Drew Silvers 08/14/2014 at 10:32

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Every time I read about your comet I get jealous as I never managed to get my '62 to a state where DDing it was possible.

FYI, in case you weren't already aware, your Comet is actually a '63 model. They were often titled the year they were sold even if they were the new model year, so you probably have an early '63 model. Mostly it won't matter except some of the front suspension parts will be different from the beefing up the chassis got in '63 to be able to handle having a V8 in it.

J. Drew Silvers > RazoE 08/14/2014 at 10:34

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Stopped cutting my hair the day I stopped drinking two years ago. It's a reminder of my sobriety and will be a donation to charity this October.

J. Drew Silvers > Pixel 08/14/2014 at 10:42

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Sorry you didn't get yours to DD status. Pick up another one sometime if you can, but they're slowly appreciating in value these days.

I know it's a 1963. Says so right in the second paragraph, my friend.

J. Drew Silvers > twochevrons 08/14/2014 at 10:47

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Thanks for the words! And I'm happy you get to experience the wonderful world of MG. Like you said, you can limp an old car home with a few turns of a screwdriver most of the time instead of having a stupid dash light tell you nothing about what's happening without a scan tool. I love it.

J. Drew Silvers > DatASSun 08/14/2014 at 10:49

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You speak the truth. As long as you're not one of those people who frantically drive to the dealership when you hear a creak in the suspension, classic all the way.

Pixel > J. Drew Silvers 08/14/2014 at 10:51

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I mis-read it as a '62, I have no idea why. More coffee is clearly needed.

I bought a '64 falcon wagon(and sold it when I bought an old house and needed a truck). I'm very tempted to get some stripe of falcon/comet wagon when I have the time and money for multiple classics.

J. Drew Silvers > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 08/14/2014 at 10:52

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You're very much right. Gaskets get dry and leak, bearings get dried out and fall apart, etc. Seals around the doors are probably the worst about deteriorating. If the car had been driven down the street once a month, some of the mechanical problems wouldn't have happened, I'm sure.

J. Drew Silvers > BJohnson11 08/14/2014 at 10:53

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Haha. Do you and embrace the mpg. I sure couldn't afford it.

J. Drew Silvers > 505Turbeaux 08/14/2014 at 10:54

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Agreed. The only holdback for commutes is the highway gearing that helps these days. I'm sort of looking for a solution to that while keeping it on the column.

505Turbeaux > J. Drew Silvers 08/14/2014 at 10:55

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external overdrive? Like a Fairey on an old Land Rover?

J. Drew Silvers > CalzoneGolem 08/14/2014 at 10:55

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Red steelies! Still looking for centers.

J. Drew Silvers > boobytrapsandtreasure 08/14/2014 at 10:57

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Thanks for the comment! We can meet up if you come to Caffeine & Octane in Alpharetta. It's the first Sunday morning of every month. Loads of cars.

CalzoneGolem > J. Drew Silvers 08/14/2014 at 10:57

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FACT: red steelies are the best thing ever.

J. Drew Silvers > spanfucker retire bitch 08/14/2014 at 10:57

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I think I've been told that before.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Pixel 08/14/2014 at 10:59

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I saw a '63 four door *and* a '64 two-door yesterday. I was like "is there some kind of convention nobody told me about?"

J. Drew Silvers > 505Turbeaux 08/14/2014 at 11:00

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Yep, exactly. There is a push button unit that bolts to the tailshaft of this transmission. I hope to find one some day.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > 505Turbeaux 08/14/2014 at 11:00

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Might be possible to burgle the electric overdrive from a Volvo 240. Or this: https://www.gearvendors.com/

J. Drew Silvers > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 08/14/2014 at 11:03

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There was an article I read recently about the surge in popularity of Falcons. The hipsters left behind Volvo 240s when the prices went up and have started migrating to Falcons on the west coast apparently. Maybe it's catching on elsewhere.

J. Drew Silvers > Pixel 08/14/2014 at 11:04

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Haha. Have one for me too. I'm fighting some groggy stuff of my own.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > J. Drew Silvers 08/14/2014 at 11:07

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I bought a Falcon before it was cool. No, seriously, I bought my Ranchero last August, which means the hipsters must genuflect to me As Unto A God.

If you find that article, link it. Sounds interesting.

Pixel > J. Drew Silvers 08/14/2014 at 11:07

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Depending what gearing your rearend is, it might be worth swapping to a mid-70s Maverick rearend. They tended to have higher gearing and are only 1" wider. You do have to modify the spring plates to fit the wider U-bolts and will have to get a custom rubber brake line as you need the rear fitting from the maverick hose but the length of the comet hose. The driveshaft, ebrake cables, etc. all swap over.

J. Drew Silvers > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 08/14/2014 at 11:25

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Hahaha. I'll do some digging a little later.

LumberJunk > J. Drew Silvers 08/14/2014 at 11:26

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Oh yeah you can! I daily drove a 1979 BMW 6-series and it was incredible. Got the same fuel mileage as my 2006 Cobalt and it was super easy to fix (even though it rarely ever broke). Yes I was dealing with electrical gremlins on a weekly basis, but it was always the same issues.

Pros:

The car was dirt cheap
Parts were cheap
Decent fuel economy
Everyone loved it
It looks super cool
Reliable
No emissions to worry about
Did not attract police
Quick repair times
The pros are endless!

Cons:

Electrical was confusing
Stereo didn't work
Occasionally fixing rust spots on wheel arches
No cup holders
Everyone asked how I could afford it (EASY! IT WAS CHEAPER THAN YOUR NEON)
Everyone HAD to talk about their "old classic" 1991 Plymouth Breeze that they have at home

Verdict: It's the best worst decision you can make. Because vehicle purchases don't necessarily have to make sense.

Hoccy > J. Drew Silvers 08/14/2014 at 16:49

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Sure! I've daily driven a 1970 Volvo 142 all summer with almost no problems. The only fix was a 25$ part that I got new, and I probably have to change the brake pads now. The odometer has stopped at 350000 km so I have no idea how much I've driven it or how good/bad the gas mileage is, but it sure is more fun than driving a new car! Of course those cars can run forever if you keep the rust away, which is why I keep it inside during winter.

Now your car is slightly older, but I don't think it's any worse when it comes to driving it. I also know someone that is using a Volvo Duett panel van all year, so it's possible to do even older!

TA4K > J. Drew Silvers 08/14/2014 at 17:24

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I plan to DD my 1970 Triumph 2000 when I finish getting it sanded and painted and tidy up a few things. I was surprised to find that there is a huge new parts base for the car, and it is actually easier to get bits for my 44yr old English car than my '94 toyota, or my Dad's 07 Peugeot.

J. Drew Silvers > TA4K 08/14/2014 at 17:49

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The old British Leyland parts are pretty plentiful over here in the USA as well. There are quite a few shops within driving distance of me that stock pretty much everything from the frame up for MG's and Triumphs which shocked me when I bought my MGB on a whim. Best of luck with your restoration!

TA4K > J. Drew Silvers 08/14/2014 at 18:45

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Thanks! I am just importing bits from the UK, since there aren't any stockists here in NZ. Funny that, since they were assembled here for a good 4 or 5 years. We managed to get original Lucas parts for the distributor cap and rotor etc, and we found a place that makes all the gaskets and seals for the engine locally. Now I just need to get some paint on it, put her back together and get the carbs rebuilt, since they leak like a sieve.

J. Drew Silvers > TA4K 08/14/2014 at 18:56

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Cool! I want to see it when it is back on the road. My contact info is at http://www.jdrewsilvers.com

J. Drew Silvers > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 08/14/2014 at 18:59

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Apparently the article is from 2012.

http://www.curbsideclassic.com/curbside-class…

ranwhenparked > J. Drew Silvers 08/14/2014 at 20:23

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I suppose eventually everything that's going to fail from age/lack of use will and get replaced so that *theoretically* the amount of repairs will drop off substantially after a certain time period.

Or at least it may be comforting to think that.

Ramblin Rover - The Vivisector of Solihull > Pixel 08/14/2014 at 21:40

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I don't know what rear end his Comet has in it, since I haven't seen the data plate, but my Ranchero has a special-order 4.10 super low, and it's a six/three on 13" wheels. I can't even imagine how ungodly slow its top speed *was*... I'm going to 15" wheels and a Jag rear that's a 2.78 along with the V8 conversion - HUGE gearing change in drive.

J. Drew Silvers > ranwhenparked 08/14/2014 at 21:58

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That's pretty much what I'm going for. I'm not really replacing anything until it breaks and keeping a running tally. It's entertaining really. I think the next thing to go will be a radiator hose.

J. Drew Silvers > Pixel 08/14/2014 at 22:01

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Sounds like a job. But I'll keep that in mind if the rear ever bombs haha.

J. Drew Silvers > Ramblin Rover - The Vivisector of Solihull 08/14/2014 at 22:04

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I haven't ran the data on the tag, but it's still there, so maybe I'll do that soon. My gearing is pretty low and I have the 13" wheels also. On the highway the engine is screaming bloody murder at 60mph.

J. Drew Silvers > LumberJunk 08/14/2014 at 22:07

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Agreed. I have had a mix of over a dozen cars through the years and the more uncommon, the more people think they are relatable to you, and the more wealthy you appear for some weird reason...

J. Drew Silvers > Bandit 08/14/2014 at 22:08

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Old Pontiacs. Big fan.

J. Drew Silvers > Hoccy 08/14/2014 at 22:09

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See? The glass is always half full and if you're not easily annoyed, you're always having fun.

Ramblin Rover - The Vivisector of Solihull > J. Drew Silvers 08/14/2014 at 22:21

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It probably uses the same codes as the '63 Falcon, in which case your door tag will have a 2, 3, 5, or 9 for 3.1, 3.2, 3.5, or 4.0. If yours is a 5-code, you can see improvement by a bit getting one of the taller ones. Mine, being a 9-code, is "what is this I don't even" level gearing.

J. Drew Silvers > Ramblin Rover - The Vivisector of Solihull 08/14/2014 at 22:59

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The code is 3 but now I'm wondering if it has been changed at some point because it will get up to 60mph without a problem, but staying there is a high rpm fiasco. Hmm. Thanks for the info. You kept me from having to look it up. Haha

Ramblin Rover - The Vivisector of Solihull > J. Drew Silvers 08/14/2014 at 23:06

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Well, a 3.2 is still relatively low for the tiny tires you've got. With a 22" tire, you'd hit nearly 3000 rpm for 60mph. Not a crazy rev number, but might sound revvy for an Olde Timey six.

Ramblin Rover - The Vivisector of Solihull > J. Drew Silvers 08/14/2014 at 23:33

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Here' s a link you may find interesting.

J. Drew Silvers > Ramblin Rover - The Vivisector of Solihull 08/14/2014 at 23:55

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Bookmarked. Thanks!

TotallyThatStupid > J. Drew Silvers 08/15/2014 at 11:44

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Really awesome story. I love reading the updates on the Comet.

You can certainly daily an "old" car. It gets a little more challenging in places like Minnesota where the weather is nasty 5 months out of the year; not the driving itself, but from the knowledge you're most likely killing the car.

I (mostly) daily'd my 1972 BMW Bavaria when I lived in northern California. It still had a leaky 3.0-liter with a marginal (at best) head gasket and a four-speed manual. Great times, and it only hesitated once in many years, when the tachometer started failing, which would take down the ignition coil. Unplug the tach (green wire) and it never didn't just work.

J. Drew Silvers > TotallyThatStupid 08/15/2014 at 12:25

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Thanks! I'm thinking I'll do an update whenever something out of the ordinary happens from now on.

You've seen how we handle snow down here after people were "trapped" in their cars last time it snowed. Haha.

Have any pics of the Bavaria? It sounds like it was a cool car.

TotallyThatStupid > J. Drew Silvers 08/15/2014 at 12:34

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I had the Bavaria for a few days longer than 15 years. It was family, but I just wasn't driving it at all. I think next week we'll be able to post pictures in the Comments section. I'll bookmark and post pics when I can.

Slave2anMG > J. Drew Silvers 08/15/2014 at 14:09

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So much truth. My old Midget (rust in peace) snapped the throttle cable about 5 miles from home. Pulled out my Swiss army knife and turned the idle up to about 2300 rpm and drove home...didn't even need any of the tools in the trunk :)

Slave2anMG > J. Drew Silvers 08/15/2014 at 14:11

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This is a great story and very well written...it gave me a great big smile. I adore the simplicity of these older cars.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > J. Drew Silvers 08/15/2014 at 14:21

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Yours is a lot more functional of a DD than mine. but every Classic Mercury should be driven as much as possible!

MERCURY!

J. Drew Silvers > Slave2anMG 08/16/2014 at 22:55

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Hahaha. That's fantastic.

J. Drew Silvers > Slave2anMG 08/16/2014 at 22:57

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Thank you for the compliment!

J. Drew Silvers > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 08/16/2014 at 22:57

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It's even better because most people have no idea what it is!

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > J. Drew Silvers 08/18/2014 at 09:49

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That's my favorite.

The line of Chevelles, Mustangs, Camaros, etc at car shows then you pull up in a 60's Mercury and they all stop after hanging out at car shows for decades and say "What the hell is that? It looks familiar but...what the hell is it?!"

dustin_driver > J. Drew Silvers 08/18/2014 at 20:19

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I've always wondered if it's possible to DD a '65 Corvair. Now there's a question.

PeteRR > J. Drew Silvers 08/18/2014 at 20:24

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I commuted to work for about three weeks with the Road Runner awhile back. Cranking it at 6 AM in 60 degree weather does not make for a happy car. Or neighbors when it finally fired inside the garage.

Plus the rain falling on it at work competed with my tears in volume.

T5Killer > J. Drew Silvers 08/18/2014 at 20:27

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That makes me glad I want a '64 Galaxie as a DD.

Brad Waller > J. Drew Silvers 08/18/2014 at 20:28

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Once you get it in better shape, it's as reliable as a new car, and a lot more fun. I've driven my 1967 Chevelle daily (OK, not all the time as I sometimes drove my 1966 Corvette daily when the weather is nice) for over 20 years. I've only been stranded twice with the Chevelle in about 100K miles. The first time the fuel pump died, and the second time was an electrical gremlin that required a tow home that I was able to fix within a day.

lone_liberal > 505Turbeaux 08/18/2014 at 20:31

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They weren't 50 years old back when they were daily drivers. It's the age of the things that make them a pain to drive every day. When they are running right they are perfectly fine, but there is always something popping up. Yes, they should be run but you probably shouldn't be relying on them to get you to work every day.

Prophet of hoon > J. Drew Silvers 08/18/2014 at 20:31

2

Deferred maintenance comes back with interest... clutch - now you get to replace the bellhousing (though, that's an excellent example of why you need a scatter shield)...

my biggest issue with driving a classic is I know of lots of people who DD'd their classic and it was stolen...

jimz > J. Drew Silvers 08/18/2014 at 20:32

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I don't see why not. Though you at least need to go into it with the mindset that 1) it won't be nearly as reliable as a modern car, and because of that 2) you'll be getting your hands dirty here and there.

wleehendrick > twochevrons 08/18/2014 at 20:34

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A coworker of mine drive his MGA to work every single day, year round (it helps being in SoCal). His grandfather bought it new and has been in his family since then.

mythrenegade > J. Drew Silvers 08/18/2014 at 20:38

5

The real answer to the question is: Yes, if you have a cool uncle with a lot of random spare parts in his garage...

Fuel_of_Satan > J. Drew Silvers 08/18/2014 at 20:43

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Electric overdrives were pretty common in the 80's on a lot of cars from Europe and Asia, but for American application I'd just go for a GearVendor. There's even a good chance you can scrounge one at a market which fits your car, they've been around for ever.

xequar > J. Drew Silvers 08/18/2014 at 20:43

2

I've actually thought about DDing my 1978 Lincoln Continental. Bits for the 460 and all the rest of the car are still easily found at most parts stores. I think it'd be a hoot.

Except for putting the gas in it. I mean, it has a 24 gallon tank and gets 13 miles per gallon at 55 miles per hour with a tail wind. My mostly city and urban freeway driving would make me very sad once or twice per week.

Reliable, though? Absolutely. I mean, my partner and I were able to fix a burst radiator hose on the side of the freeway one day, and beyond that, it's never left us stranded. It's a runner, and it's more comfortable than a La-Z-Boy.

dsigned001 - O.R.C. hunter > J. Drew Silvers 08/18/2014 at 20:46

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I'd DD the poop out of a little 2002 if I were to own one.

David Jatt > J. Drew Silvers 08/18/2014 at 20:48

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aw man, I really just couldn't be chewed with this in a daily

RaggedMile > J. Drew Silvers 08/18/2014 at 20:49

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My sister inherited my granddads '63 Comet when he passed, and was the first car I ever drove on my own when I was about 13. Granted it was only about 10 years old at the time.

It was the same almost flat white as yours, but it was the 2-door and had the automatic.

Tohru > J. Drew Silvers 08/18/2014 at 20:49

1

I DD'd a brown 1976 Delta 88 (Rocket 350, automatic) for two years.

The only failures I had on it were:
- the amplifier in the radio went out.
- the main blower motor had a bearing fail.
- the blower motor for the aftermarket AC failed completely.
- the 15 year old tires on it had to be replaced.

It got hit in a parking lot and the left taillight was broken, but that's not a failure of the car.

Still sad I had to sell it.

Monsterajr > J. Drew Silvers 08/18/2014 at 20:53

2

I would agree. I DD'd my 74 GTV back in 99-01. I sold it and got a Milano because I wanted AC. If you think about how reliable cars were back in the day, you'll realize that they weren't and always needed regular attention. When you own an old car you just have to pay attention to the things we can all take for granted today, like a properly adjusted carb, or timing, or points. He'll you always do a look around to see if anything is leaking and your ear becomes tuned to the regular squeaks and rattles and can tell when a new one pops up that will warrant an investigation. If it weren't for responsibilities like family and having to be at work on time, I'd consider an old car again as my DD.

Ark > J. Drew Silvers 08/18/2014 at 20:53

3

My daily driver for about 7 years was a 1987 Chrysler Fifth Ave with a 318, 4 barrel, and full dual exhaust. You can do it...if you've got the money for gas, and can deal with fixing stuff on a regular basis. Stuff I can remember that broke:

-Kickdown linkage came apart

-Starter roasted by headers

-Persistent header leaks

-Headers rusted through (seriously, long tube headers are a fucking pain)

-Blown rad hose

-Multiple speedo cable failures

-Pushrod broke through rocker arm

-Basic wear items (brakes, ball joints/bushings, battery, etc. You will do all these things regardless of mileage.)

-U-joints wore out

-Leaks

When you think about it, though, the most expensive of these problems topped out at $120 or so for a set of cheap replacement headers. The engine technology was virtually unchanged since the 1960s, and it used mostly the same parts that Chrysler was building 20 years before. As such, parts for that car were literally as cheap as it can possibly get. Rockauto has calipers for $15. Even better, like any other small block V8 car from that era, it can be upgraded in steps if you don't have much money. You can go from carburetor, to exhaust, to rear end, to HD suspension, to motor swap. It also costs basically nothing to insure.

It was a pain to drive in the winter. It drank massive, apocalyptic amounts of gas. And it was fucking awesome. And still is.

Fenderaddict2 > J. Drew Silvers 08/18/2014 at 20:54

1

There's a white Comet (with red interior) like this in the background of many of my baby pictures. I'd like to think that's somewhere still being driven rather than forgotten.

RacinBob > J. Drew Silvers 08/18/2014 at 20:58

1

If you can avoid it rusting out, you can probably drive it and maintain it forever. The rule I like about old cars is 5, 50, 500 First get it to drive reliably for 5 miles. Then 50, and 500. It sounds like you are almost there. Have fun.

008 > dustin_driver 08/18/2014 at 21:01

2

I do it. Well I have 3 daily drivers but the Corvair gets its fair share of duties.

008 > J. Drew Silvers 08/18/2014 at 21:07

1

The good ol' Ford Long-style clutch. That's the reason my hip pops when I lay on my side, and why I limp on certain days. I daily drove my V8 67 Mustang with one of those clutches for years and I'm paying the price. When I converted to a diaphragm-style clutch I almost put my foot through the floor - it's so much easier. A Long clutch increases spring pressure as you depress the pedal; diaphragms are the opposite. The helper spring under the dash has to be removed when converting or it will suck the pedal to the floor. Highly recommended.

My 65 Corvair gets rotated into DD status whenever I get the chance. I don't think I'd want it as a sole DD but on those days it sure is fun for all the "trade-offs" you mention.

gkwilly > J. Drew Silvers 08/18/2014 at 21:10

1

The thing about old cars (and I've had quite a few) is that the first year or so you're fixing a lot of stuff. But if you fix the stuff correctly, all of a sudden you are going to realize that you have nothing that needs fixing this weekend. From that point on, the maintenance schedule is a lot lighter, probably better than some late model glamour cars.

Much of the trouble people have with old cars is 1) the vehicle has gone years without proper upkeep, and 2) they take shortcuts or don't understand how to fix these old systems right.

Many of the jobs are considerably easier on older cars (except drum brakes, they suck)

don > J. Drew Silvers 08/18/2014 at 21:11

1

well, if I can drive a Pt Cruiser whit 168888 miles as a daily car(most unreliable car ever), yes you can drive a classic car!

fintail > J. Drew Silvers 08/18/2014 at 21:14

1

Back in the 90s, my fintail was a daily driver (well not literally 7 days a week, as I was a student) - it was surprisingly easy to live with. There'd be a hiccup now and then, but not really any worse than much newer cars. If one doesn't mind maintenance, it's not hard.

SlowerTrafficKeepRight > J. Drew Silvers 08/18/2014 at 21:15

1

Great read! I just started DDing a 1965 Mercedes 220s. It's reliable, fun, comfortable and it has little German tailfins. I have never enjoyed running errands and going to work so much. You get to meet people and talk cars everywhere you go and nothing beats the connection you feel with the machine, new cars can not compete.

dave.iuliano > J. Drew Silvers 08/18/2014 at 21:15

1

I've got a Volvo 1800ES that's better in the snow than my '01 Miata, so it's my daily driver during the winters. Excellent heat, fuel injection, great brakes, and it's got a 4-speed with electric overdrive. Plus, the looks it gets...

505Turbeaux > lone_liberal 08/18/2014 at 21:16

5

To a point, but I would still rather wake up and have to adjust some points then a bad crank sensor on a Saab or a bad cam sensor on my Benz. No fuel or no spark you know what you are getting into with something basic. There is something to be said for that though I get what you are laying down

spartygw > J. Drew Silvers 08/18/2014 at 21:17

0

Hey, do you live near Milton, GA? I think I saw you and your car at Cue on Hwy 9. I drive a 50 year old car so I appreciate the effort it takes to keep on the road.

spartygw > J. Drew Silvers 08/18/2014 at 21:17

1

Hey, do you live near Milton, GA? I think I saw you and your car at Cue on Hwy 9. I drive a 50 year old car so I appreciate the effort it takes to keep on the road.

Margatroid > J. Drew Silvers 08/18/2014 at 21:29

1

I've had a 1960 Ford Falcon since 2005, and for most of that time it was my only car (I have also had a bike for most of that time too). I've never had any problems with daily-driving it and taking it on 1200-mile road trips - it was well-maintained and in driving condition for all of its life, and I intend to keep it that way.

As long as you accept that you may need to stay in the slow lane of motorways, any classic car is perfectly useable as a daily - especially given that this was what they were designed to do in the first place. They may require a dedication to preventative maintenance - but that's good practice for any car.

Margatroid > ranwhenparked 08/18/2014 at 21:31

1

I have first-hand experience with this - owning a classic car that's been driven for pretty much all its life, it's ended up with most things replaced and it now being quite reliable.

Nedus > J. Drew Silvers 08/18/2014 at 21:32

1

Great article! And good man for daily driving a classic! A '67 Mustang was my only car for about two years until I bought a cheap beater. It never gave me problems like your Comet though. A previous owner had converted it from an I6 to a V8, and did a good job, so it's been relatively problem-free.

I've driven it on the highway and it does fine. RPMs are a bit high, but nothing crazy. I'm debating on picking up an AOD out of some sort of 90s Ford and bolting that to a new engine for my swap. We'll see.

69montego > J. Drew Silvers 08/18/2014 at 21:34

2

Yes, you can and do it somewhat reliably too. I daily drove a 1968 Ford Torino for 4 years, the only major mod I did to it was the Granada swap (disc brake swap using the front brakes of a mid 70's Granada). I even towed a popup trailer with it quite a bit.

ya, that's a bit redneck... but git 'er done :D

the car had a '69 351w with a edelbrock 600cfm 4 barrel and an FMX automatic.

I got 20+ mpg, the car had 2.79:1 gears in the back.

the frame finally rusted out and it went to the boneyard. I did save a few pieces though, the disc brakes are currently under the Montego I take my user name from

69montego > J. Drew Silvers 08/18/2014 at 21:35

1

try gear vendors, they sell that unit

LoveMy50 > J. Drew Silvers 08/18/2014 at 21:39

1

I drove a 56 Ford wagon, 292 Y-block with 3 on the tree for 4 summers.

So yes is the answer....

Break-Mend-Continue > J. Drew Silvers 08/18/2014 at 21:42

4

You sure can daily an old car!! I salute you. I've driven a classic Beetle daily for the last four years. Once I ironed out a few bugs (chortle, chortle) similar to the issues you recounted it has been fine. I just returned from a 1200 mile interstate trip in it and other than adding a little oil it did not require anything. It cost me $2500, is now worth about $6000 due to rising values. If anything breaks it's always simple and cheap to fix. It makes me friends everywhere I go and puts a smile on my dial every time I drive it. :)

J. Drew Silvers > spartygw 08/18/2014 at 21:56

0

Yep! That's me! If you see me over there, stop by. I always sit at the bar and I'll be the only guy with long blonde hair most likely. What do you drive?

spartygw > J. Drew Silvers 08/18/2014 at 22:03

1

It's a 61 corvette. I honestly drive it as much as possible. I work from the home so I don't have to technically commute.