Customs Various Classic car driving & ownership experience

I am in the market for another car. I love what I have, but I would like to buy something that is more of a useable automobile than my highboy roadster if it might rain, or it's cold. I have been looking around, and I sort of want to try something I haven't owned before, but have always wanted. It won't really be a "build", I will probably buy an older restoration, or hot rodded/non numbers matching example and it will evolve into a very "mild custom" with a bit of lowering, wheels/tires, interior changes, etc. depending on the car. I have never driven any of these cars very much if at all, and I would like to hear from people who have and what their experiences were. I live in the middle of nowhere, and my cars have to be decent on the highway at 70 mph and useable on winding roads. Must have decent or easily up-gradeable heater and wipers. I have other off topic stuff for foul weather, I just want to extend my driving season a bit and get a new toy !......

-1956-57 Chevrolet two door hardtop or convertible (or maybe post, but prefer hardtop)
-C1 Corvette
-C2 Corvette
-Early Chevelle
-1955 or 56 Thunderbird

Which would you prefer as a realistic driver/ownership experience and why ?

 

If you have never driven the t-bird you may want to reconsider. They are not a comfortable car to drive without major work. I drive a 56 Nomad a lot which is a fun comfortable car to drive. Early Chevelle would also be easy to do My two cents.

 

My 48 Plymouth is a car that fits that need perfectly. Good brakes and suspension right from the factory, enough power and good enough handling to keep up on the freeway, dual heaters with a powerful defroster available. All it needs is an overdrive swapped in from an early to mid 50's car. From there, you can add a head, dual intake, and dual exhaust to add power if you choose. I have driven this car from Minnesota to Colorado, Arizona, all over the West.


My Wife has a 61 Corvette, and that is a great road car. Great handling, good power and brakes, hard to get in and out of. those are a great choice if you never want to haul more than 1 passenger.

 

Post tri-5.
If it had to be a 57 I’d take the 110.
Tri-5s are easy to work on, modify, find parts. 56 is my favorite.
I don’t fit in vettes very well. The column would definitely need modified. They look great as customs though. Lowered, chrome steelies, flake paint mmmmmmmmm
T-birds are kind of a yawn in stock form. Make cool customs.
Early Chevells make cool lowriders.

 

1965 Chevelle two door hardtop. Still easy to find parts for. I bought one in 1970 for $65.00, no engine or trans. Was going to use it as a late model dirt tracker but cut my hand on the hood release first time I tried to open the hood. Sold it to another guy the same day for $65.00. Probably one of the dumbest moves I ever made

 

I would also vote early Chevelle then C2 Corvette after that if you can live with a 2-seater. Parts are pretty available for both. Remember that Corvettes do rust, just not the body.

 

Get a '59 or newer Pontiac. They're capable of doing everything you asked for without any of the "upgrades" ....
Next choice is a Chrysler product, '57 or newer.
Either of the above is heaven on wheels if you drop it a few inches & get some pipes on it.

 

If you go with a tri five go with the Tudor post. Less rattles. Less wind noise. Parts are plenty easy to get. They ride nice if you build it right.

 

Sounds like your a GM man, either way some options can be the other family brands with the same models, it would be much cheaper.
55-57 seems like typical classic cars, at least all is avialible for them.
Corvettes are cramped and not that different from your roadster even the early T-Bird. I have a love hate relationship with T-birds and the prices people ask for them.
I think the winner is prob the early Chevelle. prob going to be the most modern driving experience without the hassle of a stolen '57 Chevy,

You might want to check a classic car auction and see the cars that don't hit the block, you might find a deal on something that fits the bill.

 

I had a 55 belair hardtop for years, it was a really nice car for driving around on road trips, even with it's blown big block. You can buy anything for them, but also do fine with mostly stock stuff...they were the first "modern" Chevy, with ball joint suspension, V8, 12v, open driveline, etc. And they look better than the boxy Chevelles, lots more comfy than the sports cars, and far more practical. I put almost 100k miles on mine the 20 years I had it.

 

Chevelle, hands down. SB/BB, 4speed/auto. 4wheel disc brakes. Great canyon carver. Small enough to fit in anywhere. Big enough to sit in comfort. 55-57 is like driving a tank. Corvettes are like enclosed go karts, but with less suspension travel.

 

Nit to mention C1s are like siting in a kids pup tent and trying to look out the tiny side windows, converts are the worst. Hardtops not much better.

 

Had a C2 coupe, '55 post and a '64 Chevelle; now have a C1. I'll take a C2 anytime, but it will cost you the most, while the Chevelle is the most affordable...there is a reason for that.

 

I've had my Nomad since January 1991. 300,000+ miles of fun. Parts are readily available and affordable. I've driven it on plenty of winding roads here in Arkansas and in southern Missouri and it has no problem at all running down the highway at 70 mph.

 

The all-new '64 Chevelle superimposed on a '55 Chevy

 

I've had a 57 T-bird for the past 26 years. I find it comfortable, I'm 6'2". It is quite road worthy (now). It will cruise at 70 mph with no problem. However, it handled twisty Oregon roads like a 1957 automobile. The upgrades I made to make it more twisty road worth are; radial tires, gas shocks, and hefty front and rear sway bars (Quickor). The only thing now is that the steering is fairly slow, but I've chosen to live with that.

Also, I rebuilt the brakes and had the original shoes relined with premium lining. I also had the drums turned and the shoes arced to fit the drums. They are power assisted (stock) and work fine. The linings that were on the car when I first got it were okay when I lived in the Midwest, but awful in Oregon.

Note that any car from the 50's is not going to handle well on mountain roads without some suspension upgrades.

 

First choice would be the Chevelle. I had a slightly OT 66 2 door hardtop, 327 with a power glide. Wasn’t a race car, but still plenty peppy and rode and drove well. I should have kept it.
Second choice would be a Tri-5. Like was said, plenty of parts available new and used, can be built several different ways. Down side, they are more popular than the Chevelle and are usually higher priced.

 

Those early chevelles can be cool

 

Second the opinions on the '64 or '65 Chevelle...aka Malibu's. I owned one for 10+ years. 350 auto with a
cloned Z28 motor, stock exhaust manifolds, poverty hubcaps...drove it up and down the interstate as my
daily driver, easily at 70mph. Comfortable ride, easy to fix, easy to align. Could steer with one finger with
added caster. Loved the car.

 

My first car was a 64 Malibu SS back in 1970. I've been through a lot of cars and my latest is a 64 Malibu SS. I still love driving it (them). This one I just put tilt and cruise control in and A/C next year. It also has a fun 350 cu in V8 with a th350 and power steering and brakes. It handles great and the top goes down. Second choice is the tri-5 Chevys. I put 60,000 miles on a 55 2dr post that was our family car when the kids were small. 396 Chevy, th400, PS, PB, Power windows, locks, and seats, tilt and A/C. I loved driving that one. And I really loved my 55 Nomad.

 

Tri-five Chevy or something newer(late '50's-early '60's) is what you're describing.

• They're easy to work on and both orginal & repro parts are readily available.
• I drove my '55 over 25K miles while moving between Navy duty stations.
• It cruised interstates at triple digits during Americruise '97.
• With radials, disc brakes & a front anti-sway bar, I did a track day at Laguna Seca racetrack.
• It's weatherproof and there's room for four plus a HUGE trunk.

 

I have had my 65 Chevelle convert for 31 years. It is a great road car. It just floats down the highway. My wife loves to drive it too. You can get anything reproduction for it and it's fairly easy to work on. I've been keeping my eyes open for another one for my son since we've enjoyed ours so much.

 

I've had a lot of old cars, and despite being kind of a roach, my '57 Chevy is one of the easiest old cars to live with. Stock heater works great, factory electric wipers work good albeit only one speed, handles nice with new leaf springs and rebuilt stock front suspension (I have a sway bar for the front but haven't got it on yet), plenty comfortable and roomy, anything I need to buy I can get and anything I need to do to it, someone else figured out how to do it and posted it online, which is great.

Never had a Corvette, but worked on a ton of early T-birds at a shop that specialized in them. I love early 'Birds, they're cool looking and I've always been told more practical than a same-year Corvette (never drove the 'vette so I'm taking someone's word for it) but the T-bird is pretty cramped, especially with a stick shift. I used to have to lift my right leg up beside the steering wheel to get a stick one into reverse. They seat 2 max and the trunk is not very big. They look big but are very much sports-car sized.

Never had an early Chevelle but have had a couple early A-body Pontiacs and I like those as well, they ride and handle nice and have everything that makes them practical drivers.

I think you'd be really happy with a '56 or '57 Chevy or a '64-'65 Chevelle or Lemans/GTO.

 

Try an El Camino . Lower it, customize it and use it as a everyday shop truck.

 

These are getting to be harder to find, but they are beautiful cars. This particular year of Pontiac Bonneville, is a very cool ride, that turns heads no matter where you go!

 

IMO from your list I would choose the Chevelle, parts availability, decent ride/comfort and in general a kool car. My opinion and $2.50 will get you a coffee this AM.

 

Budget is big factor. Something with SBC or SBF makes parts easy to find, also consider chassis / brake / wear items.
64-65 chevelle is a great car.
58-66 impala
40's 2 door sedan would be a great driver if it's built right.

 

I drive 4 different cars and the Chevelle is by far the best riding of the bunch. It goes over those stinking speed bumps like they aren't even there. There are no modifications, all stock, 76K miles. It is slightly OT so I won't post a photo.

 

Early El Camino or 56-57 Nomad would not only extend the driving season, but would also be nice whenever you have to haul anything. That's two occasions to use the second car when the highboy roadster isn't an option.

I'd mention how the El Camino is considerably cheaper than the Nomad, but if a '57 convertible and a 2nd gen Corvette are already on the list, I'll assume that budget is absolutely not a concern here.

Another point worth mentioning about the early T-birds, they do seal up pretty nice with the hardtop on since they have regular roll-up glass (and even power windows were fairly popular) for bad weather driving, but taking the top on and off is awkward and a pain, even with two people. If you're going to have an early 'bird with a hardtop, you kind of need to commit to leaving it on or off all the time, and leaving it off kind defeats the purpose if you've already got a permanently open top car.

I'm guessing the early Corvette is the same way.