Wanting an old car for my daily driver

paranoya will destroy ya, get insurance!

 

If someone wants something bad enough, there is no deterrent, a lock only keeps an honest man honest.

 

Insurance....get some.

 

or starting a 47 Ford

 

A young engineer at work bought his life's dream, a decent 76 Corvette last year. Once or twice he couldn't start it because his life experiences did not include pressing the gas once to let the choke close. Nothing comparable in the Microsoft interface.

 

This is just my .02 but for me it is more expensive and more of a headache to make and keep a old car (70s back)dependable for daily driving to work and back everyday etc.
Some people just dont understand or appreciate the effort it takes to have a old car.they just think you can slap one together and drive off into dreamland and live happily ever after with convienience and little to no cost or effort

Its kind of a slap in the face for the ones of us who have put blood sweat and tears into something.for someone who hasnt much more than turned a wrench to say or act like, "oh. I could do that,no problem".
(No problem???)

I like the idea of inspiring someone to get there own old ride but not for them to think its just get in and drive cheap with no effort

 

Hmm.... Insurance! now that's an idea!

 

Over insure it, unless it is a car passed from family or something super important, anything you buy to use as a driver probably won't have as much sentimental value. Other than my 9 passenger or Tudor, if the others got stolen I wouldn't shed a tear.
Insurance is a must.

 

I drive my '56 F100 everyday, it's all I have. Sold my modern diesel pickup to get it. Of course I'm a little worried about it getting broken into, vandalized, or stolen. But I have good collector car insurance and security devices. I park it inside my shop every night and I'm careful about where I park it when I'm out. Just get good insurance and drive the hell out of it.

 

The difference getween PL & PD (minimum) and full coverage on my '64 p/u is $7.00 per month.

 

I drive my '55 F100 daily also. I live in a small town, on a quiet street where we know all the neighbors. I've only had my F100 since 1972, so to me, it's still a 'fresh ride'.
(other than the fact it's always getting some major-or-minor update)
More than once I've caught some idiot in it trying to start it, but never at my house.
I get real physical when this happens...3 times to date.

I no longer leave it unlocked, even going into the post office to mail a letter!
One day, I parked it at the bank, getting out and locking the driver's side door...a middle-aged unemployed-looking guy was standing around, and said, "The locks still work on that old truck? Surprised you lock that thing up."
I said, "It's just to protect anybody I might see fucking with it."
When I came back out, he was still there, but he didn't say anything else.

 

I will have insurance for sure. I wouldnt worry about it as much if i had my own house where I knew the neighbors real well. But I live in an apartment complex so that is what makes me feel like its not as safe.

 

I say roll the dice, you won't regret it. I drive the one in my avatar everyday, before it, it was my edsel.

 

Be careful when getting insurance. A lot of ones have clauses that you can only drive in parades,etc... Get some kind of stated value policy. It will run more than the classic car insurance but it covers you no matter what happens. Except at the race track, haha

 

I found a guy locally that has an O/T 74 Silverado, factory AC, pwr windows and locks, he wants 3500 for. Thats just an option for me.

 

Another funny story. My dad drove a 65 mustang fastback 2+2, numbers matching, lalala, for 20+ years. Not the kind of car that belongs on this forum, but a real desirable car. My grandma bought it new in 65 and gave it to my dad years later.
Anyways, the only time someone tried to steal it was in the dead of winter with snow on the ground. That cold blooded snake wouldnt fire at all and they only managed to coast it back out into the street when they finally gave up and ran off! hahaha!

 

I drove my 53 Plymouth everyday for 2 years before taking it off the road. I drove it to work, to the movies, the supermarket, NYC. You could pop the hood from outside and the door locks were all I had. No one touched that car..even in NYC. I would find finger prints on it and an ass print once, but never touched in the way of trying to steal it.

Progressive Ins. will insure it as a everyday car. They are cheap and I had full coverage on it with an agreed value of 10k.

Get an old car and have fun.

 

I worry about my cars breaking down because the crap gas eats the fuel line or kills a float. I have had a camaro end up in front of my house with no stereo and no wheels but they left the dayton knockoff adapters. my 53 was parked 20 feet away. life is a fuckin gamble.

 

It takes 4 switches to start my '46 Austin. I'm more concerned that someone will steal something off it, than steal the whole car. The friggin doors don't even have a keyhole to lock them!

 

Paranoid or not, I was looking at your avatar wondering why not put some time and a few bucks into it, assuming you still have it. Aside from air conditioning, which could probably be installed, it looks like a solid starting point. Then like the other guys said, a cut off switch will go a ways to heading off the casual thief. Serious car thieves won't let that stop them. I wonder what the theft rate per 100,000 pre '64 cars is compared to late models? I'm guessing it isn't nearly as high.

 

You forgot the three sticks of dynamite under the driver's seat wired to an untraceable cell phone...

 

Stated value? I think you mean agreed value.....
http://www.lelandwest.com/stated-value-vs-agreed-value-classic-car-insurance.cfm

 

I drove this OT 67 Lincoln every day for four years -- in Wisconsin. Made it through the snow just fine. Only security was an under dash cut off switch, and was a very nice car -- AC, etc. When I got it, it only had 18,000 original miles. Only problem I ever had is someone took a key to every body panel once -- back when it was still shiny black -- so insurance paid for me to get this sweet black suede job instead. I agree with the others on here -- life is to short to be driving something you hate. Lots of nice old cars around.

 

that's why you have insurance

 

I have a 39 ford deluxe two door sedan, I park it outside my house in Tijuana Mexico, it has old patina paint, so I don't worry aboat it getting stolen, it was my daily driver for two years, but I just bought a truck to go to the swappmeets with, so I am giving the old girl a rest, the bad guys on my street like the car , so they leave it alone and are actualy prowd of it, I had one hub cap stolen once, but it was returned to me, for security , I remove the batery every night, cause the drug addicts are getting 15 bucks for a battery core, if your neigbors like your car, they will keep an eye on it for you, that's the best security you can have, All my friends tell me the same thing, are'nt you afraid to park your car outside? I answer to them that what good is an old car , if you can't drive and enjoy it. It has a 327 with a turbo 350 trans, an 8 inch posi and a dropped axle with disc brakes in front, this makes it very dependable and I have driven the car everywhere, it still has the front and rear buggy springs but has a front and rear sway bar which makes handle bit'chen, it has big and little white walls with old wheels that hide the sins, it still has the original steering,and wheel and dash, and original seats, so the car looks traditional but drives like a late model car, It is a desirable body style and holds it's investment value well, don't go buy a car that nobody wants, just cause you are afraid of it getting stolen, you have to like your old car ,for you to enjoy it, I suggest you build something similar for it has the best of both worlds, it looks cool but is still a dependable car, I am thinking of selling the car , for I need some money to finish my other project cars, send me a p.m. if you are interested and I will sell it for a very reasonable price. good luck and don't buy a lame car just cause you are afraid of it getting stolen!

 

A 60s 4 door would make a excellent daily driver,during spring,summer and fall I drive a 65 custom 500 4 door and never had to worry about anyone trying to steel it. Now someone tried to steel the stereo out of it but failed,a/c is not needed with a 60s or older cars since they have decent vents in the kick panels that when opened and all the windows down plenty of airflow when rolling down the road.

 

I have a 64 studebaker daytona that dosent need much...

 

Dont know if its been mentioned yet, but you can buy a boot for your car. Like the ones the city uses when you get too many tickets. It would take a good amount of time and noise to remove one without the keys. Also considering alot of the cars that are stolen now are done so with a wrecker, this would help prevent that also. Cheap, easy and effective...just like me!

 

Maybe a little OT, but don't rule out '65-'70 either. If I had the $5K the guy was looking for, I would have bought a '67 Belvedere 4-dr with a 318-2V. Nice car with a perfect interior. Depending on what you get, parts will be easy to get (Chevelle, Impala, Belveder, Coronet, Fairlane, etc.). Good luck.