What "older" vehicle would you daily if parts availability weren't impractical

racerdave600 said:

Mercedes 450SLC

This is a wonderful answer. It seems like a shortcoming of capitalism that there is a Singer for 911, and an ICON for Bronco et al, but nobody similar making high-dollar Instagram-worthy restomods of R107 and C107.

Honestly, if an older daily were my goal, Mercedes and Porsche would be the two brands most on my mind, and both are exceptionally good about keeping parts around.

They're not super old, but a Saab 9-3 Viggen is probably the car most demoted from consideration due to parts availability concerns.

03Panther said:

In reply to Mr_Asa :

There's a replacement aluminum cylinder head that's worth about half the price of a decent version of the car

https://www.vintageinlines.com/product-page/deposit-only-aluminum-head-package

I noticed that despite the price, they have a long enough waiting list that they are no longer adding to it!

That's actually pretty reasonable for a low volume cylinder head and intake manifold.  It might even be cheaper than having heads from late model 4.1s shipped from Australia and reconditioned.

I'd like to know where you can find a decent early Mustang for $4500ish.  Besides 1997.

noddaz said:

  DD a Factory Five Cobra?  Why not. 

Besides the lack of HVAC or a lockable cabin, having the windscreen effectively mounted partway up the body means you are always looking through a reflection of the scuttle/cowl/whatever you call it.  And side exhaust exiting two feet from your ear gets old very fast.

I'd autocross one.

Pete. (l33t FS) said:

noddaz said:

  DD a Factory Five Cobra?  Why not. 

Besides the lack of HVAC or a lockable cabin, having the windscreen effectively mounted partway up the body means you are always looking through a reflection of the scuttle/cowl/whatever you call it.  And side exhaust exiting two feet from your ear gets old very fast.

 

I'd autocross one.

I haven't had working AC in my DD for years and I don't lock my car. (I am lazy and life gets in the way).  I am sure that the side exhaust can be made quieter.  Refection on the inside of the windshield?  A coat of flat clear would probably fix that.

I was more or less looking at how there is just Mustang parts under the body.

Actually, there is one vehicle I would probably jump at.

For four years from 1958 through 1961 they made a Jaguar that I used to own and still love.   The Mark 9 was similar in concept to the similar Bentley of that time, but far superior in specification - 4 wheel disc brakes, 3.8 DOHC straight 6 etc.

I came across one that had been converted to American V8 and automatic, and the owner had the sense to muffle it well so that it seemed like a stock car to any onlooker.  He used it to tow his race car.

They had acres of excellent quality leather, walnut veneers and Wilton wool carpeting and they epitomized the Jaguar advertising slogan of"Grace, Space, Pace" The boot could be sublet to small families, it had dual fuel tanks (with dash switch to go from one to the other, each with it's own fuel pump - you had to really try hard to run out of gas. Even with the stock engine and despite having the aerodynamics of a barn door, I had mine up around 110 mph.

They only made around 10,000 of them and they didn't attract the same following as the Jag sports cars or even the Mk. 2 saloon, so many have gone to Jaguar heaven over the years.  But I still want one!  Especially a modernized one!

Here's what mine looked like.

Pete. (l33t FS) said:

That's actually pretty reasonable for a low volume cylinder head and intake manifold.  It might even be cheaper than having heads from late model 4.1s shipped from Australia and reconditioned.

Prolly true, for all the folks doing better financially than me. Sadly, that's most!

I'd like to know where you can find a decent early Mustang for $4500ish.  Besides 1997.

I had same thought! Can't even find a decent early Falcon/Comet for that, though I'd love to own one again.

In reply to Donebrokeit :

Literally everything is gone now lol, it was bad when I had an 85 Charger 15 years ago. They were also not very reliable even brand new.   Even first gen neon parts are gone now. 

In reply to Wally (Forum Supporter) :

People buy those up to destroy for banger racing in England, they are pretty rare by now I'm sure. 

In reply to wspohn :

I saw one of those for sale at the self service junkyard that had been hacked into a gm based redneck hotrod.  It was sorta tempting but they wanted too much money and I can only imagine how much work it would have been to identity all the random parts and make it usable.

The main thing that kills the idea of a car as a daily driver for me is the availability of windshields.  I think the one I would pick to drive daily if parts were no concern would be a Maserati Quattroporte III.  A Citroen SM would be cool too but I drove one once and I am too tall to daily drive it and be comfortable on a long trip, or an Aston Martin Lagonda.

Diesel W126 is a good choice for one that's actually realistic, I have one that I have daily driven somewhat, and previously daily drove a different one for years.  Pretty much any car over 10 years old requires having a spare though, because you have to plan on parts being at least two weeks out whenever you need anything.  Not always, but most of the time that seems to be the case.

Honestly, it’s not parts availability or even cost that keeps me from driving any particular older car nowadays, especially if I’m able to keep an extra appliance car as backup. 

The big issue for me with older cars is their safety. I have an infant and I live in Chicagoland. Car has to be safe if it’s driven regularly. There is no one answer to what is safe enough - it depends on the area, the use, and the occupants - but generally I want a crumple zone, ABS, 3 point seatbelts, and airbags. To get all that, you’re generally looking at something with decent parts availability and nothing too exotic.

I kind of forgot: VW Passat W8.

Most of the car is Audi B5 S4, but VW discontinued most of the W8 specific engine components (specifically, timing chain related parts) right about the same time I could afford to buy one.  The aftermarket does not seem to have picked up the slack for a low volume engine that most have been pulled from the road because they threw a timing chain.

mtn (Forum Supporter) said:

Honestly, it’s not parts availability or even cost that keeps me from driving any particular older car nowadays, especially if I’m able to keep an extra appliance car as backup. 

 

Pete. (l33t FS) said:

I kind of forgot: VW Passat W8.

 

Most of the car is Audi B5 S4, but VW discontinued most of the W8 specific engine components (specifically, timing chain related parts) right about the same time I could afford to buy one.  The aftermarket does not seem to have picked up the slack for a low volume engine that most have been pulled from the road because they threw a timing chain.

Well, you proved me wrong. W8 would be something I wouldn't touch because of parts and reliability. 

Just remembered one. Maybach 57. It looks like an amazing yacht that is done depreciating. They've fallen into loaded 2020 Camry money, and while I imagine parts aren't impossible to get because Mercedes, most of those parts are near impossible to afford. Need an alternator? Here's one on eBay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Maybach-Alternator-A2851500050-10480466-350-AMP-Generator-/254354878620

I am not so worried about parts as about just the day to day struggle driving classic in the GRIND.  A classic car doesn't really handle or brake as well a modern car, and being seen isn't great if they sit low.  I would be afraid some moron pile into me killing my car.  My Mercedes is pretty reliable but I have come to terms that pretty much any part can fail without warning and it's on me to fix it.  Unless you restomod it, a modern car, with modern brakes and AC, will likely serve you better. Someone said when a car becomes a daily driver it quits being special.    

Tk8398 said:

In reply to wspohn :

I saw one of those for sale at the self service junkyard that had been hacked into a gm based redneck hotrod.  It was sorta tempting but they wanted too much money and I can only imagine how much work it would have been to identity all the random parts and make it usable.

I think the best one to restore is a very stock car that is complete and just needs the usual fettling. Then you can upgrade the driveline, brakes etc. in the process. Nothing silly - 350 Chev and modern automatic plus modern brakes.  Tricky part would be the wheels - not sure what wouldn't look out of place. They were 16 x 5.5 - widening the steel rims might look the best but could carry something like a 225x75-16.  I wouldn't want to turn it into an obvious hot rod, although some would. I saw pics of one that had a Jaguar V12 in it.  They were big, but like old cars without modern safety gear, not that heavy - around 4,000 lbs.  A BMW S54 engine moght look right and be fun.

W8 Passat, $3200

Why do I look???