Car guys with classic / vintage cars, what classic car can you use as a daily driver??
Posted by Mrcalibrawl@reddit | askcarguys | View on Reddit | 137 comments
i am currently in college who wants an old car so i can have my first project while one that i can drive everyday with little to no issues, any recommendations???
TheRealWetWizard@reddit
Cars have changed so much over the past couple of decades I don't even know how many years it would need to be, to be classic?
like 36 years ago the R32 skyline came out and calling that classic is wild.
Big_Rip2753@reddit
Slant 6 mopar
BrilliantAd4857@reddit
I was going to say mid seventies Dodge dart, but then I read on and saw many people were talking about late 90s early 2000 Honda's and Subarus, figured my idea of classic was out of date.
bdgbill@reddit
The leaning tower of power was absolutely legendary where I grew up (New England). When I was in high school, almost everyone who had a nice car had some heap with a slant six to use in the winter. The Taxi company where I lived had a whole fleet of early 70's Swingers and Darts *converted to propane* and they were still using them in the late 80's when I left.
Big_Rip2753@reddit
Very reliable it was.
WiseShoulder4261@reddit
How do I upvote this multiple times? My daily was a 76 Dart /6 4spd for 15+ years.
Big_Rip2753@reddit
Mine was a 70 318 Duster that thing ran forever.
Remarkable_Ad5011@reddit
At one point all those “classics” were just daily drivers back when they were new… 😁
Fabulous-Celery4141@reddit
Cars from the late 1980s and early 1990s are a wise choice if classic car is your choice. They still have the old-school feel and look, but their engines and parts are more reliable than those of older cars. These are easier to fix, and spare parts are usually still available.
Picking a car from this time period lets you have a fun first project. You will have a car that runs well, which is important for a college student who needs a dependable daily iride.
Haeenki@reddit
During the summer I basically use my TR6 as a daily. Being a quality British Leyland product, the top is about as water tight as a colander. I'd use it a lot more of the year if I had a hard top.
alacoque3030@reddit
Depending on who you ask, a classic/vintage car is anything older than 20 years. Plenty of good, reliable cars from 2005 😂.
Realistically though, finding a vintage car with little to no issues is practically impossible unless you have a large budget
abstract_groove@reddit
Arguably 2005 is absolute peak car, before all the annoying modern tech crept in.
CoachOpen1977@reddit
This right here!
Life_Lake4113@reddit
Their safety score is considered: Death Trap and winter performance equivalent to a violent washing machine spin cycle. Buy a 10-15 year old Camaro, at least it has airbags and ABS.
nullpassword@reddit
My f100 was more active gunning, for me.. less waiting to kill me..survived loss of steering, loss of brakes, stuck in forward, turning on headlights kills engine, tire falling off, probably a couple other acts of maliciousness that I forget as well.. never tried winter driving in it.. was mostly driven in the south . No airbags, abs, power steering, power windows, air-conditioning, shoulder belts, um..had a radio though..
AJobForMe@reddit
Similar experience with my ‘65 Mustang. I didn’t have the money back then for disc brake upgrades. Car ran fine in the highway, but it didn’t like gridlock traffic at all and constantly tried to overheat. I had moved to the city with it, but clearly I owned a car that didn’t want to be there.
Blu_yello_husky@reddit
I got a car from 1978 for $2,000 last uear with only 53k miles and no issues. Youre looking in the wrong spots if you cant find old cars for cheap
ElCaminoLady@reddit
I was about to say this is an oxy moron.
I daily drove a ‘72 Plymouth Duster during my college years and although I absolutely loved the car and remember it fondly it did leave me stranded quite a bit.
Later I owned (and still have) a ‘79 El Camino that gets commute time when the daily is in the shop. That car is an anomaly as it is reliable for its age, however still doesn’t get driven as hard as that Duster did..
leatherslut69@reddit
Sure and depending on who you ask there are lizard people walking amongst us.
FeastingOnFelines@reddit
This is the right answer ☝️
CoachOpen1977@reddit
Technically a 2000 model is a classic now. There are many daily-worthy ~2000 models out there, they’re dirt cheap right now, and imo as a former mechanic, that was the best period for cars.
easzy_slow@reddit
I drove my 1950 IH for 17 years. From soph in hs to the 3rd kid being born in 92. The only work I did on it was regular maintenance and replacing brushes on generator along with a carb rebuild. Replaced a leaking wheel cylinder while changing brake shoes. Simple mechanically means simple repairs. When the generator went out, I drove it to the parts store, left it running got the parts I needed and drove it home. Pulled the generator, replaced the brushes, reinstalled and off I went. Fire, fuel and air is all you needed to know to get it started. Still do almost all my own work today.
akgt94@reddit
It's ripe that an '89 Chevette is now a "classic car" or "historical vehicle"
easzy_slow@reddit
I drove my 1950 IH pickup in the late 70’s until 92. We are kind of a mechanical family so regular care and maintenance was necessary and performed regularly. Many times during our one or two times a year when we had below zero temps, it was often the only thing that would start. Cardboard in front of the radiator to keep the heater working well and away we would go. Sadly, when we brought the 3rd child into the world, I had to let it go. Guess what I drive daily now? A 1952 IH pickup.
GWT-Official@reddit
2003 E46 M3 convertible, 200,000 miles backed up with 2004 Honda Element, 220,000 miles
dirtydan442@reddit
Overdrive transmission can help make nearly anything into a livable daily driver
larryzzzzz@reddit
I purchased a rust-free 1967 Mustang fastback in Los Angeles with a 289/C4 AT, drove it all through college and for 15 years through five jobs and five states. Minimal downtime, minor repairs, starter, water pump, radiator, brakes, belts, hoses. Simple and easy to work on.
AreaBackground@reddit
I daily a 2002 Porsche 911
Moist_diarrhea173@reddit
If the IMS hasn’t failed by now you’re probably okay
AreaBackground@reddit
It did fail in 2005 so has a new 2005 engine installed under warranty by Porsche and an aftermarket ims solution installed 4 years ago when I bought the car
Comfortable_Ad_8117@reddit
My advice, but 2 cars - A daily driver - cheap Toyota Camry or Honda Accord. Then get your project that you fall in love with, wrench on and keep nice. I have a 1985 Chevy Monte Carlo SS - It gets driven maybe 6~10 times a year, has 55k miles on it. After all the work that went into restoring it I would not want to drive it in the rain, snow, etc. - And even after all the work. It still leaks oil, has some slight shifting issues, runs rich. So I would not want to drive that every day. Also, No safety features, No ABS, Air bags, not even a center mount brake light (that started in 87)
Keep something reliable on hand to daily, and save the classic for the weekend trips to the ice cream shop or the car show.
LivingSoyboy@reddit
Depends on your commute and how much you wanna spend in gas, but most old American-Euro cars are fine
I'm a European and i daily a 66' Electra with a 425 Twin Barrel, but to work it's just a few kilometres, my city is rather small in general, so if i need to get anywhere my Smiles per gallon aren't too bad, going anywhere you really need to budget and i do have a second shitbox that's kept in the garage for convenience sake, but i very rarely take it out
Honestly if you keep them mantained a classic car is as dependable as any, it requires more mainteneance but it won't fall apart for no reason like some people believe, if anything if you learn a bit of mechanics, it can be even better because you can fix nearly anything that happens to it roadside if you have the spares, good luck doing that with a new computerized one when even approved mechanic garages can't do it with dealer level equipment
My Electra was driving with 7 cylinders for a while, tranny losing vacuum and slipping and she kept going, new car wouldn't even have started
Some people just convert them to methane or LPG and it cuts costs
Here in europe lots of people still use 90s low trim German cars, because they are cheap to run and very dependable, especially diesels, those hit millions of kilometres and keep going
Puzzleheaded-Race671@reddit
Any 2000s Porsche
Upstairs-Result7401@reddit
Typically, any car in the post 58 to 62 range built for the interstate system will be a decent daily. Late 40's and newer are easy enough to be a good daily with a possible engine swap, but definitely a new rear read and front disk brakes.
GM's inline stove bolt 6 is easily workable. There is plenty of support to moderize it for the modern world.
Fords flathead V8 can do well.
But Dodges flat 6 is not really up to the task. Although it is a great city engine or stuck in traffic.
Any car will greatly increase its modern DD with an overdrive trans, conversion to 12V if 55 or so, and earlier, electric fans, and a rear end regear to match the overdrive better.
Bellashotzi@reddit
My recommendation is to not mix the two. It's more important that you have a good dependable daily driver first. Since you are in college a small economical car would probably serve you best. Toyota and Honda have a good track record.
When you can afford it and have a place to store it, you can get your classic/vintage car. That way, you are not limited to what work you do on it cause it has to remain drivable.
Cars_Music_GoodTimes@reddit
This is great advice!
SeminoleVictory@reddit
Yes, the project will never be finished if it's a daily driver
boxerbroscars@reddit
You can daily any classic you want, if you buy two of them. Things break every now and then which means the car will be parked until you figure out the issue, get parts shipped in, and find the time to work on it. So you'll need a backup way to get to school and around town. But whatever classic you get will certainly not have little to no issues, no matter how much the seller says that
Gregarious_Buffoon@reddit
I do exactly this. The running parts car comes in clutch
boxerbroscars@reddit
mine are two different models. I have a 71 mustang and a 96 f150. And very rarely are both running at the same time so I drive whichever works, or use my wife's car when we go somewhere together
BaldyPauly@reddit
YogurtclosetDull2380@reddit
If I had a 69 Vista Cruiser, I would daily the shit out of it.
OberonsGhost@reddit
You would daily it from gas station to gas station.
OberonsGhost@reddit
If you want to go back to cars before computers, you are talking about something pre-1984 or so. Anything even running from that era and in restorable shape will run at least 4 or 5 grand. You will also have a trade off of generally cheaper parts and easier to fix versus low gas mileage and the maintenance will be constant. You couls concievably find an early 70's Toyota or Honda that would still get decent mileage but would be harder to find parts for. An old van or small older pickup would make you an in demand person in college to help people move or carry the poeple and supplies to the party.
ramtough_63@reddit
The term classic car is endless. There are a lot of choices. Most any desirable classics are snatched up or have been sitting so long they are not ideal to buy drive and quote fix up.
It's not impossible to find but at best its a crap shoot.
Look for a one or 2 owner older persons driver possibly a recent widower car that the spouse was anal about keeping nice.
An older camaro is always my 1st choice for a bullet proof older car Basic 305 gm cars Monte Carlos anything carbureted are easy What you dont want is a buddies uncles car that has sat for ever and doesnt run (for whatever small thing that the seller says it needs)
Age is your nemesis on what your asking for. All classic cars are old by definition and old things are fragile.
My brother owns a classic car shop And you would be amazed how many Quote classic cars that get towed in from young people that watch too much TV. Recently a customer flew to California 2000 miles to pick up a 93 corvette 1 owner 73k that spent 6k driving it home Stranded in several states only to finally spend another 900 having it towed to his shop. 8k later he drove it home. Had it wrapped during to the oxidized paint and 3 months later spent another 1500 on A/C work. To him it was worth it because it is his dream car. Whatever you decide make sure its already drivable with little or no issues Classics have become a business and it pays well.
DaftOnecommaThe@reddit
I used to daily my 72 c10. The only issue is I could never find a starter worth it's salt.
It's been parked for a while but the starter it has now will spin it to like 500rpms. And we redid the wiring harness upfront so it's pretty dang solid.
Ok-Armadillo-392@reddit
I wouldn't recommend it. Focus on college.
leatherslut69@reddit
Miata
Dadbodmoder@reddit
… is always the answer
CogitoErgoScum@reddit
You’re going to have issues, so get a VW Beetle. If you have at least one rock, you can do some roadside repairs.
Eattherich187@reddit
My dad switches between his 73 porsche 914 and his 69 gto. Been doing it for years. No major issues.
Kdoesntcare@reddit
Buy a mk4 '97 to 2006 VW. Super easy to keep super reliable. It's easy to get power out of the 1.8t if you want something to play with.
Vegetable_Win_8123@reddit
Old pickup. Trucks in the 70’s and 80’s were pretty reliable, plentiful, and most of the “HELP” wall on your local autoparts store is for an old truck lol.
I daily drive a ‘73 F100 off and on. I have good studded snow tires for wintertime. Had it about 10 years now. After a few disasters (swapping to power steering was a challenge until I spent the money on a RedHead steering gear) it has not needed any work outside of maintenance for years.
My advice? When something breaks look up the “best available” option for replacement. Power steering pump died all the time. Replaced it with the 80’s style Saginaw pump and bracket. Steering screamed in the cold. Replaced the fluid with synthetic type F fluid. Steering gear leaked all the time. Replaced with a Redhead unit. Column shifter was worn and difficult to use. Replaced all parts with OEM from eBay. Ran a little warm at times in the summer. Measured and put in the biggest 3 core aluminum radiator from Summit that would fit ( and at less cost than buying a “direct fit replacement” from other suppliers.) You get the idea. Lots of old cars shared parts over a number of years. Some of those parts were improved and still fit. Don’t always go for the cheapest option. I have done these repairs to the truck over the period of years mind you, truck really hasn’t been a constant grind once it was put right.
Time_Fly4750@reddit
I daily drive a 2002 Miata. It’s my only car and I’ve been daily driving it for 3 years.
SailAutomatic8576@reddit
I don’t know if you would consider them classic but Ford products on the Panther platform are known to be reliable. Maybe a Lincoln Town Car!
Goosed_1867@reddit
NA Miata. It's considered a vintage car now.
EvilColonelSanders@reddit
I used to daily 10 years ago my 1975 Datsun 280Z. It died and it sits in my garage now waiting for an LS swap.
carcaliguy@reddit
I daily drove classics for years. The most reliable have been my 318 and slant 6 dodge dart/scamp/duster 67-72, and 68 and 69 chargers with 318. I had one reliable 383 car also. I daily a Tesla now because of the free charge on solar but still ride my 67 dart convertible as much as I can.
bdgbill@reddit
Having an old project car can be great fun. Having an old project car that you need to depend on to get to places on time is a recipe for deep, DEEP frustration. I mean, what is your tolerance for being stranded on the side of the road? Possibly more important, what is your girlfriend's tolerance for being stuck on the side of the road? If you don't have a girlfriend, spare a thought for your future girlfriend. In my experience they aren't too jazzed by being told to hold the flashlight over your hunk of junk on the side of the highway.
Go buy an old Camry to get to school. It will break enough to feel like a project car but you will make it to school most of the time.
jeepsies@reddit
1st gen LS400
voucher420@reddit
A daily and a project are not a good combo. You will want a modern back up plan, at minimum, a bus pass and/or a bicycle. Even fully restored cars won’t be reliable. Early 2000’s Hondas with a manual transmission or as old as 2006 if you want an automatic.
MoparMap@reddit
I would disagree about restored cars not being reliable. I think it comes down to how you restore them. I'm daily driving a 67 Dart with no issues, but it's also got a modern drivetrain in it and a full access fuel injection system that I can monitor and program freely, so it's easy to diagnose and adjust things if they come up.
voucher420@reddit
After a certain age, plastics become brittle, capacitors start leaking, and rubbers become stiff and brittle.
You’re right, it depends on the level of restoration and the quality of the parts used.
Heavy-Candidate-7660@reddit
Can confirm.
I’ve got an 04 Silverado for camping, fishing trips, hauling music gear, towing my uncle’s boat, and surviving Midwest winters
08 350z that I’ll never be done tinkering with
2015 Focus SE for running errands and driving to work/class
Considering getting rid of the Nissan and Ford and getting a newer Mustang GT since that’ll do the job of both cars without any tinkering required. Regardless of what it costs or how long it takes I’m never getting rid of my Silverado.
ComparisonFunny282@reddit
I daily an 04 Acura TSX w/ mt and a 92 Honda Accord LX w/mt and H22 swap. Granted I only drive about 4K a year on each of them, but they have not left me stranded.
VW-MB-AMC@reddit
I use VW Beetle and W123 Mercedes. Other good cars are Volvo 240, Mopar A body, VW Golf, Toyota Hilux, W124 Mercedes, Mazda Miata, Volvo P1800 and Ford Crown Victoria.
Scrappy_The_Crow@reddit
As a former W123 owner (300td), I have to disagree about them being great daily drivers. When functioning properly, yes. However, there are so many diagnosis/failure/maintenance things about them that make them frustrating, I wouldn't suggest it unless your diagnosis skills are top-notch and you have alternate transportation.
The vacuum system. I hope you like using a MityVac. One of your door or hatch locks springs a leak? The engine probably won't shut off via the ignition (sic) switch and you'll have to resort to the "STOP" lever (gee, why does that lever exist)?
Air cleaner mounts. I hope you like replacing broken brackets.
Specialized tools and extra time for what would be mundane things on other cars. Normal suspension spring compressors and tie rod poppers won't work -- you need niche MB tools. Need to replace the front sway bar's left bushing? You need to move the brake booster out of the way.
Old-style German exposed-filament fuses.
If it's a 300td, the self-leveling can be unreliable and expensive to repair. Used pumps are $600 (at least they were a decade ago) and for trivia, the entire head on the wagon is different because the pump mount is cast in. The only pump component available new is the shaft seal; I spent probably $50 trying out various internal seals from McMaster-Carr until I found some that work, then sold a few sets on forums, netting ~$200 for my efforts. The system requires specialized fluid. Rear shocks and the sensing valve are expensive.
VW-MB-AMC@reddit
The ones we have had in the family always worked great (except for severe rust problems on one of them). My parents, my grand parents and my aunt all had them. And I have one now. Most of the cars we have owned did not have the vacuum system, including the one we have now. Instead it has regular lock cylinders. Some things need special tools and specific procedures (like the rear wheel bearings), but overall I find it pleasant to work on. It is well engineered and logical. We never had any issues with the fuses either. An upgraded version that fits modern blade fuses are available. We have never had any cars with the self leveling system so I can not say anything about that. When I bought ours I made sure to avoid it. I would also think twice about a 1985 model. I have been told that Mercedes started to try some weird things with the electrical system that year.
Overall my biased opinion is that I think the W123 is the best car in the world.
Extension_Cancel_34@reddit
123, 124, 126 are some of the best cars ever built
JohnSMosby@reddit
I have daily driven Volvo 240s off and on for years. The one I drove 70 miles a day had around 333k on it when I sold it.
TheGarp@reddit
63 comet
Thestub@reddit
Crown Vic baby
thatvhstapeguy@reddit
GM J-car. Dead serious. Cheap parts, stupid reliable.
thetoastler@reddit
I dailied a '94 Ford Explorer for almost 3 years before I bought a newer truck last September. 90's cars with earlier EFI and not a ton of other overly complicated electronics were very reliable. It's worn out, but I still have it and it'll still get get me to where I need to go if I need it.
Blu_yello_husky@reddit
You can use any car as a daily driver. Think of it this way: people daily drive these cars when they were brand new, so there's no reason why you cant daily drive them now.
My daily driver is a 1978 chrysler, I have a 1994 cadillac i use for road trips, and a 1988 lincoln i use as a winter beater. I know people who daily drive cars from the early 60s, and this is in Minnesota where we get up to 6 feet of snow in the winter and temps get below -20°F, before anyone tries to say you cant daily a "classic" in a state that gets snow or cold weather.
Just find a nice old American sedan with a sturdy motor and as few electronic power accessories as possible, and it will be a better car for you than anything made in the last 30 years.
Kip-ft@reddit
What is your definition of a classic car? What are you interested in?
PolybiusChampion@reddit
Get an older gen 1 or gen 2 Miata.
insanecorgiposse@reddit
1967 Series 2A NADA Land Rover. I daily mine but I have restomodded it. My dad bought it in 1969 and he put a Chevy L6 250 in it back in 1977. I replaced it with a 292 bored out to 302, SM420 gearbox, 4.11 difs, Orion tcase, power steering from a range rover and forbyn brothers disk brakes.
InformalParticular20@reddit
Ford Model T is a great daily in the right circumstances.
Rapom613@reddit
I’ve seen them that look like they where drug out of a lake fire right up with fresh gas and clean points
Rapom613@reddit
Honestly most old iron can be pretty reliable. A co worker drives his 64.5 i6 stang all summer, no winters because of salt. Well maintained and in a good state of repair, especially if stock, most can be fine
I’d personally look at condition and corrosion more than anything else. Also parts availability, because anything will break, but something like a Mustang or a beetle will be much easier to deal with than say a Range Rover classic
durrtyurr@reddit
I strongly regret not buying the $6000 Porsche 912 I could have bought when I was in college in 2009. That isn't a typo, it was/is a 4-cylinder car.
FC3MugenSi@reddit
I daily drove a 1963 Galaxie 500 with a big block for years in Austin, Texas. Just gotta make sure ya have working AC and a radio in my opinion.
PadawanSith@reddit
R129
malfrutus@reddit
My 1974 Alfa Romeo Spider is my daily driver for the months without snow and road salt. I have a 2023 F150 but during those months the only time I drive it is if in need the cargo or passenger space, or if it is raining harder than the Alfa’s wipers can handle.
It could easily be driven as a year round daily. I used to drive an MR2 spider as my daily in New England. It can handle it with the right tires. But if you live in an area with road salt, you probably shouldn’t drive a classic year round if you want to preserve it.
CowboyDoc01@reddit
1993 W140 300SD 350Kmiles Original owner daily driver, still runs great
BartholomewBandy@reddit
I daily a 75 914.
Driftwood71@reddit
Until about 10 years ago, I daily drove a 69 Corvette convertible for many years. But I did have a 2nd car if the weather was bad or I was working on the Corvette.
MoparMap@reddit
I've got an old 67 Dart that's my daily right now. It's been a project since day 1, but not in the "undriveable" sense. I just did things to it gradually over the years, usually a weekend at a time kind of jobs so it was never off the road for long. I do have a modern drivetrain in it though, so that's something.
I'd mostly just look for something with good aftermarket support. Stuff will break or wear out like any other car, so you just want to make sure you can get replacement stuff easily and readily. You don't want a weirdo one-off year with bushings that you have to get out of a junkyard. You want something you can go to the local parts store and pick up same day. Stuff like classic Mustangs and Camaros you can basically build entirely from a catalog at this point, so they would probably be a pretty safe bet.
theBlownHeadGasket@reddit
college, old project, and daily are not a good mix imo
Extension-Scarcity41@reddit
A project car is never a daily driver...
abstract_groove@reddit
That’s a big question. Depends where you live.
Here in the uk for example good entry classics are old Minis, Land Rovers and MGs. They’re affordable (but going up in value), parts and cheap and plentiful and loads of people know how to work on them.
Different story for these vehicles abroad.
So I’d say find one that’s common in your country and has good availability of affordable parts and widespread mechanical expertise on how to work on them.
Good luck! I daily an old Defender and I’d take it over any new car any day of the week.
OldFordV8s@reddit
Old Ford pick 'em up truck
saylynshoes@reddit
Switch between my ‘86 RX-7 and my 2000 996 cab
stangAce20@reddit
I would never drive a classic as a daily. Since not only would the car be literal decades behind modern cars in every way possible.
But if it was in really nice condition I don’t think Id want to subject it to all the minor trials and tribulations we put our normal daily drivers through all the time.
ElCaminoLady@reddit
The problem with a running/driving project is whatever it needs has to be a small or quick enough job to get it up and running for the work week. Two hour jobs can turn into two day jobs if there’s issues. Then you don’t have wheels to get to work and continue to have income for said projects. My first car was a vintage “daily”. At some point I got a second, boring, commute car. (After barely making it to work or not at all on several occasions) Keeping the vintage at home to tinker on and drive for fun, and it’s been the better scenario ever since.
DubiousSpaniel@reddit
I’ve been driving 1980s diesel Mercedes exclusively for about 20 years now.
Currently a 1985 300TD. Previously 1985 300SD and 1983 300SD. I love the vibe of the W123 wagon, but gotta admit the W126 sedans are better daily drivers.
No computers in these cars, also no emissions required, annual tag fee less than $30 and cheap insurance. Joint the club, we are everywhere. :)
seanjones520@reddit
1991 GMC Sierra 1500 extended cab with camper shell. 350 motor th700r transmission 180xxx+ miles. Bad gas mileage but rock solid easy to work on parts readily available. Minimal computer stuff.
NeitherStory7803@reddit
I have an 89 gmc pickup. Depending on what you get and how much you want to pay the guys at the scrapyard will become your best friends
9BALL22@reddit
A daily driver and a project ar 2 very different things. I commuted with mid-late '90s full size American cars for years. Gran Marquis, LeSabre, Park Avenue ect. Many retirement villages and senior centers have bulletin boards that can be a good source. All were easy to work on and parts were reasonable, the 3.8 liter Buicks were among the most reliable cars that I've ever owned.
tinyfrogs1@reddit
2000s Japanese something something
CricketExact899@reddit
Old Volvo
WildKarrdesEmporium@reddit
First project / little to no issues.
Gonna have to pick one. Project cars, by their nature have issues, otherwise they wouldn't be a project. If you want a nice vintage daily driver, I recommend something from the 80's-90's, and expect to spend at least $6k-$10k depending on where you live for something that will have manageable issues as a daily driver.
v8packard@reddit
People have different definitions of vintage and classic. When I was a poor college student I had a 1955 Packard and a 1969 GTO. That was the early 90s. It was not exactly a great idea. After a few years of borrowing cars from my grandfather and uncle way too many times my mother finally asked me what the hell I was thinking. So I used the money I was saving for upholstery work on the Packard as a down payment on the then brand new Ram pickup. The next February the trans in the Ram goofed up, and it spent 2 1/2 weeks at the dealer. I drove the Packard every day. 😂🤦♂️
You don't mention anything about the cars you like or want. If it's going to be a project it should be a car you love. Because it will be more time, money, and aggravation than it's value can return. It might never be worth it, but will be worth it to you if you love the car.
A suggestion that might be unusual, Ford Panther platform. Crown Victoria, Grand Marquis, Town Car, and the Police Interceptor are readily available, not expensive, built like tanks, and are actually damn good cars. Little known are the sport versions, handling and performance package was available for years on the Vic and Grand Marquis. For a few years you could get a Crown Vic LX Sport and Grand Marquis LSE which featured bucket seats, console with shifter, and handling performance package. Many repairs to these cars are simple, requiring modest tools and can be done by people with beginner's skill levels.
Working_Area_7351@reddit
Bad idea . Complete money & time pit. You need so many tools .
IWuzRunnin@reddit
I don't consider it a classic yet, but I see it referred to that way, a fox body mustang. They're easy to work on, parts are plentiful aftermarket, and from junk yards from vehicles that aren't even mustangs.
WhenVioletsTurnGrey@reddit
In my younger days we looked for a Cars driven By Grandma's. The responsibly driven & maintained car will last a lot longer than something that's had the pedals tested over & over again.
Consistent-Movie-229@reddit
A 1990s Toyota pickup will give you bullet proof reliability and you can still source parts.
I daily a 1982 C10 but gas mileage sucks
70Bobby70@reddit
I've been daily driving my 1981 c10. Agreed the gas mileage is bad but every day I'm impressed with just how good this old piece of shit really is. They're tanks and good dailies for nearly 50 years old.
R2-Scotia@reddit
900 turbo
bubbameister1@reddit
I had this same hope in my 20s. It just never worked out. What has worked is to have a basic reliable car and also a fun car. The closest I have gotten is a 1990 Volvo wagon, but despite my love of Volvo wagons, I wouldn't consider it a fun car. My MG is fun, but I would never want to have to depend on it to get me to work every day. It's the choice if the weather is right and it starts.
Gunk_Olgidar@reddit
Unless your classic is a 3800 Buick from the late 1990s, there is no such animal as a "reliable classic."
Get a cheap corolla for a daily driver. Then it doesn't matter that your 50s to 70s carbureted project/show car won't start on cold mornings.
happy_Amphibian_88@reddit
My neighbor daily a Toyota Cressida. Its brown but it runs well.
Altitudeviation@reddit
So you want a reliable older car that you can drive everyday, but use for learning on various car projects?
Sounds like you're asking for a good running car that you can't mess up while learning how to keep a good running car running good.
I predict disappointment.
But an old Ford or Chevy will run good enough and can be easily and quickly repaired in any city/town in America after you break it while attempting to fix it.
I think you really want a daily driver beater and a bucket of bolts on the side to play with. Again, old Fords or Chevys will meet your use case.
newoldschool@reddit
Mercedes w123 Mercedes diesel
it will probably outlive my kids
ExplanationUpper8729@reddit
My wife daily drives a 1998 MB ML320. Leaks oil, we don’t mind her Mom gave it to her, it has 86,000 miles on it. It rides rough, but it was free. We’re not complaining.
SailingSpark@reddit
I daily drive my 2003 Land Rover.
jderflinger@reddit
You need a backup to go get parts when your main is a project car.
No-Currency-1190@reddit
Personally I drive a 69 C10 daily. However I rebuilt it 8 yrs ago. If you can find a car / truck that is mechanically sound I'd start there. The others are correct though it's a good idea to have a back up car. I learned to have 2 cars early in life just for peace of mind. Usually my backup would be a $500 beater lol.
Disturbed_Bard@reddit
Used to daily a w210 E class
Was fucking great
hadokenny@reddit
bmwlocoAirCooled@reddit
1983 Mercedes 240D. Manual. Sunroof. Power Windows.
If you can find a 300D Turbo diesel or more sublime and rare 300CD Turbo diesel, you'll have a more of a fighting chance in the "real world".
samit2heck@reddit
Depends where in the world you are. In Australia I dailied a 60s Chrysler Valiant with no worries (slant 6 really never die). Here in Europe no way. I've got a 15 year old Alfa Romeo and it's fun but wouldn't want much older on cold winter mornings or in the snow getting to school and work.
grouchy_ham@reddit
As others have said, you can daily drive pretty much any car so long as you keep up on the maintenance.
My 1958 Chevy Apache is a perfectly reliable vehicle and a lot of fun. Hell, I would even say it’s far more reliable than many modern trucks I have seen.
The biggest reason I don’t use it as a daily driver is the risk of some moron doing the things that morons behind the wheel do and hitting it and tearing it up. Most insurance won’t cover it for what it would cost for significant damage if it’s used as a daily driver.
They don’t even pay out enough on a lot of newer vehicles. One of the guys I work with was plowed into in his truck by an idiot and insurance company totaled the truck and was offering something like $3,200 because it was a 20ish year old truck. It wasn’t perfect, but there is no way in hell you’d replace it with an another truck of similar condition for that amount.
Lubi3chill@reddit
I daily drove mk2 golf 1990. Buu I guess honda would be better since they are more reliable. Good thing about old cars is that they aren’t complicated so the car itself is reliable, but obviously it all depends on the condition of parts that are there. You can’t expect 35 year old rubber to not give out eventually.
_no_usernames_avail@reddit
For two of us, the recipe has been three cars (so that we have cars to get to work in when one is in the shop). The savings on car rentals have paid for the scheduled maintenance each year.
For one person, having a project and a daily are still two cars, unless you live in a city with public transportation.
nicholasktu@reddit
I drive a 1999 Silverado which is technically vintage,vita reliable. I sometimes daily my 1983 Camaro but that doesnt count because its a highly modified car with most of a C6 drive train stuffed into it.
Gubbtratt1@reddit
Anything. Just depends on what you need from a daily. Are you concerned about safety? Reliability? Serviceability? Fuel efficiency? Comfort? Acceleration? Cruising speed? Spare parts availability?
I daily a 1967 Triumph 2000. I like it, but a lot of people wouldn't be fine to daily something with no safety features other than aftermarket seatbelts, stromberg carburetors and a fuel economy of 10l/100km.
Aught_To@reddit
An E46 330ci convertible. I hate to think of 25 years as classic... but here we are. Car works great, no lights no issues. Took me about 5 grand to bullet proof it and get the front suspension in order.
Great little car, just a pleasure to drive and look at.
simo1965@reddit
Mercedes W123 or W124
air_head_fan@reddit
Air cooled 911s make great daily drivers if well maintained. SC/Carrera especially.
evilchris@reddit
Absolutely loving the simplicity of my 98 Forrester
JCDU@reddit
You can daily anything if you're willing to do the maintenance - even crappy cars can be made reliable with modern parts, engine swaps, etc.
Also - define classic/vintage? My daily is 21 years old and is the newest in my fleet, I'd daily my 40 year old Land Rover happily.
muhhuh@reddit
You can daily whatever you want, but it’ll break all the time regardless. People daily drove the cars when they were still relevant cars.
D-Alembert@reddit
For a daily driver I think safety needs to be a pretty high priority, which means a fairly modern car, so I personally wouldn't DD a classic/vintage car unless it was a modern remake
YMMV
Doublestack00@reddit
I've used my classic kei truck and and off as my daily for several years.
_EnFlaMEd@reddit
VN SS Commodore