Here in Mexico, a lot of the vehicles you see being operated are more than 30 years old. My builder’s work vehicle is a 1976 Chevrolet pickup. A dump truck that hauls sand to building sites looks like a 50’s model Ford. Old VW Beetles more than 30 years old are everywhere. They can restore them to new condition at modest cost. Etc.
So, comparisons are really not fair.
There’s a number of older cars around here but the ones driven most religiously were 2 cars belonging to an old farmer who passed away a few years ago. He had a 58 GMC pickup and a 65 Chevy Bel-Air 4 DR sedan; both as stripped and bland a vehicle as could be found.
The vehicles passed on to someone after his death and now and then I still see that Bel-Air puttering around. He was loaded so it wasn’t a matter of not being able to buy anything else. He could have gone down and paid cash for a new Benz if he so desired.
I would also give the old guy credit as a driver because even at his way advanced age he was a very conscientious and careful driver.
In the town where I work, (Baldwin Wi) someone drives his 1977 Pontiac Firebird to work every day during the spring summer and fall, and only parks it when the first snow flys.
It’s dark blue and in very nice shape.
Up until about two years ago, I regularly saw an AMC Pacer in excellent looking condition being driven to and from local stores by a young woman with small kids. It obviously had a newer paint job and no visible rust.
Just a year or so ago, on my daily commute to work, there would be someone going the other way riding an old Suzuki 750 two stroke water cooled triple a.k.a. the “water buffalo”. There also used to be someone who worked across the street who rode a first generation four cylinder Honda Goldwing to work daily, back when Goldwings were just regular motorcycles without huge fairings, stereos, windshields, etc.
“Are you sure it was a flathead?”
No, of course I have no way of knowing what was under the hood of that old Ford, but it looked totally stock on the exterior, and when I rolled my window down briefly, it did not have a loud exhaust sound.
My experience with older cars that have had engine transplants is that they almost always have a louder than normal exhaust sound, and usually show some evidence of a non-stock engine, such as dual chrome exhausts. This car looked and sounded completely stock.
But…quien sabe?
@DrRocket Ford had flatheads till 1954, when they introduced the overhead valve V8. My sister’s boyfriend had a blue 1940 Ford in the 50s, and I worked on it with him occasionally. The top speed was only 88 mph, but Ford speedometers were wildly optimistic and this car showed 100 mph on the straight .
A year ago I regularly saw a 1963 Ford Galaxie 500 being driven by a young driver on a number of mornings. Also, for the last 2 decades I have occasionally seen an old unrestored 1964 Rambler American being driven, the last time being about 2 years ago in the wintertime (I hadn’t seen it for a couple of years before that…I guess I can expect to see it again soon). I have also seen a brown 1972 AMC Hornet out on the road several times recently. But my biggest surprise was about 4 years ago when I saw a yellow, stock condition (down to the proper hubcaps) 1971 or 1972 Chevy Vega driving in downtown traffic under its own power.
“Would still be driving my 72 nova, or 68 cougar xr7 if I could, you do not realize what you have lost until it is gone.”
They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.
Lets educate you, any car over 30 years old is considered a classic buy the classic car club of america. The last Volare was made in 1980, therfore the newest one you could buy would be 33 years old.
http://www.classiccarclub.org/info_garage/classics101/glossary.html
Not entirely correct. A classic pertains to certain makes, models and years.
Grabbed this picture on my way to work this afternoon. Don’t see very many of these any more. It’s in pretty decent shape.
That yellow number looks exactly like the 2 door 1971 Mercury Comet (except for the taillights) we used to have. This car was undercoated, but still rusted quickly. I gave it to my mother in law who drove little, and she got another 4 years out of it but it rained rust flakes on the driveway every time she closed the hood. The car just made 98,000 miles when she sold it for scrap.
“Don’t see very many of these any more”.
@DrRocket–having owned a Ford Maverick, I know enough not to go around looking for one.
Where I reside in Pennsylvania, there is a gentleman who owns a transmission shop who drives a 1916 White convertible. I approached him one day at the gas station and asked about the car, which is in outstanding condition. He said it was the White brand, from back when that firm made cars. He had most of the restoration work done by someone else, but he maintains the car now himself. He drives it frequently.
^
White automobiles were big, expensive cars, and White was among the brands in the first White House fleet of Presidential cars.
In 1911 Wm. Howard Taft bought 2 Pierce Arrows, a White Steamer, and a Baker Electric for the fleet, and he reportedly enjoyed being able to accelerate very swiftly away from reporters when he was being driven in the White Steamer. (I doubt if the Baker Electric would have even been able to move if he was a passenger, given his enormous weight.)
In reference to my above note, the White vehicle I did see was a large car, with room in the back for three people, and two in front. The front was quite roomy as well, and the upholstery was very plush and and nicely trimmed. It appeared to be very comfortable. I wish I owned the car. The top was down on this date thus I was able to examine everything. It gleamed.