Hi Scotty, hope you’re well. I’m a student looking for my first car, but I want a vintage/classic. What tips can you give in terms of what to look out for and do you have any reasonably priced cars that’ll not cost an arm to repair and still have parts that are easy to access?
Check some old answers
You didn't say how old you define as "classic", maybe 30 years old or older? Probably not a good choice as a first car that will be used as a daily driver, especially if you're not able to work on it yourself.
If you're meaning 25 years old (mid 90s cars), that's one thing, if you're meaning actual classics like cars from the 1970s, etc... you're probably getting in over your head. Those cars are 40+ years old. They will have a lot of their own problems just because they're ancient, garage kept and babied or not. Today's mechanics are not familiar with cars that old, which means you will not have many options to get things worked on when they need it, unless you're talking very basic stuff, like alternators and such. Those things are so simple, a socket wrench and breaker bar are all you'd need.
If something serious goes wrong, you won't have a car for weeks. My 1979 Pontiac Catalina is in the shop, getting the rear main seal replaced. It went out when I was driving it due to my other two vehicles being loaned for a couple days. It's been in the shop for over two weeks. They tore into it, then put it back together and pushed it out into the parking lot, because they don't know how to install the replacement rubber seal -the original rear main seal is rope, not rubber. The mechanic is 10+ years younger than the car and has never actually done a rope seal job before. I went down to the shop the other day to explain how it should be done, I have the dealer level Pontiac service manual from 1978-1979 on CD. It's a little unnerving to have to school the mechanic on something. You need guys Scotty's age who know how to work on those cars, and they're rare these days.
It'd be cool to do but be realistic right now. Gas will go back up in the summertime, and old cars are gas hogs. You may think it's no big deal, but you'll be annoyed at dumping cash in the gas tank and have it go so little distance. I have 3 cars, so I can afford to be without my classic, it's not my daily driver. Get a reliable vehicle, then think about getting a classic car.
Don’t.
A toy should be your second car
