Hey, I was wondering if buying a classic car as a first car would be a bad idea. I’d preferably want a manual and a 60s-70s muscle car. They seem easy to work on, cheap to repair and look great too. Additionally I do not care about all original parts and would be happy with a swapped engine. What do you guys think?
A dad answer here. I would prefer to see a 16-year old in a newer, reliable car with some modern safety features. AND obtain a classic as a project...could lead to a great lifetime hobby!
I wouldn't really recommend trying this if you're looking for highly sought after classic muscle cars as your first car. You'll pay more for a late 60s/ early 70s Camaro SS that has any restoration value at all than you will pay for a relatively recent model year Toyota. People know they have value, and they won't let a running car with a good frame and shoddy, original paint job go cheaply.
If you genuinely want to do it, I would go to the total opposite end of the spectrum and find a large 4-door sedan from the 1970s with a 3-4 speed automatic. Think old school Grandpa cars. Very few people want them, so you can find a deal. I paid $750 for my 1979 Pontiac Catalina 4-door a few months ago. It has some bottom door rust on the inside, but the frame is solid. It took some new tires and near complete brake overhaul to get it drivable after it sat in a field for 5 years, but it still gets attention because they're more rare. It runs and drives, needs some work, but an acceptable amount. It has the Pontiac 301 2-barrel V8. The Firebird had the same engine as an entry level V8 that year, so it has the torque you want, but it's controllable in a large sedan. Old school muscle cars don't have traction control, so those V8s in a lightweight car can get you in trouble quickly with all that torque if you're not careful. The big sedan will also keep you safer in a crash because there's a ton of metal around you.
Good luck!
If you want to go that route, you could start with the first gen camaro ss. Just make sure the vehicle is not rotting away from rust.
I would suggest something from the 1970s that has at least some minimal safety features like collapsible steering column, dual-circuit brakes with discs in front, padded dash, 3-point belts, and crash beams in the doors. Just don't buy a rustbucket. Better to buy one that's solid with bad paint and a blown engine than something with a rotten frame that's looks good on the outside and runs well.
If you plan to get it to daily drive and put (for instance) 10,000/15,000/20,000 miles a year on it, that’s really pushing it. Plus you will have to overhaul the parts (due to age). I would personally look into something newer (like less than 20 years old). Also, what is your background: have you worked on cars before, is it something you want to take on? If you are not mechanically inclined or have zero desire to get the vehicle up to speed on your own, I would also just get something newer. For the vast majority of us, as a daily driver, it makes sense to get a vehicle that is newer (definitely less than 20 years old).
If you want something different than the 10,000 toyota's out there, Yes get an older car. From 1950 to 1970.
Here's why IMO
They are simple and easy to work on and,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
They have a lot of NO'S that are nothing but trouble on newer cars.
NO Computer driven anything!
No catalytic converter!
No power robbing emission controls!
No serpentine drive bet. If it goes, you don't!
Easy to work on, cheap parts, fun to drive.
Many of the guys here will tell you not to use it as a daily driver. In my opinion that's a lot of baloney! Those cars were driven daily by someone. They are survivors.
The engines are super simple, all you need is fuel, air, and spark, and off you go.
Oh and if you have to replace a fuel pump on a modern car, you have to drop the gas tank, cuz that's where it is.
On the older guys, it's mounted on the engine! What genius decided to put it in the tank?
You'll learn a lot about auto repair with one and who knows? You may be the next Scotty.
You'll know how cars work and how to fix them instead of being a computer scan reader and parts replacer!
Good Luck to you and have fun with that Studebaker,Hudson Hornet, or GTO! {pear}:smile:
With that logic, why did you end up getting a 1995 Oldsmobile Silhouette? Why didn’t you get a 1950-1970 vehicle like you are encouraging OP to get?
For ease of working on them I'm right there with @mittegag, however especially for an inexperienced driver dealing with all the distracted texting and phoning morons on the road in their SUVS, safety equipment that came on board into the mid-1970s would be a good thing to have. Yeah, those 1970s cars have crude emissions crap that saps power and efficiency but if you're in an area where it does not need to be inspected you can have some fun stripping that stuff out.
Because it was the right car for me.
He's the one that wanted the older car.
I was just pointing some things out.
Believe me, if I had the money to spend, I'd be in a Caddy from the 60's.
So there.
DayWalker is right about one thing. I did buy a 1995 Oldsmobile Silhouette. It was the most car I could find for under $2000.
Full leather interior, Seating for 7, ice cold air, 4 new tires, under 120 k miles. Smooth shifting 4 speed auto. 3.8 V 6.
Power side door, removable seats,nice stereo with controls on the steering wheel. Tilt, Cruise,power seats, power windows,power seats.and a bunch of other things.
Zero rust, the body is fiberglass, all the bells and whistles for $1950 cash.
Would I rather have a 60's car? You bet!
But I don't have the resources, so I have what I have and am happy to have it. Yes, I still like the older cars that I grew up with and if someone wants to know about them, I'm going to speak my piece.
How long will it last?
Don't know.
I'm 71 so maybe long enough!
Depends on your budget, if you can get a less popular muscle car for around 5k to 10k that runs and drives, and that you can afford all the repairs that may show up later, then sure. But I wouldn't do it if you had a budget under 3k, reason is you'll spend all your money buying the car most likely, and then have no money left for repairs. Also if you want to do it make sure the interior looks good so you don't hate sitting in it, also unless money is no object don't have very high expectations of what you're going to find or get. And don't buy something with frame rust or major problems unless you have the money to fix it or can fix it yourself.
