When is a classic C-Body to valuable to drive?

[1978 NYB]

When is a classic car to valuable to drive?

I say never.....it has 4 tires and it's a car. All cars are suppose to be driven in my opinion. I don't care how rare it is, how few miles it has, one of one, one of none, the only one left on the planet.....

If I own it........I'm driving it!

That goes for all B's, E's, A's, Chevy, Ford, etc,.

Fire away........

 

[70NPORT]

I am with you Bob. If it has wheels I'm driving it. If it happens to be something super rare, valuable and of TRUE historical significance then I will say I'd be more selective about when and where and how many times said wheels are driven. Ex. I would drive a one of one factory made 71' Hemi Imperial HT coup w/pistol grip 4spd and sun roof much less than a garden variety 64' Plymouth Valiant...and the Hemi would be pampered and buffed and blah, blah, but rest assured it will see some FUN road time, for sure. Cars were made to be driven, and not up and down trailers.

 

[monaco75]

Id have to drive it to.. If its a one of car, and worth so much, I'd probably sell it, and build one hell of a driver. And have some spare coin to boot. Let someone else who enjoys just staring at it have it.

 

[1978 NYB]

I wouldn't drive ANY nice classic in snow, ice, or salt but anything else is a go....

 

[Catfish]

I wouldn't drive ANY nice classic in snow, ice, or salt but anything else is a go....

My thoughts as well. But no matter how rare, it would be out on nice days. Now if it was perhaps the lowest mileage example of a hemi road runner known to exist, it would be hard for me to do much more than of a few trips around town a year.

 

[Big_John]

I like to drive my cars. I bought my 300 in July and put over 3000 miles on it.

 

[70NPORT]

I find the allure of "hemi" this or that has dulled somewhat......I've seen too many to count and it just doesn't feel like it did the first time I saw one in real life in a 70' 4sp Cuda at a drag strip....and the dude was thrashing the hell out it taking names and shutting chevells and vettes down.

 

[Big_John]

I find the allure of "hemi" this or that has dulled somewhat......I've seen too many to count and it just doesn't feel like it did the first time I saw one in real life in a 70' 4sp Cuda at a drag strip....and the dude was thrashing the hell out it taking names and shutting chevells and vettes down.

The Hemi cars have gotten way overpriced as has the parts for them. I've owned a couple and honestly, my A12 Roadrunner did everything better. A good running Hemi car was faster, but not every Hemi car I've ever driven or rode in would be what I consider a "good running car". Most guys don't know how to make them run right. There are some that do though......

 

[rexus31]

You'd drive this?

http://www.autoblog.com/2013/08/18/...-sells-incredible-27-5-million-monterey-2013/

I understand your sentiment and agree with you for the most part, but there are cars that fall into the "undriveable" category and the car in the link above is one such example.

 

[fc7_plumcrazy]

I would drive them all, too.
Maybe except a brand new "old" car with less than 10 miles on it.

I drive my Hemi cars, too and even race them.
My current 70 Hemi charger 4sp is one of 56 built, my 70 Hemi Bee 4sp one of 21 buillt.

Carsten

 

[bluefury361]

honestly, my A12 Roadrunner did everything better. A good running Hemi car was faster, but not every Hemi car would be what I consider a "good running car". Most guys don't know how to make them run right. QUOTE]

True ........ I special ordered an A12 Runner in 1969, (I posted a lengthy story about it here), and in showroom stock condition it was much quicker then a Hemi Runner.
You could drive a Hemi ..... OR ...... race a Hemi. But the tune had to be changed to do either. Most guys on the street just wern't able to keep a Hemi running good. Thats where so many of the "I beat a Hemi" stories come from.

Love to hear about your A12 John.

I think there are some cars that are more "form then function" and enjoy seeing them, but I have no desire to own a car I am afraid to drive and enjoy as they were meant to.

 

[70NPORT]

"I have no desire to own a car I am afraid to drive and enjoy as they were meant to".

[/QUOTE]Perfect way to sum it up.

 

[Zymurgy]

We are all of the same mind. I want to drive my car not just polishing them. I have a friend who found a Lincoln Continental which has very low 1,000 miles on it. It is one of three that he owns. He wants to sell it because he doesn't drive it and is afraid when he does.

 

[Jim 68cuda]

If it were a 4500 mile survivor like the 66 Fury that was for sale at Hershey a couple weeks ago, I would drive it, but would keep the driving to a minimum, to keep the mileage down as much as possible. I probably wouldn't drive it more than a couple times a month and then only to local shows or cruise ins. I wouldn't take it to a show more than an hour away unless I could trailer it there.

I will likely never be faced with the dilema of whether or not to drive such a car. But a friend of mine lives with that dilema. My friend bought a 1 of 16 built, '66 Shelby Mustang convertible at auction recently. The car had 7600 miles on it. I know the carb, tires and battery have been replaced and most everything else is original to the car. My friend drives this car to shows. Since he lives 30 miles from even the nearest cruise in, he puts 100+ miles on it almost every time he takes it out. While I commend him for driving and enjoying the car, I'm sure he felt pain when it turned 8000 miles, and I have to wonder if he will continue to drive it after it hits 9000 miles, knowing the next landmark mileage amount will mean the mileage will jump to 5 figures.

 

[rush]

I'm a believer in driving them. They were built for that reason so why not enjoy them. We all had or still have some old muscle cars that we use to flog with out mercy so why stop now. My dad bought his dads last car he bought and it had 18k on it and he drove it for a little while then parked it for 15 years. That was the worst thing he could have done. I think it had all new brake lines ,wheel cylinders,master cylinder,and the list goes on just so we could move it. The car is a 66 Belvedere 1 4 door ltp auto radio delete. I know she has 44k on it now and it just sits in my brothers garage why?

 

[Big_John]

honestly, my A12 Roadrunner did everything better. A good running Hemi car was faster, but not every Hemi car would be what I consider a "good running car". Most guys don't know how to make them run right. QUOTE]

True ........ I special ordered an A12 Runner in 1969, (I posted a lengthy story about it here), and in showroom stock condition it was much quicker then a Hemi Runner.
You could drive a Hemi ..... OR ...... race a Hemi. But the tune had to be changed to do either. Most guys on the street just wern't able to keep a Hemi running good. Thats where so many of the "I beat a Hemi" stories come from.

Love to hear about your A12 John.

I think there are some cars that are more "form then function" and enjoy seeing them, but I have no desire to own a car I am afraid to drive and enjoy as they were meant to.

I had to look for that thread!!! I found it and started reading through it and decided that rather than posting more here, I'll pick that one up again later tonight and post some stuff there.

 

[bluefury361]

We all had or still have some old muscle cars that we use to flog with out mercy so why stop now. QUOTE]

Back in the day most of these cars were "flogged" to death ..... Then you went and got another one. Not so easy these days. Add to that the obsolete technology in brakes, tires & suspention .... Hense ..... trailer queens.
I think the tribute car is the way to go if you really want to "use" one of these cars as they were used back then.

 

[Fratzog]

My POV is that generally the cars should be driven. Not as daily drivers since generally they are not practical these days IMHO. Rather as a fair weather cruiser. Both of mine get at least 1000 miles/year. That's primarily cruises, shows and Sunday driving. The exception would be museum quality very low mileage survivors. Those cars deserve a special standard of preservation since they are not driven. However most people couldn't afford to maintain cars to this standard. Jay Leno maybe.

 

[71ChargerSE]

If its an ultra low mile or extremely rare car I'd sell it to someone with a collection.

I want to drive my cars, and if, God forbid, I total one I can cash my insurance check and buy another 318 Charger or whatever and build it all over again.

I like the Hemi and the 6 pack, but give me a 440 Magnum or better yet an EFI setup on a 440.

 

[70bigblockdodge]

Drive it and Drive it fast.