How reliable is your classic pre 73 any make

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[Mustang-Boss-302]

 
Used Cars - any classic  How reliable?

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Expert: Jay - 9/5/2009

Question
QUESTION: Jay
Thanks for your time. I am looking to purchase a 1966 Ford Mustang, Coupe, as an everyday driver. My question revolves around reliability and whether buying a 40 year old vehicle.
I obviously dont want to pay for a show car that never gets driven, but am happy to pay for the best looking and mechanically sound vehicle I can.
Can you pls give me your general thoughts and things to look out for.
Note: Am in Australia so will be buying something locally.
regards
Paul

ANSWER: Well I am a huge fan of the older mustangs.  And they are really good cars all the way around.
Now if I was looking for something to drive back and forth all of the time, I dont know if that would be my first choice, simply because of fuel economy and all around driveability.
They are sports cars, with outdated technology, compared to some of the newer stuff available.
But you can make them pretty comparable by putting disc brakes, electronic ignition, different suspensions and such....but back to the question.  If the car is running good, and everything is like it should be, they are extremely reliable, and pretty easy to fix in the event something went wrong.  The older engines and transmissions, are almost bullet proof.  They are really tough!  When talking about the coupes, there isnt really a whole lot to look out for because of all of the older mustangs, they are the cheapest, and easiest to find, and you really should not be paying an arm and a leg for one of them.  If it was a 67 Fastback, it would be a whole new ball game! Those older stangs are fun to fix up, and if you like the older vehicles, I would highly recommend one.  I hope this is helpful and if you have any further questions about older stangs, feel free to get back to me.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Jay
Thank you very much for getting back to me so quickly.
My common sence is saying go for a modern car, but I just love the older Mustangs and need a little
re enforcement/assurance that with a few of the modern additions (disc brakes, elec ignition, power steering etc) that an
old Mustang is not a stupid thing to get.
I will keep looking at them and if I need and more specific advice I will come back to you.
Regards
Paul

[dbdee]

Don't think the forum has enough free space for that one !


Dave 

[kermit]

I can only speak about my cars for obvious reason.

Peugeot 204 (we had 3)
Just had one little stupid old wiring issue, loose cable. Otherwise nothing.
Peugeot 304 (we had 1)
one dead piston
cars owned from day one.

golf mk1 (small engine, 5 doors)
nothing, German quality

Peugeot 405 Mi16
brake servo, electrics, ignition
and probably other stuff
Great car to drive though, 150Mph top speed, excellent.


65 Mustang
never failed an MOT, one dead electric fan got me stranded in Feltham (if you know the area, you know not to stop there with such car....)
Can't think of anything else going wrong. I'm not talking about my cockup EFI attempt....

[kermit]

damned, you changed the subject while I was posting.... oh well never mind.

[kermit]

I beg to differ....

Don't think the forum has enough free space for that one !


Dave 

[Mustang-Boss-302]

I had a lancia beta, never gave me any problems for 2 years, started on the button every time. did have some rust issues every mot. but ultra reliable.

VW karmann ghia, 100% reliable 5 years mechanical free motoring, did have some rust issues every mot.

Hillman Hunter gls (hollbay) twin 45's allways buggering up, did have some rust issues every mot.

Boss mustang, no breakdowns ever, no rust issues any mot.

[RIPsnorter]

Got my '67 and drove it as a daily driver for nearly 4 years.
Admittedly, it only took me to my local rail station every day, but I did use it for some work trips to the Midlands.
I was out in every weekend, trips to London etc. and used for shopping to Sainsburys.

Had some issues an needed stuff doing to it after I bought it, but sorted everything (whilst using it) in the first six months and ran fine the rest of the time.

There's always stuff that needs looking at if you're going to use a classic as a 'daily', but that's life and tinkering with them is one of the joys of owning them.

[Gazza51]

I use the Truck as a Daily Driver and don't mind where i park it. I would use the Mustang as a Daily but the only concern is where it would be parked

[Mustang-Boss-302]

I use the Truck as a Daily Driver and don't mind where i park it. I would use the Mustang as a Daily but the only concern is where it would be parked

so in an ideal world with safe parking..your saying you would be comfortable daily driving the Stang? any distances.

[Garstang]

I used my rodded 1962 consul as my daily for 18 months or so rain snow and shine and my play toy at weekends.  Its all I could afford and never let me down, but, used to get stopped by the bizzies because of the dummy snorkel scoop.  They said it would cause a pedestrian an injury.  I said they would be dead before they got that far

[Mustang-Boss-302]

I used my rodded 1962 consul as my daily but used to get stopped by the bizzies because of the dummy snorkel scoop.  They said it would cause a pedestrian an injury.  I said they would be dead before they got that far

[Gazza51]

I use the Truck as a Daily Driver and don't mind where i park it. I would use the Mustang as a Daily but the only concern is where it would be parked

so in an ideal world with safe parking..your saying you would be comfortable daily driving the Stang? any distances.

Yep, she drives great  

That laughing thing is funny

[Mustang-Boss-302]

Yes thats me on a good day

[Garstang]

Yes thats me on a good day

Its wierdscaryfunny.

[68fb]

Shouldn't this be posted in the "Put faces to names section" 

Thats a clip from Tod Brownings "Freaks" circa 1932 still an amazing film

[Mustang-Boss-302]

[68fb]

Hey, great clip with real characters, not a film they would make today unfortunately