Classic Mustang as a daily driver

[DaveA]

Hey guys!

I grew up loving Mustangs. I'm 36 years old. I had a rebuilt Mustang in high school. It was an 88 5.0L motor in a 78 Capri body. I loved that car. It was so nice having a muscle car in high school.

Anyway, here I am 20 years later. I have always loved Mustang but either due to having babies, moving across country, work, cash (lack of), divorce, second marriage, more babies, etc., I just haven't had the time or cash to get another one. For years now I have dreamed of owning an old 60s style Mustang, preferably a Fastback.

Well, my wife and I are finally getting settled in life. We have been together three years and together make a lot of money, though we have a lot of financial obligations, too. I just bought her 2013 Kia Sorrento so we now have the nice, new, safe family car for our twins she gave birth to in September. Having babies this time around (versus when I was 19 and 25) doesn't have the financial impact it once did.

Anyway, I told my wife I would like to get an old Mustang from the 60s and she's okay with it. I primarily wanted a Fastback but I'm considering a convertible now, too, as they seem to be cheaper.

I will have about $15,000 cash and am looking to finance either A) not at all, or B) less than $10,000. With that in mind, I think I can get either a fastback or convertible from the 60s for $15-$25k.

My question to you guys is your thoughts on using it as a daily driver. Is that just asking for it to be stolen? I live in New England and of course wouldn't drive it in the winter (I have an old Ford Explorer that is great in the winter that I will keep until it dies), but otherwise I would ideally like to make this my car for commuting, etc.

Let me know your thoughts. If it's downright silly to use it as a daily driver, then I will make it a weekend/pleasure car.

Thanks. I likely won't be buying until after the winter is over. I'm selling a motorcycle and a few other things to help raise the cash.

[Varilux]

My first '65 was a daily driver (about 12 years ago in Florida with a 20 mile round trip to work) for two years. All in all, it wasn't a bad experience (even without A/C), but there were definately days I wanted to be able to leave her in the garage.

This time around, my '65 is a "drive when I want to" car (now in Dallas, with a 36 mile round trip), and its much more fun this way. I probably drive it 3-4 out of 5 work days, but if my app shows bumper-to-bumper traffic (or if its raining, which is pretty rare here), its nice to switch to my "other" car. To be fair, it has more to do with the Mustang being a manual (which is not fun in bumper to bumper on I-35) and the other car being an automatic.

My first '65 had a C code 289, and my current '65 has a T code 200. I actually prefer the 200 for daily driving (especially with the T-5 speed trans- really improves the driving experience, and with fuel at $4/gallon, a 20+mpg classic car makes a lot more sense).

Good luck with the search (and with the twins)!

[ScottsGT]

They were used as daily drivers for years when they came out. Why not now?
As long as you can find a mechanic that understands (if you don't) points, setting timing, older electrical systems, etc. and in worse case, if you break a windshield. Vintage Mustang glass installs are now an art form. Everyone these days used urethane on everything.
But think of some of the modern conveniences you are going to miss. Dehumidified defrost with modern AC systems, cruise control, power windows, etc. But a lot of these can be added later.
Think a great alarm system and LoJack.

Oh, and welcome to the VMF!

[Maxum96]

Here's what I tell anyone considering using a vintage car as a daily driver. You're going to be using a car that is a minimum of 40-45 years old. No matter how good of condition the car is in, you're still dealing with 40+ year old components.

About 5 years ago I bought a 1971 F100 pickup with 60,000 original miles that had been well cared for and always garaged. I bought it from the original owner. I was constantly replacing things like seals, hoses and components that had seals in them. The seals and gaskets were getting old and hard from age and not sealing anymore. Also I had to put a new radiator in and replace the intake gasket due to age causing oil leaks.

Automotive safety technology is light years ahead of where it was in the 1960's. I could write pages of the improvements and changes that have occurred since then. I'm a police officer. Specifically I'm an accident investigator and reconstructionist. I've been to hundreds of accidents involving everything from bicycles up to semi trucks. I would easily select a modern small car over a vintage large car any day of the week if I knew I was going to be in an accident. Old cars do very poorly in accidents, usually with injuries to the occupants. Do you want to risk your wife or family members everyday because your daily driver is an old car? See the video link below to see what I'm talking about.

There are people that use vintage cars as a daily driver and will scoff at my stance. But that's fine. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. But I would recommend a vintage car as a toy or weekend cruiser only.

Crash Test 1959 Chevrolet Bel Air VS. 2009 Chevrolet Malibu (Frontal Offset) IIHS 50th Anniversary - YouTube

Crash Test 1959 Chevrolet Bel Air VS. 2009 Chevrolet Malibu (Frontal Offset) IIHS 50th Anniversary - YouTube

[zray]

I bought a near "perfect" '66 GT fastback in 1997 with the intention of driving it everyday. Although it looked and ran great it hadn't seen daily duty since the 1960's and early 1970's. It took about a year before assorted "perfect" old parts quit breaking and I then had a reliable car. I drove it for several more essentially trouble-free years.

The stress on old drivetrains, suspensions, and chassis is completely different when the car is asked to perform every day vs. the occasional weekend

If you are prepared for that reality, then by all means, do it.

Z.

[slim]

Hi Dave! Welcome to VMF.

Where you live and commute makes a difference IMO. A daily commute 1 1/2 hours each way in Los Angeles is nuts if you are making $1,000,000/yr. and commute in a chouffer driven limo with bar, swimming pool and whatever else your heart desires.

If you live in the country near a vintage car service shop and commute 5 minutes each way what could be finer!


Slim

[Varilux]

To echo the comments above, early Mustangs were built to be daily drivers... for the daily driving people did 45+ years ago!

Even the owner's manual bears testament to the changing demands... I believe somewhere in my '65 manual, it suggests I "consult my Ford dealer" if the car will be drive above 50mph for extended periods of time!

Traffic didn't flow as fast, and there were far fewer cars on the road 40+ years ago. Also, stupid people didn't have "smart" phones to distract them. I don't know how many times some moron in a Honda (chatting on a phone) has zipped in front of me and then nailed the brakes- blissfully ignorant of the relative lack of braking capacity I have (compared to the ABS four wheel discs on a light Accord, anyway). I've even had motorcyclists cut me off and brake, and I'm thinking "Do you have a death wish buddy?" Compounding things is what is likely to happen to ME if I manage to come in contact with someone's rear bumper (that straight steel non-collapsable steering column would make a handy skewer).

That said, I just give people more room, stay extra alert, and am willing to assume the extra risk... just one more thing to factor into the equation though.

[2manyhobbies]

I'm 32 now and my first car was my 65 Fastback, 6 years as a daily driver before some foreign fool creamed me. She gets the special treatment now, I enjoy my F150 supercrew too much to go back. My best friend currently drives a 54 chevy pickup with the original drivetrain everyday.

[juan]

It will be your car. Do what you want with it. I drive my 67 coupe quite regalarly. Just be aware of the 'soccer moms' and the parking lot door dings. John--Las Vegas

[Joe]

Both mine are daily drivers; I own no other vehicles. I commute about 30 miles round trip five days a week, much of it in excess of 65mph. The most important safety feature is an alert driver who understands what their machine can and can't do.

That being said, a lot has to do with the weather, which I see you are already aware of. Living in SoCal, I don't need any other car, but every time it's pouring rain and the roads turn into oil slicks, I swear I'm going to buy a beater just for bad weather!

[cmefly]

I drive my 65 falcon Sprint when its not raining as a daily driver. I really enjoy driving the classic cars. Just make sure it is in safe reliable condition.

[daves67ss]

My 67 was my daily driver for 15 years. But that came to an end in 1990 when we could afford a third car. It was a blast. However, I knew how to work on it and take care of all the regular maintenance...and I mean regular maintenance. Remember when you went to a filling station, they would check the water in your battery, check your oil level, air in your tires etc. How many times does this happen today? It's mostly because cars today are significantly more reliable. Back then you got 100K miles and it was time to sell the car. I got 400K miles on my most recent daily driver. If you are up to the challenge and have the resources to do the on-going regular maintenance, then go for it. Oh and that's after you get it reliable first.

PS, Welcome!

[DaveA]

Thanks for the advice guys. I think I'm more concerned about the car being stolen versus the challenges of having a 45 year old car as my daily driver. I am a firm believer in having an extra car so I will still have a modern car should I change my mind. However you are talking to a guy who trains drivers for a major delivery company where 75% of the vehicles are 25+ years old with no power steering and are beat to hell
lll

[slim]

Got some young people commenting that it's rougher on cars now days. The Mustang couldn't take it when new!

The comment in the owners manual on sustained speed is in the tire section.
1. If your car is to be driven at sustained speed (over an hour) at speeds over 90 mph need speed rated tires.
2. For sustained speed between 75 and 90 increase the cold pressure.
3. With snow tires do not dive at sustained speed over 75 mph.

The owners manual also defines severe duty as start and stop (city) driving.

If you were driving in the '60s (1960s) most highways were 2 lane. Let me explain 2 lane: 1 lane in each direction with no grass in between. Many highways had no speed limit. Many of us were driving our frail 65 Mustang 80 mph at night with the car comming the other way (like a city street) going 80 the opposite way (160 closing). One of the tests/demonstrations run on test cars, often shown on TV was how fast car X could pass an 18 wheeler which is going 60 after sitting behind it. How many seconds in the opposing lane before you had a head on!! That was a big selling point for a high perf "muscle" car. The automatic headlight dimmer was to keep from blinding the driver comming at you in the opposite lane.

President Eisenhauer pushed through the building of America's first super highway...it followed parts of the famous in song Route 66. It was for defense purpose. In the 50s we had no way for masses of people (especially military) to get somewhere fast.

We used to maintain our car back then not pump gas and go! Hard to believe we were surviving driving Chrysler 300, GTOs, HiPO Mustangs, Olds Rockets with bias ply tires and drum brakes! My 56 Ford Sunliner had over 250,000 on the Y block 312 when I replaced it with the "full" race track 312. That was in '70, still bias tires and drum brakes!


Sorry for the rant,

Slim

[supershifter2]

"ALL" my 65-66 mustangs have ben more reliable then my 2006 ford f350 that i bought brand new. i have gone from california to mississippi and back(4000 mile round trip) several times in them and also in my 66 ford station wagon without any engine or 4 speed toploader problems. however a few years ago my f350 broke down 30 miles west of pecos texas on i-20 and i spent 5 days in a motel wating for the dealer to fix it. about 1997 my 1986 toyota corolla with about 80,000 miles on it spin a rod bearing and almost immediatly threw the rod out the block just outside palm springs on the way to mississippi ! remember these cars are what people drove all over the country back in the day. my 68 torino is my daily driver and once my street legal road race 65 mustang is finished it will be my other daily driver and i will take a trip from cali to missippi in it.