Classic Cars, Which do You Own, Did Own, or Wish you Own

[paul cottingham]

All i have owned was two cutlasses, and 68, and a 69. I wound up canabilizing the 69 for the 68. When i finally sold the 68 i had added headers (a total bugger to find, took months) an electronic MSD ignition sytem, a massive quadraject carb, and a few other goodies. It still looked stock, she was a real sleeper.

Still miss that car.

[Kev Williams]

It would be nice to have a few of my old cars back-

First car was my folk's '61 Fairlane 500 2-door post. 292 Y-block, 3 in the tree, nothing special except that my folks bought it new, this was day one...
61ford.jpg

Second car was a '67 Dodge Coronet R/T, 440 Magnum, auto...
this isn't it, but it was identical to it (except mine had way bigger tires!)
67 RT.jpg

Third car was a '70 Dodge Coronet R/T, 440 six-pac, slapstick 4-speed, 4:10 gears-- I actually removed the 3-2's and put on an Offy/Carter dual-quad setup. REALLY woke it up!
this is the only pic I have of it, a scan of a beat up polaroid:
RT.jpg

Those 2 cars could be half my retirement plan today...

My 4th car was a $50 1963 Dodge Lancer. Not a bit classic, but never failed to get me where I was going for over a year..

Then I picked up a 1970 Mustang Mach I, 351C, 4-speed, what a rattletrap. It was pretty beat back then, but what I wouldn't give to have it back now!

Next up was a 1963 Nova SS, straight 6 and a powerglide. Bought it from my boss in '75 for $500, it was in perfect condition except the paint. My neighbor painted it for me for $50.
This was the absolute most gutless car I ever owned. When I got me a high-tech watch with a built-in stopwatch, I did a 0-60 speed test. Took exactly 24 seconds to get to FIFTY,
where I had to slow down for a stop sign... Gutless as it was, it was always easy on the eyes. No pics of these cars.

After a couple of family type cars, one being a $200 '67 Lincoln suicide-door car (LOVED that thing) I picked up a '56 Ford F-100 pickup, had a cop-car 390 and a C6 in it. Other than you couldn't steer it, it was a ball to drive! Got it half restored then got married a second time... nuff said - I have pics somewhere, need to scan 'em.

Around 1982 I bought a '78 Firebird from my cousin. No frills, never took a pic of it...

A little later I traded it straight across for a 1954 Ford Victoria, 2-door hardtop. Had the 256(?) V-8, the precursor to the 312 and 292, a leaky Ford-o-matic trans, power steering and power windows even.
It was a bondo car that needed a resto bad, which I didn't have time or money for. Sold it. No pics.

in December of '83 I picked up a brand new Buick Regal T-type, first SFI-V6 sold in Utah. I wanted a Grand National but none were here yet! I still own this car, if only it didn't need a complete resto now...
this was after it's new paintjob, circa 1995...
buick.jpg

Around 1988 I bought an '82 Camaro from a friend, can't find a pic. 305 V8 plainjane, had it about a year...

After marrying my current wife in '91, for her 40th birthday (1995) she wanted a Mustang GT Convertible. So I got her this '89...
89mustang.jpg

A couple of years later, I bought this '84 Corvette from her 2nd ex of all people. Was a bit haggard, needed work but was fun to drive. I ended up trading it straight across for a paintjob for the white Mustang!
84vette.jpg

After that, I pretty much didn't buy cars. Kept the Buick for years, then starting driving our 2002 F-250 work truck.

I did pick up a '96 Lincoln in '03, sleeper hot rod these things are! One of our kids still has this car.
Lincoln.jpg

But last January, a little early for the wife's 60th birthday, she said she wanted a Mustang GT Convertible.. OK!
I found her a negative-image (sorta) of her first one! 2013 Coyote 5.0, 6-speed auto, 420hp... trying to stay out of trouble with this one, TOO much fun to drive!
10stang1.jpg



(cont)

[Kev Williams]

--and we still have the '89 20 years later...
both1.jpgboth2.jpg

Alas, the '89 is for sale, as much fun as 2 of 'em are, we don't need 2 of 'em!

[Phil Thien]

It would be nice to have a few of my old cars back-

First car was my folk's '61 Fairlane 500 2-door post. 292 Y-block, 3 in the tree, nothing special except that my folks bought it new, this was day one...
61ford.jpg

My friend's parents had one, it had the smoothest ride of any car I've ever been in. It felt like the thing was levitating or something, no bumps were transmitted to the passengers.

[Shawn Pixley]

Had - '66 Spitfire and '60 Austin Healey 3000.

Would like: BMW Alpina, Deusenburg (one of the depression dreamboats), Bugatti (Yeah, dream on), Toyota 2000, or a Aston Martin DB5. Realistically, I want a good modern reliable sports car (Miata's don't count).

Generally I like sports cars over muscle cars. My neighbor has a '67 Mustang California Special. Another neighbor just restored a Deaux Cheveau. A third friend swears by Morris Minors.

[Mike Chance in Iowa]

A third friend swears by Morris Minors.

I can't fault your friend for that. Then again, you can't get me to part with my CJ5.

My wish list. Any classic or rare vehicle up to the mid-50's will probably suit me. The older the better. All those awesome curves, chrome and grilles. I would take some 60's muscle cars too!

[Brian Holcombe]

[Rich Riddle]

The wife is honing in on her next preference, a 1955 - 1957 Ford Thunderbird. It's fortunate she likes old things. Any of you have any experience with this type of car? The prices seem to mostly fall between $25K - $35K. Not sure about the odd sized engines and getting replacement parts.

[DOUG ANGEL]

I started out with a 1956 Ford sedan, can't remember the model, but it was big and slow. Then a mid sixties Chrysler 300, (in 1970) it was big, luxurious, and wallowed like a pig on the road, loved it! Next came a 1967 Triumph Spitfire 1100 CCs of fun.
1966 Austin Healy Mk III, fun but dangerous suspension at high speed.
1971 Fiat Sport Coupe, same running gear and suspension as the Fiat 124 roadster, another fun car.
1971 Alfa Romeo Spyder 1750 fuel injected roadster, serious sports car, but mechanical knowledge and patience required. It's a money pit! That's where the love hate relationship of all Alfa owners comes from. Lots of smiles that turn into frowns.
1972 Porsche 914, Fun car, DON'T buy one. Electrical and mechanical NIGHTMARE, also prone to rust.
1992 Nissan Sentra SER, perfect sports coupe, fairly fast and very reliable.
1998 Saturn Sky Redline. I love this car 1)2 liter turbocharged engine, 2) because it's made in the USA 3) it is a real sports car 3, not some lead sled re-badged by marketing) 4)not too expensive 5) great styling, but cramped inside.
Muscle cars go fast in a straight line, none of my cars could beat even the slowest in a drag race, twisty bits however......

[daryl moses]

The wife is honing in on her next preference, a 1955 - 1957 Ford Thunderbird. It's fortunate she likes old things. Any of you have any experience with this type of car? The prices seem to mostly fall between $25K - $35K. Not sure about the odd sized engines and getting replacement parts.

I remember looking at a 56 T bird on a Ford dealers lot. It was turquoise in color and looked like it just came off the showroom. They were asking $3600.00 for it. [not 36K 3600] Of course this was in 1967 and I was 17 years old.
I thought they were asking too much for it, heck you could buy a brand new Mustang for around 10K less. If I only knew then what I know now........

[Rick Potter]

Rich Riddle.........This afternoon, I bought another '55 T-Bird. I dropped my wife at the airport to take a trip to Germany, and on the way home I called about a T-Bird that was available, and close to the airport. I bought it, she doesn't know, and I am blaming you for the whole thing.

You'd better find cover before she gets home.

After selling 'RatBird', my junkyard escapee '55 Bird with a Chebby motor, I found myself missing it more than I thought. I showed her a pic of the one for sale last night as she was packing to go, she took a glance and gave me a very non committal 'that's nice', then went to bed. That was all the push I needed. Now I need to sell my '48 Jeepster to make room.

I had a third one, way back in the '60s. Paid about $400 for it, and it needed everything. Total rebuild later, sold it for $1050.

[Stew Hagerty]

Mine was a '68 Z28. Original 302 and "Rock Crusher" 4 speed. Of course I had to "tinker". As in rebuild the engine 3 times in order to make some... improvements.

That car was FAST.

This is me and my brother somewhere in the mid '80s:

My 1968 Z28.jpg


I also had this Superbird for a brief period. I knew a guy that wanted one, and how much he was willing to pay for one. I ran across this Bird while at a show and the guy wanted quite a bit less than that amount that my friend was willing to pay. So I bought it. Fixed the little bit that was wrong (just a couple of oil leaks), called my friend and made his day. Mine too because of what I made off it.

Stew's Superbird.jpg

[Rich Riddle]

Rich Riddle.........This afternoon, I bought another '55 T-Bird. I dropped my wife at the airport to take a trip to Germany, and on the way home I called about a T-Bird that was available, and close to the airport. I bought it, she doesn't know, and I am blaming you for the whole thing.

You'd better find cover before she gets home.

After selling 'RatBird', my junkyard escapee '55 Bird with a Chebby motor, I found myself missing it more than I thought. I showed her a pic of the one for sale last night as she was packing to go, she took a glance and gave me a very non committal 'that's nice', then went to bed. That was all the push I needed. Now I need to sell my '48 Jeepster to make room.

I had a third one, way back in the '60s. Paid about $400 for it, and it needed everything. Total rebuild later, sold it for $1050.

Rick,

Just to ensure a smooth home life you can ship the car to us and it will be placed in a nice garage. I can send pictures from time to time of the car if you need proof it's still here. Anything to help a woodworker.

[Rick Potter]

Thanks Rich, it would be better if you shipped me the garage.

Seriously, if you have questions about them, PM me. I am fairly familiar with them.

[Stew Hagerty]

Mine was a '68 Z28. Original 302 and "Rock Crusher" 4 speed. Of course I had to "tinker". As in rebuild the engine 3 times in order to make some... improvements.

That car was FAST.

This is me and my brother somewhere in the mid '80s:

<img src="http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=318837"/>

I also had this Superbird for a brief period. I knew a guy that wanted one, and how much he was willing to pay for one. I ran across this Bird while at a show and the guy wanted quite a bit less than that amount that my friend was willing to pay. So I bought it. Fixed the little bit that was wrong (just a couple of oil leaks), called my friend and made his day. Mine too because of what I made off it.

<img src="http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=318836"/>

Oh... My grandpa always talked about the old (he didn't remember the year) Auburn Boat-tail Speedster that his dad had in the barn. Unfortunately it was sold as part of his estate.