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View Full Version : Muscle car/Classic car for daily driver??????


EZ Nova
03-08-2019, 06:19 PM
So I'm getting to a point in life (53 yrs old now) where I'm looking at a muscle/classic for a daily driver. I recently purchased a '67 Nova SS that will be filling this role. Car is a Ex NHRA SuperStocker by Fj Smith. The cage has been removed, and a Heidts front in installed. Still tubbed with leafs, full SS black interior and consol. I have my 427 "L72 style" shortblock with a set of ported '69 215 heads. Cam is a bit better then the '69 ZL-1 cam and holley Strip dom intake. It's at a buddies now getting the T400 and Gear Vendor installed. Then home for Pw, Dakota Dash, cruise control and stereo.

This is going to be pretty much MY daily driver. But being in family business, I'm also looking for a Chevy SB pick-up up to 1972. I can use the truck as a business write-off and let the company own and maintain it.

So has anyone done or doing the classic as there main daily driver on a regular basis? If so, what do you have?

Thanks, John

Keith Seymore
03-08-2019, 06:40 PM
My '87 Chevy pickup was a daily driver for over 30 years and 200,000 miles.

I ordered it back in Sept of 1986 when I lost my company vehicle, and drove it for four years in Michigan and Arizona. I sold it to my father in law when I once again had a company vehicle in 1991.

He had it 18 years, in Arizona and Montana. After he passed away the family asked if I would like it back and I said yes, making me the first and third owner. I restored it cosmetically (in my driveway) from May of 2009 to September of 2009, driving it during that process.

Lil Red retired in November of 2015 when I got the Silverado 2500HD that I am driving now.

K

Build/intro thread:
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=342926

muscle_collector
03-08-2019, 07:44 PM
only problem is they get stolen too easily.

markjohnson
03-09-2019, 06:27 AM
I've tried it a few times and it just doesn't work for me. It's great for the occasional Friday or Saturday work days but eventually the "specialness" of that ride wears off. I didn't like that because I think every time you get behind the wheel of "that" car it should feel special, NOT routine.

Dave Rifkin
03-09-2019, 12:44 PM
Back in the eighties when they were plentiful and inexpensive I drove many musclecar as my daily driver. I drove my 1970 Z28, my 1969 Corvette and my 1968 SS/RS 396 Camaro. Back then, while still special to me, to some they were just old cars.

While not as plush, or as good on gas, as a newer car I still enjoyed having something to drive that you didn't see everywhere.

Of the bunch, my favorite was my 1970 Z28; wish I had never sold it.

Keith Seymore
03-09-2019, 01:12 PM
I've tried it a few times and it just doesn't work for me. It's great for the occasional Friday or Saturday work days but eventually the "specialness" of that ride wears off. I didn't like that because I think every time you get behind the wheel of "that" car it should feel special, NOT routine.

Happily that was not the case for me. It was the most pleasant vehicle to drive, with power steering, power brakes, air conditioning, and a smooth shifting manual trans.

The recognition was fun, too ( especially around dream cruise time). Pretty middle-aged ladies would wave at me on my way to work; I couldn’t put gas in it without someone walking over to visit at the pump.

K

Mr70
03-09-2019, 01:45 PM
The recognition was fun, too ( especially around dream cruise time).Pretty middle-aged ladies would wave at me on my way to work,I couldn’t put gas in it without someone walking over to visit at the pump.

Couldn't agree more.:burnout:

EZ Nova
03-09-2019, 07:17 PM
Thanks guys. I understand about the special time behind the wheel of a classic. That is why I'm looking at these for a daily driver. If you must work, might as well try to enjoy it. Heck even be nice on a rainy day.

Keith, even that "new" of a truck might be something to look at. Also thought of a Lil' Red Express or even a SS454 pick up. There is only 3 in the family. Wife, son and myself. We see what I find and like at the time. Still have the other classics for the special times.

Zedder
03-10-2019, 04:03 AM
I could never drive an old car around Oakville as a DD. Too many asshat driver’s just waiting to smash your dream car! No air bags and poor steel bumpers...not a good situation.

Tig65gs
03-10-2019, 02:34 PM
I drive my all original 65 buick skylark gs in the spring ,summer and fall everyday.

marxjunk
03-10-2019, 08:17 PM
see it every day...nothing new..just a really nice car in Kansas is probably going to be stolen...happens everyday...some people die over trying to keep an old car as a daily..people try to car jack them and the resist and get shot..its crazy..just always be aware of your surroundings i guess...

ive driven old junk for decades..20 footers that seem nice but up close need some paint etc...it a common thing around me..

i drive a 94 Caprice for a beater now..very nice granny car, i mean a really nice original car, garaged its whole life......like driving your living room couch around the interstate..i am pretty much ignored..and i like it that way...

i drove a 66 Nova for a daily in the early 2000s..it was just too much..to much attention..people following me to see the car..etc..just too much..i cant even guess how bad it would be today..it would drive me nuts

markjohnson
03-10-2019, 09:25 PM
I dealt with the same thing also while driving a ‘65 Chevelle survivor around for several months while my DD truck was out of commission. It was a really decent ol’ car with faded original Red paint but I would be followed all the time to either home or work by folks thinking they were gonna buy the car for cheap. It got sorta old after awhile.

Northernforce
03-10-2019, 09:30 PM
Are you planning on driving it just for the 7 good months we have here for driving or all year long?I think a cool wagon would be nice-don't make it too nice though-I have some bias ply snow tires if need be-lol!!
Keep on Cruising!
Dave

Ryan1969Chevelle
03-10-2019, 10:04 PM
I am really considering this, I want to find someone’s Grandmas 1969 Cutlass S and drive it all year.

I know quite a bit about how they work now and have lots of spare parts.

I am thinking I can service an old car myself and save on repairs as well.

My ideal candidate would be a 6cyl 3 on the tree.

I have a feeling this must be possible as people used to drive these cars all the time..... I don’t think the risk is really high either.... if I don’t like it I can sell it.

Ryan W31

markinnaples
03-10-2019, 10:55 PM
I DD'ed a 1972 Nova 6 cyl with a powerglide for almost a year in the 80's while going to college and work every day. I used to drive it 2.5 hours back and forth every Tues and Thurs from Pgh to Erie for my last semester at college. It was stock as could be except for wheels and tires and it was a blast to drive it all the time. Might be fun if you have a modern car for back up in case something breaks on the old car, and of course I wouldn't drive it in the winter.

Vern B
03-11-2019, 12:44 AM
78 El Camino every day except winter months in Florida.

I need to haul stuff too often.

x33rs
03-11-2019, 02:27 AM
My wife daily drives our 69 RS Z/28

My daily driver is the 70 Formula

And my son daily drives a 65 bug.

We have other classics we sporadically drive but those are our main vehicles. My daily driver through and into the late 80's was our 56 nomad before I parked it for a long hibernation. Thinking about getting that out and using it again.

EZ Nova
03-11-2019, 02:26 PM
Thanks.

Yes being in Ontario, it would be 6 month out of the year, say mid April to mid Oct. I did it in the past. I daily drove the '31 Chev PU for a few years, but for rainy/bad weather days. It was mild as the drive train was out of a '78 Z28 even down to the 10 bolt 3.42 gear. It was fun and nice. Didn't even have door locks. I could park it and people watched it. I drove it too work and nothing ever happened. This was back in the mid 2000's.

Not looking a DD a Hemi Cuda, LS6 Chevelle or anything. Just a classic since my job now involves driving for the company. I'm more concerned about carjackings driving my Mercedes SUV I think then a classic PU.

L78_Nova
03-11-2019, 05:00 PM
I fry the tires on my (Fake) 68 Acadian SS with 350 / 200R4 / 4:11 12 bolt / factory AC
pretty regular all summer... not always in the rain though.


People love the sun baked California paint ! everyone wants to buy it.... for $3000, NOT!!

EZ Nova
03-11-2019, 06:11 PM
I fry the tires on my (Fake) 68 Acadian SS with 350 / 200R4 / 4:11 12 bolt / factory AC
pretty regular all summer... not always in the rain though.


People love the sun baked California paint ! everyone wants to buy it.... for $3000, NOT!!

Will $4850.00 take it off your hands????

LOL, sorry had too. I think since I should work for a bit longer in life, might as well enjoy it some. Insurance will be a bit my then my Ram 1500, but who cares. I have a few thoughts and some people have some valid points like ride, bumper and less "safety" stuff.

L78_Nova
03-11-2019, 06:31 PM
Will $4850.00 take it off your hands????

LOL, sorry had too. I think since I should work for a bit longer in life, might as well enjoy it some. Insurance will be a bit my then my Ram 1500, but who cares. I have a few thoughts and some people have some valid points like ride, bumper and less "safety" stuff.





No Worries always good for a laugh.


Fun Factor FAR exceed the insurance bite and the hit for premium fuel... as the 350 is now 11 to 1 with 87 corvette 58cc aluminum heads


my other cars are painted too nicely to park at work... door bashers.

x33rs
03-11-2019, 06:48 PM
Agree, however insurance is actually cheaper for us, as well as registration. Guess it depends on where you live but here, if you own a new car, you are dinged the value of the car for tags every year, and insurance is nuts. For instance a basic $50k new car can be as much as several hundred dollars a year for license plates. The DMV doesn't put much value on classics so tags are $30.

The other advantage for us is that maintenance on the classics is so much cheaper than a new car. Tires are half the price, shucks just parts in general are half the price, lol. No car payments. All the money saved easily pays for the premium fuel. And with proper tuning these cars are very respectable on mileage.

Not to mention it was actually my wife that was tired of all the creature comforts and electronic controls, and she especially doesn't like some of the safety features that seem to be getting more and more excessive. She's not a fan of air bags at all, and I definitely don't want a car with lane correction or one that hits the brakes on it's own. No thanks.

It was a lot of these reasons that made the decision much easier for us. Plus we live in a climate that allows year round driving. The other bright side is that I'm always looking for a reason to go somewhere :) It's highly unlikely we'll be buying any type of new vehicle for the rest of our lives.

EZ Nova
03-12-2019, 12:43 PM
x33

Ya your one of the lucky one's, EXCEPT this year for year round weather. Parents have a place in Mesa and been going since 2000. Stay usually Oct till April. Dad got a brain tumor in '14 and kept saying he wanted to go back to Az. Didn't go in '15 but back in '16, '17 and passed away there in January '18. We know about the lic and insurance on the new car stuff. too. Cheaper to ship a car there AND BACK then to do that the lic and insure a new car.

Back about 2008. Dad tried to buy a '55 T-bird for his Az car. Seen one at BJ action. BUT he didn't have his bank stuff so he said just swipe the card for 200K. They wouldn't do it.

EZ Nova
03-12-2019, 01:10 PM
Are you planning on driving it just for the 7 good months we have here for driving or all year long?I think a cool wagon would be nice-don't make it too nice though-I have some bias ply snow tires if need be-lol!!
Keep on Cruising!
Dave

Funny you mention a wagon. My thoughts too. Was looking '57 Chevy. But also looked at Chevy II's wagons. Missed out on a nice '67 last year though...

Looking truck-ish for the bed and IF I need to tow something like a single open car trailer. I did daily drive my '31 Chev PU and enjoyed it. That's why maybe look for the "right" SS454 truck...

x33rs
03-12-2019, 02:32 PM
x33

Ya your one of the lucky one's, EXCEPT this year for year round weather. Parents have a place in Mesa and been going since 2000. Stay usually Oct till April. Dad got a brain tumor in '14 and kept saying he wanted to go back to Az. Didn't go in '15 but back in '16, '17 and passed away there in January '18. We know about the lic and insurance on the new car stuff. too. Cheaper to ship a car there AND BACK then to do that the lic and insure a new car.

Back about 2008. Dad tried to buy a '55 T-bird for his Az car. Seen one at BJ action. BUT he didn't have his bank stuff so he said just swipe the card for 200K. They wouldn't do it.

Sorry to hear about your father. Sounds like he really liked it down here. We get a lot of seasonal sun bunnies. It was the weather here that talked us into making it our permanent home.

My parents did the same after a couple of visits. When they made the move, my fathers 2014 pickup was already going on 4 years old. Tags were still nearly $600 for it, on a 4 year old truck! He turned pail, I thought he was going to hit the floor, lol. What was even funnier is when they offer you to buy up to 5 years in advance. LOL

tunes
03-12-2019, 03:51 PM
I've been driving this '70 Camino as a daily driver for the past 4 years and have a blast doing it. I added a 4-speed to make it more fun. There is always someone wanting to know what year it is, looking at it while buying gas, giving a thumbs-up or wanting to buy it. I really enjoy driving it. It's a little rough but looks good going down the road.

Mr70
03-12-2019, 03:54 PM
Nice Robert! :burnout:

tunes
03-12-2019, 04:04 PM
Thanks. The picture makes it look better than it really is. It needs paint but I've about gotten over that and just enjoy shifting gears and driving it.

tom406
03-12-2019, 04:53 PM
I'm almost 50, but after I moved to Seattle 25 years ago, I had a run of 5 years or so where my vintage cars were my DD. I had a 20 mile commute (mostly to a classic car dealership, so parking security wasn't really an issue). I used 1955 and 1963 Ford Country Sedan wagons, a 1966 Ford LTD 4dr HT, a blow through turbocharged 1972 Nova, and a 1966 Ford F100 for commuters. The F100 served me until we had our second child and a standard cab just wouldn't do anymore and in '06 I got an extended cab 2005 F150 that I still have. I enjoyed driving them quite a bit, and didn't consider it too much of a burden-I even drove that '55 on bias ply wide whites with power drum brakes in the rain and lived to tell about it! There was, in retrospect, a fair amount of normal old car troubleshooting on the fly that I just wasn't willing to deal with anymore once I had multiple small children in the car. They're all older now, but I still tend to want my DD to be stone reliable. All the drivers in my family LOVE/LOVE/LOVE back up camera technology and really miss them when we drive the cars that don't have it. I'm leery of intrusive automated safety things too, but I'm a huge fan of the emergency braking in our new Mazda3 commuter. None of us really knew it had it until I turned my head to merge onto the freeway and didn't see everything stopping in front of me. I heard a quick series of beeps and the brakes applied. I then hit the brakes as well, and we came to rest a few inches from the car in front of me. Without that technology, I'd still be parked in that guy's trunk. I think its a great thing, especially for older drivers in congested areas. As for insurance-it does tend to be cheaper, but make sure your policy actually covers you. Many are set up with the assumption that you have a late model DD with a standard policy and may not cover you if you sell your late models and don't tell them. Even in the late 90's, I had trouble finding a regular insurance policy that would use stated value on my vintage vehicles. I ended up with Country Companies because their farming vehicle background was the only one that gave their agents the latitude to handle my request for stated value policies at the time for those cars and trucks I listed earlier.

ZiggyL78
03-13-2019, 03:51 AM
Back in the 70s I had a new 69 Camaro SS350 - 4 - 4:10s as my first car and a DD.I still can't believe I drove the car through the winter with just 2 snow tires and 2 50# bags of sand in the trunk.

I lost my job and had to sell and I bought a 68 L79 Nova 4SPD.Sold that one and bought a POS 64 Chevelle 327/300 4SPD (wide).I put a cam and kit in it and it ran ok.Maybe a low 14 car.I added a 12 bolt with 4:88s and 26" M&H slicks.Holly sh+t.It was a rocket.It ran 12.90s which was very fast back then for a SBC.Guys with BBCs would bow out for a run once they saw the car go.I could tell you some stories on that one.

After that car I bought a brand new 73 Vega Panel Wagon Delivery.$2452.lol.One seat and no carpet.Dark green and a 3 SPD on the floor.I got the idea when I saw Jungle Jim's Vega Wagon Pro Stock.It made it through one winter all stock.I pulled the motor and sold it back to the dealership I bought the car from.Belmont Chev Olds.They just happened to need one at the time and their customer could not afford new.Back halfed the car with a Dana and L60 Ingelwoods inside the fenders.No big deal today but back then people flipped out.I Dropped in the 327 from the Chevelle.Not fast enough.I dropped in a long rod Shafroft motor with a tunnel ram,Nitrous and a Glide with a brake.10.30 and still drove it on the street.This was in 1978.

I lived with my parents and had a big paying job.I always had 3 or 4 fast cars.I bought a LS6 Chevelle and pulled a trailer with the Vega on the back.I would drive into Harveys burger joint and ask if anyone wanted to run the Vega.If no one was interested I said."How about the tow car?"lol

Then the L78s came up.Oops.Am I running off at the mouth?lol.I know some guys won't believe me but it all happened.I need to get some pics posted.Oh ya.The DDers stopped after the Vega.;)

EZ Nova
03-13-2019, 07:07 PM
Nice stories and El Camino. KEEP THEM COMING.

Ziggy, Harvey's??? Umm Jane and 401 by any chance?? That was before my time. We used to run out of Weston & Finch on weekends. Always made some $$$. Never lost but that was because we knew our limits. Ran with a '73 454 Vette with nitrous. Ran twice one night. Ran a Blue '69 COPO Camaro and another '69 Camaro out of Comp Auto. After winning, Serge with the Challenger wanted to run. Umm I knew better and we declined.

My first car was "supposed" to be a B5 Blue '70 Cuda 440+6 4sp 4.10 Dana. Black hockey stick stripe, black int. with Keystones classics. Put $1000 down till spring. Owner got shipped out for work and offered my $$$ back as he didn't know when he could get back and it was now mid April, 1982 (I think). 2 days later a buddy called and said he would take my offer for his '68 GTX Convert. 440 4 sp 4.10 Dana Blk on Blk with red interior. That was my daily driver for 4 years in the summer. Had winter beaters but from april till it snowed, I drove that 440 everywhere. I was 16 and pumped gas. Worked 2 years to save for the car. Car went 12.70's with slicks. Fun car and nice size. Been thinking something like that for a retirement driver. Nice ride, big, has some power and the '68's just look tough.

Nothing seems to match the late 60's Mopar B bodies for size, comfort and power with some tough looks. The '68 GTX/'69 Coronet Rt's as well as the '69 Chargers. There power steering was just sick. Most 440's were fast and pretty trouble free. Ya a L72 Impala would be fast, but just wouldn't "look the part" like the Mopars.

markinnaples
03-14-2019, 01:41 PM
Love the stories and pics, keep 'em coming!

HawkX66
03-14-2019, 02:26 PM
The only thing that really stops me from using my 69 as a DD is salt on the roads and the location where I'm driving. Thankfully in VA the salt is used for a much shorter period than in Mass or Mich where I've lived. During the warmer months I drive it as much as possible which is most of the time when I'm home. It never gets old or mundane for me.
Like others, the idiots with the "I'll give you $10k cash for it" comments never end. What do you want? My motor? That's just the nature of having a nice muscle car though.

ZiggyL78
03-15-2019, 04:54 AM
Nice stories and El Camino. KEEP THEM COMING.

Ziggy, Harvey's??? Umm Jane and 401 by any chance?? That was before my time. We used to run out of Weston & Finch on weekends. Always made some $$$. Never lost but that was because we knew our limits. Ran with a '73 454 Vette with nitrous. Ran twice one night. Ran a Blue '69 COPO Camaro and another '69 Camaro out of Comp Auto. After winning, Serge with the Challenger wanted to run. Umm I knew better and we declined.

My first car was "supposed" to be a B5 Blue '70 Cuda 440+6 4sp 4.10 Dana. Black hockey stick stripe, black int. with Keystones classics. Put $1000 down till spring. Owner got shipped out for work and offered my $$$ back as he didn't know when he could get back and it was now mid April, 1982 (I think). 2 days later a buddy called and said he would take my offer for his '68 GTX Convert. 440 4 sp 4.10 Dana Blk on Blk with red interior. That was my daily driver for 4 years in the summer. Had winter beaters but from april till it snowed, I drove that 440 everywhere. I was 16 and pumped gas. Worked 2 years to save for the car. Car went 12.70's with slicks. Fun car and nice size. Been thinking something like that for a retirement driver. Nice ride, big, has some power and the '68's just look tough.

Nothing seems to match the late 60's Mopar B bodies for size, comfort and power with some tough looks. The '68 GTX/'69 Coronet Rt's as well as the '69 Chargers. There power steering was just sick. Most 440's were fast and pretty trouble free. Ya a L72 Impala would be fast, but just wouldn't "look the part" like the Mopars.

Hi.Ya.That was me.I probably met you at Weston & Finch one time or another.It was a great hangout.I had my Grand National back then.I was on Nitrous also.I shocked a lot of Big Blocks as the car ran 11.80s and idled like stock.We didn't have drag radials so we ran McCreary dirt tires.They hooked real well on the street.When I first started using the spray on my GN I did a lot experimenting.Always trying more boost and a hotter chip to go faster.When I got in the 11s I blew a lot of head gaskets.The car was still under warrenty so I just took it in and they usually fixed it.After about the 3rd time my original dealer turned me down.The service manager told me that my Ecm screws were loose and so was the waistegate actuator rod.I had to tow the car to Burlington were nobody knew me to get it fixed.lol.
Thanks for posting.
PS.Buy that GTX before they hit 100K!

EZ Nova
03-15-2019, 02:17 PM
Hi.Ya.That was me.I probably met you at Weston & Finch one time or another.It was a great hangout.I had my Grand National back then.I was on Nitrous also.I shocked a lot of Big Blocks as the car ran 11.80s and idled like stock.We didn't have drag radials so we ran McCreary dirt tires.They hooked real well on the street.When I first started using the spray on my GN I did a lot experimenting.Always trying more boost and a hotter chip to go faster.When I got in the 11s I blew a lot of head gaskets.The car was still under warrenty so I just took it in and they usually fixed it.After about the 3rd time my original dealer turned me down.The service manager told me that my Ecm screws were loose and so was the waistegate actuator rod.I had to tow the car to Burlington were nobody knew me to get it fixed.lol.
Thanks for posting.
PS.Buy that GTX before they hit 100K!

Ya we must have meet.

McCreay Dirt 60's Eh. I started running mine on my '88 Mustang GT rag. Like your is was stock, but with a kit and headers. Sprayed 100. That was one of the most fun car I ever had. Best I got with the stock motor and Nitrous was 11.60's at JP Day @ St.Thomas. People kept saying I was in the "wrong-lane, that the 11 second car lane" LOL Even had the turbine on it with the McCreary's.

I too hurt it at the track, Cayuga this night. Raced a 427 '68 Firebird, beat him bad as I think he thought I was just a stock 14/15 second car. KILLED him off the line and sprayed in 2nd. Last pass of the night, went to run and I hear, "this is a grudge race" over the PA and the Firebird passes about 10 cars to race me. Well this time I spray off the line. I heard it hit the bottom end and rattle some. It was off as RPM was a bit low, Ran 12.0??? and KILLED him again. He didn't believe the car could run like that. Too it to the local dealer and said "it just started poppin and farting" Car had about 70,000Km so there replaced the engine (they had already did 3/4 trans). I went to get some stuff out of it, and the mechanic goes "HOW FAST IS IT ON NITROUS". said he didn't care just wanted to know and said the new motor is balanced and .030 over, so should be a bit faster. It was and that's when it went into the 11.60's. Ran like that for about a year.

The went to JP to get a top-end. I knew Paul and Joe already from the track as I was crew on my buddies SB Ford IHRA record holding B/D dragster. So I talked to them some and when I got there Paul was taking apart his black Tbird. So he said, "Give me and hour and you can have my heads and intake off my car" For years those "stock" casting had more work than anything we saw, done very well. Car was running 11's WITHOUT Nitrous now. Never did need the nitrous, but did play with it a few times with that deal. Man the car was fast, for a 4000lbs + GT with a big stereo. Only thing that fit in the trunk as a case a beer sideways, or a 10lbs nitrous bottle. But couldn't be at the same time....

So back on track. With my dealings noted about in the past. I have thought of a Ranger with a 5 liter as a drive to fit this DD stuff. Just think it's too small and doesn't have the look. Plus time to do all this just isn't there for a while as we just had a baby Feb 2018. Like something that "could" tow an open car trailer. So I guess a wagon or El Camino would be the smallest I would go. Not towing far maybe a couple hrs.

Ya the GTX deal, maybe a couple/3 yrs away. Just can't swing it now I think. BUT never know.

ZiggyL78
03-16-2019, 10:46 PM
When I was racing I had a great time.8 second cars that would pull the wheels and get out of shape if the track wasn't prepped.It was a lot of fun but one of my favorite times was getting in the tow car/truck and pulling the car home.After all the bouncing around it was great to get in a comfortable car and cruise home.AC was nice if it was hot but I really liked an open window with a cool breeze blowing through.

Maintaining a fast street car or 2 and keeping up with the race car was a long day.The race car would always take 4 to 6 hours of maintenance before a race, even if it wasn't broken.Back in the day our DD would be a full size car like a Cadillac or Lincoln.Big motor with lots of torque and drank gas as fast as the race car;)It was also great in the winter.They were cheap to buy and towed well if you had the Stabilizer bars and trailer brakes.I'm an old man now and there is always something fast in the garage.The last car I had was a 442 with a crate 502 with NOS and it was a handfull on the street.Now I just have a 396 Chevelle.

My DD is a 2010 MKS Ecoboost twin turbo.Sure.It's an old mans car but nothing beats me off the light as it has AWD and it hooks on spit.I put a tune in it and it feels like a mid 12 car.It's a riot to drive and I love it.The biggest problem is letting the other guy know I'm up for a run anytime.lol.Don't get me wrong,I will only do a first and second and it must be a clear road.I have no interest in driving 120 within city limits.I take the Chevelle out if I'm in the mood but the Lincoln is far from boring.
The Pre Collision Warning System has saved me 3 times.The car is mint and only cost me $7500 US(10K Canadian).

dale68z
03-17-2019, 04:25 AM
I daily drive my cars. I have driven my white 68 rs 180000 miles in 19 years. I don't drive it as much as I used to. I now have 4 other cars I swap out being driven. 68 firebird 400 (5000 miles in the last year),71 rs camaro (35000 miles in the last 9 years), 72 el camino (15000 miles in 4 years), 73 camaro (guessing 5000 miles in 3 years). I drive 2 of them for 1-2 months then do the garage car swap around, and drive the other two. The el camino gets driven randomly.
My drive to work was 10 miles. We moved last year, the work commute is now 22 miles.

Living in Phoenix AZ has it's perks.

EZ Nova
03-17-2019, 01:23 PM
Ziggy,

Wife and I went out last night, dinner and a movie. Seen Apollo 11. It's all filmed from back in 1969. As the show went on, I said to her "this is why I like old cars! There all unique and have there own character." She said "I know. Today's cars all look the same."

At this time, I have 3 Nova's:
'67 SS with a BB 427 T400 and Gear Vender,

'66 With Mike Papadmou's Ex-NHRA Pro Stock 500" BBc with a Bruno/Liberty. Both those were Fj Smith built SuperStockers. The bar is out to of 67 for the street. I bought it rolling last fall.

'69 SS 396/350Hp car is also done by Dale who was Fj's top guy for many years before going out on his own. It's an 8.50 cert car. But keeps all the normal stuff not like the '66 or '67. I put a 785Hp ZL1 in it and a T400. It's done for a F.A.S.T. style racing. But it has headers so they won't want me there.

The '67 SS has a L-72 shortblock but I had a nicely done top end I put on it. This one will have O.D. Dakota Digital analogue dash and cruise control, P.W. and locks, A.C. and EFI either this year for this winter. That is going to be the driver for a bit anyway. Still going get some compression out of it, but for now, just de-tune and premium fuel. Maybe a meth injection kit if needed. Car WILL be too fast as it sits anyway and this motor combo, in my '69 with a PG and more weight, it ran 10.40's and did a bit more work to the heads due to sitting for a bit. It did run 10.70's in a 3600+ lbs Buick Regal.

So will be around but looking for more of a mild stock deal that could possibly tow these to shows and maybe Cayuga/St. Thomas/Woodward would probably be the furthest I would tow a car. A friend of mine has a W30 and he tows a 21 ft boat. Has a ton of "creature comforts" and he drives it everywhere.

THAT is what I want to do.

John

EZ Nova
03-17-2019, 01:50 PM
OK back to the topic. Was "surf'in" yesterday and came across what I think is also a nice option to the driver stuff, a 1970 Olds RALLY 350. The car fits the "different/stand-out" bill, not super pricey, and can get most or all the parts for it.

So that got me thinking! Maybe these "jr. Musclecars" like the Rally 350, GS 350 Pontiac Tempest t or GT-37's. Ford maybe a 66/67 Fairlane. Somehting along those lines. Or a MUSCLE wagon, like a W-Vista Cruiser, SS Impala, Mopar with some parts, etc. Many used them as drivers for years, so why not now????

ZiggyL78
03-18-2019, 06:51 AM
You've got a fleet of real serious rides.Get a serious tow vehichle.Cars don't cut it.Period.Not enough weight,not enough brakes and not enough power.It dosen't matter how far you have to tow.5 miles or 500 miles.You can still get in trouble easily.I have been towing for over 40 years.All over the States.I've done it all.

Get a truck that is going to tow safely for the sake of your family.Have you ever been on the Skyway pulling a trailer and a good wind blows through?Not fun.Things can get bad real fast.How about stopping fast in the rain while towing?You also need something that is good in the snow.You have enough cool cars to keep you busy.

I had a Silverado SS for 10 years.Fast,good brakes, very comfortable,low maintenance and big power with a tune and exhaust.AWD.They hook real good and are a cool truck.Leather interior,killer stereo,and power every thing.Great for hauling loads,motors,trannies.LS power and dependibility. Just take one for a test drive.You won't regret it.

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-autos-camions/gatineau/silverado-ss-2005-rust-free/1410082135?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

EZ Nova
03-19-2019, 02:20 AM
Ziggy, I do have a truck, 2010 crewcab hemi Ram 1500.

Funny you memtioned wind on the Skyway? Back in January when we were getting those wind storms. I was driving my International Durastar with 28 ft box over Burlington Skyway and the wind was pushing bad, actually pushed the truck over 3 lanes and nothing I can do. I want to put a hitch on that Durastar to tow too...

ZiggyL78
03-19-2019, 06:37 AM
Sounds like you've got it all Man.

EZ Nova
03-19-2019, 12:41 PM
Ya I got some and a big stock pile of parts too. Been stockpiling for 20+ years. Been fortunate enough and worked good jobs to be able to afford what I have. I bought my '69 Nova back in '93. Bought the '66 racecar that is going back street in about 2004 and got the '67 last year after I sold of my '61 Pontiac 409/425++Hp 4sp car. Long story but it was supposed to be my street cruiser but wife didn't like it as it was rough and sorta done up like a "barn found" old racercar.

I bought a lot of my parts while racing and people thought the stuff wasn't worth anything or too much. So couple hundred here or there. Buy and sell and just keeping an eye out. I ALWAYS carry an emergency $1,000.00 cash. You never know when a deal will pop up. Bought a lot of stuff at the right time.

The trucks are company vehicles. I don't own them, my mom does (dad passed January 2018, brother ran it till he passed in 2012 of a heart attack. I had my own machining company till 2015). I run the company and it's basically mine, but on paper. I'm her only child and now she has he only grandson. This is why I`m looking at a classic musclecar or truck as my driver. I can drive company truck through the week and winter.

My buddy has a `72 I think it is, Olds 442 W30. He has ALL the options. PW PL AC tilt cruise heated seats OD P seats and EFI. Motor has some work and with 3.42 gears he takes that car everywhere. His cottage is 8 hrs from home and he`s even towed a guys 23 ft boat ti his cottage. THAT`S WHAT I WANT TO DO. DRIVE IT ANYWHERE. Don`t know if I would take it to mom place in Arizona though. That`s a bit far.....