You Know You Are Old When

[Oaktree]

Cousin and I still kick ourselves for selling our 72 Cuda 440 6 pack.

Here is the funny thing though... my dads V6 Honda Accord coupe is just as fast in the 0-60 AND could get 41 MPG on drives down to Savanah in economy mode.

Kind of sad but true, performance-wise 'most any modern vehicle will run rings around any vintage auto...and can stop too! 4 wheel drum brakes left a lot to be desired.
The classics have it all over modern vehicles when it comes to styling, and in many cases ride though.

Rust is the demise of many but wrecking yards here are full of rust free cars that can’t pass smog or maybe an expensive mechanical problem makes repairing too costly.

Maybe on the west coast. Not counting accidents, rust accounts for the vast majority of vehicles in junkyards here in the northeast. Dunno how it is in other states, but anything 20 years old doesn't need to pass emissions in my state.

 

[goeduck]

The classics have it all over modern vehicles when it comes to styling, and in many cases ride though.

Ah yes, the Great American Land Yachts of old. They did ride nice on the highway.

 

[ultrarunner]

Kind of sad but true, performance-wise 'most any modern vehicle will run rings around any vintage auto...and can stop too! 4 wheel drum brakes left a lot to be desired.
The classics have it all over modern vehicles when it comes to styling, and in many cases ride though.

Maybe on the west coast. Not counting accidents, rust accounts for the vast majority of vehicles in junkyards here in the northeast. Dunno how it is in other states, but anything 20 years old doesn't need to pass emissions in my state.

1976 and newer must continue to pass in the majority of California.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

The pinnacle of American cars was 1969-70.
That's the muscle car peak and most had front disk brakes, at least the better/best models. Yes, lots of modern cars are faster if you look up statistics, but what you got back then were the building blocks of something as incredible as you wanted it to be.
Most cars were horsepower underrated for insurance purposes. Most had easily bolt on things to make them much faster.
Look at IHRA or NHRA record holders in super stock classes and you'll still see record holders of 50 year old cars.
Top Fuel is a good example. Over 300 m.p.h. in 1000 feet using a 500 cu.in. hemi designed all those years ago.
Try THAT in any new car.

 

[masseyrider]

The pinnacle of American cars was 1969-70.
That's the muscle car peak and most had front disk brakes, at least the better/best models. Yes, lots of modern cars are faster if you look up statistics, but what you got back then were the building blocks of something as incredible as you wanted it to be.
Most cars were horsepower underrated for insurance purposes. Most had easily bolt on things to make them much faster.
Look at IHRA or NHRA record holders in super stock classes and you'll still see record holders of 50 year old cars.
Top Fuel is a good example. Over 300 m.p.h. in 1000 feet using a 500 cu.in. hemi designed all those years ago.
Try THAT in any new car.

Yeah 69/70 was the pinnacle of American car looks.
Even with front disks the brakes were near useless after 1-2 hard stops.
They ran like crap in traffic because the timing wasn't variable. It had to be designed for peak output, not mundane driving.
They polluted like crazy. Many of the big blocks were lucky to get 10mpg.
The handling sucked big time.
If you got in an accident you could impale yourself on all the dash knobs.
They tended to rot out in 4-5 years.
Some only got 90 day warranty from the factory because they were such crap.
60K could often mean a valve job was coming soon.
My Ford GT (not a Mustang) came with a full warranty, 3 years 60,000km even though it can do 212mph.
Don't you remember tuning your carburetor all the time and dammed if the auto choke worked...ever.
My oldest vehicle, a Ford Flex Eco boost has over 200k miles, fuel system has never been touched.
Original plugs to.
Do that with your beloved dinosaur.
You know why the old cars had so much space under hood? Because you needed it to work on them all the time.
They did have cig lighters and ash trays though.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

Yeah 69/70 was the pinnacle of American car looks.
Even with front disks the brakes were near useless after 1-2 hard stops.
They ran like crap in traffic because the timing wasn't variable. It had to be designed for peak output, not mundane driving.
They polluted like crazy. Many of the big blocks were lucky to get 10mpg.
The handling sucked big time.
If you got in an accident you could impale yourself on all the dash knobs.
They tended to rot out in 4-5 years.
Some only got 90 day warranty from the factory because they were such crap.
60K could often mean a valve job was coming soon.
My Ford GT (not a Mustang) came with a full warranty, 3 years 60,000km even though it can do 212mph.
Don't you remember tuning your carburetor all the time and dammed if the auto choke worked...ever.
My oldest vehicle, a Ford Flex Eco boost has over 200k miles, fuel system has never been touched.
Original plugs to.
Do that with your beloved dinosaur.
You know why the old cars had so much space under hood? Because you needed it to work on them all the time.
They did have cig lighters and ash trays though.

I disagree with everything you said except "Ford Flex Eco boost has over 200k miles, fuel system has never been touched." is true if you say so.
Those who wrench on/ understand/ can tune their own cars can't agree with any of that.
Fuel injection is for those who can't properly tune a carburetor.
Electronic ignition is for those who can't set up a points distributor.
Cars & trucks have become much more complex. Just to drive, yes they're more reliable. When something does happen, it's not an inexpensive repair.
Look up the highest prices paid at Mecum or Barrett-Jackson and they're all 50+ years old. Look up the most sought after muscle cars and you'll find they'll mostly be in that '69-'70 range.

 

[BravoXray]

... you could buy a school cafeteria lunch card good for 5 lunches and milk, for $.75.

 

[Sigarms]

Stopped to pick up co workers breakfast at Bojangles and got an orange juice for myself and thought of this thread...

Took me longer to admit to open up the seal pulling the "tab" to open it up with my two fingers. Used a few choice words and almost just got a knife to punch it open LOL

I remember when my dad lived with us. Had to get his pills for him because he couldn't open the child proof caps.

I'm no where there yet, but I can see the similarities between being VERY young and VERY old.

 

[masseyrider]

I disagree with everything you said except "Ford Flex Eco boost has over 200k miles, fuel system has never been touched." is true if you say so.
Those who wrench on/ understand/ can tune their own cars can't agree with any of that.
Fuel injection is for those who can't properly tune a carburetor.
Electronic ignition is for those who can't set up a points distributor.
Cars & trucks have become much more complex. Just to drive, yes they're more reliable. When something does happen, it's not an inexpensive repair.
Look up the highest prices paid at Mecum or Barrett-Jackson and they're all 50+ years old. Look up the most sought after muscle cars and you'll find they'll mostly be in that '69-'70 range.

I grew up with those vehicles.
I've completely rebuilt their engines.
My favorite is the 351 Cleveland Boss. I have one on an engine stand that I start up once in a while for sh-ts and giggles.
I used to tune my friends 440 6pack because he claimed I was the only one who got it right.
The new ones are complex if you don't know what you're doing.
Plug in the computer and check the codes. It will tell you what's going on.
Which cylinder is missing, injector being off etc.
Biggest problem I've found is usually wiring especially in Chrysler/Dodge products. You have to chase down the Gremlins.
I won't win this discussion because people like yourself would argue that a damp musty cave is the best home. Not a modern home withe electricity, plumbing and HVAC.
The reason that the old cars get the most money at the collector auctions is most of the buyers remember these cars from their youth.
Now these dinosaurs want a trip back in the time machine and they tend to have the money to do it.
They aren't buying them as everyday drivers (trailer Queens) or for ease of repair.
Just a reminder of youth before the big dirt nap.

 

[Sigarms]

Cars & trucks have become much more complex. Just to drive, yes they're more reliable.

Off topic apologies, but vehicles are not much different than HVAC systems when it comes to government regulations and the technology developed to meet those government regulations, which in turn add costs to the product.

Biggest difference between the two is cars "may" be getting more reliable (not certain if that is fact, but you use to be able to do a lot of work yourself with some basic tools 30 years ago), but I can assure you, take a new minimum 14.3 SEER2 single stage split heat pump system made today, and there is no way I could say it it more reliable vs a 30 year old R22 single stage with PSC blower.

Prime example, next year when 454B (or 32) replaces 410A, EVERY single piece of 454/32 indoor equipment will be REQUIRED by law to have a dissipation system including sensor along with a mitigation board. This is not including EVERY single outdoor unit has to be assessed for "ignition source isolation" which of course will also add to costs associated with that refrigerant specific equipment.

Back on topic, I remember my first car. Early 70's Oldsmobile Cutlass.I remember the car fondly, however it also handled like a u boat. The other thing was back then I was a LOT stronger than now, and God forbid you parked going up a steep hill because those 2 doors weighed a ton LOL

I don't envy teens today. No room whatsoever to neck in the newer cars