Wife Wants a Classic Mustang

[RobertBrown]

Elenor was a resto-mod.
So what is the buget for this toy?
I think you could get a very nice machine for a lot less than a new car but, the more you spend the more you get.

 

[tcartwri]

It's always cheaper, much cheaper to buy a finished car than to buy a basket case and have it restored. Personally I like 'driver' quality cars that you don't have to worry about so much. A good friend of mine just dropped close to $100K in the restoration of his original 62 409 Impala SS convertible. He is basically afraid to drive it anywhere...

 

[aczlan]

Neighbor (his "daily Driver" in the summer is a '67 fastback and he has had a dozen mustangs over the years) sold a rolling chassis to a local shop who does classic car restorations last fall. Had some rust, but not a huge amount. I can get the shop's contact info if you are interested. If they aren't selling it, they may know someone who is (as might he)...

Aaron Z

 

[2LaneCruzer]

So a few years ago I bought the tractor I always wanted.

A few months ago, my wife said I got my toy so now she gets hers.

She's always wanted an old Ford Mustang. I've never been a classic car guy but I suppose with an old Mustang I could become one! The old Mustangs are bad ***!!

She's thinking about a 1967 - 1969. She loves the "Eleanor" from the movie Gone in 60 Seconds with Nicholas Cage.

Is there any advice anyone can give about owning a classic car? Is there a lot of maintenance involved? A friend if mine had an old Corvette and said there is a lot of maintenance on old cars. He also said they stink and make your garage smell like a shop. Haha!

Any other tip or advice you guys can give?

Make sure that's what she really wants. Old cars are a pain in the azz; I have a '59 Impala and a '60 Impala. The '59 only had 47k miles on it when I got it; put another 5K into it just to make it safe to drive. Engine overhaul, new brakes, new exhaust, new tires, new shocks, bushings, etc. etc. The '60 much the same; new engine, new tranny, new tires, new brakes, new bushings, new shocks, new sway bar, both have had rear end over hauls. The radios will be AM only; probably no AC, or power. Neither had seat belts originally; only the '60 has lap belts. The brakes are single master cylinder, and they are mechanically adjusted. After market AC in the '60; cost around 2K.

If you do buy an older car, the previous advice that you get it checked over by a mechanic (a mechanic that works on old cars) is very good. It would probably be best if you find one already restored, perhaps updated with new engine, transmission, disc brakes, power steering, etc. There is one really remote chance that you could find a really low mileage car that would need nothing, but that's pretty rare. I would suggest that if you have any friends that are "car guys", enlist their help. It's pretty easy to get stung on an older car; buying one that is all rusted out can cost a fortune to repair and paint. If you aren't a car guy, I would recommend that you not consider getting one to restore unless you go in eyes open...and a hefty budget.

Good luck. Having said all that, the old cars are a lot of fun; car people are by and large really great people, and it's really neat to make the car shows and cruise ins.

 

[JD 4520]

Sold my 1968 California Special a year ago for $15,000. Great car but it takes time, skill and money to keep them going. Partly because they sit too often throughout the year.

 

[KTurner]

He also said they stink and make your garage smell like a shop. Haha!

What does he want your garage to smell like, a candle store? :laughing:

And basically the same thing other replies have already said.

Keith

 

[JDgreen227]

Had three Mustangs in my life, a '66 six/stick coupe after high school, then a '70 Mach 1 with the 351/4 speed, then a '67 coupe with 289/automatic...the '67 was the best car I ever owned for the money (paid $400 for it in '72!!) but how I wish I had stored the Mach 1 instead of selling it. Rust can be a huge problem for any older car, especially one in this area. Prices are wildly inflated and parts are expensive. Why does your wife REALLY want one...as a driver, as a show car, whatever? Concur with the others who say it's cheaper to buy a good car than a fixer upper, unless you are handy it's more expensive that way. I know one guy who has been gradually restoring a '41 Ford pickup, he now has a restored and rolling chassis....AFTER TWENTY TWO YEARS!!!!!

 

[MikeInEburg]

In addition to being more reliable, new cars are also much safer. Very few classic pony cars have airbags. As others have mentioned, they don't have a particularly nice ride. I suspect that one needs to be truly passionate, not just "it would be cool" in order to viably own one if these cars.

 

[rsallen]

Yep, much safer is an understatement.

Every time I test drive one of those 'lovely classics' I'm rather amazed any of us made it out of the good old days alive.
Ineffective (death trap) lap belts if any belts at all, brakes that ahem mostly work, and handling that feels more like your playing out on a choppy lake in a Chris Craft, to start a laundry list of issues.
If I still had any of my cars from that era I'd just sell them because they'd just sit. Other than historical curiosities they're not much fun for me to drive.
Give me a newer car any day of the week.

 

[murphy1244]

Check out a few of the Pony car forums and figure out what you are after. 4 speed car? Auto?
Etc.

I have a '67 442 and have replaced or rebuilt every part on it. You need two of three things to be successful if you are thinking resto. Money, time and skill. You can make it happen with 2 of the 3 but it's hard with just one unless you have buckets of money.

This post is what you need to understand ^^ also either buy it totally done or basket case. Your paying for stuff you won't use if you don't. I been there.