Five more models.
My personal choice would be a 54 Ford with a Thunderbird engine. I drove one for about 200,000 miles.
‘53 Chevy Coup. Straight Shift. 6 cylinder.
I used to have a 4WD ‘53 Willy’s Wagon. I really liked it and it turned a lot of heads. Definitely will pull a small trailer. It had no A/C though.
My dad always liked the Ford Falcon, he could always find a cheap used one and fix it up fairly cheap and easily, and would use them for every day vehicle and would haul wood with them short distances, mostly just a few miles or so from home.
Look back at production numbers--popular vehicles were popular for a reason, and if still so, unfortunately that means the buy-in might be more expensive, but parts should be available. Stay before electronic ignitions and particularly avoid the early (82-85) GM computer cars. If you can find something with points, condenser, and coil instead of the electronic ignitions, it will likely survive doomsday, but the fuel efficiency will not be as good as with HEI ignitions. You can retrofit around that, too, if you want.
Consider, too, that air conditioning was pretty rare until the 60s, and generator electrical systems were no where near as reliable as alternators (about '64).
Seat belts didn't start until about '65, and collapsible steering columns were about the same time. Such safety features, while rudimentary by today's standards, saved a lot of lives.
Just a few things to consider.
In the end, buy a vehicle you can love, because getting it in tip-top shape is a labor of love, and not a good investment in time, labor, parts, and money as a rule.
If towing and not hauling the family is the consideration, look at GM 76-79 pickups. Many 'heavy 1/2 ton' pickups were made with enough suspension to pull a lot more than 1500 lbs, a small-block 350 v-8 (good, basic, cheap horsepower), and with a manual transmission did really well. Parts are available, I'm sure. They had the HEI ignition, but were not computerized, and many had air conditioning as well.
Mine was a ‘Forest Green’ originally. Very nice looking.
A couple of things I noticed looking at the photos was there is no back seat, which was important to me. Also the back has carpet, whereas mine had the original wood slats on the floor. I like the look of mine better. Maybe your Willy's has them under the carpet. I used my Willy's for work. I also noticed the front seats are not original, but definitely an upgrade. And the engine is not original, but definitely has the power to pull a trailer.
Looking at all the different cars you posted, I do like the looks of the ‘48 Ford the best. That will definitely turns some heads. Not sure you can tow with that?
I would be concerned whether any of the cars could pull a 1500# trailer other than the Willy's?
I like the A/C vent placement on the old Chevy, behind the rear seat. My brother ‘53 Desoto had the same, with the evaporator in the trunk of car.
Looking at the heater box in the old Willy's brings back memories from my old Willy's, as I had the same type of heater box. I was always very toasty though.
Might not be as easy as it used to be.
Carburetors are more difficult to find and more difficult to find a good mechanic to give a tune-up.
Worse yet, the fuels continue to change favoring newer combustion mechanisms and computer controlled fuel injection.
For a return to the 60s, regarding smog controls, drive across the border into Mexico and one gets a rapid reminder of what it used to be like without all those controls. (IMHO, we could still lose over 50% of those controls and still enjoy a relatively clean environment.)
69 Dodge Dart slant 6.
Please don’t get a Falcon.
We got my husband a Falcon as a gift and have been restoring it for the last year for him while he was deployed. The parts are very expensive and some of them are almost impossible to find. The Falcon is considered an endangered car now.
If I had to do it over again, I’d have bought him a Mustang. It would’ve been about half the cost to restore and maintain. You can find junker cars to scavenge easier.
I had a Mercury Comet with a 200 I-6 in it for several years while going through college and the thing was just a workhorse. Keep the oil changed, good air filter and keep timing in sync and it just kept going, and going, and going.
Years later I had a 1996 Jeep Cherokee Country with a 4.0L I-6 in it and every time I'd pop the hood to change the oil or check something it was like looking at the same motor in my old Mercury Comet. Both were incredibly easy to work on absent all the computer/pollution control b.s. which was exactly what someone like me who's not the most mechanically inclined type of guy needs.
You also cannot beat a small-block Chevy V-8 for reliability, dependability and parts availability, so that Willys Wagon would be a good choice in that regard. That and there's some utility to having all that cargo space in the Willy's.
As for me, I want my old Jeep Cherokee Country back. I-6 High Output, no computer control's. It got almost 20 in the city and 26-27 on the highway. No computer control also meant it'd survive an EMP as long as I have a spare distributor and battery in a faraday cage somewhere (which I have in my basement for spare amateur radio equipment.)
I really miss my 1967 Chevelle. It was a 4 door,250 engine, straight 6 that was easy to work on. Lots of room. Parts are readily available. Good solid car.
I really miss my 1967 Chevelle. It was a 4 door,250 engine, straight 6 that was easy to work on. Lots of room. Parts are readily available. Good solid car.
I’d get an early Mustang. They’re fun cars and have a cultish following so there are lots of aftermarket sources for parts. Plus, it’ll be easy to sell should the need arise.
Don’t Nice to think about and maybe have.
But I drove those every day todays vehicles last longer nicer to drive and are a lot safer.
1968 Camaro w/327 engine...a beautiful car and would it ever run...just wow!
I've had 4 Maverick's in my time, all 2 or 300 dollar miracles that died only because of body cancer.
Don't remember the years, maybe early 70's, and it was during a time when gas was about a buck a gallon ... who cared about mileage?
1970-1972 Chevy Nova 6 cylinder coupe.
Five more models.
My personal choice would be a 54 Ford with a Thunderbird engine. I drove one for about 200,000 miles.
1. 60's cars are much better able to keep up with today's traffic flow than those from the 30's, 40's, & even the 50's.
2. Ford and Chevy have the best and most economical parts availability.
3. Buy what you like. One car that currently interests me and seems to be a real value is the second generation Corvair from 1965-1969. Great styling, even looking contemmporary today, good parts availability, inexpensive to buy, and the added satisfaction of telling busybodies like Ralph nader to buzz off every time you turn the key and head out on a drive. Here's a nice example available right now on eBay to copy and paste:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/?cmd=ViewItem&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649&item=290732884806&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT
Have fun in your search and enjoy your ride!