Q&A: Vintage Cars
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- pr2
After 2 years under a hammer, my 1973 280 Mercedes has all its rust fixed and is ready to go into painter's booth.
Since i've bought the car 7 years ago, i went from a car novice ('what's an engine?") to quite experienced mechanic ("you want to rebuild a carburetor? no problem") and now, after the recent fixes, even a car body man.
I know there are many here on this board who either play with the idea of owning a vintage car, or even already have one, so for the sake of the public service, i'm here to answer your old car questions (within my knowledge or ability).
Ask me anything.
Q. Are vintage cars expensive?
No, but yes.
Some cars, especially 2-door versions, are indeed pricy because people desire those as their grown-up toys.
In general, 4-door versions are much cheaper.
Though original price tag might be reasonable, unless you decide to wrench on your car yourself, the frequent mechanic visits will cost you.Q. Are there any guru mechanics or car builders that a few lucky car owners know?
No. A typical mechanic in XXI century plugs in a computer and that tells his what's wrong with the modern car. Since your vintage car doesn't have it, a typical mechanic will just throw new (and expensive) parts at the problem. A specialty mechanic (one dealing with your vintage brand) charges a ton of money and, what's worse, can't fix your car for the next 3 months because he's so booked up.Q. Do vintage cars get you laid more?
Yes.Q. Are vintage cars a good investment?
In general, no. You will spend lots of money that you will never see back.Q. How has your view of modern cars changed since working on vintage cars?
I see a "modern" car that is just over 15 years old and i see a wreck with issues just waiting to cascade on its owner. I see a "modern" car that has close to 200,000 miles and i see another wreck.Q. Are vintage cars less reliable than modern cars?
Yes. (protracted "yes). The technology of vintage cars is way simpler but the fact that you are dealing with a machine that's many dozens of years old, will show its age. Unless that car was really meticulously maintained (and most cars, were not), the older the car, the more untrained hands got to touch it. As such, you are not dealing with a virgin but a slut.
Due to age, you will hear squawks and cracks. Or if you don't hear any, at some new ones will develop in no time. Stuff will start leaking randomly and new noised will develop.Q. Should i just spend $$ and buy a pristinely renovated vintage car?
Probably not.
Part of the charm is getting to know your car inside and out by striping it to its bare bones (or at least get to the bottom of a particular issues that popped up on your last drive).Q. What are the common problems for vintage cars?
-- Rust.
-- Rubber. After such a long time, it simply dries out and cracks. Thus stuff that requires rubber develop issues (windows and gaskets start leaking).
-- Fuel system (rust in gas tank, rush in gas lines, fuel pump, old gas blocking carburetor).
-- Electrical system (old insulation develops shorts, starter acts up, distributor wears out delivering misfire).
-- Engine (cams wear down, timing chain stretches, water passages get clogged)
-- Steering (seals start leaking)
-- Cooling system (radiator gets rusty or leaky, coolant starts leaking inside the engine or rusts its insides)
...and many more
- imbecile0
Q. Are vintage cars a good investment?
In general, no. You will spend lots of money that you will never see back.well, you have to be willing to sell the car
- prophetone0
Q. Are vintage cars a good investment?
You only live once so spend some shillings, get that old car tuned and on the road, I don’t care who you are, if you love driving no ‘modern’ car can provide happiness quite like this
- If a $40k speedster replica is not in budget, a good ole MGB for $5-15k would do the trick too, so cool!
https://youtu.be/tSl…prophetone - MGBs are quite inexpensive cars. ...but they are also quite shitty. at some point i was considering it as my 2nd vintage car... but no thanks.pr2
- You’re not wrong on a few known fronts, but their shortfalls are easily fixed, and parts are cheap and abundant, maybe cheapest path to a street legal racer tooprophetone
- In the end they are absolutely British so def personal preference, not for everyone but personally love how basic, compact they areprophetone
- I mean look at the little buggers go after some straight cut gears, engine and suspension mods
https://youtu.be/ety…prophetone
- If a $40k speedster replica is not in budget, a good ole MGB for $5-15k would do the trick too, so cool!