What is the oldest car you own?
We truly hope everyone in the Hagerty Community enjoys participating in this series, According to You, in which we amplify the contributions of our loyal readers and commenters! Your responses to our various questions are often both enlightening and—dare I say it—heartwarming. Last week’s answers were no different, as we asked a very open-ended question that led to some fantastic answers. So, in the interest of balance, this week’s question will be far easier to answer: What is the oldest car you own?
Here’s mine. Well, not exactly, because the above image is a manufacturer press shot; I neither have a picture of my Continental Mark III, nor can I remember if it is a 1970 or a 1971. And I really should have a picture of it, considering what I do for a living and how enjoyable these cars are for Lincoln enthusiasts.
The Mark III has sat for months, mostly due to a bad front main seal on its 460 big-block, and I haven’t had the time to do it myself. I probably could, but it’s gonna require some training on my end, and I’d prefer if someone else did it. Finding someone has been harder than expected, or perhaps I am asking the wrong people. It is a very nice car, drives well, and even has a new Magnaflow exhaust with just a little rumble. Sigh.
The more words I type about my Mark III, the more depressed I get about its current state. Anyone want to teach me how to do a front main seal on a big-block Ford? Just kidding (sort of). Anyway, let’s answer the question at hand:
What is the oldest car you own?
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1965 Mustang, that I bought 50 years ago…
The oldest car in my modest little fleet is a 1931 Ford Model A Deluxe Roadster. It is stock except for a Model B four-cylinder in place of the original Model A four-cylinder. The engines are very similar but the Model B has a mechanical advance distributor so you don’t have to mess with the timing lever once you get the base timing set. Other than that, for better or for worse, it drives like a stock Model A. Driving at 35 mph gives the same exhilaration (and fear for life) as driving my 1964 Thunderbird at 100+ so with my Model A you never have to break the speed limit to feel like a speed demon. It is hard to believe that only 33 years separates those two cars. I’d argue that, automotively-speaking, we progressed further in those 33 years than we did in the 59 years since my T-Bird rolled off the line.
I love that driving the Model A reminds me to slow down and stop rushing. However, I simultaneously get frustrated that driving the Model A any appreciable distance outside of town takes a substantial amount of time over any other car – and you have to plan your route out a little better in advance to stay on “Model A friendly” roads. Shifting gears with an unsynchronized gearbox keeps you honest though, especially downshifting!
I have a 1977 Pontiac Firebird Esprit. It is a replica of the Rockford Files Firebird that James Garner drove on the show. Numbers matching and has less then 73,000 miles. It is a nice survivor. Shows well, but far from perfect. It was featured in the last on camera interviews with James Garner and Stephen J. Cannell, as they talked about Garner’s stunt driving. The show was Pioneers Of Television: Crime Drama episode.
The oldest car I own is a 1966 Plymouth satellite. I bought it in 2001 for $1,250. I’ve really not done much work on it except for changing the transmission when it failed. 323,000 miles now. Had 171,000 miles when I bought it. No plans to sell it.
The oldest vehicle at our house is my 14-year old son’s truck that he bought with his own money saved up from moving lawns- a 1975 Chevy K10. The previous owner had it since 1977 and took pretty good care of it using the truck for his small engine repair shop, but it sat for 4-5 years because he had a stroke. He was impressed a kid was even interested in an old truck and willing and able to pay for it himself, so my boy got a really good deal. We’ve had it for 5 months, mostly using it around the farm, but we are in the process of getting it road legal because my son wants to ride in it in the town Halloween parade and take it to family’s houses during the holidays. He’s been working on it with a little assistance from me, but he haggled for parts at trucks shows and swap meets this year and has a pretty strong vision of what he wants it to be in a couple years. My son likes to say that his truck is going to have a good 50th birthday the year he is able to get a drivers license!
Oldest is a 1941 Chevrolet pickup truck, which is currently in pieces. My older brother bought it in the late ’70s. Plan is to restore it in olive drab as a military truck.
Oldest thing that actually runs: 1956 Mack B42T Tractor. 50,000 original miles.
My oldest is my 36 Chevy Master Delux 2 dr. sedan, all stock. I just got it 5 days ago so haven’t had a chance to do much except for a very short test drive. When I hit the brakes, it nearly ripped the steering wheel out of my hands, so until I get a chance to check out the brakes, I won’t be driving it. It has been mostly restored, but needs some TLC, but a nice driver which is what I was looking for. My next oldest is a 39 Chevy business coupe street rod, and my mostly daily driver is a stock 56 Chevy 210 Del Rey, 265, 3 spd. I’m 76.
I own a 1964 Morgan Plus 4 which I have been the caretaker of for 10 years, buying it in May of 2013.
I love the pure basics of an analog car that handles like a Go-kart and gives definite feedback to the seat of your pants. A hand made car with the basic design going back to the thirties. It’s a blast to drive but not in the rain (mine has never seen rain–ever) and I never have the hood (top) up.
It does require constant driving and also an awareness for the possibility of care around the corner, but is well worth it.
My oldest vehicle is a 67 C10, short bed step side. Bought it while living “up north” from an estate sale. Now we’re retired in the sunny south, so it’s a good project vehicle that runs great. Currently has a 350 with torque cam, 4L80e transmission from a wrecked 1 ton, and rebuilt differential (3.73, Eaton Posi). It towed my old jetboat from LA to NC and then went back to tow a U-Haul trailer. The next stage is to install some new sheet metal; rocker panels, cab corners, floor pan, etc. Should keep me out of trouble for a while!
1936 ford pickup, later model flathead v8, upgraded interior but original gauges, sears 6:00 x 16 tires, pretty much stock, love the flathead sound. 52 MG TD, 61 MGA totally restored, bought it in pieces, 64 Corvette original except wheels & disc brakes, 67 Mustang fastback which I am just finishing up, and a few others but newer than these.
1936 Ford five window Coupe Deluxe model 1948 Lincoln Continental Convertible.
The Lincoln I sold because my back, shoulder and neck don’t have the strength to drive a manual transmission and a 5000 pound car. The 36 Ford. I sold to a friend of mine after owning it 30 years it was just too hard to keep two cars in good condition to run, especially the Lincoln with that stupid V 12 engine
I owned a 68 Pontiac Tempest coupe in the mid 90’s (my twenties). I loved the shape of the car and the ease of maintenance on the 350 2bbl. What I hated was that the gas gauge didn’t work, and I could often been seen around town pushing it up steep gas station parking lot aprons. Good workout though!
1961 Chrysler 300G convertible (since I sold my 57 300C coupe last year). Crossrams, fins, and the top goes down. If that doesn’t give you goose bumps, nothing will. I’m 6 years older than the car, which I first acquired in 1998. Being 43 and driving a 37 year old car is a very different experience from being 68 and driving a 62 year old car, and not necessarily in a good way.
Just to add…later in the “20-Teens” (my mid 40s) I owned an 84 Mustang GT….which I adored. Four eyes, four barrel Holley and 5 speeds. My only regret is not having it anymore. Technically that was the oldest car I owned time wise.
Oldest: 1960 Austin Healey Sprite, 1200 Datsun engine, after owning for 5 years it’s just now on the road.
Longest owned: 1962 Plymouth Fury 2dr hardtop, 318, bought new by my grandparents and I inherited it 40 years ago. I have all of its records.