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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I like the ones where it is the oldest “new” car you bought and still have it. Original owner stories are pretty incredible. Many have the same wife as well. I know I do and her and I bought our first “new” car in 1984 (20th Anniversary Mustang) next year he will turn 40 and her and I will celebrate our 44th anniversary.
My daily driver is a 78 Ford F100 Ranger. It is all original with a 302. 4sp manual trans. The thing that catches most people’s eye is it’s a step-side. It belonged to my father in law and when he passed away about 10yrs ago
we acquired it. A fun little truck to drive.
All my cars are younger than me, since I was born in 1944. I’ve had older cars, but my oldest right now is a 1983 Alfa Romeo GTV6 that was actually built in 1982 and not sold until 1984. Unlike the Alfa I gave my daughter (1973 Giulia Super), this car is much easier on my old, arthritic bones. It’s a joy to drive, but it’s currently in the shop having a drivability issue diagnosed and fixed. I hope to let it taste the Tail of the Dragon soon.
My oldest car is a 1928 Whippet pickup, 401 Nailhead, TH 400 and Winters Quick change rear.
I have several cars but the oldest one is a 1940 Plymouth P10. Bought it out of Albuquerque NM. Original paint and no rust. Have owned it for about 4 years now, was my Covid hobby. Replaced the radiator, installed a new head gasket, adjusted the brakes, rebuilt the carb. Runs great. Drive it on the weekends. Taught my 16 year old grandson how to drive it with the 3 on the tree. Anyone remember the Hagerty teach a kid to drive a manual a couple of years back? I got the cap! BTW, I’m 72 years old. Own 7 motorcycles with the oldest one being a 1969 BMW R60/2US. Also have a 1980 Datsun 280ZX 2+2 and a 1995 Toyota T100. Just an old gearhead. Pop was a mechanic and a parts man. Thanks Pop for the inspiration.
My oldest is a 1922 Ford Model T roadster. Great car in very good shape.
My oldest vehicle currently is a 1957 Oldsmobile Super 88 J2 Coupe. I have had it 23 years. She has been in storage in WI for the last almost 4 years after I moved to North Carolina. She’s in the shop now getting a cam bearing replaced due to sitting too much. I was getting her started and changing the oil annually, but that wasn’t enough to prevent this problem. I will be flying back to WI and driving her to NC in a couple weeks ahead of the first snow I hope!
I’m 47 and have a 1987 Buick Grand National which was my childhood hero car ever since I saw one at 10yrs old sitting outside my house and seeing my next door neighbors friend pull up with a brand new one.
I love the iconic styling and how quick it is, just safety is a factor since these cars don’t handle or stop very well in stock form. It’s one of those cars I’ll never wanna part with because I’m still that kid sitting on the stoop back in 1987 seeing it for the first time and falling in love with it all over again whenever I step foot into the garage.
I Love reading about Everyone’s Baby!
Mine is a 67 Buick GS 400, Apple Red with a black vinyl top with a 3 spd. Manual Ford transmission. Yes, fro the factory.
I have a Porsche 356B Cabriolet that left the factory in November 1962 as a 1963 model. I bought it in August 1967 as a 24 year old kid looking for a used sports car. The car is 60 years old and the kid is now 81. What kept me from getting rid of it was the fun of driving a slow car fast and the simplicity of repairs and maintenance. I will confess that driving fast at 81 years is a lot slower than at 24 years.
Hi Hagerty: My wife’s 1968 Camaro. She purchased it “new” from Ted Green Chevrolet in Torrance, CA, in November 1967. Cost was $3,478.
Our Camaro is 95% stock, all matching numbers, and is “accident free”. The 327 ci engine (with original 2-barrel Rochester carburetor), 4-speed transmission, and the rear end are all original equipment. The black vinyl top is original and so is the interior. We did have it repainted 25-years ago in the original Sea Frost Green color. Current original mileage is 142,000, and she runs great (the Camaro, not my wife, Haha).
All-in-all, my original wife of 54-years and her original 55-year-old Camaro have been so much fun to be with. I’m blessed!
As many good stories, mine starts at a bar drinking with friends.
At that time, I had recently acquired and restored a 1965 Thunderbird convertible and a 1973 Intermeccanica Squire 100. The subject of our ideal car came up, when I said, “I’d trade the Thunderbird and the Squire for a 1956 Continental Mark II; I have always loved that car.
One of the guys said, “why don’t you just buy one, they are not that expensive. Go on, get one.” So I started looking. And found one up for grabs at Sotheby’s Amelia Island auction. The starting bid was very reasonable, so I registered for the auction and started to bid on-line. As most auctions go, I got carried away and eventually won. Maybe I kept bidding just to prove my friend wrong, “yes they are that expensive.” At least, when I took my Mark II to the Lincoln and Continental Owners Club meet last year, it won first in class and it still is my favorite car to drive (I still own the Thunderbird and Squire).
My 1997 Toyota Supra Turbo is my oldest at 26 going on 27 years old shortly. next is a 10 year old Lexus IS 350.
I have a ’64 El Camino, had it for over 20 years. I drive it 2-3 days per week. My 2nd old car is a ’64 Chevelle 4-door, I drive it the rest of the week. I’ve had it for nearly 20 years. I also have qty 2 ’67 El Camino’s that I’m getting back into running and driving condition. Still looking for a good ’66 Chevelle. 🙂
I own a 1956 Ford F-100. I bought it from a dealer in Oxnard, CA in Jan. 1971 for $500. It’s been through several engine changes and paint jobs since then. It is now a custom street machine. A 4 year project including a 9″ rear with a 4 link, a 5 speed tremec trans and a Ford FE that hits at just 500 hp. Plus a lot of body mods and a Mustang II front end. I wont be doing any other mods! Mostly driven to car shows these days but, it has a past of being my work truck hauling construction materials and a cab over camper.