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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My oldest car is 49 years old, a 1974 Corvette. I am the original owner and it only has 49,000 miles.
My oldest car is a 1970 Nova SS 396 L78 4 speed that has 22,800 original miles. It is completely stock from the factory with it’s original engine, transmission and 12 bolt differential. It has won top 50 and best of show awards. The only drawback is the gas mileage at around 8 mpg with it’s 780cfm Holley carburetor. I have owned it for 5 years and do enjoy driving it.
I have a 1965 Mustang fastback that I drive regularly weather permitting. This year it logged just short of 2,000 miles. It is an original GT car with a k-code 289 in it. That means power steering, power brakes, automatic transmission, and air conditioning were not available options. Only the engine short block is left from the original mechanicals of the car so I’m not that concerned about using it as a driver car. It’s not badly rusted but it certainly has its share of “patina”. The driving experience is far from relaxing and requires physical effort and undivided attention, but listening to the hipo come up on song makes it well worthwhile.
1949 Dodge 5 window B1B Continues to be a working truck on our ranch for Nigerian Dwarf Goats in South Texas. Owned it for over 15 yrs. Currently runs a 350 Chevy with 700R4 trans, PS PB and of course ac. Love it and drive it weekly!
I bought a 1969 Ford f100 from the original owner 44 years ago. He order the truck in March of 1969 , it was built on April 1st and shipped to the dealer. An AC unit was installed and he picked it up on April 27th. I purchased the truck in July 1979 for $750.00. The odometer showed 58,710 miles. Over the years I replaced just about everything a piece at the time. I am still drive it a few days a week. Odometer shoe 80,005 as of today.
My “old car” is a 1985 Toyota Celica Supra, that I brought home on New Year’s Eve in 2012. It was filthy and the glass had a layer of crud that made visibility bad, half the lights didn’t work, and it had the smallest battery I’d ever seen in a car. BUT….it was an honest car, clean CarFax, except for failing the smog test, never wrecked, and NO rust on it, as it came from the High Desert area in Southern California.
A 1975 Olds 88 convertible is my oldest; we bought it in 1982. I do have a 1951 Allis-Chalmers WD tractor, bought in 1992, though – it’s older than me!
A 1957 Buick Special Riviera 46-R began in Wilmington, DE and was sold 25 May 1957 at Eddie Schwarz’s of Honesdale, PA. Other than mom, it was dad’s (RIP) baby and I keep it in his memory; the car has its own blog page: https://blogsmithconsulting.blogspot.com/2017/07/the-buiee-requiscent-in-pace-leo-j.html
‘78 International Scout II
My oldest ride is 101 years old. Model T runabout rescued from a garage in Kirkland Junction, AZ in 2022. All my neighbors have side by sides and once I get the pickup bed kit built and installed this will be my side by side. What do I like about it? I have to think when I drive it – three pedals that don’t do what a normal three pedal does, hand throttle, manual spark advance, manual mixture control and a Ruckstell two-speed rear axle. Do I want to drive it in traffic? No thank you.
The oldest car I own is a 1968 AMX 390 4spd. The best part about it is I own it, the worst part about it is it may not be completed in my lifetime. I need to complete the 1969 SCRambler project before I start on the AMX.
I have a super-charged 57 Studebaker Golden Hawk. It runs but needs body work, paint, etc. I own it because it’s not a Chevy and it’s a neat car. Nothing against Chevys but that’s all you see around here. Will work on it once I finish restoring my ’66 GT350H Shelby. My daily driver is a well worn ’65 Mustang Convertible with GT add-ons and painted Poppy red. Also have a ’68 Mustang conv. and a ’71 Boss 351 that are restored and I need to sell.
I have a 1966 Chevy El Camino, with an original matching numbers 396. I have had it for 9 years. It was my uncle’s for the 24 years before that. It was originally a column shift Powerglide model, that now has a 700R4 transmission. It is also a factory air conditioned model. I like almost everything about it. I had one when I was 18 and never really got over it. It’s really a great thing to be able to have a version of the car you miss most from your youth. The worst thing about it it that it runs hot in summer, despite installing a 4 row aluminum radiator. Dual shrouded electric fans, high flow water pump, high flow thermostat, and water wetter added to the coolant. I do enjoy working on it and making improvements. For me it’s all about making it a nostalgic reliable street ride with some performance upgrades. Cars of this time period have so much personality compared to modern vehicles.
I bought a 2003 Mercedes SL500 a couple of years ago. It only had 16,000 kms on its odometer. The car looked like it just came off the showroom floor. I drive it only during the Summers and mostly with the top down. What a way to revert to one’s teenage years.
1998 Dodge Dakota SLT with 245+K miles on it.