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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Oldest car, 1948 Dodge sedan. Bought it when I was still in high school. Bought it on the sly so my parents wouldn’t know. Paid 85 hard earned dollars back then. Drove that car everywhere and then drove it to Vo-Tech school where I painted it black. Loaned it to my brother-in-law who blew the engine. Replaced that with a rebuild flathead of the same type from the locale parts store. Still have it as it was the last of the original 14, that’s another story, but its in far worse shape now. It will still start and run and that would probably scare the crab out of the mice in it. It would be nice to put it back together again, but that probably will not happen. Don’t discount those old Dodges/Chryslers. Maybe they weren’t that fast but they could endure. They were tanks.
The oldest vehicle that I currently own is a 1911 Maxwell Model I Touring. I have been trying to rehome this car along with a 1915 Oldsmobile, but so far no luck in finding a new caretaker.
Do you have them listed for sale somewhere?
I own a 1957 Starmist Blue Ford Thunderbird that I bought on October 21, 1957 at age 19. I love everything about this car as it makes this 85 year old feel young again every time I get behind the wheel. After 66 years of ownership I can honestly say that there is nothing that I do not like about this great looking vehicle.
My former late wife also had a ’57 Starmist Blue T-Bird with a port hole hardtop and Fordomatic with power steering, brakes, Town & Country Radio and heater. I also had a recently late friend who bought a ’56 T-Bird brand new in Chicago. His had both tops but had a 3 speed manual transmission with overdrive. You must be one of the last original owner’s still vertical. Keep on enjoying your T-Bird.
1967 Chevy C10 . Same year I was born. Dad bought in 1976 and drove as a shop truck til he fixed it up for me and I drove in high school. 327 with 3 on the tree .Currently restoring . 80% completed
My oldest is a 1966 Series 2A Land Rover pick up. Bought it back in `94 from the original owner who lived two doors down from us in a little town in central NH. The truck had 6741 miles on it (she had used it to plow her driveway and go to the town dump – never left town). It also had a really rotten frame, rotten to the point where it had actually collapsed in the front. This was my 6th LR and I moved it around till I retired in 2014 and then sent it to a specialists in VT who put a new frame under and replaced what else needed replacing – didn’t paint it, still has all it’s battle scars. It now lives with us in FL – gets lots of waves and thumbs ups.
’66 Mercury S-55, one year older than I am, Love that 428 rumble & the smileage it gets! Actual MPG not liking but didn’t get it for that:)
I have my 1982 Mustang GLX 5.0 hatchback (with T-tops) that I bought new the day after I graduated from Colorado School of Mines. It was in the middle of the showroom floor at the Ford dealer in Denver. My dad helped me negotiate an acceptable deal. I have kept up with routine maintenance and replaced whatever has been needed, kept it as per stock. The four speed is fun to drive! I only wish I drove it more. Everyone writing about road trips has me thinking…
I own an 82 corvette. I like because it looks like a classic with the design from the 60’s yet it has a computer for the fuel injection with an overdrive transmission for a modern driving experience.
We right now we own a near mint condition 2001 (2000 on the sticker build)
Vw cabrio. Some parts are worrisome like gauge clusters, but I have a couple of used spares. Otherwise pretty much everything is sourceable. It has 108,000 klms or about 71,000 original miles 5speed and never seen a winter. Sadly we may have to find a new home for our “Stella” due to some medical issues.
I bought my 1967 Pontiac Le Mans Convertible March 30, 1973 for $650. It was stolen in the fall of 1977 and was found in Eufaula Alabama in the fall of 1980. Before it was stolen she was in great shape. Once found, it was obvious that she had been mistreated. My football kicking tee was still in the trunk! Once back I began the restoration myself. (My dad had a body shop) Over the years I stripped and painted, had the 326 completely rebuilt, took the 2 speed power glide out and installed a TH350, replaced the seat covers, installed front disc brakes out of a 1970 Monte Carlo, Mallory Unilite electronic distributor, replace all coil springs, front suspension, quick steering box, Flow Master duels, Edelebrock 1406 4 bbl, and much more. I recently pulled the 326 out to replace the lousy rear main rope seal with a BOP engineering one piece seal. My Dad taught me well so I was able to do all the work myself, except for the engine rebuild. I named her ‘The SHARK’ because of the pointed nose and the 3 stripes on the qtr. panels. I love my Le Mans and I never wanted to clone her. It is a Le Mans! With all the improvements she rides better than when I bought her and was always reliable over the years.
55 Bel Air, 396 small block, 4 speed, keeps me young and is 2 years older than me. Also 68 Chevy Malibu, originally owned by my grandmother, my forever car.
1968 Ford F100 big 300 6cyl 3 on the tree. Had air added at dealership.
Got to drive it home new when Grandpa bought it and still have it and drive it weekley.
1970 MGB/GT, mechanically excellent with a decent interior and a 10-foot respray. My wife and I both love driving “Bridget”, but getting into and out of her is getting to be pretty amusing (for others) and embarrassing (for us) as we advance into our dotage. Learned to drive a stick (sort of) on a ’53 Bel Air when I was 12, (the car cost us $35 split 3 ways). Took lessons from my father on a 1970 Peugeot 504 4 on-the-tree (what a tractor), but got really good shifting my mother’s 1970 Capri 1600. Still 3 years shy of my license at the time…
Oldest American car 1957 Ford Fairlane 4 door. Bought as parts car for a convertible but convertible deal fell through, Runs and drives and it’s growing on me. Oldest foreign 1964 triumph TR4. Project car for retirement
My oldest car is a 1965 Corvair Corsa convertible. Not that old by many standards but I purchased it in 1968
when it was 3 years old and was traded in on a new Impala. I still own it …so I have had it for 55 years.
I currently have a 1966 Ford F100 short bed. I’ve owned it since August of 2009. I have put a lot of work into it since I’ve owned it. New paint, different motor, it had the original 352 V8 in it, I swapped it for a 360. 4 speed tranny, original was a 3 on the tree. It had new paint but has since fallen off due to bad clear coating. I drove it daily for a few years but now it’s been sitting in my garage waiting for major upgrades, new suspension, auto tranny, power steering, power brakes, etc. Body is all original. It didn’t have very much rust on it when I purchased it. It still had it’s original robin egg blue paint! I am 1 year younger than my truck.