From the ’50s to the Modern Era, Enthusiasts Drive Their Cars Similar Miles
Once cars transition from merely used vehicles to collector pieces, driver behavior tends to change. Cars that were once put to regular use have become weekend cruisers or toys for special trips. As such, the annual mileage put on these vehicles tends to be considerably less than what was put on them years ago (with some very notable exceptions—looking at you, Toyota Land Cruiser).
That said, with cars from the ’90s through the modern era becoming collector-worthy, enthusiast vehicles are more reliable than ever. Fox-body Ford Mustangs, C6 Chevrolet Corvettes, and even Lexus LFAs can cover more ground in greater comfort and capability than the Mustangs, Corvettes, and Toyota 2000GTs of yesteryear. That got us wondering—does any one era of collector car get driven more than others?
Looking at the same vehicles offered through an online auction more than once is one way to determine how many miles people drive. If a car appeared in an online auction in 2022 with 63,000 miles and again in 2024 with 65,000 miles, it only covered 1,000 miles per year. Repeat public sales data does not capture examples like a single-owner-from-new 1974 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia still in daily use, but for the purposes of comparing usage between eras of cars, this information provides abundant data—our sample included over 9,000 vehicles.
What did we find? Vehicles from the 1950s through the 1970s were driven several hundred miles per year, while those from the RADwood era (1980s and 1990s) were driven 1316 and 1404 miles per year, respectively. The most modern vehicles from the 2020s were driven 1848 miles per year. Most interestingly, even with all the modern features and reliability found in the vehicles from the ’90s to today, people are still driving them only about two-and-a-half to three times as far as those 1960s cars and trucks—when it comes down to it, that’s only a few more fill-ups per year.
How many miles are being driven among the popular makes? Among the Big Three, Ford, Chevrolet, and Dodge are first through third. Also, Toyotas are driven way more than Hondas, and Porsches are driven further than Ferraris.
Looking a bit deeper into the data, the median miles driven per year worked out to be about half the average (mean) miles per year driven for each model year decade. That the median is less tells us that a significant chunk of vehicles are not being driven much, and that a smaller number of people are laying down a lot of miles. Importantly, the consistency between median and mean data across every decade shows that era doesn’t appear to be much of a factor in how these vehicles are used.
How many miles per year are you driving your enthusiast vehicle?
Interesting, I was looking at the miles I put on my early 2000’s toys in the last year. The most recent addition clocked just over 1,200 mi in the first year of ownership and that included the ~500mi drive home. The one I’ve had the longest just did 200mi and the middle child 800.
I drive my 68 Cougar regularly. Just made an 1,800 mile round trip for business. The car was the center of attention.
I love it…..a 68 cougar driven like it was a modern car. Great job….I have a 69 cougar and although it runs great, couldn’t even imagine taking it on a trip like that…. too cool.
I bought my restored stock ’34 Ford in 1986 and was told the rebuilt flathead only had 10,000 miles on it. The odometer showed 69,000. I never paid attention to the odometer, I assumed it was broke. I forget how many years went by and I noticed the odometer went to 70,000 miles! But I have only put 5,000 miles on it since ’86. So the rebuilt flathead only has 15,000 miles on it. It is still a beauty! Its stored in my garage in the winter uncovered. Because when I walk into the garage I want to see it! It is still a love affair with it. It runs great!
It may also be a function of the older cars (1950’s-70’s) having more repair/down time, at least in my case…
Well there are things to consider.
#1 insurance.. many policies limit miles and use of the car so you can’t drive it daily.
#2 half of us live in the north anf half the year we are not going to drive on salt covered roads.
#3 many live in areas where you are just not going to park a collector car in the city alone. If you are lucky it is only vandalized at worst stolen and stripped.. People ignore my 08 Malibu.
#4 finally msny of these cars are the dream cars we wanted. We are not going to subject them to daily abuse. We reserve them for driving pleasure. If you daily drive it that often takes the added pleaser stepping from the daily driver to your dream car. I love NY Strip steaks but would not want to eat it daily.
How many? Don’t know. Don’t care. I suppose I could look at the odometer on Jan. 1 of each year and do some minor math, but to what end? I just drive it to enjoy it whenever I’m able to. How far per year is a number that I just don’t bother to record…
I don’t record the exact miles, but for those vehicles that don’t see daily driver use I change the oil once per year, “whether it needs it or not” and write the mileage and date on the filter.
I did just change the oil in my daily driver today, based on miles and it is almost spot on ~1k per month.
Yup, change mine in late fall when the “driving season” is pretty much done here and the car sits under cover for most of the winter. But I don’t bother with looking at or recording the mileage. It’s just the “annual change”.
I routinely hear folks say “That’s the best car I ever had”. Then they say it was only driven 500 miles a year.
Not sure how anyone would know how a car handles, accelerates, & brakes going to a field with a lawn chair.
Drive them. You aren’t living forever.
Although, statistically, aren’t your chances of living LONGER better by sitting in that lawn chair than out driving all the time? Asking for a friend…😁
I’m a doctor. The answer to your question is No. Now get out and drive.
15 years ago I purchased a 1976 Corvette with 18,000 one owner miles. Still had the original tires on it. Initially I seldom drove it (tires replaced) but even though it was a near perfect specimen especially the body and undercarriage I began to drive it some. Today it has just rolled to 30,000 miles. It is still nearly as perfect as it was. I have driven 800 miles to the assembly plant and Corvette Museum in Kentucky. Many trips to Carlisle. It was even a Celebrity Pick award winner. Just additional elbow grease and luck and I’m not sorry at all. This car isn’t a bank busting L-88 or anything rare. But it is still just like new.
While I agree with the admonition to “get out and drive them,” the reality for most collector car owners is that life too often gets in the way. And it’s one thing to have just one collector car, but if you have several or multiple, that compounds the available time issue.
Add in the very real reasons cited by hyperV6, plus the fact that most of these old cars aren’t all that great to drive as cars, anyway. All of which is why most owners tend to enjoy their cars mostly by, say, taking them to a C&C event or week night cruise then driving home, or taking them out on an occasional drive in the country with your spouse on a nice sunny weekend.
All that said, if you can find the time and overcome other impediments, I’ll echo others here: “Get out and drive them!”
Hmm. So many variables. I live where there are great roads and decent driving clubs. I put 3000 miles per year on my ’62 MGA, and that was a fairly pristine car. Now I am putting 6000 miles per year on my ’77 Classic Mini. I bought the Mini specifically to enjoy the drive! It’s not perfect, but it’s suitably quick and has even done track days. So many more smiles per mile!
Being that my collector is a Buick Roadmaster Wagon, it often gets called into service as a “would you help me move my (fill in the blank)” Also, with my own use, like towing my 16 foot runabout to the local lake or moving a yard of mulch on my little utility trailer for my wife, I was able to put 65K miles on my ’92 in 25 years of ownership. Right after it turned 100,000 miles, I located it’s replacement, a ’96, LT1 Roady with under 50K. What fun! If I could keep my right foot out of it, I’m sure I could do better than 15 MPG, but you know what? Who cares. Fuel consumption isn’t really much of a factor now that I average less than 3,000 miles a year.
I purchased a 2005 last year and in little less than a year, I’m at 5K miles after a few adventures and an occasional cars and coffee. However, future road trips, and there are two I’m chomping at the bit to due soon, are on hold until I replace the shocks and struts.
Well now! I agree with the above, if you have multiple rides. I have several. I try to exercise them often, in the summer, spring and most of all, Fall. Two rag tops, three T-tops, and a FRC. So what if they get dirty or wet. Salt and Snow are No Nos. We try to enjoy them. Just did 100 or so miles yesterday.
5000 a year on my ’07 Saab 9-3 convertible. It’s a finite resource since Saab’s demise, but it was made to drive.
I believe it’s a function of the vehicle, the driver and the number of vehicles the person owns. My Packard gets lots of miles because it is a rock steady performer but I drive my 1970s mini to C&C 100s of miles. My beatle gets local miles as it is a rock starting star, while my Miata gets only a few miles during the Sumer but more in the fall when the others are put away. it has never had a problem.
I’m putting the average number of miles for 1940s vehicles onto my ’40 Cadillac every two weeks over the summer.
I am not going to tell as they may raise my insurance rates.😘
Looks to “spot on,” for me. My C1 ‘vette has been averaging 700-800 miles/year. Short trips mostly, but it gets taken out 2-3 times/week and it runs better when run regularly.