daily driver muscle car

[joflaig]

I'm hardly in the habit of driving the Charger to work everyday in the summer or even letting it sit (or drive) in the rain. I guess I'll call it a "special occasion" car. Anytime you take it in to the shop you can be sure they'll have it for quite a while often even for small stuff. This leaves me with a bit of an ache. I really want something in addition to what I've got that I wouldn't mind leaving parked at the store.

So I guess to satiate the pang I'm looking for something turn key, a car that may have been recently restored or is in otherwise great shape and needs almost no work to be a reliable daily driver. For me personally, I'm thinking about a '71 Mach 1. It seems like you can do quite well for under 30k. Of course there are Mopars that you could do well with too, but for me, it would be nice to have a second muscle car that was cheaper in most aspects!

Has anyone found themselves in a similar boat (assuming you are not filthy rich)?

[Joshua]

Has anyone found themselves in a similar boat (assuming you are not filthy rich)?

No....I'm not afraid to drive my Charger ANYWHERE!
That said.....I think a little 340 Dart, say a '68 or 9, would be a fun little daily driver...... and easier to see out of than a '71 Mach 1.

[Mike DC]

I think daily-driven musclecars aren't a half bad idea from a financial point of view IF they're handled well.  But not many guys wanna do it.

You have to be willing to spend a whole bunch of money on a car, have it NOT be very fast at all to show for it, be willing to have it look worse than it "should" for what you've spent on it, and be willing to watch its condition slide farther downwards by the year. 

[mikepmcs]

You can do well for under 20K, but it depends on what you are looking for.  If you want a Mach in particular then go for it, but there is a host of cars out there that are great dailies without the sacrifice of serious outlay.

How about a 65-66 Mustang if you are going Ford.  All day long mint for under 15k
Get yourself a nice 200hipo and rip right along.  In my experience with my not so perfect General, I can drive it anywhere, windows rolled down and the keys in it and walk away and it will be in the same shape I left it in when I come back(no one parks near it), albeit droves might be standing near taking pics, but that's about it.

What else are you in the market for.  How about a nice Bandit T/A...all day long under 15K and have the looks and style that turns heads for a cool daily driver.

I guess what i'm saying is more info on your interests and what you seek to accomplish.

My buddy just picked up a 71 torino that kicks right along and looks great for a quick trade(worth about 3k) and 1500 cash. It's all how flashy you want to get when you cruise out in the AM.

Me personally I would be searching for a T/A or early year Camaro, and I say that only cause you went and steered Mopar clear.  My daily driver choice would be a Duster, Dart, Polara, Coronet, older plymouth, you name it, Chrysler made some kick butt cars that are still very affordable by todays standards and still reliable although the sheet metal is hard to come by.  If you are looking easy resto/replacement , by all means, stick with ford and chebby.
v/r
Mike

[joflaig]

I became interested in the '71 - '73 Mach 1 because to me it embodies unique styling really characteristic of the '70s. I also like the '71 Road Runner/GTX & '71 Super Bee\Charger for similar reasons. I hate to stray past 1971 just because arguably that was really the last year of the "muscle car".

[mikepmcs]

I agree somewhat!

You said it then, get yourself some 3rd generation Mopar style and have some fun. I'll go up to 74' on that one though.

Easily under your price range and way better styling IMHO.  Like, who can see out a Mach 1 rear window???

v/r
Mike

[mikesbbody]

I agree wih mike 100%! get yourself a 71 charger and drive it wherever, and whenever  Id prefer it over a mustang 

[70charger_boy]

I have 4 musclecars that I drive the hell out of and they look like crap.  I am not into trailer queens.  That's why god made women 

[plum500]

I became interested in the '71 - '73 Mach 1 because to me it embodies unique styling really characteristic of the '70s. I also like the '71 Road Runner/GTX & '71 Super Bee\Charger for similar reasons. I hate to stray past 1971 just because arguably that was really the last year of the "muscle car".

Me too. Though I'd also go to '74 for Mopars.

What about something like this '72 Javelin

[Musicman]

Actually, I have been looking around for an older Mopar to use as a daily driver myself. I've been thinking along the lines of a 71 GTX... Of course my reasons for looking are somewhat different than yours. Bottom line... I'm just tired of dealing with Computer Controlled cars and all of the crap and expenses that go along with them. If I'm going to throw money at a car, I want to have something to show for it.

Mike

[kylem4711]

get a nash!!!

[joflaig]

I've heard a lot about the visibility problems on the mustang, I'll be checking one out this weekend.

I think the Javelin would be a really unique and affordable car, I just wonder how available parts are.

[Rolling_Thunder]

get a nash!!!

I would suggest a 71-72 Charger or Road runner...     thats why I got my 72 RR - but then again it is sitting in the shop right next to my charger...    waiting to be put back together...     

[JMF]

The 71 Mustang is a great car, I don't use mine as a daily driver but if I had to I would

[Brock Samson]

well i was in a similar predicament,..
I have a daily driver '99 300 M, and it's no slouch either,.. took me two years to find one with the Performance Handling Package in a color
i liked that wasn't sold by the time I got there,..
...but seeing a sweet '72 Satt. Sebring Plus at a car show, lit a fire under my ass to find one for a daily driver, cause although, '71 R.R.s and GTXs are like way high on my favorite cars to someday own... You simply can't find them anymore right?... and I didn't want a fire breathing four speed HEMI or even a B.B. I allready got my '69 R/T for that duty.
Well, guess what?.. the day after I got a fat insurance check. this car appears in the want ads... and Voila!.. I'm now the proud owner of a original low milage  S.B. 340 '71 R.R.
One thing I learned though,.. It's HUGE! many inches wider then the Charger. It has an exhaust leak at the pass-side donut, just ahead of the hole in the pass-pan floor board,.. cough, cough... The heater, defroster doesn't work.... the drum brakes are good for one great stop, then when warm, they simply slow the bird... And it likes to be driven hard, well OK i like to drive rather spiritedly... 
  There's not alot of comfort in a bench seat, and the seat belts for six, (that's a total of 12 belts mind you) make a lot of noise,.. clickin and clankin...
  the single speaker am radio don't work cause the ant. is missing... 
So, though I get fully the appeal of a muscle ride for daily driver the reality is somewhat different then the dream.

[Brock Samson]

the Satt. that knocked over the first of many dominos... 

[Silver R/T]

I was thinking about 71-74 Charger 318 as a daily driver, cheap on gas and still gets the looks

[HITMAN 149]

a nice lil 70-71(2??) dart 340!!! or a 440 !!! hehehehe
that' would be my lil mopar daily driver... or if your gonna go chebbbie.. a 70 nova w/ a 350!!!
good luck!!!!

[68charger383]

I did the opposite and got a 68 cougar first before the Charger. The Cougar is a daily driver when I plan on driving to work on a Friday etc.
The cougars are really undervalued and a great buy. Their easy to find with PS, PB and even AC

$4K-$7K will get you an excellent car...$12K-$15K will get you a vert. body/interior wise its like the old days...not much on the repop market unless its comparible/same as a mustang part, so you'll have to buy a used part...mechanically it's the same as a mustang so parts are plentiful and cheap. Considering that their value is low...not worth restoring so it doesn't really matter if you use it as a daily driver value wise. 


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1968-MERCURY-COUGAR-8F91C536216_W0QQitemZ190165372272QQihZ009QQcategoryZ6339QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1968-mercury-cougar_W0QQitemZ220161898118QQihZ012QQcategoryZ6339QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1970-Cougar-Eliminator-Clone-NO-RESERVE_W0QQitemZ300162828363QQihZ020QQcategoryZ6339QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[Brock Samson]

you sure as hell wouldn't want a 440 a-body in this town you NEED P/S and P/B...  shouldn't a d.d. be tractable, comfortable and have some decent economy?..  of course where i live it's all bumper cars all day long. 300 got a new 4 inch scrape today, folks all park by feel.

[Tom_440]

I daily drove a few 5.0 stangs over the years and spent my $ on my mopars. So its a furd...never spent over $2200 for one, feels kinda  like a muscle car, and mods are cheap.

[joflaig]

I'd say of all the ideas, for the lowest money the Javelin and the Cougar would be the neatest and maybe most unique to own. Browsing around it seems to me a nice '69 Eliminator can be a cool ride!

[HITMAN 149]

yes i agree w/ the cougar.. i forgot about them.. as they are underrated!?!?!?!?  ..
verry cool cars & not many around.. ha that red one is in jersey not tooo far from me!?!?!?