Anyone run a classic vehicle everyday?

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Hopefully before Christmas I'm hoping to get myself another lightweight motorbike

I'm not cutting it as a cyclist anymore, so I'm going to try and get myself mobile on a nice cheap and cheerful motorbike between 100-300cc, ideally it'd be nice an light because of my back, and with that in mind I've been looking back at old Brit iron like BSA Bantam's and the like

Not particularly green being a two stroke I know But I'd be using up old spares, and not much fuel so I'm justifying it to myself that way

So does anyone else run and old vehicle. Has it been rewarding, or a total nightmare to keep on the road

Pics would be great too

[Chako]

I can't help you as my motorcycle is a 2009 model.

Have you considered a Royal Enfield?

Old classic styles with I think modern convenience and dependability. Just a thought.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

There VERY expensive over here for what they are sadly Plus because of my back I'm trying to get a true lightweight (not that Bullet's are particularly heavy)

They do look lovely, and would be great fun on tight lanes I reckon, and there genuinly good off road too

[Sazabi]

I can't really add anything useful to this thread; about fifteen years ago my father owned an old 1953 Chevy wrap-around five-window light blue beauty of a truck; it was a shortbed or standard-length bed, IIRC.  He still regrets selling it to this day; the value of the truck has doubled in the decade since he sold it. :/

With that said, my current drive is just an 01 Accord; if/when it bites the dust, hopefully a long time from now, if I didn't go for maybe a Mini Cooper or Kia Soul (I like them), I'd go for a classic car as my normal conveyance.

[Mr. Whippy]

Mike,

For years I drove a 1968 Land Rover everyday.  It wasn't particularly green either.  But the real reason it came off the road was the rudeness of other motorists. 

Yes, it was slow, but the problem really was the old style drum brakes.  People would regularly pull out directly in front of me, assuming I could stop as fast as a modern car.     I just felt that it was a matter of time before someone got hit because of it. 

Switched to a modern Ducati 

Now those same A-holes can sniff my exhaust (sort of speak... )

Gotta find a picture of my old truck...

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Yeah the antiquated cycle parts do give me pause, but I did have a 1977 MZ 250 TS which had a woefully crap front brake so I know what you mean

[AimlessWanderer]

I've had a few old chugabooms in my time, but not a classic. I went for many years on "disposable" cars, just buying and old runner and running it till it fell apart then taking it to the scrap yard. I had many years cheap and actually rather enjoyable motoring that way

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

When I first separated from my wife all I could afford was cheap motorbikes and for the most part I had a lot of fun as you didn't treat them like they were made of gold, and actually used them as tools, which is more than I did with my expensive bikes I can tell you! Talk about pampered!

[AimlessWanderer]

My first car was an F reg (1988) Nissan Micra, and was like a biscuit tin with a lawnmover engine.

I managed to get that airbourne   

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Lol

I bet there's a story there!

[Millhouse]

I think a lot depends on the condition of the vehicle when you get it.

A mate of mine had a 1970's VW Camper, and it was a total nightmare. There was always something that needed doing on it. He finally had enough after about 7 years and sold it on.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Yeah there's a good chance to inherit a money pit isn't there

[ducttapetech]

I got a 1945 Alias Chalmers C, 1968 4020 John Deere, 1978 CJ5 and 1979 F-250 Ford. Every once in a while I will have to put a new part on one of them, but mainly just maintenance work on then. 

[captain spaulding]

I wish I could drive a classic everyday.     In my neck of the woods a classic looks like this. 






OR








 

[ducttapetech]

some of mine went from classic to "hey, those are STILL around?!"

[Mr. Whippy]

I got a 1945 Alias Chalmers C, 1968 4020 John Deere, 1978 CJ5 and 1979 F-250 Ford. Every once in a while I will have to put a new part on one of them, but mainly just maintenance work on then.

Does that Allis Chalmers have a live PTO?  That's the biggest killer to me about old tractors.  Belt drive implements. 

We have a 1975 Ford 5600...

[Top-Gear-24]

I wish I could drive a classic everyday.     In my neck of the woods a classic looks like this. 


(Image removed from quote.)



OR




(Image removed from quote.)



 

They look like that in my dreams too ...

[jerseydevil]

I used to have a '67 Charger that I would drive every day in the spring and summer.  Not very practical, but tons of fun.    I had to sell it when I moved and lost the garage.    With the price of gas where it is, I wouldn't be able to afford to run it anyway.....A buddy of mine has a '79 Honda Civic CVCC that he drives EVERY DAY.  If you don't think that's a classic, you are misinformed.  According to the State of New Jersey it counts.  He even has QQ (historic) plates on it.....

My first car was an F reg (1988) Nissan Micra, and was like a biscuit tin with a lawnmover engine.

I managed to get that airbourne   

My first car was an '82 Chevrolet Caprice Classic.  I managed to get that sucker all four wheels in the air once too.....

[Mr. Whippy]

RE: Airborne.

This little section of road in my home town will lead to airborne flight at speeds above 50'ish mph.


 I have confirmed this with a 1968 Pontiac Catalina.  3 speed on the column.  No power anything. Hurking 428 engine in that thing.  Wouldn't want AC, radios, power windows, power steering or power brakes robbing HP from that thing...

[Mr. Whippy]

You'll have to right click and open in new tab to see it.  I can't get google maps links to work in the forum software...

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

I've jumped a hill in Wales before at something over a 100mph (too busy to look at the speedo!)  on my Hornet unintentionally, and came down on a cattle grid all crossed up

Majorly tweaked my nuts on landing, and it felt as though I broke both wrist's, but amazingly I got away with it

God I love bikes sometimes

[Fisting_Chili]

I wish...

This would be my dream car.

'68 Camaro SS
http://www.flickriver.com/photos/cygnus_x1/3682783179/#large

[Mr. Whippy]

I wish...

This would be my dream car.

'68 Camaro SS
http://www.flickriver.com/photos/cygnus_x1/3682783179/#large

Yes.

Or the GTO with over and under headlights.

[captain spaulding]

In my opinion the GTO has to be the greatest family car ever built. 

[Pacu]

My friend had a dodge dart swinger he spent some restoration cash on. Girls loved it..course this was backwoods east texas 




i drove a mitsubishi mighty max pickemup truck ..not so much the ladies machine

[Mr. Whippy]

My friend had a dodge dart swinger he spent some restoration cash on. Girls loved it..course this was backwoods east texas 

(Image removed from quote.)


i drove a mitsubishi mighty max pickemup truck ..not so much the ladies machine

Just a different group of ladies. 

[ducttapetech]

I got a 1945 Alias Chalmers C, 1968 4020 John Deere, 1978 CJ5 and 1979 F-250 Ford. Every once in a while I will have to put a new part on one of them, but mainly just maintenance work on then.

Does that Allis Chalmers have a live PTO?  That's the biggest killer to me about old tractors.  Belt drive implements. 

We have a 1975 Ford 5600...

No the Alias does not have Live PTO. And you are right, not having LPTO sucks. But, stick a 256 NH with a dolly on it and it is one of the sweetest hay rakers you ever seen. You can turn that thing on a dime and make change.

[Farmman]

Mike,

For years I drove a 1968 Land Rover everyday.  It wasn't particularly green either.  But the real reason it came off the road was the rudeness of other motorists. 

Yes, it was slow, but the problem really was the old style drum brakes.  People would regularly pull out directly in front of me, assuming I could stop as fast as a modern car.     I just felt that it was a matter of time before someone got hit because of it. 

I too have had a number of old land rovers. I agree having to give them written notice in triplicate that you will need to stop in the next half mile can make trips interesting.  Added to the fact in winter the heater is that feeble there is often ice on the inside of the car as well.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

I remember sitting in an old 109 landie in the early 90s doing outdoor stuff at school in the winter and those things are bloody freezing

[Doraemon]

Hopefully before Christmas I'm hoping to get myself another lightweight motorbike

I'm not cutting it as a cyclist anymore, so I'm going to try and get myself mobile on a nice cheap and cheerful motorbike between 100-300cc, ideally it'd be nice an light because of my back, and with that in mind I've been looking back at old Brit iron like BSA Bantam's and the like

Not particularly green being a two stroke I know But I'd be using up old spares, and not much fuel so I'm justifying it to myself that way

So does anyone else run and old vehicle. Has it been rewarding, or a total nightmare to keep on the road

Pics would be great too

Mike, have you considered riding a scrambler? Scooters aside, I believe scramblers are the lightest motorcycles due to their design for offroad use. Many smaller capacity ones have simple single cylinder engines, some aircooled (no radiator) which further reduces weight. Maintenance on such engines are simple and straightforward as well.

Next, they have long suspension travel which might help with your back and more suitable for the roads you have there.

Finally, there are many 4-stroke models to keep the fuel consumption low and environment clean and quiet. The Honda XR125L is a very good example having the advantages of all the above. There is also the XT125/250 from Yamaha.