Classic Mopar as a daily... Crazy idea?

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MopaR&D

MopaR&D

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I've had my 2000 Buick Park Ave Supercharged as my daily for the past 6 years or so and it's been a trooper but it's getting a bit long in the tooth. It's about to hit 200k miles on the odometer and I have anxiety sometimes about something big going wrong with it like the transmission or a big electrical failure so I'm tossing around ideas for my next daily driver vehicle. I also don't like having to run premium gas and the fuel economy isn't great, average about 19-21 mpg. For a while I was looking at newer cars but I really hate dealing with electronics-related issues and the complexity they have, difficulty of repairs, expensive parts etc. So I started thinking, the cars I am by far the most comfortable with are the old-school RWD Chrysler cars and trucks. In this day and age most people would think it's crazy to rely on a 50-year-old vehicle with carburetor, distributor, etc to get around but I know these cars like the back of my hand. My '70 Duster was my first car and I've pretty much taken apart and rebuilt every mechanical device on that car at least once. It's now so reliable that for the past few years I have done nothing but regular maintenance and I can jump in at any time and drive it wherever.

My biggest must-haves options are good working A/C and cruise control so I'm leaning towards later upper-end stuff like a mid-late 70s B-body, would love to have a Cordoba or Charger SE (Magnum would be ok too but I don't like their styling as much). What do y'all think? I know I just mentioned gas mileage but if I could manage at least mid-high teens on average being able to run regular gas that would be acceptable.
 
There was a guy not too far from here that restored a couple Duesenburgs to absolutely beautiful condition. They were really serious high dollar cars. When he got older, and then pretty ill, he started driving them.....in the WINTER, yes Ohio winter. All im saying is, you should do whatever puts a smile on your face.
 
Im sure you gonna get lots answers to the contrary but I say no. I’ve been there, done that and the stress it adds to the daily commute isn’t worth it.

Your Buick is already leagues above a late B Body in every aspect but style and a Camry V6 is leagues above your Buick.

You are gonna have to tune your *** off and drive like a miser to even come close to your MPG requirements.

What happens when someone t bones you in the B body? You gonna rebuild it? Are you gonna survive it?

Sounds like you already have a Duster you could use as a daily, but I would go for something more practical as a back up than another 50 year old car.

Just my opinion though.
 
Probably finding something is decent fixable condition would be difficult. A lot of cars have been crushed, even ones in to the 2000's. When the fix to value ratio favors replacement, they go. Did this to a 2015 Journey with 88k we bought new, things started to fail that cost more than the value of the car, so it was traded in. Sad as we expected another 50-70k out of it and it had an easy life.
 

MidnightSwinger said:
Im sure you gonna get lots answers to the contrary but I say no. I’ve been there, done that and the stress it adds to the daily commute isn’t worth it.

Your Buick is already leagues above a late B Body in every aspect but style and a Camry V6 is leagues above your Buick.

You are gonna have to tune your *** off and drive like a miser to even come close to your MPG requirements.

What happens when someone t bones you in the B body? You gonna rebuild it? Are you gonna survive it?

Sounds like you already have a Duster you could use as a daily, but I would go for something more practical as a back up than another 50 year old car.

Just my opinion though.
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Valid points but my thoughts...

My wife has a 2013 Camry 4-banger. It's a great car; somewhat comfy, OK power, great gas mileage. Reliable as a hammer. It's just so freakin' boring! I also don't like how it rides and how stiff the seats are which is typical of basically everything built in the last 20 years. I really am a sucker for thickly padded soft seats and a compliant quiet ride.

I am naturally a nitpicker when it comes to tuning, I tune the hell out of everything I drive so that base is covered. I'd be diving deep into the carb and ignition system to make sure it's all 100%. Almost guaranteed I'd also add dual exhaust.

What happens if someone hits me and the car is wrecked? Well, that'll be that. If it's a total loss I'll collect the insurance and junk it. Was side-impact still bad by the mid-70's? Been seeing stories about modern cars crashing into classic American boats and the new cars end up absorbing all the energy and crumpling up like they're supposed to. That's why I'm not going for something "desirable" like a muscle car.

I would drive my Duster more but it has no A/C, lumpy idle, loose converter, noisy interior, firm ride (heavily modified suspension), small gas tank. That car is more of a weekend warrior and is what I drive when I want to blow off some steam and get some adrenaline pumping. It's also the first car I owned and have put so much work into it that the sentimental value is off the charts.

Tbh if my Buick was RWD and had any aftermarket for suspension and brake parts I'd do some upgrades to it and keep it but there's nothing for those cars except engine parts. The suspension is too floaty with insane body roll and the brakes are barely adequate.
 
Do it! I daily my 73 Duster 340 with a 4-speed unless it's raining because the wipers suck. It's fully restored and I just said F-it. I drove a 73 Challenger all through H.S. and being a 318 2bbl it was good for a kid who had to buy his own gas.
I personally have my eye on a older fellas 1973,4, or 5 Valiant 4-door. I think he's completely quit driving it due to age or illness but I used to see him on the road all the time. It's probably a /6.
The cars I rotate through are my 2001 Cummins 4x4 6-speed, Duster, or 1998 Jeep GC (shitbox edition). I really like those 3800 supercharged Buicks though. Great platform. Guys are putting them in all kinds of cool offroad toys and Fieros.
My daughter's WW TDI just cost us $5000 for a transmission dual friction flywheel, flush, trans. fluid cooler, and engine oil cooler. I know VW's have higher repair costs than some cars but any new car is going to be waayy more expensive to repair than a 70's Mopar if it has a catastrophic failure. Even maintenance is higher. And you know Mopars like the back of your hand.

Not a hard choice for me. As this world gets more technological the more I want simple.
 
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Your parents drove their A bodies as their daily drivers, you can too.

As for added features, AC and cruise control they can be added
 
Find another Buick with the 3800 and lower miles. If it doesn't have a shitty mass air flow sensor and a coated timing chain gear set you will be good for 300,00 miles. When I drove cars all mine were Buick Park Aves or Lesabres with the 3800. Now that I have to have a pickup for a daily driver I'm beating a Chevy Silverado with a turbo 4 everyday on the commute. I just turned 95,000 miles. Oil changes, trans service and one set of replacement tires. It still has the original brakes but getting close.
 
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MopaR&D said:
Valid points but my thoughts...

My wife has a 2013 Camry 4-banger. It's a great car; somewhat comfy, OK power, great gas mileage. Reliable as a hammer. It's just so freakin' boring! I also don't like how it rides and how stiff the seats are which is typical of basically everything built in the last 20 years. I really am a sucker for thickly padded soft seats and a compliant quiet ride.

I am naturally a nitpicker when it comes to tuning, I tune the hell out of everything I drive so that base is covered. I'd be diving deep into the carb and ignition system to make sure it's all 100%. Almost guaranteed I'd also add dual exhaust.

What happens if someone hits me and the car is wrecked? Well, that'll be that. If it's a total loss I'll collect the insurance and junk it. Was side-impact still bad by the mid-70's? Been seeing stories about modern cars crashing into classic American boats and the new cars end up absorbing all the energy and crumpling up like they're supposed to. That's why I'm not going for something "desirable" like a muscle car.

I would drive my Duster more but it has no A/C, lumpy idle, loose converter, noisy interior, firm ride (heavily modified suspension), small gas tank. That car is more of a weekend warrior and is what I drive when I want to blow off some steam and get some adrenaline pumping. It's also the first car I owned and have put so much work into it that the sentimental value is off the charts.

Tbh if my Buick was RWD and had any aftermarket for suspension and brake parts I'd do some upgrades to it and keep it but there's nothing for those cars except engine parts. The suspension is too floaty with insane body roll and the brakes are barely adequate.
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Camry V6 is a totally different animal than the 4cyl, but I don’t disagree that it’s a boring car.

The side impact on any 70’s vehicle is unacceptable if your life matters to you in a “oh ****, this is totally out of my control” situation. Like getting blindsided through an intersection.
 
How far do you drive to work?

I daily drive a 69 Coronet 318. No AC. It is hot here, just bring ice water! Runs like a watch. I enjoy driving it. Gets tons of attention. I just stay around town, no road trips. I like it. I fill the tank when it's low and don't check the gas mileage. Not safe in a bad accident.

2000 miles a year.

Points are reliable, very reliable. But they do wear out. And the cam needs to be greased. 20,000 miles?

Carburetors are reliable. Especially if you drive them and keep clean gas in the tank, not 2 year old stinky varnish.
 
jeff alder said:
Find another Buick with the 3800 and lower miles. If it doesn't have a shitty mass air flow sensor and a coated timing chain gear set you will be good for 300,00 miles. When I drove cars all mine were Buick Park Aves or Lesabres with the 3800. Now that I have to have a pickup for a daily driver I'm beating a Chevy Silverado with a turbo 4 everyday on the commute. I just turned 95,000 miles. Oil changes, trans service and one set of replacement tires. It still has the original brakes but getting close.
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If I get another FWD car it'll be Japanese, most likely a Honda Accord V6, possibly stick-shift. If I have to suffer with FWD it'll be in something that's built well and has some level of sporty-ness to it.

MidnightSwinger said:
Camry V6 is a totally different animal than the 4cyl, but I don’t disagree that it’s a boring car.

The side impact on any 70’s vehicle is unacceptable if your life matters to you in a “oh ****, this is totally out of my control” situation. Like getting blindsided through an intersection.
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Fair points, see above... Accord 6MT is on the radar.

273 said:
5th Ave's make a great daily once my Avenger dies was thinking of getting another one.
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I had an '88 5th Ave for a few years but it was painfully slow until I swapped the rear end for one with shorter gears, added dual exhaust and a 4-bbl. That was back when I was single and living with my parents so I had the time and money for those mods, now being married and living on my own with plans to start having kids in the next year or 2, not so much. Also I really don't like the transverse t-bar setup, no way to improve it.

413 said:
How far do you drive to work?

I daily drive a 69 Coronet 318. No AC. It is hot here, just bring ice water! Runs like a watch. I enjoy driving it. Gets tons of attention. I just stay around town, no road trips. I like it. I fill the tank when it's low and don't check the gas mileage. Not safe in a bad accident.

2000 miles a year.

Points are reliable, very reliable. But they do wear out. And the cam needs to be greased. 20,000 miles?

Carburetors are reliable. Especially if you drive them and keep clean gas in the tank, not 2 year old stinky varnish.
Click to expand...

My current commute is 35 minutes, I've been job hunting for a long time and have a couple prospects but they'd be similar distance from home unless my wife and I move to a less rural area. Can't have a daily without A/C around here, it's just too much to put up with for me on a daily basis driving that far.

AAR 64Valiant said:
What's your plan to insure it as a daily driver?
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Not sure about that yet, I know it might be tricky or maybe not even possible to get comprehensive coverage on something that old. Might consider liability-only, idk.
 
Got a 99 LHS, with 24K miles on it. Everything works, lots of new stuff. Probably gonna put it in the car corral at Nats. It's already 26 years old.
Near new condition....

LHS wheels 4.jpg
 
I say go for it, why the hell not? That Cordoba looks like a decent ride, they're comfortable and have a good ride, fuel economy may not be great, but if you can tune it well it might get you into the high teens. I daily drive a 97 Thunderbird with a 4.6 automatic and find it really comfortable and not too bad for fuel economy, cold a/c, cruise control, etc.
 
I have never had a "modern" car since I learned to drive. I have had the same 1967 Barracuda since 1982. I drive it everywhere. When it was under restoration I had another 67 Barracuda. Fortunately I have never been in a situation where I had a lengthy daily commute. But there is no reason a vintage Mopar would not be a reliable commuter. They are simple and tough — it's up to you if you can deal with the gas mileage and the absence of mod cons.
 
A 6MT Accord is an excellent compromise in my opinion. My only reason for the Toyota recommendation over the Honda is the resale aspect. The Camry will hold its value longer. The Accord is more fun and arguably better looking. I’m definitely a Honda fan when it comes to Japanese cars personally, but I won’t deny the Toyota is top dog in this situation.
 
Just buy a 4 door early Dart or valiant and put a electronic AC Unit.

Make sure it’s a Stock 1 barrel 170 Slant six car (the original hybrid) Upgrade the Alternator and wiring.
 
Find a Dodge Diplomat in tip top shape. I see awesome Diplomats for around 4k. Almost all have AC, and ride/drive pretty well. Gives you that "not so boring feeling" and yet you don't have to cringe in a parking lot.
 
Pros: You will be the coolest guy around

Cons: It sucks *** (ok, it’s not that bad, but regular long trips and traffic in 100 degree heat get old, fast)


You get to choose. There is almost no rational argument for it, but if you're about that life it's the way to go. I always like to see it. If you can pull it off, do it.
 
200,000 miles? That’s just getting started. My daily has 623,000 on it and I’d drive it to the east coast and back right now. Hell at 190,000 I put a turbo on it!!
 
i would personally shy away from the mid to late 70's. the bottom was falling out of the build quality, electronics were in their infancy and just being introduced to these cars making them more complicated than necessary. but more importantly, parts are just not there. need that whatzit that holds the thingy-ma-bobbers behind the dash? good luck, amigo.

which fine, you can rewire the whole shebazz with a painless kit. but there's time and money.

you can add AC and cruise, but again there's time and money.

for something modern that's not an appliance (and this is coming from a guy that drives an 02 tacoma single cab 4 banger with an automatic and crank windows) i like 03 and up crown vics & town cars. cheap, reliable, decent aftermarket, cush cruisers.

on a classic, 4dr a body would meet your criteria but with the stipulations you'd either need to find a unicorn or plan on building it out. which, again, isn't some wild thought, but that's time and money.

or, if i'm gonna go for it? mid 60's 4dr C-barge. fury or 300 but i wouldn't kick a newport or ny'er out of bed for eating crackers. most of 'em came with big blocks and AC, HD suspension was standard. they're generally pretty affordable. the only downside is if the interior is roached. but a mild build chonk block with a 650 AVS2 or a 700-something holley with vac 2ndaries should not only be stone ax reliable, but deliver a mountain of torque so you can run something like 2.76's out back and maintain some sembalance of mileage.
 
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