Classic Mopar as a daily... Crazy idea?

[go-fish]

Since we’re telling stories:
I was hit IN the driver’s door of my 1998 GMC 1500 by a semi. I was wearing my seatbelt, which in itself was a miracle because I rarely wore one. I was concussed but no major injuries. An old Mopar would have been certain death.
That doesn’t stop me from daily driving my Duster. I firmly believe I should have died but it wasn’t my time. A good amount of situational awareness and luck will see you through just about anything.

 

[TT5.9mag]

My current daily is my ‘77 D100, because I wrecked my newer ‘20 Ram 1500 awhile back…

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Sweet D100. You shoulda bought the totaled RAM back and put the cab and bed from the D100 on that running gear.

 

[Dana67Dart]

My 64 Valiant has a solid, non collapsible steering column. I'll die like a man. lol

Or a vampire!

 

[MopaR&D]

I still want a late B-body, Cordoba/Charger/Magnum lol. I had an '88 5th Avenue and it's probably my favorite driver I've had. It had plush seats, simple but luxurious interior, great working A/C and heat and the soothing sound and feel of an old-school Mopar V8 burbling through dual exhaust with Ultraflo mufflers. To me a late B-body is just more of all that. It's less practical (gas mileage) but I really want one with a 400, never owned a big block but worked on a lot and I love the extra torque and they're soo easy to work on with the dry intake manifold, front distributor and front external oil pump and filter.

 

[barbee6043]

I still want a late B-body, Cordoba/Charger/Magnum lol. I had an '88 5th Avenue and it's probably my favorite driver I've had. It had plush seats, simple but luxurious interior, great working A/C and heat and the soothing sound and feel of an old-school Mopar V8 burbling through dual exhaust with Ultraflo mufflers. To me a late B-body is just more of all that. It's less practical (gas mileage) but I really want one with a 400, never owned a big block but worked on a lot and I love the extra torque and they're soo easy to work on with the dry intake manifold, front distributor and front external oil pump and filter.

A few short years ago I had 2 F bodies, a 76 Volare Road Runner 318 car and a 79 Volare slant six car. Long story short, they both drove great, as on the road, same way with the early 70s RoadRunners, 318-400 cars, great road cars.
Best way to get a Malaise era car, is find a good one that the other guy spent the $ on and did all the work, and buy it for what the market is......soft! Just find the right car and let the seller figure out it is not a 70 hemi Cuda!

 

[MopaR&D]

A few short years ago I had 2 F bodies, a 76 Volare Road Runner 318 car and a 79 Volare slant six car. Long story short, they both drove great, as on the road, same way with the early 70s RoadRunners, 318-400 cars, great road cars.
Best way to get a Malaise era car, is find a good one that the other guy spent the $ on and did all the work, and buy it for what the market is......soft! Just find the right car and let the seller figure out it is not a 70 hemi Cuda!

F-body is another I'd consider, mainly because it's possible to get one with a 4-speed (although rare). I hate the front suspension design though, no aftermarket support for upgrades except for a little bit from Firm Feel which is $$$. Late B-bodies can accept all the same stuff as the earlier ones like control arms, torsion bars etc. I would like to beef up the suspension a bit to handle better if I got one to use as a daily.

 

[barbee6043]

If a guy can find a solid Malaise car out of the late ish 70s, it will be cheap enough unless dealing with a nit wit! What is a nit wit? A car guy with the IQ of his shoe size!!

 

[Oldiron440]

My 64 Fairlane with its 450 hp 289 will be my daily driver next summer. The best safety device for any vehicle is good old defensive driving something that doesn’t seem too get used much anymore. It seems like we have entitled driving going on these days, road rage etc..
In fifty years of driving I’ve had one accident and driven an average of 37K per year. So like I’ve said defensive driving can go a long way.

 

[dr dodge]

I drove a 74 charger in houston traffic for years 60 mile round trip commute
400, Holley 780 vac sec, 2.9 gears in it
if you drive it easy 25 mpg all day long
drove the '72 dart the same commute for 3 years
(drum brake car) about 20+mpg but the brakes,
even though they work'd well were the concern as everyone stops way shorter now

gonna sell my 2011 srt8 challenger to drive the dart again.

and, on a cross country trip with my grandson,
a guy merged into me @60mph in a 2000's chevy 1500
he caught me in his door, I turned him 90°,
slowly lifted and the front bumper ran down the whole truck was he got straightened
I caved in his door, and creased it to the now destroyed tail light

dartman un damaged.

drove my 72 challenger as everyday driver (w/ family) from '70-'98
498K miles on it

drive them! thats what they were ment for, being enjoyed

 

[MopaR&D]

I drove a 74 charger in houston traffic for years 60 mile round trip commute
400, Holley 780 vac sec, 2.9 gears in it
if you drive it easy 25 mpg all day long
drove the '72 dart the same commute for 3 years
(drum brake car) about 20+mpg but the brakes,
even though they work'd well were the concern as everyone stops way shorter now

gonna sell my 2011 srt8 challenger to drive the dart again.

and, on a cross country trip with my grandson,
a guy merged into me @60mph in a 2000's chevy 1500
he caught me in his door, I turned him 90°,
slowly lifted and the front bumper ran down the whole truck was he got straightened
I caved in his door, and creased it to the now destroyed tail light

dartman un damaged.

drove my 72 challenger as everyday driver (w/ family) from '70-'98
498K miles on it

drive them! thats what they were ment for, being enjoyed

Dang you got 25 mpg out of a 400 BB? I'm lucky to get that in my 2000 Buick Park Ave with 3800 V6 on a long trip. If I could squeeze 20 mpg out of a 400 I'd be ecstatic.

 

[RustyRatRod]

My 64 Fairlane with its 450 hp 289 will be my daily driver next summer. The best safety device for any vehicle is good old defensive driving something that doesn’t seem too get used much anymore. It seems like we have entitled driving going on these days, road rage etc..
In fifty years of driving I’ve had one accident and driven an average of 37K per year. So like I’ve said defensive driving can go a long way.

Like Daddy always hammered into us growing up. Always watch the other fella. That simple advice has saved my butt more times than I can count.

 

[barbee6043]

Dang you got 25 mpg out of a 400 BB? I'm lucky to get that in my 2000 Buick Park Ave with 3800 V6 on a long trip. If I could squeeze 20 mpg out of a 400 I'd be ecstatic.

It is the rear gear and the foot!

 

[barbee6043]

Like Daddy always hammered into us growing up. Always watch the other fella. That simple advice has saved my butt more times than I can count.

I had a Mo. neighbor back about 2006, He was a life long rancher, my age, we were both like 60. He told me pne day why he had a bad leg, he had been in like 15 wrecks over the years. I told him he was damned unlucky and never tried to get out of the way He just replied "I always had the right of way and was not moving!" Knowing him as I did, I understood it ALL!
He was one reason I sold that place and moved on out further.

 

[Dana67Dart]

I told him he was damned unlucky and never tried to get out of the way He just replied "I always had the right of way and was not moving!" Knowing him as I did, I understood it ALL!
He was one reason I sold that place and moved on out further.

reminds me of a joke...

the other day I was riding around town with my buddy, we came up to a traffic light that was green and he jammed on the brake and stopped, I asked whet he was doing and he replied "My brother does it". OK very ODD! then we come up to a red light and he sails right through it, did not even slow down. I'm screaming what are you doing, and he says "My brother does it". I tell him I want out and he pulls over. I chastise him for stopping at green lights and running red lights and all he said was "My brother does it and he's out driving around right now"