Classics in an urban environment

Just got back from New York (and are my arms tired) and was surprised see more than a few classics in the city. I grew up on Long Island, and to be honest I loathe city driving.

The standout had to be a '55 Chevy Nomad--very clean with the typical mods. It had a for sale sign in the window, too. Asking price was $18,000, which actually seemed a bit on the low side. One evening there was a Lotus Elise parked across the street from Greeley Square--right around the corner from our hotel.

During our trips to Tokyo we have seen a Bugeye Sprite, '69 El Camino, classic Minis, Fiat 500s and more than a few Porsches, Alfas and Lamborghinis.

Anyone else ever stumble across other cool cars in an urban environment?

I seldom see a cool car when out in the countryside. If by urban you mean a really big city, then there must be special challenges to owning and driving one. How to prevent vandalism or minor accidents, where to park and the distance to find a fun road would be issues. No garage space and condo or apartment living must make ownership difficult. My hat is off to those willing overcome big city problems of cool car ownership. Cheers Ron

You see classic cars in Frisco but it would take a pretty thick skin to drive a classic in the city. There would be dents/dings/cracked lenses, I really don't need any of that excitement in my life. If you want a classic in the city be sure and get the 5mph bumpers to put something between the expensive brightwork and the SUV bumper.

I drive my MGA in the city pretty often all year round(Vancouver) although it's never during work and I avoid rush hour(s) like the plague. I'm lucky that I live near the coast so I have nice scenery to look at while going for drives.

MGA - best postwar MG by a long shot!

Keep the faith!

We see quite a few interesting cars in Vancouver in good weather, including some of mine when I have the time to get them out there!

I had my first and second MG's while I lived in Chicago. When I bought them, I had off street parking, but that ended a year later. I graduated from college and moved to a different apartment in the Lincoln Park area and only had the GT at that time.

Overall, it was honestly a little demoralizing. I drove a lot and used the car to get out of the city with trips to Madison and Milwaukee and other places in Illinois and Missouri, which was fun.

The bad side was vandalism (my car was egged, parts like the antannae were broken off, and my BL tags on the sides were stolen), I was hit by a drunk driver without insurance overnight while the car was parked. Then I got rear ended by someone who basically took off after damaging the rear end. Later I was rear ended again at a stop sign and that driver actually had insurance, so that wreck repaired the other two. Oftentimes, I ended up parking several blocks from my apartment, which is not the greatest feeling in the world.

It was really too bad, the GT was so solid when I bought it but over the five years it was a DD it declined and I felt guilty about it honestly. Unless you have at least off street parking and preferably a garage, I would not recommend urban classic car DD ownership. Living in an apartment poses other problems for chemical and tool storage. Working on a car outside in the winter is also no fun. Paying for a mechanic to work on a more run of the mill DD classic can outrun the value of the car in the first place, too.

I still live within a major city limits, but its nothing compared to Chicago and frankly feels like a suburb. I also have a garage and vandalism is not a problem.

I forgot to answer the question. I see a lot of classics when I'm in LA (of course) and in Chicago there are always several LBC's and older BMW's and 911's. I was most recently in DC and didn't see a single one. I did see a Boxster run a red light and almost get creamed by a Suburban, though. Yikes.