Vintage or Semi-Classic DD

failboat wrote: Ok. This thread has gone on this long and absolutely no one has suggested an early Miata? Are you guys slipping in your old age?! I would consider them a semi-classic DD. Certainly close enough in age to a few of the suggestions here. Not exactly practical if you have family/kids, but if you can deal with a 2 seater for commuting and daily duties, its a really good option.

I think that is because a lot of people still use a Miata for a DD. Hard to think of it as a classic when you've been doing that for 15 years.

FWIW, I've been able to fit my hockey bag in the trunk, sticks in front when I used to play. And it's a great excuse to not take a group of people to lunch.

Volvo 1800ES. I constantly waffle between building my car as a vintage racer or a light resto-mod DD. Rare enough to be interesting. Not so rare that I'd fear the occasional bump and bruise - or in my case: deer dodging... No ABS, but excellent 4 wheel discs. However, since i live in the salt belt, I'd still have another car or truck to drive when it's really nasty outside.

I agree with you on new cars. My '03 TDI could be the newest car I ever own again... other than maybe a MINI.

Ian F wrote: Volvo 1800ES. I constantly waffle between building my car as a vintage racer or a light resto-mod DD. Rare enough to be interesting. Not so rare that I'd fear the occasional bump and bruise - or in my case: deer dodging... No ABS, but excellent 4 wheel discs. However, since i live in the salt belt, I'd still have another car or truck to drive when it's really nasty outside. I agree with you on new cars. My '03 TDI could be the newest car I ever own again... other than maybe a MINI.

Love that one as well. it's mechanically very much like the 122, but sleeker, if that's your thing. The front end has to be near perfect, though. From what I understand, it's all one piece welded/leaded together at the factory. Don't buy a rusty one.

tuna55 wrote: Love that one as well. it's mechanically very much like the 122, but sleeker, if that's your thing. The front end has to be near perfect, though. From what I understand, it's all one piece welded/leaded together at the factory. Don't buy a rusty one.

No. Buy a rusty one and cobble it together enough to be presentable. Then when you smack a deer at 50 mph you'll know how to fix it.

If the car is really nice and doesn't need any body work, it would be nice enough I wouldn't want to risk it as a daily driver.

1986 Mustang GT. I think this was the first year of fuel injection, but the clean body style before the body kitted later GTs.

Or similar mid 80's timeline - 82-86 Supra/Celica GTS.

Ian F wrote: Volvo 1800ES. I constantly waffle between building my car as a vintage racer or a light resto-mod DD. Rare enough to be interesting. Not so rare that I'd fear the occasional bump and bruise - or in my case: deer dodging... No ABS, but excellent 4 wheel discs. However, since i live in the salt belt, I'd still have another car or truck to drive when it's really nasty outside. I agree with you on new cars. My '03 TDI could be the newest car I ever own again... other than maybe a MINI.

Ooooooo, THAT is a good one. We may have a winner here! Living in SoCal, we rarely see inclement weather, so rust would not be a concern.