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What would YOU do with a "time capsule" car?

Ohighway

Ohighway

Wannabe Minimalist
Subscriber
Hypothetical situation.

Let's say you're faced with the opportunity to purchase a 30 year old car, from the original owner, that only has 15,000 miles on it. The car is original and 'as new' in every way. Original paint, upholstery, drivetrain, even the tires are the ones it originally came with. The undercarriage is clean and rust free.

Assume the car is not an exotic, special or rare model, but is desirable in some circles, a ragtop and fun to drive.. Assume the car has been tagged, maintained, and driven (though sparingly) over the entire span of 30 years.

Would you buy it? ...... If so, would you preserve it? Or drive it as you would any other new car? Loan it to a museum?

What would YOU do?

EDIT: ---assume timing belt, water pump, and battery (obviously) have been changed, and that new tires would be installed.
 
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Good point. For my exercise above assume timing belt, water pump, and battery (obviously) have been changed, and that new tires would be installed.
 
Depends on if it's a good car and I like it, if I would buy it. If I bought it it would be to drive and use it.

I'v had classic mussel cars that I'v done full blow show cars, I'll drive the wheels off of them.

My 98 Crown Vic, my mom bought new and loaded, around 10 years ago I started to use it more because it was sitting to much and only had 16,000 miles on it. It became mine when she passed at the end of 2011, it now has 62, 000 miles on it, still pretty low for a 20 year old car.
 
The only reason that my current daily driver is a 1991 Grand Marquis Colony Park is that I couldn't afford a 1965 model. So assuming it was something I like it would get driven regularly. I don't have much use for a trailer queen.

Until I can manage to move out of the frozen north I would try to have some other sacrificial lamb for winter.
 
Ohighway said:
Hypothetical situation.

Let's say you're faced with the opportunity to purchase a 30 year old car, from the original owner, that only has 15,000 miles on it. The car is original and 'as new' in every way. Original paint, upholstery, drivetrain, even the tires are the ones it originally came with. The undercarriage is clean and rust free.

Assume the car is not an exotic, special or rare model, but is desirable in some circles, a ragtop and fun to drive.. Assume the car has been tagged, maintained, and driven (though sparingly) over the entire span of 30 years.

Would you buy it? ...... If so, would you preserve it? Or drive it as you would any other new car? Loan it to a museum?

What would YOU do?

EDIT: ---assume timing belt, water pump, and battery (obviously) have been changed, and that new tires would be installed.
Click to expand...


:) .... I would buy it .... care for it .... and enjoy it!!
 
I'd drive it. This was my driveway back in 2003. 1986 F-150, 2000 Nissan Xterra (daily), 1969 Beetle (semi-daily), 1971 Super Beetle (actually my daughter's).

HPIM2184-L.jpg
 
Can you maintain it?
If yes, go for it.
Otherwise you will be subjected to a dwindling knowledge and talent base, in the form of our local mechanic.
 
Depends on the era. 50's and 60's would get disc brakes, new suspension/front end, steering column and seatbelts. Safety upgrades don't bother me on a classic car that's going to be driven a lot.
 
Well a 30 yr old car so an 89, not a whole lot of collectibles from that era really so it would have to be something special, otherwise it's just so much junk.

Here are a couple of examples of popular cars from that yr. I don't care if it had 50 miles on the odometer and was free, I still wouldn't want either of them unless to unload for a few bucks.

1985_Voyager_LE.jpg
280px-88-90_Chevrolet_Cavalier_sedan.jpg
 
Ohighway said:
Hypothetical situation.

Let's say you're faced with the opportunity to purchase a 30 year old car, from the original owner, that only has 15,000 miles on it. The car is original and 'as new' in every way. Original paint, upholstery, drivetrain, even the tires are the ones it originally came with. The undercarriage is clean and rust free.

Assume the car is not an exotic, special or rare model, but is desirable in some circles, a ragtop and fun to drive.. Assume the car has been tagged, maintained, and driven (though sparingly) over the entire span of 30 years.

Would you buy it? ...... If so, would you preserve it? Or drive it as you would any other new car? Loan it to a museum?

I would drive to one of those antique car rallies.. or get togethers, park it, and watch folk marvel over a vehicle that's only driven 3 to 4 times a year for the same ;)

What would YOU do?

EDIT: ---assume timing belt, water pump, and battery (obviously) have been changed, and that new tires would be installed.
Click to expand...
 
Grenadeslio said:
Well a 30 yr old car so an 89, not a whole lot of collectibles from that era really so it would have to be something special, otherwise it's just so much junk.

Here are a couple of examples of popular cars from that yr. I don't care if it had 50 miles on the odometer and was free, I still wouldn't want either of them unless to unload for a few bucks.

View attachment 1525655
View attachment 1525656
Click to expand...

That “woody” mini van is killer! What’s wrong with you?
:whip:
 
I wouldn’t buy it.

I’m done with buying stuff that is rare, cool, great condition, etc... Just because it is rare, cool, great condition.

You know the story: stuff starts owning you.

I once convinced myself that I was preserving it for the future... well I’m not a Millionaire so the “high quality” crap I could afford would be something like a 1989 Chrysler Lebaron... why? So half of my two-car garage can be monopolized? So I can tell people about my 1989 Chrysler Lebaron? So My kids can dispose of it when I’m dead?

I would encourage my neighbor to by it though, so every 3-4 years when he takes it out, I could tell him how amazing it is.

I don’t even think Jay Leno is really doing a great service for the world with his collection. I would love an invite to peruse his garage though.

It is amusing to look objectively at middle-class opulence. “Hey look at my 4 cars” , or in my case- “hey, I have 16 working Stereo systems in my home, with a minimum of two turntables each”...

Why?
 
Ohighway said:
Hypothetical situation.

Let's say you're faced with the opportunity to purchase a 30 year old car, from the original owner, that only has 15,000 miles on it. The car is original and 'as new' in every way. Original paint, upholstery, drivetrain, even the tires are the ones it originally came with. The undercarriage is clean and rust free.

Assume the car is not an exotic, special or rare model, but is desirable in some circles, a ragtop and fun to drive.. Assume the car has been tagged, maintained, and driven (though sparingly) over the entire span of 30 years.

Would you buy it? ...... If so, would you preserve it? Or drive it as you would any other new car? Loan it to a museum?

What would YOU do?

EDIT: ---assume timing belt, water pump, and battery (obviously) have been changed, and that new tires would be installed.
Click to expand...


If the price is right and it's something you'll enjoy, by all means do.

30 years old is a fairly "modern" car overall and if it's nothing particularly exotic, most service parts should be commonly & readily available for relatively little cost..

How often the car should be driven (keeping wear to a minimum, thus helping to preserve its value) versus the benefit of enjoyment is something you'll have to weigh in your mind. What is it anyway?
 
No on all accounts but the Cadilac might be worth something but still wouldn't want to drive it, just not a fan of front wheel drive.

1989ChryslerLeBaron_01_700.jpg
9f6541caaa3072c460768303877bd287.jpg
20171019153910-1510610025088.jpg
 
Can't give a blank answer to that question.
Is it a give-away kind of price, or a fair market value price?
If it is a car THAT YOU LIKE, sure, why not.

But - a friend gave us a LeBaron turbo convertible 20 years back.
Kinda fun top-down in the summer, but that was about it.
I don't think it was long for this world (on its 2nd turbo and I think that one was showing signs of wear).
We kept it maybe 6 months and sold it off for minimal money ($1500 or something).
Basically, 2 of us had 4 cars and a big need to cull the herd ...
 
Not a LeBaron. Offered at a fair price ( not a steal, not a ripoff). Not front wheel drive.
 
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