With all this talk of "wrecking a car by winter driving it" i beg to differ.
I have no interest in driving anything "modern" even in the winter. I want to drive old cars all the time, its all i own, and all i like. I have lots of cars that are "restored" or nice originals, and i dont drive them in the winter.
But my winter car is a 1967 beaumont. I bought it in 1996, it was a somewhat rusty car that had been repainted, Not original motor, but good mechanically. I bought it with the purpose of using it as a daily driver. Now i have driven it for 23 years every winter, i keep it up, do regular maitenence, oil spray the crap out of it. replace stuff to keep the driveability and reliablity in order. It has extreemly hard city use exclusivley in the winter months and is parked all summer. I drive it 20 miles to work each day. its certainly rustier than it was 23 years ago, but the oil spray really helps, and i plan to drive it for as many years as i can. Back in 96 i knew where the frames would rust, so the oil is laid on thick, and the frame is solid to this day.
When i bought it in 1996, some people would have used it as a parts car, but it was too good for that, so here we are 23 years later.
Many people comment that i am "wrecking that beaumont", my responce is usually, after 23 years of driving it, i haven't wrecked it yet!
Pictures: (and please do pay attention to the years i which these photos were taken)
Black and white from 1996 when i first bought it
All gold in about 2003
Fresh Black/gold 2tone in 2008
And the snow in 2017
Ya its gone thru a few incarnations, but i think it still looks better than every other beige toyota on the road!
beaumontguru wrote:but i think it still looks better than every other beige toyota on the road!
That's for sure!
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Prince Edward Island
'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.
right on dave! i hate driving newer stuff also i like winter beaters had lots of them mostly more door novas 70 to 72 and 60 to 66 gm trucks i built outa the back yard all 6 bangers but they never lasted that long!
I remember seeing your Beaumont when I came for a visit. You could also consider one of those electronic rust modules. I had an 89 Cherokee XJ here in PEI that had 323000km on it. I put one of those modules on it. The Jeep is still going strong two owners later. I bumped into the current owner a few months ago. The body looks exactly the same as when I had it. Our climate has to be one of the worst for cars so that says a lot.
I converted a 94 Impala SS to a 6 speed and drove it every day for about 8 years, it didn't matter what the conditions where. Some people got on my case about that, and I didn't care.
No, it's not a collector car like the 60's cars but they certainly have some collectability about them. A lot of people change their thinking about old cars as they get older and realize if they don't enjoy them soon, they never will...
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
It's great to see you driving and enjoying it in the winter, while you save your summer drivers by not driving them in the snow/ice/salt.
They were made to be driven, and you've shown that you can keep 'em going for a long time if you know how to take care of them. Plus, being in dry Manitoba helps!
Thanks for sharing, as newer cars become more like smart phones on wheels, the idea of driving a simpler vintage car year round seems more attractive all the time!
Exactly. A good part of my day in the parts department is spent dealing with oxygen sensors, tire pressure monitors, heater door actuators, electronic ride control stuff etc etc etc. Dave doesn't worry about any of that stuff!
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
Always thought it'd be cool if I was flush with cash to get a "common" old car (meaning one where all the sheet metal, trim, interior etc was readily available etc) and do a full "winter ready" restoration. Powder coat the frame, rustproof it inside as well. Stainless exhaust, brake lines, fastneners when possible. Inside of each panel treated against rust before assembly etc. Perfect candidates would be Camaro, Chevelle, Nova, Mustang, VW Beetle, and mid 60's Impalas etc. It'd be cool to see someone do this.
Done right you'd get decades out of the thing.
Always thought it'd be cool if I was flush with cash to get a "common" old car (meaning one where all the sheet metal, trim, interior etc was readily available etc) and do a full "winter ready" restoration. Powder coat the frame, rustproof it inside as well. Stainless exhaust, brake lines, fastneners when possible. Inside of each panel treated against rust before assembly etc. Perfect candidates would be Camaro, Chevelle, Nova, Mustang, VW Beetle, and mid 60's Impalas etc. It'd be cool to see someone do this. Done right you'd get decades out of the thing.
Neat idea, Todd. If you were flush with cash you could start with one of those brand new Dynacorn bodies and go from there!
No software upgrades.... collision avoidance means paying attention, stepping on the brake, etc. How barbaric.
I'm sure the happy people who bought it in 1967 found it most adequate in the winter!
No finance payments either. How do you tolerate it?
Good for you, go go!
All the best,
RGM
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1959 Pontiac Laurentian - 1962 Dodge Dart 440 - 1962 Hillman Minx - 1959 Lincoln Premier Landau -1982 Lincoln Mark VI - 1977 Ford LTD Landau - 2017 Ford Fusion Platinum - 1963 Chrysler Imperial
I don't see a problem. By sheltering a car from rain, snow, sun, etc. You're just saving it for the next person. Instead use it to the fullest.
I'd drive mine in the winter except I like a nice heater and heated seats. My convertible has both.