Starters for 10...
Discussion
Morning all
It's time for me to stop lurking in the Mustang area and ask a few simple (I hope) questions. I've had a yearning to own a classic Mustang for a while now (not decided which model yet but definitely 60s, manual and probably fastback) and may soon be able to do something about it.
So, the questions:
1. Does anyone use their's as a daily driver? Much as I'd like to justify 3 cars, I think it'll have to be 2 and the Caterham is not being sold, so a Mustang would have to work alongside that.
2. Given it'll be a daily driver, how do they cope with UK winter conditions? I assume I'll need to POR15 the underside to ward off salt-induced rust. Plus it'll probably have to live outside all year round - any major problems with this?
3. What are fuel economy and running costs like? I'd probably do about 10,000 miles a year in it. I'm expecting it to be expensive to run an old V8 daily. I assume unleaded conversions are relatively simple.
4. Possibly the most bizarre question - can I fit a towbar to a classic Mustang? It would be useful to be able to tow the Caterham to track days without needing to find another car.
I'll get onto more questions as they occur to me (import my own vs buy one here springs to mind).
Thanks,
Ewen.
It's time for me to stop lurking in the Mustang area and ask a few simple (I hope) questions. I've had a yearning to own a classic Mustang for a while now (not decided which model yet but definitely 60s, manual and probably fastback) and may soon be able to do something about it.
So, the questions:
1. Does anyone use their's as a daily driver? Much as I'd like to justify 3 cars, I think it'll have to be 2 and the Caterham is not being sold, so a Mustang would have to work alongside that.
2. Given it'll be a daily driver, how do they cope with UK winter conditions? I assume I'll need to POR15 the underside to ward off salt-induced rust. Plus it'll probably have to live outside all year round - any major problems with this?
3. What are fuel economy and running costs like? I'd probably do about 10,000 miles a year in it. I'm expecting it to be expensive to run an old V8 daily. I assume unleaded conversions are relatively simple.
4. Possibly the most bizarre question - can I fit a towbar to a classic Mustang? It would be useful to be able to tow the Caterham to track days without needing to find another car.
I'll get onto more questions as they occur to me (import my own vs buy one here springs to mind).
Thanks,
Ewen.
ewenm said:
Morning all
It's time for me to stop lurking in the Mustang area and ask a few simple (I hope) questions. I've had a yearning to own a classic Mustang for a while now (not decided which model yet but definitely 60s, manual and probably fastback) and may soon be able to do something about it.
So, the questions:
1. Does anyone use their's as a daily driver? Much as I'd like to justify 3 cars, I think it'll have to be 2 and the Caterham is not being sold, so a Mustang would have to work alongside that.
2. Given it'll be a daily driver, how do they cope with UK winter conditions? I assume I'll need to POR15 the underside to ward off salt-induced rust. Plus it'll probably have to live outside all year round - any major problems with this?
3. What are fuel economy and running costs like? I'd probably do about 10,000 miles a year in it. I'm expecting it to be expensive to run an old V8 daily. I assume unleaded conversions are relatively simple.
4. Possibly the most bizarre question - can I fit a towbar to a classic Mustang? It would be useful to be able to tow the Caterham to track days without needing to find another car.
I'll get onto more questions as they occur to me (import my own vs buy one here springs to mind).
Thanks,
Ewen.
It's time for me to stop lurking in the Mustang area and ask a few simple (I hope) questions. I've had a yearning to own a classic Mustang for a while now (not decided which model yet but definitely 60s, manual and probably fastback) and may soon be able to do something about it.
So, the questions:
1. Does anyone use their's as a daily driver? Much as I'd like to justify 3 cars, I think it'll have to be 2 and the Caterham is not being sold, so a Mustang would have to work alongside that.
2. Given it'll be a daily driver, how do they cope with UK winter conditions? I assume I'll need to POR15 the underside to ward off salt-induced rust. Plus it'll probably have to live outside all year round - any major problems with this?
3. What are fuel economy and running costs like? I'd probably do about 10,000 miles a year in it. I'm expecting it to be expensive to run an old V8 daily. I assume unleaded conversions are relatively simple.
4. Possibly the most bizarre question - can I fit a towbar to a classic Mustang? It would be useful to be able to tow the Caterham to track days without needing to find another car.
I'll get onto more questions as they occur to me (import my own vs buy one here springs to mind).
Thanks,
Ewen.
You'd be better off asking this on the Mustang Owners Club site to be honest ... www.mocgb.net ...
It is feasible to run one every day - just go in with your eyes open. Fastbacks are lovely (I'm currently looking for one myself) but whatever car you get would suffer if left outside all year round. That is unless you import a daily driver with shite paint. But then could you leave the paint alone? I know I couldn't. You'll pay a minimum of £13k I should think for one over here in OK nick ...
Anything better is going to cost just south of £20k.
Like any car, if no attention is pauid to rust prevention, it WILL go eventually. Luckily, Ford saw fit to build early stangs out of THICK steel so a car will have to be treated really badly (and a lot were) to rust badly. Just take the same kind of preventative actio you would with any classic car. regular greasing and oilings and hose downs really.
A 289 V8 (stock) will get you 20mpg with a light right foot (auto) - anything mildly modified and you're in the mid teens - so 10,000 miles pa could prove expensive.
As regards towing - a Mustang will easily tow a Caterham! No problem fitting a tow bar.
Insurance? I pay £106 for my car with a 3000-mile limit, so no worries on that score. Servicing is a doddle and parts are easy to come by (and cheap as chips). Engine is incredibly basic but just BIG.
Lazy, lazy motoring - it's great. Throw the Slush-O-Matic in D and then just go ... Just think, I sold a Chimaera to get mine - although I had another one prior to the Chim. Mustang gets ten times the attention of the Chim. Honestly.
Any other questions - give me a shout.
What's your budget? I do know a decent red fastback for sale for that £13kish ...
Edited by MikeyT on Friday 23 June 16:00
A friend of mine runs a 1972 Camaro as a daily driver and keeps it outside. They are very prone to rot buit it's a rust-free California car and will last as long as the British weather takes to ravage it. Until then, everything else is 34 years old and will cause the problems associated with such age. In my experience, owning an older car is a constant battle unless it's a sporadic toy or project but as a useful everyday car, there are too many rose-tinted specs about. Better to buy a late model and fit a loud exhaust.
I agree. I reckon money would be well spent trying to find a second-hand new shape Mustang GT. You get great performance, everyday practicality and none of the drawbacks of owning a car that needs to be fettled.
I owned a 22 year old Corvette a few years back. Whilst it looked brilliant, and sounded great. It was a constant battle to keep it on the road. The list is endless, but here are just a few of the problems i encountered.
Old wiring (battery stopped charging)
Faulty temp sensor
Wheel bearings
Brake Master Cylinder
Auto box lock-up converter failure.
etc,etc...
I spent more time fixing the car in my garage than I ever imagined. Hence only newer cars from now on!
Cheers
Dazza
I owned a 22 year old Corvette a few years back. Whilst it looked brilliant, and sounded great. It was a constant battle to keep it on the road. The list is endless, but here are just a few of the problems i encountered.
Old wiring (battery stopped charging)
Faulty temp sensor
Wheel bearings
Brake Master Cylinder
Auto box lock-up converter failure.
etc,etc...
I spent more time fixing the car in my garage than I ever imagined. Hence only newer cars from now on!
Cheers
Dazza
Well, bought a 67 Coupe yesterday, see here: www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=309831&f=23&h=0
It's not going to be a daily driver after all as I came into some inheritance so I don't need to see the A3 to fund it. Looking forward to collecting it in a few weeks.
It's not going to be a daily driver after all as I came into some inheritance so I don't need to see the A3 to fund it. Looking forward to collecting it in a few weeks.
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