[71 T/A]

So I'm watching Mecum Auctions and it makes me wonder at what value or rarity do you not want to daily drive your classic Pontiac. At what point is your car too rare/valuable to be parking it as you shop at WalMart.

I have a 69 GTO and 72 Formula and while they aren't very rare, they do have a good amount of money (especially in engine) in them. I have used these cars for everyday tasks occasionally but always find it risky and feel relieved a tad when I see my car after leaving a store. I sometimes feel that I should be content with weekend driving with these cars. Thoughts?

[The Champ]

I think you need to differentiate between "daily drive" and occasionally taking it to WalMart.

I prefer to drive my toy cars on nice clear days - and if that means stopping at Target (I personally don't shop at WalMart) - so be it.

Have my cars been driven in the rain? Yes. Have they been driven in the winter when there was snow on the ground? Yes.

But they aren't "daily drivers".

[Zimtok]

I drive my 65 GTO every day to go to lunch, get groceries, etc... (I don't drive it to downtown Memphis)
But my GTO is nothing special or rare, and is not even close to show room quality.

In my mind i would never own a car that I wouldn't drive.
If you own a car that is worth a million dollars then you probably have the money to insure it properly.

It really depends on the owners anxiety about driving the car.

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[Navy Horn 16]

Originally Posted by Zimtok

I drive my 65 GTO every day to go to lunch, get groceries, etc... (I don't drive it to downtown Memphis)
But my GTO is nothing special or rare, and is not even close to show room quality.

I lived in the Memphis area (Eads, between Collierville and Arlington) for 6 years and wouldn't feel comfortable going downtown in anything less than an Abrams Tank. Go inside the 240 loop at your own peril my friend. I doubt the car-jackers are into GTOs though. Now if had a late model Mercury they could jack up on 22s (with spinners) and paint metallic green, you would be in real trouble.

I have two classic cars. One is my dad's 1973 Datsun 240Z that is pretty much all original except for the paint. It's in the top 99th percentile of all 1st generation Z cars, and I drive it quite a bit. I'm selective about where I take it though, and it doesn't see rain and I park in the back of lots where nobody will door ding me.

The other is my 77 Firebird. I've got way to much invested in it, but WTF, it's a toy, right? It's a TA clone, and I drive the crap out it. I actually hope that someone will rear-end me pretty good so that I can get my rear quarters fixed on their dime. A BMW SUV just about volunteered to pay that bill for me this morning...tail-gating MFer.

OBTW, that BMW didn't roll off the lot for less than $70K, and the Pontiac that is worth more than $70K is pretty rare. It's just about what you want to drive, what you can afford to drive, what you can afford to insure, and do you care about doing regular maintenance and fixing paint chips.

[JLMounce]

Cars are meant to be driven. I buy cars to drive them, not for investments. So at least, for me, If I can I will drive them whenever I want regardless of their value.

[tom s]

I have owned way too many pontiacs in my life.I have never been afraid to drive any of them including a alu front end 63 cat and a restored 69 T/A with the correct numbers matching drive train along with a 303 SCCA short deck engine complete with exhaust manifolds.I just figured out my T/A was just worth too much for me to own.I just though I could own it or own a clone with 100K in the glove box.Was not a hard decision.I sold it,built the clone and payed off my house.Tom

[HWYSTR455]

There are 'investment grade' cars and then there are all others. Investment grade cars you just don't drive, the rest, are meant to be driven.

Value, that's a tough line to draw, because to most of us, or at least me, the ones I have are worth more to me than the money I would get from them if I sold them. So if you feel the same, than the answer can only lie within yourself.

You pump 30-40k into a car to pull it off a dealer lot, do you think twice if you drive it to the mall and park it next to a 1983 Citation rust bucket? You run roughly the same level of risk.


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[Engine-Ear]

Originally Posted by HWYSTR455

You pump 30-40k into a car to pull it off a dealer lot, do you think twice if you drive it to the mall and park it next to a 1983 Citation rust bucket? You run roughly the same level of risk.

Exactly.

It amazes me how many people tell me during a bad-weather moment that I shouldn't be driving my Freedom Machine in it.

I live in a pretty high-end area (of course, I am bringing up the BOTTOM of the spectrum) and so I see cars that sold new for $60k-$120k in the food store parking right next to my Tempest.

Although I wouldn't "daily" anything with aluminum body panels, all the Wrecks I own (that RUN) are certainly eligible for daily use. Bottom line, insure it properly (you cheapskate!), make your own memories in it, and don't save it for the next guy.

[Txbobcat]

I don't have a job so no to work runs for me. I drive all of mine around south Fort Worth but I only go to Dallas for a car show.

[Gator67]

I drive and park my classic cars everywhere…no different than owning any other type of vehicle. If something happens, it gets fixed.

[Lee]

Jay Leno said something to the effect of "Any car too valuable to drive, is worthless."

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by Lee

Jay Leno said something to the effect of "Any car too valuable to drive, is worthless."

I disagree.

K

[Chris65LeMans]

Originally Posted by Lee

Jay Leno said something to the effect of "Any car too valuable to drive, is worthless."

I agree with the sentiment, but Jay Leno owns a warehouse filled with 100's of cars, and has a full time staff to take care of them all. Plus; he doesn't have any kids to leave them to - he's in a completely different situation than most.

There's a local guy here who is occasionally seen driving a Mercedes Gullwing. During our cruise-in (U.S. cars only), he parked it in front of the wing place next door - between a Toyota and a Hyundai.

[AdamIsAdam]

Originally Posted by Lee

Jay Leno said something to the effect of "Any car too valuable to drive, is worthless."

Yes and no. I heard him say during an interview, while driving something crazy rare, that while he loves to drive all his cars, that's all he does with them. He goes for a drive but he doesn't actually go anywhere. He followed that up with: "if I need to run to 7/11 for some mile, I take my wife's honda."

I like to drive my car as much as possible, but I am concerned about coming out to find it gone (they're so easy to steal) or dinged. This is the nicest painted car I've even owned. I drive the hell out of it and love doing burnouts (you know, "for the kids") and if I get a stone chip while driving it, I'll deal. But if I got a door ding I'd go nuts.

And if it were stolen I'd be pretty bummed. Sure, it's insured, and it's just a car. And I'd take that insurance money and go right out and buy something else. But it would suck to have it stolen.

Oh, and I don't want to drive it in the rain. I keep it very clean. wet roads tend to interfere with that.

[71 T/A]

Great post. Also, in case of body repairs, it's tough to find new fenders, hoods and other body parts. Lots of repros don't fit well and need work before installing.

Originally Posted by AdamIsAdam

Yes and no. I heard him say during an interview, while driving something crazy rare, that while he loves to drive all his cars, that's all he does with them. He goes for a drive but he doesn't actually go anywhere. He followed that up with: "if I need to run to 7/11 for some mile, I take my wife's honda."

I like to drive my car as much as possible, but I am concerned about coming out to find it gone (they're so easy to steal) or dinged. This is the nicest painted car I've even owned. I drive the hell out of it and love doing burnouts (you know, "for the kids") and if I get a stone chip while driving it, I'll deal. But if I got a door ding I'd go nuts.

And if it were stolen I'd be pretty bummed. Sure, it's insured, and it's just a car. And I'd take that insurance money and go right out and buy something else. But it would suck to have it stolen.

Oh, and I don't want to drive it in the rain. I keep it very clean. wet roads tend to interfere with that.

[JSPONT]

I had a 911 Porsche I restored, many hours of body work, Painted it black and it was straight as a arrow and beautiful. That's when I stopped enjoying that car. I used to drive it everywhere before it was done. After I felt it was like a ceramic doll.
My Pontiac is clean no rust, small dings, original clear peeling. I love it, drive it, beat it, park it at the supermarket, take it to soccer practice. I hope I feel this way still after I paint it.

If I had $$$ falling out my butt, I would drive any car, just would not go to the supermarket with it.
I do not think a one off car should be driven, we must preserve the history.

My friend restored a Pantera every nut and bolt. 1st test ride out, a young girl rear ended him at the 1st stop light after the resto. Buckled both 1/4's crushed the ass end. Insurance paid but now he has to start again.

[AdamIsAdam]

Originally Posted by AdamIsAdam

Yes and no. I heard him say during an interview, while driving something crazy rare, that while he loves to drive all his cars, that's all he does with them. He goes for a drive but he doesn't actually go anywhere. He followed that up with: "if I need to run to 7/11 for some mile, I take my wife's honda."

I like to drive my car as much as possible, but I am concerned about coming out to find it gone (they're so easy to steal) or dinged. This is the nicest painted car I've even owned. I drive the hell out of it and love doing burnouts (you know, "for the kids") and if I get a stone chip while driving it, I'll deal. But if I got a door ding I'd go nuts.

And if it were stolen I'd be pretty bummed. Sure, it's insured, and it's just a car. And I'd take that insurance money and go right out and buy something else. But it would suck to have it stolen.

Oh, and I don't want to drive it in the rain. I keep it very clean. wet roads tend to interfere with that.

Correction: "mile" should be "milk."

Jay Leno: "if I need to run to 7/11 for some milk, I take my wife's honda."

[David Jones]

Originally Posted by 71 T/A

At what point is your car too rare/valuable to be parking it as you shop at WalMart.

I suspect that point is different for each of us.
I personally won't put myself in a Walmart parking lot (or that type) situation but I do drive the GTO a good bit. 4000 miles last year.

[72blackbird]

Not too many worries with a 72 Esprit- looks like a 70-73 T/A, but if it gets hit or wrecked (assuming I survive-lol) I'll pull the goodies out of it, look for another clean 70-73 Esprit and start over.

Geno

[HWYSTR455]

Originally Posted by 72blackbird

Not too many worries with a 72 Esprit- looks like a 70-73 T/A, but if it gets hit or wrecked (assuming I survive-lol) I'll pull the goodies out of it, look for another clean 70-73 Esprit and start over.

Geno

I've kept an eye out for 70-73 base models, they aren't that easy to come by in decent shape anymore, or at least for reasonable money.

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