[uneasyrider]

If you can find a nice lower miles '70s car to use as a DD I see no reason not to. Generally all of the parts (alt., brakes, engine parts, etc.) are still readily available through the local NAPA store. The biggest thing I would look for is electronic ignition and if it didn't have it put it in. I started working on cars back in '80 so a lot of the '60's (even some '50's) and of course '70's cars were still on the road. The greatest thing IMO to happen to cars (other than modern computer controlled engine with port injection) to increase reliability is electronic ignition. Those cars were driven every day then and they will still do the same thing today but maybe with a little less creature comfort and quality control than today’s cars. IMO the fit and finish on today’s cars is FAR better than the cars from the '70's and '80's. I think I would have to go back to the cars from the mid '60's and before to find something close to the overall fit and finish as the new cars. I don't think that I like the traction control but I think ABS isn't a bad thing. I still think one of the best overall driving cars I ever had (and it got 18mpg) was my 1979 Z28. It started in all weather conditions and handled and drove very nicely. The fit and finish was not what today’s cars have though.