How hard is it to maintain classic cars?

[kevs]

I'm looking to purchase a classic car for the business and get it all painted up with my company logo and graphics and what not, but I'm concerned about maintenance.

What's your experience with classic cars like this one below and maintenance?

What do I need to look for when looking to buy something like this?

Also, what's a good classic pickup truck you'd recommend? I'm willing to spend MAYBE like $4K tops, but that's after paintwork, too. I know it's a bit low, but I'm starting up and I'm on a budget! :)

Thanks! :)
http://www.laroke.com/larryk4674/2001/bb061601bm.jpghttp://www.clublexus.com/gallery/data/500/Truck.jpg

[sizemic1]

Mostly depends if the drivetrain is original and just HOW old it really is. There are a lot of companies that sell NOS, remanufactured, and replica parts for these old trucks. The biggest problem I would see is if your truck has some sort of odd ball original engine that would require you to wait a couple days to get replacement parts. If someone's done a conversion and dropped a more modern drivetrain in there, you can find parts at any Kragens.

[mechmike0034]

I'm looking to purchase a classic car for the business and get it all painted up with my company logo and graphics and what not, but I'm concerned about maintenance.
As you should be. Once you buy it and get it painted up, what are you going to use it for? Transportation back and forth from your home to your place of business? Or are you considering using it in your work or as a delivery vehicle?


What's your experience with classic cars like this one below and maintenance?
They aren't up to modern standards as far as brakes, steering, drivetrain, etc. Old trucks are tiring to drive with no power steering or brakes, vacuum-operated wipers, etc. They're geared low, so they don't like the interstate - comfortable cruise speed (meaning not winding the snot out of the motor) is about 45-50 MPH if the drivetrain is stock. Forget stopping distances with four-wheel drum brakes and skinny bias-ply tires. Learn to deal with cold-naturedness and use of a manual choke in cold weather. They also require a lot more periodic maintenance than modern vehicles. They're easy technically to fix, but they'll eat you up in maintenance frequency and parts availability. They are not the type of vehicle that you want to make an integral part of the operation of a business. Insurance is another big "if", particularly if you're planning on using it for business...


What do I need to look for when looking to buy something like this?
Again, I am not ragging on you personally, but if you don't know what to look for or how to generally assess the physical and mechanical condition of a vehicle that you already can figure has had a pretty hard life, you're in way over your head from square one. Old pickup trucks were used, well, like trucks. Do you have deep pockets and lots of patience? Are you a mechanic, related to a mechanic, or the good friend of one? I am really not trying to rain on your parade here, but unless your purpose behind getting an old truck is to paint it up, letter it, and park it in front of your place of business as a "billboard", this is just not a practical idea... 1940s and 1950s vintage trucks are for tinkering with to while away the time...


Also, what's a good classic pickup truck you'd recommend? I'm willing to spend MAYBE like $4K tops, but that's after paintwork, too. I know it's a bit low, but I'm starting up and I'm on a budget! :)
Trust me on this - if you need a truck for your business, take $3K of your $4K and buy the nicest, cleanest, lowest-mileage Toyota pickup you can find for that amount. Put the other $1K towards insurance, tags, and whatever it'll need to stay running and reliable until your business is out of "start-up" mode and is making some money.

Buy an old truck to play with once you've made a few bucks - seriously... Anything "classic" that you could buy for $4K has an excellent chance of turning very quickly into a much larger albatross/liability, particularly if you didn't grow up working on cars.

Please understand - I am really not trying to mock you or your potential choice. I love old vehicles, too. The reality is that, even if they're restored to stock (and really done right) they just aren't practical substitutes for more modern vehicles.

[kevs]

Thanks for all the info, Mike! No offense taken at all. I would be the last one to say that I'm even competent enough to maintain a classic car. Everytime I've watched even actors on TV with their head under the hood turning some wrench for some reason, I always think to myself how I will never be able to do that (unfortunately).

My business is in the insurance industry (Prop/Cas/Life/Health/Mutual Funds) and I'm planning to use my vehicle for a few reasons:

1. A moving billboard & daily driver
2. Signage out front of my building b/c I'm on the 3rd floor with heavily tinted windows.

I don't ever foresee any heavy moving within my vehicle. I just want it to stand out from the rest.

To be honest, I'm now looking into something like a 2nd gen Odyssey and hooking it up a little. Mind you, I'm not planning to go nuts and make a showcar, but I want it to stand out.

Thanks again! :)

[mechmike0034]

To be honest, I'm now looking into something like a 2nd gen Odyssey and hooking it up a little. Mind you, I'm not planning to go nuts and make a showcar, but I want it to stand out.

Thanks again! :)

Not a problem, and I am glad you didn't take my rant as beating up on you. Sometimes it is hard to put "tone" across electronically.

An Odyssey would be good, or an Element with some graphics for your biz. The realtors down here do that sort of thing with PT Cruisers. One of the Scion "boxes", or even a Vibe or Matrix would work. Depends upon your taste.

Best of luck, and be sure to post pics when you get something and get it done up...

[RIVERWIDOW]

Its not hard. Its EXPENSIVE Beyond belief!

[OC]

A full-on restoration would be expensive as hell, but just getting a vehicle into serviceable and decent-looking condition shouldn't kill the bank.

Speaking about trucks specifically, replacement bolt-on body parts are pretty easily found and don't require skilled body men to attach. Fenders, hood, bumpers, running boards, bed, etc. The cab body is a different story though. Repairing rust damage on the cab can suck your wallet dry. The frame, too. Window glass is often just flat plate cut to shape.

You can save money by avoiding a real restoration - dont have the steering column rebuilt, use an iditit column and aftermarket steering wheel instead, just for one example.

Painless Wiring has a universal bumper-to-bumper wiring harness that would work well.

You may find that putting in a latel-model driveline from, say, a 2000 Chevy Silverado would be cheaper than rebuilding the stock engine and tranny.

Stainless Steel Brakes can upgrade the braking system on just about any older American vehicle, and for reasonable cost.

Pick up a copy of the latest Hemmings Motor News - TONS of ads for classic vehicle parts and service and such.

[johnnymk]

Trying to find a restorable anything for less than 4 grand today is next to impossible.

[kevs]

Not a problem, and I am glad you didn't take my rant as beating up on you. Sometimes it is hard to put "tone" across electronically.

An Odyssey would be good, or an Element with some graphics for your biz. The realtors down here do that sort of thing with PT Cruisers. One of the Scion "boxes", or even a Vibe or Matrix would work. Depends upon your taste.

Best of luck, and be sure to post pics when you get something and get it done up...

Thanks again....yeah, the more I thought about it, it just made sense to get something a little more economical and reliable. I've got some ideas, but the paintwork might cost a little bit.

I may end up painting the van and then using some logo stickers and work with it that way. After I paint this van and do it up, there's no way I'll be selling it anyway, unless someone wants a nice Red Odyssey! :)