Reminiscing about older vehicles

[Alien]

Found some old photos a couple of days ago of some of my old cars.
1952 Ford Prefect
1954? Mk1 Zephyr
1959 PA Vauxhall
1964 Vauxhall (loved it)
Morris 1000 Convertible
2 x Morris 1100 s (they were great cars)
Hillman Avenger Alpine. (new car heap of junk)
New Mazda 808
72 Ford Fairmont
78 Toyota Landcruiser
Chrysler Valiant Station Wagon
New Toyota Corona
Magna
New Ford Falcon (98)
New Suzuki Grand Vitara
New Suzuki Van (business)
New Honda Accord Still got it.

That covers most of them. Few motorbikes thrown in here and there...

 

[nybirdman]

I watch a lot of the car auctions;started buying cars in the 1960's so familiar with the old iron.Seems what commands the most money are the old "looking" cars with modern running gear or "resto rods".Some of them sell for more than the same car in original/reconditioned condition.
So you get a old looking car with fuel injection,air,heat,disc brakes and a modern engine;what's not to like.

 

[Garandman]

//I had a 1976 Vega that had 250,000 when the guy I sold it to wrecked it. //

That is amazing! They defined "burning oil."

The car that cured me of any desire to own anything British. (Until I bought a Triumph Tiger 1050).

 

[ultrarunner]

My 1976 Triumph has been regulated to storage since it last didn't pass emission testing.

I don't know if emission testing of 40 year old carbureted vehicles is the norm elsewhere or an only in California thing?

Part of the problem is many cars from this era have special only to California emission equipment that were often add ons... making them just about non-existent today...

 

[bigdeano]

The last years of the Chevy Vega had very long lived engines, but by then they had a bad reputation, so didn't sell well.

 

[ovrszd]

My 1976 Triumph has been regulated to storage since it last didn't pass emission testing.

I don't know if emission testing of 40 year old carbureted vehicles is the norm elsewhere or an only in California thing?

Part of the problem is many cars from this era have special only to California emission equipment that were often add ons... making them just about non-existent today...

I won't say you are totally on your own with the California emissions thing. But I'll say you definitely are in the lead!!!!

No restrictions here in Missouri that I know of. There are a lot of 70's vehicles driving around here with Historic license plates which even precludes annual inspections.

 

[bcp]

My 1976 Triumph has been regulated to storage since it last didn't pass emission testing.

Bring it to WA. Nothing before 1991 or after 2008 is tested, and then in only 5 counties.

Washington Vehicle Emission Check Program - FAQ

Bruce

 

[ultrarunner]

I looked into bringing the cars to Washington and learned after the first two I would have to pay a Sales Tax of sorts on vehicles I have owned going back up to 40 years... kind of put a damper on things with 50 vehicles...

 

[Alien]

No testing for vehicles required in Queensland unless it is changing owners.

 

[motownbrowne]

No restrictions here in Missouri that I know of. There are a lot of 70's vehicles driving around here with Historic license plates which even precludes annual inspections.

No inspections in WI at all, not annually, not at time of sale. Nothing. I lived in CA for a couple of years, though. We sold a '97 Tacoma that we had bought in Washington. That was a hassle. Luckily it was a 50 state emission vehicle, but someone had previously swapped in a Downey cold air intake. The first smog shop wouldn't look at the thing, but we got a recommendation from a friend and found one that looked up the parts to make sure they were compliant. He actually couldn't find the right info, but got tired of searching and said it was close enough to the K&N that he let it slide. What a relief. The truck was worth about $2,000 more in California than in Washington (supply and demand, I guess) so I'm really glad we were able to sell it there.

Anyway, I'm glad we don't have to deal with it here.

Regarding the original topic, I'm younger than most of you guys, being an '86 model, so my first car wasn't that old. I started out in a '75 Plymouth Valiant with the 225 slant six. That was a great car. Definitely didn't have the safety features or get the MPGs that my current whip does ('10 Honda Fit), but it never left me stranded and stood out in the HS parking lot.