Pro-Touring daily drivers

[Boatmark]

I am curious, and would like to see pictures of some cars that are being driven daily. Not could be drivers, but actually are seeing regular commuter duty.

My reasoning being . . . I am contemplating replacement of my commuter car. I am trying to keep my truck in secondary status (ugly fuel mileage etc.) and keep looking at my Corvette project in the garage. It occurs to me that when I first got the car (1985) it was a Hot Rod street car that I drove daily. Why couldn't it be again? Or for that matter a LS powered Nova with A/C and overdrive, or something similar. A late second gen Trans Am maybe?

Since I left Florida it would not be in bumper to bumper traffic, and it would be safe parked at my office.

Enjoy my hobby, and maybe even save money by eliminating a car from the driveway. Who has already done this?

[6'9"Witha69]

For a long time my '69 was a DD. Kinda the reason improving handling and braking was so important to me. It wasn't until a frame bending accident took her off the road and I needed new wheels ASAP. So I got into buying new(er) cars. I have often contemplated going back to driving an old car. The 82 mile a day commute would kill that, but I can get work to pay 75% of a train fare, so I could park @ the train pickup (large open lot) and take the train in every day. Back to that open lot, I wouldn't feel safe leaving a car there of any value. Kind of a bummer, the extra cash in the wallet would be nice for the Camaro.

[406 Q-ship]

I use my Malibu as a daily driver and it isn't even fuel injected, nor does she have A/C. Keep in mind that I live 3 blocks from work right now but I would drive it on a longer run too, and the no A/C is not an issue I am only about 5 miles from the pacfic ocean (temps are in the mid 80s all summer long). I think that a pro-touring car is the best of the hot rod style vehicles for daily drivers.

[rrunner68]

Since my wife got rear-ended in my DD, the Road Runner took over duties, logging 80 miles a day since April!

[jack]

Mine is a dd also and used on road trips. collecting parts for my ls swap now, should make it even better.

[ssmike]

Or for that matter a LS powered Nova with A/C and overdrive, or something similar.

Enjoy my hobby, and maybe even save money by eliminating a car from the driveway. Who has already done this?

You have proposed my exact plan - build and drive an LS powered, A/C Nova to/from work every day in the glorious sunshine of So Cal.

Granted, my commute is only 10 miles round trip, but it's sure going to be a fun 10 miles!

Unfortunately, the build is only about to begin.

[bosses son]

this is our DD. LT-1, 6 speed, C-4 Corvette front and rear independent suspension. This car goes down the road so nice it is unbelievable. It also sees some track and autocross time.

[ssmike]

I use my Malibu as a daily driver and it isn't even fuel injected, nor does she have A/C. Keep in mind that I live 3 blocks from work right now but I would drive it on a longer run too, and the no A/C is not an issue I am only about 5 miles from the pacfic ocean (temps are in the mid 80s all summer long). I think that a pro-touring car is the best of the hot rod style vehicles for daily drivers.

Sweet Malibu. Where are you located? I'm in Irvine. Are you happy with the v48s? I am thinking about getting them for my dd Nova.

[NOT A TA]

All my life I've been a car guy (50's now) and drove the cool cars to work, school or special occasions routinely but not daily. Bought, sold, swapped traded many cars and kept one about every 5 years that I really liked. I have several old cars and a couple trucks.

A couple years ago I decided it was silly to keep the cool cars in storage and drive a "beater". Why not just drive the cool cars I thought? I rotate around driving one car regularly on the nice days and a truck if it's rainy. Then I switch to a different car and do a project on the car I just stopped driving. The past couple months I've been driving The 14 Car (took all the numbers off) and the 84 Suburban. Lots of people love the old cars so it's like being a celebrity, being waved at, getting thumbs up, and compliments everywhere you go. Although, with a full cage, 6 point harnesses and Kirkey race seats The 14 Car's kind of a pain jumping in and out of around town, so I'm ready to switch. I'm going to take The 14 Car apart for brake/wheel/tire upgrade soon and switch to driving the 67 Camaro or 86 911.

At this point in my life I figure the cars will be here when I'm gone so I might as well enjoy them, get my moneys worth out of the parts I installed by driving them instead of letting them sit while the tires and other parts dry rot, paint deteriorates, etc. I don't do shows, cruises etc. so it's not like I need to keep them in a perfect show ready state of appearance. As soon as a car is "done" it starts to go downhill anyway. The cool parts become "old school" within a few years, the amazing grip of those super sticky tires is gone in 3-4 years, speakers dry out and rip and on and on. If you're building a car with trendy parts right now your car will probably look dated in 10 years. Hell, look at all the 5-10 Y/O parts in the for sale sections because the builder changed plans to newer products and the car hasn't even hit the streets yet!

I guess what I think it comes down to is that life is short, you should drive something that puts a smile on your face when you turn the key. Tomorrow you might not be here and you could have driven your cool car today.

This is the kind of view I like out a windshield!

[Boatmark]

I appreciate the reply's, and look forward to more. Seems a lot of people are already thinking along the same lines.

I am not sure my Vette would make the driver choice. I have to admit that I am - ahem - twenty five years older and 70 pounds larger than I was when I first had it.

Since I posted this I have been thinking through a little further. I am thinking Nova (maybe a Ventura or Apollo!), warmed up 5.3 truck take out motor, manual O/D trans. Good (but not serious) suspension and brakes. A/C and a good stereo. A bolt together minimal fab driver. Nice wheels with 17's so as to survive cruddy roads.

I am working on a job change that would be 400 mile weeks, but like a said, it would almost make the commute hobby time. My Jetta has done 150k commuter duty without a hiccup - but it just doesn't have the old car soul.

[Boatmark]

Not a TA, I don't think I could have said it better.

[NOT A TA]

You don't even need to build a car to get what you're thinking. Look around at the cars that are close to what you want and driveable that are for sale really cheap right now. The market is at the point where you can pick up a drivable car you could use right away and slowly change to your tastes for less than it would cost to do the engine swap and suspension/brakes. Just a thought.

[ssmike]

Not a TA, I don't think I could have said it better.

I agree 100 percent.

[tazzz25906112]

You don't even need to build a car to get what you're thinking. Look around at the cars that are close to what you want and driveable that are for sale really cheap right now. The market is at the point where you can pick up a drivable car you could use right away and slowly change to your tastes for less than it would cost to do the engine swap and suspension/brakes. Just a thought.

Your absolutely right bud,,, I did just that with my Eldo and the Blue RS was built with excess parts. The white TA however was purpose built and between all these cars I don't drive anything that is new all summer long...

Driving these cars is a passion, sometimes they don't have all the new car tricks,,,, but they'll keep you smiling even when your caught in rush-hour traffic for endless periods of time...

BTW here are a few of the cars that put a smile on my face every day,,,

[Bill Howell]

I am in construction, so neither of my cars see alot of daily driving. However, if I need to run to the store or need something for a quick trip, I jump into the charger or GTO. Not sure how you qualify DD, but if mileage means anything, the charger has 10105 miles logged on the odometer since last September, not bad for a part time car...haha

[tazzz25906112]

That charger has a crazy owner I hear,,,, apparently it's owner thinks trailers are for boats... Go figure LMAO

[NOT A TA]

When I wanted to see what others had said I noticed you asked to see pics of the cars we're driving in the original post. Here's some of the ones I'm rotating through (ya there's others). Driving each one a couple months at a time then switching the road coverage insurance to the next one it takes about a year and a half to get back to the beginning. The Firebird usually has race #14 race numbers but it was just to much on the street daily distracting other drivers and such.

Nice Caddy Albert! Gotta have a cruiser!

[tazzz25906112]

Thanks John your cars look great too,,, love the Buick bud.

[stage2ROUSH]

All my life I've been a car guy (50's now) and drove the cool cars to work, school or special occasions routinely but not daily. Bought, sold, swapped traded many cars and kept one about every 5 years that I really liked. I have several old cars and a couple trucks.

A couple years ago I decided it was silly to keep the cool cars in storage and drive a "beater". Why not just drive the cool cars I thought? I rotate around driving one car regularly on the nice days and a truck if it's rainy. Then I switch to a different car and do a project on the car I just stopped driving. The past couple months I've been driving The 14 Car (took all the numbers off) and the 84 Suburban. Lots of people love the old cars so it's like being a celebrity, being waved at, getting thumbs up, and compliments everywhere you go. Although, with a full cage, 6 point harnesses and Kirkey race seats The 14 Car's kind of a pain jumping in and out of around town, so I'm ready to switch. I'm going to take The 14 Car apart for brake/wheel/tire upgrade soon and switch to driving the 67 Camaro or 86 911.

At this point in my life I figure the cars will be here when I'm gone so I might as well enjoy them, get my moneys worth out of the parts I installed by driving them instead of letting them sit while the tires and other parts dry rot, paint deteriorates, etc. I don't do shows, cruises etc. so it's not like I need to keep them in a perfect show ready state of appearance. As soon as a car is "done" it starts to go downhill anyway. The cool parts become "old school" within a few years, the amazing grip of those super sticky tires is gone in 3-4 years, speakers dry out and rip and on and on. If you're building a car with trendy parts right now your car will probably look dated in 10 years. Hell, look at all the 5-10 Y/O parts in the for sale sections because the builder changed plans to newer products and the car hasn't even hit the streets yet!

I guess what I think it comes down to is that life is short, you should drive something that puts a smile on your face when you turn the key. Tomorrow you might not be here and you could have driven your cool car today.

This is the kind of view I like out a windshield!

where in fla are you??

[NOT A TA]

where in fla are you??

Delray Beach. Where are you? I decided to give up my business and everything else up north about 6 years ago and move south where we can play with cars all year long. No emissions/inspections, lots of drag strips, road tracks, Land speed races, and no SNOW to shovel! The natives here don't know how good they've got it!

I took the The 14 car to get a plate for it here. I'd heard it was easy so I figured I'd test the limits. I took the car on Monday after a weekend at Sebring. Race numbers and stickers all over the car, track rubber everywhere, front wheels black with brake dust and a jungle gym roll cage, 6 point harnesses, and Kirkey seats with the NASCAR head halo. The lady doing the registration didn't even blink an eye! Thank-you sir, here's your plate!! AMAZING!!

It didn't even faze her that she couldn't get in far enough to check the mileage! The dark tints kept her from seeing this till I opened the door but she stayed right in stride like it was nothing out of the ordinary and took my word for it when I read her the mileage!