Classic Auto Classifieds

Old cars...?

I'm 16 and I want to get a 1963 Mercury Comet. They were about $3,000 on E-bay for an OK one, but all the guys in my family keep telling me that old cars like that are just for looks and that it will break down all the time. Opinions?

Public Comments

1. not really if you treat the car likes its your baby then it should work good
2. personally, I think old cars are much easier to work on if you know what your doing. If no one in your family has car knowledge I wouldnt reccomend it.... For the most part they are prob right, the chances are there are alot of problems lurking around the corner with a 40 year old car!
3. tell your family members to pound sand, old cars can be very reliable, remember a car is only a reliable as its owner, that's why their car brakes down
4. All car break down in time. Old cars do have some things that may need attention sooner, like rubber parts and bushings that dry rot with age. How many miles on the Comet? Has it been driven lately? Any refurbishing? Upgrades? Why a '63 Comet instead of another car? Something newer? Sportier?
5. They are likely right. But you might get lucky and get a jewel. I love cars from that era, too. But the sad fact is that they are really pretty primitive for today's road conditions. (overcrowded, overfast, etc.) For $3000.00 you could do much better with something newer. Don't let me talk you out of it, but understand it's limitations. Operating and maintaining this car will be a "labor of love" in the truest sense.
6. Hey ! There's nothing wrong at all with that. Hey girl, you got personality and that's ooook. New vehicles and old vehicles both break down. There are brand new vehicles that are lemons.... and some old one's the same. You don't know until you get them. I've been there a few times. But I will tell you one definate thing, with a vehicle that age, you will have to find a place that special orders that year parts, or a store that specializes in older vehicle parts. But there's nothing wrong with that at all. When I was 17 my first car was a 1970 Cadilliac Coupe Deville....... brings back memories..... niiice. Thanks !
7. Older car are simpler to work on. They have their temperament. What breaks is an unkept and trashed car, no matter what year. Newer ones has more crap to go wrong. If you do maintenance on it and care for it. It will work just right, just that will drive like an old car. You have to love the way they drive if not... oh well !
8. Those cars are so much simpler and easy to work on. You can upgrade the simple stuff like the ignition from points to electronic and that's just scratching the surface. I don't know why everyone doesn't own atleast one old car. They were built to last forever.
9. Great. As long as you take care of it it will run good. Get a manual to help you keep it running good. Find a old mechanic to help you. Get one with a 289 cid engine & a C3 automatic trans.