How can cars 50 or more years old still run?
March 16th, 2009 | by cars |
traveler asked:
I am amazed whenever I see cars from the 50s or even earlier decades still on the road. Nowadays, you’re lucky if a car lasts 10 years! How can one that’s 50 years old or more still run. And where do people get the parts for them?
MELVIN
I am amazed whenever I see cars from the 50s or even earlier decades still on the road. Nowadays, you’re lucky if a car lasts 10 years! How can one that’s 50 years old or more still run. And where do people get the parts for them?
MELVIN
14 Responses to “How can cars 50 or more years old still run?”
By ifeellikepennies on Mar 18, 2009 | Reply
JAY
things were made with better quality standards in the past. they were probably taken very well care of. maybe replaced a few parts or so.
By rivasj27 on Mar 21, 2009 | Reply
VERNON
They were built better back then and if proper maintance is done than they can run for that long. Most of the old cars though probably would have an engine replaces atleast once.
By T M on Mar 24, 2009 | Reply
MICHAEL
I’ve still got a chariot from the 5th century BC - runs great.
By Aaron W on Mar 26, 2009 | Reply
WILEY
Special order from dealers.
most of those drivers are collectors.
They take ever good care of their cars and puts very few mileage on the car.
Do you actually see anyone driving cars that were made in the 50s as daily driver? …. I haven’t
By kimaam on Mar 29, 2009 | Reply
LEO
they only last that long when they put a whole new engine in it. because my friend has a jeep thats 10 yrs old and its already giving him a bunch of bullshit problems if its not one thing its the other so i bet it needs a whole new engine to work better.
By Yoda O on Apr 1, 2009 | Reply
WM
Those cars are well cared for by enthusiasts, sometimes restored from the bottom to the top. many may have had almost all there parts completely replaced. This would be done at great time amd expense. All cars are mechanical. Machines break down, The deciding factor lies in weather or not the owner will pay to fix it. Now a days more people prefer to finance a new car rather the repair the old one.
By lwr735 on Apr 4, 2009 | Reply
MACK
John This is one easy question to answer and when it comes to a car that is 50 years old,the answer is simple all in this order.Maintenance,Ordering parts when needed,classic car clubs like the 1950’s cruising classics car clubs,retired mechanics regardless of make of car or model types in a car club.Try asking your grandparents who can tell you these things as well as i can.Now you know.
By johnny b good on Apr 7, 2009 | Reply
SHON
Cars and trucks were built to last back then, in addition to the fact that the workers took pride in their accomplishment. And the owners took care of the cars and did the maintenance on time with pride.
Today, the factory representatives feel that when a car is 2 years old it should be in the junk yard. This was told me by a rep over 10 years ago and they have not changed their minds. It is no wonder that the new cars don’t last with that attitude.
By Jack B on Apr 9, 2009 | Reply
JAME
Same reason some women 50 years old are still attractive:
A lot of work done on them!
By gravytrain on Apr 12, 2009 | Reply
TRISTAN
Yes, everything was made better back then, not just cars. A little off-topic, but related: a lot of farm tractors built in the 1950s are still doing work regularly. Most anything will last a long time if you take care of it and it isn’t abused. Of course, I don’t know about some of these new cars. I agree, the cars they build now, you’re lucky if you get 10 years or 200,000 miles on them before they puke. My newest car is 24 years old this year, and I’m still driving it with over a half-million miles on it, and have no plans to replace it any time soon. I have friends with newer cars that have had a lot more problems than my old one. Sometimes older is better….
By Dustin f on Apr 15, 2009 | Reply
ROLF
Did you just land here ! sorry OK serious There are auto enthuses and just plain gear heads so the byproduct is a beautiful classic taken care of by the people that do the work and or the owner . Parts are easy to come by the labor is love . ; )
By Ian F on Apr 18, 2009 | Reply
HILARIO
They still run because:
They were the the best examples of their models built. The bad ones ended up in junk yards within the first decade.
Anything that WAS wrong with them when they were built has since been fixed.
The owners have spent many times the value of the car over the decades to keep them running. ANY car will keep running forever if you keep fixing it.
Where the parts come from depends on the car. With more common and popular cars, there are companies that specialize in reproduction or rebuilt parts. Sometimes you can build an entire new car out of brand new parts. (For example, this is possible with some years of Mustang or Camaro…you can even buy new bodies.)
With less common vehicles, the guy you see driving that classic on the street might have two more non-running parts cars in his back yard.
Some vehicles have been thoroughly rebuilt, with modern drivetrains, interiors, and suspensions. These cars use whatever parts the owners want to put into them. Just because a car LOOKS old, doesn’t mean it’s old under the hood.
The main thing it takes is knowledge and dedication on the part of the owner.
By going_for_baroque on Apr 19, 2009 | Reply
KASEY
It takes attitude and desire and some resources.
My 1964 F100 was my daily driver until a couple of years ago. During a divorce, I got a Dodge Ram 2500 to pull my Airstream. While this was going on, I got the Y-block 292 rebuilt and now it purrs. I’ve got a ‘58 Biscayne that is a project car. All it needs is the inside, the outside and the running gear, plus a motor, transmission, two windshields and seats, brakes, exhaust and paint.
Good question, thanks ….
By AnnieAustin on Apr 22, 2009 | Reply
PIERRE
I’ve got a 1934 Austin Ten, I don’t use mine every day but I know plenty of people with similar cars who do - they’re actually easier to work on than modern cars (no nasty ECU’s to go wrong etc) - most stuff’s easily available from our club - there’s enough of these cars still around to warrant getting parts/panels made and you can even find new-old stock (where parts have been stored in garages and never used). Most things are reasonably priced and cars like mine are relatively inexpensive to buy (mine cost about £2000 to buy and get running, road tax is free as the car is pre-1974 and insurance costs me about £80 a year) - not amazingly cheap but certainly less expensive than some hobbies.
I will freely admit that my car was restored last year, however my mother has a 1955 car that has never been restored and until recently was her daily runner.
You’ll find that older cars were made to be “make-do and mend” whereas modern cars are designed to be disposable.
Hope this is of interest, I’m not your average old-car owner being female and in my 20’s!