QuestionHi my name is Lawrence and I'm a college student with a strong attraction towards older cars. My friends all think I'm crazy because they don't trust the reliability of older cars but to me it seems like they have something about them that the cars these days don't. I'm especially interested in the '67 Chevy Impalas. Do you have any advice on how to find one and what the price range for one might be? I've been teaching myself how to maintain and repair cars, and have been wondering if cars manufactured from the 60s and 70s are easier or harder to maintain compared to more recent cars? And if maintained properly how reliable can one be? Any advice would be much appreciated!
AnswerAny older car can be very reliable if it is well maintained. The 67 Impala is an excellent choice - it is new enough to have seat belts, excellent lights and a dual master cylinder, so it will be much safer than older cars, although there is no getting around the fact that current vehicles, with air bags and electronic stability features are even safer, especially the very few that are the same weight as the old cars.
However most new cars are much lighter, and as you've learned in physics class, the damage to the driver of a vehicle in a collision goes inversely with the square of the weight ratio of the two vehicle - in other words, if a 67 Impala hits another vehicle of the same weight in a direct head-on collision, all the energy is dissipated evenly between the two vehicles, but if it hits a vehicle that weighs half as much (not out of the question, these days), the Impala has to absorb only 1/4 of the energy, and the lighter car gets 3/4 of it. All of this addresses the issue raised by those who will tell you "old cars are not safe".
Another good thing about full size Chevrolets is that they are so very common that any mechanic who has been in business a few years will be very knowledgeable about it. Chevrolet engines and transmissions are well known for being very long lived - the small block Chevy engine is probably #1 or #2 in the whole history of automobiles for excellent engine design.
As far as ease of repair, the older cars (ones built prior to computerized ignition and fuel injection) are MUCH easier to diagnose and repair than newer cars. The cut-off for that factor is about 1973, which is when the government requirements began really driving the auto industry to provide more and more complicated features.
Don't overlook the issue of fuel economy, however. A 67 Impala in good condition, driven sensibly, will give 14 to 18 MPG depending on how much city/freeway driving is done. A good modern car gets way better than that.
An old car is always a good financial move, because if you buy it at the right price, it will always appreciate. As you know, new cars go the other way.
As for what is a fair price for a particular vehicle, that is too big a question to tackle here. Go to the nearest book store or library and read the latest Krause Publication "Old Cars Price Guide". Accept NO SUBSTITUTES - the others all have an ax to grind.
Pay special attention to the condition codes - so you can evaluate any car, then decide which condition you can afford to buy. A condition 3 car will be a good car to start with - not too expensive, but in good enough shape that you can use it as a daily driver without worry. For a 4 door sedan 67 Impala with small block motor and automatic transmission will cost you somewhere around $5500.
Good luck - I am glad to hear from someone of college age who is interested in old cars!
Dick
