Vintage Cars: cars, cadillac deville coupe, best gas mileage

Question
Hi, I just got my liscense and I'm an 18 year old guy. I want to get a classic or vintage car. My only concern is gas mileage. Im interested in cars such as the 1980's camaros, 1980's Monte Carlos, late 80s Trans Ams, 69 chevelles, 1981 cadillac deville coupe, grand nationals, gnx's, corvettes. So basically thats the look of the cars I like. Can you recommend any cars that would be a good buy for someone my age (classic). Which cars that look like the ones i mentioned would be a good buy and which can I get the best gas mileage with? I can do some restore work at school. (have a great auto shop at school, working on 69 chevelle and an old monte carlo right now stripped down to almost nothing) Also, how expensive will insurance be? Are these cars reliable and simple to work on? Is it hard to go about getting parts?                              Thanks a lot, feel free to add anything you think I should know.

Answer
Hello,
Glad to hear you like vintage cars!  The cars you mention are all nice rides but none are going to be good on gas, that is unless they have a 6 in them and then ususally they are underpowered. Insurance is always an issue with 18 year old guys but the nice thing about vintage cars is you have some choices.  You can always go the route of classic car insurance, this is the smae coverage but is limited by miles driven a year . There are diffrent plans.  I insure a 72 450SL (Mercedes) for 250 year, full coverage!  I have it on a 5000 mile plan . The car has to be 25 years old to qualify.
You do need to have good basic mechanical skills and means to work on the car.  Its hard to find and trust anyone on these old rides, most mechanics today just do not deal with them.  That said most vintage 70-80 's cars are fairly simple to work on and parts are available.  Obviously the higher end one are more expensive ( corvettes, camaros ect)
My suggestion is as follows
Start going to classic car shows and "drive ins"  Do your homework and learn as much as you can from the people that hang around these cars.  You did nto say , but are you looking for a project? or a ready to drive 'daily driver' or a show car?
Projects can look inexpensive but beware - the need to know on project cars are rust, and mechanical history.
Also don't rule out the vintage foreign cars.  I am partial to Mercedes and anything from 69-75 are really easy to work on and parts are available.
I think the early 70's 450SL series is pretty sweet.  Mine has 240HP and is free of all the pollution control garbage.  The "S" class of the early 80's particullary the 420SEL series are very nice as well.
Spend some time on craigs list and check out hemmings motor news to see what the vintage cars are bringing.
I am available for any questions and would love to help you find a great vintage car.  Are you in the states?

here are some of my projects
http://www.villagephotos.com/pubbrowse.asp?folder_id=1531583

Happy Motoring
Ron