Mostly PRACTICAL CLASSICS - daily drivers, starter classics etc

What are practical classics? In this compilation are 125 examples of classic cars that for one reason or another, strike me as being relatively practical choices, perhaps for a "daily driver" classic car, or a first classic car. Considerations include availability of spare parts and advice, ease of maintenance, size, and overall driveability. Not every car necessarily ticks all the boxes, but they all have something going for them, and, I think, could be pressed into regular service just as they would have been used for when new. As you'll see, some are more practical classic cars than others, so let me know in the comments what would be your choice(s) for a practical classic!
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[@oldclassiccarUK]

Hi, thanks for watching, a full list of the several hundred videos on the channel is here: kzbin.infovideos OCC classic merchandise: www.redbubble.com/people/OldClassicCar/shop OCC Channel Membership now open!!! See the JOIN button for details OCC Patreon: www.patreon.com/OldClassicCar Channel homepage: kzbin.info/door/KaTg9fPUvmUQi94FcnDbrg If there are any petrolheads that you know that might find this kind of thing interesting, please pass on one of these links, thanks!

[@giulianomarco]

"Ye olden days... the 1970s" (Ouch! Thanks, Rick!) 😁👍

[@oldclassiccarUK]

Ha yes I feel old just thinking about the 70s :)

[@MrAndyLocksmith]

Could literally fall asleep listening to this. I never knew it was possible to make something so interesting sound so dull!

[@oldclassiccarUK]

Merry Christmas!

[@peterward3965]

I'd take home any of those estate cars, I love the two tone Austin A55 Cambridge, very spacious inside and a fair size boot. 1979 I owned a black example with manumatic gears, unfortunately rear ended by an Austin Maxi ,so off to the scrapyard in the sky it went. From 2015 to 2019 I owned a Citroën C15 van in a lovely red, one owner low mileage, it was very comfortable and practical. As Richard said , keep an eye on the bodywork, if rust takes hold that's the end of these vans. Looking forward already to the 2024 videos, 🥂 🍻 cheers all.

[@oldclassiccarUK]

As I might have mentioned, a friend of mine has run C15 vans for years and currently has a red example

[@littlejohnny47]

I like that you put the Austin Metro on a list of practical classics - if you can find one that isn’t rusted through nor has suspension issues that cost more than the car is worth!

[@jeffking4176]

10:55, one of my favorite British cars, Cortina Mk.2. This one looks very sporty and classy. 📻🙂

[@hondamonkeyboy]

Excellent compilation. Many thanks for a most enjoyable series of videos over the year. Merry Christmas to you and your Family.

[@oldclassiccarUK]

Cheers! Merry Christmas to you too

[@OldCarsNewVan]

So much choice! As we can't have them all🤣 the hardest thing is always which one. Great vid and thanks for all the entertainment this year. Happy Christmas

[@oldclassiccarUK]

Thanks for watching & Merry Christmas

[@annielane6018]

Thank you for a great year of vlogs. Looking forward to 2024. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and your family. Much love, from Cornwall. 🎄🍾🎶🎅🕊✨🍻🚗🚓🚌🚙🛺🚚🚘🚍✨🤩😍🙏🙏

[@oldclassiccarUK]

Thankyou very much! Merry Christmas!

[@stefantrnacek1394]

A very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and your family.

[@oldclassiccarUK]

Thanks! Merry Christmas to you too

[@MrLouA]

One thing I like about your photo videos, that maybe no one has mentioned, is the relaxing background music. I like to just kick back at night, and watch one of these vids. The music, your knowledge, and great pics of cars makes for a very calming evening. Thanks!

[@oldclassiccarUK]

Thanks for the feedback, it's interesting to hear about how people watch/listen to these uploads

[@chrisross-smith4358]

Hi Rick, I love these compilation videos. The informative commentary is amazing. 😊

[@oldclassiccarUK]

Glad you like them!

[@geraldfunnell7932]

Thank you for another great video hope there will be more next year . Happy Christmas to you all 🎉🎄🛻

[@oldclassiccarUK]

Thanks, I'll see what I can do! Merry Christmas!

[@daviddjerassi]

Truth i have found very few classics can keep up with modern cars in acceleration and stopping power and have poor MPG heating / demisting i have tried several and just gave up trashing old engines not designed for to days traffic especially those with only three forward gears loved your video thank you keep safe.

[@oldclassiccarUK]

I think a lot of it comes down to choosing the right car for the circumstances, if you do a lot of motorway or fast A-road mileage then pick a more recent car with appropriate gearing etc, whereas if you potter about town mostly then something older will do the job and lower maximum speed abilities don't matter so much. Thanks for watching!

[@davidbarlow350]

I have a 1970 Volvo Amazon with overdrive,and it will keep up with modern traffic. Dual circuit brakes disc/drum with a servo.Electric washers,two speed wipers,four bar link rear axle and independent suspension all round. A 2 litre engine (some with twin carbs,mine has a 32/36 weber). Basically it has a lot of modern car features. Worth a look if you can find one. I have totally rebuilt mine and should be out on the road in the summer.

[@garywalker3818]

great blog a gen mate keep them coming Gary form Crewe

[@oldclassiccarUK]

Thanks Gary!

[@Vince_uk]

Sunday arrived a day early 😀 a good collection yet again RJ. I have owned many of these cars in a past life. May I wish your good self, HJ, Mrs OCC and your family the very merry Christmas and a successful New Year.

[@oldclassiccarUK]

Thanks Vince, Merry Christmas to you and yours also!

[@Isaac-cw2dw]

Lovely cars!! Watching your compilations from Singapore. We can hardly see classics here so watching your vids is a very pleasant trip down memory lane. Seasons greetings to you and your family. Cheers!!

[@oldclassiccarUK]

Great, glad you're liking them

[@stephenricketts7764]

Here are just a few points when buying a classic, in no particular order: The Morris Minor traveller wooden frames are available in kit form, I think you can order from 'Travellers Timbers' or very similar title (from memory). The Triumph 2000's the 'drive shaft' is a weak point, they tend to snap, but can be changed from inside the car. There is a certain car auction 'up North' I Have a look at their offerings just for interest and they had a Singer Gazelle recently but to my amazement it had front plastic wings, so something to be aware of if buying one. I am not trying to up stage you Rick but just thought I would offer a few tips. Some people may be aware of those I have mentioned. A very nice selection to choose from there in the video so folks could be thinking about buying early next year? Merry Christmas Rick, Harley and Mrs OCC. 👍👍

[@oldclassiccarUK]

Merry Christmas to you too!

[@nicksallnow-smith7585]

You noted a number of times about the very good open view from the driving seat of many of these cars. I remember it well having learned to drive in 1967. I imagine that the slim window pillars then, compared with today, is related to safety testing and regulations? Rollover one of those cars in the 60s and the roof would crumple pretty fast I imagine. But it is interesting that regulations have toughened window pillars and yet open top sports cars are still permitted.

[@oldclassiccarUK]

I'm sure for a long time it was down to improving roll-over protection, more recently designs seem to be more about "style" (ahemm) than function. Thanks for watching.

[@jontaylor1652]

Some great photos, as usual. As I've mentioned here on the channel in the past, the one thing that stops any of these old cars being 'practical' to me, is the hideous money people think they're 'worth'. As with most things greedy people have turned it into a money making racket and it's becoming more of an elitists hobby every year. I get it that things are becoming rare but 'rare' and old doesn't justify some of the prices. How many more of these old 'classics' would still be around now if they'd been available at a sensible cost in the first place? There must be at least a dozen, probably more, that I'd love to own once again but I just can not justify paying out the crazy money. Anyway, that's just my opinion on it haha, merry Christmas to you and the family and thanks for all the great videos this year.

[@oldclassiccarUK]

Cheers Jon, yes perusing the ads I can't help but think that most asking prices are probably twice what they should be. Thanks for following the channel, Merry Christmas!

[@allanriches9381]

another great video. glad the Mercedes w123 had a showing. Should consider a video on what to look for when buying a classic car, eg rust, engine, running gear, where and how to source parts etc, maybe use the Standard8 and have a walk around it pointing out all the things to look at and take note of.

[@oldclassiccarUK]

I do plan on doing a few buying-type videos, I did a "where to find rust" upload some time ago when I had my Volvo PV444: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rqPHmIN9oM2Fpbs

[@BobAbc0815]

10:15 i think the two stroke Saab Engine is based on the same DKW Engine as the Trabant

[@lesklower7281]

We're l live in the south western suburbs of Sydney l have seen a Morris 1000 used as a daily l would quite often see it driving along a main road through Campbelltown and the cars we got in Australia have disappeared and that Standard Vanguard station wagon back in the 1960s l was a child he had one used do a lot of driving between Dubbo and Sydney to do with his family business a tyre shop in Dubbo and many of these l remember from my child hoon and a couple of years ago on Christmas day l saw a 1965 Hillman Minx broken down at the side an express way but it was was gone on Boxing day

[@darrylmcleman6456]

That green Austin A55 wagon or Estate as you call them in U.K. reminds me that I had one !!! It was grey with black roof! I purchased it from a man named William Walter Austin! Likely no relation to Austin car co.I remember it having 1/2 of a wooden clothspeg wedged into each of the side windows to eliminate rattles! Wished I still had it now! CHEERS FROM Here

[@oldclassiccarUK]

Cool, would love one of those Austin estates

[@septiccalling8341]

I don't suppose that Father Christms could be prevailed upon to bring me any one of those tonight 😒 I'll be a better boy next year......promise. Merry Christmas Mr, Mrs and Jnr OCC; Happy New Year too!

[@oldclassiccarUK]

Thanks septic, Merry Christmas to you too

[@richardbooth4573]

am looking at TR3 , A40, Austin 1100, and Sprite. When are wire wheels aproprate ? Also interested in early MGB and Moris Minor

[@fredziffle1991]

My daily car... Early mark 2 mazda mx5

[@phyzicsAV]

A Porsche 924 is a sweet daily if you can still find a decent one,

[@davelanchester]

yes our dad owned a Roland rat Mobil. a Ford prefect. not sure if the one featured was a Ford popular. it had 3 gears and went from 0 to 60 in twenty minutes. Still remember the reg VOB 565 great very interesting video thanks

[@a11csc]

😎😎👍👍❤❤

[@j.burton7574]

The Honda Civic is approaching it's 50th year yet we see very little of them?

[@oldclassiccarUK]

Agreed they very rarely turn up at the shows we regularly attend, I think they rotted away before anyone noticed them becoming scarce

[@Markus-vp8pz]

Hi brilliant and informative video as always. Can I ask you a question I've asked before, and that is what camera do you use, as the quality of both video and sound whilst walking around is amazing? Thank you. Marcus

[@oldclassiccarUK]

We both use Canon Powershot SX70 HS cameras, they work pretty well when we are outside although in the garage and in museums they can struggle with low light conditions so I might well look at getting something else purely for indoors recording.

[@Markus-vp8pz]

Thank you for the information. Great shows both of you 😊

[@Phiyedough]

No mention of my favourite, the Rover P5 and P5B.

[@oldclassiccarUK]

Maybe if I do a Part two one day!! (as a former P5B owner)

[@colinevans39]

The standard 10 was it triumph? Thanks

[@oldclassiccarUK]

It was called the Standard 10 here, and Triumph 10 in some other markets, built by Standard Triumph (the former took the latter over)

[@carsyoungtimerfreak1149]

Nice collection. Thank you. A few remarks. You should have included the M-B 190 (W201) and 200 series (W124). As a daily they are, I believe, better options than the W123 that you did include. All Benzes rust but the W201 and W124 are a bit easier to keep up than the W123, based on personal experience. I do believe that the value of classic cars is nowadays too high to use them as dailies. I really detest that, but that is what you get when people start speculating. Exposing your classic car to rain, salt, sunshine on a daily bases is very brave, yet not very smart. My daily is '98 C180. Quality wise not as good as its predecessor, the 190. Yet it feels and drives very much like the 190, after all it is the next generation 190. The underpinnings are almost totally identical. Yes, they do rust. Also on funny places becaus M-B had problems with water based paints. Yet if you see it as car to be used, rust killer and Hamerite go a long way. The first C-class is still relatively cheap to buy and it still looks and feels, especially the interior, an old Benz. This is also true for the W210. The successors to both these cars lost the look and feel of older Benzes, especially in the interior. Certainly a manual C180 is a cheap car to run. It is frugal and parts are not that expensive and still plentiful. In my country they sold quite well so secondhand body parts are easy to come by. Like all older cars interior bits and pieces are getting hard to obtain.

[@oldclassiccarUK]

Thanks for your thoughts, I've owned four 124 series M-B estates so yes they make for a great "modern classic" choice, I've yet to own a 190 though. I'd like a 123 estate but I think I may be too late to buy a nice one of those!

[@johndavey72]

Good afternoon Richard . Well l didn't have too many of these ....VW Mk1 GTI , Riley Elf, Escort mk1 1300 GT, Austin 7 Ruby , Triumph Vitesse 1600 which later had a Vitesse mk2 engine fitted . A very brief moment with an M.G.B roadster . Dolomite 1850 and Dolomite Sprint. Rover 2000 TC. Fiesta Ghia mk1. Mk 3 Escort ghia. Triumph mk 2 2.5 pi. An extremely brief encounter with a '65 Austin A40 . Mk2 Midget . Mini van x4. Clubman estate . Traveller. Countryman. Pick up. At least half a dozen saloons.....did l say l didn't have too many of these 🤣🤣🤣 I've probably forgotten a few as well ! Thanks Richard. Merry Christmas to all at OCC. .....l did forget !! Mazda MX5 mk1 which some idiot modified the suspension and ruined the handling ! And finally a 105 E .....lovely gearbox ! The only obvious difference between the Hornet and Elf was the Elf had a full width walnut dash with opening cubby holes . The Hornet just had a walnut binnacle . And of course there was always the snob value of having the Riley .

[@oldclassiccarUK]

Phew! Quite the list!!! Merry Christmas!

[@johndavey72]

@oldclassiccarUK Oh, and this is only what you showed!