69 Mach 1 or 2016 GT

[HoustonMustang]

I owned a restored stock '68 GT500KR Fastback for years... cool to be seen in... but compared to a contemporary sports car... it just no fun to drive... finally sold it because the nostalgia fun factor wore thin...

I've owned a couple of Resto-Mods Muscle Cars with completed updated chassis & drive trains ... they all drove like modern vehicles... you can easily spend 75K plus to build a quality example... but they still have a high fiddle factor to keep everything operating correctly... still not a substitute for a modern daily driver...

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[speedfrk]

I had a 66 GT coupe for a daily driver in the 90's and it was crude by 90's standards. 3spd, disc brakes but not power on the GT. Quick ratio steering but not power... Made me not want to drive it much. On the totally practical side, the 69 will go up in value forever and the 16 GT will drop 25% in the first year and keep going down. From a financial standpoint, the 69 is the way to go. Old cars are investments. New cars are expenses.

 

[mookydo]

Classics like the Mach1s are cools as can be but a total PIA to keep pristine or even at the level of a super clean driver. A 2016 GT will simply blow that car away in every possible category and a breeze to own.

 

[Tcstang]

I sold my 68 before buying the 15. I had upgraded suspension and brakes, a new motor, new wiring harness and converted it to an AOD transmission. It still was nothing like driving the 2015. On the classics it seems like there is always some kind of maintenance to do on them. It was fun having it and I even used it as my daily for about a year of the 3 years I had it. I personally wouldn't buy a classic again unless I could afford one that had been completely professionally restored. I have at no point thought to myself man I wish i was in the 68 right now when driving the 15. When I was in the 68 I use to always miss my 07 GT. Modern technology make the driving experience much more enjoyable.

 

[Firepath]

as pretty as classic cars are, to me its like buying and old computer, no thanks

Yeh it never used to be like that for me, but in recent years cars have become a lot more sophisticated, and I don't mean with more gadgets. I mean the smart way they are made now, with very few proprietary parts, etc, sharing build processes from other models in the brand's fleet, etc. Things like how windcreens are mounted is just easier, flusher (less noise, better aero, etc) and works better (leaks).

So I sort of feel the same way towards the old cars now. They're pretty, but under it all, there are a lot of lessons we have learned along the way, and a lot of problems that don't need to be dealt with any more.

 

[mookydo]

Yeh it never used to be like that for me, but in recent years cars have become a lot more sophisticated, and I don't mean with more gadgets. I mean the smart way they are made now, with very few proprietary parts, etc, sharing build processes from other models in the brand's fleet, etc. Things like how windcreens are mounted is just easier, flusher (less noise, better aero, etc) and works better (leaks).

So I sort of feel the same way towards the old cars now. They're pretty, but under it all, there are a lot of lessons we have learned along the way, and a lot of problems that don't need to be dealt with any more.

You can actually take it one step further in the realm of reality and say that the 60s muscle cars were little more than a bunch of ill mannered, marginally performing, rust prone, heaps when compared to what is available today. You can have every one of those old jack ass carts. Been there and done it.

 

[Strokerswild]

I’m an old car fanatic. I’ve owned quite a few over the years, and still own my dream car that I bought back in 1986 while in high school, a 1967 Mercury Cougar. It was a SoCal car and one of the most solid and original examples I’ve seen to date (all sheetmetal and interior is original to the car, never a speck of rust), which is why I’ve hung onto it. Well, that and it’s one of the best body designs to come out of the mid- to late-‘60s, IMO. Mine is best described as a Day 2 restomod, meaning it’s basically factory stock with the addition of various parts that would have been available at a dealer over the counter and installed. It still has 4-wheel drum brakes, and rides on bias ply redlines. It’s a beauty and makes all the right noises, and nothing stands out like a classic - I get thumbs up every time I have it out. However, the overall performance is sorely lacking compared to most any late model car, let alone a performance car. Almost hilariously so. And build quality and refinement are equally laughable.

Between my ’09 Bullitt and ’15 GT ownership, a friend decided to sell his gorgeous ’70 Mach 1. The price was right, the car was clean and complete, and I was on the verge of buying it. But then I started thinking that I already had my classic holding down the garage floor and, despite the fact that it would be cool to have two classic toys, I really wanted a second fair-weather performance car that I could get in and drive anywhere, on the hottest day, with no compromises. Enter '15 GT. Interesting side note related to topic, my friend bought a new Challenger to replace the Mach - it seems our thoughts on old versus new align.

A full-blown restomod would be the best of both worlds, but as stated elsewhere there’s a lot of expense and eternal fiddling in that scenario.

 

[JonnyMustang]

The nostalgia effect plays heavily on this decision. The fact is, with robots, CAD engineering, and tighter tolerances, these new cars are made better, hands down. I love wrenching on old cars...I had a 66 chevelle that I loved. But then I remember something was breaking on it every month or parts of the car were crumbling from rust. It was ok as a teenager, I thought it was actually fun.

But as a family man, I have very little time. I want to be able to jump in something, run my errands, take a back country road, and just have everything work. But more importantly, I've got to be around for my wife and kids. The Chevelle had no ABS, no collapsible steering column, no crush zones, no breakaway motor mounts, no three point seat belts, no safety glass...there's so many more things that can harm you in the event of a crash. Yes it's frustrating taking things apart just to change a sensor or diagnose a problem. But, for me, it's about staying safe and having something reliable.

 

[Strokerswild]

I love wrenching on old cars...

This.

Despite their superiority otherwise, I hate working on new stuff, far too complicated and no room to move. Working on classics is therapeutic to me, and usually you only need the most basic set of hand tools to tear one completely down.

 

[JonnyMustang]

This.

Despite their superiority otherwise, I hate working on new stuff, far too complicated and no room to move. Working on classics is therapeutic to me, and usually you only need the most basic set of hand tools to tear one completely down.

This is what keeps drawing me back in. I used to sit for hours just doing little projects on my chevelle, even when I was broke (which was most of the time). It was calming for me after a day at work. And I could do it under a shade tree with a 106 piece tool set from Craftsman. Even my '96 F150, I have to add all these extra tools for working on it (code reader because it's OBDII, for example).

So I keep struggling because my brother has a 1976 F150 Supercab with a 390 for sale that I would LOVE to restore. I've had to talk myself out of it three times. I miss the old smells, the rumble of a classic single cam motor, the tune-ability with a socket and screwdriver set...I feel your pain OP, it's a tough decision.

 

[speedfrk]

It all comes down to priorities and preferences. There is no right or wrong answer here. I just got back from a mental health ride on my 77 Honda CB750F. Pure fun. If you like working on stuff, old cars/bikes are very therapeutic and they can be totally reliable if you stay on top of the maintenance. You give up creature comforts, but does anything look as sweet as a 67 Fastback? That said, my 1 month old Mustang has been in the shop more than I have had it and they really don't know if they can even fix it. They are at the "we don't know what else to try" stage.

 

[69mach1-395]

Classic cars are truly a hobby that requires time, money and patience. Do you have all three of these to spare?
While they can be used for practical purposes, they should not be your 'go to' car.

 

[michformulas]

I have owned a 1968 Formula S Barracuda for 11 years now. No rust black plate California car. I spent a bunch of money in 2009 building and installing the 340 into a 416 stroker not dynoed but likely 500 or so HP. Loved the car at that time. Then I bought the 2015 GT premium manual in December. Drove it all winter, put my foot in it all the time. I never drove the Barracuda this summer. The only reason the old cars seemed awesome is the mid 70's through 2000's performance cars sucked. Today they make the "muscle cars" look slow. Old style is always great but you don't look at the outside of your car while you drive them. I think the desire for the classics will wane as time goes on. I think investing in a classic today may be a mistake being the new cars are so good.

 

[69mach1-395]

Yes but...new cars depreciate the moment you drive off the lot, unless they are very special. The classics go up and down but for the most part are worth much more than the original price. I'm not saying they are a good investment...

 

[JonnyMustang]

2015 cars may be relegated to museum pieces in 50 years when either gasoline is outlawed or all gone. So I say enjoy them while you can.

Of course, if Tesla and Porsche are any indication of the future, I think muscle cars will be all right as electric vehicles.

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