Looking for an old car to be a summer cruiser

[OlafSicky]

I would like to get a summer cruiser i would love a convertible. I was thinking of a classic but it might be hard to find parts for these old cars. So anything slightly vintage would do.
So what do you guys think would fit the bill? I almost bought an old MG but was on the fence on it since it needed work and might be small. It would be great to fit 4 people in it.

 

[iamwiz82]

Go big or go home

For sure a convertible?

 

[OlafSicky]

Convertible would be nice Great car pics but not very practical. I don't want to baby this thing. Just jump in and drive and if it breaks I want to get parts. Since it should be practical i don't want to spend an insane amount of money on it.

 

[nerp]

1983 Chevrolet Caprice.

 

[twinrider1]

Ballpark on your budget?

Volkswagen Thing.

 

[NutBucket]

Does a Corvair seat 4?

 

[ThatsABigOne]

BMW 330ci?

 

[JulesMaximus]

So, you want a convertible but you also want a practical car that can seat 4 comfortably...

Hmm, maybe chop the top off a minivan?

 

[SpatiallyAware]

 

[Throckmorton]

Jeep Wrangler

 

[NutBucket]

Saw one of these last weekend cruising the freeway. Looks great!

 

[vshah]

sebring convertible :awe:

 

[iamwiz82]

Be on the lookout for snipers.

 

[SearchMaster]

Jeep Wrangler

This seems like a good suggestion - fairly cheap, parts are ubiquitous, can take the "bad roads" to the lake, etc.

 

[CraigRT]

Murano convertible......

 

[Jejunum]

miata obviously

 

[SearchMaster]

miata obviously

That was my thought until I read that he wanted to carry four. Two of your friends would be really pissed off in a Miata.

 

[Jejunum]

That was my thought until I read that he wanted to carry four. Two of your friends would be really pissed off in a Miata.

good point, my bad. if u cut up a person in to little parts maybe you could fit a third in trunk.

 

[iamwiz82]

good point, my bad. if u cut up a person in to little parts maybe you could fit a third in trunk.

You haven't seen a Miata trunk

 

[unokitty]

I would like to get a summer cruiser i would love a convertible. I was thinking of a classic but it might be hard to find parts for these old cars. So anything slightly vintage would do.
So what do you guys think would fit the bill? I almost bought an old MG but was on the fence on it since it needed work and might be small. It would be great to fit 4 people in it.

Buick Electra, Duce and a Quarter.

While in college, a friend of mine had one. 455 Cubic Inch Wildcat V8. Perfect party barge.

Uno

 

[marvdmartian]

Jeep Wrangler

Mid-70's Land Cruiser FJ-40. Easy to find in the $5000 price range, though it might need some body work, at that price.

 

[desy]

pontiac G6 vertable or Sebring

 

[OlafSicky]

Great suggestion how much do these go for ? Any thing I should know when looking for one.
The Buick would fit the bill also. What is parts availability like?

I was also thinking of an old jeep but don't know how old I should be looking for.

 

[SearchMaster]

If you're really looking at a classic, you're probably not going to be able to be too picky if you want to buy local (and I can't imagine buying a 40+ year old car without seeing it in person). Just keep searching CL for cars in your price range until you see something you like - looking specifically for a late 60s Electra, for example, might take a while to find a match. Something like that should go pretty cheap though, convertibles are more than sedans but should still be well under $10K. My parents, for example, had a 1970 Cadillac Fleetwood sedan 7.0 that was in outstanding condition that was worth like $3K or $4K.

As for Jeeps - they haven't changed too much until the last 15 years or so, so as far as the older generations they're pretty similar. My friend had a '74 CJ5 that didn't look a ton different than one from the late 90s, so "how old should I be looking for" isn't really the question, just find one in good shape and you should be fine. Repairs are fairly simple, another friend really didn't know much about cars before he got his Jeep and did major engine and transmission work himself before it was all said and done.