Classic Cars – What We Get Used To

Collectively we’ve owned a lot of cars and bikes over the years here at Car & Classic. From the sublime to the ridiculous and the boring to the provocative – not to mention some absolute sheds – but we have loved every single one of them. We currently have quite the eclectic mix in our fleet too, from Datsun 1200 B110s to Jaguar XJ40s and we definitely practice what we preach when it comes to classic machinery, but having recently gone from driving a 1983 Ford Capri 2.8i to a more modern classic Volvo 940 Turbo wagon I’ve been pondering whether or not I would go back to driving an older classic now after enjoying the positives that a younger car has to offer. You know what I’m talking about: heaters that actually start working before you arrive at your destination, cruise control, a willingness to start regardless of what the outside temperature is, or which way the wind is blowing, headlights that illuminate more than just the two feet directly in front of you, and so on and so forth.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not talking about swapping a Triumph TR4 for a brand new BMW here. What I mean is, from personal experience of daily driving my cars, would I return to owning and driving a more temperamental, generally less comfortable classic or have I become overly pampered by all of the Volvo’s bells and whistles? It’s a 1997 model which places it firmly in the modern classic bracket and it still gets admiring glances and comments, as well as the odd thumbs up on the motorway from retro car fans. It’s the CD model too, which was top of the range at the time, and with electric, heated leather seats, cruise control and air conditioning it’s thoroughly kitted out. The 940 was the last of Volvo’s rear-wheel drive estate cars and I love it. It has been modified from standard and it’s running a ‘tad’ more boost than factory so not only is it the most practical car I’ve ever owned it’s also bags of fun to drive, believe it or not. It’s reliable too and it has never let me down in the two-and-a-bit years that I’ve owned it. Yes, there have been a couple of hiccups along the way but they were mainly of my own doing, you now how it goes.

The Capri was a different animal entirely though. It’s what I would call a true classic. One of the greats when it comes to that fascinating pantheon of classic motoring; instantly recognisable and revered and, like the 940, I absolutely loved it. It was noisy, smelly and prone to fits of capriciousness but it was also an absolute hoot to drive and incredibly cool. It made me feel good. No, it made me feel great, but compared to the more modern Volvo it was a bit of a pig, especially as a daily. Now I know it’s a little unfair to compare the two but it’s an interesting thought – what we get used to. I knew I had to regularly top up the oil and I was constantly fighting the good fight against all the rust but I was OK with that, that was just how it was. I accepted it with grace. I never dreamed of selling it, believing instead – rather naively perhaps – that I would drive it until I was no longer able to physically drive anything. Sadly though, that turned out not to be the case and any decision either way was taken out of my hands, as you can read about here.

It’s funny because the car I drove before the Capri was a BMW E39 M5, easily the best car to have graced my driveway and so the tables were turned completely. I went from a much more modern, comfortable and technologically advanced performance car to a rusty old ’80s Ford. The Capri was the oldest classic I had ever owned and so maybe I was going into it a little wide-eyed and with a bit of an ‘ignorance is bliss’ type attitude. What I do know, however, is that I wouldn’t go much newer than that late ’90s era of classic, that’s for sure. When the cars that manufacturers were churning out all started to look the same and any real individuality was sadly lost. Not to mention cars of this generation are still relatively easy to work on and can be fettled with at home with just a basic set of tools and the willingness to get involved.

But to answer that initial question; yes, yes I would absolutely still own and drive older classic cars. Generally speaking, as classic car fanatics, we don’t approach classic car ownership with any real logic or rationale, it’s much more of a heart and soul kind of deal. You forego all of the negatives because owning a classic is about how they make you feel, there’s no complicated science behind it. You know things are going to go wrong but you accept that because it’s all part and parcel of the overall experience.

Yes I’ve been spoilt by the comfort that the Volvo provides, I admit that, but I still regularly browse the Car & Classic classifieds and auction listings, perusing the myriad classic cars and bikes that feature on my ever-growing wanted list. And should that particular car pop up that sets my soul alight, regardless of age or creature comforts, then you can bet your bottom dollar that I’ll be on the phone to the seller whilst simultaneously working out my best man maths on how to afford the damn thing. It is funny what we get used to but as we move into the new year don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great… or the not so great. After all, variety is the spice of this classic car life.