Getting an "old" car

[moliva1568]

When you get your hands on an older model car, what should you immediately change? when I got my 84 caprice it had approx 43,000 miles. There wasn't any real maintanence records but it was well kept. Aside from oil, belts, plugs, and obvious worn parts, what other things should be changed/checked due to the age of the car? If money is no object, should you just go in and replace everything? (not the case for me but just curious)

[rhandwor]

I would change the transmission fluid and the fluid in the radiator and rear end.
Drive it for a while and repair as needed. Watch old tires look for signs of dry rot or cracking.

[96capricemgr]

Going to be a basket case if you actually try and drive it. I would expect things like the balljopints and tierod ends to go fast, wheel bearings, about any rubber seal on the whole car.

Honestly mechanically they are BETTER off if they are driven as it forces lubrication to everything.

An aquantance bought a 96 Impala SS a few years ago with just 10K miles, inside 6 months he put $1500 in repairs into it and it was under a decade old, imagine your 25yo car.