What Frustrates you about having a mucle car?

[Paul Woodall]

Hi,

Doing some research and want to know as a muscle car owner, what frustrates you the most or what would you want more of? (e.g. finding parts, tips on how to fix/repair, etc)

Thanks, Paul

[MagicRat]

Insurance!!

By far this is the biggest problem. If you live in Ontario, like me, you have 2 choices. you can:

1. Buy vintage/collector car insurance, mostly from Silver Wheels or Pilot. This coverage is reasonably priced but you simply cannot drive the car anywhere. The coverage is very limited in terms of use.

You can take it to special car-related shows and events, but you specifically cannot take it for any useful errand. You cannot take it to work, school, shopping, or even weekend pleasure trips.

2. You can buy regular car insurance. In this case, you can drive the car anywhere, but your coverage is at risk. Yes, you can have the vehicle appraised, but the insurance company is has no obligation to pay the appraised value if the car is written off.

For example, your super-rare 1965 Ford Galaxie 500 with a 427 may be worth $30,000 but to the regular insurance underwriter, it's a 45-year-old Ford sedan, and is thus worth virtually nothing, regardless of appraisal.

***The solution? Change the government legislation and insure the driver, not the cars. I may own 4 cars, but I can only drive one at a time. So why pay on-road liability for 4 cars, if I want to have them available for use.?


***BTW this is the situation in Ontario, but the issues are very similar in most places in the US and Canada.

[Paul Woodall]

Thanks Magic Rat...interesting dilemma.

Anything else besides Insurance? Finding Parts? Knowledge about fixing?

Appreciate your feedback.

[MagicRat]

Well, parts are relatively easy to come by. Mechanical parts are easy to find new, and the Internet is excellent for sourcing the more-rare body parts.

Some popular muscle cars, like Mustangs, Camaros, Chevelles and GTO's have extensive reproduction parts suppliers....sometimes its easier to get parts for these cars than a more modern one.

Knowledge to fix? Again, there is lots of resources available there and these cars are pretty easy to fix, compared with newer ones.

Other concerns relate to any car collector. Inside storage is a must, to prevent weather damage and theft. But these cars are pretty big, so one needs a big garage/barn to hold a couple of them, or have the funds to rent storage space.

Another aspect is maintenance. These cars are rarely driven, usually, but still require effort and maintenance for proper storage. They require time, work and effort, even wen they are not being used.
Here is a thread on the issue: http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.php?t=969475

[Paul Woodall]

Thanks for the info...really helps.

[sub006]

Crappy mileage and performance on crappy low-octane gas.

[lightningandthunde]

I have a BMW M6 and it eats gas, usually I have to fill up two full tanks a week and the price adds up.

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[sub006]

Triple-digit gas prices.

[arock7musicx]

Too big, too heavy, don't handle for squat compared to late model cars.