Practically Used Homestead Wheels

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Old finishes, interiors, and underbody can also deteriorate quickly with exposure to sun, rain, or use. Wash and hand-wax the paint and chrome and don't go near car-wash detergents unless you rewax immediately. Use the proper conditioners for metal, plastic, vinyl, or leather interiors, carpets or floor mats, and convertible tops. Power-wash (never steam-clean) the engine compartment and underbody. Let dry for a day or two; then have undercarriage, wheel wells, and sheet metal of the engine compartment hot-oil-treated against corrosion. Re-oil every October. Unless you strip to bare metal, prime and paint with rust-eating finishes. Never undercoat an old car; rust will keep gnawing away, protected by the coating.

Let's Make Automobiles Fun Again

It may not be politically correct to say so, but you and I agree, don't we, that tooling around in a fine old American vehicle with a free-breathing V8 out front is just about the most satisfying way there is to convert petroleum into forward motion?

More and more, repair of still-warranteed new cars entails replacing expensive, nonrebuildable "modules"—including entire transmissions and engines. From Detroit's perspective, it can be cheaper to replace the robot-built 32-valve/dohc, etc., aluminum V-8 than pay an automotive technician (not a mechanic anymore) to repair it. If GM, Ford, or Chrysler wants to replace rather than repair a $10,000 engine, fine. They can afford it. But, a postwarranty owner who buys the car used for $15,000 or $7,000 or $2,500 can't.

I suspect that we're approaching the era of throwaway automobiles, and in another 10 to 20 years we'll see 1,400-Ib carbon fiber cars with "leanburn engines" that get 100 mpg and are able to go 100 mph. (Don't laugh; GM already has just such a prototype.) Wonder if they'll warrantee them for 100,000 miles, then scrap and recycle what's left?

For 20 years now, we've walked rather than driven, recycled everything and cut wood to conserve energy, and we're not done yet. So, let's spend some of our energy savings and appreciate some remarkable automotive achievements of the past and live a little ...just for an hour or so.

Part II: Old Iron
The pick of the crop, from liveries to limos

Following is a list of cars and trucks you can buy well and properly used and drive forever. A hundred thousand miles is the traditional automotive death knell, but it isn't relevant for any well-maintained vehicle older than 10 years. Autos don't have to be junked when the odometer turns over; if rebuilt as needed any vehicle can go forever ...like aircraft.

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