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hippyjoe1955 · 70-79, M
Kind of funny how time clouds our memory. A 1950s car was pretty much toast after 100,000 miles. Lots of maintenance to get there. Timing, spark plugs, points and condenser, a carb kit or two. Yes you could do most of that if you had a few wrenches but my truck has 180,000 miles on it. It has never been touched. Original ignition and the fuel injectors have never been looked at. Yes I change the oil and other fluids but I did the same to the old 53 Chevy I had too. A two hour trip meant a check up before leaving. Oil levels, coolant levels, brake fluid, air filter were all checked. I recently went on a 17 hour drive and never even opened the hood.
Midlifemale · 61-69, M
@hippyjoe1955 oh yeah..those old cars were so cool to drive and look at, but they were junk compared to the quality today.
They rusted, needed tune ups every 20,000 miles, lots of oil changes, oil leaks, timing belts or timing chains, so much maintence and would last maybe 100,000 miles
They rusted, needed tune ups every 20,000 miles, lots of oil changes, oil leaks, timing belts or timing chains, so much maintence and would last maybe 100,000 miles
hippyjoe1955 · 70-79, M
@Midlifemale Most of the ones I had were pretty much done in at 60,000 and I did a lot to keep them on the road. The steering would come loose and shimmy down the road so you had to get out and tighten it every few thousand miles. I carried a complete wrench set with me in the trunk. Amazing how many times it came in handy.
Midlifemale · 61-69, M
@hippyjoe1955 oh yeah, I remember things like that happening. My cars always had engine and transmission leaks.
And always replacing steering arms and ball joints. Those cars had drum brakes too.
They were pure junk after 60 000 miles
And always replacing steering arms and ball joints. Those cars had drum brakes too.
They were pure junk after 60 000 miles
hippyjoe1955 · 70-79, M
@Midlifemale They were a vast improvement over the 1920s vintage cars but car design refinement has come a long way. The basic car design since 1930 hasn't actually changed with the exception of the addition of computers.