What is the ideal pre-1960 daily driver in your opinion?

[classictyres]

As I drove into work today in my 1971 VW, I was enjoying my tax free motoring. It is certainly more painless than my 1994 "modern" Golf which failed its MOT this week, and will require a few quid and a few of my man hours to sort out.

Continuing this line of thought I realised the ideal solution is to get the Golf an MOT, and then sell it ASAP. What with the Governments plans to make all cars from before 1960 also free from having to be MOTd, one answer for my short commute across the forest would be a nice classic - No Tax, No Mot, and mechanicals that I am actually able to fix myself!

So - I am intrigued to know; what do you lot think is the best choice of car from pre 1960 to use on daily short local runs?

Charlie
classictyres.com

[OneCarefulOwner]

Depends on how short; quick trips with little chance for the engine to warm up are never good on the mechanicals.

Something with good parts backup, something that was probably a couple of years old in 1960 but was still produced for a while afterwards which could offer upgrade potential... Moggie?

[Willy Eckerslyke]

IMO, the key to daily use of any classic is to have more than one! Then all your worries about reliability and regular maintenance go out of the window. If a wheel bearing or UJ starts complaining, or a valve drops, you just use the other car and fix it at the weekend instead of rushing to get it sorted for the next day.
On this basis, I'd suggest an early Herald/Minor/A30/whatever plus a Series II Land Rover.

And as 2 is never really enough, a Citroen Traction, Rover P4, Wolseley 4/44, Riley 1.5, Borgward Isabella, Fiat Topolino, etc...

[Minxy]

Can't see the gain. Yes you save the forty quid a year on the MOT but assuming you keep the maintenance up so you are driving a safe reliable car that's all you do save. It is likely to be less reliable and arguably more thirsty than a newer car. False economy I would say.

[classictyres]

Ah yes but you do get all the other bonuses of driving a classic daily; I already drive a '71 vehicle on a daily basis.

I was really just playing devils advocate, and trying to look at the Governments new MOT ruling in a different light..

I think you could happily tool around for 10 miles a day in a nice Herald or Minor and enjoy yourself a great deal, as well as saving £40 a year!

[OneCarefulOwner]

Thing is, those cars already cost more to buy than other classics, so it's another false economy. I love using my Allegros, I get all kinds of comments about it and as I've gradually got them sorted my maintenance bills have shrunk to subsistance levels.

I wholeheartedly agree with Willy - multiple cheap-to-run cars is the way forward! I can never see myself going back to only relying on a single car again.

[Martin Evans]

If it was pre 1960, I'd go for a Morris Minor 1000 or if the terrain was more harsh, a Land Rover. If you wanted a bigger car, I'd go for a Volvo Amazon (Made from 1956) or a MK 1/2 Jaguar (If you could afford the running costs). All enjoy good spares back up, which I think is essential, if the car is to be a runabout. You could try finding a pre 1960 Mini

[suffolkpete]

How about a Wolseley 1500 or Riley1.5? Just a Minor with a bit more grunt

[Martin Evans]

True but I don't think body parts are as easy to get and they are a tad nose heavy. I remember my father saying that in a straight line, the Riley version would run the MGA 1500 close. I remember someone else, who had a Riley RME (My grandfather also had one and my father recalls it being under engined). One day he was out on the A40, between Ross and Gloucester (Pre M4), in the RME and a Wolseley 1500 caught up. He knew that the Riley didn't have a lot of go but he knew that the RM handled well. I think the Wolseley driver wanted to prove that he had the better car but the road was quite twisty and the opportunity to show it's superior staright line speed had not presented itself. The man in the Riley just kept going at the same pace and when they came to a tightish bend, the Riley just went round but alas the Wolseley understeered straight on through the hedge (The driver was shaken but not hurt......a little surprised at how the RM had just taken the bend without drama......maybe some of it was down to the driver).

[falconriley]

I felt a RMB was ideal, until the second broken halfshaft. Then was a much modified Morris Major powered by an 1950cc MGB motor etc, basically a Riley 1.5 equivalent, now a MGB. Although a 1966 so not strictly pre '60 but is crude enough in design and concept surely! If I had to have a pre '60 car for a daily driver now I would probably restore my 1939 Morris 14/6 Coupe ute, as it would be ideal, but not the sort of thing many other people could have as it is the only one ever made.