Every now and then you see a kind of nice looking car that is collectible in a demo derby. Some people go bonkers about it. It's not really the same thing here cuz you're getting a lot more utility out of it, but there is a parallel.

I grew up with the winter "BEATER with a HEATER". I have a 14 year old Jeep (replacing my other older 97TJ). Reserse flush out the cooling system/heater core, change hoses, plugs, fluids and put on a good set of tires and enjoy driving up-north for years to come....

A few years ago I decided to use this thing as a winter driver as I have embarrassingly little money in it. Put a set of Blizzaks on it and it was unstoppable. But I came to my senses after a couple years, sold the Blizzaks and bought a Jeep. Just couldn't bring myself to be the guy to kill a nice survivor.

I agree on the snow tires. Rear wheel drive, Blizzaks, Glacier grips, etc. and some weight in the trunk and you will never get stuck.

Crown vics have dried up around here. I ended up buying one the other year that needed a bit of work to use as a beater and then future parts car for my good one. Haven't found decent parts in yards in ages now.

I daily drive my 51 Plymouth, year round. Now I don't live in the rust belt, but we do get snow on occasion. I don't generally get on the roads here, in anything, if they have snow on them. Too many can't drive as it is throw in snow and some doofus is gonna T bone someone, it won't be me.

I don't run snow tires, never have even when I lived on the shores of Lake Michigan.

You say "vintage" but keep in mind, a car built in 2000 is now almost 25 years old! I know, it's hard for me to believe, too!

I know I'm living in geezer land now, but to me anything built since 1975 is not a vintage car. Of course all the young pups think differently.

My winter beater, my spring beater, my summer beater, and my fall beater. This is winter #3. I saved it from the crusher and I've built it for this purpose, it is a 4x4 truck. I intend to drive it until I can't or it won't move anymore. I'm expecting to get at least 10-12 years out of it, at which time I'll be 78 + years old, and I probably won't be driving it much. I don't care what the next guy does with it.

The pic of it in the snow was last year. The 1st winter it was red oxide primer, I don't have a pic of it in primer in the show, but it spent the winter being driven.

I've driven my Swinger, my Hornet and even my Gremlin in the winter. Other than the Gremlin would randomly decide to swap ends and try to kill me.... all of them were pretty decent winter cars. The Swinger had the best heater of them all though, have to admit.

But I'm in search of another SX/4. I had one in my youth, but it was cobbled badly before I got it. The worst offence I found out only after getting it running is that somebody had swapped in a passenger car 258 instead of an "Eagle" 258. The key difference between the two is that the eagle version has bosses on the side of the block. Those bosses are for a bracket which locates the front axle housing. I got my car running and didn't even get out of the back yard before the housing tried making love to the oil pan.

Long story short, I want another one. A decent one. I passed on a super-rare Kammback earlier this year. Might have a line on the car I want, just waiting to see if the owner will finally part with it. The other reason I'm trying to find an SX/4 is that my second choice would be a 4.0, automatic, 2-door Cherokee. Those don't seem to exist anymore.

Even better, find a 4.0 and put it in the Eagle. FI is so much better in cold weather. And a HP boost.

I've been driving a '79 LeSabre the last couple years. 301 Pontiac, TH350, 2.45 rear end. Cruises nice in traffic, gets 22-23 mpg on the highway with the cruise set, and goes anywhere and everywhere. I paid $700 for the car with 101k miles in March of '22, OH car I bought in NY, was Ziebarted when new. The only downfall is the nickel and dime items. I'm on the second wiper motor, the cruise transducers keep taking a dump (on my second junkyard piece), Master Cylinder, heater valve, etc. Nothing overly expensive or hard to replace, just annoying. I've got a little over 140k on it now. I'll keep driving it I suppose. It's a weird car in that people [censored] at me when I drive it in the snow, but it's really not worth restoring, nor does anyone want to buy it and save it.

didn't that have a lime green "cell phone antenna" on it ?

It did! It got broken but I have both pieces and plan on gluing it back together. Still has the vintage bag phone on the hump, tho

Bought mine for $10k with 27k miles on it. Beat the dog crap out of it, hauled lumber, drag raced it on several occasions (got my first 000 green in that thing), didn't care where I parked it. Like driving a sofa down the highway. If Ford made them again I'd buy one tomorrow morning. Traded it in with 140k and damn near shed a tear.

After I moved back here around 94, I would regularly see a triple white 69 Chevelle SS convertible driving through the snow, salt and slush on my way into work. Appeared to be a nicely restored or original car, always puzzled me

The trick is finding the right car that's old and cool, but not rare. Reliable, but not worth saving.

you realize that had a lifetime guarantee until it broke, don't you ?
glad you have both pieces. you might have to add a splint so it doesn't break again..............

Buicks centurys last forever. 3.8 are the best but the smaller 6 they switched to is ok too.

I'd still have one if the nephew didn't turn 16.

So the solution I have now is my Silverado 4 X 4 that I bought new 20 years ago. It's been a great truck and no reason to replace it. It just got old like me.

There IS a place for ricers!