Is running a 70s Land Yacht as a daily a stupid idea?

[TREMAiNE]

A few years ago, I very nearly purchased a 1973 Pontiac Bonneville Grand Safari station wagon that I had planned to drive daily, but I didn't go through with it in the end. I ended up getting a much newer 2007 Crown Victoria, which I ran for a while (and absolutely loved) but ended up selling it, along with other cars in the fleet, to fund a bigger purchase.

The desire for a 70s Land Yacht never went away, though, and as I spend 6 weeks each year travelling the USA, the desire has only grown stronger.

I am in a position now where I am extremely tempted to buy something like a MKIV or MKV Lincoln Continental (or similar-sized 70s car) to run for a year or so as a daily driver. I do have access to other cars, so if the roads were salty, I would probably avoid using it - but aside from that, all-weather use.

How stupid would this be?

My rationale is to buy something that has been refurbished or one that is in generally top condition relative to its age; and I am not too fussed about losing money for it, so while you can get them from as little as £10k needing work, my idea would be to buy something in the £20-25k bracket and if daily driving it ruins it and I lose £10-15k, I am not actually that bothered. Don't get me wrong, I would do my best to keep it nice, and I would look after it, but I am just looking at worst-case scenarios here before I take the plunge.

Fuel economy does not matter to me, I only do about 6,000 miles per year currently in multiple cars.
The size doesn't matter either. I commute during unsociable hours on large roads. Having owned a Crown Victoria before, I am used to LHD and larger vehicles.

The thing that holds me back is reliability. I have absolutely zero mechanical/DIY ability whatsoever.

Small niggles that can wait until I have driven to a specialist to sort would be fine, but the only thing I need is a turn-key car.
Is it unrealistic to go outside every day and expect this thing to start every time?
If it didn't, I could use another car for work, but at 4am, if it doesn't start, I can't get home and it would be a pain to sort.

I know you can't answer that question definitelly because at the end of the day, I may get lucky/unlucky, but generally speaking is it feasible to even consider a daily like this?

I don't mind about the cost of maintenance, as long as the thing doesn't let me down repeatedly.

I really want to experience one of these before it is too late.

[hidetheelephants]

Given you've run a Crown Vic you've got more relevant experience than most; other than carbs and ignition points rather than injection and electronics a 70s land yacht won't be much different to maintain as a daily, just more ruinous for fuel. The biggest fight will be keeping rust at bay as Detroit was as bad as most other carmakers in the 70s as far as corrosion protection. I'd imagine you'll get a lot of use out of Rock Auto.

[TREMAiNE]

I figured rust would be an issue - which is the biggest reason why I expect I'd ruin it by daily driving it.

On the one hand, it would be a shame to let a top tier surviving example get ruined like that, but on the other hand, driving it and enjoying it is surely quite fitting, even if that limits it's lifespan.

I've never owned a car with carbs and older electronics and that is what scares me a little. I just dont want to be left stranded. Maybe once or twice, but not regularly. I don't want to be scared to use it.

I love the idea of wafting to work and back in it.

[fttm]

First purchase would have to be a 4 barrel Holley carb , get it set up by an Indie and it'll waft along forever .

[Matt Harper]

fttm said:

First purchase would have to be a 4 barrel Holley carb , get it set up by an Indie and it'll waft along forever .

The 460ci big block in these old barges has an OEM Autolite 2 or 4bbl with vacuum secs. To install a Holley or Edelbrock Performer without also swapping out the intake manifold will give you precisely zero gains. What makes these motors durable is the fact that the factory made them under-stressed, so they tend to last forever if treated with regular oil changes. C6 transmission is also bulletproof if not dicked-around with.

Anything made out of rubber and exposed to the elements, is what is problematic with these body on frame Fords. So engine mounts, all the suspension bushings, spring-hangers and body mounts perish with age and deliver a course, graunchy, rattley and vague driving experience.
Good news is that pretty much everything mechanical is still readily available - not so with some body/trim parts, of course.