Expert: Jesse Moser - 6/25/2001

Question
I drive an average of 100 miles per day.
I am considering buying a 1963 Valiant 225 slant 6  auto trans to use daily.
This was maybe my best car, back in 1973, but how reliable are they now?

Answer
With any older car, everything that deteriorates with time needs to be checked, and probably replaced including vaccuum lines, belts, and gaskets in the driveline, plus all of the boots and mounts inderneath.  The valve seats maight also be a problem, because they were designed for use with leaded gas.  Today's unleaded fuels can make these seats deteriorate.  
The driveline, in my opinion, is not the most troublesome part of a 1964 daily driver.  The worst case I could see would be having to find a 1980s donor car and replace parts of all of it.  The suspension and steering are however a little more difficult.  While the "muscle car" era cars use similar parts to 1980s cars which are still availabe and have access to aftermarket restoration and high performance companies, the 1960s cars are not so lucky.  Sources do exhist, but most parts would be special order, leaving you for days without your transportation.
Overall, however, if the car you are looking at is mechanically and structurally sound, I don't think you'll have any more problems than you did in '73.  Except maybe all the people constantly asking you about your oh-so-cool daily driver.