Part of me is really getting an itch to buy a cheap older car just to have something fun to tinker around with and drive for fun.
I'm going back and forth on a couple of options-basically I'm stopping my search at the late '80s/early '90s(depending on the model) as I want something with a carburetor(no electronics=easy shade tree mechanic repairs).
From a practical aspect I'm looking at an older half ton pickup-preferably with 4 wheel drive and a manual transmission(although an automatic isn't a deal killer). I have a frequent enough need for a pickup that it would be handy to have one, and after getting stuck a few times this past winter I'd really like to have 4 wheel drive. If I go that route, I'm pretty much sold on a Chevy 1500 with a small-block 350. I've looked at F-150s also, but just have a really strong preference for a Chevy at least in the time frame I'm talking about. I also love the small block 350-remember this isn't a daily driver so gas mileage is not some much of a concern and I love small block 350s.
A Ranger or S10 also isn't out of consideration. I actually like the size a little bit better, and the '91 Ranger my dad has was a blast to drive. The gas mileage is certainly better, although I'd again want 4 wheel drive for the winter.
The other thing I'm considering is an older GM B body or a Ford Panther. An Impala or Police Package Caprice would be top on the list on the Chevy front-again with a small block 350. On the Ford end of things, an LTD, Towncar, or Mark V/VI would be top on the list. I actually like the Mark V best of all of those, although it's older than the other things I'm considering. I love the retractible headlight covers and the Opera windows, though . As much as this is probably a stupid consideration, B bodies get a nod for the gas cap under the license plate-something that I've always thought was a good idea. Unfortunately, I'm not exactly the typical demographic buying these cars these days(my skin is a few shades too light). I'd also want to keep them stock, with small steel wheels and big tires(whitewalls-narrow of course-where appropriate)-it's surprisingly hard to find one these days that hasn't been lifted and otherwise "pimped out." I just like big old American cars, which is my attraction to these.
You'll need a truck to haul around all the PPC macs you pick up every day
My dad completed a restore of a Triumph GT6 coupe about 8 years ago and it took him 2 years roughly.I had the opportunity to get my hands dirty and learn a lot about cars. Since then can change oil, I've done an alternator, water pump, and helped rebuild a couple engines. Tinkering with a car is a fun experience for sure and really makes you appreciate the engineering behind them.
He has always wanted a pickup truck but says that my mom won't let him. I am sure he could afford a pickup truck if he really wanted, especially considering he doesn't like 4-door luxury trucks that are popular. All he wants is a 2dr or extended cab and 4WD. Maybe once I finish my residency and get settled in life I'll buy him a Tacoma as minor consolation for paying for my education.
My favorite option for the small pickups is the Tacoma. Interestingly a lot of the companies have stopped producing small pickups (Ford, Dodge, Honda). The other options are the Nissan Frontier, and GMC/Chevy Canyon/Colorado. VW has a cool pickup called the Amarok, but it's not available in the US. For a midsize I'd like to say GMC for the sake of reliability historically speaking and I like their look better than Chevy. I think I'd actually go with Ford because of the better styling, aluminum body, and better finish quality. I don't think I'd choose the EcoBoost Turbo V6 even though it's more powerful than their V8 option. I would never buy a Dodge and I never heard good things about the Tundra (plus it's fugly).
It is cool how Dodge (*ehemm RAM, sorry) is offering a 6-cyl diesel and air suspension in their RAM 1500, two handy features you can't get anywhere else. You mentioned diesel trucks being the norm 3/4 ton and up. This seems to be the norm, but I believe it has to do with the taxes/environmental restrictions being based on the class of vehicle. Bigger trucks have less restriction than cars. Chevy is supposedly putting a diesel in their small Colorado pickup (derived the Chevy Cruze diesel I believe).
A few years ago my Grandfather got rid of this 1986 Ford F-100 he bought new as a spare truck. The thing literally had 30,000 miles on it in 2012 and he sold it for $700. That would have been the car for you, except it was 2WD. He said it had a lot of issues from age and spending most of its life sitting. Historically speaking, I think GM products are the way to go. It seems they have the yes overall reliability/longevity in the truck segment.
The Chevy 350 short-block is a great engine. My parents owned an early 90's 30' Grady-White Sportfish up until a couple years ago. It had dual Chevy 350 small block engines and they were fantastic. For an I/O, it had lots of power/preformance, great reliability, cheap to fix, and usually easy to work on, especially maintenance. They bought a newer boat with twin Yamaha 200 outboards, but we miss the cheap parts and simple, old school design.
A Mark V? Are you a pimp on the side? The gigantic, boxy, land yachts of the 1980's and early 1990's are the worst. To me they just scream "there is something off about the person driving this car". Stick with the pickup. Boston is switching over to the new Chevy Caprice police cars (actually a Aussie Holden). I always wonder if any of them have the 6.0L V8 option.