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Ideas for an older car for flat towing?
I’m about to pass my 2007 Tacoma on to my nephew, so I’ll be down to a bus and a bike. Clean slate. I’m just about set on buying a TJ (1997-2006) Wrangler to tow behind the bus, but I have also been tempted lately to buy a classic car as a daily driver. I don’t really care for newer cars. Even the Tacoma is more modern than I like. I read all the older threads and saw a few references to towing an older car four down, including Jon’s Ford. It got me thinking I might get away with buying one car instead of two. I want to stick with flat towing.
So, I’m looking for suggestions. Is there a decent option beside getting both the Jeep and a classic car? I considered an older CJ Jeep to scratch the classic itch, but I don’t think they’d be a good fit for my frame. I’m not settled on any particular classic, either. I’m eyeing an early ’70s Coupe de Ville and a couple of ’60s Camaros right now. I like convertibles, but nothing too small. Older trucks are cool, too. I don’t know how to determine what can be towed and what can’t. I’ll probably keep it under $20k, but might go to about $30k if needed. I want a driver, not a show car. Help me spend my money.
1984 96" with 8V92TA
(remodeled Liberty Coach)
Greenwood, MO -
69 Replies
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Chad, Start with Hemmings, either the magazine or the web site and you will get a sense of what type of vehicle you might like and a range of prices. While I thought towing an older vehicle would be fun I had two experiences that erased that thought from my mind. The 50 Ford was the first example. Restored to its original mechanical condition it was apparent the car was unsafe by today’s standards. Stopping, turning, and handling made it a poor fit for today’s roads and speeds. By having it rebuilt using a new chassis, 4 wheel disc brakes, PS, A/C etc. it is consistent with today’s cars, but looks stock. It was expensive.
We also tow a Hummer as the primary toad, and while it is really a boxy big luxury car it is heavy and I got to thinking last year something lighter that unlike the Ford I wouldn’t mind risking parking lot rash. I focused on the Toyota FJ-40, the original from around the early 70’s. After looking at a few it was obvious whatever we do tow has to be capable of today’s highway speeds and it has to have creature comforts especially if we plan on going out to dinner with other couples or we will be doing a mix of driving, including 75 MPH interstates. Unlike the Ford I realized vintage vehicles do not provide the safety or performance so I will stick with our Ford, the H2 Hummer, and my Ram 2500 pick up. Each has its benefits and what we tow depends on where we are going and what we plan to do.
Without a doubt though the H2 is the best we have and have ever had because it is not only comfortable it will do anything and go anywhere. You have to consider your priorities and where your focus is. I would not hesitate to consider a 90’s SUV like an older Grand Cherokee, or even a mid 90’s Buick Estate Wagon or even a pickup truck. You will have a lot of options and Hemmings is the place to get your imagination going.
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I too favor older cars and especially classics. I have two set up for flat towing, a 2001 GMC Jimmy 2 door and a 2001 Jeep Cherokee Sport XJ. I favor the Jeep since it is a classic and becoming a collectable. 2001 was the last one made and many of them have become rock climbers and really pristine ones are hard to find.
I have a friend who has a really nice one that’s equipped with a base plate, Blue Ox I think, for towing and he told me within the last couple of days that he is thinking of selling it. If you think that you might be interested, let me know and I’ll hook you up with him. His is a little nicer than mine probably as he’s a little more of a perfection nut than I am.
Here’s a picture of mine and I wouldn’t consider parting with it.
(404) 626-6226
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I like Jon’s thinking for a Buick Estate Wagon. I have always liked those. Usually see a few of those come up on the Bring A Trailer (BAT) auction web site. I like those big wagons. Wife does not, but I do.
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I appreciate those suggestions. The Buick reminds me of the Chevy Caprice station wagon that I first learned to drive in. I dig it! I’m thinking a bit older than the 90s though. It sounds like towing something much older than that doesn’t strike anyone as a great idea, so I may be looking at a two car solution. I actually like the Wrangler, so that’s not a sacrifice. It also gives me more flexibility to choose something older to tinker on.
Jon, I had mostly been looking at cars on Craig’s List. The Hemmings site is going to chew up a lot of my time! Here’s a Cadillac I’ve been watching:
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Whadda ya think about this?
TV, Bluetooth Surround Sound, Mood lighting, and Bar.
Never in commercial service.
2025 Marathon H3 / 4th Prevost
21 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel 4x4 -
Towing old stuff is a great idea because pre-seventies cars were so simple a screwdriver and Crescent wrench were enough tools to fix almost everything. But safety has to be considered. I like the larger cars like the Cadillac or Buick because at a rally they are great cars for when a bunch of folks want to go somewhere for dinner.
But smaller vehicles actually make sense because they are easier to tow, can be stuffed into small parking spaces, and are easier to have when you end up in a campground with space challenged sites.
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How about this?
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I like ’em both! A little impractical, perhaps. Cars are a little like women for me. I don’t necessarily have a type, but I know when I like one. And they don’t have to be old, but I prefer them uncomplicated. Simple enough to understand why they’re behaving a little strangely today. I might be stretching the analogy a bit too much.
I just realized that the newest plane I ever owned is 11 years older than the oldest car I ever owned. I’m going to have to even that out.
Jon, I hear you on safety. If it doesn’t at least have decent brakes, it’s probably older than I like anyway. The value I place on my personal safety varies substantially with the amount of fun involved, but I do share the roads with others. I’d like to avoid bending metal.
JC, I forgot to thank you for suggesting the Cherokee. I love their styling, but would probably go with a Wrangler instead. The soft top is a huge plus for me, I’m just thinking that the Wrangler alone won’t scratch this itch.
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78-79 Ford Bronco. I love these things. Only vehicle we have flat towed so far is a 2002 GMC Safari van. Had it since new coincidentally matches the bus.
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Problem with me is, I like them all.
I really like that Bronco!
What kind of airplane? I like the old ones too.
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Nice! Is that a Swift? I was a Beech guy, both slightly older (1959 K35) and slightly newer (1966 V35) than that Bonanza in the background. I love the N35 and P35 models. Those teardrop windows with the IO-470N were the Bonanza sweet spot for me. I also had a 1958 Twin Bonanza as my last plane. Traded it for the bus. 🙂
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Wow!!
I’m an absolute Twin Bo Freak.
If you still had it I might try to trade you a 310 for it. I used to fly a corporate Twin Bo back in the 60s. Used a 2000 foot sod strip behind one of the manufacturing plants.
I like Bonanzas also. I think that if I were going to have one it would be a V 35B, but you can’t get away from the fact that the O-470 is practically bullet proof.
The Swift is a ’46 model very original. Has the engine that it was delivered from the factory with. Only 1500hrs TT. I’ve had it a good while.
What do you think of this one?
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Looking for a smallish pickup truck for a toad, @JCarrollJr, if you want to sell your Jimmy I might be your huckleberry… !
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Is that a Cessna 195? I’ve never seen one in the wild, but that look is pure sex. I’m a low wing guy, but the radial engine offsets that misplaced wing quite effectively!
My dad had a V35B when I was a kid. I would have loved to have that 28v gear swing time. It was about four seconds, compared to about 12 seconds with the 14v system. That really dirtied up my initial climb, which was often over congested areas. Would have loved more airspeed sooner. My K35 had the engine slightly updated to the 260 HP IO-470N. I preferred it to the IO-520 in the V35 because the 470 has a belt-driven alternator that couldn’t grenade and destroy the engine. My engine had 2550 SMOH when I traded the plane to a guy for his 1957 C172. Dumb move since it turns out I hated flying that 172, but I had already bought the newer Bonanza and the K35 was proving tough to sell with those engine hours and faded paint. I figured any 172 was easier to sell, but that wasn’t the case.
I had the V35, the 172, and the Twin Bo all sitting on the ramp at KGPM (Grand Prairie, TX) in 2016 when an early spring storm swept through. Light hail damage on all three. The Bonanza and 172 went to the insurance companies, and I got a nice check for the Twin Bo. Traded it as-is to a crop duster for the Prevost and haven’t flown since. Sure do miss it sometimes!
Here’s my dad’s V35B, before a recent paint job and an N-number change. He worked for and with King Radio for many years, so it had a full King Silver Crown avionics stack back in the late 80s. I actually got the panel mount clock out of it from the current owner when he redid the panel, and have been meaning to make it into a gift for Dad.
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Yep, that’s a 195. I’ve been flying it for a little more than 30 years. Bought it in pieces and restored it. It’s got a full house Silver Crown package plus an S TEC autopilot and it does a really nice job. The V 35B is absolutely beautiful. If I had good sense that’s what I would have.
Chip, I really hadn’t thought about parting with the Jimmy but I do have too many cars and might consider it. I don’t flat tow very often anymore. I tow a stacker most of the time. If you would like to talk about it, give me a call at (404) 626-6226.
JC
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