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by Don Levy

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Most classic car collectors (me included) have always maintained that a 4-door sedan wasn't really a classic car. Usually the argument was about the styling and desirability. A popular argument has always been "just because it's old doesn't make it a classic". This is likely still true but all older cars that have been restored may be viewed as a classic car to some degree. It's true that a coupe or convertible is going to be more desirable than a 4-door in most cases, but later I'll give you some reasons why a 4-door might be the way to go.

In this article classic cars will basically be a catchall name for all the cars that I'm discussing here, so bear with me. Here is a brief trip through history to try and explain how the 4-door kind of got shoved aside as a classic car. If someone is restoring or making a street rod from the twenties, thirties or forties car a 4-door is sometimes more desirable than a roadster or a coupe. This is due to utility being very important as a lot of owners like to cruise with their family and friends.

In 1949 there was a big change as most cars now came with rear seats and could carry four or more people in comfort, so there wasn't much reason to choose the utility of a sedan over a coupe or convertible. With the utility factor gone buyers started buying classic cars based on desirability. This really kicked into high gear when the hardtops became the hot ticket in the early fifties.

When the muscle car era began in 1964 almost no one looking for a muscle car ordered a 4-door because muscle cars were built on the premise of low weight and high horsepower. Today most buyers would prefer a car from 1964 to 1972 to be a muscle car or at least have the appearance of one which of course excludes the 4-doors.

As I'm writing this I'm beginning to be a little more tolerant of 4-doors than I was yesterday. This started this morning as I approached a 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu from the rear and saying to myself "that's a good looking classic car" and then as I passed I said "too bad it's a 4-door". Shortly after the "different strokes for different folk's syndrome" kicked in and I started thinking, there must be some reasons why a 4-door would be a good car to own and by golly I thought of some. Even though a 4-door (even a 4-door hardtop) will never have style of a hardtop or a convertible there are a number of reasons why they are a good deal. Here they are:

1. First of all, the price is going to be much less than a hardtop, sometimes as much as 50% less, mainly because they are less desirable.

2. Secondly many 4-doors are still original. A lot of them will be one or two owner cars and likely be low mileage. Many will be passed down from parents and will be in very good condition. This is a plus as there will be less expense for restoration and you can put your own touches on it.

3. Third the utility is greater in a 4-door because of the back doors letting people get in and out easier plus there will be more leg room. Kids, wives and older people will appreciate this.

4. Fourth your insurance will likely cost less than the sportier cars as the insurance company will know that someone who buys a 4-door will likely be a safer driver because it'll probably be a family car.

5. Fifth the operating cost will most likely be less because most of the 4-door cars had smaller engines and most had automatic transmissions when they became available. This in itself will keep the desire to hotrod down to a minimum which will save money in gas and parts.

6. Sixth and probably most important is the fact that the wife will be much more receptive to your buying a classic car if you can explain how the whole family can go cruising instead of just you and your buddy. I speak from experience.

There are likely more reasons for someone to buy a 4-door but I can't think of them right now. If you're wishing you could have a classic car and besides not being able to afford the most popular ones your wife is against it maybe you could start out with a 4-door and work your way up. Take your wife to a few car shows and other car functions and you might be surprised when one day she says, "how come we don't have real classic, maybe a hard top or convertible"? It's probably not going to happen that easy but you never know.

Learn more about this author, Don Levy.

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