What's this with fictional detectives driving antique cars?

[raccoon]

Stephanie Plum in Evanovich's books drove a family vintage car when hers got blown up, which happened occasionally.

Lady lawyer detective in a lesser-known series by Cathy Pickens, which I'm reading now, drives an old Mustang.

Old cars may seem romantic, but I know from personal experience that plastic/rubber parts get old, burn up or break on you, and leave you stranded. Unless you have somebody taking care of that old car (or unless you can do it yourself), who really knows what they're doing, you're taking a big chance on that old car breaking down on you.

[samplegirl]

1. Take it from someone who knows....

I have a vintage car it takes upkeep in order for it to run. Every spring...its get the wallet out and do the normal maintenance and just hope I have a good summer without major problems. Although...I dont have a lot to do now as most everything has been replaced in the years owning it. Romantic???
I don't know if I would call them romantic but they certainly were the era of very shapely noticable cars.

[Historic NY]

2. Tell me about it I got 3 of them.......

sometimes its the money pit.

[samplegirl]

4. I guess half the battle is just maintaining them...

I haven't had major problems but it adds up when you have to buy parts.
I can't imagine three. One is enough!!!
Ah!!!but when there running....so much fun!

:hi:

[Historic NY]

5. True were in the 3yr of a 1947 Chevy rebuild...to take across the US.

[samplegirl]

7. Wow...

Would really love to see a picture of it.

[lapfog_1]

3. Most PI's in modern fiction follow

the models established by Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler. Their heroes are "everyman/everywoman" archetypes that have bad finances and/or sketchy means of support. One affectation is the penchant to drive older, usually decrepit or "classic" vehicles, often they live in modest to poor (and often unique) living quarters (Jim Rockford's beach trailer, Travis McGee's Florida houseboat, etc).

They have a few reliable old friends to help them out (will do anything for them) but without in apparent effort on the part of the PI to maintain the friendship. Often depicted as loaners, rugged individualists, they thrive by eschewing the conventions of working for an agency or for the police (and, if they are members of the police force, they are often pursuing the case on their own, either because they are visiting someone or on their own time).

It's follows a formula at this point...

[NV Whino]

6. It's called fiction for a reason.

[stlove1000]

8. Because they're cool and it's adds to the aura.

[DUgosh]

9. Sue Grafton's Kinsey Milhone

Drove an old VW Beetle till it was destroyed in one of the alphabet mystery series. Now she has an older model mustang.

Diane Mott Davidson has caterer Goldie Schultz driving an old remodeled van. She occasionally borrows one of her best friend faster cars.

[Forkboy]

10. It doesn't pack the same punch when your dashing hero jumps into his Pinto.

:)

[Captain Hilts]

11. On the Mike Hammer tv show he drove a vintage mustang. nt

[raccoon]

12. Also many older cars get sucky mileage. nt

[david13]

13. The older cars get bad mileage

and have no pollution devices, and thus pollute something horrible.
Colombo, Columbo, the tv detective had one, or more. He was portrayed as the bumbler who stumbles upon the solution.
Noir detectives, noir detectives is the term. They don't have much money, don't seem sharp, but they get the bad guy.
Just another reason why I don't like fiction. But I do like Guy Noir.
I'm over here for another reason.
dc

[Thor_MN]

14. Would you hire a PI driving a baby blue Prius?

[raccoon]

16. Quicker than I'd hire one driving an antique Mustang, or whatever.

The vintage car (1) would stick out like a sore thumb, (2) unless it was being maintained VERY well, it may be unreliable, i.e., break down at inconvenient times (like there's a convenient time).

[Sequoia]

15. Columbo drove a clunker too.

Sherlock Holmes traveled in style though.

[Name removed]

17. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.