Daily driving an A-body
I have a65 cuda just had full mechanical restoration, it was ment to be a daily driver. However after 5k of work i would not risk it as a daily driver too many crazy fools on the road. It has 318 gets about 20 mpg so could be ok for short commute. My next move is a complete electrical restoration, or redoing. I have found 45 year old electrical wires to be not reliable. I would buy a newer car for daily driving why risk a historical vehicle to the possibility of a wreck or being broken into. Keep in mind these cars are easy to unlock (coat hanger) so if you have important stuff like computer or document they cannot be left in car at all! If you do lots of work to car you will not want to drive it daily in city traffic. I am lucky I live and work well away from crowded city streets. I drive cuda when it is nice out only!. These cars do not brake or handle well in rain for instance! Look for a neon or such for daily use and enjoy your classic car on weekends and for fun!
I wholeheartedly disagree. Cars are meant to be driven. Accidents suck, no doubt, but letting the poor thing sit in the garage and die a slow death is worse.
As far as theft, new cars are just as easy. Why? Because any thief that's in it for the money has a set of keys (bump or otherwise) or a transmitter. Viola, unlocked car, no damage. Put in an ignition disconnect (try that on a new car by yourself!) or a fuel pump cut off switch (if you've gone electric). Hell most people these days can't even drive a stick. No one carries a "slim jim" anymore, they don't work on new cars. If they want your stuff, they'll break the window anyway.
Handling? A bodies especially can be made to handle very well. Modern compound tires are a big improvement by themselves. Stiffer t-bars and sways, and they'll pull 1 G on a lateral skid, which is better than a lot of cars off the lot. Stopping? A-bodies are super easy. Convert to '73-'76 spindles and ball joints and run 11 3/4" disks in the front, it's a bolt on conversion. It's what I run on my Challenger, and it stops quite well (no, probably not brand new ABS well, but you'd be surprised). I also run 11" drums in the back (courtesy the same Diplomat), but that's probably overkill for an A-body, and requires axles if you're SBP.
Bottom line is, cars are meant to be driven. I drive my Challenger in the rain all winter, I park it in my driveway (that's right, not in a garage), and I've driven it in the snow a few times (weather forecasters are unreliable), although out here they sand, and not salt, the roads. Most new cars that I'd want to drive still cost more than what I've spent on my Challenger, so why not drive it? If you want to keep your car perfect forever, put it in a museum and forget about it. With any luck the museum won't burn down.
