Where I grew up, an "old mans car" was a heavier, luxury-loaded, bigger motor vehicle. Say, an Imperial over a Satellite. The Imperial didn't work as hard to eat up the highway miles, had a far better ride and likely better handling and brakes (before hitting the options list; and likely remained so even then). The "old man" had the bucks to spend on it, initially, and in service/fuel consumption, etc.
That said, there are no good or great wagons today to compare to the late 1960's Mopars. Todays are either too small, too slow or can't tow a decent trailer.
Modify one of those oldsters with gas shocks, FI, OD and a few other goodies and you'd run rings around most cars, especially all the SUVs out there that are at all comparable (any much shorter than a Suburban may not count).
The last of the half-decent ones was the '96 Chevy, even though it was hard pressed to do any "real" work with a 350 engine. Needed a mid or big block for the torque.
Uncool? I recall as a younger man leaving Dallas with a friend eastbound on I-20 in a '73 Chrysler (V8-440 4V, 3.23) at 95+ mph running 115-45 octane av gas. Had to slow down for traffic at one point, and was passing a brand-new Corvette (sticker on window still) during second gear re-acceleration. Before hitting third at 92 mph (WOT) that 'vette had given up trying to keep up, much less pass. Stuck the cruise back on at 105 mph.
Had nine guys plus some luggage on return trip, but traffic was heavier and kept getting caught behind a bunch of Grand Marquis'and such on their way back from LA Downs at 90-95. 460 pig Fords couldn't run worth a d@#$.
We've laughed about it now for over thirty years.
