What pre '75 car would you buy: 15K budget
Discussion
dinkel said:
http://adcache.collectorcartraderonline.com/10/6/8/78337868.htm
Possibly - really depends on what you want.
Other contenders for me would be a Mustang, Jensen Interceptor (Convertible version - not sure of price).
If you want a fun two seater I would go for a TVR S Series - get an immaculately sorted one for around £8k or so.
I had one - brilliant fun, lots of looks and cheap to look after. (Only get an S2 or S3 though, or the V8S - more expensive but still well inside your budget).
I suppose it depends on your own age, but I personally wouldn't buy anything built, say, pre-1980.
Maybe it's just me, but I just get the idea that cars built much before then are going to be completely shagged out, unless they've been restored, in which case you won't know quite what's what unless you did the restoration yourself.
I like the idea of some classics 'modernised' though. Some may call it sacrilege, but there are people who take classic '60s/early '70s Alfa Romeo GTVs, rebody them in identical-looking rust-free fibreglass, and fit the twin-spark 'four' from a 75. Seems more useable to me.
Same goes for Triumph Stags with Rover 3.5-litre V8s - the original 3.0 just isn't reliable enough for my liking and I'd just put my foot down worrying what would go pop next.
Also, the simple march of time often means more modern parts are more efficient and better suited to modern motoring. I once saw a Chevrolet Corvette Stingray that had been fitted with a 3.5 litre Rover V8, and it turned out that the 'vette'ray accelerated faster and handled better with it, as well as giving 25, as opposed to 12 mpg. And it cost a fraction of the 'original', which is a bit daft as it really was a better car for British motoring.
So, if I was buying a 'pre-'75' car, for £15k I'd want some modern bits in there too!
Maybe it's just me, but I just get the idea that cars built much before then are going to be completely shagged out, unless they've been restored, in which case you won't know quite what's what unless you did the restoration yourself.
I like the idea of some classics 'modernised' though. Some may call it sacrilege, but there are people who take classic '60s/early '70s Alfa Romeo GTVs, rebody them in identical-looking rust-free fibreglass, and fit the twin-spark 'four' from a 75. Seems more useable to me.
Same goes for Triumph Stags with Rover 3.5-litre V8s - the original 3.0 just isn't reliable enough for my liking and I'd just put my foot down worrying what would go pop next.
Also, the simple march of time often means more modern parts are more efficient and better suited to modern motoring. I once saw a Chevrolet Corvette Stingray that had been fitted with a 3.5 litre Rover V8, and it turned out that the 'vette'ray accelerated faster and handled better with it, as well as giving 25, as opposed to 12 mpg. And it cost a fraction of the 'original', which is a bit daft as it really was a better car for British motoring.
So, if I was buying a 'pre-'75' car, for £15k I'd want some modern bits in there too!
. Not exactly sporting but it will be by the time I finsig with it. 
soir said:
TR6 in red, cream leather (150bhp one)
Yep, I saw the posted link is a US twin Stromberger . . .
www.wilsonmotorco.com/images/MVC-001J.JPG
Yum, yum.
Last sunday I was picknicking when all of a sudden a mint looking rumbling midnight blue TR6 stopped to drop the passenger. I realised this was the car I had in my teenage dreamgarage - next to the LP400S and the Europa - and I still want one. Checking out some prices: a good one is affordable. Every month a deposit . . .
www.wilsonmotorco.com/images/MVC-001J.JPG
For history . . .
speedychrissie said:
I AM BIASED! but this is my opinion:
an early 70s lotus elan would be lovely.
my dad has 2 that he races at the weekends. so much fun. awesome car. easy to maintain. well within budget.
just have a look at one.
chris
Yep, I'd go with an Elan, too.
One of the all time greats; possibly the best handling car, for road use, ever built.
Gordon Murray rates it as the best sports car ever built, and if it's good enough for Gordon...
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