Ideas for a sporty(ish) classic/vintage family car
Discussion
Hi all,
Welcome to my obsession, narrowing down the field to find the ideal classic car for local trips, club rallys and the odd longer road trip that can fit 2 adults and 2 young children (currently 3 and a half years old) and 18months and a reasonable amount of luggage.
This is the question that often entertains me in the twilight zone between kids being finally asleep and my own bedtime. And the philosophical debate in which my wife wants no part whatsoever. This isn't an imminent purchase, MS Excel says it's at least 2 to 3 years away.
My hypothetical budget is between 10k and 20k and the car would ideally have (even mild) sporty pretensions, be relatively straightforward to work on with good spares availability, happy cruising at 60mph+, not too heavy on petrol and be a saloon or coupe (with accessible rear seats). Oh and nothing flash, I have no delusions of grandeur. I use my cars a lot but very seldom wash or polish them.
The current state of the nation by purchase date is a 1956 Triumph TR3 (old faithful, rough and ready), a 1993 Mini British Open (1.3spi - my wifes, a car it doesn't feel special enough for me to enjoy and soon to be sold to finance some work on the house), a 1931 Alvis 12/50 Tourer (brilliant car but should have bought a saloon for practical reasons) and an incoming 1981 Land Rover SIII 109SW (a gamble, real condition unknown).
I've been lucky enough to own a two door Range Rover Classic in the past (3 door diesel, rust free and sold for peanuts before the values sky rocketed), a volvo 245 estate (great car) and a merc W123 estate as well (rusted through, destroyed my finances) and several series Land Rovers, Citroen GSA (weird and wonderful), early Renault 5 and my first classic was a Triumph TR6 (CP Pi). The best car I had that fits the bill was a Stag with Triumph V8 and Jag auto box, it was great with the hardtop on but too much a of a cruiser and a v8 is double the complications of a 4 pot with less space to work on it.
A Triumph 2500 saloon (pi or carbs) could be an interesting choice, or a Dolly Sprint but good ones are currently hard to find within my budget and it might be already too modern for me. I've always lusted after a Jag Mk2 but 3.4 and 3.8 models are too expensive and they are probably too complex for an amateur mechanic like myself to maintain.
A Porsche 912 is way over my budget, as is an Alfa 1750. A Lancia Fulvia 1.3 coupe is beuatiful but would it be too small for family use? Going back in time a Riley Kestrel would make a great companion to the Alvis, and as we're on the subject of rival marques an MG Magnette is a practical contemporary of the TR3.
PHs, over to you...
Welcome to my obsession, narrowing down the field to find the ideal classic car for local trips, club rallys and the odd longer road trip that can fit 2 adults and 2 young children (currently 3 and a half years old) and 18months and a reasonable amount of luggage.
This is the question that often entertains me in the twilight zone between kids being finally asleep and my own bedtime. And the philosophical debate in which my wife wants no part whatsoever. This isn't an imminent purchase, MS Excel says it's at least 2 to 3 years away.
My hypothetical budget is between 10k and 20k and the car would ideally have (even mild) sporty pretensions, be relatively straightforward to work on with good spares availability, happy cruising at 60mph+, not too heavy on petrol and be a saloon or coupe (with accessible rear seats). Oh and nothing flash, I have no delusions of grandeur. I use my cars a lot but very seldom wash or polish them.
The current state of the nation by purchase date is a 1956 Triumph TR3 (old faithful, rough and ready), a 1993 Mini British Open (1.3spi - my wifes, a car it doesn't feel special enough for me to enjoy and soon to be sold to finance some work on the house), a 1931 Alvis 12/50 Tourer (brilliant car but should have bought a saloon for practical reasons) and an incoming 1981 Land Rover SIII 109SW (a gamble, real condition unknown).
I've been lucky enough to own a two door Range Rover Classic in the past (3 door diesel, rust free and sold for peanuts before the values sky rocketed), a volvo 245 estate (great car) and a merc W123 estate as well (rusted through, destroyed my finances) and several series Land Rovers, Citroen GSA (weird and wonderful), early Renault 5 and my first classic was a Triumph TR6 (CP Pi). The best car I had that fits the bill was a Stag with Triumph V8 and Jag auto box, it was great with the hardtop on but too much a of a cruiser and a v8 is double the complications of a 4 pot with less space to work on it.
A Triumph 2500 saloon (pi or carbs) could be an interesting choice, or a Dolly Sprint but good ones are currently hard to find within my budget and it might be already too modern for me. I've always lusted after a Jag Mk2 but 3.4 and 3.8 models are too expensive and they are probably too complex for an amateur mechanic like myself to maintain.
A Porsche 912 is way over my budget, as is an Alfa 1750. A Lancia Fulvia 1.3 coupe is beuatiful but would it be too small for family use? Going back in time a Riley Kestrel would make a great companion to the Alvis, and as we're on the subject of rival marques an MG Magnette is a practical contemporary of the TR3.
PHs, over to you...
Edited by Willandflo on Friday 22 March 09:59
Triumph PI saloons and v8 Rovers would be the obvious choices, considering price and parts availability in the UK.
Maybe some BMWs (though I think prices for pre-80s stuff might be too high)?
Plenty of Yank metal - but 'sporty' often means using fuel faster then the pump will put it in the tank.
Maybe some BMWs (though I think prices for pre-80s stuff might be too high)?
Plenty of Yank metal - but 'sporty' often means using fuel faster then the pump will put it in the tank.
Here are a few thoughts (I like a good "youngtimer"!!
https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1634985
https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1702156
https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1565439
https://www.carandclassic.com/l/C1696921
https://www.carandclassic.com/make-an-offer/1984-m...
https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1607447
https://www.carandclassic.com/l/C1641530
https://www.carandclassic.com/l/C1678336
https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1702131
https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1634985
https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1702156
https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1565439
https://www.carandclassic.com/l/C1696921
https://www.carandclassic.com/make-an-offer/1984-m...
https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1607447
https://www.carandclassic.com/l/C1641530
https://www.carandclassic.com/l/C1678336
https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1702131
A Porsche 924/944? Just about will fit small kids and some (define 'reasonable' amount) luggage. Sporty, not too pretentious these days and good for longer road trips. Knocking on 40yrs old now, so classic enough perhaps? Plenty within budget and relatively simple to work on.
A friend has an 86 944S and looks after it but doesn't dote on it and uses it for all of the above.
A friend has an 86 944S and looks after it but doesn't dote on it and uses it for all of the above.
) a Volvo Amazon. You'd be surprsed how 'sporty' they feel, and for your budget you could probably get one that's been tuned a bit too.A friend of mine has just purchased a really nice D plate 4.2 manual series 3 XJ6. He paid less than 5 figures for it, not concours but very, very well looked after and just has really small jobs to do on it over the summer. Not that sporty, but it's got a great presence about it. Dark silver with a dark red interior.
Dapster said:
That's likely to be nearer £40k when the hammer falls.But the OP should consider the saloon if serious about a sporty drive. They're absolutely miles ahead of anything else comparable. In good condition you can turn up to a track day in a standard one and lap as much as you want all day. No brake fade, no overheating - no other old saloon can match them out of the box. Some stiffer front springs and anti-roll bar, some modernish tyres and they're even better. Example of the coupe in my profile pic.
This example at top of budget:
https://www.carandclassic.com/l/C1702739
As no-one else has suggested any of these yet, and it's so much easier spending other people's money.
Sunbeam Rapier, pillarless 2 door coupe, probably the sportiest of my suggestions, the rest are more brisk cruisers:-
Volvo C70, the hardtop convertible, bit modern, but very cheap, and some good spec ones about, type of car that simply isn't available any more.
Audi 80 cabriolet, less keen to suggest Mercedes, there's always a newer, or older version which I think will keep values down.
All well below your budget, won't mention the Jaguar XJ12 Coupe looking very tidy but needing work, in France, £16.500
Sunbeam Rapier, pillarless 2 door coupe, probably the sportiest of my suggestions, the rest are more brisk cruisers:-
Volvo C70, the hardtop convertible, bit modern, but very cheap, and some good spec ones about, type of car that simply isn't available any more.
Audi 80 cabriolet, less keen to suggest Mercedes, there's always a newer, or older version which I think will keep values down.
All well below your budget, won't mention the Jaguar XJ12 Coupe looking very tidy but needing work, in France, £16.500
braddo said:
But the OP should consider the saloon if serious about a sporty drive. They're absolutely miles ahead of anything else comparable. In good condition you can turn up to a track day in a standard one and lap as much as you want all day. No brake fade, no overheating - no other old saloon can match them out of the box. Some stiffer front springs and anti-roll bar, some modernish tyres and they're even better. Example of the coupe in my profile pic.
This example at top of budget:
https://www.carandclassic.com/l/C1702739
I was just going to suggest a Super.This example at top of budget:
https://www.carandclassic.com/l/C1702739
That one looks a lot of fun.
White-Noise said:
OP, how old would it need to be a classic for you? In the past in my mind I think 20 years was booted about but given this is for your own taste (not some definition!) what sort of age would you be happy with?
Pre-mid 1970s really or at least with a design harking back to the 60s or earlier (like the Landy)Interesting that the Italian cars are the top recommendation here. A friend has a lovely Fulvia Saloon that he drove back from Italy a few years ago and he's looking to sell. It's too early for me but I've been meaning to take it for a test drive all the same
Bonus points for cars under 1.4m tall as I should be able to squeeze them under the TR when I can finally affford a 4 post lift (with drip tray of course). The closer to 1.3m (4ft3) the better!
No bmw 02 series fans?
Keep the suggestions coming!
A cheap one will soon blow the budget on rust repairs.Gassing Station | Classic Cars and Yesterday's Heroes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff