Classic car beginner - where to start
Discussion
I'd love to buy a 50s or 60s car to take down to Goodwood on weekends and drive around country roads. I have no mechanical training, but can change tyres, repair stone chips, polish paintwork back to life, etc. , so wondered if there are any suggestions of what type of car to go for, what I would have to spend and anything else a newbie should know. Thank you very much!
Hi!
I bought my first classic about 2 year ago now, and I'm now on my second but I bought it for much the same reasoning as you. I wanted a toy, something to enjoy and that was a half sensible investment (i.e. investment in car terms is simply not loosing money hand over fist!). I guess you need to have a think about how much you've got to spend as thats probably a good starting point. Where abouts are you based?
Tim
I bought my first classic about 2 year ago now, and I'm now on my second but I bought it for much the same reasoning as you. I wanted a toy, something to enjoy and that was a half sensible investment (i.e. investment in car terms is simply not loosing money hand over fist!). I guess you need to have a think about how much you've got to spend as thats probably a good starting point. Where abouts are you based?
Tim
It doesn't sound like you have your heart set on a specific make/model, so work out how much you can afford, then check out the price guide in one of the classic car mags. Focus on cars with A1 prices around your budget as with every-day classics always buy the best you can afford - if an A1 car costs £3000 to buy, an A2 will cost £2000 to buy and £2000 to bring up to A1 standard.
The more main-stream you go the better the availability of parts - not a 50's person myself but 60's the following spring to mind; Triumph Herald, Ford Anglia, Morris Minor, VW Beattle.
If your looking for something sportier then parts support will generally be better with Jag. E Type, Triumph TR2/3, MG Tx, etc, etc.
The more main-stream you go the better the availability of parts - not a 50's person myself but 60's the following spring to mind; Triumph Herald, Ford Anglia, Morris Minor, VW Beattle.
If your looking for something sportier then parts support will generally be better with Jag. E Type, Triumph TR2/3, MG Tx, etc, etc.
Pops said:
I'd love to buy a 50s or 60s car to take down to Goodwood on weekends and drive around country roads.
How much do you want to spend? Do you want a saloon or sports car? Give us some clues and we'll fire off the suggestions. At the moment I could say 50's Bentley, 60's Alvis or a perhaps an MGB? 
Edited by RichB on Tuesday 24th February 18:53
For your first classic would you not be btter in the 60's 70's or even 80's
I use an mgb as a daily and suggest you give them a look. There is loads of support and parts are available new.
Also have a lookt at.
Anglia 105e (1200cc) Fords tend to be overpriced in my opinion but there is a growing following.
Morris Minor
Any Triumph or MGB
Old Mercs if that appeals to you I have a 350 sl for weekends but 128's are nice.
You need four seats or any other requirements?
I use an mgb as a daily and suggest you give them a look. There is loads of support and parts are available new.
Also have a lookt at.
Anglia 105e (1200cc) Fords tend to be overpriced in my opinion but there is a growing following.
Morris Minor
Any Triumph or MGB
Old Mercs if that appeals to you I have a 350 sl for weekends but 128's are nice.
You need four seats or any other requirements?
A big cheese from the motorsport world told me once an E-type was the ideal starter classic.
It has been quite easy to work on. However the body fit can be a swine. Getting the engine out - not too hard if you have a good crane - working on it - not too hard. Electrics - are ok.
In fact it is a good starter classic and tons of fun. The only downside is you need to spend a bit to get a reasonable one. I have seen a fair few ok ones for about 15-20k (series 1 fhc).
Personally I would go for something cheaper and smaller - my mg midget is tons of fun (faster than the jag), easy to work on and cheap as chips
It has been quite easy to work on. However the body fit can be a swine. Getting the engine out - not too hard if you have a good crane - working on it - not too hard. Electrics - are ok.
In fact it is a good starter classic and tons of fun. The only downside is you need to spend a bit to get a reasonable one. I have seen a fair few ok ones for about 15-20k (series 1 fhc).
Personally I would go for something cheaper and smaller - my mg midget is tons of fun (faster than the jag), easy to work on and cheap as chips
Thank you all for your great suggestions!
I don't think I can get more than £5000 together this year, so that would be my budget. 2 seater is sufficient, ideally something a bit sportier, I drive a cooper S convertible daily. So a soft top would be an added bonus, but roofs, I guess, are the first parts to deteriorate. I will have a look at the models suggested.
Any more ideas, let me know. Oh, and I am based in Berks (home) / Hants (work).
I don't think I can get more than £5000 together this year, so that would be my budget. 2 seater is sufficient, ideally something a bit sportier, I drive a cooper S convertible daily. So a soft top would be an added bonus, but roofs, I guess, are the first parts to deteriorate. I will have a look at the models suggested.
Any more ideas, let me know. Oh, and I am based in Berks (home) / Hants (work).
OK well taking into account what you've suggested I would throw a Frog Eyed Sprite (Austin Healey) into the mix as well. Its seriously easy to look after (uses an BMC A Series engine the same as you'd find in a classic mini), strangely appealing to look at (for a car with large bumps in the bonnet!) and great fun.
I keep my Healey with a company near Alton (not sure where you are in Berks/Hants but can't be too far away!) - Rawles Motorsport - if you were thinking about a Healey or any kind then I'd happily introduce you to those guys and they would point you in the right direction
I guess other alternatives might include an MGB or a Midget but slightly more common place than a Sprite perhaps.
I keep my Healey with a company near Alton (not sure where you are in Berks/Hants but can't be too far away!) - Rawles Motorsport - if you were thinking about a Healey or any kind then I'd happily introduce you to those guys and they would point you in the right direction
I guess other alternatives might include an MGB or a Midget but slightly more common place than a Sprite perhaps.
Have a look at this site http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk there are literally hundreds of classics on there, one could spend hours looking through them all... well I just did! 
1981 Mercedes 380 SLC C107 For Sale £1,300 http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/classic-car-pa...
1960 Triumph Herald For Sale £1,900 http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/classic-car-pa...
1953 Austin Somerset For Sale £2,250 http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/classic-car-pa...
1973 MG MGB GT For Sale £2,450 http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/classic-car-pa...
1979 MG MGB Roadster For Sale £2,995 ono http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/classic-car-pa...
1970 Rover 3.5 P5B Saloon For Sale £3,150 http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/classic-car-pa...
1957 Wolseley 1500 For Sale £3,495 http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/classic-car-pa...
1951 Riley 2½ litre Saloon For Sale £3,950 http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/classic-car-pa...
1960 Vauxhall Victor MkII F Series Deluxe For Sale £3,995 http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/classic-car-pa...
1966 MG Midget Mk2 For Sale £3,995 http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/classic-car-pa...
1968 Jaguar MkII 240 For Sale £4,999 http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/classic-car-pa...
1969 Lotus Elan Plus 2 For Sale £5,495 ono http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/classic-car-pa...
1981 Mercedes 380 SLC C107 For Sale £1,300 http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/classic-car-pa...
1960 Triumph Herald For Sale £1,900 http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/classic-car-pa...
1953 Austin Somerset For Sale £2,250 http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/classic-car-pa...
1973 MG MGB GT For Sale £2,450 http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/classic-car-pa...
1979 MG MGB Roadster For Sale £2,995 ono http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/classic-car-pa...
1970 Rover 3.5 P5B Saloon For Sale £3,150 http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/classic-car-pa...
1957 Wolseley 1500 For Sale £3,495 http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/classic-car-pa...
1951 Riley 2½ litre Saloon For Sale £3,950 http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/classic-car-pa...
1960 Vauxhall Victor MkII F Series Deluxe For Sale £3,995 http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/classic-car-pa...
1966 MG Midget Mk2 For Sale £3,995 http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/classic-car-pa...
1968 Jaguar MkII 240 For Sale £4,999 http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/classic-car-pa...
1969 Lotus Elan Plus 2 For Sale £5,495 ono http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/classic-car-pa...
For 2-seats and £5k I'd go for either a Trumph Spitfire/GT6 or MG Midget/B or if you really have to an AH Sprogeyed Fright.
The money will get you a top car and they all have good parts back-up.
Moving up the price range and you drop in to the good/fair price bracket for other cars (Triumph TRs, Lotus Elan, etc).
The money will get you a top car and they all have good parts back-up.
Moving up the price range and you drop in to the good/fair price bracket for other cars (Triumph TRs, Lotus Elan, etc).
I grew-up in the MGB/Midget/Spitfire era and through experience I would say an early MGB is easier to live with than a Midget/Sprite, they really are basic, especially the Frog-eye. Between my brother and I we've driven them all. I was an MGA chap but they are beyond £5k - I've no expereince with the Spitfire/GT6 cars but I exepect the straight 6 engine is really sweet.
Pops said:
I'd love to buy a 50s or 60s car to take down to Goodwood on weekends and drive around country roads. I have no mechanical training, but can change tyres, repair stone chips, polish paintwork back to life, etc. , so wondered if there are any suggestions of what type of car to go for, what I would have to spend and anything else a newbie should know. Thank you very much!
On that basis, you want something fairly to simple to learn on, and importantly, being a 'newbie' something with a good parts/spares/specialist knowledge infrastructure.So, I'd say, Moggy Minor, MGB or Midget, Triumph Spitfire or Herald/Vitesse or maybe a TR if you have the budget.
Since a 2 seater is what you want and your budget is £5,000 then there really is only one option - an MG Midget. For £5,000 you'll get a middling MGB but a cracking Midget. As regards the suggestion of an E type as a starter classic, someone pick me up off the floor please! Getting and engine and gearbox out is a swine meaning taking off the bonnet first (and it ain't 'arf heavy too) and then two or three of you sweating to swing it out at an angle to avoid smacking the bodywork. Oh, and as regards the price of spares! I've had mine donkey's years and have bills enough to raise the Titanic I reckon.
No, for this money a simple little Midget; cheap to insure and run, plentiful and cheap spares, cheap servicing and a big club to back you up. If it was me I'd make a beeline on line for the MGOC, join up, look at their club adverts and get one of their specialists to examine the car before you buy it. Just get a chrome bumper jobbie though; the rubber bumper ones are cheaper but look ugly.
No, for this money a simple little Midget; cheap to insure and run, plentiful and cheap spares, cheap servicing and a big club to back you up. If it was me I'd make a beeline on line for the MGOC, join up, look at their club adverts and get one of their specialists to examine the car before you buy it. Just get a chrome bumper jobbie though; the rubber bumper ones are cheaper but look ugly.
I bought an XK150 as a starter classic.
OK I was lucky enough to have a bigger budget. Since my "modern" Jag seems no nearer to wearing out now than when I bought it 13 years ago, I used the car budget to buy a toy :-)
Having said that, I was not intending to be able to do serious work on the car myself. When the experts quote 4 full days to take an engine out and put it back, without touching it in the middle, I guessed it wasn't going to be a one man in a garage job.
The XK works as a starter classic in the sense that
1) it has no problems keeping up with modern traffic condition (actually the damn moderns just get in your way)
2) it has brakes so you probably won't stuff it the first time someone hits the brakes in front of you.
3) the Moss gearbox has a bit of a reputation, but at least you should be able to change gear in it.
I guess this is what was meant by the comment that an E-Type was an ideal starter classic.
You should be able to drive one.
I don't think the average person could keep one well maintained on their own.
OK I was lucky enough to have a bigger budget. Since my "modern" Jag seems no nearer to wearing out now than when I bought it 13 years ago, I used the car budget to buy a toy :-)
Having said that, I was not intending to be able to do serious work on the car myself. When the experts quote 4 full days to take an engine out and put it back, without touching it in the middle, I guessed it wasn't going to be a one man in a garage job.
The XK works as a starter classic in the sense that
1) it has no problems keeping up with modern traffic condition (actually the damn moderns just get in your way)
2) it has brakes so you probably won't stuff it the first time someone hits the brakes in front of you.
3) the Moss gearbox has a bit of a reputation, but at least you should be able to change gear in it.
I guess this is what was meant by the comment that an E-Type was an ideal starter classic.
You should be able to drive one.
I don't think the average person could keep one well maintained on their own.
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