Suggest-a-classic

[naturals]

I'm looking at buying a classic towards the tail end of the summer although the choice is just bewildering. To be honest I haven't come across many that I can afford (budget of £5-12k ish) and I like. I'm after something slightly unusual (no MGBs (altough the V8 is tempting), GT6s, etc), 1950's - mid 70's, preferably V6 or even V8. It needs to be fairly easy to work on (it'll be my first classic) with some sporting pedigree (I'm not expecting anything too impressive, just not a Morris Minor or Beetle).

Please can I have your suggestions! Thanks in advance

To give you a flavour, I love all of these...


MGA - slower than my diesel Civic so doesn't excite me much but awesome looks


C-Type - gorgeous but waaaay too expensive for me


TVR Grantura / Griffith 200 or 400 - within budget and gorgeous but no luck finding one


Elan +2 - lovely, within budget but I hate the interior


912 - stunning but only a 4 cylinder - 911 too expensive

Edited by naturals on Saturday 25th April 17:03

[stevie_a]

For that money You could get a TR7 with a 3.5L or a 4.0L V8 in it In good condition.

A VERY under rated car

Even a good 2.0L like my own car is a great car

[williamp]

I think you need to think about what you want from the car. Most classics will be slower then your diesel civic. And less comfortable. And less useful. And your diesel civic will be more reliable, wont mind being outside all year long, will always start, will have a heather (plus aircon I bet), headlihgts which enable you to see where ytou are going etc etc

Classics are fun for driving, but they all need a level of commitment/money/time which mdoern cars just dont have. Evem very good cars from the 80s feel very old these days. Yes the MGA will be slow, but outright speed isnt what the MGA is about. Its more about how it feels, how it sounds, how it looks. And (lets be honest here) it wont lose much money. If at all.

Classics arent for everyone, so I recommend you drive afew before spending money. You might be surprised how old they feel!

Sorry to be so negative, but I want you to know what you';re getting yourelf into. Anyhow, upti £12k will get you a lof of car. Old TVR? Cobra replica? Mayve a glassfibre C-type replica for that price? 944 Turbo?

Or a highly modified MGB. Dont dismiss them- they are not that common these days, and can eaily be made to go very well indeed. Have a look at this months Octane magazine for what they have to say on them.

Of an Alfa spider? Lancia Fulvia? Jaguar XJS convertable? Even, if you're lucky an Aston Virage.

Work out what sort of cars you like, what you'll use iot for, then go from there. If you enjoy driving older cars (and I do) they are great fun. But when the weather looks a bit iffy, its a long mileage or I want to arrive feeling refreshed, I'll take my modern V8 BMW over my Aston anytime...

[naturals]

Thank you both for your comments.

William - I come from a family that have had a fair few classic cars kicking around over the years (mainly Minis, Landrovers and Lotuses) so I appreciate they're not going to be as quick as the Honda 0-60, I was more saying that cars like the Beetle and MM don't strike me as compatible with modern traffic and certainly don't get my heart going. I drive 30,000+ miles a year and want a car that doesn't feel anything like the Honda. I guess the V6 / V8 desire comes from something that sounds more interesting than the Honda too.

Stevie - Love your TR7 but my heart is telling me to go for something with a few more curves.

[a8hex]

naturals said:

V6

Nah!
Classic Brits have straight Sixes.

How about a saloon? You should be able to get a XJ6, a Mk10/420G or a 420. If you want more curves you might be able to find a reasonable S-Type and some Mk2s.

If you aren't in a hurry, go to as many classic car shows as you can find this summer and look around, see what you fancy. Classic Cars For Sale aggregates a lot of ads for classics, so it's often a good place to see who is selling what.

[lowdrag]

While not fast, a rebuilt Frogeye would fit into your budget and a modernised one at that with better suspension, 1275cc motor and disc brakes. They don't cost much to maintain and are easy to maintain too and will always resell. An easy car to cut your classic teeth on. Mini Coopers come in the budget too but be careful to check the history - too many fakes out there!

[TonyBrooks]

Have a look at this link - may fit your needs - there is also a link to a youtube video.

I have no connection - saw it as a possibility for myself.

http://www.makephpbb.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=237...

[minimoog]

lowdrag said:

While not fast, a rebuilt Frogeye would fit into your budget and a modernised one at that with better suspension, 1275cc motor and disc brakes. They don't cost much to maintain and are easy to maintain too and will always resell. An easy car to cut your classic teeth on. Mini Coopers come in the budget too but be careful to check the history - too many fakes out there!

Plenty curvey and your budget will get you something special. Here's the type of thing to aim for...



Failing that I'd be looking for an Alfa Spider or Giulia

[//j17]

If you want classic, V8 and slightly unusual...how about a Bristol 400 series?

Looks are an aquired taste but 5.9l Chrysler V8 under the hood and certainly rare.

[velocemitch]

TonyBrooks said:

Have a look at this link - may fit your needs - there is also a link to a youtube video.

I have no connection - saw it as a possibility for myself.

http://www.makephpbb.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=237...

Yes that's seriously fast beast... I can vouch for that I've seen it leave some serious cars for dead. It's in Ireland though if that's a problem.... never raced nor rallied... much!.

It's been suggested above but my money would be on the Alfa Guilia Coupe, in fact it was .... twice... 12K would get you an excellent example and if performance is your thing rather than interior design or heritage a 2000GTV would tick the box. As fast as your Civic and soooo much more tactile.

[D5ACT]

Sounds like you want a larger engine which would translate into a larger car therefore I would recomend a 70's BMW CSi.

You'll have to hunt a little but a 3.0litre straight six with rear wheel fun and plenty of parts still available from BMW and specialists.

Whatever you end up with it is an enviable position to be in.

Chris

[Caruso]

Rover P5B or P6 would seem to suit most of your criteria, but not that unusual possibly?

Jensen Interceptor, although it might stretch the budget.

[//j17]

Caruso said:

Rover P5B or P6 would seem to suit most of your criteria, but not that unusual possibly?

Jensen Interceptor, although it might stretch the budget.

V8 P5B coupes aren't exactly run of the mill these days.

Or the Jensen's cheaper cousin - the Reliant Scimitar?

A Gilbern or Gordon-Keeble?

[AJAX50]

There have been Gilberns and Scimitars modified by putting in Rover V8's. Alway thought that would make a really good car.

[bluetone]

TR4 has loads of character and should be straight-forward to work on? Mebbe not the last word in speed/power but that isn't the point with these cars



Yum!

[300bhp/ton]

I'd 2nd a TR7 V8, very good car IMO.

Although the rest of the TR range is nice too, but often more common at shows these days.

Series III Jags would be a good buy IMO or an XJC their value just seems to keep going up.

If you want something different, maybe have a look at some American classics. Generally cheap to run and get parts for, lots of character and very different from a Honda.

Trans Am's or Mustangs would be the easiest bet, but lots of others to consider of all shapes and sizes.

A more modern classic but rare on UK roads would be a Pontiac Fiero. Mid engined, 2 seat sports car. You can get them with a V6 or a Chevy V8 will almost drop straight in.

[lowdrag]

Regarding the above post, sad to see that it is RIP Pontiac. A great marque gone for good it seems. Muscle cars to dream about but no more.

[corporalsparrow]

There are only four choices:

1) an Alfa: Spider, either the 2000 veloce, or better still a 1750 veloce (nicer interior and marginally sweeter engine) or duetto. Any of the Giulia Coupes are wonderful (and, currently, a rising investment). Even a GTV6 would give you a great deal of driving pleasure.

2) Lotus: an Elan or Elan +2 (Europa is trouble). Soooo fast and agile. I know you say you don't like the interior but...but...but...

3) Lancia: a Fulvia, the earlier the better...series one ideally. Very pretty.

4) Audi Quattro..and not because of that TV programme but because of the noise, the looks, the grip, the noise and the power. And the noise.

In my thoroughly, totally, 100% biased opinion everything else is either stodgy, slow, ugly or a compromise.

[jith]

lowdrag said:

While not fast, a rebuilt Frogeye would fit into your budget and a modernised one at that with better suspension, 1275cc motor and disc brakes. They don't cost much to maintain and are easy to maintain too and will always resell. An easy car to cut your classic teeth on. Mini Coopers come in the budget too but be careful to check the history - too many fakes out there!

For God's sake lowdrag, don't mention disc brakes again!!!!

[lowdrag]

One of the OP's requirements was "easy to work on". Some of the suggestions are getting away from the point, especially as regards spares prices for some mentioned. I also reckon several are, for a good 'un, way outside the budget too. Easy to get carried away I know (we all can dream) but reality has its way of coming home in the end.