Classic as a daily

[crofty1984]

OK, I'm going back to the UK soon and I'd like a classic as a, well if not daily, certainly "regular drive". I DO have access to another vehicle if the worst happens but, well, you get the point.

OK my criteria are:

• Up to £2000 for a good one, doesn't need to be a minter and I'll consider up to £2500 if I have to.
• Pretty reliable. I don't mind a little spanner work at the weekends, but I don't want to have it decide not to start for no fathomable reason.
• Farily ecoomical. by that I maen not sub 25mpg in real driving.
• Interesting! And perhaps even a little sporty.
• Tuneable would be nice

To give you an idea I'm considering things like:

• Hillman Imp (top choice right now)
• Mk3 Cortina
• Midget
• Spitfire
• Mk1 Fiesta
• Triumph 2.5 PI

[aeropilot]

If you want 25+mpg then I'd scratch the Triumph 2.5Pi from the list. My Dad had a 2500S back in the early 80's and that averaged about 22mpg, but it was an auto, great to drive, but they do have a rust problem, the hidden inner sills on my old mans S were rotten through by the time it was 7 years old!
A man/OD Pi might give 25+ on a gentle motorway run...just.

Go for a 1600 X-Flow powered Mk3 Cortina rather than a 2.0 Pinto version for the economy.
My old 2.0GT Mk3 'tina used to do 18-20mpg....!!!

Of your list, I'd go for a tuned Imp as well

[crofty1984]

aeropilot said:

If you want 25+mpg then I'd scratch the Triumph 2.5Pi from the list. My Dad had a 2500S back in the early 80's and that averaged about 22mpg, but it was an auto, great to drive, but they do have a rust problem, the hidden inner sills on my old mans S were rotten through by the time it was 7 years old!
A man/OD Pi might give 25+ on a gentle motorway run...just.

Go for a 1600 X-Flow powered Mk3 Cortina rather than a 2.0 Pinto version for the economy.
My old 2.0GT Mk3 'tina used to do 18-20mpg....!!!

Of your list, I'd go for a tuned Imp as well

Suggesting that I should get something I want -You've found my weakness! This will cost me!
Seriously though, thanks for the advice. I've seen good ones advertised for less than £1000, So I'm hoping for my budget I should easily get a really nice one.
I know the classic arguments are Beetle/MGB, but I'm not really feeling 'em.

[chard]

A bit off the wall but how about this.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1274272.htm


Chard

[rovermorris999]

If you're going to use it regularly you need to consider two things - rust and parts.
All the cars on your list will dissolve but some are better than others. Bolt-on wings are good as is a separate chassis.
You need a model with a lot of survivors and good parts supply with more than one specialist supplying them. BL-stable cars, particularly cars like the Minor, MGB, Herald/Vitesse, Spitfire etc. Bits for these are silly cheap and even stuff like trim is available. That would put me off the Imp, much as I like them.

Edited by rovermorris999 on Sunday 25th October 14:37

[chard]

Agreed

MGB GT?

[crofty1984]

VOLVO AMAZON!!!!!!

It's so obvious, even if I do have to buy one from the continent.

[chard]

a decent one for £2k!! I dont think so.

[Justin-W]

Triumph TR7, if you dont mind going fibreglass I'ld say join us with a Ginetta G32.

[davepoth]

Triumph Dolomite, any model. You'll get a great one of any model (except the sprint) for your money, and they all are good enough to keep up with modern traffic, while still returning more than 30mpg.

[ewan221]

TR7 FHC bought one for £1500 no rust, never welded and only 50K on clock.

used it for work every day for a year and the odd big trip did 9k miles with no problems at all :-)

[crofty1984]

davepoth said:

Triumph Dolomite, any model. You'll get a great one of any model (except the sprint) for your money, and they all are good enough to keep up with modern traffic, while still returning more than 30mpg.

You Sir, are a genius. A geeeeeenius!
God if I was back in the UK now I'd buy this:
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C116156/
Well, maybe in 6 months.

[A911DOM]

Theres a lot of Midgets to choose from at that sort of money.

You can afford to shop around and find the best of the bunch... Just depends if you can fit in one!

Im 6'3 and of a slim build and had no problem other than my right arm being quite restricted in movement hard up against the door.

But nice sound, plenty of spares, feels quicker than it is and theres opportunity to tweak here and there for some more handling/performance.

That or a Spitfire would be where I'd look using your budget.

Happy shopping!!!

[Petemate]

MGB would seem to be a good choice. Whenever I'm on early shift, coming home from LHR to Oxford, at approx 1545 coming off the Green Road roundabout onto the ring road near Headington, I end up nearly every time behind a tidy-looking B in Beige with a vinyl roof. It moves along quite nicely, no smoke and appears to hold the road well. It is definitely a daily for someone - spares for these cars are really easy to obtain and the good old B-series engine is quite easy to tune. There are even upgrades to tele shocks. Despite the leaf rear springs (I think there may even be coil-over upgrades available) the MGB is one of my faves.
Pete

[alolympic]

I agree, Dolly all the way.
My 1st car and I have recently bought another, had such good memories of them. Great club, great spares availability, simple to work on, spacious, turn heads and can be easily improved from standard.

[shirt]

dolly would be my choice as well, or a triumph 1500 [earlier, same shape but with a more 60's style front end - usu. cheaper too]

or how about a riley elf or austin 1300gt?

[mattman]

how about a Scimitar GTE? nice 3.0V6, fibreglass body and still looks and sounds awesome. Loads of ford parts so easy to get hold of as well.
2 grand should be more than enough to pick up a good SE6A, not sure you'll get great MPG - but still have 4 seats, decent boot, quad headlamps and retro style!

[Petemate]

shirt said:

Austin 1300gt?

Another of my faves. When I worked at BL in the 70s, in rectification, I found that they were really quick, and rightly so as they had the Cooper 'S' twin carb lump. It felt like they were going to loop the loop when we drove them down the workshop...

Pete

[hidetheelephants]

If you can get on with the looks, a Reliant SS1 or Sabre would fit the bill; sporty, fibreglass bodywork so no rust there, available with galvanized chassis, and a range of engines to suit your needs/pocket, 1.3-1.4-1.6 CVH Ford, 1.8 turbo Nissan and 1.4 K series Rover. Your 2k will get a top notch SS1 or a middling Sabre(if you can find one).

[shirt]

crofty1984 said:

VOLVO AMAZON!!!!!!

It's so obvious, even if I do have to buy one from the continent.

there's a lovely looking 2 door in practical classics advertised at £2k.

if you don't mind importing, have a look on www.marktplaats.nl

i always see a few amazons when i go to the netherlands and that site usually has a couple of dozen up for sale/auction [its like ebay but with some fixed price sales]