Classic Car

Nebulous2

Hi folks - I know this wont be viewed as being MSE. 

I had a cycling accident / incident last year, which has left me short of a hobby. 

I've begun to contemplate getting a classic car. Something relatively modest,  a Triumph Stag or MGB GT would be on the shortlist, or possibly a classic rover. I've always liked the V8 rover engine. 

I'll also need a garage. I have one, but it is full of stuff and wouldn't have room to work on a car. 

Any suggestions on where I should start? Or am I simply letting myself in for a world of pain and expense? I have a friend whose mother bought a boat. Eventually she concluded:- "A boat is a hole in the water that you pour money into." Is a classic car the dry land equivalent? 

Car_54

Your friend’s mum is right, but all hobbies cost money. Some more than others.

if you do go ahead, do your homework first. Lots of owners’ clubs etc on the internet. Also Bangers & Cash etc on TV.

Good luck!

Nobbie1967

Buy the best example you can afford. Buying a cheap one is always a false economy since the cost of the work they need will never be recouped when selling. As above, join a forum dedicated to the car you are after and get involved. A lot of really nice cars never get sold on the open market, but get sold between members and they don’t want the reputation all damage of selling a lemon. What about a Spitfire or GT6? I had a Spitfire before the Boxster and it was a great little car and much roomier than the MGB with great engine access.

HHarry

If you’re handy with a spanner then go for it.  If not be prepared to be fustrated!

My neighbour has an E-Type that’s running like a bag of spanners after the winter.  He hasn’t got the skills to sort it himself, but can’t find anyone to have a look at it, so has spent the last few weekends swearing at it.

 Similar with my Daughter who has an old Mini.  It went through a phase of being constantly broken and just sitting at the garage waiting for them to have time to look at it.

I’ve had my Riley for 12 years and I love tinkering with it, but it always needs something, and like most classics I’m not going to make money on it.

tacpot12

If you are looking for a much cheaper hobby, try dinghy sailing. I gave up an expensive hobby, and took up dinghy sailing a few years  ago and was surprised at how cheap it was. You can buy older boats that need a bit of TLC for at lot less than a classic car, and the TLC is easy to provide as the parts are readily available for most dinghys. The cost of parts is comprable to cars, but dinghys are much simpler, so you will struggle to spend a lot of money, but can have fun tinkering to get the boat rigged just how you want it.  
 

WellKnownSid

Classic cars are very MSE.  I have a 35 year old Mercedes.  Starts on the button, costs me £126 a year to insure, goes up in value every year.

MX5huggy

How about a Morgan Plus 8 with the Rover V8? 

https://allonwhite.co.uk/used-morgan-cars-for-sale-uk/1983-morgan-plus-8-signal-red-u495

Having said that I’ve got a 4/4 four seater with the ford crossflow engine, it’s plenty fast enough and good fun. It costs next to nothing apart from the rebuild it had at 30 years old 20 years ago. 

Goudy

Whatever you think of spending buying a classis, double it.
Whatever you think you might spend on it to keep it running, triple it.
Whatever you think you might spend on improving it, quadruple it. 

Then financially, you shouldn't get too many shocks to the wallet. 

But writing that, your main problem is the garage.
You don't want to do all that work to it then sit there in the winter watching it deteriorate again.

If space is tight, what about a classic motorbike? You don't have to ride them.
Japanese stuff from the 70's and 80's make big money now even for a wreak.
Two strokes from the 80's and 90's are simpler engine wise and now command silly money once finished.
Late 50's early 60's scooters, can't think of anything better than spending a week or two in Italy finding one.
Not convinced you want to mess around with road bikes, what about off road. An old Scrambles. MX or Enduros from the 70's or 80's are well sort after.

fatbelly

Remember stuff from the 60s and 70s suffered from rust. Find a good body, preferably rust treated and then it's just mechanical maintenance

oldagetraveller1

Voila. Plus random words to make up the count.

oldagetraveller1

"Whatever you think of spending buying a classis, double it.
Whatever you think you might spend on it to keep it running, triple it.

Whatever you think you might spend on improving it, quadruple it. "

Which all depends upon the "Classic".

I've owned an Historic vehicle for 23 years. It was a daily driver for some of those. Wasn't expensive to buy in 1999. Parts are readily available and cheap. Maintenance is easy d.i.y. and cheap. It has been Dinitroled internally. Insurance £60, V.E.D. nil and if so inclined M.o.T. exempt. Just fitted a new clutch kit, easy, nuts and bolts - total cost with a few parts also renewed - circa £120.