Classic Car

fatbelly

I happily ran Cortinas for many years. Cheap parts, easy to work on. But the challenge now would be to find one that hasn't rotted away.

Nebulous2

Goudy said:

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.

I never took to bikes. My only attempt was a Suzuki GS125, 4 stroke, which I bought new around 1983 and it more or less disintegrated in under a year and 8000 miles. The dealer told me I was doing too many miles. I'm not surprised they are worth a lot, if my experience is anything to go by. 

I do intend to get another garage. I'm scouring local ads daily looking for one. 

Nebulous2

fatbelly said:

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

I remember the rust well. I bought a 3 year-old cavalier which had an 'interesting' history before I got it, and it was a rust bucket at 5 years old. 

I'm beginning to question my sanity as I'm recalling some of the vehicles of my youth.... 

Nebulous2

oldagetraveller1 said:

"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.

Give me a clue then, what is it? 

Nebulous2

MX5huggy said:

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. 

I wouldn't want to stretch to that kind of money. A colleague has a 2 seater convertible merc, and a recent article I read was touting a BMW z3 as an up and coming classic - with the attraction of being a Bond car.  Both of these look as though you can get a good example for £10k.  They aren't really hitting the spot though. 

A Spitfire might be a possibility, or a big Rover P6 3500 coupe.   

Stubod

..if I was going to get a "classic" I would probably go for something like an MGB softop. Plentiful, fun to drive with the top down, (plenty of rallies to go to), practical (could be used as a dily drive, plentiful and reasonable priced parts, lots (and lots) of help via a large owners club and relatively simple to work on (by modern standards), also lots of "upgrade" options to suit your wallet....

EssexExile

Those of us over a certain age remember that these cars were pretty awful when they came out of the factory, the years haven't really improved them.

I may have mis-understood your opening post but the Triumph Stag didn't have a Rover V8 engine. Well, it didn't come out of the factory with one but many have one now!

daveyjp

I know someone with an MGB from about 1980 and it is better now than when it left the BL factory because the only original piece of metal bodywork is the top of the dash.  Engine and gearbox original, but heavily rebuilt.

Every other piece of metal including the chassis has been replaced and it is far getter for it.  He uses it as a daily driver in summer.

fatbelly

If you're looking at 60s/70s cars, the marques that might have had better build quality are Volvo, VW and the premier brands (not as ridiculously priced as you might think)

fatbelly

What about a 1968 Morris Minor with 190 miles from new!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uie52pfZcCQ