Classic Car

Nebulous2

Grumpy_chap said:

Owning a classic car is a labour of love.
I would have thought that means choosing that car that gets your pulse racing and has some meaning to yourself.  It really needs to be something that excites your soul.
In my case that would either be an Allegro VdP (my first car was an Allegro and the VdP was the most desireable) or a Peugeot 205 GTi 1.9 litre (everyone wanted one).
Just going "Oh, I fancy a classic car, what shall I get?" wouldn't generate the passion in the same way as a car that has a personal meaning.

We are all different - thankfully. As I said upstream, I've had a few Allegros, and I certainly wouldn't want another. They had random issues - including the wiring loom catching fire. I managed to fit a salvaged loom though, imagine trying that in a modern car? 

A Peugeot 205 does absolutely nothing for me, and I don't remember people I knew lusting after them. I do remember a mid-engined one, which sparked a bit of interest. 

 A Golf GTI was a different matter however. I had some acquaintances who had them and they were definitely desired by those who didn't. 

I had two Rovers, which is why I'm drawn to them. I had a Rover 2000 TC very early in my driving career and loved it. I also had a Rover 75, which was already over 30 years old when I bought it with an MOT and tax. I ran it for about 6 months, and then it sat in a garage for over 20 years as an abandoned project until a family member sold the garage.

A P5 - in between my previous P4 and P6 might hit the spot, particularly with the 3.5 engine. I've never had a Rover 3.5, but have always been fascinated by them. I once went to a tractor-pulling event - with one tractor powered by 6 Rover 3.5s. The noise it made with them all revving at once was fantastic. 

Then again - I've generally had sensible family cars, mainly people carriers, so a sports car, albeit not hugely sporty by todays standards, also has appeal. 

Car_54

Ditzy_Mitzy said:

Do make sure to drive the thing if you do get one; classic cars tend to suffer far more by not moving than they do clocking up the miles.  Electronic ignition is a must these days too, as good quality coils, condensers and points are very difficult to come by new.  Beware of anything describing itself as 'New Old Stock', too, some people buy old Lucas boxes and put newly made pattern part rubbish in them.  

If you'd suffered a 1980s Rover 820 you'd prefer the 'pattern part rubbish' to Lucas every time ...

HillStreetBlues

Ditzy_Mitzy said:

I haven't got a classic car at present.  I have had things that would be considered classic now, but were just old bangers when I owned them.

Snap.
Never had a "classic" car,  just old bangers, that might now be classed as a classic.
Classic cars are the only ones I actually can look at and admire.
Have wanted one, but it would either be stuck in garage or rusting away on drive, so both seem pointless.

Doubt my current car will ever be a classic when it's old,

Goudy

Nebulous2 said:

A Peugeot 205 does absolutely nothing for me, and I don't remember people I knew lusting after them. I do remember a mid-engined one, which sparked a bit of interest. 

The 205 Turbo 16 (T16) was group B rally car which due to the rules for this class, Peugeot had to build 200 road going versions.

The road going versions weren't a patch on the rally cars, which had 200+bhp more horsepower and they didn't share much else to be honest.

If you fancy one, what about this one, seems in to nic.
1984 Peugeot 205 T16 In Gaillac, Occitanie, France For Sale (11964432) (jamesedition.com)

Me, I would save £300,000 plus and buy a Lancia Delta Intergrale Evo II. 


 

Dave_5150

The oldest MX5's are now nearly 35 years old, the scene is huge, they are great to drive and inexpensive to run.

caprikid1

Dave_5150 said:

The oldest MX5's are now nearly 35 years old, the scene is huge, they are great to drive and inexpensive to run.

A good point but not everyone wants to be part of a community / scene and the MX5 / Jap Car is quite a young one.

I do agree with you though , fabulous cars.

castle96

austin champ for sale | eBay

back to my youth??!! but at age 70? Best not

facade

castle96 said:

austin champ for sale | eBay

back to my youth??!! but at age 70? Best not

Considering that it probably sold at disposal for £50, about £1200 today, and it was in considerably better condition then, it hasn't done badly.  (but if you had to pay for 60 years storage..........)

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

Dave_5150

caprikid1 said:

Dave_5150 said:

The oldest MX5's are now nearly 35 years old, the scene is huge, they are great to drive and inexpensive to run.

A good point but not everyone wants to be part of a community / scene and the MX5 / Jap Car is quite a young one.

I do agree with you though , fabulous cars.

That's true but the OP said they would like:

"something I can potter about in on a nice day, take to local shows, go occasional club runs with owners of similar cars, and spend a bit of time fettling at my leisure is where I'm aiming at."

and they also mentoned:

"I've generally had sensible family cars, mainly people carriers, so a sports car, albeit not hugely sporty by todays standards, also has appeal."

along with a few other mentons of two seater convertibles.

Goudy

I've had a couple of Alfas that are now getting to the modern classic status, wish I kept them now.
The Type 916 GTV and the Spider based on it.

The GTV coupe with the lusty Busso V6 is glorious particularly the Cup version, though Cups make silly money this days.

The Spider is perhaps nicer to look at and be seen in than drive though it's not hopeless, probably better with the 2.0 Twinspark engine. Cutting the roof off has left the chassis a bit compromised, they do tend to suffer a bit of scuttle shake and the odd chassis creak.

Phase 2 have the better interiors, wheels and trim and I think from 2000 onwards production was swapped from Alfas old Arese Plant that got closed to Turin in the Pininfarina factory, so build quality was a lot better than early cars.

Phase 3's had the Alfa 147 grill graphed into the bonnet but came with either the 2.0 JTS or the uprated 3.2 Busso. Both had an extra kick of torque.

They are front wheel drive but tend to handle well, a lot of work has going into the suspension, especially at the rear with it's multi link setup..  

Contrary to popular belief, engines are really reliable though the cam belt on the V6 does have a shortish service interval. 
They also don't tend to suffer from lots of major issues. Fear of working on them is probably their achilles heel, lots think it's a Alfa so it must be trouble, but that isn't the case.

You might find the odd 2.0 V6 Turbo for sale, but all 6000 of them were LHD.

The Alfa scene is massive and neither car would be looked down on on meets and shows.