Classic Car

caprikid1

Dave_5150 said:

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.

Sorry I missed a lot of the above.... 

That said there is still be big difference between a Gordon Keeble or Alvis club and an MX5 or Toyota Supra Club..

Nearlyold

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.  

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.  Would I be tempted to try and relive a youth I couldn't have afforded at the time by getting an Escort Cabriolet?  Of course.  

Yes you have to be careful to ensure you're buying the Genuine Lucas Replacement Wiring Harness Smoke, the Chinese stuff is just not the same. Lucas aka the "Prince of Darkness" Company motto "Don't go out after dark" were market leaders at one time and are widely credited with inventing the Short Circuit, Intermittent Wipers and Self Dimming Headlights though there is some debate over this as many would argue the Italian manufacturer Magneti Marelli got there first.

facade

Nearlyold said:

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.  

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.  Would I be tempted to try and relive a youth I couldn't have afforded at the time by getting an Escort Cabriolet?  Of course.  

Yes you have to be careful to ensure you're buying the Genuine Lucas Replacement Wiring Harness Smoke, the Chinese stuff is just not the same. Lucas aka the "Prince of Darkness" Company motto "Don't go out after dark" were market leaders at one time and are widely credited with inventing the Short Circuit, Intermittent Wipers and Self Dimming Headlights though there is some debate over this as many would argue the Italian manufacturer Magneti Marelli got there first.

I once worked for Lucas, (as did Ozzy Osbourne- who called himself "The Prince of Darkness") .I'm fairly sure when they collapsed and were being sold off in the 1990s Magneto Morelli bought the lighting factory in Cannock.

You can still get Lucas parts, the name is owned by ZF who make the gearboxes.