Best family classic

Author
Discussion

DKL

Original Poster:

4,480 posts

221 months

Wednesday 16th April 2014
quotequote all
Just considering a weekend car to take us all out on Sundays etc.
It would need to be a very good example of its type whatever it is. Needs 4 seats but not necessarily 4 doors and a decent boot/hatch.
Pre tax and maybe even pre MOT but they are getting a bit old. Manual with a bit of go. Budget to 25k ish if absolutely required.
Mk 2 jag, P5b, Bristol might be nice but a bit out of budget I suspect. Alvis TD21.
Anything else?
Cheers
David

//j17

4,471 posts

222 months

Wednesday 16th April 2014
quotequote all
Triumph 2.5PI - Mk1 or pre-74 Mk2?

Dbest92

300 posts

132 months

Wednesday 16th April 2014
quotequote all
//j17 said:
Triumph 2.5PI - Mk1 or pre-74 Mk2?
Hard to beat one of these ^^. Another choice might be a rover p6 v8

davepoth

29,395 posts

198 months

Wednesday 16th April 2014
quotequote all
I'm thinking Citroen DS might be good - it's certainly in the ballpark pricewise. Maybe something American?

tog

4,517 posts

227 months

Thursday 17th April 2014
quotequote all
DKL said:
Bristol might be nice but a bit out of budget I suspect.
If you can find one, a Bristol 603 should be within budget and is a much better bet as a family car than the earlier V8s - more spacious inside, better seats, bigger and wider opening boot, four seat belts as standard. It won't be tax free for another couple of years, but a tax disc is less than two tanks of petrol so not a huge dent in the overall cost of ownership, and it won't be manual. The only manual Bristols are the 2-litres, and decent examples of those are probably out of budget now.

NomduJour

18,988 posts

258 months

Thursday 17th April 2014
quotequote all
No rear seat belts in a 603, but not a massive job.

tog

4,517 posts

227 months

Thursday 17th April 2014
quotequote all
NomduJour said:
No rear seat belts in a 603, but not a massive job.
When did they become compulsory? Britannia and Brigand must have them surely?

NomduJour

18,988 posts

258 months

Thursday 17th April 2014
quotequote all
1986 for fitment.

benjj

6,787 posts

162 months

Thursday 17th April 2014
quotequote all
davepoth said:
I'm thinking Citroen DS might be good - it's certainly in the ballpark pricewise. Maybe something American?
What Dave said smile



You can get a running snotter for £10k.

hidetheelephants

23,772 posts

192 months

Thursday 17th April 2014
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An Austin Westminster/Wolseley 6/99 or 6/110/VdP equivalent? Squishy leather interior, comfy ride and C series power. shame about the handling, but you don't buy one of these to go round corners. Like a Rover P5, only rarer. VdP 4l R would be my choice, but they're only auto.

beach bum

277 posts

151 months

Thursday 17th April 2014
quotequote all
I bought a DS Safari the same week my son was born.

The ride does make some children and adult sea-sick, though.

A 1750 or 2 litre Alfa Romeo Berlina is a magnificent and rapid family car.

Google [bot]

6,682 posts

180 months

Thursday 17th April 2014
quotequote all
benjj said:
davepoth said:
I'm thinking Citroen DS might be good - it's certainly in the ballpark pricewise. Maybe something American?
What Dave said smile



You can get a running snotter for £10k.
Another thumbs-up for the DS, with that money maybe an SM?

Or save loads and go Scimitar GTE

Jag mkX/420G?

Flatinfourth

591 posts

137 months

Thursday 17th April 2014
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DS is spectacular! Not everyone can travel in the back of one of those, as noted in earlier posts. Aircraft-like ride is a bit too much for some. Triumph 2500S estate, with factory alloy wheels, in dark green/ dark blue/ white![url][img]

http://thumbsnap.com/sc/Ka0AvNtv.jpg[/img]|http://t...

The Surveyor

7,576 posts

236 months

Thursday 17th April 2014
quotequote all
What about an Interceptor:-

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C348076

or something Italian and Alfa:-

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C490808

or an older Ponton Merc:-

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C464405

Alternatively, save some money and buy a really nice Volvo Amazon:-

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C478679
or
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C446181

Happy hunting thumbup

Paul


benjj

6,787 posts

162 months

Thursday 17th April 2014
quotequote all
Re: the ride in the DS

Just bang on a set of spheres from an SM or, if you're feeling a bit saucy, a set from a BX GTi. I did both and they stiffen them up a treat, I stuck with the SM spheres for both rallying and road use.

P5Nij

675 posts

171 months

Thursday 17th April 2014
quotequote all
David - alas all P5Bs are autos (unless you can find one that's been modified) but there are some earlier 3 litre P5s with manual gearboxes.

Find a really good P5B though with an auto box which doesn't clonk and you can still enjoy the immense comfort and sheer waftability these cars have in spades. Even with four up, you'd be surprised how quick the horizon looms up at you when you bury your right foot in the shagpile.... ;o)

£10k will bag you a very nice Coupe, £15k+ will get you a minter. Bought mine for just over £8k this time last year and have been doing little cosmetic jobs here and there...



Having re-read your OP I have to admit I'd love a Mk2 Jag, I saw a white 3.8 with red interior in Sainsburys car park yesterday and it really hit the sweet spot for me ;-)

Edited by P5Nij on Thursday 17th April 15:00


Edited by P5Nij on Thursday 17th April 15:01

HarryW

15,150 posts

268 months

Thursday 17th April 2014
quotequote all
I'd look at some of the 60's alternative that may be better value than the usual suspects.

Humber Super Snipe
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C466000

Daimler V8 250, a Jag mk 2 for a lot less IMHO
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C320788

Edited by HarryW on Thursday 17th April 15:07

hidetheelephants

23,772 posts

192 months

Thursday 17th April 2014
quotequote all
How about proper leftfield; an Austin 3 Litre? AH 3000 drive train, hydrolastic suspenders and an interior the size of Blenheim Palace. Possibly difficult finding a manual one though.

occrj

370 posts

177 months

Thursday 17th April 2014
quotequote all
P5Nij said:
...



Edited by P5Nij on Thursday 17th April 15:01
Ye Olde P5B looks well. OP, how about a Volvo 123GT?

RJ

V8forweekends

2,481 posts

123 months

Thursday 17th April 2014
quotequote all
Early Range Rover? - V8 manuals available, values seem to be on the up.