Looking for a British classic convertible with 4 seats!
Discussion
PGN said:
Triumph Vitesse Mark 2. Nice 2 litre 6 cylinder noise, space for kids, bit of wood and chrome, quite rare but easy to work on. Watch out for rust (as with all cars of this era) and they can get a bit rattley because of the separate chassis construction. Apart from that, if it's a good one then it ticks all the OPs boxes.
This was my first thought from the thread title and if you can find a (very) good one, I think it would deliver your spec in spades. Great-looking car (the twin lights of the Vitesse always somehow looked massively better to me than the Herald), lovely sound, the wood & chrome are there, and simple to look after too. 
It's got to be a Healey 3000 - loads of period adverts showed two young couples, with luggage, setting off for the Riviera in one, so there must be plenty of space for a couple of kids in the back. I don't quite understand how the two back seats in my example seem to be soooo small.
Seriously, the Stag is the obvious choice, or maybe a GTC. Half a dozen of us crammed into my Vitesse for a run down from Kingston to Brighton in the early 70's, but I'm not sure I'd really call it a sports car. And as for those horrible chop-top conversions - blurgh.
Seriously, the Stag is the obvious choice, or maybe a GTC. Half a dozen of us crammed into my Vitesse for a run down from Kingston to Brighton in the early 70's, but I'm not sure I'd really call it a sports car. And as for those horrible chop-top conversions - blurgh.
gothatway said:
It's got to be a Healey 3000 - loads of period adverts showed two young couples, with luggage, setting off for the Riviera in one, so there must be plenty of space for a couple of kids in the back. I don't quite understand how the two back seats in my example seem to be soooo small.
A Stag may fit the bill from a practical point of view but from an aesthetic point of view they look hideous without a hardtop. The whole visual balance of the car looks wrong to my eyes - too much cabin up front and flatness at the rear.
A Vitesse or Morgan would be a much more appealing choice.
A Vitesse or Morgan would be a much more appealing choice.
gothatway said:
It's got to be a Healey 3000 - loads of period adverts showed two young couples, with luggage, setting off for the Riviera in one, so there must be plenty of space for a couple of kids in the back. I don't quite understand how the two back seats in my example seem to be soooo small.
Pleeeeeaaase tell me where you can get a Healey within the OP's budget of £15-20k?Then form an orderly queue behind me.
Breadvan72 said:
There are three possible answers to this question, and all of them are Stag.
Be sure that it has a Triumph engine, a manual box with overdrive, and isn't white!
AhemBe sure that it has a Triumph engine, a manual box with overdrive, and isn't white!
The auto box suites the car better. It is a GT car, not a sports car.
..and I've owned a white Stag since 2011. White is very fashionable don't y'know.
A decent auto might suit the car, but not that spavined three speed Borg Warner. OP, do not be assimilated by the Borg!
White may well be the most fash colour for a Stag, but why follow fashion? Dark blue, maybe magenta, Mimosa yellow, even brown, possibly green, probably not red. I recall Trevor Francis, then a big footy star, and a TV dolly, possibly Ann Aston from the Golden Shot, arriving at my primary school fete in a Stag circa 1973. The car was in that rather groovy mustardy butterscotchy colour. Fabby.
White may well be the most fash colour for a Stag, but why follow fashion? Dark blue, maybe magenta, Mimosa yellow, even brown, possibly green, probably not red. I recall Trevor Francis, then a big footy star, and a TV dolly, possibly Ann Aston from the Golden Shot, arriving at my primary school fete in a Stag circa 1973. The car was in that rather groovy mustardy butterscotchy colour. Fabby.
That's good shout kmpowell. Here's my suggestion. A Sunbeam Talbot 90 :~
As a small boy, the junior school I attended was opposite the Sunbeam Dealership and these elegant 40-50s cars were a frequent sight. Soon after, a neighbour had one and used it to tow his trailer loaded with a speedboat. It was modified and had twin exhaust pipes ... rare in those now faraway days. These made a superb sound when the driver used large throttle openings and even with a trailer it was quite fast. Could easily keep up with today's road speeds. Sitting in the rear seats with the hood stowed you could hear that fabulous but not annoying exhaust sound much better all the time.
Someone who lives near me has a mint four door saloon version., Still looks good when he takes it out for the occasional run. Will try to get a picture next time I see it.
As a small boy, the junior school I attended was opposite the Sunbeam Dealership and these elegant 40-50s cars were a frequent sight. Soon after, a neighbour had one and used it to tow his trailer loaded with a speedboat. It was modified and had twin exhaust pipes ... rare in those now faraway days. These made a superb sound when the driver used large throttle openings and even with a trailer it was quite fast. Could easily keep up with today's road speeds. Sitting in the rear seats with the hood stowed you could hear that fabulous but not annoying exhaust sound much better all the time.
Someone who lives near me has a mint four door saloon version., Still looks good when he takes it out for the occasional run. Will try to get a picture next time I see it.
Edited by MGJohn on Monday 13th July 01:26
Jetblackonetenth said:
Saw this and 1st thing that came to mind
Classic,here's the clip.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Waufl6RWsOg
We hired a convertible V12 XJS last year and can confirm it can seat 4 at a rather tight push.
We did have one adult (lady with a short skirt) and a my 3 year-old daughter in the back at one point but it was a tight fit. Children are easier to squeeze into the space back there. Mind you, there's not that much room in the front either.
I was also thinking of a convertible Interceptor but you'd not get much of one for your budget.
If you can foresake the wood and British element, you'll find more space and possibly more pace with something old and classic from the US.
We did have one adult (lady with a short skirt) and a my 3 year-old daughter in the back at one point but it was a tight fit. Children are easier to squeeze into the space back there. Mind you, there's not that much room in the front either.
I was also thinking of a convertible Interceptor but you'd not get much of one for your budget.
If you can foresake the wood and British element, you'll find more space and possibly more pace with something old and classic from the US.
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