I don't know what I want! Yes, a "what car" thread.
Discussion
I sold my '64 Pontiac convertible a couple of weeks ago - well, it was more of a part-completed project really. Anyway, I now have a couple of thousand burning its way through my pocket and fancy something mildly silly. I already have my Jag as a daily, my BMW bike for two-wheeled fun and my '57 Plymouth as a large shiny be-finned project which I hope to have mostly back together in the next week.
So what I want, I think, is something "classic", which I can turn up to special family/school events in, tinker about with, probably convertible, and with an indefinable fun factor. And MOTd or exempt. It would be nice if my son could drive it when he's 17 in a year or so.
Now, I know that rationally I should wait until after we move house near the end of Auguat, but then the summer's nearly over, and I like toys. I may just wait and see if I can spend some more on something pre-war, but in the meantime I'm trying to decide between:
Series Land Rover - probably an S3, 88", county top which I can remove for the summer. Don't have to worry about the muddy dog in the winter and can use as a tip vehicle. Will get the kids to school in the snow (yes, that's a bit of an excuse). It can look old and ratty and still not embarrass my teenagers.
MGB GT - no idea why, just like them. I think I can just about get a chrome bumper one for that. With a sunroof would be fun for blatting about in the country. Might squeeze the kids in the back for short trips.
MGB roadster - not sure I can get a solid one for the money, but if I don't care about the interior and maybe have to do some minor mechanicals that would work.
Scimitar GTE - not sure about these. I remember liking them in my youth, but I'm not sure they do it for me now.
So, over to the great PH. Any other ideas?
So what I want, I think, is something "classic", which I can turn up to special family/school events in, tinker about with, probably convertible, and with an indefinable fun factor. And MOTd or exempt. It would be nice if my son could drive it when he's 17 in a year or so.
Now, I know that rationally I should wait until after we move house near the end of Auguat, but then the summer's nearly over, and I like toys. I may just wait and see if I can spend some more on something pre-war, but in the meantime I'm trying to decide between:
Series Land Rover - probably an S3, 88", county top which I can remove for the summer. Don't have to worry about the muddy dog in the winter and can use as a tip vehicle. Will get the kids to school in the snow (yes, that's a bit of an excuse). It can look old and ratty and still not embarrass my teenagers.
MGB GT - no idea why, just like them. I think I can just about get a chrome bumper one for that. With a sunroof would be fun for blatting about in the country. Might squeeze the kids in the back for short trips.
MGB roadster - not sure I can get a solid one for the money, but if I don't care about the interior and maybe have to do some minor mechanicals that would work.
Scimitar GTE - not sure about these. I remember liking them in my youth, but I'm not sure they do it for me now.
So, over to the great PH. Any other ideas?
Most of those options will be potentially tricky at £2k - if they're MOTd at all they'll be due a spectacular failure in the short term, I would've thought.
How about something slightly newer like a classic Saab 900 soft top? Nice wafty things and can go well - surprisingly good in winter too
How about something slightly newer like a classic Saab 900 soft top? Nice wafty things and can go well - surprisingly good in winter too
Interesting. I've found MOTd Landies for between 1.5 and 2K, with what seem like honest sellers who describe faults over the phone. Scimitars are aplenty at that money.
Not keen on minis for some reason. I can't explain why - probably because I'd want a Cooper and can't afford one! I had a Saab 900 from new, and although I liked it I don't want another one.
This is hard...
Not keen on minis for some reason. I can't explain why - probably because I'd want a Cooper and can't afford one! I had a Saab 900 from new, and although I liked it I don't want another one.
This is hard...
As with anything at this price point there are polished turds, genuine turds and the occasional gem. Difficult to determine which without viewing but a number of friends have bought old land rovers 'in need of tidying' and endured a world of pain. Possibly a slightly higher budget would push the quota more towards gems over the other options...
I like the Scimitars - particularly the 60s version with identical sized lights rather than the sad looking '6 which just looks a bit blobby by comparison. I'd have a '6 soft top only because they didn't make a '5 version!
I like the Scimitars - particularly the 60s version with identical sized lights rather than the sad looking '6 which just looks a bit blobby by comparison. I'd have a '6 soft top only because they didn't make a '5 version!
OK, well I'm probably going to regret this...
I just "won" a Series III Landie 88" with a petrol engine, overdrive, county body and Safari roof, new front seats and a nice set of rear ones, new extended rear chassis (inc the spring hangers) for £1130. With a long MOT and tax.
It apparently needs a water pump fitting (included) and steering adjustment/refurb as it "wanders a bit" but at that price the overdrive and roof would probably cover the cost, and I have a few quid to play with to deal with the small amount of rust in the driver's footwell. Even the body looks pretty straight. And it's even under 20 miles away.
Hopefully I'll collect before the weekend and start a new thread!
I just "won" a Series III Landie 88" with a petrol engine, overdrive, county body and Safari roof, new front seats and a nice set of rear ones, new extended rear chassis (inc the spring hangers) for £1130. With a long MOT and tax.
It apparently needs a water pump fitting (included) and steering adjustment/refurb as it "wanders a bit" but at that price the overdrive and roof would probably cover the cost, and I have a few quid to play with to deal with the small amount of rust in the driver's footwell. Even the body looks pretty straight. And it's even under 20 miles away.
Hopefully I'll collect before the weekend and start a new thread!
mr_spock said:
I sold my '64 Pontiac convertible a couple of weeks ago - well, it was more of a part-completed project really. Anyway, I now have a couple of thousand burning its way through my pocket and fancy something mildly silly. I already have my Jag as a daily, my BMW bike for two-wheeled fun and my '57 Plymouth as a large shiny be-finned project which I hope to have mostly back together in the next week.
So what I want, I think, is something "classic", which I can turn up to special family/school events in, tinker about with, probably convertible, and with an indefinable fun factor. And MOTd or exempt. It would be nice if my son could drive it when he's 17 in a year or so.
Now, I know that rationally I should wait until after we move house near the end of Auguat, but then the summer's nearly over, and I like toys. I may just wait and see if I can spend some more on something pre-war, but in the meantime I'm trying to decide between:
Series Land Rover - probably an S3, 88", county top which I can remove for the summer. Don't have to worry about the muddy dog in the winter and can use as a tip vehicle. Will get the kids to school in the snow (yes, that's a bit of an excuse). It can look old and ratty and still not embarrass my teenagers.
MGB GT - no idea why, just like them. I think I can just about get a chrome bumper one for that. With a sunroof would be fun for blatting about in the country. Might squeeze the kids in the back for short trips.
MGB roadster - not sure I can get a solid one for the money, but if I don't care about the interior and maybe have to do some minor mechanicals that would work.
Scimitar GTE - not sure about these. I remember liking them in my youth, but I'm not sure they do it for me now.
So, over to the great PH. Any other ideas?
I'm selling my MGB GT, you can find my thread on here if you want to have a look. Certainly gets the looks of something that should be alot more expensive and it is now running spot on. PM me if you want any details/photos.So what I want, I think, is something "classic", which I can turn up to special family/school events in, tinker about with, probably convertible, and with an indefinable fun factor. And MOTd or exempt. It would be nice if my son could drive it when he's 17 in a year or so.
Now, I know that rationally I should wait until after we move house near the end of Auguat, but then the summer's nearly over, and I like toys. I may just wait and see if I can spend some more on something pre-war, but in the meantime I'm trying to decide between:
Series Land Rover - probably an S3, 88", county top which I can remove for the summer. Don't have to worry about the muddy dog in the winter and can use as a tip vehicle. Will get the kids to school in the snow (yes, that's a bit of an excuse). It can look old and ratty and still not embarrass my teenagers.
MGB GT - no idea why, just like them. I think I can just about get a chrome bumper one for that. With a sunroof would be fun for blatting about in the country. Might squeeze the kids in the back for short trips.
MGB roadster - not sure I can get a solid one for the money, but if I don't care about the interior and maybe have to do some minor mechanicals that would work.
Scimitar GTE - not sure about these. I remember liking them in my youth, but I'm not sure they do it for me now.
So, over to the great PH. Any other ideas?
For anyone interested, I've decided to blog my "progress" (ha) with the Series III.
http://onegrandlandy.wordpress.com
http://onegrandlandy.wordpress.com
Gassing Station | Classic Cars and Yesterday's Heroes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff