What 'new' classic?

[anonymous-user]

Hello,

Having sold our Triumph Spitfire at the weekend, unfortunately, my girlfriend and I are investigating what to replace it with when we return to the Uk.

We don't have a huge budget and are focused on it being fun, we have other cars, etc, I am not fussed on it being a convertible / coupe / or a Land Rover ... it can also be a project.

Budget is 5-10k, less is better.

I want to ensure we haven't forgotten anything, although so far our list consists of;

Triumph Spitfire Mk III and earlier
Series I / II Land Rover
Toyota Carina / Celica coupe (60's / 70's)
Toyota FJ (out of budget I think)
Fiat 850 Coupé
Fiat Sport Spyder 850
Alfa Spider
Volvo 1800
Datsun fairlady 1600 / 2000
MG Midget / AH Sprite

I know there is quite a few, but we are after simple and fun.

Midget / 850 / Spitfire are the main contenders.

Nothing newer than 1980

[tortop45]

Why the cut of at 1980 ?as there are some great fun cars out there just a few years later and well within your budget.....

[300bhp/ton]

Why no Series 3 Land Rover?

Anyhow, £5-10k, pre 1980 and fun. That's a pretty BIG list out there. Too many really.

Can you still get an Excel for this money? TR7 V8, maybe a Mustang if lucky. Range Rover, Jags, Rovers.

[Mercky]

Volvo 1800. It doesn't get much better than that.

[Disco Infiltrator]

Mercky said:

Volvo 1800. It doesn't get much better than that.

Reality check needed here I think. Three UK based P1800s on Car and Classic priced between £25 and 40k.



£5k to 10k, cheaper the better.


There are very few cars of this era that go for buttons now, and the Spitfire is the only one that fits the OPs requirements. Far more interesting for that budget if you look at slightly later stuff.

SAAB 900 Convertible maybe.

Porsche 924?

Edited by Disco Infiltrator on Thursday 14th September 20:17

[anonymous-user]

I don't really want post 1980 as i like the styling pre 1980, 1970 really, I want simplicity and lightweight l, although I would consider a W124 Cab.

Land Rover S I / II i think are those with the headlights not mounted in the wings and as such I prefer the styling.

I think another Spitfire or Midget / Frogeye / MG / S I/II makes the most sense as they are cheap, cheerful, fun, lightweight and easily repairable.

I know the scope is huge, I just want to make sure I have missed nothing obvious off (that fits the above) Id quite like an Austin 7 ...

ETA, I have a big V8 sports Coupe so that's why I haven't included the Jags, etc.

[Disco Infiltrator]

There's some rather tidy looking Lancia Fulvias on C and C for around your budget.

Edited by Disco Infiltrator on Thursday 14th September 21:53

[aeropilot]

Trexthedinosaur said:

Id quite like an Austin 7 ...

Sounds like a plan

[Disco Infiltrator]

Citroen CX?

[Dapster]

VW Scirocco


Peugeot 504 Coupe


BMW 2002


Alfasud Sprint


Lancia Fulvia


Reliant Scimitar


Saab 99


Capri

[Yertis]

300bhp/ton said:

Can you still get an Excel for this money?

Yes.

[mike9009]

I know it is not quite what you were asking for but an early air-cooled T25 camper is what we have (bearing in mind I now have kids) - But is the current girlfriend likely to be a keeper????

We use it regularly as a day van, used for many weekend camping trips and also a two week French trip this year (see below!).....

Ours is simple to work on, not too precious about it and they are creeping up in value.






Mike

[lucido grigio]

I was going to cast doubt that a Peugeot 504 cabriolet was in budget but turns out there's one near me for 9995 but with a

starting issue.

Good looking rare car.

[Efbe]

damn it's gone, but something like this:
https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C894780

[XOcette]

Fiat X1/9, Lancia 2000, HPE, or somewhat more left-field a Matra Murena or Bagheera, Citroen GS, Lancia Gamma Coupe?

[Dixy]

Just in budget, considerably newer but otherwise ticks all the boxes, an early Elise.

[anonymous-user]

Yes, future wife (!) and the car is our wedding present to ourselves, rather than spending a daft amount on a wedding everyone will have forgotten in a month (at least I never remember any weddings I have been too).

Thanks for all the suggestions, that Reliant Scimitar is lovely and was on front of Modern of Practical Classics this month?

Lancia is nice too.

Elise isn't what we are looking for, thanks for the idea though.

So many choices! I dropped a note via C&C about a Mk 3 Spitfire last night ...

This ... this would be perfect!

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C913573

ETA, it would be great if there is room for two dogs too, we have two French bulldogs, who fit nicely in the space behind the spitfire seats *in their harnesses and mounted to the seatbelt mountings).

Edited by Trexthedinosaur on Friday 15th September 10:20

[TooMany2cvs]

Trexthedinosaur said:

Land Rover S I / II i think are those with the headlights not mounted in the wings and as such I prefer the styling.

Forget an s1 - your budget will come complete with binliners and the broom that was used to load it into them.

s2/2a/3 are all fairly basically similar. The lights moved from the front panel to the wings in the late 60s, but you can easily swap wings and panel about if you prefer. They did change over the years, but it's all fairly iterative - dynamo->alternator, heater became standard, dash moved from dials in metal in the middle to in plastic in front of the driver, brake servo, that sort of thing. You'd get a really nice s3 or a fairly good s2/2a for your budget.

But it seems like you're looking at a massive range of different types of vehicle. Perhaps it's easier to figure out what you actually want... bunch of small sports cars, a couple of agricultural... then people are suggesting saloons and campers.

I like Dapster's Scim GTE suggestion - if you fancy a P1800, but can't afford it, how about an Amazon?

[Disco Infiltrator]

mike9009 said:

I know it is not quite what you were asking for but an early air-cooled T25 camper is what we have (bearing in mind I now have kids) - But is the current girlfriend likely to be a keeper????

We use it regularly as a day van, used for many weekend camping trips and also a two week French trip this year (see below!).....

Ours is simple to work on, not too precious about it and they are creeping up in value.






Mike

You'd struggle to get a nice one of those for the budget.

[TooMany2cvs]

Disco Infiltrator said:

You'd struggle to get a nice one of those for the budget.

Nah, T25s are well within that, except the very very very best Westfalias.