Cheap, affordable classics?

[Lanxx]

So I'm 17 and looking at cheap classics, which I can afford(ish) insurance wise, but which ones are the most reliable/ easy to obtain parts for?

Any help gratefully received.

Chris

Also cheap to run (this isn't as important )

Edited by Lanxx on Sunday 16th May 15:55

[ewenm]

MG B
Mk1/Mk2 Golf
Ford Capri

[Lanxx]

ewenm said:

MG B
Mk1/Mk2 Golf
Ford Capri

I'd love a Capri but the 1.6 apparently only does 28mpg?

[dellow]

mg midget

[tog]

I bought my Rover P6 at 19, daily car all through university and another year after that too. 2200SC, not quite as thirsty as the V8, but still only mid-twenties.

[RV8]

Morris minor. Available as vans, pick-ups, saloons, convertibles and woody estates (traveller) superb old things and very easy to maintain. I've had two and done work to dozens. They use the a series engine, are reliable, rwd and fairly easy to do modifications to. All panels are still available and many body parts are bolt on (like wings). They are cheap to insure too.

Edited by RV8 on Sunday 16th May 16:13

[Lanxx]

RV8 said:

Morris minor. Available as vans, pick-ups, saloons, convertibles and woody estates (traveller) superb old things and very easy to maintain. I've had two and done work to dozens. They use the a series engine, are reliable, rwd and fairly easy to do modifications to. All panels are still available and any parts are bolt on (like wings). They are cheap to insure too.

Yeah that sounds very appealing actually. Do you think you could pick up a decent one that won't need hundreds spending on it for sub-1000?

[v8will]

RV8 said:

Morris minor. Available as vans, pick-ups, saloons, convertibles and woody estates (traveller) superb old things and very easy to maintain. I've had two and done work to dozens. They use the a series engine, are reliable, rwd and fairly easy to do modifications to. All panels are still available and many body parts are bolt on (like wings). They are cheap to insure too.

Edited by RV8 on Sunday 16th May 16:13

What he says - get a few years NCB under your belt and then drop in a Fiat Twink and sierra 5 speed box, very tempted to buy one myself as a project

[MX7]

Get a copy of Practical Classics. Plenty of ideas, and a price guide too.

[2 Wycked]

This or this.

The advantage to the E21 is that nobody, however hard they try, could ever make fun of it.

[43034]

MX7 said:

Get a copy of Practical Classics. Plenty of ideas, and a price guide too.

Not that this is my thread, but thanks for the tip!

[anonymous-user]

Id say a MINI, a landrover, or an MGB/ Midget!

[300bhp/ton]

Lanxx said:

So I'm 17 and looking at cheap classics, which I can afford(ish) insurance wise, but which ones are the most reliable/ easy to obtain parts for?

Any help gratefully received.

Chris

Also cheap to run (this isn't as important )

Edited by Lanxx on Sunday 16th May 15:55

Most BL, BMC stuff has very good parts support. Some of them you can buy almost everything new for still.

[Lanxx]

2 Wycked said:

This or this.

The advantage to the E21 is that nobody, however hard they try, could ever make fun of it.

I do like these, vey nice and fair priced too. However I don't know if even a classic insurer would want me to have one of these ha ha. And aren't they quite wallet emptying at the petrol pump?

[CaptainSlow]

Lanxx said:

2 Wycked said:

This or this.

The advantage to the E21 is that nobody, however hard they try, could ever make fun of it.

I do like these, vey nice and fair priced too. However I don't know if even a classic insurer would want me to have one of these ha ha. And aren't they quite wallet emptying at the petrol pump?

That second one looks very nice. I borrowed one for a few days and found it quite thirsty.

Insurers tend to put an age of 15 years for classic cover.

[Opara]

If it's over 15 years could I insure a MK1 MX5 as a classic? If so can anyone recommend a good company for classic insurance? Am I right in thinking the biggest drawback is you don't a NCB?

Cheers

[ewenm]

Opara said:

If it's over 15 years could I insure a MK1 MX5 as a classic? If so can anyone recommend a good company for classic insurance? Am I right in thinking the biggest drawback is you don't a NCB?

Cheers

Some companies will give you NCB. Some starting points are Adrian Flux and MSM Insurance.

Edited by ewenm on Sunday 16th May 17:00

[Lanxx]

Opara said:

If it's over 15 years could I insure a MK1 MX5 as a classic? If so can anyone recommend a good company for classic insurance? Am I right in thinking the biggest drawback is you don't a NCB?

Cheers

I don't know about that but I was recommended to go to Footman James.

[CaptainSlow]

Opara said:

If it's over 15 years could I insure a MK1 MX5 as a classic? If so can anyone recommend a good company for classic insurance? Am I right in thinking the biggest drawback is you don't a NCB?

Cheers

Yes I have had some quotes on pre 95 ones. Also, I have found that insurers often require you to have use of another car.

[2 Wycked]

Lanxx said:

2 Wycked said:

This or this.

The advantage to the E21 is that nobody, however hard they try, could ever make fun of it.

I do like these, vey nice and fair priced too. However I don't know if even a classic insurer would want me to have one of these ha ha. And aren't they quite wallet emptying at the petrol pump?

My E30 318i Auto typically does 30mpg on a tank. I dare say a manual gearbox would improve upon this, although running a carb'd probably bring it back down again.