First Fixer Upper

[Headlight Fluid]

Hi everybody,

This is my first post on Piston Heads.

I am looking for my first fixer upper and not sure what to go for. Ideally I would like to restore a classic car but not one that I will find it impossible to source parts.

Can anyone recommend a first car?

Thank you,

Headlight Fluid

[Pericoloso]

A lot of common ,in it's day British cars have excellent spares availability nowadays, although some of the parts

are of questionable quality.

Morris Minor ,classic Mini ,Land rover all pretty basic.

Being able to weld will help.

[MrAverage]

Depends how classic you are talking?

Plenty of old mx5's and associated parts.

You'll need to be able to weld/ willing to learn as it'll become an extremely expensive hobby otherwise.

[ZX10R NIN]

MG TF not everyone's idea of a classic but it a good starter car.

[Headlight Fluid]

Thank you for your replies.

I haven't got much experience in bodywork and never touched a welding machine as I usually deal with the mechanics, but would be keen to learn. I had a look into basic welding courses a couple of months ago. Is MIG or Stick the best way to go, or would basic courses cover all types?

I've had a look at a few different restoration/barn finds online but wasn't sure how far you can take chassis repairs.

I have been drawn towards Ford's from the late 60's/70's such as a Capri, Zodiac or Cortina. Has anyone worked on any of these, how did you find it?

[Pericoloso]

Headlight Fluid said:

I have been drawn towards Ford's from the late 60's/70's such as a Capri, Zodiac or Cortina. Has anyone worked on any of these, how did you find it?

Any of the above that aren't requiring considerable rust repairs are going to be priced very highly.

Unless you find someone who doesn't know the market.

Old Ford "tax" is HUGE.

Cheapest old Ford would probably be the unloved "poverty" models ,Capri 1300 ,etc...or maybe a LHD car.

[Headlight Fluid]

Pericoloso said:

Any of the above that aren't requiring considerable rust repairs are going to be priced very highly.

Unless you find someone who doesn't know the market.

Old Ford "tax" is HUGE.

Cheapest old Ford would probably be the unloved "poverty" models ,Capri 1300 ,etc...or maybe a LHD car.

When I was younger I used to hear that Ford had issues with rust but wasn't sure which models were involved. Going to give Ford's a wide birth, definitely looking for a car around that era though.

[bearman68]

MR2 was normally fairly rust resistant, and early Mk3 had trouble with the engines. Can be solved nicely by fiting a late model engine, which is some nice spannering work.

[Headlight Fluid]

ZX10R NIN said:

MG TF not everyone's idea of a classic but it a good starter car.

Thank you, I love their Roadsters, especially the MGB.

[clockworks]

Chrome bumper MGB Roadster would be my choice. In fact it was, many years ago. You can buy pretty much any part for for those.

[mattman]

If you want a classic, have a look at the triumph range - everything from a 2 seater sports car to a big saloon. Good spares availability and active owners clubs too. Once you decide on your model, join an owners forum as you’ll get more experienced advice on that particular car than you will on PH

[Toed64]

OP, how much work do you want to do? Do you want a running project, or a full rebuild? Do you want an original car, or a useable fun car? What's your budget?

I'd only consider something that is going to be fun to drive and useable, so for me that means that it's probably rear wheel drive and it rules out MGBs, Morris Minors and almost all of the humdrum older cars.

Forget stick welding for car panel repairs - you'll need a good quality MIG welder - with practise and prep, it's easy.

Here are some of the ones I'd consider (several I've played with and enjoyed):

Mazda MX5s are great fun and all the bits are available. Most rot really badly, but there are good ones out there.

Toyota MR2 MK1s are great fun, but less easy to work on than the MX5s. Much rarer now.

Toyota MR2 MK3s are cheap as chips and fun too. As mentioned above - swap in a Corolla or Celica 2ZZ engine and gearbox and you'll have a fast car.

E30, 3 series BMW? Preferably a 325i...or plan an engine swap, because the smaller motors are a bit pointless. They also rot, but the parts are available.

MG Midgets are slow but fun to drive and all the bits are available, which is a good thing, because you'll probably need all of them.

Triumph Spitfires? Slow and rusty, but still fun (maybe not as much fun as Midgets).

BMW Z3 - just starting to appreciate and rot less than some of the earlier cars. Small engined versions are less fun than MX5s, but the 2.8 is much quicker.

Reliant Scimitar? Maybe - I've had 2 and found one of them rewarding to drive and own...the other was automatic and uninspiring.

[Headlight Fluid]

Hi everybody, I'm sorry for the delay in replying had an issue with my PistonHeads account.

I originally wanted to do a full rebuild, but after looking at some of the full restoration project/barn find cars I soon found that I was out of my depth (at the moment). I'm good when it comes to the mechanics and electrics, but not so confident at carrying out chassis/body repair.

I still want to eventually do a full restoration in the future and have been looking into courses. One of my local colleges run one which seems to be ideal; Vehicle Body Repair and Classic Car Restoration.

A few people that I have spoken to have suggested that I go for a full kit car build as the bodywork would be limited to fixing panels. I don't know what it is about kit cars that puts me off.

I'm looking for something that I could enjoy taking out of a weekend/over the summer and enjoy driving. Thank you for all your suggestions. I am looking for a car that I could enjoy driving, taking out of a weekend, out over the summer.

Thank you for all your suggestions. Love the shape of the MGB Roadster's and Triumph Spitfire's. Swaying more towards a Spitfire after looking into their history, but the model would depend on how hard it would be to source parts and maintain.

[Pericoloso]

I'm not 100% on this but I'd guess MGBs have more parts availability than Spitfires.

[Toed64]

Triumph Spitfire parts are all available from companies like Rimmer Bros.

https://rimmerbros.com/SubCategory--Triumph-Spitfi...

Midget, Sprite and MGB bits are easily available too.

I'd suggest that you go and test drive a few of these cars before you decide which project to buy. Cars of the 1960s, 70s and even 80s had enormously different levels of technology in their designs. Sadly, many of the British cars didn't develop that much, while many of the foreign cars did. Nowadays there are very few bad cars, back then...

I really like the MGB's looks, but they are not much fun in standard spec. Compare the tech spec with the Italian competition of the same decades - the Alfa GT Junior and the Fiat 124 Spider. Both are much more fun and will cost LOADS more now. They are also much more complicated and expensive to restore.

[Pericoloso]

Ref the last line of last post,I just read a car mag with a piece on a twice restored 124 Spider Abarth.
550 hours to get the body correct after a less than perfect first resto.

[meehaja]

I went with an audi TT for the same reason. cheap parts, cheap to buy, if you like the look they're quite fun to drive and easy to modify/ work on

[MC Bodge]

Have my driven both, I would take an MGB over a Spitfire. The MGB can be good to drive enthusiastically. Spitfire would be an acquired taste, with its primitive suspension.

...although, being honest, I would avoid both unless you are buying a galvanised new shell.

Looking after them and chasing the rust will be like "painting the Forth Bridge".

I'd go for a more modern car, like an MX5.

Ps. The 60s/70s classics were only 20 years old when considered classics.