Lovely Cars: Interesting, Classic, Retro, Barge 5-10k
Discussion
biggbn said:
W00DY said:
I think that's a rather horrid mix Gof a classic shape and modern interior. 
If an independent porsche garage did that it would cost 6 figures.
stickleback123 said:
I've always fancied running some old American thing for a bit, but I've been put off by the high UK asking prices relative to their competence, and when I've seen them at car shows or come across an impromptu meet there is definitely a certain "ownership profile" that I'm not sure I'd want to be associated with; the US Car Ownership Club register isn't the only register many of them are on, I'm sure.
It's definitely all a bit odd. You can avoid the pricing and inadvertently joining the "Cowboy hat club" by buying an US car that even the Americanophiles hate. My Probe is shunned by most, but I still get to enjoy the miracle that is RockAuto.W00DY said:
It's definitely all a bit odd. You can avoid the pricing and inadvertently joining the "Cowboy hat club" by buying an US car that even the Americanophiles hate. My Probe is shunned by most, but I still get to enjoy the miracle that is RockAuto.
Not seen an update on your Probe thread for ages, how is it running?You could also get a Mustang engine in a good ol' English car:
https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1282576
Not sure that MG/Rover owners are any less odd than American car owners in the UK ... (full disclosure, I own a 75).
https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1282576
Not sure that MG/Rover owners are any less odd than American car owners in the UK ... (full disclosure, I own a 75).
stickleback123 said:
W00DY said:
It's definitely all a bit odd. You can avoid the pricing and inadvertently joining the "Cowboy hat club" by buying an US car that even the Americanophiles hate. My Probe is shunned by most, but I still get to enjoy the miracle that is RockAuto.
Not seen an update on your Probe thread for ages, how is it running?PrinceRupert said:
You could also get a Mustang engine in a good ol' English car:
https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1282576
Not sure that MG/Rover owners are any less odd than American car owners in the UK ... (full disclosure, I own a 75).
£7,250 for a 260bhp, 20mpg, kit car level engineered lash up with parts availability issues. Strictly one for those who stroke their beads and longships most vigorously, you're well into XF 4.2 V8 or even SV8 territory for that money, or even an S-Type R or 4.2 if you like the retro look. Both significantly better cars in every single way.https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1282576
Not sure that MG/Rover owners are any less odd than American car owners in the UK ... (full disclosure, I own a 75).
stickleback123 said:
£7,250 for a 260bhp, 20mpg, kit car level engineered lash up with parts availability issues. Strictly one for those who stroke their beads and longships most vigorously, you're well into XF 4.2 V8 or even SV8 territory for that money, or even an S-Type R or 4.2 if you like the retro look. Both significantly better cars in every single way.
20mpg? Where do I sign up! My 2.5 v6 75 is averaging 18mpg 
The thing is, enthusiasts don't buy cars based on which car is objectively the best. The newer shape XK8's don't really appeal to me all that much even if that would be a much better way to spend 7k than on a 90s Camaro ... (edit: or for that matter a v8 MG ZT, though not sure that appeals to me that much at 7.5k ...).
Edited by PrinceRupert on Wednesday 18th November 12:08
A little over thread, perhaps could be haggled within - this looks quite tasty:
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/10982200?c...
The colour is so much more interesting than the usual silver and black Mercedes ... (although it says it is "Designo emerald black", it looks green in the pictures...?)
I don't know much about them but it feels that the bork potential is likely to be HIGH
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/10982200?c...
The colour is so much more interesting than the usual silver and black Mercedes ... (although it says it is "Designo emerald black", it looks green in the pictures...?)
I don't know much about them but it feels that the bork potential is likely to be HIGH
Edited by PrinceRupert on Wednesday 18th November 12:19
SpeckledJim said:
The Beardy Scene Tax on the V8s is very high indeed.
I dare say the values are now solid, so your money is pretty safe, but you'd have to really want one, given the opportunity cost.
I was living in Coventry when they were desperate to sell off all the old MGR stock as fast as possible, and I recall being offered a ZT260 with less than 100 miles on the clock for £14k or so. They seemed to drop to £7k - £8k and haven't really moved from there in 15 years, but my concern would be having the car off the road for ages while you scour the earth to find something or get something made up that is NLA (which then costs you a fortune).I dare say the values are now solid, so your money is pretty safe, but you'd have to really want one, given the opportunity cost.
Being the man of fine taste that I am I instead picked up an 8 year old Vitesse Coupe with less than 100k on the clock for a grand, and then spent 18 months discovering why they were so cheap.
ETA - That CL55 is stunning. The followup C216 model is a much more reliable prospect but it doesn't look half as good as the borktacular C215 or come with that incredible engine. I don't think I'd mind the odd £1500 bill to keep that going, but I would mind frequent £1500 bills.
Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 18th November 12:24
stickleback123 said:
I was living in Coventry when they were desperate to sell off all the old MGR stock as fast as possible, and I recall being offered a ZT260 with less than 100 miles on the clock for £14k or so. They seemed to drop to £7k - £8k and haven't really moved from there in 15 years, but my concern would be having the car off the road for ages while you scour the earth to find something or get something made up that is NLA (which then costs you a fortune).
Being the man of fine taste that I am I instead picked up an 8 year old Vitesse Coupe with less than 100k on the clock for a grand, and then spent 18 months discovering why they were so cheap.
Are parts for the V8 really that hard to get? AFAIK parts for standard 75s/ZTs are easy to obtain and surely parts for the Mustang engine aren't that hard to get either?Being the man of fine taste that I am I instead picked up an 8 year old Vitesse Coupe with less than 100k on the clock for a grand, and then spent 18 months discovering why they were so cheap.
PrinceRupert said:
Are parts for the V8 really that hard to get? AFAIK parts for standard 75s/ZTs are easy to obtain and surely parts for the Mustang engine aren't that hard to get either?
As I understand it, and I've not looked into this in enormous depth, chassis and drivetrain bits for the RWD conversion are bespoke and can be challening. That said, I have also heard that the two sixties forum are extremely helpful and someone is even offering an exchange service for the lash-up rear subframe.Bad luck on you if yours rots through in 2 years and he's decided he's not doing it anymore though!
stickleback123 said:
As I understand it, and I've not looked into this in enormous depth, chassis and drivetrain bits for the RWD conversion are bespoke and can be challening. That said, I have also heard that the two sixties forum are extremely helpful and someone is even offering an exchange service for the lash-up rear subframe.
Bad luck on you if yours rots through in 2 years and he's decided he's not doing it anymore though!
Ah, of course - totally forgot they are RWD rather than FWD!Bad luck on you if yours rots through in 2 years and he's decided he's not doing it anymore though!
PrinceRupert said:
stickleback123 said:
The XK8 is far from a paragon of dynamic virtue, but it must have been twice the asking price of one of these (in the US) when new and as you'd expect it's a far more sophisticated car than this in terms of suspension, powertrain, NVH, and even build. These things were buttons to buy new in the US and you need to set your expectations accordingly.
You'd have to really want the novelty of running a Camaro in the UK to spunk £7k on that, aside from mechanical robustness I can't think of any objective ways in which it's superior to an £8k XK8, CLK500, CL500, BMW 645i or 650i etc.
I would be much less concerned of potential bork running the Camaro than a CL500/645i/650i/XK8 (I understand the CLK500 is pretty bulletproof). I would also suggest it is a slightly more interesting / left-field choice, rather than yet another old German car, if that sort of thing matters to you ...You'd have to really want the novelty of running a Camaro in the UK to spunk £7k on that, aside from mechanical robustness I can't think of any objective ways in which it's superior to an £8k XK8, CLK500, CL500, BMW 645i or 650i etc.
But yes, I am sure a 4k mid 2000s CLK500 will be objectively the better car than the 7k mid 90s Camaro in every way.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=15...
Have fun choosing something - there are plenty of interesting big 1990s-2000s V8 coupes out there for £4-8k! Obviously at this price/age you need to choose carefully, be aware that consumables won't be cheap, and buy on condition and provenance.
spreadsheet monkey said:
I bought an XK8 four years ago and had a fun 18 months with it, but I did look at fourth gen Camaros and other stuff before I bought it.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=15...
Have fun choosing something - there are plenty of interesting big 1990s-2000s V8 coupes out there for £4-8k! Obviously at this price/age you need to choose carefully, be aware that consumables won't be cheap, and buy on condition and provenance.
Thanks! Will read your thread with interest. I have more or less settled on a Corvette C5, if I can find a decent one at a decent price, but am keeping my eyes open for anything else that appears nearby and in decent nick - basically looking for an interesting/left-field car, with a bit of sportiness about it, with the biggest engine with the most cylinders I can find, for 15k or less (budget flexible, would be perfectly happy to spend 5k!). https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=15...
Have fun choosing something - there are plenty of interesting big 1990s-2000s V8 coupes out there for £4-8k! Obviously at this price/age you need to choose carefully, be aware that consumables won't be cheap, and buy on condition and provenance.
Edited by PrinceRupert on Wednesday 18th November 12:42
stickleback123 said:
I've always fancied running some old American thing for a bit, but I've been put off by the high UK asking prices relative to their competence, and when I've seen them at car shows or come across an impromptu meet there is definitely a certain "ownership profile" that I'm not sure I'd want to be associated with; the US Car Ownership Club register isn't the only register many of them are on, I'm sure.
This deserved a ROFL! 
PrinceRupert said:
Thanks! Will read your thread with interest. I have more or less settled on a Corvette C5, if I can find a decent one at a decent price, but am keeping my eyes open for anything else that appears nearby and in decent nick - basically looking for an interesting/left-field car, with a bit of sportiness about it, with the biggest engine with the most cylinders I can find, for 15k or less (budget flexible).
Corvettes are great, and quite different beasts to Camaros.Some kind of V12 Merc coupe is probably a good option if you want to go big on cylinders!
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