Need some inspiration! Want to fall in love! :-)

[DarkHorseTerence]

I'm looking for some inspiration for which classic car to go for.

I've had many performance cars over the years, and am now at an age where I find myself uninspired by the modern BMW/Porsche/Audi offerings.

I am therefore starting to turn my attention to older classics with a view to buying something to cherish.

The thing is that I am so busy and stretched for time that I never get chance to visit specialists or travel to view cars I might like to look at, and therefore having spent over a year 'thinking' about this I have got no further with actually testing or driving anything to see if it floats my boat (except for a Maserati Gransport but that's another story really..)

To help narrow it down I have some broad criteria it needs to fit into:


1) It needs to be able to carry 4 - not 4 proper seats just at least a 2+2 like an Elan Coupe or R107 Merc to accommodate small children on the occasional journey

2) It must be 1960s or newer - more likely to be 70s or (possibly) 80s

3) It must have been a performance car for its day

4) It must have good spares availability

5) Must be shorter than an E34 M5 - (ie I know an E34 M5 is the longest possible car that fits into my garage!)

6) Must generally be regarded as reliable

7) Budget up to £30k

8) Preferably something desirable that is on an appreciation rather than depreciation curve

9) Preferably a manual box but this isn't essential


Having heard that little list - whats on your mind?

Thanks!!

[//j17]

BMW 8-series float your boat?

[pacoryan]

er 850 shorter than an M5? I doubt it!

I'm thinking: Maserati 3200 or Merak if you want to go classic. A Dino 308 GT4 is money in the bank if bought properly. Porsche 928 or 80's 911. Fiat Dino Coupe.

Audi Quattro or Delta Integrale perhaps.

Mustang? Perhaps not "performance" enough.

Citroen SM?

You could go for an E-type 2+2, if you don't mind the looks, I see one regularly that looks fantastic on Dunlop alloys.

Nice problem to have!

[tapkaJohnD]

Terence,

Until you got to Item 7) I was thinking, Triumph Vitesse! Especially with the Triumph 2.5 engine, not the OE 2 litre, but even that, in a car weighing less than a ton, makes it 'useful'. It ticks every other of your boxes and of course you can buy a good one for a tenth of your budget!

John

[coetzeeh]

[benjj]

I'd be looking at a 20-25k BMW E28 M5, some early AMG cars and possibly a Fiat 2400 Dino.

Actually I'd buy precicely what I already have; a BMW E12 M535i.

[RichB]

coetzeeh said:

Alfa Montreal is lovely and a lot more of an individual and inspired choice.

[The Surveyor]

If it's something to fall in love with, it needs to be something special. Reliability will be dependant upon maintenance with any car from the 60/70's but here are a few suggestions:-

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C416126 Alfa 2600 sprint coupe

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C513892 Very beautiful Fiat 130 coupe

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C514483 Nice Citroen DS

Paul

[Johnny 89]

The obvious choices would be a 911 of some varient, a 308 GT4 or a Corvette.

How about a lotus Esprit or something leftfield and cool like this Alpine?

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/a...

Would you consider something such as a TVR Cerbera? Although it's a '90s car it does have a classic feel.

[//j17]

pacoryan said:

er 850 shorter than an M5? I doubt it!

There's only 5cm in it, as I'm sure you've told the misses many times.

[John_S4x4]

I thought he wanted something with four seats ?

[plasticpig]

BMW M635csi or an Alpina B9 coupe (if you can find one). An AM DB7 is about the same length and they seem to be coming more collectible.

[DarkHorseTerence]

Wow great responses guys thanks!

This is what I wanted - lots of leftfield suggestions/ideas outside my own box!

Not sure all of the suggestions have 4 seats? Esprit is out for sure. Does a Montreal?

8 series looks too modern to me. I want something older.

Don't think a 635csi will fit? Did they make an M6 with the M Power engine with chrome bumpers or were they all the colour coded ones?

308 GT4 is a possible. I don't think they look stunning in photos - not sure Ive ever seen one in the flesh.

Merak I like the look of but parts/reliability would be scary possibly.

Fiat Dino Coupe - I also like a lot. Available for my budget? I saw one recently for £50k I believe!

I don't like the big old AMGs 'fraid.

E28 / E12 a bit staid?

Fiat 130 / Citroen DS - not my taste.

DB7 - surely too long?

Triumph Vitesse - not out of the question I guess!

Does a Sunbeam Tiger have 2 mini seats a la R107 Merc?

Cerbera - left field choice - it gets entry into classic car events I suppose!

Old 911s - possibly but because the shape is so long lived they still seem ubiquitous if you know what I mean......

Possibly an MG V8 Coupe?

Any others?

[plasticpig]

DarkHorseTerence said:

DB7 - surely too long?
Any others?

E34 M5 Length: 4720mm
DB7 Length: 4631mm
DB7 Vantage: 4666mm

[velocemitch]

Bit small in the back but you could get a very nice Alfa 105 coupe for that sort of money.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1974-Alfa-Romeo-2000-GTV...

[Blib]

coetzeeh said:

rushesofftotheclassifieds.

[bstark]

My mind said Porsche 928 as soon as I read the list...

[coetzeeh]

DarkHorseTerence said:

Wow great responses guys thanks!

This is what I wanted - lots of leftfield suggestions/ideas outside my own box!

Not sure all of the suggestions have 4 seats? Esprit is out for sure. Does a Montreal?

[Dapster]

http://suchen.mobile.de/auto-inserat/porsche-944-t...

[benjj]

I must say I would own (or have owned in a few cases) pretty much every car mentioned on this thread

Ok, other ideas:

Datsun 240Z / 260Z
Porsche 968 CS/Sport
Audi Quattro
Aston Martin O/I or DBS needing work
BMW 850csi
Corvette?
Ferrari Mondial