First restoration project

[cemsmith]

hi i'm looking at a first restoration project for my son. Now i don't want a massive expensive car just one which will take him a few years until he is able to drive. He is 15 years old and is doing his GCSE next year and is wanting to do mechanical engineering when he's older . Has any one got any ideas on what a good first car would be ???

thanks in advance if anyone's got any websites for me to look on that would be great as well !!

please help me out here. I want something which will make him happy to drive and restore.

[backwoodsman]

Mini.

All parts easily available, cheap, and fun to drive.

[balls-out]

I think the main issue will be something he can afford to insured when he is 17.
whats the budget?

Mini?

[cemsmith]

I haven't thought about the budget the maximum would be £7,500 for a half done restoration. Also i don't want to be spending a fortune on insurance. Also i want the project to last roughly 2-3 years !!!!

[lindrup119]

backwoodsman said:

Mini.

All parts easily available, cheap, and fun to drive.

Not in my experience, especially when tuning the A Series. Craving another one though.

[djt100]

At that budget I cant think of much your son would actually be able to insure at 17. Maybe a MGB? alternatively what about a lotus 7 type kit car ?

[cemsmith]

lindrup119 said:

Not in my experience, especially when tuning the A Series. Craving another one though.

which car make/model would you say is good then looking at a £7,500 budget for buying the car and most of the spares !!!!

[yzrh]

Learner Driver insurance helps to reduce the insurance premium when he does pass the test.. it's relatively inexpensive.

I'm not really sure about what car though

[cemsmith]

djt100 said:

At that budget I cant think of much your son would actually be able to insure at 17. Maybe a MGB? alternatively what about a lotus 7 type kit car ?

Its not about the speed. Its about the looks he's told me. Such as we have a Fiat 500L one of the first ones to be made and he wanted to put new wheels, and other externs on it but didn't want to tune it up into a sports car. He's happier it looking sporty than being sporty !!!!

[cemsmith]

my friend has recently been doing up a VW camper and my son likes the sound of it he just wants something what looks a lot more sporty !!!

[Dusty964]

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C519877

cool as anything when complete, and no doubt a tidy profit...

[greggy50]

Could build a cracking mini for £7.5k if did most of work yourself probably £5k to be honest.

[cemsmith]

Dusty964 said:

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C519877

cool as anything when complete, and no doubt a tidy profit...

especially how they don't make them anymore. Would the insurance on a Triumph spitfire or stag be expensive as i had a spitfire when i was a boy ????

[cemsmith]

greggy50 said:

Could build a cracking mini for £7.5k if did most of work yourself probably £5k to be honest.

yeh i was looking at mini its just i want something which will take 2-3 years and at the moment this is all i can find


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AUSTIN-MORRIS-MINI-TRAVE...

just found this now do you think this is worth it:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1989-Austin-Mini-Sky-Man...

[balls-out]

Series Land rover - Nothing too subtle, parts are cheap and avialable.

[cemsmith]

balls-out said:

Series Land rover - Nothing too subtle, parts are cheap and avialable.

have you got a website for the parts ???

[Adrian E]

The biggest issue with a classic car and teenagers is insurance - the market cottoned on to people buying classic cars for 17 year olds to drive daily as the insurance was lower, so most of the specialist insurers won't now touch anyone under 21 unless they have another car as a daily, if at all.

I'd suggest anything where Moss or similar make most of the spares, including a replacement shell if it's properly rusty, would be a good choice for a genuine classic.

If you want to end up with something to insure on a standard policy then maybe somthing 80s or early 90s requiring a mechanical refresh but not a full body restoration would do the job?

It is fun to do - my first cars in about 1990, barring the hateful '87 Micra my mum drove, were Mk2 Cortinas and all required regular fettling from clutch changes, to welding jacking points, to rebuilding diff and engines. I got quite adept at changing engines out on the road in a couple of hours! Gets slightly frustrating when you can't get the bits and it's off the road while you look for stuff, plus back then the insurers were happier to cover.

[Toaster Pilot]

I have a 1975 Land Rover with a fresh MOT and very solid chassis that needs a fair bit of restoration to see it at it's best - not sure what the insurance would be like for a 17 year old but it would be a very rewarding project and way under the kind of budget you're talking about

[balls-out]

cemsmith said:

balls-out said:

Series Land rover - Nothing too subtle, parts are cheap and avialable.

have you got a website for the parts ???

Err - am I wrong? Actually I used to have a brilliant man who sold all the parts I ever need from the back of his garage in a quite road - alas he's retired now.
Are late series parts difficult now?

OK, how about a nice Mk1 Golf. Bertone classic design. Start with a 1.1 - insurance friendly and later he can add GTi bits

or more left field http://r.ebay.com/IAIK0N - bet none of his mates will have a genuine welsh built car!

Edited by balls-out on Tuesday 15th July 14:37

[cemsmith]

balls-out said:

Err - am I wrong? Actually I used to have a brilliant man who sold all the parts I ever need from the back of his garage in a quite road - alas he's retired now.
Are late series parts difficult now?

OK, how about a nice Mk1 Golf. Bertone classic design. Start with a 1.1 - insurance friendly and later he can add GTi bits

i was looking and they were quite expensive but the Mk1 golf is what my wife had and she didn't like them at all ( but i do ) so theres no chance of getting one of those !!!

Like before is the insurance high on the Triumph spitfire and Stag's for 17 year olds????