RE: Cost-effective tax evaders | Six of the Best
RE: Cost-effective tax evaders | Six of the Best
Today

Cost-effective tax evaders | Six of the Best

More than 40 years old, less than £25,000 - a whole world of fun on four wheels


Lotus Elan, 1968, 84k, £23,995

It is hard to justify a classic car. Unless you’re as brave as an Icelandic trawlerman, they’re not ideally suited to the job of everyday transport. And while you don’t need a degree in computer science to mend one, the chances are they will require mending - and often. At significant cost. But there are some advantages: if the car is over 40 years old, you won’t need an MOT - and if your car was built before January 1st 1985, you won’t need to pay road tax either. And for less than the cost of a brand-new Skoda Fabia 130, you can have a serious amount of fun. Case in point: this very red, and extensively restored Lotus Elan S3 from 1968. Someone has apparently spent £33k getting it to what we’ll assume is peachy-keen fast road spec. It’s yours for £23,995. Never a dull weekend again. 

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Volkswagen Golf GTI, 1983, 79k, £25,995

Of course, if the thought of a classic British sports car brings you out in hives, the age limit does unlock the first generation of proper hot hatches. As ever, anyone who lived through the ‘90s will probably baulk at the thought of paying more than 30 quid for a Mk1 GTI, but the Golf achieved revered status long ago, and presentable ones are rarer now than hen’s teeth. Hence the £25,995 asking price for this two-owner example, which is said to have only covered 79k since 1983. Appears to be in great nick, too, and while it will be considerably slower and noisier than a 177hp Fabia, it will be wildly more exciting to drive. In the same way that camping is wildly more exciting than staying in a Premier Inn. 

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Triumph TR6, 1975, 14k, £25,950

Back to Blighty and those hazy summer days when only a convertible will do. It would be wrong, of course, to say you can’t go wrong with a Triumph - all manner of things can go spectacularly pear-shaped - but there’s a good reason why sane, professional people have gone to the trouble of refurbishing the TR6: they look and sound brilliant. This one, resprayed in glorious Damson, has had plenty of TLC lavished on it in recent years, including a professional upgrade to triple Weber carbs, which ought to make the 2.5-litre straight-six the perfect accompaniment to an afternoon among England’s hedgerows. It’s been tastefully improved elsewhere, too - though mostly it’s about that body on those wheels. Lovely. 

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Alfa Romeo GTV 2.0, 1977, 100k, £14,995

Wheel out all your favourite Italian car cliches for the GTV. It’ll boast all the style, brio, character and charisma you could want from a £15k classic, which will most certainly help when it comes to keeping it in finest fettle. Remarkably, this one is 50 years old the year after next, and it still looks sharp - a real testament to that original Giugiaro design. As an earlier GTV, moreover, it goes without some of the fussier add-ons that came later in this car’s life. Indeed, the Alfa was once deemed good enough to be owned by a ‘well-known motoring journalist’, which is vaguely interesting. And when you’re done gawping (plus finding out who the hack was), there’s the famous twin-cam to motor your Alfa GTV down the road. It’s easy to imagine life being very, very good behind the wheel. Or anecdote-worthy, in any case...

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Ford Escort XR3, 1981, 32k, £24,995

Should the Golf appear a little too sensible for a retro hot hatch, early '80s pocket rockets come little more old school than the XR3. Front-wheel drive was the main concession to modernity after the first two generations of rear-drive Escort; when the XR made its debut in 1980, it was still using a carb and a choke, the then-new CVH mustering almost 100hp. But with so little metal to move, that was more than enough for mischief, which makes the fact that this car survived the '80s, '90s and '00s all the more incredible. As a reward, it’s now been beautifully restored, the underneath as clean as an operating table and the Sunburst Red radiant. Probably one for a collection rather than regular use - but what a glorious time machine to have on hand.

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Jaguar XJS V12, 1982, 14k, £24,995

When only a dozen cylinders will suffice to waft around rural Britain, the Jaguar XJS really is compelling. While more valuable than they once were, it’s still difficult to level the amount of classic Jaguar available with the prices being asked. It’ll never have the E-Type’s reputation, sure, but then it’ll never cost as much either. For a healthy serving of grace, pace and (some) space, an XJS undoubtedly appeals. This V12 was with one owner for 35 years, and following a period in storage was extensively (to the tune of £10k) recommissioned in 2020. Oh yeah, and it’s still showing fewer than 15,000 miles. All of which means there are certainly more affordable old Jags around - but there can’t be very many better.

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Author
Discussion

rassi

Original Poster:

2,505 posts

269 months

The XJS for me, or the GTI or XR3 would also do nicely

Motormouth88

643 posts

78 months

Had a tr4 so naturally would want the tr6 here…but to be honest any will do, great list.

ST330

219 posts

29 months

GTV6 has been on my want list for a very long time. Yes, no logic to it, it will take a lot of looking after. The heart wants what the heart wants

Had a Burago model as a kid. Saw a nice, full size, car at Spa Italia last year.

wistec1

666 posts

59 months

For me the Ford is the one to pick out and replace with something far more interesting whilst still ticking the no tax box. The replacement? A Sunbeam Lotus and I've already got my tax dodger.

WillieEckerslike

59 posts

34 months


A great list, although I would rather have the XJS without the (non)desirable US spec twin headlights and TWR rear spoiler. The Alfa and TR6 both look good value to me.

ChevronB19

8,514 posts

181 months

The elan looks cheap. Like the TR6 as well.

edoverheels

500 posts

123 months

Lotus please

mooseracer

2,459 posts

188 months

TR6 please - I think they look and sound lovel

Unreal

7,730 posts

43 months

Some extremely optimistic pricing there. If I had to spend that much on any of them, it would be the Elan.

Twinair

928 posts

160 months

If my dad was still with us, I’d take the Jag, he used to strip these for fun - pretty much. Jags and Daimlers, can be ruinous on costs…

Remember when XR3’s were like expensive meal out money, nice one here - but at that price? I think I’d take the Golf & drive it…


Its Just Adz

16,720 posts

227 months

I'd honestly pass this week.
Not one of those makes me think "I'd love to take that for a drive".

Mouse Rat

1,982 posts

110 months

Great list. TR6 or XJS for me. I love the proportions and wheels on the TR6.

Corkys

289 posts

219 months

Lotus for me, followed by the TR6.


cerb4.5lee

38,885 posts

198 months

That is a lovely list of nostalgia for me thanks. I was obsessed with V12 XJS's as a kid, plus my Dad(my Mum's car) had a 1982 Escort XR3 as well. I really like that TR6 too. cool

paulyv

1,061 posts

141 months

When I lived in central London a few years ago my 107 SLC fell into this category. I could not believe my luck becoming exempt from several financial burdens that had previously taken the shine off living centrally.

Robertb

2,895 posts

256 months

I’m intrigued why the Jaguar has odd reflectors on the rear wing and the US spec lights but is RHD.


arguti

1,813 posts

204 months

ST330 said:
GTV6 has been on my want list for a very long time. Yes, no logic to it, it will take a lot of looking after. The heart wants what the heart wants

Had a Burago model as a kid. Saw a nice, full size, car at Spa Italia last year.
Have a few of these from 2.0 early car all the way through to South African 3.0 GTV6s on carburettors - fabulous but need constant fettling and fawning !

S600BSB

6,797 posts

124 months

Excellent list.

chris116

1,168 posts

186 months

Really like the look of the TR6.

McGee_22

7,613 posts

197 months

My 1982 635CSi has been in this field for a couple of years and my 1985 M635CSi joins the group in April next year…