Classic Car Help

[choness2004]

Hi all,

After speaking to a few guys on here they have suggested getting a classic car as my first (just passed my test) and I was wondering what would be best for this?

Some have suggested a MG Midget or an MGB, as they can be low on insurance if I got classic (which would be idle as I need lower insurance). If it helps I will have a budget of just under £1000, but this can go up if needed.

If anyone has any suggestions or suggest cars that are not classic it would be of great help.

Thanks in advance!

[LuS1fer]

A lot of older cars rust like buggery. I lived through an era of 60's and 70's cars where filler and lace bodywork was part and parcel of owning them. You have to look at 80s cars onwards to get any sort of beginning to rust resistance. MGs have the benefit of cheap and easy parts availabilty as does the original Mini. However, I would major on finding a solid car rather than worrying about what type to buy. Scour a few classic car mags and always take a magnet to inspect older cars to check for filler.

Alternatively, look for a good example of a less coveted car such as a Hillman Imp. On 60's cars, be prepared for all-round drum brakes and 0-60 in the higher part of a minute. Front discs came more on stream in the 70's in lower models.

[dan_swin]

Triumph Spitfire. Bought mine for £1600 and its solid and been very reliable (14k miles in 15 months) and my insurance was only £700 with Peter D James after joining the Triumph Sport Six Club.


(mines the black one)

[Syd knee]

I have no knolledge of your driving skill but statisticaly you are in the highest risk of being involved in a collision. If you do that in an Imp or a Midget rather than a Clio or a Corsa your next car is likely to be a Hurse.

[jonnylayze]

kit cars are alos cheap to insure. Try MSM insurance.

If you're worried about rust, something like a Midas Bronze or Midas Gold with a glass fibre monocoque and an A series engine will be a nippy, sporty, interesting car for a first car and very cheap to insure.



I would echo the Spitfire suggestion. The separate chassis makes it a better proposition IMO than a Midget and I don't think you'll get a decent MGB on your budget (maybe a rubber bumpered BGT but it's likely to be rusty).

If it doesn't have to be a sports car, i think a Morris 1000 would be a good first car - easy to work on and cheap to insure and run.

[JonyPI]

I had a number of Triumphs in my early years, a spitfire, dolomite 1500, 2 dolly sprints and a spitfire6.gt6 convertable which i still have after 4 years. good cars really, get one thats solid and mechanics are easy to learn and fix if need be.

the thing i found with these cars if you do have to be a 'driver', no driving aids means if you try and drive it like you stole it you will end up in a headge and as has been said they dont crash very well, but for me it tought me so much about how to drive 'properly' and i feel made me a better driver than say jumping straight in a vw polo or such.

youl probably struggle with kit cars as they are classed as highly modified and insurers always turned me away when i wanted one, so went the classic route instead, again some will give you stupid quotes but you should eventualy get one below 1k. main ones are

the ones iv had most luck with are:
Footman James
Peter D James
lancaster

others like peter best, adrian flux etc i never had any decent quotes off but still worth a shot.

the dollys were a great day to day car, 1 sprint was fine, other was a nightmare, everything just went wrong but you dont get free tax on those where as you do on alot of spittys, just make sure yoyu get overdrive!
if you want a top notch GT6 convertable give me a shout

[JonyPI]

possibly something like:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1980-TRIUMPH-DOLOMITE-1850-H...

and if you get bored a v8 fits in nicely......

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1980-TRIUMPH-DOLOMITE-V8-350...

[LuS1fer]

Syd knee said:

I have no knolledge of your driving skill but statisticaly you are in the highest risk of being involved in a collision. If you do that in an Imp or a Midget rather than a Clio or a Corsa your next car is likely to be a Hurse.

Rubbish. You're likely to be travelling faster in a Clio or Corsa to begin with and I've been into a ditch with an Anglia after it bounced off a telegraph pole and come out without a scratch (I wasn't the driver). That said, with drum brakes, you are more likely to end up in a ditch to start with.

[choness2004]

Thanks everyone! Has been a good help.

I like the look of the Spitfire, but as has been said, it doesn't have to look sporty. The Dolomite is a really good looking car I think, and if the V8 version is avalible there is no need to complain!

What kit cars would you recommend? And does it make a difference to insurance if you buy it already put together?

Edited by choness2004 on Thursday 17th June 10:47

[Vidal Baboon]

I'd avoid the MGs at that price, the ones you will be able to afford would be the heavy late 70s rubber bumper models.

Take a look at the Scimitar GTEs or the Gilbern Invader if you like classic GTs that haven't rocketed in price.

[mat13]

nobody mentioned a morris minor yet? Great little cars and really good fun at low speeds.

[alfa pint]

choness2004 said:

Thanks everyone! Has been a good help.

I like the look of the Spitfire, but as has been said, it doesn't have to look sporty. The Dolomite is a really good looking car I think, and if the V8 version is avalible there is no need to complain!

What kit cars would you recommend? And does it make a difference to insurance if you buy it already put together?

Edited by choness2004 on Thursday 17th June 10:47

There's no V8 dolly! The performance version was a 2 litre twin cam, which are pretty sought after now and therefore a bit pricey.

Nothing wrong with MG Bs as a first car - same sort of performance as an average 1.8 hatch and good fun. They do rust, as does just about any 70s car, but they are cheap to maintain and run outside this issue.

Spitfires are the same - not quite as quick or as roomy as a B, but more easy to live with than a midget. They still rust, but the rust is easier and therefore cheaper to repair than the box sections on an MG. Parts are very easy to get and you'll enjoy the feeling of driving a soft top in the summer, which is one of life's great experiences.

What about an old capri? - you don't need the V6 version to enjoy it, and 2 litres are pretty cheap.

Kit car wise - if it's been put together it should already be road legal. Insurance wise for you, anything with a small engine is what you're after - so an old beetle modification / GTM with small K series or A series / Midas type. Keep it under 2 litres and you should be ok.

[300bhp/ton]

choness2004 said:

Hi all,

After speaking to a few guys on here they have suggested getting a classic car as my first (just passed my test) and I was wondering what would be best for this?

Some have suggested a MG Midget or an MGB, as they can be low on insurance if I got classic (which would be idle as I need lower insurance). If it helps I will have a budget of just under £1000, but this can go up if needed.

If anyone has any suggestions or suggest cars that are not classic it would be of great help.

Thanks in advance!

Classic cars are generally cheap to insure, even when on normal polices not specific classic ones.

They are also generally easy and cost affective to fix, maintain and run. Although they might like a bit of TLC.

"Sports" cars like and MGB will cost more to insure still, so you might be better off looking for saloons. Also £1k won't get you an MGB worth looking at unless you have money for a resto.

But don't worry, many saloon cars are just as capable at putting a smile on your face and in many way s will be more fun and have a lot more charm than newer cars.


Personally I think one of these would make a great 1st car. They ooze charm and character and are huge fun to drive. They are also uber and in my experience liked by the ladies. They are cheap to run and very easy to work on, they will also hold their money and be easy to sell on.

On other plus sides, while fun to drive, they will also teach you a huge amount about car control and driving techniques.

Only downer is fuel, although diesels aren't too bad. Lots of upgrade paths too, a more modern TDI engine or V8 slot straight in pretty much (well as far as engine swaps go), so for low cost the car can grow with you.




If you fancy more car like things, then a Triumph Dolomite is a good shout, the Sprint variant is genuinly quite quick, but insurance probably would be high. But if you got an 1850 they go well and you could convert it to a Sprint for cheapish money and have hot/warm hatch rivaling performance. I also like the look of them:



If you want more muscle then a Triumph 2000 is a wonderful car with IRS, fairly lightweight, great looks and a lovely straight 6 motor that is an aural delight with a set of loud pipes. Plush interior too.




Quite rare to find, but the Austin 1100 would be a fun, capable FWD option (and shares quite a bit with the original Mini, but for a fraction of the price):



And one that's a fav of mine at the min, the Morris Minor. It's small, lightweight and RWD. And has a huge engine bay. The A Series motor is very similar to those found in Midgets and Mini's, so is tunable. But the car is ripe and ready for a motor swap, such as a Rover K-Series, Ford Duratech and maybe even wilder. I keep thinking one with a motorbike engine would be a lot of fun or maybe a KV6 engine.




Lots of others too look at too, such as Ford Pops and Anglia's and maybe even a Datsun or two.


Remember, if it's pre 1973 it'll also be tax FREE, yes, no tax cost at all. And they have an easier MoT test in terms of emissions, so it allows you to mod further and more extreme and not worry.

Hope this helps

[choness2004]

300bhp/ton thanks for the post, has given me a lot of very useful information and a lot to think about! I will have a good look at each option when I get home from college

[300bhp/ton]

Vidal Baboon said:

I'd avoid the MGs at that price, the ones you will be able to afford would be the heavy late 70s rubber bumper models.

I can't see that as an issue, the car isn't really all that different and with a suspension upgrade (shocks and springs) it really does make no odds.

I had a 78 B GT in yellow, I personally think the rubber bumpers matched in the shape and vinyl roof better than chrome ones would have.

[300bhp/ton]

alfa pint said:

choness2004 said:

Thanks everyone! Has been a good help.

I like the look of the Spitfire, but as has been said, it doesn't have to look sporty. The Dolomite is a really good looking car I think, and if the V8 version is avalible there is no need to complain!

What kit cars would you recommend? And does it make a difference to insurance if you buy it already put together?

Edited by choness2004 on Thursday 17th June 10:47

There's no V8 dolly! The performance version was a 2 litre twin cam,

[geek mode]Actually it was a single SOHC 16 valve, not a twin cam [/geek mode]

[300bhp/ton]

choness2004 said:

300bhp/ton thanks for the post, has given me a lot of very useful information and a lot to think about! I will have a good look at each option when I get home from college

Seriously if classics appeal - go for one and don't listen to any doubters.

I/we had a Series III pick up when I was about 12, which I used to drive about the farm. At 17 I had an MGB GT, then at 19 I bought a Triumph TR7, broke the 1st one and bought another. Some 10-11 years later I've still got the TR7, but now with loads of mods and V8 engine.

Classics are cool and IMO a better bet than some clapped out 1.2 litre Corsa B. Also a lot more fun to drive and be in. They will all like a bit of TLC, but then that's part of the fun of them.


Kits are good too, but most are less practical and at this money probably less choice too.

[choness2004]

300bhp/ton said:

choness2004 said:

300bhp/ton thanks for the post, has given me a lot of very useful information and a lot to think about! I will have a good look at each option when I get home from college

Seriously if classics appeal - go for one and don't listen to any doubters.

I/we had a Series III pick up when I was about 12, which I used to drive about the farm. At 17 I had an MGB GT, then at 19 I bought a Triumph TR7, broke the 1st one and bought another. Some 10-11 years later I've still got the TR7, but now with loads of mods and V8 engine.

Classics are cool and IMO a better bet than some clapped out 1.2 litre Corsa B. Also a lot more fun to drive and be in. They will all like a bit of TLC, but then that's part of the fun of them.


Kits are good too, but most are less practical and at this money probably less choice too.

I find classic cars fascinating, and I think that look wise nothing modern can beat them. I have no problem with having to look after them, I love being able to go out and give them a good going over (I'm out with my granddad and his mkII Escort all the time!

Thats for the posts though mate, is rather a nice feeling someone telling me to ignore everyone that tells me getting a classic is the worst choice imaginable!

[Fire99]

Bit of a slight detour, what about the Porsche 924? Fairly simple and inexpensive mechanicals and i'd imagine classic insurance wouldn't be too heavy.

[JonyPI]

Fire99 said:

Bit of a slight detour, what about the Porsche 924? Fairly simple and inexpensive mechanicals and i'd imagine classic insurance wouldn't be too heavy.

he has abudget of a grand