Classic Small Car

Wanna-Fixit

Hey everybody,
I posted recently to see if anyone knew where I could find an Alfasud that would be suitable as a restoration project. Unfortunately I think that quest has come to an end as there appears to be very few in the country worth restoring. I admired the Alfasuds for the engineering that went in to making such a well balanced car, and for the amazing design that rivals that of most modern small cars. So now I'm looking for suggestions or recommendations for similarly well-engineered and well-designed classic small cars that would make a suitable restoration project, and of course it would be greatly appreciated if anyone could tell me where I could find any of the cars suggested.
Thanks in advance,
Wanna-Fixit

green-blood

if its gotta be samll, its gotta have good parts availablility and its gotta be restoreable at home - its gotta be a mini

alfarocks

If you really really want a 'Sud this one is available in the UK.

Henry Ford III

Bmw 2002?

Alfasudcrazy

It has to be the Mk I Golf GTi - easy (well easier than an Alfasud) to get parts and will always be a valuable car anytime you may want to sell it.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/vw-golf-mk1-gti-llassa-green-great-project_W0QQitemZ170003186347QQihZ007QQcategoryZ18303QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Mk1-GOLF-GTi-MARS-RED-STUNNING-ORIGINAL-CAR-1YEARS-MoT_W0QQitemZ330003655528QQihZ014QQcategoryZ18303QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Blue850

Fiat 127, if you can find a good one..

Wanna-Fixit

Hey again guys,
Thanks for the recommendations but none of the classics you've recommended are quite what I'm looking for,except maybe the BMW 2002, which has quite an interesting history. Most of the other recommendations are two common, and I'm looking for something a bit out-of-the-ordinary. As for that Alfasud, it's in the same condition as most of the others you'll find in this part of the world, destroyed by rust. Any more out-of-the-ordinary recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Possibly a Triumph Dolomite, unless something more interesting shows up.
Thanks again,
Wanna-Fixit

BrianD3

A Renault 16? There were a couple for sale in the B+S last time I checked and I believe one was in Tipperary.

Most cars from this era suffer badly from rust, it's not just Alfasuds!

Mitchomagic

How about Triumph Herald,Or how about a MG Jubbile,only 750 built and about 250 left,I know where the is one.Might be for sale.

green-blood

what about a talbot sunbeam, or lutus sunbeam, lots were bodged up as boy racer mobiles but a nicel restored one would be interesting at shows and worth more thana bodger. more interesting than a MK11 escort, rarer and probably the only classic rear wheel drive hatch back

manta mad

theres a nice alfasud for sale on the carzone website.
1983 with 79000 miles .

jaysus lads some of the prices are a bit over the top for some classics aint they: have a look at the prices on the escorts.:eek:

ds20prefecture

How about a Citroën GSA?

Pics here: It's the red one. I'm buying the blue one.
http://tinyurl.com/qbsgd

I've driven this GSA and it's a cracker, what with the mad dash, aircooled 1222cc boxer 4, hydropneumatic suspension and brakes and that slippery shape.

It needs work - welding on the sills as shown. Engine and hydraulics are all strong, and the car comes with a bunch of spares (including fresh doors, wings and bonnet, I think). There's a spare engine or two there as well. You'll need to replace the rear wheel hub (€15 from flea-bay) and probably tighten things up a bit.

The GSA was a direct competitor to the Alfasud. Both practical family hatchbacks with boxer 4s, both well outside the normal muck of the time (escorts, allegros, maestros, r14s, etc., yawn). Sure the Alfa's engine is a major strongpoint, but the GSAs red lines about 7000rpm, cruises at 6500 all day and has huge character. And not a head gasket in sight!

€500 and i'd say it's yours. You'd drive it home from Portadown, and if you're anyway handy have yourself a wonderful, unique, fun and different car for under €1000.

Let me know if you're interested - the owner is very ill and wants it gone soon.

Alfasudcrazy

manta mad wrote:

theres a nice alfasud for sale on the carzone website.
1983 with 79000 miles .

Ahem ... that's me!
Will be at Terenure with it on Sunday - weather permitting.

http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=Car&carID=455362&message=You%20searched%20for%3A%20Alfa%20Romeo%20Alfasud%2E%20Your%20search%20returned%20one%20vehicle%2C%20which%20is%20shown%20below%2E&CFID=15742186&CFTOKEN=94786359

green-blood

wow I'd love a GSA... ready sorted of course.

DS you buy it, sort it and sell it me next year!!

ds20prefecture

I'd love to, but I reckon I might be served divorce papers when I arrive home with the blue '79 GS Special. In many ways it is not as good a car as the GSA, but in many ways it is also nicer. For me the 20,000 mile, 1 owner history sealed the deal.

Alfasudcrazy

Good luck with your new project DS. Loved the sound out of them - havn't seen one on the road for years.

green-blood

well when I get back from this foreign work assignment I bags a spin - reeght

Henry Ford III

Alfasudcrazy wrote:

Ahem ... that's me!
Will be at Terenure with it on Sunday - weather permitting.

http://www.carzone.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=Car&carID=455362&message=You%20searched%20for%3A%20Alfa%20Romeo%20Alfasud%2E%20Your%20search%20returned%20one%20vehicle%2C%20which%20is%20shown%20below%2E&CFID=15742186&CFTOKEN=94786359

Lovely car. Any idea what the VRT is on it?

Blue850

green-blood wrote:

Lotus Sunbeam...probably the only classic rear wheel drive hatch back

Chevette HS/HSR
BMW 2002 Touring
Scimitar GTE

ds20prefecture

Alfasudcrazy wrote:

Good luck with your new project DS. Loved the sound out of them - havn't seen one on the road for years.

Thanks lads. Sorry for the hijack, but I still think the GSA is a valid alternative to the 'sud. Sure nobody will froth at the crotch when they see you in the GSA, but in terms of alternative chic and technology it is miles ahead of the Alfa (which I also love)

Wanna-Fixit

Hey again,
There are some pretty good suggestions in there, however now I have to decide what I like and disike and then go looking for them.
I don't particularly like Renault 16s, it's just their look.
An MG Jubilee could be a fun project though I'm sure they're really expensive in any condition being so rare. I'd love an MG BGT though.
A Talbot Sunbeam Lotus would be a lovely car to own and it'd be an interesting restoration project. Doesn't seem to be too hard to get parts for them either, though most parts now aren't original.
I'd like a Citroen GS or a GSA. They're fairly similar to the Alfasuds, and the hydrapneumatic suspension is supposed to be quite good on them.
Much like the Lotus Sunbea, a Vauxhall Chevette would be a really nice car to own and I'd say they're a great car to drive too.
I've kind-of looked at Reliant Scimitars, I think I'd have fun restoring one.
Again, thanks for all the suggestions, and any more would be appreciated, as well as any information about where I might find any of these cars.
Wanna-Fixit

overdriver

I was toying with the idea of an MGB GT too, til I saw how ordinary they looked really amidst all the rarer stuff at the show

Wanna-Fixit

I don't know about that, they are quite nice cars, they're a lot like some of the older Aston Martins, like DB4s/DB5s. I like the look and they have a nice bit of character too, especially because of the fact that they only have a 4 gear box and MG had to add that famous overdrive button. It's got to be way more fun to press that button than to go about pressing down the clutch and changing to fifth as you would in any other car. It's the little quirks/features like that that make it such a great classic car. Though that's just my opinion.

el tel

A FIAT Feg Lighter?