Classic Cars (over 20 years old) Wanted or Advice On

cps_goodbuy

Probably the wrong area but I'm also looking for Advice!

I'm a Student whom has developed a love of classic cars, really caught the bug!

I'm currently looking for my first classics, looking for cars which are over 20years old (over 30 is prefered) either to fully restore or to maintain meticulously.

A car to restore would allow me to learn about the mechanics and techniques employed, and would suit me down to the ground. I've previously partly-restored an old camry, I know of the time and money involved, and now looking to learn further, especially about engines and drive systems!

A good example of a classic would also be great as I can smarten her up and either use her as a runner or to preserve as a cherished possesion.

Idealy I'd like to have both a project car, nice runner, and show piece.

PM me or reply please, either about your car or someone elses you know of, I will PM my email to whomever is interested.

Please give your opinions anyway as I'm always looking for friendly advice!

Thanks
Clif

unkel

cps_goodbuy wrote:

Probably the wrong area

We've a dedicated Classic Cars forum! Moved it there for ya

cps_goodbuy

Quoted above:

I was more saying that I know its the wrong forum, but I would like the question exposed to all the diverse motoring enthusiasts we have on the boards!



Thanks for the thought

bo-bo

if i read your post right, your after 2 classics - one as a daily driver and one as a concours/show car?

when considering a car which will be used daily, consider the running/repair costs - cars which have parts which are easy to get. old fords, mercs, bmws etc tend to be the easiest to get parts for and maintain. id also try to get a 30 year old plus car - tax is criminally cheap

with a show car, i would imagine that you are prepared to fling a fair bit of money at it. i personally, would tend to go for something a little bit special like a mk II jag or the like. theres a strong club scene and plenty of support, but you dont see many on the road.

either way, id advise you to buy the best base to start with which you can afford. full restorations can be horribly expensive.

Dades

I assume you've looked into the whole insurance issue too?
If you're under 25 you'll have difficulties with classic policies, and it would be pricey to insure both cars under a normal policy.
G'luck!

cps_goodbuy

@ Bo-bo: Yup thats the jist of it

A project car, for me to learn more, with varying degrees of condition, and Either a Daily driver type car or Show example.

I'm aware of insurance, storage, and tax costs, no problem. I'm also aware of the difficulties in maintaining exceptional cars in terms of available parts etc. I would love to find or build up a car up to concours level.

So, if anyone out there has or knows of anything that may be available, give me a shout

PanhardPL

cps_goodbuy wrote:

@ Bo-bo: Yup thats the jist of it

A project car, for me to learn more, with varying degrees of condition, and Either a Daily driver type car or Show example.

I'm aware of insurance, storage, and tax costs, no problem. I'm also aware of the difficulties in maintaining exceptional cars in terms of available parts etc. I would love to find or build up a car up to concours level.

So, if anyone out there has or knows of anything that may be available, give me a shout

I sent you a PM.

--amadeus--

TBH you're asking a piece of string question unless you indicate a budget. What I would buy if I had 5K and what I would buy if I had 50K are worlds apart...

cps_goodbuy

@ --amadeus--:

Sure, if a person sets a budget it would help people put a price on their car if they're looking to sell!

I'm looking for ideas, friendly advice, cars that may be available, and for like minded people who love cars :-)

I'm not looking to get into a debate please...and anyway, I believe the car dictates the price, not the price the car.

Chow

macplaxton

cps_goodbuy wrote:

Sure, if a person sets a budget it would help people put a price on their car if they're looking to sell!

Cobblers. It's still a piece of string question. We don't want to know down to the last yo-yo what you've got in your pocket. We could suggest Ferraris all day long, which might be in your budget, but might not.

Dades

Uh, what macplaxton said!

What are you looking for?

This...

... or this:

cps_goodbuy

Gee-wizz, my budget... lets say <free to 6k> depending on the car..

I'm a student (see above) and in reply to the above comments, I think not many here will be selling ferraris to students and why go to the trouble of posting pictures?

you know...more effort here is being put into poking at my post than actually... well, much else...

Don't know why a budget matters so much, sorry guys, I still see it as, let's say... I've 3k to buy a car, someone trys selling their 1.5k car to me at 3k... lol :rolleyes: I've invested 2 years into research so that won't happen... unless I loved it!

Please no more about ferraris, budgets, insurance or poking... I'm just looking for car ideas from fellow enthusiasts, cars for sale, junk you have lying outside I could work on...

Btw, Modified Forum were really helpful, suggestions, ideas, and cars, they're into a different genre but it's really friendly there, they didn't mind me posting either. Really > :cool:

BTW:
Much Thanks to PanhardPL, you're really great mate!
And to others who have pm'd me!

Dades

cps_goodbuy wrote:

you know...more effort here is being put into poking at my post than actually... well, much else...

Nobody was poking at your post, well okay maybe one of them... That post was your bizzare initial refusal to give a budget. Yeah, you mentioned you're a student but you also mentioned wanting three cars, including a show model so that left the budget wide open!

I mentioned the insurance issue because only recently we had a young guy who'd just bought a mustang only to find it impossible to insure because of his age. So I thought it might benefit you to flag it. I think people are trying to help, you're not seeing it.

ON Topic if you're looking for a driver with a budget of about 6K you could a lot worse than an old merc. There's so many on the roads still for a reason.

macplaxton

Okay, we have something to work with now.

How about one of these to learn and play about with? (Yes I am a bit biased as I used to have two saloon versions of these when I was a student)

Reliant Rebel Estate 1973.


Fibreglass body, it'll be happy outside. Simple mechanicals to learn on. 850cc engine so won't break the bank on insurance/petrol/etc. Looking at around £600 + getting it from UK + €50 VRT. That'll leave you the other 80% of the budget to get a nice bigger car too. That sort of money on those sort of small cars will get you a turn key motor, not a basket case.

Morris Minor for the other half of the week? Or do you want something like a MG Midget. If you're going to go to 20 years old, you might as well go the whole hog to 30 years old. No point in giving your money away paying VRT unless totally necessary. Nice not having to get through the NCT either.

Keep us up-to-date with feedback and we can bounce some more ideas. The budget is important as we need to know what sort of ballpark you're in. I'm not out to rip you off, I've nothing to sell! Get a copy of Practical Classics or similar with the price guide in the back. Then multiply everything by 1.5 and allow another €600 for seeing it and bringing it back. Then you can decide whether it is better to buy here, or import something. Personally I think there's a lot of overpriced tat here. Like this 1982 Reliant Rialto Estate That is worth about £200-300 absolute max. It's not even a proper 1960s Supervan II/III FFS!

cps_goodbuy

Ok cool. Thanks Atheist and Macplaxton

I've investigated the uk. I find that unless I go over there I will have a hard time judging the cars. I may do next month.

I know 3 cars seems excessive, but I'd probably get a modern normal car, and then one classic, totally depends as a project would be nice, but also a car I could drive... but then a show car would be nice lol. 6k is the max I'd spend on one car.

I thought about getting a american, ie: too big of an engine to insure. Plan is to just store and let a car dealer friend drive it until I was able. Seems inpractical though. I've found a very nice one that I'm in love with but the asking price is through the roof, around 8.5k and the engine is 6.5lt...

btw I want to make it clear, I'm a good cautious driver and not interested in speed or noise, I'd actually spend extra money putting in a small engine, but then again that would ruin and devalue the car

Besides that american, I'm hoping to get something in the coupe/convertable area, mg, triumph, etc any suggestions would be great.

Also, advise on insurance, either for 30yr olds or large engined cars would be great. I've a few contacts in the dealer, garage, and insurance trade but won't go to them yet.

PaulK_CCI

I would aggree with most sentiments here, that it is usefull to include some sort of ballpark figure of a budget you have in mind. As you clearly state in your posts, you seem to be well able to decide wether a car is overpriced or not, as you've been looking for a good while.... (although in my experience, a lot of the people that spend years and years looking and researching cars, find it very, very hard (:D ) to actually make a decision when a good candidate is found, because at that stage they tend to be unsure wether the car is actually exactly what they have been looking for and perhaps they rather spend the time looking for a car, rather than actually biting the bullet and buying a car...)

Anyways, to the point: by providing us with a bit of a guideline as to what you are thinking of, it is now possible to make some valid suggestion. By indicating you were thinking of going American, at least you are open to LHD cars, which broadens the horizon significantly.

My recommendation of a Classic which would be very practical to own and drive, cheap and good availability of parts, easy to work on a "Rolling Restoration" basis, and providing a good learning curve, would be the likes of a Volvo Amazon, any Mercedes, VW Beetle Convertible or Type3, Triumph Herald convertible or Spitfire, Peugeot 304 Coupe/Convertible can be picked up for little, Fiat 124 Spider, although they might blow your budget for a good one but a tatty one with a bit of work could be possible.

At the moment there is a guy trying to sell his English girlfriends 76 RHD Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce for Peanuts... it needs a bit of work (clutch, a bit of bodywork, etc), but because it is in Holland, RHD and needs a bit of work, noone wants it... Could be an interesting one.
Also available here is a truly unique RIGHT HAND DRIVE 66 Pontiac Bonneville Parisienne Convertible. Car is in reasonable overall condition, colour scheme might not be the most appealing (purple) but running, driving, with a current MOT. Roof has a few tears, but this could be an interesting project to do up on a shoestring... There 's a big LPG gastank in it, so driving the thing is not going to cost you an arm and a leg if you have access to an outlet...

--amadeus--

PaulK_CCI wrote:

Also available here is a truly unique RIGHT HAND DRIVE 66 Pontiac Bonneville Parisienne Convertible. Car is in reasonable overall condition, colour scheme might not be the most appealing (purple) but running, driving, with a current MOT. Roof has a few tears, but this could be an interesting project to do up on a shoestring... There 's a big LPG gastank in it, so driving the thing is not going to cost you an arm and a leg if you have access to an outlet...

What kind of money do they go for?

PaulK_CCI

--amadeus-- wrote:

What kind of money do they go for?

5,5k ex transport...

--amadeus--

cps_goodbuy wrote:

Gee-wizz, my budget... lets say <free to 6k> depending on the car..

Don't know why a budget matters so much, sorry guys, I still see it as, let's say... I've 3k to buy a car, someone trys selling their 1.5k car to me at 3k... lol :rolleyes: I've invested 2 years into research so that won't happen... unless I loved it!

You see with that you have just saved both of us wasting time by my sending you details of a car you can't afford...

IMO most people won't try and artificially inflate the price - if you came to me and said you had 30K to spend I wouldn't automatically bump up my price to match your money and I don't think many classic owners would - it's a fairly small community.

Paul - if someone takes my car off my hands I might be dropping you a mail!!

cps_goodbuy

(although in my experience, a lot of the people that spend years and years looking and researching cars, find it very, very hard ( ) to actually make a decision when a good candidate is found

You're dead right mate there

The cars suggestions are interesting, my dad had 4 alfas growing up, hillclimbing and such, I'd definitely be interested in the details of that one.

Hey everyone! Pm me if you've a car or know of a car! Thanks

Eric318

Well, here are about 500 of them. Take your pick: http://www.usedcars.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=search&sortby=YearAsc&ResultFormat=extended&Year_Max=1987&gclid=CJiQwIGr3o0CFQPUlAodZy3zYQ

Eventually, you will understand why a budget matters and also why realistic resale value is paramount when making your choice, unless you have a very rich daddy that is.

Subscribe to Practical Classics and a marque magazine, join a couple of clubs and learn.

You are free to follow or not the advice and guiding questions of the "elders". Your call. Most of them are honest and want to help you not drive your dream into shatterland.

3 cars with €6K sounds to me like you still have some serious maths to do with real figures... But keep the enthusiasm up, dont drop the fight and stay away from rust.

cps_goodbuy

Eric318 wrote:

Well, here are about 500 of them. Take your pick: http://www.usedcars.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=search&sortby=YearAsc&ResultFormat=extended&Year_Max=1987&gclid=CJiQwIGr3o0CFQPUlAodZy3zYQ

Eventually, you will understand why a budget matters and also why realistic resale value is paramount when making your choice, unless you have a very rich daddy that is.

Subscribe to Practical Classics and a marque magazine, join a couple of clubs and learn.

You are free to follow or not the advice and guiding questions of the "elders". Your call. Most of them are honest and want to help you not drive your dream into shatterland.

3 cars with €6K sounds to me like you still have some serious maths to do with real figures... But keep the enthusiasm up, dont drop the fight and stay away from rust.

OK, first you say "Eventually, you will understand.." Then go on to say "Still have some serious maths to do"

@ Eric318: Look, it seems you are, First, in my opinion taking my initial post and position with a pinch of salt (which may or may not be due to previous posts made by the younger generation, someone bought a mustang without thinking of insurance If I remember rightly). Second, I am here to learn, but I've a lot behind me, and you seem to be putting down what I know in the nicest possible way, without actually knowing me...

Now look everyone, I was looking for:

People who just wanted to offer Friendly advice on the subject.
Places I could go to look, meets etc
For old cars their owners felt they didn't want anymore and wanted to get rid of... which would be perfect...:(
Ideas for best how to start the hobby
and to make friendly contacts... of which I have found one

1) My budget was the maximum for any one car... as stated, thats why I was undecided on the 8.5k car..
2) I have saved for ages, it is all my own money, and "was" definitely interested in starting this hobby...
3) I know the market. I check carzone, and other related sites every day.
4) I have been looking at cars, their market, and learning all I can for the last 2 years, it may not be much but it's to me.
5) I am learning all the theory I can.
6) I have so far about 30 magazines on the subject, Practical Classic, Irish Vintage, Practical Performance Car, etc

and about the cars

7) I am looking for a modern reliable runner, whatever it is... I don't care
8) I am looking for a scrap car with minimal rust, so I can learn more... especially on engines, drivetrains, and electrics. and if it's good enough, start restoring slowly.
9) I am looking for a good example of a classic car that I could bring to shows and "mingle"

10) I am really sad that people are taking such a view of my post and replies..

11) I in my own eyes, have not insulted anyone or denounced anything anyone has said to me.. other than questioning why people are so set on finding out my budgets. And well, I need to let all you know, I do value everyones opinions on the subject.

It has now been advised to me to join a cetain club in particular, because I have been warned that some clubs.. in that persons words, Look down upon youngsters getting into the hobby and upon cars "they" weren't into, and well kinda snobbish...

But keep the enthusiasm up

Sorry Eric, it's been seriously hit

Dades

Man, are you defensive!

Have you seen anything recently that takes your fancy? I'd find yourself a driver first, and then spend time finding a good car to restore. At least then if your runner turns out to smell of lemons you can work on that...

If I had circa €6k to spare I'd buy this - as I used to have one and I miss it! Looks in great condition, is tax and VRT free, and they are very easy to work on.

cps_goodbuy

Well, yeah I am defensive I'd like to start over

I posted in a Uk forum awhile ago to try source a uk car when I was planning to go over to see family, got a lot of crap, and no moderators to speak of, and well, it looked like the same was going to happen here, my bad.


Thats actually quite a cute spider, it looks good, what do you think of the condition bearing in mind the blurry photos, I think seeing a photo of under the bonnet would help, and I'd prefer an older restored car to see how the restoration ages, if you know what I mean. A year is ok, but a 4 year old restoration would be better.

I'll look into that one and the site, thanks

If anyone else is around to suggest or offer anything, for either this post or the galvanizing post, it would be greatly appreciated.

jellybelly33

Cp

I've pm you but best of luck in your search anyway.

Dades

cps_goodbuy wrote:

Thats actually quite a cute spider, it looks good, what do you think of the condition bearing in mind the blurry photos, I think seeing a photo of under the bonnet would help, and I'd prefer an older restored car to see how the restoration ages, if you know what I mean. A year is ok, but a 4 year old restoration would be better.

It looks like a great spider, though I reckon you might get a bit off the price, which is higher end and is usually reserved for the chrome bumper models.

Seems odd to do it up and sell it on so quickly - the vendor is unlikely to be making his money back. However unless the car is rusty (like mine was) they are really straightforward. Find out how extensive the resto was - just a paintjob? Or an engine/tranny rebuild? Certainly seems worth a look.

PM me or post with any response you get from the vendor if you make contact.

ZV Yoda

Jellybelly... just sent you a PP re MGs for sale