First Classic Car

gc2006

Hi all - we're looking at picking up our first classic next year. Only have a budget of around €5,000 and can pick up from England (work over there quite a bit) or from Ireland. By way of background I can tinker with cars, but don't know a huge amount about them so something ready to drive would be great

The ones we've seen that we like are:
Austin Healey Sprite
MGB GT
MG Midget
VW Karman Ghia
Volvo P1800 E

Just wondering if anyone has experience of these as a first classic car, or any other suggestions - looking for something fun, older than 30 years and easy on the eye:)

rugbyman

dont think i can advertise on here, but I have an interesting, very rusty project.

Mods, or rule book knowledgistes, may I proceed?

unkel

rugbyman wrote: »

dont think i can advertise on here, but I have an interesting, very rusty project.

Mods, or rule book knowledgistes, may I proceed?

Dunno if OP is interested in a rustbucket, but you might as well proceed

carchaeologist

We like interesting and rusty on here;):D

rugbyman

my nephew and I have a habit of buying things we like on ebay.

At present we have two nsu, one kharman ghia, one saab 96, one dkw,one rover105,porsche968, one mini cooper, one golf vr6 all lying here and there.

The kharman ghia is a 1973 car, uk reg. it is a non runner but as you all know , mechanically it is a beetle so easily sorted.
The body is rotten all over but not the end of the world.

My nephew says that all the body parts needed are available ,spurious ,for 1,000 euro. the car stands us 1700 sterling i think (cost plus transport) so that equals say,2,000 euro.

total so far 3,000 euro.

mechanical repairs and tyres ,500

body shop (2009 recession) 3,000 will put on all the body bits and paint it.

this car could be on the road for 6,500 euro. A lot less for anybody who can do the work themselves.


Can get photos ,but will take a day or two, but you all know what they look like, Its a bluey kind of a colour.

i dont know if this is for the OP but its a nice project for any VW types and we would like it to go to a good home.

If I believe the above I should just go ahead and do it , but have enough on my plate.

DaveCol

What is the story with the Mini Cooper?

carchaeologist

rugbyman wrote: »

two nsu, one dkw,

Which versions of these do you have?

245

Buy a Triumph GT6 - it fits all your criteria, has a 6 cylinder engine which sounds fantastic.

I have something of a vested interest in recommending it

rugbyman

What is the story with the Mini Cooper?


Its 1973, UK reg, bought it lightly damaged six years ago(front corner)

Has not done 1,000 miles since, alloy wheels(standard?)

half leather seats,

Always liked it, had no garage for it but have been offered one now, am open to offers,

OOPS, clutch slipping slightly but not enough to make me want to change it in a hurry.

peasant

rugbyman

Selling is ok on this forum, but please open your own thread if you have something to offer instead of drip-feeding us your cars in an unrelated thread.

Thanks

Now back to suggesting something to gc2006

rugbyman

two nsu, one dkw,
Which versions of these do you have?


two red prinz fours,1971 ,both rusty but complete. One mechanic told me both are seized, but two nsu men say its unlikely, engines need to be turned by a spanner. will know answer to that in a few days.
both were driven into a shed in England 20 years ago,


Dkw Junior, 1962 I think , complete,non runner, not siezed,good metal.

golfbgud

gc2006 wrote: »

Hi all - we're looking at picking up our first classic next year. Only have a budget of around €5,000 and can pick up from England (work over there quite a bit) or from Ireland. By way of background I can tinker with cars, but don't know a huge amount about them so something ready to drive would be great

The ones we've seen that we like are:
Austin Healey Sprite
MGB GT
MG Midget
VW Karman Ghia
Volvo P1800 E

Just wondering if anyone has experience of these as a first classic car, or any other suggestions - looking for something fun, older than 30 years and easy on the eye:)

Have you looked at the options on CARZONE.IE ?

rugbyman

Austin Healey Sprite
MGB GT
MG Midget
VW Karman Ghia
Volvo P1800 E


the first four on your list are simple as chips mechanically. For your price range you will buy a good one, but body parts are all available new, and all mechanical parts are available also, both replacement and secondhand.

Austin Healey and MM Midget ,if from the same year, are virtually identical cars.
as easy to work on as a meccanno set.

MGB Gt is from the same stable, the GT(hardtop) will cost you less than an MGB (convertable)

The Kharmann Ghia is based on a VW Beetle mechanics. ALL parts are available, and engines of various sizes will fit.

I know very little of parts availability for the P1800. they were simple enough mechanically,Volvo bodies are legendary for staying intact. The car became well known by being Roger Moores vehicle in The Saint.

When I was young there was one in my area, FIY 150., could anyone tell me if it still exists?

245

rugbyman wrote: »

I know very little of parts availability for the P1800. they were simple enough mechanically,Volvo bodies are legendary for staying intact. The car became well known by being Roger Moores vehicle in The Saint.

Parts for the P1800 are easy to get - Volvo themselves have a company called Genuine Classic Parts (www.gcp.se) which is linked to all Volvo dealers. There also private companies in Sweden, The Netherlands, the U.K., the U.S.A. and Germany who can supply quality parts for older Volvos. I've dealt with most of them - language is not a barrier and you'll soon pick up a few Swedish mechanical terms. The P1800 is not as rust resistant as its sister the Amazon, not because build quality was compromised (the earlier Jensen built ones are a different story) but because of body design which has more moisture traps. I'd prefer a carb engined one myself as the injection system is harder and more expensive to maintain. As you probably know, the P1800 is Jensen built in the UK with poorer quality steel, the P1800S is Swedish built and the P1800E is the fuel injected one. The P1800ES is a different story, being the later incarnation with a shooting brake style body. As is typical with Volvo products, the name ends up contradicting itself - the later ones went from 1800cc to 2000 cc.

edit:
All Volvos of that era are incredibly easy and satisfying to work on. They're very well designed and put together - you can't but admire the thought that went into the cars.

carchaeologist

rugbyman wrote: »

When I was young there was one in my area, FIY 150., could anyone tell me if it still exists?

Its not on cartell,so its unlikely..

jimbobjones40

Here's a great looking '75 Toyota Celica ST going relatively cheaply in England.

http://www.carandclassic.com/car/C73161

But I would be worried about it seeming possibly too good to be true! You'd really have to get an AA/RAC multi point check.

L-M

jimbobjones40 wrote: »

Here's a great looking '75 Toyota Celica ST going relatively cheaply in England.

http://www.carandclassic.com/car/C73161

But I would be worried about it seeming possibly too good to be true! You'd really have to get an AA/RAC multi point check.

Aren't those wheels of that Starion... I could be wrong. The look familar anyway.

Edit: I'm wrong, close enough though:o

carchaeologist

Niiice!!I likes that!

enfield

There are only two of these in Ireland ( I have one) but there is one for sale in the UK and its not going to be too dear. 46 euro tax and 220 insurance and maybe another 50 to register it here in the Republic.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190276990949&ssPageName=ADME:B:EF:GB:1123


Not difficult to work on and parts are easy enough to get. The other one is for sale in Ballinasloe but needs new brakes. We do lots of Military and re-enactment shows and get cheap weekends away.
I forgot to add that the whole top comes off and the windscreen folds flat so it does not need much height to get it into a small garage
Regards.
Tom.

eamon234

I'd go with the MGB GT had one a while back it's good fun try and get one with a Webasto sunroof it's as good as a convertible without the hassle - as long as you get a good one. You should be able to get a great one for 5k - parts very easy to come by and relatively easy to maintain - just watch out for the rust!