What car should I choose?

paddyland

Hi all, the crunch is biting, and I need to trade down. Long time classic car fan, had a couple years ago.

I want to buy a smallish classic, circa 1960-1978, for about €1000-€1500, that will run as an everyday car, but will not run a high annual mileage at all, probably only a bit of weekend driving, and cheap on fuel and maintenance. Morris Minor is fairly obvious, but what else would I look at? What would be reliable?

It's years since I was involved with old cars, been driving nice, new, warranty covered cars for years now! Looking forward to getting back behind the wheel of an oldie for a change!

Questions, please: What car would you recommend, what kind of insurance would I be looking at, how am I fixed for nct, etc? What about importing from the UK, what do I need?

Wide open questions I know, still, many thanks for your suggestions...

david

Hi and welcome to the boards. I suggest you have a look at the charter if you haven't already done so. It answers most of the questions in your post.

For starters I'll add a few classics to your list to check out (cheap and easy to mantain)

VW Golf MK1 - might be a stretch at that budget but great car. It will feel 'modern' enough. Pre-79's are hard to find though.

VW Beetle - Late 70's ones aren't very desirable, you should get one at a nice price. Probably the easiest classic car to dismantle/fix. Old man had a 1966 one for about 15 years. It was a great car. All it need was new rear drums apart from reg service parts over the years. Original irish too 36 PHI (3rd owner!!). Gutted he sold it.

Morris Minor - My old man has one of these, a Traveller. Nice and easy to run, but no syncro on 1st gear (pain in the ass to drive), sluggish and prone to water leaks in strange places.

Wishing you the best of luck in your search,
*D

Max_Damage

It's not within your year bracket, but I'd have a look at an old Astra:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MK1-VAUXHALL-ASTRA-RETRO-TAX-AND-MOTD_W0QQitemZ250352567808QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAutomobiles_UK?hash=item250352567808&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A7|39%3A1|240%3A1318

They maybe not everyone's cup of tea, but they are as rare as hens teeth these days. Cheap and DIY mechanics-friendly motoring.

shawnee

I suppose it's a personal thing, however I would suggest driving a few before you buy. They can all look good, but some can be a bit of a pain to drive, no power steering and dodgy brakes, also some of the seats can be pretty unfomfortable. However if you can handle to lack of these comforts you will get loads of enjoyment out of whatever model you choose.;)

carchaeologist

VW Golf MK1 - might be a stretch at that budget but great car. It will feel 'modern' enough.

Except for the brakes:pGreat car though.

I suppose it's a personal thing, however I would suggest driving a few before you buy. They can all look good, but some can be a bit of a pain to drive, no power steering and dodgy brakes, also some of the seats can be pretty unfomfortable. However if you can handle to lack of these comforts you will get loads of enjoyment out of whatever model you choose

This is very good advice,you kind of have to adapt to older cars,i.e,the lack of 5th gear can be a pain sometimes,and cold starting with the choke is a bit alien if you are used to auto chokes or modern cars that start easily.
Buy the best you can afford,if you are not good mechanically.
Fords usually have good parts availibility,and interchangeability
Maybe you could try a cortina,

Capri

Anglia

Or smaller,the fiesta MK1.


The vauxhall chevette can be picked up much cheaper than the equivilent escort,and in my opinion its a much better car

The wheels on this one are a little to big for it though.
The irish version was the kadett,bit harder to come across though

If you could stretch you budget a bit more you could pick up any one of these cars with a bit of internet searching.

S.I.R

get a capri.


mkIII's aren't too expensive ( with the exchange rate )

not the most difficult car to mend either if it goes wrong..

either that or a beetle.