Looking for a classic car

Kevin!

I've recently freed up a little bit of money and I'm considering purchasing a classic car as an investment/weekend car,

Essentially, I've got 11,000 odd to spend. I'm looking for something sporty enough (possibly a convertable) that will retain its market value, or has signs of going up.

I don't mind having to do a bit of work on it, but would rather keep the labour to do with aesthetics as I'm not a mechanic

Any suggestions?

Thanks

kev1.3s

Oh decisions decisions! Not a suggestion as such but if I had 11k burning a hole in my pocket I'd be looking for something Italian or maybe French and I'd be having the time of my life drooling over car and classic with the knowledge that I actually have some money to spend.

JP 1800

For me your criteria screams Mercedes SL, super reliable and ahead of their time with prices going one way,but as usual watch out for rust. Keeping with German maybe consider Porsche now that some are coming into the vintage bracket.

bookerboy

I'm heading to the classic car sale in Swords on Sunday.
Normally some nice Classics here but also alot of overpriced stuff aswell.
Details are here www.carshows.ie

JP 1800

Cool thanks for reminding me, I will be heading in my own classic for a look around.

bbsrs

JP 1800 wrote: »

For me your criteria screams Mercedes SL, super reliable and ahead of their time with prices going one way,but as usual watch out for rust. Keeping with German maybe consider Porsche now that some are coming into the vintage bracket.

What year/model SL exactly would you be looking at that has a good chance of appreciating in the next few years out of interest , R107 or R129?

Dades

Would you be thinking about taking longer (motorway) trips in this car, or just spins around the Sally Gap?

The tax on an R129 Merc will be a noose around someones neck for a lot of years. For 11k the OP can get a good 30+ year classic. I'd also recommend a nicely sorted 107 SL. The only thing is, they're not very sporty to drive. Very comfortable and fast on long hauls, but not in the least sporty.

If you want something manual and fun to drive I'd think Italian. A Fiat 124 or Alfa Spider maybe. If I had 11K I'd buy a TVR but I don't think that's to be recommended.

You'd also get a super Porsche 928 for that cash. Or if you were feeling REALLY brave... you could stretch to a Ferrari!

kev1.3s

Dades wrote: »

Would you be thinking about taking longer (motorway) trips in this car, or just spins around the Sally Gap?

The tax on an R129 Merc will be a noose around someones neck for a lot of years. For 11k the OP can get a good 30+ year classic. I'd also recommend a nicely sorted 107 SL. The only thing is, they're not very sporty to drive. Very comfortable and fast on long hauls, but not in the least sporty.

If you want something manual and fun to drive I'd think Italian. A Fiat 124 or Alfa Spider maybe. If I had 11K I'd buy a TVR but I don't think that's to be recommended.

You'd also get a super Porsche 928 for that cash. Or if you were feeling REALLY brave... you could stretch to a Ferrari!

You'd nearly get a Ferrari 400i for that money too, a very underrated car.

kev1.3s

No scratch that prices have gone north since I've last checked.

Jayo_M

For that money and if I was looking for a convertible, I'd probably go for a Datsun Roadster. May not be sporty enough for what you're looking for, and you might not be into 60s Jap cars, but I think they're pretty cool and very unlikely to go down in price. Might not go too far up in price in the future, but these things are hard to predict!

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C480118

Just trawl Donedeal and carsandclassic.co.uk until you find what you're looking for

mountai

You could do worse than get yourself a nicely sorted MGB convertible. The iconic British car that have increased greatly in value in recent years. They have the biggest Club in the World and parts are readily available and cheap, they are great Craic to drive as well.

stackerman

I would suggest . . .

Triumph TR6
Convertible, Great fun to drive, great soundtrack, easy enough to work on, beautiful looking (IMHO), prices will only go up, and you should get a good one for that sort of money.

I biased though

mattroche

Kevin, there is a lovely 1992 Merc. 500 SL convertible for sale in Dublin. It is white, with soft & hard top. The Elephant in the room is the road tax is E2,000 P.A. He wants E 4/5,000 for it. If you are interested, give me a call, and I will put you in touch. I have not got my head around P.M.ing yet.

galwaytt

....much and all as I'm a fan of big engine cars, I wouldn't rush out for the likes of an SL just 'cos I had the purchase price.

No, I'd be def going for something 30+.

If you're only using purely as a fun weekend, sunny summers eve car, it would have to be a cabrio for a start. For me that's a no brainer.

Kit car anyone ? http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/lotus-2-eleven-replica-lotus-seven-cate/6090293

Not 30 yet, but you could get a minter early MX5 for peanuts at this stage (mine is 24 yrs old), and have about 9k left over http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/mx5/6642336 ........ or a more recent one which still won't break the bank.. http://cars.donedeal.ie/vintagecars-for-sale/mazda-mx-5-1-6-factory-hardtop-2003/6704858

An MG/MGB - I know a guy with a minter 75 Midget which is worth about 8k. http://cars.donedeal.ie/vintagecars-for-sale/mg/6377876 or this............http://cars.donedeal.ie/vintagecars-for-sale/mg-mgb-roadster-heritage-shell/6629371 ... and have 3k+ left over

You could blow all the money on this BMW 2002: http://cars.donedeal.ie/vintagecars-for-sale/rare-bmw-2002-convertible/6616543

Options 2 & 3 should see you almost depreciation proof, and option 1 less so, but it's not as expensive anyway.

And even though I've just committed hari-kiri and bought a 911 soft top, if it were my first sortie into 'classic' car ownership, I'd be inclined to not spend the whole budget on the first one.............if you have buyers remorse later, at least you'll still have change.

corktina

Give over with all your Merc suggestions...they all look the same and get a few together and it looks like a Taxi rank :-)

Get yourself a sorted classic from a reputable dealer specialising in Classic. Make sure you get pre 1980 for maximum value. Don't go with the herd, get something uncommon, eleven grand is a fabulous budget!

alastair

I'd have thought a nice Porsche 914 would fit the mark - limited numbers in this part of the world, sporty, open roof, unusual design, usually pretty colours, definitely appreciating in value, decent enough spares supply, within the OP's budget. Downsides being they're LHD, tended to rust, and the early Bosch fuel injection is increasingly tricky to maintain as original. A tinworm-free one could be great fun though, and you wouldn't be likely to bump into another one out and about.

There's a RHD converted one on buy and sell at the moment, but it's outside budget.

MrFoxman360

Its a tough question to answer but the first thing that came into my mind was a Porsche 911.

The 911 is one of the all time great cars. They have a huge following all over the world so if you ever want to sell it you should get a buyer easy enough. Older ones from the 60s and 70s are probably the most desirable models in the classic car world.

The are fantastic to drive, very reliable and handle really well. If you get a good one you can use it as you would a modern car.

When buying a car with investment in mind, as well as just having a nice classic to enjoy, you need to buy something that is in mint condition. Try and get one that is original and period correct, and if you are buying a restored car make sure all work that has been done is top notch.

Also the model, colour and spec of the car all effect its desirability. Very often, the best and most desirable cars in the classic world are actually sold under the radar, and are never actually advertised as such. Donedeal.ie and the like are good for the lower value classics but might not be the best for your search, but still keep an eye on it.


Edit: Actually I know a guy in our club that has a gorgeous, one owner, black, 1980, 911 Targa (removable top). Its a mint example, but more to its credit, its totally original, owned from new by a local jockey. Original alloys, never been restored, painted etc... It has a unique and original Irish Dublin reg on it too. It'll be at the sale in Swords tomorrow, so if your there, check it out.

If only my wallet was a little bit fatter and my hips a little bit thinner, I would probably buy it myself

Kenny Logins

MrFoxman360 wrote: »

Its a tough question to answer but the first thing that came into my mind was a Porsche 911.

The 911 is one of the all time great cars. They have a huge following all over the world so if you ever want to sell it you should get a buyer easy enough. Older ones from the 60s and 70s are probably the most desirable models in the classic car world.

The are fantastic to drive, very reliable and handle really well. If you get a good one you can use it as you would a modern car.

When buying a car with investment in mind, as well as just having a nice classic to enjoy, you need to buy something that is in mint condition. Try and get one that is original and period correct, and if you are buying a restored car make sure all work that has been done is top notch.

Also the model, colour and spec of the car all effect its desirability. Very often, the best and most desirable cars in the classic world are actually sold under the radar, and are never actually advertised as such. Donedeal.ie and the like are good for the lower value classics but might not be the best for your search, but still keep an eye on it.

Not for 11k. That's Boxster money.

MrFoxman360

Kenny Logins wrote: »

Not for 11k. That's Boxster money.

True you wont get a mint 60s or 70s 911 for that money, but that was not my point. There are plenty of nice 911s out there, over 30 years old, that are within budget. Good cars that you can enjoy, that wont leave you out of pocket when you sell

Kenny Logins

MrFoxman360 wrote: »

True you wont get a mint 60s or 70s 911 for that money, but that was not my point. There are plenty of nice 911s out there, over 30 years old, that are within budget. Good cars that you can enjoy, that wont leave you out of pocket when you sell

An €11k 911 will probably cost you 20k.

MrFoxman360

Kenny Logins wrote: »

An €11k 911 will probably cost you 20k.

Suppose you have to know where to look and what to look for

Dades

MrFoxman360 wrote: »

There are plenty of nice 911s out there, over 30 years old, that are within budget.

I wouldn't mind seeing a few links to those!

EazyD

There was an M100 Elan for sale recently, can't find link at moment but it was well within that budget. I'd be all over something like that.