Help in buying a classic

reax

I'm thinking of buying a classic as I'm using public transport for work so I've really just got a weekend car. I'm looking for pre 1980 to keep costs down and hard top as I'll be leaving it outdoors. It doesn't have to be a sports car but ideally something that'll appreciate if I look after it. Anyone any ideas how badly a 70s car would deteriorate left outdoors all year? Anyone any suggestions? I'm thinking Italian Lancia or Alfa but probably a more reliable option would be a British Hillman or something.

Tzar Chasm

leaving it out in the weather is generally bad for a car, if you look after it you may delay the inevitable weathering, would you have enough space to pt up a simple awning even?


couple of questions tha the rest of the lads will ask you so I'll get them out of the way,

what sort of budget do you have in mind?


and the most important question, What are you into/ what floats your boat vehiclewise?

dont look at a Classic as an financial investment, look at it as a Lifestyle choice, what you choose to preserve and drive says a lot about you, I have a passion for German cars and Japanese 4X4's. others here go barmy for Fords or Mercs, we even have a few odd individuals who persevere in believing that air cooled DAF's or Triumph TR7's are worth preserving


basicly Buy a car because you WANT that car.

alastair

If it's staying outdoors exposed to the elements all year, perhaps consider something less likely to rust - perhaps a fibreglass bodied scimitar or lotus?

reax

I was thinking of a scimitar alright as there's one parked near me. I'm just trying to establish whether I'm crazing thinking a classic will be cheaper in the long run. If I can drive my car over to the UK for a trade-in against a classic my budget will go up from £5000 to £8000. I could buy something like a Skoda CityGO for the same money but I wouldn't love it the way I think I would a classic.

Dades

reax wrote: »

I'm just trying to establish whether I'm crazing thinking a classic will be cheaper in the long run.

There's no way of telling that, tbh. Your chances are less if yours will be parked outside as you might be dealing with rust which is big drain on resources.

reax wrote: »

If I can drive my car over to the UK for a trade-in against a classic my budget will go up from £5000 to £8000.

Can't imagine there's many classic sellers taking trade-ins!

Something Italian would be nice - but It would have to be rust-free and waxoyled and kept under a cover at least. AND driven regularly - one of the keys to keeping a happy classic.

Always had a soft spot for Betas!
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C475203

Red Kev

reax wrote: »

I'm thinking of buying a classic as I'm using public transport for work so I've really just got a weekend car. I'm looking for pre 1980 to keep costs down and hard top as I'll be leaving it outdoors. It doesn't have to be a sports car but ideally something that'll appreciate if I look after it. Anyone any ideas how badly a 70s car would deteriorate left outdoors all year? Anyone any suggestions? I'm thinking Italian Lancia or Alfa but probably a more reliable option would be a British Hillman or something.

Pre 1980 ? The only cost you'll save here is the €55 for the annual NCT. If that's important to you in running costs then you're barking up the wrong tree with a classic as they tend to cost a few more quid to run than just the NCT.

Classic insurance is available over 20 years, so pre-1994 though there may be mileage limitations on this.

Classic tax is available over 30 years from date of first registration, so for today it would be anything registered up to April 8th 1984.

alastair wrote: »

If it's staying outdoors exposed to the elements all year, perhaps consider something less likely to rust - perhaps a fibreglass bodied scimitar or lotus?

Non rust fibreglass bodies tend to hide rusted chassis' very well IMO.



OP, try something like a Merc W123, loads of good ones available from 1980-84. You may find a very early 190.

Or a BMW E28, E21 or E30. Excellent cars with very reliable mechanics.

If you want a soft top I'd try a Merc R107, but a decent one is probably out of your budget.

Failing that, Baur made a Cabrio version of the E21, hard to find, but well worth it.

VW made the Cabrio Golf from around 1981 as well.


TBH, leaving an older car standing around all week can have issues, mostly electrical, so you may also consider biting the bullet on car tax and get yourself a Mazda MX-5, they've probably reached their lowest point in value and you should be able to shift for on for around what you pay for it. It's also very reliable and won't mind standing around all week.

reax

Red Kev
Thanks for the tips. I'm driving a small van at the moment and it's the new costs on the CVRT test that has me thinking of reducing costs. Leaving it outdoors is really turning me off this idea of mine. If I had a garage I'd definitely be on for this idea but one or two insurance companies won't even quote classic insurance if it's not garaged.

ianobrien

OP, 70's Italian cars were not known for their rust proofing, or their reliability electrically. The father used to keep a hair dryer in the garage to start his twin can Fiat 131. The car was garaged all the time and Fiat couldn't fix it. Changing points and dizzy was under a minute due to the plenty of practice! When it started, boy did it move.....

If its just to save money, get an early Yaris. They are reliable, cheap to tax and insure and will start every morning. If its something sporty, an early MX-5 fits the bill. Most classic are not as reliable as modern cars, are not as economical, have crap heaters and their only saving is no NCT and low tax. Most insurance companies won't touch a daily driver over 20 or 25 years old and most classic insurances require you to have another vehicle. Driving on salted roads means washing every day. Handling and braking isn't the best and a Yaris will run rings around most in the handling front.

If you still want a classic, there are so many different types from Merc barges to modified retros (think Escorts with Mondeo engines swapped in). Also, you said sporty and then mention Hillman! Wet toast is more sporting than most Hillman's (Imp and Stilittio accepted) and the toast is probably more reliable. If it was me, I'd be looking at a 70's Ford with a modern drivetrain installed.

lomb

These 135 euro insurance policies are they limited to garaged classics only? My SEC will need insuring so I need to look into it ASAP.
OP if you want a classic get something you will enjoy. This might be a car from your youth that you could only dream of at the time etc.

deckie27

Don't let no garage put you off. I've been driving classics daily..

My previous daily for 2 years a Porsche 924.
Galvanized body
Great fun to drive. Cheap as chips.

Some of the cheap classics policy's are ****.
For 200ish ya will get a good policy