A seed of thought got planted in my head by an Irish bloke this morning. Old cars, those over 30 years of age, can be registered and taxed here for peanuts. I have my trusty Pug and will be driving it till it dies (or a new car arrives) but why not have a second one?
Question then: what's the most reliable, affordable, either large or fun car to drive that was made before 1980? The budget is 2000 quid max. Pics would be useful, might help influence my wife's thinking process (she knows her place already).
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30+ year old car, which one?
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Posted 2 years ago #
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Stuff large - get a mini and a bike rack! Easy to fix and nice and cheap.
Posted 2 years ago # -
One of those big old diesel Mercs, I'd have thought.
Posted 2 years ago # -
That's why I said either large or fun.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Minis are deadly in crashes tho.. as are most old cars.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Datsun 180B !
Posted 2 years ago # -
Had a few 70's Saab 99s - reliable and tough. Pick up a blinder for less than a grand (ones built before 1976 used much better steel than later ones and rust a lot less). The Combi (hatchback) version is cavernous and can swallow a bike or two
Alternatively, a Saab 96V4 if you want something a bit quirkier, but equally tough and reliable. £2000 should just about get something half decent
Posted 2 years ago # -
Don't know what they go for now, but always wanted an Escort mk2 RS2000
Posted 2 years ago # -
Mine although price is higher.. http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/ot-vw-1970-notchback-with-1760-enginesuper-solidaussie-import
But i've been using her daily and it's great :-). Free tax, insurance for £100 a year, good on juice as long as you don't wind the carbs up to much
If not pick up practical porn...sorry typo..Practical classics
One warning! They are addictive.
My current pair.
Posted 2 years ago # -
lol, Escort RS2000s are crazy money these days. Prices have gone completely mental.
Posted 2 years ago # -
lol, Escort RS2000s are crazy money these days. Prices have gone completely mental.
Bugger. Not looked for a few years. What sort of money is crazy money?
Posted 2 years ago # -
I always wanted a Fiat Mirafiori or a Fiat 127 or a Fiat 128:
Posted 2 years ago # -
i do like the high top splittie
there was a nice one in the VW mags seemed to be at all the shows last year.
Need to spend some time and cash on our '69 bay before the summer comes in
Posted 2 years ago # -
How about one of these - made from 79 - 84
Reliable, fun, genuine parts from the dealers are half original price. Go for it.
Posted 2 years ago # -
oooh that fiat is nice!
Posted 2 years ago # -
pjd - Thanks been restoring the Splitty for over a 1 and a half
Finished and MOT'd now. The Brown one from the mags is for sale £21k 
Also owned this in the past, very practical
Mates Beetle in the back
Posted 2 years ago # -
I like the Golf, my Dad had one years ago. Wife wants to murder me for suggesting it but what the hell, she doesn't have the licence
Posted 2 years ago # -
mine...
though do very much like the old BMW 2000/2002
Posted 2 years ago # -
MGB. You can buy all the parts including the body. You could make it last forever.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Volvo amazon or merc 200 series for the practical last for ever classic
But my fave and a reasonably practical driving machine even on modern roads
Posted 2 years ago # -
Mk1 or 2 "rally slag" Escort?
Posted 2 years ago # -
Mercedes Benz W123 estate.
Posted 2 years ago # -
CFH, if only 2 grand could give me this...
Posted 2 years ago # -
Too many to mention.
Fiat 850 is my bizarre idea. Pretty.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Hairy, mine is a saloon, looks a lot like this (Same colour and rough age);
A saloon, not an estate, but I love it. A lot.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Can't blame you one bit.
More suggestions please!Posted 2 years ago # -
Opel Manta 1800 B series ones.
BMW 635csi.
Ford Capri Mk1 3.1 Mk2 3.
Toyota Celica Mk1
Triumph GT6Posted 2 years ago # -
One thing you need to think about is do you want a car which you can reliably drive every day or one which while it is lovely you will need to commit a lot of time and money on maintaining it.....
As a practical example from personal experience... Japanese motorcycles are great. But I ride a classic British bike (Triumph T120 Bonnie). Why? Because there simply is nothing else like it! The sound, the smells, the experience, the looks, the love, everything - just everything! But it's because I love it. It's not simply jump on and ride - I need to maintain it, look after it, respect it etc.
But I wouldn't change it for anything else.
Posted 2 years ago # -
And this is why...
Posted 2 years ago # -
I wouldn't like to recommend a particular car, but have a look here in my galleries to whet your appetite. http://www.peterflynnclassiccars.com
PS: you need to be good with the spanners to keep any car of that age running
Posted 2 years ago # -
Don't know what they go for now, but always wanted an Escort mk2 RS2000
Used to own a couple many years ago,here's the second one I had,which was much modified mechanically.Nowadays people tend to keep them 'standard',if you can find one for sale that is!
***Wallows in nostalgia***
EDIT:Just found a photo of my first RS2.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Do you know, I've been talking about this tonight. As a District Nurse I've always wanted a Moris Minor/Traveller. Food for thought?
Posted 2 years ago # -
People will probably laff, but Morris Minor 1000's are terrific little cars. Virtually every spare part is readily available, including complete body shells, the engine is the classic A series, which has endless performance bits available, they can be fuel injected, run on unleaded, modded to take discs on the front...
I had a '53 split screen with a 1300 a series and g/box with a van rear axle, 5j x 13 wheels, Koni shocks and reclining bucket seats. Lovely car to drive, put a pair of Riley drum brakes on the front and it would practically stand on it's nose if you hit the pedal hard. Could get 50/gallon on steady motorway runs, and cost peanuts to insure. All you need to maintain one is some ramps, a socket set and a Haines manual. Sadly a drunk drove into the back of it one night and punted it thirty feet up the road onto the footpath past the neighbour's house. Left a note saying 'sorry if there's any damage, see you later' and buggered off to his job as a milkman. Not after the police caught up with him, though.Posted 2 years ago # -
I gave my wife my 2001 golf for valentines day, cos I got a 1982 vw transporter. ok, its not quite 30 years old but its cheap insurance, practical, fun and bright orange!
Posted 2 years ago # -
Original Range Rover. (large)
Original Range Rover. (fun)
Posted 2 years ago #
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