Just been in the local store and had a nosey at the local ad’s, which included one for a car, a Triumph Acclaim going for £2000.
Now I’m no car buff, and don’t pretend to be, but shirely just cause it’s old(ish) [1980 something!] doesn’t make it a classic…

Thought maybe he was being ironic but apparently not

£2750 ono

Car buff’s, am I wrong?

I guess there aren’t many about.

Wonder why? 😛

At least it’s of historic interest, one of the first Brit/Jap collaborations?

okay I can accept that as a reason for it’s being considered a classic, but still can’t get the image of my gran’s rust bucket (of a car) being considered classic.

Anyone with an old car thinks they’re sitting on a gold mine and you regularly see unremarkable cars advertised at hopelessly optimistic prices.

Someone somewhere will be a fanatic, and pay silly money. I’m always amazed at the ‘owners clubs’ that exist for shit cars.

edit: For example, I give you the Morris Marina Owners Club Marina Owners Club

This thing has been for sale for years. Same car, same advert, same price. It’s become a running joke among Ford geeks.

Lotus Escort

😯 In the process of being re-commissioned

It’s not even finished?

I was a bit amazed at a friend telling me his latest bargain/purchase was actually worth, but other adverts seemingly agree (original Mini Cooper)

original Mini Cooper

Yep, not cheap and never going to get any cheaper. If you want one you just have to bite the bullet.

I’m waiting to get my hands on the 205 GTi in my Dad’s garage. 1.9, miami blue, non-sunroof, bog standard and unmolested. Not to mention criminally under-used.

God Almighty – I only got £400 for a mint Audi 90 quattro 20V. That is surely a proper classic.

Someone somewhere will be a fanatic, and pay silly money. I’m always amazed at the ‘owners clubs’ that exist for shit cars.

edit: For example, I give you the Morris Marina Owners Club Marina Owners Club

A lad I know is an active member of this club.

Its not even funny how enthusiastic he is about them.

If it was a 70’s Honda or Royota I’d hump.

A BL/Honda creation? No ta

Even shit cars if concourse have a following.

For some collectors its less about the car and more about the originality.

Go to any car show and look for them – they are thw ones standing next to their covered trailer polishing the car thats never been driven…… They usually have their own plinth to put the car on and mirrors all round to show you how concourse and clean the underside is

Ah yes evoke childhood memories of Dads cars etc.

Not one owned by us but I always smile if I see a Datsun 120Y or Toyota Crown.

Depending on the age, but a well looked after car from before 1972 carries no tax, and would be very cheap to insure, provided the mileage is fairly low. Getting parts for more obscure ones is an issue, though. I see Triumph Heralds and Vitesse around from time to time; nice cars those, especially the Vitesse, with a 2.0ltr straight six.
For many, it’s the rarity, when did anyone last see an early Cortina, or Anglia, or any old Hillman, like a Minx or Hunter?
The advantage with the Marina is that it’s pretty much a Mortis Minor underneath, many parts were/are interchangeable.
For example, my old ’54 Split-screen Moggie had a 1275 engine, Riley drum brakes and front suspension (King pins), a van rear-axle, along with Koni shocks and 5½x13 alloys

Last car to cary the triumph badge aswell as a early bl honda colaboration. Id like one but not for 2k ill stick with my spitfire.

I’d rather have a 52 reg Audi A6 estate diesel

I was told that a loose translation of Triumph Acclaim into German would be “Sieg Heil”…

I paid a lot of money for an old Mini Cooper S I sold it for an awful lot more 6 yrs later in worse condition 😀 No different to the money some people pay for retro bikes I guess, just a different.

I can sort of understand the ‘classic’ itch some people get. I am guilty of buying a TVR 350 (The Red Wedge) because I had beer, Ebay and Dancing on Ice was on TV.

I drove it for about a year and it was amazing. Scary, slow, sideways a lot but definitely memorable. Happily I sold it for a profit.

I can’t imagine anyone buying that Triumph and if they did they won’t sell it for a profit.

You can do alright if you pick the right car. My first car was a Capri 1.6 Laser. An absolute turd but a lot of fun. I gave it a hard life as you would with something that was already so shabby it didn’t really matter if you occasionally went off-roading. It also gave me a lot of practice with the spanners and I learned everything I know about cars by getting it running every time it broke down. I also learned how to avoid accidents by catching oversteer absolutely everywhere.

I had 2 years worth worth of motoring shenanigans and sold it on for £800. A clear 20% profit!

sold it on for £800. A clear 20% profit!

I bought the TVR for £2,900 and sold it for £3,900. I can’t do the exact maths after a bottle of wine but it has got to be somewhere near 30%

We both enjoyed the cars and came out winners. We rock!

Chum of mine has an ancient, intergalactic mileage Volvo T5 that he swears is a future classic.

Sadly, it’s not a custard yellow t5r estate, but a rather drab red saloon.

That said, I have an early 80s Mercedes that’s pretty ordinary as a car, but it’s been cherished all through life. I think it’s beautiful.

I got laughed at for selling my Impreza and putting our extension at the time on hold to buy the Cooper S for £11k but it paid off when I sold it for £19k(which I still regret! Moving every 2yrs though with a classic in tow became untenable) , it was a bit special though and still rusted like any other Mini so probably for the best

Look at 1990s Toyota pick ups. Saw one which was described as being average condition 190k miles. Pushing three grand.

Well, as well as a W123 Mercedes, cockroaches and Keeeeef Richards, a Toyota pick up will survive the coming apocalypse, so seems good value!

cbmotorsport – Member
…For example, I give you the Morris Marina Owners Club Marina Owners Club

Don’t laugh, I’ve been tempted.

I like the idea of a fixable car, and I’m not gnarly enough for a tractor Land Rover.

hora – Member 
Ah yes evoke childhood memories of Dads cars etc.

Not one owned by us but I always smile if I see a Datsun 120Y or Toyota Crown

Have had both of those ‘back in the day’ Hora! The older Crown with the lights around the corners on the front, incredibly futuristic car in its day with regards to standard equipment spec.

My favourite ‘classic’ that I’ve owned were a Volvo P1800S and a MGA fixed head (not twin cam unfortunately). And several 50’s Series I Land Rovers which were amazing fun 8)

Having said that, some of those vehicles weren’t actually that old when I owned them 😳

Epicyclo, have a look at a W123. No fixing required. Ever! So overbuilt it’s hilarious.

Re toyota hylux – average condition means just acraped its mot will need hideous welding repairs for the next

Those things rust worse than pre td5 discovery bodies- ive seen them rusting chronic in countries where no other bloody car has rusted!

Tell me if this a classic or not then

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1961-Unregistered-Ford-Thames-400E-Calthorpe-Camper-/141094453655?pt=UK_Campers_Caravans_Motorhomes&hash=item20d9e28197

And it is right that has never been registered as it’s my old mans!!!!!

Tell me if this a classic or not then

Definitely a classic but what could you do with it?

Nice to look at but I prefer stuff I can use.

bookwyse – Member
Tell me if this a classic or not then

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1961-Unregistered-Ford-Thames-400E-Calthorpe-Camper-/141094453655?pt=UK_Campers_Caravans_Motorhomes&hash=item20d9e28197

And it is right that has never been registered as it’s my old mans!!!!!

Awesome! Love that. Good luck with the sale

POSTED 8 MINUTES AGO # REPORT-POST
sharkattack – Member
Tell me if this a classic or not then
Definitely a classic but what could you do with it?

Nice to look at but I prefer stuff I can use.

What is stopping it being used?

The only thing stopping being used is the fact that it’s unregistered, would need registering and then it can be.

We won’t do it as we think it’s worth more as it is. If it doesn’t sell then we are going to redo the interior this summer. The old man is a cabinet maker so it will be done properly.

I remember going to the classic car show at the NEC a couple of years ago and seeing the Vauxhall Astra owners club. I nearly wet myself laughing.

The one in the ad looked like an ad for a garage that’ll pass anything.

seeing the Vauxhall Astra owners club

When I got the chunnel over to France in the summer there was an MG owners club travelling over on the same train. problem was they were that batch of fisher price MG Rovers (ZT/ZS/Z?) and they all looked like Alan Partridge!

We won’t do it as we think it’s worth more as it is

That’s what I was getting at. It’s a beautiful thing (I love vans!) But personally I wouldn’t pay over the odds for something that would halve in value as soon as I used it. Someone will though.

Vauxhall Astra owners club.

I did a photo shoot years ago for Total Vauxhall magazine featuring the even more niche Astra Bertone Owners Club. Exciting stuff I can assure you!

There are an awful lot of those Triumph Acclaims still running around in good condition.

They must have made them too well (or they were all bought as retirement cars)!

Me I have a Renault 5 Monaco and an old Renault 4.

It’s funny the cars you see on eBay. Once found a bog standard Mk 1 Nissan Micra up for about £3k.

I can understand why people would buy them. There’s a few shit cars I’d happily buy myself. But the prices are insane. Would be interesting to know if any of these cars actually sell.

I’d love my old Vauxhall Nova 1.4 Merit+ now.
It was absolultely mint even with 70k on the clock and a great simple little car.
Sold it for £1k when it was 10 years old.
I’d pay that for it now to buy it back, if it was in the same condition…. but that was 10 years ago.