Vw Corrado VR6……..if only for the sound Of the engine!

Sorry last nights thread title confused everybody!
I suppose where I was trying to get to (and many of you followed) was a car that will have a story and be remembered in years to come.
That might be because it was a particularly good example of its type (eg S2000 has to be about the best roadster out there), or will turn heads in the future, I particularly like the idea of a SWB Audi Quattro ragging its way round North Yorkshire in 30 years time when all the other cars are electric and silent!.
Thats why for me its the BMW M Coupe: Big proper engine, quirky looks and solid build quality. One day I will buy one!

I didn’t really mean to focus on “exotic” cars (over £60,000?).

So what else makes the list?

guy up the road from me has one of these with the reg something like UFO 53

depends what the definition of a ‘classic’ is. As a couple have already said, once a car gets to a certain age it becomes a classic and a few geeks get together and form a club. It doesn’t necessarily make them desirable or collectable. I think you could say that there are certain types of classics.
1. An old car that has reached an age and survived. – any car
2. A big fan base just now. Cars that have a large following just now WRX’s, Gti
3. A cult classic- eg Volkswagon Beetle/Camper. Cars that are a bit quirky or oddball just now and it’s only quirky oddballs that drive them. Prices now will be cheap as chips, but people will pay over the odds in years to come. I think things like the Fiat Multipla, Smart Cars, PT Cruiser etc will gain a following.
4. Luxury cars/sports models- A fortune new, but can be picked up for peanuts. loaded 7 series, Z3’s, Z4’s, SLKs, TT’s, Boxsters, big Mercs, Jaguar XK’s
5. Sports cars. 911’s, SLs. Ferraris all the usual suspects
6. Exotica top of the range sports cars. Bugattis etc

It was always a toss-up between the RX7 and the NSX. I figure the money I save by not getting the Honda will offset the 15mpg and a couple of engine rebuilds on the Mazda.
Does your mate have a website, or is it word of mouth catflees?

People saying F40s and the like are massively wide if the mark. ANY Ferrari or similar is exotic, rare and expensive which automatically precludes it from classic status in a way. Thee will ALWAYS be sought after and aspirational but never a true classic. Madness? No. Look at the real classics we have now: Mini, Beetle, 2CV, mk1 Escort, mk1 Golf, Morris Minor etc. The ones with a fanclub and a magazine devoted to them. The ones with their own shows and meets, the ones that people can buy, run and cherish. Speed, expense and power does not equal character! Those are the classics

I nearly agree, but a Jaguar E-Type is (justifiably) considered a classic. I do think that sports cars often age terribly, IMO 80’s Ferraris look pretty cack, although a Countach doesn’t.

The Lada Niva is another future classic. Although it’s probably already old enough to qualify…

Hey Al, that nice original Audi Quattro was still in Sainte Foy village.

citroen DS3, C4 and C6 will amongst citroen enthusiasts, without a doubt. Untouched saxo VTRs and VTSs will become classics too, however many have already been tarnished 🙁

MK1 Toyota MR2 is my ultimate classic car (owned)

Many of the cars mentioned are already considered as classics or at least highly desired/collectable (Elise, DC2 Integra, 205GTI, BMW E46 M3CSL and E30 3 series cars).

My nominations are

The Ford Puma 1.7 – a fantastiacally agile car with a great engine which is already recognised as a design classic, they are starting to dissapear now through wear and tear, the remaining examples will start to be cherished before too long.

Focus RS – both Mk1 and Mk2 examples as were built in limited numbers.

Honda S2000 – as said before one of the best cars in class, and typical honda reliability will mean that these hang around for years to come.

Saxo VTS – the 106 already has a cult following, whereas the Saxo is seen as the chavvy relation and can be picked up for 25-30% less for a similar condition car.

Renault Clio 172/182 cup – fantastic handling lightweight cars, I’d have one in a second if I didn’t hate the driving position so much.

Renault Megane 225 – later revised models only, especialy the R26.R which is a very rare car.

BMW Z4 – fantastically handsome car, especially in M guise, and the coupe versions will be even more collectable due to limited numbers being produced.

BMW E9x M3 – looks wise I find this car to be quite off putting especially after the simplicity of the E46, however it will always be remembered as the last naturally aspirated M car produced, and what an engine it is too!

Right that’s all I can be bothered to think of right now, should really get back to doing some work.

Couple of people have mentioned the RX7, anyone know if a rotary engine can be converted to run on LPG?

Couple of people have mentioned the RX7, anyone know if a rotary engine can be converted to run on LPG?

given the lack of lubricating properties in LPG I’d be doubtful of it’s suitability in a rotary setup

Elise series 1, not the pinnacle in the terms you mention in your OP, but surely destined for classic status.

Agreed, helped to revise Lotus and put them back on the lightweight is key route

I’d add the Escort RS2000 4×4 to the list, limited numbers, tricky to find unmolested ones and so rare I’m struggling to even get a decent photo!

OK another couple from me:

Volvo V70R, the mad bonkers AWD monster one.

Any Jaguar with a crazy big V12 (the old XJS, or the mean saloon my mate had with the menacing grill and about 15 turbos fitted to it).

I also think the smart cars will be classics in future, bit like bubble cars would be today.

PeterPoddy – Member

People saying F40s and the like are massively wide if the mark. ANY Ferrari or similar is exotic, rare and expensive which automatically precludes it from classic status in a way. Thee will ALWAYS be sought after and aspirational but never a true classic.

What a load of guff. Obviously the term “classic” is subjective, but it has to take into account things like, popular reception at time release, impact on popular culture, popularity, prescence in the media, how the design ages, what influence it has in popular culture past and present, automotive culture, media, appreciation in value, rareity, exclusivity, relevance today…..

The F40 is a design icon, a performance icon, was the first production car to break 200 mph,used carbon fibre extensively, adorned the walls of millions of kids, is one of if not the greatest and most radical looking road car ever, was featured in video games, movies, it’s design copied on packaging for every conceivable car related product, just it’s profile became a synonym for super car….it’s still considered one of the fastest road cars anyone can buy and one of the most exciting to drive. It could be argued that it defines the decade in which it was released.

Just like the countach, the veyron, the daytona, the 250 gto, 288 gto, 308, 355, the dino, the miura, the zonda, xj220 and many other exotic sports cars, they are deserving of classic status on many levels, at the very least their impact on popular culture.

PeterPoddy – Member
Look at the real classics we have now: Mini, Beetle, 2CV, mk1 Escort, mk1 Golf, Morris Minor etc. The ones with a fanclub and a magazine devoted to them. The ones with their own shows and meets, the ones that people can buy, run and cherish. Speed, expense and power does not equal character! Those are the classics.

I think you’ll find that Ferrari’s and Lambo’s etc have plenty of shows, meets and magazines and people devoted to them. They can also be bought and run and cherished by people, though generally richer people. I recall a ferrari meet in italy a few years back was pretty well attended.

The cars you’ve mentioned are “classics” because they were cheap, sold in vast numbers, and therefore resonate with a lot of people’s memories and influenced popular culture, and they are now, as classics go, relatively cheap to buy and maintain (which is also a symptom of their original popularity). Why not include the toyota corolla in your list? or the Ford Fiesta, or the Honda civic?

Any Jaguar with a crazy big V12 (the old XJS, or the mean saloon my mate had with the menacing grill and about 15 turbos fitted to it).

like this one? 🙂

legend….wow!!!!
Yes exactly like that.

Don’t forget the xjr – 15

WRX-STI’s will be classics, as they already have a fan base, and as the 20-25yr old owners get older they’ll be looking to buy back the cars they owned/wanted as teenagers, I’d love one of the older WRX’s!

As for electrics, dont be put off by them. If you really wanted to, you could take a skyline, fit coilovers, replace the ECU with Megasquirt, and you’ve got a car that’ll be maintainable indefinately. Just look at kit cars, many many engines are used form cars that people tell you are so complicated to maintain without complicated equipment, yet they get taken out by enthusiastic ametures and end up with more power than they had when they left the factory mainly beacuse they’re not comprimised by things like engine bay space, manufacturing costs (not many tubular manifolds in production cars for example) and bigger/better air filters .

My votes:
Mk1 focus, any of the ‘fast’ ones, and probably a lot of cars re-badged as RS models (think MGB V8 and sebring variants, and the midget Mk3).

MK2 anything isn’t a classic. Not unless theres a huge demand for the Mk1. Think T1 Vs T2, and the icreacing popularity of T25/T3 and the over inflated T4 prices.

MX5 will probably be a classic. If you look at ‘classics’ now they tend to be everyday cars, MG’s, VW’s, Ford’s etc, and usualy people like to tune them themselves. Car’s like the RX7 might be kept by a few people, a bit like MGF owners in the MG clubs, but i doub’t you’ll be waking into WhSmiths in 2050 and buying RX7 monthly, bu you will still be able to buy a pletora of MGB/midget magazines.

Audi could be an interesting one. Looking at the past at MG/Triumph/Austin (i.e. BL and BMC cars) its the lower class brands that have become clasics. MG’s are more popular than Triumphs for example despite triumphs at the time always beeing built to go faster and therefore be more expensive, the the extent that MG’s were often denied developments. So on that basis I’d say the Golf will be more popular than the TT.

and the black one in front of it too*

*For sale if you are interested in putting the engine back in

Ford Capri 280

Saab 900 turbo T16

WCA – I don’t think that the CL will ever be considered a classic, will probably make someone a bargain barge in the future though. The ‘teg was an instant classic, no future required, would be even better if it were one of the original 300 numbered cars, wish I still had mine (number 87 iirc)

Derek Strarship – Capri already a classic.

Obviously the term “classic” is subjective, but it has to take into account things like, popular reception at time release, impact on popular culture, popularity, prescence in the media, how the design ages, what influence it has in popular culture past and present, automotive culture, media, appreciation in value, rareity, exclusivity, relevance today…..

Jimjam has it spot-on. I think too many people are confusing the idea of ‘classic’ cars with their own favourite automobiles. Whilst I agree that even lowly mass-produced cars can achieve true ‘classic’ status, such as the Beetle and Mini, most of the cars mentioned in this thread are boring mundane instantly forgettable lumps of junk with as much character as a blank piece of paper. How anyone can mention a Volvo built in the last 20 years is beyond me. I can’t think of a single BMW from the same period which is worthy of becoming a classic, either. Boring boring boring.

If you must insist on including boring motors, then may I present the case for the Ford Sierra. Not the souped up XR4i or any sports version, just the plain, bog standard run of the mill one. The car whose shape and design changed the way the industry looked at the aesthetics of cars. After the Sierra came out, nearly every manufacturer resorted to using more curved, rounded shapes. Basically establishing the design vernacular for the next 25 years.

A current fave of mine is theFiat 500, which in my opinion is a very successful re-imagining of another iconic car. Cute, quirky, fun, cheerful. It’s got a bit of character, you see. Succeeded where the New Mini failed.

And if it’s flashy spensive motors, then yes, the F40 is a classic. Anyone who disagrees is a philistine, and probably likes plastic bikes….

Audi RS6

450bhp standard family estate. NUTS

MM

Mom0 – I tend to agree. Teg was best car I ever broke. 140,000 miles and most of it above 7,500rpm.

Number 5187 BTW

Hmmmm, Lister Jags….Lovely!

For me, it’s the VR6 Corrado.

A client of mine owns this. Nothing prepares you for the noise.

BMW will be disappointed to discover that they haven’t made anything of note in the last 20 years.

Seen one at the Festival of Speed…..very, very, very loud, outstanding!!!

how about something from the colonies?

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EDIT: ok, so it turns out that only 2 road cars were ever made – so unless we can count the race cars as classics…?

lotus carlton for me
sorry no pics
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_Carlton

Couple more…

Audi RS2 (the Porsche one), although already a classic I would imagine.
TVR (all of them!)

I think just about any British car of recent years will become a classic.

Aye, TVR for sure….word is a new model with a vette v8 is set for 2012.

LOL, 3 pages of chilled car talk – sweet, is that a record?

Bet Surf Matt is itching to get his teeth into this one 😉

Just a quick one, a future classic car for me, has to be something reasonably affordable, for the avarage car nut.

My vote would be for the Lotus Elise, got to be a future classic

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Just a quick one, a future classic car for me, has to be something reasonably affordable, for the avarage car nut.

That’s a bit like saying a future classic film has to be succesful at the box office. Or available in HMV in the sale.

I could (in theory) go out tomorrow and buy a Ferrari 355 for 30k, same price as a new mid spec Elise. It would cost me the same to tax as my pick-up and I could probably insure it for reasonable money on a limited usage policy.

That’s a bit like saying a future classic film has to be succesful at the box office. Or available in HMV in the sale.

No, just affordable, that’s all

I could (in theory) go out tomorrow and buy a Ferrari 355 for 30k, same price as a new mid spec Elise. It would cost me the same to tax as my pick-up and I could probably insure it for reasonable money on a limited usage policy.

Well in theroy then a Ferrari 355 could be a classic for you then.

That’s my point 🙄

I could probably insure it for reasonable money on a limited usage policy.

Not really a classic but I’ve just had a quote on a Porsche Boxster for less than £400. Question is, can I get 2 labradors and a bike into it 😆