Practically Classics Forum

As Pete has mentioned, it will be helpful to know your plans for such a car, and your limitations in regards to fuel usage and type etc.

But to throw my hat in the ring, yes a good BGT or roadster can be a very good buy.
Rover's are great for roomy wafting when a good one can be located for a reasonable price, but let's include the P4 range as well shall we?

70's retro is coming into it's own, as well as early 80's cars, so the choice is getting bigger everyday, although many still lack the type of back up more mainstream classics and collectable models have.

How about a Reliant?, the Scimitar GTE is a good all rounder with room for holiday lugggage and if needed is a 2+2.
Part's supply is good, and being a ford lump means you should have no problem getting service items etc.

Or if you fancy a saloon , a little higher on the expense account is the SE4 Coupe.
The lower end is the SS1 .

Lot's to chose from, and all dependent on planned use, budget, fuel type required, and of course your own nostalgic memories to suit your needs.

JPB wrote:

Tim Hale wrote:..//..one of the grey porridge saloons that have all the charisma of a brick....//.....

Could you perhaps give us an example please? It's easier to recommend something if we know the limits of the enquirer's taste.

OK,

Let's start with this, 'Grey porridge saloons' are those vehicles which are remembered for their ability to turn every journey into tedium.

The decision to choose a VW Beetle was prompted by their ability to be upgraded for reliability thanks to their long production life, similarly the Land Rover falls into this category. Unfortunately having looked at the price of Beetles, the same thought process has been used by other potential owners but at least there are lots of Beetles and Land Rovers.

Vehicles which are on our list include the Saab 96 V4 with Ford 15m motor - previous ownership proves that they are safe and still have a good local support in my area. Others include the MGB and Minor familes due spares availability and (again) good local support, however if we can afford something that offers a bit more, then we will look at Jaguar MkII's and Rover P6.

We do not wish to purchase anything that we result in a restoration project - we prefer to buy someone's previous hard work and then keep it for the next generation to enjoy.

Thanks to the suggestions, it seems that our purchase will be pretty much mainstream 'first classic purchase' with the ability to please rather than invest. Certainly the Saab falls into this category, I have just spotted one for sale.

Tim

have you considered one of these?? much nicer than an mg & the alternator is really fun to do

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/ ... ?logcode=p

We do not wish to purchase anything that we result in a restoration project - we prefer to buy someone's previous hard work and then keep it for the next generation to enjoy.

I'd approach a recent restoration with care.....some of these are being offloaded before the cracks begin to appear

I don't know what Saab are like on spares (I think since the GM takeover, things have gone downhill). They were very well made but again, after forty years, who has been working on it would count for more (Unless you find an original low mileage example).

On the MG and Morris Minor fronts, here are some links - http://www.mgownersclub.co.uk/cars-for-sale.html, http://www.ukmgparts.com/carsales.aspx, http://morrisminorspares.co.uk/esmcars.php (I am deliberately leaving out one "Well known" Minor specialist) and you can register for email alerts, for any car you choose, on http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/.

If you are short of space, don't forget the MG Midget Less roomy than the MGB but immense fun. 5 speed conversions are available.

the idea of a more modern sportscar/future classic is at the moment they are reasonably cheap & rot free... as an ex mg owner i can testify to the amount of rust which can be hidden in a tidy looking car...

or something like this?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/ ... ?logcode=p

I was behind one of those Jaguars today on the A189 southbound by Kelly's Kitchen. Traffic was moving slowly, waiting for a wide load to turn off in front. Wide load moved off then the Jag, immediately in front of me, leapt forwards in the way that Voyager did when Tom Paris was having a shot at the driving. Instant acceleration from 45mph to possibly double as much, most rapid and I was impressed. OK, so the one in that ad is pink but hey, it isn't grey and it doesn't look like porage so surely that's the answer.

Do the golfing tools come as part of the package like they do when you buy a new Opel Adam?

Hmm, are we straying again? I thought that OP was after a tax exempt vehicle!

Mind you, there are some nice new Fiestas that are "free tax"...

I notice Tim also mentions Land Rovers (and Suffolkpete has pointed out that some are recommending their own cars). As a not-so proud owner of a 71 Landy, I would not recommend one as an enjoyable drive - or particularly interesting!

The Saab has a lot going for it - not being a run of the mill car (even when new) certainly makes it more interesting - though I was never a fan of the Ford V4 engines! Volvos of the same era can be fun too; though I admit that I didn't like them much in the sixties, I quite fancy an Amazon now! I only drove one Renault 16, but I was surprised how much fun something so "mundane" was - and they aren't the most common sight at shows.