Is it still possible to buy a "nailed on" classic car for less than two grand?

[DaveDorson]

Ignoring the "future classics" and retro stuff, is it now impossible to find a reasonable, not totally wrecked nailed on classic car, that you'd be happy to take to the local village and town classic car events through the summer, for less than a couple of bags of sand?

 

I've been considering a total cull of chod lately, including probably the W124 Mercs after some discussion with Pappa Dorson about his health, and things that really need to get done.  This would free up a fairly reasonable chunk of change that I'd use to get some stuff finished and debts paid off, and would leave a bit of change for something as a sideline project for those evenings and weekends when the wife is busy with other things.

 

I'd quite fancied the idea of buying something like a slightly rough but honest enough Jaguar XJ6, SIII sort of era, but unless I commit to something that needs shares in Argo-shield, mig wire and metal, I'm priced well out.

So, I started to look at P6's, don't need a V8, just something nice to pootle about in.. no chance.

 

So decided to look at big Triumph saloons.. Nope...

 

OK.. Fords?, MK3 or earlier Cortina?, perhaps even a Mk4 at a stretch?  Nope.

 

MGB's perhaps?, again see my Jaguar comment..

 

Has the world gone doo-lally, or are even mid 1980's cars now fetching far more of a premium than 1970's cars were in the 1990s?

 

I just fancy something that's got a bit of a nice place to be interior, some chrome, and feels like a proper classic.. I could even throw a bit more into the pot for the right car, but it seems that my chance to enjoy that part of my hobby is now a distant memory, unless I want to pony up a fair chunk of money.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Two grand should buy a splendid Landcrab. There's stacks of interesting old motors in decent nick for two grand.

[panhard65]

Try French stuff as no one wants it and that keeps prices low. My 1968 Peugeot 204 diesel (probably the only one in the uk) with a fresh mot all welding done and new panels fitted, just needed paint to get it perfect. Sold for just under 2 bags. Now I am selling my 202 which is going for 6k but that doesn't get you much now either as I am finding out looking for a replacement..

[plasticvandan]

Im in the same situation with classic bikes,around 12 years ago or so i was buying 500-600cc British singles for £12-1500,now around £4500 for a similar bike,no chance.

So im still riding MZs,but even these are now going for £1500 plus in some cases. (my first was £80,the second a gift)

[DaveDorson]

Two grand should buy a splendid Landcrab. There's stacks of interesting old motors in decent nick for two grand.

 

In a world where A35's and A40's are reaching £1500+, it's getting increasingly difficult, unfortunately.

[Cavcraft]

Step right this way, sir...

[DaveDorson]

Step right this way, sir...

621E5A54-5774-4116-8B0B-9C7B81916D90.jpeg

 

Is that a P4?

[richardmorris]

p5 isn't it?

[Inspector Morose]

STOP IT. I have one horrendously fucked old Rover, I really don't* want to be constantly tempted by another.

[Tamworthbay]

Dolomites (not sprints) are in that area still but as I have found out myself, not much else around for sensible money.

[MorrisItalSLX]

I would highly recommend the SIII XJ6, I have been daily driving mine for the past year with very minimal fault, only a dead starter motor to report on.

Australian prices are quite cheap were quite cheap when I bought mine for the equivalent of 2200 pounds (BARGAIN), its a 2 elderly owner, low mileage (for 35 years), zero rust example. Prices have jumped substantially since then, now demanding 5000+ pounds!

 

My advice: Find a nice one, buy it immediately, watch the money roll in! 

[DaveDorson]

I would highly recommend the SIII XJ6, I have been daily driving mine for the past year with very minimal fault, only a dead starter motor to report on.

Australian prices are quite cheap were quite cheap when I bought mine for the equivalent of 2200 pounds (BARGAIN), its a 2 elderly owner, low mileage (for 35 years), zero rust example. Prices have jumped substantially since then, now demanding 5000+ pounds!

 

My advice: Find a nice one, buy it immediately, watch the money roll in! 

 

Ideally, a Jag XJ of that era is what I want.  I've always had a soft spot for them. 

 

I got mega excited last night when my dad mentioned a bloke locallay with a harvest gold XJ Coupe, however when I realised who he was on about, it became apparent that he's one of the local nut bars that hoards everything and it's been sat in his gararge for 30 years so far, so it'll probably never leave there, unless I can find a massive chunk of money.

[barrett]

£2k would buy a very nice four-banger P6. Just because people advertise cars for £xxxx doesn't mean they actually sell at that figure. There's loads of 'classics' in that price bracket, as long as you don't want a 1960s/70s Ford ('50s models are cheaper than ever, though). Small Triumphs, Standards, Morris Minors, ropey MGs, anything BMC/BL are the 'obvious' choices but, as above, European cars are often overlooked and cheap. Look on Leboncoin at Peugeots, Renaults, Simcas... £2k is a 'world's your oyster' type budget I reckon.

[SiC]

Dolomites (not sprints) are in that area still but as I have found out myself, not much else around for sensible money.

Only just though. I've been tracking the market a fair bit on them (cause I want one) and its £1.5k-2k for a half decent 1300. £3k for a really nice 1300. £2.5k-3k for a half decent 1500/1850. Around and under 1k is very much likely to be a project of some sort.

 

You can get a rubber bumper MGB for around the £2k-3k mark, but its going to have issues. £2.5k-4k for a nice rubber bumper. £1k-2.5k for a hanging chrome, £2k-6k for a nice chrome.

 

70s and before stuff seems to have shot up in the last 4 years or so. 80s and 90s stuff is where the value is. Unfortunately they don't quite hold the same appeal with me - probably why they're cheaper.

 

I suspect the tax and soon MOT exemption has pushed it up a little too.

 

Dolly Sprints seem to be around the 5k+ point, which I think is reasonable given their performance and status. I can't imagine them getting any cheaper than that for sure.

 

I think 70s cars are at the point where the population of them is steady. They're worth enough for people to look after them, repair them and now have ropy, knackard examples brought back to life.

[eddyramrod]

Agreed.  Prices have, naturally, shot up since about a week after I sold my Cyprus Granada for bugger-all.

 

Forget Fords, there's too much scene tax on them.  If you're not too worried about performance I'd say a Farina A40 is a good buy, they are still available within your budget and dead simple to fix (mostly).  For no visible reason they don't seem to attract the following the A30/35 has, and therefore the prices.  They are climbing though, so start looking NOW.

A four-pot P6 might look enticing but they can hide a LOT of rust, so check it over carefully.  In fact whatever you're looking at, look very closely indeed, because at this price there will be a fair bit of tarted-up tat.

You might have missed the boat with the XJ6, I know I have!

Landcrab sounds like a good suggestion.  If you can live with the shapes and the driving experience, almost any of that era BL FWD fleet should work.  Allegros and Marinas might be creeping up out of range by now but the Crab and the Maxi seem to be dragging a bit.  ADO16 perhaps?  Also, the Princess might be thin on the ground but they do show up.

AngryDicky and Squire Dawson will know about the pre-Farina types.  You won't want to go back too far because then you're deep into inflation, but just pre-Farina might still be a prospect.

Lower-level Dolomites seem like a good idea too.  We've seen two or three change hands here this year, I think, which is promising in itself.

Simple is best as there are fewer places for the faults to hide!

 

Good luck!

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Nice examples, i.e not tatty projects but not minters either.

 

Toledo, Princess, Maxi, E34 BMW or E32, a really, really lovely E36 Coupe, Merc 230CE Coupe (124) not forgetting the Minor 1000.

 

You can still buy a decent W123 for 2 grand, a 200 or 230E but like the above you need to find one not owned by some dreamer who thinks he has the crown jewels. I spotted a 1969 Minor at a show for £2200 and it was very tidy, underneath as well.

 

Marinas weren't very good and were derided for a reason. For £500 I can see the appeal but £2000 is the price of a car that was actually really good when new.

 

The sharp and frankly ludicrous rise in the price of Ford rubbish (a patched up old Cortina Mark 4 is junk in my eyes - sorry) hasn't affected everything but too many old bangers are valued at far more than they are actually worth. 

 

As for classic car shows, who are you exhibiting for? In 2014 I took a stunning (and I mean, it was mint) white K reg 318iS Coupe to Hope show, original 15 inch alloys, black leather, a really pretty thing. Plenty of 20 somethings looking around it but the old farts would probably grumble that it's not a classic like their evil handling rattling bathtub of a Bond Equipe that was shit 50 years ago.

 

The smart money is stashing away things like the 306GTi and the original three door ST170 Focus. 

[MorrisItalSLX]

Morris 1100?

 

This one looks nice, and only 2000 notes

 

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1969-Morris-1100-manual-4-door-saloon-MOT-April/112668636819?hash=item1a3b92f693:g:YygAAOSwhzJZqr~6

[egg]

My shouts in this category would be

 

- A rusty round the edges Minor that will shortly be MOT exempt

- 2 cylinder Citroen LNA

- A ropey but driveable* standard 10

- reliant kitten??

[DaveDorson]

Nice examples, i.e not tatty projects but not minters either.

 

Toledo, Princess, Maxi, E34 BMW or E32, a really, really lovely E36 Coupe, Merc 230CE Coupe (124) not forgetting the Minor 1000.

 

You can still buy a decent W123 for 2 grand, a 200 or 230E but like the above you need to find one not owned by some dreamer who thinks he has the crown jewels. I spotted a 1969 Minor at a show for £2200 and it was very tidy, underneath as well.

 

Marinas weren't very good and were derided for a reason. For £500 I can see the appeal but £2000 is the price of a car that was actually really good when new.

 

The sharp and frankly ludicrous rise in the price of Ford rubbish (a patched up old Cortina Mark 4 is junk in my eyes - sorry) hasn't affected everything but too many old bangers are valued at far more than they are actually worth. 

 

As for classic car shows, who are you exhibiting for? In 2014 I took a stunning (and I mean, it was mint) white K reg 318iS Coupe to Hope show, original 15 inch alloys, black leather, a really pretty thing. Plenty of 20 somethings looking around it but the old farts would probably grumble that it's not a classic like their evil handling rattling bathtub of a Bond Equipe that was shit 50 years ago.

 

The smart money is stashing away things like the 306GTi and the original three door ST170 Focus. 

 

I've owned the smart money cars and I just don't get the enjoyment out of them that I do 1970's and pre 70's stuff.  Exhibiting will be for whoever wants a nose, but the owning it will be for me.  I quite enjoy going to such events, I'd like to have a car to take that isn't Sarah's beetle is all, and I really want a big saloon, preferably British.

 

Unfortunately, BMW's and increasingly Mercs (W114/5 aside) do very little for me.  I've got a pair of W124's that if I put the money into, would be nice to have, but they fail to excite me.

[panhard65]

Ideally, a Jag XJ of that era is what I want.  I've always had a soft spot for them. 

 

I got mega excited last night when my dad mentioned a bloke locallay with a harvest gold XJ Coupe, however when I realised who he was on about, it became apparent that he's one of the local nut bars that hoards everything and it's been sat in his gararge for 30 years so far, so it'll probably never leave there, unless I can find a massive chunk of money.

Forget the XJ coupe for a couple of grand I am dismantling one for a customer later this week. He bought it as a donor car to finish his V12 broardspeed replica and paid way over your budget for it. It has no floors left and rot pretty much everywhere.

[doubleyeller]

Depends on what you consider a classic. I would say early 1980s is classic now. By far the cheapest era too.

 

For sub £2k I'd recommend: Triumph Acclaim; early dash Metro, Talbot (all models); MK1 or MK2 Accord; Renault 20; Renault 25; Renault 18; Fuego; Austin Ambassador.

[DaveDorson]

Forget the XJ coupe for a couple of grand I am dismantling one for a customer later this week. He bought it as a donor car to finish his V12 broardspeed replica and paid way over your budget for it. It has no floors left and rot pretty much everywhere.

 

 

Oh yeah, I've seen how much they are, so I doubt I'd ever get a coupe.

 

One can dream though

[DaveDorson]

Depends on what you consider a classic. I would say early 1980s is classic now. By far the cheapest era too.

 

For sub £2k I'd recommend: Triumph Acclaim; early dash Metro, Talbot (all models); MK1 or MK2 Accord; Renault 20; Renault 25; Renault 18; Fuego; Austin Ambassador.

 

I know it's unpopular to say it, but I find all that stuff hugely uninspiring!

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Well you just missed this for £2400:

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1973-WOLSELEY-SIX-AUTO-3x-owners-with-history/202128093476?hash=item2f0fc5f124:g:K54AAOSwRbtaHVEm

 

But what sort of fool would pay £7500 for some polished Oxbridge?

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1963-WOLSELEY-16-60-Farina-Saloon/222743188818?hash=item33dc875552:g:7gIAAOSw1JVaJQ5E

 

You'd need to be seriously out of your tree.

[dollywobbler]

I know it's unpopular to say it, but I find all that stuff hugely uninspiring!

 

Well here's a surprise. Stuff that isn't uninspiring is worth coin!

 

Landcrabs are definitely the way to go I reckon. They're great to drive and just seem to be deeply unfashionable, for reasons I can't fully work out. 

 

When it comes to Jags, £2k is only going to get you a heap of trouble. You might get a nice XJ40, and I reckon your money would be safe in one - as long as it was actually good to start with.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

I don't think this will make much over £1500. Needs work but not scrap.

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-w123/332470700584?hash=item4d68cc4a28:g:Fm0AAOSwTO9aIvuI

[plasticvandan]

2 bag will get you a presentable Scimitar,and probably always will

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

 

Landcrabs are definitely the way to go I reckon. They're great to drive and just seem to be deeply unfashionable, for reasons I can't fully work out. 

 

 

 

They were deeply unfashionable when new...........

 

But they are one of the great secrets in the classic car world. Whilst many get excited about a Cortina GXL that sentiment aside has all the ride refinement and build quality of a bullock dray, the 1800 really did (does) roll along very nicely. I like the Wolseley 18/85 that tidied up the awkward styling and threw in a really nice interior. One with PAS is really worth having.

[SiC]

Well you just missed this for £2400:

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1973-WOLSELEY-SIX-AUTO-3x-owners-with-history/202128093476?hash=item2f0fc5f124:g:K54AAOSwRbtaHVEm

That one is actually still active. Also ssssh, I was thinking of bidding on that one...

 

Rather pretty thing that.

[panhard65]

If it is a barge you are after Volvo's look pretty good value especially the 144/164's. I won't say too much as I am after one myself at the moment but you might get one in your budget. A nice 164 can be had for between 3-4k.