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

[KitKat]

A40, Dolomite, Rover p3/p4s, morris 1000s etc all good suggestions.

But remeber, the asking price and the selling price are two VERY different things!!! I have heard many people say, when pricing their cars to sell "but I have seen them up for £5k!". Except, none of them are selling for that, they just sit there on ebay and white-floor classic car sales sites for months at 3-5 times what they are really worth.

If you use ebay, look at "sold listings" to get an idea on what the no reserve auctions actually finish at. you might be surprised. £2k is a fair budget.

[DaveDorson]

I’m no expert - on anything really - but I’m not sure £2k buys what you want. You can buy a Jag for £2k, and you can buy a classic for £2k, but I think the two are mutually exclusive. The only two baggers I see are either modern or not jaguars.

 

Then again, I’ve peobably not being paying attention because the stories of financial and vehicular ruin associated with 30 year old Jaguars is enough to have me crying in my sleep.

 

Good luck with it though. Unless you are one of the AS elite with a lot of money or credit lines, I think the key to success is having one or two good ones.

 

Again, I think you're right about the Jags, I can easily buy an XJ40, X300 or X308 in my budget, but they're not what I want.

 

I originally started looking at older XJ's, then fords, then the odd Morris, and reeled off all the stuff I remember seeing at classic car events as a youth.  Then, I realised pretty early on (after posting granted), that what I want, and what is realistic aren't the same.

 

However, I have commited to shedding some of the crap I own this year.  I love the fact someone who knows nothing of me had a rant, made me laugh, smile, chuckle inside etc.  Those who know me, probably know that I do tend to just purchase cars that take my fancy when the money is there, which is why my current chod list, consists of:

 

Seat Leon Cupra 20vT, currently waiting to get an MOT once my cousin tells me he's going to buy it, or I get bored and clean it and sell to someone else.  Bought off my uncle with a blown turbo, collected on a trailer from Letchworth and taken back to Oakham, then there to Corby to get a few niggles sorted and the turbo replaced, because I didn't have time/space.

 

Merc W124 200T, bought from the jaws of a crusher for £200, had to fit my own wheels to drive it to a mates trailer in Kettering, it's sat in Corby getting welded up now, at the same place storing my Leon, it'll need pretty much everything, definately wasn't worth the £200, but I wanted it.

 

Merc W124 300E saloon.  Bought it from a guy in Oakham because he's bought a more modern car.  It's sat for a long time, it's been "modernised" with ill fitting S126 AMG Hammer wheels, but it's solid.  K-Jet is screwed, so I need to go over it, and it's got a broken spring.

 

1303 Beetle (Impreza WRX engine), bought because.  Needs loads to make it usable, dangerous conversion done with no thought for getting power down at all.  Having a total re-engineer and rebuild.  Gets done when it gets done, getting done right, purchased from a friend who'd moved stateside.

 

1200 72 beetle, purchased as a lowered and slightly rubbish car, getting a full restoration in my workshop at the moment in the free time I get.

 

1984 VW Caravelle, owned it since 2008, love the van, doing a GTI conversion and welding it back together because as it's a UK van, it's very rusty, and although I could "make it usable" I'd much rather make it right, which takes time.  As such it's in the queue behind the beetle.

 

Frontera Sport.  Bought it from red5 of this parish, was delivered by Lord_Sterling of this parish, bought over the phone, with a bank transfer, without ever seeing it.  Lives again, but really needs the rear drums replacing and a new hazard switch for the MOT, I'm trying to sell this back to Sam, as it wants saving and I'm already over-commited with other cars.

 

307 HDI, bought from AMC rebel of this parish, saw it, called him, collected it, no fuss.  Good car, enjoying using it.

 

Mondeo ST220, probably going to sell this to CavCraft, it's trapped in a garage in Stamford, bought it off a mate early last year and I've done nothing with it because again, I'm over-commited.

 

2000 Beetle 2.0 Petrol, bought for the Mrs, sat on her dads driveway, needs me to retrive it and make it usable, but given she doesn't drive, there's no rush.

 

So, there's a theme.. it's not just a case of not having the balls, it's being over-commited to other cars, which means I need to sell said cars on, stat, which will raise the money I need to buy something I can perch on the driveway and use when it takes my fancy. 

 

Something classic, means I can whack it on my insurance, tax it, use it, and it costs me only the petrol and maintenence costs, meaning I can concentrate on the other things.

 

[lesapandre]

My advice don't sell your Mercedes 124. These are one of the top 10 best saloons ever made. Enough classic looks and gee-jaws especially pre-facelift with the proper radiator shell on the front to look interesting. I just bought one again - nothing drives quite like them.

[lesapandre]

Keep the 300. Incredible back up and spares availability-  the last proper Mercedes

[lesapandre]

And the early ones are so well made. Every journey is an event. Mine is 1990 2.6. Bought it December 20th. Have used it every day since including round the M25.

[DaveDorson]

Reading this with interest I would love to have an old nail as a daily only thing I wonder about isinsurance? I know theres lots of companies now wont insure for saily use if the vehicle is over 25 years old and Classic Policies dont give NCB and I want at least one car that will always give NCB?

 

Ah, see I've got a traders policy.  Mostly because I've got a mate working for me part time out the unit, and my dad does valleting for me, and I flog cars here and there on the side.

Makes me bugger all money (infact I spend about £200 a month keeping things ticking over), but I also get useful storage for my cars and blanket insurance as a result.

[DaveDorson]

Keep the 300. Incredible back up and spares availability-  the last proper Mercedes

 

I bought the right wheels for the 300 a few weeks ago, and the springs today, there's a distinct chance I'll modernise the ECU and put proper EFI on it and do just that.  I've also got a suitable LPG kit for it.

 

I might keep both that and the estate.

[lesapandre]

Good plan. They are fab. Parts are pretty interchangeable too if you want to upgrade them. Mine has the cloth interior which I prefer to leather. No cruise etc. But you can upgrade them - leather, cruise, aircon, electric heated seats. Mine has no airbags but they do have a rigid shell. I have had earlier Mercs...these are better and just as characterful. They will become really valuable some time.

[lesapandre]

And if you want crazy there is 500E but they are pricey. 

[lesapandre]

http://www.curbsideclassic.com/curbside-classics-european/curbside-classic-mercedes-w124-the-best-car-of-the-past-thirty-years/

 

This is an interesting appreciation of the 124 from an American perspective.

[eddyramrod]

Reading this with interest I would love to have an old nail as a daily only thing I wonder about isinsurance? I know theres lots of companies now wont insure for saily use if the vehicle is over 25 years old and Classic Policies dont give NCB and I want at least one car that will always give NCB?

I think the answer is, just bite the bullet and shop around.  Some companies will do what you need, some won't, and it seems to vary from car to car, owner to owner and town to town.  There's no logic involved!  Good luck!

[dollywobbler]

Jeepers. Yes, you need a serious clear-out! I think many of us suffer from acquiring too many cars, then not really being able to enjoy them because you end up over-committed. 

 

I'm afraid there's sod all chance of getting a classic Jaguar for £2000 though - I should know given the day job. This is probably about as cheap as they get.

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C380724

 

420 is basically a Mk2, but with far better rear suspension a more modern snout and the 4.2-litre engine, so they're not sluggish. I'd have one over a Mk2 every day of the week.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Didn't both the white Sovs that ended up with SixCylinder ( inevitably?) fall within this budget ? Also XJS/-S s can't have gone too far away from £2k if you catch the owner in the right mood at the right time- on the hard shoulder would be best.

Failing that a solid XJ40 before it's too late . Twenty years ago I was offered a dodgy 91 H Daimler, if I took over the finance for a bloke that was languishing at Her Majesty's pleasure.

I arrived at the house, opened the garage to find a V12 S3, gunmetal with every option and a TWR steering wheel , I turned it down because I wanted a 4.0 XJ40 . What a fucking idiot.

Thing is 10 years later and I''d have turned my nose up if it was an XJ40, now I wouldn't want a 300 but would snatch someone's arm off for anything earlier.

The moral of this bollocks? Buy the best condition Jag that's in budget- you'll only look back and regret it if not.

[sierraman]

The V12 would be a bit heavy on the wallet fuelling up but what Jag isn't.

[richardthestag]

The point of the thread, as someone asked earlier, was for me to muse over what £2k could get me.

 

Tail end of last year, I decided to rationalise a bit and get myself something nice, and something daily.  With a view to move on something nice, once a few of my "keeper" projects are done.

 

And, I've enjoyed reading the responses.

 

I also figured pretty early on, that what I really want is an old Jag, and the reason so many of the cars you've pointed out were dismissed off hand, is because I want an old Jag, and I doubt a lot else will really scratch the itch.

 

I agree with the original post being relevant i.e. what could be an interesting car for under 2k that wont get me redirected at classic shows to the visitor carpark. The responses were excellent

 

BUT my comment was regarding the thread just evolving, by your own admission, into a Jag for under 2k but nothing newer than an XJ S3

 

Oh and it has to be nice, and a runner, etc etc

 

I would seriously expect anything XJ (s 6, c or 12) to be source of financial ruin at this budget.

 

therefore I say again - I dont understand the point of this thread

[DaveDorson]

I agree with the original post being relevant i.e. what could be an interesting car for under 2k that wont get me redirected at classic shows to the visitor carpark. The responses were excellent

 

BUT my comment was regarding the thread just evolving, by your own admission, into a Jag for under 2k but nothing newer than an XJ S3

 

Oh and it has to be nice, and a runner, etc etc

 

I would seriously expect anything XJ (s 6, c or 12) to be source of financial ruin at this budget.

 

therefore I say again - I dont understand the point of this thread

 

The point was, initially to explore what was out there that might tick my boxes.  I quickly realised though, that perhaps what I want, and what I want to spend, aren't really going to happen, and that I'm about 10 years too late for that train.

 

By the way, I'm fine with that as a fact.. and I enjoyed the following discourse too.  Of course if you want to get a bit snippy about it, as I posted it on the Internet, you're welcome to do it.. however I'm also welcome to ignore it too .

 

Never mind.. it's evolved into something better, so it doesn't really matter in the grander scheme of things does it .

 

I quite like seeing what's out there for £2k or less.  I'm not buying just yet anyway, (chod consolodation takes time), but it's nice to do a bit of window shopping sometimes.

[DaveDorson]

The V12 would be a bit heavy on the wallet fuelling up but what Jag isn't.

 

To be fair, it'd get used a bit at weekends and for the odd show, I've got a 307 HDI for worrying about actually going somewhere and having enough money to live without feeding it all the time

[richardthestag]

I quite like seeing what's out there for £2k or less.  I'm not buying just yet anyway, (chod consolodation takes time), but it's nice to do a bit of window shopping sometimes.

 

That is a shame as Jan is always a great time for buying as no one else really is.

 

However the buyers market mentioned above make it is shit time to sell because no one has money and the weather is crap and folk are detoxing after the excesses of Q4.

[Dirk Diggler]

Here ya go; continue the theme of broken cars

 

A genyewwine 70s XJ6 for €2k

 

https://www.donedeal.ie/vintagecars-for-sale/jaguar-xj6-4-2l-serie-2-1974/17138568

 

What has he done to it??

 

This one looks nicer, still broken mind

 

https://www.adverts.ie/vehicles/daimler-sovereign-jaguar-xj6/13866411

[lesapandre]

Jags. Had quite a few. Fuel costs on the old XK engine are depressing and the later ones similar. Foot down on the motorway in an XJ you can see the fuel gauge move pretty quickly. I gave up drivin them. The only ones worth buying in my opinion are the XJS - preferably manual or something unusual, a V12 saloon, press demonstrator, manual gesrbox or TWR.

[DaveDorson]

That is a shame as Jan is always a great time for buying as no one else really is.

 

However the buyers market mentioned above make it is shit time to sell because no one has money and the weather is crap and folk are detoxing after the excesses of Q4.

 

All very sage advice, and noted. 

 

Like most sage advice, I'l probably ignore it, because I'm a tit like that, hence all the chod.

[DaveDorson]

Here ya go; continue the theme of broken cars

 

A genyewwine 70s XJ6 for €2k

 

https://www.donedeal.ie/vintagecars-for-sale/jaguar-xj6-4-2l-serie-2-1974/17138568

 

What has he done to it??

 

Beaut

[lesapandre]

Some guy in the web has shoehorned a modern X300 engine in a MK2. Sacrilege but fun. On youtube

[Dirk Diggler]

Beaut

There was a Series 3 for sale a few months back here that I was looking for the advert for, tastefully modified with a Nissan Patrol engine

 

Advertised at 2950, it was above budget and worst of all, functional

[DaveDorson]

There was a Series 3 for sale a few months back here that I was looking for the advert for, tastefully modified with a Nissan Patrol engine

 

Advertised at 2950, it was above budget and worst of all, functional

 

That was a popular conversion apparently.  I've seen ford engines in them before as well.

[lesapandre]

The XJ in the ad has two good points - it is a short wheelbase - I think they look better. Also the black leather is nice and classy.

[Junkman]

The XJ in the ad has one good point - it is a short wheelbase - I think they have four inches less rot in the floorpans and sills.

 

EFA

[lesapandre]

True. Even more so for the MK2. People forget sometimes that a 20,000£ Jag was once a 50£ banger in Exchange and Mart with pop-rivet cills

[richardthestag]

Fatha thestag schmoked about in a Jag S3 4.2 in the mid'ish 1980s, iirc it was about 5 years old at the time. 

 

That straight six was smooth and powerful and yes the fuel gauge would move quite quick as 3 figures were approached. I managed to get it to an almost obscene rate of knots and it still pulled hard and felt very planted.

 

fabulous machine, BUT

 

even back then and at the comparative youth of the said conveyance, corrosion in sills, trailing edge of front wings and bonnet mounts was an ongoing annual issue. 

 

Would I like to own a S3 XJ? Fuck yeah!

Would I like to own a S3 XJ that cost 2 bags? runs away and hides

 

on V12 memories and this is still an itch I need to scratch, Tyre kicked a V12 HE XJS and got the onboard computer to display 1mpg. and that wasnt really trying either!!

[lesapandre]

The very late S3 are the best built and the even later V12's. But I just found the cost of running around too crazy.