Getting started with a Retro car

[HoTWire]

Hey Folks,

I've been thinking that time has moved on. When we first started the forum you could pick up a Beetle, Golf or even a base spec Escort fairly cheaply and start playing with it. Now days these things are less accessible for a start up budget for a younger person (or even a lot of us older folk). I thought I'd try and start a little guide for getting into Retros without going down the route of buying a more modern car and hoping it becomes retro.

So here is the challenge, for starters.

What pre-95 car can you pick up for between £1,000 and £3,000? Does it have good parts availability? Does it have a good community that will help you sort it if it goes wrong? Would it be insurable (even as a named driver) for someone aged 18-25? Would it qualify for classic insurance for those over 25*?


My initial offering:

Triumph Dolomite
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/triumph-dolomite-1300-eveyday-classic-/172323928593


£1,450


www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Retro-Triumph-Dolomite-1300-1979-Low-Mileage-/152224064013


£1,250


And you can take something like this as inspiration for the awesome




Parts seem to be well supported and the cars are well known quantities so jobs on them shouldn't be too horrific to work out. 1,300 engine so insurance shouldn't be too outrageous...


So there is a starting point, what else can we find?




*It is 25 for classic insurance isn't it?

[paul99]

Early models of Fiesta or Metro? Still cheap enough, and the marques have a healthy enough following.

[tofufi]

Good thread

I'd like to suggest the humble Morris Minor...



www.ebay.co.uk/itm/301987099611

I picked mine up, with MOT but a blown head gasket, for £500 just over a year ago. Since doing the head gasket, it's been dependable, including a fair few driving lessons for an ex girlfriend

Pros: RWD, and surprisingly entertaining round corners - despite only being approx 40bhp.
Cons: Not the most comfortable on long journeys (a bit tinny, and a slightly cramped driving position if you have longer legs - easily fixed by modifying the seats)

Mine (£500 with MOT, remember!) :


They even like to drift:



and can easily be made cool...


retrorides.proboards.com/thread/185804/show-me-morris-minors

Plenty of performance upgrades to be had when you're able to afford to do so too

[adam73bgt]

MGB GT

Does it have good parts availability? Yes, you can buy anything for a B
Does it have a good community that will help you sort it if it goes wrong? Yes, plenty of forums and real world clubs
Would it be insurable (even as a named driver) for someone aged 18-25? Yes, I insured mine at 20 back in 2012 for the same price as a small hatchback
Would it qualify for classic insurance for those over 25*? Yes

Plastic bumper ones are still cheap

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1979-MGBGT-/152216416869?hash=item2370ce3265:g:uVwAAOSwdzVXvMOQ

£1395



You can also find the odd original chrome bumper one as well, mine was £1800 but now they're all tax exempt, the prices seem to have gone up a bit

www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C780177 (If this has MOT its quite rare to get a 60s B that cheap)

£1895




They're the 'boring' choice but they make sense and have plenty of scope for modding






EDIT: I didn't mean to post 3 orange B's

[mylittletony]

Now with pics and info!

Triumph Spitfire - see HoTWire 's cafe racer thread


link


www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Triumph-Spitfire-1978-Immaculate-Condition-/131925061220?hash=item1eb758ae64:g:pbcAAOSwFV9Xxy2Z

Does it have good parts availability? yes, as per the MGB, you could build a new one.
Does it have a good community that will help you sort it if it goes wrong? Yes, very well supported
Would it be insurable (even as a named driver) for someone aged 18-25? 1300 or 1500 options should be quite cheap
Would it qualify for classic insurance for those over 25*? yes

Herald - as above


link

As above, but saloon version (with various differences)


Mk1 golf - these are begging for an alternative take to the usual mods. Tuning & styling parts are available for buttons, spares cheap and lots of interchangeability from other VAG products. Appreciating classic, buy now and look after it - you won't lose money


link

I purposely chose this unusual colour and spec:

link

Does it have good parts availability? yes, almost everything availabe either standard or upgraded or custom.
Does it have a good community that will help you sort it if it goes wrong? Yes, very well supported
Would it be insurable (even as a named driver) for someone aged 18-25? yes, a vast array of models to choose from, all engine sizes from 1.1 to 1.8, before you start modifying
Would it qualify for classic insurance for those over 25*? yes, all models come in over 20yrs

Peugeot 205 - great fun to drive, don't rust anywhere near as badly as their contemporaries, as with the Golf, take a different approach? GTis are fast appreciating classics, get in quick!


link


www.ebay.co.uk/itm/peugeot-205-1-1-xr-classic-excellent-condition-must-go-/262580543135?hash=item3d23051e9f:g:AmIAAOSwXeJXe~pc


link

Does it have good parts availability? yes, plenty of stuff available
Does it have a good community that will help you sort it if it goes wrong? Yes
Would it be insurable (even as a named driver) for someone aged 18-25? yes, all engine sizes available from puny to hot hatch, including NA and turbo diesels - take your pick!
Would it qualify for classic insurance for those over 25*? yes, even the very youngest are over 20yrs old

[Samage]

Being from the VW side of things, it'd be remiss of me not to put forward the Mk2/2f Polo.

Seems to have filled the Beetle's shoes as the cheap no-nonsense go-to VW to get started with. All are 1.3 or under, so no issues with the insurance (with the possible exception of the G40 due to the supercharger... but a decent one of those is out of budget anyway.)

Owners clubs? Check. Parts availability? Check. Lots of tuning parts/knowledge out there? Check. They come in hatchback, coupe and saloon flavours - the Mk2 is more basic and rugged, whilst the 2f sacrifices a little bit of ruggedness for extra refinement. Brakes are a bit rubbish, so you'd probably want to mod those first and foremost!

2f GT is fun to drive and not as expensive to insure as the badge would suggest.

Perhaps the biggest downside is they feel a tad *too* modern to drive and thus some may feel they're a bit bland, especially compared to older-school stuff.


Examples:

I owned this 2F 1.0 saloon for a few years, got it for £350 with a full year's MOT! Had two owners since me and it's still going as far as I know. Loved it.




GT coupe £1000:



www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1991-Volkswagen-Polo-GT-Coupe-1300cc-Petrol-Manual-Original-service-book-/252495738401?hash=item3ac9eb3621:g:44EAAOSwbsBXngbw


Low-miler hatch £1450:



www.gumtree.com/p/volkswagen/vw-polo-cl-1.3-petrol-low-mileage-only-57k-9-mottax-bargain-/1186361129



Just watch out for inflated prices, some sellers will chance their arm on anything with a VW badge. Still cheap ones out there to be had if you're patient and careful.

[highvoltage]

Somebody is going to do the early MX5 NA so it might as well be me !

Does it have good parts availability..yes numerous specialists for both new and used parts.Sill repair panel sections also available now.Endless modding potential from sticking on chrome bits to supercharging.

Does it have good community back up,yes at least 4 specific UK forums i can think of and an owners club.

Does it qualify for classic insurance,yes the earliest cars are now over 26 years old.My 1990 is insured with agreed value of £3k for less than a 100 quid.

Good early cars are thin on the ground but with patience you can still get lucky and find a solid unwelded one for less than £1500.

This is mine bought for £1400 just over a year ago,i looked at some twice the price that were half as good.


Reliant Scimitar SS1

Does it have good parts availability- Yes Ford mechanicals and other parts bin bits from major manufacturers.GRP body and if youre lucky a galvanised chassis.

Good community back up,yes great owners club and forum

Does it qualify for classic insurance- Yes

One on here for a grand
retrorides.proboards.com/thread/191251/1985-reliant-scimitar-ss1-years

[SmokeEm]

Mk3 Granada? Even in estate form, there haven't been many cool ones built? Stealth styles saloon is the only modded one I have seen

[Llewelyn_]

Great thread idea....

Coming from an '80's "swoopy coupe" perspective may I propose the following?

Mk3 Supra



Porsche 924/S (just about)



Mr2 Mk1/2 or Celica





VW Scirocco



Audi Coupe GT5

[Seth]

Austin A40 Farina.  A series running gear so as easy as can be for an old car.  Plenty of tuning potential.

link

[Mercdan68]

My son George's escort estate,,,just squeezes in on a early 96 model??, as said elsewhere he's 13 now by the time he's 17 he's going to have a rare old car!

[jpr1977]

How about a polo in drag

Under 3k - check
pre 1995 - check (well its a 95 car but the design pre dates that)
Retro - check
Insurable for young un's - check
Roadworthy Rally car - bonus check

Great little cars, fun to drive and very easy to work on.



Rally Ibiza

[stevepeanut]

Great idea for a thread. I'm in a position where I'm looking at getting something retro again and having £1000 to spend. The 1996 avant is nearly there but not quite. What I have been looking at is the Merc 190. Prices seem to vary like crazy but there's always a few up for sale for under £1000, not sure about insurance for younger people though.

[pistonpopper]

Just sold this... for just £460.



The mighty Talbot! Parts availability, quite good, i was at Beaulieu Autojumble at the weekend and now that i don't have it found no end of bits for it, and probably ten or twelve PAIRS of front wings!! lol, when i was looking for some i couldn't find any anywhere! Insurable on a classic policy. cheap to run, i used it as my daily for a fair while all through the winter. Great car.

I've also just sold this... for just £700



My scirocco. Parts availabilty good, it is after all just a golf in a pretty party frock. Insurable on a classic policy, and i sold it to a 23 year old lad who had no worries insuring it. cheap to run, fairly good fun to drive.

I'm also thinking about setting this back into the wild again...



Just three hundred quid will buy it. Good to drive, the best of my three, cheap to run, cheap to insure. parts availability is good, and best of all, handles really well, and goes like the devil!

[stevepeanut]

Piston popper, that scirocco seems a bargain assuming it was mot'd, all the ones I've seen for sale have been double that price or more. I had a scala a few years ago, I loved it.

[skinnylew]

Citroen Ax, parts are cheap and interchangeable with 106/saxo. Nippy, easy to work on and the oldest are 30 years old now!


Although hopefully your original post will inspire someone to buy my Toledo in the for sale section, it's basically a dolomite and a bargain it just £400

[pistonpopper]

Sept 5, 2016 20:59:04 GMT stevepeanut said:

Piston popper, that scirocco seems a bargain assuming it was mot'd, all the ones I've seen for sale have been double that price or more. I had a scala a few years ago, I loved it.

MOT'd until April i think. It wasn't in bad shape really, interior was good, bodywork had a few rust blisters, but nothing major, oh, and a bonnet that looked like it had been painted in bitumastic with a yard broom, it ran well, it was a good little runabout. Not very comfy for the larger framed chappie though, thats why i had to release it back into the wild!

[Littlepixel]

Great Thread!

I have no idea about parts, availability / fanbase, but I think a long overlooked and worthy entry-level retro is the Mk1 Seat Ibiza.

It has loads of interest in the design and engineering - It's built on the old Ritmo / Strada platorm, the shell was ItalDesign's proposal for the Mk2 Golf (scene points kids!). Oh, and Porsche helped out with the drivetrain "System Porsche" , and though a little lofty stock, a bit of stick and the original almost DeLorean-y rims make for a lovely slice of overlooked mid 80s econobox loveliness.
If you can find one.?!?!!?!?

[The Jackeria]

Depending on where you look these can come in at a range of prices... Fiat 126.

Parts, check. Insurable, check. Community, check.

[slackerTHEpinstriper]

The Toledo has just entered on my radar of the last 6 months as a classic with potential. I'd hankered for a 2000 but they seemed to be going up in price now.