Can you find a bit of 70's retro for under £1,500?

[HoTWire]

We did 1960's cars last time to a reasonable degree of success (you're going to have to have a project!). So I thought we'd see what the 70's brings next at this budget. I'll be honest pickings are still a little slim for this budget if you are expecting something pristine

Let's start with the British Skyline

MOT until next year, 3 days and no bids yet, someone should jump on this
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Triumph-2000-Mk2-tax-free-usable-classic-/332241137361


Straight up too cool for school, and that is probably exactly what it was used for once in its life

Looks like it may go over as it is 4 days to go and these are an appreciating car, but you never know..... (there is another on there for 2.5k...)
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VOLVO-244-DL-/222527371945



More Triumph action with the more modestly sized Dolomite

RWD, reasonable insurance, full MOT, in need of work to bring it up to top spec but very usable. £1,250 at the moment, 0 bids, not sure it'll come in under budget (again) but would be hopeful of not breaking the bank too much.
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1977-Triumph-Dolomite-in-daily-use-with-new-MOT-/232355573808


Probably more likely to come in under budget, but in need of much more work

So it would be a lot more of a project and a bit of logistical work to get it, but it looks very doable from the description (pending hidden nastiness on inspection)
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1978-Triumph-Dolomite-1500cc-Barn-Find-Restoration-Project-Low-Mileage-Classic-/112425082703


These are so under modified as far as I'm concerned, we should totally do more with them

Maybe someone can fill us in on what the "usual Scimitar problems" are. Suspicious that it is being sold as the MOT runs out...
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1978-reliant-scimitar-gte-/182575790118


Another British Skyline ripe for some treatment

Looks like it needs some work but comes with the bits
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Triumph-2000-AUTO-/272602116026


I was honestly surprised by the price on this, are they really this price or should we be suspicious?

Answers on a postcard..
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1978-VAUXHALL-OPEL-VIVA-1300-L-CLASSIC-RARE-INVESTMENT-/322526857852


I did try and look through carsandclassics but wrangling the search to find something good that matched our criteria seemed to be beyond me :/

Anyone found anything for less than 1.5k in the 70's you want to share?

[Smiler]

Love the Triumph 2000s'.

Own two 70's Scimitars, one from each end of the decade and both within budget at the times of purchase.





Black one is already modified (engine swap).

Yellow one is being modified (another engine swap).

Smiler.

[Dez]

eBay is not the place to look for reasonably priced cars. Facebook groups are where you need to be these days, but a lot harder to do a nice thread like this with links and pics.

[shin2chin]

May 31, 2017 21:17:46 GMT Dez said:

eBay is not the place to look for reasonably priced cars. Facebook groups are where you need to be these days, but a lot harder to do a nice thread like this with links and pics.

I agree with that. I think the cost of selling puts a lot of people off.
Just realised that my last 3 cars were all snaffled off Gumtree so thats worth a look too.

[Mercdan68]

Window ads in rural shops can be interesting!
Currently working in rural Kent and Surrey areas so I'm always scanning the windows of local shops
Hoping something 70s or 80s will turn up

[HoTWire]

May 31, 2017 21:17:46 GMT Dez said:

eBay is not the place to look for reasonably priced cars. Facebook groups are where you need to be these days, but a lot harder to do a nice thread like this with links and pics.

Yeah those facebook groups a clusterfudge of nonsense though, in that you have to be a member of loads of different groups if you want to see the stuff. Some great stuff if you are will to work your way through though, difficult to share, which is annoying. I guess they are going back to the old school of scouring Loot and Exchange and Mart etc. because something may be advertised in one but not the other.

[Dez]

Jun 1, 2017 8:28:08 GMT HoTWire said:

May 31, 2017 21:17:46 GMT Dez said:

eBay is not the place to look for reasonably priced cars. Facebook groups are where you need to be these days, but a lot harder to do a nice thread like this with links and pics.

Yeah those facebook groups a clusterfudge of nonsense though, in that you have to be a member of loads of different groups if you want to see the stuff. Some great stuff if you are will to work your way through though, difficult to share, which is annoying. I guess they are going back to the old school of scouring Loot and Exchange and Mart etc. because something may be advertised in one but not the other.

Not strictly true anymore with how they're pushing 'marketplace'. Agreed they used to be like that and you had to be in the 'right' group to see stuff, but now as long as the seller makes a post public (which you have to do for it to be viewable in a group), you can search 'marketplace' by distance and key words.

Granted the groups tend to attract a 'certain type' of person who's generally too thick, tight or lazy to do a proper advert, but then you don't get good deals buying off motivated people who know what they've got and what it's worth.

I've already bought a car or two this way, and it's arguably easier than using gumtree or whatever, as messenger is also integrated so you just click the button and send em a message about it.

[Dez]

Jun 1, 2017 5:15:14 GMT shin2chin said:

May 31, 2017 21:17:46 GMT Dez said:

eBay is not the place to look for reasonably priced cars. Facebook groups are where you need to be these days, but a lot harder to do a nice thread like this with links and pics.

I agree with that. I think the cost of selling puts a lot of people off.
Just realised that my last 3 cars were all snaffled off Gumtree so thats worth a look too.

Yeah, what's an eBay vehicle listing now, £15?
If there's two options of free or £15, most people are going to choose the free one, even if eBay potentially has more reach to buyers with an over inflated idea of what a certain car is 'worth' these days.

[waveman1500]

Come to Australia and buy anything non-Australian:



www.carsales.com.au/private/details/Renault-12-1974/SSE-AD-4532940/?Cr=11

www.carsales.com.au/private/details/Bedford-Cf-1974/SSE-AD-4776514/?Cr=13



www.carsales.com.au/private/details/Volvo-164-1975/SSE-AD-4620106/?Cr=15

[Sinky]

www.milanuncios.com/venta-de-coches-clasicos/seat-1430-227556961.htm

www.milanuncios.com/venta-de-coches-clasicos/mg-1100-o-cambio-168419567.htm

[vulgalour]

You don't get much more 70s than this: compact luxury with interesting styling and a vinyl roof.





www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1975-AUSTIN-ALLEGRO-1-5-AUTO-VANDEN-PLAS-RARE-INVESTMENT-CLASSIC-/322536421414

Advert is lacking on details so the price could be good or silly.

[vulgalour]

If you're really quick, you *might* get this Eclat in budget. £940 at the time of posting this.



www.ebay.co.uk/itm/lotus-eclat-/272687011555

[HoTWire]

Jun 1, 2017 11:01:18 GMT vulgalour said:

If you're really quick, you *might* get this Eclat in budget. £940 at the time of posting this.

*cough* Eclat Excel ... from the 80's which we'll get on to next week. Does however look like a bit of a bargain at the moment, although one photo would fill me with the fear, I'm sure there are more than a grands worth of parts on that alone if it does turn out to be a lemon.

[vulgalour]

It's fundamentally 70s though... I reckon I was thinking of the Elite when I posted that. Can you imagine how exciting/terrifying a sub-£1500 Elite would be?

[moggyman]

Can I play?
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/triumph-/112422773921?hash=item1a2ceb64a1:g:3K8AAOSw~FJZKtk5

[MkX]

Let's face it few of the cars listed here are going to end their auctions within that budget and it would be a big ask to get a reasonably solid, driving & MOT'd example of something worth having for that £1,500.00. (For the record I also love the Triumph 2000/2500 and have a thing about the estates).

So all of my finds need light restoration or tlc to get on the road.

'76 Allaggro. Crusty. Should haggle down to budget;


'73 Allaggro. Within budget & Quartic steering wheel;


'72 Corolla. On budget;


Except for this old gal ...
'78 Volvo 244DL. Which is comfortably in budget, drives AND has 3 months MOT.

[adam73bgt]

With only a bit of work that Volvo could turn out like a 4 door version of this



Which would be very cool indeed!

I'm struggling with the 70s car for under £1500, even my old go-to, the MGB GT seems to have climbed in price, can't even see a rubber bumper B worth having for much less than 2 grand!

One car that does seem to be still fairly affordable however is the Triumph's slightly less stylish (in my opinion) cousin, the Rover P6, this 2000SC looks like it could be negotiated within budget and has MOT till January

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ROVER-P6-31000-GENUINE-MILES-/292125395534?hash=item440407ca4e:g:xNwAAOSwY3BZIeBq

[MkX]

Jun 1, 2017 21:49:37 GMT adam73bgt said:

One car that does seem to be still fairly affordable however is the Triumph's slightly less stylish (in my opinion) cousin, the Rover P6, this 2000SC looks like it could be negotiated within budget and has MOT till January.

I'd argue the toss on levels of 'stylishness' between the Triumph and the Rover. I've owned 3 Triumphs and 4 Rovers from the 60's / 70's, (2 of the Rover being P6's).
When I started to type this comment I was going to say I thought the Triumph 2000/2500 and Rover P6 were level pegging but on reflection I'd give the P6 the edge, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and all that.

If I had to sum it up into a percentage I'd give the Triumph 60% and the Rover 65%, (although I'd give the Triumph 75% as an estate ↓). The example you've found looks surprisingly solid for the money as long as there isn't lots of hidden rust waiting to burst through the new paint. It would actually make more sense to pay £1,750.00 for this than pay £1,500 for an Allegro which might need £500's worth of panels & welding.

1970 Triumph 2000 Estate by cerbera15, on Flickr

[adam73bgt]

Jun 1, 2017 22:10:42 GMT MkX said:

Jun 1, 2017 21:49:37 GMT adam73bgt said:

One car that does seem to be still fairly affordable however is the Triumph's slightly less stylish (in my opinion) cousin, the Rover P6, this 2000SC looks like it could be negotiated within budget and has MOT till January.

I'd argue the toss on levels of 'stylishness' between the Triumph and the Rover. I've owned 3 Triumphs and 4 Rovers from the 60's / 70's, (2 of the Rover being P6's).
When I started to type this comment I was going to say I thought the Triumph 2000/2500 and Rover P6 were level pegging but on reflection I'd give the P6 the edge, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and all that.

If I had to sum it up into a percentage I'd give the Triumph 60% and the Rover 65%, (although I'd give the Triumph 75% as an estate). The example you've found looks surprisingly solid for the money.

Perhaps I am being a little harsh on the Rover

I think for me its the high waistline of the doors and rear quarters, makes them look a bit 'pudgy' from certain angles compared to the Triumph. But that said, I've seen some modified ones that I really like

Yeah that yellow one looks almost suspiciously solid aha. Sadly no V8's in the price range (apart from the very cool looking matte green one on here but I'm assuming that will go over 1500)

[MkX]

Jun 1, 2017 22:16:21 GMT adam73bgt said:

Jun 1, 2017 22:10:42 GMT MkX said:

I'd argue the toss on levels of 'stylishness' between the Triumph and the Rover. I've owned 3 Triumphs and 4 Rovers from the 60's / 70's, (2 of the Rover being P6's).
When I started to type this comment I was going to say I thought the Triumph 2000/2500 and Rover P6 were level pegging but on reflection I'd give the P6 the edge, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and all that.

If I had to sum it up into a percentage I'd give the Triumph 60% and the Rover 65%, (although I'd give the Triumph 75% as an estate). The example you've found looks surprisingly solid for the money.

Perhaps I am being a little harsh on the Rover

I think for me its the high waistline of the doors and rear quarters, makes them look a bit 'pudgy' from certain angles compared to the Triumph. But that said, I've seen some modified ones that I really like

Yeah that yellow one looks almost suspiciously solid aha. Sadly no V8's in the price range (apart from the very cool looking matte green one on here but I'm assuming that will go over 1500)

Yeah the early P6's definitely look more dated and 'plump'. If you're referring to the P6 with the Range Rover lump then, Yes, if there is any order in this universe it should sell for decent ££'s.

I had edited my previous post to include a photo of a 2000 estate ↑ damn they were handsome cars!