£6000 Classic Car Investment Ideas

[dunning123]

So a few years back me and a mate got rear ended in his MK1 Fiesta, it ended up rolling, I ended up punching through something, and so, have accumulated some pretty rare scars from it!

Now shamelessly I was drawn to put in a personal injury claim against him (mostly abit out of spite for ruining the car that used to get us ALOT of female attention!) It is coming to the back end of the claim and its about time to think about what to spend it on (I'm not exactly good at saving) But including a few savings I'm looking to invest around £6k. My thought process is not enough for a housing deposit, I'm too lazy to wait for money incurred from a ISA so I'll invest in a car.

Just about to turn 21, so not too worried about insurance costs, would rather spend the extra rather than have to get a lesser car just because of insurance!

I'm proper stumped at what to look into, all I find myself doing is ebaying Evo's....

I LOVE the Datsun 240z, imo one of the best looking cars there is...

So any ideas would be great! Cars that are restored/needing restoration/rolling projects or whatever!

[dodgerover]

Classic van, loads of space for female attention, can be made to look cool, will go up in value and there's the possibility of period TV work

[PandaSelecta]

I would be looking for a decent T25 van/camper, as the prices are going up, and lasses love camper vans

[GT4ME]

BMW 02's are on the up.

[eternaloptimist]

How patient are you? No guarantees of a quick return if any return.

My tip would be to buy something where the model had a period competition history, where numbers of surviving cars is dwindling and ONLY buy an utterly original car in a good colour. Low numbers of owners is good and a history is good as well for when you come to sell. Buy the very best you can and KEEP IT ORIGINAL. (Period mods are a good thing, and for my money count as ORIGINAL.)

I'd look at the following
Mk 1 Mini (earlier the better)
Peugeot 205Gti
Mk 1 VW Golf Gti
BMW 318iS (not sure it had a competition history but I'd back it to do well)
Two door Mk 1 Cortina - you'll do well to find a really good one for £6k

The tip above re a period commercial is a good one as well. I'd love a Mk1 Transit or an early CF.

[paulmakin]

Alfa 916 GTV V6's are getting hard to find for low cost nowadays. Not sure how much or how fast a flawed 90's coupe will rise but, since i got my current one 18 months ago, prices seem to have doubled. Non "Cup" models are advertised around 4-5k regularly - similar condition cars were 2-3k when i was buying. (not clear if that's what they sell for of course)

Fiat 16vT coupes also scarce and sought after, but only amongst those who are looking for a 16v i'm afraid !!

paul

[dunning123]

Sept 15, 2015 19:34:41 GMT eternaloptimist said:

How patient are you? No guarantees of a quick return if any return.

My tip would be to buy something where the model had a period competition history, where numbers of surviving cars is dwindling and ONLY buy an utterly original car in a good colour. Low numbers of owners is good and a history is good as well for when you come to sell. Buy the very best you can and KEEP IT ORIGINAL. (Period mods are a good thing, and for my money count as ORIGINAL.)

I'd look at the following
Mk 1 Mini (earlier the better)
Peugeot 205Gti
Mk 1 VW Golf Gti
BMW 318iS (not sure it had a competition history but I'd back it to do well)
Two door Mk 1 Cortina - you'll do well to find a really good one for £6k

The tip above re a period commercial is a good one as well. I'd love a Mk1 Transit or an early CF.

Being the most I'd have spent in my life on anything ever it wouldn't be a quick process, have a landy to potter around in at the moment so in no rush. Spending that much I would be using it ALOT so many cars that rely on immaculate condition or low mileage to hold their value would probably be out the window.

[duncanmartin]

Excellent 924 Turbos can be had for that sort of money. The prices are going up (probably following on the coat-tails of 911s, which have sky rocketed), and they are pretty rare. Quick, fun to drive, very good on the rust front, and it's a Porsche! Insurance might be a killer given your age. The other 924 models (NA and S) are good and might be more insurable, but aren't likely to appreciate as much as there are far more of them about.
Personally, I think the keys to retaining value are desirability and rarity. Sadly, that also rules out significant modifications.

[adam73bgt]

Sept 15, 2015 19:42:27 GMT dunning123 said:

Sept 15, 2015 19:34:41 GMT eternaloptimist said:

How patient are you? No guarantees of a quick return if any return.

My tip would be to buy something where the model had a period competition history, where numbers of surviving cars is dwindling and ONLY buy an utterly original car in a good colour. Low numbers of owners is good and a history is good as well for when you come to sell. Buy the very best you can and KEEP IT ORIGINAL. (Period mods are a good thing, and for my money count as ORIGINAL.)

I'd look at the following
Mk 1 Mini (earlier the better)
Peugeot 205Gti
Mk 1 VW Golf Gti
BMW 318iS (not sure it had a competition history but I'd back it to do well)
Two door Mk 1 Cortina - you'll do well to find a really good one for £6k

The tip above re a period commercial is a good one as well. I'd love a Mk1 Transit or an early CF.

Being the most I'd have spent in my life on anything ever it wouldn't be a quick process, have a landy to potter around in at the moment so in no rush. Spending that much I would be using it ALOT so many cars that rely on immaculate condition or low mileage to hold their value would probably be out the window.

If you want to use your investment car, I think that pretty much limits you to Series' Land Rovers or Defenders.. As most other appreciating car investments tend to rely on the car being in mint condition, low miles etc.

[rodit]

I'd be considering something like rs turbo.r5 turbo or Sierra cossie. We all know how ford prices go but could have a fun car in the process.

[warnzee]

I think you're looking at the situation a bit wrong. Don't buy a car as 'an investment'. At least, not to get a return from in x amount of years.

Just use the money to buy something amazing. Something that you think is amazing. Something you'll be able to fall in love with and keep (maybe) forever. Start with something that (you think) looks awesome, and you can build on it forever. Lower...wider....louder...faster...shinier...lower again...faster again....etc. Get the right car to begin with and you can spend the rest of your days making it better and better and enjoy every minute of it. Apart from when it breaks, but then you can fix it and that is sometimes the best feeling of all!

You said it yourself - the 240Z, one of the best looking cars ever. Pretty much limitless potential with one of them as well. There was one on Speedhunters with well over 1000 horse power a little while ago!

So yeah, that's what i'd do. It's kinda what I did, except I started with a 600 quid 4-door Escort. I've gone lower and wider, and faster and louder and then a bit faster again and a bit lower again and then a lot louder (then a bit quieter!) i'm planning on finally doing a respray this winter. And a more powerful engine (1.8 Zetec out, ST170 version in it's place) more suspension mods, another different set of wheels. I've had the car for nearly 13 years now, and have more plans yet... it just goes on and on, but it's not that it's never good enough. There's nothing i'd swap it for. And it's 100% MY car.

Sorry, kinda went off on one a bit there! Someone post some sick Datsuns for the man.

[joem83]

92/93/94 R32 Skyline, the 25 year import rule in the USA is pushing prices up, so a 94 with a view to keep it until 2019 should see it's value rise.

Merc r129, values are on the up.

E46 M3, although £6k isnt going to get you a mint one, it's bound to go up in value.

E39 M5, they are already on the up.

Cheap rust free 205 GTI and stockpile all the bits to make it mint when your done using it a lot.

[dunning123]

Sept 15, 2015 20:24:22 GMT warnzee said:

I think you're looking at the situation a bit wrong. Don't buy a car as 'an investment'. At least, not to get a return from in x amount of years.

Just use the money to buy something amazing. Something that you think is amazing. Something you'll be able to fall in love with and keep (maybe) forever. Start with something that (you think) looks awesome, and you can build on it forever. Lower...wider....louder...faster...shinier...lower again...faster again....etc. Get the right car to begin with and you can spend the rest of your days making it better and better and enjoy every minute of it. Apart from when it breaks, but then you can fix it and that is sometimes the best feeling of all!

You said it yourself - the 240Z, one of the best looking cars ever. Pretty much limitless potential with one of them as well. There was one on Speedhunters with well over 1000 horse power a little while ago!

So yeah, that's what i'd do. It's kinda what I did, except I started with a 600 quid 4-door Escort. I've gone lower and wider, and faster and louder and then a bit faster again and a bit lower again and then a lot louder (then a bit quieter!) i'm planning on finally doing a respray this winter. And a more powerful engine (1.8 Zetec out, ST170 version in it's place) more suspension mods, another different set of wheels. I've had the car for nearly 13 years now, and have more plans yet... it just goes on and on, but it's not that it's never good enough. There's nothing i'd swap it for. And it's 100% MY car.

Sorry, kinda went off on one a bit there! Someone post some sick Datsuns for the man.

This is great! This is the route I've been thinking of going down, it's something that drew me towards the evos..buy one, get faster and faster get into hill-climbs, sprints e.c.t

[Paul Y]

Always a difficult one this....

I think I would look further afield if you are looking at an investment. Now, I am biased, but my gaze would be in the direction of the USA. Cars that a view years ago where deemed only suitable as donors are now picking up in price. As the more desirable years become expensive the next model starts to appreciate.

Look at the price increase in Chevy C10's over the past 12 months. Early 70's small window Camaro's (which can be made to look like the more desirable models) Monte Carlos, station wagons' the list goes on. Easy to work on, cheap to fix and make your own.

Or.... Datsun 510...

Or ...240z

Or what ever takes your fancy!

What ever it is keep the congregation informed.

P.

[LowStandards]

You sued your mate?

[tdk]

A bit predictable, but a good, straight and completely standard 944 of any spec will be a good investment. You might just get a 914 needing some TLC too.

[RetroWarwicK]

curve ball here but get ahead of the market.....audi s4 avant with the 4.2.........

[retrocarsdan]

Some good suggestions, but it's ultimately a risky investment - and even if you lock it away in a hermetically sealed chamber it will require money spending on it to keep it in order, so I'm with warnzee and I'd be tempted to spend (what is intrinsically 'free' money) on a car I just wanted for wanting's sake, and not for financial gain.

If you 'do it up' and sell it on at the end for a profit, or even for near what you paid, then that's a win, and it's even more of a win if it's a car you enjoy owning and driving - but if you lose a grand or two along the way, but enjoy yourself, then is that such a bad thing?

[surprisingskoda]

Sept 15, 2015 19:18:35 GMT dunning123 said:

Now shamelessly I was drawn to put in a personal injury claim against him (mostly out of spite for ruining the car that used to get us ALOT of female attention!)

So you are admitting to making a fraudulent, or a least "mostly" fraudulent, claim?

Sept 15, 2015 19:18:35 GMT dunning123 said:

It is coming to the back end of the claim and its about time to think about what to spend it on

How about spending it on things that assist your life to be as before, such as extra physiotherapy or household aids if your hand does not operate in the way which it did before?

Sept 15, 2015 19:18:35 GMT dunning123 said:

So any ideas would be great!

Give it back.

[indyz12]

mercedes fintail, rhd