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[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

I have been toying with the idea of using part of my pension fund to buy a classic car. I have heard that they can be a very good long term investment.
Two problems with this. I don't have a garage to keep it in, and I don't think I could ever decide which one to buy.
So, if you had, say a maximum of £10k to spend on a classic, what would you buy ?

[Nick W]

It doesn't matter as you've missed the boat for worthwhile but affordable investments.

Buy something that's tidy and usable.

Then use it often. Using it constantly is better.

As soon as somebody offers you a decent profit, sell it and buy something else.

[Diamond Black Geezer]

As a general rule originality is favoured too. Probably for ten grand a lot of stuff is already out your prioce range, maybe something in the 'modern classic' league that's set to appreciate, rather than the stuff that's already been got at by the 'cool gang' VW campers, original Minis, 500s, Audi Quattros, TR6s etc.. are all going for nuts money now.

How about an Omega? if a 2000 example is worth maybe £500 now, compare that with a Royale that sold on heebay the other day for £1000, that's a doubling of your investment for only a wait of twenty years, and twenty years of tax, fuel, parts, mots, repairs. 


As you see, finding the right car is the important bit.  In a way, get something you love, sod it, and if it appreciates in value, happy days, if not, well, you enjoyed it. Nothing lost. 

[05omegav6]

At the weekend there was a one owner, full Ford history, 67k mile late model Scorpio estate on Autotrader, in Fareham iirc... the price? £795

If I had been a) in the market for a longterm keeper, and b) had any interest whatsoever in owning a bosseyed frog then I would have bought it in an instant.

Point is, it shows that there are all sorts of potential cars out there, you just need to be ready to pounce when you find them.

Incidentally,  Sierras are starting to rise now

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

When I say classic, Im not thinking Bugatti Royale. Something from the late 70,s early 80,s is more realistic. I could have bought a low mileage Mini (30th anniversary model iirc) for 2 grand a couple of months ago, but I wasn't thinking along these lines then - which is typical. 
Quite like the idea of an old Fiat 500 actually, for some reason. 
Then again, theres motorbikes. Ducati 916, early RI/ Fireblade. Or even a 70,s Kawasaki that needs a bit of TLC. 

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Schumacher drove a 500, nowt wrong with them as a classic. But as you say, something that's still a little 'off the radar' Thinking about it there's a few directions...

Badge
like Beemers, Audis, old faithful Jag. People are snobs, and will always pay more for the badge. Earl reg Boxster perhaps?

Retro Appeal
Something that people lusted at in their youth, whoch fast forward 20 eyars and they can finally afford one, so Elises, Scoobies, Evos, various Jap coupes perhaps will be the 'classics' of the future.

Predict a Trend
Don't forget the image of a company changes, look at what Skoda has become over the last few years, pretty decent motors, same with Seat - a dreary Spanish company making rebadged Fiats when I were a lad, now they're the youthful 'cool' brand of VAG. Saab, they're gone, so surely an element of rarity will produce higher values eventually?

Rebuild
Save some cash, buy an accident damaged something which you ordinarily couldn't afford.


Just a few thoughts, based on nothing but my own musings. 

[2boxerdogs]

Merc 190e would be a good choice prices are really on the way up find a good example with service history & low miles ,you can't go wrong.

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

I completely agree. The prices of the EVO models are already eye watering. Thing is, I already have a 190, and would probably prefer something a bit different.
There may well be other Mercs that might fit the bill though.

[YZ250]

Think all of my old cars went up ten fold a few years after I sold them on. My old Mini Cooper S, 1275GT, RS2000, Capri 3.0S all seem to be worth more now than when they were new. 

I just can't understand how I lose thousands on cars and then they become a collectors dream when I get rid of them.   

[Nick W]

Think all of my old cars went up ten fold a few years after I sold them on. My old Mini Cooper S, 1275GT, RS2000, Capri 3.0S all seem to be worth more now than when they were new. 

I just can't understand how I lose thousands on cars and then they become a collectors dream when I get rid of them.   

Me too. But I've missed out by months on some of mine!

[Tick Tock]

When I say classic, Im not thinking Bugatti Royale. Something from the late 70,s early 80,s is more realistic. I could have bought a low mileage Mini (30th anniversary model iirc) for 2 grand a couple of months ago, but I wasn't thinking along these lines then - which is typical. 
Quite like the idea of an old Fiat 500 actually, for some reason. 
Then again, theres motorbikes. Ducati 916, early RI/ Fireblade. Or even a 70,s Kawasaki that needs a bit of TLC. 

Slightly off topic here, but worth mentioning.......  any investment will require some sort of security. Only recently there was an article on the BBC news website about the 70s & 80s cars being stolen and broken down for parts / sold on by unscrupulous kerb life.

On another note, a friend bought a Ferrari 15 years ago for £16k, spent thousands every year on maintenance and hardly ever drove it, then sold it last year for slightly less, so worth bearing in mind your investment can go up or down..... nothing's certain in this world.

[BazaJT]

I'd hang on a little while longer as prices are dropping back a little at present,not the big "crash" of the late '80's/early '90's mind.In the "affordable" line anything wearing a blue oval badge generally goes up faster than one wearing the griffin for some reason,even though they're not necessarily better cars.XK8 prices can only really go upwards[as will other Jags]and many insurance companies will class any Jag over 5yrs old as a classic!As others have said buy something you like use it enjoy it and at the end of the day you may turn a profit,but if not you'll have enjoyed yourself along the way!

[omegod]

 80's/90's Fords: RS turbo fiesta/escort. XR2, XR3i  Capri 2.8i's  etc are starting to climb steadily after lagging behind the 70's RS2000's and the RS Cosworth's. Buy the best you can find wisely and you won't lose money   

[Nick W]

80's/90's Fords: RS turbo fiesta/escort. XR2, XR3i  Capri 2.8i's  etc are starting to climb steadily after lagging behind the 70's RS2000's and the RS Cosworth's. Buy the best you can find wisely and you won't lose money

All of those 'started' to climb 6 or 7 years ago after the price of RWD Escorts went skyhigh. Anything vaguely interesting from the early '80s or older is now appreciating rapidly. Everything else got melted down some years ago. Remember the last time you saw an early Sierra/mk2 Cavalier/Nova/mk3 Escort?

[zirk]

I sold my RWD RS Cosworth Sapphire a few years back, as it was just collecting dust and started to need some TLC, it was the very last of the RWD off the production line before that went 4x4, the last batch were all Ebony Black as was mine.

Looking back now even though I got reasonable price for it in 2014, today it probably worth another 5k on top by  todays prices.   

And yes, I do miss it,