What vintage car would you buy ?

[Night Train]

I used to like the Rover P5b the best. However, I am now not so sure I don't like the Humber Super Snipe more, only there are quite a few variants of the Super Snipe and I don't know which one I like best.

My Dad had the P5B Coupe, a really lovely car and such a luxury for me as a kid in the back, burr walnut, leather, thick carpets, and a smooth silent ride.
I'd quite like to have one. I always remember the little red bits of glass that poked out of the top of the front side lights and lit up when the side lights were on.

 

[Black Sheep]

I would save my money. Modern cars are safer, roomier, more economical, with better performance and hugely more reliable.

Only a half-wit would yearn for a 1950s top loading washing machine and mangle, so why do people go misty-eyed over sixty year old cars?

I've had more issues with cars less than 10 years old than I have with ones 30 years old

 

[Brandane]

I loved the MK1 Golf 1.6D that I had, it was over 20 years old but 60+mpg was easily possible on a long run, it comfortable enough, fast enough and handled on rails and never once let me down as I added a further 100,000 miles to the 200,000 odd miles that were already on it and I regret selling it. I would choose a MK1 or MK2 Golf in preference to anything on the new car market today.

Since we're now on the subject of Golfs; being realistic I reckon this will be as close as I ever got to owning a future classic (sadly I don't have any good photos of it, this is a scan of a print, taken at John o' Groats in the mid 90s):

1991 Golf GTi 8 valve. Bought with 32k miles on the clock in 1994, kept it for 6 years and sold it with 154k miles on it. Not a bit of trouble in that time, just routine maintenance. Went like stink, handled brilliantly, and still gave 38mpg.. Easy to work on, the only time it ever went into a garage was for a new clutch at 140k miles. Even timing belts were a DIY job; try that on a modern Golf! I really wish I had kept it, as nothing has come close since, and I reckon it could have still been on the road if I was looking after it. Last I checked it was still alive but on a SORN.. If anyone sees H317DGG, tell her I miss her .

 

[Proto]

Golfs. So far I've had 3 Mk1s (2 x GTi and a GL), 1 x Mk2, 1 x Mk3, 1 x Mk4 and in the process of haggling over a Mk5, the first diesel.

Loved the GTis, bought my first one brand new in 1981, an 1800cc model in Mars Red, with tinted glass and a sunroof. Fantastic car even if the brakes were decidedly underwhelming. Sold it when I was given a company car by my new employer. The second GTi came along in about 1994, when my mum got fed up with hers. Also in Mars red but this one a 1600cc model. Arguably more of a drivers car, it needed thrashing to get the best out of it. Sadly sold that one when my teenage children needed something to learn on and insurance companies were not being terribly helpful.

 

[biggs682]

2 more just came to mind

Ford Capri rs3100
TVR Taimer

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

An older diesel Merc or Audi 80 TD would be even better and even more indestructible.

Don't judge all old cars by the standards of the dark days of BL.

There's a W123 series estate not too far from me,it looks good with its colour co-cordinated hubcaps, & lovely thin chromed roof-rails
Barring a 'Gullwing', or a 'Pagoda' roof SL, it's the only Merc I'd contemplate

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mercedes_W123_5_v_sst.jpg


Although.....a Volvo 'Amazon' estate would be preferable

 

[colly]

For comedy value alone.


Edit: I actually did have one as a company car. It wasn't funny then.

 

[Piemaster]

There's a W123 series estate not too far from me,it looks good with its colour co-cordinated hubcaps, & lovely thin chromed roof-rails
Barring a 'Gullwing', or a 'Pagoda' roof SL, it's the only Merc I'd contemplate

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mercedes_W123_5_v_sst.jpg


Although.....a Volvo 'Amazon' estate would be preferable

My dad has a W123 saloon 300..something. Coming up to 30 years old and still outshines any of the variety of modern hire cars I've had over the last year, and that included an upgrade (as it was all they had left) to a BMW M325 diesel. I can safely say it's the most relaxing car I've ever driven, both gobbling up motorway miles and yet discouraging being thrown down country lanes. Late for an appointment? Stuck in traffic? It somehow becomes unimportant.
He has mentioned trading it, and his runaround Astra in for a Chrysler 300C. I've told him he's mad, why get an imitation when you already have the real thing. Every now and then he mentions selling it as it's hardly used, but truth is, he can't bear to part with it.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

First car I ever owned was an orangey Triumph Herald, it was nice but the underside was constructed entirely of rust.

 

[asterix]

Heralds had some sort of chassis that did that. Most cars were monocoque by then. They all used to rust though. My brother had a Morris Minor,both headlamps fell simultaneously when he braked hard one day. Luckily it was daylight.

 

[BigonaBianchi]

e type jag convertible racing green

 

[Cletus Van Damme]

 

[Salad Dodger]

I would love to get another old Land Rover (short wheelbase series 3).

The rainwater poured in, the oil dripped out all over the ground, the petrol disappeared at the rate of about 16 miles to the gallon, the steering was more akin to a boat than a car (turn the wheel a couple of minutes before you want the thing to start actually changing course), but I still loved it to bits. Which was how it spent a lot of its time. In bits.

My daughter had a "proper" mini (30th anniversary special edition model) which was a nightmare to work on, but which was a hoot to drive. But I think my elderly knees would no longer allow me to get down low enough to squeeze into such a tiny car now!

 

[swee'pea99]

I would save my money. Modern cars are safer, roomier, more economical, with better performance and hugely more reliable.

Only a half-wit would yearn for a 1950s top loading washing machine and mangle, so why do people go misty-eyed over sixty year old cars?

Only someone with no brain would prefer an e-type to a Yaris. Only someone with no soul would prefer a Yaris to an e-type.

 

[swee'pea99]

First car I ever owned was an orangey Triumph Herald, it was nice but the underside was constructed entirely of rust.

You could see the ground whizzing by if you looked past the pedals. And the doors were different colours - neither the same colour as the car. Loved it!