KurtVerbose wrote:

'ere ya go.

Friend of mine turned up in a blue one of these today :thumbsup:

Admin note: this post has had its images recovered from a money grabbing photo hosting site and reinstated

^ Could never for the life of me figure out why they replaced that with the TR7  2008 MY Supercharged
Rimini Red / Jet
four zone climate
remote park heater
and no ugly kid windows.
magnus satis quod turpis satis

Yep, looking at the MR2 though I think the TR7 was just 10 years too early perhaps? Setting aside the dreadful Rover build quality of course.

But the original question and the most pertinent one following it, what's good to collect? Well, most of the above. And what's going to remain cheap, ah now that's a lot harder.

Personally I never could find any love for the MGB, not even the V8. I've driven them and mostly they handle like a train, break your back and make you deaf. Yet they seem ever popular and stupidly priced so a consistently good investment performer.

Lotus Elan Sprint. Yep, another car that's fantastic on the one day a year it happens to be on song and not overheating. Serious money now too.

The E Type in short wheelbase form, probably the most practical being the series 1.25 or 1.5. i.e. the 4.2 engine with the later brakes, dished floors but before it got too big and cumbersome. Which are the most expensive ones? Yep, the early 3.8 flat floor ones with crap brakes and if you have feet any bigger than a pixie you can forget driving it.

Triumph Stag. Oh dear God, where to start. IF (and that's a big 'if') you can find one without tin worm you're then into the trade off between original 3.0 V8, weaker than swiss cheese or a modified car with the Rover 3.5 V8. Original and a better financial investment or a modified car you can actually drive? Oh to have such choices today.

My conclusion? Investments are not for driving. You want an investment then treat it like any other. If on the other hand you want a car to enjoy, set the financial aspect aside.

I keep think about a classic but am always put off by selling prices of £12k but bills to the tune of £20k in the ads, assuming you bought it cheap and put all the money in an ISA then that tax free investment would be worth around £30k not £12k. So it is important to get one that's perfect in every way to start with so you'd pay top dollar anyway but still the only way to access even a little bit of your money is to sell what may have become their pride and joy.

Its morning, maybe I should go back to bed and try getting out the other side  Geoff

No, you're right on the money Geoff. Cars are a commodity where values go down when other markets are doing well. The crazy high prices we have sen in the past have been when Sterling and the US$ were doing badly or unpredictably. Gold is another good example with prices dropping a lot recently.

Once the speculators are out values settle more at regular enthusiast levels. And you're spot on with the bit about having to liquidate the whole asset to realise even 5% of the value. It's like I said, cars are for driving; find other places to invest money for returns.

Gold  Geoff

My neighbour buys classic fords , and recently BMWs, latest is e30 M3 1989 with 27k original miles
Has about 10 cars. They are all going up. Only mistake was selling a 355 just before prices took off.

He has bought a few from this garage, they often have some lovely cars .
Not promoting them, just for info on prices and ideas of future classics

http://www.kgfclassiccars.co.uk/showroom.php Alcohol and eBay is never a good mix

2006 4.2 Supercharged, Java Black

One of my mates has built up the following:

Lotus Cortina MK1
Capri 3000 GT Mk1
Triumph Stag (Original Engine)
Cortina Mk1 GT
Austin Healey 3000

They are all original, dry garaged and practically concourse and he considers them as his pension....

The mk1 lotus is prob £40k +

And more fun than £ in the bank  Alcohol and eBay is never a good mix

2006 4.2 Supercharged, Java Black

Interesting thread, this one ! - although I'm a little sceptical about the projected values . . .
The A2 is a bit of a curve ball. A friend owns one and I've had the guided tour - a genius piece of design, with Audi apparently losing money on every one - all aluminium I believe ? Could become a classic ?
I've done the Caterham thing. Bought it two years ago in mint condition just prior to the worst summer for decades. It became soul destroying hearing debris damaging it every time I went out so I sold it after a year. I got back what I paid, but spent alot of money on a cambelt etc service whilst I had it.
I reckon anything with a motorsport link - you only have to look at early Escorts !
I was very tempted not long ago by a Broadspeed Mk1 Capri 3ltr (ie Touring Car) - probably a climber ?
Still kicking myself for selling my Suffix A RR Classic three years ago - for a grand ! (Anybody know how much RR 001 made the other day ?).
The one thing you can't escape are maintenance costs as it will be worth alot less if you don't look after it . . .
Still fancy an XJ6 . . . as per the "Buy an old Jag thread" !

Jenson Interceptor anyone ?

 Where do you go after one of these . . . ?

£120 or £125K £20K or so under its predicted sale price

^ Mmmm - I read an article about the car a while back with the owner saying he'd turned down an offer of £250k.

He'll be kicking himself then !

 Where do you go after one of these . . . ?

What about a focus mk1 rs in good condition or a tvr chimaera

I have this old girl that comes out on sunny days

Loving the 124 and an E36 is as rare as perfectly cooked roast beef ! 2011 Stornaway Grey 5.0SC Autobiography