THESE are the six best classic cars you can pick up on a budget starting at £3,000 – including an open-top roadster and an iconic hatchback.
Research shows money can’t really buy happiness but rather experiences are what tickle our fancy.
And with that in mind, the Daily Telegraph has come up with a list of vintage motors that leave a lasting impression.
MGB – £3,000 to £6,000
The MGB has readily available parts and is easy to fix, despite its age[/caption]
The simple to run MGB, produced between 1962 and 1980, could be yours for as little as £3,000.
Simple to run and repair, the open-top roadster will tickle your eardrums with its classic engine roar, although it is incredibly susceptible to rust.
Parts are also readily available for the iconic motor, and while its later rubber-bumper models are cheaper, they are not as appealing as the earlier chrome-bumpered ones.
Good maintenance will ensure the motor remains tough and while the cheapest models will only set you back around £3,000, you might have to spend up to £4,000 to get one usable for daily drives.
If you’re keen for a good condition Roadster or GT, you’ll have to spend closer to £6,000.
Fiat 500 and Citroen 2CV – £5,000 to £7,000
The Fiat 500 was first produced in 1957[/caption]
The similarly powered Citroen 2CV first came to life in 1948[/caption]
The original city car, the Fiat 500 is an iconic classic that will draw looks wherever you go.
However, the tiny motor may not be ideal if you’re on the upper-end of heights, although some owners have called it “surprisingly roomy inside”.
You can get your hands on one for around £7,000, powered by a tiny twin-cylinder engine.
Similarly, you could grab a Citroen 2CV for less than £6,000, a classic French motor designed for the needs of farmers.
Also powered by a distinctive sounding twin-cylinder engine, the motor stands tall as one of Citroen’s most iconic vehicles.
Both motors are likely to suffer from rust but beyond that, they are considered solid classics for the modern age.
Peugeot 205 GTi 1.9 – £7,000 to £12,000
The Peugeot 205 GTi is famed for its handling[/caption]
As we enter five-figure prices, the quality of cars does begin to rise with it.
The nimble Peugeot 205 GTi was a complete game-changer when it hit the roads in 1984, capable of taking corners more smoothly than the other hot hatchbacks of the era.
Rivalling the Volkswagen Golf GTI and Ford Escort XR3i, this classic French motor is “fun, nippy, and easy to maintain”.
On top of that, its maintenance costs aren’t expected to be too high, and you can get your hands on a decent one for less than £10,000.
However, some electrical problems are to be expected, but none out of the ordinary for cars of the same era.
Jaguar XJS – £9,000 to £25,000
You can grab a decent Jaguar XJS for around £9,000[/caption]
Jaguar is one of the best names in British motoring and its XJS deserves all the same love.
Produced between 1975 and 1996, the motor went through three distinct iterations, helping more than 115,000 units be sold.
While it may have been somewhat unloved in the past, its V12 and straight-six engines are incredibly resilient and let you drive in peace and quiet.
You can bag a decent one for £9,000, with collector’s versions coming in at £20,000 and up.
However, it should be noted that the XJS does struggle with fuel consumption and typical rust build-up behind its bumpers.
Porsche 911 (997 series) – £20,000 to £80,000
The Porsche 911 (997 series) was produced between 2004 and 2013[/caption]
Topping off the list is the Porsche 911 (997 series) – a model that lies in one of the most iconic lines of car ever made.
These high-performance and valuable machines are often stored away but can make for easy driving on long road trips.
The 997 model, produced between 2004 and 2013, is a far cry from the original 911, first made in 1964, but still has the same core reliability and character of the original model.
You can get a fairly reliable one for just £20,000 but it’s recommended to get a mechanical inspection before you sink your cash in.
Top six classic cars you can grab on a budget
- MGB – typically sells for between £3,000 and £6,000
- Fiat 500 – typically sells for between £5,000 and £7,000
- Citroen 2CV – typically sells for between £5,000 and £7,000
- Peugeot 205 GTi 1.9 – typically sells for between £7,000 and £12,000
- Jaguar XJS – typically sells for between £9,000 and £25,000
- Porsche 911 (997 series) – typically sells for between £20,000 and £80,000
