Buying a classic car makes you look classy, elegant and tasteful. But it is not always a good idea. Some are very expensive to buy and run, other less to buy but expensive to maintain. However finding a good example in good condition, without breaking the bank is possible. I would recommend some cars with timeless design, enough fast and reliable that you can drive every day or in weekend. Talking about fast and luxury grand tourers the first that comes in mind is the Mercedes Benz SL. And more precisely the R107 and C107 model. Built from 1971 to 1989 it gain a big succes in Europe and North America. It was proclaimed as one of the best cars in the world thanks to its polish and luxury cabin, ride quality, powerful engines, and good reliability. A good example from the early '70 will set you 10.000€ (about 8000 pounds).
The 350 SL has a 3.5 litre V8 mated to a 4 speed manual or a 3 speed automatic and produce 200 hp and 286 NM which is enough for a relaxed cruising. One of my favorite Jaguar of all time is the XJS. Production started from 1975 and ended in 1996, making the XJS one of the most longest car in production, 21 years. Initially with a 5.3 V12 with 295 hp and after 1983 a new 3.6 straight six joined the range making it a more sensible choice. A good one with less than 150.000 km will cost you 8.000 € (6400 pounds). It was very well equipped. Automatic transmission was standard as so electric windows, leather seats, air condition, etc. It is still a very fine and smooth cruiser with decent performance but don't expect it to be a Lotus. The BMW 6 Series is one of the best looking cars BMW i think. Launched back in 1976 it remained in production till 1989. Initially it was offered with a 3.0 and 3.3 straight six and a four speed manual or a three speed automatic.
1978 the 3 liter was replaced by a 2.8 with the same power and in 1979 a new 3.5 six cylinder was added, producing 218 hp and 301 NM of torque. Alfa Romeo Spider was one of the most representative cars of the glorious days of Alfa. It had four generation starting from 1966 to 1993. The styling and some mechanic parts changed slightly during the years, but the idea of a sporty, elegant opened top remained. The Spider was offered with a range of 1.3, 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0 four cylinders. All the models came standard with a 5 speed manual gearbox, with the automatic 3 speed offered only after 1990 with the fourth generation. I would recommend a 3rd generation model with a 2 liter engine. Finding a good one is a little bit difficult because Italian cars of those years don't have a good reputation for reliability, but there are some who had taken care of their cars, so it is not impossible.
It will set you back at least 8000€ (6400 pounds), but you will have a very beautiful car design by Pinifarina. In the mid '70s, Porsche was trying to offer a more comfortable and practical version of the 911. As a result they came up with the 928. The first Porsche ever with a front mounted V8. Initially the 4.5 litre engine produced 240 hp but later in 1980 a new 4.7 S version was offered with 300 hp. Finding one in good condition will cost you at least 13.000€ (10.500 pounds). Don't be temped by cheaper cars because they have rust and mechanical problems wich will cost you a lot to repair so spending a bit more initially may be a smart choice. If you are an automotive fan you have probably heard of the legendary Ford Escort RS Cosworth. During its four year life (1992-1996) only 7145 were produced, but finding one in good condition is not very difficult if you are prepared to spend around 15.000€ (12.000 pounds). The first thing that came in mind is the large tail.
The Escort RS Cosworth was the first mass production car to offer downforce at front and rear. It came with a standart five speed manual gearbox, four wheel drive split 34 front and 66 rear and recaro seats. The engine was a 2 litre turbocharged with 220 hp and 310 NM of torque. It sprint from 0 to 100 in 5.7 seconds wich is still very fast by today standarts. The engine was very strong and if you want more power, it is not a problem because it can handle a massive 1000 hp. Cars after 1994 are fitted with a smaller Garret T25 turbocharger to reduce turbolag and increase usability on the road. These are only some of the cars that are worth looking for. If you take good care of them, their price may increase years later, so they are a good investment. Be careful because old cars' worst enemy is rust and without proper cleaning they won't last long. Electric and mechanical problems can cost a lot to repair because parts may be difficult to find. However owning an old classic car is worth the money. 0 of 8192 characters usedPost CommentNo HTML is allowed in comments, but URLs will be hyperlinked. Comments are not for promoting your articles or other sites.
No comments:
Post a Comment