Ash wants a car now!

[jlw]

With the motorbike thing having died a gruesome death, thanks to being shouted into the ground about safety and all that, my eyes were turned to classic cars.

Blame a former colleague, who let me sit in the passenger seat of his excellent condition Triumph TR7.

I'm now determined to either own a Triumph, or a similarly awesome classic car. Especially thanks to the Classic Car Insurance costs being so low, and minimal tax (or even exemption).

Anyone drive a classic car? I'm thinking if it has trunk space for camera gear, its good enough for me

Oh also I don't expect to have a car as old as the Leica Standard! 1970's will do

I run two cars from the 1970s, although a lot of purists would turn up their noses at describing them as "classics." One is a 1974 Saab Sonett III (click here for picture) and the other is a 1971 Saab 95 station wagon (not-very-good picture attached.)

They are not "restored" cars or "show" cars -- they're in pretty good shape (the Sonett is a bit rough in terms of looks, but I've gotten it very well-sorted mechanically; the 95 was very clean when I got it, and I've mostly been chasing minor details on it.) They don't need a lot of care, and I have no qualms about driving them whenever I want (although I have a Honda Fit that I use for everyday driving.) In fact, when I was between "modern" cars before I got the Fit, the 95 was my daily driver for about three months, and it did fine. I don't drive them on long trips because they're rather noisy at highway speeds, but otherwise they're perfectly usable everyday cars.

[By the way, don't think I'm vastly rich just because I own two "special-interest" cars. The combined price I paid for both of them wouldn't have bought one Leica MP and a 50mm lens, and I don't spend any more on their annual upkeep than I used to spend on film, paper, and darkroom chemicals before I went down the path of digital perdition. As you note, classic cars can have tax advantages, and they can be quite inexpensive to keep running as long as you buy something sensible and non-exotic.]

Anyway, I'm not trying to tout you onto Saabs specifically, as they're not for everyone. However, I agree that using the 1970s as your cutoff point is an excellent idea. Car design and materials made a lot of progress during the 1960s. Cars of the '50s, '60s and earlier are very "classic" and lots of fun, but they do need much more regular attention and upkeep, which of course would cut into your photography time!

A car from the 1970s is very much like a modern car in terms of maintenance requirements (although of course it needs a bit more looking after simply because it's older.) You still need to change fluids at regular intervals and mend things that break, but you don't have to worry about greasing gudgeon pins every 2,500 miles and other obscure tasks of bygone days. Likewise, the basic systems on a 1970s car are similar enough to those of a modern car that everyday mechanics can tackle most of them, while older cars often require the services of a "marque specialist" to perform the specialized maintenance they require.

Meanwhile, if you want to take advantage of the UK tax exemption, you're limited in how NEW a classic car you can have -- I believe it has to be at least 25 years old, doesn't it, or is it 30? Anyway, that would give you a wide range of 1970s cars that should be reasonably dependable, plentiful enough to be easy to find, and still exempt from tax.

As to what to buy, if I were in the UK and in your position I'd start poring regularly over the pages of Classic and Sports Car, Thoroughbred and Classic Cars, and Practical Classics, taking particular note of the regular "Buyer's Guide" features. These will give you an idea of what a good, original car should look like, what problems the various models are likely to encounter, and how involved it's going to be to keep one going.

If you like the Triumph TR-7, there's certainly no reason not to go after one. I'd say they're much more practical than the earlier Triumphs -- there's more space, the top seals up better, and they're easier and more comfortable to drive. The fact that old-line Triumph purists turn up their nose at this model is actually an advantage for you -- it means it'll be a lot more affordable to buy than, say, a TR-6 or earlier model.

Certainly this model earned its share of brickbats in its day for a variety of problems, notably rust (the bane of all "classic" cars) but the good news is that most of the ones that have survived until now probably have had most of their problems sorted out over their lifetimes. That's one of the things that happens with older cars: Gradually, people figure out how to deal with their original flaws and solve their design problems. (For example, the transmission used to be a notorious trouble spot on old Saabs, but thanks to years of experience and modern lubricants we now know how to solve that problem.)

If you can't find a good TR-7, think about what things you like about it and look for another car that has similar qualities -- maybe a later-model MGB or a Fiat 124 Spyder. Whatever you choose, look for mass-produced cars that sold at sensible prices when they were new; don't buy something that originally was very expensive, such as a Porsche or an Italian exotic, even if the purchase price is now in the beer-money range. Old expensive cars may be cheap to buy, but they're still just as expensive to maintain as when they were new.

The advice you'll read over and over, and it's very good advice, is: "Buy the best example you can afford." If you can't afford a good example of the car you want, decide on another car of which you CAN afford a good example, rather than getting a dodgy example of the car you like. Unless you want to turn into a car hobbyist -- someone who enjoys spending a lot of time tinkering with his car -- you'll be better off getting something on which someone else has already done all the needed tinkering and mending.

Good '70s cars have many of the same pleasures we enjoy in our "classic" photo machinery. Good luck, and have fun!

 

[Silva Lining]

jlw,

wow that Saab Sonett brings back memories - I love old Saabs, great cars

 

[ffttklackdedeng]

Ash, my feeling is that you will not end up with just one car.. stop now!

 

[gb hill]

I remember when I was a kid in early 70s this guy drove a TR6, and man that car was nice,Then after the 7s came out thats what we all in the neighborhood wanted. By the way thanks for the nastalgic memories! Ga i'm getting old Anyway If you don't know how to drive yet get a car that is cheap & has a strong clutch in it because if your like me you'll scrape a few gears & get that clutch wheel a little hot especially sitting at stoplight on those hills. I learned in a 1955 ford customline I boughtr in 1980. Sure was fun! But get the Triumph [rare breed here in states].Big seller here is those Cooper minis $25.000 or more for one though.Also working on it is just part of the fun So I say go for it! Just pick out somrthing else with a strong clutch to learn in.

 

[Ash]

LOL ManGo.

GB HILL, I'll be learning in a modern manual-geared car, as all the instructors have their own these days

 

[gb hill]

!!! All drivers ed. cars over here are automatics. Probably to prevent whiplash.

 

[Ash]

hehe... well I think I can learn in an automatic, but it's recommended to learn in manual or else you have to take your test twice - once for automatic, and again for manual... may as well go manual and skip the auto test

 

[gb hill]

If you can learn in a manual, then so much the better for you. They don't recommend at all [at least in North Car.] to even take the driving test in a manuel shift car. Amazing the difference it is between here and there!

 

[Fred]

Ash, sorry I've not read the complte thread but there are IMHO a few things that you need to consider for getting a classic anything.

1) You really should get to know basic servicing and a fair bit more.

2) You should evaluate the avaibility and cost of normal service items (oil and air filters etc)

3) Driving them with tons of respect.

4) Get one, look after it, drive it and enjoy it. It will reward those who have the time and finance to keep em running,

5) Consider a classic Mini, cheap, lots of spares and you can work on em yourself (I did).

Good luck!

 

[RichC]

I may love my british motorcycle. BUT damn, the thing has caugh fire(while I was on it)

Hey, happened to me too (BSA A65 Lightning) - someone shouted "Oi mate, your bike's on fire!", but I didn't believe them until my legs started to get hot! (Worst bike I've ever owned - to add insult to injury, the main bearings collapsed whilst en route to the bike shop to sell it!)

 

[colyn]

I once had a 64 Spitfire.
Felt like I was dragging my butt on the pavement whenever I drove it..but it sure could hug the corners..

 

[Keith]

Hey Ash,

My automotive apprenticeship back in NZ was done on Triumphs Vanguards Jaguars and Rovers. I have incredibly fond memories of these cars but don't think much of the TR7 to be honest. Nicest of the TRs is the TR4A IRS in my opinion ... it had the bullet proof Vanguard engine which was also used in the Massey Fergusson tractor! Big dollars for one of these though!

The Spitfires are a nice little car (basically a Triumph Herald) and are very easy to work on ... and from the MKII onwards had the Herald 13/60 engine which was a great engine and gave the car much better performance than the earlier 1200.

I'd be going for the Spitfire if you're going to buy anything from the British Leyland livery!

 

[BrianShaw]

I once had a 64 Spitfire.
Felt like I was dragging my butt on the pavement whenever I drove it..but it sure could hug the corners..

You were, Colyn... but it was a fun car, wasn't it!

 

[rgripp]

Ash,
Don't mess about - go all the way and buy a series I - III XJ6 Jaguar. Fantastic motor for peanuts; no problems with fuel consumption as you will be spending all your time fixing it rather than driving.
Guarantied to upset parents (you're not being sensible), girlfriend (not spending all your money on her), male friends (they will all be jealous), ecologists (global warming/cooling has all happened before,) BBC announcers, Guardian readers and all other minority groups.
Word of warning - steer clear of very cheap V12 XJ-S; you need to be a fully qualified gynecologist to change the plugs.
Estimated cost - two rough Leica IIs.
Regards,
Robin. (Aristocat driver www.aristocat-xk.co.uk/Index.htm)

 

[lushd]

I think this is the vehicle you seek ....

 

[colyn]

You were, Colyn... but it was a fun car, wasn't it!

I loved it and wish I still had it. I could do curves at speeds I would never try in my present car.
It was a fun car to drive..

 

[John Robertson]

TR 6 perhaps!1 TR 7, yeugh, the Tupperware car!! Have you seen it with the headlights raised?? Healy 3000??
I delivered cars for a specialist car company in Abrdeen for a couple of years after I took early retirement. and have driven a lot of the "dream" cars. Most of them were more like nightmares!! Parked a Ferrari Testarossa in a parking bay, trying to look "cool" , then found because the doors were so long and thick, I couldn't get out of the damned thing!!
Nicest and most fun, yet still practical?? VW Corrado V6 Storm.
Today?? Practicality, Arthritis, and Pension dictate a new Fiat Panda 4x4. Oh well at least I've experienced driving, when petrol was cheap and roads were reasonably empty. Sadly I had to give up my beloved BMW R100 GS motorcycle three years ago, because of its weight and damage to my back, I drove it from Scotland to Innsbruck in 1996, and used to go to the I.O.M TT with it.
Very happy memories.:angel:

 

[Toby]

I've never owned a modern car and I'm currently running a tuned MGB roadster and a morris minor. Don't touch a TR7 with a barge pole - a good first car would be an MGB GT ( or MG Midget) they are very good value at the moment, look nice and have massive spares availability - much better than anything else. The mechanics are simple and tough so the only thing to really worry about is rust especially in the floors and sills. I'm currently selling my B, but I'm afraid it's too fast for you and you'd kill yourself in a month.

Check out the MG owners club website for more information

 

[Ash]

Don't worry Toby... I'd leave it in first gear, honest!!

 

[Charlie]

Here you go Ash. 2001 Toyota MR2 Spyder. Not as attractive as the British cars but being a Toyota, it will outlast an M7.