{"id":26692,"date":"2023-09-25T08:00:41","date_gmt":"2023-09-25T07:00:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/?p=26692"},"modified":"2023-09-22T15:37:02","modified_gmt":"2023-09-22T14:37:02","slug":"cheap-thrills-why-everyone-should-own-an-inexpensive-classic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/cheap-thrills-why-everyone-should-own-an-inexpensive-classic\/","title":{"rendered":"Cheap Thrills \u2013 Why Everyone Should Own an Inexpensive Classic"},"content":{"rendered":"

Congratulations. You\u2019ve made it to one of the finest portals of classic cars for sale on the planet -and that\u2019s a very good start. If you\u2019re a grizzled veteran of the hobby, I\u2019m interrupting valuable window shopping time, and you should simply skip straight through to the good stuff and start planning your next purchase. Or sale, of course\u2026<\/p>\n

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But, if you\u2019re a newbie looking to dip your toe into the warm and welcoming waters that are old motor cars, then settle down with a brew for a minute. You just made a very sensible life choice.<\/p>\n

Magazines, TV shows, experts and auctioneers are forever steering us towards the poster children of our hobby, and rightly so, but the facts are these; old cars are more fun than new cars. They\u2019re also cooler, more stylish and open the door to a lifestyle and friendship group that can be anything you want it to be. And the best bit? It\u2019s a world that you can access for entirely sensible amounts of money. Dream of a Porsche 911? Many do. It\u2019s a worthy aspiration, and doubtless with a little hard work and luck, you\u2019ll get there one day, but while you browse our pages<\/a> filling in your lottery-win dream garage wish-list, consider sampling a gateway drug to get you hooked, first.<\/p>\n

\"automotive,<\/p>\n

You see, there are many, many fine classic and interesting cars out there and on here for less than the price of a decidedly average holiday. And while a Mondeo may lack the kerbside cachet of a Mondial, and an Espace may not snap necks like an Esprit, I guarantee that you\u2019ll have just as much fun owning, driving and fixing either model. And that you might see change from a couple of grand or so, should you chose to acquire one.<\/p>\n

\"automotive,<\/p>\n

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One of my favourite ways to shop for cars is to apply the maximum price filter. Try it on C&C<\/a>, set it to, say, \u00a32500, and see what a world of wonderment awaits you. A quick trawl today netted me Breadvan Polos, slightly careworn Alfa Romeos and even a sexy Saab. All for very low four figures. And this is a great place to start, my friends. This is the automotive equivalent of the Woolworth\u2019s \u2018Pocket Money Toys\u2019 section. (Ask your Dad)<\/p>\n

\"automotive,<\/p>\n

Inexpensive classics do more than just act as a stepping stone into our hobby though, laying the foundations for grander things. They\u2019re a truly wonderful niche within their own right. You can be pretty brave in a \u00a32k car \u2013 not only in terms of where you\u2019ll park it (anywhere) and how often you\u2019ll use it (daily) but also in the fact that you\u2019ll probably even be tempted to break out your Halfords socket set and do a little basic maintenance together. Nothing bonds you to your motor car like gapping and torqueing a fresh set of plugs. When your own knuckle skin is part of the inlet manifold, you\u2019re family.<\/p>\n

\"automotive,<\/p>\n

You won\u2019t even get looked down upon by your automotive peers, either. Such is the counter-culture appeal of less expensive classics, sell-out shows like Hagerty\u2019s Festival of the Unexceptional<\/a> have been created in order to cater for them. Here, in a Stranger Things-esque Upside Down universe, Maestro Clubman owners are worshipped like gods while Citroen BX Leaders get paparazzi\u2019d like Kardashians. I once saw a Sierra Cosworth owner asked to park by the bins so that a Mazda 626 could pass through to the VIP area. Not even kidding\u2026<\/p>\n