PAINLESS CLASSICS
‘Not every classic has to be a moneypit – here are 12 you can buy without risking it all’
There’s no avoiding the fact that some classic cars can spring nasty surprises on their owners. Design flaws, sometimes irrelevant when new, can conspire to make ownership a never-ending reliability headache decades down the line. Patchy spares availability can put a classic off the road for years, consigning it to neglect and decay for want of some elusive part. Complex mechanical assemblies, their maintenance beyond the realm of home mechanics, spell wallet-wilting bills at specialists that many owners will ignore. The result can end up sitting dead in the driveway, an expensive monument to a reckless moment of financial oversight.
Well, this feature is all about what some might consider impossible. Painless classics. Cars which – be it as a result of design when new, largescale support as classics, or thorough reworking in midlife by wealthy manufacturers – have wound up in 2021 as remarkably easy to run. They’ll never find themselves off the road for want of some little unobtainable part, or succumbing to a nagging recurring fault that renders it undrivable. Their parts supply is excellent, their maintenance straightforward, their design either deliberately simple, or with reliability in mind from new. As well as being great enjoyable classics, these 12 cars can all be run as rolling restorations – snare yourself a bargain by getting something imperfect, then tackle simple jobs either yourself or via your local garage while still keeping it exercised.
They’re not unexciting either. Feast your eyes on our selection – it includes refined luxury saloons, mile-eating GTS, style icons, prestigious marques and even things that drive like supercars.
Obviously all cars suffer if neglected – painlessness never applies to a project so our advice doesn’t apply to a rusty disassembled heap under a tarpaulin.
But if you’re after your first classic, or want to add to a collection without risking your solvency, sanity and selfrespect, then read on...