‘Choosing one ultimately comes down to what kind of classic owner you are – hands-on or hands-off’
Our painless classic recommendations fall into three broad categories. The MG, Morris and Ford aren’t necessarily built like battleships, but they’re very simple things with global parts-supply networks backing them up, and any garage can fix them. Perfect DIY classics where no job is too tricky.
The Lexus, Toyota, Porsche, Mercedes, BMW and Honda were all built with reliability and longevity in mind, and this approach will keep paying off so long as they’re looked after. The Jaguar, Alfa and Lotus represent manufacturers taking fresh approaches and counteracting their own design flaws. As such, they have a foot in both DIY and reliability camps. Ultimately it comes down to what kind of classic owner you are, hands-on or hands-off. Either way, there will be a car here that won’t let you down, leaving you free to enjoy it.
EDITOR’S CHOICE Phil Bell says, ‘I first drove a Honda S2000 back in 2004 when it was still a new car, and I went from admiring what it stood for to loving it within a few full-rpm acceleration runs and a handful of corners. At a time when sports cars were becoming more and more shouty, the S2000 was conceived with typical Honda restraint and singularity of focus on the driving experience. I praised it for its chiselled good looks, sharp, pure steering and handling. And that soaring engine. trickle along at normal-car rpm and it felt brisk but easygoing, spin the 16-valve twin cam beyond 6300rpm and Honda’s Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control helped you on your way to 240bhp at 8300rpm. Add to that a no-fuss driver interface and unbreakable build and you have an irresistible proposition for hassle-free joy.’
PRODUCTION EDITOR’S CHOICE Joe Breeze says, ‘While every car here appeals to me on numerous levels, the ’Stang clinches it by being the most aspirational – pretty impressive when you consider that it’s a relatively mass-market Ford doing battle with heavy-hitters from Porsche, BMW, Mercedes, Alfa, Lotus and Jaguar.
‘I could make a strong theoretical case for the Elise – as I’m sure Sam will – but being neither a contortionist nor a Borrower, I’ll happily lounge in the plump driver’s squab of my fantasy ’65 GT coupé, the V8 burbling away with the promise of eternal prosperity. Or as close to it as you’re likely to get from a golden-era classic. I’d have to divert some of the savings I’d made on cheap parts towards a disc-brake upgrade, but otherwise I’d happily live with one as-is. The Mustang proves icons needn’t behave like divas.’
NEWS EDITOR’S CHOICE Sam Dawson says, ‘It has to be the Elise. Be honest with yourself – when you were young, you promised yourself a Ferrari or a Lamborghini, or even a Lotus Esprit, but the realities of ownership are five-figure bills for routine jobs, questionable reliability and an inevitable need for restoration affordable only to millionaires.
‘The Elise, once it got its act together with a Toyota engine, offered 0-60mph in five seconds. That’s Countach territory. Its bare-aluminium cockpit and razor-sharp mid-engined handling is directly comparable to an F40’s. It does 130mph too, which is faster than most supercars get to on track days, if their owners are being honest. And yet it doesn’t rust, costs no more to run than an MR2, and specialists are countering its one major issue of chassis damage repair. It really is the car you promised yourself.’