Vintage rides you can afford
CLASSICS: Get a gated shifter, tilt-away front clip, wire wheels and a V12 — for cheap
Some features have become hallmarks of truly great classic cars. Over-restored bluechip cars that frequent the glossy pages of coffee table books often include proud V12 engines, rows of Weber carburetors, gated shifters or an engine mounted behind the driver.
But what if you want some of that rolling glory for just a slice of the cost normally associated with going to Gooding & Co. and shelling out $2 million for a set of wheels?
If you want Grey Poupon features for the price of French’s, here’s how to do it.
Cheapest classic with a V12: Jaguar XJ12 – $7,000
What does a Lamborghini Miura, Ferrari 250 GTO and a McLaren F1 have in common with a Jaguar XJ12 sedan? Twelve cylinders going up and down in a “V” configuration solely to please your right foot.
The XJ12 is by far the cheapest V12 classic you can buy. The mechanically similar XJ-S gets an honourable mention, but the XJ12 was an earlier design and arguably better proportioned.
Regardless, keeping one of these XJ12s running is a horrible, souland wallet-consuming task, as the prevalence of non-running examples would suggest. These cars are so complex that some models had a cooling fan for the battery.
You can buy an XJ12 any day of the week for around $1,000, but it’s well worth your time (and money) to find a nicer one for $7,000 that’s been sorted.
Cheapest mid-engined classic with Bertone styling: Fiat X1/9 – $4,000
Two of the greatest Italian design houses are Bertone and Pininfarina.
Bertone’s most famous midengined creation was the timeless Lambo Miura. But if you want a slightly more affordable midengined car with the famous “B” on the side, you could pick up a Fiat X1/9. These targa-topped sports cars offer world-class handling and, if you squint, they look like little 3/4-scale Panteras.
As with most Italian cars of the time, the X1/9 dissolves like Alka-Seltzer in water, so check carefully before buying.
Cheapest classic with a tilt away front clip: Triumph Spitfire – $3,000
If you’ve ever been to a British car show, you’ve no doubt had a look under the lifted bonnet of an E-Type Jaguar; the entire front clip of the car lifts up on a forward hinge, complete with fenders.
Luckily for those of us who can’t afford an E-Type, this element of high-end sports cars can be found in a much less expensive package.
In addition to having one of the coolest names ever, the Triumph Spitfire has a hood that lifts up as one complete assembly to reveal a spluttering pushrod four-cylinder making dozens of horsepower. Remember, Spitfires don’t have tractor engines; certain tractors just have Spitfire engines.
That said, the humble Spit makes a great starter classic, and maintenance is easily performed by the backyard mechanic.
Cheapest classic with factory wire wheels: MG Midget – $4,000
Wire wheels have an old-world charm that no conventional wheel can match. Sure, you can fit wire wheels on pretty much any car, but there are only so many cars that look “right” with them.
If you want a car that looks as good with wire wheels as an Austin-Healey 100 or an early Ferrari, for less than it costs to buy a new Micra, consider the MG Midget. The MG Midget was (believe it or not) considered the upscale sibling to the incredibly spartan Austin-Healey Sprite. Early MG Midgets came with knock-off wire wheels that necessitated use of a hammer for removal.
Along with the Triumph Spitfire, the Midget is one of the best ways to enter the classic sports car world on a budget.
Cheapest classic with a gated shifter: De Tomaso Pantera – $65,000
Admittedly, $65,000 is hardly cheap, but a gated manual shifter is one of the greatest tactile pleasures in motoring.
You’ll find these on 1930s Grand Prix racers, most pre-1980 Italian V12 exotics and, more recently, in the Audi R8. But finding one on a budget can be tricky.
Luckily, the Italian/American De Tomaso Pantera has the proper clickclick gear change you need. Made from 1971 all the way up to 1992, every single Pantera left the factory with a gated shifter to send the driver’s commands to the rear-mounted ZF five-speed gearbox.
The Pantera is currently a classic car bargain. Try finding a large-displacement mid-engined Italian exotic from the same era for anything less than double the $65K a decent Pantera will cost.