Help me choose a Summer-fun classic-car

[AnilS]

How about a Toyota Corolla GT Coupe (AE86)?

Had one many years ago, and now have a bit of a cult following.

 

[buccal]

Engine to die for:

The Classic Connection : Alfa Romeo GTV 3.0 V6 Spider 2001 Gleaming Black

Classic looks to die for:

1989(F) Alfa Romeo Spider 2000 Quadrifoglio For Sale on Car And Classic UK

Handling to die for:

Talbot Sunbeam T.I. - £6,875.00 : Motorsport-Sales.com (UK), Race and Rally Cars, Motorsport Parts and Spares for Sale

(slightly off brief )

 

[manalishi]

Just to update this old thread: at 2:30 this morning I rolled into my drive with this little black beauty. It's a llllloooonnnngggg way from perfect, but a lot of the important mechanical bits are already sorted (thanks to our Tiff for his advice on the X and its foibles). It's also had the ugly (albeit effective) 1500-style bumpers removed.

In the end, I spent a fraction of my budget. Partly that's deliberate - just in case I've got from rose-tinted nostalgia specs - and partly because X1/9 prices are all over the place. Every last one of them seems to need some outlay, and I'm not savvy enough to know the details of how much.

So I'll run this one for this Summer and take stock then. If it sails through the next MOT and is sound enough where it matters, I'll consider turning it into a Lido replica. Like this one: Fiat X1/9 Lido just 7,600miles For Sale | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

 

[Tiff]

YAAAAAAAY!

That looks a great base to work with!

I've just been doing a little bit of fettling to Yap this last week- it'll give you something to aim for, I reckon its one of the best in the country.

 

[wemorgan]

Nice choice. Only the other evening I was reading an old copy of Classic Car magazine where they had a few head-to-head articles for different budgets. The X1/9 did very well in the sub £5k category. The magazine is at a friend's house, so I can ask him to scan it if you're interested.

 

[manalishi]

Hey Tiff, yes - it's all your fault. Well mostly.

And YAP's definitely an inspiration. The 1300-styling details work so much better with the original shape. Will attend some GTGs and get a look at as many 1300s as possible to work out stuff like bumper mounting/etc. Shame you're so far away!

Nice choice. Only the other evening I was reading an old copy of Classic Car magazine where they had a few head-to-head articles for different budgets. The X1/9 did very well in the sub £5k category. The magazine is at a friend's house, so I can ask him to scan it if you're interested.

Will - that would be very useful. Or just an issue number that I can use to order a back issue.

 

[wemorgan]

Will - that would be very useful. Or just an issue number that I can use to order a back issue.

It was Classic and Sports Car Magazine September 2010

Classic and Sports Car Magazine September 2010 | Recycled Mags

The Fiat X1/9 section is only 1-2 pages, so not sure how much it's worth to you I'm asking my friend for a PDF copy anyway as the Lotus Elise is also mentioned.

 

[WigeonIncognito]

I had a Mk1 MX-5. I had it for 4 years and only sold it last year to use the money for rallying.

They're great cars, there's no doubt about that, but I wasn't keeping it for sentimental reasons or those of attachment. I only kept it because there was no point in selling it - it wasn't worth a huge amount and costs peanuts to run. It never went wrong and still put a smile on my face until the day I sold it.

I wouldn't have another one though because the odd thing about the MX-5 is that I never became attached to it at all. It didn't get under my skin.

I'm not saying it was a white good but because it was so good at what it was intended to do without any fault or peccancy it never really challenged, thrilled, or had the character of so many other cars I've owned or driven.

From your original list I'd be most tempted by the X1/9 but if I was in your position as others have suggested I'd be looking at TVRs. The V8S, Chimaera, and Griffith are all small cars with character bursting from their seams.

Edit:

I really need to get used to figuring out how long threads are on this forum!!

Your little X1/9 looks lovely. I'm tempted myself at the moment. I'm just finishing off working on a Mk2 Scirocco (a mate's car but it's taking up space on the drive) then a new project with the correct wheels driven will be in!

 

[manalishi]

It was Classic and Sports Car Magazine September 2010

Classic and Sports Car Magazine September 2010 | Recycled Mags

The Fiat X1/9 section is only 1-2 pages, so not sure how much it's worth to you I'm asking my friend for a PDF copy anyway as the Lotus Elise is also mentioned.

OK - much appreciated. Will PM my email address.

I wouldn't have another one though because the odd thing about the MX-5 is that I never became attached to it at all. It didn't get under my skin.

From your original list I'd be most tempted by the X1/9 but if I was in your position as others have suggested I'd be looking at TVRs. The V8S, Chimaera, and Griffith are all small cars with character bursting from their seams.

Yup - the deed is done. X1/9 it is (see above). I'd only ruled out TVRs because they're British (it's just a prejudice). The MX5 with folding hardtop would be the sensible suggestion when I'm too old to get into the X1/9.

 

[manalishi]

Your little X1/9 looks lovely. I'm tempted myself at the moment. I'm just finishing off working on a Mk2 Scirocco (a mate's car but it's taking up space on the drive) then a new project with the correct wheels driven will be in!

Actually, the X1/9 passes the good-from-20-feet-away test, but stand closer and you can see it needs quite a few things doing (some rust bubbles, holes left after bumper removal, paintwork). It was well under £1000 though, so there's money in the kitty for later in the year.

I do have to be sensible and prioritise though. I spent the 60 miles driving home in the dark wondering if dull red menace of the battery/charging light was an issue or a Fiat feature (heh - maybe dull red is normal, bright red is the problem, right?).

 

[WigeonIncognito]

Maybe dull red is normal, bright red is the problem, right?

That'll be it, it's just a primative form of mood lighting.

 

[manalishi]

Well, it certainly altered my mood.

Will get out there with the multimeter and check alternator output and voltage dropped from alternator to battery. Or perhaps I need a double-jointed volunteer to do it for me...

 

[Tiff]

You are a very bad man Barry!... I had put X1/9's to the back of my mind for a while now... and this thread, and our conversation made me fall off the wagon. I've just bought another, with an Uno turbo conversion Pics and details to follow!

 

[DSLiverpool]

Depends on your idea of summer fun, mine is the odd Lakes / Scot weekend, country pubs, polishing and petting (the car not the Mrs) as such it HAS to be a drop top.

If your idea of fun is to rag the nuts of a classic down a twisty lane then the Renault G otherwise get an old XK drophead to cruise in ??

 

[manalishi]

Old thread, DSL. Already sorted - an X1/9 (far from mint, and a fraction of my full budget). It's got just enough MOT to get me through the Summer and I'll take stock after that.

You are a very bad man Barry!... I had put X1/9's to the back of my mind for a while now... and this thread, and our conversation made me fall off the wagon. I've just bought another, with an Uno turbo conversion Pics and details to follow!

Excellent! Was the the low-price one on PH? Saw one there last week. Sure it won't take you long to get sorted.

Heh - a bonus follow-up question: are the pedals on the X offset-to-left? If so, I'd forgotten all about it. Can make it a bit 'fun' trying to find the brake in an emergency.

 

[Tiff]

Yup, that was the one. Pedals are a bit offset due to the wheelarch, but I find them perfect. I heel and toe naturally, even with size 12 feet.

 

[Dand]

Reliability wise the MX-5 but being a Huge fan of old Renault's Id go for the Gordini or Williams. Now the Gordini name has been revived classic Gordini's could have boosted their investment potential. Another one that could be worth a look and would be cheaper is the 5 Monaco. It was a special edition phaseII 5 with tan leather and a 1.7. I remember a friend of my dads had one with a few tuning bits on it and it was pretty quick and very comfy to. Another interesting one is a Peugeot 205 with the Mi16 conversion, they were alot of fun. :bannana:

 

[Tiff]

Another interesting one is a Peugeot 205 with the Mi16 conversion, they were alot of fun. :bannana:

Hate them, that's what made me roll my first X1/9....

 

[MOCAŠ]

I've just been doing a little bit of fettling to Yap this last week- it'll give you something to aim for, I reckon its one of the best in the country.

Wow, been a while since I've seen YAP 68T. Used to belong to the X1/9 Owner's Club's regalia officer, IIRC?

 

[Tiff]

Wow, been a while since I've seen YAP 68T. Used to belong to the X1/9 Owner's Club's regalia officer, IIRC?

Yup, had a complete restoration a few years ago, and is now as new. The green supercharged one has just changed hands too. I'm now the regalia officer, so have all the magazine back issues- been reading through them over the past few days, and its great to see all the well known cars' history over the past 20 or so years.