2CV? It was good enough for James Bond...... :p

 

 

Seriously though... was the Capri 2.8 only in the 80s?

Mk2 golf Gti? Old jetta? How about a land rover series 3

What you need to do is go around some of the classic car specialist to have a look at them.

Then check on the spares situation as that is very important as if you cant get spares your in trouble.

I miss my old Mk2 RS2000 but didn't use it much but the thing withy old Ford's is that nearly every part is available including body panels pressed from the original tooling.

 

If I was looking now I would consider Granada 2.8 Ghia as being practical and will have some creature comforts.

Or maybe an early Range Rover. I had a 74 2 door years ago and apart from the 12mpg it was great.

Bearing in mind the OP said he wasn't necessarily looking for a sports car, I'm surprised no one has recommend one of these (apologies if I've missed it):

 

 

Built from 1973 to 1982.

 

And here's one that just about ticks all the OP's boxes: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Austin-Allegro-1-3-HL-Auto-11k-1-Owner-/271679574021?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item3f415d5005 - what's not to like?

 

Or, if you really want to impress the neighbours and get their curtains twitching, how about this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Stunning-1977-Vanden-plas-1500-LOW-milage-/111523039472?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item19f74a88f0

Edited 26 November, 201411 yr by jlwah

How about an Hillman Imp

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/hillman-imp-deluxe-1973-free-road-tax-/381058325176?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item58b8d89ab8

Bearing in mind the OP said he wasn't necessarily looking for a sports car, I'm surprised no one has recommend one of these (apologies if I've missed it):

 

 

 

Here, she's in another thread as well.... http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/334934-offer-of-the-week-for-senior-men-or-cougar-bait/

Edited 26 November, 201411 yr by Aspman

Re the IMP.

I have been searching for one, and not found anythng as cheap as that.

(to fit Twin Engines front and rear into.)

My first road car was an Imp that i sprayed Dark Blue with a white roof.

I had near given up looking for a Decent Bodyshell and was going to look at getting a Z-Car Imp.

http://zcarsuk.com

Edited 26 November, 201411 yr by goneoffSKi

In the next couple of years, I would like to buy a 'classic' car registered in 1979, although I will extend that to T or V reg. There are no real requirements as such but I suppose it should be practical, a 4 seater I'm afraid and put a smile on my face when I drive it. 

 

 

There's a 1979 Bentley T2 on ebay for under 3K.

It's supremely practical, with room for 4 adults and their luggage to cruise around with a certain sense of "old money" style.

The smile on your face would come from the superiority you'd feel driving around in a properly engineered piece of luxury, rather than some mass-produced, stamped sheet metal anony-box.....

Re the IMP.

 

 

Not quite an imp 

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SINGER-CHAMOIS/281508928387?_trksid=p2045573.c100033.m2042&_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20131017132637%26meid%3D883894b562174b90aa9cb6ac6347d655%26pid%3D100033%26prg%3D20131017132637%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D4%26mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D361123920569

I agree with a lot of the suggestions on here but I'm gonna throw 2 more in....Austin 1300 GT a nippy practical car.

Triumph 2000. Classy, roomy and quick by those standards.

I was working in the motor trade at the time most of those cars mentioned above were current.  Most were starting to rot out before their first MOT.  The tin worm affected pretty much everything from rollers to robins. 

Very very few had any charisma at all, just dull dull dull grey porridge.  Or an ongoing, everlasting mechanical catastrophe.

 

The Allegro, despite belonging in that category, is one of the better cars of the era.  Damned for being an "old mans" car at the time, but here you are.... 

A 1275 should be good, even twin carbs if you must.  But not the noisy thirsty heavy maxi engine.

Simple and easy to work on - well the A series engined ones anyway - mechanical parts available, no idea about body work or trim availability.

 

Have you looked for something foreign?  Would you rule it out?  The south of

France/Spain/Italy etc is sufficiently arid to have preserved much of the metal work if not the trim (which is often the most difficult to sort out). 

A friend had a 403 Peugeot drop head.  A really impressive car at the time.

There is a guy near my sisters in Frankfurt who has a drop head Citroen DS, a really beautiful car.  Rumour has it he spent a large fortune getting it to its present condition.

 

Lotus Elan 2+2's?  A fully restored one £20,000 ish.  Spyder (http://www.spydercars.co.uk/) cars sorts out all the problems, you effectively get a new car.  Especially if you opt for a zetec engined one and get rid of the expensive and not so durable twink.

 

Series Land Rover?  A bit different and maybe off the wall.  But everything is repairable, rebuildable and replaceable.  Not forgetting available and interchangeable.  (because you'll need to).

Its a lifestyle thing.

Iv always loved the beetle ! Ever since i went to a mechanics program as a teen and they had one with a Porsche engine in it, i fell in love !

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-CLASSIC-BEETLE-1200-1973-l-NICE-CAR-MOT-TAX-EXEMPT-cheap-insurance-MAY-PX-/371199790111?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item566d3b4c1

Not quite the '70's, but this looks rather jubbly:

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1981-HONDA-PRELUDE-2A-AUTOMATIC-WHITE-WITH-ONLY-30-240-MILES-1-6-Mark-1-MK-One-/301393647644?

 

Gaz

Opel Monza with the 3 litre engine and manual gearbox. Nice!

Mitsubishi Station Turbo?

I may be selling my 83 MK1 Golf GTI. It's more of a project than fully sorted motor but with a bit of tlc it can be made into a really nice car.