fun-to-drive reasonably priced vintage cars

air-cooled porsche. fantastically usable cars and much cheaper to run than italians or brits. which air-cooled porsche? many choices and price points for various uses.

 

Fiat Dino spider

Ferrari 308 (any)

Alfa Duetto or 71 to 74 Alfa spider

 

Paul the two seat Ferraris will always be worth more. However I agree with you, this variance in price does not make a lot of sense and is great news for those in the market for a "250". The GTE is still a bargain and is the low end of the 250 market. The Lusso will always out win the PF and the GTE and many other vintage Ferraris due to it's esthetics. Not much can be argued there. How can one argue on the value variation when you are talking about a car that is arguably the best all around Pininfarina design ever.

Geno

 

Probably not in the same ballpark as many of the cars here, but the BMW 2002 is simple to fix, rewarding to drive, and extremely reasonable.

 

I agree and in the 1970's when I was a lot younger and cars seemed to be more affordable I use to alternate between BMW 2002's and Alfa 2000 GTV's as every day drivers. So different to drive but both gave a wow factor on the daily commute. I forget how many I had over the years but I know that every time I bought say an Alfa I would miss the BMW and vice versa. I seem to remember that the BMW's were more reliable though.....

 

Hi Bira,

True, but not exactly bargains......
I would add a 911 2.2 or 2.4 and also very german an audi quattro....
Ciao
Oscar

 

Reading these post, some are forgeting about what these inexpensive cars are and were. Some are not a pleasure at all to drive and own. The 190SL is a sad excuse for a car, it's no more than a 190B sedan with no roof. Most 3500GT Maserati's are something not to bother with, given they are poorly build and all incorrectly restored for the most part. The Lancia Flamalia Zagato is a fantasic car - cheap really and a treasure of a car. A normal E type is a statement, not more - althought the XK series is becoming the series to own if you go British. I love the idea of the Karman Ghia, light blue with whitewalls.

With such bad investment outcomes in the pass years, real estate a laser-libility for years to come, gold bouncing around and banks stealing fees on worthless investments no one wants to sock money in anything that it not tangable and movable. Some cars are just fun, some are headaches. The illusion is to justify that a 190SL is value linked to a 300SL - which is like a Fiat 124 and a 275 GTS in distance from each other. It's the novice new comers that can not afford the top cars not because of the money, because of the lack of knowedge and direction. So trying to compare values that are based on reality quality is a demanded formula for success.

When the market soars, new guys try to jump in on cars that everyone ran away from for years. Then brokers promote 3500GT's as undervalued classics. There are loads of those cars that fit the bill, buy one and you're usually buried. Who do I know that would even want a 190SL? Oh, yes, I know the guy....but he's dead.

Ferrari cars are in a league of their own, socially, factory supported, many events and very special as we look back on where they have come and how now they are treasured. They are indeed art and will in time be part of all guy's art collections. Even a 250GTE is a decent car. They are out there. The clubs, experts, the buzz all effects their being desirable - like Bugatti's , the club is often 9/10th of the fun.

It's not always the qualitification of being rich years ago that anchored one into great cars. It's just luck and study. I bought my worn 300SL for $9k in 1978 - It's still in the garage , not so worn now. When I studied the 300SL with passion ,really wanted one, it soon came real. I remember when repairing a Bugatti was more expensive than buying a running one - thank God mine was broken up for parts so I could re-unite it 40 years later. Sometimes you have to buy a pile of scrap or a mixed engine good car to take the time to have a great car by going the distance. It takes time. If one has no time, go to the auctions and pray.

There is still a way to find great cars for fractions of the value - you just have to think like a truffle dog and act accordingly.

 

Don't want to knock down Lusso, but it looks like an unrefined quick sketch in both good and bad. I like over-sized glass areas in general, but I have problems with the rest of the design looking like a banana with both ends cut off. I still like it for the modern sculpture on wheels factor, but in category for best overall PF design ever it fails miserably for me!

 

I thought Geno was referring to the GTE.........

 

There is still a way to find great cars for fractions of the value - you just have to think like a truffle dog and act accordingly.[/QUOTE]


Forgive me but being English, can you tell me what a Truffle dog is please ???

 

Food, it is all about food....the Italians (and I) love truffle and the nose to find them is a dog (or even better a pig)....having a good one makes easy money.

Ciao
Oscar

 

A well sorted Ferrari 412 with manual gearbox is a pleasure to drive, reliable and affordable. Buy the best you can find and in the long run it will hold the price or goes up. I have one and I’m very happy with him touring. It is more a Gentleman driver then a sports car. It is a very discreet and understated way to drive a Ferrari.

 

Thank you......Now I know.... lol

 

Agreed on the OP 69 Alfa 1750 GTV. Alfa Duetto is fun to drive too, they are undervalue.
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Lusso looks better than a banana with both ends cut off, come on now! Not my assessment on it's design, I just keep reading this claim for as long as I can remember made by many. Pics of my old car. The car was so so beautiful!

Geno

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Don't forget the Fiat X 1/9, wonderful handling, not much power but enough to keep things interesting! Now I want the grown up version, a 308gt4

 

Good videos for 250 GTE 2+2.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oGXZGZ1KZw&feature=g-vrec[/ame]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHRUxh53fwA&feature=related[/ame]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHE6gPZsUPQ&feature=related[/ame]

 

Harry Metcalfe of EVO magazine and his 330 GT 2+2 Series 2.

Part 1.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjwYbUFTJks&feature=related[/ame]

Part 2.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcwZ6HU391I&feature=relmfu[/ame]

 

If you don't mind rust!

 

Reasonably priced favorites.

1. Early Alfa Spider or GTV.
2. 70 to 78 Datsun 240/280Z
3. 68 to 73 Datsun 510
4. 58 to 60 AH Bugeye Sprite
5. MGB/GT/6
6. Triumph TR6
7. 75 to 89 Porsche 911
8. Porsche 914
9. Ford MKI Lotus Cortina
10. Renault Turbo Le Car. (Not reasonably priced, but a crap load of fun.)

 

I hear the BMW E9 Coupés are great cas to drive, particularly the CSi's. You need to shop very carefully, through a specialist if you can, and there will always be some rust, but they are amazingly beautiful and driver oriented cars.

 

So, my winner this year is the Porsche 356.

It's got to be a pre-1957 car.

Get a great one, rust free, and do only the mechanics. Add on exhaust for the noise if needed. These are great value and easy, fun and all the feeling of a 1950's great car. I just had mine out ( photo) for 800km's of fast , back road driving with hardly any preparation. It was super on twisty roads.

A great back up car that is no problems.
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Well when I read the subject I presumed it was about Ferraris.
My vote is a 365 GT4 or 400GT (carb). More sedate to look at but has a paddock full of leather to smell, with all the driving and aural appeal of the expensive toys.

But for the best bang for the modest buck it has to be the Lotus (Caterham) 7. More smiles per miles than anything else and cheap to run. Easy to drive, a 4 wheel motorbike. Loads of fun and still keep your licence. Want more comfort get an Elan.

 

Alfa Romeo Sprint Speciale.
Great looking car and still a bargain compared to rare Ferrari's.
I think these will be a good investment also, but that is not the point of this discussion.

And classic Alfa's are great cars to drive.
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What a great design, and really an undervalued classic. If it had a ferrari badge, would be 2M.