First-Generation Ford Mustang

While many would love to own a classic car, maintaining it could be more attractive. They are more straightforward than modern cars, but spare parts can be challenging, and their reliability may need to be stronger.

Fortunately, there are classic cars out there that are cheaper than you might think and also require relatively low amounts of maintenance.

MG MGB

MG MGB
Image Credit: Mark Harkin, CC BY 2.0/Wikimedia Commons.

If you’re in the market for a car that combines excitement with affordability, the MG MGB is for you. Manufactured by MG from 1965 to 1980, the early models of this convertible were a visual delight, with their chrome bumpers and trim. Fitted with a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine producing 95 hp, this lightweight sports car packs a punch. And the best part? It’s a steal for your wallet.

The MGB’s appearance later changed due to plastic bumpers. However, it retained its excellent performance levels. Thanks to the number of MGs built and their simple construction, MGBs are very low-maintenance classic cars.

Triumph Spitfire

Triumph Spitfire Mark IV
Image Credit: Jonnyk5614, CC BY 3.0/Wikimedia Commons.

The Triumph Spitfire, a pocket-friendly British sports car with minimal upkeep, is a testament to Triumph’s engineering prowess. As its name suggests, this Triumph sports car draws inspiration from the iconic Supermarine Spitfire fighter aircraft of World War 2, a pivotal player in the conflict. Triumph rolled out the Spitfire from 1962 to 1980, and despite the potential for rust, it’s a head-turner.

Triumph rectified some of the rust and reliability issues with later models, which helped to boost the Spitfire’s reputation. The car evolved over five generations, which saw three different versions of the inline-four engine. Generations one and two had the 1,147 cc engine, while generations three and four had the 1,296 engine. The fifth generation had the 1,493 cc inline-four under the hood.

Volvo P1800

1961 Volvo P1800
Image Credit: Staffan Andersson, CC BY-SA 4.0/Wikimedia Commons.

Volvo is a brand that has always had a strong reputation for reliability and safety. One of the best advertisements for that is the Volvo P1800, a car that, in the hands of Irv Gordon, recorded the highest mileage of any vehicle ever recorded, with over 3.2 million miles on the clock.

Most P1800s will have racked up only a tiny fraction of that mileage on the classic car market. Thanks to a brilliant 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine under the hood producing 100 hp, power came. Volvo later increased its power to 120 hp and added a 2.0-liter with 118 hp to the available options.

First-Generation Ford Mustang

1967 Ford Mustang Fastback
Image Credit: Sicnag, CC BY 2.0/Wikimedia Commons.

The first-generation of the Ford Mustang doesn’t need any extra attention. However, it is a classic car that is low maintenance, so it is still worthy of a place on this list. The amount of first-gen Mustangs built means spare parts are plentiful, and there are a lot of specialists out there who can help fix any problems you have with your classic muscle car.

Those repairs shouldn’t break the bank, and the Mustang is simple enough that you could learn to maintain it yourself. It is also a muscle car classic and one of the most popular on the market, so you are guaranteed to recieve attention as you drive around town in one.

Ford Cortina MkIII

Ford Cortina MkIII
Image Credit: Ford.

Classic Fords are some of the best classic cars of any kind, and some have catapulted in value recently, thanks to their rarity. But if you want something cheaper from the Ford stable, look as far as the Cortina MkIII. It’s a car that might be the best entry-level classic for fans of all things Ford.

Ford produced the MkIII from 1970 to 1976, and with more than a few still around today, they are much more affordable than the Anglia, Capri, and earlier Cortinas. In the 1970s, you could choose a Cortina MkIII with various engines, from a Crossflow inline-four to a Pinto inline-four. At the same time, South Africa and Australia got the Essex V6 and Falcon inline-six, respectively.

Checker Marathon

Checker-Marathon-2
Image Credit: IFCAR, Public domain/Wikimedia Commons.

Checker is most famous in the United States for its taxis. Just check out the famous Checker Cab, which made a name for itself as the famous yellow taxi you could see all across New York. But it also sold cars to private buyers, with these labeled as the Marathon. Checkers followed the same principle as their taxis, making the Marathon rugged, simple, and reliable.

Checker never sold many in the era due to how primitive and straightforward they were compared to rivals. But that straightforwardness works to their advantage now, making them easy to maintain and reliable. Checkers also share parts with other cars of the era, making many components interchangeable.

Morris Minor

Morris Minor Traveller
Image Credit: Morris Minor 1000 Traveller by Peter Trimming, CC BY-SA 2.0/Wikimedia Commons.

Arguably, the Morris Minor is one of the ultimate classic cars for those who want a car without a lot of work involved. Morris produced the Minor over four decades, becoming one of the most trusted and dependable cars on sale in Britain.

The Minor was affordable, spacious, and a great-looking daily driver. Morris also produced multiple versions, ranging from the standard hatchback to the wooden Traveller and a van. The Minor is the quintessential British classic car, perfect for days out in the summer on some of the country’s twisty countryside roads.

Citroen 2CV

1948 Citroën 2CV
Image Credit: Sicnag, CC BY 2.0/Wikimedia Commons.

The small, quirky, stylish Citroen 2CV is one of the world’s best-known classic cars. The 2CV is an actual car for the people, aimed at motorizing many farmers in the French countryside who still relied on horses and carts in the 1930s and the 1940s.

Production began in 1948; the 2CV remained in production until 1990. It quickly became famous for its innovative engine and straightforward design, and the air-cooled nine-horsepower engine was easy to maintain. The 2CV was and remains low to run and fuel efficient, and the small economy car still has a lot of charm to it, even 76 years after Citroen produced the first example.

Volkswagen Beetle

Volkswagen Beetle
Image Credit: Lothar Spurzem, CC BY-SA 2.0 DE/Wikimedia Commons.

Like the Citroen 2CV, the Volkswagen Beetle is another easy-to-maintain classic. The Beetle had a controversial past; initially, members of the German public would donate to develop a people’s car, but thanks to World War 2, that money ended up helping produce military vehicles instead.

However, when it did enter production, the Beetle in its original form remained in production well into the 2000s. With over 21.1 million produced, it became the world’s most-sold old car of a single platform, beating the record previously held by the Ford Model T. Under the hood, it had a range of four-cylinder H4 engines, and the Beetle used a simple rear-wheel-drive, rear-engine chassis with an air-cooled engine and luggage storage under the front hood.

Original Fiat 500

Fiat 500 Abarth
Image Credit: Lothar Spurzem, CC BY-SA 2.0 DE/Wikimedia Commons.

Like the Morris Minor and Citroen 2CV, the Fiat 500 is another primary automobile and is as much a car of the people as the Volkswagen Beetle. Fiat first introduced its little city car in 1957, and under the hood was a range of inline-two engines, which, while small, produced all the power that the ‘500 needed. For a car weighing 1,100 lbs, that was all the power in the world.

Like similar vehicles, the Fiat 500 was affordable and dependable, helping many families and couples get on the road. Abart would also get into the 500 action with their version of the 500. Fiat would also create the Giardiniera estate version and a panel van version of the estate. Fiat briefly produced an American market version 500 from 1958 to 1962. With just 300 produced, these are now incredibly rare.

Porsche 924

1980 Porsche 924 Turbo
Image Credit: Pallerti, CC BY-SA 4.0/Wikimedia Commons.

The Porsche 924 is an excellent sports classic that does not get anywhere near the attention it should. Porsche produced the 924 from 1975 to 1985 when it was uncertain if the Porsche 911 would last as long as it has done. It offered an alternative for those wanting a Porsche but not that 911, and the 924 would become Porsche’s first front-engined, water-cooled sports car.

Think of the 924 as the little sister to the 928. In the end, the 924 became the perfect replacement for the earlier 914, with a rear-mounted transmission aiding the handling of this exceptional sports car. The four-cylinder engine was not the most powerful but highly effective in the 924.

Austin-Healey Sprite

1962 Austin-Healey Sprite
Image Credit: AlfvanBeem, CC0/Wikimedia Commons.

By appearances alone, the Austin-Healey Sprite looks like a great car. Just look at how happy the bug-eye sports car is. But it would become one of the best roadsters in British automotive history, and thanks to its short length, it had a certain charm.

The Sprite was only 137 inches long in Mark I form, had two seats, and had a small 43 hp 948 cc inline-four under the hood. It was also innovative as one of the first sports cars to use unitary body construction, and its simplicity meant it was easy to maintain. The Sprite is a brilliant choice for fun in a small package that you can throw around in the corners.

Volvo Amazon/140 series

Volvo 145 140 Series Front View
Image Credit: Wikicommons.

Look no further for something very different than a Volvo 140 Series or Amazon, one of the best station wagons the Swedish manufacturer has produced. The Amazon offers excellent value for a four-door wagon, but the later post-1962 models with the 1800 engine are the ones to pursue.

These comfortably reach 90 mph, which is perfect for everyday driving. The 140 and Amazon also come with disc brakes at the front, overdrive, and the boxy looks we love on any Volvo wagon. With Volvo phasing out production of its estates for good, classic examples like this will remind us just how good they were.

Author: Henry Kelsall

Henry is a freelance writer, with a love for all things motoring whether it be classic sports cars, or Formula 1 racing. He has freelanced for over eight years now, mostly in automotive matters, but he has also dabbled in other forms of writing too. He has a lot of love for Japanese classics and American muscle cars, in particular the Honda NSX and first-generation Ford Mustang. When not writing, Henry is often found at classic car events or watching motorsports at home, but he also has a curious passion for steam trains and aviation.

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