You might think buying vintage cars and maintaining them is expensive. Many classic cars are expensive, but there are some out there that many of us can afford.
This list will showcase 14 of them and explain what makes these cars so good. We will cover various vehicles, from classic sports cars to family sedans.
MG MGB GT
If you are looking for a fun and inexpensive classic sports car, the MG MGB might be your choice. MG produced the MGB from 1965 to 1980, with earlier versions sporting stunning chrome bumpers and trimming, sadly replaced by plastic. Power only came from a 1.8-liter four-cylinder with 95 hp, but that was enough for this spritely British sports car.
The MGB was economical then, achieving 25 MPG thanks to its lightness and sleek shape. The lightness, added to the excellent chassis, also made the MGB an absolute blast to drive in the corners.
1969-1978 Datsun Z
The original Nissan sports car was the Datsun Fairlady Z, introduced in 1969 and produced by the Japanese manufacturer up to 1978. During that time, Datsun introduced the 240Z to the American market from 1969 to 1973. The sleek shape with a long nose and short overhangs made European and American rivals take note of the Japanese sports car.
Add in the rear-wheel drive layout, the excellent chassis, and an impressive choice of inline-six engines under the hood, and you have all the ingredients for a fantastic sports car. The Fairlady story continues to this day with the latest Nissan sports car.
Lotus Esprit Series 4
If you want an excellent classic car that eliminates some of the issues with earlier classic vehicles, look no further than the Lotus Esprit Series 4. This generation of the British sports car was in production from 1993 to 2004, and by then, Lotus had ironed out the vast majority of niggling issues with earlier models.
The addition of anti-lock brakes and power steering elevated the Esprit, and the famed Lotus handling ensured it was one of the best-handling British sports cars in the market. Under the hood of the Series 4 was the brilliant 2.2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produced 264 hp and 290 lb-ft of torque. The 350 hp V8 Turbo version made more power available.
Triumph Spitfire
As the name suggests, the Triumph Spitfire is named after the famous Supermarine Spitfire fighter aircraft of World War 2, the most famous British aircraft of the conflict. Triumph produced the Spitfire from 1962 to 1980, and while rust can be a problem, the Spitfire is a stunning-looking car with plenty of sports car pedigree.
Later models rectified some of the Spifire’s rusting and reliability issues, boosting the car’s reputation. Triumph evolved the Spitfire over five generations, including 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. Generation five had the 1,493 cc inline-four under the hood.
Jaguar XJS
Jaguar knew it would have to try and follow on from the incredible E-Type with something else. However, it also knew that whatever it produced would be less popular. Despite that, Jaguar gave it a good go with the XJS, becoming one of the longest-standing members of the Jaguar range.
Malcolm Sayer and Doug Thorpe did the styling jointly, and after Sayer sadly passed away, Thorpe completed the design. Under the hood, the XJS had a 5.3-liter V12 available at launch, and performance was well above the XJS’s rivals. Jaguar would later add a straight-six to make the XJS more economical, but they retained the V12 as well.
1968-1976 Mercedes-Benz W115
There is something inherently cool about driving an old Mercedes-Benz, and the W115 is no exception. The W115 was produced from 1968 to 1976 and featured three-box styling by Paul Braq. The new W115 range succeeded the previous W110 models. As with many models in the Mercedes range, various engines became available with the W115, including a 2.0-2.8-liter inline-six and some diesel inline-fours.
The W115 had a few technological innovations, such as the 1969 introduction of the Bosch D-Jetronic fully electronic fuel injection system into the 250CE. This became the first production Mercedes-Benz to use the Bosh D-Jetronic system. The W115 also had further innovations, such as the first Mercedes center console and the ribbed taillights.
First-Generation Ford Mustang
It might seem odd to say that the first-gen Ford Mustang is cheap. However, Ford produced so many of them that there are plenty for classic car enthusiasts. Plus, thanks to their popularity, spare parts are plentiful, making restoring and maintaining a Mustang much easier.
Thanks to its performance and eye-catching design, the Ford muscle car became an instant hit. The styling with the long hood and short deck made the Mustang instantly recognizable. The base model was just an inline-six, but the show’s stars were the big and small block V8 engines Ford added to the lineup.
Porsche 924 Turbo
Not only is the Porsche 924 a tremendous vintage car, but it is also cheap and plentiful because it’s so underrated. The 924 Turbi is the best of the bunch, created to fill the gap between the 911 SC and the regular 924. The 924 Turbo is distinguishable thanks to the four vents and unilateral NACA air opening on the right side of the hood.
Powering the 924 Turbo was a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four engine, producing 170 hp, which increased to 177 hp in the 1981 model year. Porsche also added a few extra exterior changes to the 924 Turbo, including the new spoke design, aluminum wheels, and a back spoiler at the car’s rear.
Triumph Dolomite Sprint
The little Triumph Dolomite Sprint is one of the few occasions where British Leyland got things right. It was Triumph’s answer to the BMW 2002, creating a Dolomite with more power thanks to the 16-valve 2.0-liter slant-four under the hood.
Initially, the car was named Dolomite 135 based on its 135-hp engine. However, after tests, Triumph discovered the engine could produce up to 150 hp so that the name would have confused consumers. At the time, Triumph claimed that the Dolomite Sprint was the world’s first mass-produced multi-valve car, and it was produced from 1973 to 1980.
Alfa Romeo GTV-6
Alfa Romeo might have produced more exotic cars over the years, but few can hold a candle to the incredible GTV-6. From the mid-1908s onwards, Alfa Romeo produced the GTV-6, and it had big shoes to fill as it followed on from the Alfetta and the GTV. But it filled those shoes well and became one of Alfa Romeo’s best sports cars.
Under the hood, a 2.5-liter V6 produced 160 hp and 157 lb-ft of torque. The V6 engine uses Bosch L-Jetronic fuel injection, which helps with both performance and reliability. According to Hagerty, you can pick up a GTV-6 for $10-15,000, which makes the GTV-6 a sports car bargain.
Classic Volkswagen Beetles
The original Volkswagen Beetle is one of the most iconic automobiles in the world. Even decades after its introduction, the Beetle remains incredibly popular, and thanks to the number of Beetles made, a vast number of spare parts and components are available for restoration.
Production was delayed after Germany initiated World War 2, but following the war, a remarkable 21,529,464 Beetles left the Volkswagen factory, making it one of the most produced automobiles in history.
Renault 4
It’s small and quirky, yet many seem to pass over the little Renault 4. But in the early 1960s, it was one of the best daily drivers in France, and it provided fierce competition for the Citrone 2CV, one of all-time great ‘people cars.’
Power was very limited thanks to the water-cooled 600cc 1.1-liter four-cylinder engine. However, it was perfect for such a small car. That, plus the updated styling, resonated with the French public, and the new water-cooled engine allowed better packaging under the hood. Despite the continued popularity of the 2CV, the Renault 4 was the perfect replacement and much more in keeping with the 1960s than its Citroen vial.
Citroen 2CV
The Citroen 2CV deserves a mention on this list. Amazingly, Citroen produced it from 1948 to 1990, highlighting the longevity of the small car. The name translated to two horses or two taxable horsepower, and it would become the world’s ultimate economy car. Thanks to the small air-cooled H2 engines under the hood, power was never huge, but the 2CV was never about power.
Citroen produced over 3.8 million 2CVs across its production run, and it became the world’s first front-wheel drive car to become a million-seller after Citroën’s own earlier model, the Traction Avant. The 2CV was also famous for its extremely good ride quality, meaning a farmer could take a basket of eggs in the 2CV across a field without any of them breaking.
Citroen BX
Thanks to the whacky and bold BX, Citroen deserves another mention on this list. The BX launched in 1982 and became an instant hit in European markets, aided further by the introduction of a diesel version. The idiosyncratic styling by Marcello Gandini of Lamborghini Countach fame made the BX a real standout, but it was more than just a pretty face.
Another of Citroen’s products featured the exceptional Citroen hydropneumatic suspension, making the BX one of the most exciting and comfortable family cars on the market. Power came from the diesel engine as well as a turbocharged 16-valve inline-four, a turbodiesel inline-four, plus a range of naturally aspirated inline-fours.
