I'm still thinking along the lines of 'Modern classic'. Cars that will become classics, but are cheap and usable now. I have my eye on those types, and there are several that I fancy.



The Rover 75 mentioned previously is a dead cert for future classic, the only problem is the engine's are fragile. As I only want to own one car at a time from now on that means they are out. Just look at this interior though. You can buy one in pristine condition for under a grand at the moment - it's criminal! reminds me of the 1970's when you couldn't give Mk2 jags away.



The Celica is again, a future classic I reckon, as have all the other models before it. Don't forget some of these things are ten years old now, so find a good one and hang on and you'll get depreciation free motoring. Reliable, fast, and well made for the price of a 2cv.



Another on my list is this fella' below. When did you last see one? Another indication of future classic-dom. They're only a Mondeo in a posh frock too, so plenty mechanical spares and easy to run as a daily driver. Prices are again, rock bottom just now.





And that's what classic car driving has always been about for me. In the 70's I could buy 20 year old cars and they were considered junk, today they're valuable. It seems to me that when junk becomes valuable you should sell it and buy instead what they now consider to be junk. It's about riding that wave all over again, just catching the next big wave.

(Just m.h.o, you understand...) Cougars are nice. 75's are a bit dull. Mate of mine bought a Bongo for £1500 and all he's had to do is buy new tyres for it. If it's a camper you're after though, why not consider getting a decent Sprinter or Transit that's been looked after, and convert it yourself. More room than a Bongo, and probably a better vehicle too.

Stop and ask a Parcelforce (or other courier co.) driver: they'll tell you where to get them. I'm told that another good source is DVLA or police reposesssions.

I see about three fairly regularly.



Worse than that. American-built Mondeo in a frock, shipped whole to Germany, where the badges & lights were swapped over. Oh, yes - and the steering wheel moved...

As for the camper conversion - we considered doing that, but you're either in for a LOT of woodwork, quite a chunk of spendiness on windows/insulation/gas/water/fridge/cooker/bed mechanicals etc, then hoops with DVLA to get it re-registered as a camper (else insurance gets entertaining), or you're buying something that looks like an '80s caravan.

To our minds, there wasn't a lot of choice - Westfalia VW T25 was about the only option that got the balance of internal and external space right, wasn't a gin-palace and didn't leave you with veneer-overkill disease. The T25 lot are about as daft as 2cvers, too.

Have you thought about late 90s mercs like the e class? There's a few shitted up ones I see round here and always think they look pretty cool with rusty wheels and mangled grilles That's just me though . Some nice ones on ebay for well under 3k and surely they will become classics in the future? They go forever too by the looks of it.

And what makes you notice that?



I came to the same conclusions. I want windows, insulation, and a bed already there, as if it was left to me we'd end up with a mattress slung in the back of a transit. I've no interest in doing it myself whatsoever. I thought about it at first, but then I thought about how much work was actually involved and I sacked it off out of hand. it's one thing doing up a car that you're enthusiastic about, but a van? Nah.

Trouble with campers is they're so bloody expensive. I've only a small budget and that just about gets you a fifteen year old Bedford with leaky bodywork. Unless I'm very lucky (and why start now?) I'll end up with a crock of shit for four grand and wish I'd bought the Toyota. I suppose in the end though the final decision will boil down to how long I can go without sex.

That's what's stopped me from doing one... but I thought I'd suggest it just in case!

O-N, I think you should consider this. Future classic guaranteed!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2002-MERCEDES-SPR ... 3364d62166

There you go, it has windows and a bed is already installed. You can even try to get sex by playing doctors and nurses. I leave it entirely to your discretion which uniform you want to wear.

A friend of mine is converting one, a slightly older non CDI. I collected it from Birmingham for him. It still had full emergency ambulance livery and the sirens were working. I was sooo tempted driving down the M6.

I've driven worse.

That Ambulance isn't a bad idea I suppose, 424000 miles on the running gear's a bit steep though. I've come up with another idea but I don't think she'll go for it. I buy an old caravan off some ex-pat that's done with it in Brittany, and then stick it on the land next to our cottage. I assume I'll need permission from the local Mairie but a bottle of wine might sort that.

That leaves me free to buy a car for the journey to and from.

I was just thinking earlier how quickly times have changed. Five years ago, on my drive I had;

3 2cv's.
1 Austin Somerset
1 Standard Vanguard
1 Passat VR6 Estate
1 Audi A4, and the Wife's Peugeot 106.

All at the same time! While in the garage was:

Triumph Thunderbird 900 Sport.
Triumph 900 Trident Sprint.
BMW R80r
Suzuki 1200 Bandit.

Now I've got a Citroen 2cv! This time next year I'll probably have a horse and cart - and be thinking about selling the cart. I'm so glad I met the wife and settled down though, that would be...er ...five years ago now. Hey - just a minute....

It can work the other way... When I met Ellie, I had a Dyane, an Ami Super and a BMW company car. Back up to seven (four A-series, all the rest 20+yo) and two Slowlexes again. Actually, looks like it's six. In a month or two, hopefully five. Could be tempted to go down to four, too.