You don’t need us to tell you that classic cars aren’t as affordable as they once were. However, it needn’t cost a fortune to get behind the wheel of a useable and rewarding old car. Picking a popular, established model ensures excellent parts support and often a thriving club community to help as you strive to keep your pride and joy in the best shape possible.
We’ve picked 10 respected classic cars, all of which are currently available for a sensible budget of £5000 or less, and each offer something different. While they all guarantee an inexpensive route into classic car ownership for those who are new to it, they also provide a tried and tested option for lifelong aficionados looking for their next historic vehicle.
MG MIDGET
The Midget arrived in 1961 as MG’s reentry into the world of no-frills sports car ownership. Derived from the Austin-Healey ‘Frogeye’ Sprite already built at Abingdon and largely identical to the Mk2 Sprite launched a month earlier, the Midget used tried and tested mechanicals proven by the likes of the Austin A35 and Morris Minor, including the trusty A-Series engine. All this made it affordable to run and maintain – qualities that continue to fuel its appeal to this day.
In a little over a year, the original 948cc engine was replaced by a larger 1098cc unit, while the Mk2 of 1964 brought with it further engine tweaks, exterior door handles, an all-new dash layout and wind-up windows to replace the old side screens. From 1966 the Midget got the 1275cc A-Series, with the sought-after ‘round wheelarch’ variant arriving in 1972. It was all change in 1974 though, as the arches reverted back to the squared-off style and US federal regulations dictated the fitment of Bayer
