It is surely beyond doubt that other young classic car fans, like myself, are astonished and dismayed by the number of our contemporaries we see driving ‘cars’ like BMW MINIs, Citroen C2s, and Ford Fiesta 1.25s. “Do they not realise,” my inner petrolhead screams, “that they could save money AND drive something more fun if only they opened their eyes?” One evening, in the pub, I asked a Kia Picanto-owning friend if he’d even remotely considered a classic. His reply wasn’t repeatable, but I was invited to prove my case.
One issue which will undoubtedly concern younger motorist is their insurance premium – whilst we are all legally obliged to have insurance, the young motorist undoubtedly gets a rawer deal than most. However, by going classic, a considerable sum could be saved. I got identical quotations in May on a 1979 Vanden Plas 1500 and a similar modern car – a 2001 Rover 25 1.6iXL. Both are sensibly sized cars with all the appurtenances of first class travel and both can be found for under £1000 today if you look hard enough. For a nineteen year old male, living in a less than salubrious part of Sheffield, insurance on the Rover can be obtained for £1678.43. Yet the Vanden Plas can be insured for just £568 per annum. That’s a saving of over 66%.
The Rover costs £260 per annum to tax, but one registered after 2002 will be eligible for a lower rate of £165. The Vanden Plas is under 1500cc, it manages to be cheaper than both at just £130 per annum – if we were looking at a pre-1973 car, it would qualify for a free tax disc, but sadly the cessation of a rolling exemption means VP1500s don’t yet qualify. Even the £35 differential between a Vanden Plas and a newer 25 is a saving – look after the pennies and all that. There is one financial downside – old cars tend to return lower mpg figures than the equivalent moderns. In truth, this pair are fairly well-matched: low to mid 30s being achievable in both under normal driving conditions. The classic isn’t likely to depreciate, either.
There are owners’ clubs for almost any classic car you care to mention, and web-based groups for the younger classic car owner. Whilst this in itself may not be a valid reason for old car ownership, you will certainly find like-minded friends who will be happy to teach you skills or simply offer you a great day out. The Allegro Club International, to pursue our Vanden Plas choice, has almost 250 members spread the length and breadth of Britain and offers model-specific shows as well as attendance at more general events. Even future classics have clubs – the Maestro and Montego OC is a thriving body with many younger members. Websites such as the Young Guns Classics forum can be beneficial too, as they offer an opportunity to talk to like-minded and like-motored young enthusiasts.
Servicing bills too can be chopped with a classic – with few or no electronic gizmos to worry about, and nothing like power steering to go wrong, the workings of a car are reduced to their simplest level. Those with a mechanical bent can look after a classic on the driveway and, even if you wouldn’t know a spark plug from a spanner, servicing costs should plummet in comparison to a modern car. Unless you want to learn a new skill, of course!.
Realistically, most people considering an old car are going to want one because it offers something so few accessible modern cars do: fun. Modern boxes on wheels are mostly anodyne, bland, characterless methods of getting from one place to the next – choose something with no PAS, no ABS, no traction control, something you have to drive rather than just point, and a world of new and enjoyable experiences is open to you.
Don’t just take my word for it, though. Nineteen year old Richard Craig of Classics Monthly has owned everything from the esoteric to the everyday in his two years on the road. “To me, cars aren’t merely a necessity, they’re a passion. Getting on the road is quite a challenge for us young drivers. The rising cost of petrol, road tax, servicing, never mind insurance, is very prohibitive. However, I believe that my decision to run a classic car everyday is the cheapest (and possibly easiest) way to get started. During my first year of motoring, I was paying well under a quarter of what all of my mates were paying to insure their hot hatches. I can’t emphasise enough that, if you maintain your car well, it truly is the best way to get on the road.”
Richard Gunn, of Classic Car Weekly, echoes this message. “All your friends have identikit Astras? What better, instead, than to demonstrate your individuality with an old Viva or Cavalier, for the same kind of money but with greater style and distinctiveness? In today’s throwaway society – where mobile phones and computers get replaced continually and gadgets are thrown away because they can’t be fixed – something that has survived through decades intact is somewhat unusual. DIY is a far more practical proposition on an old car than on something loaded with complicated electronics that scream ‘Don’t touch me!’, and, with it, follows the sense of achievement of having done something yourself. In the end, it’s all about the enjoyment of driving and looking after something old and now unusual. Whatever it might be.”
So there you go Picanto-man, six excellent reasons and expert opinions why young drivers should buck the trend and go classic – stick those in your exhaust pipe and smoke them! Have I put my money where my mouth is? No – I haven’t got the space for my own car yet! Some time soon, though, I’ll begin to practice what I’ve preached; and prove beyond doubt that older cars are viable alternatives to dull, stereotypical super-minis.
