Can a classic car be your FIRST CAR? Hopley House breakfast car meet!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 ส.ค. 2024
- In today's breakfast car meet walkaround, I ask the question - can your first car be a classic? In this video I will closely study the array of classic cars attending, and will weigh up whether it could feasibly be a 17/18 year old's first car!
As always the Hopley House classic car show offered fantastic variety from 1930s hillclimb specials to 1960s supercars and many other classic British cars inbetween, and expect a verdict on this topical debate for each car.
Favourites of mine included a wonderful pair of Austin A35s, a Downton-tuned MGC GT, an original Lotus 7 and a fantastic pre-war Wolseley special.
If you liked this video then please comment below your thoughts on the classic first car debate, and check out past videos on the homepage, including a similar discussion regarding daily-driving classic cars at another breakfast classic car meet.
Thanks for watching!
#firstcar #classiccars #carmeet
Great job and really nice selection of cars. Any car easy and economical to insure, with good gas milage and a good repair and maintenance parts supply would be the best choice. If I was in England and looking for a first classic car I think it would be a Morris Minor or Oxford or Austin or Morris 1100/1300 or an 1800. Only because we had Morris and Austins from 1955 - 1973 and i have a soft spot for BMC/ BL cars. For young people here insurance is sometimes woth more than the car so i agree with you stay away from them as a first car. I was 8 yrs. old when dad bought a new 1955 Morris Oxford pickup. I still remember the first drive i haad in it. I learned to drive in it and used it to go to work the first three years i worked. So good memories. One thing i notice is that there is more interest in old cars amongst young people Britain than here in Canada. There is some here but you don't see that many young people in the car clubs here. Looking forward to your next video.
Thanks for the comment!
My first car was a 105E Anglia van in bright yellow with wider white steel wheels, had a lot of fun in that!😉
You can get all the parts for aircooled VWs. Beetles aren't too expensive.
Greetings from USA! My first car was a 1968 Triumph Spitfire Mk 3 bought when I was 17.
Very cool!
That's a coincidence.. a 68 MK3 was my first car also ! . Taught me a lot regarding mechanicals of cars ( having just hung up my bike helmet) , what with the front hinged bonnet and all is on show to work on should that be needed, although I did swap out the rear fixed spring for the later swing spring setup ( a lot safer) .
My First car was a Ford 100E Van, Mind you. that was 60 yrs ago 😄 Great Video
Having been privileged to follow your early interest in classic cars from your young film making and start of your shed collection, tongue in cheek I can't help but feel that this super, professional video was a sort of letter to mum, dad and granddad as a hint now you rapidly approach your first car! Lol! Though my 17 birthday resulted in a what is now a classic, a Wolesley 680, when in college I sent big hints for my twenty first that was a success as when I came off the train there was an XK140 outside the station. Unlike you I am not a really oil rag motorist. However, I agree on the baby Austin. Excellent vid!
Rob
Thanks Robert!
An excellent, video, as usual. You are correct, the Hillman Imp engine was based on the Coventry Climax fire pump engine. The car was bedeviled with faults, and gained a reputation for it's unreliability, and I agree it is not a car for someone as a first classic...........
I agree that the VW camper is way too expensive for a teenager I have to say the Kombi is the same wheel base as the Beetle so it isn't as big as you think.
Great video again Harley. My 1st car back in 1980 was a 72 hillman hunter GT CFN140K which cost £200 to buy and the same to insure. I bet your looking forward to being on the road
You're right there!
Top video Harley my first car was a Vauxhall velox 54 E model was my father's car gave it to me when I turned 18 in 1968 , I spotted the red Vauxhall Viva there that would be ideal for you, cheers
Austin 1100 is perfect for a first classic car. I want one so bad. I'm 27 and don't have a classic car yet. Since I live in Belgium my first classic car probably will be an old Opel from the 80's or something bc they are quite cheap.
My first car was a Hyundai ix20 from 2015. Right now I don't have a car anymore
For me it would be a moggy every time.
I have owned 3 over the years .I let the last one go in 1999.I have been looking at getting another as a daily driver, the prices have gone bonkers.
I think people buy them now as they are tax and mot exempt with low cost insurance and now ULEZ exempt.
Interested to see what you will get as a first car Harley!!!!!!!!
Same here!
I love dogs but that dog is barking far too much lol
Hello Harley. I haven't commented for along time, my phone needed repair and I took a break away from viewing TH-cam channels. I think a little Austin A35 might be a ideal car to start off with. It's your choice at the end of the day. The Triumph 2000 estate must be a rare sight on the road today. Even back in the 1970s there weren't many on the roads then. Mainly the saloons. We assembled the saloon only here in New Zealand. Vauxhall Vivas were everywhere back then. Hey maybe an old Viva for your first car , you could burn up some rubber doing wheelies in it.
Haha, I do fancy an Austin A35
hi Harley, great video,hope you got your push bike cleaned up and repaired, my first car to drive on the road was a ford anglia 1964 reg, in maroon and grey.easy to work on.this was in 1969, learn't to drive on a farm in 1965 with l/rovers and fordson major tractors, back then l/rovers were good. how is your tractor ?
Unfortunately still out of action as the glue in the puncture repair kit was useless!
My ideal 1st car would be a Morrie Minor, A35, or Standard 8/10. My first car, in 1960 was an Austin 7 Ruby, and after about 2 years, a Standard Super 10.
Driving slowly would anger impatient roadhogs so you would learn how drive defensively and give the odd friendly gesture 😈
Or course!
In my opinion, getting your licence means you are now able to learn to drive. Learning to drive isn't just putting it in gear and putting your foot down. It's about being situationally aware, honing reactions, driving defensively - not aggressively. You are right to think about insurance costs with a car, but don't forget running expenses like fuel. A 6 cylinder Triumph has quite a thirsty engine. I drove my Dad's 2.5 litre sedan and it seemed to spend most of it's time going to and from the petrol station. A good reliable car though but heavy steering at city speeds because of the lack of power steering. Although my first car was a 1969 HB Vauxhall Vive (and a very good one), Viva's in general had a bad reputation in New Zealand. Hillman Imps had a very poor reputation for reliability. VW vans here were renowned for body rust. I certainly wouldn't want to drive one on salted roads. Austins and Morris's would be a good option - a world of parts and good reputations. That 1100 (with the low milage) would be an excellent buy. A good bird puller? I can't answer that one here, that question needs a whole library of books to answer and what's more, you'll have to write all of those books yourself. Good luck lol.
Haha, thanks for watchin!
Driving is all about anticipation much of which comes from experience hence high insurance for young drivers
Chris
@@christophercumings6827 Exactly.
Interesting idea for a video, Harley, and well presented! My first car was a somewhat neglected A30 and all I could afford at 18. The A35 would be a better choice to avoid too much of a tailback behind you. Not easy to reach over the wings and into the engine compartment, unlike the better access to the Pop engine. But the sidevalve Pop engine would need more attention than the A series. Difficult to fault the choice of an MM. The Viva HC would be a good choice, largely due to its more modern mechanics, etc. Not sure how rustproof they are. A rotting car is really disheartening in a first car. Having had BMC cars with the hydrolastic and hydrogas suspension I'd avoid them due to the need for frequent re-pressurising. So the 1100 is a no. The Imp is a no-no, although I foolishly had a couple of them. Relatively complex all aluminium engine with poor access. Valve clearance adjustment with shims is a fiddle. A modern, more powerful classic would be more of a "tart trap", but the superior performance would be a no-no with insurance companies. So, on balance I'd suggest the Viva HC or MM.
Wonderfully informative video as always, bud. As I am around your Dad's age and a lot of these vehicles were the sort of thing we drove around - or had available - as our potential first car, most of what I have to say will probably sound very familiar!
The A30 / A35 - yep. Most definitely. Even though they are becoming a little thin on the ground now, the A30, A35, A40 (Somerset being my favourite, but you also had the Devon as well as the later Farina-bodied MkI and II to choose from as well), are always a good option. Some parts are only available as rebuilt spares or second hand units as opposed to new nowadays, but with the A-series engine and drivetrain being shared with the more popular Morris Minor / 1000 and Mini, the more commonly worn parts needed are readily available and the car does not need to sit for ages with "a failure to proceed" as your father aptly named it!
My first car was an A30 and we always had them in the family when I was growing up. We'd have at least one or two at a time, with one in particular (named Peanut) being with us from 1977 until 1991 and the one I first learned to drive in, although I took my test in my OWN A30. I still remember the passenger's side trafficator stayed stuck in the B-pillar when I was asked to turn left, so I reached across behind the Traffic Officer in the passenger's seat and whacked the pillar to get it to come out - which it did with its usual series of clunks and clicks. The surprised cop looked out the window at the glowing stick, then stared at me for a couple of seconds, then leaned over to look at the top right of the windscreen where my car was displaying its valid Warrant of Fitness (WoF - or MoT as you know it), made a note on his pad and breathed a long sigh. Maybe he thought I was making a pass at him when my arm went behind, I don't know, but I was scared he would fail me if it didn't come out and show that I was indeed indicating where my car was going to go.
Kombi vans - nope. Agree with you there. They are very expensive over here....and working on the engine is a pain in the rear. They are also prone to rotting in nasty places.
Morry Minors - yep. Again - cannot beat an A-series engine....although a common re-power over here in NZ is a Datsun 1200 or 1500 and 5-speed box out of the likes of a RWD Datsun Sunny. Like the A30 / A35, you can drop a larger engine in, swap a lower ratio diff in, put bigger wheels on (the 14s on the Morry will fit the A35) and easily allow it to sit on 70mph all day. A mate of mine dropped a worked 1100 A-series with twin carbs and extractors into his A35 van, put widened 14s on it and used to scare the pants off people overtaking them on the motorway in what externally looked like a clapped out old banger, but underneath was a veritable powerhouse that happily pootled along at the far end of the speedo. Stopping it was a different story though......
I daily my Triumph 2500S and my Stag, but the 2500S is definitely a great daily and a practical one at that. The Stag is very thirsty (and yes, they are expensive to purchase), but the 2500 is definitely a great first classic. As a 17-year-old? Hmmmm..... I'd have no issues myself at that age, but nowadays, I think insurance companies would prefer new drivers to be in a 4-cylinder and preferably under 2 litres.
Hillman Imp? Agree with you - not the easiest to work on and new parts are getting scarce. An enthusiasts car only
The Firebird? Definite no for a 17 year old, but a great one for a first classic car as the parts are plentiful and readily available from the US.....and they are as simple as to work on.
The ADO16 - once again, the A-series is lovely. Hydrolastic - very hard to find repairs for outside the UK and rather expensive even then. Same with the MkII Mini.
BMWs? Nope. Not over here either. They go missing quite a bit too, as well as parts being hard to come by unless you have unlimited funds.
Viva? Yep. Easy to find maintenance parts and easy to work on, although engine internals are getting hard to find. Good on petrol and comfy on a long trip too.
E-type? Hahahahahaha!
A Lotus 7? Great first classic car, easy to work on, parts are plentiful, so a great first classic......but not for a 17 year old.....unless you have big pockets for insurance.
MG - again, another great first classic idea. MGB could be ok for a 17-year-old in regards insurance and yes, they WOULD be a bird-puller. They were in the day and certainly still are over here, but just watch the rust. Easy to daily the car too as they aren't bad on petrol or usual maintenance items. Easy to work on too.
Between the Viva and the MG - pick the MG. Would the Viva appeal more to the ladies than the A35? Nope. A35s look cute and cuddly and appeal to women a lot more than the boxy shape of the Viva, which just looks like an old car that Grandad might have driven. Unfortunately, the same thing can be said about the 2500 unless it has the vinyl on the C-pillar, rear plinth and Stag alloys of the 'S' or PI variant and therefore a bit more sporty. The Fiat would appeal to them too....but it's not really as classic as the A35, is it?
Hope this gives you a bit of help and maybe a laugh or two. All the best, mate
Yes an MGB is a tempter, I do like the idea of a tuned up A35
For a young driver with little money, I'd have to say that the Rootes badged 4-cylinder cars would be ideal. Whereas the A35 is limited as far as highway speeds go, A nice Hillman Minx/Humber Vogue/Riley etc etc etc would be a far better bet. Or an MG Magnate/Wolseley, or even a Wolseley 1500 would also be far better for a teenaged driver wanting not only a classic car but their ticket to "freedom" on the motorways. Mind you, today we have cars like the Peugeot 205 as a classic now so classic doesn't have to mean old and side valved. Then there are the W124 Mercedes which are still very achievable and they're solid cars with easy to get parts.
Some good choices there!
Hi Harley my first car was an 1964 Austin 1100 it was a fantastic an every comfortable it's great to see the old cars the only main problem is when petrol goes the older cars then have to be obviously turn to electric there will not be much fun in that but that's in time to come it looks a great day out you had you only need a little car to build your no claims bonus up Harley as the insurance is quite expensive especially now days first time driver but good luck Harley great video love watching Harley keep up with the great video.s 👍👍
Thanks Martin!
GOOD MIRNING Harley my choice would be a 1100 cc Morris Minor its a first car and a go most places car with lots of upgrades off the shelf love the video Thanks now off to have a bacon Butty .PS ,is a Bird puller ! i don't think so sorry.
Thanks David!
The first car i wanted was a Cortina 1600e but i ended up with a Ford Anglia 105e, drove loads of miles in my mate's Austin A35. Cars i would recommend A35 Moggie 1000 Triumph Herald. Don't loose sight of the E type.
A Herald is a good choice
Great vid harley.. the austin would be a good choice ,moggys go on forever, loads spares out there.well done harley😊
I had a 1960 Riley 1.5 and I think one of those would make a good first classic. Just a saloon so should not be too bad to insure but a bit faster than the Minor and A35, making it more capable for motorway use.
Mhm I do like a Riley 1.5...
Excellent video Harley😮as usual
The morris 1000 would be my every day driver we had one for five years sold it as a first car for£300 to a new driver
Every time I see one wish I’d still got it
Have you got your bike fixed😊
Unfortunately the puncture repair kit was substandard and it's still out of action 😮
Sorry to hear that
Sure you Wii get there😊
My first car was a classic car. Learnt to drive in it. Used it as a daily drive. Drove the whole country, Scotland and Wales. Bought it from Pilkington Glass Millionaire, from an advert in Exchange and Mart in 1978. The car was an Austin Healey 3000 MK2 1962 Triple Carb. Was told that it had never been used in Motorsport. That was a lie, because of the extra parts we found in the car that proved it had been used on Rallies. I used to set up Driving tests and only works cars could make some of the tests we set up using ours as a tests run.
I restored it to a non standard colour a couple of years later had to sell it to build a rally car.
It is still on the road in the colour I had it painted 40 years later.
So yes you can have a classic car for your first car.
The only thing I wish is that I still had it today.
Now that's a cool first car!!
@@CarTractionvids thanks
I was born in the fifties so EVERY car I bought as a young driver was a classic car even if it was only 4 years old like my 1967 Beetle which was my first car bought in 1972. But my first "old" car was my P4 Rover 90.
So Harley, having absorbed comments on your video and gathering your own reflections, what is your choice for your first classic car?
That's a tough question, I could name so many but anything fairly usable, with decent parts supply, probably British 1950s or 1960s, something affordable and hopefully decent(ish!) condition! I'm not sure I can narrow it down to a specific car as I like so many, could be anything from an MGB to the Standard 8!
British 50's or 60's seems a sensible choice if you live in the UK, due to ease of spare parts, access to knowledge and owners clubs, and of course you will be able to tap into your Dad's wealth of knowledge on British cars. I look forward to seeing what you eventually choose having passed your driving test!@@CarTractionvids