Undervalued and overlooked

[Super 7]

I love to look at UK classifieds in Classic and Sportscar, Practical classics, etc. The 105speed.com website has some beautiful modified Anglias. Check out the "Your Cars" section.

From what I have seen in some of the magazines though, a lot of cars there (in the UK) are restored from hulks that would be unworthy parts cars here. I would love to buy one, but I'm afraid to. Repaired rust has a to return I prefer no rust.

I'm thinking of going over later this year and having a look around at some used cars though. MK I & 2 Escorts, and maybe Anglia's.

 

[Steve]

My first car was the Anglia 105E.....the base model. In fact, had I known how comparatively rare it was I might have been more tempted to keep it. Admittedly there are some cars that have been resored from hulks as you rightly put it. In the UK they are referred to as "sheds" (as in the garden variety). There are, however, many cars that were looked after from day one, and have remained rust free, so not all is doom and gloom. Good luck with your hunt for Escorts and Anglias, there are a fair number around still, although the hot Escorts such as the Mexicos and RS2000s are rather expensive, and watch out for fakes.

 

[huck6]

I've had my heart set on a classic mini, but not at these prices. The minor is a nice alternative, but harder to find.

One added value of the UK cars is the MOT. It is pretty amazing that we do not have something like it in the States. Some states do different types of inspections, but to my knowledge, none are as rigorous as the MOTs (well, I'm assuming that MOTs are pretty picky judging by the UK classic car mags).

 

[78Z]

Most remaining MkII Escorts have been cut up for use in Locost projects. Apparently Cortinas are a rare sight now too as their front hubs are favored in many kit cars.

For undervalved I'd have to say the Reliant Scimitar goes pretty cheap over in the UK (with only a handful here the market is too hard to judge). You would think that they would hold value well being fiberglass with no body rot concerns, prestige of being hand built and owned by royaltly - most notably Princess Anne. Also the rugged and common Ford mechnicals should be another plus point. And with the hatch they are practical too. Only over heating issues and quality woes on the mid years are black marks yet the prices range from free to very little.

 

[Steve]

Here's a really good resource for older Fords in the UK

https://www.affordableclassics.co.uk/

You would probably find that most of the Escorts and Cortinas that have been cannibalised for parts as you describe are going to be the average to rough veriety. British Fords are weell catered for by several clubs, and the enthusiasts really do take care of their cars. Good comment about the Scimitar, though I am not really up on the prices over there, must do some research there. Ford Capris are cheap in the UK, and they share the Cortina's oily bits to a large extent, there being only a couple of exceptions. They really weren't that bad.

 

[Roger]

I cannot help thinking that some of the cars in this thread were dreadful when new, and since then they have got old. That may make them rare, but that's a good thing - don't want too many of them around!
I was going to name those that are really best forgotten and overlooked, but realising that might upset some, I'm omitting those mentioned in this thread.
How about these for British Cars I wish I'd never come across?

Austin Allegro
Morris Ital
Metropolitan (well it was British built)
Standard 8
Ford Popular 100E
Vauxhall Victor Mk1
Vauxhall Cresta (of any type)
Vauxhall Viva
Come to think of it, just about every Vauxhall from 1950 to 1980 or so!
Straight-6 Fords (Zephyr, Zodiac)
Metro of any persuasion
Bond Bug
Reliant Robin

 

[Steve]

You could be right.......In any event, I would agree completely about the llegro and the Ital. Don't forget the Marina too!! I drove many Allegros, and I was not impressed. Another one.....the Maxi, especially in its early days. Terrible! I always thought that the 1800cc Vauxhall Magnum and the droop snoot Firenzas were okay, but then I never got to drive any of them. I always felt that the Escort was a nicer product than either the Allegro or the Marina. And speaking of horrors......the BL wedge Princesses. Awful. I would be rather intrigued by your opinions of some of the cars mentioned. I would agree that age does not a classic make, but also that we don't need to upset anyone /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif Maybe start a new thread.......forgotten and best overlooked? Keep in mind though, a lot of the cars that you mention were not available over here.

 

[78Z]

forgotten and best overlooked? How about a Triumph Acclaim?

 

[Steve]

Oh, certainly yes. The Acclaim was certainly not the high water mark of Triumph. Another good car that is overlooked in the UK is the Triumph 1300 and the 1300TC. Very nice little cars, luxurious, decent performance, front wheel drive. They never came to the USA did they? How about Canada?

 

[78Z]

nope.

 

[Steve]

Another one that should be overlooked......Hillman Avenger!!

 

[philman]

I've got some literature on the BMC1800 (Woolsey I think)sedan. Not much, just something I picked up in a used book store to read. I had never seen one. Late '60's I believe.

 

[tony barnhill]

We love our MG1100..when she was in bhigh school ,our daughter & her friends loved driving it

 

[philman]

I also got a Humber Hauk MKVI owner's handbook.

 

[catfood]

My dad used to have an Austin (BMC) 1800. He reckons it was the best car he's ever had (by the standards of the day). My dad never could afford new cars and the 1800 was three or four years old when he got . The only trouble he ever had with it was when the hydrlastic suspension blew out. I remember the incident well, it sounded like some had shot out a rear wheel with a shotgun at point blank range. The only other (typically BMC) problem with the car was bodywork corrosion, but he liked the car so much he had the bodywork fixed up and a full respray! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/england.gif

 

[Super 7]

My folks had a couple Vauxhalls in California in the 60's. They had pretty good service out of them. My dad worked in the body shop at a GM dealership and the dealer had to take them in trade because they had sold them. We got the second because my mother wrecked the first one. They were a little ungainly looking with baby Oldsmobile styling on a short tall body. I remember having to clean the interior, and I know it was made of higher grade materials than my English Fords inside.

Here is a cool link to some Anglias https://105speed.com/default.asp?id=44
The neat thing about the Fords is that the bolt pattern on the block is the same from a 1000 cc Anglia to a 2 liter Zetec including Lotus twincam, Cosworth BD and Y series, the 2 liter SOHC that came in Capri, etc. It means that there are a lot of engine options and a few transmission options in the family for the person who enjoys that sort of thing.

 

[Steve]

Now that it has been discussed on the Lotus forum, I must nominate the Elan +2. Beautiful cars.

 

[78Z]

The Leyland P76 is by most accounts a very nice and not worthy of its lousy reputation. The coupe version (https://www.austin-rover.co.uk/index.htm?p76force7f.htm) would have been quite exciting if ever produced - kinda like Dodge Charger.

 

[Mark Beiser]

[ QUOTE ]
We love our MG1100..when she was in bhigh school ,our daughter & her friends loved driving it

[/ QUOTE ]

Isn't that the one she used more like an amusment park ride than a car? Trying to tip it over on turns and all.... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jester.gif

 

[DanZ]

There was a real nice Princess at UML Summer Part last weekend, although I think it was sold.