Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

ukdave2002 · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4254 Location: South Cheshire

I know we have debated this before.....but I was thinking, the last modern my dad had as a kid was a Mk1 Astra....and if I could find one, I'd buy it! and restore it Very Happy

especially If I could find a GTE Very Happy

.....now my kids were transported round Europe for holidays and Le Mans trips in a Vauxhall Sintra, a car I bought new in 1998, when the kids were toddlers. Despite all the media warnings of how poor the Sintra was, we never had a problem with it in 12 years and 120k miles Very Happy

it was a fantastic car.

All that said I just can't see anyone in 2023 restoring a 1998 Sintra! yet I would be tempted by an 1983 Astra Shocked

Any car made before 1980 is now regarded as a classic, regardless of how poor it was in its day, in 10 years do you think this will be the case for 1990? cars

Dave

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22801 Location: UK

clan chieftain · Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Posts: 2041 Location: Motherwell

VW Golf and the Nissan Figaro will be collectable......and marina estates Laughing

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The Clan Chieftain

MikeEdwards · Joined: 25 May 2011 Posts: 2719 Location: South Cheshire

I'm already seeing stuff like Mk1 (and Mk2) Astras appearing at shows. A mate has a Mk1 Astra GTE that he's restored, and it's immaculate, turns up with his brother who has an Audi quattro of similar age. Much later than that and we start to run into the beginning of the complex electronics, though people are starting to get to grips with these systems, either to keep them going or to replace them with something newer.

There will be a bit of a hole in terms of cars going from old to classic due to the recent "scrappage" scheme that saw a lot of perfectly usable cars being scrapped.

clan chieftain · Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Posts: 2041 Location: Motherwell

There is a Mk1 Astra at the shows up here and has had fortunes thrown at it. It has a Calibra engine and running gear fitted and it looks stunning.
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The Clan Chieftain

smiffy220 · Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2013 2:16 pm Post subject:

Mk1 Astra's are very rare now and very sought after. I used to own a 1.6SR Mk1 Astra, you'll be lucky to see an original one anywhere now! I think some early to mid 80's cars are classics now, probably down to their rarity. So don't see why that would be any different in 10 years time for early 90's cars. Mk 2 and 3 Cavaliers for instance are getting rare now.
But i guess it's all relevant to the persons looking at them and that nostalgia effect as said. I used to own Opel Manta's as my everyday cars. Now 25 years on, I own an original 1980 B series Manta as a very rare classic. I see cars of the late 70's and early 80's and it takes me back to my childhood and early interest in motoring etc. I suspect that will be the same for those currently in their late teens and 20's, that in 10 years or so's time, they'll be looking back saying do you remember Peugeot 405's etc!!
I know that was the same for generations in my Dad's era, who maybe in their 60's and 70's now, that probably look on pre-war or vehicles from the 40's and 50's as true classic cars and can't see how anything newer is a classic, but it's in the eye of the beholder.
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Born to rally, forced to work!

1980 Opel Manta 2.0 SR Berlinetta
1934 Morris Cowley Four (my late fathers)