The Best Classic Cars and Future Classics

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Classic Cars (and Future Classic Cars)

What is the best classic car? Which ones can really be used and which one can you just look at?

How difficult and expensive are they to own and run?

Which cars are reliable and economical and how much do the parts cost to replace? How frequent and expensive is the servicing of these cars?

Are classic cars just an expensive, dangerous nightmare or a viable, more interesting alternative to a modern car?

I have had a few classic cars. This article is about my cars and the pros and cons of owning an old classic car. All of the cars here are inexpensive to buy and not too expensive to run and insure.

1985 Ferrari 308 GTS QV

1975 Alfa Romeo Spider

1985 Alfa Romeo Spider

2000 Jaguar XKR

1997 Jaguar XJ12

And the next one might be...

Bentley Turbo R

1960's or 2009 Fiat 500

I have written separate reviews of each, with pictures, so please follow the links below.

Please also see my articles and photos of driving trips in my classic cars: Loire Valley, France, in a Ferrari and Le Mans 24 Hour Race (France), and a Ferrari and an Alfa Spider

Do you like American muscle cars, Italian sports cars or British luxury car?
Please add and vote for your favourites below...

1985 Ferrari 308 GTS QV 

Do you want to look like Magnum PI?

Fast, loud and beautiful Italian classic sports car, the Ferrari 308 GTS is also affordable and reliable. In it's day it was one of the best "supercars" available, with excellent handling, performance and style; designed by Pininfarina, built by Ferrari with bodywork assembled by Scaletti.

My 308 GTS QV never broke down, was inexpensive to run and insure and looked and sounded wonderful.

The 308 is famous for it's starring role in the Magnum PI TV series.

Here is my review and photos:

Ferrari 308 GTS

What is the best classic car? 

Please add and vote for your favourite classic or future classic car.

Ferrari 308 GTS

2 points

Jaguar XKR

2 points

Alfa Romeo Spider

1 point

Jaguar XJ12

1 point

Ferrari 250 GT California Spider

1 point

jaguar e-type

1 point

Fiat 500

1 point

1964 Ford Mustang (The one from the Goldfinger Bond Movie)

1 point

Lamborghini Countach (1974-89)

Designed by Marcello Gandini at the Bertone design more...1 point

Dino 246 GTS (Ferrari)

The most beautiful car ever made?1 point

Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona

Designed by Leonado Fiavanti at Pinifarina - front more...1 point

D Type Jaguar

1 point

Porsche 911

0 points

Chevrolet Corvette

0 points

Pontiac Firebird

0 points

Dodge Challenger

0 points

Chevrolet Camaro

0 points

The Best Car In The World (Ferris Bueller) 

If you have the means...

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Ferrari books and models 

Ferrari: The Road from Maranello

Amazon Price: $29.70 (as of 12/16/2009) Buy Now

Ferrari Legends: Classics of Style and Design

Amazon Price: $37.96 (as of 12/16/2009) Buy Now

Ferrari 60 Years: The Great Moments

Amazon Price: $31.50 (as of 12/16/2009) Buy Now

Disney Pixar Cars: Ferrari F430

Amazon Price: $6.99 (as of 12/16/2009) Buy Now

Ferrari 328 GTS Red 1/18 Kyosho

Amazon Price: (as of 12/16/2009) Buy Now

Ferrari For Sale 

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1975 Alfa Romeo Spider 2000 

The Alfa Romeo Duetto was the beautiful star of the 1966 film, The Graduate, (also staring Dustin Hofman) The original 1966 car had a 1600cc engine, but the one pictured has the more powerful 2000 engine (and the name Duetto had been dropped by then, due to Alfa Romeo being sued by a food manufacturer who made a biscuit of the same name)

I have owner two of these wonderful convertibles:

1975 Alfa Romeo Spider
1985 Alfa Romeo Spider

Please see the separate articles about these:

Alfa Spiders

Alfa Romeo For Sale 

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What's Your Favourite Type of Classic Car/Truck? 

Do you prefer American Muscle, Italian Sportscars, British Luxury, Trucks... Please add and vote for your favourites below:

British Luxury Cars

Bentleys, Rolls Royce, Jaguar, Daimler, Bristol...4 points

Italian Sports Cars

Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, Alfa Romeo...0 points

American Muscle Cars

Chevrolet, Ford, Pontiac...0 points

Trucks

0 points

French Cars

e.g. Citroen 2CV0 points

Jaguar XKR 

The Jaguar XKR is a big luxurious coupe with a powerful and smooth 4 litre supercharged V8, a proper old-fashioned wood and leather interior, but very modern adaptive suspension, excellent handling and performance. Faster, more comfortable, more powerful, smoother and more practicle than a standard Porsche 911 or even an Aston Martin DB7 of the same age.

The Jaguar XKR was actually the sister car of the Aston Martin DB7. Jaguar had developed a new Grand Turismo (GT) coupe to replace the aging and unloved XJS. Aston mean-while were going bankrupt (again) so Ford, the parent company of both Aston and Jaguar, badged the new coupe as an Aston Martin, and the Jaguar version with the new, far better, V8 engine came out a year later.

Is it really a classic? Possibly not quite, but it will be soon.

Here my review and photos:

Jaguar XKR

Jaguars for Sale 

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Jaguar Books 

The Story Of Jaguar (Classic Cars)

Amazon Price: $23.00 (as of 12/16/2009) Buy Now

Jaguar XK: A Celebration of Jaguar's 1950s Classic (Haynes Great Cars Series)

Amazon Price: (as of 12/16/2009) Buy Now

Jaguar: Fifty Years of Speed and Style (Haynes Classic Makes)

Amazon Price: $26.37 (as of 12/16/2009) Buy Now

Jaguar XJ12 /Daimler Double Six 

The Jaguar XJ12 is big heavy luxurious car with a monstrous 6.0 litre V12 engine (same type and size as you might find in a very expensive Ferrari). This is a very rare car which also exists in long-wheelbase form and badged as a Daimler Double Six A comfortable, very smooth, powerful limo with the performance of a slightly overweight supercar, acres of wood and leather and the ambiance of a posh gentleman's club.

Here is my review and photos:

Jaguar XJ12

Jaguar models 

Signature Models Scale 1:32 - 1949 Jaguar XK 120

Amazon Price: $9.17 (as of 12/16/2009) Buy Now

Yat Ming Scale 1:18 - 1971 Jaguar E-Type

Amazon Price: $21.95 (as of 12/16/2009) Buy Now

Signature Models Scale 1:32 - 1939 Jaguar SS-100

Amazon Price: $12.99 (as of 12/16/2009) Buy Now

Yat Ming Scale 1:18 - 1975 Jaguar XJS

Amazon Price: $34.99 (as of 12/16/2009) Buy Now

HO Die-Cast 1961 Jaguar XKE, Green

Amazon Price: $3.98 (as of 12/16/2009) Buy Now

Fiat 500 - Old and New Classic Car 

How about a brand-new classic?

The original Fiat 500 or "cinquecento" was made by Fiat from 1957 until 1975; a cheap people's car similar in concept to the VW Beetle in Germany, Morris Mini in England and the Citroen 2CV in France.

The original Fiat 500 is tiny at just 10 feet long with a 479 cc two-cylinder, air-cooled engine (i.e. a 500cc engine)

The new Fiat 500 was launched in 2007 based on the original in terms of styling, but based on the modern Fiat Panda for mechanicals.

If you like the original or the new pretender please see this review

The New Fiat 500

Classic Car Reviews Published on Helium 

These car reviews have also been published on Helium.com

Ferrari 308 GTS
Jaguar XJ12
Jaguar XKR

Bentley Turbo R 

Bentley For Sale 

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Classic Car Books 

Car and Driver's American Road Warriors: Classic Muscle Cars

Amazon Price: $16.49 (as of 12/16/2009) Buy Now

Luxury Toys Classic Cars

Amazon Price: $37.77 (as of 12/16/2009) Buy Now

Computer Driving Games 

If you can't afford a garage full of classic cars how about racing them on a computer, PlayStation, Xbox etc.

Race 07: Official WTCC Game

Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 12/16/2009) Buy Now

World Of Outlaws Sprint Cars

Amazon Price: $19.99 (as of 12/16/2009) Buy Now

GRID

Amazon Price: $14.85 (as of 12/16/2009) Buy Now

Corvette Computer Racing Driving PC GAME

Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 12/16/2009) Buy Now

Monster Jam

Amazon Price: $12.99 (as of 12/16/2009) Buy Now

Classic Car Articles 

More Related Articles 

My classic car driving trips and other articles...

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Lensmaster AndyPo has been a member since July 7 2008, has rated 1,977 lenses, favorited 1,900, and has created 205 lenses from scratch. This member's top-ranked page is "The Rocky Mountaineer Train, Canada". See all my lenses

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