Top 10 Vintage Cars for Under $5,000
Owning a weekend car isn’t only for the wealthy, there are classic and vintage cars in all different price ranges. Here are some of the budget classic cars to get you started. Also, if you want to tinker with an older vehicle, these make good cars for a project.
10.) Chevrolet Nova SS
Behold a classic Chevy Nova. The one we found is a little rough around the edges but appears mechanically sound. You can’t complain about a 350 and no air conditioning in a car that looks this cool.
9.) MG B
There are a number of MG Bs out there for under 5k. The question is, how much money will it take to get it running smoothly? You will you end up spending more than 5k to get it back out onto the road, at least.
8.) Datsun 510
There was one 510 wagon up for sale on eBay recently, but bidding has ended. When we last looked, it was going for $4,550, which seems like a good deal. The car’s interior was ragged, but for under 5k, who would complain?
7.) Triumph Spitfire
For a very small price in the classic car world, you can be the owner of a Spitfire. Much like the MG B though, the purchase price of a Sptifire is an initial investment. If you like puzzles, a Spitfire might be for you.
6.) Alfa Romeo GTV6
Once it’s running smoothly this GTV6 will be worth the trouble it took to get there. T If you’re looking for a home project with an Italian twist, a GTV6 might be a good place to start.
5.) 1966 Plymouth Fury
A fun big production car that you can work on with a socket set, a crescent wrench, and some weekends. This was how cars were supposed to be built.
4.) Datsun Z
This sleep stylish sports car for under 5k? Who wouldn’t want that?
3.) BMW 2002
eBay says there are 10 2002s for sale in the United States for under $5000. This is my personal favorite of the cars listed. This car means business.
2.) Citroen DS
This weird looking car is a one of a kind, and at 5k, she’s a car that only her mother could love.
1.) Mercedes-Benz 190e Cosworth
These older Mercedes are safe, reliable, luxurious, and hold their value. A car like this will turn some head on the street, and best of all, it can be yours for under 5k.
Best Selling Cars
Ranson E. Old created the mass market with his Curved Dash Olds, which sold 600 the first year, and in three years was selling 5,000 cars in the very early 20th century. Here are the top 5 best selling cars of all time:
4. The Ford Escort
Over 20 million Escorts have been built since 1968, despite it being being out of production since 2000. To help compete with the Japanese cars which have been dominating the compact-car scene, Ford decided to introduce the Escort in both a two-door hatchback or four-door wagon models. After multiple design tweaks to both the body and the engine, the Escort was considered a solid compact car for the price (base under $12,000).
3. Volkswagen Beetle
The “Bug”, as it’s known, first hit the road in 1933 and has seen very little change in its design. It has been a very well-loved car for many decades, and it has sold more than 23 million. Mr. Walt Disnsey himself helped to further idoliz the car by making the movie “The Love Bug” in 1968. The Volkswagen Beetle has had international success all over the world. Volkswagen also re-introduced a newer model in the 1990s, and it became a favorite car for a new generation. Base price is under $20,000.
2. Volkswagen Golf
Originally, this car was branded as the Rabbit when it was introduced in 1974. This Volkswagen’s started at $17,995. To date, they have sold 27.5 million of these sedans. The Golf has a reputation for being quick and fun.
1. Ford F-Series
This pick-up truck, which which was first sold in 1948, happens to be the best-selling vehicle of 2011 and is second most sold car with 35 million sold. The average price for is $22,990.
Father’s Day Auto Show About Memories, Not Just the Cars
According to an article recently completed by the Napa Valley Register, the recent Father’s Day Invitational Auto Show was a particularly powerful experience for two repeat participants standing for the first time at the event without their fathers. The display, which was Yountville’s twenty-fourth annual car exposition, featured a variety of vintage vehicles; over one hundred and fifty cars were on show including everything from Jaguars to Ford Mustangs. The display drew in at least three thousand spectators.
Three particular cars were noted in the article. First, a rare red Dodge Charger Daytona was in attendance, one of only five hundred copies made of the onetime NASCAR racer. This car, in its rare quality, was naturally a big pull for spectators.
However, the article focused far more on two annual participants who stood alone by their cars for the very first time. In the case of a 1929 Ford Model A, Bob Simons stood by, looking upon the picture of Bill Simons, his father, which he had placed on the windshield. Bill Simons acquired the Model A and, together with his son, renovated the vehicle from a wreck to perfection. Ever since the completion of the project over a decade ago, father and son have attended the annual car show together to proudly display their efforts. Bill Simons, a high school teacher at schools in Napa Valley and Vintage for over three decades, passed away last year. His memory, however, remains intact, as several repeat spectators approached Bob and spoke fondly of his father and of his work on the vehicle; several of Bill’s previous students even approached Bob, and told stories of how they owe all of their success to his father’s dedication to his students and his job. It was a heartfelt goodbye to the memory of his father.
Jim Finch and his daughter Nicole Hardy bought a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air in 2012. Almost immediately, they set it as their goal to acquire the far more valuable 1956 model. However, unfortunately, Finch passed away before they could achieve this goal. A mere three days after her father’s passing, Hardy found the exact car they had been looking for. The car was purchased and renovated to include a motor from a 2007 Corvette LS1. Looking stunning in powder blue, the car was a big hit at the show and allowed Hardy to remember her father fondly.