Deciding factors ...

[Bootsy]

Thomas - that must be a rare beast being LHD.

.

Yes apparently very rare

[Kneeslider]

Alpine A110?

Or are they too silly expensive too?

[Lightweight_911]

.

A proper French-built A110 is £75k + for anything in good condition with its correct Gordini engine ...

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[rhd racer]

Early Alfa Sud / Sprint Veloce?

1.3 / 1.5 options, 5 speed, light, boxer engine, getting very very rare and I am sure more widely available in dry climates in LHD

My mate had versions of each when we were at college 30 years ago, and they were a scream on every level, and quite unlike anything else around at the time

[Lightweight_911]

.

A girlfriend of mine had a 3 yr old Alfasud 1.2 Ti in the late '70's which I got to drive quite a bit - it was great fun but was already quite rusty.

i looked into getting one for myself about 10 years ago but many body panels & most exterior trim was virtually impossible to find - don't know if things have improved (I doubt it) ...

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[gridgway]

There’s always a way. Your 904 was road registered wasn’t it?

OT: but where is that lovely car today?

[Lightweight_911]

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Still owned & used by the person who bought it from me - who also happens to own an original 904 ...

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[MikeB]

Fulvia is a hard car to beat on this, you could also consider the Zagato version.

However back to the French side of things, instead of an Alpine, how about the Matra Djet?


https://www.reezocar.com/en/occasion/an ... 56208.html


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Lightweight_911]

.

Matra D'jet was suggested by Robert B early on in this thread.

Great little cars but, like the A110 (the prices of which have led to increases in the prices of the little Matras), many have lost their original R8 Gordini engines - often to be replaced with R5 Gordini engines (like the car in your link).

Nothing wrong with R5 Gordini engines - which are easier & much cheaper to tune - as long as the original engine comes with the car.

.

[rhd racer]

I just looked at Renault 5 Turbo 2s. I know they are 80s, but a nice small engine and fit the brief in every other way ...but prices have gone utterly ballistic

So, being more realistic, how about an early Sunbeam Alpine? I have always loved the styling, in fact my Alfa Sud driving friend’s dad had a Tiger, but they are in another league now too. However, early s1 and 2 cars look pretty good value, like this

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1134736

Not keen on the MG Rostyle (if I remember correctly) wheels on this one though, but plenty around....

[jonno1]

Innocenti Cooper?

https://www.classic-trader.com/uk/cars/ ... 967/201264

https://www.classic-trader.com/uk/cars/ ... 967/162038

But am sure you must have had a mini or six at some point ; )

[Lightweight_911]

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R5 Turbo has no appeal - nor does a Sunbeam Alpine (or any other British car - apart from a Climax Elite which was ruled out on price) ...

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[Lightweight_911]

But am sure you must have had a mini or six at some point ; )

Only ever had one Mini - a '64 Radford 1071cc Cooper S ...

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[jonno1]

But am sure you must have had a mini or six at some point ; )

Only ever had one Mini - a '64 Radford 1091cc Cooper S ...

.

Very nice.

Original engine available...

https://www.leboncoin.fr/voitures/1518960801.htm/

Or perhaps monsieur cares for this...a seahorse on wheels

https://www.leboncoin.fr/voitures/1602881886.htm/

[911hillclimber]

Are you asking the impossible Andy.
Like many, I have put myself in your position as much as I can today while doing some mind knumbing things at home, but the requirements seems like finding the jet that nobody else has found or 'discovered' yet.
Any nice special car from the 60 to 80's have surely been found and if the trade could, exploit it over the last decade?

914 might meet your spec.

When I've been restless over another classic I've gone to the classic cars for sale sites and simply gone down the lists and there are several surprises!