What should you look for when buying a classic car? Scarcity and legitimate provenance are obviously key factors. But there is something else much more important. “Buy what you’ve always wanted,” says Iain Tyrrell, Chester’s classic car oracle. Iain hosts his Tyrrell Classic Workshop YouTube show while leaning on a gorgeous V12 engine, checking the sound of one cylinder with another in his workshop. “There is too much focus on investing. Obviously, do your research on the Internet, select the model and get a specialized appraisal from a classic car expert. But don’t let your head rule your heart; every purchase should be 50% head and 50% heart.”
A Porsche 356. All vehicles photographed at Goodwood Revival 2022 © Julian Broad
I could fall in love with any of the cars photographed across these pages at this year’s Goodwood Revival, but if you put me in their shoes, the BMW 3.0 CS coupé is a wonderful starting point. Cute and nimble, it really is a BMW and not one of the 1960s Italian rarities designed by a coachbuilder like Carrozzeria Scaglietti. The BMW 3.0 CS coupe, or E9 Clubsport, is one of the most stylish two-door coupes BMW has ever produced. Its designers Wilhelm Hofmeister and Manfred Rennen were inspired by the 3200 CS designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro. The bodywork for the 3.0 CS was built by Karmann and spawned the highly successful CSL lightweight road and race-ready version. The six-cylinder M30 engine in the CS coupé produces 180 hp, which increases to 200 hp in the CSi. A BMW expert should look for blown gaskets that cause head cracks. All suspension struts and bushings may also need to be replaced. If it feels sluggish to drive, then a worn camshaft could be to blame. Check the complex brake system for oil leaks and rust. Today a well kept 3.0 CS coupe will cost around £120,000. If you’re seduced by looks and image, a lesser 2.5 CS coupe can be had for around £50,000.
A Ford Mustang © Julian Broad A Porsche 911 with Cibié hood lights © Julian Broad A Jaguar XK150 © Julian Broad A classic Alfa Romeo Junior (above) © Julian Broad
“The classic car market is fickle,” explains Tyrrell. “One minute a star is driving an MGB in a Hollywood movie and everyone wants one. Cars come in and fall out of favor.” He emphasizes that a car with style and beauty is a good choice, but he has a firm view on strange creations. “Quirky cars can be a double-edged sword.” So what would Tyrell suggest as a great first classic that will be pretty reliable? “A Porsche 911 has a lot of appeal. Parts are easy to come by and the car should rarely depreciate in value.”
Working on a BMW 1800 TI/SA © Julian Broad
Maybe you like some mesmerizing beauty? Consider Maserati’s Ghibli coupe, named after an Egyptian desert wind. The 15.4-foot Ghibli and Ghibli SS were produced between 1967 and 1972 and again designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro. What we have here is a two-door, 2+2 coupe powered by a 4,719cc V8, which produces 330bhp, or 5bhp more in the larger 4.7-litre found in the SS trim. Drive one of these today and expect the continuous sound of low whistles as you pass. With its cheeky cabin with five central dashboard-mounted clocks and a long hood that rises and falls with acceleration, this is a very handsome car. When considering one, make sure it has a fully documented history detailing chassis, body and engine maintenance from new. Go for the 1969 version with the four Weber 42 DCNF carburettors as it will be easier to maintain. Also worth finding is an example of the car with ZF power steering, which is useful when handling such a large car at low speed. Ubiquity is unlikely to be a considerable concern, as Maserati made just 779 examples of the standard car and only 425 of the SS model. The sensational and very expensive Spyder is even rarer, with 125 produced. Expect to pay over £200,000 for a good Ghibli coupe and over £300,000 for a pristine one.
A 1972 Porsche 911S 2.4 Targa © Julian Broad A BMW 3.0 CSL © Julian Broad A 1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 © Julian Broad Sam Hancock’s Ferrari 246S Dino © Julian Broad
Maybe you want to take your classic passion to the track? The official Alfa Romeo 1750 GTA cars were built by Autodelta in Settimo Milanese, which had been absorbed by Alfa as an official racing manufacturer in the 1960s. It was powered by a 1,985 cc four-cylinder indirect injection Spica configuration and twin spark that drove 210 hp at 7,500 rpm and reached 230 km/h. The little racer weighed just 940kg and was a progression from the GTA model. At full speed, the GTAm roars and barks like a cornered wild animal. It’s easy to tell the car apart from the GTA version, as it added thicker wheel arches riveted to the steel bodywork for fatter racing tires. Only 40 genuine GTAm cars were produced and they would change hands for huge sums of money, but rebuilt examples offer a good bridge to track racing for under £100,000. If undisputed provenance and history are essential to you, an original Alfa Romeo GTAm built by Autodelta would be a singularly prized possession.
A 1980 Ford © Julian Broad
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“Be as pragmatic as possible with the purchase,” advises Max Girardo, the UK and Turin authority on car buying for global customers. Girardo worked for a decade with RM Sotheby’s as head auctioneer and also as head of European operations before establishing his own classic car brokerage – Girardo & Co in 2016. Girardo has seen rarities change hands for quantities colossal money at the auction. However, his advice is encouragingly egalitarian. “Always buy the best you can afford, whether it’s a Fiat 500 or a Ferrari California Spyder.” When it comes to letting your heart influence your head, he’s a bit more circumspect than Tyrrell. “Never get excited,” he says. “Maybe you wanted a Fiat Dino in blue and rush out to buy it, only to find it has a knock on the engine or doesn’t work.”
A 2000 BMW © Julian Broad A 1977 Lamborghini Silhouette P300 © Julian Broad A Ferrari 246 Dino GT © Julian Broad A 1970s Citroen SM © Julian Broad
I ask him what is on the market now. “The biggest move in the market is cars from the 90s and 2000s. A Renault Clio Williams could be the car you wanted when you were 18 with a new license and couldn’t afford it.” Perhaps unsurprisingly, he also points to Ferrari as a perennial favorite for investment. “Ferrari is a brand with aspirations. You’ll even get your money back with a Ferrari 348, while a 599 Fiorano or a 612 won’t depreciate. The hot ticket now is modern supercars – a Ferrari Enzo or a Porsche Carrera GT, which is what everyone wants.”
Girardo points out why now might be a good time to hunt down the classic of your dreams. Fears of a recession with rising interest rates are holding prices steady for now. “The market is super stable,” he says. “Prices are not rising, but stable.”