10 under £10K: bargain classics you can buy next week

CCA auction offers shopping list of everyday classics

Owning a classic car is infamously expensive. Besides maintenance bills, running repairs and an endless supply of oil, you’re likely to spend hundreds buying t-shirts and memorabilia to go with your motor.

Thankfully, while there’s little you can do about an insatiable appetite for merchandise, you can cut the cost of ownership by making a smart buying choice when you pick which car to purchase – and CCA’s Warwickshire auction next Saturday (2 June) is a great place to start.

We’ve scoured the lots and turned up 10 bargain classics that should set you back less than £10k (but shouldn't conk out at the first sign of a road trip) – so you’ll be able to spend the rest of your pennies on boot stickers.

1984 BMW 635 CSI

Estimate: £8,000 – 10,000

The later M6 might be more desirable, but this 1984 example of BMW’s 635 CSi is hardly a layabout: equipped with a Getrag 5-speed gearbox and 3.4-litre M30 engine with Bosch fuel injection, this sharknose should still see you right on the autobahn. Well-kept and with only four former owners, it reportedly drives like a dream even after 113,000 miles, and enjoys a largely original interior in great condition.

1965 MG Midget

Estimate: £5,000 – 7,000

True to its name in every respect, the Midget was a diminutive sports car that could just about seat two. Poky but plucky, the Midget remains an excellent starter classic by dint of its simple mechanics and good parts availability. This 1965 1.1-litre MkII example was rebuilt in 1995 and subsequently dry-stored, with just 5500 miles on the clock since the overhaul – and it looks lovely.

1970 MG B Roadster

Estimate: £8,000 – 10,000

Bigger than the Midget, this drop-top B is a wonderful example of the straightforward British two-seater. Simple, stylish and great fun to drive, this bonny Bronze Yellow 1.8-litre example comes with a long history of invoices and MOTs (always handy) and a recent bare shell restoration means it’s in outstanding condition today, complete with a fresh interior, carpeted boot and Moto-Lita steering wheel.

1991 Mercedes-Benz 190 E Cosworth

Estimate: £8,000 – 10,000

Mercedes wanted to go rallying with the 190 E, but when Audi brought out the Quattro it took to DTM instead, fitting a detuned racing Cosworth engine to the 190 E to meet homologation requirements. This example of the high-performance Merc has been on show at Mercedes-Benz World following an extensive cosmetic restoration in 2011, and was formerly owned by Mike Hall – designer and director at Cosworth in the ‘60s. All of which makes it quite the steal.

1994 Volkswagen Polo G40

Estimate: £6,000 – 8,000

It might be the Polo’s growlier Golf GTI cousin that everyone remembers, but the Polo G40 was a supercharged supermini that was the very definition of a hot hatch – developing 115bhp in a featherweight body and capable of topping 120mph in the right conditions. This unmodified and highly original example’s been stabled with the same owner for some eight years, comes with an extensive service history and has a respectable mileage of 85,000.

1990 Ford Escort XR3I

Estimate: £8,000 – 10,000

One of several fast Fords available at the CCA sale – including an SE 500 Cabriolet that’s also going for less than £10k – this 1990 XR3i is our pick thanks to its low mileage (43,500), comprehensive Ford service history and the fact that it was recommissioned in 2016 after a decade in dry storage. Complete with iconic rally-style headlamps, its fuel-injected 1.6-litre motor makes it every bit the ‘90s hot hatch – in white, no less.

1990 Mazda MX-5 Mk I

Estimate: £5,000 – 7,000

Easily the most popular sports car of the ‘90s (and arguably today), Mazda’s majestic MX-5 launched in 1990 with a 1.6-litre engine good for 116bhp, independent suspension and no mod-cons. Simple, sporty and superb to drive, MkI MX-5s are a solid investment, both for their driving pleasure and rising values. This early example has just 33,000 miles on the clock and goes to auction with a full service history, making it a true bargain classic.

1989 Peugeot 205 CTI 1.6

Estimate: £6,000 – 8,000

How do you take a barnstorming hot hatch good for 104bhp (and a fantastic time in your nearest supermarket car park) and make it better? You lop off the roof and make a convertible version.

The drop-top cousin to the cult classic GTI, Peugeot’s 205 CTI could hit 60mph in less than 9 seconds and would top out at just less than 120mph – all with the wind in your hair. This example has remarkably had the same owner for the last 27 years, though its engine might benefit from a refurb.

1986 Porsche 944

Estimate: £6,000 – 9,000

An exercise in ‘80s experimentation, the 944 was a development of the much-maligned 924. Unlike that front-engined machine, though, the 944 performed like a Porsche, courtesy of a 143bhp 2.5-litre engine, and handled like a dream. Non-traditional looks and setup have kept prices low, which is why you’ll be able to scoop this 1986 example for less than £10k. An attractive example, it’d make for a solid daily driver or, refurbished, a fingers-crossed investment.

1968 Audi 60 L

Estimate: £8,000 – 10,000

Last up is this lovely Audi 60 L, a fine example of the four-stroke F103 – the first DKW-derived machine built by Auto Union and labelled as an Audi, and a sure sign of where post-war German automobiles were heading. With handsome styling straight out of the ‘50s, it’s a rare and attractive runner in excellent condition, and is believed to be one of just three currently stabled in the UK.