50 bargain greats for under £15k

From Alfa Spiders to VW Campers and all points in-between

Worried that buying a genuine classic will mean selling your house, clothes and, quite possibly, loved ones?

Don’t fret: there are still plenty of great cars out there available for less than you’d think.

To prove it, we’ve pulled together a list of 50 classics you can find today in good nick for less than £15,000. You’ll be amazed at some of the bargains on offer. 

Better act fast, though, before prices climb out of reach…

1. Lotus Elise 1.8i

An outstanding example of design purity, the diminutive Elise can crack 60mph in 5.5 secs and will scamper down a country lane happier than a cottontail bunny.

It might not constitute much more than a bit of shiny aluminium and a helping of glassfibre, but that minimalist approach is key to its super-low weight – which is also what makes it such a joy to drive.

2. Ford Model T

It seems remarkable that the iconic Model T remains so affordable, but then again they’re hardly rare: more than 14 million of the Henry Ford runarounds were built.

They’re cheap and simple to maintain, durable, and available for just a few thousand pounds – especially if you don’t mind a bit of a project. Spend as much as £15k and you’ll bag yourself something really nice.

3. Mercedes-Benz SLC

Erstwhile less popular than their open-top R107 SL cousins, SLCs are now attracting more interest among savvy buyers.

Most are 4.5-litre 450SLCs, but whether you prefer a twin-cam 280SLC or an early 350 on hubcaps, this is very much a car to buy on condition – rather than engines or specification. Get your skates on, though, as prices are on the rise.

4. Triumph GT6

The GT6 offers timeless Michelotti lines and smooth six-cylinder power, paired with a degree of exclusivity you just don’t get with the ubiquitous MGB.

Early GT6s are most desirable thanks to their appealing styling and delicate rear lamps, with the post-1970 ‘Kamm tail’ models being the most affordable.

Mk1 cars can move comfortably beyond £15,000, but be patient and one is sure to come up within budget.

5. Morris 1000 Traveller

The original antique dealer’s car makes a great everyday classic thanks to its spacious cabin and iconic looks.

Performance won’t set your trousers alight, but the A-series engine is easy and cheap to maintain and modify. £15,000 will be absolutely top-end, but expect to pay half that for something presentable and usable.

6. BMW M Roadster

It’s easy to sneer at the Z3, whipping boy of the ’90s roadster revival, but for years the Munich cognoscenti have tipped the ‘running shoe’ M Coupé for classic stardom.

And while those predictions have started to come true, its open-top sibling continues to live under the radar – which is excellent news if you like the idea of TVR pace and drama with BMW comfort and engineering. 

7. Rover P4

Beautifully built over a 15-year production run, the ‘Auntie’ Rovers survive today in healthy numbers. Refined but conservatively engineered, the P4 attracted owners who valued dignity and fine appointments over driving appeal, though the 110 would top the ton easily and carried disc brakes for stopping, too.

Satisfying cars from another age, they rarely top £10k even in the loveliest condition.

8. Austin Seven

Nearly 300,000 Sevens hit the roads between the World Wars, and a surprisingly large number of good ones are still available for less than £10k.

Naturally, with just over 7hp for the early models, their usability these days will be limited for all but the fearless, but the ‘Baby Austin’ will instantly transport you to a different era – without taking up much space in your garage.

9. Lotus Elan +2

Built to follow Colin Chapman’s fabled mantra – ‘simplify then add lightness’ – the two-seat Lotus Elan was an instant classic. You won’t get one of those within our budget, but its big brother – the +2 – is still just about within reach.

It’s speedy, handsome and a definitive blue-chip investment – although examples at the top of our budget are still likely to be a bit scruffy.

10. Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow

As a car for the money, the Silver Shadow offers the best value in the world of classics – although the purchase price is often just the downpayment, particularly when it comes to problems with the complex brakes and suspension.

Fifteen grand should buy a nice one but, then again, £8k might do the same – and with Silver Shadows the biggest price tag doesn't always equal the best car. In short, shop around.

11. BMW 840Ci

The first missile-like 8-Series to hit UK roads was equipped with a silky 5-litre V12, later joined by the bonkers 5.6-litre, 375bhp 850CSi and more affordable 4-litre V8 840Ci.

The darling of the range – and the one you should buy – arrived in ’96 when the 840Ci got a new, torquier 4.4 V8 that didn’t suffer the Nikasil bore-liner problems of the earlier car. Aim for a Sport, which came with a discreet bodykit.

12. Jaguar XJ6 

The XJ celebrated its 50th birthday last year, but you’d never guess from looking at it.

Its blend of refined luxury and outright power proved a huge hit in the late-’60s and early-’70s, delighting the kind of folk who secretly fancied some German sophistication but were determined to buy British.

And it’s still quite the looker today. Lithe, stylish and sporty, the S1 is the one to go for, ideally in 4.2 form, although the rarer 2.8 can offer value, too.

13. Alfa Romeo Giulia

The classic boxy saloon beloved of Carabinieri and Italian bank robbers alike, the Giulia had a 16-year run latterly as the Nuova with plastic grille and flat boot-lid.

It’s among the later cars that the bargains lie, though earlier models can still be found within our budget – as long as you don’t set your heart on a Ti Super.

The Nuova never came to the UK and even early cars are rare, so you may have to settle for a left-hooker.

14. Rover P6 3500

It may seem like an olde-worlde choice today, but the P6 was a revolution for Rover back in 1963. The sleek David Bache styling was complemented by a fresh, modern interior – a combination that was enough to land Rover the very first European Car of the Year gong in 1964.

Tidy handling, V8 power and a comfortable ride are all on offer here, but the P6 remains incredibly affordable: good cars are around £5000, and even stunners rarely top £10k.

15. Alfa Romeo Spider 2.0

Alfa lovers once decried these ‘soft-tail’ Aerodinámica Spiders as an ’80s travesty that sullied the memory of the ’60s original, what with their unsightly spoilers and a triangular blob of rubber where the front grille once sat.

They were right, but at between £7000 and £14,000 the ’80s Spider is beginning to look very cheap, and the delightfully weighted steering more than makes up for any cosmetic grumbles. 

16. Triumph Stag

There are remarkably few decent four-seater classics out there, which is why the Triumph Stag remains such a perennial favourite: you get four proper seats, proper wind-in-the-hair motoring, all wrapped up in a ‘proper’ classic package.

It looks great, sounds great, is fun for four, and a tidy auto falls within our upper limit – or perhaps even a manual if you’re a haggler good and proper.

17. Citroën Traction Avant

Everyone’s idea of a pre-war French car – although they were made until the late ’50s – the Traction is low-slung, stable and roomy.

Most feature a long-stroke 1911cc ‘four’; post-war 15CV ‘sixes’ are rarer and more refined, but all have a surefootedness that belies the 80-year-old design. Drop-tops make big money, but plenty of four-pots fall within our £15,000 limit.

18. Mini 850

You certainly don’t need us to tell you how fantastic Alec Issigonis’ legendary creation is – after all, the original ‘go-kart for the road’ has been a success on the tarmac, rally stage and race track for decades.

What you may need reminding of, however, is that while the pinnacle that is the MkI Cooper ‘S’ has long since moved up a rung or two in the classic price guides, the original MkI 850 can still provide a dollop of fun without breaking the bank. 

19. Caterham Seven

Lotus canned the magnificent Seven in 1972 but, fortunately for us, Caterham bought the rights and has been building the lightweight weekend machines ever since.

The range is mindboggling, with factory cars and home-built efforts housing everything from Lotus ‘twinks’ to ’bike engines. Our budget buys most bar the really quick stuff, and new kits start from £16,995.

20. Mercedes 190E 2.3/2.5-16

If ever there was a sleeper in the classic marketplace, it’s surely this discreet compact flyer. When you look at the crazy prices being asked for its contemporary arch-enemy, the E30 BMW M3, the fact that you can still get a usable 2.3-16 or 2.5-16 for less than £15k seems incredible.

Prices are rising rapidly, though, so buy yourself this German pocket rocket while you still can.

21. Sunbeam Alpine

Although it was sold in five generations right up to 1968, the Alpine was a child of the ’50s – giving it a traditional charm that makes up for a lack of pace (even the 1725cc Series V had just 93bhp).

A Tiger at a quarter of the price, it might lack some roar but, with usable cars available for £10–15k, it’s hard to complain.

22. Lancia Appia

Although S1 and S2 Appia saloons are picking up, the 1959 to ’63 Appia S3s are more numerous and thus less in demand – not to mention a bit faster, too, with 48bhp derived from a smooth V4 mated to a nifty four-speed column change.

This is just one of the many delights of these cheeky saloons with their ‘wardrobe’ doors and sliding-pillar front suspension. All this for £7000 or less.

23. TVR Chimaera

One of the most exciting cars in our selection, the Chim offers stunning looks and face-melting performance.

Prices start at around £10k, and for £15,000 you’re sure to find a beautiful car – but make sure you pay for a specialist inspection beforehand, because mint plastic bodywork can easily hide serious chassis corrosion. Buy well and you’ll own an appreciating asset that’s a blast to drive.

24. Austin-Healey ‘Frogeye’ Sprite

Launched in 1958, the Sprite offered a low-cost route into sports car ownership. In order to keep the ticket price below £700, the BMC parts bin was mercilessly raided. The front suspension and 948cc engine came from the Austin A35/Morris Minor, while the characterful headlamps also owed their existence to cost-cutting: they were originally intended to fold flat when not in use.

Values are climbing, with fine cars costing upwards of £20k, though usable examples still appear for less than £15k. 

25. Peugeot 205 GTI

Alongside the Golf GTI, the Peugeot 205 is one of the original hot hatches – and both popularity and value have risen sharply in recent years.

A couple of stratospheric auction results haven’t helped, but a very nice example can still be bought for around £10k, which will guarantee you a lot of fun for your money. The 1.6-litre variant can feel more nimble than the 1.9, but both offer a real buzz with brilliant handling.

26. Toyota Supra

Demand for Japanese performance cars took off in the ’90s and the Supra was the best of the bunch. Gorgeous lines made it stand out, but the real draw resided under the bonnet: the now-legendary 3-litre Toyota 2JZ engine, available in 220bhp naturally aspirated guise or as a 276bhp twin-turbo.

We Brits were even luckier, with the turbocharged export model rated at a whopping 320bhp. Many Supras have lived hard lives, so steer clear of tired turbos and opt for a clean, low-mileage naturally aspirated model with a manual ’box.

27. Riley RM

If you’ve always hankered after a pre-’60s car but worry that it won’t be very usable, look no further than the venerable RM.

Originating with the 1945 RMA and ending with the RMF, these handsome and beautifully engineered saloons can still be used as daily drivers today.

Our budget should secure you a nice one, but make sure you inspect it thoroughly: beneath the handsome Everflex roof and steel panels lies a rot-prone timber frame.

28. Ford Capri 2.8i Special

There’s no shortage of Capris on the market, but for an ’80s child – and within our budget – the one to have is a 2.8i Special.

From the outside, its sleek lines and long nose seem a world away from the prosaic people-carriers and thuggish SUVs that clutter up 21st-century Britain, and once you fire it up the throaty roar of the V6 is a life-affirming thing. Find one without crash damage and you’ll be set.

29. Chevrolet Corvair

With its air-cooled flat-six, clean styling and a reputation for dodgy handling, the Corvair is one of the most intriguing American cars out there.

Despite a loyal following in the US, they remain as cheap as chips: you can buy a running example of one of the less exotic variants for US$2000 (or the equivalent in Europe). Yet they are pretty, engaging to drive and generally not the killer cars that their reputation suggests.

30. Fiat Topolino

Possibly the cutest baby ever made and a ‘real’ car in miniature, the 500 Topolino – built between 1936 and ’55 – carried transverse-leaf IFS and a water-cooled, 13bhp ‘four’ that put 50mph within reach.

Officially a two-seater, Italians often managed to squeeze in five at a time, thanks to the roll-back top. It put a nation on wheels with its reliability and willing nature.

31. Mercedes W108 saloon

Buyers tend to get obsessed with V8 models, so the 250 and 280 frequently get left behind.

Though they look cheap (despite their rarity), fuel injection, power steering and auto ’boxes (on most) ensure W108s feel modern, while the handsome, glassy shape makes for arguably the best-looking Benz saloon. The downside is that they rust and parts can be ruinously costly.

32. Bentley Turbo R

Bentley’s Mulsanne-based Turbo R offers an unrivalled combination of startling pace and luxury in the sub-£15k bracket.

The car that in the late ’80s returned the British brand to its sporting roots can be had for as little as £5k, and the top of our budget should buy a tidy example – but beware eye-watering running costs.

33. BMW 635CSi

We’d all dearly love an E9 BMW coupé, but over the past decade they’ve roared firmly into junior exotic territory.

Values for the E24 6-Series that replaced it in 1976 are rising fast, but for now it’s still firmly within our limit.

Karmann’s reinterpretation of the ‘sharknose’ BMW look gets increasingly elegant with age, and under that sharp suit the mechanicals are unburstable, though its worth checking the bodywork for rot.

34. Volkswagen Type 2 Camper

Classic campervans are hot property and with good reason: they’re versatile, plentiful and have achieved true cult status.

With the first-generation ‘Splittie’ models now priced well beyond the reach of most mere mortals, you’ll want to start your search with the post-’67 ‘Bay window’.

Prices vary wildly depending on condition – anything from £5000 to £35k – but our budget should land you a tidy example, albeit with a high mileage. 

35. MG TD

Given the recent stratospheric rise in classic values, it seems bizarre that for £15k you can still buy one of the post-war greats of British motoring: a T-series MG.

The vast majority of TDs were sold to the States, so unless you can dig up some extra change from behind the sofa, be prepared to test-drive a left-hand drive variant.

Most examples in the sub-£15k bracket will need some TLC, but with patience you should be able to find a suitable runner.

36. Land-Rover Series III

The humble Land-Rover has surged in popularity over the past decade, pushing the original Landie and the Series II out of our price range.

But the Series III can still be had for less than £15,000, and here you also benefit from a few ‘luxury’ extras not present on earlier models: a full-width padded dash and a brace of gauges directly ahead (as opposed to centrally-mounted), an integrated heater and more comfortable seats.

37. Jaguar XJ-S

Following in the footsteps of a great is never easy – just ask George Lazenby or David Moyes – but the XJ-S is finally stepping out of the shadow cast by the E-type.

Controversial styling hampered the Big Cat on its release, but if you can get along with those interesting buttresses, the XJ-S represents great value for money.

Six-pots are now cheapest, but you really want that lusty, lazy 12 – and runners can be had for less than £10k. Stretch to £15,000 to get a well cared-for example, but remember that you’ll pay a premium for convertibles.

38. Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia

In 1955, Volkswagen took the rugged and well-proven floorpan and mechanicals from the Beetle and clothed them in stunning coachwork penned by Ghia’s Luigi Segre, to create one of the prettiest classics of the post-war era.

The later 1584cc ‘big bumper’ cars are the most affordable, with coupés starting at less than £10,000. Stretch to £15k and you might be able to get yourself into Convertible or a 1500.

39. Chevrolet Corvette C3

Now in its seventh generation, the Corvette you’ll want to look at is the third – the first two are now too expensive for our list.

It was built between 1968 and 1982, and the earliest cars command a serious premium these days. Go for a later variant, though, and £15,000 should be enough for a good one. They’re all left-hookers, so it’s worth casting your net wide to include Germany and the BeNeLux countries.

40. AC Two-litre

With its ash frame, aluminium body and steel chassis, the AC can be a real can of worms if you opt for an unrestored example showing its age. Look carefully, though, and you can buy a looked-after example for just under the £15k mark, making it a bargain six-cylinder alternative to a Jaguar.

Steer clear of restoration projects and those needing engine rebuilds unless you have deep pockets: the motor alone can cost upwards of £14,000.

41. Triumph Dolomite Sprint

The combination of four-door practicality and sports car pace is as attractive now as it was when the Dolly Sprint arrived in 1973, so values are predictably on the rise.

Tidy examples change hands for around £7k, but even a great car should leave plenty of change from £15,000.

42. Fiat 850 Spider

Is there a cuter convertible out there than this dinky rear-engined beauty? Certainly not for around £10k (or a bit more for the very best).

It’s not fast – with just less than 50bhp from 843cc – but this exotic version of Fiat’s city car is a true coachbuilt classic (bodied by Bertone) and rare in the UK.

43. Lancia Fulvia Coupé

The vast majority of ’60s sporting Italian classics have increased in value beyond the reach of the average motoring enthusiast, but one model remains a tempting proposition for its attractive Pietro Castagnero-penned coachwork and characterful driving experience: the Lancia Fulvia.

At this price your search will be limited to factory Coupés, rather than the Zagato-bodied models, but it’s still one of the best-looking cars on our list.

44. Daimler 2.5 V8

Much more than a rebadged Big Cat, the Daimler 2.5 V8 was a truly luxurious car in its time that as curiously overlooked today as it was in the ’60s.

Projects start from £5000, with better examples costing twice that. Our budget should be enough to bag a good older restoration.

45. Volvo Amazon

Of all the classics in our list, few are as multifaceted as the Amazon, a car capable of being everything from load-lugging workhorse to special-stage campaigner.

Its combination of superb build quality and dynamic handling have made it a big hit in historic rallying circles and demand for clean examples is on the rise.

Prices vary hugely – anywhere from £2-30,000 depending on spec and condition. We like the two-door 123GT, which can be yours for around £10k.

46. Willys Jeep

Often hailed as the original and the best, the Jeep spawned not only a host of imitators but also, arguably, the Land-Rover.

Although the values of genuine Willys Jeeps with known military history will often be well north of our £15,000 limit, there are examples to be had within the budget – particularly if you’re happy to settle for a Ford-made GPW model.

The driving experience might be stripped back and as pure as you can get, but a well set-up Jeep is, crucially, lots of fun.

47. Jowett Javelin

As a classic proposition, the Bradford-built Javelin offers practicality, exclusivity and peppy performance for its age. Just 23,000 were made from 1947-’53 and survivors are thin on the ground, with parts – particularly panels – difficult to source, so it pays to buy the best you can afford.

Decent original examples can be found for around £8000, with mint machines commanding as much as £12,000.

48. Porsche 944

Once poor cousins to the rear-engined 911, transaxle Porsches are now experiencing something of a renaissance and, as 928s and 968s continue to shoot up in price, the better-value 944 becomes an increasingly attractive proposition.

Early cars remain ridiculously cheap – £5000 for a rough runner – but the pick of the bunch is the S2 Turbo S, and you’ll find plenty of them below our limit.

49. Maserati 3200GT

As the first Trident built fully under Ferrari’s control, the 3200GT was the model that saved the company. A bona-fide four-seater clothed in luscious bodywork – with those gorgeous ‘boomerang’ rear lights – and powered by a twin-turbo 3.2-litre V8, it was a big hit in ’97.

£15k should get you a good one, but watch out for evidence of crank end float in manual cars.

50. Ford Mustang 289

For Mustang purists, only a ’64½, ’65 or ’66 model will do – which means you won’t find one in our price range.

Instead, opt for an affordable ’67. Available as a fastback, convertible or notchback, options were vast when new – so few cars are exactly the same.

Early ’Stangs are easy to drive, with enough V8 grunt to have fun, but not so much to get into trouble, while a ready supply of parts means the only thing to watch out for is rust. £15k will bag you a neat model with a fine interior.