10 classics for £10k this weekend

£10,000 targets

You don’t need megabucks to be a classic car owner – just look at some of the cars on C&SC’s Our classics fleet!

And this Sunday’s (20 September) Bonhams MPH auction at Bicester Heritage is a reminder of this, featuring a host of tempting treats at more affordable prices.

To prove the point, with an imaginary bidding budget of £10,000, we’ve picked 10 classics from the catalogue that should be within reach, revealing a pleasingly diverse bunch. Take a look…

1. 1957 Renault Dauphine (est: £8-10,000)

Finished in a charming shade called Taupe, this low-mile Dauphine’s first owner was a French Count, no less.

And it won’t cost you a king’s ransom to follow in his aristocratic wheeltracks, although this car has enjoyed more of the high life, forming part of Sir Stirling Moss’ 80th-birthday celebrations at the 2009 Goodwood Revival.

From its beige vinyl seats to its engine and running gear, this Renault heads to auction in apparently very fine order.

2. 1973 Volvo 144 (est: £7-10,000)

This is a very different proposition indeed, a 48,000-mile Volvo saloon in a brilliantly ’70s shade of orange.

It’s had just two owners in its 47 years, and its first hung onto it for 34 of them. The auction house says it runs well and is in good order.

3. 1996 Subaru Impreza Series McRae (est: £5-10,000)

With the anniversary of Colin McRae’s passing just a few days ago and this year being the 25th anniversary of his World Rally Championship title success, this is a poignant lot – especially with its ‘555’ registration plate.

This limited-edition Impreza is one of 200 built in celebration of his WRC crown-clinching season. It starts and runs, but having been stored for five years, it needs some recommissioning, which it surely deserves.

4. 1996 Bentley Turbo R LWB (est: £7-9000)

Now isn’t that an impressive profile? It seems an awful lot of metal for the money, too – and then there’s that huge V8 under the bonnet.

The well-presented, cream leather-lined interior looks very inviting and it has recently had is brakes and suspension overhauled, however it doesn’t come with any history.

5. 1994 Mercedes-Benz E320 Coupé (est: £4-6000)

Here’s another handsome, premium offering that has far more swagger than Bonhams’ pre-sale estimate suggests.

This 124-series E320 Coupé has been owned by one family from new and has covered fewer than 55,000 miles. And with that smooth ‘six’ and its dashing pillarless profile, it’s surely ready to do many more miles in serious style.

6. 1969 Wolseley 18/85 (est: £3-5000)

A smart-looking, dark-blue saloon with a matching medium-blue interior, the auction house concedes that it would benefit from some recommissioning and a new starter motor – but at least those seats still look comfy and supportive.

Something to factor into the price you bid, then, but its bodywork and underbonnet presentation are described as good.

7. 1928 Renault Monasix (est: £8-12,000)

You might have to creep over our self-imposed £10k limit to secure the second Renault we’ve plucked from Bonhams’ catalogue, but it is a very fine-looking machine and apparently in decent condition, but a little extra TLC would go a long way.

In its 92 years it has done 34,000 miles and will be sold with its original log book, plus a ‘great’ history file. It also ticks a huge box for being so distinctive – when did you last see one of these?

8. 1972 Vanden Plas 1300 Princess (est: £3-5000)

Coming from the same deceased estate as the Wolseley featured earlier, this Vanden Plas is in much finer fettle in terms of its bodywork, interior and running gear.

A 23,000-mile car with an automatic gearbox, it also has fantastic fold-up wooden tables for the two rear-seat passengers, with a chromed holder for your drink, which can be enjoyed while reclining on the deeply padded central armrest.

9. 1982 Land Rover Series III (est: £8-12,000)

Judging by its pre-sale estimate, this 88” Landie has the potential to be another budget-buster, although it is rather lacking when it comes to a history file.

Still, it has recently passed its MoT which is good news, and this diesel-powered, short-wheelbase pick-up with fewer than 64,000 miles on its odometer has the potential to be a lovely, practical classic

10. 1973 MGB Roadster (est: £5-10,000)

Finally, we return to the B we started with, which comes from the same estate as the Wolseley and Vanden Plas.

At 105,000 miles it is a touch leggy, but it comes with a good service history. It’s a car with potential – inside and out it would benefit from some tidying – but it runs well, and with plenty of club and specialist support, there’s no reason why these improvements can’t be done, although you might like to factor them into any potential bid.

The Bonhams MPH sale at Bicester Heritage on Sunday 20 September kicks off at 1pm – check out the full lot list here.