22 £20k classic cars for sale now to get you set for summer

Hold onto your purse strings!

Summer’s coming, coronavirus lockdown restrictions are being eased and we’re excited about getting back on the road. And you want to do it in style, right?

Of course. And so the Classic Car Auctions live online sale on 27 June might be just what you need.

Packed with tempting classics for sale at the more affordable end of the spectrum, there’s plenty of choice, even within the £20k budget we’ve set ourselves.

Go on, have a look and get inspired – it can’t hurt, can it?

1. 1966 Volvo 131 Amazon (est: £10-12,000)

We’re big fans of Volvo’s Amazon and this one is predicted to sell for well within our imaginary £20,000 budget.

And considering this car is unrestored, has had just two owners and has done fewer than 16,000 miles makes it quite a find.

1966 Volvo 131 Amazon (cont.)

We love the charming interior with the horizontal speedometer, quirky steering wheel with ‘Volvo’ script and, in this car, a deep red-brown finish.

It’s been garaged, kept clean and loved, and heads to auction with its original toolkit, radio blank and a copy logbook – sadly, its history file was lost in a house fire. Tempted?

2. 1958 Morris Oxford (est: £14-16,000)

This is something a little different – a rally ready Morris Oxford!

A massive £45,000 was spent on it with respected firm Rally Preparation Specialists Ltd to restore, upgrade and prepare this car for the 2014 Peking to Paris Motor Challenge.

1958 Morris Oxford (cont.)

We have to say those are some of the comfiest-looking bucket seats we’ve ever seen.

Under the bonnet is a rebuilt, 100bhp MGB engine, it has a five-speed manual ’box, plus a rollcage, harnesses and much more – including that very fetching paintjob.

3. 1997 TVR Cerbera 4.2 (est: £15-18,000)

You won’t lose this sub-34,000-mile TVR in a car park!

In Daytona Yellow with black alloys, this is one striking sports car, and one that’s been cosseted its entire life, according to Classic Car Auctions.

1997 TVR Cerbera 4.2 (cont.)

But of course it’s this you really want to see, the Cerbera’s burbling 4.2-litre V8. And if you’re minded to test its performance, it’s good to know this example has uprated brakes.

It’s been with its current owner for more than a decade and will be sold with a bulging history file, a Pioneer Bluetooth stereo, new key fobs, trickle charger and an indoor cover.

4. 1968 Fiat 500F Berlina (est: £7-9000)

Surely you've got to admit that this is pretty cute?

Finished in a fetching shade of peppermint green, this Fiat 500F has been consigned to Classic Car Auctions’ sale by Wheeler Dealers TV star Mike Brewer, who’s had it for the last four years.

1968 Fiat 500F Berlina (cont.)

Back in 2013 it was restored in Italy, during which the body was brought back to best, it was repainted, its cabin was retrimmed in red and white, and the gearbox and engine were overhauled.

With a full-length folding roof you can get the wind in your hair to enjoy the summer weather we hope is on the way.

And, as you can see, it’s still on its Italian plates, so will need to be registered for use in the UK.

5. 2002 Mitsubishi Evolution VII FQ-300 (est: £9-12,000)

A serious change of pace and age here, neatly illustrating the breadth of CCA’s 27 June sale.

This is one of just seven Palma Red examples and has been with its current owner for 13 years.

2002 Mitsubishi Evolution VII FQ-300 (cont.)

In fact, the vendor loves this car so much that after it was declared a Category D write-off after an accident in 2009, he commissioned a complete rebuild, which has been inspected by insurers.

Tuned to 380bhp and with a free-flow, stainless-steel exhaust, we bet it sounds as good as it goes.

6. 1972 BMW 1602 (no reserve)

This is another consignment with a famous former owner – Jay Kay from Jamiroquai – but with no reserve price and a lot of work to do, it is a very different proposition from the Fiat 500 we looked at earlier.

If your idea of ‘making the most of summer’ is using the good weather to work on a classic (well, it’s better than gardening, right?), then bid carefully on this BMW to ensure you leave enough in the kitty to get the work done.

1972 BMW 1602 (cont.)

From the photos alone it is clear there’s missing trim and we hope the various bits of black tape aren’t structural, but even the auction house describes this as a ‘barn-find’.

This is Jay Kay’s first car, the one he learnt to drive in and after buying it back a decade ago he planned to restore it – let’s hope its next owner does just that.

7. 1980 Ford Fiesta Supersport (est: £20-25,000)

There’s probably only one thing this pick from CCA’s 27 June sale has in common with the last – you’ll need to watch what you bid.

But with this example of Ford’s first hot hatch, that’s to ensure you stick within our self-imposed £20,000 budget.

That said, with an amazing condition score of 132 from a total of 135 by the auction house, this is a rather special specimen that it could be worth stretching a little more to secure.

1980 Ford Fiesta Supersport (cont.)

There are thought to be only a few hundred left of the 3000 Supersports built, and this one was rescued by a specialist who invested around £25,000 to try and make it the best there is.

In CCA’s vendor condition report it is described as ‘stunning, better than when it left the factory’ and apparently it ‘runs like a Swiss watch with no smoke or rattles’.

8. 1967 Pontiac Parisienne (est: £18-20,000)

Now this is a lot of metal for your £20k – in fact, if it takes your fancy, it might be worth checking you’ve got space to store it!

It could be worth going the extra mile for, though, considering this is one of only 78 right-hand-drive export models.

1967 Pontiac Parisienne (cont.)

The cream vinyl interior looks a treat and the dash design is a delight.

Registered in the UK from new and heading to auction with around 47,000 miles on the clock, it has been part of a 30-car collection and would definitely turn heads.

9. 1972 Triumph Stag Mk1 (est: £6-8000)

Here’s another lot in this month’s CCA sale that could benefit from some fettling, but that can be enjoyed in the meantime – and its estimated sale price reflects that.

This 40,000-mile Stag has been with its present custodian a decade and he describes it as a ‘rolling project’.

1972 Triumph Stag Mk1 (cont.)

It was fitted from new with a high-compression engine and a type 35 automatic gearbox, so ultimately it could be a wonderful, roof-down car for wafting about in.

So if you fancy a little work and some time behind the wheel, this could be the one for you.

10. 1972 Alfa Romeo 2000 Spider Veloce (est: £8-10,000)

A gorgeous, Pininfarina-penned classic Alfa Romeo for how much? There is a reason…

Sadly, it came a cropper and was classed as a Category D write-off, but this was before an extensive restoration in 2017.

1972 Alfa Romeo 2000 Spider Veloce (cont.)

It has since had £1800 spent on it at Cotswolds-based classic car specialist JWORX, which saw the electrics and engine set-up get attention.

Now this 23,700-mile Alfa is ready to make up for lost time.

11. 1950 Austin A40 Tourer (est: £10-12,000)

Isn’t this sweet? It’s rare in the UK, too, because these were sold only in Australia and New Zealand, this one making its journey to Britain from the latter just last summer.

It was built from a complete knock-down kit at the Austin Distributors Federation plant in Petone, on New Zealand’s North Island.

1950 Austin A40 Tourer (cont.)

It looks more like a toy car than a real one and comes to auction from a large collection with fewer than 7000 miles on its odometer.

With a little 1.2-litre ‘four’ powering it, it won’t blow you away with its performance, but it might just charm your socks off.

12. 1960 Volkswagen Beetle 1200 Deluxe (est: £7-10,000)

This rather becoming – and original – muted shade of turquoise is what first attracted us to this car, and while it is definitely no concours queen, there’s nothing to say you couldn’t enjoy it whilst giving it some TLC.

Seeing as it is left-hand drive, it would be perfect for a European road trip. Maybe to Portugal, where it was exported to when new.

1960 Volkswagen Beetle 1200 Deluxe (cont.)

A recent £2500 recomissioning should mean it’s up for the journey.

Inside, it is worth noting that there’s a sweet, rare Hydrate Green finish to the gearlever, handbrake and steering wheel, while the door panels still have the protective covers they left the factory with.

13. 1961 MGA 1600 Roadster (est: £20-25,000)

Yes, we know that this is likely to sell for a figure right at the top of (or just over) our self-imposed £20k budget, but we find these hard to resist.

The only potential drawback we can see is because this car was imported from the US in 2017, it’s left-hand drive, although that could be very handy for the long Continental road trips this classic is surely begging to be taken on.

1961 MGA 1600 Roadster (cont.)

This roadster underwent a comprehensive restoration in 2018, including a bare-metal repaint in this fabulous shade of Chariot Red, all of which is documented in the accompanying history file.

And with fewer than 19,000 miles on the odometer, let’s hope when it crosses the block on 27 June it finds an appreciative new owner.

14. 1960 Borgward Isabella Coupé (est: £15-18,000)

This is another lot that will require some TLC, but being roadworthy and with an MoT, you can still get some immediate behind-the-wheel enjoyment, too.

And you don’t see these elegant coupés too often, making bringing this never restored example back to best an even more rewarding experience.

1960 Borgward Isabella Coupé (cont.)

Its two-tone, coffee and cream body, with the roof colour-matched to the interior, is particularly charming, plus it has a Webasto-style sunroof.

Supplied to the UK when new and therefore a right-hand-drive car, this glamorous two-door has bags of potential.

15. 1953 Packard Clipper Super Panama 5.6 (est: £12-15,000)

Wow, here’s another seldom-seen, head-turning two-door consigned to CCA’s 27 June sale.

From its Galahad Green over Orchard Green body to its straight-eight engine, this is generous slice of post-war Americana.

1953 Packard Clipper Super Panama 5.6 (cont.)

Imported to the UK six years ago, this example appears to be in good condition, although the brakes need sorting before you hit the road.

Only 3618 were built and few will be on this side of the Atlantic, so this could be a rare chance to add one to your fleet.

16. 1987 E30 BMW 325i Cabriolet (est: £8-10,000)

The auction house claims that this drop-top is in ‘genuinely unbelievable condition’ and, if true, it is surely well worth a look.

It may have three previous owners and 116,000 miles on the clock, but it’s also had a lot of time and money spent on it, with a serious attention to detail.

1987 E30 BMW 325i Cabriolet (cont.)

From the Alpine White paintwork to the Charcoal upholstery, CCA heaps praise on this E30’s condition.

One-on-one pre-sale viewings are available upon request if you’d like to find out for yourself before placing a bid.

17. 1969 Opel GT (est: £12-15,000)

And here’s yet another classic you don’t see too many of that’s also expected to sell for within our £20,000 budget.

It’s had around £6000 invested in it in the last year to get it to where it is today, having been imported to the UK in May 2019.

1969 Opel GT (cont.)

Now UK registered and ready to roll, from its pop-up headlights to its 1.9-litre, 88bhp ‘four’, it’s a charming proposition.

That it is finished in fetching Signal Blue hardly hurts, either…

18. 1996 Mercedes-Benz C36 AMG (est: £8-10,000)

If undercover pace and four-door practicality are two boxes you want to tick with your next classic, this could be your answer.

The first AMG Mercedes-Benz, you need to look hard to find the details that differentiate this as a C36, but dig into its 280bhp and you’ll soon know why it is worthy of the tuner’s badge.

1996 Mercedes-Benz C36 AMG (cont.)

The square rear numberplate betrays that this is a Japanese import, but it is fully UK registered and, of course, right-hand drive.

It has a big spec, too, including sports seats, cruise control and ESP, and having done 49,000 miles, there’s plenty of life left in it.

19. 1991 Peugeot 205 GTI 1.9 (est: £8-10,000)

Totally original and with 47,000 miles on the clock, this 205 GTI looks like a lot of fun.

That it has done just 2000 miles in the last 14 years means it could need some attention to get it back on its feet, but we love these little Pugs and know that when sorted, they really reward from behind the wheel.

1991 Peugeot 205 GTI 1.9 (cont.)

Right-hand drive and with a factory-fitted sunroof, this car is ready to bring pleasure in all weathers.

Peugeot 205 GTIs are often touted as the best hot hatches of all time and the classic market seems to be slowly waking up to this. Could this be a great opportunity to snap one up while prices are still accessible?

20. 1970 Daimler Sovereign S1 (£10-12,000)

Well that is definitely not the colour you expect to see on a Daimler Sovereign. It’s called Jaguar Pale Blue, if you’re interested, and is teamed with a dark-blue leather interior.

Under the bonnet is the smooth 2.8-litre straight-six and although the seats do shown signs of wear, overall the auction house says this car appears to have been well cared for.

1970 Daimler Sovereign S1 (cont.)

In fact, although this Daimler has done more than 52,000 miles in its five decades, in the last 10 years it has only covered around 1000 miles.

Photographed on Kent alloys, it will also be sold with its original wheels, plus its handbook and MoTs going back to ’84.

21. 1978 Porsche 928 (est: £14-18,000)

Finished in Minerva Blue with a blue/black ‘Pasha’ interior, and wearing 16” ‘Phone Dial’ alloys that have been refurbished and painted black, we think this 1978 Porsche 928 looks ace.

That it’s had refreshment work to the tune of almost £10k since June 2013 should help the head agree with the heart if you fancy bidding on it.

1978 Porsche 928 (cont.)

Yes, it has covered in excess of 140,000 miles, but with care and maintenance that shouldn’t be a problem – equally, it means this is a car its new owner shouldn’t be afraid to use.

It will go under the hammer with its original manual/maintenance record stamped up until 1989.

22. 1964 Bedford J2 fire engine (est: £10-12,000)

We’ve gone a little (alright, a lot) left-field with our final choice. But it is classic and within budget, and it even has an aluminium, coachbuilt body…

Originally serving in Devon, it has been lovingly cared for ever since, meaning this is still a fully functioning fire engine.

1964 Bedford J2 fire engine (cont.)

Yes, you’re going to need a lot of room for this classic toy, but being designed for the tight lanes of Devon, it is smaller than many other fire engines, at just less than four tonnes unladen.

Delightfully, it is being sold with all its original fire-fighting kit, from the hoses and ladder to the helmets and uniforms.

1964 Bedford J2 fire engine (cont.)

Here’s a bonus photo, because we couldn’t resist!

As well as being shown at a great many shows, this well-maintained classic also appeared on TV programme Blue Peter in the ’90s.

It is being sold at CCA’s online sale on 27 June – to view the full lot list and find out more, please click here.