Category: Classic cars that catch our eye that you should buy

Classic Cars you should buy: This Mini 1275 Convertible Roadster… Thing

An occasional blog series where we find cars from around the internet and try to persuade you to buy them… 

What is it?

It’s a Mini…. or at least, it’s MOST of a Mini. It’s missing a bit of length in the floorpan, the doors, windows and roof. It’s AWESOME.

Errr, what?

It’s a Shorty Mini convertible, sort of like a Beach Buggy but made in the UK. We think it looks like a whole heap of fun.

Where did you find it?

It’s for sale on eBay here.

Why buy it?

The seller quite rightly points out that it’d make the perfect promotional vehicle, so why not?

How much is it?

Right now at the time of writing it’s a shade under five hundred quid with five days to go.

Is that a lot?

Erm, who knows? Where this one ends up is anyones guess. We might just have to have a cheeky bid.

But can I fit Powerspark Electronic Ignition?

What, Electronic Ignition for a Classic Mini? that’s bread and butter for Powerspark Ignition!

In fact, if you do buy it, contact joe@simonbbc.com, and we’ll send you some freebies.

Own a Mini and need a distributor, HT leads of an ignition coil? Click the links!

Classic Cars you should buy: This 1966 Aston Martin DB6 Vantage Shooting Brake

An occasional blog series where we find cars from around the internet and try to persuade you to buy them… 

What is it?

It’s an Aston Martin DB6 Estate Car, of course! Forget the Volvo 240 Torslanda, this is the wagon you want for your winter weeks away.

Errr, what?

Traditional coachbuilders Harold Radford & Co converted 12 of these Aston Martin’s to ‘Shooting Brake’ spec, with 8 in Right Hand Drive and 4 in Left Hand Drive. This one was built NEW as a station wagon, complete with roof rack. It’s done 50,000 original miles and is simply beautiful.

Where did you find it?

For sale with Bonhams Auctions, as part of their August 14th sale. It’s estimate at £ 760,000 – 910,000.

Why buy it?

First of all, to go surfing. Secondly, because it’s super cool, highly exclusive and very unusual. Wouldn’t it just look great with a longboard on the roof at Woolacombe or Croyde Bay? We like the idea and the very antithesis of the utterly preposterous expense of a car with a surfboard on top.

How much is it?

It’s estimated at three-quarters of a million pounds, to a bit under a million, giving quite a large window.

The £150,000 ‘leeway’ in the middle just goes to show that even Bonhams aren’t too sure where the hammer will fall on this car.

Is that a lot?

Who knows? You can’t buy another one.

If you want a DB5 you’ll need somewhere between £600,000 and £900,000 depending on which way the wind is blowing, and a DB6 comes in just a snip less.
An estate, though? We shall find out, and blog about it.

But can I fit Powerspark Electronic Ignition?

Yes of course you can! We’ve done extensive research on this for customers in the past, and our ‘D12 or D62H’ high energy distributor is the one for the job.

This is a Lucas 25D6 based distributor, not too dissimilar to the type used by the Austin Healey.

More photos of the 1966 Aston Martin DB6 Vantage Shooting Brake:

Classic Cars you should buy: This 1961 Jaguar E-Type Roadster

An occasional blog series where we find cars from around the internet and try to persuade you to buy them… 

steve coogan e type

What is it?

It’s Steve Coogan’s Jaguar E Type, or at least it was, until yesterday.

Obviously being Alan Partidge’s car, it had to be just right. The TV star bought this (then red) Jaguar E Type after a long search for the perfect Jaaaaag, then had it restored inch-perfectly.

Errr, what?

We’ll break it down carefully… Very early car (one of the first 92 in right hand drive), outside bonnet locks, flat floor, demonstrator model. It was also the first E Type to enter Scotland.

Coogan bought it in recent years, when it was painted red. It was featured in Classic & Sports Car, and at the time the full history and significance of the Jag had just been uncovered. At the end of the article, Coogan hinted that it would be restored to it’s factory original specification.

Where did you find it?

It just sold at Silverstone Auctions online sale, actually.

Why buy it?

In E Type terms, this is about as good as they get.

How much is it?

Interestingly, Silverstone Auctions have now revised the web page so it says ‘undisclosed sum’, but we seem to remember that on Saturday the hammer price was stated as £316,000.

Is that a lot?

In Jaguar E Type terms, yes, but also no. The cost of restoring one of these cars is pretty huge, and this is a very significant car. The estimate against the sale was £300,000 to £350,000, so it hit right in the middle of the guestimate.

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But can I fit Powerspark Electronic Ignition?

We thought you’d never ask! Yes Mr Customer, we would love to fit aftermarket electronic ignition and our own HT leads to your inch-perfect, concours ready, factory original in every way Jaguar E Type.

You’ll be needing a Powerspark 45D6 Electronic Distributor, these L6 HT  Leads and why not go for a Viper ignition coil at the same time?

lucas_45d6

 

 

Classic Cars you should buy: This 1964 Austin Healey 3000

An occasional blog series where we find cars from around the internet and try to persuade you to buy them… 

Austin-Healey-127

What is it?

1964 Austin Healey 3000 in the perfect colour combination.

Errr, what?

A Big Healey, don’t you know, a hairy chested British sportscar, with no roof, from the days when real men drove convertibles and the term ‘hair dressers car’ hadn’t been invented.

Where did you find it?

For sale through a dealer, here.

Why buy it?

If not because it’s one of the most elegant British designs ever made, then because you didn’t buy one 10 years ago when they were half the price. For that reason, you should buy one now, because on that logic in another 10 years these will be £100,000+.

Anyway, it’s a beautiful and very usable classic car.

How much is it?

£64,995 as stated.

Is that a lot?

No, not really. You could always buy this one for £12,500 and spend £50,000 and two years restoring it and then… oh wait, that doesn’t make sense.

But can I fit Powerspark Electronic Ignition?

Absolutely. We do a wide range of products for the Austin Healey, we’d call them best sellers. We can do an ignition kit, a complete distributor, ignition coil and HT leads.

Austin Healey 3000 Complete Distributor
Austin Healey 3000 Electronic Ignition Kit
Austin Healey 3000 Ignition Leads
Austin Healey 3000 Ignition Coil

Seen a car you think we should feature? Email us!

Here’s some more photos of the beautiful car…

 

 

Classic Cars you should buy: This 1974 Volvo 240DL Estate

An occasional blog series where we find cars from around the internet and try to persuade you to buy them… 

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What is it?

Thanks for asking, it’s a 1974 Volvo 240DL Estate

Where did you find it?

Browsing the classic car section on eBay, of course.

Why buy it?

Launched in 1974, the Volvo 240is the iconic boxy estate and the undisputed father of the whole estate car movement. Think of the 740, 940, 850, V70 and all the other famous Volvos that follow, well this is great grandad. Respect your elders!

Volvo estates have been enjoying an impressive surge in values and interest, and this one is believed to be the oldest 240 Estate in the country. That makes it cool…. BUT…

It’s not just that. Take a look at the interior, sure, the outside needs a little work but this car harks back to a simpler time, and don’t those red seats just look wonderful?

It’s a couple of weekends work and a very exciting trip to the beach.

How much is it?

At the time of writing, £1,600 with four days to go.

Is that a lot?

It’s hard to say. It clearly needs some work, but the early ones just aren’t around any more. Good late cars are expensive!

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But can I fit Powerspark Electronic Ignition? 

Yes, the Volvo 240 Series uses our K6 Electronic Ignition Kit.

If I buy it, what will Powerspark Ignition give me?

Go on, do a bid, we’ll rustle up some HT leads and an ignition coil for you.

Bought the car and want to claim your prize? Phone Powerspark Ignition on 01527 889 453 and quote the reference ‘I bought that car you told me to buy‘

Seen a car you think we should feature? Email us!

Here’s some more photos of the car…

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Classic Cars you should buy: This 1971 Opel GT

An occasional blog series where we find cars from around the internet and try to persuade you to buy them… 

powerspark-classic-cars-opel-gt

What is it?

It’s a 1971 Opel GT

Where did you find it?

For sale at on Car & Classic, HERE

Why buy it?

Well a Ferrari 250 GTO will set you back something like £23m and a Toyota 2000 GT close to £1m. So you’re getting the rear end looks of a Ferrari 250 GTO and the front end style of a Toyota 2000 GT for literally a fraction of the price.

How much is it?

£14,750

Is that a lot?

Well, there aren’t exactly many of these for sale. According to HowManyLeft.co.uk, there are 29 registered in the UK that are on the road. So importing this one and getting it registered on UK plates would increase the national population of Opel GT owners by one!

But can I fit Powerspark Electronic Ignition? 

Yes, the Opel GT uses our K6 Electronic Ignition Kit.

Seen a car you think we should feature? Email us!

Here’s some more photos:

Classic Cars you should buy: This 1968 Triumph Spitfire

What is it?

It’s a 1968 Triumph Spitfire that’s been sat at the bottom of someones garden since 1983.

powerspark-ignition-triumph-tr6-barn-findWhere did you find it?

For sale at on eBay, HERE

Why buy it?

With the fastback style hardtop it really is a looker, and being a barn find means it could go two ways… Either you’re about to snag a bargain, or it’s going to go for museum money.

How much is it?

Right now, at the time of writing, £99 with no bids and no reserve and a week left to run.

Is that a lot?

You can buy a good Spitfire for around £5,000, so this auction would have to end at a pretty low price to make the restoration worth the job. Who knows, that’s the fun of the online auction for you!

But can I fit Powerspark Electronic Ignition?

Most definitely. For a Triumph Spitfire you’ll be needing one of these two:

Triumph Spitfire with Lucas Distributor – Powerspark K4 Electronic Ignition Kit
Triumph Spitfire with Delco Distributor – Powerspark K24 Electronic Ignition Kit

Although we don’t sell elbow grease, and it looks like you’ll need a bucket or two of that…

Seen a car you think we should feature? Email us!

Here’s some more photos:

Classic Cars you should buy: This 1968 Triumph TR5 PI

What is it?

It’s a 1968 Triumph TR5 with Surrey Hardtop and Overdrive. In Jasmine Yellow.

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Where did you find it?

For sale at Classic Connection, Surrey, Here

Why buy it?

It looks fantastic in Jasmine Yellow, there aren’t too many left and those that ARE still around don’t tend to change hands too often… owners like to hang on to these cars.

Also, check out the photos… Can you imagine wearing a flat cap and driving gloves with a packed lunch in a hamper behind you whilst enjoy some fine English countryside motoring through Scotland or the wilds of Yorkshire? (or Surrey, which is where the car was photographed)

How much is it?

£39,950 as stated.

Is that a lot?

Well, in 1968 it cost around £1,260 before taxes, that equates to £20,533.04 in today’s money.

In 1968 the average salary was £1,488, which equates to around £24,839 in 2017.

So the TR5 was equivalent to spending 80% of your annual salary on a car…

In 2017 the average salary is £27,000. Could you buy something as beautiful and desirable as this, brand new, for 80% of that figure, say around £22,000…?

Well, £22,000 is enough to get you a brand new MX-5, so the question is, which would you rather have brand new, machine built, four cylinder, super reliable, quick, lightweight, safety conscious sports car or a fine piece of British engineering bolted to a wonderful six-cylinder engine that’s sure to be noticed and appreciated anywhere you take it…?

But can I fit Powerspark Electronic Ignition? 

All Triumph TR cars use either a Lucas 25D6 Distributor or a Delco 6 Cylinder.

If your car has a Lucas 25D6 Distributor, then you’ll need our K1 Electronic Ignition Kit.
We also do a complete replacement distributor for the Lucas 25D6, in points or electronic.

If your car has a Delco 6 Cylinder Distributor, then you’ll need our K26 Electronic Ignition Kit. We also do a complete replacement Delco 6 Cylinder distributor.

Seen a car you think we should feature? Email us!

Here’s some more photos of the beautiful car…

Classic Cars you should buy: 1968 Ford Crayford Cortina MK2 TwinCam

An occasional blog series where we find cars from around the internet and try to persuade you to buy them… 

powerspark-1968-ford-cortina-crayford-convertible

What is it?

1968 Ford Crayford Cortina MK2 TwinCam Convertible

Errr, what?

It’s a Ford Cortina, turned into a convertible by Crayford ‘back in the day’. With it’s Lotus TwinCam engine, this is a real peach of a classic car.

Where did you find it?

On eBay, here.

Why buy it?

LOOK at it! That is one very, very good looking soft top. It’s difficult to make a four seat convertible this stylish. The colours are fantastic, it’s fully restored, and it has Lotus power. There is a lot to love with this car.

How much is it?

£39,950 as stated.

Is that a lot?

No, not really. You can buy Cortina Crayford Convertibles a little cheaper, but not with the Lotus Twin Cam engine and probably not in this superb condition.

But can I fit Powerspark Electronic Ignition? 

These twin cam engines sometimes vary, so check out these electronic ignition kits:
Powerspark Electronic Ignition for Lucas 23D or 25D Kit number K2
Powerspark Electronic Ignition for Lucas 43D or 45D Kit number K4

Seen a car you think we should feature? Email us!

Here’s some more photos of the beautiful car…

Classic Cars you should buy: 1969 Karmann Ghia

What is it?

Well, it’s a classic 1969 Karmann Ghia Convertible that’s been restored and modified rather tastefully.

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It’s low, it’s slow, and it’s definitely very cool.

Where did you find it?

On eBay, here.

Why buy it?

Well, firstly it’s beautiful, rare and according to the seller, award winning. It’s also a soft top, and summer is coming. Do you need any more reasons?

How much is it?

£42,000 as stated.

Is that a lot?

Hmmm, possibly, but try building one and see how much it costs. Plus, it’ll take you a VERY long time to do.

But can I fit Powerspark Electronic Ignition? 

We have sold thousands of distributors and ignition kits for Air Cooled Volkswagens, and Powerspark Electronic Ignition are well known within the community.

You can find a Karmann Ghia Distributor here, or a Karmann Ghia Electronic Ignition Kit here.

Seen a car you think we should feature? Email us!