The classic car market has experienced turbulent times in the last decade or so, but with values generally climbing on ‘traditional’ classics from the 1960s, ‘70s and ‘80s, it might seem that classic car ownership is now out of reach for younger enthusiasts, or those shopping on a budget. That needn’t be the case, however, with all manner of enticing icons from the 20th century still achievable for a modest £2000 budget, or well below that in some cases. We’ve brought together our favourite sports cars, saloons, superminis and family cars from before the year 2000 – including one stalwart ‘traditional’ classic – that still offer great value.
MERCEDES W124 (1984-1997)
The W124 comes from a period when the three-pointed star represented some of the best engineering and highest quality you could find on a car. Evolving and further perfecting the foundations laid by the iconic W123 – a car now sadly well out of our £2000 budget – the logically-named W124 gently modernised the look courtesy of Bruno Sacco, raking back the headlights, introducing a flush-fit grille, integrating the bumpers into the bodylines and generally rounding the edges to improve aerodynamics. The result was a handsome but discreet car, that was contemporary yet absolutely still a Mercedes. The estate variant was on the drawing board from very early in the development process, meaning it too looked like a natural progression.
The feeling of quality was furthered by use of thicker steel and extra sound deadening to create an even more refined driving experience, while the basic design of the W123’s interior was discreetly rounded at the edges to complement the exterior. The 190E’s multi-link rear suspension was
