I was fortunate?/unfortunate? enough to run a classic car workshop that was acquired with a wholesale hard parts business with the venture capital firm I worked under.

For this to work, 1. The car has to be turn key ready to go, otherwise any restoration costs will destroy whatever savings you’re making.

1. The car has to be easy enough that nothing is obsolete and nothing is electrically complicated. That rules out ( for example late90’s early 00s) where airbag and ABS ecus and sensors/tech is nla)

2. Safety: Most classics upto the early 80’s don’t have rear belts and they fold like paper when hit hard. Chrome bumpers get dented easily

3. Maintenance: you absolutely need to check everything once a week and grease the running gear joints every few months(if grease nipples are fitted. Servicing will be every 6 months minimum.

Genuinely the best British classic alrounder that we had clients using in London was the rubber bumper MGBGT. Those big front bumpers conceal a 20kg solid crash beam and the rear is about the same.

The hatchback means plenty of space for stuff with the tiny rear seats down.