2016

Mazda have built nearly one million of these incredibly popular ragtops making it the biggest selling convertible sports car of all time. And there’s a reason they’re so popular – they are very, very good. This one has low kilometres considering it is 26 years old, and, frankly, you won’t get more driving fun for less money than an MX-5.

The new Fiat 500 is bigger, more powerful, more refined, safer and faster than the original Bambina. But this near new one - with only 1400kms on the clock and the balance of its new car warranty - is available to buy at less than the price of a decent vintage one. It’d make a great Christmas prezzy for someone, too.

Looking like some crazed WW2 fighter plane without wings, this damaged 2016 Morgan Three Wheeler is possibly one of the most unusual cars ever conceived. If it looks like it was made eighty years ago that’ll be because it’s based on the original model that Morgan started selling in the 1930s. This one is virtually brand new but has already bitten some unlucky driver so some work is required. Are you game?

Most of the classic cars we have featured from the Turners National Classic Car Auction have been high end, expensive collectibles. But there are a few affordable cars of note and this kiwi classic from 1984 is one of them. It may not be fast or particularly stylish but back in the eighties if you were borrowing mum’s car there was a fair chance it’d be a Laser – probably not a “Sport”, though, because that was for posh mums...

You can see the resemblance to the Duesenberg used in the 2013 film “The Great Gatsby” but there is also a fair bit of 1985 Mustang mixed in as well. That’s because this Gatsby replica is based on a 1985 Ford Mustang. So it’s a cut price Duesenberg. But let’s face it most of us are a cut price Leo DiCaprio at best so it’s just about spot on. Sure most of your friends will hate it, your wife/husband will leave you, but the kids will love it...

Prices for some classic cars are booming right now and none more so than the humble VW Kombi. Combine that with the rat rod craze and you have one of the most in demand classics in this 1964 Splittie. So don’t be fooled by the tatty looks and the surface rust as the price for patina is riding high right now.

It may seem obvious now but the Ford Capri was indeed designed to be the European Mustang and was designed by Mustang designer Phillip T Clark. It’s a fact that only surfaced in recent years and, like the famous American Pony car, it was a big success. Prices are on the rise but as yet the Capri doesn’t attract Ford Escort tax so the only way is up for the car favoured by wide boys and seventies cop shows.

I kid you not, this 1980 Suzuki CXG Coupe is pretty much brand spankers. It has a total of 142kms on the clock – not 142,000, not 14,200, not 1,420 but 142 - well 141.7 to be exact. That’s right, this little Whizzkid, as they are sometimes known, drove home from the dealership and straight into the garage, and it’s been there ever since. So if you missed out on buying a new one in 1980 you’ve got one last chance...

Okay, so it’s not the one from Thelma and Louise (spoiler alert – that one didn’t have a happy ending) but this fourth generation Ford Thunderbird is probably as close as you’re likely to get in NZ. It’s not a convertible but the hardtop version is just as sexy, and this one is a real gem with a long history on NZ’s roads.