THERE’S SOMETHING inexplicably romantic about running a “classic”. It’s a word that evokes utopian clichés involving wind and hair and freedom.
But let’s be honest though: the reality is a little more, well, soggy. Rain and alopecia and anguish, more like. It’s that word though: classic. A classic can be forgiven anything; a “banger” or a “clunker” on the other hand . . .
So while a 1979 Porsche 930 “whale tail” in pristine fettle is likely to sail through the NCT, having been cherished through its teens and 20s like an over-pampered WAG, a barely surviving Fiat Ritmo – an esoteric kind of classic – from the same year would probably benefit from the NCT’s official stamp of roadworthiness.
A myriad of cars now count as classics. Surprising stuff, in some cases; stuff that’s not even a Mini or a Jaguar or a Porsche. The DeLorean, for instance, is knocking on to its third decade which you’ll probably agree is reason alone to demand classics go through the NCT.
At the premium end of metal now entering the realm of classic status there’s the BMW M1, which, despite the blue propeller on its bonnet, was a collaboration between BMW, Giugiaro and Lamborghini; a motoring supergroup if ever there was one. But unlike Plastic Ono Band, it was good.
At the normal end of the spectrum there’s the original Golf, and specifically the legendary GTI version, which is widely credited with kicking off the whole “hot hatch” thing. Incorrectly, as it happens – the Alfasud pre-dates it, but try finding one of those in Ireland.
And celebrating its 30th birthday in March is the original Audi Quattro, also known as the Ur-Quattro, which introduced the buying public to the high-performance handling benefits of four-wheel drive and turbocharging.
Like the Golf, the Ur-Quattro popularised a concept that became much imitated and goes on strong today in the form of the Impreza Turbo and Mitsubishi Evo (and fast Audis, of course).
For a different type of four-wheel drive, there’s the first Range Rover: so classic, in fact, it’s called the Range Rover Classic, and so good it survived for 26 years from 1970. For that reason it’s easy to find a good one at a reasonable price.
But if that’s all a little too highbrow, too rural old money, maybe you’ll get your kicks from that blue-collar classic, the Ford Escort.
The second-generation Escort, born in 1975, spawned the rally-bred RS2000 – a true vintage legend. Well looked after, one of those will be an appreciating asset, which is not something you can say about the average clunker.
And if your car’s worth more when you’re rescued than it was when it first clapped out, you couldn’t care less how long you’re stranded by it at the side of the road, right?
