13 desirable classic cars for sale now

Time to spring into action?

We’ve enjoyed some lovely weather recently at Classic & Sports Car HQ and with the clocks going forward this weekend, we’re excited about being able to enjoy more classic motoring than we have in recent years.

And if you don’t yet have a classic, we have a few ideas for you.

We’ve scoured the internet looking for desirable classic cars to inspire your 2022 motoring. And, what’s more, all are for sale now or in the next few days. Happy browsing.

Estimates/prices given where available.

1. 1984 Lamborghini Countach LP5000 S (est: £455-550,000)

We start with the most expensive car in this list – but, as you can see, that’s no surprise.

Desirable? In bucketloads. Its Nero Tenebre paintjob is one of the more demure shades these classic Lamborghinis are seen in, while this example has covered fewer than 9000 miles.

1984 Lamborghini Countach LP5000 S (cont.)

That Rosso full leather interior certainly packs a punch, though.

This car was imported into the US in November 1983 and, according to the vendor, has always enjoyed a high level of care – in fact, it is described as being in ‘remarkable condition’.

If you’d love to bid and get this naturally aspirated V12 singing again, this Countach has been consigned to the RM Sotheby’s Fort Lauderdale auction on Saturday 26 March – find out more.

2. 1956 Triumph TR3 (£26,995)

It’s time for quite a change of, well, everything, with our next pick that is full of charm.

This is a well-travelled car, having been originally registered in South Africa, and back in 2004 it was the subject of what’s described as a no-expense-spared restoration, after which it was a concours winner.

1956 Triumph TR3 (cont.)

This Triumph came to the UK in June 2018, at which point it had done just 2000 miles since that aforementioned restoration which included an upgrade to TR4 manifolds and carbs, a road-race cam, and rack and pinion steering.

Yet its owner still spent another £4000 fettling it so he could get the most from his TR. Today it is said to run and drive well, it has been dry stored and well maintained – and it’s only being sold because its keeper hasn’t had the time to use it.

So if you’d like to give it a new lease of life, it’s listed in the Private Treaty Sales department of Historics Auctioneers, here.

3. 1987 Volkswagen Golf GTI

This unmodified Monza Blue Volkswagen Golf GTI surely stirs memories for many – of either lusting after them or enjoying their performance.

It has been with is current owner since 2010 who’s carefully maintained it, as the thick history file attests.

From new it had electric windows and a manual sunroof, while a Sony radio/CD player with aux-in has been installed in the cabin.

1987 Volkswagen Golf GTI (cont.)

At 35 years old, this Mk2, 16-valve, three-door Golf has covered just over 72,000 miles. We rather like its unusual paint colour and the cloth-upholstered interior seems to be in decent condition.

So if you fancy some hot-hatch fun, this VW is listed with online auction company Collecting Cars. Bidding closes this Friday, 25 March, at 8:15pm – find out more.

4. 1989 Peugeot 205 GTI (est: £12-15,000)

Or how about one of the most loved and celebrated hot hatches of all time? Of course, we’re talking about the Peugeot 205 GTI.

This 1.9 Phase 1.5 example was first registered on 17 January 1989 and has been with its current custodian just a year.

It is finished in Futura Grey, which benefited from a respray around four years ago, and looks to be in, according to the vendor, ‘excellent condition’.

1989 Peugeot 205 GTI (cont.)

Inside, from this photo at least, it looks like new.

It is all original, so because this car is now 33 years old, that means there are some signs of wear and use, mainly where the seats are concerned. It has extra red floor mats, featuring the GTI logo, and the parcel shelf is intact and hasn’t been fitted with speakers, as so many were.

This ’89 Peugeot 205 GTI is being offered by The Market by Bonhams with no reserve. The sale runs until Monday 28 March at 8:30pm – find out more.

5. 1950 Fiat 1100 Cabriolet (est: £75-95,000)

We’re sharing this because we saw it and thought, ‘wow’, and we thought you might, too.

The Stabilimenti Farina-bodied Fiat 1100 Cabriolet is one of only four known survivors.

In the 1980s, still in Italy, it was found in need of serious attention by the owner of a restoration shop – thankfully, it might have been tired, but it was mostly complete.

1950 Fiat 1100 Cabriolet (cont.)

It took almost 20 years for him to carefully and meticulously restore this Fiat from the ground up, work which included having to make some missing items.

This was finally finished in the early 2000s and this classic Fiat comes to sale now from a collection where, the auction house says, it has been maintained ‘with the goal of making it an enjoyable driver’.

It has been consigned to the RM Sotheby’s 26 March sale – get the full details here.

6. 1974 Aston Martin V8 (est: $60-80,000)

We love these and we know many of you do, too.

And it seems The Market by Bonhams, which is selling this example, agrees: ‘The Aston Martin V8 is a wonderful car … This car is in great condition, some paint restoration and a minor detailing would bring this car up to excellent condition’.

And, no, that isn’t a typo, this 56,148-mile classic is for sale in the USA, Los Angeles, to be precise, hence an estimate in dollars – at the time of writing that equates to c£45,200-60,300.

1974 Aston Martin V8 (cont.)

While the outside is finished in eye-catching Royal Claret metallic paint, it is a symphony of black inside – but at least the cabin presents as well as the exterior.

As aforementioned, the vendor says it would benefit from some detailing (few cars wouldn’t!), but no big jobs are in the offing. The engine bay, however, is said to be spotless.

This left-hand drive Aston Martin V8 is for sale on The Market by Bonhams – find out more here. Bidding closes on Friday 25 March at 12 noon and it is being offered with no reserve.

7. 1963 Hotchkiss M201 (£19,995)

For lots of people, the prospect of fun-filled summer motoring is inextricably linked to wind-in-your-hair driving, which is one of the reasons we decided to share this Hotchkiss with you.

We know military 4x4s aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, but the fact that this example was in the Tom Hanks film Saving Private Ryan might add to the appeal.

1963 Hotchkiss M201 (cont.)

Given one reason we picked this car was the pleasure of open-top driving, it’s a shame it was photographed on a rainy day!

Still, these cars were design to be used in all weathers and across all terrains, and what they lack in creature comforts they make up for in character – and this one is said to have ‘a wonderful patina and comes with many period-correct features’.

It is for sale via the Private Treaty Sales division of Historics Auctioneers, here.

8. 1985 BMW M535i (£16,000)

With the added appeal of the M5’s aero enhancements, a popular period option, this Diamond Black, right-hand-drive, E28 BMW M535i is an imposing-looking four-door.

And don’t those split-rim BBS alloy wheels look fantastic? Granted, they are later and larger (17-inch) additions, but they still look superb.

It will need some attention, though. The 84,229 miles on the odometer are unchanged since at least 2006, despite being driven, and the speedo and tacho don’t work, either. However, the vendor says both the transmission and engine are in fine condition.

1985 BMW M535i (cont.)

There’s an argument for saying that with this car you’re getting M5 cachet without the price-tag.

It would benefit from some TLC, but this E28 BMW is as handsome today as it was when new, 37 years ago, and it has an MoT until February 2023.

It’s for sale on The Market by Bonhams with a ‘buy now’ price of £16,000 – find out more.

9. 1937 Mercedes-Benz 230N Cabriolet A (est: £135-150,000)

The 230N was produced for just one year, making this quite a find. In that time, 966 were produced in either two- or four-door saloon form, or as a Cabriolet C, a Roadster or, as here, a Cabriolet A.

The ‘N’ in the name of these Mercedes-Benz W143s stands for ‘normal wheelbase’ – the 230 was only available in long-wheelbase form.

Seldom seen and aesthetically pleasing, this is a restored, matching-numbers example.

1937 Mercedes-Benz 230N Cabriolet A (cont.)

Outside, this rare classic Mercedes’ chromework glistens against the deep red and black paint, while inside there’s a tan leather interior with matching carpets and an attractively styled dashboard.

Meanwhile, under the bonnet, the 2.3-litre straight-six has been rebuilt.

This lovely classic Mercedes-Benz will cross with block with RM Sotheby’s at its Fort Lauderdale sale on Saturday, 26 March. The full listing is here.

10. 1971 Fiat 500L

This super-sweet-looking classic Fiat is sure to make you smile.

Plus, it’s the ‘Lusso’ model, which adds ribbed vinyl coverings for the seats and door cards, as well as chrome bumper overriders.

This example’s 12-inch steel wheels are wrapped in whitewall tyres which might split opinion, but the chromed luggage rack on the back is less likely to, bringing both an extra dose of practicality and ramping up the period vibes.

1971 Fiat 500L (cont.)

The odometer reads 29,211km (c18,150 miles) and in the year the seller has owned it, this 500 has been kept in an air-conditioned showroom.

Which is probably why the cabin looks to be in good condition, with only a little, in the words of the listing, ‘time-earned patina’.

It’s powered by a 650cc Abarth engine mated to a four-speed manual gearbox, and is being sold via Collecting Cars, bidding closing at 8:20pm this Friday, 25 March – see here.

11. 1973 Audi 100 Coupé S (est: £5-10,000)

When did you last see one of these? Exactly. And we love its brilliantly period orange paintwork.

This example has been with the same family for the past 40 years, having had three owners in the nine years before that, and has done just 52,000 miles.

During the past four decades it has been carefully maintained, but The Market by Bonhams, who is selling this classic, says the need for more extensive work means that, finally and with sadness, the family is parting with its Audi.

1973 Audi 100 Coupé S (cont.)

So, what kind of work is needed? That paintwork is original and, in places, shows its age with a few points of surface rust and stone chips.

The wheels are original, too, and one needs some work but otherwise they’re in decent condition, while the oh-so-period cabin, that is also thought to be original, needs retrimming.

If you fancy bringing this rare German classic car back to best, it is currently listed on The Market by Bonhams where it is being sold with no reserve. You have until 7:30pm on Friday 25 March to place your bid – here.

12. 2005 Ford GT (est: £380-435,000)

A Ford GT is a rather desirable car. The fact that this one has been owned from new by American singer-songwriter Kid Rock might up the ante for some – oh, and it is being sold with a poster of the model signed by its designer, Camilo Pardo, and a guitar bearing Kid Rock’s autograph.

But back to the car, the Ford GT, which was built to mark the company’s centenary.

Red with white stripes, forged aluminium BBS wheels, red brake calipers and, perhaps unsurprisingly, an uprated sound system, this is a well-specced example.

2005 Ford GT (cont.)

As you can see, it looks in fabulous condition inside – well, it has covered just 3096 miles.

Being a superstar, Kid Rock has carefully maintained this car, so it appears to be as-new. It just surely needs more opportunities to let its supercharged V8 heart sing.

It’s been consigned to the RM Sotheby’s Fort Lauderdale sale on 26 March – find out more.

13. 1993 Porsche 911 turbo

Last, but by no means least, we have this 964 Porsche.

And given how synonymous this car is with the colour, it’s a bit of a surprise to learn that this is the only UK-supplied, right-hand-drive example in Guards Red. Well, so says Collecting Cars, where this classic is being sold.

This 48,233-mile car rides on 18-inch split-rim alloy wheels with polished rims and has a period-correct Cargraphic exhaust.

1993 Porsche 911 turbo (cont.)

Inside, the black leather with red piping is a classic combination, while factory-fitted items include electric windows, sports seats, a sunroof, white instrument dials and a Blaupunkt radio/cassette player.

Unrestored and ready to be enjoyed, bidding on Collecting Cars closes on Monday 28 March at 7:15pm – get full details here.