Future Classic cars?

keith100

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A recent thread about the economics of restoration got me thinking about my old Armstrong, which seemed to me to be destined to be a classic. It was:

Rare (1700 built)
Classy
Technically interesting- Hydraulic lifters, pushbutton start, telescoping steering wheel and built in wheel jacks. In 1946!

So I had a look around the net, and found you can buy a good one for about 10-12,000 pounds. Hardly even pay for the garaging over 45 odd years.

How disappointing.

Anyway thought you might like seeing this grand old British car. Much nicer than the chromed up junker behind it.:lol:

 
C

C180 Chris

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What a super car!
Try not to look at it from a financial POV, it will only upset you:D
BTW i wouldn't mind the chromed up junker either:D:D
 

Alex M Grieve

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A recent thread about the economics of restoration got me thinking about my old Armstrong, which seemed to me to be destined to be a classic. It was:

Rare (1700 built)
Classy
Technically interesting- Hydraulic lifters, pushbutton start, telescoping steering wheel and built in wheel jacks. In 1946!

So I had a look around the net, and found you can buy a good one for about 10-12,000 pounds. Hardly even pay for the garaging over 45 odd years.

I remember in the 1960s looking at several such cars - they were about 10 years old and, although in excellent condition, people could not give them away.

I always felt in those days that big cars were better value - excellent accommodation, good reliability for the time and what they cost in fuel and insurance was made up for in other ways. I finally bought a Rover 105S which proved my theory for me over the 3 years I ran it.

I think people fought shy of the Armstrongs because the main dealers were prohibitively expensive, and other engineers did not want to work on them. Parts were expensive and hard to source. Sadly, I felt at the time that it was a classic car, doomed to obscurity. There were other cars suffered the same fate - many to good for their own good, if you see what I mean - like the Jowett, Javelin.
 

television

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The STAR Saphire was the last one built, something like a Mk9 but much better in the finish,,most just disappeared in the 60's as no one wanted them
3092562413_063c37ce04.jpg
 

Alex M Grieve

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The STAR Sapphire was the last one built, something like a Mk9 but much better in the finish,,most just disappeared in the 60's as no one wanted them

I am surprised by these headlamps on a car of that era. Are they original?
 

Myros

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they look like Lucas /RR parts bin

as do the fog lights in lovely yellow. No reason why Armstrong couldn'y design them into the wings. Makes you do a double take though.
 
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keith100

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  • Thread Starter
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I remember in the 1960s looking at several such cars - they were about 10 years old and, although in excellent condition, people could not give them away.

I always felt in those days that big cars were better value - excellent accommodation, good reliability for the time and what they cost in fuel and insurance was made up for in other ways. I finally bought a Rover 105S which proved my theory for me over the 3 years I ran it.

I think people fought shy of the Armstrongs because the main dealers were prohibitively expensive, and other engineers did not want to work on them. Parts were expensive and hard to source. Sadly, I felt at the time that it was a classic car, doomed to obscurity. There were other cars suffered the same fate - many to good for their own good, if you see what I mean - like the Jowett, Javelin.


Yes, I think you are right, too rare to be remembered, but not rare enough for a connoisseur.

Certainly cheap. I paid 30 pounds for it and sold it to a wrecker 15 mos later for 2, after the offer of "gifts" failed to secure a new MOT.
 

littlebrooklyn

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I do love some of the classic cars, they seem so much prettier than the modern ones.

My other half has just sold his much loved model train collection and we are looking to buy a classic car, just can't decide which one.

If and when we ever get one I will post a pic on here :D
 

television

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I do love some of the classic cars, they seem so much prettier than the modern ones.

My other half has just sold his much loved model train collection and we are looking to buy a classic car, just can't decide which one.

If and when we ever get one I will post a pic on here :D

Its very time consuming Lyn ,,you will never see him, I still have the words "you love the car more than me" ringing in my ears
 

television

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I am sure that your attention to the body work was no less diligent in either case?

You can only do ones best Alex,yes I do appreciate the curves and lines that some bodies have,,good to run your hands over them :cool::D:shock:
 

littlebrooklyn

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Its very time consuming Lyn ,,you will never see him, I still have the words "you love the car more than me" ringing in my ears

Well I think he plans on buying one that is already restored Malcolm. He's already been down the road of restoring cars himself when he was much younger and now just wants one for fun.

After years of model train layouts being moved from one room to the other and layouts being ripped down and rebuilt I'm quite relieved to see the back of the trains ;)
 

television

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Well I think he plans on buying one that is already restored Malcolm. He's already been down the road of restoring cars himself when he was much younger and now just wants one for fun.

After years of model train layouts being moved from one room to the other and layouts being ripped down and rebuilt I'm quite relieved to see the back of the trains ;)

But when he takes out that bay window so he can get the car in ?????
 

littlebrooklyn

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You can only do ones best Alex,yes I do appreciate the curves and lines that some bodies have,,good to run your hands over them :cool::D:shock:
:shock::shock::shock:

But when he takes out that bay window so he can get the car in ?????

There is no way he going to be allowed to take that bay window out Malcolm!

We do have a full sized garage at the other side of the house too, so hopefully it will fit in there.
 

television

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:shock::shock:

To the :shock::shock::shock: some of those old models do have lovely lines

There is no way he going to be allowed to take that bay window out Malcolm!

We do have a full sized garage at the other side of the house too, so hopefully it will fit in there.

I know that you will win :D:D
 


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