Auto Express – August 20, 2019

48 SpecialIssue http://www.autoexpress.co.uk

Theultimateguide to

modern classiccars

50

MODERN

CLASSICS

Looking to buy amodel from the past 30 years? We pick our top cars

From sports carstosaloons and SUVs, there’s

lots of classic homegrowntalent to pickfrom

ALMOSTeverynationacrosstheglobehashadahand

inmoderncarproduction.WhiletheBritshaveplayed

theirpart,theJapanese,Germans,ItaliansandFrenchgive

themarunfortheirmoney.Andthat’sbeforeyouconsider

thelikesofSweden,SouthKoreaandtheUSA.

We’veseensomefantasticnewcarslaunchedoverthe

pastthreedecades;manyunderappreciatedatthetime.

Butwhilesomanysportsorsupercarsaredestinedto

becomebonafideclassics,it’sthemoreobscurestuffwe

focusonhere.Overthenext18pageswerundownour

top50ModernClassicCars,handpickedfromthefinest

automotivemanufacturersfromaroundtheworld.

Sowhetheryou’vegotapenchantforFrenchfancies

oradeepdesiretoownaJapaneselegend,takeyourpick

fromwhatwethinkarethefinestmodernclassicbargains

onthemarket.Ourtop50rundownstartshere.

Years produced: 1989-1998

Price range: £500-£15,000 Rarity:★★★★★

Maintenance:★★★★★Investment:★★★★★

WHILEpricesofLandRoverDefendersandearlyRange

Rovershavegonethroughtheroof,Discoverysarestill

seenasworkhorses–andhavethepricestomatch.This

isstrange,becauseallthesemodelssharethesame

basicchassisandpowertrains,buttheDiscohasamore

comfortableandusefulbodyboltedontop.Itdoeshave

atendencytorust,though,meaningearlyDiscovery1

modelsarenowgettingquiterareontheusedmarket.

Theycanmakegreatstarterclassics,however.Repairs

areeasytodo,partsareplentifulandthereareloadsof

friendlyowners’groupstohelpyoualongtheway.Find

agoodDisco(oronethatneedslightrestoration)andit

makesausefulclassic,whichwillgetyouthrough

snowandmud,towalmostanything,carryseven

people,andbeagoodinvestment.Theearly

ones,especiallythethree-doors,are

nowgenuinelycollectable.Just

bewaryofrustandnasty

modifications.

expertview

Longbeforepeoplewent

onaboutcrossoversand

SUVs,thesecarswere‘off-

roaders’–andtheDiscois

oneofthebestexamples.

AndyPringle

Chiefsub-editor

LAND ROVER DISCOVERY1

11

BRITISH

BARGAINS