European cars are known for durability, reliability, and outstanding designs. It's also from this market that the world got some of the most iconic daily drives such as the VW Beetle, Porsche 911, the Fiat Mini, and a lot more. In this sense, therefore, European cars have risen to global recognition quite effortlessly. The catch however is that you have to pay a premium for most of them. They are well built with ingenious engineering and a promise to deliver amazingly.You really don’t have to be rolling in the dough to get a classic European car that'll turn heads wherever you go. Most people miss out the chance to drive a classic European car they admired while as youngsters believing that it will cost them an arm an a leg. While this is true for many classics, finding one that is affordable to buy and fix up can be surprisingly easy. There are quite a number of alternatives that can still bring the adrenaline back.Let's get started with a list of 10 cool classic European cars you can purchase and restore on the cheap.
9 The VW Beetle
Most car enthusiasts believe that the most definitive Beetle was the 1200. It’s the model that helped make the Beetle name so familiar and they were the ones you could see everywhere once upon a time. This model was then constantly updated helping give rise to 1300 when the car was completely revised in 1968. New thicker bumpers and headlamps were introduced in the new model.
The mechanical changes made were the inclusion of dual-circuit brakes and 12V electrics. This is a cool two-door car with a great history behind it. Not only is it quite affordable to restore because of how simple it is, it often looks really classy once restored and upgraded.
8 Fiat 124 Spider
Fiat’s 124 Spider is somewhat similar to the Mazda MX-5. They’re essentially classic rear-wheel-drive sports vehicles but played with a little so that they can be more of grand tourers. Fiat 124 Spiders are affordable two-seat sports vehicles. These are just but a few things that help make it such a cool car to purchase and restore on the cheap.
Also, it already has a turbocharged engine which means you don’t have to worry about injecting some extra pulling power into your restoration process.
7 1967 Austin Mini
Of all the cars that man has used over time, no car united the classes as the BMC Mini did. From pop stars to college students, Mini ownership has never been determined by wealth, or the lack thereof. And guess what? Nothing has changed to date since its demise in 2000.
Whether you’re just getting by or a complete baller, Mini cars make sense because they’re easy to maintain and very fun to drive. These are the two main reasons this car makes it onto this list. However, it’s also the fact that they can have astonishingly low running costs.
6 1985 Porsche 944 Turbo
Meticulously built using high-quality car components, Porsche’s 944 model was pricey when bought new. However, it was totally worth it during that time considering how easy it was to get exceptional parts at that time and how good the fuel economy was in the 1980s.
With fantastic handling/performance and a great 928 engine, this model doesn’t have any of that 924 ‘VW engine’ stigma. It also features full-body galvanizing, meaning you won’t have to worry about dealing with too much rust during the restoration period. However, that doesn’t mean they can’t rust.
5 1983 Peugeot 205
When it came to the 1980s hot hatchbacks, the Peugeot 205 stands out like a sore thumb. Yes, it may not have had the best handling and it may not have been the quickest, but there’s something Peugeot got fundamentally right when it came to making this car a complete package.
Even after they stopped producing it in 1993, it never really became less popular in the eyes of
most car enthusiasts. With that said, it’s now seen as a cheap track toy that’s considerably
affordable to purchase and restore.
4 Volvo P1800
Certain cars have been made famous because they made an appearance on the TV screen. One of them is the Volvo P1800. In the ‘60s cult show “The Saint”, the main protagonist means of transport was a white P1800 a factor that propelled it to greatness.
Some enthusiasts find it so hard to believe how a Swedish automaker, who’s known to make conservatively safe and angular designed vehicles, came up with a curvaceous beauty considered one of the most beautiful coupes of all time.
3 1962 -1975 Lotus Elan
British auto manufacturers Lotus introduced the Elan between 1962 and 1975. It’s a rear-wheel-drive, front-engine vehicle that was available as a coupe or convertible. You were able to get them in four power levels. You could get either get the Inline4 1.6-liter petrol engine or the inline 4 1.5litre petrol engine. It also features Chapman struts rear suspension and wishbone front suspension.
The Lotus Elan was and still is, a car that’s known to provide really great performance. If you’re looking for something cool European car that’s cool and cheap to both buy and restore, this is it.
2 1966-1980 MGB GT
In England, the MGB Roadster was considered an everyday staple just like bangers and mash or a pint of bitter. After its launch in 1962, the MGB eventually became one of the most beloved and best-selling sports vehicles in Britain.
It brought everyday usability coupled with an exciting drive and stylish design to hundreds of thousands, many of whom were more than willing to replace their sensible saloons with a car that put a little pep in their step.
1 1987 Ruf CTR Yellow Bird
RUF has always had close ties with Porsche ever since its inception into the sports car space.
Alois Ruf Sr. founded the company in 1939. At first, it was merely a repair shop. However, they
eventually started making their own busses and cars from scratch
