Good places to find retro's for sale.

Needs to be local I'm afraid, but i'll bookmark that for future reference

OK, rather than edit my post I'm going to say when I go look I am pleasantly incorrect in my original statement

The retro and classic content is pretty high. RIght now on the first page we have

MX5 Mk1 - debatable but IMO not retro
Volvo T5 - not retro
'96 Honda Accord - not retro
MX5 - not retro IMO but...
'92 Renault Clio - not retro
'62 Zephyr 4 - classic
E30 BMW Convertible - retro
E30 BMW 325 - retro
E30 BMW 318 - retro
'90 Polo Mk2 - retro
Mk2 Golf GTi - retro
VW Beetle - classic
Vauxhall Senator - retro
Fiat 126 - retro
Mk2 Escort - classic
Merc 300CE - borderline retro/modern
Morris Minor - classic
Merc 350SL - classic
'95 Merc twin turbo - "modern but interesting"
Mk2 Cavalier - retro
'86 Celica Supra - retro/classic?
'74 Beetle - classic
Mk2 Scirrocco - retro
'65 Beetle - classic
Fiat Panda - retro/modern
'54 Ford Pop - classic
'84 Golf Cabrio - retro
Another Scirrocco - retro

so if we say we give the MX5s a pass, then only the Volvo, Accord and Clio are really "out of place"

tbh, I think this discussion has just happened to fall on a 'good week' though. I put it down to time of year more than anything. I looked on there a few months back when I was in the market for something, and there wasnt a car older than me (1984) on the first two pages!!

I think that may have been prior to 'budget motoring' appearing though, I'm not sure.

I also find cars like MX-5s a slippery slope. someone puts up a quite modified one that can be taken 'on its merits', but then that gives a green card for half a dozen shonky stockers to follow it straight on there as its seen as acceptable. i would class mk2/3 golfs, e30 bmws, 6n polos, sierras and a lot of others in the same boat as well.

How local do you mean?

Limiting your purchasing area will severly limit your chances of snagging a good car.

Recently I collected a car 130 miles away just for the gearbox. Another car 140 miles away just for the engine. I picked up a car 180 miles away 'bought blind' just because it was cheap, no other reason....and TWICE I've been to view different cars over 200 miles away only to turn around and drive straight back because they weren't even remotley as described despite many assurances over the phone.

80% of the cars I've ever owned have come from over 100 miles away from where I live and I would reckon I've covered a good 3,000 miles just this year alone viewing or collecting cars.

So many people expect to find it all on their doorstep, but unless you're willing to travel then you could really miss out on the good stuff.

There are these amazing things called trains and also things called coaches - they are brilliant for getting about if you don't have the facility to use a car yet. I have done this many times and it works really well....even for car enthusiasts.

Please don't think I'm having a go, but you are asking for suggestions as to where you can find a car, yet say it has to be local. Most suggestions in this thread so far will net you results further afield than 'local' 99% of the time....it just always seems to be that way I'm afraid.

Be prepared to travel and you'll have a lot more choice.

Having said that, local 'free ad' papers and ever better, the little cards in the local newsagents/shop windows can get you cars that the rest of the world miss out on.

Everyone goes hunting the big www.net thing for cars, which is awesome...but an old man/lady posting a little card in the newsagents with details of the one owner car they bought in the 70's is a possible goldmine waiting to be discovered.

Basically, if you're not prepared to get on the train, make your feet do the work and dig for those gems where the rest of the car buying world can't find.

depends, if you want something specific then you will probably need to travel. If you just want old then there will be stuff local.

on eBay, in the classic section, 11 cars are > 5miles. Up to 10 miles there are another 29. Go to 15 miles and its another 39.

There's a car I'm interested in, probably the only one for sale in the UK at all of that type, and its 7 miles from where I live. coincidence, now if you were in Portsmouth you'd be saying "ah if only it were closer" so this stuff is all down to chance.

But yeah, you improve your chances the further afield you look.

But some of us just don't have the time.

I have a business I'm trying to start, a wife, a 4 year old kid, other commitments. You have to juggle them. Got my eye on a car in Devon. Its going to be weeks before I can go look at it. Luckily its not currently on the open market or I'd miss it.

"Fiat Panda - Retro/Modern"

Even when new the panda couldnt be classed as 'modern' ;D