So you have less than $30,000 to spend on a classic car here in Australia.   Porsche 911 and Jaguar e-type out of the question for sure.  But, I’m sure we can find plenty of others to enjoy for under $30,000.  Let’s have a look at what is for sale and close to Byron Bay.

1956 MG A Manual

Let’s start with this 1956 MG A.  The MG A was a completely new design, leading on from the MG TF.  It was released in 1955 and over 100,000 cars were produced in the years it was manufactured.

 

It does, however, have a 1.8 litre engine from an MG-B, so I wonder if that makes the car more or less appealing ?

The original ad is here on CarSales.

1965 Ford Mustang

Although it was more or less a humble Falcon beneath its sporty skin, Ford’s new Mustang still looked like nothing ever seen before when it burst onto the scene in April 1964. More than 417,000 were sold within a year, a new Detroit record. Bucket seats and a floor shifter were standard, and either six-cylinder or 289-cid V-8 power was available under that long hood. Ford’s K-code High Performance 289, rated at 271 horsepower, remained the hottest optional engine up through 1966.

This one was imported in 2007 and includes all relevant import documentation, which is critical for registration in each Australian state.  Fully restored for $30,000.

The full ad can be found here.

 

1970 Volkswagen Beetle Karmann

For something a little different, perhaps try this VW Karmann Convertible from 1970.

It was in 1948 that Wilhelm Karmann first bought a VW Beetle sedan and converted it into a four-seated convertible. The Beetle Cabriolet began production in 1949 by Karmann in Osnabrück. After successfully presenting it at VW in Wolfsburg, production started in 1949.

The convertible was more than a Beetle with a folding top. To compensate for the strength lost in removing the roof, the sills were reinforced with welded U-channel rails, a transverse beam was fitted below the front edge of the rear seat cushion, and the side cowl-panels below the instrument panel were double-wall. In addition, the lower corners of the door apertures had welded-in curved gussets, and the doors had secondary alignment wedges at the B-pillar.

The top was cabriolet-style with a full inner headliner hiding the folding mechanism and crossbars. In between the two top layers was 1 in (25 mm) of insulation. The rear window was tempered safety glass, and after 1968, heated. Due to the thickness of the top, it remained quite tall when folded. To enable the driver to see over the lowered top, the inside rearview was mounted on an offset pivot. By twisting the mirror 180 degrees on a longitudinal axis, the mirror glass would raise approximately 2 in (5.1 cm).

The convertible was generally more lavishly equipped than the sedan with dual rear ashtrays, twin map pockets, a visor vanity mirror on the passenger side, rear stone shields, and through 1969, wheel trim rings. Many of these items did not become available on other Beetles until the advent of the optional “L” (Luxus) Package of 1970.

After a number of stylistic and technical alterations made to the Karmann cabriolet,^[50] (corresponding to the many changes VW made to the Beetle throughout its history), the last of 331,847 cabriolets came off the production line on 10 January 1980.

If this one grabs your attention, and why wouldn’t it, then you can find all about it here.

1967 Ford Galaxie 500

Want something bigger than a Beetle soft-top ?   Try this Ford Galaxie on for size.

The Ford Galaxie was a full-sized car that was built in the United States of America by Ford for model years 1959 through to 1974. The name was used for the top models in Ford’s full-size range from 1958 until 1961, in a marketing attempt to appeal to the excitement surrounding the Space Race. For 1962, all full-size Fords wore the Galaxie badge, with “500” and “500/XL” denoting the higher series. The Galaxie 500/LTD was introduced for 1965 followed by the Galaxie 500 7-Litre for 1966. The Galaxie 500 part was dropped from the LTD in 1966, and from the XL in 1967; however the basic series structuring levels were maintained. The “regular” Galaxie 500 continued below the LTD as Ford’s mid-level full-size model from 1965 until its demise at the end of the 1974 model year.

This one is for sale right now

 

 

1957 Jaguar Mark I

For something a little less USA and more UK – try this Jag Mark 1.   Renowned for use in UK drama series as police care, they also had a strong history on the racetrack.

The Jaguar 2.4 Litre Mark 1 was produced between 1955 and 1959. The 2.4 Litre was the company’s first small saloon since the end of its 1½ and 2½ Litre cars in 1949, and was an immediate success, easily outselling the larger much more expensive Jaguar saloons.

Find this Jag here for under $30,000

 

 

1957 Cadillac Fleetwood

OK, so the Jaguar Mark 1 was not your style, and Ford Galaxie is maybe a bit too…….modern ?    Try this one for size.

A Cadillac was the height of luxury –  driven by movie stars and gangsters – it was the car to own. The Fleetwood was the long wheel based Cadillac and 57 was the first year of the new shape (rocket ship style).

Cadillac introduced its first production four-door hardtop, the Sedan DeVille, in 1956. When Cadillac redesigned all of its standard models for 1957, the Sixty Special adopted the pillarless design as well.  The 365 cu in (5.98 L) engine produced 300 hp (220 kW).

Surely this would make you feel like Elvis ?

 

Buy it here

 

 

1949 Holden FX Standard

None of those are old enough or Aussie enough for your taste ?  Try this one – the original series Holden FX.  From the ad, the seller states

“This 48-215 Holden is in outstanding condition. The bodywork was completed in December 2016 after a two year restoration process. The restoration included re-chromed bumpers, over-riders, door handles, grille, perfect stainless steel hub caps, complete rubber kit, new windscreens and other cosmetic items. Mechanically, everything needed was replaced including brake cylinders, rebuilt carburetor, wiper mechanism, new exhaust, new tyres, petrol tank and lines etc. The vehicle passed Victorian Road Worthy inspection upon completion on first attempt.”

You can have this in your garage for a whisker under $30,000

Conclusion

Just a sample of what is available for under $30,000 and close to Byron Bay.   Classic car owners have never had such a huge range of cars from which to choose.

#GetOutAndBuy