PRE-WAR TOP CHOICES

In a world where assumptions are often made before the facts are known, it’s easy to think that pre-war motoring is enjoyed primarily by today’s ‘more mature’ enthusiasts. A cloth-capped, moustachioed septuagenarian trundling around in a classic from the 1920s or ’30s is the stereotypical image. And yet the truth is very different, with increasing numbers of younger enthusiasts seeing the appeal of pre-war cars which offer a refreshing alternative to those more predictable, later-model choices.

It’s true that a pre-war car provides an enjoyable ownership experience, although it will often demand more from its driver than many a post-war model. If you’ve never driven a car with a non-synchro ‘crash’ gearbox, for example, you might find it tricky to start with. But by the time it becomes second nature and you’ve truly bonded with the car you’ll be enjoying the fact that driving it is a fantastically involving experience.

Equally good news is the value for money that many pre-war cars offer, particularly when compared with many post-war offerings. Whether you’ve got less than £10,000 or over £100,000 to spend, there’s something to suit your budget. So, let’s take a look at some of today’s top choices and the reasons why they’re so appealing.

AUSTIN SEVEN

One of the most popular pre-war options is, of course, the Austin Seven, which launched in 1922 and enjoyed a 17-year career through different incarnations and redesigns. Indeed, Herbert Austin’s smallest model was a huge success for his Longbridge factory, with an impressive 290,000 examples