As has been said, its all down to personal interpretation of "classic". For some it just means that it represents the era, sort of iconic. And an Allegro can be just that. For others, classic means well designed, ageless and able to be appreciated down the ages even when compared with more modern stuff. i.e. a D2. +++

I picked up one of the many classic car mags at the airport the other day and it featured a Vauxhall FB 101 which suddenly brought it back to me that i owned one of those for a few months many years ago. I think the wheels fell off in the end.... :ROFL:

We had 2 of those! (well technically a Princess briefly then an Ambassador) They weren't as bad as people made out if you got the right spec. ;)
They were absolutely massive inside, which with 3 young kids and all their clobber meant ours were never full.
Also, with a wheel on each corner and fairly low and wide, it was amazing how agile they were IF you had power steering (which many didn't) and a decent sized engine.

There's the rub; a lot of cars called 'iconic' do so as they represent the very worst of an era. That doesn't stop them being an icon (of sorts) I guess but it's not really for the right reasons.

If I had to pick an iconic car for under £5000 I'd suggest the Porsche 928. A few examples are available for that money so it's not unrealistic.

Ahead of it's time in many ways; an ageless design that still looks current; a fantastic piece of engineering and by all accounts a decent drive too. I've got zero interest in owning one but I would hold it up as icon.

I had an Ambassador. HLS or whatever. All the bits. I paid just over £800, tarted it up and made almost £1k, which was salve for all the **** taking it attracted (and still does)
I often swapped my motors with my brothers 928 (mine had room for family holidays) So I've used one quite a lot. Fantastic engine. Marmite looks inside and out. Incredible levels of road noise. But an experience nonetheless. Almost restored the damage the Ambassador did to my neighborhood street cred... Almost.

For me a classic is not an icon. Its one of those cars that leaves you thinking of ways to own one yourself.

Here's another prediction. Nissan...... GTR :D

I agree with Phil about the 928: the only Porsche I'd ever consider buying - it's looks have lasted (IMHO…), and if had space for a 5th car, and the cash/time to look after it, I'd add it to the D2 S8 and my Fiat Coupe.

It was also listed in last weekend's papers (Sunday Times, I think) as a upcoming classic that won't break the bank….

I agree - but this will be first :D

240Z Love at first sight, and an enduring love at that.
Neil and I had a discussion about the styling cues on this car. We disagreed. But on reflection (the sober day after) realised that I was talking about one end while I was talking out of the other.

I believe that these are already classics. If so, sorry, they don't qualify as upcoming :-(

£5k could buy you an E36 or E46 M3 or an E34 or E39 M5

One of my favourite cars of that era I owned was a 1988 Renault 21 Turbo, always put a smile on my face

R21 Turbo £1,495

And talking of french cars, R5 GT Turbo and Peugeot 205 GTI should be in there, always loved these too

Alpine GTA Turbo

And how about the 80s Audi Coupés?

As already mentioned beauty is in the eye of the beholder I guess I was only joking about the ambassador as one of my mates had one which was never level all round and his number plate read ROP ##Y :D. Many of the cars mentioned are already reaching or attained classic status and in many cases there are very few of them left on the road or saveable, there is a website which you can enter a model in and see how many are left ... Howmanyleft.co.uk this works on cars taxed I believe and on the road.

Scrappage schemes and the general throw away and recycle approach hasn't helped. I have seen cars at breakers that went if for the last scheme which were in very good nick. Jags bmws audis all working but worth less than 2000. A local jag specials restorer near me bought a number of near perfect x300 jags the leather interiors were worth more alone?
Many of the earlier cars obviously suffered from terminal tin worm due to our salty roads. but as rust proofing and build quality improved it became less of a issue and the cost of mechanical or electrical repairs became the bigger issue.

What never a ceases to amaze me is the regular occurrence of a car found languishing in a garage for 20 or 30 years they are still out there ! Often just plain old escorts or base models which were stuck away when some person gave up driving and forgotten. I started on old motors in the late 70's when I picked up a Austin a90 six 1955 for £50 one owner 40k miles. I was 14 and hooked. I wish I had the money and space to have an example of each of my favourite cars over the years. But a £2.40 win on the euro millions doesn't go far :ROFL:

Best get off and earn some money +++

A lot of cars that people say are rubbish (such as the Allegro and Ambasador) where not that bad for the average Joe - it was mainly down to snobby car mags and the like.

My old man had a lot of what the mags would describe as crap, but for what he wanted were very good:

Allegro
Metro
Maestro
Avenger

Got him and the family from A to B.
Didn't cost a fortune to run
Etc.....

A lot of fun can be had owning one of the more eclectic cars to be honest and keeping them on the road can still be cheap :)

Just my tupence worth