Classic cars, they’re not just for summer: experts choose 10 examples that you can drive through the winter
For many car enthusiasts, car enthusiasts and avid car collectors, a classic is usually only a pleasure in the summer.
During the months when temperatures drop, rain falls and gritters litter the icy roads, those with vintage cars choose to pack up their belongings for safekeeping for the winter.
The colder months are often used for projects or renovations, in time for the months when the sun appears again.
But according to vintage car experts, that doesn’t have to be the case.
John Mayhead, editor of the Hagerty Price Guide, says there are plenty of engines to suit all budgets can brave the worst British weather.
“Vintage motoring doesn’t have to be a summer activity, as these practical and stylish historic cars demonstrate,” John explains.
Here are his ten top picks – and how much a good one would currently cost on the market.
1. Land Rover Defender (1983-2015)
Hagerty value: £33,100 (2.4 TDCi 110)
The Land Rover Defender 110 is an obvious choice, given its ability as a reliable workhorse
We’ll get the obvious out of the way.
Great in all conditions, the more modern Wolf engines offer power, reliability and more than the basic interior comfort offered by some earlier Land Rovers.
2. Fiat Panda 4×4 (1986-1992)
Hagerty value: £6,400
The most affordable model in the list is the first generation Fiat Panda 4X4 – a small car that can handle any terrain
Launched in 1983, the 4×4 version of the Fiat Panda offers an ultra-low first gear ratio and a reinforced body.
Go anywhere in the Italian Alps, and you’ll still find plenty of these being used because they’re so capable in extreme conditions.
3. Jensen FF (1966-1971)
Hagerty value: £63,400
Do you want a winter driving license? The Jensen FF was road tested on an alpine ski slope in the late 1960s
Launched at the Earl’s Court Motor Show in 1965, the Jensen FF was a groundbreaking car, the first non-all-terrain production vehicle to feature both four-wheel drive and anti-lock brakes.
Named after the ‘Ferguson Formula’ four-wheel drive system, it was famously road tested on an alpine ski slope in 1968.
4. Subaru Impreza WRX Mk2 (2000-2007)
Hagerty value: £9,200
The second-generation Bugeye and Blobeye Subaru Impreza WRX may not have the glory of the mk1, but it’s a great affordable option
They may not be the prettiest Imprezas around, but the second generation ‘Bugeye’ and ‘Blobeye’ cars currently offer all-wheel drive, ABS brakes and generous amounts of power for not a lot of money.
Even performance-oriented WRX STi are reasonably priced compared to their later, facelifted siblings.
5. Porsche 911 2.7RS Safari (1973)
Hagerty value: £1.88 million
Converted from the iconic 2.7 Lightweight, the rally-ready Safari, this is a classic Porsche with serious off-road capabilities and a competitive price
One of the two cars the factory made in 1973 for the East African Safari Rally was offered for sale at auction by Broad Arrow last year, with a lower guide price of $2.5 million (£1.88 million).
For that you get a car that can go almost anywhere. Everything is reinforced, there are skid plates, ram bars, fat tires and even a roof rack.
6. Willy’s/Ford MB Jeep (1941,1945)
Hagerty value: £16,900
A World War II legend, there is no weather a British winter could throw at a Willys Jeep that would deter it
The values of this World War II icon have leveled off in recent years, making it more affordable as a practical and very special classic.
They may not be the most comfortable ride, but like the Land Rover, there aren’t many places they can’t go.
7. Audi ‘Ur’ Quattro (1980-1991)
Hagerty value: £43,800 (RR Quattro)
The rally car that changed everything: the Quattro is a racing legend that continues to rise in price
The competition brother of this car was a rally legend for good reason: the phenomenal road holding thanks to the quattro all-wheel drive, the forward-mounted engine (which gives it traction in difficult conditions) and the suspension setup.
The road versions were also fast: in ultimate Sport Quattro form, the car was as fast as a Lamborghini Countach in a sprint race.
8. Volkswagen ‘Baja Bug’ Beetle (late 1960s)
Hagerty value: About £12,500
Baja Buys are VW Beetles with raised and improved suspension, roll bars, fat tires and cutaway body panels
The Baja 1000 is one of the most brutal races in the world, with over a thousand kilometers of racing through the Mexican desert, and an event synonymous with modified VW Beetles.
Cars converted in Britain tend to opt for raised and improved suspension, roll bar, fat tires and cutaway body panels.
Because they are air-cooled, they run even better in cold weather, but stay warm on the outside. Many no longer have side windows to reduce weight.
9. Range Rover Classic (1970-1996)
Hagerty value: £10,700 (4-door Vogue)
The original Range Rover was the first true luxury off-roader. They will likely become valuable assets
The aim of the Range Rover was to offer the off-road capabilities of the Land Rover, but with the home comforts that a wealthy 1970s executive would appreciate.
It worked, and today both the first two-door and four-door Range Rovers have become collectibles.
Later LSE and EFI examples command a premium, but make sure you have the chassis checked as rust is legendary.
10. AM General Humvee Mk1 (1992-2004)
Hagerty value: £22,500
A car good enough for Arnold Schwarzenegger, the H1 Hummer is a rare British find
If you have a huge driveway that can support the four-ton weight of this monster, then a Hummer might be for you.
Designed for the US military, it is used on operations around the world and you can even adjust the air pressure in the tires from the cabin, useful when going over tricky terrain and taking advantage of the 16-inch ground clearance.
Prices are not as high as you would expect. A UK registered version with 51,000 miles on the odometer sold online last year for £22,500.
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