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We’ve insured thousands of classic cars in the 35+ years we’ve been in existence. Basically, you name it, we’ve insured it. Having built up a wealth of experience and knowledge within the industry in the last three decades, we are able to quote for virtually every type of classic car available.

However, there’s definitely certain cars that we see more than others. If you’re intrigued to learn more about the most popular classics we insure here at Lancaster, then read on. In revealing the list, we’ll take a closer look at each of these popular motors, including what makes them so appealing to today’s owners and how much it might cost to get your hands on one of them yourself.

If you do become an owner of any of the following classics, don’t forget to invest in adequate classic car insurance, too. Lancaster Insurance are specialists in arranging classic car insurance, as well as cover for vintage 4x4s and other classic vehicles.

So, let’s take a look at some of the classics that we know best…

MGB

The pretty and practical MGB might be the ultimate first classic sports car. With a straightforward spec, a workable chassis and a characterful driving experience, it ticks the boxes for many classic car owners. It also has brilliant parts availability and extensive club support.

It’s perhaps no surprise that the MGB tops our list. During the car’s long production life (1962-1980), over half a million MGBs were driven out of Abingdon’s factory gates. It also enjoyed success in the US and Europe, proving that it wasn’t only the British that fell for the car’s charm.

Even into the late 1970s, the MGB managed to retain its charm and prove popular with buyers – even if it was starting to feel a little dated and lightweight by then. As What Car? magazine concluded in its 1979 road test of the MGB GT: “The MGB has long been the butt of countless saloon-bar jokes and the object of derision in the motoring press. We feel, nevertheless, that it has appeals besides those of tradition and its much-vaunted period charm – it is cheap to buy and run and is surprisingly comfortable for two people even though time has clearly passed it by in terms of performance and interior design.”

Conceived by MG’s Chief Engineer, Syd Enever, in the 1950s, the curtain inevitably came down on the MGB in the 1980s – but it saw off plenty of sophisticated opposition in that time.

Values for Britain’s most popular sports car can vary hugely, with the earliest roadsters in tip-top condition fetching close to £20,000, whilst the rubber-bumper version produced from 1974 onwards can start at £3,000 or less. So, plenty of scope for different budgets.

Mazda MX5

The humble Mazda MX5 was born in 1989 and would go on to become the most famous roadster of all time. A seriously reliable little runner, it is a winning combination of tried-and-tested running gear, continuous refinements and a long production life. For those after a classic convertible, the MX5 is undoubtedly a smart choice.

At the time of its release, Autocar called the MX5 “a total success”, writing that it had the “two ingredients essential in any sports car powerplant: instant throttle response and an invigorating exhaust note.”

These characteristics make the MX5 a whole lot of fun to drive. Despite a modest 115hp 1.6-litre petrol engine, it’s lightweight (955kg) meant it could hit 62mph in a respectable 8.8 seconds.

The first-generation Mazda MX-5 was an enormous sales success – so much so that supply struggled to keep up with demand. During the Mk1’s eight-year lifespan, some 431,544 were made. The second-generation MX5 was every bit as popular, which saw this classic enter the Guinness World Records in 2000 as the best-selling two-seater sports car in history.

Values for the world’s most popular sports car vary from anything up to around £10,000 for a model in good condition with low mileage on the clock. Not bad considering the amount of fun that can be had in one!

Land Rover 88 / 90

The Land Rover has a timeless appeal. This is typified by the fact that in its 60-year history, there have been only eight actual models; although there have been endless variations on a successful theme.

The original Land Rover was introduced at the 1948 Amsterdam Auto Show and was quickly hailed as a practical vehicle, "built to high standards," for both farmers and businesses in post-war England. However, while they might’ve been built for a purpose, their appeal spans beyond its core audience.

Over the years Land Rover has remained a consistently respected brand – not only as a utilitarian vehicle but as a long-standing stalwart of the British Army, recovery vehicle, off-road plaything and even a popular choice amongst royalty.

Until recent years, the Land Rover line-up was refreshingly simple; the original Land Rover Series I, II and III, the long-running Land Rover Defender and the luxury Range Rover Classic.

Famed for their ruggedness and reliability, the no-nonsense Series I has plenty of fans. As such, prices for even a tired example have continued to rise at a rapid rate. Despite a relatively simple construction and a very agricultural driving experience, an immaculate 1948, short-wheelbase model, for example, can fetch anywhere in the region of £30,000.

MG Midget

Just like the MGB, the MG Midget is another good point of entry into the classic British sports car market, possessing a lot of fun for a reasonable price – and with prices on the rise, you could turn a pretty profit, too.

Sharing a DNA with the Austin-Healey Sprite, the MkI and MkII MG Midget weren’t exactly punchy, prioritising style over performance in order to keep costs down. However, that changed somewhat with the 1966 MkIII, which came with the supped-up twin-carb 1275CC version of the A-Series. It was almost the exact engine found in the Mini Cooper S, although pared down to 65hp compared to 75hp in the Mini, thanks to lower compression and smaller valves.

Engine aside, however, MG didn’t see reason to make many more changes to the Midget for several years, aside from minor cosmetic updates. And by 1972, the Sprite was no longer in production, leaving the Midget out on its own in front for the title of cheap roadster.

The lack of alterations and long production run (1961–80) mean that spare parts for the Midget are fairly easy to come by. This also makes getting your hands on one pretty straightforward, too, but you will have to pay in the region of £20,000 for an impeccable model.

MG TF

For each full year of production, the MG TF was the UK’s best-selling two-seater sports car, inheriting this mantle from the MGF. Introduced in January 2002, the TF is a practical, reliable and very economical sports car – perhaps not the words you’d want to hear described about a sports car but nonetheless, it clearly proved to be a winning formula.

Although it was based on MG F platform, the MG TF was heavily redesigned and reengineered; the most noticeable mechanical changes being the switch from Hydragas suspension to conventional coil springs and the new design of the air induction system that sees it produces more power than in MG F engines.

There’s no doubt you can see the MG F in the TF, but various cosmetic changes including a revised grille, redesigned front headlights, bumpers and side air-intake grills give it more of an edge.

Not without its problems – such as uneven shut lines on the driver’s door  – nonetheless 39,249 MG TFs were built from 2002 until 2005. Were it not for the collapse of MG Rover, many more might’ve seen the light of day, too.

At the time of its release, Autocar summed the MG TF as “undeniably flawed”, but it is an appealing driver’s car nonetheless”. But, considering you can now pick one up for as little as a couple of grand, you might forgive the MG TF for some of its dated design if you only have limited funds to play with.

Volkswagen Golf

It’s hard to imagine a time when the Volkswagen Golf didn’t exist. It has gone on to become the most successful car in Europe – and it owes a lot to MkI which first rolled off the production line in 1974.

Succeeding the incredibly popular VW Beetle, the Golf was seen as an 180-degree turn. Where the Beetle had an air-cooled rear engine, the Golf featured a water-cooled front engine. Where the Beetle was rear-wheel drive, the Golf was front-wheel drive. They obviously looked completely different, too, with the Beetle’s friendly round edges swapped out in favour of a meaner, rectangular design structure.

Within two years, VW had already sold one million Golfs. In 1976, the GTI edition was introduced to the world, aimed at those who wanted a bit more in the way of performance. A convertible version was also produced.

Then along came the MkII in 1983 which was even better than its predecessor with its new chassis improving comfort and handling and reducing road noise. The Golf MkII also donned a controlled catalytic converter (in 1984), anti-lock braking system (in 1986), and all-wheel drive (in 1986).

While 6.3 million units of the Golf MkII were produced, the ultimate version is inevitably the 1.8 GTi, a car that’s following the original in terms of rising values. However, you can get better value if you opt for one of the more placid four-door versions.

The best of the rest

Completing our list of the most popular classics we insure at Lancaster, we have the Austin Mini, which remains one of the most fun-to-drive classics on the road. Nowadays even the lower marques are commanding high prices in tip-top condition.

The Land Rover Discovery comes in at number eight on the list, which, upon its release in 1989, was considered ground-breaking for its versatility, as it’s both an off-road vehicle and a family car. These popular models are still prized for their durability.

The Ford Escort is ninth on our list. Once ubiquitous on Britain’s road, the Escort sold in massive numbers: more than four million were produced between 1968 and 2004, in several different versions.

Completing our list is the Morris Minor. The mighty Moggy as it became known, was made at Cowley between 1948 and 1972, and quickly became a favourite among the working classes. Back then, owners tended to maintain their vehicles with love and care and only drive them occasionally, which is good news for anyone looking for one at auction today.

Protect your investment with classic car insurance

So which of these popular classics have you got your eye on? Perhaps you’ve got something much rarer in mind? Whichever model you’ve bought, make sure you come to the specialists at Lancaster for a classic car insurance quote before you go anywhere else.

Did you know that Lancaster Insurance is the broker of choice for owners of 96,000 classic and retro vehicles in the UK?

Like you, the team at Lancaster is passionate about classic motors and we want to help preserve them for the future.

Benefits of classic car insurance through us can include:

• Up to 25% classic car club member discounts
• Salvage retention
• 90 days EU cover
• Static show cover
• Cover for historic rallies
• Limited mileage discounts

If you’ve ever been to the Classic Motor Show at the NEC, you may have stopped to chat with the team at Lancaster as you were checking out the cars on display.

We love welcoming new owners into the classic car community and sharing the knowledge we’ve accumulated over the last three decades.

If you’re wondering how much your pride and joy is worth, we can arrange a two-year agreed valuation for your classic. Just ask the team for more details.

Get a quote for classic car insurance today.

Policy benefits, features and discounts offered may very between insurance schemes or cover selected and are subject to underwriting criteria. Information contained within this article is accurate at the time of publishing but may be subject to change.