Former Fifth Gear host includes Vauxhall and Lancia in top four unique classic cars
FORMER Fifth Gear host Jonny Smith has revealed his four hidden gem classic cars which collectors should snap up as soon as possible.
Richard Hammond discusses his love for classic cars on GMB
Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, Jonny Smith said quirky cars “don’t mean expensive”. He said there are a lot of “rare cars which aren’t that desirable” which are still great vehicles.
Vauxhall VX220
Mr Smith said: “It’s a rebadged Lotus Elise but I always preferred it to the Elise which is a bit controversial.
“The Elise celebrated its anniversary this year. I think as Elise prices creep up the Vauxhall is maybe the one to have.
“The Vauxhall always was the cheaper to look after because you could take it to a Vauxhall dealer and the engine is just an Astra engine.
“I prefer the look of the VX220. I always thought it was a good car, The VX220 Turbo was an absolute weapon.”
READ MORE: 'It’s overwhelming’: Over 100 classic cars to be auctioned in UK sale
DON'T MISS
Former Fifth Gear host worried about E10 petrol risks [INSIGHT]
Classic cars should have yearly MOT tests, says former Fifth Gear host [COMMENT]
Classic car mystery: Morris Minor abandoned in Hull car park for years [PICS]
According to Parkers, the model has a used car value of between £4,600 and £8,500.
Lancia Stratos
Mr Smith said: “It’s a lesser-seen car that a certain generation will know.
“[It’s] a car that was built for homologation purposes. Homologation cars are always quirky because they have to fit a rulebook and often they don’t make the manufacturer any money.
“They throw money at building this thing to win at motorsport and weirdly in history they don't sell so well which means they make the company a loss.
“But in time they become the desirable ones, they really do.”
However, Lacia Stratos come with a heft price tag with many valid at over $500,000 (£361,400).
Nissan Pao
He said: “It was retro-styled and it came out at the same time as the Nissan Figaro and the Nissan Escargot, which was a little van.
“You could never buy any of them in the UK directly but there's been a lot of imports ever since.”
He added: “It’s quirky but it's cool. They are actually not worth a lot of money but I think they’re great.
“You can drive round that's built in the 90s but looks 50’s and I think it probably deserves a lot more recognition.”
Algys Autos said a good used Pao is now valued at upwards of over £5,000.
Aston Martin Lagonda
Mr Smith said: “It still looks like it would have been beamed down from a spaceship. I wasn't alive when it launched but I’m fascinated with it.
“It's just one of those cars that was unloved for years, it was always the Aston Martin nobody really wanted, now I think it’s one of the perfect cars to EV convert.
“It's just got the strangest of styling, it's got the strangest of interiors with the digital dash that didn't always work, even when it was new.
“Forty-something years on it's just so cool.”
Classic Trader has Lagonda models for sale for between £55,00 and £120,000.