Triumph TR4 vs. MGB vs. Alfa Romeo Spider vs. Sunbeam Alpine

The popularity of the two seat, lightweight European roadster in the lucrative US market saw many of the continent’s manufacturers rush to put together a nimble drop-top in the 1960s. British companies like Triumph and MG provided the formula: take the running gear from more sundry models in the lineup and wrap a small, sexy convertible body around it. Indeed both Triumph and MG produced two cars each in the roadster category, such was their success in the segment.

What with their age (or the age of their design, as in the case of the Alfa Romeo Spider, which was a classic-from-new by the time production finished in 1993) all of the cars are firmly considered classics today, but none command outrageous values due to their continuing prevalence and humble performance. Therefore, their values make for an interesting barometer for the cheaper, older side of the post-war classic market.

N.B. To achieve a more meaningful comparison between the four roadsters, we have eliminated all models registered before Jan, 1960 and after Dec, 1969 where models were produced outside the time period we are looking at today.

Triumph TR4

Anyone of four 1960s Triumph products could have featured in our review, but we’ve decided to go with the TR4, as the most equivalent in performance terms to the rest of our group.

Graceful yet purposeful Michelotti styling combined with a famously *ahem* ‘robust’ engine followed the ’60s roadster formula to a tee, offering buyers an exciting car that was cheap to maintain.

The TR4’s appeal is clearly still strong today however, as by far the most expensive car in our group, with one fetching almost £30k last year. What’s more, a clear upward trend is visible in the graph; plenty of Tr4s used to sell under £10k, but this hasn’t happened since 2011.

Interact with the graph yourself, here.

MGB

Britain’s most popular classic sports car, the MGB has become the stereotypical ’60s roadster, its enduring popularity is evident in the sheer number of results we have for the little car from Abingdon.

Perhaps because of the prevalence of the MG, there isn’t as clear a growth curve for the B, compared to the Triumph. Nonetheless, there is a noticeable decrease in the number of cars selling for less than £5,000 in the past 5 years. What’s more, the truly exceptional Bs are now consistently fetching more than £10k, which had never happened in our data set prior to 2009.

Interact with the graph yourself, here.

Alfa Romeo Spider

The only non-British car in our review, the Alfa Romeo represents the only other European nation to fully embrace the roadster formula in the 1960s, Italy. We easily could have had a Fiat here, but the Spider is the real icon of the bunch.

As a significantly scarcer car than the MGB, at least in Britain, the Spider’s graph is comparatively sparse. While there may not be enough results to be conclusive, the graph does clearly indicate quite remarkable growth in the auction prices of 1960s Alfa Spiders. While it’s undoubtedly the case that our recent results have been only prime-condition cars, fetching over £12k in all occasions in the past two years, it’s also telling that no Spider in our data sold for more than £10k before 2013.

Interact with the graph yourself, here.

Sunbeam Alpine

While fundamentally following the roadster formula of putting a mid-size saloon car engine into a lightweight racy body, Sunbeam produced a slightly softer, more comfortable and more luxurious car in the Alpine. Nonetheless a roadster with still willing handling, the Rootes group brought their semi-American mindset to the European roadster game, which actually made some sense considering by far the biggest buyers of the roadster was the USA.

The relative lack of success the Alpine saw in Britain, compared to the MG and Triumph at least, is clear in our results graph however. Particularly in recent years, results have been dry, making it hard to discern any meaningful conclusion. There is a vague upward trend, but more evidence is needed (we’re working on it).

Interact with the graph yourself, here.

Summary

So, are ’60s roadsters appreciating in value? From the models we have looked at here and from the data we have, there is a clear indication that they have significantly appreciated in the past 5-10 years, at an above inflation rate. The Triumph and Alfa Romeo definitely show this the most, which perhaps reflects their position as the two more expensive roadsters in our review.

For the MG, it appears there is growth, but it appears the ship hasn’t sailed as it has with the Alfa and Triumph. In other words; time to buy. Picking up a good but not perfect MG, say with minor interior or mechanical issues, and bringing it back to prime condition seem particularly lucrative.