It would be easy to think motors in the sub-150hp bracket rather ho-hum, and not exactly what you come to PH to read about. Hopefully though, this list (and particularly my selection) shows that there are some absolute gems to be found that don't require bucket-sized displacements or forced induction to deliver a smile. With that, I present the 1974 Ford Escort Mk1 Mexico!
This homologation special was introduced in 1970 to celebrate Ford's total domination of the 16,000-mile, London to Mexico World Cup Rally. Authoritatively placing 1st, 3rd, 5th, 6th and 8th, with the top podium spot going to Hannu Mikkola and Gunnar Palm, it's not hard to see why Ford would want to commemorate the achievement. Coupled to a smaller engine than its rally-going brethren, the Escort Mk1 Mexico could still thrill despite only pushing out 86hp. Weighing in at a mere 890kg and benefiting from a slick four speed manual gearbox, effective brakes, and a lively suspension setup, what you got was a truly special driving experience.
This particularly example is one of the few survivors of the original production run of 10,352, and has undergone a meticulous, and exceptionally executed full restoration. In my opinion, a good classic restoration should involve gracefully updating components required for the driving experience, whilst retaining the original historical aspects that made the car special in the first place - this one absolutely delivers, kudos. Well worth a trip to the continent if you ask me! AF
MX-5, right? No brainer. I've dropped down to near shed budget for this one mainly because I'm cheap, but also I was specifically looking for a Sport as the factory spec boasts the more powerful SVT engine, front fog lights, Bilsteins, additional chassis bracing, six-speed box, LSD and heated leather seats...and at the time of writing this was the only one I could find!
I would be remiss when writing about a 19-year-old MX-5 not to mention rust, and from the looks of the MOT history this one has suffered in the usual places in the past - but apparently the 2018 remedial work was up to a good standard as it hasn't been mentioned since. The other weak spot is the front legs which can be a circa £800 repair at a specialist, they're sometimes missed by testers and it's scary how bad they can eventually get (don't ask me how I know).
This one looks to be a well-kept, unmodified example, with the original alloys, mats and stereo all in place, which is usually a good sign. I do question the potential state of the 'open' roof and what the leather hiding under the wheel cover might be, but parts can be sourced cheaply enough from a breakers, and I'd lose the luggage rack anyway. But with a sensible asking price and the promise of a fresh MOT at sale I don't think this is a bad buy at all - plus it's the cheapest on this list and in my opinion is likely going to be the most fun. Until the MOT comes back around that is. SL
When Matt B ran the last naturally-aspirated hot hatch ever to be made on the PH Fleet, I couldn't wait to have a go. Okay, the 138hp 1.6-litre found in the Suzuki Swift Sport is more likely to be considered lukewarm than hot - but paired with a 6,900rpm rev limit, six-speed gearbox and a curb weight a little over a tonne, it's a blast.
It's one of those cars that you can drive flat out everywhere and still be going at sensible speeds. The acceleration might not be fast enough to make your head feel funny, but it's still plenty to put a grin on your face on a B road.
For a family man like myself, the fact it came as a five-door makes it even more appealing for shuffling little ones into the back seats with ease. They're reliable, too. Which is exactly why it's on my saved search list when five door practicality comes calling (let's just not talk about the boot space). Being able to pick higher mileage examples up for closer to £5k proves that you don't have to spend a lot of money to have a lot of fun. BL
I thought I'd eschew performance for this one and opt for a Land Rover Discovery, which was my remit for buying one many years ago. I didn't welcome it with open arms at the time - I bought it out of necessity. Back then I had an 18ft Fletcher Speedboat with a 175hp Yamaha two-stroke V6 outboard on the back - what a thing that was - and needed the Disco to pull it. But the other reason I opted for the Disco was I'd just been caught doing an ungodly speed on my Honda SP1 and thought the trundling Disco diesel would help avoid another court appearance.
At first I resented its slowness enormously, but it was as adept at towing the boat as the boat was at towing me on a wakeboard, and the enormous boot was perfect for the wakeboarding paraphernalia. And eventually I found that bumbling around was quite relaxing, too, but it wasn't until I took the Disco to the Devil's Pit off-road course that I realised slow could actually be fun. My Disco carried on wading through the Pit's wet clay when Shoguns and Hi Luxes bogged down, and it was as stock as the woody bit on a Purdy.
I rarely kept cars for more than a year back then but had the Disco for three, and it never broke down once - although a few of the electrical bits through fizzled out from time to time. Mine was a 1996 300 TDi but I always hankered after the handsome, facelifted TD5. So that's why I picked this one. It's great looking, brilliant at towing, as roomy as a van, and awesome fun at a snail's pace. The perfect sub-150hp car, then, and all for less than £6,000. JH
My knee jerk reaction to the question of "the best car with under 150hp" was an Abarth 595. It's not the best car in that category by any stretch, but it's a bit of fun all the same. And yet, when I headed to the PH classifieds (#plug), I was inspired by another manufacturer starting with an A. Yep, the fact we can fit an Aston Martin into this list is thanks to the "did that really happen?" novelty of the Cygnet. As of today, there are 797 Aston Martins in the classifieds. Two of them are Cygnets. That's only one more than the number of Valkyries listed. Really, then, that makes the Cygnet one of the rarest Astons you can buy.
We all know it's based on the Toyota iQ - a car currently listed in the classifieds starting from under £3,000, a tenth of what this Cygnet costs - which means 97hp, a 1.3-litre engine, a top speed of 106mph, and a 0-60mph time of 11.5sec. Don't feel short changed by the lack of Aston power, though; the interior is hand finished in leather, and there's even some completely non-functioning Vantage air vents on the bonnet.
I've picked this particular example because it's got the six-speed manual gearbox - who doesn't want a manual Aston? - but the other one sitting for sale has the CVT auto for easier city driving. So it's not fast, well priced, or particularly attractive, but it is the most prestige you'll get with under 100hp. BW
To think I was concerned that my dear colleagues would pick all the cool 150hp cars. Somebody had to go for a 2.0-litre 911, or an early Range Rover, or something with a K Series in it. Alas we're here with an old Disco, a Toyota iQ in its Swan Lake fancy dress and another MX-5. Hopeless - thank goodness for the Mexico.
Here's further evidence that 150hp or less doesn't have to be a 54hp-per-litre diesel. Or a Suzuki Swift. The 240Z has been a favourite of mine for a while, as so many Japanese cars of the time are - confident in their ability to produce more than just commuter cars, all the manufacturers seemingly cut loose and created icons: the Mazda Cosmo, Honda S800, and Toyota 2000GT are unequivocal proof.
If not so legendary (or valuable), the Z showed Japan could build sports cars to match the Europeans and Americans - which was no mean feat. Bear in mind this car was launched the same year as the first Ford Capri, and you can see what a big deal it must have been. This one was a US car, and has been in the UK with one doting owner since 2015. The wheels look a tad big and the ride height lofty, but it's fab otherwise - that triple-Weber-carbed, 2,393cc, 'L24' straight six most of all. And if you don't tell anyone it's officially 151hp, then neither will I. MB
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