The trouble with new and expensive cars is that they are both new and expensive.

There are only so many cars that Ireland's moneyed generation would consider driving, so eventually all the cars on the roads will simply homogenise into a large, German made hybrid between an executive saloon and an SUV. Where is the individuality? Where is the love that can make driving such a pleasure?

The answer is that the love and the individuality are in the past . . . and you can own a part of it. People trying to project a positive image vicariously through their auto (but who are finding that the prices of quality motors are prohibitive) could look towards buying a classic car. People who want to escape from the Bentley/S Class/7 Series/A 8 bracket (but who don't have much of an option when it comes to a prestigious motor) could look towards buying a classic car. And anyone with an interest in the beautiful and the quirky could look towards buying a car that is either vintage or classic.

What makes a car a classic is open to interpretation.

Purists in the Classic Car Club of America won't consider a car produced after 1948 . . . and even then there are some strict criteria to be followed. Most others consider a car to be classic after 20 or 25 years, but again, some of these cars could simply be old. For example, 20 years ago, people were buying Nissan Micras which are still being driven . . . but these cars, despite what some enthusiastic vendors might claim, are not yet classic.

It is not a question of size, either. Nobody would deny a Mini, a Morris Minor, or, quintessentially, a VW Beetle, its classic status. But these were design icons . . .

hindsight has taught us that their functionality was simply a by-product of their style and character.

Buying a classic also, in many cases, allows a person to drive a car which is simply not a part of the general automotive scene anymore.

Hillman, Humber and Jensen are all names from the annals of motoring heritage, and owning one will certainly prove to be a conversation piece . . . although parts may be an issue if the thing won't start anymore.

You could even be lucky enough to find a Shamrock . . .

Ireland's only production car, dating from the 1950s . . . of which it is thought that there are only three in existence (mind you, they only ever finished 10).

But where can people look for their classic cars? Traditional outlets, such as Buy and Sell, carzone. ie and Car Buyers Guide, have dedicated "classic sections" which people can browse . . .

although they are hit and miss if you are looking for a specific car. Many other marques have specialist magazines, where people can find their favourite model for sale across the world (you might have to get used to driving a left-hand-drive car). But if you really love a car, then you will travel to the ends of the earth to get it.