Chic and cheerful

Proving that great sports cars, young and old, can be had for less than the cost of a new Renault Clio

Unless you've been living on a desert island, you'll have no doubt noticed that we're living in one of the great inflationary eras of recent times. Petrol is at record prices across the globe, while values of new cars have soared. We've seen similar rises in the classic market, too, which will have left many feeling priced out of some summer sports car fun this year. However, there's always a relative bargain to be had. Avoid the obvious choices and the real collectors' items, put aside such vain concerns as exclusivity and there are some fantastic classic sports cars to be found.

What's more, you don't have to limit yourself to a particular era. Setting ourselves a nominal budget of £18,000, we set out to discover the finest affordable sports cars from each decade, from the genre's heyday in the 1950s all the way up to some relatively recent additions to the classic firmament from the 2000s. Our favourite two from each generation then met at Curborough Sprint Course for a final showdown, making for an appetising selection - whether you're seeking olde-worlde charm or a modern-classic great.

MG TD VS MORGAN PLUS 4 - 1950s

It would be untrue to say that 2023 is threatening the same levels of austerity experienced by our immediate post-war ancestors, but everything is relative and there's no denying all enthusiasts will be feeling the pinch this year. So when it comes to extracting the maximum bang-for-buck from a '50s sports car, buyers are still looking for all the attributes that were important 70-odd years ago: stylish looks, ample performance, fun handling and, above all, affordability.