The most (and least) popular classic car rentals, including an ‘oddball' Volkswagen Polo Harlequin

Telegraph

20-04-2025

If you had the choice of renting a classic car, any classic car, and bringing a dream to life, or embarking on a special weekend away, what would you choose? A Jaguar E-type, an MGB or a quirky old VW camper, perhaps?
All well and good, although we suggest that these three are a bit, well, obvious.
According to the UK's largest collective of classic car owners hiring out their motors, the most requested vehicle is… a 1989 Nissan Bluebird 2.0i GSX automatic in silver.
Yes, for those of you of a certain age, one of the very cars you'll have spent many a late weekend night in as it mini-cabbed you between bars, clubs and home three-and-a-half decades ago.
Meanwhile, the least requested modern classic on the club's books is a 1996 Volkswagen Polo Harlequin.
A what…? An initial eyeful of the oddball VW will provide an instant clue as to why classic car hirers steer clear of it: Harlequin by name, harlequin by nature: every panel is a different colour; hire it, and you'll need a certain type of in-built resistance to being stared at.
Savvy classic car owners who want to make their indulgences as break-even or as profitable as possible join clubs such as Book A Classic, renting their cars to enthusiasts or the merely curious, who want a classic car experience but have neither funds nor storage to own one or, increasingly, for events and occasions ranging from weddings to photo shoots with celebrities.
Claim to fame
Yassin Kara, a telecare operator from west London, has owned a Nissan Bluebird for five years. It's a five-door automatic and costs £250 per day, self-drive.
The model's main claim to fame is that it was the first wholly Japanese car to be assembled in the UK, in 1986.
Kara said: 'It makes a popular rental, as people appreciate the analogue experience and its simplicity. Many hold a nostalgic connection to the Nissan Bluebird, reminiscing about cherished moments linked to the car or appreciating its design, which evokes memories from their younger days.
'My father owned one during my childhood and I vividly remember the thrill when we brought it home from the dealership. That experience sparked my fascination with the vehicle.
'It's sometimes associated with movies due to its unique design. Some say it looks like the Delorean DMC-12 from the Back to the Future film trilogy.' Of course it does…
Acquired taste
At the other end of the popularity spectrum – within a spectrum all of its own – is the Polo Harlequin owned by Jacob Kent-Ledger, 30, a company director from Hertfordshire. He has owned it since 2020.
There are only 25 still running on UK roads. Probably rare because they were an acquired taste – and often resprayed a single colour by traders desperate to sell them on after the novelty faded.
'They are quite a collectable piece worldwide, but when new the story was very different. Dealers would strip them for parts or respray them a single colour just to sell them,' said Kent-Ledger. It costs £90 an hour with a £180 minimum, but must be chauffeur-driven.
Sports car classic
More predictable as a desirable classic experience is Nicki Williams's Lapis Blue Morgan +4, nicknamed Bertie, which she bought new in 2019. It looks like it's from a different era, but has modern underpinnings.
Company director Williams, 59, from Worcestershire, said: 'Our Morgan is the last of the traditionally built Morgans before they changed to their more modern [aluminium] chassis.
'It has the same charm and appearance as Morgans have always had, but better suspension and reliability than if we had bought an older one. The biggest attraction for people hiring Bertie is the colour: brides just 'pop' against the blue bodywork.' It costs £320 an hour, whether chauffeur-driven or self-drive.
4x4 legend
Guy Bottomley, 35, a fund manager from London, owns Randy the Landy.
'It was a wedding gift from my wife, Tara, and used as our own wedding car, we drove away in it for our honeymoon down in Devon and only broke down once… just outside Exeter with all the ribbons still on,' said Bottomley. 'A passing gang of Land Rover enthusiasts stopped and not only fixed the problem but also retuned the timing on the side of the motorway before sending us on our way.'
Randy is a 1983 Marine Blue Series 3 90 which he has owned for five years, during which it has been fully restored.
'This exact spec was used in the latest James Bond film. They are rugged and unpretentious yet aesthetically gorgeous, so a perfect statement car for a country wedding or prop for a movie.'
Randy has had his own moment of fame, recently appearing in promotional photos with Take That's Gary Barlow. The Land Rover rents out for £150 an hour, minimum £300 chauffeured, or £600 a day self-drive.
German presence
Amir Rao, 35, a building information modelling co-ordinator from south London, has a 1984 Mercedes-Benz 500SL in anthracite grey. He co-owns it with his father, Anis, and brother, Adil, and acquired it in 2018. It's chauffeur-only at £79 an hour, a minimum of £160.
'The most beloved car I have ever owned. It turns heads, gets thumbs-up, and even outshines the presence of a supercar. People have even pulled me over to ask if I'd sell it,' said Rao.
He says that whenever clients hire it for weddings, fashion shoots or music videos, they always comment on its hue: perfect for avoiding colour clashes with the subject.
A-Ford-able
1970s Fords are among the most reliable value-retainers in the classic car market. There's barely anybody in the country over the age of 50 who hasn't been exposed to one during their formative years. They are elite nostalgia-kick cars. This one is so rare and valuable it's chauffeur-drive only – at £140 an hour.
Its proud owner is Ajit Dhillon, 64. As a police officer he'll know all about Fords and car chases, a big part of the brand's image-building being in classic television shows such as The Sweeney and The Professionals.
He has owned his red 1972 Ford Cortina Mk3 GXL since 2003.
More than a million Mk3 Cortinas were produced in the 1970s. Fifty years ago it was a common sight, but corrosion wasn't kind to them, so it's now one of the rarest of the five series of Cortina.
'The Mark 3 was the first Cortina model to adopt a 'Coke bottle' body shape with American styling. It almost defines what an icon of the 1970s should represent,' said Dhillon.
'Virtually everyone today either knows of someone, a friend or family member, who drove or owned one, with so many fond memories.'
So if you're hankering for a nostalgia kick, renting a classic for hundreds of pounds rather than buying for thousands may be the answer. And you don't need to stop at just one, of course.
Self-drive classic rentals need to be insured, of course, and specialists such as Classicline Insurance or Dayinsure offer rental-duration cover, although if you already own a classic your insurer may be able to add a car to your policy on a temporary basis.