Innholdsfortegnelse for 10/6/2020 i Classic Car Buyer

There’s an elderly lady living around the corner from us who quite often likes to ‘borrow’ our pet cat. On one of my excursions to retrieve him so he could have his dinner, I noticed a unicorn parked in her garage. Or more specially, a very tidy Ford Ka from the very first year of production – 1996. Of course, Ford Kas aren’t known for their rust resilience, and early ones have been rare for years. But as someone who spends far too long looking at classified adverts for cheap old bangers, it struck me that I’d not seen a first-generation Ka of any age for sale for ages, or seen one on the road for that matter. They made them for 12 years don’t forget, and they used to…

Following further developments with the Coronavirus situation and subsequent changes to the motorsport calendar in the UK, Kelsey Media has made further alterations to its 2020 events calendar. With the Government paving the way for live British sport to restart in safe and carefully controlled environments, Silverstone Circuit has confirmed that the second round of the British Grand Prix will take place on August 9 – the original date for Ford Fair. The rescheduled show will therefore take place on October 25 and will incorporate the Classic Ford Show, thus combining all the best elements of the Ford scene at one iconic venue. Before that, the VolksWorld Show is scheduled to run over the weekend of October 3-4 at its traditional home of Sandown Park. On October 4, Kelsey will…

New research from the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs (FBHVC) has revealed the impact – good and bad – of the Covid-19 pandemic upon historic vehicle clubs. Having conducted a survey last month, the Federation received responses from nearly half of its 540 member organisations. This has provided a unique insight into the financial and operational impact of coronavirus on these clubs, as well as the steps clubs are putting in place to adapt to the difficult challenges ahead. Financially, 53 per cent of historic vehicle clubs have reported that their finances have not been affected so far. However, 40 per cent are expecting a decrease in membership because of restrictions on social events and difficult personal circumstances experienced by club members. A small proportion, (26 per cent) have…

MG never officially put the V8 engine into the MGB roadster, but that hasn’t stopped others from doing so. Paul Layson’s unique take on the car the factory should’ve built is based on a 1979 example bought as a bargain-priced unfinished project with a brand new BMH shell. Initially completed with stock B-series power, he’s now craned in a race-tuned 3.9-litre unit pumping out 240bhp. Paul has upgraded the rest of the car’s specification to cope with the power hike, but refreshingly, he’s also kept the car’s original rubber bumpers. Judging by all the positive comments, that was a popular move – read the full story in the Spring issue of MG Enthusiast. Buy a copy from https://shop. shop.kelsey.co.uk/issue/MGE.…

It looks like we’re going to hold out until at least July for car museums to reopen, but those wanting to visit the Haynes International Motor Museum in Somerset will have to wait a few months longer thanks to a new redevelopment plan. CEO Chris Scudds said that the museum has identified two future projects that would have necessitated closing the doors at a future date, and has hence concluded that the least disruptive approach is to tackle them now. They include a new 500-space car park, as well as the reroofing and redevelopment of two major exhibition areas. Consequently, the museum will not reopen until mid-October. In the meantime, the online shop, along with the on-site workshop and Restoration Centre, remain open as usual. See www.haynesmotormuseum.com for details.…

As Charterhouse looks to cautiously open its doors once again, we look back at its most recent auction, on May 30th. This was an online only auction, but still lived up to expectations for those who logged on to bid, with a number of interesting cars. One of the most curious, but perhaps a bit too specialist, didn’t actually sell: a 1914 Le Zebre, a yellow curiosity with a great restoration story to tell. No matter, because while that will undoubtedly come up in a future auction, there are plenty of others that did find buyers. See our top selection below, or to see the full catalogue head over to the Charterhouse website at www.charterhouse-auction.com.…

GETTING A WHEEL UP Henry Frederick Morgan’s first car was just a personal runabout. The three-wheeler was simply called the Morgan Runabout, fitted with a 7hp Peugeot twin-cylinder engine. Developed at local Malvern College and Repton School with the help of its engineering master, Mr Stephenson-Peach, the vehicle got more attention than Morgan expected. After a showing at Olympia in 1911, a small but significant 30 orders were picked up for production models. The next year, Morgan was back with a two-seater version and the momentum this time was much greater. The three-wheeler Morgan Runabout underwent various improvements until what could be considered the ultimate evolution was created in 1935. This featured either 8hp or 10hp Ford four-cylinder engines. Only subtle modifications would see it through to just after WW2.…

After the Austin-Healey Sprite kick-started the small sports car craze and MG threw its hat in the ring with the Midget, Standard-Triumph stepped up with the Spitfire. Penned by Michelotti, the pretty little Spitfire used the chassis and various mechanicals from its Herald sibling to save costs, but enough tweaks turned the family saloon into a sporty little number that won hearts for its style and fun drive. Over an 18-year life, the Spitfire benefited from extensive revisions to its styling, interior and performance, but even a late 1500 still has that same smile-inducing sense of fun. Ultimately ending production in the same year as the MGB, the Spitfire has always been loved by keen drivers and today is a popular classic sports car for those that don’t fancy the…

The automatic six-month extension on MoT expiry dates looks set to remain in place for the time being, despite calls for it to end. In a written response to the Independent Garage Association, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has said the extension is constantly under review, but will remain in place until a safe way for conducting MoTs can be found. Shapps also said that the government needs to work out a way to ensure there is ‘sufficient capacity’ when tests are reintroduced. The automatic extension began on March 30 to assist key workers. Much of the industry had hoped the six-month extension would be cancelled in line with car dealers and garages opening fully on June 1, but as we went to press, it was still set to remain in…

The MG Car Club’s MGF Register has confirmed that its celebratory MGF25 event, due to take place at the British Motor Museum to mark 25 years of the F model, has been postponed. With Covid-19 uncertainly still prevalent and 14-day quarantine measure standing in the way of visitors from overseas, it was felt postponing the event was the best move. The anniversary celebrations will now take place at the British Motor Museum on July 24, 2021 instead. Ticket holders will be contacted by the museum and offered either a transfer to next year, or a refund. With this news, the MGCC’s Zed Register has announced the cancellation of MG Saloon Day, due to take place on the Saturday in an adjacent area of the British Motor Museum site. The register…

Calls for a new UK scrappage scheme to reinvigorate the struggling new car market have gathered more pace amid a backdrop of dealers across England reopening their doors and developments in France, where a huge support package for its car industry has been unveiled. It’s not been a good time for the new car market in recent months. Figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) revealed that UK car manufacturing plummeted by 99.7 per cent in April as Covid-19 stopped production, with just 197 cars built. And with many struggling to keep up with finance payments on existing cars during these uncertain times, there’s an understandable reluctance to buy new ones, meaning the industry needs assistance. In France, that’s meant a £7.1bn rescue plan that includes grants…

Classic car fans would much rather treat themselves to a new car this year instead of splashing out on a dream holiday, according to a new survey. Car & Classic surveyed 2000 of its users at the beginning of May to ask whether they would be more likely to ‘invest in the classic car of their dreams or a dream holiday’. The result was a resounding 93 per cent in favour of a car – and most likely a British-built one. Only one of the top 10 cars that have been most searched for since the lockdown began on March 23 was built outside of the UK – the Volkswagen Beetle. Otherwise, demand for classics made in one of Ford of Britain’s plants has been particularly strong, with the Capri…

VAUXHALL ASTRA EDITION 100 Launched to celebrate Vauxhall’s centenary in 2003, the Edition 100 was probably the most luxurious of the Astra limited editions. It was available in Coupe or Convertible guise with the choice of the 1.8, 2.2 or 2.0-litre turbo engines, but came in one colour only – Centenary Blue. All Edition 100s got electronic stability control, plus 17-inch BBS wheels shod with low-profile Michelin Pilot Sport tyres. The sporty styling continued inside, with heated tan leather sports seats, an aluminium gear knob, matt chrome centre console and a leather-trimmed sports steering wheel, as well as a metal plaque on the ashtray depicting the car’s build number.…

Honda nSX (1990-2005) Launched as a rival to the supercar establishment, Honda’s NSX – designating ‘New Sportcars eXperimental – sported a revvy V6 and a chassis developed with Ayrton Senna’s contribution. Durable and reliable, as well as fast and exciting, the NSX was arguably the first practical supercar. At £52,000 it was expensive for a Honda, but £17,000 less than Ferrari’s 348. Sadly, that less lustworthy badge meant used values weren’t as strong – eight-year-old NSXs could be bought for around £25,000, where a like-for-like Ferrari would be £10,000-£15,000 more. Prices gradually slid throughout the 2000s, as the model aged and was killed off without replacement. The Honda badge was unappealing enough – despite their otherwise brilliance – to see automatic early cars at sub-£20,000 around a decade ago. The…

Every decade has a handful of classic cars which have come to symbolise the era and are valued accordingly – think MGA for the ’50s, E-Type for the ’60s and perhaps the Capri for the ’70s to name just a handful – and for the ’80s it’s the hot hatch. At the top of the tree in the value stakes is a trio comprising Mk1 Golf GTI, 205 GTI and the go-faster Mk3 Escort models, but back in the day these cars were bought not for their investment potential but for the fun to be had behind the wheel. For the thinking modern classic fan today, the winner is hands-down the Golf, thanks to its parts support which makes it so much easier to own than the Ford or Peugeot,…

BENTLEY ARNAGE WHEEL £325. Rare chromed aluminium 18" 5-spoked limited edition Le Mans alloy wheel with 255/50 ZR18 Pirelli PZero tyre. Very good condition. Please call 07711147560, West Midlands. 101821 MERCEDES-BENZ MERCEDES SL 500 DISTRIBUTOR CAPS £75. A pair of used Bosch distributor caps with two rotor arms, taken from a 1990 129 SL 500. Please call 00353872457174, Ireland. 101790 DAIMLER BADGE £50. For badge bar, cast brass. Unusual vintage. Please call 07836548731, South East. 101818 VARIOUS ERF PARTS £1,100. All parts never use, all new! The parts for ERF, Foden, Scania, Transit, Mercedes and some for trailer parts. Please call 07860359955, East Midlands. 101682 FODEN 2 STROKE GENERATOR POA. Diesel, 4 cylinder and 2 and half ton. Please call 07759198070, North West. 101688 FORD MKII BONNET HINGES £50. MKI/II…

The sheer number of entries has prompted Anglia Car Auctions to run its next classic car sale over two days as opposed to the usual single-day affair. The auction will be held behind closed doors and streamed online, but in all other ways it will be the same as a traditional sale, with viewers able to hear and see over 200 cars being started up and driven through in front of the auctioneer’s rostrum. The King’s Lynn firm has made further changes to make its auctions safe during these challenging times, offering online bidding for the first time alongside its telephone and commission methods, as well as putting comprehensive videos of each entry online. However, viewing on site is still possible too, running from Monday, June 15 through to Friday,…

Following the success of REVS-Limiter, a star-studded virtual car event held last month, a follow up focusing on restorations is to take place this coming weekend. Both events have been the brainchild of Reverend Adam Gompertz, an experienced show organiser and Chaplain at Bicester Heritage, with the aim of uniting the car community during this difficult period. It will take place on Saturday and Sunday (June 13-14) under the banner of REVS Restored. It will follow a similar format to last time, with the event hosted on Facebook. Currently, the group has over 3300 members, with enthusiasts encouraged to post pictures of their restoration projects. Both days will also feature a packed programme of live videos. To get involved, search for REVS-Limiter on Facebook. NEWS IN BRIEF Silverstone Auctions has…

Following on from the successful recreation of the DB4 GT in 2017, Aston Martin is now working on 25 new DB5 models, made to a very special specification. Each will cost the lucky customer £2.7m plus taxes, for which they get what is effectively a brand new DB5 with only a few modern touches including coilover suspension and a mechanical limited slip differential. Other features include revolving number plates, a rear smoke screen, simulated twin front machine guns and radar screen amongst other novelties added by EON Productions, the experts behind much of the James Bond on-screen drama. With fewer than 900 built, and only 300 or so registered in the UK, the small batch of 25 is actually quite significant. Not only that, it is revising craftsmanship and engineering…

With the Covid-19 pandemic having suspended its regular calendar, Brightwells returned to vehicular action with its first ever timed classic car auction. The Herefordshire firm has run timed auctions for its other departments for over five years, so opted for a similar online-only format that saw bidding open on May 25 and conclude from 12 noon on May 28. There were 68 lots in all, covering a wide spectrum from prewar rarities right up to modern classics. Land Rover fans were exceptionally well catered for, with no fewer than three Series 1s, a Series 2A, a Series 3 and a couple of ex-MoD Defenders. They were joined by a Discovery 2 Autobiography – one of just two ever made – as well as an impressive six first-generation Range Rovers. These…

Citroën Dyane (1967-1983) The Dyane was an improved 2CV, sporting practical hatchback, modern styling and more pleasant interior in ‘Confort’ trim. With the larger 602cc engine, the Dyane cost £873, slightly more than the 2CV, but cheaper than every rival, including the – by then, aged – Renault 4. The Dyane was planned to replace the 2CV and by 1968, outsold it significantly. However, the higher price and marginal improvements meant that by 1970, 2CV sales were higher once again and remained so until the Dyane’s 1984 discontinuation. The Dyane’s looks were awkward rather than classic by the 1990s and prices were down to sub-£1500. Without the classic looks of the 2CV, Dyane values dwindled for some time and even a decade ago, £2000 bought a decent example. 2CV values…

It’s a colourful sight here in Durham, 1986. Parked in the Market Place, overseen by the statue of the third Marquess of Londonderry are cars of red; an early Sierra, and BMW E21 3-Series, blue; two Metros and a Volvo 360, and right in the middle a bright yellow Vauxhall Chevette saloon to join its burgundy hatchback brother. There’s plenty of colour in the fashion too, not least the light blue jeans. Looking perhaps a bit dated here, though, is the brown Morris Ital on the left.…

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV The Impreza’s age-old rival, Mitsubishi’s hot Lancer was a challenger to Subaru on the rally stage and on the road. Today, both are equally hard to find clean and unmodified, but the same budget as our Impreza will buy you the best Evolution IV. Now, as ever, it’s a matter of preference. Volkswagen Golf R32 The six-pot Golf helped kickstart the modern hot hatchback era and with its big power, four-wheel drive grip and everyday practicality, matched the Subaru point for point. Pricier when new, but little between the two now. The Golf is the better long-distance car, but not as exciting or raw as the Impreza. Toyota Celica GT-Four The ultimate sixth-generation Celica offers the same turbocharged power, four-wheel drive and rally pedigree as the…

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