Innholdsfortegnelse for 15/7/2020 i Classic Car Buyer

Famed for its brutish V8 grunt and hairy-chested nature, the AC Cobra is the latest and perhaps most unlikely classic yet to be reborn as an all-electric vehicle. Yep, specialist British brand AC Cars has launched two new versions of the iconic roadster – including a battery-powered version. The AC Cobra Series 1 electric is claimed to be visually identical to the 1962 original, albeit with a composite body rather than aluminium. Whether it should still be referred to as Cobra rather than an Ace without the V8 under the bonnet is one for purists to debate, but the EV version won’t be a slouch. It’s powered by a 308bhp front-mounted electric motor mated to a 54kWh battery pack. AC Cars says a range of around 150 miles is possible,…

The Classic Car Loan Project is still progressing despite being severely hampered by the Covid-19 pandemic. The project provides a chance for younger enthusiasts to take charge of a classic for a year, with six of the 20 cars handed over before lockdown struck. The remaining 14 are accounted for but remain in waiting for their new custodians. They comprise the 1930 Ford Model A saloon, 1933 Morgan 3 Wheeler, 1933 Austin 7, 1934 Austin 10 Clifton tourer, 1936 Ford Model Y, 1950 MG TD, 1954 Alvis 21TC, 1956 Ford Anglia and 1958 Wolseley 1500, plus the Vauxhall Viva, Morris Minor Traveller, Triumph Herald and Acclaim. Meanwhile, the 1929 Ford Model A Phaeton, 1934 Morgan 3 Wheeler sports, 1949 Alvis TA saloon, 1954 Ford Popular, 1960 Vauxhall Victor, 1983 Austin…

Launched in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, H&H’s ABC live online auctions have quickly become established monthly fixtures. Although entries were still being invited for the July 22 sale as we went to press, a wide selection of classic motorcycles look set to join a varied four-wheeled consignment spanning over 80 years. The sale’s headliner is surely a 22,000-mile Ferrari Testarossa, but appropriately for the time of year, open-topped tourers and coupes represent a significant chunk of the entries. The oldest, a 1927 Rugby Model A Tourer project, is expected to sell for a mere £1000-£1500, with a 1928 Chevrolet National Tourer carrying a £9000-£11,000 estimate. Moving into the 1930s, a 1934 Talbot 65 Foursome Drophead Coupe could command as much as £45,000, while other stylish variations on the…

The V12 has been with us for over a century, although not without the occasional pause for breath. Recessions and engineering alternatives have made it redundant plenty of times, but it has continued to resurface as the ultimate in motoring extravagance. Packard’s Twin Six was the first, made between 1916 and 1923 before it was eventually sidelined by more conventional straight-eights afforded similar refinement by less glamorous means like compliant engine mounts. Daimler and Avions Voisin brought it back, Rolls-Royce and Lagonda ran with it, Enzo Ferrari steadfastly refused anything less for years, and, more recently, the Germans have fallen for its charms too. In this age of restraint, economic and environmental, is the V12 finally singing its swansong? Or will it grace engine bays in years to come? THE…

Like so many unfortunate incidents in the whole BL saga, the timing of the announcement that the Abingdon MG works was to close couldn’t have been handled more badly from a PR perspective. BL chairman Michael Edwardes made the announcement of the plant’s closure on the Monday immediately following a weekend of massive celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the MG brand. With US dealers having flown over especially for the event, it was calamitous at the time… although the irony is that today the MG marque is one of the few BL brands which has survived. In truth though, MG had been losing money for some time and the once-lucrative US market was starting to dry up as the age of the firm’s two products became ever more apparent:…

Another late model is this 1972 Mercedes 280SE, in fact one of the very last of the W108s made. It features the fuel injected 2.8-litre straight six, giving it convincing performance up to 120mph and silky smoothness all the way. These models still represent excellent value, considering the price of its contemporary Pagoda SLs, especially with the preferable 2.8-litre that replaced the 2.5-litre of past. There’s still the same style and engineer’s masterpiece feel, only with two more doors. This example has covered 95,000 miles and comes with a hefty history file that confirms careful ownership throughout its life. The condition speaks for itself, the paintwork and brightwork all retaining a fantastic shine, while the interior is also in impressive condition. It drives as well as it looks, too, supported…

Fiat 500 production has returned to the Mirafiori plant 63 years to the day after the iconic ‘Nuova’ 500 was launched in 1957. Since its relaunch in 2007, the modern-day 500 has been built in Poland or Mexico, but the new electric model will be built at the Turin factory where the ‘Cinquino’ was manufactured from 1957 to 1975. Fiat introduced its iconic 500 city car on July 4, 1957, succeeding the previous 500 ‘Topolino’ model. The car helped revolutionise the Italian automotive landscape, and Fiat hopes the new model will repeat the trick. A virtual museum covering the story of the 500 has been created and can be visited from a smartphone, PC or tablet. The Pinacoteca Agnelli art museum at the Lingotto complex plays host to the Virtual…

Historic vehicle enthusiasts are being invited to take part in a critical new survey conducted on behalf of the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs (FBHVC). The 2020 National Historic Vehicle Survey aims to generate important insights on the sector, with the responses given set to shape the future focus of the FBHVC and thus benefit the entire historic vehicle movement. The Federation’s extensive 2016 survey showed that the movement is worth £5.5bn to the economy each year and directly supports employment for over 34,000 people. It was planned that the next survey would be updated in 2021 based on activities during 2020, but in light of the huge disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, it has been decided to bring forward the survey and use 2019 as the base…

BMC ‘ADO 16’ (1962-1974) In concept a larger version of the Mini but with rather pretty Pininfarina styling, the extensive range of 1100/1300 models – codenamed ADO16 – was a huge hit, gaining the accolade of Britain’s best-selling car throughout most of the Sixties. Launched in 1962 in Morris guise and joined later that year by the MG 1100, ADO16 also became available in Austin, Wolseley, Riley and Vanden Plas trim levels, with two and four-door saloons being complemented by three-door estate versions of the Austin and Morris. For a car that was once seen on just about every street corner, the ADO16 is now a relatively scarce sight. Nevertheless, it continues to offer good value for money compared with many of its contemporaries, particularly in ‘bread-and-butter’ Austin and Morris…

The McLaren F1 has a BMW V12, codenamed S70/2, which suggests a direct relation to the unit in the 850CSi. However, this is nothing more than a passing familiarity. The engine was developed from the ground up for the supercar under the tough demands of McLaren’s technical director Gordon Murray. The S70/1 didn’t meet requirements, so the BMW Motorsport team went to work on developing an engine that would measure no more than 600mm long, weigh no less than 250kg and make over 550bhp. The result was a 6.1-litre V12 with double-overhead cams, 48-valves, variable inlet cam timing, and state-of-the-art TAG engine management, altogether making 675bhp. It was mounted longitudinally amidships, served as a structural member for the chassis, and was incredibly light and compact. For McLaren’s ultimate supercar, only…

We’ve seen the cancellation and postponement of a great many car events in the last few months but last week saw the announcement that one of the biggest of them all faced an uncertain future: the Geneva motor show, more correctly known in its homeland as the Salon de l’Automobile. First held in 1905, the Swiss event’s unique appeal is that it’s on neutral ground, which makes it a different event from shows like Frankfurt where the German makers go all-out in a show of strength. It also means the Swiss show was often chosen for the unveiling of dramatic concepts rather than significant production models and the 1969 show we’re looking at here saw the wraps come off the Peugeot 504 Coupe, Porsche 917 racer and Maserati Indy among…

MGF Yes, it’s the obvious choice and with luck you can pick a surprisingly good one up for peanuts. If the Hydragas has collapsed, fit a new set of spheres or go for the coil-over conversion. MX-5 Mk2 Values of sound Mk1 MX-5s are already well ahead of the TF, but the Mk2 remains affordable. They do like to rot though, so be aware. Porsche Boxster Whoever thought the humble MGF would be in the same ballpark as a Porsche? But the cheapest Boxsters are down at this price level. A gamble maybe, but it’s still a Porsche.…

Having successfully hosted the first of its timed online classic motoring auctions at the end of May, Brightwells opted to repeat the format for its latest sale. Interested parties had four days to get their bids in, with the sale concluding from 7pm on July 2. There were 67 lots in all, ranging from pre-war rarities right through to a pair of ex-MoD 6x6 Pinzgauer off-road monsters – one an ambulance! Just as in May, those on the hunt for a Land Rover project had plenty to choose from. No fewer than six two-door 1970s Range Rovers were on offer, along with five very early Series Land Rovers. Remarkably, four were 1950 examples, with the other dating from 1951. They were joined by an ex-Singapore Armed Forces 110 from 1987,…

VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GTI (1985-1992) Think of a famous classic hot hatch and there’s every chance the Golf GTI will get an early mention. For many enthusiasts, the Mk1 Golf is the original performance hatch, and the slightly larger Mk2 isn’t far behind in terms of desirability. But when it comes to Golf-based saloons, what’s the ultimate choice? For us, it has to be the GTI version of the second-generation Jetta, a highly practical four-door with a huge boot and all the driver appeal of the Golf on which it’s based. The Mk2 Jetta arrived in 1984, with the GTI version appearing the following year – with a useful 112bhp from its 1781cc fuel-injected engine. Then in 1987 came the GTI 16v version of the Jetta, pushing power all the way…

Jaguar XJ12 (1972-1992) It’s easier to find a Daimler than a plain Jaguar XJ12, but the latter can be a cunning investment if you can find one cheaply enough. The later Series 3 models are most common and despite less appealing plastic bumpers remains a brilliant car, winning various road tests, and its long production run to 1992 means there are still a good few left. Budget £8000-£20,000. Ferrari 456 (1992-2003) Fizzy Colombo V12s are no longer cheap since the 330 shot up in value over a decade ago, and while 365 GT4-412 models are still reasonably affordable, a more exciting bet is the too-often forgotten 456. One of the first of the modern, physics-defying Ferraris and yet also the last to name itself on cubic swept area of each…

You’d have thought that after all the literally millions of words I’ve written about old cars I’d know my way around Triumph’s 1970s small saloons without having to thumb through a battered old copy of World Cars… but the last time I drove a Toledo I had to peer underneath to satisfy myself whether it was front or rear-drive. That’s not as crazy as it sounds, since even by the standards of BL product planning, Triumph’s mid-range models of the time were crazily confused. The story begins conventionally enough with the Herald, a car which had performed well for Triumph as an affordable small family car. The Herald had been designed to use a separate chassis to avoid Triumph relying on the major players like Pressed Steel and Fisher &…