Innholdsfortegnelse for 29/7/2020 i Classic Car Buyer

I’ve often felt that the measure of a true classic car enthusiast is a depth of passion for the subejct which overshadows considerations of monetary value in favour of a fascination for the styling and engineering which makes up our automotive history. To my mind, the genuine classic fan is the chap casually leaning on his Bugatti in the paddock somewhere like Prescott who is just as interested in something like our Range Rover or Peugeot 205 projects despite the vast gulf in values. And not the gent with the Aston DB6 who once parked next to my Alfa, took one look at my car and promptly moved a foot further away, clearly worried that the presence of a lower-value classic might rub off. That was also quite possibly the…

With outdoor classic car shows beginning to take place again for the first time since March and indoor events set to recommence in October, enthusiasts’ calendars are beginning to look a lot healthier once again. However, the uncertainty and financial gamble surrounding the need to meet Covid-19 guidelines is threatening the viability of some larger, established events. Recent guidance from the Government’s Digital, Culture, Media and Sport department (DCMS) now allows venues, businesses, professional organisations and public bodies in England to host larger groups. This is provided they take reasonable steps to mitigate the risk of transmission in line with ‘Covid-19 Secure’ guidelines and complete a risk assessment. One example of this is Beaulieu’s series of ‘Simply’ rallies, which are capped at a maximum 500 attendance to comply with social…

With the world gradually escaping from lockdown and the online classic auctions doing great business, many classic car fans are on the hunt for a new toy to make up for the loss of a fortnight’s Mediterranean sun. Here at CCB we’ve always maintained that you don’t need to be wealthy to enjoy the old car hobby and just a few hundred pounds is enough to gain entry into the scene with more modern popular classics. When it comes to traditional classics, yes you’ll need to set your sights a little higher but a budget of £10,000 opens up a whole world of choice from the ’70s, ’60s and yes, even the 1950s if you have enough patience and a little luck. Read on and try to decide between taking…

The Morris Minor was one of the very first in a new generation of cars during the early post-war years, appearing at the Earls Court Motor Show in 1948. It had many modern features, like a monocoque construction, independent front suspension, and rack and pinion steering. The early models have the distinctive headlights set low either side of the grille, while all post 1951 cars set them further up on the wings more in line with other contemporary cars. The old Morris sidevalve was employed at first, with 918cc and producing 27.5bhp, but in 1952 the new Series II Minor received Austin’s A-series unit, a benefit of the merging of the two companies into the BMC conglomerate. This new 803cc engine was actually more powerful, thanks to its more modern…

Traditional classics don’t come much more sensible or affordable than the Triumph Herald, the first car to wear the Triumph badge rather than the Standard name. The separate chassis forced upon Triumph following the acquisition of its body supplier by arch-rival BMC meant a Meccano-like construction which endeared it to DIY mechanics both then and now, with the flip-front making engine and front suspension access a breeze. The Herald enjoyed a long life, meaning that the model range can get confusing. The car was launched in 1959, with the 948cc engine from the Standard Ten, but despite its separate chassis, it weighed in at under 800kg so the 36bhp gave it acceptable performance. The coupe and convertible versions received a twin-carbed 42bhp version. Triumph swiftly improved the performance by boring…

The 1970s may have been a decade of strife for BL, but it also saw the Mini enjoy some of its most prosperous years. The new Mk3 model launched in 1969 was blessed with such luxuries as larger internally-hinged doors and wind-up windows, while the oft-derided Clubman and 1275 GT models arrived too. The barely advertised Cooper S model was dropped in 1971, but otherwise changes were fairly limited during the decade. The 1275 GT became the first Mini to get 12-inch wheels in 1974, with the Clubman saloon and Estate models getting a bigger 1098cc engine in 1975. The introduction of the Mk4 in 1976 ushered in the introduction of rubber mounted subframes and interior revisions, but other than minor exterior updates, very little changed until the range was…

The MGB GT had already proven that a coupe could be an able deputy for a humdrum saloon car, but it was the Ford Capri that really brought sports car style to the masses. With its two-door fastback arrangement and whacking great bonnet, its looks were reminiscent of the muscle-bound Mustang pony car that inspired it, and yet it was built on the same platform as the humble MkII Cortina. That helped to make it attainable for a wide demographic, but there was more. Ford marketed the Capri as ‘the car you always promised yourself’ and gave potential customers the best possible chance of fulfilling that promise by offering the car with a wide range of engines and trim levels to suit different pockets. Within a year of the UK…

Just like the Interceptor, the elegant Alpine is another classic which at first sight would appear to be far more exotic than its price tag suggests. Its ‘honey I shrunk the Thunderbird’ styling lent it an aura of American glamour when it first appeared in 1959, yet being based on the platform and running gear of the humble Hillman Minx meant it was easy to live with. The example we have here is a Series 4 model, which boasted a 92bhp version of the 1725cc Rootes motor and performance to equal the MGB. Bodily restored back in 1989 and with further mechanical work a few years later, the Alpine received engine work at around the same time and has been cherished ever since. The CSCC team reports that the body…

Hats off to CCB Editorial Assistant Joe Miller, who has auctioned his 1999 Alfa Romeo GTV to raise money for a mental health charity. The former Kelsey Media project car was bought by Joe in March before receiving a number of fixes and improvements. With just over £1000 in total spent, the GTV was placed up for auction online, with all of the winning bid over £1000 being donated to The Samaritans mental health charity. The winning bid of £1270 was boosted by a donation from the winning bidder and Joe, as well as the Gift Aid incentive, bringing the total amount raised to £437.50. Stewart, the new owner, said: “It’s a solid car with a nice history and it’s supporting a great cause, I’m really pleased to take it…

Astunning Triumph TR6 has set what is believed to be a record price for the model. The painstakingly restored and upgraded 1972 example was sold for £57,732 during Historics’ 10th Anniversary auction at Windsorview Lakes on July 18, soaring well above its £28,000-£35,000 pre-sale estimate. Clearly no ordinary TR6, the car is the result of a five-year labour of love by vendor Venkatramanan Panchapakesan (a.k.a. Panch). The result is a concours-standard car featuring Aston Martin Tungsten Silver bodywork complemented by a red leather interior and a host of mechanical upgrades that include modern fuel injection, a Stage 2 head, four pot callipers and uprated suspension. “I wanted the ultimate TR6 – a modern iteration without losing the essence of what a TR6 is,” Panch told CCB. “It was built to…

The future is looking much brighter for motoring events on Brighton’s Madeira Drive, with Brighton and Hove City Council pledging that motoring events like the Brighton Speed Trials, London to Brighton Veteran Car Run and various others will continue to take place on the historic seafront road. There had been fears that motoring events would be a thing of the past following the closure of the road to motorised traffic to give people more space to run and cycle during lockdown. Thanks to the efforts of Brighton & Hove Motor Club and the backing of car and bike enthusiasts nationwide, a petition calling for the drive to reopen had gained around 10,250 signatures. It was due to be debated by councillors just as we went to press, together with an…

SAAB 9-3 INDEPENDENCE EDITION Given our feature this week on the contrasting fortunes of Saab and Jaguar, this one seems appropriate. Based on the 9-3 convertible, the Independence was offered in 2011 to celebrate a year of Saab’s freedom from General Motors. Based on the 180bhp twin-turbo diesel automatic model, the Independence came only in Amber Orange with the top Aero specification and although 80 were planned for the UK market, fewer than 15 are thought to have been imported. NEWS IN BRIEF Despite the country being in various stages of lockdown from April to the end of June, pothole-related call-outs during this period still made up 1.1 per cent of all breakdowns attended by the RAC. This is the same proportion as were attended in the second quarter of…

As a semblance of normality returns to the classic car scene, Historics made sure its 10th Anniversary sale on July 18 was an extraordinary occasion. In recent months we’ve become used to sales taking place behind closed doors, but by hosting the event at its privately-owned Windsorview Lakes venue, Historics was able to manage the site in its entirety to meet social distancing requirements. Pleasingly, these were very well respected. People clearly enjoyed being among fellow enthusiasts, for the sale proved to be a huge success. Copious competitive bidding in the hall was supplemented by online and telephone activity, with online registrations coming from 24 countries and accounting for 34 per cent of the lots sold. In all, 140 of the 181 lots found new homes before post-sale negotiations –…

MG MAGNETTE ZA/ZB (1953-1958) Despite having much in common with the Wolseley 4/44, the Magnette ZA of 1953 (and subsequent ZB of 1956-58) fully deserved an MG badge thanks to its sportier feel and increased performance from BMC’s 1489cc B-series engine. Rack and pinion steering gave sharpened driver appeal, as did impressive handling. Inside, meanwhile, was a wood-and-leather approach to things, giving this latest member of the MG family a luxury twist. The ZA and ZB have always been in demand from fans of Fifties motoring, and prices have remained steady in recent years. A superb example that might have sold for £13,000-£15,000 in 2017 will could now be advertised at £16,000-£17,000, though that’s just about the top end of Magnette values. Most examples sell for less, with solid and…

You might have to get your hands dirty, but there’s enough support for the ’50s classics that even the most modest of budgets can still deliver postwar enjoyment. An XK may be out of reach but there’s still plenty of fun to be had. The Austin A30/A35 models really do just shout 1950s optimism in their design. When the A30 was introduced in 1951, it marked a huge step forward from the pre-war Austin Sevens, bringing modern styling over a monocoque construction. It almost has something of a Standard Vanguard about it, with its proud headlights and swoopy wheelarch flares. Underneath all that, of course, is the famous A-series engine which premiered in the A30. Starting as an 803cc unit, it eventually increased to 948cc for the later A35 models,…

Built in much greater number than the earlier MG Midgets, the T-Types represent a more affordable way into the classic sports car experience with plenty of knowledge and parts support. The T-Types began in 1936 with the TA. Instead of the P-Type’s Wolseley overhead cam engine, these feature a more economical to produce pushrod overhead valve engine from the Morris 10, which makes 50bhp at 4500rpm. Another downgrade is the 9” drum brakes instead of 12” ones. But there were some improvements: the brakes featured a Lockheed hydraulic system, there were new lever-type dampers all round, and the engine did feature a distributor and coil ignition system. The headline for the 1939 TB model was its new XPAG engine. This was a completely new engine that, although its valves were…

The last product of a proudly independent Triumph company before it was swallowed up into the British Leyland tangle, the 2000/2500 makes for a stylish and enjoyable classic with great driver appeal and a style which is a great deal more modern than many of the Sixties cars. Even the earliest 2000 drives more like a 1970s car and the six-cylinder soundtrack makes it that much more exotic than a Rover P6 2000 or Cortina. The car was only made possible by Leyland’s rescue of Triumph in 1961 which funded development of a new monocoque bodyshell styled by Michelotti. With the 2-litre straight-six engine carried over from the Vanguard Six and front strut/semi-trailing rear suspension, the car was launched in 1963, going on sale from 1964. It was well received…

It’s no secret that the Silver Spirit is currently the most affordable way into the Rolls-Royce ownership experience but it’s still possible to buy a more traditionally classic experience in the shape of the Silver Shadow. As many CCB readers will be aware though, the Spirit and Shadow are pretty much the same car under the skin and the ‘SY’ platform which was first developed for the Shadow would serve Rolls-Royce until the 2003 Bentley Continental R and Azure. The Shadow wasn’t the first Rolls-Royce to use a standard steel bodyshell, nor was it the first to use the long-serving L-Series V8 engine which disappeared only last month. It was however, the firm’s first unitary-construction model and with its high-pressure hydraulics for brakes and suspension really was a massive leap…

Launched and ultimately discontinued in parallel with the MGB, the Spitfire is another established British classic to offer an even greater blend of usability and value in its later incarnations. The Spitfire arrived in 1962, by which time the Austin-Healey Sprite and its subsequent MG Midget stablemate had already stolen a march on the market. The Triumph also made do with the separate chassis and mechanicals based on those of its Herald sibling rather than the unitary construction of its BMC rivals, but more space, better equipment and pretty Michelotti styling meant the Spitfire outsold them. The earlier cars certainly have charm, but the 1970s cars are the most refined and easiest to live with. Introduced at the beginning of the decade, the MkIV ushered in the most comprehensive changes…

A rewind back to 1995 and Yarm High Steet in Stockton-on-Tees sees the small town largely dominated by Fords and Vauxhalls, with the Mk2 Fiesta Bonus and Nova Merit in the foreground prime examples of base-model superminis from the late 1980s. Other Blue Ovals include a Mk3 Fiesta, a couple of facelifted Sierras in hatchback and Sapphire guises, an Escort van and an Escort Eclipse – a run-out special edition for the Mk4. Others from the GM stable, meanwhile, include a 4x4 Frontera, a Senator largely concealed by the building on the right and – off in the distance – a Mk1 Astra. Plenty of other brands make an appearance too. We can spy a couple of Volvo estates, a Nissan Bluebird and Sunny, plus a Peugeot 106 and 309.…

With the school year ending and many more people expected to have staycations this summer rather than travelling abroad, drivers of classic cars look set to face higher levels of traffic and a greater strain on their vehicle. Research by VisitBritain/VisitEngland shows that coastal towns and pretty countryside villages are being considered for domestic breaks, with the South West of England and Scotland the leading destinations. With routes to popular spots set to be even busier than usual, Highways England is urging motorists to check their vehicles before travelling. RAC Breakdown spokesperson Rod Dennis added: “A large proportion of drivers in England are desperate to reconnect with friends, family and indeed nature by staying overnight. This could lead to some busy conditions on the roads, with the location of queues…

If you’ve spotted too many typos on every other page of this issue then blame the H&H sale which once a month has us rushing to sign off the pages on a Wednesday morning in time to watch the afternoon sale with a fresh brew and our regular office competition to predict the sale values. The July sale kicked off with the good news that as Covid-influenced restrictions ease, H&H is hoping to resume its regular physical sales but also intends to keep these regular live online sales as a popular fixture. The sale kicked off in fine style with a £6000 sale of a no reserve Jaguar 420, representing a great way into ’60s Jaguar ownership and bidding was brisk throughout the afternoon. Perhaps the highlight of the sale…

ROVER P6B (1968-1976) The acquisition of the relatively compact ex-Buick V8 from General Motors was one of Rover’s best-ever decisions, resulting in the launch of the P5-based 3.5-Litre in 1967 and the P6-based Rover Three-Thousand-Five (as it was initially called) the following year. In this guise the V8 produced 144bhp and the performance figures were impressive, with the newcomer offering a top speed of around 120mph and 0-60mph in just 9.5 seconds. The P6B (as it was codenamed) was updated to Series II spec in 1970, while a year later the 3500S was launched – complete with manual transmission for a sportier drive. In reality though, any P6B is a sought-after sporting saloon; and despite rising prices of the regular P6 in recent years, there’s still a hefty gap in…

When people think of the Series I Land Rovers of the ’50s, they generally think of the open-backed short wheelbase ones that were the genesis of the brand, but in fact even before the Series II ushered in lots more refinement in 1958, there were alternatives to the pure utilitarian Land Rover. In 1950 you could already order a station wagon, in 1952 there was a significantly more powerful 2-litre engine, then in 1954 and again in 1956 both models’ wheelbases were extended. Fact is this was a decade for the Land Rover finding itself, so you have the shadow of the Willys Jeep at one end, and a Station Wagon with leather seats and Safari roof at the other. The Series II came out in 1958, in fact, so…

Car design took a big leap in the 1960s and compared to their cousins from the previous decade, many of the Sixties classics still make very practical transport in the 21st century. What’s more, our ten grand budget still buys an interesting selection of traditional classics, from the lovable Herald to the imposing Rover P5 The P5 is one of those classics which represents very different things to different people. For the fan of Rover’s heyday as a quality brand admired for the depth of its traditional engineering, the P5 in its original stately 3-litre guise is the high point of the range, while for others the rakish coupe on Rostyle wheels with V8 power and whitewall tyres offers a hint of ’57 Chevy for suburban Britain. As launched in…

Get caught up in the hype and mystique over the 3.8-litre manual in green on chromed wires and you’d be forgiven for dismissing the 2.4-litre Jaguar Mk2. In practice though, they represent a tempting entry to the world of 1960s Jaguars and given that few owners drive their 3.8s on the ragged edge anyway, the smaller-engined cars aren’t far behind in the real world. Especially the 240, the 2.4-litre run-out model of the Mk2 produced from 1967 alongside the 3.4-litre 340. The 240 gained the ‘straight-port’ head from the 4.2-litre which gave it a useful boost to 133bhp and 147lbf.ft, with Motor cracking 60mph in just 11.7 seconds. The smaller XK engine also revs more freely than the larger units and the 240 offers all the fun of the Mk2…

Thanks to an appealing combination of late-model refinement and keen pricing, the 1970s has emerged as the sweet spot for many long-established classics. We choose five of the best As the top-selling British sports car of all time, the MGB’s progression into proper classic territory was all but guaranteed. Indeed, it gained a strong hobbyist following even before new ones had stopped rolling out of the Abingdon factory. Never mind that the front suspension had its roots back to the 1940s, or that the live rear axle and leaf springs were far from cutting edge even in 1962 – the MGB was a global success and still offers a great experience today. It’s traditional in so many ways, yet familiar and civilised enough to be suitable for current traffic. Though…

The car that quite literally mobilised Germany after the war, the Volkswagen Beetle’s status as a global icon is assured with over 21 million produced. Here was a car that was largely designed before the war, and yet still measured up to cars designed decades later. The earlier cars have long been prized, especially the split or oval rear window cars. This was ramped up further in the 1980s when the craze for West Coast ‘Cal Look’ customising meant getting things as smooth as possible. That means much of the interest has centred on the pre-1968 sloping headlight cars rather than the later cars with their vertical lamps. That leaves an opportunity, for VW incrementally improved the Beetle over the years without altering its appearance too much, which means later…

Compared to the cars which came both before and after it, the MGA stands out as an elegant high point for the MG brand. The lithe shape is in its own delicate way just as iconic as the E-Type and while the MGB may have been rather old-fashioned even at launch, the MGA represented a state-of-the-art sports car when it appeared. It so nearly didn’t happen though. Early prototypes for the car were shown to BMC boss Leonard Lord in 1952 but instead of the expected green light for production the proposed new MG was put on the back burner in favour of the new sports car collaboration with Donald Healey which was to become the Austin-Healey 100. This left MG to soldier on with what by then was really…