Innholdsfortegnelse for 30/9/2020 i Classic Car Buyer

It seems that the now common saying “you’re not a petrolhead if you haven’t owned an Alfa” came from Jeremy Clarkson. He was probably thinking about his GTV6 and all the good memories he’d had with it before the other side of him had had enough of the unreliability and sold it. No other car is quite as punishing one moment but rewarding the next, apparently. However, as I’ve been running our project Range-Rover P38a for the last six months, I take issue with this Alfa-exclusive. It was after a long day doing a photo shoot that the sun was setting and all I wanted to do was get home, but the drive back was a couple of hours and included more than just simple motorway cruising. That evening, it…

Bigger events have generally been off the agenda this year, but the organiser of the London Classic Car Show was determined to fill the void by arranging its inaugural Covid-secure Classic Car Drive In at Bicester Heritage on September 19-20. And despite only being announced a mere six weeks in advance, it proved to be a very welcome get-together for enthusiasts. The event took its name from the two big silver screens featuring three car-related films per day, but there were plenty of other attractions for visitors to enjoy at the 444-acre former RAF site. Over 60 iconic Grand Prix, Le Mans, vintage and touring car race cars took to the site’s track for demonstrations in front of special socially-distanced viewing points and trackside bays for ‘bubbles’ of up to…

If you’re quick you may be able to pick up a bargain at Newark Motor Auctions’ new monthly Retro Classic Car & Motorbike Auction, which takes place this Thursday (October 1) ahead of regular sales held on the first Thursday of every month thereafter. The October sale features a selection of cars over 21 years old, including a trio of open-top classics in the shape of a 1971 Triumph Herald 13/60 Convertible, a 1975 Triumph Stag and a 1984 Mercedes R107 280 SL. You’ll also find a rare 1987 Nissan Laurel SGX and a Mk3 Vauxhall Cavalier. Bidding is possible in the socially-distanced auction hall or online, with socially-distanced viewing also available prior to each sale. For the catalogue, see www.newarkmotorauctions.co.uk.…

French auction house Aguttes hosted the first ever sale in the Musée de l’Aventure Peugeot on September 20, with PSA offering around 30 Peugeots and Citroëns from its collection. And before anyone gets too concerned about PSA selling off its heritage, we’re told many were duplicates of models already held, with the proceeds to be reinvested into the acquisition and restoration of museum pieces. Also crossing the block at the Sochaux museum were cars from private collections, making this a bumper auction for French car fans, with 57 cars offered. In addition, advertising posters and memorabilia was auctioned too, with the majority of items selling for far in excess of their pre-sale estimates. It was a similar story for the cars, which ranged from pre-war vehicles through to competition cars…

It’s hard to find a silver lining to a global pandemic but if recent events have seen your daily commute reduced or even eliminated entirely, could it be the excuse you need to ditch that anonymous modern set of wheels and take the plunge into something classier? Yes, it might well also be thirstier, bigger and of course a great many years older but without the need to reliably fight the rush hour every day, does it really matter? From Turbo R to Mondial, we present some tempting alternatives to the PCP-funded family diesel.…

Hidden behind the fame of the Quattro, 100 and TT, the Audi A8 is a momentous car for the marque that many have forgotten. It pioneered the use of an aluminium monocoque in a volume production car, elevated interior quality so much that it remains an Audi focal point today, and featured high-specification engines including the W12. But the fastest and arguably most desirable, was the S8. This remains one of the most subtle performance luxury saloons ever made, marrying the tidy styling of an old, reserved Audi with the modern engineering might of a new, high-rising Audi. That means that only wide rubber on special six-spoke ‘Avus’ alloy wheels, a couple of S8 badges and a 20mm lower ride height allude to a car that can do 0-60mph in…

A well-known classic car dealer recently related how he’d struggled to decide on a suitable vehicle in which to make the right impression when collecting a wealthy European client from the airport. Casting around both his personal collection and the sales cars in stock, he eventually settled on a Jaguar MkX and the gamble paid off. Said VIP customer alighted from his private plane, saw the majesty of the big Jaguar and strolled right past the assembled ranks of waiting top-end S-Class and Teslas without so much as a sideways glance. That in a nutshell explains the appeal of the MkX. Not only does it boast performance to justify its ‘four-door E-Type’ nickname but its sheer size means it’s still an imposing beast today in a sea of oversized SUVs.…

The first fruit of a VW-owned Bentley, the Continental GT really couldn’t be more different from the older car and shares no parts with its predecessor. Which is no surprise considering the agreement between VW and BMW meant that VW had just a couple of years to develop from scratch an all-new Bentley when production of Rolls-Royce badged cars passed to BMW. Industry pundits considered the VW Phaeton to be VW Group chief Ferdinand Piech’s pet folly, yet it proved an ideal testbed for the new Continental GT which debuted in 2004 using an outrageous turbocharged W12 engine (effectively two VR6s), four-wheel drive and a neat yet modern style recalling the Continental of the 1950s. The car’s detailing inside and out was exceptional, but in a mass-produced way. Technically it’s…

A Porsche 911 is a natural choice for anyone looking for a prestige classic. The 996 produced from 1998 to 2003 was the first of the water-cooled models and offers the cheapest way in, while the 997 is eminently possible for under £20,000. However, 911 purists will always prefer the models fitted with a traditional air-cooled flat-six, so where do we stand with those? The final air-cooled models were the 964, launched in 1989, and its 993 successor realised four years later. You’ll need a very lucky break to find a running 964 that fits the bill, but a 993 should be just about possible with some brave pills, good luck and a prevailing wind. The 964 was the most radical revision of the 911 so far. Coil springs, power…

An MGB might not be the car you’re expecting to find in a section devoted to prestige classics but if you’ve not been concentrating recently then you might be astounded at the amount you can spend on one of these cars today. Perhaps the pinnacle is represented by the ‘restomod’ LE50 which was developed by MG specialist Frontline back in 2012. Retailing for a cool £50,000 at the time, the LE50 was a modernised classic in the mould of an Eagle E-Type and created with equal delicacy. Powered by a 215bhp Mazda MX-5 engine and driving through the Mazda box to a thoroughly revised suspension including a coil-sprung independent rear end, the LE50 was the ultimate evolution of the MGB. It also illustrates just how easy it is to spend…

This Mk2 Polo might well have a claim to being the best surviving example out there. Once common street furniture, finding a tidy Volkswagen Polo of this age today requires patience and probably some fixing up. In the classic ‘breadvan’ specification with the larger 1.3-litre engine and five-speed gearbox, of course in bright Tornado Red too, this is exactly how we all remember these cars and in this condition it really is a timewarp back to when they were new. The paintwork is free of scratches or other imperfections and the interior is as-new, including its original floor mats. The car has a good history with three owners, two of which were husband and wife, with 16 service stamps and evidence of further maintenance. Under Stone Cold Classics’ custody, it’s…

A video shoot this week brought the chance to compare two very significant Rolls-Royces. On the left, the Silver Shadow which celebrates its 55th anniversary this year, and on the right its replacement the Silver Spirit which was unveiled 40 years ago and ultimately resulted in the rebirth of Bentley courtesy of the Turbo R. In fact it’s the Turbo R engine which powers the Silver Spur in the photo, producing a handy 400bhp and translating into a drive quite unlike anything else. See it in action soon on our Classics World YouTube channel.…

Another big show has fallen victim to the Covid-19 pandemic, with the news that the annual Regent Street Motor Show planned for October 31 has been postponed until 2021. The hugely popular free-to-view motor show has regularly attracted around half a million visitors in recent years, but a feasibility study – compounded by the new ‘rule of six’ – had led to the 2020 event being cancelled. It’s due to return next year, with a date of November 6, 2021. There is still some good news for this autumn, however. The London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, which usually takes place the day after the show, is still set to take place on November 1 in compliance with the latest Covid-19 guidelines. For further information visit www.veterancarrun.com.…

The future of historic vehicles has been given a huge boost with the news that the Heritage Skills Academy (HSA) has formed a new educational partnership with Brooklands Museum to grow its heritage engineering apprenticeships. The move will see HSA expand from its current headquarters at Bicester Heritage to open a second teaching site at the historic Surrey location. The new facility will become the HSA’s southern site from January, running alongside its original Bicester site where training will continue. It will give further scope for the HSA to train apprentices on its leading Heritage Engineering technician qualification, which in turn will prevent the vital skills knowledge and enthusiasm required to maintain and restore classic motor vehicle from being lost. It will also give the UK’s classic vehicle specialists greater…

SWVA’s autumn classic car sale on October 30 will include an eclectic mix of vehicles, including a fantastic example of a once-plentiful family saloon. The Mk1 Vauxhall Cavalier 2000 GLS is a superb survivor, having covered only 40,960 warranted miles, been garaged from new and never welded. The vendor, who is slimming down his collection due to advancing years, is the second owner of the car, having purchased it from the daughter of the original owner, who had a company car for use during the week and kept the Cavalier as his ‘Sunday’ vehicle. The car was recommissioned last year with a new clutch, tyres and a service, as well as professional repaint. It looks great in its original orange hue with a black vinyl roof, but if that wasn’t…

Nearly 50 classics of all shapes and sizes lit up the interest of remote bidders at the latest Charterhouse auction, from a Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit to a Messerschmitt KR200, and lots in between. There was plenty of opportunity for those after a winter project, and indeed the auction kicked off with two: a 1960 Jaguar 2.4 and a 1969 MGB GT. Both were offered without reserve, but it was the MGB in slightly more solid condition that brought the hammer down, at £680. The project that made the biggest impact, though, was a rather special 1965 Mini Cooper S. This car had been in storage since 1973, owned by a now deceased gentleman who’d been given it as a 21st birthday gift by his father back in 1967. A nice…

VW POLO Mk2 (1981-1990) Not quite a Golf, the Polo often took up the role of supermarket runabout and general workhorse, especially in the case of the rather popular long-hatchback (more commonly known as breadvan). It sold very well in the UK, becoming a strong rival for the likes of the Ford Fiesta, and it proved robust and wearing enough for most to last into the 2000s. By then of course, it was a very cheap car. Being a Volkswagen, it did manage a £100 premium over its contemporary rivals on the used market, but this was the difference between £500 and £600. You could buy the best for £1000. Today, with numbers of Mk2 Polos on UK roads at hardly five per cent of what they were in 2000,…

When it came out in 1996, the Boxster was one of the most expensive and desirable roadsters on sale. And when the Boxster S was introduced in 2000, it was even more expensive than its closest rival, the BMW Z3M. In fact, even the TVR Chimaera, while hand-assembled and more powerful than the Boxster, took a lot of option-ticking before it could get close to the £32,000-£40,000 range the apparently ‘poor man’s Porsche’ operated in. And yet, today the Boxster finds itself valued well below the BMW and TVR, while not much more than far more modest roadsters of the 1990s. We reckon it’s fantastic value, and here’s why. Not only do you get a Porsche badge, which is one crucial reason they sold so many, but you also get…

Some customers pleaded with BMW to continue making the E38 7-Series, so much did they like the old one and so much did they despise the look of the new one. The traditionalists were to be even more offended when they stepped inside, faced with a very un-BMW column mounted gear selector and, embedded in a wildly different dashboard design, the iDrive multi-media screen that combined a rather daunting 430 functions, controlled through a dial on the centre console. It was these two things that dominated any discussion of the new 7-Series, which is a shame because it was so much more than the obscure lines and an apparently unfathomable computer. In fact, it drove significantly better than its already very good E38 predecessor. We reckon that as people begin…

If the usual faded glory candidates of XK8, Boxster and 996 seem a little too obvious, then our £10,000-£20,000 budget stretches to the exotic in the shape of a Maserati. Readers recoiling in horror at the thought of the boxy and fragile BiTurbo will be reassured to hear that it’s the 3200GT and later 4200GT we’re looking at here. An attempt by new parent Fiat Group to bring Maserati into or at least closer to the mainstream, the 3200 launched in 1998. Styled by Giugiaro, it used a 3.2-litre 32-valve V8 derived from the old pre-Fiat Maserati engine used in the fourth-generation Quattroporte. With twin turbos, it boasted 370bhp and was slightly quicker than the XKR… although without the Jaguar’s crushing refinement, it felt even faster with an unruly hooligan…

The Bentley Arnage is a great example of a prestige car for family car money. Instead of homogenous monotony, you can get that famous badge, a V8 engine and the cachet of owning a luxury saloon that cost around £140,000 when new. The first Bentley to emerge after Volkswagen’s purchase of Rolls-Royce Motors in 1998, the Arnage had been developed under its previous owner Vickers. By the mid ’90s the long-serving SZ-series Rollys-Royce and Bentley models were increasingly antiquated, so a brand-new body to suit both marques was designed on tight resources. Externally, the grilles and bonnet pressings were the only major differences, but it was a different story under the bonnet. With the long serving L-Series V8 deemed too dated, eyebrows were raised when a deal was stuck with…

The R107 – and its C107 SLC coupe sibling–were launched in 1971 as replacements for the W113 ‘Pagoda roof’ model, which had been such a success in America that the R107 was even more focused on the stringent US market. To this end the monocoque shell had class-leading torsional strength and featured crumple zones when they were still a novelty. You also got semi-trailing rear suspension instead of swing-axle design of the W113, plus a new modern dashboard, optional rear seats and a fuel-injected V8 engine. The sheer array of models is quite bewildering. Initially, the R107 arrived in 3.5-litre 350SL form, but 4.5-litre 450SL – initially for North America – soon followed. In 1974 they were joined by a twin-cam 2.8-litre six-cylinder model, which came in response to the…

From a long-forgotten Ford press pack released in 1981 under the title ‘Ford Energy Report’ comes this photo of a Granada and Fiesta, both running on methanol as part of a trial into alternative fuels involving 150 cars operated by Ford in partnership with the German government. Running the cars on a blend of methanol and petrol, the study aimed to examine the potentially corrosive effects of the methanol on the fuel system. As classic owners today become increasingly concerned over planned rises in the ethanol content of pump fuels, it seems particularly topical and for the record, Ford’s studies suggested that new methanol-resistant materials would need to be developed for the carburettor, fuel tank, pump and lines. “We know more about alternative fuels than any other manufacturer,” trumpeted John…

MINI has paid tribute to legendary rally driver Paddy Hopkirk’s famous 1964 Monte Carlo Rally win by launching a limited run of 100 cars. The Northern Irishman became a household name when he won the rally alongside Henry Liddon in a Works Mini Cooper 1071 S, registered 33 EJB. Some 56 years on, the Paddy Hopkirk Edition is based on the current-day MINI Cooper S 3-door Hatch. Naturally it sports a red and white paintjob, plus the famous number 37 on the doors, black detailing, matching 17-inch John Cooper Works alloys, and ‘37’ side scuttles. You also get special graphics and a single white bonnet stripe bearing Paddy’s signature and a 3D-effect 33 EJB design. On the inside, there’s an Alcantara JCW steering wheel, Hopkirk’s signature on the dash and…

The Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show, with Discovery, will sadly not take place at Birmingham’s NEC this November as planned. Its organisers decided there was no alternative but to postpone the 2020 event despite pulling out all the stops to try and make the annual season finale happen. Things initially looked positive for the show’s prospects. With the government giving the greenlight for organised events to resume from October 1, a huge amount of work had been undertaken to plan the event in a Covid-secure manner, with numerous safety measures in place to create a safe and controlled environment for all involved. However, the situation has altered quickly. As we reported in last week’s issue (and remained the case as we went to press), outdoor shows are able to continue…

The recent Classic Car Drive In event at Bicester Heritage on was complemented by a busy Bonhams MPH classic car auction on September 20. The sale was certainly one for variety, with over 100 entries ranging from a 1912 Daimler 15hp Open Drive Landaulet through to a McLaren 570S Spider produced some 106 years later. At £95,625 the McLaren was the sale’s headliner, but it proved to be a busy occasion for pre-war cars too, as evidenced by the £78,750 achieved by a 1935 Alvis Speed 20 SC. A pair of FHC Series 1 Jaguar E-Types also did well, with a 1962 example selling for £76,500, and there was an intriguing array of rally-bred modern classics. A Lancia Delta Integrale Evo 2 managed to sell for £45,000, with a rare…

W111/W112 S-CLASS (1959-1971) Slightly smaller but just as finely appointed as the famous Adenauer models, the W111 and top W112 models can be considered as the beginning of the S-Class as we know it. They introduced a new design language for the 1960s, with upright headlights and finned tails, and have remained attractive to classic Mercedes enthusiasts ever since. The coupes and convertibles, relatively rare in right-hand-drive, have always been more expensive than the saloons. Expensive when new, depreciation was slow and then by the 1990s they were quickly becoming recognised classics with the prices to match. A 220SE convertible might have been £15,000, although at this time the later W108/W109 models were already more desirable particularly with the powerful V8 engines. Saloons, meanwhile, were considerably less, at around £4000.…

It’s a difficult one to name, the C140 generation of S-Class coupe, because when it was introduced in 1992 it was called the SEC, like its predecessor. Then, in 1994 it was renamed as the S-Class Coupe. Finally, in 1996 it was given the CL prefix. So we had 500SEC to S500 into CL500. Maybe just a sheer difficulty in searching online classifieds is why they’ve been largely forgotten over the last few years, but whatever the reason, this range-topping luxury coupe has ended up becoming an often cheaper alternative to the more famous W140 S-Class saloon. Given the status of past luxury Mercedes pillarless coupes, we suggest that the market is deeply mistaken. The C140 was positioned above its saloon relation, and started with a 4.2-litre V8 rather than…

The XK8 was unveiled at the 1996 Geneva Motor Show in a display evocative of the E-Type’s debut 35 years before, being revealed dramatically from a crate. Unlike the XJ-S before it, the XK8 very deliberately drew its inspiration from the E-Type, not just in its overall slinky shape, but in key details like the oval front grille and rounded sides with tucked in wheels. It was all neatly packaged, with integrated bumpers, bespoke, curved lights, and an elegant roofline that matched up with a sizeable boot. Inside, the XK8 enjoyed the first of a new generation of interiors from Jaguar, most readily identified by dials inset into a long so-called ‘Spitfire wing’ plank of walnut. Unmistakeably Jaguar, the XK8 was initially available in two trim levels, Sport and Classic.…

Moving from a modern to a classic doesn’t necessarily mean trading down in space and performance: indeed, it’s possible to make a significant jump on both counts by swapping your Bavarian 2-litre diesel for the might of a turbocharged Bentley. The return of the Blower Bentley was the brainchild of the late Rolls-Royce MD David Plastow who in 1973 in the interests of exploring future technology despatched a shabby Shadow prototype to race team Broadspeed for a turbocharger installation. There it was given a 10 per cent power gain and 50 per cent torque boost, with the turbocharged engine cautiously introduced in 1982 using the almost-dormant Bentley brand. The Mulsanne Turbo was stunningly quick in a straight line for such a large car, but now meant the Silver Shadow-derived underpinnings…

The Aston Martin DB7 was a major step in transforming the fortunes of the famous but flailing Newport Pagnell marque. Styled by Keith Helfet and Ian Callum, the DB7 owed an awful lot to Jaguar, which was also owned by Ford at the time. Indeed, it was initially known as ‘Project XX’, combining the underpinnings of the XJS with the styling of the abandoned XJ41/42 intended as its replacement. But instead of becoming a TWR Jaguar, it became Aston’s new entry level car instead. Unveiled at Geneva in ’93, the DB7 was the only Aston to be produced at the TWR facility in Bloxham, Oxfordshire. It may have had switches from a Granada, upside-down Mazda 323 rear light clusters and the smaller, 3.2-litre Jaguar AJ6 engine, but such criticisms were…

Designed to combine the features of a sports car with a 2+2 grand tourer, the Ferrari Mondial was always going to derided by prancing horse fanatics for being too watered-down. And yet, it’s arguably the most affordable and usable Ferrari of all. Unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in 1980 as the Mondial 8, it had the same mid-mounted 3-litre V8 as the 308GT4, but with a longer wheelbase and a body styled by Pininfarina. The car stood out for being a mid-engined V8 coupe with four seats, but was too ordinary compared to the 308-348 ranges it was built alongside. Early cars made do with a modest 214bhp, further turned down for the US market – hence why the Mondial appears in many a ‘worst cars ever’ list. But…