Innholdsfortegnelse for 1/26/2022 i Classic Car Buyer

For many of us our classic cars are something akin to time machines, transporting us back to the sights, sounds and smells of another era – maybe one we remember, maybe one we think we remember, or perhaps one that was way before our time. Something like the Goodwood Revival, which transforms a corner of West Sussex into an all-too-alluring version of the mid-20th century (I wasn’t around in the 1950s, but I suspect there were rather fewer Pimm’s stands and RAF-uniformed barbershop quartets than in Lord March’s version) takes this to a high level, but even a smaller car show can briefly recreate a snapshot in time as owners head home and the roads are briefly once again filled with the cars of yesteryear. Group editor Paul Wager said…

Rétromobile, the international classic car event based in Paris, has been rescheduled to March 16-20 after Covid-19-related concerns were raised over the original February 2-6 dates. With restrictions that would have resulted in delaying or dissuading certain visitors and exhibitors from attending, the organisers have opted to delay the show by five weeks. Following a survey, more than 80 per cent of the event’s clients said that they were in favour of the new dates. The venue remains Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, an exhibition and conference centre to the southwest of the city centre. All the special features initially planned will continue, including a tribute to Amédée Gordini, a Group A young-timers display, the vehicles of the French Gendarmerie Nationale, the traditional Artcurial auction and the 50th anniversary of…

Sign up to our newsletter at www.classicsworld.co.uk One of the most discussed topics in the classic car world over the last couple of years has been the introduction of E10 petrol and its effect on older cars. Since it arrived in September, owners have essentially faced a choice of using the more expensive ‘protection grade’ Super Unleaded that remains E5 or investing in upgraded components to suit E10. However, anecdotal evidence is mounting to suggest that a drop in efficiency caused by using E10 could outweigh the extra cost of E5. E10 petrol was introduced to reduce carbon dioxide emissions associated with petrol vehicles and tackle climate change. The idea is that ethanol has less carbon than petrol – just two carbon atoms per molecule to petrol’s average of eight…

Brooklands Museum will be back on the small screen this week as the popular Secrets of the Transport Museum returns for a second series filmed at the iconic motorsport and aviation venue in Surrey. Among the fascinating stories captured in the new series will be the two outright Brooklands lap record holders, the Napier-Railton on four wheels and Brough Superior on two, squaring off against each other. Former Bangers & Cash star Sarah Crabtree will also be making an appearance. Tamalie Newbery, Brooklands Museum CEO, said: “Secrets of the Transport Museum has provided us with a wonderful opportunity to show the world some of the dedicated volunteers we have at the museum, and celebrate the unique stories of British innovation, endeavour and entrepreneurship at Brooklands, both past and present.” The…

ROVER P6 (1963-1977) The Rover P6 was a technological tour de force at its launch in 1963. Designed to take a jet engine, fitted with revolutionary suspension and clothed in a shell upon which the panels were unstressed decoration, it truly was England’s answer to the Citroën DS. It was even inspired openly by the DS in terms of its design – and internally made use of modern materials such as Formica and chrome trim. Unsurprisingly, a strip speedo was fitted – because who needs round dials? They’re so 1950s, after all… The P6 is well served on the spares market today – there’s little you might need that you will find impossible to get, whether through specialist suppliers or through either of the two dedicated Rover P6 clubs. And…

Escort XR3i Naturally more expensive when new but slightly more common today, the XR-badged Escort is now both more affordable and easier to find. Budget on £8000 for a tidy example and you’ll even find one in the same sale at Manor Park. Alfa Romeo Alfasud It didn’t start life as a hot hatch but by the time the XR2 had arrived, Alfa had added one. Very differemt, just as characterful as the XR2 but more fragile bodily and possibly even rarer. Golf GTI The Mk1 GTI is a pricey proposition today but good ones can be had for the value of a sound XR2, making for an intriguing comparison. The VW is faster and technically the better car but too sober for some.…

This trio of cars assembled for a photo shoot with our colleagues at Jaguar World magazine gives a lovely snapshot into the evolution of the brand’s performance cars. The XK120 of course set the world alight with its 120mph potential when it debuted in 1948 and this 1953 example from Jaguar’s own collection is joined by the last of the S-Type R and the first of the XF-SV8, both packing 420bhp from their 5.0-litre V8s. Despite the technical superiority and breath-taking pace of the later cars, the XK120 didn’t feel outclassed and as we enter Jaguar’s centenary year it’s a lovely illustration of where the legend really got into its stride.…

Thanks to the pandemic, it’s been two long years since a January Sunday Scramble has taken place at Bicester Heritage. However, the long hiatus and a thick layer of fog that made visibility all but impossible couldn’t deter around 5000 enthusiasts joining the action at the sold-out event on January 16. Things soon brightened, and before long the event was set to a backdrop of sun and blue skies. But even without the weather, the sheer variety of classics on display was enough to dazzle the former RAF base. From mild to wild, it was all here, spanning multiple eras of automotive history. Pre-war Bentleys shared the grounds with ’80s and ‘90s rally icons, traditional British classics both standard and modified, oodles of German prestige, Japanese fastbacks and just about…

In a major step forward for the historic vehicle community, the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations has awarded consultative status to international body FIVA. The ECOSOC is focused on generating international debate on sustainable development. By granting consultative status, it has empowered FIVA and its worldwide network of owners, drivers and enthusiasts to have global influence on the future of historic vehicles. “This is great news for enthusiasts around the world,” said FIVA President, Tiddo Bresters. “Behind the scenes, FIVA works ceaselessly to ensure that policymakers understand the cultural value of historic vehicles, which are all too easily overlooked as the world embraces a greener future. Now that the United Nations has acknowledged the international importance of historic vehicles in this way, our voice will be that…

A Lotus Elite once gifted to ex-Formula 1 racing driver Ronnie Peterson is set be auctioned by Historics at its Ascot Racecourse sale on March 12, offered with no reserve. The 1974 example is the 207th Elite to have been built and is resplendent in Lotus Yellow with a custom Oatmeal interior. The paintwork retains a deep shine, and the interior is largely in good order, although there are some age-related blemishes to show. In its current ownership for around 15 years, the Elite has been stored for some time but has been regularly started and lightly exercised. It’s offered with many bills and receipts and has a fantastic, documented history file that also contains photos of Ronnie Peterson and the car at the Lotus factory, including the handover by…

Confetti cannon isn’t a phrase I ever expected to write in a classic car publication but it’s something you’ll find in the next Brightwells sale, courtesy of a selection of Daimler DS420 limousines. Converted to landau format very neatly by a professional coachbuilder the two cars in the sale are available as separate lots but together would make a ready-to-go business. The real headliner of the sale though is the Honda NSX, a beautifully original example showing just 11,567 miles and which after a brief spin round the car park we can assure you drives like new. Being a 1992 example, it’s an early model and is pure original NSX right down to the lack of power steering. A close second behind the NSX – well, for Jeff anyway –…

As CCB contributors go, I’m probably just about the best-qualified to write this feature, because I’ve ‘Lived with’ an Audax Hillman Minx for the past 30 years! The Series II Minx 697CKJ officially entered my life on December 18 1991, though I first met (and photographed) it a couple of years earlier. Since then, it’s been a constant friendly presence. It’s also, perhaps, a sign of changing times that I bought Minxy, my oldest preserved car, just under a year before my youngest one, the Rover 827 Coupe, was made. OVERVIEW The ‘Audax’ Hillman Minx was made from 1956 to 1967, and during those 11 years it went through no fewer than eight series facelifts – Series I, Series II, Series III, IIIA, IIIB, IIIC, Series V and Series VI…

The British Mini Club has taken the decision to postpone its busy indoor Mini Fair event, originally scheduled for this Sunday (January 30), in order to give more time for Covid-19 cases and isolation numbers to drop. The event will now be held on March 13, at the same Staffordshire County Showground venue. “We have been closely monitoring the Coronavirus situation, with the safety and wellbeing of our visitors, exhibitors, traders and our BMC team always our primary concern,” said the Club, which hopes that the Mini community will support the new March date. “Hopefully people may feel more comfortable and confident in attending a busy indoor event by then, and we can provide an enjoyable, safe day out for us all.” All advance tickets will automatically be rolled over…

Morgan has unveiled a limited run Plus Four to celebrate 60 years since its class victory at Le Mans. Based on the standard Morgan Plus Four and limited to just 62 examples, it pays tribute to the Morgan Plus 4 SuperSports – known by its registration TOK 258 – which took victory in the 2.0-litre class in the gruelling 24-hour race in 1962. Each car receives dark green or red paint, plus a special decal pack with number 29 roundels, an LM62 rear badge, silver-painted wire wheels, spotlights, a Le Mans-style fuel filler cap and a domed rear panel. The splitter and sports exhausts are finished in black, and for the first time on the Plus Four, the LM62 is equipped with a white hardtop to hark back to the…

A unique car with a fantastic history is to go under the hammer when WB & Sons holds its next classic auction on February 12. Known as the Monk Special, the one-off trials car was built in 1953 by father and son duo Cyril and James Monk at their home in Slough. Following the war, the DIY construction of trials cars began to proliferate, often based on the Austin Seven. However, Cyril and James built their creation with a Morris Minor chassis and an engine from a Ford 8, with shakedown runs performed in their back garden. Fitted with a home-brew body comprising a wood frame and aluminium panels, the car also received a fold away roof designed and made by Cyril’s wife, who insisted the car have a roof.…

FORD GRANADA Mk1 (1972-1978) The Sweeney might not have had any dinner, but had they had a Granada estate in place of the Consul GT they would have had space to fit packed lunches for the whole Metropolitan Police Force. Replacing the cars built by outside contractors Abbot, the Granada was Ford’s first in house large estate car. Available in Consul spec too, the plushest estate available was the GXL – complete with a 3.0 V6 engine to help lug the loads in the back. When the Consul range became part of the Granada range for 1975, the Granada estate range widened to encompass more of the standard Granada saloon range. The Granada saloon was replaced in 1977 – but the estate was simply fitted with the new nose and…

These days, it often feels as though the only blue-collar classic cars that people are interested in are those with a Blue Oval slapped on the bonnet. Ford hype is nothing new in the UK, with Escort and Sierra prices continually soaring upwards, but amongst the furore there are plenty of other humble classics that get drowned out of memory. One such car that we think is worthy of a bigger slice of the limelight, is this, the Vauxhall Chevette. At first glance, it probably isn’t a car that grabs the attention, but stand it next to a blocky base-spec Mk2 Ford Escort, or any rival that British Leyland could throw at it, and the Chevette with its Firenza-inspired ‘droop snoot’ front end looks positively unique. The fresh new image…

As all the temporary Christmas ice rinks are being dismantled and packed away, we go back in time to see a newly constructed ice rink being finished off. The venue is Silver Blades in Sheffield and the year is 1966, the photographer capturing the crane lifting the heat exchangers into place on the building’s roof. The venue presumably has yet to open but there are plenty of cars in the car park, some parked under the crane’s load in those pre Health & Safety days. They’re mostly typical Sixties fare from the big three British makers: Morris Minors, a selection of Austin 1100s, a solitary Vauxhall Viva and at least two Cortinas – one of them the wood-panelled estate. The oddity can be seen in the back row next to…

After the colossal success of the original Type 2 Volkswagen ‘bus’, the second generation had a lot to live up to. Without wanting to change the recipe too much, the German marque introduced only relatively minor innovations; the most obvious of which perhaps being the styling. The triangular point down the centre of the Type 2’s bonnet was now gone, in favour of a more simplistic design that better fitted the styling trends of the late ‘60s, while the split front windscreen was replaced with a single panel. The dimensions of the Type 2 were slightly increased for its second iteration as well, as were the capacities of its engine range. As a result, the T2 weighs in quite a bit heavier than its predecessor. Therefore, while this model may…