Innholdsfortegnelse for 2/2/2022 i Classic Car Buyer

Part of the appeal of this job is the sheer variety but few days out of the office throw up quite such a contrast as a recent auction preview which saw me photographing a Honda NSX and Renault 4 in the same morning. Naturally as an S2000 owner I’d been looking forward to revisiting Honda’s high-tech Ferrari slayer and the low-mileage as-new example was everything I’d expected it to be. What I didn’t expect was that a spin round the block in the Renault 4 – a similarly low-mileage survivor – would generate exactly the same grin. Despite the Quatrelle’s rather lower status in the automotive hierarchy, it’s no less a significant car and as we stood laughing at the incongruous pairing it struck me that they’re really very similar…

MINI is launching a new official conversion to turn the classic 1959-2000 Mini into a zero-emission runabout. The MINI Recharged project sees the venerable old A-Series engine replaced with an emission-free drivetrain, but crucially, it’s all reversible. The idea has been on the boil for some time, even before the firm’s current MINI Electric was launched. A one-off classic Mini Electric was built in 2018 and presented at the New York Auto Show. MINI says the positive reaction prompted it to set up a team to develop a commercial kit for classic Mini owners. The Mini’s combustion engine is switched for a 90kW (121bhp) electric motor that can propel it from 0-62mph in around nine seconds, which is around a second half quicker than a 1960s 1275 Cooper S. MINI…

Morris Leslie will get its 2022 calendar of classic auctions up and running with an eclectic mix of entries on February 19. The sale will take place behind closed doors on the day but will be streamed live on YouTube, with online, telephone and commission bidding offered. Fans of German classics are well catered for, with a late 1991 Audi Quattro 20-valve a potential headliner at an estimated £38,000-£42,000. It’s joined by an ultra-low-mileage 1984 BMW 323i that has been given a very strong Alpina flavour, plus another E30 in the shape of a 1986 325i that could be had for as little as £3000. For those preferring Stuttgart to Bavaria, at least nine Mercedes-Benz entries are set to cross the block, including a tidy W123-generation 230E from 1985 that…

Just a year before the company’s takeover by Jaguar, Daimler caused a stir at the 1959 New York Motor Show when it unveiled the SP250 – a brand new V8-engined, glassfibre-bodied sports car. It was an unusual move for a manufacturer best known for its upmarket saloons and limousines, but Daimler seemed confident of success. In the end, however, the SP250 was short-lived, ceasing production in 1964 after a total run of just 2654 cars. Although its sports car focus was understandably on the new E-type, Jaguar didn’t neglect the SP250 it had inherited. April 1961 saw a revised version – known as the B-Spec – bringing many important upgrades, mostly to reduce the original’s chassis flex. Modifications included a three-piece hoop under the dashboard, connected through the A-posts to…

As the easing of Covid-19 restrictions in the UK sees an unfortunate convergence of reduced train schedules and growing commuter numbers, here’s a reminder of what happened in January 1962 when a public transport strike caused havoc in London. The chaotic-looking scene isn’t quite as bad as it first appears, since the line of cars in the centre of the road is – unbelievably to modern eyes – parked. Although the driver of the Morris Traveller hasn’t made a great job of it and is in danger of needing to do some woodwork if the Bedford truck can’t squeeze past the Austin LD. Surprisingly, there are very few two-wheelers in shot, but the products of BMC abound: we lost count of the number of Minors, although there are only a…

TWILIGHT ZONE Many famous and much-loved car marques are no longer with us. But what happened to them and who owns the rights to these names now? We survey the world of lost badges and some of these firms’ final products. BUYING A TRIUMPH GT6 Triumph’s compact six-pot coupe has grace, pace but not much space. The most valuable of the small Triumph family, they’re as desirable now as they were in the ‘60s. If you fancy one this guide is a must-read. FORD FIESTA XR2 v TALBOT SUNBEAM Ti Two great names from the first-generation of carburettor-fed hot hatchbacks. Ford’s XR2 became a legend but Talbot’s rear-wheel drive Ti arguably got there first. What’s the story, and which should you buy? PLUS… The action from the auction halls and…

The Renault 5 is celebrating its golden anniversary in 2022, and to celebrate its manufacturer will be hosting numerous events and social media campaigns throughout the year. As well as having a 5 Alpine Group II and 5 Turbo in attendance at last week’s Monte Carlo Historic rally, Renault will host a 12-car display at the Rétromobile Show in Paris during March. One of the feature cars will be the Renault 5 Prototype, which will form part of an announcement for the rebirth of the model as an EV in 2024. March will also see the roll out of NFTs (non-fungible tokens) begin, providing unique digital works of art based on the Renault 5 theme throughout the year. In April, the Renault Classic facilities will host an exhibition of 5…

The head of a group of MPs representing the nation’s classics has argued in support of the controversial MoT exemption for historic vehicles, using the latest official Department for Transport figures to justify its continued implementation. The Right Honourable Sir Greg Knight, MP and Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Historic Vehicles Group, spoke about the issue when addressing delegates at the recent FBHVC Club Expo event, held at the British Motor Museum. It’s been a controversial topic ever since classic vehicles built before 1960 were exempted in 2012, but really ramped up in May 2018 when MoT exemption was controversially brought in line with historic vehicle tax (VED), meaning vehicles built more than 40 years ago no longer need to be tested providing no ‘substantial changes’ have been made in…

MG RV8 (1992-1995) So that MG could retain a toehold in both the public consciousness and the newly-revived sports car market, Rover sanctioned a low-volume production run of a modernised version of the classic MGB – the RV8. Making use of brand-new MGB bodyshells then being built by British Motor Heritage, the RV8 had almost entirely bespoke external panels (the doors and boot lid were the only direct carry-overs from the MGB) with a more retro rather than classic look. The Range Rover’s drivetrain meant a 185bhp fuel-injected 3.9-litre Rover V8 and a five-speed gearbox, but the rest of the running gear was virtually unchanged from the classic ‘B. Unlike the simple and attainable MG sports cars of the past, the RV8 was an expensive premium product. Production never got…

Until the name was sullied with lazy press stories of head gaskets and corrosion, Rover was a well-respected manufacturer of quality cars. Better value than a Daimler and without the spiv’s image of a Jaguar, the Rover was a car so distinguished it was the preferred transport of royalty. When Rover identified a new market segment in the late 1950s and developed the P6 to fill it, it added a new string to an already impressive bow. And it was these glory days that Rover sought to recreate under BMW ownership with the development of the 75. Rover might have shifted – the new car might have been a class below the market the company had once held, ironically now surrendered to its new parent company. But the quality and…

ROLLS-ROYCE SILVER SHADOW Once the ultimate status symbol, now surprisingly attainable. Nothing exudes wealth more than a Rolls Royce, but these days you can pick up a running Silver Shadow for as little as seven grand. However, you might want to buy one worth over ten in order to minimise the number of ensuing problems that it might develop. Though that said, whichever Silver Shadow you buy, make sure that your pockets are deep enough. BMW 7-SERIES (E23) The inaugural version of what has become a long line of cars, the E23-generation 7-Series marked plenty of firsts for BMW. It was the brand’s first car to feature anti-lock brakes and an onboard computer system, allowing for functions like service interval alerts. Available with a range of six-cylinder engines, the BMW…

A cheeky Valentine’s poll of British classic cars favoured by drivers for a first date has revealed that enthusiasts prefer a Mini to a Maxi. An online survey by Great British Car Journey aimed to find out what British car made from 1960-1990 was a favourite for romance, with the Derbyshire attraction asking its 16,000-strong social media following to talk about the vehicle they had their first or most memorable date in. The Mini took top spot, followed by the Ford Capri, Morris Minor, Ford Escort and Austin Metro. In sixth place was the Ford Fiesta, with the Hillman Imp, MGB, Austin/Morris 1100 and finally the Austin Maxi rounding out the top 10. The attraction has all of these on display, including several Minis and a 1981 Maxi. To celebrate…

The Classic Car Loan Project, which gives younger enthusiasts the free use of a classic for a year, is looking forward to a sixth year of success in 2022. Project Manager Bob Wilkinson will once again be at the helm, but in 2023 he’s stepping back from frontline involvement and asking classic car clubs to take up the reins to encourage the next generation into the scene. The Project was launched back in 2017 to help address the longstanding issue of the ageing classic car demographic. It came about when Bob was challenged by his friend Peter Garrett to find a young driver to take his Ford Model A on loan for a year – a challenge he accepted. Bob was already experienced in working with young people thanks to…

Newcastle upon Tyne auction house WB & Sons will look to get its second year in business off to a flying when it holds it first sale of 2022 on February 12. Around 120 classic and prestige entries are expected for the public-facing sale, with online, proxy and telephone bids also invited. The sale is once again one of contrasts, with former street furniture sharing space with sports cars and customised American metal. Very much in the ‘once ubiquitous’ category are not one but two Bedford HA vans – one a rare Double Plus model with folding rear seats, the other having covered just 5000 miles since new. Other commercials include a Citroën C15, a Reliant Ant three-wheeled pick-up and a rare 1988 Toyota Hi-Ace, while those who prefer the…

It’s 1982, and you’ve just been awarded your own marked bay in the company car park. To fill it, you’re presented with the epitome of senior-management status: a Ford Granada, in Ghia trim, of course. Big V6 engine. Power-assisted steering. Electric windows. Chunky Chatsworth velour upholstery. And, most important of all, fake wood cappings on the dashboard. Only the managing director has a better machine: a similarly grand Granada but wearing a Ghia X badge on the boot lid, denoting air conditioning and electrically-adjustable front seats. Among the firm’s fleet is a sea of Vauxhalls, Austins and lesser Fords; the likes of Audi and BMW are nowhere to be seen. Here, over the last decade, the Granada has become a household name. It’s starred in TV cop shows. It’s been…

With its ‘double-edged wedge’ silhouette, the Saab 900 is an unmistakable car, a true peak of Scandinavian design. Owners will swear by its attributes, but while it certainly has a large group of loyal fans, it manages to retain a discreet reputation amongst the wider car community. Like the kid at school that everybody gets on with, but who avoids the playground limelight. Indeed, the Saab 900 is not a Japanese import, nor is it an American muscle car, or a British roadster. Heck, it’s not even German. The Saab doesn’t really fit into any of these celebrated motoring cliques, and while that might sound like a bad thing, it’s often better to fly slightly under the radar. There is a lot to be said for a car not having…