Innholdsfortegnelse for 3/2/2022 Spring Motoring i Classic Car Buyer

By the time you read this, March will be upon us. The weather might still be changeable and unpredictable, but there’s no denying that spring is in the air. And with the arrival of longer days comes a desire in all of us to really make the most of our classics. Yes, we can finally start planning our road trip adventures for spring and summer 2022. This week’s special 64-page issue of CCB should get everyone off to a great start, with a whole section dedicated to thrilling routes and interesting destinations. We’ve been out and about in a selection of classics, experiencing some of our favourite roads and locations – and we hope it inspires you to hit the tarmac and enjoy some quality time with your own classic.…

Aston Martin is set to create more than 100 jobs at its St Athan site in Wales, following the launch of its new DBX707 model, claimed to be the world’s most powerful luxury SUV. Production of this new addition to the DBX range – for which Aston Martin’s latest skilled technicians are required – is due to start within the next few weeks. Tobias Moers, CEO of Aston Martin Lagonda, said: “Our DBX SUV is the first Welsh-built production car for nearly 50 years and these new positions are an opportunity to join a team delivering our truly incredible new DBX707 derivative, which is setting new benchmarks for performance in the luxury segment.”…

Morris Leslie began its 2022 calendar of classic auctions with a behind-closed-doors sale at its Perth base on February 19, putting a wide variety of classics under the hammer in front of a large YouTube and Facebook audience. The busy auction saw several impressive performances from both traditional and modern classics. A very rare 1935 BSA TW35 Deluxe, presented as a non-running restoration project, beat its £2000-£3000 guide to sell for £4180, with a 1964 Humber Hawk Series III managing £8815 against an estimate of £5000-£6000. In addition, a Morris 10cwt Pick-up based on the contemporary Marina managed a remarkable £5805 despite being off the road since 1991. As for modern classics, a mid-engined 2005 Renault Clio V6 225 sold for £36,012 to become one of the sale headliners, but…

With spring almost upon us, now’s the time to start preparing our classics for another busy season out on the road, with events to enjoy and places to explore over the coming months. With extra daylight hours coming and countless road trips to plan, we’ve put together ten of our own favourites – each one tackled in what we reckon is the ideal classic choice. Britain is packed with top destinations and scenic routes, so let’s get out there and make the most of our cars… and the tarmac they were built for!…

The traditional idea of a classic car day out may well be an open-topped ’60s roadster burbling through idyllic rural villages… but plenty of us out there get our enjoyment from altogether more modern classics which need more of a challenge to get the best from them. In which case, we’d suggest heading into Wales where you’ll find stunning scenery and roads to equal the famed North Coast 500 without the need to drive up to Scotland. There’s a reason why so many RAC Rally stages were set in Wales, after all. You might be assuming we’re about to suggest an obscure route through North Wales; but no, you can enjoy some great driving roads without spending a whole day just getting there. Only an hour from the M4, you’ll…

When it comes to classic tours, some of us are content seeking out the restorative nature of relaxed motoring, while others prefer to throw their flat caps to the wind and thrash their machinery up a hillclimb. Well, I’ve discovered the perfect place to indulge all such tastes: the Isle of Man, the tiny island in the middle of the Irish Sea best known for the famous TT motorcycle races, held there annually since 1907. Travel to the Isle of Man and you’ll be rewarded by quiet roads, delicious scenery and a charm far exceeding the size of the island. One of my favourite times to visit is shortly after the TT, when the crowds have sailed home but the 37-mile race circuit is still intact. You may not quite…

A cross-country journey with plenty of hills and no motorways is the perfect llustrationi that where old cars are concerned, the pleasure of driving is so often the enjoyment of the machinery rather than journey speeds or the last nuances of handling. And there’s no better car to prove this in than the Austin-Healey Sprite, preferably in its original ‘Frogeye’ guise, where a modest 43bhp means anticipation and smoothness is the key to conserving momentum. This trip uses the undulating roads of the Cotswolds as it winds from Gloucestershire to Warwickshire; and with the roof down on a dry day, there’s nothing to touch the little Sprite for driver engagement. We begin just outside the Regency town of Cheltenham, near the village of Gotherington, where you’ll find the Prescott Speed…

This street scene of Birmingham’s Ladywood district dates from late 1977, a time when many of the Victorian-era shops and houses could still be seen against a backdrop of high-rise flats – perceived as the ideal solution to Britain’s housing needs a decade earlier. It also shows an impressive array of cars, the newest being a Mk2 Escort 1.3 GL two-door that was first registered in July of that year and, according to the DVLA, remained in use until late 1988. The other cars in shot are all considerably older, including the J-reg Volvo 144 that’s nose-to-nose with the Escort, plus the 1965 Mini Countryman, Mk1 Escort van, and Mk3 and Mk2 Cortinas on the same side. Across the road, meanwhile, we see a K-reg Marina and an example of…

There have been few automotive ranges quite like Mercedes-Benz’s W124-generation E-Class. Simple yet effective, appealing to taxi drivers and titans alike, it embodied everything a medium-sized saloon range should, without excess frippery or concessions to passing fashion. This simple, square-edged design offered good sense and solidity, and over a twelve-year production life endeared itself to almost everybody who experienced it. Styled with characteristic simplicity by Bruno Sacco, the reputation of the W124 endured to the point where even during its years in the banger market, it remained highly regarded. Even if you were on your uppers, at least you had a Merc. Built from 1985 to 1997, the W124 range spanned a total of five body styles – saloon, estate, coupe, convertible and stretched six-door limousine – and each has…

The first Classic Ford Track Evening of 2022 takes place at Cadwell Park on Wednesday, May 11, offering Ford owners an opportunity to hit the circuit and put their driving skills to the test – as well as seeing what their cars are capable of. The evening will begin with registration and noise testing of the cars, followed by a drivers’ briefing, which will include circuit information and some useful coaching tips. The cost per car is £129, which includes one additional driver. Lincolnshire-based Cadwell Park is a unique and challenging circuit, often referred to as the mini-Nürburgring due to its woodland sections and fantastic elevation changes. The circuit is almost 2.2 miles and features 18 corners. The venue will open at 3pm for the Classic Ford event, with track…

Historics gets its 2022 classic car auction programme under way at Ascot Racecourse on March 12, with a varied consignment of entries ranging from established favourites through to six-figure headliners. As ever, it will be a public-facing sale, with viewing days available beforehand and bidding possible in hall, via the telephone, by commission or online. As we’ve come to expect at Historics, there’s a wide selection of prestige classics. A 1972 Aston Martin DBS V8 could make as much as £135,000, while a later Virage-shaped V8 Coupe from 1998 carries a £80,000-£110,000 estimate. You’ll also find several Bentleys, headlined by a 1995 Continental R, as well as a selection of Rolls-Royces including a 1952 Silver Wraith and a rare Silver Dawn. The Jaguar contingent, meanwhile, features no fewer than six…

NISSAN PAO (1989-91) Nissan’s ‘Pike Factory’ was established in the mid-1980s as a special projects division with the primary aim of creating new models that would grab the public’s attention. And with classic British cars becoming increasingly popular in Japan at the time, Nissan decided to borrow classic styling cues from established models to make them stand out, becoming one of the pioneers of ‘Nostalgic Modern’ styling. The first creation was the Be-1 of 1987, but it was 1989’s Pao that really turned the retro theme up to 11. Like the Be-1, it was based on the humble K10 March, or Micra as we know it, but looked completely different. Classic styling touches included external door hinges that echoed the Mini, flap-up windows like a Citroën 2CV and a split…

A drive from London to Brighton is a must-do experience, something known the world over thanks to the annual veteran car run – a celebration of the ‘Light Locomotives on the Highway Act’ of 1896, which raised the speed limit and abolished the need for cars to be preceded by someone wielding a red flag. Nowadays, there are numerous ways of getting from London to Brighton, with the quickest road being the M23 that evolves into the A23. But where’s the fun in that? To enjoy a route that’s different to the traditional veteran car run but also does away with motorways, it’s worth considering ours, which takes you east of the main M23/A23 through East Grinstead and Lewes. Starting in central London, it’s around 80 miles and offers plenty…

Email: bghgeartech@btconnect.com Tel:01580714114 bghgeartech.co.uk The A149 North Norfolk coastal road from King’s Lynn to Sheringham, via Holkham, Brancaster and Wells, is one of my all-time favourite classic car drives. This 50-mile route really does have everything. There’s a famous royal residence at one end, a fabulous steam railway at the other, and a Norman castle, stately home, tank museum, remote harbours, wildlife, several attractive small towns and coastal communities, and much more in between. The best thing of all, though, is the drive itself; for most of it you can drive 1950s and ’60s classics like the Zodiac along the type of road in common use when these cars were current. From King’s Lynn to Hunstanton isn’t anything special road-wise, although the castle at Castle Rising (aka Castle Rising Castle)…

A chance to experience the Peak District after being invited on a tour in our very own project Turbo R is something we’re hardly likely to turn down. And so, after a day cruising from Kent to Derbyshire, we find ourselves heading for Matlock Bath via the B052, B036 and A5012, arriving at the scenic ‘biker haunt’ that lies just one and a half miles south of the town of Matlock. There’s plenty to do here, from enjoying a cable car ride to the Heights of Abraham, to enjoying a visit to the former lead mines of the Great Rutland and Masson Caverns. Leaving Matlock on the A6, the road begins winding and climbing into the hills, where the views get ever more spectacular, reminiscent of Cheddar Gorge in some…

Britain’s moorland areas provide some of the finest driving roads anywhere in the world, with the North York Moors National Park surely among the best. It’s little wonder the locals are fiercely proud of the area, which can provide a great balance between enjoying time behind the wheel and stopping to explore the sights on offer. Our classic of choice here would be small, fun and iconic, with a period-modified Mini surely the perfect vehicle. The North York Moors National Park covers a whopping 554 square miles, but the sightseeing can start en route with a trip to The Motorist, near Sherburn in Elmet. This petrolhead venue combines a classic car garage and showroom with motoring events and a café open seven days a week, and is poised to expand…

MGC This is the obvious direction if you seek a six-cylinder British sports car from the late ’60s that isn’t a TR6. Infamously disappointing at the time, opinion on the MGC has softened significantly since. What it loses to the TR in terms of handling and roadholding it gains hugely in refinement, comfort and long-legged touring ability. And these days a few well-proven modifications can turn it into the all-rounder it should have been. Daimler SP250 Visually, it won’t be to everyone’s taste, but the Daimler SP250 offers plenty of exclusivity amongst a classic sports car market flooded by Triumph and MG. Plus, while its handling characteristics may not be class-leading, they’re still perfectly good for its age. You get two extra cylinders with the Daimler as well, giving it…

An unusual motorhome built from new around a Cortina-derived Ford P100 pick-up and thought to be one of just two still surviving is being offered for sale privately. Registered with the DVLA as a Ford Motor Caravan, the 1.6-litre Pinto-engined truck is thought to have been professionally converted by Riverside Motorhomes forty years ago. There’s an MoT until July of this year, and although the odometer shows around 33,000 miles, the vendor assumes it’s on its second time around. New tyres have been fitted, along with new leisure and car batteries. The original mechanically-operated side awning still works, and the fully functioning oven, grill and hob have been serviced by a gas engineer. The motorhome comes complete with a working shower, portable toilet and hot water boiler. The vehicle would…

The National Motor Museum is searching for talented storytellers with a passion for bringing history to life, as it looks to recruit new visitor engagement hosts for 2022. Each new recruit will be asked to “bring their playful, idiosyncratic style to the role” as they welcome visitors, creating an interactive experience of bygone eras. Visitor engagement hosts are expected to be flexible and versatile, with the confidence to take on new challenges, helping to entertain and inform visitors to the museum. The roles are interchangeable across the team, with such variety as playing a period-correct bus driver or conductor one day to narrating a Beaulieu vehicle parade the next. The museum is also on the lookout for new front of house team members. To find out more about the various…

Brightwells’ first classic motoring sale of the year came to a close on February 17, working to the firm’s now familiar timed online format. The sale offered a great mix of pre-war models, projects, traditional classics and gleaming rarities, with some impressive results achieved. Most notable of all was a perfectly preserved 11,000-mile early Honda NSX, which sold for over £110,000. However, it wasn’t the only expectation-beating entry. A 1998 Maserati Quattroporte in rare right-hand drive flavour topped its £8000 upper estimate to sell for £10,472, with a 1985 Mercedes 230CE making £12,164 against a £6000-£8000 estimate and a 1974 Reliant Scimitar GTE SE5a achieving £8822 against a £4500-£5500 estimate. Other entries to beat their guide prices included a 1996 Rover Mini Cooper, a 1971 Citroën DS21 and a 1989…

INNOCENTI MINI (1965-1975) Innocenti Minis are widely recognised as the best-produced examples of their era. The Milan firm branched out into car assembly in 1960 with a licensed version of the Austin A40, and began building Minis at its Lambrate plant from late 1965. Sold at a premium price, Innocenti Minis boasted unique locally-made features, tweaked engines, plush trim and an extra dose of sharp-suited sophistication. Models included the Mini-Minor, and from 1966 the Mini T estate and a Cooper version. These were produced in Mk1, Mk2 and Mk3 guises, before a shake-up under new BL ownership in 1972 saw the introduction of the Cooper 1300. This was equivalent to a UK Cooper S in performance and kept the name going after it had been axed in Britain. Revised Export…

You could very easily create a spectacular road trip by throwing a dart at a map of Scotland and avoiding motorways on your way to that point; the concentration of both scenic and historical interest is such that it doesn’t really matter where you go. The go-to car enthusiast’s Scottish pilgrimage is, of course, the NC500 – a prescribed 500-mile route that takes in some of the wildest scenery of the Highlands. If you’ve thought about taking it on, we reckon it’s worth going the long way there to include what is probably a more exciting stretch of tarmac. You could also simply avoid the NC500 altogether and head off on your own NE500 instead. Heading north from Edinburgh (perhaps stay a few days before you set off), follow the…

It’s hard to imagine a more typically ’80s driving experience than a motorway blast in a bright red Escort XR3i, followed by fun on the kind of A- and B-roads where a well-sorted hot hatch can really come alive. And so our starting point happens to be Silverstone, where we’ve been enjoying the Interactive Museum – more of which another time, as we’re about to jump aboard the Ford and head out on to the M40, pointing north towards the M42 and then briefly hitting the M5 northbound, where we’ll leave at Junction 4. We drive through Stourbridge (the historic home of Britain’s cut glass industry) and in the general direction of Stourton, crossing the border between the West Midlands and South Staffordshire, joining the A458 that bypasses Kinver (a…

Look for the Black Country on a map and you probably won’t find it, even though this once heavily industrialised part of the West Midlands boasts its own flag and regional day of celebration. Make the mistake of referring to a true Black Countryman as a ‘Brummie’ and you’ll soon be set straight, even though Birmingham city centre is less than ten miles away. The name itself dates back to the region’s role in coal mining, with Black Country historians describing it as where the local 30-feet-deep seam comes to the surface. Its reputation as a dark and grimy region was reinforced by heavy industry, however, with forges, foundries and ironworks traditionally making use of the area’s vast canal network to move their products around. Did you know that the…

With classic car enthusiasts and restoration fans soon to be heading once again to the Practical Classics Classic Car & Restoration Show at Birmingham’s NEC, show director Lee Masters has curated his own list of classic-friendly driving routes across the UK. THE COTSWOLDS There aren’t many places more English than the Cotswolds. It’s one of the most beautiful parts of the country, with incredible countryside, perfectly preserved villages and winding country lanes often marked out with iconic Cotswold stone walls. Chipping Campden is a good place to start, towards the north of the Cotswolds, before heading south, cruising from village to pretty village as you take in quaint pubs, medieval churches, and all manner of local curiosities on your way to Bath at the southern tip. LAKE DISTRICT This is…