Innholdsfortegnelse for 3/9/2022 i Classic Car Buyer

La nd Rover ‘Series’ From the very first Land Rover of 1948 through to the final Series III 37 years later, the Solihull firm offered numerous rag-top versions of its leaf-sprung models. That tradition even continued beyond the ‘Series’ line-up, with the last ‘proper’ Defender of 2016 being a soft-top. Willys Jeep The original open-top 4x4 is the Willys Jeep, which evolved from the American army’s demand for a go-anywhere General Purpose machine. Willys-Overland won the contract and the Jeep (derived from GP) was born. By the time World War 2 ended in 1945, nearly 640,000 Willys-designed Jeeps had been built. Suzuki SJ If you don’t mind your open-top 4x4 being tiny, basic and about as cossetting as a rollercoaster, then a rag-top SJ is the ideal choice. Created as…

MISSED CHANCES We pay tribute to those cars that, through no fault of their own, just didn’t find the success they deserved. Ahead of their time, they often make brilliant classics today. BUYING A HILLMAN IMP Something of a rarity today, the Rootes economy car will get people talking wherever you go. But before you buy, read this guide to avoid the sting in the tail. TOUGH AT THE TOP The Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow is still the obvious choice if you want the ultimate in traditional luxury. But how about the equally opulent but much more affordable Daimler Double Six? PLUS… Living with a Porsche 944 and all the latest news and auction results. DOWNLOAD THE DIGITAL ISSUE OF CLASSIC CAR BUYER FROM AS LITTLE AS 94p! Visit: www.pocketmags.com or download it…

This year’s Tractor World weekend event at the Three Counties Showground, Malvern, is expanding to include classics of all types on the Sunday. Billed as the Classic Car & Vehicle Show, it takes place on May 22 and promises to be a busy day, with all of the exhibition halls and most of the showground being occupied. The Sunday show welcomes interesting vehicles of 15 years and over, including classics, kits cars, customs and 4x4s, as well as light and heavy commercials of all types. Anyone interested in exhibiting their vehicle needs to pre-book online, with the £5 exhibitors’ fee allowing entry for up to two adults (children under 15 can attend free of charge). There’ll be an arena and commentary throughout the day, and it promises to be a…

➤ 1997 Alfa Romeo Spider 2.0 Twin Spark, value £8000: £116.49 or £134.49 with Agreed Value. ➤ Based on 45-year old, with a second vehicle. It’s garaged, covers 3000 miles a year and lives in an SP2 postcode. They have no claims or convictions, are a club member, and are employed as a marketing manager. Disclaimer: Policy benefits, features and discounts offered may vary between insurance schemes or cover selected and are subject to underwriting criteria. An additional charge may be payable. ➤ Subject to underwriting criteria. www.lancasterinsurance.co.uk 01480 809176…

It wasn’t just the Mini’s year in 1959: two other British icons went on the market that would gather a loyal following. The Triumph Herald and Austin A40 Countryman went head-to-head, as Canley’s multiplicity of body styles played Longbridge’s double-edged versatility. This came on the heels of the debut of the standard A40 saloon the previous year; Pininfarina, previewing the nose of the soon-to-be released A99 Westminster, fashioned a bob-tailed two-box car whose rear deck would easily accept a split tailgate; the saloon made do with a drop-down boot lid. Triumph, unable to produce a moncoque shell for the Herald instead fought back over its lifetime with a huge choice of bodywork that could be fitted to the Herald’s chassis outriggers. To that end, buyers could choose from a two-door…

Contact: The Classic & Sports Car Centre, West Knapton, Malton, N. Yorks YO17 8JB  Tel: 01944 758000 www.classicandsportscar.ltd.uk A key part of Ford’s all-conquering marketing strategy of the 1960s and 1970s was to offer something for everyone. The Mk2 Escort was no exception, and by the late ’70s there was a complex matrix of specifications and trim levels for the buyer to choose from – the standard offerings were 1.1- and 1.3-litre Kent engines in four trim levels. The 1300 could also be had in a plush GL spec. Then, one rung above that, came the prestigious Ghia badge. For even more snob appeal the Ghia could also be specified with a 1.6-litre Kent engine. The wannabe rally champion would be tempted by the RS models powered by OHC Pinto…

Contact: The Classicwise Collection, The Owl Barn, North Laithes Farm, Eakring, NG22 0AN Tel: 01623 411476 www.classicwise.co.uk/ Designed to take on the established sports cars of Europe, the Datsun 240Z had a lofty task ahead of it. However, nobody seemed to tell the Nissan engineers this, as they hit the nail on the head at their very first attempt. Not only did the 240Z look fantastic, it also offered more performance than some of the existing alternatives like the MGB GT, all while still being relatively affordable. In fact, the inaugural ‘Z car’ was such a success the ‘Z’ moniker is still going strong, with a new model being launched for Asian and American markets this year. If you’d like to get your hands on one of these pieces of…

The first ten finalists lined up for this year’s Lancaster Insurance Pride of Ownership competition have been announced – and it looks like being a close-fought battle. Ford fans are spoilt for choice, with the entries including a stunning 1981 Ford Escort XR3 Turbo, a 1973 Mk1 Escort with a 1.8-litre Zetec engine, a 1970 Cortina Lotus Mk2, plus a highly modified 1986 Capri Mk3 with Cosworth power. Admirers of high-performance Italian classics will be impressed by Michael Hawkins’ 1990 Ferrari 348, while a touch of American brawn is provided by the 1969 Mustang owned by Brian Birch and Meryl Richards. British sports cars are also well-represented, with Lucy Arnold’s outstanding 1962 Jaguar E-Type (pictured) sure to draw a crowd, as is Mike Pim-Keirle’s 1965 MGB. The MG marque is…

The countdown is on for the 2022 VolksWorld Show, which takes place at Sandown Park Racecourse, Surrey, over the weekend of March 19-20 – and is set to be the highlight of the year for classic Volkswagen fans. Described as Europe’s premier air-cooled VW event, with water-cooled Transporters also represented, it will bring together hundreds of show-quality cars, as well as club stands, traders and a whole floor of swap-meet tables. With live music and other entertainment throughout the show, plus on-site camping facilities, it’s the ideal opportunity to make a weekend of it and soak up the atmosphere. It’s very much a family event too, with plenty to keep the young ones entertained in the KidsZone. The VolksWorld Show is renowned for attracting the very best air-cooled VWs, and…

After a two-year wait due to Covid-19 restrictions, the Historic Marathon Rally Group (HMRG) is finally able to go ahead with the planned reunion and 50th anniversary of the Wembley-Mexico City 1970 World Cup Rally. The reunion takes place at the British Motor Museum, Gaydon on Sunday, May 1 and will mark 50 (plus two) years since the competitors left Wembley Stadium on their 16,000-plus mile adventure through Europe and South America. A total of 96 teams competed but just 23 finished, with the works Ford Escort of Hannu Mikkola and Gunnar Palm taking first prize. Some 38 surviving cars and their teams will be at Gaydon, providing films, memorabilia, talks and interviews with the competitors and team personnel. The reunion is free to attend, but there are the usual…

When a car has been in production for some years, it’s not unusual for its manufacturer to give it a bit of a refresh. A new grille here, some updated trim there, with an array of fresh colour choices and renamed spec levels thrown in for good measure. It’s a cost-effective way of preventing a slide in sales while said car’s successor is still in development. But of course, not every admirer of the original model will automatically take to its update. In fact, many a motoring facelift has met with howls of horror from traditionalists. That’s why we thought we’d revisit some of those controversial facelifts, not just to remember how they were received at the time, but also to gauge how they stand in today’s classic car market.…

Paul Wager, Group Editor BMW Z3 Very different in style but aimed at similar buyers, the Z3 could also be had with either four- or six-cylinder engines. The 2.8 and 3.0-litre are impressively brisk, but the sweet spot is the 2.2-litre straight six, badged 2.2i. Dave Youngs, Lancaster Insurance Mercedes SLK Launched at the same time, Mercedes’ contribution to the roadster revival was a clever folding hardtop convertible. Go for the supercharged four-cylinder SLK230 or V6 SLK 320 and don’t worry about the roof mechanism but do worry about rusty front wings.…

Old BMWs are seemingly all the rage now, maybe because the latest ones are aesthetically challenging, but also because they hark back to an era of motoring that’s long gone. Imagine there being half as many vehicles on the roads as there are now, no speed cameras – with a 145mph 535i, you had a car fast enough to allow the owner to speed freely without let or hindrance, and to afford them such power as may be necessary to hopefully evade the rozzers. At least, that was the ’70s and ’80s BMW hooligan image, although the 5 Series was less outrageous. OVERVIEW The E28 arrived in mid-1981 as the replacement for the original 5 Series, the E12 of 1972. Development started in 1978, when BMW was a much smaller…

When the first Mercedes SLK roadster was unveiled in 1996, it was met with a mixed response. Sure, it was decent enough, but for the most part it lacked the sort of exotic appeal that sports cars should have. So, for its second generation, the folks in Stuttgart ensured that the SLK would no longer be considered a Plain Jane. Instead of the neutral lines of its predecessor, the R171 iteration was given a far more aggressive stance, typified by the ‘Formula One-inspired’ bonnet design. Plus, in AMG form, it now had a real bite to it. Powered by a 355bhp 5.4-litre V8, the SLK’s exhausts emit a thunderous bellow to go along with its rapid pace. However, despite the short wheelbase and relative lack of weight, the SLK’s persistent…

Most of the issues with our Rover 600 are purely cosmetic and don’t prevent the car being used, but there’s one that’s both impractical and potentially dangerous: the driver’s window won’t go down the whole way, and trying to put it back up causes it to jump off the track and slide out of the door itself. I had someone push against it from the outside to keep it in place as I rolled it up and haven’t been using it since, but the time came to rectify matters. Removing the door card is as simple as unscrewing the door handle and unclipping the door release cable to remove it, before undoing two screws in the armrest and one at the back of the door card, then pulling out a…

There was no fuel crisis last year – it was a test of the public’s willingness to play inflated petrol prices. The fuel sat in tanks ready to be distributed; in fact, tanker firms, desperate for cheap EU labour, and unwilling to renegotiate contracts with British drivers, cut off their nose to spite their face. Fuel can’t deliver itself, and the media, stoking the uncertainty to drive home their own narratives, panicked the public into exhausting what supply there was. Of course, as available stocks dwindled, motorists were desperate to get their hands on whatever fuel they could – even the costlier super unleaded we were told was there to guarantee the survival of classic engines. Before the roll-out of E10 95 octane, the government had supplied some details of…