Innholdsfortegnelse for 5/25/2022 i Classic Car Buyer

It can sometimes seem like the outlook for the classic car world is fairly gloomy, with a steady drip feed of stories, suppositions and statistics about how younger generations just aren’t interested in cars (new or old), there’s a dearth of the skills needed to keep historic cars on the road, problems with fuels, the ever-growing environmental imperative and the responses to it which sometimes seem to be trying to sweep internal combustion from the roads altogether. But such gloom was not much in evidence on a recent trip down to Cornwall. Not only was the weather glorious, but the M5 between Birmingham and Exeter was enlivened by a steady stream of cars of classic interest. I was in my Citroën Xantia, which despite my constant feelings to the contrary,…

Vauxhall has announced that its current Insignia range is being phased out, marking the end of an era for the firm. The company no longer has a D-segment saloon, hatch or estate on sale – a sector of the market it first entered in 1975 with the Cavalier. Two generations of Insignia have been produced, the original being launched in 2008 to replace the second-generation Vectra. The first of the Vectras arrived in 1995, bringing a new name to a successful line-up that by then had comprised three different generations of Cavalier. The recent switch to SUVs and the dominance of premium German brands in the family saloon/hatch sector have meant plummeting sales for D-segment models from mainstream brands. Production of the Mondeo ceased early this year, and the Vauxhall…

Sign up to our newsletter at www.classicsworld.co.uk National Highways has released a Second Year Progress Report into the UK’s smart motorway network, following the government’s 2020 Stocktake & Action Plan. But despite the rollout of new safety technology on smart motorways being due to be completed by the end of September, motoring organisations are continuing to express safety concerns. According to National Highways, plans to upgrade almost 100 safety cameras to enable automatic detection of vehicles that ignore red X lane closure signals are on track for completion within the next four months. The work will help to increase compliance with the red X warnings, helping to ensure the safety of motorway users as well as road workers and emergency services who need a safe space to work. It has…

Rolls-Royce has updated its flagship Phantom model with an rraya of subtle tweaks aimed at keeping it competitive in the face of fresh competition from Mercedes-Maybach and Bentley. The main changes include a slightly reworked front grille, which features a more prominent badge and a darkened finish, and is now illuminated. The Phantom’s lights also get an upgrade, with laser-cut star-shaped motifs added for extra night-time presence. New-style stainless steel wheels are fitted as standard. Interior changes are subtle, with a thicker steering wheel fitted, plus the option of a new colour scheme called Phantom Platino, bringing a bamboo-derived fabric for the rear seats while leather is retained up front. The Phantom – the eighth-generation car to use the revered nameplate since 1925 – features the same 6.75-litre twin-turbo V12…

Manor Park Classics’ second public auction of the year took place at its Cheshire premises on May 14, with several lots of memorabilia providing the warm-up for a varied consignment of 77 classics going under the hammer. The sale included a core of everyman classics from the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s, but also featured pre-war vehicles, high-end exotica, prestige saloons and a few commercials. It was the ’90s cars that really seemed to hit the sweet spot, although the most impressive was technically a last-of-the line variant of an ’80s design. A 1990 Mercedes-Benz 190E in desirable 2.6 Sportline spec, it belied its modest £4000-£6000 guide to sell for £10,868. Almost as impressive was another ’90s car with its roots in the previous decade, as a 1992 Vauxhall Cavalier SRi…

While we’ve not covered every single executive hatch, it’s clear that Audi did not invent the genre with the A5 Sportback. But for all those sitting at the back and mocking the Germans for taking credit for other peoples’ ideas, we’ve got a little history lesson for you. The Audi 100 Avant of 1977 might have used a name we now associate with estates, but this forward-thinking and forward-named model was in fact a five-door hatchback, created as a rival for the Renault 20 and the Rover SD1. Similar in design to the Volkswagen Passat in the sector below, the millionth 100 was an Avant hatchback in 1977. Available with a choice of four- and five-cylinder engines, the original Audi 100 Avant is now all but forgotten in Britain – and…

DAF 66 If a small classic automatic is your choice, then you’re not overwhelmed with alternatives. One marque that made two-pedal motoring a speciality was DAF, with its continuously-variable ‘rubber band’ Variomatic transmission. A flat-twin engine provides added character. DAFs are easy to drive and change hands for relatively small sums compared to classics that are more in the limelight – such as Minis. ROVER METRO The Mini might appeal because of the promise of compact, practical, fun, back-to-basics British motoring. But if you’re a newcomer to the world of Minis, it could all be a bit much. Don’t overlook the Rover Metro, which was an award-winner when it was launched and offers a frankly remarkable combination of cheeky handling, a smooth ride, a lovely zingy K-Series engine and huge…

This was one of Jack’s biggest surprises from his Cornish trip mentioned above. Spotted near Taunton was an entirely normal, unliveried Vauxhall Combo van that seemed to have something odd about its front wings as he passed… and that was because it had the front end of a Morris Minor grafted onto it. Some research has shown it was created in 2009 and makes use of a happy coincidence that the track and width of a Combo is virtually identical to that of a Moggy. The work of reprofiling the bonnet and blending it into the Vauxhall’s scuttle is especially skilful.…

Hot on the heels of a Chinese newcomer that looks suspiciously like a classic VW Beetle and goes by the name of ORA Punk Cat is this latest retro-styled model from China. It is, of course, a dead ringer for the original Mini – although as a battery-electric vehicle, its powertrain is more in tune with 21st century trends. The as-yet-unnamed car has yet to reach production, having only just had its design patented in China by the Beijing Estech Technology Company. But as this official image shows, the patented design is remarkably close to that of the classic Mini – something that’s sure to interest BMW, owner of the MINI brand. We’ll keep you updated on when (or if) this all-electric Mini clone is likely to reach production in…

ESCORT TWIN CAM (1968-1971) The idea for the Escort Twin Cam was born out of a desire to continue Ford’s 1960s motorsport achievements. Having enjoyed so much success with the Lotus Cortina, it stood to reason that the same 1.6-litre engine under the bonnet of the new smaller and lighter Escort would be a tantalising proposition. The Twin Cam was part of the original Mk1 Escort range announced at the beginning of 1968, and despite having 110bhp and a reinforced Type 49 bodyshell, it looked much like any other model to the untrained eye. The only real differences externally were front quarter bumpers, a black grille, wider Lotus steels and a Twin Cam badge on the boot lid. Given the Mexico and RS2000 variants that later followed with their bold…

The failure of the executive hatch is not a failure of the British market so much as one of European tastes, which have traditionally been quite different from those in the UK. In the 1970s, for instance, it was possible to buy a two-door version of the Opel Rekord – our Carlton – in Germany, while two-door Granadas and Volvo 240s were commonplace in a market that prized a saloon car as a badge of status but didn’t see the need to saddle them all with rear doors. In Britain, larger models would typically come with four doors unless specifically marketed as a more upmarket and personal form of transport, such as the Granada Coupe and the Jaguar XJ-C. Given that many hatchbacks were based on smaller concepts – the…

After the obvious disappointment of pandemic-forced cancellations over the last two years, the long-running London to Brighton Mini Run was back with a bang on Sunday, May 15, when around 1800 owners and their cars from all over the UK and beyond braved the rain to enjoy a spectacular gathering. Setting off from a new start point in Cheam in order to avoid London’s ULEZ, the first participants began arriving in Brighton by around 10am. Queues were forming on the roads leading to Madeira Drive by late morning, as hundreds of cars made their way to the seafront. But the vast majority of those taking part simply soaked up the atmosphere and enjoyed the spectacle of so many Minis making their presence felt. Volunteers from the London & Surrey Mini…

Following recent proposals to change the annual MoT to a two-yearly test (as revealed in the May 4 issue of CCB), a charity dedicated to raising awareness of the dangers of defective tyres is asking the government to reconsider the idea. The call from TyreSafe comes amidst fears of the likely increase in the number of unroadworthy vehicles on the road that a biennial test could cause. Since the MoT was updated in 2018 to include new categories, including ‘dangerous defects’, over two million of the 7.7 million vehicles first tested were failed for having defective tyres – with 59 per cent of those being categorised as ‘dangerous’. Stuart Jackson of TyreSafe commented: “While we respect the government’s intention to reduce the financial burden on households, cutting corners on safety…

The Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay will visit the British Motor Museum on Friday, July 22 as part of its route around Britain. The Baton will spend 10 days in the West Midlands during its final journey through England this summer. Birmingham 2022 is hosting the 16th official Queen’s Baton Relay, bringing communities together across the Commonwealth during the build up to the Games. The opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games takes place on July 28, followed by 11 days of sporting competition. Jeff Coope, managing director of the British Motor Museum, said: “We will be working with our local community and visitors to give the Baton a warm welcome, including hosting a special parade of British iconic cars and a display of royal cars that we have in our…

Over 130 lots were put under the hammer as Brightwells hosted its latest Classic Motoring sale from May 7-11, sticking to its well-established timed online format. Entries included everything from a pair of Piaggio Apes to an ex-MOD Steyr-Puch Pinzgauer, but the sale was particularly notable for excellent performances from pre-war vehicles and traditional British classics. The oldest car in the auction was a 1921 Humber 11.4hp Doctor’s Coupe with fantastic patina, which beat its £6000-£8000 estimate to reach £11,256. A powerful Buick Series 25 tourer from 1925 was another to find a new home at £18,480, as was a 1931 Ford Model A Roadster Deluxe at £16,912. More affordable was a 1932 Austin Seven RN Saloon that sold mid-estimate for £5163, with a 1934 Singer Nine Le Mans putting…

A rising from the midst of heated fractures at board level, the Jensen Interceptor had a rocky start to life. However, that didn’t stop it going on to become one of the company’s – and Britain’s – most fondly remembered grand tourers, despite what was at times a tortured existence thanks to its manufacturer’s financial woes that ultimately led to its demise. The Jensen’s distinctive Carrozzeria Touring-designed and Vignale-revised silhouette, which was the root cause of many a boardroom argument, is in fact a large part of the reason why it’s now so beloved. And of course, underneath those angular lines and that utterly unique tailgate, the rest of the car was pretty special too. The Interceptor shared most of its parts with the outgoing C-V8, which meant that under…

The new Halewood-built Capri was Ford’s big news story of early 1969, with this photograph being taken on February 5 that year to mark the occasion and to provide extra publicity for local Ford dealer, J Davy. The unusual location was the slipway at the Cammell Laird shipbuilding yard in Birkenhead, Wirral, with the car apparently being ‘launched’ into the Mersey with a bottle of champagne being smashed against its bumper by Miss Liverpool, Margaret Ashcroft. The Mk1 Capri, which was also produced in Germany, went on to be a major success for Ford, with almost 1,173,000 sold worldwide during its five-year career. Taking its inspiration from the success of the Mustang in the US, the Capri was marketed in Britain as “The car you always promised yourself”, with a…

The MGB has long been one of the UK’s favourite classic sports cars. Whether in roadster form or GT coupe guise, it reliably offers a driving experience that’s sure to put a smile on your face. It might not feel especially quick against modern cars, but it’s how it delivers its performance that is what makes the experience fun. The MGB isn’t just loved with the benefit of hindsight either. When new the car was a major hit, which means there are still plenty of them kicking about on British roads. Not all of them are immaculate, of course, which is why it can be refreshing to come across an example like this. Finished in a vibrant shade of red, this late 1979 model has been preserved remarkably well over…