Innholdsfortegnelse for 7/20/2022 i Classic Car Buyer

Peugeot has paid tribute to one of its longest-serving employees, Paul Neale, who this month celebrates 55 years’ service with the company. Paul joined Peugeot straight from school at the age of 16, and has carried out various roles within its parts department during his long career. For the past 13 years, he has worked as a warehouse operative at Robins & Day Parts North-West in Manchester, where he is the longest-serving current employee. To celebrate his many years of service, Paul was visited by James Weston (left), Robins & Day’s CEO, and Mark Pickles (right), Stellantis UK’s Parts Service Director. Paul commented: “I started with Peugeot all those years ago – it’s a great brand and I’ve enjoyed watching it evolve over the years.”…

Organisers of the Concours of Elegance – which takes place on September 2-4 in the grounds of Hampton Court Palace – have announced a few of the rare and highly desirable classics that will be on display. The line-up will include the 1955 Ferrari 500 Mondial shown here, a sports racer with bodywork by Scaglietti and Pininfarinia, and one of just 11 Series 2 models produced out of an overall run of 30 cars. Also at the event will be an Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato, plus an extremely rare 1930 Cord L-29. Outside the main display of vehicles, the Concours of Elegance will assemble around 1000 further cars in a series of special features and displays. To find out more or to book tickets, visit concoursofelegance.co.uk.…

Alfa Romeo reckons drivers don’t need to travel the world to find the finest driving roads this summer. The Italian car maker has identified what it judges to be the 10 best roads in the world – and has named each one’s UK alternative. At number one is the famed Stelvio Pass in the Tyrolean Alps, Italy, with its UK equivalent being the Applecross Pass, Strathcarron, Scotland. The second-placed Amalfi Coast Road, Italy, has a UK match via Cornwall’s A3078, running from Trewithian, Truro, to St Mawes. And at number three is the Great Ocean Road, Australia, which snakes its way along the south coast and has a rather smaller UK equivalent via Military Road on the Isle of Wight. The remaining seven roads and their UK alternatives comprise the…

When it comes to car marque ownership, perception is often different from reality. Back in the days when Vauxhall still made passenger cars in the UK in very healthy numbers, it was widely seen as a British brand; and even under its most recent Stellantis ownership, it’s been marketed as such, despite the fact that Ellesmere Port has built its very last Astra and will shortly produce only electric vans. The reality, however, is that Vauxhall hasn’t been ‘British’ since 1925, when it was acquired by America’s General Motors for $2.5 million. This raises various dilemmas, of course, when it comes to deciding what exactly is a British car. Is it simply one that’s built in the UK irrespective of its badge, or is it a car that’s produced overseas…

Quotation supplied by Lancaster Insurance Web: lancasterinsurance.co.uk Tel: 01480 809176 Standard quote: £245.00, or £263.00 with Agreed Value. Quote based on a 45-year-old marketing manager, access to another car, no claims or convictions, club member, 3000 miles per year, no modifications, living in SP2 0HL. Disclaimer: Policy benefits, features and discounts offered may vary between insurance schemes or cover selected and are subject to underwriting criteria. An additional premium may be payable.…

Mention Mk1 Escorts to most classic car enthusiasts and you might as well be popping open a jar of Marmite. For every rally fan declaring undying love for the Escort RS, there’ll be an Allegro owner pointing out that entry-level Fords were actually a bit rubbish. And the funny thing is, they’re both right. A sporty-looking Escort Mexico (they’re all seemingly called Mexicos these days, regardless of what’s underneath) is an effortlessly cool classic that’s capable of turning heads and hassling hot hatchbacks on a B-road. Meanwhile, a basic no-frills Mk1, with a wheezy 1.1-litre engine and flimsy vinyl seats, bears little resemblance to its halo-model counterpart. Athough it’s easy to confuse for a grey-porridge old car, the Mk1 is never depressing; it’s engaging to drive, great to behold, and…

Contact: Pioneer Automobiles, The Old Motor House, Gidley Farm, Chieveley RG20 8TX Tel: 01635 248158 pioneer-automobiles.co.uk As its pre-war styling and post-war production span suggests, the MG Y-Type was a victim of bad timing. A final prototype had been readied for launch during 1939, but all plans for the new model were inevitably put on hold. In the end, it wasn’t until 1947 that Abingdon was in a position to roll the Y-Type out to the public. The global economy was still in recovery, and so the inherent cost-effective nature of the car won it plenty of fans in comparison to MG’s larger saloons of years gone by. To help keep production costs down, plenty of parts were derived from Nuffield’s Morris and Wolseley marques; in fact, the Y-Type would…

I’m a sucker for old copies of What Car? magazine, which I started buying on a regular basis in 1977, when I was 12 years old. The copy that I recently found particularly interesting, however, was from a decade later. The May ’87 issue had a fascinating two-page feature called Money For Old Metal, which explained that in 1986 “more than 4000 people bought new cars that weren’t new at all”. In fact, each of those 4000 cars had been built at least two years earlier, but were registered as new and wore the latest C- or D-reg number plate prefix. Even more shocking was the revelation that some of those cars were actually three, four or even five years old at their time of first registration. Anybody used to…

Coming to Silverstone Auctions’ next Classic Sale event – taking place at the Silverstone circuit on August 26 and 27 – is this superb 1948 Bristol 400, a car that’s been restored to show standard and carries an estimate of £60,000-£80,000. Just 474 examples of the stylish Bristol 400 were produced between 1947 and 1950, and around 120 are thought to still be on the road. To find out more about this fully-fettled survivor, go to silverstoneauctions.com or call 01926 691141.…

Austin A30/A35 Van After the launch of the 803cc A30 in 1951, it took until ’54 for a van version to appear, replaced the following year by the bigger-engined (948cc) A35. The A35 van stayed around until 1968, eventually receiving 1098cc power. But these days it’s best known as Wallace and Gromit’s favoured transport. Bedford HA Who could have predicted when the Vauxhall Viva-based Bedford HA was launched in 1963 that it would remain in production for an amazing 20 years? But that’s what happened. The short-lived HA saloon disappeared in 1966 to make way for the Viva HB, but this versatile van was a steady seller until 1983. Mini Van Once it had launched the Mini saloon in 1959, BMC focused on adding extra derivatives. These included the Mini…

MGB GT V8 (1973-1976) An MGB prophecy of sorts was fulfilled in 1973 when, reacting to the work of engineer-tuner Ken Costello, the MGB GT V8 was launched by British Leyland. Way back in the mists of the late ’50s, during the MGB’s development, a wide engine bay was planned for mooted V4 and V6 power units; while the engines themselves were cancelled, there was plenty of room to fit Rover’s ex-Buick 3.5-litre aluminium alloy V8 – just in time for the latest fuel crisis. Despite today’s historic vehicle enthusiasts feeling the pinch at the pumps like never before, the GT V8 remains an attractive proposition. When new, however, with the demise of the unfairly maligned six-cylinder MGC fresh in everyone’s memory, the press praised the car as a good…

Jack Grover, Production Editor MERCEDES-BENZ S CLASS (W221) When it comes to luxury limousines, the S Class is always tempting. It’s supremely capable, has terrific ride quality and there’s plenty of tech, although it does lack the occasion of the Bentley. Still, there’s a wide choice of engines, with both the V8 and V12 units providing decent pace. There are plenty of specialists to help with ownership, and parts prices shouldn’t be quite as punishing, either. And when it comes to comfort and refinement, these big Mercs really do excel. Andrew Evanson, Senior Operations Manager, Lancaster Insurance Services JAGUAR XJ (X350/X358) If you prefer to stick with the traditional take on the luxury theme, then a Jaguar XJ really should be on your shopping list. The X350 introduced aluminium construction making…

Contact: Allon White Sports Cars 119 High Street, Cranfield MK43 0BS  Tel: 01234 750205 allonwhite.co.uk If it’s a driver’s car from the ’50s you’re after, this Triumph TR3A should fit the bill. Built to go road rallying, this particular example boasts a large array of performance-oriented upgrades, the headline change being a TR4 engine swap. The car’s powertrain was rebuilt by Mass Racing back in 2015, boosting its output to 138bhp – approximately 35bhp more than a standard TR3A. To go along with it, a bespoke performance exhaust was also added. Two years later, the car received more mechanical attention. A Quaife limited-slip differential was fitted, while the braking system also got uprated to cope with this early TR’s extra power. By this point, the owner was taking their rallying…

Instantly recognisable thanks to its aero-focused silhouette, you certainly couldn’t accuse the Saab 96 of being bland. Straddling the line between affordability and luxury, it sold well, thus paving the way for a near two-decade lifespan. Being a 1972 model, this example benefits from a few revisions over the earliest four-cylinder 96s; ergonomically speaking, the dashboard design received some tweaks, while larger screens front and rear made for better visibility. On top of that, the front brakes were discs rather than drums, complete with assistance from a servo. The core underpinnings, meanwhile, remained largely true to the initial 1967 V4 concept. The Ford-sourced engine is, relatively speaking, quite a straightforward piece of machinery to work with. As such, the Saab represents a quirky but manageable option for anybody just starting…

GONE TOO SOON Some cars deserved longer lives than fate dealt them. From the MG XPower SV to the Saab 9-5, we take a look at models with careers cut short. BUYING A ’70s SPITFIRE The later versions of Triumph’s pretty sports car make practical purchases today, so we reveal what to check when buying a Spitfire Mk4 or 1500. SIX-CYLINDER COUPES Nothing says classic glamour like a two-door coupe powered by a six-pot engine – and we compare a trio of very different takes on that enticing theme. PLUS… All the latest classic news, updates and auction results from around the UK. DOWNLOAD THE DIGITAL ISSUE OF CLASSIC CAR BUYER FROM AS LITTLE AS 94p! Visit: www.pocketmags.com or download it via the App Store; search ‘Classic Car Buyer’. The printed version…

Honda is celebrating 50 years of the Civic, a model that’s now entering its 11th generation and has attracted 27.5 million customers in 170 countries since the first example rolled off the line in 1972. The original Civic was developed as a global car for all markets – a first for Honda. It went on to achieve healthy sales in the UK and throughout Europe, with far wider appeal than the N360/N600 city cars that had gone before. The first-generation Civic was initially produced in Japan at Honda’s Suzuka plant, with production reaching the one-million mark in only four years.…

If this week’s look at V8-engined classic sports cars has you hankering after a Morgan Plus 8, Veloce has just added the model to its Essential Buying Guide series, with this 96-page paperback now available to order at £14.99. Written by marque expert Phil Benfield, the book takes you through the whole buying process in detail, covering where and how to buy a Plus 8, as well as all the key preliminary checks and a comprehensive inspection guide. Copies can be ordered direct at veloce.co.uk, or via any retailer by quoting ISBN number 978-1-787117-64-8.…

If you want luxury on the (relatively) cheap, there’s are perhaps few things more tempting than the Flying Spur, which made its debut at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show. Styled by Belgian designer, Dirk van Braeckel, some observers found the looks a little awkward, although such views have softened over the years. This four-door Bentley now seems refreshingly understated compared with today’s more ostentatious offerings. Subjective matters aside, what really grabbed the attention was the way in which the Flying Spur blended opulence with a sledgehammer punch, courtesy of Bentley’s W12 engine. A complex twin-turbocharged 6.0-litre unit, it made 552bhp and 480lb.ft of torque, which shoved the 2.5-tonne behemoth to 60mph in 4.9 seconds and on to 195mph, with power sent to all four wheels via a six-speed ZF automatic…