Innholdsfortegnelse for 8/17/2022 i Classic Car Buyer

Writing this week’s Class of ’82 feature (which starts on page 16) certainly brought back memories, allowing me to revisit some of the biggest motoring news stories of 40 years ago. It was also a big year for me personally, however, as it was in May 1982 that I passed my driving test – eight weeks after my 17th birthday. It’s always a major moment, isn’t it? Being told you’ve passed your test, then rushing home to cut the ‘L’ plates from whichever family car you’ve been practising in. In my case, it meant I was able to take to the wheel of my 21-year-old Ford Anglia unaccompanied – and what a feeling that was! I also remember 1982 for the number of significant new models launched. Germany’s biggest news…

Footman James has announced that its next Coffee & Chrome Collective meet of 2022 will take place at the British Motor Museum, Gaydon, on Sunday, September 18 from 9.00am to 12.00 noon. A total of 500 vehicle spots are available on a first come, first served basis. All vehicles must be pre-booked via footmanjames.co.uk/coffee-chrome-collective. As always, attendees will be able to enjoy a free breakfast sandwich – two per vehicle, with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options available. Attendees will also be eligible for discounted tickets to the museum. Once you’ve reserved your Coffee & Chrome Collective space, you’ll receive an email nearer the time with full details.…

Sign up to our newsletter at www.classicsworld.co.uk A pair of American classics stolen just 17 miles from each other two months ago are thought to have been destroyed in a banger racing event at Hampshire’s Ringwood Raceway. The race, Ringwood’s last ever event due to imminent redevelopment of the site, took place on Sunday, August 7. The owners of the two previously unconnected classics – a 1985 Ford LTD County Squire and a 1965 Pontiac Grand Prix – each reported them missing in mid-June. Identical models then appeared on the Ringwood oval track this month, completely stripped out and repainted in matching colours. According to CarThrottle.com, the 5.0-litre V8 Ford, owned by 65-year-old Mark Wright, was stolen first. The car was apparently parked in a permit holder’s car park in…

HILLMAN IMP (1963-1976) Development of Rootes’ first truly small car dragged on for eight years, with much of that time spent ensuring it had refinement and comfort comparable with the firm’s bigger cars without sacrificing grip or handling. The all-alloy OHC engine, famously derived from the Coventry Climax racing motor family, was smooth, eager and high-revving. A lifting rear window leading to a storage cubby and folding rear seats (plus luggage space under the ‘bonnet’) made the Imp practical, while its three-box shape was set off by sharp, creased lines like an Italian suit. Other notable Imp features included running gear free of grease points and a clever ergonomic dashboard. Unfortunately, the Imp was plagued by production problems and Rootes could never sell it at a price low enough to…

VW GOLF GTI CAMPAIGN Just after the MGB bowed out, Volkswagen prepared to say farewell to the original Golf which, in GTI form, had done so much to win hearts and minds over from cars like the ’B. The semi-official ‘Campaign’ specification served to tempt people to buy a Mk1 GTI rather than wait for the Mk2, and was essentially a GTI with all the options plus some Mk2-spec bits thrown in. A car of a very different character to the MGB, but today they cost roughly the same. MG TF 80th ANNIVERSARY Pathos would strike MG again in 2004 when it marked its 80th anniversary with a fancy version of the popular TF. Three new colours, a contrasting hood, an interior made of leather and Alcantara complete with MG…

Classics World, our online sister brand with a knack for providing us with fascinating project cars, is having a clear-out – and that means almost our entire fleet of classics is hitting the market, with something available to suit most budgets. Cheapest of the lot is our 1998 Toyota Avensis 2.0 CDX Auto, a highly useful workhorse that’s given us superb service, comes with a long MoT and can be yours for just £1000. And at the other extreme (but still great value considering the available performance) is our 1990 Bentley Turbo R, a machine that’s been the subject of many videos and magazine features; it’s a 53,000-mile example that’s been mechanically fully fettled and, although not immaculate, is tidy inside and out, drives extremely well and can be enjoyed…

Vicki Butler-Henderson and Alex Riley are back together on the small screen with the return to ITV4 of The Car Years. The pair will be taking eight more steps back in time in the third series of the popular show, which began via a double bill last Tuesday (August 9). The series focuses on eight specific years, kicking off with 1993 as the duo battle to convince three judges that ‘their’ hot hatch is the greatest – with Vicky presenting the Renault Clio Williams and Alex championing the Lancia Delta Integrale. A panel of famous faces and industry experts will decide the winner each week, while helping to tell the stories and backgrounds behind the duo’s chosen vehicles.…

The SL Shop, well-known specialist in classic Mercedes-Benz models including the iconic R107-generation SL, has announced the formation of a new ‘community’ with exclusive benefits. The company describes SL Shop Membership as “redefining the concept of the owners’ club”, creating a space for all Mercedes-Benz owners, regardless of their age, gender or the type of Mercedes they own. The cost of SL Shop Membership is £8 per month, with members benefiting from an annual car health check, discounted service parts, access to a schedule of events and mini-meets, plus vehicle valuation consultations. Company founder, Sam Bailey, commented: “We didn’t want to just create an owners’ club. SL Shop Membership is about friendship, coming together and finding a space where others share your mindset.” To find out more or to sign…

A brilliantly wide selection of historic cars, bikes and memorabilia is set to go under the hammer as Anglia Car Auctions hosts a packed two-day classic sale this weekend (August 20-21). The entry list includes everything from a 1915 Ford Model T to a trio of Porsche 911s, but is particularly notable for its rare variants of popular everyman models. This is especially true when it comes to a wide selection of hot hatches. A 1999 Citroën Saxo VTS showing 12,722 miles must be something of a unicorn, and is offered with no reserve. It’s joined by a milder stablemate in the shape of a 1997 Saxo VTR, while contemporaries include a 2000 VW Polo 1.6 GTI showing 36,843 miles from new and a 1999 Rover 200 BRM. As for…

BMW ‘E34’ 5 SERIES (1987-1996) By the end of the 1980s, BMW was firmly established as the business barge of choice. The E34 was the result of seven years’ development, focusing on interior quality, ride comfort, elimination of noise and vibration, and fuel efficiency. The E34 boasted a class-leading drag coefficient despite retaining the classic BMW ‘shark nose’, kidney grille and quad lamps. The range was wide; engine choices included straight-fours, the classic BMW straight-sixes and V8s, as well as three turbo-diesel six-pots. Saloon and estate (Touring) versions were offered, and of course the mighty M5 sat at the top with more than 300bhp on tap. The classic market seems to have suddenly woken up to the E34. Values have risen quickly, with prices for tidy examples of six-pot cars…

Taken in December 1960 is this fascinating photograph of the then new Rupert Street car park in Bristol – the city’s first ever multi-storey and something of a landmark for fans of Brutalist architecture. The car park’s oval design and continuous spiral ramp were revolutionary for the time, allowing space for up to 550 cars in an area where parking had traditionally been hard to find. The car park – now run by NCP – is still very much with us, although the vehicles using it have changed somewhat. This 62-year-old photograph shows a Ford Anglia 105E leaving the car park – a model that had been launched just over a year earlier but was already enjoying considerable sales success. Entering the car park, meanwhile, was a Hillman Minx Estate,…

JENSEN INTERCEPTOR Paul Wager, Group Editor Think of another British-built GT of the 1960s/70s, the kind of machine that competed with contemporary supercars in terms of performance and attention-grabbing good looks, and it’s hard to ignore Jensen’s Interceptor. Launched in 1966 and finally leaving production in Mk3 guise 10 years later (with the collapse of Jensen), the Interceptor came with (mostly 7.2-litre) Chrysler V8 power and nowadays makes an intriguing alternative to a V12 E-Type. Rust is inevitably an issue, but there’s usually a reasonable choice of finely restored examples available for sale. MERCEDES-BENZ ‘R107’ SL Andrew Evanson, Lancaster Insurance Launched the same year as the Series 3 E-Type was the R107-series Mercedes-Benz SL – a model that proved so successful, it remained in production for 18 years and was…

When it comes to classic Bentleys offering the best value today, the MkVI of 1946-52 is a real contender – and the example that’s coming to auction with H&H on October 19 is no exception thanks to a guide price of £20,000-£25,000. This 1949 example has been in the same ownership for the last 54 years. It was first registered by Jack Barclay Ltd but supplied to its original owner by PJ Evans of Birmingham. The car is still in its original Silver Grey over Midnight Blue colour scheme, with tan-coloured hide interior, and has covered just 46,000 miles to date. If the idea of a low-mileage Bentley MkVI appeals, you can find out more at handh.co.uk.…

Following its bumper two-part auction to commemorate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in June, which saw sales totalling £2m, Brightwells returned to regular business for its latest sale ending on August 3. The entry list was understandably a little more geared to everyman classics this time out, but 70 of the 110 lots on offer were able to find new homes, bringing in a total of £488,000. Top seller of the day was a 1963 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 roadster, which had been upgraded with a five-speed gearbox and uprated brakes. An original UK-market car in good overall condition, it fetched a very respectable £84,000 against a £75,000-£90,000 estimate. Continuing the open-topped British sporting theme, a 1976 Triumph Stag with a hardtop and overdrive flew well past its £12,500 upper estimate…

‘Old stock’ new cars We ran a Back Box story in our July 20 issue, in which editor Paul revealed some facts about the 4000 ‘new’ cars sold in 1986 that were actually at least two years old (and sometimes a lot older) at first registration. Remarkably, Ford sold 62 ‘new’ Cortinas in 1986, despite production ceasing in July ’82. Since then, Duncan Cullen has been in touch: “I read with great interest Paul Guinness’ article about manufacturers stockpiling vehicles, and wonder if this is the case with mine. My wife, Linda, and I have a Volkswagen Type 2 camper conversion by Dormobile. ‘Daisy’ was manufactured on January 9, 1971 and is a factory-built RHD van. However, she was not registered until April 18, 1973.” A couple of years ago,…