Innholdsfortegnelse for 4/5/2023 i Classic Car Buyer

I was recently looking through an old copy of What Car? magazine, checking on a few facts and figures, when I got distracted by a rather interesting news story. It often happens that way, with my initial search for a new-car list price from the 1970s or ’80s being forgotten as I discover something way more absorbing. And in this instance, it was Europe’s car sales performances of 1983. These days, of course, Europe’s sales charts have plenty of SUVs and crossovers in the top spots, while traditional offerings like the VW Golf continue to perform strongly. And then there’s Dacia, which is now one of Europe’s most popular choices among private motorists in particular. But what were Europeans – and us Brits – buying 40 years ago? Not surprisingly,…

The Swedish owner and creator of a Jaguar C-Type replica, which has been the subject of a legal dispute between him and Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), has won his battle via the Court of Appeal in Sweden. Seventy-year-old Karl Magnusson and his wife, Ann-Christine, have been engaged in a bitter legal battle with JLR over their car. Mr Magnusson spent nine years building the replica, making JLR aware of his project at the outset – and initially no objections were raised. However, he later received a copyright claim, with JLR demanding £1m in damages and the destruction of his almost-complete replica. At the time of the claim, the Magnussons said that their company, Creare, had never manufactured or sold a single C-Type replica, and that their sole car was “paid…

For an engine that not only powered a series of high-end models for Ford but also went on to be the powerplant of choice for numerous specialist car manufacturers, the Essex V6 was surprisingly short-lived in the UK, with a career spanning just a decade and a half. Launched in 1966, it initially found its way under the bonnet of the new Mk4 Zephyr and Zodiac, replacing the old straight-six unit of previous generations. It wasn’t the first Essex engine from Ford, as the original V4 unit had appeared in 1965 as the new power source for the Corsair, with a capacity choice of 1.7 or 2.0 litres. Ford of Germany already produced a V4, using it in the Taunus of the time, an engine that went on to power…

It was in 1982, a decade after the debut of the X1/9, that Bertone took over production of the mid-engined sportster from Fiat. The company responsible for the look of the car, as well as its bodyshell production, was also now doing final assembly, with the X1/9 suddenly wearing Bertone rather than Fiat badges. And it proved to be a success, extending the car’s career by seven years. Around 19,500 X1/9s were built by Bertone during that time. The X1/9 was still sold via Fiat showrooms in the UK, and this example’s V5 document lists it as a Fiat – despite it being from 1989, the final year of production. With just over 65,000 miles on its odometer, plus stamps in the service book up to 62,291 of those, this…

1975: Manta B is launched, using the platform and mechanicals of the Opel Ascona; there’s a range of four-cylinder engines, while UK trim levels include Deluxe and SR. 1979: Original UK-spec 1.9-litre engine (carried over from the Manta A) is replaced with a punchier 2.0-litre. 1981: Manta 400 homologation model debuts at the Geneva Motor Show; powered by a 2.4-litre DOHC engine with 144bhp, just 400 are made and it’s sought-after today. 1982: Facelifted B2 version is announced with OHC or cam-in-head engines and stylish body kit. 1983: GT/E version with Bosch-injected 2.0-litre engine and Recaro interior arrives in the UK. 1986/87: Exclusive version arrives as a run-out model with extra equipment, beefier body kit, plus twin round headlamps as seen on Irmscher variants. 1988: Manta production ends after more…

CONTACT Ivor Bleaney Classic Cars, Landford, Wiltshire 01794 390895 ivorbleaneyclassiccars.co.uk Having teetered into bankruptcy in the Great Depression, Studebaker – America’s oldest and largest independent car maker – had clawed its way back to profit and wanted to secure its future with a model in tune with the times. Styling was by Raymond Loewy, whose maxim had been the elimination of excess weight and the use of thin self-supporting panels. The Champion also embodied Studebaker’s flare for engineering innovation, being fitted with independent front suspension (via a single transverse leaf spring) and variable-ratio steering. The result was a well-made, well-equipped stylish car that was superior to its rivals in both economy and performance. A top speed of 80mph and achievable fuel consumption of over 25mpg was heady stuff in the…

A British motorsport engineering firm, Motorsport Tools (MST), is reviving the MG Metro 6R4. The news follows the Welsh outfit’s Mk1 and Mk2 Ford Escort-inspired road and rally cars, which took the motoring world by storm in recent years. The original Metro 6R4 remains a beloved icon of 1980s Group B rallying, its best finish being third in the 1985 Lombard RAC Rally. The new 6R4 will be created using carbonfibre body panels from Innovative Composites in New Zealand. Using original 6R4 jigs, a steel shell – based on the original with a built-in roll cage – will be crafted in-house at MST, with the lightweight carbon bodywork draped on top. MST’s own suspension set-up will form part of the chassis, anticipated to be fully adjustable. Customers are likely to…

FORD GRANADA Mk1 Anyone who was around in the ’70s will remember The Sweeney. This gritty British drama based around the Flying Squad saw Jack Reagan and George Carter (played by John Thaw and Dennis Waterman) bringing London’s criminal fraternity ‘bang to rights’. And helping them in their daily duties were various 3.0-litre Mk1 Granadas (or Consuls if we want to be pedantic), which inevitably ended up chasing Jaguar S-Types through the city streets. FORD CAPRI Launched in 1969 as Europe’s equivalent of the mighty Mustang, the Capri took the 2+2 coupe market by storm, its combination of svelte styling, sporty driving style and simple mechanicals winning it many friends. Buyers could choose a Capri with 1.3- to 2.0-litre four-cylinder engines, but at the top of the range was the…

The Fiat X1/9 was really a Bertone product through and through. The idea started as a Bertone concept car based on an Autobianchi, intended to resemble a small speedboat. Fiat picked up the idea and turned it into a modern, accessible sporting roadster based around the powertrain and running gear of the Fiat 128 saloon, but with the drivetrain mounted between the rear wheels rather than the front. The angular wedge shape, low waistline and pop-up headlamps of the concept remained, to which was added a B-pillar roll-over hoop and a removable targa roof panel that could be stowed in the specially-shaped forward compartment. The result was one of the few genuinely new sports cars to be launched in the 1970s and one which immediately drew praise for its sharp…

The first model to bear the Manta name dates from 1970, but it’s the second-generation range that interests us here. Launched in 1975, it was effectively a Mk1 Vauxhall Cavalier Coupe or Sportshatch with an Opel badge, sharing that car’s range of modestly-powerful four-cylinder engines. It served up a decent helping of style, but the version that many enthusiasts remember best is the B2 that appeared in 1982 and lasted until the Manta’s demise six years later. As a strong rival to the Mk3 Capri, the sight of rally legends like Russell Brookes and Jimmy McRae charging through the forests cemented the sporting Opel in the mind of many a car fan. Powered by overhead-cam 1.8 and cam-in-head fuel-injected 2.0-litre engines, the Manta offered buyers a choice of hatchback and…

Convertible versions of ordinary saloons were a popular niche in the 1950s and ’60s, fading away in the ’70s as the coupe became the fashion statement of choice. The genre then experienced a revival in the 1980s, with many of the most popular convertibles (or cabriolets, to be more technically accurate) being derived from the hot hatches that were so popular at the time; think of the Ford Escort XR3i Cabrio and the Peugeot 205 CTI. Vauxhall stayed true to tradition, however, by providing those seeking open-air motoring with a soft-top version of the Cavalier (in Mk2 form) from 1985. The basis for the convertible was provided by the three-door saloon version of the Cavalier, which had not been a popular choice in Britain and had already been dropped from…

Triumph clamp Triumph steering rack clamps, fitted to most models from the 1960s and ’70s, are available once more from BMH. Part number 156024 fits all versions of the Spitfire, GT6, Vitesse, 2000, 2500, 2.5PI, TR4A, TR5 and TR6, plus certain TR4s and Heralds. How much? £24.00 Where? bmh-ltd.com / 01993 707200 Vauxhall book Written by marque expert Trevor Adler, this 160-page book covers the history of all Vauxhall cars produced between 1945 and 1995. It contains 339 images, plus a brief history of each model, key production changes and technical specifications. How much? £19.99 Where? veloce.co.uk / 01305 260068 Cordless inflating Ring’s new RTC4000 is a compact cordless tyre inflator, which charges via a 12V DC or USB cable and quickly inflates a tyre even from flat. It has a…

SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER AT WWW.CLASSICSWORLD.CO.UK Sustainable fuels have the potential to save the internal combustion engine (ICE) from being consigned to the history books. The cutting-edge technology is environmentally friendly and safe to use in every petrol-powered car – including classics – without modifications. Independent specialist firms and major motor manufacturers alike are investing heavily in the concept – but against a backdrop of electrification, the boss of Volkswagen recently called the fuel debate “unnecessary noise”. The EU aims to reduce 100 per cent of CO2 emissions from all new vehicles sold after 2035, with a UK ban on new ICE car sales comes into force five years earlier. This could have a knock-on effect for owners of older cars, especially those with engines falling foul of low…

AUDI 50 (1974-1978) The Mk1 VW Polo’s doppelgänger was the smallest production Audi ever built, predating the launch of the Volkswagen version by a matter of weeks. They were offered alongside each other for three years (albeit not in the UK), with the cheaper Polo eventually outselling and outlasting the Audi. PORSCHE 928 (1978-1995) Originally intended as a replacement for the 911, the 928 was Porsche’s first production V8-powered model, its only coupe with a front-mounted eight-pot engine. But the 911 lived on and the 928 went largely unloved for decades before enjoying a well-deserved resurgence in more recent years. BMW COMPACT (1993-2000) The first BMW Compact, based on the E36 3 Series, was somewhat misunderstood early on. Initially powered by four-cylinder petrol engines, there were six-cylinder petrol and four-pot…

The long-running Mk3 Capri was the only Ford to begin its career with Essex power and to end it with the Cologne V6 under its bonnet. (V6-engined Mk2 Granadas were all-Cologne, as were V6 versions of the Mk4 Cortina.) And so the final-look Capri deserves a special mention here. Launched in March 1978, the Mk3 Capri was a heavily updated version of the Mk2, with new front wings, a longer bonnet, modern grille, quad round headlamps and larger rear lights grafted on to give the newcomer a drastically different look. The range-topping engine (as before) was Ford’s 2994cc Essex V6, pushing out 138bhp and available in either the Capri S or Ghia. The performance potential was impressive, but Ford knew that as the ’80s beckoned the Capri would need updating…

AUSTIN A40 (1958-1967) At a time when it very much was not the norm, Austin’s A40 of 1958 boasted a revolution in concept with its two-box shape. The A40 ‘Farina’, its nickname referencing body styling penned by Pininfarina of Italy, was both practical and cutting-edge. It was offered in saloon and Countryman (estate) body styles, the latter with its memorable two-piece tailgate. Thanks to its 948cc A-Series engine, the new A40 was good for a genuine 70mph. The A40 Mk2 arrived in 1961, with a 3.5- inch longer wheelbase providing increased legroom, plus revised styling that included a flush-fitting grille. The newcomer offered a revised interior and dashboard, uprated brakes, an SU carburettor (changed from a Zenith, with an increase from 34 to 38bhp), and all-hydraulic brakes. Another year on,…

Quotation supplied by Lancaster Insurance Services Web: lancasterinsurance.co.uk Tel: 01480 809176 Example quote: £90.55, or £108.55 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: Subject to underwriting criteria. An additional charge may be payable. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.…