Innholdsfortegnelse for 5/24/2023 i Classic Car Buyer

Hopes for the future of historic vehicles has been given another boost after a vintage Bentley powered solely by synthetic fuel took its maiden race victories at Castle Combe. After claiming pole position in qualifying, the pre-war 3 4½ Litre variant lined up at the front of a grid of 21 similar cars for two 20-minute races on May 1, with driver William Medcalf, founder of specialist Vintage Bentley, winning both. The winning car was powered exclusively by synthetic fuel supplied by German firm, P1 Performance Fuels. The fuel had already proven itself in a set of comparative tests with traditional E5 ahead of the race weekend, but the race wins have served to bolster confidence in the technology. The Castle Combe result follows a Generations Track Day conducted by…

Beaulieu’s Spring Autojumble welcomed 13,000 visitors and exhibitors to the grounds of the National Motor Museum on May 13-14, with countless stands filled with automotive treasure joined by vibrant car displays across what was a very sunny weekend. As ever, it was the place to find spare parts, specialist tools, materials, tyres and more, with Beaulieu regulars Ken and Lyn Burdekin of Buxton, Derbyshire, winning the Best Stand Award not only for their paint supplies, but also for their decades of selfless painting advice. Classic fans were treated to car displays in the showground. Some 200 Morris Minors and contemporary classic cars parked up for MoggyFest, with the Dorset Branch of the Morris Minor Owners’ Club celebrating the Minor’s 75th anniversary by recreating the Morris Stand of the 1948 Earls…

The next of WB & Sons’ regular sales takes place at its Newcastle upon Type base on June 3, and it’s already shaping up to be a real cracker. Over 100 lots are expected, ranging from a 1933 Austin 7 to a 2010 Aston Martin Rapide. In-between sit several established classics, with at least five Minis consigned including a 1974 Mini Clubman that replicates a contemporary 1275 GT and looks very appealing at an estimated £5000-£7000. A very smart Morris Oxford Traveller dating from 1959 could make as much as £12,000, and a 1964 Bedford CA panel van could go even better, with a top estimate of £15,000. There are plenty of Blue Ovals too. Older models include a Ford Capri 3.0 XL, a 1974 Transit pick-up and a very…

The Metro may have been the talk of the town in the early 1980s, but it was nothing compared to the star power of the Mini Cooper in the 1960s. But with it becoming so familiar towards the end of the decade, there were high hopes for the Mk2 Mini. Launched in 1967, it was effectively a mild facelift and embodied fewer changes than were wrought on the Mk1 over the years. But that didn’t stop, or even slow, Mini sales – the millionth Mini was made in 1965 and the two millionth in June 1969. Under British Leyland stewardship the Mini was more radically overhauled, so after just over two years the Mk2 was replaced by the Mk3. That makes Mk2 Minis rare and collectable, and that goes all…

DIY HEROES We go back to basics with a look at the best in simple and affordable, DIY-friendly classics, ranging from the Morris Minor to the Mazda MX-5. PRESTIGE PERFORMANCE Three emerging prestige classics battle it out as we compare the Bentley Continental GT, Aston Martin DB9 and Mercedes CL500. BUY A TOYOTA MR2 Mk2 Toyota’s second-generation midship runabout has much to offer. Discover how to buy a good MR2 Mk2 with our in-depth guide. 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 of Classic Car Buyer is available in ASDA, Tesco, Morrisons and WH Smiths, plus all good newsagents…

FIVA, the international federation of historic vehicles, has recognised that governments around the world are starting to change their attitudes in recognition of the importance of preserving historic vehicles, but is stressing that enthusiasts must work hard to ensure motoring heritage is protected without undue restrictions. This year’s international symposium was hosted in Tirana by Retro Albania, the nation’s historic vehicle club, with stakeholders from around the world hearing about the different strategies that governments are using to deal with classic cars. FIVA is encouraging its member federations to engage with their own legislators when new laws and regulations are being formulated, with the idea that successful ideas are then shared across borders to benefit others. Speakers from Denmark, Spain, India, Italy, France, Morocco, Greece, Albania and the USA discussed…

Now in its 71st year and the oldest in the world, the official Mercedes-Benz Club has recently elected an entirely new board of directors and is putting in a lot of hard work behind the scenes to share its experiences with more followers and members. “We are a club for all Mercedes models from purist legendary classics to modern classics, including high performance and AMG models, modified Mercs and daily drivers,” said the club’s Director of Marketing, Satinder S. Grewal. “There is a full calendar of events across the country, region by region, with something for everyone and every model of Mercedes, such as the popular SL & SLK Days and a 30th Anniversary C-Class event. My favourites are the long sociable summer evenings at the historic Ace Cafe, London!”…

ROVER 75 (1998-2005) Reviving an old name used by the P3 and P4 models of the ’40s and ’50s, the 75 made its debut at the 1998 British Motor Show and harked back to Rover’s traditional past. But though it had its fair share of retro styling cues, the 75 was no pastiche. It was well-engineered, handsome and built to a level of finish dictated by German parent company BMW, with an excellent ride and a classy cabin. Launched with a range of engines including the 1.8-litre K-Series four-cylinder petrol, 2.0- and 2.5-litre KV6 motors, and a BMW sourced four-cylinder diesel, the 75 was well served. Classic, Club, and the range-topping Connoisseur trim levels – all available in ‘SE’ guise – added further appeal. Following the sale of Rover in…

With the ULEZ expansion a current hot topic, we rewind to 1975 when motorists heading into London from Essex had no such concerns. However, it wasn’t the most savoury of occasions, with drivers being stopped by police to help with enquiries into the disappearance of a haulage contractor and his son. Nevertheless, it does give us a great insight into the popular cars of the period. Most are British-built, with stalwarts like the Mk1 and Mk2 Cortina, Mk1 Transit van, Marina van, Mini and Morris Minor all visible. There are a few interlopers from mainland Europe though, including a Skoda 100/110 and a Volkswagen Type 3 several cars behind. There’s also an early Renault 5, which we know is a beige TL model registered in January 1973, though according to…

PEUGEOT 505 Away from the bright lights and smooth roads of Europe, the Mercedes W123 and the Peugeot 505 were locked in a battle to be the premier utility car of the developing world. Another big, conventional, well-engineered saloon with unburstable petrol and diesel engines in range of sizes, the 505’s lack of prestige means that far fewer are still around today. MERCEDES-BENZ ‘W201’ 190E The W123 is several eras of motoring ago now. If you like the idea of a stalwart saloon with impeccable engineering quality and traditional Mercedes values but this W123 is just a bit too classic, then we’d recommend the smaller, more modern sibling that joined the line-up the year before this one was built. VOLVO 240 If the Peugeot rivalled the Mercedes south of the…

The seventh annual London Concours will pay tribute to one of Britains most revered classic marques – Land Rover. The event, which takes place on June 6-8, will focus on The Cars That Built Land Rover, with a display of the brand’s most iconic models supported by Land Rover Classic. Among the stars on show will be a historic 1948 Pre-Production Land Rover, and the Royal Family’s 1954 Balmoral Series I. Alongside will be a 1965 Series II that also enjoyed distinguished ownership in the hands of Land Rover co-founder Spencer Wilks. The Land Rovers will join the previously confirmed categories including ‘Golden Age Coupes’, ‘Built to Race for the Road’, ‘Evolution of Aero’ and ‘Grand Tourisme’. Tickets are on sale now via londonconcours.co.uk.…

Let’s be honest, very few of us need much of a reason to get out and about in our classic cars, but having a destination in mind can make a road trip more worthwhile. There are plenty of automotive-themed places to visit dotted up and down the UK, from magnificent museums to cute cafes and trendy coffee shops, all designed with classic car enthusiasts in mind. In the pages that follow we’ve picked out 18 top driving destinations that give you an excuse to jump behind the wheel for a day trip to remember this spring or summer. We’ve tried to cover all the bases here; from the established major motor museums such as Haynes Motor Museum, the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu and Lakeland Motor Museum, to smaller and newer…

WHAT MAKES A CLASSIC? Reader David Goldfinch wrote to us on a topic that often divides opinion in the Classic Car Buyer office; what constitutes a classic car? David wrote: “The rising values of classic cars in recent years has put many of the vehicles I had hoped to one day own out of my reach. While I appreciate the prestige classics from the likes of Aston Martin, Jaguar and Porsche, the cars I had in my sights were nowhere near as lofty; everyday models from Ford or Volkswagen, and yet even they have accelerated beyond my means. I imagine I am not the only person feeling a little disappointed. “In response, I began shifting my goals; instead of looking at 1960s and 1970s classics, I swotted up on 1980s…