Innholdsfortegnelse for 7/19/2023 i Classic Car Buyer

Two cult British TV star cars are set to go under the hammer in August, as a pair of Bodie and Doyle Mk3 Ford Capris from The Professionals will be auctioned as one lot. Estimated at £200,000-£230,000, the Silverstone Auctions sale is expected to obliterate the existing auction record for a road-going 3.0 S set in 2016 (£53,760), but I imagine that the two-car lot could achieve even more. As we all know, classic Fords are hot property at the moment, and few are more alluring than these screen used, low mileage, 1980 Capris with almost unrepeatable histories. In 2016, a 1978 Strato Silver Capri, also used in The Professionals, sold for £48,000 at auction, but classic car values have increased considerably since and these latest cars appear that little…

In its first month of operation, Glasgow’s Low Emission Zone (LEZ) has resulted in 2922 fines being issued to motorists with non-compliant vehicles, according to City Council figures. Glasgow’s scheme was introduced to tackle air pollution levels in the city centre. Fines are set at £60, but if they are paid within 14 days that is reduced to £30. In what’s termed a “period of familiarization” during the opening month of June, multiple offenders received only one fine. However, from July onwards fines double for each subsequent breach. In an interview a council spokesperson said: “Surcharging, which allows the penalty amount to double for subsequent LEZ breaches, started in July and will begin after the first charge notice can be expected to have been received by the vehicle’s registered keeper.…

How to use social media to increase your paid club membership With the advent of social media, many clubs have seen their forums become quieter. Here are Lancaster Insurance’s top tips on making social media a way to bring new members to your club: • Create a Facebook group for your club and encourage everyone with a car relevant to your club to join. It may seem counterproductive to 'give the content away', but as we'll show you, it’s about to become your biggest billboard being viewed by the best possible audience. • Tease non-members about what they're missing out on: post up magazine covers, snippets of special articles, the brilliant events and reasons to join the club. Awareness of what’s on offer will drive more members. • Ask people…

FORD CAPRI 2.8 INJECTION (1981-1986) By the time the Mk3 iteration of Ford’s Capri went on sale in 1978 the global love affair with big coupes looked like it was waning. The Mk1 Capri had far exceeded any expectations, selling across the world in various guises to cement its position as the everyman sports car of choice. Its Mk2 replacement was a little more practical in the wake of the oil crisis of 1973 and even came with a useful hatchback, but it wasn’t as strong commercially and Ford needed to reinvigorate things if the Capri was to remain successful. The answer was the Mk3 – a simple but hugely cost-effective facelift of the Mk2. To put its story into perspective, the original Capri was a £20 million project, but…

Since the Rootes brothers assembled their car-building empire in the 1930s, they’d been firm believers in badge engineering, platform sharing, brand strategies and other techniques more associated with the modern car industry to make their assets go as far as possible. Therefore, it was inevitable that there would be a Sunbeam version of Rootes’ new mid-size platform of the mid-1950s (codenamed ‘Audax’). The basic Hillman Minx would make up the majority of sales and production, but that was only available as a four-door saloon and not a particularly glamorous one. Which was where the Rapier came in – in fact it came in first, since it was the first ‘Audax’ car to go into production in 1955. Built as a two-door saloon with pillarless doors and a panoramic rear screen…

As the trio of alternatives at the bottom of this page proves, the MGA Coupe was an unusual offering in its day, and was a unique one at its price point – something that still applies today. Other true sports coupes were either much more expensive or were aftermarket conversions of factory roadsters. Being a factory-built coupe version of a sports car that was offered at a reasonably attainable price, the MGA Coupe made its own market niche. It wasn’t a big niche – 521 MGA Mk2 coupes were built, against over 8000 roadsters – but it was one that MG had essentially to itself. In fact, MG had a long history of making coupes, with ‘Sportsman’, ‘Airline’ and other coupe bodies available on pre-war Midgets, Magnas and Magnettes. The…

The seemingly insatiable appetite for SUVs has meant the market for compact executive saloons isn’t as fiercely-contested as it once was. But there used to be few better ways of showing colleagues and neighbours that you’d done well, so it’s no surprise that plenty of car makers wanted a slice of the action. What it means today is that there’s rich pickings to be had if you’re after a capable and desirable car from either the traditional classic or more modern classic era, and the even better news is that you won’t have to break the bank to get your hands on one. ALFA ROMEO GIULIA Saloon cars of the 1960s could be somewhat stodgy affairs, but that’s not something you could say about this stylish Alfa. In a world…

Although this Lotus was not accompanied by the library-like history file found on some cars we’ve Tried & Tested recently, there is enough paperwork to see that this is a largely original car that, while never been restored in one hit, has had large bouts of work done over the years. The result is a very tidy and ‘sorted’ Lotus that is a pleasure to look at and a pleasure to drive. BODYWORK The bright yellow paint would easily show up any cracks, crazing or delamination, but no problems of that sort are visible on this Elan. Even the bright sunshine of Lincolnshire baking under a heatwave failed to reveal any mismatched colours in the paintwork or any ripples suggesting filler or other repairs. The doors, boot lid, bonnet and…

Quotation supplied by Lancaster Insurance Web: lancasterinsurance.co.uk | Tel: 01480 809176 Example quote: £103 or £121 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.…

Fuel Pressure Gauges These pressure gauges are designed for setting up fuel systems. The first (part number WFR151) is for EFI systems, the second (WFR150) for carburettor set-ups. How much? From £26.62 Where? webcon.co.uk / 01932 787100 E Type Model This new Jaguar E-Type 4.2 model replicates the original Corgi item released in 1968. It features opening doors, bonnet and boot, and comes in very cool reimagined packaging. How much? £21.99  Where? corgi.co.uk / 01843 233502 Escort Propshaft This is a strong upgrade to Burton’s single piece competition shaft for the Mk2 Escort RS and Mk1/2 Escorts combining a Rocket or five-speed gearbox with an English or Atlas rear axle. Order as part number PROPENG.  How much? £240.00 Where? burtonpower.com / 0208 554 2281 Amazon Dampers GAZ offers its GT…

SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER AT WWW.CLASSICSWORLD.CO.UK Enthusiasts are seemingly defying concerns that changes to MoT rules made in 2018 would lead to a spate of unsafe, unmaintained classic cars on our roads. According to club-level research conducted by Classic Car Buyer, owners of MoT exempt vehicles remain committed to driving safe and reliable classics, readily spending money on new parts rather than ignoring issues now that there is no obligation to attend an annual inspection. Five years ago, MoT exemption was brought into line with historic vehicle tax (VED). Vehicles built more than 40 years ago no longer need to be tested providing they have not undergone ‘substantial changes’ in the last 30 years. At the time the controversial change made an extra 300,000 classic cars MoT exempt, however,…

The hardest of these Tried & Tested features to write are the ones where the car is, for want of a better phrase, ‘box fresh’. It’s always great to come across a car that has been so well preserved that it offers a rare chance to effectively buy a brand new example of a favourite classic, but there are only so many ways you can describe that a car is, for all intents and purposes, perfect. Bought new by an elderly lady in Cornwall, the BX spent most of the next 30 years in a garage (very much against the famous BX advertising slogan) and covered only 23,000 miles – very few of which were driven in the 21st century – before it passed into the hands of enthusiasts in…

1955 - Launch of the original Series I Sunbeam Rapier with 1360cc single-carb engine, producing 63bhp. 1956 - Uprated engine with twin Zenith carburettors fitted, producing 68bhp.  1958 - Series II Rapier released, with revised frontal styling incorporating a narrower grille. Convertible body now available. Engine is now 1494cc and 73bhp. Recirculating ball steering box replaces original cam-and-peg type. Floor-mounted gearchange is now standard, with column-shift optional. Two-tone paint replaced by contrasting waistline colour flash. Vinyl trim now fitted in place of leather and overdrive becomes an option.  1959 - Series III Rapier launched with many small cosmetic changes, such as a narrower side flash incorporating a ‘Rapier’ script at its rear. Centre body profile is revised, giving a larger windscreen. New dashboard design with walnut veneer and padded top.…

There is a metaphorical checklist that determines the desirability of a Jaguar Mk2 these days, and it goes something like this: 3.8-litre engine? Manual with overdrive? Pre-1967 model with the big bumpers? Leather interior? Metallic paint? Sunroof? This Mk2 ticks all those boxes. The 3.8-litre version of the Mk2 was always something of a box-ticking exercise, offering only 10 more horses than the 3.4-litre version – be that because of Jaguar’s ‘optimistic’ power rating for the smaller engine or because the big engine’s breathing was restricted by the carbs and manifolds forced on it by the shape of the Mk2’s engine bay. But the real purpose of the 3.8-litre Mk2 was to serve as a homologation basis for racing models, and to provide the ultimate in cachet. True, it was…

DELLOW SPOTTED In our July 5 issue we depicted a fabulous ‘Classic Scene’ from Eynsford, Kent, taken in 1965. A number of machines can be seen crossing the River Darent, but one in particular had us stumped – the small two-seater sports car. As ever our loyal readers came to the rescue with the answer! John Harris writes: “Regarding the Classic Scenes photo in CCB, I think that the mystery sports car parked near the bridge is a Dellow – many thanks for an interesting and enjoyable paper.” Tim Gunn agreed: “I think the little two-seater sports car is a Dellow. These were based on Ford sidevalve running gear.” Finally, Maurice Hardy commented: “With regard to the summer scene in Eynsford, is the two-seater a Dellow? It seems to be…