Innholdsfortegnelse for 8/16/2023 i Classic Car Buyer

Being a parent, it’s not often I get the chance to plan for a city break or a weekend abroad. Thankfully though, accommodating grandparents mean my wife and I are able to do just that for a weekend in early October. All was looking promising at first, with flights looking nice and affordable – until you try to add any bags. At one time, a budget airline would let you take a small suitcase as carry-on that had enough space to see you through. But now, you get an allowance for a small rucksack that barely has room for your underpants. Adding a bigger bag doubles or even triples the price, and your budget flight becomes an expensive one. Then you’ve got airport parking to pay for on top, plus…

After 12 years, well-known classic car auction house Silverstone Auctions has changed its name. From August 9, it rebranded to Iconic Auctioneers – a name it feels is now a better fit for the business. As part of the rebrand, Rob Hubbard has moved from Sales Director to the role of Managing Director, and owner Nick Whale has become Chairman. The firm has also announcedthat there will be no seller’s commission charged on cars and motorcycles offered at no reserve. In addition, Iconic Auctioneers will also be introducing private sales to their portfolio of services to complement their live event auctions and online platform. “As strong as a name like Silverstone Auctions is, we feel we have grown to a position where we need a name that is truly ours,”…

How to increase your membership with these simple online hacks Your club is important, not only to you and your members, but to the futureproofing of your car and the quality of the wider classic car community, which is why promoting your club far and wide is key. But with many ways to connect with people nowadays, how do we get it right? Firstly, your website can be the first time a potential member engages with you, so go through it like it’s your first visit. Are your photographs in focus, sharp and up to date? Is your events page current? Are your contact details easy to find? Little tweaks can be just as significant as more advanced changes like bringing in a blog or social media. With regards to…

Fashions change, and if there was ever a sector of the automotive market to prove the point, it’s roadsters. Open two-seaters are rare beats in today’s market, but it’s not for the first time. Following their ’60s and ’70s heyday, the market for new roadsters almost dried up in the 1980s. Come the 1990s though, they enjoyed a Mazda MX-5-triggered renaissance – a period that saw a host of big manufacturers throw their hats into the arena. In celebration, we’ve come up with eight two-seater modern classics that were part of a 1990s roadster boom. It’s not an exhaustive list – cars like the Suzuki Cappuccino, Honda CRX Del Sol and Alfa Spider could also stake a claim, as could later ’90s cars like the Audi TT and Honda S2000…

Speaking for myself, I’ve always thought that the final version of the Bentley S-type/Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud was one of the best-looking cars Crewe ever made. I know that many others dislike the mix of the modern quad headlamps and low-cut front wings with the traditional sweeping rear wings and a ‘razor edge’ tail, but that’s exactly why I like it. These are imposing cars, by both sheer size and their finely-hewn shape, and the vague nod to the 1960s at the front end adds a level of smooth muscularity that, if it doesn’t exactly speak of speed, certainly speaks of power. That’s especially true for the Bentley, where the round-topped radiator shell blends with the new front-end lines better than the Rolls-Royce Grecian temple, giving the car a look that,…

1995/1996 - The new 5 Series is launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show, replacing the E34 which had been on sale since 1987. Buyers were offered a strong range of petrol and diesel engines, and the saloon was joined by the Touring estate in 1996. 1998 - BMW launch the hot M5 with subtly aggressive looks and 400bhp. The first M5 with a V8 engine, 20,482 were made. A new 530d model was also added to the range, and all cars got increased levels of kit including the option of xenon headlights. 2000 - A facelift saw exterior styling tweaks, including the popular ‘angel eye’ headlights. Other changes saw the 523i and 528i replaced by the 525i and 530i with new M54 petrol engines. 2003 - Production ends after 1.5…

With styling reminiscent of the Ferrari Daytona, the ‘Specialist Division 1’, or SD1 for short, was a major sea change for Rover in many regards, combining a futuristic exterior with simpler underpinnings than its P6 predecessor. The familiar Rover V8 unit was joined by 2.3- and 2.6-litre sixes, while high levels of comfort and convenience features allowed it to take on the likes of the Ford Granada, W123 Mercedes-Benz and BMW 5 Series. A reputation for poor quality and reliability held it back, but in 1982 came the revised Series 2, which expanded the range with a 2.0-litre O-Series four-pot model, and the sporty 190bhp Vitesse soon after. The later cars are better built, but an early V8 is a desirable car, and this 1977 3500 automatic looks to be…

CLASSIC BROCHURES Reader Mike Varey saw our recent letter regarding classic car brochures and sent us some fascinating scans of promotional material for the Prince Skyline – which became known as the Nissan Skyline after the two companies merged in 1967. “There’s no date on the brochure but I reckon it’s late 1950s or early 1960s,” wrote Mike. “I didn’t scan the tracing paper they inserted with a list of locations where the photos were taken (Nara and Kyoto should you need to know). The English is rather good considering the old Skyline was only sold in Japan and South America. The back page highlights Fuji Precision Engineering, the owner long before Nissan got their hands on the company.” Tony Spillane also responded on the same subject, sending us a…

When initial waves of Datsuns, Toyotas, Mazdas and Hondas came onto British roads they began oxidising almost instantly, and five- or even three-year old Japanese cars with frilly wheel arches and a tidemark of body sealant along the sills were common. But the other fine qualities of these cars could not be denied, and despite the rust, the awkward styling and the unusual names, Japanese cars enjoyed high satisfaction rates and earned regular repeat customers in the late 1970s and 1980s. Nonetheless, any early-1980s Japanese car is a rarity. For it to be a Honda – the 16th bestselling car maker in the UK in 1980, well behind Datsun and Toyota, not to mention the likes of Talbot, Audi and Volvo – is even rarer. For it to be a…

Most classic car enthusiasts will be familiar with the TR8, but not so many will have had the chance to drive or even get up close to one. That’s because most were sent across the Atlantic, and the subsequent plan to offer the TR8 to enthusiasts within the UK and the rest of Europe was largely thwarted when Triumph production was halted at Solihull in 1981. As a result, very few genuine TR8s were originally sold outside of the United States and Canada, with only a handful of right-hand drive cars built before the plug was pulled. However, that didn’t stop folks creating their own TR8s by taking a TR7 and fitting a Rover V8 engine in place of the original slant-four unit. Amongst them was Mark Grinnall, who already…

Astra Suspension Gaz now offers fully adjustable suspension kits for the Vauxhall Astra Mk1, 2 and 3 (Opel Kadett and Astra B/C). The kit can be ordered as part number GGA019.  How much? £1379.29 Where? gazshocks.com / 01268 724585 12v Electronic Ignition This Lucas 0.8 Ohm resistance coil for high-energy electronic ignition systems is suitable for a range of Ford models including the Capri, Granada, Orion and more. Order as part number DLB198. How much? £24.95 Where? burtonpower.com / 0208 554 2281 Martini Chronograph Limited to 1911 pieces, this new watch from the Martini Racing collection boasts all the usual chronograph functions you’d expect. Item no: WAP0700200P042. How much? £570.00 Where? shop. porsche.com / 0049 711 911 23430 Ford Bookazine The second collector’s edition bookazine in a series from Kelsey…

SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER AT WWW.CLASSICSWORLD.CO.UK Owners of cars with inactive registrations are facing a new battle with the DVLA to keep their plates. For an application to be accepted, the DVLA is suddenly insisting cars have to have their original Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) plates – rejecting any car with reproduction plates and offering Q registrations instead. The Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs (FBHVC), which works closely with the DVLA on registration queries, said it planned to ask the DVLA why it had suddenly changed tack. “We are seeking clarification as to the reasoning behind the sudden and apparent change of policies on enforcement of certain identity requirements, including the requirements for original VIN plates,” said Wayne Scott, FBHVC communications director. The move affects anyone using V765…

A 1965 Alfa Romeo 2600 Spider will provide a tantalising restoration opportunity when it’s offered with no reserve during Historics’ autumn auction at Bicester Heritage on September 23. A rare, right-hand drive model supplied with a much sought-after factory hard-top, the car is made even more collectable by virtue of being an example of the last Alfa Romeo to be powered by an inline six-cylinder, twin-cam engine. In barn-find condition, it’s been in storage since 1999, during time which it was virtually untouched. Believed to be complete and in its original specification, prospective owners can be reassured that the engine turns over by hand. The car also boasts a sizeable history file. The Spider is one of 180 classics set to be offered at the sale, which is the firm…

JAGUAR XJ-C (1975-1977) When it comes to elegant British coupes there are few suggestions that could rival the grace and style of the Jaguar XJ-C. Jaguar had played around with the concept of a coupe prior to the launch of the XJ saloon in 1968, but it was well into the Series 2’s lifecycle that a two-door XJ would see the light of day – the XJ-C was born in 1975. That was some two years after it has been publicly announced at the 1973 London show. The XJ-C was a smart pillarless coupe created from a standard short-wheelbase XJ saloon bodyshell. It’s often suggested that the pillarless coupe was Sir William Lyons’ favourite iteration of the XJ theme, but it was this element of the design which caused the…

Ever since the 5 Series launched half a century ago it’s become pretty much the default choice for those after classy executive transport, but the arrival of the E39 in 1995 really moved the game on. As impressive as its E34 predecessor was, the new model raised the bar for ride, handling, quality and plushness, all of this being combined with a wide choice of excellent petrol and diesel engines. Rivals included the usual suspects from Audi and Mercedes-Benz in the form of the A6 and E-Class, while the Saab 9000, Lexus GS and Jaguar S-Type that arrived in 1999 could all stake a claim in the executive car sector. None, though, could match the E39’s broad-batted abilities and that’s as true today as it was more than 20 years…