Innholdsfortegnelse for 11/15/2023 i Classic Car Buyer

A unique 1995 Alfa Romeo Castagna Vittoria is set for auction by online marketplace, Car & Classic (carandclassic.com). The one-off coach-built prototype is based on the Alfa Romeo 75 but bears a striking resemblance to the SZ. Created by Carrozzeria Castagna it was first displayed at the 1995 Geneva Motor Show and has since attended numerous events, including the Mille Miglia and Essen’s Techno Classica. Its aluminium body panels were hand-hammered over a steel frame, while the interior has been overhauled with dark green leather, Alcantara and carved wooden trim elements bearing Vittoria branding. ‘Car 0001’ has spent years in storage and has only covered 2500kms (1500 miles) from new. It comes with all of its identification and restoration paperwork and is expected to fetch £125,000-£135,000. The auction runs until…

A 100,000-signature petition has been handed to 10 Downing Street calling on the government to save in-person DVLA services at post offices, which are currently set to end in March next year. Were the contract not to be renewed, people will no longer be able to apply for a licence or tax their car at a branch. Furthermore, services like tax class changes, form collection and international driving licence purchases, currently offered at approximately 5000post offices, would instead be handled by the DVLA’s website and phone lines. Members of The National Federation of Subpostmasters visited Downing Street on Thursday 2 November to submit their petition to Downing Street to retain DVLA services at Post Office branches. NFSP CEO Calum Greenhow said: “Presenting this petition to Downing Street is a critical…

Erich Zakowski, the founder of the Zakspeed tuning company and Formula One team, has passed away at the age of 89. Born in Prussia, the Zakowski family settled in Germany following the second world war. Living near the Nürburgring, Erich trained as a mechanic and would establish his own garage, later adding a racing team to his portfolio. Zakspeed was founded in 1973, and enjoyed a close relationship with Ford, building touring and GT cars. As well as tasting glory in DRM – a precursor of DTM – with its memorable Capris, it also competed in America with its IMSA Mustangs. In 1985 Zakspeed entered F1, developing its own 1.5-litre turbo engine and running drivers including Jonathan Palmer, Christian Danner and Martin Brundle. Zakspeed was later run by Erich’s son,…

Anglia Car Auction’s final classic sale of 2023 on November 4-5 was certainly an intriguing one, with a wide mix of entries including pre-war vehicles, established choices, modern classics and very rare survivors. It also proved just how unpredictable the market is now, with some lots smashing through their estimates and others snapped up for bargain sums. The hot ticket seemed to be 1980s Festival of the Unexceptional contenders. The second lot of the sale, a no-reserve 1984 Fiat Uno ES, sold for £4644, with a 1990 Panda 4x4, also with no reserve, making £6912. Even more unusual was a 1987 Nissan Prairie that sold for £4536, while surely the ultimate in unexceptional becoming exceptional was a 1988 FSO Polonez, which sold for £3132 despite needing restoration work. Elsewhere, one…

FORD FOCUS ST170 (2002-2005) Ford’s first ST-badged Focus was launched in 2002 at a time when hot hatchbacks were all the rage again, with cars like the Honda Civic Type R, MINI Cooper S and Renault Clio 172 having also arrived on the scene. In that context, the 2.0-litre ST170 was perhaps closer to the warmer side of things than truly hot, with critics labelling the engine as a touch underwhelming. Nevertheless, the ST170 benefited from the excellent Mk1 Focus chassis, and managed to provide an entertaining package. In later life ST170 values were hampered by its poor fuel economy leading to high running costs, plus the arrival of the faster Mk2 version that’s generally considered a far better car. Quite a few Mk1 Focus ST170s were given hard lives…

AUSTIN-HEALEY 3000 The big Healey has its roots in the 1950s, but it was still a relevant sports car well into the 1960s. This big-engined Brit is a fantastic long-distance companion, yet arguably it is less refined than the TR5. Budget-wise, you should expect to pay similar figures for a nice 3000. TRIUMPH TR6 Is there a more obvious choice than the TR5’s replacement? The TR6 featured a stylish new look by Karmann, but it was essentially very similar to the TR5 under the skin. It isn’t quite as focused as the TR5, but it is typically cheaper to buy and there’s more choice. MGC ROADSTER The six-cylinder MG might be more of a grand tourer than the Triumph, and therefore less sports car-like on the road. However, it has…

London mayor Sadiq Khan’s £160 million scrappage scheme continues to struggle to meet demand according to widespread reports in the mainstream media, which suggest the online processing system is not fit for purpose and vehicle breakers have been overwhelmed with cars. TfL says that it aims to process grant applications within 10 days, but since London’s ULEZ was expanded to cover all boroughs on August 29, motorists have been waiting four to eight weeks to receive their £2000 grant cheques towards the cost of a ULEZ-compliant car. Vehicles that do not meet emissions standards must pay £12.50 per day if they are driven in London’s zone. According to reports a significant number of motorists are seeing their online applications rejected for various reasons, while breakers are struggling with the volume…

Glasgow’s Low Emission Zone (LEZ) has been deemed lawful and proportionate after the Court of Session dismissed a petition for Judicial Review of the scheme. Paton’s Accident Repair Centre’s petition hoped to challenge the legality of Glasgow’s LEZ, which has been in force since June, and the financial penalties imposed for breaching it. However, following a two-day hearing in Edinburgh, the court rejected the criticisms, labelling Glasgow’s LEZ as lawful, proportionate and representative of a fair balance of interests. Glasgow’s LEZ scheme is the first of its type in Scotland. Non-compliant cars entering the LEZ face an initial penalty rate of £60, doubling for each subsequent breach until a £480 cap is reached. The cities of Aberdeen, Dundee and Edinburgh are expected to enforce their own schemes next year. Councillor…

The famous Volkswagen fan event held at Lake Wörthersee in Austria since 1982 has a new location and a new date. News that the event would move to Wolfsburg next year broke in recent months when the Maria Wörth local municipality announced that it would no longer host the annual event. Now enthusiasts can pencil July 26-28, 2024, into their diaries, with the show set to take place at the VfL Wolfsburg stadium in Mittellandkanal, carrying the motto “Coming Home – Reloaded”. In addition to vehicle presentations, stage shows and club meets, many other activities and surprises are promised for GTI enthusiasts. However, the magic of the Austrian event will prove exceptionally tricky to replicate, as its festival atmosphere and sprawling nature made it utterly unique. Imelda Labbé, Member of…

Morris Leslie’s final classic car auction of the year takes place in Perth on November 18, with 83 lots included at the time of writing. Traditional Brits feature heavily, but you’ll also find a host of modern classics and performance icons. Among a wide range of no-reserve entries is a 1950 Bristol 401 for full restoration, but you’ll also find a 1993 Rover Mini Cooper, a 1985 Rover SD1 Vanden Plas and a 1957 Sunbeam Talbot 90 MkIII. And for those looking for a sturdy winter classic, a 1994 Volvo 480 Turbo and a 1992 Audi 80 TDi are also offered without reserve. You’ll need an estimated £25,000-£27,000 to secure a 1994 Morgan 4/4 showing just 3107 miles, but perhaps even more intriguing is a 4/4 Coupe from 1950, which…

This week it’s Valentine’s Day in 1967, and we’re at the back of the newly opened Meadway Shopping Centre, near Prospect Park in Reading. Outside what we gather is the rear entrance to the Waitrose store is a rather eclectic mix of vehicles, including two cars that had battled it out in the sales charts – an Austin 1100 in the foreground, and a Mk1 Ford Cortina over to the right. In the same row as the ADO16 is an A55 Austin Cambridge and what appears to be a Wolseley 1500. Beyond that is a Morris Oxford Series VI, and we can also spot a fellow Farina in the shape of an Austin A40. The remaining car looks to be a Rover P3, while the minibus is a Commer FC…

BREAKDOWN COVER RIP OFF David Foster wrote to us following our piece on the rising cost of breakdown renewal cover, as reported in the November 1 issue of CCB. “I was interested to read your story on the rising cost of breakdown cover,” he said. “My own renewal showed a hike of 50 per cent over last year. I have a modern car I use on a daily basis that’s covered by a manufacturer scheme, so I only maintain my breakdown policy to cover my classic car, which I only use occasionally, I don’t recall ever having to phone the service but I like having it in place just in case of an emergency. With the rising cost of cover I have been forced to reevaluate that situation. How can…

Mazda is celebrating a milestone with the news that production of its famed rotary engine has now surpassed two million units. Following a technical partnership with NSU and Felix Wankel in 1961, the first Mazda equipped with a rotary engine was the Cosmo Sport (Mazda 110S), introduced in 1967. Total rotary engine vehicle production had reached 1 million by 1978, through models including the RX-2, RX-3 and the first-generation RX-7. The second and third generation of RX-7 helped promote the engine through the 1980s and 1990s, with production of the rotary-powered Mazda RX-8 launching in 2003 and ending in 2012. In June this year, Mazda resumed production of rotary engined vehicles for the first time in 11 years, its MX-30 R-EV employing an 830cc singe-rotor motor. Takeshi Mukai, Director and…

Maserati has marked the 60thanniversary of Quattroporte, which was first revealed to the world at the 1963 Turin Motor Show. The first-generation Quattroporte was a pioneer, featuring an eight-cylinder racing-derived engine combined with elegant design language and a refined interior. The second-generation Quattroporte of the early 1970s was more daring still, while the Quattroporte III – created by De Tomaso – accelerated the Italian marque towards the Quattroporte IV of the 1990s and beyond. To date, six generations of Quattroporte have each underlined the exclusivity of Maserati’s luxury saloon. Davide Grasso, Maserati CEO said: “Quattroporte is Maserati’s history. A car that tells our story and has prestigiously represented us in the world of saloon cars, for over half a century. Since 1963, it has chronicled the evolution of one of…

The final Historics auction of 2023 takes place on November 25 at Mercedes-Benz World in Surrey. A total of 115 lots formed the eclectic auction catalogue at the time of writing, ranging in age from a 1911 Ford Model T Tourer to a 2015 Lamborghini Huracán LP 610-4. In between comes a wealth of classics from across the intervening decades, including several without reserve. Chief among these is a barn-find 1957 Aston Martin DB2/4 MkII, which is one of 199 MkIIs built and was the penultimate car off the production line. In its current family ownership since 1966, it has been untouched for over 53 years and offered without reserve. Alongside, you’ll find a 1968 DBS ‘Prototype’ fitted with Lola Aston Martin V8 development engine, which is estimated at £250,000-£270,000.…

Designed by Italian studio Ghia, the Renault Caravelle was available as a 2+2 coupe, cabriolet and two-seater convertible. Renault had the Caravelle built by Chausson with the final assembly conducted by hand via Gallic outfit Brissoneau and Lotz. Launched at the 1958 Paris Motor Show, it arrived in the UK in 1962 and its stunning styling won it many admirers. However, not everyone could afford one, for at £1296 it was more than double the price of a Morris Minor Convertible or Triumph Spitfire. Underneath it shared much with the Dauphine, and was powered by a reworked version of the same model’s engine, a rear-mounted 40bhp 845cc unit. Uprated to 1108cc in 1964, the larger R8 mill provided decent performance and was allied to disc brakes all round. Economical, practical…

FORD’S KENT ENGINE Ford’s legendary Kent engine powered a variety of British classics for nearly half a century. We explore its various forms and the cars it came in. CLASSIC CHOICE A trio of prestige 1990s roadsters from three German giants do battle; the Porsche Boxster, BMW Z3 and Mercedes SLK. BUYING AN AUSTIN SEVEN The car that transformed the motoring landscape, the Austin Seven offers an easy entry into the world of pre-war motoring. Discover how to buy a good one. 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…