Innholdsfortegnelse for 11/29/2023 i Classic Car Buyer

The dust has now settled following the biggest classic car event of the year – the Classic Motor Show at Birmingham’s NEC. Record crowds and the largest number of clubs yet recorded gathered for the three-day spectacular, but one of the main takeaways for me was the tangible sense of community that prevailed throughout. At a time when car use in general is seemingly under attack from several different directions, the classic car world is showing a real willingness to adapt, learn and band together to ensure that there is a bright future for this hobby of ours. Whether you are talking about carbon offsetting initiatives and alternative fuels, the rising threat of ULEZ schemes or the cost-of-living crisis, everyone is keen to find a way to navigate the tricky…

Take even the briefest interest in the history of the Silverstone circuit and you’ll discover a list of race winners that reads like a who’s who of motorsport royalty. We’ll come back to some of them later, but for now we should start with the reason for this in-depth look at the track, which is the fact that 2023 marks 75 years since the first official race meeting took place. It was an International Grand Prix on October 2, 1948, won by Luigi Villoresi in a Maserati, and from that point on it was on it’s way to becoming one of the most famous racing venues in the world. One thing it had in common with a number of circuits is a beginning in wartime, in this case as an…

By the early’ 80s, there were still plenty of families and businesses looking for a robust, well-priced workhorse of an estate: if offerings from Ford, Mercedes-Benz, Vauxhall and Volvo didn’t fit the bill, the Mazda 929 was there to take up the slack. With the small number of examples imported falling foul of rust and abuse decades hence, the chance to sample any 929 (in any condition) is quite an opportunity. Stone Cold Classics’ 1982 example must be one of (if not the best) left in the UK, having covered just over 34,000 miles when tested, a credit to its previous three owners. Inside and out, the 929 presents extremely well, with its distinctive Maya Gold Metallic paint (also a contemporary ‘FB’ RX-7 colour) needing only minor correction, according to…

Quotation supplied by Lancaster Insurance Web: lancasterinsurance.co.uk | Tel: 01480 809176 Example quote: £102.43 or £120.43 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.…

Taunton town centre played host to a bumper turnout as former Top Gear TV presenter, Richard Hammond, cut the ribbon during an opening ceremony for a new classic car museum. Located on North Street right in the centre of the Somerset town, County Classics Motor Museum is focused on affordable and accessible cars and motorcycles from the 1960s to the 1990s. Hammond stood on classic pick-up truck that doubled as a stage as he faced the large crowd, and was joined by Rebecca Pow MP, Cllr Mike Best (Chair of Somerset Council), and Mayor of Taunton Nick O’Donnell. The Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs (FBHVC) was also present to lend its support (and supply our images), while local classic car owners brought their vehicles along to line the street,…

A group who made more than £225,000 in fraudulent classic car insurance payouts have been jailed. The scam took place between 2009 to 2017 and involved 21 vehicles, mostly 1980s Ford Escort RS Turbos, which the gang made insurance claims for after falsely reporting them as stolen. The 19 defendants involved would alter pictures of legitimate high value RS Turbos to create the impression that vehicles in their hands were in good condition, when in reality the cars were of scrap value. With insurance in place, they would wait several months and then submit bogus theft reports, pocketing the cash. A total of 42 charges were brought against the group by the Crown Prosecution Service, with all 19 convicted of fraud and conspiracy to commit fraud. Amongst the most significant…

We’ll probably never see the likes of the BMW E36 coupe – at least in four-cylinder form – again. Nowadays, cars like the third-generation 3 Series offer relative simplicity, light weight and rear-wheel drive dynamics, yet will start in the morning and be durable and refined in service, as well as promising a good degree of crash protection. Such is the appeal of a ’90s car – and Kim Cairns’ 1993 318is Coupe has plenty of life left in it, Bought from London BMW dealer, Cooper Bishopsgate, it was seldom driven by its sole owner. With fewer than 36,000 miles on the odometer, it went into storage between 2006 and 2021, before a gentle recommission produced a new MoT last year. It’s clear that this E36 led a pampered life:…

1959 -Daimler SP250 launched as the Daimler Dart at the New York Motor Show. Name change from Dart to SP250 comes to avoid trademark crossover with the Dodge Dart. M1 motorway opens; Befordshire Police use SP250s as patrol cars. Metropolitan Police also use the model in three-speed automatic guise. 1960 - Jaguar buys Daimler and soon introduces a B-spec model with a strengthened chassis and adjustable steering column. A hard-topped version of the SP250 achieves a recorded 123.7mph top speed and 8.9-second 0-60mph time at the hands of The Motor magazine. 1961 -Work begins on the Daimler SP252, a proposed replacement for the SP250. The car was eventually considered unviable for production as each example would have taken over two times longer to make than an equivalent Jaguar E-Type.  1962…

Despite carrying over quite a high proportion of elements from its predecessor, the Jaguar Mk2 boasted several revisions. Launched in 1959, it featured a larger glasshouse, redesigned grille and new lighting, with the overall effect of a car that appeared more modern but was still recognisable. The range-topping model was a 3.8-litre version and that proved most popular, and by the time the Mk2 was killed off in late 1967, some 83,980 Mk2s had been built Two re-branded versions – the Jaguar 240 and 340 – were then launched. However, what we have here is quite different to the normal Mk2. This car has been modernised with the addition of a 4.2-litre fuel-injected engine from an XJ, a four-speed manual gearbox with overdrive, power steering, uprated suspension and much more.…

Bentley Collection A new range of items have been added to the Bentley Collection, with fresh clothing and products for the home and children ensuring there’s something for all the family. How much? From £13.00  Where? shop.bentleymotors.com / 0333 247 0241 Audi TT suspension Suspension specialist GAZ has relaunched its coil over suspension kits for both the 2WD and 4WD versions of the Audi TT, now with the added benefit of a Black Zinc protective coating.  How much? £1379.28 Where? gazshocks.com / 01268 724585 Mercedes manifold This manifold package complements Webcon’s recently reintroduced twin Weber 40DCOE kit for the Mercedes 190SL. Part number MG9436 removes the need to modify the stock manifold. How much? £682.87 Where? webcon.co.uk / 01932 787100 Escort Zetec kit This RWD conversion kit allows the installation…

SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER AT WWW.CLASSICSWORLD.CO.UK A new fundraising record has been targeted for next April’s Drive It Day – the annual occasion when the nation showcases its passion for historic vehicles. For the last three years, Drive It Day has raised money for the NSPCC’s Childline, and having increased its contribution for three consecutive years, it is hoped that a record-breaking £60,000 can be raised in 2024. The Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs (FBHVC) introduced Drive It Day in 2005 with the aim of getting the nation’s transport heritage seen by the public. It takes place every April to coincide with the anniversary of the 1000 Mile Trial back in 1900 – an event which served to prove that motor vehicles were viable personal transport rather than…

Scramblers, the official membership of Bicester Heritage, will launch a new structure and membership benefits offering for 2024. Among the changes are a refreshed events calendar, with four Sunday morning gatherings exclusively available to premium tier Pegasus members, who will receive free entry and a complimentary coffee, too. The events will take place throughout the year around the three main Scrambles, which are set to take place on Sunday March 31, Sunday July 14, Sunday September 29 and Sunday December 15, 2024. Further benefits include early access to discounted event tickets and priority parking. Merlin, the secondary membership tier of Scramblers, will be consolidated into Pegasus, with its benefits including track and social events, and photography mornings. Bicester Motion CEO, Daniel Geoghegan, said: “The world moves quickly with Scramblers. Its…

VAUXHALL CAVALIER Mk1 Few could’ve blamed Vauxhall for casting envious glances in Ford’s direction in the early ’70s. The Cortina had proved to be smash hit for the Blue Oval, with the Mk1 shaking up the family and fleet market, and the Mk2 knocking the BMC 1100 off its perch to become a UK best-seller in 1967. Even Ford’s gamble in launching the bigger ‘Coke-bottle’ Mk3 Cortina would pay off handsomely, as it overcame a troubled start to soar to the top of Britain’s sales charts and stay there for four straight years. By contrast, Vauxhall was suffering something of a nosedive. While the Viva was a decent seller, the FE Series Victor failed to make inroads into the fleet market. Sadly, Vauxhall would ultimately lack the funding to continue…

Just a year before the company’s takeover by Jaguar, Daimler caused a stir at the 1959 New York Motor Show when it unveiled the SP250 – a brand new V8-engined, glassfibre-bodied sports car. The tail-finned and slightly awkward looking two-seater was an unusual move for a manufacturer best known for its upmarket saloons and limousines, but Daimler seemed confident of success. You’ll often hear the SP250 referred to as the Dart – this was the car’s intended name at the time it made its American debut, but Chrysler’s Dodge division owned the trademark for the “Dart” model name, and ordered Daimler to change the name under threat of legal action. Nevertheless, it’s a name that has tended to stick with the car. Although its sports car focus was understandably on…

Characterful, quirky and unique to drive, the Citroën 2CV was a real triumph of innovation that still appeals even today. The beginnings of the ‘tin snail’ date back to the 1930s and the ‘Toute Petite Voiture’, but the 2CV as we know it arrived in 1948. Those early models were incredibly basic; they were only available in grey and had a 375cc air-cooled flat-twin producing a heady 9bhp. Top speed was 41mph and it took over 40 seconds to achieve on dead level ground. However, 55mpg was also possible, and it could boast four doors, a four-speed gearbox, four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes (inboard at the front), clever interconnected long-travel suspension via horizontal coil springs mounted under the floor, rack and pinion steering, a supremely comfortable ride and the roadholding of…