Innholdsfortegnelse for 12/13/2023 i Classic Car Buyer

The classic car world is often about sticking with what you know–many of us try owning lots of different makes and models, but like Editor Jeff with Minis, you always find one that you’re comfiest with. I’ve found myself doing the same lately, returning to what I know best – you might recognise my face from the pages of CCB some years ago, I’ve been predominantly running our Classics World YouTube channel over the last four years. Before then, though, I wrote in these pages and feeling time for a change in recent months, I’ve ultimately come back to my first passion other than cars, writing. The classic car scene itself often goes back to what it knows best, with firm favourites like the MGB featuring on our Classic Choice on…

Goodwood has announced that its 2024 Revival will serve as a landmark moment in motorsport history, with the entire weekend of historic racing set to take place exclusively using sustainable fuel as part of the circuit’s commitment to supporting the transition to a carbon neutral future. Competitors will be required to use a fuel that has a minimum of 70 per cent advanced sustainable components, in accordance with the FIA’s current requirements for sustainable fuel. Serving as a drop-in fuel, no modification is required to the cars and there is no compromise on race performance. In fact, Goodwood’s first sustainably fuelled winner came in the Rudge-Whitworth Cup at the 2023 Revival, with the 1925 Bentley Speed Model driven by Ben Collings and Gareth Graham crossing the line ahead of competitors…

Following the news that BBC’s Top Grear is to be ‘rested’, it’s been confirmed that former presenters Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond have filmed their last episode of motoring show The Grand Tour. The trio have fronted the Amazon Prime show for seven years, having left Top Gear in 2016. It’s thought that options are being explored for a new incarnation of the show, which has enjoyed five series so far. Clarkson, Hammon and May recently returned from Zimbabwe - which Clarkson teased with some behind-the-scenes snaps - for their latest special, which is set their last and will be one of two final shows to be screened in 2024.…

With thousands of visitors present across the three days of the NEC Classic Motor Show last month, it was a great opportunity for the oldest and only official Mercedes-Benz Club in the UK to share some interesting cars and information about what the club offers. Crowds were thrilled to see seven stunning Mercedes-Benz on display at the Birmingham venue, with plenty of variety among them. In the centre was a wonderful white W121 190SL surrounded by classics from yesteryear, as well as ‘young-timers’ including a uniquely modified R129/SL and a very rare CLK ‘Black Series’. Everyone was welcomed to speak with club volunteers and the technical support team, while members could also a take a break in the ‘Club Café’. “This event is great to bring together the classic car…

The final WB & Sons sale of 2023 didn’t disappoint, with plenty of bidders braving the cold and tricky conditions to bid on more than 160 cars, bikes and automobilia crossing the block at the firm’s Newcastle upon Tyne base. There was variety in abundance too, with everything from classic commercials to prestige brands. From the very first lot, ’90s sports cars enjoyed success – a 1991 Lotus Elan M100 showing just 33,000 miles was snapped up for £4088, whereas a charmingly diminutive 1994 Suzuki Cappuccino sold for £3542. Other Japanese favourites to do well included a 1995 Honda Accord Coupe which, complete with its immense amount of history, beat its £2000-£4000 guide price to fetch £4360. British classics are always popular ataWB sale and this one was no exception…

MINI MOKE (1964-1993) With the development of the Mini, Alec Issigonis always intended to create several vehicles on the platform, including a utilitarian derivative to eat into the Land Rover’s military market. Codenamed ‘Buckboard’, prototypes were shown to the British Army in 1959, proposed as a parachute-droppable vehicle – similar to Honda’s Monkey Bike – but the low ground clearance and power put the military off. Disappointed but not disheartened, BMC tweaked what was now called the Mini Moke and pitched it as a light commercial vehicle for the general public in 1964. Unfortunately, its lack of cargo space led to Customs and Excise classifying it as a passenger car, therefore attracting the associated purchase tax. Given the canvas roof, bare-bones interior and lack of doors or windows, the Moke…

AUDI A4 B5 (1994-2001) The Audi 80 had helped Ingolstadt break into the compact executive market, previously dominated by the BMW 3 Series and the Mercedes 190E. The 80 sold respectably well and helped showcase the advantages of diesel in the sector, but with the sharp new BMW E36 and Mercedes C-Class to contend with, the 80 was in dire need of replacement. Many of the principles were carried over to the new A4, including the longitudinal front-driven layout. The new model used the B5 platform, which would go on to underpin the 1996 Volkswagen Passat, and there were strikingly low equipment levels on base models for an attractive base price. The Imre Hasanić design was clearly evolutionary rather than revolutionary, but sharpened up the lines of its 80 predecessor…

By the late 1970s, Japanese cars were making a steady climb up the UK sales charts, beginning a trajectory that would only continue over the following decades. This 1980 scene shows Mercedes transporters carrying Toyota cars leaving Sheerness docks, with a solitary Carina saloon joining three estates, plus a couple of Corollas in (we think) coupe and three-door liftback guises. On the truck behind we see a HiAce van, but adding a touch more familiarity to the scene is a basic Mk2 Ford Escort 1.1, which is passing in front of the lead transporter as it waits for the junction to clear. Sadly though, the Escort was last taxed as long ago as 1987. As ever, if you spot anything we’ve missed, let us know via ccb.ed@kelsey.co.uk.…

BMW’s ’02 range was born as a logical two-door extension of the well-received ‘Neue Klasse’ 1600 saloon range when the 1600-2 (‘2’ for two doors) was launched on May 7, 1966 – BMW’s 50th anniversary. The 1600-2 was joined by a twin-carb’d, higher-compression 1600ti in 1967 and was popular in Europe, but couldn’t meet emissions regulations for the US market, which was already crying out for a faster version of the small BMW. The answer was the BMW 2002, created by dropping the 2.0-litre version of the M10 engine into the two-door shell. In 1968, a twin-carb version of the 2002 was unveiled, badged as 2002ti, but this was just a taste of what was to come, for in 1971 the 2002tii was launched, available in the UK from 1973.…

In a world where even a MINI comes with a 1.5-litre engine, it’s easy to forget that capacity defined a whole class of small saloons in the 1950s and ’60s. Basic offerings could find themselves in the same class on paper as an upmarket model like the Wolseley 15/50 we’ve got here; an updated 4/44, the 15/50 saw the (by then, defunct) XPAG engine replaced with BMC’s B-Series in – you guessed it – 1.5-litre guise. Smoother, torquier and more tuneful than the XPAG, the B-Series remains a delight to use on modern roads and the example in this 1958 car from Beech Hill Garage is particularly sweet. The cooling system has been well-proven on numerous long trips this year alone, including several to Goodwood, the oil pressure is said…

FORD IN THE 1990s We look back at a decade that saw Ford really turn its fortunes around, going from complacent to top of its game. CLASSIC CHOICE Three lusty grand tourers battle for our affections, as the Series 3 E-Type goes up against the Jansen Interceptor and Aston Martin V8. BUYING THE STANDARD 8, 10 & PENNANT Although mostly associated with bare-bones specs and rapid rust, there’s far more to the Standard 8, 10 and Pennant than meets the eye. 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…

CCB was saddened to hear that pioneering Irish rally driver Rosemary Smith sadly passed away aged 86 on December 5, leaving behind a motorsport legacy and career brimming with remarkable moments. Rallying was Rosemary’s natural habitat, taking outright victory in the 1965 Dutch Tulip Rally aboard her Hillman Imp – the only woman to do so – as well achieving highly-commended finishes in the arduous 1968 London to Sydney Marathon and 1970 London to Mexico Rally. Loose-surface competition might’ve been Rosemary’s preference, taking victory in the 1969 Cork 20 Rally and multiple victories on the Scottish Rally, Alpine Rally and Canadian Shell 4000, but she also shone on-track, competing at Sebring and Le Mans, before becoming the oldest person ever to drive a current-specification Formula One car in 2017. She…

The Govenment is to continue to allow ‘green lane’ use by motor vehicles as part of its long-awaited response to the Landscapes Review. Reporting on the future of Britain’s National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Landscapes Review was commissioned as part of the Government’s 25-Year Environment Plan, with its findings issued in 2019. The Government then ran a consultation about its response last April. Regarding the use of motor vehicles on green roads the response by the Department for Environment, Food& Rural Affairs (Defra) reads: “The consultation shows many people feel strongly about protecting green lanes, but it did not identify clear support for removing vehicular rights. Therefore, we will not proceed with this proposal. “We believe that the current Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) process is legally…

A 1954 Jaguar XK120 FHC once owned by renowned female racing driver Patsy Burt proved to be the star of H&H Classics recent auction at the Pavilion Gardens in Buxton, selling above mid-estimate for £113,850 on a day that saw almost 100 cars find new homes and a total gross figure of £1.5 million. The sale was H&H’s final physical sale of 2023, and also saw a 1964 Jaguar E-Type 4.2 litre FHC that had been converted from left- to right-hand drive and fitted with a replacement engine change hands for an impressive £100,500. Further iconic Brits included a lovely 1958 Austin-Healey 100/6 and a careworn 1954 100/4 BN1, which fetched £41,400 and £28,750 respectively. Damian Jones, senior motorcar specialist at H&H Classics, said: “As we conclude our 30th anniversary…

TRIUMPH 1300 (1965-1970) Devised to replace the separate-chassis Herald, the Triumph 1300 was the first front-wheel drive design by Leyland, in response to BMC’s remarkably successful FWD Mini and ADO16 1100. Noticing flaws with Issigonis’ gearbox-in-sump transverse configuration, Triumph took its existing 1296cc Standard SC engine and placed the gearbox end-on to the engine, before clothing it in another stylish Michelotti-penned body, aping numerous cues from its 2000 big brother. With smart handling, an upmarket interior and a very reasonable £789 price tag to go with its stylish looks, it’s little wonder the 1300 sold a respectable 153,000 units. Like so many family cars of the era, 1300s were used and abused, and very much knew how to rot. By the early 2000s, most were simply scruffy old cars that…

CITROËN CX (1974-1991) Replacing the groundbreaking Citroën DS was a challenge for Citroën, but the French company lent heavily on its reputation for quirkiness when it came up with its 1974 successor. Renowned designer Robert Opron styled it with aerodynamics firmly in mind to create a car with a remarkable 0.36 drag coefficient – indeed, the name CX referred to the French for aerodynamic drag. Beyond its ability to cut through the air efficiently though, the CX was a striking car to behold with its tapered window line, cowled rear wheels and concave tailgate glass. Much like the DS had looked futuristic in 1955, the CX too looked like it came from space. The interior was a similar blend of futuristic and wild, with a single-spoke wheel granting a view…

People don’t remember the Xantia, because it was a hydropneumatic Citroën engineered to blend into the scenery, despite its technical legacy. That didn’t bother the one and former owner of Stone Cold Classics’ Xantia LX Forte, a special edition sold by Citroën between 1999 and 2000, adding air conditioning and ‘Universe’ velour trim to an otherwise lowly specification. Its Swindon-based owner doted on the car, servicing it regardless of mileage, managing just 41,000 clicks in 23 years. Last year it received two replacement suspension spheres and a new radiator before coming into SCCs inventory, where it was treated to four new Michelin Primacy 4 tyres, together with a new cambelt and water pump. The result of this maintenance regimen is a car that belies its age: while the Xantia was…

MG is now a household name once again, having carved out a strong market niche with its SUVs and affordable EV options. Its new Cyberster sports car has finally brought a halo model back to the brand too, proving hope that the octagon may be returning to its original ethos of fun two-seaters. Indeed, whether it’s an early T-type or a later MGB, open sports cars are still what most enthusiasts think of when the famous brand is mentioned. And yet MG has also enjoyed major success with its sporting saloons over the years, and there have been a surprising number of them. Many have provided a least a modicum of sporting flavour, while still managing to be practical – something that’s still a tempting combination today. Even better news…

MG MAGNETTE The Z-Type MG Magnette offered a slightly sportier version of the Wolseley 15/50, with a twin-carb B-Series engine, almost completely different body panels and a lower, firmer and more handling-biased suspension setup. There’s strong MG club support too, but it’s not as rare as our Wolseley. STANDARD 8 If the Wolseley is the luxury option and the MG slightly sportier, the Standard 8 offered a more basic entry to the 1.5-litre class. An early pioneer of monocoque construction in small saloons, today the 8 is an often forgotten affordable entry to ’50s motoring. WOLSELEY 1500 Positioned a class below the 15/50, the 1500 took Morris Minor underpinnings, clothed them in a stylish new body and added an upmarket Wolseley interior. It has the same 1.5-litre B-Series in a…

Those in the market for a sporty post-war roadster usually default to MGs or Lotus, but the Singer Nine offers much the same driving experience with a more upmarket feel. First unveiled just before the war and based on the Singer Bantam saloon, the Nine kept weight to a minimum by clothing a wooden frame in alloy panels, finished beautifully in wine red on this later example from 1951. The bodywork is immaculate, having recently undergone an extensive restoration, and with a tonneau cover for warm days and new mohair hood for cold ones, it looks just as good roof up or down. The interior is arguably the highlight of this car, however, with retrimmed piped leather seats complemented by a smart wood rim steering wheel and a gorgeous turned…

Ultimate Ford Escort RS Collection It’s been on sale a few months now, but this ‘Ultimate Ford Escort RS Collection’ from Vanguards could be a great Christmas present for a Ford fan, featuring 1:43-scale die-cast models. How much? £159.99 Where? uk.corgi.co.uk Miniature racer Mini fans will love the latest additions to the Scalextric range, which includes the 1978 British Saloon Car Championship-winning 1275GT of Richard Longman, plus the 1979 Datapost car of Alan Curnow. How much? £49.99 each Where? uk.scalextric.com Garage heater The Clarke Devil 2800PTC-B ceramic fan heater is a compact solution for warming your garage or workshop, featuring a variable heat output of up to 2.8kW, plus a cut-out device for safety. How much? £59.98 Where? machinemart.co.uk/01159565555 Autoglym Kit For an affordable Christmas gift idea, how about this…

The extension of London’s £12.50-a-day Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) to all of the Capital’s boroughs has left many commuters and enthusiasts out of pocket – prompting motorists to come up with workarounds. One such tactic is to buy a historic vehicle that by its age is ULEZ exempt – or is soon to become ULEZ exempt – and run it as an everyday car into and out of London. Dealers such as Duke of London, based in Brentford, have begun to see more and more people purchasing classics in this manner. Owner Merlin McCormack told This is Money: “We have seen a massive spike in people looking for pre-1983 cars, which still have extras like heated seats, air conditioning, but have far more character in comparison to a new…

Automotive adventurer Ben Coombs is probably best known for spending eight months driving 20,000 miles from the world’s most northerly pub in Svalbard, Norway to Puerto Williams in Chilean Tierra del Fuego, in a TVR Chimaera. He’s also driven across Africa in a Porsche, and is now set to embark on his latest road trip in a slightly inappropriate vehicle – aiming to reach 6000 metres above sea level in a classic Mini. “I’ve been hitting the road on long distance driving adventures in unlikely cars for many years now,” said Coombs. “However, distance isn’t the only metric with which driving adventures can be measured, so for this project I’ll be exploring another – height.” During Coombs’ previous American road trip – the Pub2Pub Expedition – he reached a highpoint…

Early bird tickets for the 2024 Donington Historic Festival on May 4-5 are now on sale, giving extra savings on advance prices until January 31. The event is well established as a family friendly historic motorsport spectacle, with exciting races on the bill and more grids yet to be announced. The variety is set to be impressive. Catering for vintage cars – some more than 100 years old – the ‘Mad Jack’ for Pre-War Sports Cars, will see behemoth Bentleys going wheel-to-wheel with powerful Bugattis, Aston Martins and Frazer-Nashes and giant-killing Morgans. Elsewhere, the combined grid for the Royal Automobile Club Woodcote Trophy for pre-’56 sportscars and Stirling Moss Trophy for pre-’61 sports racers will bring together Jaguar D-Types, Lotus XI and XVs, Lister Jaguar Knobblies, Lola Mk 1s, Austin-Healey…

As we look towards 2024, we sit on the cusp of a number of significant birthdays and anniversaries, not least the 50th anniversary of Bagpuss, Katy Perry’s 40th birthday and 35 years of the Nintendo Gameboy. More relevant to us, however, are the milestones set to be reached by a wide selection of classic cars. These include Kia and Abarth celebrating 80 and 75 years respectively, but also a host of familiar (and not so familiar) classics from the last six decades. With this in mind, we decided to rewind back to 1964, ’74, ’84 and ’94, looking back at the new cars that got us talking, and paying particular attention to where they sit in today’s classic car market. Of course, we can’t make space from them all in…

AUSTIN MONTEGO (1984-1994) After the Ital served only to demonstrate how ludicrously outdated the Marina platform was, it was vital that British Leyland replace it with something modern and standout. Project LM11 would be a saloon derivative of LM10, the Maestro, and use the same front-wheel drive transverse layout and MacPherson strut front suspension. Badged Montego, the new saloon looked sharp and modern despite a long development period, sporting body-coloured bumpers that made rivals look comparatively dated. Inside too, the Montego was modern, with generous equipment, a curvaceous dashboard and sharp instrument cluster, the earliest MG variants getting an LCD display you either loved or hated. The MG sat close to the top of the range, with only the plush Vanden Plas costing more. The Estate variant proved a hit,…

FORD CAPRI (1969-1986) The European answer to the Mustang so adored in the United States, the Capri was a masterstroke for Ford. Not only was it neatly styled, but it was also cleverly marketed to the masses as ‘The Car You Always Promised Yourself’. Indeed, there would be a Capri for everyone; the accessibility of the entry level 1300 matched by the vast appeal of the range-topping 3000 that would follow, while the 1600GT occupied a happy middle ground for many. From the familiar Kent engines through to the 2.0-litre Essex V4 and the full-bore 3.0-litre Essex V6, there were plenty of options. As a result, the Capri sold like the proverbial hot cake, with more than 400,000 finding homes in the first two years alone. Sales peaked in 1973…

Even more than 65 years after Dante Giacosa’s masterpiece was first unveiled to the world, the Fiat ‘Nuova’ 500 has lost precisely none of its style, charm or class. In the past decade or so, in fact, its trendiness has only grown, with the Italian family run a round enjoying a resurgence as a London fashion piece thanks to the revival of its name on the 2007 reboot. We won’t be too controversial in saying you can’t beat the original, however, and the delightful 1971 500 Lusso at Turn Two Classics perfectly demonstrates that. A relatively late 500, this example was imported from Italy in 2003 and presents beautifully in Bianco (white) with fresh red upholstery. These little cars know how to rot, but this one is spotless. The lack…

NO GLITCHES Declan Terry, Media Relations Officer at The DVLA Press Office, got in touch with us to clarify some issues in a news piece entitled ‘DVLA renewal glitch’, originally published in the October 11 issue of Classic Car Buyer. “I wanted to get in touch to explain that the headline of the piece is incorrect,” he explained. “The issue where some drivers may not be able to renew their driving licence online is not a glitch. As stated later in the piece, where a digital signature is not held by the Passport Office, a driver would not be able to use the online service. “Around 2 million motorists renew their driving licence online every year and in the vast majority of cases we are able to use the digital…