Innholdsfortegnelse for 2/7/2024 i Classic Car Buyer

In times of financial belt-tightening for many of us, it’s becoming increasingly important to make the most out of everything we have. However, if you live in the world of classic cars, this is a concept that’s not unusual to you, and I’m not talking about maintenance and repair costs. If, for example, you own a 1980s classic such as a VW Golf Mk2, Mercedes 190E or even Jaguar XJ40, it could be approaching 40 years old – as such, you don’t have the wealth of modern technology, safety advances and hybrid drive you’ll find in even a modern Toyota Corolla. If you own a more traditional classic, like a Morris Minor or MGB, seatbelts and a fifth gear might be beyond your car’s specification. Yet, most of us love…

A celebration of 100 years of MG made up the central feature display at Rétromobile, the prestigious French classic car show held at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles from January 31-February 4. You may be thinking this has all come a year late, with MG clubs choosing 2023 to celebrate the marque’s centenary. However, MG itself recognises 1924 as the beginning, and has done since at least 1994. In any case, the spectacle in the French capital was well worth the wait. With exhibits ranging from the famous “Old Number One” – built by MG founder Cecil Kimber in which to compete the Land’s End Trial and believed to be the first production MG – through to the European show debut of the all-new Cyberster electric sports car, the tribute…

Modern engines are more technologically-advanced than ever, but go back a few decades and the addition of variable valve timing was something for car makers to shout about. Delivering improvements to driveability and efficiency, such systems were at the cutting edge and whether they appeared under the bonnet of executive saloons or sports cars, plenty of manufacturers were keen to take advantage. Variable valve timing wasn’t a new thing 35 years ago, but it was Honda’s VTEC system that arguably thrust it into the limelight. The 1989 Integra was the first production Honda to feature such ‘variable valve timing and lift electronic control’ technology, and later that year, the same DOHC B16A engine was available in the CRX and mainstream Civic too. It allowed a relatively small capacity engine to…

And now, as they say, for something completely different. One of the perks of writing about cars for a living is the chance to sample some unusual machinery, but this rates as being quite the rarest I’ve encountered: the Lancia Thema 8.32. You need to be well-versed in ’80s car trivia to realise the significance of those numbers, but anyone who was reading Autocar in the back of Chemistry O-level lessons in 1987 will know that the ‘8’ denotes the number of cylinders and ‘32’ the number of valves. All of which is explained by the fact that under the front of this range-topping Thema is a Quattrovalvole Ferrari V8. Or rather, a Ferrari-derived V8 to be more exact. Wanting to create a range-topper to sit above the four-cylinder Turbo…

Quotation supplied by Lancaster Insurance Web: lancasterinsurance.co.uk | Tel: 01480 809176 Example quote: £265 or £283 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.…

The Government has scrapped a “madcap” change to MoT rules that would have made testing compulsory every two years instead of annually, as well as abandoning proposals to extend the first MoT for a new car, van or motorcycle from three to four years after purchase. The major shake-up of the MoT regime was proposed in January 2023, accompanied by a consultation by the Department for Transport (DfT) and Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). At the time, the Government suggested that the new measures could be rolled out because fewer vehicles were failing MoT tests thanks to improving technology, helping drivers to save money. However, the move was slammed by many in the automotive sector, who pointed out that the current frequency of MoT testing plays a crucial role…

Ah, the great British sports car. It’s a theme oft-admired in the classic car press, but we didn’t all dream of wearing goggles and piloting an Austin-Healey. For many, the shape of things to come when growing up was the Triumph TR7. If you want that sharp suited styling with wind in the hair thrills, you won’t do much better than this example, offered by Kim Cairns Classic Cars. For a start, when was the last time you saw a TR7 convertible with just 14,276 miles showing on its odometer? 1985? Its first owner was a vicar, who seemingly used the car to attend members of his congregation for the first 10 years of its life. There are MoT certificates back to 1985 and a sheaf of bills from Rover…

1990 - Defender name adopted, 200Tdi engine launched with 107bhp, 127 model renamed 130. 1992 - Land Rover 90SV special edition released, with 90 cars produced in turquoise with a black canvas Tickford soft top. 1994 - 111bhp 300Tdi replaces 200; V8 gets injection. 1995 - V8 option dropped.  1998 - Defender 50th special edition released featuring 4.0-litre 190bhp V8 and ZF auto transmission. 1071 built, with 385 for UK market. 1999 - TD5 five-cylinder 2.5-litre turbodiesel launched with 122bhp  2004 - Steel doors replace aluminium items. 2007 - 2.4-litre Transit turbodiesel with Getrag six-speed ’box fitted, new Discovery dash, steel bonnet added. 2011 - 2.2-litre engine replaces 2.4-litre, with power unchanged, Soft-top returns. 2016 - Production ends in January.…

Seeing Alfa Romeo’s range morph into SUVs, it’s nice to see to a vivid reminder that the brand used to produce lustworthy sporting coupes. The Alfetta GTV (simply known as the GTV after 1980) is one such car, and this 1983 example at Bicester Sports & Classics is perhaps the nicest we’ve seen. Supplied new to the UK before residing in Cyprus from 1985 to 2017, it was an Alfa Romeo UK press car originally – search for the numberplate and you find some magazine photos. When repatriated, this GTV 2000 was recommissioned at great expense, so the 2.0-litre twin-cam engine is in fine fettle and that trademark Alfa growl is so intoxicating that you’ll wonder why people harp on about the V6 so much. The years in Cyprus have…

Porsche Air-Cooled Classics bookazine Essential reading for enthusiasts, this new bookazine charts the evolution of Porsche sports cars from the development of the 356 to the close of 993 production. It’s available to pre-order now. How much? £9.99 Where? shop.kelsey.co.uk Ford Capri Mk2 model Fifty years after the launch of the real thing, Corgi has immortalised the Mk2 Capri with this 1:43 scale model of a 3.0-litre Ghia Automatic in Sebring Red. It’s expected to be released in autumn, but is available to pre-order now. How much? £35.99 Where? uk.corgi.co.uk Crossflow roller rockers Burton Power has launched a new roller-rocker assembly to suit the Kent Crossflow engine, designed to eliminate sideways movement in the valve stems and thus prevent wear. An alloy rocker cover will be required for clearance. How…

SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER AT WWW.CLASSICSWORLD.CO.UK The Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs (FBHVC) has compiled its first Essential Guide to Parts and Services as a tool to help keep members’ cars on the road – but in order for it to be effective, it needs to grow. Unveiled at its Club Expo event on January 20, the new parts directory, to be published online, had been requested by FBHVC members at its annual general meeting last August. At Club Expo, Federation Chairman, David Whale, called for additions to the directory to help make it as effective as possible. Federation Director of Communications, Wayne Scott, said that clubs fell into two categories: those searching for suppliers of good quality parts already in existence, and those clubs having parts produced…

MG METRO (1982-1990) When the MGB was killed off in 1980, we assumed we’d seen the end of the famous Octagon, as the market’s preference shifted away from sports cars to more practical hot hatches. But just 18 months after the painful closure of the Abingdon plant, the MG badge was back – and on a hatchback, too. Intended as the Mini’s replacement, the Austin miniMetro had arrived in 1980 to great fanfare. The front-driven, Hydragas-suspended supermini competed with the best in class in many ways, but the range was devoid of a true halo model. There was the 1.3 S, and the aftermarket made some valiant attempts too, but what it needed was a touch of style, some sporting appeal and a popular nameplate. Cue the badge-engineered MG Metro…

On sale since 1948, the Land Rover was historically the vehicle of choice for those wanting a back to basics go anywhere workhorse – and the hard as nails Defender from continued that tradition. It was launched as the replacement for the existing 90, 110 and 127 models, which themselves had usurped the old ‘Series’ models to usher in the coil-sprung era from 1983 onwards. You’ll sometimes hear these earlier models referred to as Defenders, but the name didn’t appear until September 1990, when it was adopted to avoid confusion with the new Land Rover Discovery. The biggest change of this new era was the fitting of the 200Tdi engine from Discovery – an updated version of the old 2.5-litre turbodiesel with an alloy cylinder head, direct injection, intercooling and…

Few cars live for so long, yet manage to remain as loved, relevant and diverse as the Mini. Its ’90s resurgence comprised of not only the Cooper making its return, but continuing the trend of numerous special editions to make the 998cc models more attractive. One such edition is the Neon of 1991, such as the example at Richard Williams Minis. The 1500-off Neon is easily recognised by its classy and distinctive Nordic Blue paintwork and neon pink pinstripes, both of which are in fabulous condition on this 35,000-mile example. The dealer says that this two-owner car has been garaged since new, and you can tell – the bodywork is near perfect, without a single ding or dent, and the paintwork still has a lovely shine to it. It has…