Innholdsfortegnelse for 2/28/2024 i Classic Car Buyer

We’re looking forward to a bumper season of events in this issue, with 13 packed pages of motoring destinations, show previews, diary dates, essential prep and much more. We’re certainly very privileged to have such a variety of venues and events to attend in the UK and beyond, and that’s without the smaller, regional meets that take place all over the country. Sadly, some of the regular red-letter days won’t be a fixture in the 2024 calendar. Already this year we’ve lost Brighton Speed Trails, London to Brighton Mini Run, Bromley Pageant and MGLive! Now you can add Race Retro to the list (thankfully that one was only a year’s hiatus due to bad weather) plus events such as the long-running Lincolnshire Steam and Vintage Rally. In many cases, we’re…

Mini carpet sets New to Mini Sport’s offerings are these Concours Carpet sets, designed to add a “touch of opulence” to your classic Mini. The luxurious tufted carpets are available in black, navy blue or red, to suit either left- or right-hand drive layouts. How much? £171.61 (sale price)  Where? minisport.com / 01282 778731 Farina MG and Riley saloons book Billed as the first book to cover the rare Farina-bodied Riley and MGs, this 96-page book by MG marque expert Neil Cairns tells the story of these once maligned models and features 90 illustrations. It’s released on March 15 (ISBN 9781398115743).  How much? £15.99 Where? amberleybooks.com / 01453 847800 Golf GTI Scalextric car An icon of the 1980s, the MK1 Volkswagen Golf GTI is now available as a Scalextric car…

It’s hard not to feel sympathy for firms caught out by substandard parts. From my own experiences, I've had track rod end bushes fail in a matter of days, and that means sourcing a new part, dismantling everything, fitting the new one and having the alignment redone – costs that dwarf that of the actual failed component. There are some spurious manufacturers out there, but sometimes the problem is caused by manufacturers not being able to use the materials they used to because of legislation. That’s not always made obvious to retailers and suppliers, who are often hard pushed to know something has changed until failures occur – when you have a huge inventory, it’s not feasible to test everything regularly. That’s why a process that allows non-confrontational feedback is…

MARCH Rustival Date: March 9 Location: British Motor Museum, Gaydon Website: rustival.co.uk Volksworld Show Date: March 16-17 Location: Sandown Park, Surrey Website: classicsworld.co.uk/volksworldshow Restoration Show Date: March 22-24 Location: NEC, Birmingham Website: necrestorationshow.com Mini Day Date: March 24 Location: Brooklands Museum Website: brooklandsmuseum.com Wheels Day Date: March 29 Location: Newbury Showground, Thatcham Website: surreystreetrodders.com/wheelsday Easter Classic Gathering Date: March 30 Location: Brooklands Museum Website: brooklandsmuseum.com Motorsport March Assembly Date: March 31 Location: Bicester Heritage Website: bicesterheritage.co.uk Easter Motor Show and Autojumble Date: March 31-April 1 Location: Weston Park, Shropshire Website: classicshows.org APRIL Techno-Classica Essen Date: April 3-7 Location: Essen, Germany Website: siha.de Japfest Date: April 7 Location: Silverstone Circuit Website: events.fastcar.co.uk/japfest Simply Aston Martin Date: April 7 Location: National Motor Museum, Beaulieu Website: beaulieu.co.uk Goodwood Members’ Meeting Date: April 13-14…

Quotation supplied by Lancaster Insurance  Web: lancasterinsurance.co.uk | Tel: 01480 809176 Example quote: £95 or £113 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.…

Fans of the popular motorsport-themed event Reis Race Retro were left reeling after news that the 2024 event, due to take place last weekend, was cancelled at the 11th hour. Announcing the move just a few days before the event was due to open at Warwickshire’s Stoneleigh Park venue, organisers Clarion Events Ltd explained that the move had been forced by the expected adverse weather conditions, especially forecast flooding in the area. “Following extensive discussions and in consultation with the Warwickshire District Council Safety Advisory Group and Warwickshire Police, it has been determined that adverse weather conditions, particularly extensive flooding, rain forecast through to the weekend and road closures render it unsafe to proceed with the event as scheduled,” read a statement. The 2024 show was poised to be real…

The Gay Classic Car Group (GCCG) – catering for LGBTQ+ classic car enthusiasts – is proud to announce the relaunch of its Wales area. It has been a few years since the group had many members or events in Wales. However, after an inaugural event late last year (the Cwm Carn Forest Drive), it now has two new enthusiastic area organisers who are taking fully advantage of all that Wales has to offer. One of the most iconic driving roads the Black Mountain Road will feature prominently in a forthcoming event, and along with the usual car runs and day trips to places of interest, there will be a special one-off weekend event in Wales in September. For more information or to join, go to gccg.org.uk, or follow the GCCG…

Are there any marques perceived as more stereotypically British than Bentley? The company made our state limousine, has provided personal cars to the king, and is responsible for many of our early international racing wins. It’s as British as the royal family – especially today, given that both have elements of German heritage. If you want a Bentley with a genuine royal connection, the Arnage R offered by Kim Cairns Classic Cars has got to be worth a look. Supplied new to Princess Anne, there is even paperwork in the history file confirming its provenance. Showing just 46,000 miles, it’s a low mileage car in general but about average by the standards of a 20-year-old old Bentley. It was supplied new with special order features including pink enamelled Bentley badges…

SMART BATTERY CHARGER Laying up your car for the winter can play havoc with the battery, so it pays to have a smart charger on hand that can keep it topped-up and ready for use. Suitable for six- and 12-volt Wet and AGM batteries, this Avon RX2130 smart charger from Rimmer Bros can operate with four charging modes and is complete with three sets of leads, enabling you to have two vehicles with a permanent fly-lead while still having a set of crocodile leads for floor or bench charging. It also features an LCD battery level indicator. How much? £33  Where from? rimmerbros.com / 01522 568000 CLASSIC LED HEADLIGHT UPGRADE Classics suffer from poor headlights, and in today’s environment of super bright (maybe too bright) modern car headlamps, the transition…

1963 - Rover 2000 launches with leather seats and single-carb 2.0-litre engine.  1966 - 2000TC launched with new head and manifolds to increase power to 110bhp, wire wheels are optional, although America gets alloys; 2000 now offered with automatic. Panelcraft coachbuilt estate launched – around 150 are built over the following 10 years 1968 - 3500 launched with Buick V8, automatic gearbox, firmer suspension, bigger radiator and larger brakes underneath new wheels 1969 - 3500S launched in US, sporting power steering, electric windows and air conditioning. 2043 built until 1971. 1970 - MkII P6 launched, boasting new grille, bonnet, trim and dials (except SC); power steering now optional on V8.  1971 - 3500S launched in UK/Europe, featuring manual gearbox, Ambla seats, vinyl roof and spoked wheeltrims. 1973 - 2200 replaces…

As BMW continues to produce ever-more cars with divisive styling, it’s a nice change to see what, for many, is peak BMW: a two-door E30 325i with a manual gearbox. Offered by Car Cave, this 1990 3 Series has done 129,000 miles, but not only is its history well-documented – including its book pack, original handbooks, service book with 11 main dealer stamps and all previous MoTs from its first one in 1993 until 2005 – but it presents well today thanks in part to being stored from 2008 until 2021. E30s know how to rot, so it’s nice to see this one described as solid underneath, with the panels and bodywork straight and corrosion-free throughout, consistent panel gaps and tidy paintwork. We can spot a few marks here and…

MEMORY LANE The early 1980s saw the launch of a new contender in the large-estate market, when Peugeot introduced the load carrying version of its stylish 505. That meant some tough new competition for the ever-popular Volvo estates of the time, not to mention the Ford Granada and Citroën CX. “It could carry off even more awards than the saloon” suggested Peugeot in this classic ad from 1982. Following on from the success of the previous 504, the new 505 Estate boasted up to 79 cubic feet of loadspace, along with a “perfectly flat floor and minimal intrusion.” Asforthe505 Family version, it was “the only estate car to offer eight forward facing seats, with both rear sets of seats able to fold flat so that the entire load area can…

More than 200 classic cars discovered in a barn on a remote South African farm are heading to auction, having been locked away for many years. The find has been deemed as the country’s largest ever automotive “barn find” treasure trove and came about following the sale of a nondescript tract of land last year. The cars, which include Mercedes, Chevrolets, Holdens, Fords, Cadillacs, Alfas, Porsches and BMWs, were amassed by the late Oom Louis Coetzer, a prolific car collector who was tragically killed along with his wife Hermien in a car accident on a remote mountain pass in early 2020. With Oom Louis’ three children reluctantly letting a large portion of the cars go due to the sheer magnitude of the task of preserving them, Creative Rides Classic &…

SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER AT WWW.CLASSICSWORLD.CO.UK A leading trade association is taking action to address one of the biggest issues facing those who restore and maintain historic and classic vehicles – the quality of replacement parts. A new online initiative from the Historic & Classic Vehicles Alliance (HCVA) aims to benefit the whole industry by allowing its professional members to identify problematic parts and components, as well as suggesting improvements. Called ‘Action on Parts’, the programme deals with an issue that has far-reaching consequences for industry professionals. For instance, if a component fitted by a restorer or maintainer doesn’t fit properly or fails prematurely, the resulting rectification can impose costs onto the installer far beyond the value of the part that failed – not to mention consequential reputational harm…

The VWt Festival, a show for all models of Volkswagen Transporter from air-cooled to water-cooled, has sadly been cancelled for 2024. It was due to take place at the Kent County Showground on June 21-23, but will no longer take place due to unforeseen changes made by the venue. Rather than compromise on the calibre of our event, the organiser has made the difficult decision to cancel. VWt Festival ticket(s) purchased in advance will automatically transfer to the VolksWorld Plus Show at Sandown Park on March 16-17, with TRAX at Silverstone on September 1 or the German Car Festival at Goodwood on October 5 as alternatives. All three events promise fantastic VW displays and memorable experiences. Further updates will be made, but for enquiries contact shows@kelsey.co.uk or call 01959 54374.…

A contrasting trio of Jensen Interceptors are poised to create much intrigue when they go under the hammer as part of Historics Auctioneers’ next sale at Ascot Racecourse this weekend (March 2). First up is a very original 1969 Series II model requiring recommissioning following a previous restoration. Finished in dark blue with a tan interior, it comes with a sizeable history file and is estimated at a very reasonable £20,000-£28,000. Next up is an Interceptor that could barely be more different. Dubbed the ‘Viperceptor’, the 1973 example is a unique custom creation, sporting a thunderous V10 Dodge Viper powerplant, and cost an estimated £200,000 to build. Created by Brook Anderson and Valley Gas Speed Shop in Hampshire, it packs 510bhp, 20-inch wheels, oodles of its bespoke features and even…

PORSCHE 912 (1965-1969) The 356 really put Porsche on the map, offering a stylish sports car that handled superbly, produced a lovely noise and made the most of its humble Beetle underpinnings to create a car that not only triumphed in numerous motorsports, but that Hollywood’s elite still want to be seen in today. The 911 that replaced it in 1963 would prove another winner, offering a gently modernised variation on the 356’s elegant lines, combined with far punchier performance courtesy of its 130bhp 2.0-litre flat-six. However, the substantial price increase from 356 to 911 left a gap in the market for a car with the same prestigious Porsche image, at a more affordable price bracket. Come 1965, that gap was plugged by the imaginatively named Porsche 912. Stylistically, the…

BRITISH MOTOR MUSEUM As the name might suggest, the British Motor Museum at Gaydon is home to the world’s largest collection of classic British cars. It opened as the Heritage Motor Centre in May 1993, amalgamating the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust’s collection of cars and artefacts, which had outgrown its two locations in Warwickshire and London. Since then, the venue has been expanded several times. All told, more than 400 cars now span a wide range of eras, alongside a comprehensive archive and picture library, education and learning facility. Recent new additions include cars from MG Motor UK’s collection and vehicles from Ford of Britain’s Heritage Fleet. The venue has also become the default location for motoring events, clubs and rallies, with a comprehensive calendar of shows that also…

In 1963, the choice was simple. You either drove a Riley 4/72 or a Rover P5 if you wanted to show you’d made it. If you couldn’t afford the big Rover or Humber equivalent, the upper echelons of the family saloon were the solution. But Rover’s engineers begged to differ. They identified the market in between as being ripe to target with a new 2.0-litre class of executive sports saloon. Britain had come to see the Rover P4 as staid, but it was ahead of its time when launched, and the new car would follow that formula perfectly. Early plans to fit the new car with hydropneumatic suspension and a gas turbine power unit were abandoned, but its base unit with unstressed panels mirrored the Citroën DS in its concept.…

These days, MG is forging a whole new name for itself as a maker of electric SUVs, but the MG back catalogue is full of iconic sports cars. The MGA is arguably the prettiest of its efforts, if not the prettiest sports car full stop, but the ‘A’ has ability as well as looks – as this 1957 roadster offered by Classic & Sportscar Centre (C&SC) demonstrates. Once owned by Ron Gammons, chairman of renowned MG specialist Brown and Gammons, this smart red MGA was subject to a full body-off restoration before FIA registration papers were obtained so that it could enter the 1990 Monte Carlo Challenge rally. Driven by Gammons and Peter King, it finished the rally in third place and took a class win. It also featured on…