Innholdsfortegnelse for 3/13/2024 i Classic Car Buyer

Being no great fan of early sunsets, cold temperatures and gritted roads, I spend the whole of winter eagerly awaiting warmer weather. When compiling our recent 2024 events guide – see our February 28 issue – that anticipation only grew. With the exception of indoor shows like the NEC Classic Motor Show and Race Retro (sadly cancelled this year due to weather), there are very few shows and opportunities to socialise with fellow enthusiasts in the winter. That said, it gives us plenty of time to fettle and improve our classics; my Mercedes W123 is currently benefitting from some rust repair and paintwork ahead of a couple of planned roadtrips and our own German Car Festival, for instance. I’m a firm believer that socialising makes the car scene exciting. Interacting…

The Federation of Historic Vehicle Clubs has a new title for its quarterly magazine – Historic. Distributed to member organisations and individual supporters, the magazine is packed with information from the Federation’s membership of over 500 historic vehicle clubs and 250,000 historic vehicle enthusiasts. The Federation’s primary purpose has always been to ensure that historic vehicles over 30 years old can be used on the roads of the United Kingdom whenever their owners so wish, and a key way of recording the threats, challenges and successes in continuing that work is achieved through detailed communications. In a world with an increasing focus and importance on digital platforms, the Federation believes there is still a place for detailed content in print. However, the new branding also allows the Federation to repurpose…

BMW 2002 (1968-1975) The 1960s was a particularly important decade for BMW, with the well-received ‘Neue Klasse’ saloon range carrying on from the 700 in rescuing the company from serious financial trouble and setting it on the road to prosperity. But there was still room for a smaller, more affordable version of the Neue Klasse, and in May 1966 the 1600-2 (‘2’ for two doors) was launched using a shortened version of the same platform. Attractive and sporty, it set the ball rolling for a worldwide love affair with compact BMWs that still shows no signs of abating. The chassis was clearly capable, and it wasn’t long before the 1600-2was joined by the twin-carb’d, higher-compression 1600ti in 1967. This was popular in Europe, but couldn’t meet emissions regulations for the…

Quotation supplied by Lancaster Insurance Web: lancasterinsurance.co.uk | Tel: 01480 809176 Example quote: 1989 Renault 5 1.7 Monaco, £3000 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.…

SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER AT WWW.CLASSICSWORLD.CO.UK Jaguar’s historic Castle Bromwich site looks to have reached the end of the line as a car production facility. The Birmingham site, originally used to build Spitfires and Lancaster bombers during the war, was taken over by Jaguar Cars in 1980 and began building complete cars in 1998, but will now transition to producing of body panels for a whole new line of vehicles after it stops assembling the XE, XF and F-Type in June. A new era for the firm will begin in 2025 when a new electric saloon is set to be unveiled as the first of three planned new models, all using the new JEA platform. In the meantime, the retirement of the XE and XF saloons and the F-Type…

Dublin classic car dealer David Golding has uncovered a timewarp Mk3 Ford Fiesta that’s covered just 6000 miles from new. The 1991 1.1 C automatic model was sold new by Sligo Ford main dealer Hendersons to a lady in Donegal, who used it sparingly until 2002. Squirrelled away in dry storage for over 20 years, the car has been preserved in superb condition. Factory test stickers are still on the seat belt casings and bolts, while further details also include the Hendersons-branded complimentary duster as well as the firm’s mudflaps and decals. David says that in his 36 years buying and selling classic cars, this is one of the most exceptional examples of an unexceptional car that he has ever stocked. It’s set to be auctioned online for seven days…

Living in an age where every new car seems to require headline-making power figures to even get a look-in – an electric Kia SUV now has over 200bhp – it’s refreshing to look back on cars that didn’t need to make claims of supercar-troubling performance. We’re not talking about models that aren’t performance-orientated per se, but cars that punched above their weight in terms of pace, handling, smiles and even motorsport results, shaming cars that cost many times more and produced far more power on paper. We’ve picked out eight cars from across the eras that sum up the giant-killing philosophy. As they demonstrate, you don’t always need to worry about headline figures to exceed expectations. MG MIDGET (1929-1955) It was the M-Type Midget that arguably set the template for…

1972 - Renault 5 announced to the press on January 28 and put on sale in March. French-spec 782cc L version not imported; TL version uses 956cc engine. Right-hand drive British-market cars available from September. 1973 - Dash-mounted gear lever replaced by floor-mounted version. 1974 - 5LS launched, powered by the 64bhp 1289cc engine from the Renault 12. LS is renamed TS in September. 1976 - Economy-focused 5GTL model launched. Alpine version arrives in France. 1977 - Entry-level engine size increased to 845cc. 1978 - Automatic version added to the range. 1979 - Five-door version launched. Alpine arrives in the UK named as the Gordini. 1981 - Gordini Turbo model launched as an upgraded successor to the naturally aspirated Gordini. 1984 - The R5 is replaced by an all-new second-generation…

There were so many limited-edition Minis launched in the later years that it can be hard to keep up with what each of them offered, but the Flame Red was one of the better efforts. This 1990 example is one of the later cars (there was also a 1989 batch) and is resplendent in its original and rather self-explanatory colour scheme of Flame Red with a tasteful white roof, as per the contemporary Cooper. These 1990s Flames had a lower final drive ratio and 12-inch Minilite-style wheels, with RFH’s example also boasting Wipac spotlights to add a neat retro look. Inside, the ‘Crayons’ fabric looks to be in fantastic condition, bearing no rips, stains or cigarette burns, though if we’re being pedantic, it does appear to be the slightly different…

MISLEADING SPEC? Glen Mason, a Sunbeam Rapier owner and driver for nearly 50 years, made contact following the Classic Choice feature in our February 14 issue, which pitched the Rapier against the Mk1 Capri and Opel Manta A. “It was good to see a Rapier featured and I think the write up was very fair, however, it was a little misleading to show photos of an H120, with a ‘Tech Spec’ along-side of a standard car,” he said. “True, you do make reference to the H120’s specification in the text, but on a quick glance one would tend to associate the picture with the performance details. Also, the Rapier with its overdrive on third and fourth gears could be classed as a ‘six-speeder’. Lastly the Rapier design was started around…

Mini chrome handle set Mini Spares is now offering a chrome exterior handle kit that combines the Mk3-on door handles with the Mk1-style bootlid handle, a set-up that was fitted to early Mk3 cars from 1969 to around 1971, but is also ideal for creating a retro look. Order as part number CZH1784.  How much? £73.76 Where? minispares.co.uk / 01707 607700 VW manifold set Suitable for the VW 1.7-, 1.8- and 2.0-litre air-cooled engines, this new Webcon intake manifold is designed to accept the popular and reliable Weber 34ICT carbs, thus avoiding the expense of the Weber IDF set-up. It also comes with the necessary fittings. How much? £254.65 Where? webcon.co.uk / 01932 787100 CSI Ignition systems Available from A-H Spares, a CSI distributor provides a maintenance-free electronic ignition system…

A fast car has made a slow return, with the news that a Ferrari F512M owned by former F1 star Gerhard Berger has been discovered by the Metropolitan Police after being lost nearly three decades ago. It was one of two Ferraris reported missing after the San Marino Grand Prix in April 1995 – which Berger led before being passed by Damon Hill and teammate Jean Alesi – and is thought to have been shipped to Japan shortly after its theft. That’s where it stayed until late 2023 when it was shipped to the UK. The police were alerted by Ferrari, after the Maranello firm was asked by an American buyer to check the car’s provenance. “The stolen Ferrari was missing for more than 28 years before we managed to…

A Jaguar concept car which starred in the 007 movie Spectre has been reworked and made road legal by its original designer, Ian Callum, and is set to be displayed at the next Scramble event at Bicester Heritage on April 21. Ian Callum led the team which styled the C-X75, and now his design and engineering consultancy CALLUM has managed to convert it for road use on behalf of a collector. The experimental supercar was originally shown in 2010 as a collaboration with Williams Advanced Engineering and featured a wild gas-turbine hybrid powertrain delivering almost 800bhp. For a planned production model, Jaguar opted for a more conventional hybrid system featuring a 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine that was both turbocharged and supercharged to more than 500bhp, with electric motors adding another 350bhp,…

Shifting gears oneself was rarely, if ever done in a 1990s Jaguar. Manuals were available, but seldom specified: with the arrival of the S-Type 3.0 V6 in 1999, buyers were looking at the first all-new manual Jaguar sports saloon for more than a decade. IGM Pedigree Motors’ two-owner-from-new car was dispatched from Merritts Jaguar Limited on December 23, 1999. It had covered just over 80,000 miles by 2015, its owners servicing the car at franchised garages (Jaguar, Peugeot and Citroën) on age, rather than mileage intervals. As you might have guessed, the S-Type’s condition reflected such gentle use. Its Seafrost paint – a light, silver-turquoise hue arguably better suited to the model than contemporary XJs – still looks fresh and unfaded, the headlights and taillight clusters condensation free. On the…

Launching in 1972 and surviving for 12 years, the first-generation Renault 5 proved to be a major success, with almost 5.5 million sold. Unlike the Fiat 127 and most later rivals, the Renault employed a longitudinally-mounted engine, but in every other respect was a genuine supermini, with chic Michel Boué-penned looks, an entertaining driving style, hatchback versatility and a wide range of derivatives to choose from. Although the French-spec 782cc version was never imported, UK buyers would be offered 5s with 845, 956, 1108, 1289 and 1397cc engines over the years, as well as a wide range of trim levels and – in later life – a five-door version. It even helped to invent the hot hatch segment thanks to the launch of the Gordini (known as the Alpine in…

When people mourn the loss of the traditional sports cars of yesteryear, the Triumph TR line comes into conversation more than most. Of that lineage, it’s the TR5 that gets perhaps the most admiration, something the 1969 TR5 offered by specialist TRGB is surely very worthy of. Owned by the previous owner for eight years, this 1968-built example presents beautifully in Royal Blue, an unusual colour for these cars. TRGB describes it as a nice but useable example with character, and while it isn’t concours, this is a tidy and presentable TR5 that you won’t be scared to drive. The previous owners kept on top of cosmetics, with this TR5 benefitting from new chrome wire wheels, a dark blue mohair hood and brand-new original-spec tonneau cover that complement the tasteful…

FIVE STAR CLASSICS We take a look at the cars that opted for five cylinders rather than the regular four- or six-pot layouts, from the Mercedes W115 to the Mk2 Ford Focus ST. BUYING A JAGUAR MK2 The Jaguar Mk2 unlocked the potential of its Mk1 predecessor and turned it from a modest success into a major one. Here’s what you need to know when buying one. CLASSIC CHOICE The MX-5 has become established as the default modern classic roadster, but which generation – NA, NB or NC, makes the better buy? 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…