Innholdsfortegnelse for 3/27/2024 i Classic Car Buyer

We’ve spent the last few issues encouraging you to get out and embrace the classic car hobby now that winter is over – there are countless events and shows underway (Rustival was a success, our VolksWorld Show reunited the VW community and Japfest Silverstone is looming) and joy of joys, the classics are back out in force. On a simple drive to Aldi, I passed a Sierra Sapphire Cosworth, followed a Mercedes 190E out of a petrol station and parked next to a satisfyingly clattery XUD-powered Peugeot 205. In just half an hour, my day was improved. I firmly believe that driving classic cars around makes the world a better place – nobody would’ve cared if the chap in the Mercedes was driving a modern C63, but the ‘80s car…

Brake Pipe Cutter Sealey’s pipe cutter features a smooth screw action and nickel-plated blade for increased cutting performance, and its design ensures that the spring mechanism always maintains the correct cutting pressure on the pipe — just the job if you like making up your own brake lines. How much? £43.14 Where? sealey.co.uk / 01284 757500 7.5x13 four-spoke wheels These superb 7.5x13 four-spoke alloys replicate the original X-pack rims as offered in the Series X kits for the Escort and Capris. They feature angled spokes to create a bigger dish, and ensure serious arch-filling potential. Choose from a black finish with machined detailing or silver. How much? £484.32 for set of four Where? johnbrownwheels.com / 01926 817444 W-plate for Essex V6 The carburettor ‘W plate’ is essential to ensure the…

A Jaguar E-Type driven by Stirling Moss is to feature among the historic display cars at the second Bicester Scramble of 2024, which coincides with Drive It Day on Sunday, April 21. As well as Stirling, the car was also piloted by Win Percy, whose motorsport CV includes drives at Le Mans for Jaguar and three BTCC titles, plus wins at the Bathhurst 100 and Spa 24 Hours. The car istelf was prepared by renowned E-Type specialist Jeremy Broad and further developed by the legendary Peter Lander of Sigma and Jaguar experts Pearsons Engineering to incorporate Sir Stirling’s suggested modifications. Bicester’s Jack Phillips said: “Bicester Heritage was fortunate enough to have welcomed Sir Stirling Moss in 2016, when he attended Flywheel and was reunited with his famous and pioneering Jaguar…

Hagerty has announced that the 10th anniversary edition of its Festival of the Unexceptional – a car show where mundane motors take pride of place – will feature Jonny Smith and Richard Porter as main stage guests when it is held at Grimsthorpe Castle in Lincolnshire on July 27. Former Top Gear script editor Porter and ex-Fifth Gear presenter Smith, hosts of popular automotive podcast Smith and Sniff, will present a trio of interactive stage shows. These include ‘The Wheeltrim of Misfortune’ in which the audience have to answer questions taken from Porter’s Boring Car Trivia series, plus Chod Swap Shop – a tribute to the ‘80s classic kids’ TV show Swap Shop, where showgoers are invited to bring along FOTU car-related items they would like to swap for something…

BUDGET CHOICE TOYOTA MR2 MK3 (1999-2007) Thanks to the Mazda MX-5, small, fun roadsters became the fashionable thing during the 1990s. There are many you can pick from as affordable modern classics today, but the MX-5 is rot-prone and a bit too obvious, the MGF isn’t quite sharp enough for my taste and the seating position too high, the BMW Z3 suffers from slightly too much scuttle shake in standard form, the Mercedes SLK is definitely more a cruiser and the Fiat Barchetta drives more like a tidy hot hatch than sports car. For me, the best roadster of this era – and my budget driver’s car choice – is the often-forgotten Toyota MR2 Mk3. The Mk1 MR2 (codenamed ‘AW11’) came out of nowhere, clothing a fun, fizzy mid-engine chassis…

Alfa Romeo’s range at the turn of the millennium offered some tempting choices – 156 and GTV amongst them – but in 2003 the decision became a little harder with the launch of the GT. Making its debut at that year’s Geneva Motor Show and going into production at Pomigliano d’Arco in the November, the new coupe borrowed the Fiat C platform also used for the 156 and clothed it in attractive bodywork penned by Bertone. The result was a model that not only looked good but boasted a decent helping of practicality, even if rear accommodation was a little on the tight side for some adults. But for many of the ‘Alfisti’ it’s what’s under the bonnet that really matters, and the GT didn’t disappoint. During its run the…

We often describe revised later version of Jaguars as “the car it should’ve been from the start”, and the same can be said of the Aston Martin DB7 GT. Classic & Sportscar Centre’s 2003 example arguably shows the DB7 at its best – the GT was the final roll of the dice for Aston’s coupe and a few visual tweaks – including a mesh grille, ducktail bootlid spoiler, lightweight wheels and a vented bonnet – serve only to enhance what was already a gorgeous car. C&SC’s car appears to have preserved those lovely lines fantastically, fresh from a full-body detail and described as showroom condition with first class bodywork and paintwork. The plastic headlights on DB7s can cloud up, but these ones look decent, and those massive but lightweight wheels…

Post-war people’s cars are a real sweet spot for great value classics, avoiding the demand for 1960s cars, but cheaper and easier to own than most pre-war models. The 1949 Ford Prefect offered by Classicwise is a case in point, on sale for a little over half what its 1960s equivalent would cost. Finished in black, Classicwise describes the bodywork of this Prefect as in overall good condition, with some areas of original paintwork that would require attention if you wanted perfection, but there’s an undeniable charm in a car with some original patina. There’s enough brightwork between the chrome trimmings and silver steel wheels – with body-coloured hubcaps – that this little car stands out in a pleasing way. Classicwise also adds that the body is rot-free, so there’s…

Fears that in-person DVLA document support at approximately 5000 Post Offices could be lost from the end of the month have been allayed after a new deal was struck. There had been concerns that services such as vehicle tax renewals that were available over the counter would instead be handled by the DVLA’s website and phone lines only, but Owen Woodley, Deputy CEO at Post Office, recently announced to Postmasters that a new contract between the Post Office and DVLA had been agreed and will run until March 31, 2025. The deal covers vehicle tax and ten-year renewal products such as driving licences, and will start from April 1, 2024. International Driving Permits are not included in the new contract and are subject to a separate procurement exercise, the outcome…

You’ll need to be quick off the mark if you want to bid on one of a collection of a dozen cars from a deceased estate in Devon being put under the hammer by Charterhouse at the Haynes Motor Museum – the sale takes place as this issue hits the newsstands (Wednesday, March 27). “The owner retired to Devon a few years ago and gradually grew his collection,” explained Charterhouse’s Richard Bromell. “He was fortunate to have a large barn which he gradually filled. “Sadly, he recently passed away and his widow asked Charterhouse to auction his 12-car collection without reserve.” All the cars, bar one, are British from the 1950s to the 1980s. They comprise a brace of Jaguar XJ-Ss, a Rover P4, two P5Bs and a P6, a…

BUDGET CHOICE AUDI TT MK1 ‘8N’ (1998-2006) First up, as my budget choice, is the Audi TT, specifically a Mk1 coupe and preferably the 1.8 four-cylinder turbo, either the 180bhp or 225bhp. I have one and simply love it. If anything, I think they’ve got better with age. The earliest examples are now coming up to 25 years old, yet if the TT was revealed at a motor show today, you’d think it was still a modern car, such are its distinctive, unapologetically curvaceous lines. The interior is a joy, simply one of the best cabins made by any manufacturer in my humble opinion. The soft-plastic fascia still boasts modern safety kit such as airbags, but there are neat touches such as the alloy flap for the radio, and the…

BUDGET CHOICE BMW E36 3 SERIES COMPACT (1993-2000) Misunderstood by many and traditionally derided by purists, the E36 Compact was BMW’s answer to early movements at the posher end of the hatchback market. Aimed squarely at the Volkswagen Golf and later its Audi A3 cousin, the Compact was something of a half-way house between 3 Series generations in mechanical terms; today, it’s still an underappreciated bargain when compared to its full-size E30 and E36 counterparts. Contrary to popular belief, the car’s wheelbase is no shorter than that of a standard E36, with the difference in overall length attributable to the Compact’s docked tail. There are mechanical differences at the rear, however, as the Compact uses the E30’s semi-trailing arm suspension rather than E36’s multi-link set-up. Received enthusiast wisdom says this…

By our reckoning, there are just three car-derived vans you can buy new nowadays, and you’d recognise none of them as commercial vehicles unless someone told you. But rewind to the 1960s, and virtually every manufacturer offered a car-derived van or pick-up. BMC sold as many as four different types – two of which we’ll cover here – and the likes of Ford, Rootes and General Motors all threw their hats into the ring. Much of the reason for such prolificacy was tax – commercial vehicles were not subject to burdensome purchase tax, meaning small businesses could take advantage, and so could the family man who wasn’t bothered about rear side windows. Purchase tax was gradually abolished, only to be replaced by VAT, but car-based commercials would still prove to…

Quotation supplied by Lancaster Insurance Web: lancasterinsurance.co.uk | Tel: 01480 809176 Example quote: £225.00 or £253.00 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.…

Three of the eight historic cars that were previously stored at the Longbridge factory by MG Motor UK were unveiled at the British Motor Museum for the very first time on Tuesday, March 12. The MG TF GT prototype, Mini ‘Hot Rod’ and the MG RDX60 prototype were revealed during the venue’s special Longbridge Legacies evening, which formed part of its ‘Museum Lates’ series and celebrated the Longbridge factory, its achievements and its impact on the local community. First shown in 2004, the MG TF GT concept gave the TF roadster a hard-top coupe body and a KV6 six-pot engine, though this was reportedly later changed for a four-cylinder K-Series unit. The RDX60, meanwhile, is a running model showed to the dealers and investors in 2003, with some sleuthing by…

SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER AT WWW.CLASSICSWORLD.CO.UK The 30th edition of the VolksWorld Show took place at Sandown Park in Esher on March 15-17, overcoming fears surrounding the first ever planned weekend closure on the M25 to bring together Volkswagen fans from across the UK and Europe. Billed as ‘the UK’s biggest and best VW show’, the event filled the halls of the Surrey venue with over 100 of the highest quality Volkswagen show cars, several restored or completed for the 2024 show. Feature highlights included the ‘Back To ‘89’ display, showcasing cars modified in period with the unique styles of the era, as well as the Buyer’s Guide Live by show sponsor, Heritage Parts Centre. Here, attendees could get buying advice and knowledge from the experts. Judging of the…

Great Yarmouth’s Wheels Festival is calling for classic, wacky and contemporary vehicle owners to join the free two-day motoring event, held on the Norfolk resort’s seafront on June 29-30. The are more than 250 vehicles already in the line-up, but the aim this year is to increase it further, making it one of the biggest festivals of its kind in the UK. Last year, some 50,000 locals, day-trippers and holidaymakers flocked to the event. The seafront will be closed to traffic, allowing attendees to view a diverse selection of cars that will include British icons and American muscle. Highlights include the antics of the Stanage Stunt Team – new for 2024 - plus the return of the Ken Fox Wall of Death ride. It runs from 10am to 4pm, with…

BUDGET CHOICE MGF (1995-2002) Yes, I know. The obvious choice for a budget drivers’ car… surely it’s the Mazda MX-5 isn’t it? Littering the free ads in their hundreds, Mazda’s ‘traditional British sports car without the oil leaks’ certainly ticks the box for affordability and is universally acknowledged to offer old school driving pleasures. As a budget fun drivers’ car though, I don’t reckon it’s the best choice today. The oil leaks may indeed be absent, but the body rot can be just as alarming as the traditional MG and Triumph fare the Mazda was supposed to replace, and a rusty one can be financially unviable to restore. Yes, there are nicely preserved standard Mk1 ‘NA’ MX-5s around and even a few restored cars now, but they’re no longer in…

BUDGET CHOICE FORD PUMA 1.7 (1997-2002) When shopping for a drivers’ car on a budget, you need it to be more than the sum of its parts – and that’s where I firmly believe the Ford Puma scores. On paper, it’s all too easy to dismiss it as little more than a go-faster Mk4 Fiesta with modest power outputs and a reputation for rampant rust. But that all seems rather silly when you get behind the wheel. One of the leading examples of Ford’s driver-led 1990s renaissance, the Puma was an instant hit, and it’s not hard to see why. The pretty ‘New Edge’ styling won it many fans, but that was only part of the story. Group Editor Wager was on the press launch back in 1997 and recalls…

MERCEDES W126 S-CLASS (1979-1991) After officialising the ‘S-Class’ moniker with 1972’s W116 – a car that immediately made the luxury car establishment like Rolls-Royce and Bentley look rather old-fashioned – Mercedes began work on its successor within a year. The 1973 oil crisis prompted a focus on better fuel economy, while improvements to the ride and handling balance were also targeted. Head Designer Bruno Sacco wanted an aerodynamic, modern shape that was still instantly recogniseable as a Mercedes S-Class, and the result, codenamed W126, was exactly that. The overall profile was imposing but simple, with few body lines and the rounded nose sharing the same light profile and grille shape as the W116, but with smoother, more streamlined edges. Details like the upswept front bumper, wipers hidden beneath the bonnet…

2003 - The GT is introduced in March 2003 Geneva Motor Show, before going on sale in 2004. Initially, it is available with 2.0-litre JTS, 3.2-litre V6 and 1.9-litre diesel engines.  2006 - 1.9 JTD Q2 version launched with a limited-slip differential. 2007 - New Black Line trim level made available. 1.8-litre Twin Spark engine now an option. 2008 - Cloverleaf model launched with new trim levels, lowered suspension, bodykit, and 18-inch alloy wheels. 2010 - Production of the GT ceases.…

As cars continue to change, it’s refreshing to find one that stays exactly how we like it; the Morgan 4/4 is the longest-produced single car in history, and this1994 1.8-litre Zetec-powered example has been fastidiously maintained to ensure it’s here for as long as possible. This car’s previous owners have kept every MoT, tax disc, service document, invoice and every scrap of paperwork associated with this car, reassuring to see on a car with such specific requirements. The bodywork looks cared-for, too – the dark blue paintwork has a lovely lustre and the body lines look straight and unblemished. The generous helping of chromework looks well-polished, including the grille and bumpers which can suffer from pitting. The red wire wheels won’t be to everyone’s taste, but they’re distinctive and we’d…

BRILLIANT BEETLE The VW Beetle road test video on our Classics World YouTube channel last week provoked plenty of comments following Joe calling it “the most iconic car ever”; user @adarbs6384 said “I wouldn’t say most iconic, I’d say ONE of the most. What about the Mini, 2CV and Renault 4?” An interesting point, although we’d argue that the Beetle, being the most-produced single car in history and perhaps the most recognised, is worth of the ‘most iconic’ title. What do our readers think? FORGOTTEN FIVE Following our five-cylinder cars feature in the March 20 issue, Alice Stanley got in touch to remind us of a five-pot we’d missed: “you mentioned the Focus ST and its Volvo C30 sister, but the C30 – along with several other Volvos of the…

VIKING LONGSHIPS We celebrate Rover saloons through the ages, from the landmark P4 to the send-off 75. SMART MONEY There’s plenty to love about the quirky Smart Roadster, but it’s not without its issues. We show you how to buy the plastic, fantastic sports car. CLASSIC CHOICE A trio of early superminis do battle, but will the Mk1 Ford Fiesta, Austin Metro or VW Polo emerge as the best classic today? 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…