Innholdsfortegnelse for 7/10/2024 i Classic Car Buyer

It’s easy to say that the modern car industry is a sea of grey SUVs, and it very often is. However, while car design is hardly at its peak right now – can someone have a word with BMW? – I’d argue that colour is experiencing a resurgence. Fiat recently announced that it will no longer offer grey on its cars in an attempt to brighten things up, and that’s just the start. Porsche offers a fantastic range of bright colours, from the vivid Lizard Green, to the stunning Miami Blue, but don’t assume the interesting shades are reserved for exotic cars; almost every car in the current Peugeot range has a brilliant colour available, such as the pearlescent yellow on the 208 supermini or metallic brown on the –…

A-Series pistons Mini Spares has sourced a new manufacturer for its ‘Evolution’ range of lightweight die-cast pistons for the 1275cc A-Series. Available in plus-0.020-, plus 0.040- and plus-0.060-inch sizes, they feature a redesigned crown and ring lands to increase strength and guard against detonation. Each also includes rings and a gudgeon pin. How much? £59.40 each Where from? minispares.com / 01707 607700 Alpine manifold The latest addition to Webcon’s Weber intake manifolds is a one-piece item that allows a pair of 40DCOE carburettors to be fitted to the 1725cc Sunbeam Alpine. It’s available as a single unit or complete with a pair of carbs, the separately available Webcon rod linkage system and a set of soft mounts. How much? from £483.40 Where from? webcon.co.uk / 01932 787100 LED reverse lamp…

FIVA, the international federation for historic vehicles, has announced nine new additions to its Hall of Fame for 2024. From a total of 29 nominations from 16 countries around the world, FIVA’s international judging panel voted for the individuals – both living and no longer with us – that they believe to have made the most historically significant impact on the world of motoring. There are six ‘living legends’ who have been inducted. Europeans include Frenchman Jean Todt, the former FIA president who led Ferrari to 14 Formula 1 World Championship titles, and Italian Paolo Martin, who began designing cars in 1960 at Studio Michelotti and became head of the Pininfarina Style Centre at just 24 years old. His most famous models include the Fiat 130 Coupe and Rolls-Royce Camargue.…

Following the end of the Freelander badge to make way for the Discovery Sport in 2015, Land Rover has announced that the name will return imminently. Similar – but not the same, JLR insists – to its recent separation of Defender and Range Rover into standalone sub-brands, cars will be badged purely ‘Freelander’, and will neither be built in, nor initially intended for Britain. The new Freelander sub-brand will produce EVs in conjunction with Chinese manufacturer, Chery. The brand will spawn a range of electric cars based on Chery’s existing EV architecture, initially manufactured and sold exclusively in China, with plans to export them globally in the future. Chery and JLR have been involved in a joint venture named CJLR since 2012, resulting in a factory in the city of…

So you’ve been priced out of the E-Type market long ago, but you hanker after a ’60s British sports coupe with six-cylinder power and style to match. Not a lot of affordable choices, are there? There’s the MGC GT of course, loved and loathed in equal measure, and the evergreen Reliant Scimitar but otherwise your choice is limited to low-volume models like Gilberns, the Bond Equipe and the TVR Vixen. Except, that is, for the oft-overlooked Triumph GT6. Either a hotter version of the Spitfire or a more stylish reworking of the Vitesse depending on which way you look at it, the GT6 tends to be overshadowed in Triumph’s sports car history by the TR models, which makes it a great left-field choice for someone wanting to be that little…

When Jaguar introduced the all-new XK8 in 1996 as a direct replacement for the 21-year-old XJS, the company was suddenly thrust back into the limelight. The XK8 was available in either coupé or soft-top guise from day one, with each powered by an all-new 294bhp 4.0-litre V8 (known as the AJ-V8), linked to a five-speed ZF automatic gearbox, endowing the XK8 with an artificially limited top speed of 155mph and a 0-60mph sprint time of just 6.4 seconds. The go-faster XKR derivatives catered to those with a hunger for even more power within a few months, boasting a whopping 370bhp via the addition of a supercharger. With styling also suitably upgraded via various testosterone-filled aesthetic tweaks, the XKR was Jaguar’s ultimate high-performance sportster. Both the XK8 and XKR ranges proved…

We sadly live in an age where Ford, like so many others, has abandoned its bigger saloons and hatches in favour of divisive SUVs, so it makes it all the more tempting to take a pleasurable trip to the past, and the Mk3 Granada offered by Yorkshire Classic & Sports Cars (YCSC) could be the perfect way to do so. According to various sources, this is the only Mk3 Granada 2.9i Ghia 4x4 registered on the road, making it a truly unique opportunity. Let’s unpack that name – the ‘2.9i’ part denotes the lovely 2.9-litre V6, the biggest engine offered in the Granada and in this case, having covered just 86,000 miles from new. The vast service history confirms both its mileage and excellent maintenance, with a glance under the…

We encounter a lot of MGBs in this job, so for an example to stand out it has to be particularly special – and this black roadster offered by Milestone Classics looks like it is. Originally a rubber bumper example, it was discovered in a barn by a previous owner and extensively restored in 2005, benefiting from extensive rust repairs and panel replacement where necessary, before a conversion to chrome bumpers. Despite being a near 20-year-old restoration, the quality of the work done shines through – there are no obvious signs of rust creeping in, the panel gaps look neat, the chromework – including the retrofitted luggage rack – all still has a deep shine. The wire wheels are a lovely finishing touch, too. Inside, the restoration also saw the…

TRAVEL COMPANIONS As the summer holidays near, the CCB team pick their favourite classics for a summer getaway, whether traveling solo or with the family. CLASSIC CHOICE We compare three cool coupe favourites of the 1990s, but will the VW Corrado, Vauxhall Calibra or Toyota Celica come out on top? THIRTY WORK The charming Austin A30 and A35 helped mobilise families in the 1950s, and today are much-loved classics. We show what you need to know to buy a good example. DOWNLOAD THE DIGITAL ISSUE OF CLASSIC CAR BUYER FROM AS LITTLE AS £1.37! Visit shop.kelsey.co.uk/classic-car-buyer-magazine The printed version of Classic Car Buyer is available in ASDA, Tesco, Morrisons and WH Smiths, plus all good newsagents…

A prototype of a British sports car will be joined by a pre-production example of an iconic British grand tourer when Historics hosts its next auction at its own Windsorview Lakes venue in Berkshire on July 20. First up is an MGB GT V8, registered in February 1973 and one of just 12 sent to selected police forces by British Leyland for operational evaluation. The pre-production example underwent a major restoration in 2009-2013, with invoices totalling some £23,000. Presenting, unsurprisingly, in white with a navy interior, it comes with its police sign and light on the roof, and the police radio is still fitted inside. It’s estimated at £23,000-£28,000. Perhaps even more notable is a Lotus Elan M100 prototype dating from 1986–three years ahead of the launch of the production…

SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER AT WWW.CLASSICSWORLD.CO.UK Two major Ford milestones are to be celebrated as the highly anticipated FordFest roars back on Sunday September 22. Taking place at its new home of Mallory Park in Leicestershire, the feature-packed event will involve a battle of the fastbacks as it marks 60 years of the Mustang, and 55 years of its European equivalent, the Capri. The family friendly event is being billed as a grand celebration of Ford’s illustrious history, covering blue ovals from all eras. Indeed, the ‘Finest Ford Coupes Collection’ will not only pay homage to the Capri and Mustang, but under-appreciated gems like the Puma and Cougar too. Meanwhile, the show will also pay tribute to Ford’s long history of hot hatches, bringing together iconic models such as…

Under-17s driving company Young Driver has announced its Exclusive Collection, a programme designed to enthuse 10–17-year-olds about the joy of driving. After initial training in a Vauxhall Corsa, the Exclusive Collection will offer kids the choice of piloting one of three sports and luxury cars: a Porsche 996 911 Carrera 4, a Mercedes-Benz SL500 or a Bentley Continental Flying Spur. All the cars are equipped with dual controls, and young people are accompanied during 30-minute one-to-one sessions, within which they will be encouraged to experience the performance of their chosen car. “We really want young people to get excited about driving again,” said Ian Mulingani, Young Driver’s MD. “Our normal Corsa drives are a popular way to engage kids with driving before they take to the road, and the Young…

Quotation supplied by Lancaster Insurance Web: lancasterinsurance.co.uk | Tel: 01480 400761 Example quote: £346 or £364 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.…

Back in the ’70s, ‘economy runs’ were big news, with several oil companies sponsoring events in which journalists competed to eke the most miles from the carefully brimmed tank of a press car. The results would often be used in advertising by the car makers and so it was all a very serious business, with RAC officials sealing the filler caps and drivers employing all kinds of dubious techniques like coasting down hills with the engine off, and never mind the lack of brakes. Which is why we were pleased to hear the GCCG – the group for LGBTQ+ classic car enthusiasts – has revived the idea, albeit in a more light-hearted fashion. Entrants brimmed their tanks at a specified filling station, then went on a three-hour drive around the…

As the revolutionary, technicolour haze of the ’60s drew to a close, anything and everything looked possible in the ’70s. Manufacturers got their house in order with a series of new cars launched in readiness for the new decade, with everything from compact family saloons to meaty sports cars. As these cars now reach their 55th birthdays, we’ve picked out eight of the biggest launches from the class of 1969. Some were ultimately more successful than others, but all are deserving of a trip back in time. FORD CAPRI With production beginning in 1968 and sales starting early in 1969, the Capri’s combination of fastback style and attainability for a wide demographic would see it become an icon of the 1970s and beyond. It was also something of a trend-setter…

AUSTIN MAESTRO (1983-1994) With Ford’s all-star Mk3 Escort dominating the family car charts and cars like the Vauxhall Astra also on song, British Leyland floundered with the ageing Allegro and Maxi, and needed a fresh offering. Development costs for project LC10 were shared with LM11 to create a saloon successor to the Marina/Ital, resulting in the Austin Maestro and Montego respectively. Styled by Ian Beech under the direction of BL designer David Bache, the Maestro was an undeniable step forward. Sharp new lines and modern light clusters marked the new car out, although the slightly dumpy silhouette left consumers divided when compared to European rivals. The interior, meanwhile, was a mixed bag – the dials were sharp, the switchgear new and the trim offered a variety of styles, but rattly…

1980 - Jaguar begins work to produce a spiritual successor to the all-conquering E-Type. XJ41/XJ42 project begins to take shape. 1989 - XJ41/XJ42 concept shelved, used instead to form the basis of the Aston Martin DB7. 1992 - Work begins on the X100 project. 1996 - Production-ready Jaguar XK8 revealed at the Geneva Motor Show, XK8 sales begin towards the end of 1996. 1997 - Go-faster Jaguar XKR introduced with 370bhp supercharged V8 power. 2000 - 2001 model-year facelift arrives 2002 - 2003 model-year facelift introduced 2004 - XK8 given a final light facelift including styling updates, new wheels and paint finishes. 2005 - Advanced Lightweight Coupe concept shown at Detroit Motorshow in January. Final Jaguar X100-generation XK – a Zircon Blue XKR model – is built in May.…

While the Ami was a posher 2CV, the Renault 6 took the underpinnings of the 4 and made them a bit more special – and we can think of no better word to describe the delightful 6TL offered by Milestone Classics. A rare top-sec facelift example with the more useable 1108cc engine, it was imported from France by a Gallic car fan some years ago, when it was found in a barn having been put aside in favour of the then-owner’s Renault 25. Once a deal was done and the car imported, extensive work took place that included major body restoration work to the wings, doors, bonnet and bootlid, all of which, remarkably, were repaired and retained rather than replaced. The corroded floorpans were repaired or replaced, before the whole…

CREWE’S FINEST The recent Bentley Corniche Coupe road test video on our Classics World YouTube channel prompted numerous comments on how the often-forgotten Shadow-based coupe could be the ultimate in Crewe-built luxury; @martinclapton2724 said “This is what Rolls-Royce and Bentley should be about, sheer class!”, whereas @ranjanaluwihare1511 took it one further: “How lovely, true motoring at its best! Wonderful with understated elegance!”. Perhaps our favourite comment, however, came from a car fan who didn’t even own a car, user @roygardiner2229: “Thanks for a truly memorable review. I am no car expert and don’t own a car. But I know excellence when I see it. I adore this car.” MEMORY LANE While the Corolla Hybrid is the Toyota estate you’ll most often see today, in 1983 the brand was promoting its…