Innholdsfortegnelse for 8/7/2024 i Classic Car Buyer

With the Festival of the Unexceptional still fresh in the memory, I’ve noticed a fair bit of debate in the days following the show. Yes, there’s been some talk about the tickets, but more intriguing is the discussion over what constitutes an unexceptional classic. It’s almost become a hornet’s nest in its own right, similar to that age old question of what defines a classic car. Now I can’t really answer the latter with any major authority. Many have tried, and many have failed. But for unexceptional, I can attempt it. In my mind, it has to be a vehicle that didn’t pander to sporting driver, enthusiasts or collectors, but rather was built merely with performing a function in mind, and has survived very much against the odds. Now, many…

The Historic and Classic Vehicle Alliance, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to ensuring the survival of classic cars and the industries that support them, has announced a new Chief Executive Officer after a rigorous selection process. Dale Keller will be joining the HCVA after a very successful 12 years as CEO for the trade association the Board of Airline Representatives, where he has worked closely with government and regulatory bodies as well as helping to build a thriving community. He has guided the association through periods of significant change and challenge, including the recent pandemic. For the HCVA, Dale will be focusing on creating a strong relationship with the new government, building the membership and working closely with current members to ensure the HCVA is focused on the core areas that…

After 7000 hours of restoration and a 200mph goal that was finally realised, the Aston Martin Bulldog is returning to its owner in the United States. The legendary British car is on its way to Pebble Beach Concours in California, where it will be judged in the wedge-shaped concept car and prototype class. The Bulldog was produced in 1979 by Aston Martin and styled by William Towns. However, it failed to reach the 200mph goal set for it back in period, and was sold off by Aston Martin. American businessman and car collector Philip Sarofim acquired the Bulldog in 2019 and appointed Richard Gauntlett to manage the restoration, who chose Classic Motor Cars (CMC) in Bridgnorth to undertake it in 2020. It reached 162mph in November 2021 at the Yeovilton…

The Classic Car Loan Project, which offers young drivers the unique chance to live with a classic car for a whole year, has now seen a milestone 100 drivers borrow the keys to a historic vehicle. Founded seven years ago, the scheme has been hugely successful, with a roster of over 20 cars that includes a 1934 Singer Le Mans, 1947 Austin 8, 1956 Morris Minor and a 1955 Sunbeam Talbot Sports Saloon. The latter – resplendent in two-tone red and white – was recently handed over to Nic Ross Hamilton who became the 100th driver to make use of the Classic Car Loan Project’s unique service. The handover process took place at the British Motor Museum, a sponsor of the project since its inception. The Sunbeam Talbot was offered…

We encounter so many MGBs in this job, it takes a lot for a standard example to stand out, usually it’ll be in exceptional condition, have low mileage or boast a tasteful specification. But this rare 1975 GT Jubilee offered by Kim Cairns ticks all three boxes, being an extremely tidy, 15,000-mile example of arguably the nicest factory rubber-bumper B variant. The bodywork presents as well as you’d expect of such a little-used car, with a lovely polished shine to the British Racing Green paintwork, and absolutely zero dents on any panels, no rust showing whatsoever, and all gold Jubilee decals present, correct and bright. The rubber bumpers themselves sit tightly and squarely to the body and bare no scuffs or damage, with the only visual flaw on the exterior…

The original Mustang of 1964 was Ford of America’s first ‘pony car’, a model designed from the outset to be compact, stylish and affordable, but with a sporting twist. It was a brave move for any American manufacturer whose home market was dominated by gargantuan saloons, but the Mustang was a hit for Ford from day one. The newcomer was compact enough to also appeal to buyers on this side of the Atlantic, hence its third-place finish in the 1965 European Car of the Year contest. Ford didn’t rest on its corporate laurels, however; the first-generation model underwent numerous upgrades and restyles before being finally replaced by the short-lived Mustang II in 1974. At its US launch in April 1964, the Ford Mustang was available with a choice of hardtop…

We’re used to seeing iconic nameplates revived these days, but Lotus would be ahead of the curve when brought back its iconic Elan nameplate in the late-1980s – thankfully, not on an SUV, but on a forward-thinking roadster. The 1991 example of the M100 Elan offered by Allon White looks a great way to sample this often-forgotten gem – yes, it’s front-wheel drive, but the M100 was an exceptionally well-developed, fine-handling machine, and the CCB team all agree that doesn’t matter when it’s this much fun. The Isuzu-sourced 1.6-litre turbocharged engine in this car has just 58,500 miles on the clock, which is further bolstered by a service book shod with 17 stamps, meaning this example will be in fine health. The inclusion of myriad invoices, the original handbook and…

Many Morgan owners keep their cars for decades, if not for life, amassing countless stories with their car along the way. The 1971 Plus 8 offered by Richard Thorne is one such example of a Morgan with a story. An early example complete with the collectable Moss gearbox, it was originally supplied to Missouri and moved to Oregon in later life, before the current owner bought it from Dennis Glavis Morgan in California and imported it to Britain in 2010. Accordingly, this car is left-hand drive, but given the amount of touring many Morgan owners do, that could be more a help than a hinderance. Its American origins and low mileage of just 30,000 are evidenced by straight, rot-free bodywork, with the car presenting extremely well in white with lattice-spoke…

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE The recent Hobbs Parker Summer Auction Preview video on our Classics World YouTube channel prompted several responses on viewer’s favourite cars, as well as the sale itself; user @TheGov1967 said: “A refreshing change this channel, it actually relates to cars most people can relate to,” while @TonyDavis8853 had a clear favourite: “Good selection of classics, especially the Zodiac, so rare now!” User @AledPritchard agreed with our Phil on the car of the sale: “I love that Audi S8! What a car. Whoever buys that is a lucky person with great taste, and a great car.” But it was the Jaguar X-Type Estate for @rustybearden1800 – “I have a weak spot for AWD wagons – and it’s a Jaaaag!” MEMORY LANE Following its less than graceful transition to…

SHARING IS CARING We celebrate the cars sporting engines from other manufacturers, from the Ferrari-powered Lancia Thema to the MG ZT with its Mustang V8. CLASSIC CHOICE We compare three compact estates of the ‘60s, but does the Mini Traveller, Hillman Husky or Fiat 500 Giardiniera come out ahead? ASTRA NOMICAL Once ubiquitous but now rare, the Vauxhall Astra Mk4 is an icon of the early-2000s pre-SUV family car era. We show how to buy a great one. 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 new event is offering classic fans the chance to spend a memorable day in the picturesque Leicestershire countryside with like-minded owners and enthusiasts. The first ever Classics World Picnic will be held on Sunday September 22 at the picturesque Mallory Park race circuit. This informal, friendly social event will bring together hundreds of classic car enthusiasts, with all classics registered in 2004 or earlier invited to exhibit. The gathering will be a great chance to meet members of the Classic Car Buyer and Classics World editorial team, who will be reporting on the event and awarding prizes for the best classics on show. While this is a casual, static event that celebrates the very best in classic cars and has its own dedicated area, tickets also allow access to…

Quotation supplied by Lancaster Insurance  Web: lancasterinsurance.co.uk | Tel: 01480 400761 Example quote: £124 or £142 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.…

Hagerty’s Festival of the Unexceptional – a unique celebration of forgotten ‘ordinary’ motors – enjoyed a stellar 10th anniversary outing at Grimsthorpe Castle on July 27. A record attendance of almost 1900 cars and more than 4000 guests of all ages enjoyed an extended feature-packed event, with the Lincolnshire venue basked in sunshine. Hagerty created the first Festival of the Unexceptional back in 2014, when 300 cars were present at Whittlebury Park. Since then, the event has been held at three more venues and grown exponentially both in size and reputation, culminating with thousands of FOTU cars lining Grimsthorpe’s front lawns. Many had covered long distances to be a part of the 2014 event – we even saw Swiss, Dutch and German-plated classics make an appearance. A packed live stage…

SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER AT WWW.CLASSICSWORLD.CO.UK Two of the most iconic brands in the automotive industry – Recaro and BBS – face battles to stay in business after both companies’ financial troubles were revealed within four days of each other. German manufacturer Recaro, whose seats were a staple fitment to many sporty classics of the ’70s,’80s and ’90s, has filed for bankruptcy, while fellow German firm and famous wheel builder BBS also faces uncertainty, the business having fallen into insolvency for the fifth time since 2007. Recaro, which has long supplied major brands including BMW, Ford and Volkswagen, was approved for self-administration by the Esslingen District Court on July 30, having been in the hands of a private investment corporation for the last four years. Back in January 2020,…

The car industry has introduced all manner of technological and engineering innovations in the last 140 years, but they all have to start somewhere. Some ideas work straight out of the box, while some need refining before they hit the mainstream. Here, we’ve looked at nine classics that can justifiably be described as ahead of their time, whether it’s their construction, features, genre, styling or a combination of several different elements that made them stand out. Some of these early adopters proved to be more successful than others, but all of them made an impact… AUDI A2 (1995-2005) Given that it still looks fresh today, it’s hard to believe that it’s almost 25 years since the Audi A2 was introduced, promising to give the small car tree a damn good…

MERCEDES W123 (1976-1985) By the mid-1970s, Mercedes had established its reputation for engineering and quality that ensured the prestigious status of the three-pointed star – a Mercedes commanded a hefty premium over rivals, but many would argue it was twice as good. With the W116 S-Class earning the title of ‘best car in the world’ from many critics, the new mid-size executive car sought to continue this trend. The W123 looked immediately like a Mercedes, with its smart yet uncluttered lines, distinctive ribbed lights that remained visible even when dirty, large central grille with the Mercedes emblem and details like the body trims that deflected road spray away from the windows. There was technology to go with the quality, too – electric windows, heated seats, anti-lock brakes and power sunroof…

 1964 - Mustang hardtop and convertible launch in April; fastback follows in August.  1965 - Entry-level 170cu in engine replaced by 200cu in, and new 289cu in (200bhp) V8 arrives. 1967 - Minor restyle brings longer front end to accommodate bigger (up to 428cu. in) V8. 1968 - Mustang GT Fastback achieves global fame with Steve McQueen in Bullitt. 1969 - Even longer new-style front end is added; Mach 1 edition brings extra power and add-ons. 1970 - New 351cu.in Cleveland V8 debuts, along with minor front-end restyle.  1971 - New-look Mustang launched, with wider hardtop, convertible and SportsRoof body styles. 1972 - 429 big-block and Boss versions dropped; 351cu in is now biggest engine option. 1973 - Minor restyling via new bumpers and trim; smaller Mustang II successor readies…

Before it made rebadged Fiats, Lancias represented style, character and forward-thinking engineering. This ethos stretches back to pre-war, as perfectly embodied in the stunning 1937 Aprilia offered by Richard Thorne. Marketed as the first 80mph small capacity saloon car, the Aprilia was designed in a wind tunnel, and had a body so well-engineered and designed that it could do without a B-pillar. This cherry red example looks extremely tidy, with good panel gaps throughout, a lovely shine to the paint, straight bumpers and just a hint of honest patina to the brightwork. Originally an Italian-market car, this Aprilia presents extremely well and appears totally rust-free. The present owner acquired this car in 2016, and promptly spent tens of thousands on a full rebuild for the 1.3-litre V4 engine, meaning it…