Innholdsfortegnelse for 9/18/2024 i Classic Car Buyer

Everything you see and hear these days – particularly on social media – suggests that people simply aren’t interested in helping others. People litter, don’t let others out of side turnings, panic buy fuel when there’s a shortage, and so on. However, a recent occurrence in my life suggested that you can still rely on the goodwill of strangers. My ever-reliable Mercedes W123 suffered its first mechanical failure in my ownership in the form of a failed alternator that left me stranded in my local high street. I was stood by the car for no more than five minutes, but lost count of the number of people driving or walking past offering help in the form of a push, a phone to call someone, even a tow. Being so close…

The world’s oldest Bentley T-Series, a standard saloon in Shell Grey, has returned to Crewe after 59 years. Sympathetically restored and retaining much of its original componentry and running gear, it has been reunited with its former press office registration number of 1900 TU and added to the Bentley Heritage Collection. T-Series chassis number SBH1001 was used as a company trials car and featured in the original press coverage following the model launch at the 1965 Paris Salon de l’Auto. When found under a cover in storage, the car had not run for decades and was missing parts in several key areas – including its entire interior. The car’s significance as the first T-Series off the production line prompted the decision to recommission it, preserving as much of the original…

Continuing the vein of past models inspiring new ones, Volkswagen has presented a one-off ID.3 GTX1 FIRE+ICE. Developed in collaboration with BOGNER, the Munich-based luxury sports fashion brand, the car is reminiscent of the legendary Mk2 Golf Fire and Ice, which has since achieved cult status among fans. The original Mk2 Fire and Ice was launched in 1990 for the German market, and featured a dark violet pearl effect paint finish, alloy wheels and a frankly bonkers purple and blue interior. It became a surprise success, with a total of 16,700 units sold against the planned 10,000. The ID.3’s interior is not quite as bold, but it does feature a custom violet hue in tribute to the Mk2, and what VW calls “surprising” details.…

Meyers Manx – the American firm known for its famous Volkswagen Beetle-based dune buggy – is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2024. Celebrations started in style at the Goodwood Revival on September 6, with over 80 examples of the iconic vehicle taking to the track in a parade led by Meyers Manx chairman Phillip Sarofim, the Duke of Richmond and Gordon in a new Meyers Manx Resorter. At the Revival’s recreation of the Earls Court Motor Show, wraps were taken off the Meyers Manx 2.0 Electric Prototype. The new car follows industry trends for electrified, classically styled vehicles, with a “seamless blend of heritage and forward-thinking design” according to the brand. “Goodwood Revival is the perfect stage to honour 60 years of Meyers Manx while showcasing the future with our…

The dawn of a new decade always brings with it a sense of anticipation, and that’s often reflected by the world of motoring. As the new millennium beckoned, manufacturers treated enthusiasts to a slew of new models from the sensible to the rather more exotic. Here, we’ve gathered 10 cars that were unveiled on the cusp of the year 2000, ranging from simple superminis to sports cars. Some are now established modern classics, while others are rather more open to debate in that respect. Nevertheless, join us as we reunite the class of ’99. AUDI A2 We could have picked the excellent Audi S3 as one of our class of 1999, but it’s the visionary A2 that has to get the nod. The German manufacturer had already wowed us with…

HILLMAN IMP (1963-1976) Rootes’ brave step into the lucrative small car market it had hitherto missed out on, the Hillman Imp took an extended period of time for its manufacturer to develop. Launched in 1963, it featured many new and untried ideas, but in one respect it was already looking dated. When Rootes began working up concepts in the mid-1950s, a rear-engined layout that aligned with the growing number of economical ‘bubble’ cars was preferred. Despite BMC changing the small car blueprint with its revolutionary front-engined, front-wheel drive Mini, it would remain parts of the Imp’s recipe throughout. In other ways, however, the Imp was well ahead of its time. That rear-mounted engine was an exceptionally advanced one, with Coventry Climax’s 747cc FWMA all-aluminium racing unit developed into a rev-happy…

1995 - MGF launched with a choice of 115bhp 1.8-litre or 143bhp ‘VVC’ model.  1998 - Power steering standardised across the range. Abingdon special edition launched, finished in Brooklands Green with beige hood, leather seats and 16-inch wheels. 1999 - Special edition launched to commemorate MG’s 75th anniversary, available as either 1.8i or 1.8i VVC and available in Mulberry Red or black, with black hood, leather seats and red tonneau cover. Whole ‘F range facelifted in late ’99, with windscreen was now painted body colour instead of black and front indicators now smoked instead of orange. Trim changes inside include reshaped seats, restyled door trims, silver-faced dials and extra speakers. Elsewhere, recalibrated power steering is joined a double-skinned fuel tank and improvements to the head gasket. The CVT automatic gearbox…

As the RS Turbos and Cosworths garner all the attention in the Fast Ford world, it’s easy to forget how good some of the ‘warm’ models are – the Mk1 Fiesta XR2 offered by Car Cave is a textbook example, presenting extremely well and in all-but original condition. The bodywork is confirmed to be rot-free in all the notorious Mk1 Fiesta areas, with good inner wings, floors, sills and arches. Some previous repairs are mentioned in the floors, but this remains a generally very solid car, with only a pinhead-size bubble on the scuttle present. The panel gaps too are described as all straight, suggesting this car has avoided the accident damage that so many other XR2s suffered. The XR2 pepperpot wheels, meanwhile, are original and will need refurbishing, but…

PERFECT PAIR Reader Martin Robins got in touch with an excellent pairing of classic and statue: “In 1962, Rover advertised its 3 Litre model as ‘one of the best engineered cars in the world’. Our 1972 Rover P5B Coupe is shown next to a bronze statue of Sir George Dowty on our driveway – he is standing next to a Lancaster aircraft undercarriage which he designed, and he could therefore reasonably be described as ‘one of the best engineers in the world’, wouldn’t you say?” Agreed, Martin. What a pairing! MEMORY LANE The Opel Ascona was keen to position itself as an upmarket European offering, as this 1977 brochure details. “A medium-sized car that is far more than a family saloon…performance and economy, balanced suspension for outstanding handling and a…

Lightweight Car Ramps As an upgrade to an old pair of heavy, narrow car ramps, Sealey’s lightweight plastic ramps are ideal, with a combined load rating of 1.5 tonnes for each ramp and a 300mm width to cope with a 260mm tread width, meaning they suit modern cars as well as classics. They lift the car to a 160mm height, and wight just 4kg apiece. Order as product code CAR3000C.  How much? £118.74  Where from? 01284 757500/sealey.co.uk Mercedes Weber Kit Webcon has reintroduced a Weber replacement kit to suit four-cylinder Mercedes 220 models produced between 1968 and 1973. It replaces the often-troublesome Zenith Stromberg 175CD with a genuine Weber 32/36 DGAV to boost responsiveness and fuel efficiency while retaining the original factory air box. Order as part number PME101. How…

Once a part of the street furniture in the UK, the Alpine is one of those cars that has simply disappeared from view while you weren’t watching, with DVLA listing only 12 Chryslers and nine Talbot-badged examples, plus half a dozen of its Solara three-box sibling. For anyone familiar with the chaos that was the British motor industry of the ’70s, that’s something of a shame since this one car captures neatly the decline and eventual disappearance of the once-mighty Rootes Group, plus the emergence of Peugeot as a major player here. Launched in 1976 with Chrysler, the Alpine was rebranded as a Talbot in 1979 as the result of Chrysler selling its European operation to PSA (Peugeot) the year before. The new badging was swiftly followed by a facelift…

Few classics are so well-represented by nice examples as the Triumph TR6, and many of the nicest have been one of the offerings from specialist TRGB, such as this lovely 1974 PI. An original right-hand drive UK car, it has benefitted from a body-off restoration in recent years that saw it perfected both top and bottom. The work has stood up well, too, with TRGB confirming the excellent state of the underside both with their professional opinion and numerous images that show a total lack of corrosion, accident damage or unsightly repairs. Indeed, the body is resplendent in bright red and sports neat panel gaps – an easy tell-tale if a car isn’t straight or structurally sound. What’s more, we couldn’t spot a single dent or crease that suggests this…

DOLCE VITA We look at the small Italian cars that revolutionised the car market, from the mass-mobilising Nuova 500 to the little but luxurious Lancia Y10. CLASSIC CHOICE We compare three saloons of the 1980s, but will the VW Jetta, Ford Orion or Peugeot 405 come out ahead? FIRST-TIME CLASSICS Been away from the classic scene for a while, or looking to get involved for the first time? We pick out a wide selection of potential starter classics. 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…

SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER AT WWW.CLASSICSWORLD.CO.UK Manufacturers are increasingly looking back to their past models as inspiration for new ones, with Renault having rebooted its 17 coupe from the 1970s as a 270bhp rear-wheel drive EV, and other notable big-name brands looking back to look forward. The 17 was launched in 1971 as Renault’s first front-wheel-drive coupe, based on the underpinnings of the 12 saloon. The 17 and its 15 stablemate remained in production until summer 1979, when they were both replaced by the Renault Fuego. Described as “a new and unique restomod show car,” the 2024 reimagining has been developed in collaboration with French designer Ora Ïto. It’s based on the monocoque structure of the original, but the body is 17 cm wider and sports wide arches to…

How the mighty depreciate. In real terms, a Bentley that once cost more than a detached house now bothers the bank account less than a three-year-old old family hatchback. Canny buyers with a good specialist can run cars like McPheat Automotive’s 1999 Arnage Red Label for surprisingly sensible sums, and that’s precisely what its current owner has done for the past four years. Despite some longer trips, there’s just under 62,000 miles on the clock and a service book stamped up to last year; McPheat has completed the last two to factory specification. A set of five new tyres went on for the MoT last December, and the standard fit alloys remain untroubled by kerbs, if a bit discoloured in places from brake dust. Bentley build records confirm the exterior…

The E30 3 Series is often cited as one of BMW’s high points, so nice examples are becoming highly prized. The 1991 318i automatic Convertible offered by Car Cave might not be the drifter’s choice, nor is it the lusty straight-six model, but that means it’s been spared the abuse that those cars often suffer. One of the 250 Neon Design Limited Editions, it looks stunning in Neon Blue on the textbook BBS wheels. Car Cave reports that the bodywork is in very good condition, with no notable dents or scrapes, consistent panel gaps and no rust, as well as paintwork that still cuts a dash. The matching blue hood – a manual variant in this case – is smart, rip-free and seals tightly. The Neon Design Edition came with…