Innholdsfortegnelse for 11/20/2024 i Classic Car Buyer

Many of us enjoy the annual Classic Motor Show at Birmingham’s NEC for various different reasons, but for me, one of the first things I make an immediate beeline for is the autojumble. Previously I’ve used it as a source for cheap paint and sundries, but this time I went shopping with something specific in mind. That item was a rear shock absorber for my Mk1 Fiesta, and sadly the hunt proved elusive. “Just buy new ones,” I hear you cry. Well, that’s tricky. You can buy them new, but they are different from the originals. The front ones have the spring platform set lower to suit the XR2 rather than the more cooking models, so I’d previously hunted out a pair of new-old-stock items to retain the factory height.…

SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER AT WWW.CLASSICSWORLD.CO.UK The Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show showed that age is no barrier over the weekend of 8-10 November, celebrating its 40th anniversary in style. A record-setting 338 car clubs formed the enthusiast-centric backbone of the show, bolstered by the usual vast array of exhibitors, car dealers and trade stands throughout seven expansive halls at the NEC in Birmingham. An impressive 71,520 enthusiasts attended over the three show days, up from 71,290 in 2023. They were joined by famous faces, experts and commenters — including the Classics World team —who were on hand to discuss the industry and offer advice at the Meet the Experts Theatre. Meanwhile, the returning Pride of Ownership and Meguiar’s Club Showcase stands saw huge interest, while new features included…

PEUGEOT 205 (1983-1996) With Peugeot’s model range padding out nicely with the likes of the 604 executive saloon and ubiquitous 505 family car, it decided to replace the quirky but ultimately largely unsuccessful 104 with a sharp new entry to the fledgling supermini class. Launched in 1983, the 205 made a great first impression – the chic styling came courtesy of Peugeot’s in-house styling team under Gérard Welter, with crisp lines, a quirky silhouette and tight proportions that pushed the wheels as far into the corners as possible and created a small car that didn’t look it. Even in base-spec, the 205 looked modern, attractive and at home everywhere from central Paris to a French farmyard. The fact that it was barely altered from the beginning to the end tells…

Quotation supplied by Lancaster Insurance Web: lancasterinsurance.co.uk | Tel: 01480 400761 Example quote: £350 or £368 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.…

SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER AT WWW.CLASSICSWORLD.CO.UK Importers and clubs at the Classic Motor Show were at pains to reassure enthusiasts that President-Elect Donald Trump’s proposed trade tariffs will not affect the supply (and cost) of parts to the UK. “I’m not panicking yet, anyway,” said Dave Mawer, proprietor of Konnect USA. “I’ve been importing car parts for probably well over 20 years now, and nothing’s ever changed. At the moment, we just pay VAT, and between three and five per cent duty. There are other factors, obviously. If the US economy changes drastically, then the cost of shipping might go up. The cost of bringing a container in has gone up massively over the last five to 10 years, anyway. It’s really more to do with how our government…

Given the plethora of alloy wheel designs and colours offered by manufacturers and the aftermarket nowadays, it seems unfeasible that many cars with any semblance of sportiness in the late 1960s and early 1970s all wore the same style of wheel. Yep, before alloys had really hit the mainstream, the Rostyle wheel became an industry mainstay, offering a smart style that looked a bit like a proper magnesium alloy, but was actually a steel wheel. Wisdom suggests the design originated in the US, where it was called the Magnum 500 and appeared on various muscle cars. It was manufactured in Lansing, Michigan, by the Motor Wheel Corporation. The design was then emulated in the mid-1960s by Rubery Owen & Co Ltd of Darlaston, Staffordshire – a powerhouse in the British…

2003 - The Continental GT is announced in March, with the first deliveries in November. 2005 - The four-door Flying Spur and the convertible GTC are announced. 2008 - Minor facelift for the GT includes lighter aluminium suspension components for an improvement in ride quality, plus new multi-mode variable-assistance steering. The 603bhp Speed model also joins the range. 2009 - GT Supersports launched, with 621bhp on tap, plus suspension and chassis upgrades. 2010 - The second-generation Continental is unveiled. Effectively a major facelift of the original, it gains V8 power from 2012.…

So much excitement surrounds the Mercedes W123 – this writer is guilty of it – that it’s easy to forget its W114/W115 predecessors. This stunning W114 280CE offered by Turn Two Classics reminds us why you shouldn’t. Originally an Australian market car, it was imported in 2016 and indeed, still sports an Aussie road service sticker. The main benefit of that climate was the lack of rust, which rings true today on seemingly spotless Astral Silver bodywork. Straight and sharp on all four corners, with neat shutlines, unblemished brightwork and straight badging, this W114 still cuts a fine dash nearly 50 years on. It was comprehensively recommissioned in 2019, but reportedly neither restored nor fully resprayed, suggesting high-quality repairs where needed, thorough polishing and very caring previous owners. White wall…

BULLETPROOF We celebrate the famously tough classics that deserve their reputation of being “bombproof”, from the Volvo 240 to Mk2 Golf. CLASSIC CHOICE If you wanted a 1990s executive car that wasn’t German, the Ford Scorpio, Vauxhall Omega and Rover 800 all made strong choices – which is the better classic today? TURIN TOURER As a rarer alternative to a British-built roadster, the handsome and fun-to-drive Fiat 124 Spider makes an interesting choice. We show you how to buy a good 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…

When Jaguar launched its long-awaited small saloon, many purists scoffed when it became known that the Mk2 Mondeo’s CD132 platform underpinned this premium-badged car. Like all Jaguars, however, the X-Type evolved to became an extremely well-rounded, competent car, but one that sadly failed to challenge the Germans in the sales stakes. Nevertheless, a nice example can still be a lovely car in its own right. Typically for a car from Kim Cairns, this 2005 2.5 V6 AWD is cosmetically near-perfect, its Pacific Blue paintwork wearing a deep shine in the autumnal light and nicely demonstrating the clean, unmarked body lines. There’s not so much as a parking ding, let alone any damage or rust. But this car has just 12,000 miles on the clock, so hasn’t had much opportunity to…

The soap opera which saw two German giants squabbling over both of Britain’s prestige automotive brands has been well documented, but here’s a brief recap: Volkswagen swooped in with a last-minute bid to grab Rolls-Royce and Bentley from under the nose of BMW, but shortly afterwards discovered that the deal didn’t include the rights to the crucial Rolls-Royce trademarks. These were held by Rolls-Royce the aero-engineering company, which was prepared to license them to BMW as an existing business partner in the aerospace world but not to VW Group, rendering the acquisition all but worthless to the Wolfsburg brand. Popular opinion suggests a deal was quickly thrashed out in a Bavarian restaurant which then saw the two marques split for the first time since 1931, with BMW taking the Rolls-Royce…

If you want a Morgan – and we certainly don’t blame you – then nothing else will do, and if you’re in the market for one of Malvern’s finest, the spec is everything. The 1996 Plus 4 offered by Richard Thorne is surely something of a sweet spot, in Old English White with a deep red interior, and powered by a British-built Rover T-Series unit. Bodywork condition is vital on these cars, so it’s pleasing to see straight panels throughout and no sign of stone chips, let alone dings or damage. It was with its loving previous owner for 24 years, and has been a ‘high days and holidays’ car, so it’s been spared the ravages of road salt and rain, with the chrome bumpers, wire wheels and luggage rack…

When we planned out our ‘American Icons’ feature from a couple of weeks ago and considered the American classics that Europe enjoyed, the Mustang was top of the list. This sharp 1966 example offered by Turn Two Classics ably demonstrates why. Imported in 2015, this Highland Green Metallic coupe looks fantastic following a full body restoration in 2020. It benefitted from numerous new-old stock panels for the best fitment, a full respray in the same shade as the iconic Bullitt Mustang and reportedly a “no expense spared” approach to perfecting the body and interior. Accordingly, the exterior appears flawless, with superb panel gaps, a lovely finish on the paintwork, bright chromework and of course, not a single bodywork blemish. Even the original wheel trims and badges are all spotless. Inside…