Innholdsfortegnelse for 2/19/2025 i Classic Car Buyer

The news that Renault is taking steps to preserve the heritage of its older models for future generations (see page 4) is not only welcome, but very clever. Let’s deal with the welcome bit first. Having manufacturer-backed specialists and guides to help owners on their way surely serves to make life with a classic a little easier. The situation has certain parallels with that of British Motor Heritage, which was formed in 1975 to support owners and the marketplace by putting genuine components for classic British cars back into manufacture. And though it’s been independently owned since 2001, it’s continued to provide an invaluable source of support. As a classic Mini owner, I’ve lost count of how many examples I’ve been able to resurrect thanks to its genuine-spec panels and…

BMW Weber carb kit Webcon has launched a new kit to allow twin Weber 48DCO/SP carburettors to be fitted to the 2.0-litre BMW M10 engine, intended to suit highly modified cars and race use. As well as the carbs, it comes with a Webcon intake manifold and linkage system, plus a free Weber DCOE tuning guide.  How much? £2328 Where from? 01932 787100/webcon.co.uk A-Series timing chain Mini Spares is now stocking this new simplex IWIS timing chain for A-Series engines, which is a direct replacement but uses modern materials and technology to limit stretch and keep the timing correct. It also resolves issues with wider duplex set-ups fouling timing chain covers.  How much? £84.60  Where from? 01707 607700/minispares.com E-Type window frames SNG Barratt has introduced a new range of Jaguar…

A Morris 10cwt pick-up – more familiar to people as a Marina – has astonished by selling for a remarkable £23,750 at Mathewson’s latest sale on February 7. The totally restored 1975 example was said by Derek Mathewson to be “better than when it left the factory,” and was once featured in one of our former sister titles, Classic Van and Pick-up. Thought be one of just six 10cwt versions left on the road, the 1275cc powered example showed 60,500 miles and was being sold by the vendor due to illness. It was estimated at a modest £5000-£6000, but absolutely smashed that prediction to set what is surely a new auction record not only for a 10cwt pick-up, but a Marina full stop. The last 10cwt pick we saw at…

Visitors are being offered the opportunity to make a weekend of it when the VolksWorld Show takes place at its new home, the South of England Showground in Ardingly, in March. The main event takes place on Sunday March 23, but the gates will open for camping at 1pm on the Saturday beforehand. By camping on site, show-goers will be able to settle in, soak up the atmosphere, and spend more time with fellow VW enthusiasts. A camping pitch is just £30, which covers two adults (kids under 14 go free). There will be plenty lined up for the evening, so you won’t be short of things to do, including food trucks offering everything from freshly made pizza to Greek street food, a bar, a live DJ, a pump track,…

We’ve all heard the story of the downfall of MG Rover at the hands of the Phoenix Consortium, but if you want a stark reminder of how crazy the latter days of its stewardship at Longbridge were, the MG X-Power SV-R has to be it. This low-mileage example at DM Historics in rural Kent is a lovely example of a car that many dismissed as an expensive folly that hastened its maker’s demise, but today makes for an intriguing time capsule from the early 2000s. This 2004 SV-R benefits from the full complement of exterior styling features, ranging from a rear wing that was large for the time but rather average by modern standards, spotless two-piece wheels from OZ (a standard feature) and side gills of magnitude comparable to only…

The Elise, launched in 1996, became one of Lotus’ most successful and revered models. Named after Elisa Artioli, granddaughter of then-Chairman Romano Artioli, it embodied Colin Chapman’s ethos of lightness and simplicity, delivering an unrivalled driving experience. Motoring magazines praised it, with Autocar calling it “the most technologically daring Lotus road car since the original Elite.” Designed by Julian Thompson, the Elise featured a GRP body and an advanced bonded aluminium chassis by Richard Rackham. Powered by Rover’s 1.8-litre K-Series engine, its 118bhp output sounds modest, but it propelled the lightweight roadster to 60mph in just 5.5 seconds. Handling was its real strength, complemented by a stripped-down, driver-focused cabin – all for £18,995. More powerful versions followed, starting with 1997’s ultra-rare, track-focused Sport 190, which – as the name suggests…

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Race Retro returns to Warwickshire’s Stoneleigh Park this weekend (February 21-23), with a stellar line-up of motorsport personalities and star cars. Hall 3 will be converted into the ultimate road and racing paddock, with an eclectic mix of Formula One cars ranging from a freshly restored 1980 Shadow DN11 to Mark Webber’s 2004 Jaguar R5 being gathered to celebrate F1’s 75th anniversary. In addition, the Circuit Heroes display celebrates the diversity seen on race tracks every season, with a Jowett Jupiter to mark 75 years since it first raced at Le Mans, a striking Lotus Elite and the famous ‘Magic Merlyn’ Formula Ford car all taking part. What’s more, visitors can enjoy the rare sight of three 914/6s together on the Porsche Le Mans display. Elsewhere, ‘American Champs’ brings together…

SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER AT WWW.CLASSICSWORLD.CO.UK Drive It Day – the annual occasion when the nation showcases its passion for historic vehicles – is poised to reach an important fundraising milestone during what is a very special year for the event. Taking place in April, the 2025 occasion will mark the 125th anniversary of the 1000 Mile Trial it was established to celebrate, plus 20 years since the launch of Drive It Day itself. For the last four years, the event has raised money for the NSPCC’s Childline, and though no specific target has been set, the running total could well break £200,000 in 2025. The Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs (FBHVC) introduced Drive It Day in 2005 with the aim of getting the nation’s transport heritage seen…

Goodwood Revival has been awarded an Environmental Sustainability Award from Motorsport UK, celebrating the event’s commitment to ensuring a sustainable future for motorsport. The Duke of Richmond collected the accolade during Motorsport UK’s annual Night of Champions awards evening last month. Established in 2012, the award was created to acknowledge a truly exceptional achievement or contribution towards environmental responsibility and active promotion of sustainability within motorsport activities, events and communications. The 2024 Goodwood Revival set a new benchmark when it became the world’s first historic motorsport event to run its entire race roster solely on sustainable. All competitors were required to use fuel which had a minimum of 70 per cent advanced sustainable components. The new regulations have been gradually introduced at Goodwood, with the first sustainably fuelled race taking…

ROLLS-ROYCE SILVER SHADOW (1965-1973) With its reputation for building world-class luxury cars becoming at odds with advancing technology and an increasing breed of owner-driver customers – not to mention the vastness of its Silver Cloud, which was proportioned to appeal to Cadillac-buying Americans – Rolls-Royce decided its next model would be more compact, more modern and more European. The Silver Shadow of 1965 was the result, and it instantly made a good impression. Here was a car that looked every bit as stately and grand as its predecessors, with its iconic mascot-topped grille and endless chrome brightwork, but the proportions were far more reasonable. In fact the Silver Shadow was eight inches shorter and three inches narrower than the Silver Cloud III, yet offered more headroom and legroom front and…

1996 - Lotus Elise launched in June with 118bhp K-Series. 1997 - Sport 190 track package offered, boosting power to 187bhp.  1998 - Elise Sport 135 launched in November with 135bhp engine, close-ratio gearbox, sports exhaust and unique graphics. 50th Anniversary Edition also launched, finished in green with gold wheels, gold decals, hardtop and leather seats – all 50 units sell quickly. 1999 - Elise 111S with VVC engine, close-ratio gearbox and new exhaust launched in March. Type 49 with classic red/gold/white livery launched in October. Lotus Elise Heritage/Type 79 also introduced, with 22 RHD cars built, and Millenium Edition launched. Extreme 340R offered with minimal bodywork and 177bhp (340 units produced).  2000 - Sport 160 model launched, combing the Sport 135 spec with a more powerful engine. Exige coupe launched…

While we wait to see if the new TVR Griffith will ever materialise, why not sample a great example of one you can buy now? This 1994 Griffith 500 is described by Pioneer Autos owner Mark as “a stunning car in great condition,” and we’d have to agree. The dark green paintwork suits the Griffith’s proportions perfectly and appears to be in excellent condition – certainly we couldn’t see any cracks or blisters in the paint itself, nor the fibreglass bodywork. The low nose has some stone chips, but these are to be expected of a 31-year-old sports car, and merely show this TVR has been used. The headlights aren’t cloudy, the original seven-spoke alloys are unmarked and wear good tyres, while the multi-piece hood is in great condition and…

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE The Manor Park Classics auction preview on our Classics World YouTube channel prompted some debate as to commentor’s favourite cars. @BEGGARWOOD1 said: “The (W140) S500 for me!” For @robsawalker, though, the choice was French and German: “BX19 would be top of my list! The Boxster too, so little money for so much fun!” @peterriggall8409 found himself swayed by something different: “Not a Jag man, but that XJ6 would be as close to a new one as you’d find. Also not a Ford man, but that Cortina 1300 L would be a great contender for FOTU!” MEMORY LANE As the hot Alpine variant of the new Renault 5 launches, let’s revisit the original, which was badged ‘Gordini’ in Britain as Chrysler owned the rights to the ‘Alpine’ name…

Renault is supporting enthusiasts, owners and collectors of its historic models with a range of innovative new services comparable to the Ferrari Classiche and Porsche Classic programmes, which it plans to extend outside of France. The Originals Renault, as it’s called, operates from a new website (theoriginals-services.renault.com). It will help collectors find spare parts through a network of Renault after-sales sites, selected for their expertise in classic vehicles, as well as through several of the brand’s long-standing partners. The brand says it will certify 25 sites in 2025, which will cover 80 per cent of France and enable all collectors to find an expert less than 100 km from their home. Eight sites are already open to collectors, and the next step will be to extend the network of after-sales…

Jean Todt, former FIA President, Ferrari Team Principal and motorsport legend, has been officially inducted into the prestigious FIVA Heritage Hall of Fame at the 2025 Rétromobile show in Paris. This esteemed honour, awarded by the Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens (FIVA), recognises individuals who have made a lasting impact on automotive history. Todt’s legacy in motorsport is unmatched. As FIA President from 2009 to 2021, his leadership brought transformative changes to motorsports, prioritising safety, sustainability and the inclusion of female racing talents. The latter involved the creation of the ‘Women in Motorsport Commission,’ chaired by Michèle Mouton, fostering greater opportunities for women in motorsports. “Beyond his FIA leadership, Todt’s achievements in motorsport management are extraordinary,” explained FIVA President Tiddo Bresters. “Under his direction, Scuderia Ferrari dominated Formula One, securing…

It’s perhaps a topical subject in view of the current White House incumbent’s enthusiasm for tariffs, but there’s no arguing that for the glory years of the home-grown British motor industry in the ’60s and ’70s, the potential of the US market was tricky to ignore. Not so much for the bread-and-butter saloons which were simply too small and underpowered to compete with the Detroit iron of the time, but for the traditional sports cars which had become so popular across North America. The figures are fascinating to read: in many cases only a tiny proportion of production was sold locally, with the bulk ending up on American highways where somehow the domestic ‘big three’ couldn’t offer the same appeal. Naturally this meant the demands of the US market were…

The Peugeot 205 GTI is the poster boy of 1980s hot hatches, but in truth it was a smaller class of car than rivals like the Golf, Escort and Astra. For those who wanted the famous lion on a more grown-up hot hatch, there was the 309 GTI – a car that many believe is more agile than its iconic smaller stablemate. The 309 was originally intended to be badged as a Talbot and called the Arizona. However, PSA Group decided to discontinue the Talbot brand at the 11th hour, so the new car came to market in 1985 as a Peugeot. Using the same floorpan and door shells as the 205, the 309 was also significant in that it was the first Peugeot car to be assembled in the…

The Triumph Herald is one of those classics you can’t not love, and Pioneer Automobiles’ 13/60 Convertible is surely a prime example. Never restored in its 55 years but well-kept, its Royal Blue paintwork is in excellent condition and polishes up to a lovely shine, and the chassis is said to be very good. All the increasingly rare chrome trims present well, with no visible pitting or corrosion, and the bodywork in general is straight and shows no obvious dents or corrosion. Granted, the door fitment needs some fettling, but few Heralds can boast immaculate shutlines, least of all convertibles. Fresh tyres all-round ensure this stalwart classic is ready for year-round use, while a new hood not only looks the part but also comes with a neat cover to keep…

CLASS OF ‘55 We look at the cars celebrating 70 years in 2025, from the groundbreaking Citroën DS to the mass-mobilising Fiat 500 and style icon Mercedes 190SL. 28 DAYS LATER The BMW E28 5 Series was one of the most handsome cars of the 1980s, and remains a fantastic driver-focused classic saloon today. We share our advice on finding a good one. CLASSIC CHOICE Roadster fans seeking driving thrills in the late 1990s could choose between the Mazda MX-5 or Toyota MR2, but does the almighty Honda S2000 pose a threat? 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…