Innholdsfortegnelse for 4/9/2025 i Classic Car Buyer

You might have spotted the recent news that the vast majority of WH Smith shops – apart from those in airports and train stations – will be rebranded as TG Jones following the company’s takeover by HobbyCraft. First of all, this shouldn’t affect your ability to buy Classic Car Buyer or indeed any of our sister titles, but you can get your favourite classic car newspaper delivered to you (along with any back issues) from www.shop.kelsey.co.uk if anything changes. However, the loss of such a significant, historic name from British high streets is quite a sad one, and all the more appropriate given our recap of historic automotive rebrands on page 15. It’s often hard to know if you’re looking at a Chrysler, Simca or Talbot until you read the…

Badge engineering was once all the rage among manufacturers, allowing them to market several different versions of essentially the same car to a wide range of clientele. But there were also times when financial challenges, ownership upheaval and sometimes even government intervention would see things go a step further, and a model would have its manufacturing brand replaced entirely by another – in some cases more than once. Over the decades, we’ve seen several instances of a popular brand being replaced entirely, where a specific model outlasts the manufacturer responsible. Here, we look at several cases where familiar classics changed their marques. Rootes to Chrysler to Talbot Rootes Group’s finances were not in a good way as the 1960s progressed. The Hillman Imp, launched in 1963, suffered from early reliability…

So familiar is the look of a Morgan to most car enthusiasts, it’s easy to forget the company cut its teeth on three-wheelers, and didn’t make its first four-wheeler available until 1936. Melvyn Rutter’s charming 1933 3 Wheeler Family was produced three years earlier than that, and serves as a reminder of what those early Morgans were all about. Originally dispatched from the Morgan factory to Lifes Motors in Southport when new, it’s a rare model in being powered by a Matchless motorcycle V-twin. The car was carefully restored to a high standard by its previous owner, with meticulous attention to detail. The extensive work included a re-tubed chassis, a completely new wooden body frame and fresh panelling. While much of the structure has been replaced, the bonnet remains original,…

Britain’s favourite van will be celebrated at the Classic Ford Show next month, with a specially curated display dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the Transit. The Transit’s arrival in 1965 saw the founding of an impressive commercial vehicle dynasty and another household name for the Blue Oval. Britain’s builders could finally find an easy home for every sheet of 8x4 they needed in the back of a van that handled like a car. Over the years, they’ve become rally service barges, motorhomes, four-wheel-drive load luggers, crew buses, flat beds, riot vans, mobile libraries, pop group transport, executive transport and more, with over eight million examples produced so far. The Transit display will be just one of the highlights of the Classic Ford Show, which takes place at the South…

SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER AT WWW.CLASSICSWORLD.CO.UK Excitement is building ahead of a unique museum collection sale next month, with over 150 vehicles set to be put under the hammer by Charterhouse. The sale will take place in situ at the Moretonhampstead Motor Museum, following the reluctant decision by founder and curator Frank Loft to close the doors of the popular Devon classic car attraction after a new custodian could not be found. Located in a refurbished 1930s building with a wonderful art deco frontage, the museum first opened in June 2013. It expanded to house over 150 historic motor cars and motorcycles, plus a diverse range of automobilia. The collection spans 1905-2023 and includes a 1918 De Dion Bouton, a 1929 Rolls-Royce, a D-Type replica and a Jaguar XK150,…

Mercedes-Benz has confirmed that the A-Class will be discontinued after 2026, ending its nearly 30-year production run. The decision, revealed by Mercedes’ chief technical officer Markus Schäfer, is driven by the company’s focus on globally popular models, particularly in key markets like the USA and China. First introduced in 1997, the A-Class marked Mercedes’ move into the mass market, featuring an innovative flat-floor design that provided exceptional rear legroom. However, its unconventional styling and infamous failure in the ‘elk test’ hindered its success. The second-generation model of 2004 retained a similar design and although much-improved, still struggled in sales. In 2012, the third-generation A-Class adopted a more conventional hatchback design, aligning with premium rivals like the Audi A3 and BMW 1 Series. This shift brought greater success, along with high-performance…

With the earliest examples now the best part of 25 years old, the Jaguar X-Type is now mature enough to qualify for modern classic status. It comes from a period when Jaguar pushed to be a volume seller under Ford ownership, with the aim of boosting production beyond 100,000 units. This was achieved with the retro-styled S-Type, but Ford also wanted to challenge the BMW 3 Series by introducing a compact executive car. However, all the smaller Ford platforms used transverse engines with front-wheel drive, which didn't fit Jaguar’s traditional rear-wheel-drive image. The solution was the CD132 platform from the Ford Mondeo, which was extensively reworked by Jaguar. The platform was modified to include four-wheel drive, which helped preserve Jaguar’s traditional image, despite later models offering front-wheel drive. The rear…

Think of an RS Escort, and many a mind will picture a Mk1 or Mk2 RS2000 sideways through somewhere like the Kielder Forest. But when the Mk2 was discontinued in 1980, it marked a temporary hiatus for the Rallye Sport moniker – something that was resolved in time for the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1981, when the famous tag reappeared on the front-wheel drive, Mk3-based RS1600i. It’s a car that always had a strong following among Ford aficionados and folk of a certain age, but is perhaps a little more under the radar than its rear-driven forebears. So, when the chance to drive Ford Parts R Us’ immaculate 1983 example came up, we couldn’t resist the opportunity to see how this rare homologation special stands up today. All RS1600is were…

Some classics are so iconic they need no introduction, and the simply delightful Minor Tourer offered by Classicwise is one such car. This genuine low-owner Minor 1000 De-Luxe Tourer is a factory-built example, not a conversion. It has undergone a meticulous restoration over several years, and has been dry-stored to maintain its condition. Finished in its original Trafalgar Blue with a Pearl Grey hood, the bodywork is in excellent condition, complemented by newly refurbished white steel wheels, a matching coachline and grill, and restored chrome trim. Rust-free and previously undersealed underneath, it seemingly wants for nothing. Inside, the car has been fully retrimmed, featuring blue/grey seats, new carpets and blue Morris Minor Owners’ Club floor mats. The dashboard has been repainted where necessary, and practical upgrades include a 12-volt USB…

SMALL FISH, BIG POND We look at memorable examples of small engines in big executive cars, from the base-spec Rover SD1 2000 to the Pinto-powered Ford Granada. CONTINENTAL CRUISER The R230 Mercedes SL arrived for the new millennium as the ultimate luxury grand tourer. We share our tips on how to buy a good one. CLASSIC CHOICE A trio of cut-above ‘60s saloons compete, but will the Hillman Super Minx, Ford Corsair or Vauxhall Victor come out ahead? 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…

MotoFest Coventry festival, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2024, will take a break for 2025. However, there will still be activity, with a smaller weekend of events to be held on Saturday May 31 and Sunday June 1. Many popular elements of the big festival will still be featured including the impressive classic vehicle displays in Broadgate, Coventry Concours in the Cathedral Ruins, and live motorsport in the Autotest Arena in Gosford Street under the famous Ring Road. The weekend will fire up with the Motorcycle Ride-in, though the Ring Road will be fully open to regular traffic this year. This will be quickly followed by One Big Alarm which will feature on both Saturday and Sunday. The parade of police and emergency vehicles from around the world has…

Quotation supplied by Lancaster Insurance  Web: lancasterinsurance.co.uk | Tel: 01480 400761 Example quote: £305 or £323 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.…

MGB (1962-1980) Much like the Morris Minor, no British classic car scene is truly complete without an MGB. Often affectionately referred to as Abingdon’s ‘poor man’s Aston Martin’ – a nickname coined by MG boss John Thornley – the MGB followed in the footsteps of the beloved MGA and represented a significant step forward in engineering terms, adopting unitary construction. This innovation did away with the traditional body-on-chassis design in favour of a stiffer yet more streamlined bodyshell. Not only did this improve the car’s overall structural rigidity, but it also included some of the earliest crumple zones seen in a British car. At the heart of the MGB was the reliable and well-proven B-Series engine, which had also powered the car’s MGA predecessor. In the MGB, however, it was…

Sometimes, we come across a car so rare and charming it deserves a spotlight. Classicwise Collection’s 1974 Škoda 110 LS is a prime example – one of only two known in the UK, it underwent a meticulous restoration in 2014. Originally owned by a single individual in Czechia, it was imported to the UK in 2013 and has remained with the same owner since. Upon arrival, it was given a full “nut and bolt” restoration and found to be in excellent condition, requiring only minimal welding. Genuine new old stock Skoda parts, including three doors and front and rear wings, were sourced. The car was repainted in its original Turquoise, and over a decade later, the bodywork remains arrow-straight and rust-free. The chrome is unmarked, while the original wheel trims…

NO 90? Reader James Gadbury got in touch highlighting an often-overlooked German classic. “Have you ever featured the Audi 90 in your magazine, the B3 model 1986-1991, particularly the 2.3L 20v version? I have a 90 20v (not the Quattro) and I’m amazed that it’s so hard to find any coverage on this model. It seems to have been forgotten! Audi didn’t make many and (I believe) it was the last of their non-turbo straight-fives before dropping them for the B4 V6s. They so rarely come up for sale, but it’s a hidden gem.” You certainly don’t see many, James, but consider this overlooked Audi earmarked for a future mention… MEMORY LANE Initially marketed purely as the Saab Turbo, the boosted 99 was sold as quite a thing in this…