Innholdsfortegnelse for 5/28/2025 i Classic Car Buyer

Classic car ownership can certainly be an emotional rollercoaster. My Mercedes W123 threw upset after upset at me recently, first by splitting a clutch line that required regular stops to refill fluid, then when removing trim to get access to the slave cylinder to replace the hose, I noticed damp carpets, which I ultimately traced to a failed and leaking windscreen seal – two inadequate pattern replacements later, a new genuine Mercedes rubber set me back £150. Then, while removing my soggy carpets to dry out, I found that the leak had clearly been happening for a while, the water pooling under the driver’s seat and rotting out the bottom of the offside B-pillar. Then, after the car had its new seal, rust had been cut out and good metal…

A broad range of cars and enthusiasts came together on Saturday, May 20 for the 2025 Hagerty Hill Climb at Shelsley Walsh, the world’s oldest motorsport venue still operating on its original course. The non-competitive event saw drivers of all kinds take to the famous hill, from experienced hill climbers in purpose-built machines to first-timers in everyday vehicles. The paddock reflected this inclusive approach and was packed with both exotic and everyday cars of all ages. Shelsley Walsh, which predates famous international circuits including Indianapolis, Le Mans and Monza, provided a fitting backdrop. The atmosphere remained casual throughout the day, with no formal competition. The event also featured an enclosure for members of the Hagerty Drivers’ Club, an initiative aimed at encouraging more frequent use of enthusiast vehicles. Hagerty’s next…

Former design chief Ian Callum, renowned for shaping icons such as the Aston Martin DB7 and Vanquish, Jaguar XK, F-Type, and the almost forgotten C-X75 prototype, is back with a striking reinterpretation of a British classic – the Jaguar E-Type. Callum’s latest project is part of his “Portfolio Project,” which includes the radical off-road SUV, the Grampian, with further designs expected in due course. His E-Type restomod, currently a sketch and a 3D rendering, could soon be realised if an eager buyer is willing to invest. Callum’s design approach remains respectful to the original E-Type, often regarded as an untouchable automotive legend. The restomod is subtly reimagined, sitting lower and wider on elegant, dished tri-spoke alloy wheels. It receives modest exterior upgrades, including new headlight housings with LED elements, dual…

The end is nigh for Ford’s mid-sized family hatch, with production of the Ford Focus due to cease later this year. It comes 27 years after the groundbreaking Mk1 Focus was launched in 1998, but the lineage of the Ford family hatch goes back 45 years to the launch of the Mk3 Escort – itself a major milestone in Blue Oval history. With the Mk2 Escort facing stiff competition from a new wave of hatchbacks, including the VW Golf, forthcoming Vauxhall Astra and its Fiesta stablemate that was actually more spacious inside, Ford gave its bestseller a radical transformation in September 1980. Codenamed Erika, the new Mk3 was driven by its front wheels, marking the first time a mid-sized Ford in Europe had employed such a configuration. Meanwhile, the modern…

Reliant is best known for its three-wheelers, but its unsung hero is the four-wheeled Scimitar, particularly the estate-shaped GTE produced from 1968-1986. Powered by a V6, this grand tourer comfortably accommodates four people and luggage for long trips. The Scimitar story began in 1964 with the coupé-shaped GT, designed by Ogle and initially built on a Reliant Sabre chassis with a Ford 2.6-litre straight-six. After 296 were made, the Essex 3.0-litre V6 was introduced in 1967. A year later, the GTE debuted, becoming the most recognisable model, alongside 442 GTC convertibles. The GT SE4 led to the SE4a and SE4b. The GTE started as the SE5, followed by the SE5a with 145bhp and a 125mph top speed. In 1976, the wider and longer SE6 featured rubber bumpers, better soundproofing, and…

When Lotus gambled everything on its Elise project to simultaneously reinvigorate and save the company, it never could’ve imagined the gem that would result. Immediately heralded as one of, if not the finest driver’s car ever made by the press, its classic status was assured and with the basic formula so inherently ‘right’ the first time around, the model evolved gently and soldiered on for over 20 years in production. Allon White’s 1999 S1, however, gives you a chance to sample the genius of the Elise as originally intended; this Elise has had just a single owner from new and has covered a mere 11,362 miles, a remarkably low figure, even for what is typically a ‘high days and holidays’ car. With its Titanium Silver exterior and contrasting Red Leather…

The booted saloon remained in demand amid the hatchback boom of the 1980s, Ford offering the Mk3 Escort as the Orion – a model that continued into the Mk4 and gained the 1.6i Ghia spec, effectively an XR3i in grown-up trim. YCSC have a 1988 example of that range-topper in stock, and it looks superb. Acquired by its most recent owner in March 2023, it was initially a solid, honest car, since comprehensively overhauled to bring it close to showroom condition. The restoration included meticulous attention to bodywork and undercarriage. The underside was stripped to bare metal, treated with four coats of Hammarite smooth paint, then finished with white stone chip coating. Fuel tank removal enabled proper treatment of the surrounding area. The wheel arches received similar care, and new…

SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER AT WWW.CLASSICSWORLD.CO.UK The automotive world and wider community have come together in grief and support following the fatal fire at Bicester Motion on May 15-16, which saw two firefighters and a member of the public tragically killed at the former RAF site in Oxfordshire. The blaze broke out at around 6.30pm on Thursday, May 15, in Building 79, one of the historic hangars used for vehicle storage. Among the deceased was Dave Chester, 57, of Chester & Sons, a family-run groundworks and fencing business that had worked on the site for over a decade. Two firefighters, Jennie Logan, 30, and Martyn Sadler, 38, also lost their lives in the line of duty. Sadler served with both Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service and the…

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The Mercedes SL platform comes with a lineage dating back as far as the early 1950s with the venerable 300SL ‘Gullwing’. However, it can be argued that the identity of the SL has morphed over the years, starting with racing pedigree and evolving through the latter half 20th century into a luxury boulevard cruiser, beloved of the rich and famous. The R230 variant launched in 2001 shifted the focus again, this time even further into the realm of the comfort-oriented luxury two-seater. This example is an SL350 in classic Iridium Silver Metallic over black leather. It boasts a low mileage, even for a 2007 car, of just 30,000, along with a full service history, making it about as close to a new R230 as you’d expect to find on the…

Quotation supplied by Lancaster Insurance  Web: lancasterinsurance.co.uk | Tel: 01480 400761 Example quote: £109.97 or £127.97 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.…

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The Classic and Performance Car Spectacular returns to Tatton Park on June 7–8, promising a varied and exciting weekend for classic car enthusiasts and their families. Over 90 car clubs are expected to participate, with displays from groups including the Mercedes-Benz Club, Jaguar Enthusiasts, Club Lotus and BMC & Friends. The show will put a spotlight on individual entries too, with standout entries such as Rob Aspinall’s expertly tuned Datsun 240Z and Pete Colling’s roaring LS3-powered Cobra Super Lite. Other highlights are set to include great examples of the Lancia Delta Integrale, Aston Martin V8 Vantage and Citroën Traction Avant. All will be competing for daily prizes and the Best in Show title. A new family-friendly addition for 2025 is the Kid Zone, supported by Scalextric, featuring a large-scale digital…

JAGUAR E-TYPE SERIES 3 (1971-1975) With the future of the British motor industry hedged on exports, Jaguar sought to cater to the sizeable American market. The Series 3 E-Type aimed to repackage Jaguar’s flagship into a more of a grand tourer than before – a transition that led to significant changes in both design and engineering. Launched in 1971, a decade after the Series 1 first appeared at the Geneva motor show, the Series 3 was a more grown-up E-Type. It had flared wheelarches, a wider track and an additional two and a half inches in width across its bodywork, offering noticeably more shoulder and storage room, even if it still wasn’t roomy for taller occupants. Meanwhile, the original short wheelbase was dropped, with the two-seater coupe discontinued and the…

1968 - SE5-generation Reliant Scimitar GTE shown to the public for the first time, bringing longer chassis than the SE4, along with new suspension, fuel tank, a rollover bar and relocated spare wheel. 1970 - Borg-Warner 35 automatic transmission offered. Princess Anne receives her first Scimitar for her 20th birthday, a manual SE5 car, starting a famous love affair. She has reportedly owner eight other Scimitars since. 1971 - Four-speed manual gearbox with overdrive added. 1972 - SE5A improvements added, including power boost and a curved plastic dashboard.  1975 - SE6 version arrives with a longer wheelbase for more rear legroom, wider track, larger headlights, rubber bumpers and optional overdrive on 3rd and 4th. 1976 - SE6A specification adds Lockheed brakes and revised suspension. 1980 - Scimitar GTC convertible launched,…

The ubiquitous BMC ADO16 wore all manner of badges, but the Octagon-branded variants are surprisingly uncommon relative to humbler Austins – Yorkshire Classic & Sports Cars (YCSC) have a gorgeous MG 1100 in stock that will turn heads for more than just its rarity. This is a particularly early example, dating from January 1963. It presents in superb condition throughout, having been treated to a comprehensive restoration and much recent fettling. It was all clearly done to a high standard, with arrow-straight bodywork and lustrous maroon paintwork. Although little is known of the car’s history from 1963 to 1997, records from then onwards are more detailed. The car changed hands in 1997 when the second owner sold it to friends, Mr and Mrs Shaw. The Shaws actively used and showcased…

ALL ALLOY Aluminium can make a car lighter, faster and more economical, as well as resist rust – we celebrate our favourite cars that used aluminium in their construction, from the Land Rover to the Jaguar X350. GOLF CLUB The second-generation of the Volkswagen Golf is an extremely usable classic which only gets more characterful as each year passes. We show you how to buy a good one. CLASSIC CHOICE The Ford Cortina cemented its status as Britain’s favourite family car in the 1960s and ‘70s, but is the Mk1, Mk2 or Mk3 the best of the three? 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…