Innholdsfortegnelse for 6/18/2025 i Classic Car Buyer

I’ve recently been volunteered for the task of cleaning out a relative’s garage on the rather tenuous basis that as I “know about cars” I may be able to sort the valuable from the not-so-valuable. This kind of thing is always an exercise in diplomacy as you pick through someone else’s hoard of “might come in handy” detritus and inevitably make some amusing discoveries. Who, for example, feels the need to keep a box full of rope offcuts just slightly too short to be useful? Or several more boxes full of electrical cable, most of it domestic wiring? “You do,” was the swift and burning response from Mrs W and yes, she may have a point there. It did at least prompt the semi-annual garage clearout and tip run. Ironically,…

SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER AT WWW.CLASSICSWORLD.CO.UK Sustainable liquid fuel continues to provide hope for the future of the historic vehicle sector, with the prospect of more pumps by the end of the month on top of significant awareness created through motorsport, progress in Europe and a new initiative to encourage its use by manufacturers of new ICE vehicles. However, experts agree a consistent approach is needed to help sway regulations that focus only on the tailpipe and ignore other factors. An umbrella phrase used to cover fuels made from reduced amounts of fossil-derived ingredients, sustainable liquid fuels cut down on the use of first-generation oil that’s just come out of the ground. There are two main chemistry bases currently at work – bio-gasoline and e-fuels, which both involve recycling…

GENUINE FORD ENGINE BLOCKS Burton Power now offers brand new, stronger Ford-made OHV Kent blocks – cast in new grey iron with semi-finished bores, reinforced bell housing bosses, strengthened bearing webs, SOHC Pinto-type thrust washer fitment, and cam/jackshaft bearings – for the 1500 Lotus Twin Cam and pre-crossflow (part FL105) and 1600 Kent Crossflow (part FP105).  How much? £3600 Where from? burtonpower.com / 0208 554 2281 WEIGHTED BILLET MINI GEAR KNOB Though they may appear simple, these meticulously designed Mini gear knobs – machined from 6082 T6 billet alloy, vapour blasted for texture, and come in a black anodised finish with silver markings. Part number BG8120 has four-speed markings, while BG8121 suits five-speeders. How much? £29.58 each Where from? minispares.com / 01707 607700 MONTE CARLO MINI SCALEXTRIC CARS Celebrate the…

FORD CORTINA (1962-1982) The Ford Cortina stands as one of the most significant cars in British motoring history, particularly for its transformative role in the fleet market. Launched in 1962, the Cortina was designed from the outset to be affordable, spacious, and easy to maintain – qualities that made it an instant hit with company car fleets and private buyers alike. Over its 20-year production run, the Cortina would become a mainstay of British roads, eventually topping the sales charts and embedding itself in national culture. What made the Cortina so successful was its perfect balance of practicality, value, and image – its glamourous Americana-inspired styling in Mk1 guise was an instant eye-catcher, while the wide range of engines and bodystyles meant there was something for everyone. Beneath the sharp-suited…

Quotation supplied by Lancaster Insurance  Web: lancasterinsurance.co.uk | Tel: 01480 400761 Example quote: £283.00 or £301.00 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.…

While we wait to see the fruits of Jaguar’s new direction, it’s worth revisiting a truly regal model from its often-overlooked post-war era. Yorkshire Classic & Sports Cars (YCSC) have a very imposing 1949 MkV on offer that deserves your attention. Finished in a striking two-tone of Seafrost over Black, it sports distinctive ‘double-decker’ chrome bumpers. This particular example is the sought-after 3.5-litre saloon from the penultimate year of production – a rare car indeed. Remarkably, despite being 75 years old, the car has had only two previous owners. It’s a home market, right-hand drive model originally supplied in 1950. Out of just under 6000 cars built to this specification, only 81 were known to remain as of 1988, a number that’s surely even lower some 37 years on. This…

THE BEST BRIT? The MGA vs Lotus Elan video on our Classics World YouTube channel prompted plenty of debate from commentors. @geoffclarke3796 said: “Two lovely cars but has to be the Elan for me with its brilliant ride and handling!” @georgejohnson1498, meanwhile, leaned the other way: “Definitely the MGA for me! Drop dead good looks, and the B-Series is such a torque monster, the slightly ragged sound appeals to me much more than the Lotus/Ford.” Regardless of preference, though, @alexandrecouture2462 said what we were all thinking: “Whichever is best, both cars are beautiful!” MEMORY LANE Reader Mike Varey sent in the brochure for the Nissan Figaro, the retro-style curio that was only sold in Japan. Translating the Kanji, it’s clear Nissan were going for a very spiritual, Japanese marketing theme…

MG MIDGET £1500-£8000 The pedants at the back will no doubt point out that the Austin-Healey Sprite is technically a 1950s car, but its MG-badged derivative arrived in 1961 and would, of course, outlive the original. The arrival of the Midget coincided with the introduction of the Mk2 Sprite, effectively a more civilised version of the original Frogeye, with conventional body styling including a proper opening boot lid. Since the Sprite had effectively filled the gap left by the discontinuation in 1955 of MG’s pre-war T-Series Midget models, reviving the name made sense, and stronger sales of the MG-badged car meant that the Healey version would disappear in 1971. The first Midgets ran the 948cc A-Series, boosted to 46bhp thanks to larger SUs, but in October 1962 the 56bhp 1098cc…

1993 - Boxster Spyder Concept unveiled at Detroit Auto Show – inspired by 550 Spyder and well-received.  1996 - 986 Boxster enters production with 201bhp, 2.5-litre flat-six – five-speed manual and Tiptronic semi-automatic gearboxes offered. 1999 - Base 2.5 replaced by 217bhp 2.7-litre engine, Boxster S with 250bhp 3.2-litre unit and six-speed gearbox launched. 2002 - ‘986.2’ facelift introduced with new headlights, revised bumpers and glass rear window. Base 2.7 now produces 225bhp, 3.2 S now makes 258bhp.  2004 - 986 Boxster production ends after 165,000 sold, replaced by 987 Boxster and later Cayman coupe.…

The MGB’s life was a long one, and Abingdon celebrated the life and times of its most successful model in style with the run-out LE models. Just 1000 were produced for the UK market to mark the end of an 18-year production run, comprising 420 roadsters and 580 GTs. This lovely example at Yorkshire Classic & Sports Cars (YCSC) is one of the latter, and has to be among the nicest we’ve seen. While mechanically identical to the standard models, the Limited Edition GTs were uniquely finished in Pewter metallic, contrasting with the Bronze metallic of the roadster. With total MGB production exceeding 512,000 units, these Limited Editions form a very small and desirable subset, making them particularly collectible, especially when restored to such a fine standard as this example.…

GONE, NOT FORGOTTEN We celebrate the classics that boasted technology that’s now been forgotten, from the Hydragas-suspended Allegro to the rotary rebel Mazda RX-7. KARMANN COUPE The Scirocco-that-wasn’t became a significant car for Volkswagen and kicked off its move upmarket for the 1990s. We share our Corrado buying advice. CLASSIC CHOICE A trio of wedge-shaped sports cars battle it out, but will the Fiat X1/9, Triumph TR7 or Reliant Scimitar SS1 come out on top? 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…

With Rootes Group having become Chrysler UK in 1970, it found its influence wane as part of Chrysler Europe, with its Simca stablemate being given increasing control over the design, engineering and even mechanicals. Plans to replace the Chrysler Horizon with the Arizona – codenamed Project C28 – were halted when Peugeot took over the flailing Chrysler Europe in 1978. PSA identified potential in the project, however, and agreed that the now increasingly outdated Horizon still needed replacing, so restarted the project for a 1985 launch. At the eleventh hour, PSA decided to discontinue the image-compromised Talbot brand, rebadging the new family car as the Peugeot 309, and it’s a 1.6 SR Automatic we’re driving today. Styling was handled at the ex-Chrysler Rootes design studios in Coventry, while engineering work…

In 1992, Porsche was facing a dire financial situation and the economic downturn had significantly impacted the company’s finances. Although the updated 964-model 911 was selling reasonably well, the Porsche 928 was nearing the end of its lifespan, and the revamped Porsche 944 – rebranded as the 968 – failed to achieve expected sales figures. Despite its qualities, the 968 was merely a facelift of an already ageing design – the Porsche 924, which had been in production for 17 years. Meanwhile, rival manufacturers were advancing rapidly, particularly BMW with the E36 M3. Porsche desperately needed fresh models that were not merely updates of previous cars, but still retained a connection to its most successful model. The 911 was both an asset and a challenge; it sold at a premium…

Rewind back a few decades, and there were plenty out there who saw the Mini 1275 GT as a poor substitute for the legendary Cooper. The Clubman-fronted GT ran alongside the more powerful Cooper S for a couple of years until John Cooper’s deal with BMLC expired, but in truth, it was more of a direct replacement the 998cc Cooper – and in that regard it stacked up a lot better. Nowadays, a 1275 GT is just as cherished as its forebear for many, and St Andrew’s Autos example looks to be a cracker. Finished in eye-catching Vermillion, this 1979 car has had very few owners and has clearly been cherished throughout its life. It’s just come from long-term ownership – 29 years with the same enthusiast, who happened to…