Innholdsfortegnelse for 6/25/2025 i Classic Car Buyer

A new report published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has underlined the value of Britain’s luxury, high-performance and niche car makers, and suggests government measures to support them. The UK’s Small Volume Automotive Manufacturers: An Enduring British Success Story, shows the significant economic contribution these manufacturers provide, underpinning Britain’s car exports and representing 17 per cent of their value. Together they turned over more than £5.5 billion in 2024, and though they were responsible for 4 per cent of total UK car production, they accounted for 12 per cent of the value. Brands including Aston Martin, Bentley, LEVC, Lotus, McLaren, Morgan, Rolls-Royce and many more employ more than 15,000 people in high-skilled, well-paid roles with an average salary of £43,729 – 18 per cent higher than…

Anglia Car Auctions’ two-day June sale saw plenty of bidders descend on its King’s Lynn headquarters, resulting in an intriguing mix of bargain buys and estimate-smashing entries. A humble 1958 Hillman Minx De-Luxe set the tone early on when it soared past its £3000-£5000 estimate to settle on £9180, ahead of an altogether more luxurious 1996 Bentley Turbo R, which beat its upper guide by more than £2000 to make £10,152. The latter was one of no fewer than nine Bentleys in the sale, with other strong performers including a 1997 Azure Auto that sold for £44,550, and a 1995 Continental R that beat its upper estate at £36,450. Elsewhere, low mileage was the order of the weekend. A 2002 Rover 25 IL showing just 6128 miles beat its guide…

Typically, American cars have long been rather different from the ones that perform well in Europe. Best suited to the long, straight interstates and comparatively low fuel prices found locally, they tend to be bigger, thirstier, more muscular and more flamboyant. And yet, some models make enough of an impact – be it due to looks, performance, luxury or iconic status in pop culture – to resonate with Europeans. With that in mind, here are a dozen of our favourite American idols, some obvious some a bit more rugged and obscure. FORD MUSTANG (1964-PRESENT) When Ford Vice-President Lee Iacocca ordered development of a compact, desirable car to suit the new generation of ‘baby boomers’, he likely never could’ve imagined the revolution he’d kickstarted. Iacocca’s brief was quite demanding, stating that…

Here we see the Easter Bank Holiday traffic driving along the A556 from Wales to Manchester, offering quite an eclectic view. A de-bumpered Saab 96 and Ford Zodiac lead the pack, followed by a Mini and Hillman Minx ‘Audax’. Further back, we see a Ford Corsair, Vauxhall Velox and a Morris or Austin-badged ADO16. The haze in the distance obscures such gems as what looks like a Morris J-Type van and potentially another BMC 1100/1300, but what else can you spot? Let us know via ccb.ed@kelsey.co.uk.…

Progress, by its very nature, means things change. And in the automotive world, ideas come and go. Some are found to be unworkable, while others become an industry standard shared across manufacturers and genres for years and years. But even the best ideas can have a limited shelf life, with promising technologies rendered less attractive as conditions change and better approaches emerge to supersede them. Here, we look at six examples of automotive ideas that were once popular and exciting, but have now been rendered obsolete – some with more regret than others. AIR COOLING “Air. Can’t boil, can’t freeze” said the famous ad for the VW Beetle. So why don’t we have any air-cooled car engines these days? Even the Porsche 911 has come with anti-freeze running through its…

Rather appropriately coinciding with our special American classic-themed issue, Classic American’s Stars & Stripes show returns to Tatton Park on July 5-6. The US-style extravaganza has now been running for more than 30 years, and will bring together an eclectic assortment of American icons including Mustangs, Corvettes, Cadillacs, plus hot rods, pumped-up pick-ups and even a variety of US motorcycles, with vehicles spanning the best part of a century. As ever, the show will include a trade village packed with specialists, parts suppliers and jumble stands, offering everything from elusive rare parts to number plates, books, brochures, accessories and collectables. Also back again is the ever-popular classic funfair, plus a Wild West shoot-out feature and the brand-new Kid Zone, powered by Scalextric, which will feature one of its signature tracks…

Known for his raw, unfiltered driving reviews and deep-rooted knowledge of performance cars, Chris Harris will be bringing his signature passion and expertise directly to fans at TRAX, Britain’s biggest live action performance car show, when it takes place at Silverstone on Sunday, August 31. Harris is set to be fully in the mix for the day, offering fans a rare opportunity to engage with him up close. He’ll be hosting two exclusive Meet & Greet events, giving visitors the chance to grab a selfie or an autograph and chat one-on-one about the world of cars. Chris Harris will also be taking part in a live interview on the TRAX Main Stage. Expect deep dives into his thoughts on car culture, driving technique, his TV career and his unfiltered views…

MGA 1500 (1955-1959) Even 70 years after its 1955 launch, many still consider the MGA to be the Octagon’s most beautiful car. Marking a significant new era for Abingdon, the roots for the A’s smooth, aerodynamic lines can be traced back to 1951, when chief designer, Syd Enever, produced a sleek new body for George Phillips’ Le Mans racer. Sadly, further moves for a production car were rejected by BMC boss Leornard Lord in 1952, who didn’t want an in-house competitor for the newly sanctioned Austin-Healey 100. That meant MG was forced to update the ageing T-series line instead, but by 1953, even Lord had come to admit that MG desperately needed something new. The MGA was finally launched in autumn ’55, but the delay probably worked in its favour,…

As the rest of this issue reveals, Brits have long been importing cars from America. However, the rise of the classic car movement has further energised the will to hunt across the Atlantic, both for British icons that were sold in greater numbers in the States, but also for muscular domestic icons and curiosities such as a Mustang, Corvette or Camaro. There are numerous possibilities if going down this route, from fully restored examples at one extreme through to ex-Californian project cars at the other. It’s easy to see the temptation of the latter in particular, with cars from America’s sunnier regions tending to suffer less from corrosion than those that have been in the UK from new. You’re more likely to find bleached paintwork and sun-damaged trim than you…

The Volkswagen Golf was a firm favourite by the late 1980s, with the second-generation Scirocco also available to those who craved something wearing a sharper suit. In 1988, however, VW introduced yet another choice with the Corrado, arriving in time to take advantage of a boom in the coupe market; this was the peak period for stylish 2+2s, the Corrado providing both style and substance. Arriving in the UK in early 1989 and based around theMk2 Golfplatform, a 1.8-litre 16v engine was the Corrado’s only powerplant initially. It was joined two years later by the supercharged G60, employing the same motor boosted to 158bhp. Further revisions came in 1992 when the styling was tweaked along with wider front wings, while a 2.0-litre 16v engine replaced the 1.8 – although the…

MINI MOKE The Moke is the UK’s home-grown beach car, and against a Trabant it’s probably the only time you’ll find one described as ‘refined’. Everything is relative, of course, but four-cylinders certainly make for smoother progress. There’s barely any weather protection though, and the low seats and shallow floors means they’re pretty cramped and uncomfortable, albeit a lot of fun. CITROËN MEHARI With a two-cylinder, air-cooled engine and a plastic body, the Mehari is perhaps the closest car in concept to the Trabant Tramp. It’s powered by the same 602cc engine as you’ll find in the Citroën 2CV and was built initially as a fun recreational vehicle, but the car’s design and light weight meant that the French military ordered over 9000 of them to use as air portable…

A deal removing some trade barriers between the UK and US was signed off by President Donald Trump last week, meaning 100,000 cars annually will be allowed into the US at a 10 per cent tariff, instead of the 25 per cent originally announced in April. We already knew at the point that cars over 25 years old would not be subject to tariffs, but the picture around parts has been more confusing. According to the HCVA, the tariff on auto parts from the UK will be 7.5 per cent, in addition to the most favoured nation rate for automobiles of 2.5 per cent, therefore making a total of 10 per cent. It’s an announcement that the HVCA says will bring certainty to many of its members, with the 10…

The Federation of Historic Vehicle Clubs (FBHVC) is set to respond to the public consultation over the next stage of deployment for fully automated ‘driverless’ vehicles (AVs), in which it will seek to protect the safety and freedom of historic vehicles. The Department of Transport (DfT) has launched a statutory consultation on the implementation of the Automated Vehicles Act 2024, which was passed under the previous administration. Currently any automated driving systems require the need for a ‘safety’ driver, but the Act allows advancement to the next stage of deployment of fully automated ‘driverless’ vehicles (AVs). This consultation focuses on the construction and application of the Statement of Safety Principles (SoSP) that the Act obliges the Secretary of State for Transportto make. The Statement prescribes the characteristics of a safe…

When it comes to cars, Americans have long been known for doing it their own way. Big engines, massive capacity motors, muscular looks – American cars have typically been loud, brash and to excess. But as the automotive world becomes ever more homogenised and deals with threats to its very existence, the quirks that defined a generation of Stateside motors have become even more alluring. Thankfully, a thriving scene exists to celebrate them, including one we’re involved in – the annual Classic American Stars & Stripes show at Cheshire’s Tatton Park on July 5-6. See theclassiccarshows.com/sas/ for all the details. But if you can’t wait until then, or just want to whet your appetite, then we’ve got no fewer than 14 pages devoted to American classics, including what you need…

Traditionally, it would be fair to say that Britain has never really taken to American cars. While plenty of cultural exchange has taken place across the Atlantic in the last century or so, our cars have tended to stay put. But like all absolute statements, caveats must be applied. American cars have been a continual presence on British roads almost from the outset, albeit in small numbers. Since the ’70s the leader in the UK car market has been that unequivocally American marque, Ford, and the number two spot has been taken by a subsidiary of General Motors. And barely a decade has gone by without one firm or another trying to tempt British motorists with a product from its home market – with varying success. In fact, the first…

EAGLE EYES A couple of readers think they’ve identified cars in the Classic Scenes of our June 11 issue. Simon Burtwell says: “The white car – I initially thought a Maxi or a Landcrab, but it isn’t either. My best guess is that it’s actually a Renault 16.” David Thompson, meanwhile, reckoned that “the American-looking blue car is a Toyota Carina TA12. My Dad was the sales manager for Toyota Forklifts in the North of England – the sales team all had Toyotas, including Carinas.” Good spotting, both of you! MEMORY LANE The Flyte Edition of the rather underwhelming Lada Samara did its best to make the Russian runaround sound more upmarket in this 1992 brochure. “A car that looks special. Because it is. Front-wheel drive, alloy wheels and ultra-low…