Innholdsfortegnelse for 7/9/2025 i Classic Car Buyer

There’s no more irritating fault than an intermittent one that you can’t find the cause of. I’ve painstakingly rebuilt my classic over recent months, to the extent that’s it almost all new mechanically. It sailed through its MoT, too. But then it died, without rhyme or reason. When it started again after a few mins, and ran faultlessly for the next three days, I thought it might have been a one-off. But then it died again in lane 3 of the M25 on a Thursday morning. I was hugely grateful that I was able to negotiate my way across the lanes and on to the hard shoulder – it was one of the sections of motorway that hasn’t adopted all-lane running. I dread to think what would’ve happened if it…

We might have clever mapping to make a four-cylinder unit sound more muscular and forced induction to match the power, but few things can stir the soul of a car enthusiasts like a characterful V8 engine. Such motors have graced some truly iconic vehicles over the last century, but in Europe at least, they’ve generally been for upper-crust prestige and performance cars. Thankfully, purchasing a V8 in 2025 doesn’t have to break the bank. Permit us to put fuel prices, associated running costs and emission zones to one side for a moment, and focus on classic V8 vehicles spanning a wide range of genres that can be snapped up for a relatively modest four-figure budget. To this end, we’ve selected eight classics that we think make incredible bargains, all featuring…

RENAULT CLIO WILLIAMS It may have had Papa and Nicole, but one thing the original Renault Clio lacked at its debut was va-va-voom. Launched in 1991 to universal acclaim, the first-generation of the stylish supermini was clearly a masterful piece of small car design. But then it had to be, for not only did it replace a national icon in the form of the Renault 5, but it also had to compete with some great rivals such as the Peugeot 205, Citroën AX and Ford Fiesta Mk 3. Renault’s focus, then, was on making the Clio as smart, well-made and sophisticated as possible. It did so with aplomb, but also with less of a focus on performance. When the Clio went on UK sale in March 1991, there was no…

1975 - Production of the W123 models begins. 1976 - Mercedes W123 launched as 200-280 saloon, offering four petrol and four diesel engines. Waiting lists and premiums quickly mount as demand explodes. 1977 - C123 coupe launched, only offered as 230C, 280C and 280CE petrol in Britain. 12-off St Tropez convertible introduced. 1978 - S123 debuts as first factory Mercedes estate – offered with the same petrol and diesel engines as saloon. 1980 - Series 2 facelift brings halogen headlights on all models (previously only 280E/coupe), improved rustproofing with arch liners, revised gear ratios for economy, optional ABS. 1982 - Series 3 brings optional five-speed manual gearbox, standard power steering, redesigned seats for improved rear legroom. 1985 - W123 discontinued after nine years of production and 2.7 million cars produced,…

SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER AT WWW.CLASSICSWORLD.CO.UK A comeback for a famous British brand name looks ever more likely, with Marcos Motor Company having announced new development programmes and other complementary projects that will see the Wiltshire-based company build new Marcos cars. It’s the second time the Marcos name has been linked to a comeback in as many months, with a separate entity, Marcos Cars – based in Wales and headed up by new CEO William Storey – announcing in May that it would debut a new supercar in November. The original Marcos firm was founded in 1959 in North Wales by Jem Marsh and Frank Costin. It produced some iconic cars such as the GT, Mini Marcos, Mantula, and LM models, but struggled with financial issues and went bankrupt…

The Volvo XC60 has officially dethroned the iconic 240 as the Swedish company’s best-selling model of all time, with over 2.7 million units sold globally since its 2008 debut. For decades, the 240 defined Volvo’s reputation for safety and practicality. Produced from 1974 to 1993, it became a household staple for families worldwide, with 2,685,171 cars built - more than 240,000 of them sold in the UK. It was also an early adopter of safety innovations such as crumple zones, side-impact protection, and the world’s first child booster cushion. “Growing up in Sweden in the 1980s, the Volvo 240 was the iconic family car,” said Susanne Hägglund of Volvo Cars. “Today the XC60 has taken over that position.” The XC60’s success also reflects a broader shift from estate cars to…

I’ve just been ploughing through the results of the big Herefordshire barn find sale at the end of June, and with so many ’80s classics, it’s interesting to see there’s a definite step in values between the hard top and convertible versions of what are essentially the same car. The Mk1 Golf GTI for example remains affordable in Cabriolet form, whereas the hatch has shot well ahead in value, as has its Peugeot 205 rival. The same can be said for the contemporary BMW, the E30 3 Series, which arrived in 1982 and was with us until 1994, the convertible and estate versions outliving the saloon. Find a pristine 325i Sport and you’ll be relieved of £13,000 or more, while the convertible remains usefully more affordable. Despite the reinforcements added…

At first glance, Mercedes’ new 200-280 series (codenamed W123) resembled its ‘Stroke Eight’ predecessor when it went on sale in 1976, but while the Stuttgart giant had once again created a solid, safe saloon, there were numerous refinements. The W123 quickly earned a reputation for toughness, becoming a favourite in developing countries as a taxi and earning a reputation as one of the most durable cars ever built. It offered four diesel and four petrol engines, with the top 280 model also featuring fuel injection. The following year, Mercedes introduced the W123 coupe (C123), available as the 230C, 280C, 280CE, and 300CD, with only petrol variants offered in the UK. Notably, the Crayford St Tropez, a British-built convertible, was produced in just 12 units. In 1978, the W123 estate (S123)…

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Known internally as Project Erika, the third-generation Ford Escort was one of Ford’s boldest-ever projects. The new model was brand-new, from the ground up. It would be Ford’s first front-wheel-drive compact family hatch, building on the successes of the Fiesta supermini and aimed squarely at the Volkswagen Golf, as well as the new Vauxhall Astra/Opel Kadett. The top model in the range (sporty XR3 aside) was the 1.6 Ghia, and that’s what we have here, identifiable by its unique wheel design, wooden interior trim and chrome detailing. It was quite nippy and also pretty refined, especially if specified with the optional five-speed manual gearbox as chosen by this car’s first owner. Finished in Caribbean Blue, it has covered just 51,000 miles from new and comes with a fair stack of…

Hagerty’s popular Festival of the Unexceptional returns to Grimsthorpe Castle, Lincolnshire, on Saturday July 26, celebrating mundane motors from around the world and featuring the now-iconic Concours de l’Ordinaire, which will boast 50 of the world’s rarest ordinary cars. The 2025 festival line-up is set to include a live recording of the Smith and Sniff podcast, a host of exciting speakers and great live entertainment for all the family. But there’s more, for the oragansiers have joined forces with the British Motor Museum to select six cars from its vast collection on display at the museum in Gaydon. Three of the cars fit the FOTU vibe perfectly, being well preserved forgotten cars with a great story. The other three are extremely rare prototypes from the British Leyland era that may…

Quotation supplied by Lancaster Insurance  Web: lancasterinsurance.co.uk | Tel: 01480 400761 Example quote: £132.82 or £150.82 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.…

Triumph was always a company keen on innovation, even when budgets were tight. So with the TR3A getting long-in-the-tooth (and still looking much like the 1953 TR2), the company needed a creative approach to develop its replacement. That duly came in the form of ‘Project Zest’, through which Triumph appointed Italian designer Giovanni Michelotti to design a new sports car for the 1960s. The outcome was the TR4 – a car that was based on the same sub-structure and chassis as the earlier TRs, but clothed in a modern and thrusting new body that was much sharper and smarter than the cars that went before. The TR4’s sharp new Italian-designed suit was not only wider and lower than the outgoing model, but the redesigned cabin also offered more space for…

The 309 was never really intended to be sold as a Peugeot, not least because when it appeared, the French brand’s 305 small saloon was still in the prime of its life. Instead, the compact hatchback was originally planned as a Talbot, to replace the ageing Horizon. It was to be the Talbot Arizona, and would use the proven Douvrin ‘suitcase’ engine. Development costs were kept low, not least because the 309 used the same doors and headlights as the 205, as well as its floorpan. But just as development was nearing completion, PSA Peugeot-Citroën made the decision to close the Talbot brand, which was underperforming across Europe. The 309, though, was so far down the line that it made no sense at all to cancel it, so it became…

DREAM BIG We celebrate the aspirational badges and trim levels for the mainstream, from Ghia to Vanden Plas. PILLAR OF SOCIETY Sold for just a few years, the pillarless XJ-C is, for many, the most desirable Jaguar XJ. We show you how to buy the best. CLASSIC CHOICE The 1990s roadster war saw a trio of Germans launched, but does the Audi TT, BMW Z3 or Mercedes SLK make the best modern classic nearly 30 years on? 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…