Innholdsfortegnelse for 9/17/2025 i Classic Car Buyer

Whatever the motor industry does to reinvent itself, it seemingly can’t prevent repeating itself. I’ve always thought that fairly recent Mazdas with their numberplate on the grille had echoes of 1960s and ’70s cars when the plate was positioned by owners to keep them warm, or keep water out. Then, following a late Mk8 Ford Fiesta the other day, I noticed the rear panel around the plate had been blacked out by the factory to give it a sporty look, a bit like a Cortina 1600E or a loftier model from the Mk1/2 Escort range. But it can be more significant, as Group Editor Paul Wager pointed out to me. When the subject of company cars was being discussed in the office recently, a list of currently idle vehicles available…

The Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs (FBHVC) has called on ministers to ensure that the rollout of automated vehicles does not threaten the freedom or safety of Britain’s much-loved classic cars. Responding to a government consultation launched in June on how driverless technology should be introduced to UK roads, the Federation has outlined that historic vehicles (HVs) of all shapes and sizes – from vintage motorcars to steam engines – must remain fully integrated into future traffic systems. It is also calling for the conditions for the safe introduction of automated vehicles to be without restrictions on the continued freedom of HVs to operate. “Implementation of automated systems must not result in any restrictions on, or segregation of, other road users,” the Federation said in its submission. The organisation,…

The Association of Heritage Engineers (AoHE) has announced its new ‘Getting it Sussed’ initiative, which aims to engage with policy makers around genuine sustainable practice and innovation within the heritage engineering and classic vehicle sectors. Dominic Taylor-Lane, founder of the AoHE, said: “From its inception AoHE was about bringing people, business, skills and experience together across all of heritage engineering. It is an absolute privilege to be able to work with some quite exceptional organisations, events and industry innovators “ Examples of sustainability cited by Dominic include nature positive manufacturing, sustainable liquid fuels, events that have secured an ISO20121 standard for their event sustainability management, plus the wider efforts of clubs, venues and people. “The classic vehicle sector, along with much of heritage engineering has been front and centre of…

JAGUAR Mk1 While the Jaguar Mk2 tends to grab all the limelight as the archetypal fast British classic saloon car, it owes its existence to the retrospectively named Jaguar Mk1. Known simply as the Jaguar 2.4 litre at its 1955 launch, it marked the beginning of a whole new era for the firm by becoming its first to use modern unitary construction. The ‘Mk1’ proved that executive cars didn’t have to be cumbersome and old-fashioned; it also pleased the enthusiastic driver by offering strong performance and decent handling. Under the bonnet was a short-stroke version of the XK’s straight-six twin-cam engine, initially in 2.4-litre guise, with the larger 3.4-litre unit added in 1957. Even the 2.4 offered a top speed of 101mph – at a time when a three-digit figure…

This week it’s a relatively short hop back in time to the cusp of the Millennium, as we visit Coventry’s Skydome shortly after its opening in 1999. We didn’t spot any Jaguars in shot – remember, the photo predates the volume-selling X-Type – but other home-grown product includes several of the Ryton-built Peugeot 309s, one sporting L-plates and big roof rack. The first-generation Rover 200 was still a popular choice back then, with at least two examples in shot, while there’s a big Ford presence too, the Mondeo and Mk5 Escort making the shabby B-plated Escort look its age, even compared to the Montego of similar vintage. Of the other Fords in shot we couldn’t help wondering how the diesel Orion with the signature rusty bootlid ended up on a…

There was a time when Toyota was best known for sensible cars and sewing machines, but in the 1980s and early ’90s the Celica, along with Carlos Sainz and Juha Kankunnen, completely changed all that. In GT-Four form, the Celica was turned it into a force to be reckoned with in the World Rally Championship, which gave it huge showroom appeal. This one isn’t a GT-Four, but it’s the next-best thing – a GTI-16, with a peppy 2.0-litre 16-valve engine, twin exhaust pipes, alloy wheels and a tailgate spoiler. A 1990 example, it comes from the first year of fifth-generation Celica production and comes with stacks of history, right back to when it was supplied new by the Toyota main dealer in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. It was kept in…

We were very saddened to hear that Stuart Turner, one of British rallying’s most influential figures, had sadly passed away at the age of 92 last week. Born in Stoke-on-Trent on January 14, 1933, Turner broke into rallying at club level by a chance after accepting the offer of a back-seat ride in his sister’s boyfriend’s Rover 14 on a local navigation event, and getting them all out of trouble when they got lost. He would go on to sit alongside Ron Gouldburn and John Sprinzel in the first two iterations of the British Rally Championship, from 1958, as well as navigating for Erik Carlsson when he won the RAC rally of 1960. He also enjoyed a journalism career that saw him become the first rallies editor of Motoring News.…

Coventry’s iconic Transport Museum has become the focus of major regeneration discussions that could see it relocated from its current Millennium Place site to the former IKEA building elsewhere in the city. The museum houses the largest collection of British-made road transport held in public ownership, including mass-produced cars that were built in the city, plus the Thrust SSC and Thrust 2 land speed record cars. In documents presented at May’s UK Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF), officials floated the possibility of building around 300 homes on the museum’s current Millennium Place site on Hales Street, within the wider City Centre North regeneration scheme. A listing shared in the Coventry Investment Prospectus said: “Coventry City Council wishes to see the Transport Museum relocated into new purpose-built facilities and,…

Ascot Racecourse will be the venue as Historics hosts its ‘Pace of Autumn’ sale this Saturday (September 20). There were 182 lots consigned as we went to press, with everything from pre-war specials to modern-day supercars among them. The headliner looks set to be a 1960 Aston Martin DB4 Series II, which is one of a whopping 11 Astons set to be offered in the sale and is estimated at £350,000-£370,000. It joins a host of entries with six-figure guide prices, though not all are cars you might expect. A 1981 Talbot Sunbeam Lotus prepared by Tolman could fetch as much as £165,000, while a 1999 Nissan Skyline R34 GTR is estimated at £115,000-£145,000. There’s also a 1990 Lister Le Mans – a 7.0-litre, 200mph monster based on a Jaguar…

What’s yours called? That was the memorable TV campaign that surrounded the launch of the Renault Super 5 ‘Supercinq’ in 1984 – and led to almost all R5 buyers giving their car a name. We had one. It was called Marcel, as a tribute to Marcello Gandini, the man responsible for its styling, as well as other less common cars such as the Lamborghini Countach. Project 140, as it was known inside Renault, was a delicate exercise. The original R5 sold in droves, its triangular styling capturing the imaginations of the French public. But mechanically, it was woefully outdated, using a longitudinally mounted engine that could trace its roots back to the Dauphine. An entirely new platform was developed for the ‘Supercinq’, with a new transverse engine range, but it…

Few Jaguar models have been so thoroughly overlooked as the XJ40. It’s only in recent years that it has emerged from a long stint in that uncertain space between a cheap, ageing prestige car and a modern classic. Now, the XJ40 can still offer a whole lot of Jaguar for your money, but may also bring more headaches per pound than you might wish for. The main challenge for the XJ40 was that its predecessor, the Series 3, was such an exceptional and well-loved car that it continued in V12 form as a special order until 1992. At the other end of its life, the XJ40’s successor, the X300, was so capable that many remain in regular use today. Early quality issues damaged the XJ40’s reputation, although these were quickly…

FIAT 124 SPIDER Italy’s answer to the MGB was based on the platform of one of the country’s best-selling saloon cars. But while the 124 saloon was boxy, the Spider derivative was drop-dead gorgeous and featured a lively Twin Cam engine. Find one that isn’t rotten and you’ll have a stunning sports car with huge character. LOTUS ELAN Smaller than the MGB, but arguably much more fun to drive, the Elan is the absolutely definition of Colin Chapman’s ‘add lightness’ philosophy. The fibreglass body also happens to be stunningly pretty – making the delicate and dainty Elan one of the most collectable and enjoyable sports cars of the ’60s. JENSEN HEALEY One of the more oddball choices of British roadster, the Jensen Healey is a similar size to the MGB…

Haynes Motor Museum celebrated its 40th anniversary in style on September 7 with the inaugural John Haynes Classic, a tribute to founder John Haynes OBE. Despite some early torrential rain, the event drew more than 3000 visitors, transforming the museum site into five themed zones packed with cars, motorcycles, live entertainment and family activities. The Owners’ Car Zone stole the spotlight with over 300 classic cars and 11 clubs on display. Among the standouts were the MG SV club and a pristine 1959 Aston Martin DB MkIII. The coveted Best in Show award went to a superbly restored Volvo Amazon Estate. Motorcycle fans flocked to the Motorcycle Zone, while on the Live Stage, personalities including Edd China, Jon Bentley and Ian Seabrook of Hubnut fame entertained audiences with motoring stories…

The weekend of September 6-7 saw 22,500 motoring enthusiasts attend the grounds of the National Motor Museum for Beaulieu International Autojumble, with this year’s event particularly notable as the rear engine of the World Land Speed Record breaking Sunbeam 1000hp was started up in public for the first time in 90 years. The legendary vehicle is currently being restored at the National Motor Museum, with the ambition to return it to Daytona Beach in 2027, marking 100 years since it broke the 200mph Land Speed Record. Autojumble show goers were the first to witness the colossal 22.5 litre Matabele V12 aero engine roar to life once again. Meanwhile, the event fields were bursting with motoring spares, automobilia, books, bikes and vintage treasure. The event was ideal for those tracking down…

Morris Leslie returns to classic car action this Saturday (September 20), with a varied sale at its Perth base. Over 120 lots were consigned at the time of writing, including modern classics, traditional brands, projects and even a Ford Transit ice cream van. Among the traditional entries, you’ll find no fewer than four MGBs, one a smart 1965 roadster in white with steel wheels and an Abingdon appropriate ‘CRX’ registration, which is estimated at £6250-£7500. You’ll also find a 1949 MG YA saloon guided at a very similar £6500-£7250, plus a 1955 TF 1500 estimated at £10,250-£12,000. And should you be in the market for an Austin-Healey ‘Frogeye’ Sprite, £10,750-£12,500 is predicted to be enough for a lovely red 1959 example that has been extensively restored. Staying with British cars,…

It was a case of two-for-one with the Citroën AX when it arrived in 1987, as it replaced both the five-door Visa and the three-door LNA in the manufacturer’s line-up. Developed on a new small car platform that would go on to be shared with the Peugeot 106, the newcomer was deceptively spacious for its compact dimensions, its flat dashboard and wheel-at-each-corner layout giving impressive passenger space. It was delicately pretty – not as far-out as other models in the Citroën range at the time, but it would set the design language for a new generation of cars from the brand that would share its angular beak, such as the ZX, XM and Xantia. There were multiple special editions, too, plus GT and GTi models that were fantastic to drive…