Innholdsfortegnelse for 11/5/2025 i Classic Car Buyer

It’s fair to say that the ‘UPnDOWN’ 24-hour driving challenge that two colleagues and I took part in at this time last year left quite an impression. A few of the staffers who remained at home reckoned it sounded like their worst nightmare, but despite managing no sleep whatsoever (when not driving, I hasten to add), I really enjoyed it. I was both delighted that we were able to contribute towards raising money for the Sophie’s Legacy charity, and was also hugely impressed that our steed – a 1992 Mercedes W124 saloon in basic 200E guise – managed to stand up to being thrashed across Germany mercilessly for the duration. I usually like my smaller, less prestigious classics like Minis and Fiestas, but ever since that trip, I’ve fancied a…

CLUB CLASS Clubs are the heart of the Classic Motor Show, and 2025 will be no exception. A whopping 310 clubs are set to exhibit – with everything covered from Allegros to the MG ‘Zed’ ranges. The Federation of Historic Vehicle Clubs (FBHVC) will once again host its Federation Village in Hall 5, while many of its member clubs will have displays of their own. In celebratory mode, meanwhile, will be the MG Car Club, which will be getting the party started for its 95th birthday. Further adding to an extraordinary celebration of motoring heritage, the spotlight will also be on the 16 vehicle clubs making their NEC show debut. Among the newcomers are the Ford Escort MkII RS1800 group, showcasing one of rallying’s most iconic cars, and the Post…

SUZUKI SJ/SAMURAI/SANTANA It’s amazing how some cars capture the zeitgeist of their era almost completely by accident, and the Suzuki SJ is one such example – a car that, quite by accident, became a fashion accessory and a trendsetter. The SJ started life as a utility vehicle. It was the replacement for the LJ, with which it shared its chassis and steering components, and began life as a 550cc ‘kei car’ sold in Japan as the Jimny – a name that would eventually appear on its replacement in the UK. Here, it was offered in two versions – the 1.0-litre SJ410 that went on sale first in 1981, and the 1.3-litre SJ413 that appeared 1984. The SJ initially sold steadily at a time where Japanese models were subject to import…

With the new XJ6 saloon being readied, Jaguar slimmed down its iconic compact Mk2 model to make way. The 240 and 340 became the company’s answer to models such as the Rover P6 and Triumph 2500, which were both selling well in the small luxury car market. They were essentially a pared-down Mk2 with Ambla (leather-style) trim in place of leather, slimmer and smaller chrome bumpers and a simplified interior. While seen as the poor relation by some, the 240 was actually a big improvement over the entry-level Mk2, as it gained some much needed mechanical improvements, finally being given the sort of power it should have enjoyed years before. Out went the old restrictive B-Type cylinder head and Solex carbs, replaced by a straight-ported E-type-style top end with twin…

A magazine subscription is the perfect gift: • Personal, thoughtful and fuels their passion • Provides enjoyment all year round • And saves you money on the shop price! GIFT SUBSCRIPTIONS FROM £22.99 OVER 45 TITLES TO CHOOSE FROM VISIT SHOP.KELSEY.CO.UK/XMAS25P OR CALL 01959 543 747 AND QUOTE ‘XMAS25P’ Lines are open Mon-Fri 8.30am to 5pm. Calls are charged at your standard network rate UK customers only. Offers end 31st January 2026…

THREE’S A CROWD We celebrate 50 years of the 3 Series, BMW’s most successful model that brought the brand’s core values to new customers, racking up millions of sales and becoming a legend in the process. CLASSIC CHOICE The Jaguar XK8 makes for a hugely appealing modern classic GT car, but can it fend off the exotic Maserati 4200 and slick Mercedes R230 SL? METRO MANIA Often called the thinking man’s Mini, the Metro is a fast appreciating and endangered national treasure. We share our buying advice. 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 ORDER FROM YOUR NEWSAGENT NOW! Classic Car Buyer is available…

When it comes to celebrating the centenary of the MG marque, fans can be forgiven for not being quite sure when to put the party hats away. The Octagon badge was first used in 1923, but MG itself recognises 1924 as the beginning, and has done since at least 1994. There have even been models to commemorate 1925 over the years, too. What we do know with more certainty is that M.G. Car Company was incorporated in July 1930, 95 years ago, by which time the firm had been based in Abingdon-on-Thames for 12 months, moving into a disused extension to the Pavlova Leather Company factory. It would spend the next 51 years there, before the factory doors were closed for the final time in 1980. The first cars had…

Aremarkable run of Blue Ovals will cross the block at Iconic Auctioneers’ NEC sales this weekend, with a combined 46 Ford lots between the two separate Iconic and Classic sales. If every car sells to estimate the line-up carries a combined hammer range of approximately £3.9million to £4.7million The catalogue blends rare homologation specials, concours restorations and important rally cars. Standout entries include the 2000 Ford Focus Mk1 WRC (ex-Sainz/Moya & McRae/Grist) estimated at £380,000-£420,000, a 1990 Ford RS200 S at £280,000–£340,000 and a 1975 Ford Escort Mk2 RS1800 at £200,000–£250,000. Other highlights are a low-mileage 1997 Escort RS Cosworth, a 2007 Focus Mk2 WRC and several period-correct Lotus Cortinas and Sierra RS models that will attract collectors and rally enthusiasts alike. The NEC’s dual sales present one of the…

Mini fans are in for something special at Birminghams NEC this weekend. Mike Cooper, of Cooper Car Company, is set to unveil his first classic Mini Cooper special edition in 25 years, which will be displayed on the British Mini Club stand as part of the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show. Never before shown to the public, the Mini Cooper Grand Prix has been designed exclusively by Mike Cooper himself, showcasing a unique style honed during the 1990s. This included the original Grand Prix edition of 1994, a 35-off creation celebrating the 35th Anniversary of the Cooper racing team’s victory in the Formula One world championship. The new model is said to combine timeless cues with modern engineering “to deliver an experience both nostalgic and forward looking.” Visitors are invited…

After years of turmoil, a newly privatised Rover opened a new chapter with the ‘R8’-generation 200 in 1989. It was arguably the zenith of a longrunning collaboration with Honda, and went straight to the top of the class. Previous fruits of the Anglo-Japanese relationship had been the Triumph Acclaim and the SD3 Rover 200, which were essentially first- and second-generation versions of the Honda Ballade respectively. There was the Rover 800 too, which shared bits with the Honda Legend, but the R8 was much more of a joint effort, with Honda wanting its equivalent Concerto model to appeal to European tastes. By being forward-thinking but not too shouty, the 200 aligned perfectly with Rover’s strategy of pitching it as a more upmarket offering. Roy Axe’s neat design boasted black A,…

Given that it’s probably the TR variant that makes the fans of big Triumphs go weakest at the knees, it’s kind of ironic that the TR5 was also the one that sold in the fewest numbers. Just 2947 of them were produced between August 1967 and September 1968, of which 1161 were right-hand-drive UK-market cars. The rest were sold across Europe, with the USA being made to settle for the TR250 – a car that still had the smooth six-cylinder engine that set it apart from the TR4, but couldn’t match the UKmarket car for performance. The TR5 used a 2558cc straightsix with Lucas fuel injection and 150bhp. That was a headline figure in its day, but the ‘5’ only accounted for one in ten six-pot TRs. The majority of…

SNEAKY SALOON Reader Donald Yonge got in touch regarding the Classic Scene in our October 15 issue: “I reckon that over on the right, centre of the coach, is the top of a large Farina saloon. What do you think?” Good spot, Donald – hard to miss that wraparound windscreen! CARS OF THE PEOPLE The Morris Minor vs Austin A30 video on our Classics World YouTube channel prompted plenty debate from commentors. @NicholasSadlier recalled a Minor with L-plates: “I learnt to drive in a Minor in 1980. Very solid, good gearchange, very abrupt clutch. Even then it felt absolutely prehistoric!” @robertf2715, meanwhile, has experienced of a brisker Austin: “My father-in-law has an A35 which he used to race in the HRDC series - with the Swiftune engine, it’s a little…