Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2025 i Classic American

It most definitely is show season! And this month’s Classic American has plenty of evidence of that in the News pages and in the body of the magazine, where the shows and events of this year’s summer so far are covered. We’ve had what must be one of the sunniest, hottest Mays on record and long may it continue – it’s been quite a few years since we’ve had a long, hot summer like the famous one of 1976 that’s often used as the benchmark for what a really long, hot summer should be like! This month’s magazine carries a feature on wiring-up and installing amber turn signals should you so feel the desire/necessity on your classic American vehicle. Many people do this regardless of whether their car legally requires…

While muscle cars are lovely to look at, the real enjoyment comes from driving them. Sadly, the UK’s poor roads and heavy traffic can turn that pleasure into pain. Chris Durham, owner of this 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle, has the answer; upgrade the suspension, brakes and virtually every other mechanical part to bring the car up to modern standards, without ruining any of its classic appeal. But let’s start at the beginning: “I had a weekend job helping out at a garage where my uncle worked, at Andy Loizou’s CPS Mustangs,” says Chris. “I was always into cars, but at age 14 I couldn’t see why someone would take an early Sixties Mustang and put time, effort and money into rebuilding it. I watched one being restored over a couple of…

Does the idea of travelling to some of America’s most scenic destinations and then getting the opportunity to put a brand-new Ford Bronco through its paces appeal to you? If the answer is yes, then keep reading. When the reincarnated Ford Bronco was introduced in the depths of the Covid-19 pandemic as a 2021 model, it became one of the most highly anticipated new vehicles of the year. While supply chain disruptions and idled assembly plants delayed introduction and made those early models a rare commodity, the Bronco has since become a ubiquitous sight on North American roads, challenging the once dominant Jeep Wrangler. A range of options Ford has been shrewd with marketing the Bronco, offering both two- and four-door bodies, as well as two engines (300hp 2.3 litre…

If you have been around early American cars, I’m sure you will have noticed how poor some of their lights are. Using the turn signals in daylight is sometimes unnoticeable if the park and turn signals are standard amber bulbs at the front; when the park lamps are on and you indicate, they do nothing more than glow a little brighter (I use the term loosely). The MoT restrictions concerning turn signals are the colour and the fact that the brake light is being interrupted. The government’s MoT Compliance and Requirements states that: “Vehicles first used on or after September 1, 1965, must have amber indicators (‘turn signals’) front and rear, whereas vehicles used before that date can have red turn signals at the rear, and white at the front.”…

Author: Marc Cranswick Published by: Veloce Publishing ISBN: 978-1-787-118-03-4 Price: £60 Well-established Veloce author Marc Cranswick took on a potentially mammoth task when he started to recount the history of the American Motors Corporation (AMC). Although it was only formed as late as 1954, it had a complex history until it was absorbed by Chrysler in 1987-88 and ceased to be an independent car manufacturer at that point. AMC was the sum of its parts. In the immediate post-war years, things were getting increasingly difficult for the independent automakers. They had managed in some cases to bring new models to the showrooms quite quickly, rather than slightly modified pre-war designs, but they couldn’t seriously compete with the “big three” of Ford, General Motors and Chrysler. The solution was collaboration between…

USAutomotive, the UK’s leading supplier of high-quality parts for American vehicles, has announced its involvement in Street Weekend, the premier Drag & Drive event in the UK, hosted at the legendary Santa Pod Raceway. As a proud sponsor of the American Bodied Vehicles class at Street Weekend, USAutomotive will be providing the official qualifying stickers that competitors need to participate in the category. Stickers will be available at USAutomotive’s stand at Santa Pod on the morning of Friday, June 14, or they have been available to be collected in advance, along with a goody bag, from USAutomotive HQ in Bedford between May 19 and June 13 (9am–5pm). There’s a £750 prize pot up for grabs in the American Bodied Vehicle class, with £450 for the quickest, £200 for second across…

Like so many of us, Ash Patel became a diehard petrolhead from an early age. “I didn’t come from a car loving family, we weren’t particularly interested in cars, but my neighbours were,” he smiles. “I’d regularly see them tinkering with their Ford Cortinas and Escorts on their driveway and this always fascinated me.” Those same neighbours happened to have a son of a similar age to Ash, they’d become best friends and soon the pair would become involved in fixing old Fords too. “My first car after I passed my test was a K10 Nissan Micra, as it seemed a sensible choice at the time,” Ash recalls. “By the time I was 19 I had a 1994 XR2i, and shortly after, a 93 Sierra Sapphire Cosworth 4x4. For my…

The joy of an event like the Easter Classic Gathering at Brooklands is you never know what might turn up. Open to all pre-1995 classic cars, there was a great showing of older American machines to intrigue and fascinate the crowds. I immediately spotted the incredible fins of a magnificent 1961 Chrysler convertible, fresh from receiving a Classic American magazine Car of the Year nomination at the Wheels Day show the day before. Other convertibles vying for attention nearby included a rare 1961 Oldsmobile mild custom, with lowered suspension and stunning red paint. A droptop gold 1964 Thunderbird sported an unusual Continental kit. Several interesting pick-ups were displayed and I was drawn to a clean black 1978 Chevrolet Custom Stepside, the high-rise centre of the bonnet suggesting something powerful lurked…

2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse The seventh-generation S650 Ford Mustang was first revealed at the 2022 North American International Auto Show and production versions were available to buy at dealerships from May 2023. There were three street versions on offer, as with previous incarnations: the twin turbocharged EcoBoost, the 5.0-litre V8-powered GT and a new variation, with additional power which replaced the Mach I and Shelby models that had been previously available. The Eco-Boost and GT are available in both coupe and convertible body styles, while the Dark Horse, with its 500bhp, is only in coupe form. Each has unique front sheet metal. Here in the UK, we can choose from the GT in coupe and convertible form and the Dark Horse. The EcoBoost was dropped from the range several…

Hundreds of vehicles and their owners arrived at Lakeland Motor Museum over the recent bank holiday weekend for their annual spring Classic Drive & Ride In Day. The popular events draws in a wide range of vehicles from right across the UK, as they compete to win the coveted trophy – handmade at the museum with a combination of three interesting finds from the workshop: a 1955 Chevrolet Bel-Air hood ornament, bolted to a Wrights unused British registration plate, complemented by a set of Cee-Tee pliers, all the way from New York, which are used as the stand on the back. The trophy is presented to the owner of the most interesting or unique vehicle. Chosen and presented by museum curator, Chris Lowe, it’s a much sought-after honour. The weekend’s…

With McEwan’s Customs being a classic car and bike restoration/custom fabrication shop, this was bound to be a show to attract a variety of cars and motorcycles. While one side of the grounds saw European classics such as 1980s BMWs, Volkswagens and hot hatch Fords, the other was dedicated to American machinery. Several of McEwan’s customer projects were on display including various pick-ups, a pair of top-quality hot rods and a 1977 Cadillac Eldorado they’d recently fitted with lowrider hydraulic suspension. A trio of late-model Mustangs arrived, accompanied by a 1965 Dodge Coronet with a Stage V Engineering Hemi, while numerous classic bike and custom chopper riders also dropped in for refreshments from the on-site tea and coffee bar run by Five Yard Coffee. In all, a very friendly morning…

Fifty years not out! Dear Classic AmericanFifty years! Bit of an achievement methinks! This Wheels Day was a bit grey and overcast but this didn’t stop the wheels and public from enjoying the day. The bolstered attendance has helped the club recover from last year’s dreadful weather and we will be giving away funds raised during the coming months so look out announcements! The club would like to thank all the helpers, sponsors and you for your continued support, see you at Wheels Day 51! Graham SmithSurrey Street RoddersVia email And what a great event it was! Roll on the next 50 years, thank you for allowing Classic American to be part of your magnificent event and great to see it settled into its new home at Newbury Showground, complete…