Innholdsfortegnelse for Winter 2021 i Classic Car Mart

Welcome… Back in the garage After successive Covid lockdowns saw legions of tinkerers taking to garages and sheds across the nation, I rather thought we were through with crisis-induced garage projects, but the fuel shortage which came and (largely) went while putting this issue to press saw a return of the ‘might as well take it apart while we’re not using it’ philosophy. The subject was a ride-on mower which had apparently started spitting sparks from the cutter deck, something which was traced to a clash between two of the many pulleys, in turn caused by a loose engine mounting. With nobody wanting to be ‘that guy’ pictured filling a jerry can on the evening news, the grass was left to grow while it was dismantled. I’m used to working…

AUCTION NEWS REVIEW: CLASSIC CAR AUCTIONS, STONELEIGH, SEPTEMBER 25 Despite the pandemic putting paid to the Practical Classics Classic Car and Restoration Show earlier this year, the event’s auction element was still able to take place at Stoneleigh Park on September 25. Run by Classic Car Auctions, the sale featured over 100 cars from across the decades, some mild and some considerably more wild. German brands were especially prevalent, with an interesting contrast amongst the Porsches. A 996-generation 911 Carrera 2 from 1997 and a 2003 Carrera 4 looked like bargains at £7770 and £9990 respectively, but older transaxle cars surpassed expectations, with a very tidy 1986 924 S offered without reserve making £9345 and a 1990 944 S2 Convertible selling for £20,535. It was a good day for 1980s…

MARKET TRENDS ROVER P6 This ground-breaking sporting saloon changed Rover’s image in the early ’60s and went on to enjoy a long career – but is it still a great buy? Prior to the launch of its new 2000 saloon in 1963, Rover was seen as a manufacturer of rather stately, upmarket models. Then along came the car codenamed P6… and by Rover standards it was a revelation. It went on to be a major success too, selling over 322,000 units during its 14-year career. Not only did the new Rover 2000 provide modern, low-slung styling and a new OHC engine, it also boasted one of the most innovative suspension systems of the time. A de Dion set-up featured at the rear (with fixed-length driveshafts similar to the earlier Rover…

WINTER RESTORATION PROJECTS FORD ESCORT Mk1 WORDS: IAN CUSHWAY Practicality, decent performance and no nonsense mechanicals – the Mk1 Escort with its jaunty Coke bottle styling is all things to all people and a great car to buy and do up at home. It made its debut at the Brussels Motor Show in early 1968 and while not particularly exciting from a mechanical perspective, it did everything well and still has lots going for it today. Not least the fact that despite having leaf springs at the back, scalpel sharp rack-and-pinion steering and a decent gearbox makes it a nice classic to drive. The Mk1 was available in either 53bhp De Luxe 1098cc or 63bhp 1298cc Super guise, both of which were over square Kent five-bearing crossflow units evolved from…

WINTER RESTORATION PROJECTS TRIUMPH TR6 WORDS: SAM SKELTON The Triumph TR6 is one of those sports cars you simply can’t discuss without the words “hairy” and “chest” coming into the equation. Brutish, British, and thunderingly good fun in and old school way, there are legions of schoolboys of all ages who have grown up looking forward to the day when they might just about be able to afford a TR6. And while values have risen, it still represents excellent value alongside similar cars like the Austin Healey 3000. They’re fairly simple, so why not think about restoring your own? After all, that same sterling spares support the Spitfire enjoys is there for the TR6. Companies such as Rimmer Bros and Robsport can provide almost any part you care to name,…

RETRO CARS ENDANGERED SPECIES: PORSCHE 968 THE FINAL FLING The last front-engined Porsche until the Cayenne and the brand’s last fourcylinder until the current Boxster, the 968 was the last gasp of a line which had begun with the 924. Words: Richard Gooding Photography Matt Woods, The 944 enjoyed success as blistering as its sills. After the release of the S2 in 1989, factory bosses made plans to develop the model even further. The next-gen 944 was set to wear the S3 designation, but so extensive were the proposed changes, it became clear the resulting car would be more or less an entirely new Porsche. With this in mind, the decision was made to forge ahead with a path that followed the chosen route, but ended with a fresh model.…

STAFF CARS STAFF CLASSICS We revisit some old projects, welcome some new members to the collection and look into staffers’ own garages. BMW 320ci Paul Wager Since pressing the BMW into regular service, I’m pleased to report that the ABS/DSC warning light hasn’t made a reappearance and problems have been surprisingly few, considering the car had sat idle for some time. One thing we did notice after a few weeks was a nearside front tyre which would hold pressure for weeks but then would randomly deflate overnight. Since the front tyres were a nasty mix of different budget brands they needed changing anyway and the car was duly booked in for a pair of Falkens. The tyre themselves were fine but the fitting experience was truly awful. Driving home the…

CLASSIC ROAD TEST: JAGUAR MkX THUNDERING TIGER The Jaguar MkX ushered in the modern era for Jaguar. Now it turns sixty, we revisit the biggest of big cats. WORD: SAM SKELTON PHOTOGRAPHY: PAUL WAGER For Britain in 1961 there was no more influential place than America. We wanted their music, liberal lifestyle, clothes and cars. Even Jaguar – conservative despite its image as the spiv’s Bentley – was briefly captivated, and in that year unveiled the MkX. Coventry’s new flagship owed more in its proportions to Cadillac than to previous Jaguars, and was loved neither in its US target market nor in Mini-Minor Britain. This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. After all, the smaller Jaguars had been selling well in America, as had its sports cars. While its…

FLYING SPARES If you're DIY-minded then there's a lot you can do yourself on these cars and it won't be too long before you find yourself on first-name terms with the helpful sales team at Flying Spares. Starting out as a specialist dismantler, the firm has evolved over the last 25 years to offer owners the ideal choice between used parts, OEM-quality equivalents or original Bentley-branded products, as well as operating its own remanufacturing and reconditioning programme for mechanical items. Flying Spares can supply parts for any Rolls-Royce or Bentley from 1946 and our own Turbo R is already wearing a selection of their products. Without firms like this to support these cars, they would certainly be a whole lot more tricky to own and it's certainly made our life…

WINTER RESTORATION PROJECTS MGB WORD: SAM SKELTON We all know somebody who, in the 1960s or 1970s, had an MGB. It was ubiquitous, the archetypal British sports car, and one whose memory and legacy have endured the test of time. Simple yet fun, think of the octagon today and it’s not the hotted up saloons upon which the brand earned its name which come to mind; it’s a Tartan Red B roadster on wire wheels. And it’s an appealing image, a classic that anyone can maintain and a car in which to take pride. Who wouldn’t want it? And the news gets better. The MGB is arguably the easiest restoration project for anyone new to the world of classic cars and restoration. Why? Firstly, there are so many MGBs out…

WINTER RESTORATION PROJECTS FORD CAPRI WORDS: IAN CUSHWAY Ford’s classic sporty coupé in its various guises still looks good, and with several different eras to choose from, there’s bound to be the perfect project lurking unloved out there for you to fettle. Not only that but as values have been constantly on the up, you’re bound to get a good return on your blood, sweat and the inevitable tear or two when it’s all done. The Mk1 Capri from 1969 heralded a new and exciting era for Ford. And while we all look back on the Sixties and Seventies as being far more cool than they really were, there’s no denying the period appeal of those ‘hockey stick’ side contours, the delicate fake grilles in front of the rear wheels…

WINTER RESTORATION PROJECTS AUSTIN-HEALEY 3000 WORDS: IAN CUSHWAY Brutishly fast and heart-warmingly simple, most agree the 3000 is one of the most iconic old school seat-ofthe pants British sports cars ever. The thing is, being so universally loved means prices have rocketed out of reach of most of us and the last of the line Mk3 BJ8 can easily fetch in excess of £70,000 these days. But there is another way, of course. And that’s to buy a project for a fraction of this, invest all your time (and a little money) getting it looking good again and then sit back and reap the rewards. It’s an opportunity too good to miss. Before you start scanning the classifieds and auction sites for a suitable rot box to spend every waking…

THE MARKETPLACE THE CARS THE BEGINNING DATABASE: MORRIS MINOR (1948-1971) All the essential info on the car which is often credited with having kick-started the entire classic car scene. The post-war Morris Minor became a legend in its own lifetime. Like the RM Rileys it had become a sure cert for future classic status by the late ’60s, having escaped all attempts to redesign or kill it off during its long production run. Almost from the start it was denied some of the advanced technical thinking originally intended for it, and nor was it developed to that end over the following 23 years. Falling sales after the mid-’60s made that plain enough. Yet it wasn’t until the Minor was axed that people realised what they were missing – a familiar friend…

THE SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP It took Ford a long, long time to finally bless us with the Mustang on this side of The Pond. But was it worth the wait, or are European-derived fast Fords a better bet? Specifically, a good, used Mk3 Focus RS? Words: Thomas Horner Ford took its sweet time about it, but – in 2015 – after 50 years of waiting, the mighty Mustang finally, officially made it to these shores. For fans of the original Pony Car, it meant no more having to source decent classic Mustangs in the States and then importing them over here at great expense; instead, now you could walk into a Ford dealership and order your own righth-and-drive version. Originally sold here with both a 2.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder EcoBoost engine and…

TAILGATE NO TIME TO DRIVE Sam considers the choice of Bond Astons. As I write, it is the weekend after the unveiling of new James Bond film No Time To Die, and less than 24 hours ago I was sitting in my local Showcase De Luxe cinema enjoying what, for my money, is Daniel Craig’s best outing as the famous MI6 agent. I’m not going to issue any major spoilers in this column, so don’t be scared of reading on if you haven’t watched it yet. But its attitude toward Bond cars has somewhat bewildered me. Things you’ll know if you’ve watched any trailers over the last 18 months; James Bond and SPECTRE Bond girl Madeleine Swann enjoy a life together after the film for a period. James Bond gets…

Classic Crossword 190 Clues Across 6 The man behind the Alfasud’s design (8) 8 & 20 down Jensen’s FF was equipped with these brakes (4-4) 9 Lancia Beta-based estate (3) 10 4x4 Subaru estates (8) 12 Possibly three-point manoeuvres (5) 13 Volvo S40 cousin from Mitsubishi (7) 15 Hyundai model released in the 1980s (7) 17 _ 530, French sports car (5) 20 Mr Fioravanti, acclaimed Ferrari designer (8) 21 Aston Martin resurrected this nameplate in 2007 (3) 22 _ bottle, the styling of the Vauxhall Viva HB (4) 23 Performance variant of the Saab 9000 (8) Clues Down 1 Targa-top Lamborghini evolved from the Urraco (10) 2 Space _, Mitsubishi people carrier (5) 3 Era of the Triumph Renown (4-3) 4 Luxury Monteverdi SUV (6) 5 Sportages, Prides, etc…

REVIEW: HISTORICS, ASCOT, SEPTEMBER 25 Despite the clamour for fuel causing mayhem in the local district and beyond, Historics’ latest classic sale at Ascot Racecourse on September 25 was still met by a full auction hall and some 1000 visitors across all three viewing days. Pleasingly, the relaxed atmosphere was in complete contrast to many a frenzied garage forecourt, with 165 varied entries for visitors to witness. In any case, the need for petrol won’t be pressing for some of the lots, as restoration projects proved to be exceptionally strong performers. The highlight had to be a 1982 Lamborghini Countach 5000 S in need of a full rebuild, which drew very significant interest and sold for £257,600 – a whopping 43 per cent above its top estimate. In addition, a…

TWIN TEST: BMW 750I v BENTLEY TURBO R V FORCE For a short period the high-flier looking for a sober four-door could have chosen between Bentley’s blown V8 and BMW’s high-tech V12. We try to choose today. Words and photography: Paul Wager At first sight, these might seem an incongruous pairing: the precision weaponry that was early ’90s German automotive technology and the blunderbuss of what was effectively an updated Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow. To the monied buyer of top-end executive saloon cars with image firmly uppermost in mind though, the two were positioned closer than you might have thought. The other candidates on your high-flier’s shopping list would have included the Mercedes S-Class but even in range-topping 560 guise it was hardly sporting, while Jaguar could offer you a supercharger…

WINTER RESTORATION PROJECTS JAGUAR E-TYPE WORD: SAM SKELTON When the E-Type first appeared in 1961 the world stood back and sighed in admiration. It wasn’t only that it was beautiful – though it was and still is one of the most heartstoppingly beautiful machines of all time – nor was it that it was cheap at half the price of the equivalent Aston Martin. The performance of the E added to the cumulative magic, and not only did it earn itself a place in the history books but it shifted Jaguar from maker of motors for spivs into producers of some of the most desirable machinery on the market. And with prices rapidly heading toward the stratosphere, it seems that a restoration project is the only way that any of…

WINTER RESTORATION PROJECTS MGF WORD: SAM SKELTON It seems odd to think of an MGF as a car which might require restoration. But one of the nation’s biggest classic car titles featured MGBs on the cover barely two years after the model ceased production, and it’s easy to forget that while the MGF might seem modern still, the oldest examples are now 26 years old. By 1988 the earliest MGBs were getting very tired, and some might even have been into their second renovation. The F may have lasted longer but no car is immune from the ravages of time. Especially something which, under the skin, is effectively made out of the parts bin using Metro subframes as a basis. That’s not to say it’s a bad car, but to…

WINTER RESTORATION PROJECTS TRIUMPH SPITFIRE WORDS: SAM SKELTON The Triumph Spitfire is a misunderstood sports car. Armchair experts will crow about the rear suspension on early cars inducing alarming positive camber under braking, while it’s easily written off as a Herald in a party frock. Spend some time with the small Triumph and you’ll realise that not only is it great fun but that with care that suspension can be turned to your advantage. Few classics are as easy to steer on the throttle as a Spitfire, drifting from sweeping bend to sweeping bend and flattering your ego in the process. Late cars have lower wishbones to remove the issue completely, and if 1970s styling is for you these cars are the best entry points into Spitfire ownership. On top…

WINTER RESTORATION PROJECTS AUSTINHEALEY SPRITE WORDS: IAN CUSHWAY Small really is beautiful with the Austin-Healey Sprite because you’ll be able to squeeze a project into even the most cramped single garage and still have space for a bench and shelving for all the stripped parts. Designed originally as an economical, low-cost sports car, the Sprite will be a doddle to fix and a real hoot to own when it’s done. And because parts availability is second to none, the restoration process is unlikely to throw up any real googlies for the competent DIY enthusiast. Production of the characterful ‘Frogeye’ version with its distinctive headlamps started in 1958 and ended in 1960. Like most British sports cars from this period, most went to the US, but the bad news is that…

RETRO CARS MARKET TRENDS GO FAST GRIFFINS Are Vauxhall’s hot VXR models worth investment? Words: Joe Miller Think ‘fast Vauxhalls’ and the acronyms GSi, GTE and SRi will likely come to mind, but by the early 2000s, VXR was the banner under which sat hot versions of almost every car in Vauxhall’s stable. Some were legendary, others questionable, but with no performance models in Luton’s lineup currently, could some prove canny investments? ASTRA VXR (2005-2010) The first production VXR was the then-new Astra H. Sporting a 2-litre turbocharged engine, the Astra VXR served up 240bhp – substantially more than rivals – and hit 152mph. The VXR gained a brash bodykit, spoiler and 18-inch wheels, while passengers got Recaro seats and lashings of VXR badging inside. After the absence of a…

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