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CONTENTS
WELCOME
REGULARS
JOE MILLER
DEPUTY EDITOR
I
was recently invited back to
my former college to appear on
the student radio broadcast, as
part of a panel of ex-students who
now have careers in the media.
Surrounded by professionals
who have done special effects for
Netflix shows and produced TV
programmes for the BBC and ITV,
I thoroughly enjoyed the live radio
experience. Despite the various
classics at my disposal, I opted to
turn up to the show in my own Fiat
Seicento Sporting, the very same car
I drove to college in some nine years
ago – it felt ‘right’ to go back to my
roots in every sense, parking in the
same car park and walking the same
halls I did long before imagining
that working with classic cars would
become my job.
Going back to our roots is a theme
in this issue, as Classic Car Buyer
celebrates 15 years. I certainly
wasn’t there at the beginning –
some readers might be shocked to
discover that I was only 11 years old
at the time – but the last six years
being involved with CCB, before
becoming Dep Ed a year ago this
month, have been great fun and
memorable for so many reasons.
Looking back at the cars we’ve
driven, roadtrips we’ve been on and
our favourite features, it never fails
to amaze me the breadth of the
classic car world, and how much
education and entertainment can be
derived from it. This issue celebrates
that theme, past and present –
team members that have been here
since CCB’s first issue in 2009
recount their favourite (and some
embarrassing) moments, while two
brand new roadtrip features from
2024 prove there’s plenty of life in
the classic car hobby – and indeed,
Classic Car Buyer – yet. Thanks to
everyone who’s read and supported
CCB so far, here’s to the next 15
years!
THE BIG
PICTURE
4 NEWS
The latest news from the
world of classic cars, including
a controversial rebrand for
Jaguar, a new TWR creation,
and more progress for
sustainable fuels.
8 AUCTION NEWS
36 TRIED AND TESTED:
ROLLS-ROYCE
SILVER SHADOW
The car that brought RollsRoyce into a new era, is the
all-star Silver Shadow still
worthy of its ‘best car in the
world’ title? Joe drives a
splendid Shadow I to find out
Previews of a pair of jam39 FEATURE: BULLETPROOF
packed sales from WB & Sons
We celebrate the famously
and CCA, and the results from
tough classics that deserve
Morris Leslie’s latest auction.
their reputation of being
15 MARKET TRENDS
“bombproof”, from the Volvo
Combining sporting
Amazon to the Mk2 Golf.
mechanicals with space
for four and capacious
44 BUYING GUIDE:
boots, the Reliant Scimitar,
FIAT 124 SPIDER
Lynx Eventer and BMW Z3
As a rarer alternative to a
‘Clownshoe’ offer three classic
British-built roadster, the
shooting brakes, but which
handsome and fun-to-drive
is most valued today?
Fiat 124 Spider makes an
interesting choice. Here’s how
to find a good one.
FEATURES
16 SPECIAL FEATURE:
15 YEARS OF CCB
As Classic Car Buyer
SALES SPOTLIGHT
celebrates its 15th birthday,
we look back on memorable
moments, best-loved cars
and favourite features.
49 LOTUS ELISE
50 BEDFORD HA
50 FORD CAPRI
23 FEATURE: 2024
HIGHLIGHTS
CLASSICS
FOR SALE
2024 has been a fantastic
52 FREE ADS
year in the world of classic
58 BARGAINS
cars – we revisit our favourite
shows and adventures
34 CLASSIC CHOICE
As Volvo – and its Polestar sub-brand –
shifts ever-more towards electriication,
this S80 was a pleasing sight. Not just
because the often-forgotten executive
express is a great car in its own right, but
because this is the lesser-spotted 4.4-litre
V8 version. Boasting 315bhp and a lovely
rumble, this subtle saloon would later
donate its engine to the Noble M600
supercar. S80 V8s are few and far between
these days, the vicious £735 annual road
tax bill likely a contributing factor…
If you wanted a 1990s
executive car that wasn’t
German, the Ford Scorpio,
Vauxhall Omega and Rover
800 all made strong choices
– which is the better classic
today?
CLASSIC INTEREST
32 CLASSIC SCENES
Another rummage in the
archives for our weekly dose
of photographic nostalgia.
62 LAST ORDERS
The latest reader feedback,
plus period ads and general
classic chatter.
27
KEEP IN TOUCH
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CLASSIC CAR BUYER 3
NEWS & COMMENT
DAKAR ROLLS HEADS TO AUCTION
R
olls-Royce purists would do
well to turn the page now,
but for those of us who
love the oddball, French auction
house Aguttes has a real treat in
its December 1 sale: a Paris-Dakar
Rolls-Royce Corniche.
The brainchild of Thierry de
Montcorgé – described brilliantly
as a ‘dandy playboy adventurer’
in the catalogue – and friend
Jean-Christophe Pelletier, the
idea of a Paris-Dakar Rolls-Royce
was apparently created over
a liquid lunch in the spring of
1980. Pelletier would donate his
Corniche and the madcap plan was
made reality by Michel Mockrycki,
famous for Citroën prototypes and
a specialist in American V8s.
Sponsorship from Christian
Dior promoting its new Jules
fragrance made the project
possible and Mockrycki duly
set to work. The finished item
contained very little Rolls-Royce,
being a combination of Toyota
Land Cruiser chassis, 5.7-litre
Corvette V8 and a tubular frame
carrying a fibreglass copy of the
Corniche bodyshell.
The car competed in the 1981
Paris-Dakar as a ‘Jules prototype’
and despite a crash which
damaged the steering and a field
repair later disallowed by officials,
it was allowed to finish the 6200mile event. Although it has been
seen a few times since then, the
car has never come up for public
sale until now and Aguttes has it
estimated at a hefty €400,000€800,000. More details can be
found at aguttes.com.
SPECIALIST MAKES SUSTAINABLE SWITCH
The race schedule for 82nd
Goodwood Members’ Meeting will
also run entirely on sustainable
fuels.
All of Bridge Classic Cars’ future competition vehicles will be run on
sustainable fuel.
A
Suffolk-based specialist
well known for its classic
car giveaways is making
the switch to sustainable liquid fuel
for all of its competition vehicles,
reducing emissions by a claimed
80 per cent. Bridge Classic Cars,
located near Woodbrige, has
partnered with P1 Fuels, with its
1971 Mini Cooper S being the first
prize car to make the switch to
the firm’s synthetic man-made
alternative to fossil fuels.
“We are passionate about
keeping classic cars alive for
generations to come, but not at
the cost of the environment,”
explained Craig Ranson, Managing
Director of Bridge Classic Cars.
“By switching to synthetic fuel
for all our competition cars, we’re
ensuring that car enthusiasts can
win their dream car for just a few
pounds whilst doing their bit to
reduce their carbon footprint.”
Meanwhile, Goodwood has
announced that the race schedule
for the 82nd Members’ Meeting
will run entirely on sustainable
fuels. Earlier this year, the
Goodwood Revival became the
world’s first historic motorsport
event to run all of its races
solely on sustainable fuel, and
next April’s Members’ Meeting
will follow suit, requiring all
competitors to use a fuel with a
minimum of 70 per cent advanced
sustainable components.
That means the total of 13
contests will be run on sustainable
fuel, including the Win Percy
Trophy for Group 1 touring
cars under 2.8-litres that raced
between 1970 and 1982. This
will provide an opportunity
for the smaller cars that have
previously raced in the Gordon
Spice Trophy to go head-to-head.
See goodwood.com for more
information.
MG-THEMED PUB RENAMED
An MG-inspired public
house in Abingdon that
celebrated the town’s
links to the famous
brand has closed its
doors as part of
refurbishment that will
see it renamed, despite
thousands signing a
petition for it to retain
the name it has used for
22 years.
The Midget, located on
Preston Road, had
originally been called The
Magic Midget when it
opened in 1974, after a former land speed world record car produced
by MG in the early 1930s. The word Magic was dropped in 2002,
reflecting the wider model line that was built in the town until 1979.
Earlier this month, owners Greene King announced the pub’s
name would be changed after complaints it was offensive. More
than 1300 people signed a petition launched by Dr Erin Pritchard,
a disability lecturer at Liverpool Hope University. “I have
dwarfism and like the majority of people with dwarfism find the
word offensive,” she explained.
A counter-petition started calling for the Midget’s name to be
kept as “part of Abingdon’s history,” which has since
accumulated over 3000 signatures, but the pub has now been
closed for work to take place. The new name will still have MG
links though: it will be changed to The Roaring Raindrop, in
tribute to the MG EX181 in which Stirling Moss set a land speed
world record of 246mph back in 1957. The pub is due to reopen on
December 13.
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JAGUAR’S NEW LOOK PANNED BY ENTHUSIASTS
Historic marque dispenses with much of its iconic heritage as it unveils controversial new branding
Jaguar’s new identity includes a new font, a new roundel and the familiar
Leaper logo against a bed of horizontal lines.
‘Copy nothing’ is one of the slogans used in the bold new advertising.
J
as one of its ‘Makers Marks’, with
the other taking the form of a
monogram roundel incorporating
the letters J and R. Brass design
elements are set to feature too,
with the intention of showing patina
over time.
While it’s not entirely clear how
these new elements will manifest on
a production car, the surrounding
campaign suggests Jaguar’s
new lower-volume, higher-priced
direction will be highly design-led,
with a focus on courting a younger,
richer audience.
Executives have confirmed that
Jaguar will be repositioned as a
more exclusive brand than before,
with fewer dealerships (around 20
in the UK) and a retail experience
more akin to high-end fashion
brands. ‘Curated brand stores’
will feature in some major cities,
with the first set for the Golden
Triangle in Paris. Crucially, reports
have also confirmed that owners of
existing Jaguar models will still be
supported by the dealer network
and approved used schemes will
continue.
The first car of Jaguar’s new
three-model lineup is set to be
revealed in the first half of 2025.
The car is pitched as a four-door
GT, with prices starting around
£130,000 when deliveries start
towards the end of 2026. The new
car will sit on a new platform named
aguar has sent social media
into overdrive following a
controversial rebranding that
has been widely panned by critics.
In a move described by Jaguar MD
Rawdon Glover as a “complete
reset,” the new brand identity does
away with much of the iconography
built up over the last 90 years,
and has been accompanied by
a commercial featuring a series
of models, in brightly-coloured
clothing, emerging from a lift
into an austere landscape. They
are then seen in various poses
as different slogans appear on
screen, including ‘live vivid’, ‘delete
ordinary’ and ‘copy nothing’, with
no cars to be seen.
The historic firm has reached
a major turning point in its long
history as it looks to reinvigorate
sales and improve its fortunes.
All existing models have ceased
production save for the F-Pace
SUV, which will be available until
mid-2025 in some markets; instead,
the firm is focusing its efforts
on a new lineup of three electric
models, with the first set to arrive
in 2026 and a design prototype
to be revealed during December’s
Miami Art Week. Spy shots recently
showed a new large electric saloon
testing on British roads under
heavy disguise, with generous
proportions – not least in the length
of its bonnet – that suggest the new
car will a bold first step in Jaguar’s
next chapter.
Similarly bold is that new brand
identity. Rather than leaning on
its enviable heritage, Jaguar is
instead setting its stall as a modern,
cutting-edge manufacturer with a
new range of branding elements. In
a move to upset grammar pedants,
a new font (or device mark as
Jaguar puts it) spells out Jaguar
in a mix of upper- and lower-case
letters, while a ‘Strikethrough’
graphic sets the familiar Leaper
logo against a bed of horizontal
lines. Jaguar refers to the latter
Jaguar’s prototype in testing, and a teaser of its concept.
Jaguar Electric Architecture, with
a claimed 430-mile range; it’s not
clear what shape the other two
electric Jaguars will take when they
arrive.
MEDIA STORM
If Jaguar was looking to create a
storm, it certainly managed it. Even
Tesla boss Elon Musk weighed in,
tweeted a response to Jaguar’s
advert posted on X by asking:
“Do you sell cars?” Others have
likened the new logo to something
you might find on a baby stroller,
while James Baggot of Car Dealer
Magazine described the launch
of the new branding as quite
possible the most bizarre he’d
ever attended, saying it “felt like a
SAM SKELTON,
JAGUAR WORLD
EDITIOR:
“Jaguar’s brand reinvention
has certainly got people talking,
which is ultimately the idea
behind all marketing and is
key to keeping the name in our
minds until the new models go
on sale. The sort of people with
£100k to spend on an EV are
not likely to be the same buyers
that found the “golf club” image
appealing, and this total about-
0800 246 5678
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NOVEMBER 27 2024
hallucinogenic sci-fi movie where
the presenters were only allowed
to speak in marketing babble.” The
Sun, meanwhile, described it all as
“woke.”
Memes and spoofs quickly
appeared on social media, mocking
the situation, while Jaguar’s own
Facebook post received almost
3000 comments within 24 hours,
while comments on X had reached
a whopping 32,000. These were
mostly negative, suggesting Jaguar
had “hit the self-destruct button”
and had “completely lost the plot.”
Some Jaguar owners even went
as far to say they would never go
near the brand again, while perhaps
the most cutting comment read:
“Jaguar is dead.”
Amongst the storm, experienced
Autocar journalist Steve Cropley
provided a counter argument.
“Takes courage to be a creator,”
he posted on X. “Armchair experts
already critical of marque’s new
era having seen only badges and
a bandaged-up prototype. Not
even the forthcoming concept.
Courageous creators deserve openminded reviewers.”
We’ll reserve judgement until
the concept is revealed, but it’s
certainly a bold move by one of
Britain’s most iconic car makers
as it transitions to an all-electric
future.
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turn in brand strategy may not
be a bad thing given Jaguar’s
recent sales figures. We’ll just
have to wait and see.”
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Commercial Vehicles, Motorcycles &
Recreational Vehicles.
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CLASSIC CAR BUYER 5
NEWS & COMMENT
TWR SUPERCAT MAKES GLOBAL DEBUT
As something of an antidote to
other Jaguar news, TWR – the
Berkshire firm established in 2020
by Tom Walkinshaw’s son, Fergus
Walkinshaw – has given a public
debut to its ‘Supercat’ XJS
restomod. The business is a
separate entity to the original Tom
Walkinshaw Racing of the 1980s
and 1990s, but has revisited the
original company’s long and
fruitful association with Jaguar by
selecting the XJS as the platform for
its first offering.
The Supercat will be strictly
limited to 88 individual builds – a
number chosen to celebrate the
1988 Le Mans win in the TWR Jaguar
XJR-9. Penned by renowned
designer Khyzyl Saleem in
collaboration with car collector and
fellow designer Magnus Walker, the
Supercat retains the silhouette of
the Jaguar XJS, but every exterior
panel has been re-sculpted in
carbon-fibre to reduce weight and
drag while boosting rigidity.
Although the wide-body looks may
prove to be divisive, staple XJS
features like rear buttresses
remain.
Power comes from a Jaguar V12
engine tuned to put 660bhp
through the rear wheels, while
TWR’s desire to achieve a
“connected and analogue driving
experience” means a six-speed
manual gearbox has been chosen.
The Supercat is also lighter than the
standard XJS, weighing in at 1605kg
vs the original’s 1770kg.
Double-wishbone suspension
– mounted on bespoke tubular
subframes – is fitted along with
active dynamic dampers, while
programmable ABS, traction
control and a limited-slip
differential keep things under
control. The standard car’s four-pot
front and inboard rear brakes are
replaced by vented six- and
four-pot items respectively, with
the option for carbon ceramic discs.
Inside, the Supercat features
leather trim, a choice of carbonbacked seats, and an expanded
luggage area in place of the rear
seats. A digital dial setup
incorporates Apple CarPlay and
Android Auto while also allowing
for suspension and steering setting
changes, along with selection of
five different drive modes.
“Almost 40 years after my
father’s original company
dominated the racetrack, we’ve
brought the TWR name roaring
back with our new Supercat,” said
Fergus Walkinshaw. “Our debut
product, designed as an authentic,
analogue Super-GT for the
committed driving enthusiast, has
been developed for over three
years by some of modern
motorsport’s brightest talent.”
MINOR GOING FOR A SONG
A
n unusual opera charity
that brings music to health
and social care residents,
patients and staff is set to benefit
from the sale of a Morris Minor with
Classic Car Auctions.
‘Health: Pitch’ is a charity that
was established to help people
with mental health issues across a
variety of health and care settings,
by using opera as a mood and spirit
enhancer. The group carried out
an amazing ‘La Dolce Vita’ tour
last summer to raise funds for the
charity, and its current show is
called Drive. But to help boost funds
even further, the charity’s founder,
Camilla Vickers, is offering her own
beloved Morris Minor as part of The
Classic Sale by Iconic Auctioneers,
held at Warwickshire Event Centre
on December 7.
The Minor is a split-screen Series
2 saloon dating from 1953. It’s been
parked for several years, but has
a history file dating back to 1959,
and while it has been put back in
running order, the car will require
some recommissioning in order to
use it readily.
The car is offered with no reserve
and all proceeds, including premiums
and commissions, will be donated in
full to the charity. What’s more, the
lot will include a performance by the
opera group as part of the package.
See iconicauctioneers.com for
more information.
AUSTIN ROVER BARN FIND CAUSES STIR
A discovery of seemingly
unused ‘barn find’ Austin
Rover vehicles in Italy has
caused a stir, having broken
cover on social media. A
collection of 18 images
posted online show a variety
of dusty Austin Metros,
two Maestros including an
MG 1600, Rover SD1s, a
Triumph Acclaim and a Matra
Bagheera allegedly stored in
a garage in the Apulia region
in southern Italy, amounting
to 12 vehicles in total.
The cars would appear to
date from around 1983-1984.
With two people appearing to
advertise the cars, doubt has
been cast over the legitimacy
of the find. Others have
suggested they are old images
that have just resurfaced.
Award-winning YouTuber
Tom Cowling of the Tom
Drives channel, who was
instrumental in rescuing
MG Rover prototypes from
Longbridge last year, delved
deeper into the situation, but
had yet to receive a response
from the supposed vendor
as we went to press. We’re
trying to clear up the mystery,
and will bring your more info
should it come to light…
CHARTERHOUSE AUCTION
DATES CONFIRMED
Charterhouse Auctioneers has confirmed the dates for its three
2025 classic car auctions, due to take place at the Haynes Motor
Museum in Somerset. The dates for your diary are March 27, June
26 and October 23. See charterhouse-cars.com for details.
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AUCTIONS | NEWS, REVIEWS AND LATEST PRICES
WB & SONS, DECEMBER 7
T
he final WB & Sons auction
of 2024 offers much the
same variety and intrigue
as any other from the Newcastlebased auction house. We’ll start
with some oddities, perhaps
headlined by a 1984 Ital 440L
Van – the commercial variant of
the Marina’s short-lived facelift,
it looks remarkably straight and
rust-free throughout. The rare
van is guided at £8000-£12,000,
with its bare bodywork ready to
be sign-written. A charming 1965
International Harvester tractor
could be yours for an estimated
£1500-£2500, while a 2005
Dodge Ram SRT-10 offers the
vast American pickup with the
V10 powerplant from the Viper,
all for an estimated £16,000£20,000.
If your taste is less lairy, there
are luxury cars to suit all tastes
and budgets. A 2008 Bentley
Continental GT looks striking
in bright red and carries an
£18,000-£22,000 estimate, while
a 2004 Mercedes SL500 offers
style, glamour and a lovely V8
rumble for an estimated £3500£4500 and a sharp 2004 Audi
A8 4.2 V8 will be a bargain if it
sells for the predicted figure of
£2000-£2500. Jaguars in various
forms are in abundance, including
a 2001 Daimler V8 LWB with just
41,000 miles on the clock and
a £7500-£8500 guide, as well
as an XK8 of the same vintage
that looks smart on 20-inch BBS
wheels and is expected to fetch
£4000-£6000. A 1994 Daimler
XJ40 4.0 is estimated at £3000£4000, while a 1991 Daimler
Double Six imported from Japan
that sports immaculate bodywork
and a mere 63,000 miles is
guided at £7000-£9000.
There are plenty of more
affordable classics on offer
too, including a 2001 Mercedes
SLK200 that’s guided at
£1000-£2000, a smart-looking
2001 Rover 75 that carries no
reserve, a 1988 Saab 900i that
would make the perfect retro
daily-driver for an estimated
£3000-£4000, a stylish Audi
80 Cabriolet that will sell for its
hammer price with no reserve,
and a 1964 Hillman Super Minx
that could make the perfect first
‘60s classic with a temptingly low
guide of £2500-£3500. Sports
car fans are catered for too, with
a 1996 MGF showing just 65,000
miles estimated at a bargainous
£800-£1200, while a 1972 Datsun
240Z might require some TLC,
but could sell for as little as
£8000-£9000. A 1972 Triumph
GT6 cuts a dash in BRG and is
expected to make £7000-£8000,
while a 2000 Porsche ‘996’ 911
Carrera 4 Cabriolet includes
its hardtop and carries a very
reasonable £10,000-£14,000
guide.
For the full catalogue, head to
wbandsons.com.
If the buying guide on page 44 has tempted you, this stunning
1978 Fiat 124 Spider might tip you over the edge. Sporting a
lovely retrimmed interior and rare factory black paintwork, it
boasts twin Weber carbs and could be yours for an estimated
£8000-£10,000.
Resplendent in Gunmetal Grey with a perfectly contrasting
Doe Skin-coloured interior, this 1991 Daimler Double Six offers
the top-spec Jaguar XJ12 experience in stunning condition.
Originally a Japanese market car, it shows just 63,000
miles and includes extensive English and Japanese history
documents, equating to a £7000-£9000 estimate.
Perhaps the only thing rarer than a Morris Marina Van is a
commercial example of its short-lived successor. This 1984
Ital 440L Van is curiously badged as an Austin, but looks to
be in superb all-round condition and could make the perfect
business promotional tool, all for an estimated £8000-£12,000
If you fancy a load-lugger but the Ital isn’t quite fast enough,
this 2005 Dodge Ram SRT-10 might be for you. Powered by the
8.3-litre V10 from the Viper, this brutish pickup is the six-seater
crew cab model, has just 50,000 miles on the clock and is
guided at £16,000-£20,000.
A Triumph Dolomite is a head-turner in any condition, but this
1977 1500HL looks extremely smart. Boasting the overdrive
gearbox and very original, tidy bodywork, it earns a £5000£6000 guide.
A Mk2 Golf Rallye is a rare sight at auction. This 1990 example
of the supercharged, four-wheel drive homologation special
looks very tidy and despite its lack of MoT, is estimated to fetch
£32,000-£38,000.
8 CLASSIC CAR BUYER
One of just nine left on UK roads, this 1979 Lancia Beta 1300 was
with its first owner for 44 years and has a remarkable 4000
miles on the clock. In original and amazingly tidy condition, it
earns a £6000-£8000 estimate.
SUBSCRIBE AND READ ONLINE AT: SHOP.KELSEY.CO.UK
The E28 BMW 5 Series is becoming increasingly rare, making
this unrestored 1987 525 all the more standout. Appearing
standard and very smart, it’s guided at £7000-£8000.
NOVEMBER 27 2024
Auction
7th December 2024
Visit our website
wbandsons.com
ENTRIES INVITED, CALL 0191 268 9011
Lancia Beta 1300
GUIDE PRICE £6,000 - £8,000
VW Golf G60 Rallye
GUIDE PRICE £32,000 - £38,000
Triumph Dolomite 1500
GUIDE PRICE £5,000 - £6,000
Ford Capri 2.8i
GUIDE PRICE £10,000 - £14,000
Ford Model Y
GUIDE PRICE £4,000 - £6,000
Austin Ital Van
GUIDE PRICE £8,000 - £12,000
Jaguar XK8 4.2
GUIDE PRICE £3,500 - £4,500
Daimler 4.0
GUIDE PRICE £3,000 - £4,000
Hillman Super Minx
GUIDE PRICE £2,500 - £3,500
Bentley Continental GT
GUIDE PRICE £18,000 - £22,000
Ford Escort Mexcio
GUIDE PRICE £14,000 - £16,000
Triumph Stag
GUIDE PRICE £4,000 - £6,000
Aston Martin Vantage
GUIDE PRICE £32,000 - £38,000
Audi Coupe Quattro
GUIDE PRICE £15,000 - £18,000
Mercedes-Benz C55 AMG
GUIDE PRICE £3,000 - £4,000
Rover 75 V6
GUIDE PRICE - NO RESERVE
BMW Z3 Tribute
GUIDE PRICE £5,000 - £7,000
Mercedes-Benz CL500
GUIDE PRICE £5,000 - £6,000
Saab 900i
GUIDE PRICE £3,000 - £4,000
Dodge Ram SRT-10
GUIDE PRICE £16,000 - £20,000
Entries Invited – Free Collection – Competitive fees
The Auction House, Samson Close, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE12 6DX
THE CLASSIC SALE
AT THE WARWICKSHIRE EVENT CENTRE
Near Leamington Spa, CV31 1FE | 7th December 2024
1972 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray (C3)
Estimate: £24,000 - £28,000
1963 Austin-Healey 3000 MK IIA
Estimate: £30,000 - £35,000
1972 Jaguar E-Type Series 3 V12
Estimate: £30,000 - £35,000
2010 Bentley GTC Supersports
Estimate: £30,000 - £35,000
1991 Porsche 911 (964) C4 Manual
Estimate: £30,000 - £35,000
1992 Ford Escort RS Cosworth Lux
Estimate: £38,000 - £43,000
1986 Rover SD1 Vitesse Twin-Plenum
Estimate: £20,000 - £25,000
1965 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III
Estimate: £28,000 - £32,000
1973 Ford Escort Mexico
Estimate: £30,000 - £40,000
VIEW ALL LOTS & REGISTER TO BID
SCAN TO
VIEW LOTS
EXPERTS IN EXCEPTIONAL CARS • MOTORCYCLES • AUTOMOBILIA
+44 (0) 1926 691 141
iconicauctioneers.com
Rated Excellent on
NEWS, REVIEWS AND LATEST PRICES | AUCTIONS
CLASSIC CAR AUCTIONS, DECEMBER 7
U
nder its new title of Classic
Car Auctions by Iconic
Auctioneers, CCA’s final
sale of 2024 takes place at the
Warwickshire Event Centre on
Saturday December 7. The auction
welcomes classics from all eras, and
the variety as a result is superb.
British favourites are in plentiful
supply, the 1989 Mini 1000 LE a
particular highlight – resplendent in
British Racing Green, it’s left-hand
drive having started life in Spain and
looks very tidy, earning it a £5000£7000 guide. By contrast, the 1968
Triumph TR5 P.I. looks stunning in
Wedgewood Blue, but will require
some recommissioning to make it
useable following long-term storage,
making it an enticing project for
an estimated £16,000-£20,000.
Those wanting to drive a sporting
roadster immediately might be taken
by the 1973 MGB roadster, which
has been fully rebuilt with a new
Heritage bodyshell and now boasts a
40bhp boost to its 1.8-litre B-Series,
courtesy of a Moss supercharger
– the tastefully-upgraded B could
be yours for an estimated £10,000£12,000. A 1972 Jaguar E-Type Series
3 V12 Coupe is unusual in featuring
the manual gearbox and is guided
at £30,000-£35,000, while a fullyrestored 1964 Morris Minor Traveller
looks a charming example with a
£10,000-£12,000 estimate. A 1979
Rover SD1 that boasts an ex-ParisDakar 4.6-litre V8, meanwhile, could
be the most fun you can have for an
estimated £10,000-£12,000.
There’s a strong Ford contingent,
with everything from a 1988 Fiesta
XR2 Mk2 with a £15,000-£20,000
guide, to a fully-restored 1973 Mk1
Escort RS2000 with investment to the
tune of £130,000 – accordingly, the
£70,000-£80,000 estimate looks like
something of a bargain. Other Ford
highlights include a 1985 Escort RS
Turbo Series 1 project that’s brimming
with potential and guided at £10,000£12,000 and 1992 Escort Cosworth
Lux, which is tuned to 400bhp and
could represent good value if it sells
for the estimated £38,000-£43,000.
If that’s simply not lairy enough,
however, a 2004 Holden Maloo R8
should fit the bill – the 5.7-litre V8
Aussie Ute can work and play in
equal measure, all for an estimated
£10,000-£12,000.
It’s not all expensive exotica,
however – a remarkably tidy 1991
Honda Concerto 1.4GL has just
46,000 miles on the clock and is
surely unique on the market, justifying
a £4000-£6000 guide. We were also
rather taken by the 1980 Ford Cortina
Mk5 2.0 Ghia Estate with its brown
velour interior, not to mention space
in abundance and a tempting £5000£7000 estimate.
To see the full list of lots, head to
classiccarauctions.co.uk.
Sporting a later 2.5-litre 200TDi engine, this 1968 Land Rover
Series IIA is altogether more useable on modern roads, also
benefitting from a galvanised chassis, parabolic springs,
upgraded seats and seven modern seatbelts. Offered without
reserve, it’s guided at £8000-£12,000.
One of just 50 convertible examples produced, this 2004
Jaguar XKR Carbon Edition looks sharp in Brilliant Black with
its matching 20-inch BBS wheels. Carbon interior trim and
bespoke Recaro seats complete the interior of this 70,000-mile
GT car, which earns a £12,000-£15,000 estimate.
With just 65,000 warranted miles, this 1980 Ford Cortina Mk5 2.0
Ghia Estate is accordingly in superb condition. Complete with
very smart brown velour interior and power steering, it’s guided
at £5000-£7000, but carries no reserve.
Already muscular in standard form, this 1979 Rover SD1 3500
has been upgraded to an ex-Paris-Dakar-spec 4.6-litre V8
engine, manual gearbox and uprated suspension. Complete
with Vanden Plas-spec interior and a hefty folder of history and
receipts, this unique Rover is guided at £10,000-£12,000.
Originally powered by a ‘small block’ 350 cu/in V8, this 1972
Corvette C3 Stingray has been fitted with the 454 cu/in
(7.4-litre) big block motor, offering 365bhp. Striking in orange
with a tan interior, it’s as bright visually as aurally and is
estimated at £24,000-£28,000.
A Honda S800 is an exceptionally rare car in any guise – this
1969 example is an original right-hand drive, UK car with just
46,000 miles to its name. Smart on Wolfrace wheels and said to
run and drive sweetly, it’s estimated at £12,000-£15,000.
NOVEMBER 27 2024
SUBSCRIBE AND READ ONLINE AT: SHOP.KELSEY.CO.UK
This 1996 Bentley Continental R offers the ultimate evolution
of the SZ platform. Offered by the vendor after 20 years of
“fastidious and diligent ownership” and boasting £130,000
worth of invoices, it’s offered without reserve and estimated at
£15,000-£20,000.
A rarer ‘small bumper’ model, this 1988 VW Golf GTI Mk2 has
just two previous owners to its name, fewer than 55,000 miles
on the clock and recent substantial expenditure to bring it up to
scratch. The ‘80s icon is guided at £16,000-£20,000.
CLASSIC CAR BUYER 11
AUCTIONS | NEWS, REVIEWS AND LATEST PRICES
MORRIS LESLIE, NOVEMBER 16
T
he November sale at
Morris Leslie was a perfect
illustration of the broad
appeal of the old car hobby: the
oldest vehicle in the sale was a
1928 Armstrong Siddeley and
the youngest a 2011 Porsche
Cayman, with the number of
’90s and 2000s cars in the
catalogue showing the appeal
of modern classics. Not that the
traditionalists were disappointed,
however: of the ‘50s cars, a 1951
Morris Minor beat its estimate
to sell for £5590 while a Series 1
Land Rover project looked like a
sound investment for the DIYminded restorer at £7595.
Moving into the ‘60s fare, a
nicely presented Triumph Vitesse
also beat its estimate to make
£5060, while a low-mileage twoowner Rover P6 2000 looked a
tempting project for just under
£1000, leaving plenty in the budget
for parts and panels. Of the 1970s
lots, Group Editor Wager was
particularly taken by a 30,000-mile
1970 VW Beetle on Sprintstar-style
wheels, looking solid and standard
apart from a colour change 10
years ago and costing its new
owner £6680. More affordable but
every bit as familiar a part of the
1970s streetscape was the 32,000mile 1972 Vauxhall Victor that sold
for £3960, closely followed by a
1979 Triumph Dolomite 1300 that
wore its 68,000 miles well and sold
for £7955, and a Viva SL90 garage
find that made £2450. If none of
these were quite muscular enough,
though, the 1977 Triumph Stag
made for the perfect GT car for its
sale price of £7095.
Those who prefer a little more
performance from their classic
would have been drawn to the
one-owner Audi Quattro, a 1985
example showing a historied
125,000 miles and hitting its
estimate to fetch £31,390, while a
nice alternative to the ubiquitous
Peugeot 205 GTI was offered by
a 1991 309 GTI, selling for a much
more affordable £8170. Stepping
up to a different level altogether
was the ‘E36’ BMW M3, a 1996
model in 320 bhp Evo spec which
sold for £12,147 showing the rising
interest in these once-overlooked
M cars. Offering similar pace
meanwhile, was the 2004 Ford
Focus RS, which cruised past
its estimate to make £19,081. A
turbocharger doesn’t mean it’ll be
a performance machine, but the
1989 Volvo 740 turbodiesel made
for the perfect classic load-lugger
for a sale price of £3520, while
fans of once-common 1980s street
furniture were clamouring over the
1981 Ford Escort Mk3 Ghia – with
a remarkably low 22,000 miles to
its name, it fetched £5590.
As usual we’ve picked out some
of our highlights here – the next
Morris Leslie sale will be held on
February 15, 2025. View the full
list of results and details of future
sales at morrisleslie.com.
Restored some 10 years ago with a colour change from green
to black, this 1300 Beetle looked solid and was unusually
standard, justifying its £6880 sale price.
This incredibly well-preserved Vauxhall Victor was in storage
from 1976 until 2010, explaining its condition. The 1972 survivor
sold for £3960.
This automatic 1991 Vauxhall Astra Merit showed just 46,000
miles and looked surprisingly clean, selling for £2350.
A few non-standard parts didn’t deter bidders, who pushed this
Focus RS to a £19,081 result.
Sporting some well-chosen performance upgrades making it
easier to live with in modern traffic, this sharp-looking Triumph
Vitesse made £5060.
A 1963 car which returned from the South of France in 1990, this
Mk2 Austin-Healey 3000 beat its estimate to sell for £38,162.
12 CLASSIC CAR BUYER
A nicely cared-for Range Rover P38a is still a rarity, and this
4.6-litre V8 Vogue was one of the nicest we’ve seen for a while.
Showing 85,000 miles, it cost its new owner £3740.
SUBSCRIBE AND READ ONLINE AT: SHOP.KELSEY.CO.UK
We love a nice Metro, even if this one is technically a Rover 114.
In GSi trim, the 11,000-mile car sold for £1750.
NOVEMBER 27 2024
1978 Lancia Beta Monte Carlo (Rally Prepped) Est: £16,000 - £18,000
1966 Austin-Healey MkIII 3000 BJ8
Est: £35,000 - £40,000
1948 Triumph Roadster 1800
Est: £15,000 - £18,000
1976 Triumph 2000
Est: £5,500 - £6,500
1983 Toyota Land Cruiser Fire Truck
No Reserve
1978 Chrysler Sunbeam S
Est: £8,500 - £9,500
1939 Alvis 12/70 SC 13.22 Saloon
Est: £10,000 - £12,000
Classic & Vintage Car & Motorcycle Auction
Bidding closes Wednesday 4th December from 12pm
Bidding opens: Saturday 30th November at 10am
To view the catalogue visit brightwells.com
Viewing at Easters Court, Leominster HR6 0DE, on the 2nd & 3rd December - all are welcome!
classiccars@brightwells.com | 01568 611122 | brightwells.com
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Classic Parts Specialist for
Jaguar and Jensen Cars
JAGUAR
& DAIMLER
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06/19
MARKET TRENDS
SHOOTING RANGE
The shooting brake body style has made several comebacks over the years. We follow the market values
of three examples from different decades
RELIANT SCIMITAR
(1968-1986)
In many ways the Scimitar is
the perfect illustration of the
ingenuity of the British motor
industry during the ’60s and
’70s, with its pioneering concept
of the ‘lifestyle estate’ going
on to be a popular niche for
volume makers. The car
would famously be
popular even with the
royal family, which
is a curious twist to
the association of
the Reliant brand with
budget three-wheelers.
Most people will associate
the Scimitar with the shootingbrake GTE, but the story began in
1964 with the coupe-shaped GT.
Power initially came courtesy of
a Ford 2.6-litre straight-six, but
from 1966, it gained the 2994cc
Essex V6 motor.
The first GTE model was known
as the SE5 and was manufactured
from 1968 until October 1971,
when the revised SE5A was
introduced with some refinements
and a modest power hike. It was a
major success but was replaced
in 1975 with the wider and longer
SE6, which was quickly revised
to become the SE6A a year later.
This version lasted for four years
but was replaced with the SE6B,
which matched the Capri in
switching to the smaller 2.8-litre
Cologne V6. Production ended in
1986, but Middlebridge bought
the rights and produced 77 more
GTEs from 1989-1990.
The GTE has long offered a lot
of car for the money. Only during
Still a
bargain
NOVEMBER 27 2024
the pandemic did
cars tend to break the
£10,000 barrier, and
both were SE5As. However,
since then, there’s only been a
two further five-figure sales at
auction, and values tend to have
reverted to where they were in
the latter part of the 2010s. That
means that a useable car can be
bought for a sub-£5000 sum, with
nicer examples pushing closer
to £8000. Auction results don’t
tend to do show much difference
between the SE5 and SE6 in
recent years, but you’ll pay a
premium for a Middlebridge.
LYNX EVENTER
(1982-2002)
With no open-topped version
of the Jaguar XJ-S offered at
launch, it was down to the Lynx
Motor Company in St Leonards
on Sea. Lynx had converted 16
XJ-C models into convertibles,
and followed this up in 1979
with the successful XJ-S
Spyder. Inevitably
though, and with
news of an in-house
open XJ-S on the horizon,
Lynx turned its attention to
other possible adaptations
of the XJ-S theme, and
given how popular the
Scimitar GTE had been with
members of the royal family, a
sporting ‘shooting brake’ estate
seemed like an obvious winner.
The resultant Lynx Eventer was
first offered in 1982. At launch,
this would have been a V12, but
with the launch of the 3.6-litre
cars the conversion was made
available on both models. It
wasn’t specific to new models,
either – if you wanted to convert
a used XJ-S, Lynx would have
accommodated. Over time this
would also expand to cover the
subsequent 6.0- and 4.0-litre
models, and the XJR-S. Bespoke
inner and outer panels were
fitted to the rear of the car, with a
Citroën Ami 8 Berline rear screen
cleverly integrated into a tailgate
which was designed from
behind to resemble the
original.
Over 19 years, just
63 Eventers were
produced: the last
conversion undertaken
to a Jaguarsport XJR-S
in 2002. By this time, costs
had risen – and the original
£6950 plus VAT of 1983 had
become £49,500 for the privilege
of a conversion. Naturally, with
so few cars produced, working
out any value trends is tricky,
but several have been sold via
auction. Before 2016, lesser cars
were selling at roughly £25,000,
but a 1987 V12 that had been
No recent
sales
Big
premiums
over
Roadsters
specially
styled by
Paolo Gucci
and displayed
at the 1990
Geneva Motor
Show made £42,550.
Just two years later, the same
car sold for £84,380, almost
doubling in price. In 2020 we
saw a £60,750 sale for a TWRtweaked V12 car, with a more
standard looking 1983 V12 making
£47,730 a year later. Since then,
we haven’t seen a car change
hands at auction, though two
cars with estimates in excess of
£70,000 failed to sell – including
the Gucci example – suggesting a
mild downturn.
BMW Z3 COUPE
(1998-2002)
After something of a lull, BMW
reintroduced the shooting brake
style with a new variant of the Z3
in 1998, officially known as the
Coupe but distinctly estate-like in
profile. The unusual side profile
with its long bonnet has been
given nicknames such as “clown
shoe” and “bread van” by critics,
with a mere 17,815 Coupes built
until production came to an end
in 2002, compared with 279,273
Roadsters.
SUBSCRIBE AND READ ONLINE AT: SHOP.KELSEY.CO.UK
The Coupe was never available
with the basic four-cylinder
engines. Instead, it used the
190bhp 2.8-litre M52 engine and
later the 228bhp 3.0-litre M54.
The rather bonkers M Coupes
initially used the 316bhp S50 B32
motor found in the E36 M3, but
from 2001-on, the 321bhp S54
motor from the new E46 M3 was
used.
Non-M Coupes are far rarer and
consequently more desirable than
equivalent Roadsters. Cheaper
examples have been consistent at
£8000-£10,000 for around five
years now, but you can expect
to pay more from a dealer. The
Z3M Coupe is more plentiful, but
also more expensive. The best
have been priced from £40,000£60,000 for around eight years
now, with £60,750 achieved for a
2002 car last November. We’ve
seen average cars drop as low
as £12,000-£13,000 during that
period, but none since 2020, with
£20,000-£25,000 becoming
the typical entry point. However,
2024 has yet to hit the peaks of
previous years, with £30,780 the
top figure achieved at UK auctions
so far. Z3M Roadsters tend to
be around 50 per cent cheaper,
showing the value in the shooting
brake body style.
WHAT DO YOU THINK
Have you bought one of these recently?
Tell us about it! Send an email to
ccb.ed@kelsey.co.uk
You can join the debate online too at:
www.facebook.com/ClassicCarBuyer and:
@ClassicBuyer on Twitter!
CLASSIC CAR BUYER 15
CCB 15 years: | 2009-2024
CRYSTAL CLEAR
It’s now 15 years since Classic Car Buyer hit the newsstands for the first time, so forgive us a retrospective as
team members past and present chart their high and lows, 761 issues on
THE
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was a very significant day. Hitting the
newsstand for the very first time was
Classic Car Buyer, back then a compact
smaller-than-A4-sized weekly magazine.
Now, 761 issues later and as close as
possible to 15 years later, CCB remains at
the forefront of an ever-changing classic
vehicle sector, and we think that’s worth
celebrating.
www.classicsworld.co.uk
MODERN CLASSIC BUYING THE
EXPERTISE NEEDS VOLVO P1800
CAPTURING NOW
W
The full lowdown on
the svelte Swede
Industry stakeholders stress the importance of building a knowledge
base on electronics to keep our classics on the road
e must take
steps to capture
and store vital
information about
vehicle electronics if we are to
keep our modern classics on the
road. That’s according to a plea
made at the recent Historic and
Classic Vehicles Alliance (HCVA)
Xxxx Xxxxxxxx
xxx x xxxxx
xx Xxxxxxxx
xxx xxxxx
100 S
PAGE Y
EVER
WEE
Ralph Hosier, who outlined the
issues affecting certain classics,
and discussed how
they can be solved with
alternative technology. However,
retaining fast-disappearing
knowledge and training new
blood is key to making it happen.
MORE ON PAGE 5
KELSEY PUBLISHING
£3.99
Servicing an MGB GT
Insights Day, which delved into a
potential “cliff edge of disaster”
concerning classics and their
electronic components.
Responding to a request from
the HCVA’s advisory group
calling for a discussion on vehicle
electronics was experienced
engineer and training expert
SLEEK STYLE: CITROËN CX v ROVER SD1 & AUDI 100
Buying a Jaguar Mk2
On track in a Lotus Elise
CLASSIC CAR PRICE GUIDE • QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
ROLLS-ROYCE
Well-maintained Corniche Convertible
AUSTIN-HEALEY 3000 MERCEDES 450SEL
Desirable BN7 that’s ready to enjoy
Stunning early W116 S-Class
AUCTIONS, SHOWS, TOURS, EVENTS & CLUB ROUNDUP
I
s it really 15 years since I was launch
editor of Classic Car Buyer? Well
mathematics and the calendar don’t lie,
so I guess it must be. Over nearly 40 years
as a classic transport journalist I’ve done
several new-magazine launches – some
successful, others less so, but that’s the
nature of publishing. However, Classic Car
Buyer, was different.
At that point I’d been editor of the other
weekly classic car title under Kelsey for
about a year, making changes which the
sales figures suggested were well-received.
Now though, I’d got to somehow put
together something even better than what
had obviously been my absolute best shot
a few months earlier, and with about half
the budget…
Oh, and the day that Kelsey was served
notice was also my first day back in the
office after nine weeks convalescence
following a quadruple heart bypass, and I
16 CLASSIC CAR BUYER
Classic Car Buyer was launched as a rival to
Classic Car Weekly, originally launched by
VW BEETLE
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MARQUE GUIDE
EVERY WEEK
100 YEARS OF FORD IN BRITAIN
TYRE PRICES RISE
P
RICES FOR classic
car tyres look set
to rise this year,
Classic Car Buyer can
reveal.
It follows a dramatic
hike in the cost of oil
and a shortage of
rubber. Tough new EU
regulations could also
reduce tyre supplies
and force costs up.
Now owners are
preparing for a tyre
price rise of up to 20 per
Turn to Page 4
cent.
JAGUAR XJ6 SII
LATEST AUCTION NEWS
1972 Jaguar E-type SIII £32,000-35,000
SWVA 1966 Mini Cooper Replica £2992
SWVA 1987 Fiat X1/9 £2677
FLEET NEWS
It might not be the most exciting of
classics, but Ian Seabrook’s 1991
Citroën BX TGD was cheap to buy,
returns 50mpg, and has clocked up
15,000 miles without too much fuss.
What more do you want?
See page 22
BUYING
LOTUS
ELAN M100
CLASSIC
STREET
SCENE
See page 14
See page 29
BUYING CHECKLIST
PLUS
Our unique, accurate and fully researched
CLASSIC CAR
PRICE GUIDE
HANDY
TRADE
TIPS
See page 76
Big Citroëns and
Alvis TD/TE/TF PRICES UP!
CLASSIC Car Buyer • CLASSIC Car Buyer • CLASSIC Car Buyer • CLASSIC Car Buyer • CLASSIC Car Buyer
PETER SIMPSON
EDITOR 2009-2011
IN THE BEGINNING
CLASSIC Car Buyer • CLASSIC Car Buyer • CLASSIC Car Buyer • CLASSIC Car Buyer • CLASSIC Car Buyer
W
e very much doubt that many of
you will remember what you were
doing on Thursday December
3, 2009, but for a small team of classic car
journalists in an office in Peterborough, it
9 February 2011
ISSUE 61 £2.40
EVERY THURSDAY
CLASSIC Car Buyer • CLASSIC Car Buyer • CLASSIC Car Buyer • CLASSIC Car Buyer
CCB moved to a tabloid format early on. Here’s
a cover from February 2011.
Emap but produced under license by Kelsey
Publishing from 2002 until Bauer Media
purchased Emap’s magazines and opted
to take it back in house. Kelsey, however,
was committed heavily to the weekly classic
car market, with at least a dozen jobs
dependent on it, so it put that expertise to
good use and Classic Car Buyer was born.
Devised to include information-packed
buying guides, experiences of living with
classics, news, auctions and coverage of all
the difficult and controversial issues, it was
– and still is – one for the real enthusiasts.
Within five months though, it was enlarged
to tabloid size, and went on sale every
Wednesday – something that has been the
Kelsey Publishing Group, PO Box 978
Peterborough PE1 9FL
Tel: 01733 347559 Fax: 01733 557235
Email: ccb.ed@kelseypb.co.uk
www.great-cars.co.uk
EDITORIAL
Editor Peter Simpson
Email: ccb.ed@kelseypb.co.uk
Tel: 01733 353380
Deputy Editor Jeremy Satherley
Email: ccb.ed@kelseypb.co.uk
Features Editor John-Joe Vollans
Email: ccb.ed@kelseypb.co.uk
Events and Products Editor Chris Hope
Email: news@kelsey.co.uk
Contributors Ted Connolly, Kim Henson, Nathan
Bildhauer
Club Liason Officer Chris Welch
Production Consultant Paul Sanderson
Art and Production
Craig Atkin Adam Kahan Angela Tibbert
Website Jason Ward
Email: webmaster@kelseypb.co.uk
Advertisement Sales
Sarah Garrod Jason Baker Susan Cook
Tel: 01733 353353
Email: ccb.adsales@kelseypb.co.uk
Advertisement Production Charlotte Riley
Tel: 01733 353352
Email: ccb.adprod@kelseypb.co.uk
MANAGEMENT
Editorial Director Phil Weeden
Tel: 01733 353372
Email: phil.weeden@kelseypb.co.uk
Commercial Director Matt Carson
Tel: 01733 353362
Email: matt.carson@kelseypb.co.uk
Subscriptions Manager Karla Simpkin
Tel: 01959 543530
Email: ccb.mag@kelsey.co.uk
Managing Director Steve Wright
Email: steve.wright@kelsey.co.uk
Chairman Gordon Wright
Email: gordon.wright@kelsey.co.uk
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New subscriptions: Tel: 01959 541444
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DISTRIBUTION
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Call Marketforce on 020 3148 3333 for details of
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copy each month by subscribing – call 01959
541444 or visit www.great-cars.co.uk
PRINTING
Harmsworth Printing, Derby Tel: 01332 291111
Kelsey Publishing Group 2009 © all rights reserved.
Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden
except with permission in writing from the
publishers.
Note to contributors: articles submitted for
consideration by the editor must be the original
work of the author and not previously published.
Where photographs are included, which are not
the property of the contributor, permission to
reproduce them must have been obtained from
the owner of the copyright.
The editor cannot guarantee a personal
response to all letters and emails received.
Kelsey Publishing Group, PO Box 13, Westerham,
Kent TN16 3WT, ENGLAND
Tel: 01959 541444 Fax: 01959 541400
Web: www.kelsey.co.uk
3 December 2009
was still only supposed to be working part
time…
Fortunately, I had an excellent team
in the shape of writers in Chris Hope,
John-Joe Vollans and Jeremy Satherley,
together with Paul Sanderson who
designed the initial page layouts. I was also
grateful for support from Publisher Phil
Weeden – who, I believe, was instrumental
in establishing a tie-up with sales website
Car and Classic which provided much of
our classified content in the early days
Welcome!
T
his is the first issue of Classic Car
Buyer, the 132-page all-new
weekly classic car magazine from
Kelsey Publishing.
Classic Car Buyer is a genuine – and,
we think, a far better – alternative
classic car publication and we believe
our unique mix makes it the most
appropriate and relevant publication
for real enthusiasts.
There’s plenty of hands-on content
for starters. We aim to make our buying
guides the most information-packed in
the business; we don’t just tell you what
to look for when buying; we also let
you know what a car’s like to live with
afterwards! We will also strive to be
first with all the real news that matters
to our hobby, and Classic Car Buyer will
never be afraid to address difficult and/
or controversial issues that matter.
Of course there’s also our huge carsfor-sale section. All private cars for sale
advertisements in Classic Car Buyer are
free of charge. What’s more, we’ve also
entered an exclusive partnership with
the UK’s biggest classic car classified
website – carandclassic.co.uk – giving
access here in the magazine to even
more cars that are for sale online, while
also giving you an additional way to sell
your car – for FREE! It’s the best
marketplace in print and online you
could say. This is a unique arrangement
to Kelsey Publishing and no other classic
weekly offers this.
Kelsey Publishing has an impressive
track record in the classic car market.
We own and publish 29 magazines
including nine other classic motoring
titles ranging from Classic & Vintage
Commercials and Classic Van & Pick-up
to Classic Car Mart and our new
monthly Classic Car World, plus five
one-make titles: Triumph World, Jaguar
World, MG Enthusiast, Land Rover
World and Total BMW. So Classic Car
Buyer joins a great stable of titles, all of
them at the heart of our wonderful
hobby.
I also believe Classic Car Buyer has
the most experienced team of any
classic publication anywhere. I’ve been
in ‘the business’ since 1985 and, as some
of you may already know, have edited
Practical Classics, Car Mechanics and
Classic Car Weekly. The current Simpson
fleet ranges from a 1958 Hillman Minx
SELL YOUR CAR FOR FREE AT:
to a 1972 Mercedes 350SL and includes
a bus and an ex-London taxi.
My Deputy Jeremy Satherley is also a
long-term enthusiast and a truly superb
writer with direct hands-on experience
of classics going back to the 1950s.
Jeremy owns a Wolseley 1500 and has
just rescued a Vauxhall Velox for
restoration.
Our Features Editor John-Joe Vollans
represents the ‘younger generation’ but
already has masses of hands-on classic
experience; German cars are JJ’s thing
and his fleet tends to change fairly
quickly but when I spotted a ‘red faded
to pink’ Mk2 Golf in the office car park
last week I knew straightaway whose it
was… He’s also currently renovating a
Mk1 Golf and has a Type 3 tucked away
in the garage.
Then there’s John Sharpe. John is a
recently-retired old-school garage
proprietor with a wealth of experience;
from PDI and warranty work on
Triumph and BMC/ BL product as a main
dealer technician, right through to
looking after many of today’s classics
when they were ‘old bangers’. I’ve
benefited from John’s expertise for
many years; now he’s sharing it with
you, too.
I must also mention two of the
‘backroom boys’; though that’s hardly
the most appropriate way of introducing
Kelsey’s chairman (and founder) Gordon
Wright. Gordon’s had a major advisory
role in Classic Car Buyer, and his wise
counsel has been of enormous help in
turning ideas into reality. Gordon owns a
superb Jaguar XK150 and ‘KTK’, the
Series One Land Rover which some of
you may recall was a Practical Classics
project car in the late 1980s.
Finally there’s Production Consultant
Paul Sanderson, who drives a 1960
Humber Hawk as his everyday car.
Hopefully both Paul and Gordon will
provide regular ‘updates’ – though Paul
reckons he’ll have “nothing to say
because my Humber never goes
wrong”…
There’s a lot to read over the next
132 pages so I hope you enjoy issue 1 of
Classic Car Buyer; do please let us know
what you think.
•
Peter Simpson
Editor
ccb.ed@kelseypb.co.uk
www.carandclassic.co.uk
Classic Car Buyer 1
Peter’s first editorial, back on December 3,
2009.
– and wise counsel from Kelsey’s then
Managing Director Gordon Wright. Paul
and Gordon were both highly experienced
in the classic car publishing business
having been designer and publishing
director respectively of Practical Classics
when it launched in 1980.
The other difference was that
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case ever since.
Just some of the big topics over
the years have included the infamous
government scrappage scheme, ethanol
in petrol, VED exemption, MoT exemption,
soaring prices, thefts, classics in banger
racing, skills shortages, encouraging the
next generation, the size of the classic
car market, barn finds, low emission
zones, potholes, DVLA issues, Brexit, the
downfall of diesel, electric conversions,
the impact of the pandemic, online scams,
3D parts printing, sustainable fuels, smart
motorways, fake parts… if it’s to do with old
cars, we’ve covered it.
Over the years, those in the editor’s chair
have included Peter Simpson, Keith Moody,
John-Joe Vollans, Chris Hope, James
Howe, Paul Wager, Paul Guinness and Jeff
Ruggles, the majority of whom are still part
of the Kelsey family today. But it was Peter
who got the ball rolling, so who better to
start our retrospective…
arrangements for CCB’s launch had to
be kept secret; normally with a new title
you grab every opportunity for pre-launch
publicity. Here however, because Kelsey
was still working its notice on the other
title, we had to keep things quiet until the
last minute. The plan was to announce
CCB at the 2009 NEC Classic Car Show
in November, and have the first issue on
sale at the same time. In the end though,
December 3 was the big day.
What’s your best CCB memory?
My best memory, to be totally honest,
came about 12 weeks in when, via various
‘contacts’ I heard that our rivals had finally
accepted that Classic Car Buyer was
commercially viable and here to stay..
Tell us your most embarrassing CCB
moment…
I can’t really think of any ‘embarrassing’
moment on CCB as by necessity the role
was essentially office-based, though there
have certainly been plenty on other titles.
Calling Newton Commercial’s then-MD
Richard Newton ‘Tony’ throughout a fivepage feature probably ranks quite high on
the list, along with being unable to stop
laughing when one particular restorer
(who was not renowned for having a sense
of humour) accidentally drilled through a
rare and expensive tyre he was using as an
improvised workbench.
NOVEMBER 27 2024
Paul owned his Alfa Spider for almost 25 years before opting for a Honda S2000.
Peter with some of the early team members, including Ian Seabrook, now of Hub Nut fame.
Junior D, an early MINI Cooper, a terminally
rusty Jaguar XJ6 and an early Audi 80 TDI…
plus of course the Alfa GTV I bought in the
twilight from a Fenland farmer which to my
knowledge is still running.
What were the big news issues during your
time on CCB?
My most memorable news story was when
we took a totally different line to every other
media outlet in opposing the 2009 scrappage
scheme due to its likely impact on marginal
and future classics; sadly, this was not
successful and far fewer 1980s and 1990s
cars remain as a result.
Tell us your most embarrassing CCB
moment…
The moment when Paul Cowland and Drew
Pritchard pointed out that instead of the
headline promoting ‘Salvage Hunters:
Classic Cars’ a typo meant we’d gone to
press with ‘Storage Hunters: Classic Cars’.
Three people checked it, three people
missed it…
What car did you drive when you started?
When CCB was launched, the Simpson
classic collection comprised a 1957 Standard
Vanguard, 1958 Hillman Minx and 1972
Mercedes SL. The daily driver was a Rover
75; these being a cause I’d championed
somewhat in my 13-year tenure as Editor of
Car Mechanics.
… and now?
Today, Minxy remains, has been fully
restored. However semi-retirement has
provided the opportunity to expand the
collection, and fulfil a number of lifetime
ambitions. The most recent acquisition is
a 1949 Riley RMB formerly owned by the
late Nick Baldwin. I’ve also now got a 1955
MG Magnette ZA that’s currently in the
final stages of light restoration (and being
featured in MG Enthusiast magazine), a
1970 P6 Rover, a 1992 Rover 827 Coupe and
a 1990 Volvo 240 estate – the renovation
of which will be featured in Classics World
magazine from March onwards. Oh, and the
daily driver is a 2011 Volvo C70 convertible
which I’ve heard described as a future
classic. I don’t know about that, but I do know
that I love driving it.
What car did you drive when you started?
A sensible diesel Passat estate and the Alfa
Spider I’d owned since 1997.
What car do you drive now?
A company-issue electric Kia (it’s excellent!)
and a Honda S2000 I bought during lockdown.
What was your favourite project car?
There have been so many: my spreadsheet is
The X350-generation Jaguar XJ8 was one of Paul’s project car favourites.
up to 45 vehicles now, which makes it hard to
pick a favourite. Three stand out though: the
Honda CRX which came home with me when
we abandoned the office in the face of the
C19 pandemic, the unassuming VW T5 van
acquired from colleagues on VWt magazine
which turned out to have a 220bhp upgrade…
and of course our X350-generation Jaguar
XJ8. I borrowed it once for “a couple of
weeks” and ended up keeping it for 18
months, so appealing was its combination of
300bhp punch and effortless long-distance
refinement.
PAUL WAGER
GROUP EDITOR, 2017-PRESENT
I
NOVEMBER 27 2024
What were the big news issues during your
time on CCB?
Brexit is the one which really stands out
as a controversial subject which ran and
ran, followed in significance by the relaxing
of MoT testing for historic vehicles and in
more recent times the effects of clean air
legislation on the use of older cars, especially
modern classics.
Peter’s 1958 Hillman Minx is still part of his fleet.
What’s your best CCB memory?
That’s got to be our £500 challenge from the
summer of 2019. Between us we acquired
a Mk3 Golf GTI, a farm-fresh Peugeot 205
was involved with CCB from a distance
right from day one as editor of the sister
monthly title, Classic Car Mart. I was an
occasional contributor until 2017 when staff
changes meant that the title came under my
remit as group editor and I was hands-on
every week.
What was your favourite feature?
One of my favourite regulars has always
been our Classic Scenes feature, which is
only two pages every week but which can see
you disappear down a rabbit hole of old car
research for hours. It can become a point of
nerdish pride to identify every vehicle in the
photo, a task often made that much harder
by the grainy black-and-white film used for
the older shots.
An Alfa GTV was Paul’s contender in 2019’s £500 challenge.
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CLASSIC CAR BUYER 17
CCB 15 years: | 2009-2024
The ULEZ expansion was one of the big news headline’s during Paul’s tenure.
venues to visit and so on – and it was
always interesting getting everyone else’s
perspective and arguing about why they
were wrong!
H
What were the big news issues during
your time on CCB?
Legislative changes have always been
important to CCB readers, and the
announcement that ULEZ was to expand to
cover the whole of outer London (up to the
M25 boundary) caused furore. Owners of
‘Historic’ vehicles over 40 years old would be
unaffected, but for owners of more modern
classics living in the London suburbs, the
costs involved were potentially devastating.
What was your favourite feature?
Putting together themed issues that
included contributions from the whole
team was always fun. Those team features
covered such subjects as great driving
roads, perfect project cars, motoring
What was your favourite project car?
Among the project cars I spent time with,
the Bentley Turbo R stands out. It wasn’t
the prettiest example, and it certainly wasn’t
fault-free – but the sheer brutish nature of
the beast, combined with effortless longdistance cruising, still impressed. A round
trip from my home in Brighton to the Bentley
plant in Crewe proved the point.
PAUL GUINNESS
EDITOR, 2022-2023
aving been a regular contributor
since 2011, I became full-time on
CCB in early April 2022, when I
joined the team as editor. I left the following
year to take on another editorship. Heading
up a weekly title is crazily busy at times, but
also very rewarding.
Our Bentley Turbo R was project car favourite for Paul.
18 CLASSIC CAR BUYER
Experiencing the NC500 route in 2019 proved to be a major highlight for Jeff
the incredible NC500. We took three cars, an
MX-5, a Saab 900 Turbo and a Jaguar XJ8,
swapping as we went. I barely had time to
unpack before then flying to Budapest for the
Hungaroring Classic. Quite a week!
JEFF RUGGLES
EDITOR. 2023-PRESENT
O
riginally part of the Kelsey team from
2014 as editor of Mini Magazine, I
left briefly in 2017 and returned eight
months later as CCB’s news and markets
editor.. I’ve enjoyed various roles since,
before becoming editor in April 2023.
What’s your best CCB memory?
There are many contenders just in 2024
alone. But I have to rewind five years to
2019, and a trip to Scotland to experience
Tell us your most embarrassing CCB
moment…
Not for CCB directly, but for the Classics
World YouTube channel, when I misjudged
the length of a dealers’ Jaguar XJS I was
driving, and clipped the MG RV8 we’d also
borrowed. Thankfully most of it buffed out…
What car did you drive when you started?
An R50 MINI as a daily, plus countless classic
Minis.
What car do you drive now?
I’ve still got most of the Minis, plus a 1977
Ford Fiesta 1.1 S. Oh, and a Fiesta ST as a
company vehicle.
The one that got away – Jeff’s beloved Puma project car.
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NOVEMBER 27 2024
What was your favourite feature?
Probably a trip to Retromobile in Paris in an
appropriately French vehicle – our Renault
21 Symphony that was once part of Renault’s
own heritage fleet. Somehow, we also found
ourselves in Bruges…
What were the big news issues during
your time on CCB?
There have been several, but ULEZ and smart
motorways have dominated. However, the
likes of sustainable liquid fuels suggest the
classic car sector has a strong future.
John’s Volvo ‘Amazon’ has been a longstanding member of his fleet.
What was your favourite project car?
Without doubt, our 1997 Ford Puma 1.7,
bought as part of challenge in 2020 that saw
three team members given budgets of £500,
£1000 and £1500 to buy modern classics.
The £1000 Puma was a real gem, and I’m
gutted I didn’t keep if for myself.
A day out in this Porsche 911 also lives long in James’ memory.
JON BURGESS
2014-2017
I
JAMES HOWE
2017-2017, 2021-PRESENT
What’s your best CCB memory?
Spilling tea all over myself as a Triumph
Toledo pirouetted on Rockingham’s skidpad.
Blasting Fugazi’s ‘Instrument’ out of my
MGF at 1 am on the M5 was also fun. I think
James Howe is still defrosting as we speak. I
had the roof down, obviously.
CIRCUIT HISTORIQUE
DE LAON
One of the best ways to enjoy
a classic car is to take it on a continental road
trip. We jumped in Kelsey Media’s resident Subaru Impreza
Turbo 2000 and headed to France to find out what makes
organised car tours such a popular choice
T
aking to the continent in a classic car is
one of those rite-of-passage moments
for a motoring enthusiast – the sense
of occasion, adventure and freedom are
irresistible to so many owners of all manner
of classic cars. As with so many fantasies,
however, reality can be rather stark and full of
harsh truths; even organising a simple fourday trip can prove time-consuming and rather
expensive.
That’s where tour organisers come in. Firms
like Scenic & Continental Car Tours (SCCT)
have teams of people who are dedicated
to creating the very best itineraries, taking
in spectacular roads, scenery and cultural
highlights to ensure that their customers
experience all of the highs of classic touring
with minimal lows. It’s a bit of a no-brainer
if you value peace of mind – not to mention
sharing the experience with tens, hundreds,
maybe even thousands of like-minded
enthusiasts.
Scenic & Continental Car Tours’ roster of
tours is far wider reaching than you could
imagine; routes and itineraries of varying
lengths extend across Continental Europe
y
y
and beyond
continent and beyond
and held
throughout the year. Ireland, Germany, France,
Belgium, Italy, Spain and Cyprus are some
European highlights, but the firm also takes its
customers as far afield as Route 66 on a 2448mile cross-country route, the Sahara Desert at
the base of Morroco, and even a tour across
both of New Zealand’s islands.
CCB stayed closer to home on a tour that
remains one of SCCT’s most popular – The
Circuit Historique de Laon. It’s a tour that has
been a staple on the in Nord pas de Calais
calendar for exactly 25 years this year – for
the purposes of this article, it also serves as
an excellent example of what to expect on a
typical organised tour on the continent.
SCCT made a special effort to celebrate
its anniversary and generously invited CCB
along for the ride – with well over 1000 cars
participating in this year’s tour, joining in on
organised runs through the stunning scenery
of northern France, we’d be foolish to have
declined! Participants flocked to France from
all over Europe, with strong contingents from
the UK, Belgium and the Netherlands. This
year’s event took place across four days from
Friday, May 13 to Monday, May 16.
LAND AHOY
A trip to Europe in a classic should always
involve a ferry crossing; nothing quite creates
a sense of adventure as boarding a boat early
in the morning and taking to the high seas.
Dover to Calais was the crossing of choice this
time around; a leisurely trip that takes around
an hour and a half. The perks of being on an
officially organised continental jaunt were
enjoyed as soon as I parked up in the ferry
queue – a swathe of classics were available
to gawp at and owners were on hand to chat
with. The perks continued once we were
aboard too, with the ferry’s central lounge put
aside for tour participants; a chance to talk
directly with the organisers offered answers to
any last minute queries before reaching French
soil and embarking on the first of four actionpacked days.
Rolling off the ferry in Calais is a
surprisingly slick operation; there’s just enough
time to get used to driving on the wrong
side of the road before you are spat out onto
France’s famously smooth and well-maintained
motorway network. This being day one, an
optional stop was scheduled to take place in
the town of Arras – about an hour’s drive south
on the A26 – dubbed the 25th Anniversary
Commemorative Car Display and held in the
town’s two beautiful main squares. Many
participating made a bee line for their hotel in
the tour’s base in Laon, but the majority of my
shipmates were merrily making their way to the
intermediary stop.
It’s incredible how quickly the contents of a
dual-deck ferry can disperse – before too long,
the array of participating cars had broken off
into smaller convoys according to preferred
cruising speeds and/or club allegiance. Being
something of a lone wolf, I was free to flit
between convoys and get a feel for the sheer
variety of classic and performance machinery
that was making its way steadily southward. A
smattering of Morgans, MGs, Triumphs and a
Lotus Elan +2 in John Player Special guise sat
at a comfortable but brisk pace, but pockets
of fast and modern machinery had also joined
the fun, including a number of fast-moving
Ferraris, Porsches and even an Ascari Ecosse.
The Subaru could never hope to keep up
with the more exotic end of the spectrum in
a straight line, but nonetheless sat perfectly
happily at the 130kph limit (just a shade over
80mph). The car feels far happier sat 10mph
north of Britain’s national speed limit.
Other aspects of motorway life are easily
undertaken by the Impreza; slip roads at
the exit of many service stops in France
are surprisingly short, but getting back
up to speed is a brief and faintly hilarious
experience, so there’s no need to worry.
Under full acceleration, the distinctly brooding
exhaust note is joined by an addictive turbo
‘whoosh’, swiftly followed by punchy, exciting
acceleration – keep the two-litre unit on
boost and it’s incredible just how quickly
licence-troubling speeds can be reached. One
complaint that can be levelled at the Impreza
over long-distance, high-speed use is the
drone of that bazooka exhaust – over some
An early morning start is quickly made worthwhile by the abundance of classics in the queue for the first ferry crossing of the day from Dover to Calais.
68 Classic Car Buyer
Sell your car for free by emailing: cars@kelseyclassifieds.co.uk
Summer Special 2016
James’ adventure to France in 2016 remains a
stand-out.
I
joined CCB in February 2015 as editorial
assistant and stuck around until 2017
when I briefly stepped in as acting editor
for a couple of issues. After a few years
writing about new cars, I returned in 2021 to
take on the Classics World website.
What’s your best CCB memory?
My first-ever Porsche 911 experience: a
glorious day on small Perthshire roads in a
Carrera 3.2. I’ll never forget the air-cooled
smell and incredible noise.
NOVEMBER 27 2024
joined CCB in March 2014, as a staff
writer. I ended up as news editor for my
considerable sins thereafter.
Tell us your most embarrassing CCB
moment…
Listening to Q Lazzarus in CCB’s thenproject Sierra XR4x4. I crashed it soon after:
I blame the Magna Carta.
This humble Triumph Toledo may not have been the most desirable project car, but James
covered many miles behind the wheel.
What car did you drive when you started?
I relocated from Scotland to Peterborough
in my parents’ Renault Clio 1.2 16V – a great
car that lived on with a family friend and only
recently gave up the ghost. I then bought
a rather rusty Suzuki Cappuccino which
featured extensively in these pages.
What car do you drive now?
An electric Hyundai company car – not
exactly on-brand! I regret selling my Lexus
GS300 most days and my colleagues are
tired of hearing it.
What was your favourite feature?
My report from the Circuit Historique de
Laon, a classic car tour in France (p68,
Summer Special 2016). I tagged along in our
Subaru Impreza Turbo 2000 project car and
did my best without a navigator on the road
routes.
What were the big news issues during
your time on CCB?
Brexit was a dominant issue for obvious
reasons, along with concern over shortages
in heritage skills needed to keep the hobby
going. The latter remains a focus of major
industry bodies today.
What was your favourite project car?
I was very attached to our green Triumph
Toledo, which was unloved by many in the
office at the time. I also enjoyed our shabby
red MGB GT, even if it did leave me stranded
in the dark on the A90 in December.
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What car did you drive when you
started?
A 2006 Citroën C4. It did what all DV6engined PSA products did, and implode.
I had a 1966 Volvo Amazon in the garage
then, too.
What car do you drive now?
Something equally unsuitable – a 2014
SEAT Leon. I still have the Amazon (and
all of the other dross I had while at CCB,
incidentally).
What was your favourite feature?
It comes down to three, actually – the big
run to the South Coast in British classics for
the 300th issue, getting to write (and bust
myths) about the Isuzu Piazza, and driving
a TVR Chimaera for the first time. That
particular example was a dog, but it stayed
with me.
CLASSIC CAR BUYER 19
CCB 15 years: | 2009-2024
THEN & NOW
A QUICKFIRE LOOK AT HOW THINGS HAVE CHANGED SINCE
CCB FIRST WENT ON SALE IN 2009
Cost of a litre of petrol
Cost of a litre of diesel
Value of 1961 Jaguar E-Type 3.8
Average UK house price
Average pint of beer cost
Top of Premier League
F1 World Driver’s Championship leader
2009
100.2p
104.38p
£52,000
£156, 512
£2.80
Chelsea
Jenson Button, Brawn GP
Top selling new car
Ford Fiesta
No1 UK single
The Official BBC Children
in Need Medley:
Peter Kay’s Animated
All Star
One of Jon’s favourite features – a coastal run to celebrate the 300th issue of CCB.
2024
135.69p
140.58p
£100,000
£267,500
£4.79
Liverpool
Max
Verstappen,
Red Bull
Ford Puma
(YTD)
That’s so True:
Gracie Abrams
(November 21)
Sadly the Sierra XR4x4 project car met with an unfortunate end.
What were the big news issues during
your time on CCB?
A Capri that was pulled from a lake: I got
to use the headline, ‘The Carp You Always
Promised Yourself’ in a fit of inspiration that
never returned. Otherwise, getting word from
Mark Wilsmore in 2014 that the Ace Café
wasn’t shutting, despite the online rumours,
and the discontinuation of tax discs.
What was your favourite project car?
It’s a tie between MD Phil’s gouache Carlton
estate – a car with a beautiful gearchange at
odds with its appearance, décor and smell –
and the ramraid express Impreza 2000 Turbo.
I bought a GF8 WRX owing to that thing.
What’s your best CCB memory?
Driving a Citroën DS/ID – my dream car – on
a shoot for our Dream Drives feature in 2019.
JOE MILLER
DEPUTY EDITOR, 2023-PRESENT
I
joined the team in June 2019 as head of
video for our Classics World YouTube
channel, with some occasional CCB
writing. In November 2023, I transitioned to
Classic Car Buyer permanently, as deputy
editor.
20 CLASSIC CAR BUYER
Driving a Citroën ID back in 2019 realised a
dream for Joe.
A road trip to Land’s End marking the 30th
anniversary of the Class of 1989 was Joe’s first
feature shoot.
What car do you drive now?
The same Seicento, but it’s now joined by
another ‘keeper’: my 1983 Mercedes W123
200.
What was your favourite project car?
I really bonded with the 1991 Rover ‘R8’ 216
I drove on my first day in the job, but I still
regret not buying our Mk3 Cortina…
Tell us your most embarrassing CCB
moment…
Feeling quick off the draw following an Anglia
Car Auctions sale, I wrote up the post-auction
results in double-quick time. Editor Jeff then
pointed out that in my haste, I’d written up
the same sale from last year...
What was your favourite feature?
The ‘Cars We All Like’ team feature June 5,
2024) really showcased the team’s eclectic
taste, but the ‘Export After Death’ feature
(August 28, 2024) was fascinating to
research.
What car did you drive when you
started?
My first car, my 2003 Fiat Seicento Sporting.
And a modern Punto, but we don’t talk about
that.
What were the big news issues during
your time on CCB?
Brexit was the main topic of conversation at
the time, along with how it would affect the
classic industry
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Joe has always said he’s not a Ford man, but
he wasn’t keen to relinquish the keys to our
Mk3 Cortina.
NOVEMBER 27 2024
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Fiesta From France | CCB 15 years
2024 has been a year of highlights for the CCB team, beginning with a slightly madcap classic Ford collection
caper at the end of February
W
hen picking out standout
CCB moments of 2024, we’re
thankful that there are plenty
of contenders. But one of the biggest
highlights for Editor Jeff in particular came
in February, when much talk was finally
converted into action.
We’d long discussed the possibility of buying
a classic from overseas and bringing it into
the UK, but none of us had tried it post-Brexit.
So, partially motivated by a drive to share
consumer advice – this is Classic Car Buyer,
after all – and similarly fuelled by the lure of a
NOVEMBER 27 2024
far-flung roadtrip, we put the wheels in motion.
Buying from abroad also carried further appeal
in that we could buy something never sold
here, or something that was, but could be had
much cheaper on the Continent and likely with
far less rust.
In the end, we went down the second
route. Jeff had long been keen on a Mk1 Ford
Fiesta, but was priced out of the market in the
UK. So, when a very early 1.1S turned up on
French classified site Leboncoin, he found it
difficult to resist. Not only was it attractively
priced, but some digging revealed it was built
in November 1976 – a few months ahead of
the UK launch. Yes it was left-hand drive, and
it was also located right down in the south,
but we reasoned that a few days of driving
to collect a car from a better climate was
preferable to weeks of welding.
Jeff’s friend Alex proved instrumental in
making it all happen. The car was being sold
by a chap called Ben, based in Pegomas, up
in the hills and around 45 minutes from Nice.
Despite never seeing it as he was located
around eight hours away, Alex effectively
bought the car, meaning he could prepare all
the paperwork and sort the insurance online,
before selling the car to us. We would be
named drivers on the insurance, so we were
covered legally.
It also meant that we’d be seeing the car for
the first time on collection day, having only
seen a few grainy pictures. It was a big gamble,
but we booked one way flights to Nice for just
£19 each, and crossed our fingers. A costly
Uber ride brought us to the vendor’s home
town, where we waited in anticipation.
Fortunately, it all worked out. The seller,
Bennacar, and his son Rayene, couldn’t have
been nicer. The Fiesta was perhaps a bit more
careworn than hoped, but it was honest, and
solid. On hearing how far we had to drive,
Bennacar had fitted two new tyres, and also
helped us stock up on essentials for our long
trip home. We didn’t strictly have to go for a
lap of the Monaco F1 circuit, but we did, before
embarking on a three-day drive back to the UK.
Incredibly, we made it. Despite having been
barely used in recent years, the little Mk1 took
it all in its stride, getting to Calais without using
a drop of oil or water. We then met a trailer on
the other side to transport it back to Somerset.
So, was it worth it? We think so. The
registration process involved a bit more
paperwork and bureaucracy than before, but
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within eight weeks it had been allocated a
period-correct R-registration, and was ready
for adventures. It’s no minter, but it’s proven
to be a reliable and head-turning classic, all
for a decent price. To summarise, then, it can
be done – and we can’t wait to do something
similar all over again.
CLASSIC CAR BUYER 23
CCB 15 years: | 2024 show highlights
2024 brought a wide array of shows to cater for all classic enthusiasts – these were our highlights!
MARCH: VOLKSWORLD SHOW
APRIL: JAPFEST
Britain’s biggest gathering of VWs returned
to Sandown Park in Esher in spectacular
style for 2024, filling the halls with over 100
of the highest quality Volkswagen show cars,
several restored or completed for the event.
New this year was a display for water-cooled
VWs, as well as a hall curated by Classic
Porsche magazine, bringing together some of
Stuttgart’s finest sports cars.
Feature highlights included the ‘Back
To ‘89’ display, showcasing cars modified
in period with the unique styles of the
era, as well as the ‘Buyer’s Guide Live’
by show sponsor, Heritage Parts Centre,
where attendees could harvest advice and
knowledge from the experts. Part-closure of
the M25 over the March weekend did little to
deter show-goers, who continued to make
VolksWorld Show the highlight of many VW
fans’ year. It’s already confirmed for 2025 at
the South of England Showground in Ardingly
– tickets can be booked at
classicsworld.co.uk/volksworld-show-2.
Despite having to take place on a truncated
and fragmented site owing to flooding, as
well as adverse weather in the form of 45mph
winds, Japfest – Europe’s biggest Japanese
car show – returned to Silverstone on April 7
in spectacular style. With a record-breaking
22,000 people and 3700 Japanese cars from
all eras in attendance, the show proved why
it’s a highlight of the show season for many
Japanese car fans.
Far from being restricted to modern and
modified Japanese fare, Japfest welcomed
classics from all eras. Track time throughout
the day gave show-goers the chance to
exploit their car on the iconic Silverstone
track, and despite concerns that weather
would stop play, Japfest hit new heights and
broke previous attendance and car number
records.
24 CLASSIC CAR BUYER
Ford Show saw over 700 cars and 3300
visitors, breaking its own previous records
for the venue following a successful postpandemic return in 2022. As ever, the
cars on display from the numerous clubs
were of a remarkable standard and variety
– everything from a Mk1 Escort RS1600
that was nut-and-bolt restored to original
specification, to a wide-arch Anglia 105E
with a Honda S2000 F20 engine. There was
also an eclectic mix of all generations of Ford
Capri in the 55th Anniversary display.
As is traditional for Classic Ford Show,
The Great Unveiling returned, showcasing
four never-before-seen projects for the first
time – a fully-restored Mk2 Escort Mexico,
Mark Lane’s Toyota 2JZ-powered Mk2
Granada, Mike Wilson’s Bubble-arched and
Zetec-powered Mk1 Escort and Dan Thorne’s
Mk2 Fiesta were met with strong reception
from crowds. Add the display of iconic
previous Great Unveiling cars, the Top 50
display of hand-picked builds and BMX stunt
displays throughout the day, and it was no
surprise that Classic Ford Show 2024 was an
overwhelming success.
AUGUST: FORD FAIR
Ford Fair, Europe’s biggest Blue Oval show,
returned to Silverstone on August 11. Playing
host to 11,400 Ford fans and their range
of cars from restored classics to modified
moderns, show-goers enjoyed numerous
attractions alongside the hundreds of cars
on display. Throughout the day, on-track
drifting displays were complemented with a
celebratory ’60 Years of Mustang’ parade,
which saw owners of all generations of Ford’s
iconic pony car take to Silverstone circuit. As
with many Kelsey Media events, the public
could also take their cars on track throughout
the day – a Mk2 Granada limousine proving a
particularly amusing sight.
The numerous displays and club stands
at Ford Fair offered plenty for classic fans –
Fast Ford and Classic Ford editors assembled
stand-out feature cars, the former including
a turbocharged Mk3 Fiesta XR2i, a Series
2 Escort RS Turbo that was restored and
preserved in the late-1990s, and a Racing
Puma that has covered over 3500 on-track
miles. The latter presented everything from a
Mk2 Transit Campervan with a Cologne V6 to
MAY: CLASSIC FORD SHOW
Returning to the South of England
Showground in Ardingly on May 12, Classic
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NOVEMBER 27 2024
a 27,000-mile Mk4 Fiesta and an immaculate
Mk1 Fiesta Supersport.
SEPTEMBER: FORD FEST
Ending a six-year hiatus to create a trio of
Ford events, Ford Fest took place at Mallory
Park on September 22. While challenging
weather conditions persisted throughout
the day – a severe lightning risk seeing the
event paused briefly for public safety –
the organisers and Blue Oval community
prevailed to create a successful show. Ford
Fest welcomed Fords new and old, seeing the
paddock and outer perimeter lined with all
manner of modified modern hot hatchbacks,
Mustangs and Mondeos, while classic
highlights included a Cosworth YB-converted
Escort RS Turbo with four-wheel drive, a
German import Mk2 Transit fire engine,
a Mk1 Granada Coupe and an extensively
modified Mk3 Fiesta show car, which was
recently restored after falling into disrepair.
As well as several hundred special display
and club cars exhibiting at Mallory Park,
Paul Swift hosted his popular stunt show.
Elsewhere, the Street Elite area offered a
show-and-shine-esque competition, which
ultimately saw Andy Kendrick’s flawless
Escort RS Cosworth crowned the winner.
Special themed displays saw hot hatchbacks
and coupes – from Mustang to Probe – on
display, while numerous awards were given
to stand-out cars and club displays. The poor
weather did little to dampen spirits and Ford
Fest was enjoyed by all – the show promises
to make a return in 2025, visit
events.fastcar.co.uk for updates and tickets
for future shows.
MARCH AND SEPTEMBER:
RUSTIVAL
Though not a Kelsey event, it would be remiss
of us not to mention Rustival, the all-inclusive
car show organised by YouTubers Matt from
Furious Driving, Steph from idriveaclassic
and Ian and Carly from HubNut. It returned
after a successful inaugural show on
Saturday September 28. Priding itself on
allowing any vehicle of any age or condition,
the show lined the British Motor Museum site
with over 850 cars from pre-war Austins, up
to a brand-new Polestar EV. We were taken
aback by the variety, with some highlights
including an NSU Ro80, Daewoo Espero,
Pontiac LeMans (a Mk2 Astra by another
name) and Nissan Micra Mystique, sporting
‘ChromoFlip’ colour changing paint.
A live action stage hosted numerous guest
speakers throughout the day, with awards
for stand-out cars selected by the hosts
and presented on stage – Gentil De Costa’s
BMW E12 scooping the top prize. Some
3000 people attended Rustival 2, also taking
advantage of the entry to the British Motor
Museum included with the ticket.
OCTOBER: GERMAN CAR
FESTIVAL
On the weekend of October 5-6, Goodwood
Motor Circuit played host to two headliner
events from Kelsey Media; German Car
Festival (GCF) moved to Sussex following
a successful launch at Silverstone last
year, accommodating some 850 German
cars from all eras and manufacturers. It
saw icons like a BMW E34 M5, NSU Prinz,
Mercedes R107 SL and rare 220SE mixing
with the raft of modern Golf Rs and Audi
RS3s. As well as clubs and special display
areas, our colleagues at Fast Car had handpicked standout cars for display, including a
Cosworth-bodykitted Mercedes 190E with a
400bhp SLK powerplant, a Skyline-powered
BMW E30 and a VIP-spec Mercedes C-Class.
The Street Elite show and shine
competition awarded prizes to the bestpresented cars on display, with retro and
classic models well represented by the
winning BMW E36 Touring and runnerup Porsche 944 S2 and BMW 840. The
opportunity to drive the historic Goodwood
circuit was also enjoyed by show-goers,
the track action broken up with two
professional drifting displays during the day,
while simulators offered public the chance
to compete for the fastest time around
Goodwood and win prizes from sponsor,
Tillett.
OCTOBER: CLASSIC JAPFEST
On the Sunday, Classic Japfest – a spinoff of the popular Japanese car event,
NOVEMBER 27 2024
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focussed on pre-2004 models – took
over at Goodwood. Opting to emit track
time in favour of opening up the circuit
for additional cars, some 1200 classic
Japanese icons were on display. We were
taken by various well-prepared Datsun
240Zs, a remarkably rust-free Subaru
BRAT, Mazda Eunos Cosmo and Autozam
AZ-1, while Fast Car’s display included
various standouts such as Clarkson’s
Mitsuoka LeSeyde from The Grand Tour.
Again, a simulator competition took place
and again, the Icons show and shine
competition crowned three immaculatelypresented cars, an ‘EK9’ Honda Civic,
Mazda RX-7 ‘FD’ and Datsun 510. Inclement
weather on the Sunday did little to dampen
spirits, resulting in two shows with fantastic
atmosphere and thousands of fans in
attendance.
RELIVE THESE EVENTS
We attended all of these events
throughout 2024, producing highlight
videos on our Classics World YouTube
channel – head to youtube.com/
classicsworlduk, click on the ‘Playlists’
tab and revisit your favourite show (or
get a glimpse into any that you missed)
in the ‘2024 Classic Car Shows’ playlist.
CLASSIC CAR BUYER 25
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Summer Roadtrip | CCB 15 years
The whole of the current team got together in the summer for a drive in our own cars
Our motley crew, from MINI One to BMW E30, via Audi TT, Mk1 Fiesta and modified Fiat Seicento.
D
espite regularly meeting up to
shoot features and videos, the
CCB and Classics World team
are scattered across the country from
Edinburgh to Somerset, so it’s rare that we
all have our cherished cars in one place.
So, in what’s now an annual tradition, we
got the band back together in July for a
scenic summer drive. Each team member
brought one of their personal retro or
classic cars, which saw Editor Jeff in his
recently-imported Mk1 Fiesta, Dep Ed Joe
in his Fiat Seicento Sporting (owned since
he was 17), MD Phil in his Audi TT 1.8T,
Head of Video Lucas in his BMW E30 323i
and Group Ed Paul in a 2004 MINI One that
he’d picked up from British Car Auctions
on the morning of the trip. Rendezvousing
just north of Yeovil at the picturesque
Northover Manor hotel, we set off towards
the Jurassic Coast…
LEADING THE CHARGE?
Or at least, that was the plan – after a
group photo, Lucas’ BMW failed to proceed
due to a flat battery. Assuming it was just
running his stereo while chatting that had
run it flat, Paul’s handy jump pack revived
the E30, and we set off along the A303.
Minutes later, however, a quick stop to
retrieve a camera from the BMW’s boot
saw it fail to restart once again, requiring
another jump-start and prompting the
thought that the battery was refusing to
take a charge. With a new unit reserved
from a Euro Car Parts store en route, the
convoy rolled once more, glorious sunshine
accompanying scenic Somerset views,
accompanied by various exhaust pops,
crackles and rasps from the stainless steel
exhausts fitted to the Fiat and BMW.
After collecting Lucas’ fresh battery,
we opted to keep it as a spare until the
old one gave up, heading out of Somerset
and into Dorset via the picturesque A37.
Sadly, as we headed west along the A35,
the E30 became ever-more tuneful as
the fluctuating voltage saw its electronic
ignition fall slowly out of time and cause a
variety of pops on the overrun.
HOT STUFF
With temperatures nearing 30 degrees
Celsius, only the Audi having functioning
air conditioning and the ever-steeper hills
proving a challenge for the poorly E30 and
Lucas’ BMW E30 with a flat battery – this would be a theme of the day…
NOVEMBER 27 2024
A quick stop to reserve a battery from Euro Car Parts. Paul purchased nail polish remover to
clean off his MINI’s auction writing.
1.1-litre Fiesta, a stop at a McDonalds for
cold drinks was a well-received suggestion.
Lucas opted to change the battery in
his BMW at last, taking advantage of his
fully-stocked bootlid toolkit to loosen the
battery terminals.
Just before we reached Winterbourne
Abbas, we ascended the Dorset Downs
before heading through Abbotsbury on
the B3157, climbing Abbotsbury Hill as
we made our way along the stunning road
lining the Jurassic Coast, with Chesil Beach
as a backdrop. Enjoying a spirited but
legal drive on the winding road, we made
our way down the hill towards Burton
Bradstock, being careful not to cook any
brakes and stopping for dozens of scenic
photos. This day out in the sunshine wasn’t
about covering great distance, but ceasing
an opportunity to use and enjoy our cars on
some great roads, among some gorgeous
scenery.
Once regrouped at the Burton Bradstock,
we discussed which of our colleagues cars
we’d take given the chance, and despite
its electrical issues, the BMW’s style,
soundtrack and fun factor won the day. We
all agreed we weren’t jealous of Lucas’ black
leather seats in 30-degree heat, but Phil’s
air conditioning was another matter…
After a day having fun in the sun, the team
regrouped to compare notes.
Driving along a stunning coast road as the sun started setting was a highlight.
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CLASSIC CAR BUYER 27
CCB 15 years: | 24-hour roadtrip
STUTTGART OR BUST
One of our biggest adventures of 2024 was a 24-hour endurance challenge to raise funds for the Sophie’s
Legacy charity. Here’s how it all unfolded…
he nature of a weekly newspaper
means no day is exactly calm, but
Friday is probably the closest to
serene. Not on one particular Friday in
August though, when Dep Ed Joe announced
he’d spotted a social media post requesting
teams of three for a 24-hour charity driving
challenge due to take place in mid-October.
There was no question we wanted to be
involved, with Editor Jeff and Videographer
Lucas also also putting an eager hand in the
air, before chat inevitably turned to potential
routes, and potential cars.
By way of context, the challenge was
being organised by Rich Kitchen of the
UPnDOWN YouTube channel. Rich had
previously hosted two 24-hour livestreams
from his base in Fareham, answering viewer
questions, interviewing guests and even
running numerous unusual cars on his dyno
over the course of the non-stop broadcast,
all while encouraging viewers to donate in aid
of Sophie’s Legacy. The charity was created
in memorial of 10-year-old Sophie Fairall and
the legacy of change she wanted to create.
Sophie sadly lost her life to cancer in
September 2021 after going through a
Rich’s efforts had already seen over £25,000
raised, but 2024 would be more ambitious.
The teams would set off from Fareham
aiming to cover as many miles as possible
in 24 hours, all while competing various
Taskmaster-like challenges, plus dropping
off a care package to at least one hospital.
We already knew that one of the cars taking
part would be a tatty 1998 Skoda Felicia
1.6, headed up by Matt Pink, who can also
be credited for coming up with the slightly
unhinged idea of hitting the road for 24
hours. Rich had drawn up a set of rules for
car choices that essentially meant a pre-1990
vehicle could have an unlimited engine size,
but that capacity would be incrementally
reduced the newer the car was. Joe had
initially suggested we use his Mercedes W123,
but he quickly went off that idea, and a nice,
comfy Citroën CX seven-seater was mooted
instead. Sadly, a good example couldn’t be
found in time, so we decided to go looking for
a Mercedes W124. We reasoned a 124 was
still a bona-fide classic, but one that was easy
enough to find and would be ideally suited to
a test of endurance.
We thought we’d stuck gold when we
spotted a 1989 300TE 4Matic at auction – a
seven-seater estate that, though showing
a whopping 323,000 miles, was in great
shape and came with invoices amounting
to a staggering £160,000. Sadly, it went
over budget, and with time running out, we
extended our search to include saloons too,
as well as post 1990 cars. Before long we’d
found a tidy looking 1992 car at a Mercedes
specialist in Reading. It was ‘only’ a basic
200E model, but that meant it suited the
engine size criteria, and it was cheap enough
too. The car was only being sold as it wasn’t
compliant with London’s extended ULEZ, so
we took pleasure in giving the 104,000-mile
example a reprieve.
Early on, we decided we’d take our newly
acquired German vehicle to Germany so
that we could maximise our mileage on
unrestricted autobahn. Even with the time
lost crossing the Channel, we reasoned
we’d be better off, and we could also finish,
fittingly, at the Mercedes-Benz Museum
in the brand’s home city of Stuttgart.
Fortunately, the car didn’t need too much
work, but Joe gave it a thorough service –
work that included removing a stubborn oil
Joe, Lucas and Jeff get ready for the big off.
Four older vehicles took part, as well as a new
BYD Seal EV.
Our W124 inside the dealership at MercedesBenz of Guildford.
T
28 CLASSIC CAR BUYER
gruelling year-long battle. During this time,
Sophie listed various shortcomings that
could be addressed to help families with
children in a similar position, such as play
specialists being available seven days a
week rather than just on weekdays, food for
parents when staying with their child, and
greater awareness of childhood cancer from
health professionals. Work by the Sophie’s
Legacy charity includes help with transport
costs, food and drink supplies, therapy and
beauty treatments for parents during long
stays, birthday parties in hospital, Christmas
dinner for the medical staff and families
on wards, various gifts and much more,
currently spanning 12 hospitals across the
South of England.
BIG PLANS
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A quick stop at Brands Hatch netted more
points.
filter, as well as replacing the fuel pump. Oh,
he also had to replace a split radiator hose
that stranded him in a services, and a fitted a
decent stereo too.
GETTING UNDERWAY
The big day was October 19, and we were first
to arrive at Rich’s place in Fareham, where
he would livestream the challenge along with
a willing team of assistants that included Ian
Seabrook of HubNut fame. We also met the
four other teams: Chris and Phil joined Matt
in the Skoda to form team Status Slo, while
John, Adam and Marv bravely choose a 1995
Subaru Impreza Turbo 2000 as the steed for
their brilliantly titled team, Mid-Rice Crisis.
Next up was Steph of idriveaclassic YouTube
channel fame, who was joined by James and
Fred in a Citroën C5. This car was something
of a fundraising veteran, and had been
decked out in Jurassic Park livery – hence the
playful team name, Jurassic Pork. However, it
didn’t quite meet the criteria, so had to start
the challenge with only a quarter of a tank
of fuel, rather than a full load. Completing
the teams was 3Amp Egos, which included
Matt from Furious Driving alongside Barry
and Chris in a new BYD Seal, adding some
curiosity as to whether a modern EV could
cover as many miles as the older ICE cars.
As the klaxon went for 3pm, we ran over
to collect our envelope containing the
challenges, and tore off without reading
them. In our haste we forgot to start the app
counting our mileage, so Joe blocked the exit
road from the start point so that no one else
could leave while we redressed matters. If
we’d have known that one of the tasks was to
get pictures of all of our team members with
the other cars, we probably wouldn’t have
scarpered so quickly.
Our first stop was to drop our Sophie’s
Legacy care package off to the children’s
ward at our nominated hospital. We’d chosen
the Hascombe Ward at the Royal Surrey
Hospital in Guildford as it best suited our
NOVEMBER 27 2024
A well-timed trip through the Channel Tunnel aided our
progress.
A loss of coolant added some 3am jeopardy.
Fortunately, the hose clamp was still present.
Handing over the care package to Hascombe Children’s Ward.
route, and while Jeff and Lucas ran inside
to meet the fantastic staff, Joe continued to
add miles by driving around the car park. We
also completed the first of our car-spotting
challenges by finding a Rover – in this case a
75 – and snapping a team selfie with it.
Next up was some serious points
harvesting. James of YouTube channel
JayEmm On Cars had promised a £200
donation to anyone that managed to get their
car inside a main dealer showroom with a ‘for
sale’ sign in it – something that would also
net 200 points for the team. We’d reached
out to the Sandown Group in advance, and
were able to park our 124 in the showroom
at Mercedes-Benz of Guildford to satisfy the
task. It was all going well, though we did have
to return back to the dealer after leaving
a camera there, and we’d also chosen the
weekend that the A3 exit to the M25 was
closed, costing us time thanks to a lengthy
diversion.
The plan from here was to head for the
Channel Tunnel Terminal at Folkestone, but
en route we satisfied another challenge to
buy an item from a motorway services that
had the same first letter as our car model – in
this case ‘W’ for W124. We certainly got some
odd looks for buying a copy of Woman’s
Health magazine, but anything to support
print products…
Another of the tasks was to park up at a
race circuit, with more points for getting
in the paddock and even more for getting
NOVEMBER 27 2024
on track. Sadly, outside the gate at Brands
Hatch was the best we could do, but the
numbers were all adding up. Jeff drove the
Merc for the first ever time as we approached
Folkestone, and thanks to our decision to
buy a flexi-ticket, we managed to get on a Le
Shuttle train within 25 minutes of arrival, and
that’s despite getting called into security for
an inspection. Amazingly, we’d arrived after
Mid-Rice Crisis in the Subaru, who evidently
had similar plans to cross the Channel, but
we managed to leave on the train before
them. We also learned that Status Slo were
approaching in the Skoda, meaning three
teams were heading for the Continent. They
too had a flexi ticket, but suffered a delay,
meaning we gained a decent advantage over
two of our rivals.
Using the ‘dead’ time on the train, we
completed more challenges, which included
telling bemused random people, in both
English and French, that Rich back at base
owned a Citroën SM. We got points every
time we did this, and one friendly chap from
Hampshire even donated £100 to the charity
– something we also racked up numbers for,
with every pound awarded a point.
INTO THE NIGHT
Beam deflectors and UK sticker affixed, we
pressed on into France and Belgium, battling
the rainy conditions. We drove around
Antwerp, and into the Netherlands, where we
needed to stop and fill up again – at a rather
Coolant hose aside, the W124 kept plugging away during the night.
Alongside a yellow car – another five points
extortionate cost of €2.29 per litre. It was
at this point that Jeff handed the keys over
to Lucas, who had never driven in Europe
before but took to it like a natural, aside from
a brief spell on the wrong side of the road in
Duisburg…
Our plan to get on to unrestricted autobahn
quickly materialised, and before long we were
cruising at just under three figures, eating up
the kilometres as we went. Our route took us
up to Spelle and east towards Osnabrück –
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once home to Karmann – before we rounded
Hanover. However, it was at this point, at
3.21am, that the coolant light suddenly
flashed up. Spotting steam, we dived into
a service area to see what had happened.
It quickly became apparent the bottom
hose had come adrift, meaning the Merc
had expelled the contents of its radiator.
Fortunately, the hose clamp was still present,
so we could reattach it, and refill the system
using coolant we’d packed, plus four litres of
CLASSIC CAR BUYER 29
CCB 15 years: | 24-hour roadtrip
A quick pitstop by the River Main.
A car museum in Suhl helped with our pre-2000 vehicle spots.
Outside one of three football stadiums.
mineral water kindly supplied by a local man
in a tuxedo on his way home from a posh
night out. Crisis averted.
BACK ON TRACK
Easing the W124 back up to speed, we
pressed on, stopping at the stadium of
Eintracht Braunschweig to net another 15
points for photographing the car at the home
of a professional football team. We filled
up again (much cheaper this time) before
reaching the outskirts of Berlin just after
daybreak. We were averaging 32mpg, which
given that we were three up and had lots of
gear with us, was impressive.
From here, we headed south towards
Leipzig, passing by the city at around 8am,
having covered 845 miles. Then, we headed
west again towards Erfurt, much to the
excitement of everyone back at base as it
turned out that the Status Slo guys in the
Skoda were heading towards us. Sadly,
the big meet and greet moment was rather
spoiled as our paths crossed in a 3km-long
30 CLASSIC CAR BUYER
tunnel, meaning we didn’t see each other.
During this stint we also tried to meet
another challenge by persuading a local
lady to let us put her giant dog in the Merc.
Unsurprisingly, she refused.
Having passed Erfurt, we headed south
towards Würzburg, but not before attempting
another challenge. We would be awarded five
points for every pre-2000 car we spotted and
pictured with the Sophie’s Legacy leaflet in
shot, so we decided to head to a small classic
car museum in Suhl, which it turned out
would only take cash and therefore involved
lots of frenzied running to find a hole in the
wall.
We did find loads of cars that fitted the bill,
but we’d later discover that a rule change
had limited such finds to just 10 vehicles – an
alteration brought in after 3Amp Egos had run
riot at the far bigger British Motor Museum.
Still, it wasn’t all bad, as one of the additional
tasks was to spot Triumphs, and we managed
to scoop 30 points for by spotting a couple of
appropriately badged motorcycles. Hey, no
Unrestricted autobahn allowed us to make swift progress.
one said they had to be cars…
Back out on the road, we hit the 1000mile mark at 11am, taking in the stunning
autumnal scenery as we continued on
unrestricted autobahn. Another task was to
photograph our car by a boat, so we parked
up by the River Main in Würzburg for some
scenic shots, where we also discovered more
pre-2000 cars – the new criteria being that
they had to be proper spots, rather than in a
museum or on display.
Taking in the football stadium of
Wurzburger Kickers as we left the city, we
continued south, managing more pre-2000
spots as we went, including at a hidden
specialist garage that we were soon told to
leave. We also managed to photograph our
car with a yellow one – Sophie’s favourite
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colour – for another five points. Sadly, the
large haul of points on offer for getting a
penguin or a pig in our vehicle would go
unfulfilled.
Realising we would arrive in Stuttgart too
early, we reached Heilbronn and decided to
return to Würzburg to clock up more miles. It
was at this point the oil warning light flashed,
TRIP IN NUMBERS
Miles covered: 1266
Average speed (mph): 53
Average mpg: 32
Challenge points: 975
Total points: 2241
NOVEMBER 27 2024
SOPHIE’S LEGACY
Yet another stop to fill the tank – averaging 32mpg three-up while sitting around 100mph is not
to be sniffed at!
Sophie’s Legacy was created by
Charlotte Fairall in memorial of her
daughter, Sophie, and the legacy
of change she wanted to create.
Sophie had just turned 9 when she
was diagnosed with a rare form of
childhood cancer and sadly passed
away aged 10. The charity aims to
improve quality of life for children
suffering with cancer and their
families – Sophie’s ‘wishlist’ to
improve the entire process included
better food provisions on wards for
the parents, play specialists for the
children to be available on wards
seven days a week and more funding
to be put into children’s cancer
research. The charity is expanding
its reach to make these ambitions
a reality, currently working with 12
hospitals and with ambitions to go
nationwide. It supports every family admitted to hospital with their child, no matter what
illness or injury has brought them there.
The direct Just Giving link for the 24-hour challenge has now closed, but you can still
support and donate to Sophie’s Legacy. More details – as well as ways you can help –
can be found at sophieslegacy.co.uk.
The Mercedes barely put a foot wrong over the 24 hours.
but the oil wasn’t low and we never saw the
light again, so we opted to put that one out
of our minds. It was the first time we’d gone
back on ourselves, which was a consequence
of our plan working rather too well.
THE ‘HOME’ STRETCH
The last few miles as we headed towards
Stuttgart proved to be very fruitful for pre2000 spots, with some congestion serving
to help us out in this respect. It was also a
pleasure to see so many old cars out and
being used. With just five minutes remaining
until we had to submit our final mileage,
we parked up outside the Mercedes-Benz
Museum, which handily netted us more
points, as the car was also within sight of the
VFB Stuttgart football stadium. Incredibly,
we’d made it to our destination unscathed.
We joined the other teams on a call with
Rich back at base at 3pm to discover how
we’d all done. Two other teams had also
headed for Germany, but our mileage of
1266 was still almost 200 more than that
of our nearest competitor, Status Slo in the
Skoda. However, we wouldn’t know our true
position until the points for the challenges
and donations had been added up. At this
NOVEMBER 27 2024
point the donations had crossed the £17,000
threshold, and were still going up. We all gave
ourselves a pat on the back, but the biggest
praise was reserved for the Mighty Merc
which, one self-inflicted coolant loss aside,
had handled the whole thing with ease.
For the teams in England, it was a case of
driving home, but for those of us who had
headed to Germany, there was still a lot left
to do. We headed into the museum for a look
round and to film a video, before getting
back in the Merc, finding our budget hotel,
freshening up and heading out for food. Then,
finally, it was time for some well-earned sleep
– something only Joe had managed during
the 24 hours of the challenge.
Having checked the W124’s fluids the
following morning, we negotiated the Monday
rush hour traffic around Stuttgart and
headed west on our drive back to the UK,
stopping at a supermarket or two for goodies
before heading through Luxembourg and
into Belgium. Then it was back into France,
and back across the Channel. The Mercedes
remained in Kent, while Jeff and Lucas
collected their strategically parked cars
and headed back to Somerset and London
respectively.
Our finishing point – the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart.
So competitive were the five teams that
the total points took almost a fortnight to
calculate. In the end, we were delighted to
hear that the final scores confirmed an overall
win for Team Classics World, with our 2241
points overall beating the second-placed
team, Jurassic Pork in the Citroën C5, by
almost 250 points. Incredibly, we averaged
53mph over the 24 hours, with the next best
effort being that of Status Slo, at 44mph.
The BYD EV predictably covered the shortest
distance, but its 815 miles weren’t too far
behind the 871 achieved by the other team to
stay in the UK, Jurassic Pork with its C5.
Personal satisfaction aside, all the teams
put in a mammoth effort, with over 1000
miles covered by both the Felicia and the
Impreza. Most notably of all, the main goal
of raising funds for an extremely worthwhile
cause was also achieved – Rich had initially
set a goal of raising £24,000 for Sophie’s
Legacy. The overall total as we went to
press stood at over £28,740 including
GiftAid contributions, meaning Rich’s three
livestreams have now topped £54,000.
“This event has provided me with a lot
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of laughs and memories that I’ll probably
never forget, along with a few grey hairs
and probably a year or two off my life!” Rich
said. “But it’s achieved what it set out to do
which was to raise money for an extremely
worthy cause, and it’s done that in a way that
has possibly never been done before. I’m so
grateful to everybody who supported either
me personally, or the cause financially.”
As the charity goes from strength to
strength and looks to expand to more
hospitals, what of our Mercedes? Some may
have spotted it on the Classics World stand
at the Classic Motor Show, which may well be
its last action with us, as it’s up for sale. Get in
touch with us via ccb.ed@kelsey.co.uk if you’re
interested. We’ve certainly given it a thorough
roadtest, and it passed with flying colours.
WATCH THE VIDEO
Want to see the video of our adventure?
Head to
youtube.com/@ClassicsWorldUK
where you can see all the preparation,
plus the trip itself and the aftermath!
CLASSIC CAR BUYER 31
PULL
OUT AND
KEEP
CLASSIC
SCENES
WORDS: JOE MILLER IMAGE: ALAMY
T
he ASDA carpark was a bit more colourful and interesting
in 1995, as this shot from Orgreave proves. A pre-facelift
Mk3 Cavalier pokes out behind a Vauxhall Carlton, with
a pair of red Fords – a Mk4 Escort XR3i and Sierra – providing
some balance. The Lada Riva estate cuts a rally-esque look
with white wheels and spotlights, parked next to another Mk3
Cavalier, an Austin Metro and a Mk2 Fiesta Ghia. A glance into
the distance reveals everything from a VW Vento to a Vauxhall
Frontera, a Datsun/Nissan Sunny, a K10 Micra, an Austin
Montego and a Peugeot 405, among many others. What else
can you spot? Let us know via ccb.ed@kelsey.co.uk.
CLASSIC CHOICE | Ford Scorpio vs Vauxhall Omega & Rover 800
EXECUTIVE BUSINESS
If you wanted a 1990s executive car that wasn’t German, Ford, Vauxhall and Rover offered comfort and
luxury with blue-collar badges – we evaluate how they stack up as classics today
JOE MILLER
DEPUTY EDITOR
FORD SCORPIO
(1994-1998)
A
fter starting life as a trim
level on the MK3 Granada,
Scorpio would become
the sole name for its successor in
1994. Although the Mk3 Granada’s
styling had divided opinion, its ride,
handling and engines had been
praised, so for a company whose
bread and butter was big-selling
hatches rather than executive cars,
it made sense to carry the older
car’s platform over, along with the
engine and transmission line-up.
Noting that a hatchback in
a large executive car was now
something of an anomaly of the
class, the Scorpio was only offered
in saloon or estate guise, but it was
the styling itself that came in for
widespread criticism. Designed to
look more American, the Scorpio
sported bulbous headlights, a
vast and disproportionately wide
grille, and an oddly thin all-in-one
rear light strip. Journalists panned
the styling, calling it everything
from ‘frog-faced’ to ‘gormless’,
with Jeremy Clarkson suggesting
it could make children cry.
Amusingly, Ford has never formally
revealed who designed it.
However, beneath that slightly
unfortunate styling – looks which
somewhat softened with age
and the facelift of 1997 – was a
superb executive car. The engines
ranged from frugal four-pot petrols
to an impressively economical
turbodiesel and the mighty petrol
V6s, the jewel in the crown being
the powerful and tuneful Cosworthtuned 2.9-litre 24-valve unit. A
programme of determined detail
improvements to the original
34 CLASSIC CAR BUYER
Granada underpinnings saw also
big improvements in refinement
and handling, resulting in a car that
could float over bumps yet remain
composed if driven hard.
The Scorpio is undeniably a
sizeable car, but like many Fords
of the era, shrinks around you
and controls its bulk well. As an
upmarket cruiser, it hit the mark
too – lower-spec models still got
comfy cloth seats and generous
standard equipment, but climb
the ranks to an Ultima or Ghia,
and you got plush, heated leather
armchairs, a CD changer, climate
control, cruise control and twin
sunroofs. As became the fashion
for cars of this class in the late1990s, however, the Scorpio kept
badging to a minimum, with only
discreet trim level designation
on higher-spec models to remain
modest.
The comfortable, well-equipped
and hugely spacious interior made
the Scorpio a practical proposition,
while pricing from £23,000
represented great value. Sadly, first
impressions matter and there was
no getting away from the frog-faced
styling that clothed an otherwise
excellent car. That saw values drop
quickly, and when you consider the
Scorpio’s excellent reliability, it’s
no wonder this cheap, spacious
and comfortable car became a
favourite of taxi drivers, before
banger racers killed off the tattier
examples. With a limited following,
very few Scorpios survive which is
something of a shame – although
Ford claim it beat sales projections,
the figures themselves were never
revealed, and it was quietly killed
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off just four years after introduction
and never directly replaced.
However, the small but loyal
following appreciates the great car
hidden beneath that design, leading
to numerous online owners’ clubs
online keeping the name alive.
Sadly, parts supply is limited for
this low-volume Ford, but the small
number of fans means if you can
find the item you’re after, you likely
won’t have a fight on your hands to
secure it. The Scorpio also seems
rather talented at staving off rust –
unusual for a Ford of the era – and
as we’ve said, reliability is excellent,
so seek out a nice example and this
oft-derided executive saloon can
make for a superb modern classic.
FORD SCORPIO 2.9
V6 24V
ENGINE: 2935cc, V6
POWER: 204bhp
TOP SPEED: 140mph
0-60mph: 9.0secs
ECONOMY: 23mpg
GEARBOX: 4-spd, auto
BUY ONE FOR: £3000-£8000
NOVEMBER 27 2024
VAUXHALL
OMEGA ‘B’
(1994-2004)
S
uccessor to the popular
Carlton and Senator, the
Vauxhall Omega took full
advantage of parent company
GM’s global reach, being sold
throughout Europe as an Opel
and even reaching America as
the Cadillac Catera – that the US
found it far too small in size and
engine capacity to sell in any great
volume is a shame, but perhaps not
surprising. However, what was too
small for America proved perfectly
judged for Europe, the Omega
VAUXHALL OMEGA
3.0 V6
ENGINE: 2962cc, V6
POWER: 208bhp
TOP SPEED: 151mph
0-60mph: 8.5secs
ECONOMY: 27mpg
GEARBOX: 4-spd, auto
BUY ONE FOR: £1500-£6000
sitting neatly above the Cavalier
(later Vectra) and delivering a
more spacious, better-trimmed
cabin to justify its executive
image and higher price. Like the
Scorpio, an upper-rung Omega
in CDX or Elite trim would grant
you heated electric leather seats,
cruise control, air conditioning
and other luxuries. Measuring 11
inches longer than the Vectra, the
Omega also offered an impressively
spacious interior and cavernous
boot, particularly in estate guise,
something that would see the
big Vauxhall also find favour with
cabbies in later life.
Like the Scoprio, fleet-friendly
four-pot petrols and a four-strong
range of frugal diesels was joined
by various smooth and powerful
V6s, culminating in the 217bhp
3.2-litre 24-valve variant in the
facelift Omega. This model’s
155mph top speed, subtle styling,
comfort and space saw it become a
favourite of undercover motorway
police. Indeed, the Omega also
impressed visually, with smart
if slightly jelly-mould looks that
didn’t look out of place next to
a contemporary Audi and only
got sharper in the facelift model.
That it also rode well, handled
commendably for its size and
started from circa-£23,000
ensured its popularity, living for a
decade and selling substantially
better than its rivals here.
Today, minicabbers and banger
racers have seen surviving numbers
of the big Vauxhall drop, but most
remaining cars are well-kept
examples owned by enthusiasts.
Breakers and brand specialists
such as Vauxhall Superstore
ensure you can source parts,
making this rare but extremely
talented executive express a great
ownership prospect.
began work on a facelifted 800 that
it hoped would be seen as a British
BMW, giving it more visual bulk
and a proper front grille, as well as
adding a coupe version intended
to appeal Stateside. Sadly, the
Sterling operation was canned just
before the Mk2 800 was launched,
so we’ll never know if the new car
would’ve succeeded in America.
Regardless, the revised styling
updated the 800 with a fresh face
and more modern rear end, and
the Couple would go on to be a
strong seller, particularly in Italy.
Like the Ford and Vauxhall, Rover
offered the Mk2 800 with 2.0-litre
petrol four-pots, including a 177bhp
turbocharged version, a turbodiesel
for fleet buyers, and Honda’s
silky smooth 2.7-litre V6 unit. The
Vitesse Sport saw the turbocharged
unit upped to 197bhp, and as part
of a 1996 facelift, Rover’s KV6
engine replaced the Honda unit.
The Mk2 resolved many of the
issues with the underdeveloped
Mk1. Sport aside, it offered a softriding car that was better-suited
to motorways than cross-country
driving. It was also spacious
and comfortable, while the
turbocharged Vitesse would prove
something of a sleeper, offering
pace to rival many pricier German
contemporaries.
The Mk2 is less rust prone than
the Mk1, but KV6 engines can
be troublesome and electrical
problems were not completely
eradicated. Image issues –
combined with the fact the 800
really survived for too long – gave
it a lacklustre reputation for
many years. Things have slowly
turned round though, with values
appreciating, good parts support
from the likes of Rimmer Bros to
make ownership easier than ever,
and a strong fanbase too. Find a
nice example of the 800, and you’ll
discover its many charms.
ROVER 800 ‘R17’
(1991-1999)
R
over’s collaboration with
Honda on the 800/Legend
created something of a
flawed genius – a sharply-styled,
comfortable executive saloon, but
one badly hampered by its poor
quality and reliability. Indeed,
when exported to America under
the ‘Sterling’ badge, faults and a
lack of support meant just 33,000
sales in five years. Determined to
export successfully and maximise
the potential of the model, Rover
ROVER 827
ENGINE: 2675cc, V6
POWER: 167bhp
TOP SPEED: 133mph
0-60mph: 8.9secs
ECONOMY: 29mpg
GEARBOX: 4-spd, auto
BUY ONE FOR: £1500-£7000
NOVEMBER 27 2024
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CLASSIC CAR BUYER 35
CLASSIC CAR INSURANCE EXPERTS
WWW.PETERBESTINSURANCE.CO.UK
Tried & Tested | Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow
The car that brought Rolls-Royce into a new era, is the all-star Silver Shadow still worthy of its ‘best car in
the world’ title?
JOE MILLER
DEPUTY EDITOR
P
reposterous it may sound,
but the Silver Shadow is a
classless luxury car. Sold in
vast numbers (for a Rolls-Royce
at least), this leather-lined limo
might’ve represented the preferred
runaround of the rich and famous
once, but today is a classic that
few are at odds with. The Shadow
is loved by the enthusiasts from
all walks of life, and if you’re lucky
enough to have experienced one,
you’ll agree that they drive like
nothing else.
Kim Cairns’ Shadow I is a
relatively early car, dating from
1968, and is truly exemplary.
Resplendent in Regal Red, it looks
stunning in the autumnal sun, the
graceful lines of this sizeable saloon
baring absolutely no dents, damage
or rust – the former particularly
surprising given the length in
excess of five metres. Amusingly,
the Shadow was substantially
smaller than the Silver Cloud it
replaced, its modern monocoque
construction – a first for the
marque – granting far more interior
space and better structural rigidity
in a physically smaller car. This
car wears the additional front air
dam of a Shadow II well, while the
chrome side trims and coachlines
remain as pin sharp as ever. The
Shadow’s graceful and elegant
styling holds up well today, looking
prestigious but not nearly as flashy
as today’s equivalent.
This 1968 car sports the rare
Chippendale dashboard, a classic
look that suits this car well. The
great slab of walnut consumes your
lower peripheral vision, presenting
extremely well bar a small scratch
to the left of the fuel gauge – the
gauge itself had fogged up and
was inoperative when we drove the
car, but we’re told this has been
replaced. Elsewhere, the biscuit
leather is plump and fantastically
soft, offering immense comfort
even when stationary. This 90,000mile Shadow wears its miles well,
with little to no wear on any of the
(many) leather-covered surfaces
and trims – a testament to the
quality of the materials. Spacious,
light and comfortable, the interior
relaxes you immediately.
ON THE ROAD
Firing up the mighty L-Series V8
takes the traditional five pulses
from the starter motor, before
discreetly rumbling into life – this
is a luxurious engine to match the
car, not a lumpy-idling motor. This
earlier 6.25-litre variant produces
an “adequate” 203bhp, allowing
smooth and dignified progress –
you certainly won’t snap necks
with the acceleration, but nor
should you, this is a refined vehicle.
Watching the Spirit of Ecstasy
atop the nose rise under hard
acceleration is a fantastic sight,
and is one of my favourite parts of
driving a Silver Shadow. The thinrimmed steering wheel connects
to a steering box on Shadow Is,
offering light yet direct control over
the front wheels – it’s certainly not
Lotus responsive, but it’s far from
vague and this example feels tight
and easy to thread down narrow
Norfolk roads. The hydraulics – a
system poached from Citroën
– means light power-assisted
steering, as well as powerful brakes
that haul up this 2.2-tonne car with
ease. Certainly, you have no qualms
about pulling up this sizeable and
rather hefty car from speed.
When you reach a corner, this
Shadow tackles it with impressive
composure, nowhere near the
body roll you might expect and
decent response. Sporting drivers
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will be left wanting, but consider
that most Silver Shadow buyers
couldn’t care less about ‘clipping
the apex’, and this soft luxury car
accounts for itself well. The ride,
as you’d expect, is phenomenal –
you feel the heft of this car, but it
simply irons out any bumps and
1968 ROLLS-ROYCE
SILVER SHADOW
ENGINE: 6750cc, V8
POWER: 203bhp
undulations. You occasionally feel
a shimmy through the body over
particularly broken road (causing
some squeaks from the hand-built
leather interior as you go), but
remain absolutely relaxed. Utterly
comfortable, refined, easy to drive
and making progress with ease, I
start to wonder if the NHS should
prescribe a drive in a Silver Shadow
as a cure for high blood pressure.
CCB VERDICT
Quality is remembered long after
the price is forgotten, and while
the hand-built nature of this
0-60MPH: 10.8secs
TOP SPEED: 117mph
CONTACT
ECONOMY: 17.7mpg
Kim Cairns, Snettisham,
Kings Lynn, PE31 7PF
01485 541526
GEARBOX: 3-spd auto
ASKING PRICE: SOLD
kimcairnsclassics.co.uk
Silver Shadow makes itself known
occasionally with some squeaking
leather, the driving experience
remains magnificent. This vast
car shrinks around you and is by
no means intimidating, making
navigating even narrow roads
utterly relaxing. It’s no wonder the
Shadow remains a hugely popular
classic luxury car, nor that this
extremely tidy, mechanically
perfect and beautifully-specced
example had sold by the time
we went to press. If you’re taken
by the idea of a Rolls-Royce,
however, fear not – Kim Cairns
also has a Sable Grey 1972 car in
stock.
MODEL HISTORY
Although the Silver Cloud had proven successful in Europe and America, Rolls-Royce had primarily
designed it with the USA in mind, resulting in vast proportions to rival a Cadillac that really, were too big for
British roads. Not wanting to compromise on interior space, Rolls-Royce turned to modern monocoque
construction for 1965’s Silver Shadow – the new car was 3.5 inches narrower and seven inches shorter than
the old one, yet offered a more spacious interior thanks to less intrusion from the chassis. The new L-Series
V8 was carried over, initially offered in 203bhp, 6.25-litre ‘six and a quarter’ guise until 1970, when it grew to
6.75-litres and was praised even further for its smoothness, torque and reinement.
With its more compact dimensions and slightly more composed handling – as well as altogether less
‘showy’ styling than the Cloud – the Silver Shadow quickly found favour with a younger generation of
self-driver buyers, in stark contrast to the chauffeur-driven clientele that Rolls-Royce was used to. Some
30,000 cars were sold, making it RR’s best-selling car by far and soon inding favour with the wedding car
business once examples had aged – we’d be willing to bet that most readers know of someone driven to, or
from their special day in a Silver Shadow, so ubiquitous was it in this ield.
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CLASSIC CAR BUYER 37
KIM
CAIRNS
- Established 1972
Quality is remembered long after price is forgotten
1969 LOTUS ELAN S4 *ONLY 27,700 MILES*. This rare Elan is 2014 JAGUAR XK X150 XKR. Finished in stunning Ultimate Black 1952 DAIMLER SPECIAL SPORTS CONVERTIBLE. Coach 2018 MERCEDES AMG SLC 43 AUTO CONVERTIBLE
one of a limited number of Lotus cars badged black. An incredible with Ivory Hide seats Black Leather dash top and centre console built by Barker and one of only 500 built. 3 were fixed head the Immaculate Metallic Black with Black Nappa leather stitched
with Ivory Stitching. This very high spec luxury model comes with rest drop heads mainly by Barker, there were a few Hooper bodied.
one owner car which has covered a mere 27,000 miles after being on Full Jaguar Main Dealer Service History with its last service only Finished in immaculate Sage Green over Smoke Green with Beige red and red seat belts. This high performance Mercedes has a
3.0 litre V6 engine. AMG body styling, 18 inch alloy wheels, 9
the road until 1991. Now fully restored. The interior is totally original. 100+ miles ago. Supplied with its original book pack, jaguar online tan Hide, Beige carpets, wooden trim and rear bench seat. The
speed automatic transmission with tiptronic paddles. 41,800
Comes with original handbooks, service book, MOTs up to 1991 and history and 2 sets of keys. Immaculate condition, these last of the car has an extensive History File including the original log book miles with original handbooks in Mercedes leather wallet, Full
line XKRs are becoming very sought after...............................£42,995 detailing ownership. Also comes with MOTs dating from 1968
one carried out October 24. Unique opportunity to acquire a genuine
to 2018, handbooks, Jack and Tools, Spare keys etc. Beautiful Service History and 2 sets of keys. Excellent opportunity to
example, becoming increasingly rare to find.. ...................£32,995 acquire a high performance luxury Mercedes. ............£29,995
one owner low mileage Elan.......................................................£51,995
1990 ROLLS ROYCE SILVER SPIRIT II *2 OWNERS
15,000 MILES FROM NEW*. Supplied to a London PLC 1st
Jan 1990 then passed to a doctor for 29 years and used
sparingly now covered 15,900 miles. Finished in Royal Blue
with Magnolia Hide, Dark Blue Piping, Dark Blue dash top
and Dark Blue carpets. Spare wheel and unused complete
tool kit. The underside is in remarkable condition, looks
more like a one year old car not a 33 year old one. One of
the very best you will find. ...........................................£26,995
1975 TRIUMPH TR6 2.5 PI P6 This immaculate fully restored
UK spec CR chassis number fuel injection with overdrive
example has been subject to a full restoration to its original UK
spec and original colour, Magenta with black trim. Upgraded with
far more comfortable seats and a wooden steering wheel. With
an extensive history file with MOTs to confirm mileage of only
71,000 from new, the original hand book, service book, heritage
certificate plus a hard top supplied from new..................£23,995
1972 ROLLS ROYCE SILVER SHADOW Finished in Sable
with Beige Hide and Beige Wilton Carpets. This 1972 Rolls
Royce Silver Shadow I was last purchased in 1982, for the
last owner’s daughter’s wedding and kept the car until we
purchased it in 2018 and has been in our personal collection.
Now fully recommissioned including hydraulic brakes and
suspension overhaul. Stunning looking car in its period colour.
Ready for show..................................................................£19,995.
1993 JAGUAR XJS V12 COUPE. This exceptional example was
first registered to Jaguar cars Browns Lane in February of 1993 then
sold to its first owner in Dec 93, the second owner purchased the
car from us in 2020 and has only covered 1,000 miles during his
ownership. Only 59,000 miles with 23 service stamps. Finished in
immaculate Flamingo Metallic with Doeskin hide. Very hard to find
in this condition........................................................................£16,995
1987 JAGUAR XJ6 3.6 (XJ40) Finished in immaculate old English 1980 MGB ROADSTER This stunning MGB is finished in 2005 PORSCHE BOXSTER 3.2 S . 6 SPEED MANUAL GEARBOX
White with unmarked Saville Grey Hide, Grey Carpets and as new immaculate Factory Black with Black Leather, Wire Wheels, Finished in immaculate Basalt Black Metallic with dark grey hide,
Walnut Veneers. Been part of a private collection for the past 3 years. Overdrive, Mohair Hood and Pioneer KE2900 Radio. 64,000 dark grey carpet and electric powered black hood. Only 67,000
miles, comes with MOT certificates dating back to its first miles with full service history. Specifications include electric seats
Supplied and serviced by Jaguar Main Dealers Dutton Forsham. With
one at 3 years old and a large file of invoices for service and and windows, original Porsche CDR 24 sound system, digital
all original books, service book stamped by Dutton Forsham, MOT maintenance detailing the care and attention this exceptional climate control, trip computer etc. Comes with its original books
certificates, original invoice, 2 sets of keys etc. Becoming highly MG has had to keep it in the condition it is today. One of the
in the leather Porsche Wallet. Superb drive and performance, sure
collectable.........................................................................£15,995 best on the Market, don’t miss this one! ........................ £14,995 to be a future classic..............................................................£13,995
2001 BMW Z3 SPORTS ROADSTER 2.2 *ONLY 39,900
MILES* Finished in desirable Dakar Yellow unmarked
Black leather complimented by a brushed alloy centre
console. Six cylinder 2.2 injection engine coupled to a
5 speed manual gearbox. With heated electric seats, air
conditioning, electric hood, expensive Alpine Audio System
including Sat Nav. Last owner used sparingly over 13
years with 8 main dealers and 2 specialist stamps. Perfect
example. ..........................................................................£13,995
1971 ROVER 2000 TC Finished in Tobacco Leaf with Black Hide. 2004 JAGUAR X-TYPE 2.5 V6 SE MANUAL. Finished in immaculate 2000 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF V5 AUTO ONLY ONE OWNER and only
57,000 miles. Immaculate Diamond Black with contrasting Magnolia
Placed into storage in 2005 and fully recommissioned by us in 2020. Titan Silver with unmarked Black Trim. Specifications include rear park
sensors, climate control, cruise control, BMW business radio cassette Leather. Climate control, heated height adjustable seats, electric
We sold the Rover to its second owner in 2020 who covered only 2,000
glass sunroof and radio/cassette with CD multi changer. Only one
and CD multi changer, electronic stability control etc. Serviced and
very careful owner who meticulously serviced and maintained the car.
miles during his ownership, now only covered an incredible 31,000 miles.
maintained by a meticulous owner. These E46 BMW Coupes are now With 18 stamps in the service book. With all the original handbooks
Comes with Heritage Certificate, old MOTs and new car receipt from Lex very desirable, particularly the 6 cylinder variant. This must be one of the
and service book in the Volkswagen wallet and 12 months warranty.
Motor Group. Very hard to find in this condition.............................£12,995 best of the best. ..........................................................................£12,995 Very desirable small luxury car in exceptional condition....£11,995
1996 MERCEDES E220 CABRIOLET SPORT Finished in the
popular colour combination of immaculate Brilliant Silver with
Black Leather. With the optional extras of heated seats, front
armrest and 8 hole alloy wheels. Only 3 owners from new, the
last owner has owned the car since 2005. Comes with service
history, Old MOT’s, Mercedes Book Pack, Service Book etc.
Very well looked after low ownership locally owned car from
new. Perfect for the summer months and now becoming very
sought after...................................................................£10,995
1986 AUSTIN METRO CITY*ONLY 3,200 MILES* Finished in
its original White Diamond with Brown/Beige Trim. Serviced
at 999 miles and again at. 2,505 miles. MOT’s within file from
1989,1990,1991 and 1992 and Oct 24. Comes with all the
original log books in the original plastic wallet. With unused
spare wheel and tools. Must be one of the best in existence,
would credit any collection or museum......................£9,995
1999 BMW 318I CONVERTIBLE AUTO. Only one lady
owner from New. Finished in Titan Silver with Black Leather
and Black Hood. The car has only covered 55,000 miles
with service print out and old MOTs. Specification includes
Climate Control, Electric Windows, Leather Steering Wheel
and Alloy Wheels. One owner low mileage car for only.....£6,995
2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE 2.0 AUTO Only 18,000 miles
and only 2 owners from new, the 1st from 2004 to 2023.
Finished in Silver with Grey Trim this virtually unmarked car
has been very well looked after with 15 service stamps in the
service book. Specs include Radio/CD player, alloy wheels,
air con and metallic paint. With original new car invoice, fully
stamped service book, unused spare wheel and tool kit and
2 keys. Immaculate low mileage VW Beetle for only...£7,995
2000 JAGUAR XJ8 AUTO Finished in immaculate Ebony Black
with unmarked Ivory Hide. This elegant XJ8 comes with Sat Nav,
Climate Control, Cruise Control, CD Changer etc. Has covered
82000 miles with a fully stamped service book and an invoice for a
new timing chain. Comes with all original book pack, a file
of invoices, old MOTs dating back to 2003, complete tool kit
and 2 sets of keys. Very well cared for XJ8..................£7,995
To view all of our cars please visit www.kimcairnsclassics.co.uk
FREE DELIVERY ENGLAND, WALES OR ANY UK PORT
KC 2000 Ltd T/A Kim Cairns, Common Road, Snettisham, Norfolk PE31 7PF
01485 541526 kimcairnsltd@gmail.com
Bulletproof classics | FEATURE
Some cars have a reputation for toughness and longevity, ensuring them a loyal following among today’s
classic enthusiasts. We pay tribute to eight of the best ‘bulletproof’ choices
PAUL GUINNESS
CONTRIBUTOR
reliability and robustness that appeals to
many enthusiasts. Throw into the mix two
more executive saloons, an iconic 4x4 and a
humble workhorse from behind the former
Iron Curtain and you have an eclectic mix
from which to choose.
If we’ve missed off your favourite
bulletproof classic, drop us a line and tell us
about it via ccb.ed@kelsey.co.uk.
VOLVO ‘AMAZON’
W
e won’t be applying the word
‘bulletproof’ in its literal sense
here. We’re not about to
bring you four pages of coverage of Prime
Ministerial and Presidential limousines
featuring armour plating to keep terrorists at
bay. No, we’re talking about those cars that
established a reputation for being ultra-tough
and long-lived. The kind of cars that could
take a battering in terms of heavy usage and
never complain. The machines that, purely in
a colloquial sense, were indeed bulletproof.
The eight classics featured here offer
something for everyone, such is their
disparity in design and concept. You’ll
struggle to find much in common between
an early-post war Rover and a Lexus of
the 1990s, yet each now offers the kind of
We could, of course, have chosen pretty
much any classic Volvo and included it here,
such is the Swedish marque’s reputation
for producing bulletproof models capable of
outlasting so many of their contemporaries.
But when it comes to saloons and estates
that also offer more than a modicum of
style, it’s hard to argue with the logic of
the 120 series, better known (unofficially)
as the ‘Amazon’. Despite the popularity of
the name, it only used ‘Amazon’ in Nordic
countries after motorbike maker Kriedler
objected to Volvo’s original name ‘Amason’.
Originally launched in 1956 and arriving
in the UK two years later, the inaugural 120
for Britian was a four-door saloon with twin
carbs. The range was steadily expanded
and upgraded, with a 1.8-litre ‘B18’ engine
in single- (121) and twin-carb (122S) guises
replacing the 1.6 ‘B16’ in 1961, while a twodoor saloon (the 130) arrived at the same
time. The highly versatile estate (the 220)
finally appeared in 1962, and two years
later the entire line-up was given an interior
and exterior facelift. The higher-powered
(115bhp) 123GT arrived in late ’66, with that
same year seeing the square-lined 140 series
replacing the four-door 120. A 1986cc ‘B20’
engine (again with one or two carburettors)
was fitted to Amazons from 1968 until the
end of production in 1970, by which time the
140 range had been expanded.
Any ‘Amazon’ in good order now makes a
sensible choice for anyone seeking a tough
classic for all-year-round use. They will
rust when neglected, of course, but they
generally outlast most similar-size models
from the same era. Carry out the usual
checks when buying, and make sure you
prioritise bodywork condition over any need
for mechanical attention; the latter will be
easier and more affordable than taking on a
car in need of major body repairs, particularly
as new-old-stock panels aren’t exactly
plentiful. The engines are reliable when
maintained well, even over high mileages,
and mechanical parts availability is excellent.
MERCEDES-BENZ W123
With 2025 marking the 50th anniversary of
the W123 series, it’s an obvious choice to
include here, dating from an era when the
three-pointed star was almost a guarantee of
engineering quality, longevity and durability.
A couple of decades later, that reputation
was tarnished as Mercedes took its eye off
the quality ball; but in the mid-1970s, when
the W123 was unveiled, there were no such
concerns.
While tens of thousands of W123s were
used as taxis throughout Germany, here in
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the UK Mercedes-Benz cleverly managed to
keep its entry-level range on a higher footing,
marketing it as a reliable but upmarket range
for those who appreciated German quality
combined with a prestigious image. And it
worked. Back in 1980, for example, you could
have spent £8638 on a generously equipped,
V6-engined Ford Granada 2.8 GL, or £8700 on
the cheapest Mercedes-Benz 200 – the latter
with only a four-cylinder engine and little in
the way of luxury. Yet when it came to image,
the Mercedes was in a different league.
With square, understated styling and an
interior that was functional and comfortable
rather than oozing in luxury frivolities,
the Mercedes was a world away from its
upmarket mainstream rivals. But that was
fine for fans of the W123, who appreciated its
inherent strength, reliability and durability.
Where similarly priced but more luxurious
rivals would be well past their prime by the
time their fifth birthday came around, the
W123 soldiered on, and on.
W123 buyers were offered a wide choice
of engines over the years, including 2.0- and
2.3-litre four-cylinders, and 2.5- and 2.8-litre
straight-sixes, while fans of oil-burning units
had diesel engines from 2.0- right up to
3.0-litre capacities to choose from, the latter
even available with a turbo in some markets.
Find one in good bodily order now and,
whichever version it is, you’re likely to enjoy
dependable classic motoring for years to come.
CLASSIC CAR BUYER 39
FEATURE | Bulletproof classics
buyers, though, what really mattered was
its robustness, for this was a well-built
machine engineered to the highest standards
– factors that are still important to marque
enthusiasts today.
SAAB 99
Arriving in 1967 and initially employing
1.7- and 1.85-litre four-cylinder Triumph
power, the new front-wheel drive Saab 99
appealed to motorists looking for a familysize saloon that was well built, well equipped,
comfortable and slightly less predictable than
the more mainstream models of the time. It
proved quite a hit, and before too long buyers
could choose from two- and four-door saloon
and three- and five-door hatchback versions
of the 99, all offering the individuality that
people had come to expect from Saab.
Extra power came when Saab replaced the
existing engines with a 1985cc unit, which
offered as much as 110bhp in fuel-injected
guise fitted to the higher-performance EMS
model. Suddenly, Saab’s reputation was
taking a more sporting direction, although
the best was to come when the exciting new
40 CLASSIC CAR BUYER
99 Turbo hit the streets in 1977. It wasn’t the
first European-built turbocharged car, but
the 99 Turbo was the first truly successful
mass-produced one, offering an impressive
145bhp and a top speed of 120mph-plus.
The 99 Turbo lasted just three years,
usurped by turbocharged versions of the
bigger new 900. Normally aspirated versions
of the 99 remained in production for a total
of 17 years, however, finally replaced in 1984
by the 99-based Saab 90 (featuring a longer
900-like rear end), which added a further
three years to the run.
It’s remarkable that a car designed in the
1960s remained competitive for so long,
and still looked good thanks to its innovative
styling by Sixten Sason, who came up with
the idea of a low-front, high-back ‘wedge’
guaranteed to keep Saab ahead of the
game in terms of aerodynamics. For many
LAND ROVER
When it comes to hard-working classics, they
don’t come much more effective than the
classic Land Rover, which famously made its
debut in 1948 with an 80-inch wheelbase, a
1595cc ex-Rover P3 engine and permanent
four-wheel drive. The model evolved over the
subsequent decades, and now – almost nine
years on from the final example rolling off the
line – it remains as popular as ever.
The first real update came in 1950, with
minor styling mods, an optional hard top and
selectable four-wheel drive. The following
year saw the Land Rover getting a 1997cc,
52bhp petrol engine, while an 86-inch chassis
arrived in 1953, subsequently developed into
Station Wagon spec.
Both 88-inch and 109-inch Land Rovers
were launched by 1957, when the model’s
first diesel engine also debuted. The Series II
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arrived the following year and a new 2.25-litre
petrol engine was introduced, while 1961
brought the Series IIA. The end of the ’60s
saw the Land Rover’s headlights moved
outwards to the front wings, and then in
1971 came the Series III with a new grille,
‘posh’ dash, all-synchro gearbox and other
refinements.
Biggest change of all came in 1983 with
the Land Rover One-Ten (with a 110-inch
chassis), finally bringing all-coil suspension,
which would be followed by the shortwheelbase Ninety. The ‘modern’ Land Rover
was taking shape, although the Defender
name wouldn’t appear until 1990. Early
Defenders featured the Discovery’s 2.5-litre
200 Tdi unit, replaced in 1993 by the 300 Tdi
with the same power but more refinement.
The Td5 replaced that in ’99, giving way to
the ex-Transit DuraTorq in 2007.
Whether you opt for a ‘Series’ or coilsprung model now, an old Land Rover is
arguably Britain’s greatest workhorse of
all time. A decent survivor might not be the
bargain it once was, but it’s hard to beat for
sheer usefulness.
NOVEMBER 27 2024
compared with other family hatches – and
it’s still evident today.
VOLKSWAGEN GOLF Mk2
Volkswagen had created a worthy bestseller
with the original Golf, but it couldn’t remain in
production indefinitely. A successor would be
needed in the early ’80s, and so the Golf Mk2
arrived in 1983, majoring on evolution rather
than revolution. Penned in-house, the Mk2
was instantly recognisable as a Golf, but was
notably larger than its predecessor.
It was in March 1984 that the first cars
arrived in the UK, with a choice of C, CL, GL
and GTI versions available at launch. Engine
sizes ranged from 1272cc to 1781cc, the
latter found in the GTI with Bosch K-Jetronic
injection. There was also a 1.6-litre diesel,
either normally aspirated or turbocharged.
A facelift appeared in 1986, and that same
year the GTI 16v was introduced, its twin-cam
head assisting with a headline power figure
of 139bhp. The GTI was offered with colourcoded plastic bumpers for 1989, these cars
NOVEMBER 27 2024
being commonly referred to as ‘big bumper’
models. VW added a four-wheel drive Syncro
to the mix in 1990, plus the left-hand drive,
limited-edition Golf Rallye with its G60
supercharged engine.
Mk2 production ended in 1991, VW having
built 6.3 million examples by then. History
remembers the Mk2 as the quintessential
all-rounder, and it remains popular to this
day with excellent aftermarket support and
a thriving enthusiast scene. It also enjoys
an enviable reputation for build quality and
durability, with the second-generation Golf
being notably less rot-prone than, say, a
contemporary Mk3 or Mk4 Escort.
VW’s marketing of the Mk2 often focused
on its quality and reliability, from the solid
‘thunk’ experienced when shutting a door to
the effortless reliability of its mechanicals. It
might have been hyped for the ads, but there
was no denying the sheer solidity of the Golf
ROVER P4
Of all the British saloons of the 1950s
that we could have included, the P4 is the
obvious choice, its proverbial ‘hewn from
rock’ reputation being very much intact.
It’s a model that offers plenty to buyers
seeking a bulletproof period classic, allied
to a charming driving experience. From
its launch in 1949 through to its eventual
demise, the P4 was renowned as the
preferred carriage of bank managers
everywhere, and it’s still seen as a desirable
choice – whilst also now offering great value
for money.
The original Rover 75 ‘Cyclops’, with its
central third front light, was surprisingly
modern in style for such a traditional
company. Relatively little changed bodywise over the years, except in 1955 when the
rear end grew slightly. Steady development
continued well into the next decade, finishing
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off with the 123bhp 110 model that soldiered
on right through to 1964. In between came the
90, 95, 100, 105R and 105S, offering different
versions of the venerable six-cylinder engine
and a choice of power outputs.
Cheapest variants of all were the 60 and
80, powered by four-cylinder Land Rover
engines and generally seen as the least
desirable (though most affordable) of the
range. They make an interesting choice
nowadays, as what they lack in six-cylinder
refinement they more than make up for in
high-mileage reliability and superb value.
P4s make the QE2 feel almost flimsy, with
the body (most had aluminium doors, bonnet
and boot) sitting on a very heavy separate
chassis. Rust can attack steel sections, but
the chassis itself is incredibly sturdy and only
seems to suffer from rot in the outriggers.
Parts availability from the Rover P4 Drivers’
Guild and numerous one-marque specialists
is truly impressive, helping to make running
an ‘Auntie’ Rover even more of a painless
experience.
CLASSIC CAR BUYER 41
FEATURE | Bulletproof classics
LADA RIVA
The early 1970s saw Satra Motors (importers
of Moskvich cars) begin offering the USSR’s
Lada range in Britain, a line-up of four-door
saloons and five-door estates that appealed
to cost-conscious new-car buyers. They were
fairly dated, being based on the Fiat 124 of
1966, but they were also honest and very
hard-working. Oh, and they were cheap; by
1977, the entry-level Lada 1200 still cost just
£1760, at a time when a Mini 850 would set
you back £35 more.
Various trim levels were offered, as well
as a choice of 1.2-, 1.3-, 1.5- and 1.6-litre
powerplants, with five-door estate versions
of all but the 1600 also being available. The
range-topping 1600 and certain 1500 models
also came with a redesigned front end,
featuring a squarer look and quad headlamps
to update the ex-Fiat’s appearance.
The biggest change to the classic Lada
range arrived at the start of the 1980s,
however, when an updated version known
as the Riva made its debut, with sales in the
UK finally starting in ’83. It featured new
front and rear styling for a more modern look
(with large oblong headlamps to set it apart),
although the driving experience was still oldfashioned by standards of the time.
The Riva – available in both saloon and
estate guises – was robust and reliable,
although front wing rot was an issue. These
cars lasted well is their homeland, but the
UK’s salt-laden winter roads weren’t exactly
Lada-friendly. Mechanically, however, they
were all pretty bulletproof, capable of taking
42 CLASSIC CAR BUYER
just about any abuse; they may have been
noisy and lacking in power, but these engines
ran and ran even with only the most basic
maintenance. So loved was the model in
Russia, it (rather remarkably) remained in
production and on sale in its homeland until
as recently as 2014.
LEXUS LS400
It’s 35 years since Toyota announced its
inaugural model from Lexus, the Japanese
giant’s new premium brand. But upon its
debut, the LS400 was seen as a somewhat
audacious offering. Here we had a new
V8-engined Japanese saloon designed
to compete with the finest models from
Europe’s most prestigious manufacturers,
the aim being to steal sales away from the
likes of BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar.
So, how did the Lexus LS400 become
the first Japanese model to finally attract
premium car buyers from Europe and further
afield?
Well, the engineering that went into the
LS400 was astonishing. Beneath its clean
styling sat a 4.0-litre 32-valve V8 producing
250bhp, linked to a brand new four-speed
automatic transmission, both of which
were at the top of their class in terms of
refinement. The LS400 could nudge 150mph,
while its occupants enjoyed an opulent
interior that oozed quality leather and
Californian walnut veneer. Refinement was
further aided by the LS400’s use of fluiddamped interior fixings and sandwich-steel
body panels.
Not surprisingly, Britain’s motoring
journalists were hugely impressed by the
Lexus, but our luxury car buyers took a while
longer to accept this superb Japanese exec,
which remained a niche choice in the UK but
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went on to achieve major sales success in the
crucial US market.
Those Brits who did invest in an LS400
went on to discover the long-term benefit
of its class-leading quality, with the kind of
reliability that other manufacturers could
only dream of. There might have been a lot
to go wrong in this extravagantly equipped
super-saloon, but precision engineering
ensured that it remained reliable even after
covering vast mileages. No wonder it’s since
become a popular choice among fans of
Japanese modern classics, with more ‘grey
imports’ here now than original UK-spec
examples.
NOVEMBER 27 2024
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TORINO TOURER
As a rarer alternative to a British-built roadster, the handsome and fun-to-drive Fiat 124 Spider makes
an interesting choice. Here’s how to secure a great example
PAUL GUINNESS
CONTRIBUTOR
A
lthough never officially sold in the
UK, the Fiat 124 Spider has been a
popular personal import over the
years. With 75 per cent of all examples built
sold in the USA, many of the 124 Spiders now
residing in the UK are ex-Californian imports.
This classic Fiat enjoyed a long career,
launching in 1966 with an 89bhp 1438cc
DOHC engine, upgraded to 1608cc (and
108bhp) in 1970 before being marginally
reduced in capacity to 1592cc and 105bhp in
1973. The following year saw a 1756cc version
arrive, followed by a 1995cc derivative in
1979. The start of the 1980s brought Bosch
fuel-injection to replace the old Weber carbs,
upping power to 104bhp.
Higher-performance versions were also
offered, including a US-only turbocharged
model (of which around 700 were built
between 1981 and 1982) thanks to a linkup between Fiat and American company
Legend Industries. Towards the end of Spider
production, there was also a Europe-only
supercharged variant known as the Volumex,
with an impressive 133bhp on tap.
Although the basic styling of the Spider
remained remarkably unchanged over the
years, there were numerous trim updates
– the bumpers grew in size to comply with
America’s increasingly stringent safety
legislation, which means the earliest cars are
WE’RE RATED EXCELLENT ON TRUSTPILOT
44 CLASSIC CAR BUYER
by far the prettiest. On the other hand, the
extra performance of the later models makes
these equally sought after now.
The 124 Spider was a Pininfarina product
in both design and manufacture, despite
being sold as a Fiat, firstly as the 124 Spider
and then as the Spider 2000 from 1979.
By 1982, however, the car was rebranded
as the Pininfarina Spidereuropa, with
both production and sales now the sole
responsibility of the Italian styling house. The
final car rolled out of the Pininfarina factory
in 1985, 19 years on from its debut. These
days the model still makes a great buy – as
long as you buy a decent survivor.
BODYWORK
Like any other open-top sports car of
monocoque construction, the 124 Spider
is no stranger to rust. In reality though, it’s
no more prone to corrosion than most of
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its contemporaries, so don’t assume it’s all
bad news. In fact, with so many examples
having been imported from American socalled ‘dry states’, a 124 will often be in far
better condition – both structurally and
cosmetically – than an MGB that’s spent
its entire life in Britain. Just don’t assume
that a Californian import is always hasslefree; a lack of rust might be made up for
in sun damage to the bodywork and trim.
Wherever a 124 Spider hails from, look
for signs of corrosion and poor-quality
restoration work. The whole of the underside
needs careful examination, as areas like the
inner sills, chassis legs, floorpans and front
crossmember can rust, as can the front
suspension turrets.
As well as checking for corrosion, look
underneath for signs of previous welding
repairs, fresh underseal and other talltale signs of a bad repair. Major structural
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MODEL TIMELINE
1966 - Fiat 124 Sport Spider (to give it its
full name) debuts with 1438cc (89bhp)
DOHC engine.
1970 - Engine is upgraded to 1608cc,
boasting an oficial output of 108bhp.
1973 - Small decrease in engine capacity
(to 1592cc), with power output now at
105bhp.
1974 - Ex-Fiat 132 1756cc engine is added,
offering extra flexibility and better
performance.
1979 - Adoption of 1995cc version of the
twin-cam for 1979 model year, creating
the Spider 2000.
1980 - Bosch fuel-injection replaces
Weber carbs, pushing power to 104bhp.
availability of body panels and repair
sections. Most items are available from
specialists throughout Europe, including
companies like Arnold Classic Shop (www.
shop.arnold-classic.com) in Germany and
FD Ricambi (www.fdricambi.com) in the
Netherlands.
Depending on model year, complete front
wings are available from around €360 each,
inner and outer sills can be had from €159
and €120-€395 respectively, and an outer
rear wheelarch repair section is good value
at less than €60. Complete new doors aren’t
cheap at €979, but various door repair
sections are available for anyone who’s
handy with a welding torch.
ENGINE & TRANSMISSION
corrosion can cause weakness in the
bodyshell, which can show itself via what look
like misaligned panels, so it’s vital that the
panel gaps are even – particularly the vertical
alignment of the doors.
The panels themselves can also rust, of
course; check the state of the front wings
(particularly the wheelarches and wing
edges), outer sills, rear arches, lower rear
quarter panels and bootlid. As well as looking
for holes, any bubbling paintwork is a sure
sign that rust is working its way through from
behind. Check for evidence of filler, patchedin paintwork and so on. If a 124 Spider has
been restored in the past, it should ideally
come with some sort of photographic
evidence to show the standard of the work.
The Fiat 124 Spider benefits from great
Quotation supplied by Lancaster Insurance
Web: lancasterinsurance.co.uk | Tel: 01480 400761
INSURANCE QUOTE
1971 Fiat 124 Spider, £15,000 value
Example quote: £101 or £119 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.
GET A QUOTE TODAY
NOVEMBER 27 2024
All Fiat 124 Spiders use the Italian firm’s
famous twin-cam engine, but its spec – and
cubic capacity – varies between the different
generations. Even the early 1.4-litre versions
came with a five-speed gearbox, which used
a torque-tube mounted propshaft to drive
the coil-sprung rear axle at the rear. Those
torque tubes were found to crack, however,
and so were dropped in favour of a more
conventional open propshaft early on.
US-spec cars from 1978 or later had
their 2.0-litre twin-cam tuned to comply
with emissions regulations. Conversion to
European-like spec and output is possible but
is much easier on the fuel-injected models of
1980 onwards.
The Fiat twin-cam was one of the first
mass-produced engines to use rubber timing
belts, so factor this in if the history doesn’t
have evidence of a recent change. Don’t
neglect this, particularly on a 2.0-litre unit,
as a snapped timing belt can put a hole in
the engine block if the fuel pump lobe hits
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1982 - Car is rebadged as the Pininfarina
Spidereuropa (or Super Azzura in the
USA).
1985 - Pininfarina inally halts production
after a run of 19 years.
RICH SAYS...
Richard
Morley
Broking Director at Lancaster
Insurance, says:
“It’s a left-field choice next to British
roadsters, but the stylish 124 Spider is
charming, fun to drive and will turn
more heads than any MGB or Triumph
Spitfire.”
01480 400761
CLASSIC CAR BUYER 45
BUYING
GUIDE
SPECIFICATIONS
MODEL
FIAT 124 SPIDER RANGE
BODY STYLES
2dr Convertible
ENGINES
1438cc 4cyl
1592cc 4cyl
1608cc 4cyl
1756cc 4cyl
1995cc 4cyl
GEARBOXES
4-speed manual
5-speed manual
3-speed automatic
POWER
89-133bhp
TOP SPEED
105-110mph
0-60MPH
11.5-13.5secs
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a live rear axle) are straightforward enough,
so it’s a case of carrying out the usual
checks for worn or leaking dampers, split
gaiters, broken or rusty coil springs, and so
on. The car should feel taut when pushed
into a corner, and the steering should be
reasonably precise; any sign of sloppiness
suggests wear and tear, so you’ll need to
factor in some remedial attention.
Note that 1978-on US-spec models had
a higher ride height in order to comply with
American safety legislation, although some
owners will have since converted their cars to
European specification to improve aesthetics
and handling.
With discs all round, any 124 Spider in
fine fettle should have reassuringly good
brakes. Scored or rusty discs, excessively
worn pads, leaking hoses and corroded
pipes are all things to watch out for. Don’t
worry about parts availability; just about
everything you need to improve your Spider’s
suspension, steering or brakes is available
from specialists – although this may mean
ordering from mainland Europe.
ECONOMY
INTERIOR & ELECTRICS
27-30mpg
The hood on the Fiat 124 Spider needs to be
checked carefully – US imports in particular
are prone to sun damage and cracking. New
hoods are readily available from specialists,
including Germany’s Eurotop
(www.verdeck.de), which supplies them in
a choice of fabrics and colours, priced from
€708. Check the interior for signs of previous
leaks (look for damp carpets), and seats
for wear and splits. New seat covers and
upholstery sections are readily available, but
often costly.
Electrics can be troublesome, although
most problems tend to be down to poor
connections. Spider 2000 models used
circuit boards in their rear lights, which
sometimes cause intermittent problems.
Another issue with the 2.0-litre cars is the
magnetic pick-up coil in the distributor, as
the wires can eventually lose their insulation
and short out thanks to proximity to the
exhaust. Check this at every service and
replace if there are signs of cracked wires.
LENGTH
3969mm
WIDTH
1613mm
the connecting rod. On the smaller engines,
timing belt failure can result in bent valves.
Look out for signs of overheating (including
any previous problems shown via suspicious
looking staining) as well as head gasket
issues, as failure isn’t uncommon. These
engines can be prone to oil leaks, so check
carefully for signs. Also inspect the sump,
which is particularly low and is vulnerable to
grounding.
The five-speed manual used in most 124
Spider models is a robust unit, but check
for signs of jumping out of gear, worn
synchromesh, a slipping clutch and so on.
American-spec Spiders could be ordered
with automatic transmission, but this isn’t
common.
RUNNING GEAR
With so much componentry shared with
other Fiat models, there’s nothing scary
about 124 Spider running gear. It does,
however, use a rubber flex disc in the
driveline, something that will need checking
regularly as its failure can be disastrous.
Steering and suspension (coil-sprung with
OUR VERDICT
If you’re in the market for a ‘60s roadster and
don’t fancy the usual suspects from MG or
Triumph, a Fiat 124 Spider could provide an
entertaining alternative.
Whichever version you end up with, you’ll
get to enjoy the power and aural delights
of a twin-cam engine coupled with a sharp
five-speed gearbox, great cruising ability
and an all-round pleasing driving experience.
The fact that this long-running Italian is so
LIMITED MILEAGE DISCOUNT
46 CLASSIC CAR BUYER
damned handsome is another welcome
bonus, as is the sheer value for money that
the Fiat 124 Spider still represents.
TODAY’S VALUES
Although sale prices of the 124 Spider have
crept up in recent years, there’s been no
sudden boom in values – great news for
anyone thinking of buying one. We’ve seen
tempting rolling projects changing hands
at auction for £5000 or so, while around
£9000-£10,000 should secure a standardspec car in good order that would benefit
from minor cosmetic improvements.
A budget of £15,000 should be more
than enough to get a show-ready example,
while around £12,000 buys an example
(particularly at auction) that wouldn’t look
out of place at any classic event. Expect to
pay up to £20,000 for something in concours
condition – although these are relatively few
and far between.
MGB ROADSTER
Joe Miller,
Deputy Editor
MAZDA MX-5 MK1
Richard Morley,
Lancaster Insurance
It might not be the most
imaginative choice, but
the MGB is Britain’s
favourite classic for a
reason – stylish, fun to drive, easilymaintained and supported by a vast
club and parts community, it still
makes sense today. However, you won’t
turn heads like you will in the Fiat,
and some will prefer the Italian
character.
If you just want to have fun in a
drop-top sports car without
the eccentricities of the ‘60s
Fiat, the more modern MX-5
gives you a flavour of the
experience with the added
bonus of modern reliability and
equipment. It won’t feel quite as
special as the 124, but you can
genuinely drive the MX-5 on a daily
basis.
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NOVEMBER 27 2024
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SERVICING | REPAIRS | TRIMMING | RESTORATIONS | MOTS | ACCESSORIES
www.allonwhitecars.co.uk
Main Dealer
2019 Lotus Elise Sport 220
Metallic Blue, black and grey
interior, hard top, soft top, air
con, only 6,100 miles. £39,995
2006 Lotus Elise 111R
Titanium, black leather, ProBax
seats, Lotus approved, air con,
supercharger, ABS. £24,950
2001 Lotus Elise S2
Metallic Laser Blue with
magnolia leather interior, radio/
CD, driving lights. £18,995
1991 Lotus M100 Elan
Calypso Red, grey leather and
cloth interior, upgraded front
brakes, sports exhaust. £10,995
1996 Lotus Esprit V8
Lotus Racing Green, fawn leather,
OZ alloy wheels, rear spoiler,
beautiful example. £42,500
2000 Lotus Esprit V8 GT
Norfolk Mustard Yellow, polar
and chestnut leather interior,
air con, rear spoiler. £48,950
1968 Lotus Elan S3
Red with black interior, lots of
work done to the car and in very
good condition. £26,995
1956 Lotus Mk VI
A rare model of Lotus in excellent
condition, Elva overhead inlet
valve conversion. £44,950
2011 Morgan 4/4 Sport
Sport Green, saddle brown leather,
reclining sports seats, luggage
rack, Moto-lita. £27,995
1998 Morgan Plus 8
Lancia Midnight Blue, walnut
dash, stone leather, extensive
history, only 2 owners. £32,995
2015 Morgan 4/4
Ivory, saddle brown leather,
stainless wires, mohair hood and
tonneau, Moto-lita. £34,995
2006 Morgan Roadster
Metallic Crimson Red, heron grey
leather, stainless wires, luggage
rack, Moto-lita. £31,995
Allon White Sports Cars Limited
High Street, Cranfield, Beds MK43 0BS
Email: sales@allonwhite.co.uk
Telephone: 01234 750205
Sales Ltd.
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From
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LOTUS ELISE 111R SUPERCHARGED | SALES SPOTLIGHT
JOE MILLER
DEPUTY EDITOR
YEAR: 2006
PRICE: £24,950
MOT: June 2025
LOTUS ELISE 111R
SUPERCHARGED
ENGINE: 1796cc, 4cyl
POWER: 217bhp
TOP SPEED: 150mph
0-60MPH: 4.4secs
ECONOMY: 33mpg
GEARBOX: 6-spd manual
A
s Lotus heads towards
an all-electric future, why
not celebrate one of its
high points? This 2006 Elise 111R
offered by specialist, Allon White
looks like a very good way to do
just that, resplendent in Titanium
Silver and looking cosmetically
very sharp indeed. We spotted no
scuffs or dents on the fibreglass
bodywork, nor any stone chips
on the low nose. Meanwhile, the
headlights are crystal clear and
have resisted clouding up, the
original badges have retained
their colour, the front valance
shows no signs of having scraped
a speedbump or low driveway,
and the removeable soft-top roof
is said to be spotless too. The
original Lotus alloy wheels look to
be in excellent condition and wear
suitably sticky Yokohama AD08R
semi-slick tyres, perfect for dry
B-roads and track days.
This particular Elise will be even
more exciting on a track day than
normal, with a previous owner
having fitted a Lotus-approved
supercharger to the 1.8-litre
Toyota engine. Accordingly, power
has risen to a proven 220bhp and
the 0-60mph dash now takes
under 4.5 seconds, all while
accompanied by that fantastic
supercharger whine. Allon White
knows and has regularly cared
for this car, and confirms that
it runs and drives perfectly, as
well as being very rapid indeed.
A Toyota Racing Developments
(TRD) airbox helps the engine to
breathe easier, while a chassis
bracing kit boosts the Elise’s
famed rigidity and keeps all that
power in check. It also includes
a new clutch, meaning there’s
nothing to stop you enjoying the
performance immediately, with the
ability to monitor numerous engine
parameters with an aftermarket
Race Tech digital dashboard.
Despite being track-ready,
however, this Elise also boasts the
touring pack to make daily use and
long drives that much easier – it
has air conditioning, sun visors,
full carpets, electric windows
and additional sound insulation.
True, this extra kit won’t make
this plastic roadster Bentleyesque in refinement, but the drive
to and from your track day will
be far more comfortable than
otherwise, more so thanks to seats
that feature additional ProBax
padding. The seat upholstery itself
is unmarked, and there’s no visible
wear on the leather steering wheel
or aluminium gear knob either.
Similarly, there are no signs of
heavy-footed abuse to the carpets
– the car has covered 44,000
miles in its 18-year life and wears
those miles well. Put simply, it’s
ready to be driven and enjoyed as
Lotus intended.
CONTACT
Allon White Sports Cars,
Cranfield, Bedfordshire,
MK43 0BS
01234 750205
allonwhite.co.uk
PORSCHE BOXSTER
TOYOTA MR2 MK3
CATERHAM 7
If you want a mid-engined roadster with performance
to match the supercharged Elise, you’ve got to step up
to the Porsche Boxster. Combine an epic flat-six engine
with critically acclaimed handling and that premium
badge, and the ‘986’ looks like great value, but this
Elise will probably be the better track car.
The Elise might be beyond some wallets, but the
often-forgotten Mk3 MR2 offers mid-engined balance,
the same revvy four-pot that would be fitted to the
basic Elise and fantastically sharp handling, all from
around £1000. Performance might leave Lotus fans
wanting, however.
Few driving experiences come as pure or
involving as the Elise…except its distant
Caterham cousin. Utterly analogue and
rewarding if you get it right, the Caterham is also
snappier, potentially more expensive and even
less practical than the Elise.
NOVEMBER 27 2024
SUBSCRIBE AND READ ONLINE AT: SHOP.KELSEY.CO.UK
CLASSIC CAR BUYER 49
SALES SPOTLIGHT |
CONTACT: Car Cave Scotland, Bonnyrigg, Midlothian
01875 820527
carcavescotland.co.uk
JOE MILLER
DEPUTY EDITOR
BEDFORD HA
YEAR: 1982
PRICE: £11,750
MoT: Exempt
ENGINE: 1256cc, 4cyl
POWER: 48bhp
TOP SPEED: 60mph
0-60mph: N/A
ECONOMY: 39mpg
GEARBOX: 4-spd manual
T
he car-derived van is in danger
of extinction these days, but
the 1982 Bedford HA offered
by Car Cave blends the charmingly
basic Vauxhall Viva experience with
ample luggage space. This late
example was built some 16 years
after the equivalent Viva HA and
comes from the penultimate year
of production, exemplifying the
longevity of the model.
Thousands were bought by British
Telecom, and while this example
wasn’t one of them originally, it had
the livery applied following a full
bare-metal restoration at some
point in its past. The bodywork
itself presents very well, with no
signs of rust coming through, nor
any damage since the respray.
Car Cave reports that the lower
sills and front valance aren’t quite
painted to the same high standard
as the bodywork – which appears
to have been done very well – but
that can either be sorted or left
how it most likely would’ve been
in period. The white steel wheels
nicely match the bumpers, it
wears good tyres ,and the chrome
hubcaps finish off this sweet little
van nicely.
Inside, the theme of charming
simplicity continues, but what
there is presents very well, with
tidy seats, unmarked door cards
and a smart original steering
wheel that’s amusingly at odds
with the 1960s trim. The load bay
looks to sport fresh ply lining and
shows no wear and tear from use,
while the 1256cc engine
reportedly starts and drives
sweetly with no smoke or
untoward noises. The drivetrain
reportedly had an overhaul during
the restoration, and new brake
FORD ESCORT MK1 VAN
Prefer the styling of the Mk1
Escort? You could combine
it with commercial
practicality too. The Escort
van enjoys slightly stronger
performance and better
parts support than the
Bedford, but will likely cost
you far more to buy in the
first place.
pipes, fuel pipes and track rod
ends mean this little van is ready
to be put to work, or simply turn
heads at classic car shows..
FORD CAPRI GT XLR
YEAR: 1971
PRICE: £21,995
MoT: Exempt
RELIANT SCIMITAR GTE
ENGINE: 2994cc, V6
POWER: 126bhp
TOP SPEED: 112mph
0-60mph: 8.7secs
ECONOMY: 23.5mpg
GEARBOX: 4-spd manual
50 CLASSIC CAR BUYER
T
here’s no denying that
the Ford Capri is as good
looking now as it was when
introduced 55 years ago, and this
top-spec 1971 GT XLR offered by
Car Cave exemplifies that perfectly.
Boasting a genuine and original
3.0 shell, this Capri has staved
off tinworm admirably, with Car
Cave reporting excellent structural
condition throughout. The inner
wings, strut tops, floors, sills and
wheel arches are all said to be
straight and rust-free, while the
paintwork itself polishes up to a
lovely shine and is complemented
by excellent chromework – the
rear bumper was replaced and
the overriders, badges and other
trims are all straight and seemingly
free of pitting. The Rostyle wheels
with chrome rings look very
smart indeed, while the fitment
of a new front window rubber and
new chrome bootlid trim ensure
everything looks fresh. The original
vinyl roof is also very tidy, save
from one small tear on top of about
fingernail size.
The 3.0-litre Essex V6 reportedly
sports new fuel lines, a new inlet
manifold and a non-standard
push-button start. Car Cave
reports that it starts, runs and
drives well, with strong brakes and
a healthy-feeling clutch. The black
interior looks in fine fettle, with the
recently recovered seats and new
door cards presenting very well.
The seatbelt bolts will apparently
need replacing as they are
currently a mish-mash of incorrect
ones, while the non-standard
SUBSCRIBE AND READ ONLINE AT: SHOP.KELSEY.CO.UK
If the Capri is too clichéd for
you, that same Essex V6
power can be had in the
plastic, fantastic Reliant
Scimitar. It’s far more
rust-resistant and certainly
less common than the Ford,
but the quality isn’t quite up
to that of the mass-produced
Capri.
steering wheel certainly isn’t to
everyone’s taste, but the original
wheel is also included. In short, this
is a very smart, well-kept example
of a rare Capri GT XLR that only
wants for some minor tweaks to
make it perfect.
NOVEMBER 27 2024
info@halls-garage.co.uk
01778 570286
1949 MG TC
It is being sold on behalf of a long-term
owner, and comes with a large history file.
The MG was exported originally to the
USA, but returned to the UK in June 2000.
The current owner bought it in 2013 and
it has been in regular summer use since,
with restorative work being carried out
over the winter months with the aim of
bringing it back to its original specification
and condition. The engine, gearbox, back
axle, brakes and more have been rebuilt
and refurbished, and the file contains a
big stack of invoices totalling £13,655
between December 2013 and December
2018 alone.
£29,995
MG MIDGET - 47,983 MILES
Recently brought up to MOT
standard this MG Midget has
many memories of it previous
owner and his dog. It has been
garaged for some years and is
now ready to be enjoyed once
again.
£5,500
Blue MG B GT
Automatic gearbox with power
steering. Here at Hall’s we have
looked after this MG B GT on and
off for the past two decades and
have seen it being driven and
loved. It has been garaged since
2018 and so needed some TLC
from us to get going again such
as a new battery and fuel pump
to date. A lovely car with a very
personal history to go with it.
£8,225
WWW.HALLS-GARAGE.CO.UK
Folkingham Road, Morton PE10 0NS
FOR OVER 35 YEARS
SPECIALIST CLASSIC CAR INSURANCE WITH YOU IN MIND 01480 400876
CARS
BMW 118
BMW 320
FIAT 500
Stay Safe!
AUSTIN A 30
1953, £2,150. Genuine car. All
nos. Per original many new parts
restoration virtually complete, for
sale as I need space. Please call
01603 270370, East of England.
The overwhelming majority of car sellers and buyers are honest.
However as with everything else in life, there’s a tiny percentage
that aren’t. However it’s dead-easy to protect yourself from fraudsters by using a bit of common-sense...
125184
AUSTIN A 40
2009, 104000 miles, £1,995. Sport
hatchback, black, grey cloth interior,
6 speed, e/windows, CD player,
alloy wheels, 12 months MOT, in
showroom condition, rare BMW.
Please call 07527 446242, Wales.
2013, 75.600 miles, £3,150. Very
clean car! Manufacturer BMW 320I
Xdrive M Sport Step Auto Start/
Stop Blue Saloon Petrol 1997
124963
cc Euro Status 5b. Please call
124852
+447415103842, East Midlands.
BMW 1 SERIES
2008, £1,895. £20 tax diesel 1.2
5-speed MultiJet 58 mpg, MOT
Sept 25, chain driven no cambelt,
H.P.i no accidents, 2 keys, garaged,
showroom brochure, can deliver
anywhere. Please call 07927
069352, South West.
FORD FIESTA
125033
DACIA SANDERO
1955, £3,800. Cambridge. No
rot never been welded, good
mechanical condition. Good interior.
Been in regular use for the last year.
Please call 07305 122804, East of
England.
124842
1938, 80.000 miles, £8,750. Here
is my Austin 10 Cambridge. 1938.
Engine rebuilt. New valves and
guide, bores re honed new piston
rings thousands spent. In very good
all round condition. Lying Northants
£8750 or reasonable offer. Please
call 07905181761, East Midlands.
82000 miles, £3,390. 116i. 1.6
petrol. 82000 miles. 2012 with full
service history. Mot until next year.
2 keys, this car has been maintained
and looked after to a very high
standard by previous owner. Any
inspection welcome very low running
cost. Please call 07874268077, East
Midlands.
125149
125005
AUSTIN 10 HP
£5,995. 998cc 5-speed (manual),
17,200 miles, 3 Renault services,
full MOT, two keys, no accidents,
1995, £1,000. MK3 facelift has
electric windows 1.3 lxi version
s door central locking have most
MOT's from new have owned
since 26K never been welded MOT
expired March 2023 have new front
bumper in wrapper. Please call
07459608118, Greater London.
scratches, 4 good tyres, May 2020,
125172
always garaged, free delivery, 55
FORD ESCORT
mpg, call anytime. Please call 07895
675851, South West.
125053
• Kelsey will never contact you to upsell your free advert to a paid for one.
• Do not share any financial or personal information with people you do not
know.
• Kelsey are not responsible for any transactions between seller and buyer.
• You can report scam calls to us via email at cars@kelseyclassifieds.co.uk
● Stay safe! Don’t give a buyer your address until you know they
are definitely coming to view. Better still, give them the general
location only at first and ask them to phone for the full address
once they are close.
● Always arrange a specific time for viewings – don’t accept
vague ‘I may come sometime today’ type arrangements.
● Serious buyers will want to examine the car fully – that’s fine
and you should be prepared to answer fully and honestly any
questions a buyer may have about the car. Be wary though if
they try to steer the conversation towards more general matters
concerning you and your family. Similarly, while a genuine enthusiast will probably be interested in your other cars, so will a
would-be burglar.
● Test drives need to be handled with care – on the one hand it’s
perfectly reasonable for a serious buyer to want to drive a car
before buying, but you need to remain in control. Make sure they
are insured to drive your car too, bearing in mind that ‘driving
other cars’ clauses on insurance policies normally cover only
third-party risks, not damage to your car.
● Ensure you drive your car first to demonstrate controls (etc.)
and then, once you are at a suitable place for the buyer to drive,
get out, taking the keys with you, and hand them back only once
you are back in the car.
● Do not accept a personal cheque from someone you do not
know; there is no longer any guaranteed clearance time, and a
cheque can now ‘bounce’ at any time – even weeks after it’s
been banked – if it’s discovered to be forged.
BEWARE SCAMMERS!
We value your advertising and want to remind you be aware of scammers.
Scammers are clever and can often seem genuine so please remember :
ADVICE FOR SELLERS
1982, £9,750. Mk3 XR3. Twin
'40' carbs, sports exhaust, 5 spd
gearbox, uprated springs, Pirelli
tyres, all XR3 extras, ready to use
and enjoy. MOT'd free tax, priced
to sell. Please call 07774 154481,
South West.
124878
FORD ANGLIA
1958, £1,000. 100E. Unfinished
project due to ill health. Please call
01305 833024 or 07757252496,
South West.
● Don’t get involved in any complex arrangements involving giving ‘change’ for a payment that’s more than your asking price,
especially involving overseas buyers or transfers using methods
such as Western Union – these are almost always fraudulent.
● Be very wary indeed of anyone calling and trying to sell your
advertisement in another publication. Such publications don’t always exist, and claimed distribution figures will often be vastly
exaggerated. Calls are also often recorded as ‘evidence’ of a
binding contract.
● Above all, trust your instincts! If something seems dodgy or
not quite right to you, then there’s a good chance you’re right.
124945
FEATURE YOUR MOTOR IN YOUR FAVOURITE MAGS!
Email cars@kelseyclassifieds.co.uk or visit www.motorfreeads.co.uk
52 Classic Car Buyer
Sell your car for free by emailing: cars@kelseyclassifieds.co.uk
27th November 2024
CLASSIC CAR INSURANCE EXPERTS
SPECIALIST CLASSIC CAR INSURANCE WITH YOU IN MIND 01480 400876
FORD FOCUS
HONDA CR-V
JAGUAR MK IV
JAGUAR X-TYPE
Stay Safe!
The overwhelming majority of car sellers and buyers are honest.
However as with everything else in life, there’s a tiny percentage
that aren’t. However it’s dead-easy to protect yourself from
fraudsters by using a bit of common-sense...
ADVICE FOR BUYERS
● Start by asking ‘is the car for sale?’ If the seller is a trader
pretending to sell privately, they will need to ask you ‘which
one?’
● Be suspicious of a car that seems cheaper than it should be; if
something seems too good to be true then it probably is.
● Be wary of sellers who can only be contacted via a mobile
phone or an easy to obtain email address such as hotmail or
gmail. They may ‘disappear’ once they have your money.
● Ask lots of specific questions about specific model
weaknesses such as “is there any rust around the headlights”,
and listen carefully to the answers; do they actually have the
car?
● Never, ever send anyone money for a car that you have not
seen. Crooks sometimes advertise cars that don’t exist solely to
collect deposits from would-be buyers.
2010, 107000 miles, £2,200. This
is my Ford focus 1.6 tdci style for
sale it’s been a great car ever since
ownership great mpg and £35 a year
road tax very clean car all round the
engine, gearbox is in great condition
including Cambelt water pump
and fall service history the car will
have a new mot as from the 18th
of November 2024. Air conditioning
recon pump fitted new aux belt and
rear windows tinted body work is
in good condition for its age. If you
have any messages or questions
please don't hesitate to message me
you can have the car as it if you want
or happy to put 12 months on it for
new owner, ideal work car or family
car. Please call 07501994969,
South West.
125108
FORD ANGLIA
● If you’re suspicious that someone is trying to ‘sell’ a car they
do not own, ask them to email or send you a photograph of a
specific parts that they will not be able to provide without
having access to the car. This isn’t 100 per cent foolproof – a
fraudster may have access to a car he doesn’t own – but it can
help.
● Always view the car at the seller’s home address. If they want
to meet you in a car park or bring the car to you they may be
trying to prevent you finding them again.
● Does the name and address on the V5C match the sellers
name and address? If not, why not?
● Always check the chassis number/Vehicle Identification
Number (VIN) on the registration document matches that on
the car. A proper data check is also essential to avoid buying a
car that’s stolen or an undisclosed insurance write-off.
● No registration document? Don’t accept excuses, don’t buy
the car!
£10,000. Project for sale. 1200cc
Anglia. Complete car in working
order, all steel, very solid car above
and below. Comes with, 1700cc
Crossflow engine with twin webber
40’s, type 9 gearbox, exhaust, rad,
Escort prop shaft, MK 2 Escort rear
axle with LSD, transmission tunnel,
MK 2 Cortina front legs. I have
lots of pictures, located in South
Hertfordshire, no time wasters
please. Please call 07860 246900,
East of England.
2006, £1,450. 6-speed manual 2.2
diesel, smoked silver, 11 services,
MOT 30th May, 2 keys, no towbar,
full black leather, 2 new tyres,
alloys, no accidents, 184k, could
deliver. Please call 07754 688636,
South West.
125050
JAGUAR MK II
1947, £54,000. Saloon 3.5 litre. In
original condition except for Suede
Green repaint in 2014 costing
£5,500. And engine rebuild 6,000
miles ago. In total full working
condition. Complete tool kit. Working
trafficators. Sunroof. Incredible
original interior. Fitted with a five
speed gearbox but original Moss
box available. S.S. exhaust. Other
images available. Please call 07534
342021, Yorkshire and the Humber.
2001, £995. 5-speed manual, 2.5
petrol, ULEZ compliant, one previous
owner, 19 services, MOT 15th April,
two keys, HPi all clear, always
garaged, 156000 hence price. Can
deliver anywhere. Please call 07754
688636, South West.
124964
JAGUAR XJS
124839
JAGUAR X-300
1964, 62000 miles, £25,000.
Mk2 3.4 Saloon. Fully restored and
excellent condition. I have owned
for 36 years and the car only had
2 driving owners before me. 62000
miles from new, pretty much
verified from the extensive history
paperwork. Gunmetal grey and red
leather, all chrome work replated and
wood repolished. Upgrades include
LED lights, dual pot front brakes
(Zeus Callipers I think), stainless
exhaust, electronic ignition, electric
fan, heater. Car is negative earth
with alternator, new headlining, new
springs and dampers all round. Car
simply not used enough so need to
find a good home for it. Please call
07710878582, South East.
125158
JAGUAR XJS
1988, £5,750. 3.6 "manual" petrol,
"E" reg, 99000, lots of history,
original literature, 13 services, no
dents, scratches, always garaged,
stunning. Please call 07895 675851,
South West.
124966
1995, 148.000 miles, POA. XJR6
Manual Gearbox. One of the rarest
Jaguars ever made. Mine for over
26 years, and I don’t really want
to sell it. However, having had the
bodywork expertly restored in
recent years, I am unable to garage
it and preserve it’s current condition.
It has been well looked after in my
ownership, and perhaps time to let a
new owner enjoy this most sporting
Jaguar saloon. Offers over £20,000.
Located in Nottingham. I will send
you a full description if you email me
at goodwinplasma@aol.com. Please
call 07802635932, East Midlands.
124926
JAGUAR XJS
JAGUAR XF
2011, 44000 miles, £8,000. In
excellent condition, I have owned
this Jaguar XF from new. It is a 3 litre
Diesel V6 Premium Luxury 4 door.
It has dove grey leather interior,
climate control, cruise control,
automatic rear wheel drive, 19”
Caravela alloy wheels, speed limiter,
Crystal Blue metallic paintwork and
front parking aid with rear camera.
It has done only 44,000 miles,
has been serviced annually, has
no faults and has a current MOT.
Located in Walsall, West Midlands.
Please call for further details. Please
call 07977979365, West Midlands.
124969
JAGUAR X-TYPE
1966, £3,150. Super Minx. Dry
stored many years now refurbished
many new parts and bills. Current
MOT. Please call 01597851539,
Wales.
1996, 63000 miles, £13,500.
£13,500 / $17,500 USD. Immaculate
“Celebration Edition” convertible.
6 cylinder 4.0 petrol, automatic,
spindrift white with tan hides. No
rust. Everything works. Located
in Virginia, near Washington, D.C.
Please email Jcsteve09@yahoo.
com. Please call 202 841 5493, Rest
of the world.
1996,
£11,995.
Convertible
Celebration 4 litre petrol automatic
in blue with cream leather interior.
Three previous keepers. Owned
since 2012. Lots of service history.
107000 miles. MOT to November
with no advisories. Jaguar Heritage
certificate confirming matching
numbers. Drives as it should. Please
call 07931 360396, North West.
£995. V6 2.5 Sport 2001 manual,
platinum silver, owned 19 years,
MOT 15th April 25, 17 services, full
history, always garaged, 2 keys,
156k, can deliver. Please call 07754
688636, South West.
125188
125170
124961
125052
125129
HILLMAN
FEATURE YOUR MOTOR IN YOUR FAVOURITE MAGS!
Email cars@kelseyclassifieds.co.uk or visit www.motorfreeads.co.uk
27th November 2024
Sell your car for free by emailing: cars@kelseyclassifieds.co.uk
Classic Car Buyer 53
WE’RE RATED EXCELLENT ON TRUSTPILOT
SPECIALIST CLASSIC CAR INSURANCE WITH YOU IN MIND 01480 400876
JAGUAR XK
2012, 104500 miles, £16,200. Reduced
price or nearest offer. My only car since new,
going now as well as ever. New car forcing
reluctant sale. Less than 8000 miles per year
since new used regularly, no breakdowns
and no accidents. Only one owner, me, and
never stored or left standing for months.
Fully maintained, by same Jaguar main
dealer, from new and no expense spared
to maintain as new specification. Special
build car in Kyanite Blue ordered for delivery
July 2012 but built to 2013 specification
(last facelift upgrade) as per detailed
specification. Luxury Portfolio specification
with added Ivory Leather seats and trim with
knurled aluminium, 20 inch Kalimnos wheels
with Summer tyres. 19 wheels with Winter
tyres (as shown in main pictures), Adaptive
self cornering lights, reverse camera,
tyre pressure monitoring, Dab Radio all
on top of standard Portfolio Specification.
Meticulously maintained by Jaguar Main
dealership from new always, much loved
car. No finer example. 5 Litre engine gives
effortless smooth fast performance. Achieve
30 mpg when driving to Europe and back.
Locally between 27-28 mpg. Jaguar Quick
release snow chains (fitted several times
but never used) and full set of winter
tyres and wheels and summer tyres and
wheels. Jaguar trickle charger with fitted
boot connection. Beautiful smooth fast
responsive grand tourer. Standard, Sport,
Racing gearbox and settings modes. Paddle
gear change in addition. Next MOT due
27/06/2025, Full service history, Blue, 1
owner, 18,000. Please call 07850840472,
East Midlands.
125096
JAGUAR X-TYPE
LOTUS EXCEL
2008, 135000 miles, £1,275. Body and
leather interior are spotless. New tyres
and battery. Detachable towbar fitted but
never used. Please call 07711816025, West
Midlands.
125156
JEEP WRANGLER
125028
MAZDA 3
125107
MG MGF
2012, £7,500. 2.0L sport tech True Red,
43000 miles, Bose radio air conditioning
opening hard top heated seats. Please call
07985 544203, South West.
2001, 70000 miles, £1,900. 1.6i mot Aug
2025 replaced radiator s/s pipes, cam belt
and regassed. Serviced. Good condition.
Please call 07867553640, South West.
125138
124833
MERCEDES 230SLK
MG MAGNETT
1999, £1,600. Auto. Reg T916 BRM. 109k
miles, Mot 20/02/25, 3 owners. Owned 10
years. 14 stamps and a file of bills. G.W.O.
Retractable roof works. Car performs
very well with good power delivery. Cruise
control, remote central locking, electric
windows and mirrors. Black leather and a
decent MB hi fi. Please call 07971079448,
South West.
124955
MERCEDES SL 300
1999, £12,994. Low mileage restored Jeep
Wrangler TJ 1999 4 litre manual with full
service history. £9000 spent, only 84k,
fantastic condition inside and out. Please
call 07803042618, Scotland.
125042
£2,250. "Automatic" 1600 cc petrol 200656 plate 5 door purply blue metallic MOT
Sept 2025 109000, 9 main dealer services,
chain driven, air con, remote locking,
garaged, no accidents, can deliver. Please
call 07955 141372, South West.
1993, £3,995. Good condition. Looks great.
MOT. Drives good. Rare colour. Please call
07836640926, East of England.
125147
MERCEDES-BENZ A
124962
LAND ROVER SERIES III
1973, £8,500. SWB. Tax and MOT exempt
T.D.I. engine, new prop/battery excellent
tyres used regular, would prefer P/X for LWB
Land Rover or old Discovery, MOT exempt.
Please call 07547 259963, North West.
MAZDA 3
1958, £7,000. Recon engine and clutch.
Recon gearbox. New tank. Brake shoes
and cylinders recon. Seats recovered, new
carpets and new door cards. All re-chromed,
stainless exhaust. All suspension bushes
renewed. Please call 07504622817, South
East.
125004
MG MGC
1968, 96500 miles, £12,750. My wife's
MGCGT automatic finished in British racing
green chrome wire wheels webasto sunroof
rare aluminium bonnet maintenance bills
for many thousands of £££, insulated car
cover, workshop manual, parts book, MG
handbook, a much loved MG but we are over
80 and good things must pass, will re mot
if required, recent stainless steel exhaust
and aeroquipped fuel system and Maserati
air horns. Please call 07754672030, East of
England.
124943
125105
LEXUS GS 450H
MINI COOPER
2010, £4,850. V6. Self charging hybrid
new MOT tyres exhaust. Private plate. 4
door auto. Service history, very clean inside
out. Must be seen. All extras. Private seller.
Please call 01255 431 088, East of England.
1976, £5,995. 4-speed, Monaco White, "P"
reg, historic free tax and MOT, cambelt etc,
£11,200 spent since 2017, always garaged,
extensive history, stunning car, could deliver.
Please call 07895 675851, South West.
2007, 108900 miles, £1,195. Mazda 3
Ts2 MZR 1.6 petrol, Manual, Black, 5-door
hatchback. Comes with electric windows,
multi-functional steering wheel, climate
control, CD player, cup holders, armrests,
airbags, electric mirrors, alloy wheels,
color-coded bumpers and mirrors. Good
bodywork for its age with minor age related
marks looks good and drives well for its
age/mileage, interior is clean for its age,
MOT expires September 2025, 3 former
keepers, 2 keys. Will come with fresh oil
service at asking price! HPI clear, mileage
verified by MOT history, part exchanges are
welcome, delivery available, we are located
in Wakefield West Yorkshire, any trial or
inspection is welcome, please contact us for
any further enquiries and to book your test
drive, viewings are by appointments only,
cash and bank transfer accepted. Please call
07599148614, Yorkshire and the Humber.
(T)
124959
125154
124849
LOTUS ECLAT 520
JAGUAR XKR
2002, 79700 miles, £4,950. XKR
convertible. MOT tell 22.09.2025. In daily
use. No rust no dents. New alternator. Good
runner. Good hood and tyres. Cheap classic
car insurance. The paint work has been
keyed and a few minor electrical problems
but nothing stopping the car's usability. The
price and the worker required means sold
as a running restoration project. Please call
01268755458, South East.
1990, 116200 miles, £7,500. Excel SE,
Black, beige leather interior, MoT 10/2024,
stainless steel exhaust, limited slip diff.
Drives as a Lotus should. Engine rebuild
2006. Have had the car for nine years, it is
regularly used and in very good condition
although not 'showroom' which is reflected
in the price. Lots of history. Selling because
frankly I am getting a bit long in the tooth
to do it justice! Offers welcome. Please call
07777678091, South East.
MAZDA MX5
2007, 81000 miles, £1,290. A class A150 1.5
petrol 81000 miles with service history mot
till March 2025. Please call 07491963026,
East Midlands.
124863
MERCEDES-BENZ CLC
2008, 193000 miles, £2,000. Long mot,
serviced regularly, great first car, automatic,
sun roof, bluetooth, many other features.
Please call 00000000000, South East.
1990, 78359 miles, £13,000. Mini Cooper
affectionately known as 'Wilf'. Green and
white with cream interior and a walnut dash.
This Mini was subject to a ground up nut and
bolt restoration from Spring 2013 to 2015.
There is a pictural history and a substantial
record of the work undertaken. MOT until
May 2025. Open to offers, any questions get
back to me. Please call 07717667545, East
Midlands.
125091
125157
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54 Classic Car Buyer
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27th November 2024
CLUB MEMBER DISCOUNTS
SPECIALIST CLASSIC CAR INSURANCE WITH YOU IN MIND 01480 400876
MINI COOPER
2000, 13400 miles, £14,995. One lady
owner. Can only be described as outstanding!
Full service history including invoices and
MOTs also with original bill of sales and
service pack. Is immaculate inside and
outside all with original features. Worthing,
West Sussex. Please call 07860 333920 or
01903 537588, South West.
124835
MINI ONE
MORRIS MINI
1973, 29348 miles, £11,900. Black Morris
Mini van, RHD, recorded miles 29,348.
Previously in same ownership for 40
years. Recent new tyres, brakes, radiator,
coolant hoses, upgraded to Inertia seat
belts, reupholstered seats and sliding glass
channels replaced. A smart little van ready to
enjoy. Due to ongoing health issues, sadly it
has to go. Surrey. Please call 07787896423,
South East.
PACKARD 120 SEDAN
MERCEDES 190 D
1936, 4000 miles, POA. New V8 engine.
Automatic. Finished in High Gloss Black with
Spoke Wheels R/H drive. Soft red leather
interior and red carpets. Used for film work
and wedding car hire only. Please call 07799
530729 or 07989 168996, South East.
1992, 80000 miles, £5,000. Diesel,
125198
MERCEDES ML380
BMW E46
Midnight Blue. One owner. Good condition,
2006, 35000 miles, £8,750. 330 CI Coupe
12 months MOT. Full service history, sun
SE. Full BMW service history with supplying
roof, Original Blaupunkt Stereo. Please call
dealer. One owner, automatic SSG high
07340 595085, West Midlands.
spec plus factory options, always garaged,
124901
exceptional condition, reluctant sale. Please
MERCEDES CLK 5.5 AMG
124930
MERCEDES
MORRIS MINOR 1000
2006, £1,295. Italian Job Stripes, 1600 cc
5-speed petrol, 108000, 8 services, full book
pack, MOT 15th April, showroom brochure,
smart radio CD, optional alloys, can deliver.
Please call 07955 141372, South West.
£2,750. Auto 1999 estate, full leather, full
length sunroof, electric windows, cruise
control, towbar. Two keys, all books, some
service history, MOT 2025. Please call
01482 654302, Yorkshire and the Humber.
124958
MORGAN AERO 8
124847
1961, 49500 miles, £4,750. 2Dr Saloon,
Dove Grey with Red trim, 49500 miles, history
file, very original, some useful upgrades, well
maintained, recently serviced, reliable daily
driver, nice presentable example. Please call
07956 251328, Greater London.
125128
£8,500. 77,000 motorway miles. Full service
AUSTIN ATLANTIC COUPE
history. 12 months MOT. Garaged for the last
1950, £13,050. Rebuilt 8 years ago, nice car,
ring for details. Please call 01454412459,
South West.
8 years. Fantastic example, immaculate
124884
GINETTA G31
125036
2017, £95,950. Series V of AR spec'. This
is the top-of-the-range "Flagship Model".
Which is in stunning Ice green metalic
with Burgundy leather interior, Bluetooth
radio stereo fitted. Complete with factory
hardtop on factory produced Ash frame
stand. The People's Choice Award at The
SuperCar Show last August, then invited to
the exclusive and prestigious Hampton Court
Concours of Elegance in September. Cost
near £150,000, reluctant private "BlueChip" investment, quick sale at £95,950
ovno. For the very best example on the
market (very few are ever offered for sale).
Serious enquiries and for more exterior/
interior images: sportycarman@virginmedia.
com. Please call 07890 836734, South East.
call 07989 476930, East of England.
124950
body work. Pristine condition with Grey
leather interior. Fully functional electric
hood. 2 new tyres. Lots of receipts. Please
2006, £2,495. Mercedes "Auto" C.D.i Diesel
CLS 2.9, 136k, 10 services, full MOT, HPi
clear, full cream leather, Calypso burgundy,
two keys, cost £42,700 new, always
email davidgeorge1666@gmail.com. Please
garaged, could deliver. Please call 07895
call 07359 393301, South East.
675851, South West.
124919
124960
NISSAN MICRA
1989
2001, 77000 miles, £750. SK11. Manual,
petrol, years M.O.T. New fuel pump and
battery, colour blue. Please call 01273
844284, South East.
32 Years
2021
125181
Wanted! Your Classic Sportscars
FORD T200 CHILLER
2007, 125000 miles, £1,700. Transit
Connect L200 TD SWB, full MOT. White,
owned for 6 years, Hubbard chiller unit,
the roof cowling is missing however £1700.
Please call 07791 747291, East of England.
125183
1989, £3,995. MOT/ unleaded/ 30,000/
black/ 3 left on road/ two owners/ original
purchase invoice/ 2L pinto/ mine 12 years/
now too old (me!)/ garaged. Please call
07972031236, Yorkshire and the Humber.
124889
Especially TRIUMPH : Stag, Dolomite,
TR4, TR5, TR6, TR7, TR8, 2000/2500 and Sprint
Call Simon or Ben now!
Robsportint
Units 1-3 North End,
Robsport International
Dunsbridge Turnpike,
Robsportint
Shepreth, Royston SG8 6RA
01763 262263
WWW.ROBSPORT.CO.UK
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27th November 2024
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Classic Car Buyer 55
CHOICE OF REPAIRER
SPECIALIST CLASSIC CAR INSURANCE WITH YOU IN MIND 01480 400876
MERCEDES
PORSCHE 993
RENAULT TWINGO
ROLLS-ROYCE SILVER SPIRIT II
TOYOTA MR2
1996, £85,000. 3.6 litre twin turbo 6 speed
2010, 114000 miles, £1,125. Mot until
85,000, full MOT, 2 keys, no accidents,
1991, 69000 miles, £10,750. A beautiful,
always garaged, can deliver. Please call
well maintained and loved example. Last 10
07927 069352, South East.
Mots have had no advisories reflecting the
£395. V.V.T.i 1.8 5-speed 52 plate, full black
leather, 2 keys, 104000, new battery, elec
windows, no accidents, always garaged,
showroom brochure, MOT expired, can
deliver. Please call 07793 057069, South
West.
125051
care and attention the car has received. New
124957
tyres, brakes and battery, recent service,
VAUXHALL CORSA
gearbox full cage bucket seat air jack
system BBS wheels and spare set. Wide
body road race car includes V5. Please call
07860379440, East of England.
November 2025. Part service history. Aux/
USB. Adjustable steering wheel. Airbags.
Alarm. Central locking. Power steering. Cd
radio. £1125 or nearest offer. Please call
125135
07459519011, East of England.
PORSCHE BOXSTER
125102
2007, £1,995. "Auto" C.D.i 2 litre diesel
ROLLS-ROYCE 20/25
special equipment, 13 services in book,
MERC 230TE
no known faults. Only for sale as I have
inherited several other cars. Massive history
1988, POA. Estate auto 73000mls. V. clean,
many extras and new parts: alloys, tyres,
batt, g/box, rad, w/pump, etc. Water leak
poss h/gasket. Offers. P/x Volvo Estate
auto 1980s any condition. Please call
01277200530, East of England.
125133
MERCEDES S 320
2003, £3,800. Repairs done cost 2820 euro.
Ready for test. Silver. 2 owners. 157000
miles. Off road 6 years, garaged. VRT exam
done. Please call 0879303992, Ireland.
125148
PORSCHE 996
with thousands spent in my ownership
2012, 29000 miles, £31,900. 62 plate. 3
owners. Full Porsche dealer and specialist
history. This car's history has been
documented in 'The Fleet' section of 911
to keep her well maintained. Please call
1932, £38,000. Coachbuilder 'Windovers'
07973845158, South West.
125010
Ivory with gold coachwork lines. Fawn
and Porsche World magazine every month in
interior with a fawn leather roof. Engine
ROVER 2000
great detail for the 3 years I have owned it.
rebuild top end, carburettor refurbished,
1972, 40000 miles, £5,200. P6 SC. Lovely
It also appeared on the cover along side my
new water pump. Comes with some spares
coating in 2022 at a cost of £1000 (took him
2013, 122000 miles, £1,695. 1.3 Diesel
Manual. Full service History. Current MOT
until next month but booked in for it's MOT
on Monday so will come with a full 12 months
MOT. Only 3 previous owners. Well looked
after. Clean and tidy for its age, has a couple
small scrapes and stone chips, nothing
major or really noticeable. Alloy wheels,
electric windows. Cruise control. Air con.
Drives very well with no mechanical issues.
Everything works as it should. Spacious 4
door, very economical and only £35 a year
tax. 2 keys. Any inspection or trial welcome.
Please call 07706688799, North West.
3 days!) all paint was depth checked and
125111
all panels original apart from bumpers and
VOLKSWAGEN GOLF
981 GT4 last year with an 8 page feature.
including new tyres. Over 20 years as a
Total cost of options: £12,295. Additional
original condition, MOT'd till Aug 25, lots
of spares included, new rear brake pads.
Please call 07779 737127, South West.
wedding car selling due to retirement. Please
125182
Michelin PS4’s fitted in March, wheels
call 07799 530729 or 07989 168996, South
ROVER P4 110
refurbished in November 2023, important 12
East.
year PDK gearbox serviced carried out last
125199
recent maintenance includes: brand new
year November 2023 year at RPM, both AC
condensers replaced this year in July 2024,
ROLLS-ROYCE SILVER SHADOW
fully 3 stage paint correction with ceramic
skirts, front and rear bumpers, and skirts
resprayed before the paint correction/ detail.
Please call 07974185777, Yorkshire and the
1962, 62000 miles, £12,500. With low
Humber.
2002, 108000 miles, £25,000. Turbo. £30k
spent during my 5 years of ownership, £18k
this year alone. New suspension, steering
ownership. £2000 recently spent to keep in
125152
lovely condition. Beautiful interior, wonderful
RELIANT ROBIN
1976, £4,000. Last of the chrome bumpers.
underneath. Stainless exhaust, new brakes,
Seatbelts. Picnic tables. Radio cassette. 8
suspension, tyres, electrics, fully serviced
track. Tyres good. New battery. Tax free.
etc. Drives superbly being smooth and quiet.
column and rack, tyres, screen etc etc. Still
2001, £2,000. Rialto. Cat C. Repaired 12
requires a couple of jobs to make it tip top.
months MOT, alloy wheels, runs well, nice
Drives beautifully. Please call 07872317195,
little car, need 2 new door seals. Please call
Greater London.
07810574136, East Midlands.
Please call 01773 826123, West Midlands.
124861
124886
124880
MOT exempt. Few small jobs required.
Please call 07446881808, South East.
2003, £2,250. Mk4 1.9 tdi automatic 12
months mot a/c,e/w,e/m original radio
60mpg sunroof first to see will buy. Please
email ptg04@hotmail.co.uk. Please call
07856 896019, East Midlands.
125114
124909
Very special RSR members car. Further
details
at
gvs3636@virginmedia.com.
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56 Classic Car Buyer
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27th November 2024
GET A QUOTE TODAY
SPECIALIST CLASSIC CAR INSURANCE WITH YOU IN MIND 01480 400876
TRUCKS/LORRIES
FODEN S83
DODGE RAM PICK-UP TRUCK
SAMSON
THAMES TRADER 6D
BEDFORD TM
1980, £18,000. 4X2 T/Unit Detroit diesel
two-stoke engine, full nut and bolt restoration
new cab fitted. Also 1984 Mercedes-Benz
809 fitted with under lift £4500. Please call
07759473380, Yorkshire and the Humber.
125068
ERF EC11
1978, POA. Gardner 183 H.P. engine Gardner
12 speed gearbox 12 new tyres- spare
wheel new batteries- many new parts- in
good working order- ally body. Please call
07768276115, South East.
125073
FORD D SERIES
1999, £5,500. ERF EC11 Sleeper cab lorry,
6x2, MOT expired, needs some minor
repairs, runs and drives ok. Please call
07836 514905, South West.
125060
1976, £10,000. 16 tonner alloy tipper used
on corn and sugar beet very tidy lorry. Also
Ford Cargo day cab T/Unit 17 tonner 820000
miles from new £6000. Please call 07759
473380, Yorkshire and the Humber.
2002, £14,500. Engine size: 4700 cc petrol.
Low mileage: 90339km. Fully loaded, black
bodywork, seats 6. Hydraulic rear solid
cover. New 22 inch wheels. Side marker
poles with lights player. Used for weddings.
Please call 07799 530729 or 07989
168996, South East.
1974, POA. Made by George Neville
aluminium Tippins trailer- twin axle- twin
rams, Lister Donkey engine- in good working
order. Please call 07768276115, South East.
125197
SEDDON
125065
1961, £16,500. 100% fully restored Thames
Trader. Tax / MOT exempt. Beautiful
restoration with hardwood floor and oak
veneer to the trailer. 3 seater beige interior.
Has been displayed and admired in shows.
Stored in a garage. Reluctant sale but need
space for next project. A lovely drive. Please
call 01953 483302, East of England.
125061
MERCEDES UNIMOG 404
VOLVO F10
124898
LEYLAND ROAD TRAIN
ERF B SERIES
1976, £9,400. Gardner 240, M.O.T till 306-25. Cumbria. Please call 07979856122,
North West.
125075
1988, £12,000. Sleeper cab Cummins
engine tested October 2025. Also on low
loader 1984 Leyland Freighter 411 Turbo
20000 miles from new £5000. Please call
07759473380, Yorkshire and the Humber.
12500 miles, £5,950. 1959/60. Registered
1965 L/H/D petrol. Been kept as protection
for field fires only. Starts and drives well.
Hose reels, pump, large tank, tools PTO,
crew cab. History and books. Please call
07814 658275, East of England.
125054
FORD F30
1975, £7,250. Seddon 13/4. Double drop
sided tipper which will strip down to a flat, its
still in its original owners livery etc. Perkins
6354 which starts even in cold weather,
5spd box, eaton 2spd axle, solid cab with
excellent interior and seats, drives very well
down the road. Please call 07879 210001,
Yorkshire and the Humber.
125049
SEDDON/ATKINSON 301
125069
1993, £8,750. 6X2 Unit. Midlift owned 21
years reluctant sale, great cab no rustEminox great interior- drives- historyperfect restoration no MOT. Bedfordshire
area. Bargain. Please call Paul. Please call
07778 204958, East of England.
125077
VANS
DAF 3600ATI
FODEN S83
DODGE BROTHERS VAN
1973, £15,000. 6 x 2. Gardiner 180 engine,
starting first turn. Beaver tail body with
hydraulic ramps. Original Brown Irish
Registration Book. Exported to Ireland 1977.
Original UK registration September 1973.
Reluctant sale 15000 Euro. Location Cork,
Ireland. Please call 00353862586230,
Ireland.
£19,500. 6X2 Rigid, factory rear lift axle,
inside is lovely, cab needs TLC, no time
wasters. Please call 07786580969, North
West.
125040
125166
1943, £11,500. Bofors gun tractor. Up
and running has been rallied, recent new
canvas made to original spec: dry stored in
workshop. No rust. Current owner last 49
years. Please call 07970780023, East of
England.
125059
1983, 76696 miles, £2,000. 4X2 T/Unit.
10 LT Cummins Jake brake, new injectors
and brakes/drums fitted 1000 miles before
laying up, cab needs TLC or replace. Please
call 07939187409, South East.
1929, £3,500. C/W import documents. Lots
of work done including engine, radiator,
gear box and chassis. Rear door frames
constructed. Good winter project. Genuine
sale. Please call for more details. Please call
07850 510103, East Midlands.
125074
125055
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27th November 2024
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Classic Car Buyer 57
FOR OVER 35 YEARS
SPECIALIST CLASSIC CAR INSURANCE WITH YOU IN MIND 01480 400876
VOLKSWAGEN CAMPERVAN
1981, £12,500. Air cooled camper t25
2000cc tow bar, good runner, MOT and tax
exempt and exempt from most road charges.
Old MOTs and bills, new brakes and clutch.
Would exchange old vee twin with sidecar.
Please call 07863 262603, Greater London.
125120
BENTLEY / ROLLS ROYCE
STAINLESS STEEL FRONT AND
REAR BUMPERS
£250. To fit Rolls Royce or Bentley Turbo.
Front bumper has Badge Bar made by
Bentley. Very good condition. Please call
07989 168996 or 07799 530729, South
East.
1981, POA. VW T25 1981 camper. Air
cooled. Road tested to Dec 2022 new clutch
mot and tax exempt and exempt from most
road charges owned 10 years, old mots and
lots of old receipts history. Just fitted original
VW tow bar good original condition may
exchange classic old vee twin motorbike
1940s with sidecar. Please call 07863
262603, Greater London.
BENTLEY AND ROLLS ROYCE PARTS
POA. From 1932-1990. Engine, gearbox,
brakes, panels, hoses, water pumps etc.
Please ask for details. Please call 07799
530729 or 07989 168996, South East.
125195
COMMER DODGE RENAULT
COMMANDO/G RANGE COMPLETE
CAB FRONT
125121
AEC MAMMOTH MAJOR MKV PAIR
OF WINDSCREENS
125171
125136
FORD MK2 ESCORT PARTS
PRIVATE NUMBER PLATE
125186
MASERATI CLOCK
£130. Made from genuine card. Can post.
Paypal or bank transfer. Please call 07749
586757, South East.
125160
125169
£1,200. 640 ELH. On retention. Please call
07900 675410, Scotland.
125191
1960, £60. In good original condition, not
damaged or dented but obviously it needs a
new door skin. There is some corrosion at the
very bottom of the door and in the window
channel area but it is not extensive and
can be easily rectified. Part of my Mini Mk
1 spares hoard being sold after 40 years of
collecting. Please email graham.smith110@
ntlworld.com. Please call 07446881808,
South East.
125035
VARIOUS PARTS
£50-£120. Pair Corbeau steel framed bucket
seats £50. Facet red top fuel pump new
£60. Small block chevy tubular chromed
manifolds new £120. Alloy pro com radiator
26"x18 new £120. Ring for details. Please
call 07742522371, South West.
125193
CUMMINS 220 12 LITRE ENGINE
CLASSIC MINI PARTS
£100. 63-82. 6-8 boxes of Classic Mini
parts lamps carbs- seat belts heater wheels
speedos window regulator glass MK1
driveshaft. Please call 07703 178818, South
East.
125144
MK 3 ESCORT SPARES
LAND ROVER 3.5 V8 ENGINE
1982, £150. Running well when removed,
dry stored for many years, all complete.
Please call 07940 167525, East of England.
POA. Located in Ireland, can deliver tracked
with no extra fees. Call 00353 87 415 2081 or
WhatsApp this no. For any photos required. 2
Dr bodyshell, rhd. Totally original, only needs
basic restoration. UK 1980 rs2000 custom
totally rotten, brave restoration. Lots of parts
missing but has original engine, gearbox
etc. A lot of 1600 crossflow parts available.
Standard and rally, new and used. Good
deals, Bvh, forged pistons, billet flywheels
etc. New genuine Italian weber twin 40's.
Zf 5 speed gearbox, Pro quaife 5 speed type
9 gearbox, Glass, wiring loom, sun visors,
pedal box, wiper linkage, handles and
mirrors etc etc Rs2000 bulkhead pad, 50"
wide English axle case and halfshafts 3.88
and 4.1 cwp Australian type E gearbox with
lever forward for standard tunnel hole. Mk2
escort van doors. Pair mk1 escort 2dr doors.
As new gen Ford grill. Loads of various parts,
ask. Please call 00353 87 415 2081, Ireland.
BEDFORD J TYPE NEW BLACK ROOF
LINING
FORD MK1 ESCORT FRONT DRIVERS
SEAT
£500. Complete Cab Front. New/old stock.
Please see images. Would like best offer
over £500. Please call 07788506050, South
East.
AUSTIN A35 PARTS
125137
125190
£30-£50. Jaguar 'S' Type 2002 bootlid
spoiler £50. 'S' Type N.O.S. alloy sump pan
£30. 1 concrete Jaguar leaper (for garden)
£40. 1 XJS 15" starfish alloy wheel in good
condition £40. Please call 01787 377602,
East of England.
125196
£15-£60. Austin A35 rear screens £15
each. Front screens £20. Prop shafts £20.
Steering box £50. Pair saloon bumpers for
rechrome £60. Collection only. Please call
01787 377602, East of England.
POA. Cortina spares, windows gearbox
petrol tank lights assorted, like them all to
go as job lot 225-40-18" 4 st alloys- tyres
new 150 Hayne manuals. Please call 07514
334447, Yorkshire and the Humber.
JAGUAR PARTS
125062
POA. Engine, gearbox, radiator cowl, front
opening window screen, plus other glass,
carburettor with new jets, new points, spark
plugs, hoses. Please call 07799 530729 or
07989 168996, South East.
125187
125175
125192
£100. For Park Royal cab as removed from
scrap vehicle. Collection only from Ipswich
Suffolk. Please call 07850 292601, East of
England.
TWO BMC WINGS
£1,200. Fit A60 van- pick up. Offers over
£1200, parts for Nissan 910, too many to list,
sills- rad- manual for LD20 + LD20T D21-22
new rear springs. Please call 07733077766,
North West.
POA. Alloy VGC new centre cap. Tyre
looks new 185x55 R14 H80. 2 Steel rims
looks VW 165x70 R14 4 tyres. Please call
07459608118, Greater London.
£40. In black vinyl, good condition. Please
call 07901675330, Yorkshire and the
Humber.
PARTS
AUSTIN 10 PARTS
MINI MK 1 DOOR FRAME
FORD CORTINA SPARES
125194
VOLKSWAGEN CAMPERVAN
FORD PARTS
POA. Heater/ column switches for MK3
Escort, low mileage car. New webber twin
choke carb boxed. Please call 07459608118,
Greater London.
125173
CARBURETTER MK 3 ESCORT
SPARES
£300-£1100. Cummins 220 12 litre engine,
turning free, £350. Fuller gearbox £300.
Both as seen. ERF LV tractor, Cummins 205,
rolling chassis, engine very good, believed
recon, no gbox cab derelict, £1100. Gretna
SW Scotland. Please call 01387371673,
Scotland.
125027
TR6 DASHBOARDS
£500. A superbly beautiful gold Maserati
clock set in a gorgeous polished display
case, l deal for the owner or Christmas \
birthday present. Please call 07737 174200,
West Midlands.
POA. Please call 07459608118, Greater
London.
£100. Two dashboard panels in reasonable
condition. Price for the two. Please call
01217050849, West Midlands.
125155
125174
125044
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58 Classic Car Buyer
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27th November 2024
CLUB MEMBER DISCOUNTS
SPECIALIST CLASSIC CAR INSURANCE WITH YOU IN MIND 01480 400876
1 1/2 INCH 2 REAR WHEEL CYL
ASTON MARTIN BONNET BADGE
£75. Brand new, fits Austin FG other Austin
models Morris Commercial Bristol SC Coach
still boxed. Please call 07715786415 or
01675 437551, West Midlands.
125076
DUCATI 1980 VINTAGE MOTORBIKE
SEAT
1980, £125-£225. Ducati 1980 vintage
motorbike seat for 900cc gts £225 and
headlamp brackets for same bike chrome
£125. Please call 07863 262603, Greater
London.
MAN CAVE COLLECTION
PRE 1983 CAR
£1,500. All mint condition. 100 brochures
50/60/70/80 die cast car (25) 25 book
collection, 5 Top Gear DVD on four wheels
(40) L. canvas. Over 200 items. Please call
07904 999979, West Midlands.
Wanted. Modern classic pre 1983 anything
125185
REGISTRATION NUMBER AII BFM
BSA 120
considered. Please call 07561 440922,
North West.
1964. BSA Bantam 120 1964-1980. Please
call 01233 626516, South East.
125162
125146
MOTORHOME
Wanted. Looking for a reasonably priced
TOYOTA COROLLA GT OR GTI
£65. No damage, post free. Please call
07968 659967, South East.
motorhome- age no barrier but with some
MOT and needs tidying etc. Texts preferred,
Wanted. From 84 to 92 or Corolla gxi or si
125140
could P/X 6 bicycles. Details to 077905
from 93 to 97 in any condition. Please call
STROMBERG TWIN 125 CARBS
CADILLAC PARTS AND MORE
12582. Please call 01743 860362, West
£30. Stripped down. Very little use. Collector
spare. Please call 07869 814813, Yorkshire
and the Humber.
£25-£125. V.rare silver pocket watch with
org. badge on lid £125. 'Superior' badge,
wheel chuck, rare NatGeo ads 60s, mag
articles £45. 'Discovery's hip p/watch
fullhunter £25. GM: lg collection mag
articles, mags, also 4x4s, Jag, RR, Lotus,
MG, L/Rover etc. Sell/swap 4 aircraft mags,
hifi items, vinyl, tapes etc. Please call
01277200530, East of England.
125124
125141
PORSCHE 911 PARTS
125131
1973, POA. Early 911 parts, tool roll, air
pump (unused) rear override rs, turbo driver
manual plus others, jack, 911 badge, etc etc.
Please call 07737 174200, West Midlands.
125113
MISC
125139
£45. Not tin, size 8 x 12 inches, 4 fixing
holes, slight chips on side. Please call
02083997541, Greater London.
HONDA CIVIC
Wanted. Estate 2.0 litre GL, 1990/92
manual injection in VGC. Please call with
details. Please call 07986 959015, South
West.
125163
125142
ONE ESSO TIGER TAIL MOD’S
LAMBRETTA SCOOTER
MORRIS J4 VAN DAMPERS
1967. Rear dampers. Some other vehicles
use the same dampers. Please call
078067419 or 01228 675117, North West.
124899
CORGI POWDER TANKERS
NISSAN VANETTE
1990. Diesel rear wheel drive 1990 round
head lights full van I just need it for parts.
Please call 07733077766, North West.
124857
£32 each. Man Daf both mint boxed
mirrors cert, price inc P+P. Please call
07786385415, West Midlands.
125165
POST YOUR COUPON TO:
WANTED
VOLVO 7/940
SUNBEAM ALPINE SERIES I AND II BF GOODRICH TYRES
125164
ADVERTISEMENT COUPON
£450. On retention. Please call 01270
665714, West Midlands.
124924
125150
£500. Five x BF Goodrich Silvertown 5.6013 75S whitewall (60mm) tyres. Unused:
purchased one year ago (for £1530).
Imported from the States. Still in original
packaging. Please call 01895 634907,
Greater London.
125189
1993. Wanted Honda Civic VTI, Crx / Vtec,
Type R Integra, NSX, S2000 and Honda
Accord Type R / S. Any age or condition,
mot failures, needing tlc, damaged or SORN,
projects, anything considered. Genuine
enthusiast buyer, nationwide collection.
Please call 07999250260, Yorkshire and the
Humber.
FORD ENAMEL SIGN
00353851354078, Ireland.
Midlands.
CATEGORY:
CLASSIFIEDS
Kelsey Media Ltd
The Granary, Downs Court
Yalding Hill, Yalding
Kent, ME18 6AL
FOR SALE
WANTED
VEHICLES
PARTS
MISCELLANEOUS
SERVICES
ADVERT DETAILS:
ADVERTISER DETAILS:
Make:.......................................................
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Model:.......................................................
Address: ....................................................
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Year:
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Town:
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County:
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Telephone: .........................................
Email:
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(The good advertised are not offered by way of trade)
CONDITIONS OF ACCEPTANCE
•
•
•
•
•
•
DAIHATSU F55 PARTS
•
£14. 1960's. Ideal Christmas stocking filler.
Can post for £4.70 extra, Paypal or bank
transfer. Please call 07749 586757, South
East.
1980. Four track gearbox and transfer box
with transmission brake fitted on transfer
box. Please call 07770877028, Yorkshire
and the Humber.
•
125159
124868
•
•
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27th November 2024
Sell your car for free by emailing: cars@kelseyclassifieds.co.uk
Classic Car Buyer 59
TRADE DIRECTORY
>>> Products >>> Services >>> Parts >>>
Wanted
Welding
CLASSIC FORDS AND JAGUARS
ALWAYS WANTED
Any Model Any Condition
07968 170363
01483 238073
mail@daveday.co.uk
www.ClassicCarBuyerUK.co.uk
Welding cylinders for
Hobby & Trade users.
Available in 4 sizes:
2L, 9L, 20L & 50L
refillable
5% CO2/Argon Mix and 20% CO2/Argon Mix.
PLUS NEW
Acetylene Substitute available.
Seals & Trims
Stop
Paying Rental
NEW
Refillable bottles – no disposal costs
Same fitting as BOC, Air Products & Air Liquide
CATALOGUE
ISSUE 16
Rubber seals and trims for
classic, modern and kit cars
We can now supply you 2L, 9L, 20L and 50L* cylinders on a rent-free basis.
SOLVE YOUR
SEALING
PROBLEMS
MARINEINDUSTRIALCARAVANAUTOMOTIVE
T: 0800 612 5646
MARINEINDUSTRIALCARAVANAUTOMOTIVE
www.sealsdirect.co.uk
Owners Club
American Cars
Enthusiastic buyers of all
Classic Fords inc. RS,
Hot Rods & American
Call Andrew on
07836 226228/01245 248888
sales@standrewsautos.co.uk
www.standrewsautos.co.uk
Steering Wheel Restoration
Steering Wheel Restoration
www.SteeringWheelRestoration.com
To Advertise
ADVERTISING
DOESN’T COST
IT PAYS!
CALL ZARA ON
01732 442242
LAST ORDERS
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Kelsey Media
The Granary, Downs Court, Yalding Hill,
Yalding, Kent, ME18 6AL
Join in the CCB social scene by sending us your photos and emails,
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EDITORIAL
Tel: 01959 541444
ccb.ed@kelsey.co.uk
GROUP EDITOR PAUL WAGER
EDITOR JEFF RUGGLES
DEPUTY EDITOR JOE MILLER
DIGITAL CONTENT EDITOR JAMES HOWE
HEAD OF VIDEO LUCAS COCHRANE
CONTRIBUTORS
Chris Randall, Sam Skelton, Jon Burgess,
Dan Williamson, Paul Guinness
DESIGN
ATG Media
ADVERTISEMENT SALES
HEAD OF INVESTMENT
David Hennessey
01732 446727
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PRODUCTION
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01732 445325
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MANAGEMENT
Chief Operating Officer: Phil Weeden
Retail Director: Steve Brown
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Rochelle Gyer-Smith
SUBSCRIPTIONS
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CLASSIFIEDS
TEL: 0906 802 0279
(premium rate line, operated by Kelsey Media.
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Lines open Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm)
Email address:
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Classic Car Buyer Classifieds, Kelsey Publishing Ltd,
The Granary, Downs Court, Yalding Hill,
Yalding, Maidstone, Kent, ME18 6AL
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Kelsey Media 2024 © all rights reserved. Kelsey Media is a trading
name of Kelsey Publishing Ltd. Reproduction in whole or in part is
forbidden except with permission in writing from the publishers.
Note to contributors: articles submitted for consideration by the
editor must be the original work of the author and not previously
published. Where photographs are included, which are not the
property of the contributor, permission to reproduce them must
have been obtained from the owner of the copyright. The editor
cannot guarantee a personal response to all letters and emails
received. The views expressed in the magazine are not necessarily
those of the Editor or the Publisher. Kelsey Publishing Ltd accepts
no liability for products and services offered by third parties.
AUDI SEE
THAT?
Reader Simon Burtwell was looking
very carefully at the Classic Scene
in our November 6 issue: “I think
the vinyl roofed saloon is a C1 Audi
100. I can only guess that it was
silver or white, which is why the B
pillar looks fully chromed. The roof
shape and thin pillars look right for the Audi.”
Very impressive spotting, Simon – we think you might be right there!
MEMORY LANE
ROCK AND ROLLS
The Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow vs Silver Spirit video on our Classics World YouTube channel
prompted some debate between fans in the comments. @longbeachcarguy said: “I prefer the
Shadow, but both are gorgeous and far more elegant than todays’ RRs.” @johanslabbert2869
agreed – “The Silver Shadow remains the quintessential Rolls Royce. Sufficiently quirky yet
so disarmingly practical, adequately
quick yet not fast enough to intimidate
anyone.” The Silver Spirit had its fans
too, including @jamiesutton8569: “As a
Spirit owner, I can say that it’s the looks
of the later car that really does it for me.
It looks like a sharp suit, the Shadow is
just a bit fussy.”
NEXT ISSUE
DON’T MISS OUR NEXT ISSUE
ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11
RISE AND SHINE
We celebrate the popular pop-up headlight and the
cars most synonymous with using them, from the
Lotus Elan to the Mazda MX-5.
BOWING OUT
Sharply styled and equally as sharp to drive, the
inal-generation Toyota Celica T230 is a fantastic
front-drive sports car. We share our advice on inding
a good one.
Part of the Classics World Family
www.classicsworld.co.uk
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The ill-fated Alfa Romeo Arna
was nevertheless enthusiastically
promoted in this 1985 brochure:
“Supremely practical yet fun to drive,
Alfa Romeo has given the Arna multiple
versions of the classic flat-four boxer
engine, giving the 1.3 a top speed
of 96.3mph and offering 45.6mpg.”
You got an upmarket cabin to go with
your “race-developed suspension”
and “safe yet exhilarating handling”
too – “Inside the Arna, you’ll find
equipment and luxury unusual in a
car of this size…the cloth-covered
seats are contoured for comfort and
support whether nipping about town
or motorway cruising. Arna, the truly
practical sporting hatchback.”
Name: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
CLASSIC CHOICE
Small and stylish family saloons were in abundance
in the 1960s, but does the Ford Escort Mk1, Hillman
Avenger or Vauxhall Viva make the best classic today?
Address: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.................................
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email our Data Protection Officer at dpo@kelsey.co.uk.
KELSEYmedia
www.kelsey.co.uk
ISSN - 2042-2008
62 CLASSIC CAR BUYER
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NOVEMBER 27 2024
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