Indholdsfortegnelse for October 2025 i Classic American

Well, they’re not really, but it’s that time of year when that song seems to make an appearance on the radio, further pushing any of us who are sad that summer is over into a pit of depression and despair - well, not really that either! As we all know in this country, September and October can quite often be drier and sunnier than what’s traditionally considered to be summer and what’s more, our vehicles love that cooler air, which makes for a much better driving experience! And there are still shows and events to keep us busy, including the upcoming NEC Classic Car Show, which takes place in early November. However, this month’s Classic American is rammed with event and show reports, including the ever-popular, ever-growing Redhill Dream Cruise…

August 3rd saw the AAAC’s fabled Rally of the Giants Show held at Stonor Park, which you can read a full report about starting on page 66. Suffice to say the competition was brisk, but the lucky winner chosen at this final heat was the 1963 Ford Falcon Sprint belonging to Phil and Judith Pearn from Plymouth, who have been showing their gorgeous little Ford up and down the country all summer. It might be small, but power comes from a pokey 260cu in V8 and with bucket seats, a console and a tachometer, the Sprint was the sporty version of the Falcon for 1963. Hailing from California originally means no rust or rot and it has undergone a respray since arriving in this country five years ago, as well…

General Motors recently unveiled its brand-new Buick Electra Orbit Concept, a new design exploration that fuses Buick heritage with futuristic EV technology. It unveiled on August 5 in Shanghai, where the concept prototype was conceived and developed by GM China’s Advanced Design Center, to inspire the next evolution of Buick’s global design language. According to the brand, the Electra Orbit Concept previews the future by combining the romance of the 1950s with cutting-edge technology and pure electric architecture. “Electra Orbit is a bold exploration of what Buick can be when we blend heritage inspiration with visionary innovation,” said Stuart Norris, vice-president of design for GM China and GM International and chief of design at SAIC-GM. “By reinterpreting space-age motifs and pushing electric-architecture freedoms, we wanted to create a concept that…

SCALE MODEL SHOWROOM Dear Classic American, Great to see your piece on the Gilmore Museum in the September issue/CA 413 and particularly heading it up with the picture of the Cadillac showroom. I visited the museum a couple of years ago and was inspired to build a scale model of that showroom to house some of my collection of Cadillac models. The current theme is the befinned ’59, as you can see in the picture. Paul Nieuwenhuis Cardiff Wales So glad you enjoyed it Paul and you’ll be pleased to hear that Christopher has also got a piece on the Henry Ford Museum, located in Dearborn, which is scheduled for our November issue, next month, so don’t miss that! Over here… and still going strong! Dear Classic American, As the…

Classic American Events, Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6JR September 12-14 HOT ROD DRAGS Now celebrating the 37th annual Original Hot Rod Drags, supported by the NSRA. It’s a hot rod show at the racetrack! The usual, ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ formula with Pre-’73 RWYB, invited race classes, Wild Bunch, fireworks and much more. See you at the track. Camping available on site so come for the weekend. Santa Pod Raceway, Airfield Road, Podington, Wellingborough, Northants NN29 7XA, England. Tel: 01234 782828, International Tel: +44 1234 782828, or see: www.santapod.co.uk 19-21 National Drag Racing Championship Finals headlined by the wild 250mph Pro Mod doorslammers! See more than 20 supporting classes including ACU Championship Drag Bikes, Junior Dragsters and many more. Camping available on site so…

I was a little wary of featuring this 1:24 scale Mustang, having received it as a special edition to my American Cars Collection Premium Edition subscription. You receive it along with several other die-cast American muscle cars that are not in the standard subscription, having paid a little more for each issue of the partwork. Now I accept that many of you won’t want to take out a subscription, despite its excellent value, but might like this particular car. Worry not! I soon found several for sale online at prices varying wildly from around £25 to approaching £40. It’s boxed as a Di Agostini model, the Italian partwork company that originated this series. The car represents the 1964½ Ford Mustang Convertible which was chosen to be the Official Pace Car…

The Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show boasts displays from more than 300 clubs, as well as over 350 traders (including the UK’s biggest indoor autojumble!) and more than 3000 cars on display – the most at any event in the UK – indoors and outdoors. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show and to celebrate this milestone, the organisers have some exciting new highlights planned. A day (or two) at this fantastic event allows you to indulge in your passion for classic vehicles at the ultimate season finale – whether you’re a classic car owner, collector, enthusiast, club member, or simply someone with a love for timeless automobiles! It’s far more than just a display of classics! You can purchase your next classic at…

Make sure you make time to come along to the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show which is being held the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham over the weekend of November 7-9th. As in previous years Classic American’s stand will host some of the best American cars in the UK, who will be taking part in the Kingstown Shipping-Vintage Tyres Car of the Year competition. The overall winner will be announced on Sunday afternoon, where they will be awarded the winner’s trophy and £500 prize money – not bad eh?! Pictured here are the lucky six and next month we take a closer look at the six heat-winning participants, one of whom we’ll taking that coveted trophy home!…

It was a great idea in theory. The Plymouth Barracuda was launched in 1964, smack in the middle of the California beach and surf culture wave, so why not take one to the beach and photograph it at sunset? Forget things like it being crowded with people fascinated by the Barracuda, or that they close the beach two hours before it gets dark. Anyway, we fought hard to get these photos, so I hope you enjoy them... This 1965 Plymouth Barracuda is just as owner Bill Harding found it when he spotted the eBay listing in 2023. “I wanted an American car after seeing my friend Mark’s Chrysler New Yorker,” explains Bill. “I made a list of cars largely based on what would fit into my garage. A full-size New…

The first Redhill Cruise was held five years ago on a fine, bright August evening. Another four cruises came and went, each taking place under a golden sunset, but the day of the 2025 cruise dawned with thick, foreboding cloud, an unseasonal chill and the looming threat of rain. So, it stayed for the duration of the day until seven o’clock when, right on cue, the sun came streaming through – because it always shines on the Redhill Cruise… The pre-cruise get-together at Dream Cars had been getting into full swing since mid-afternoon and was still a hive of activity when I arrived at six, but the most eager cruisers were already filling up the road and all the available parking spaces in the town centre, having arrived at who…

Having settled into Stonor Park over the last few years, it was great to see a good turn out for what’s considered by many to be the ‘must-do’ classic American car show of the year. As, the cars started rolling in early, the All American Auto Club’s policy of welcoming all American vehicles seemed to be reflected in the sheer variety of types of vehicles on display. Obviously, the club has been well known as the traditional home of vintage and pre-War cars, but increasingly there seem to be more and more Fifties and Sixties cars attending and even later models. Typical was Jon Snell’s 1959 Cadillac Eldorado which took both Best late Fifties and Most Original awards and was thronged with admirers all day. Now, whether you like big…

If you’ve ever heard the thunder of V8 engines echoing off the Sussex cliffs and caught the scent of petrol mixed with sea air, chances are you’ve stumbled across one of our American car cruises. We’re a small but proud crew of petrolheads, and when the weather’s right and the tanks are full, we hit the coast in a convoy that feels more California than UK. My Dodge Charger is shiny and pristine and unapologetically loud with open headers. It’s not just a car. It’s a passport to a lifestyle that blends chrome, camaraderie and coastlines. For me and my friends it’s not just about turning heads, it’s about connections, cruising and, of course, grabbing lunch at Roedean Cafe. The Brighton Run is Surrey to the sea and twice a…

The AACUK’s Summer Nationals took place over the same weekend as the Upton Blues Festival last year, so Classic American decided to go along and check it out this year. It’s a great idea in many ways as the blues festival takes over the town, with two main stages, one of which is on the town’s rugby club fields behind which the car show is held, so there’s always lots to see, hear and do. There was also a beer festival going on, so for some lucky folks (those not driving!) it was like being in heaven: jazz, blues, beer and classic American cars… What’s not to like?! The blues festival really takes over the whole town, which is unbelievably pretty, nestled as it is below the Malvern Hills. There…

Car of the Year is bigger and brighter for 2025 thanks to sponsorship from Kingstown Shipping and Vintage Tyres. The first heat was held at Wheels Day, which is the traditional kick-off event for the American car calendar, and now the clock is ticking and it will soon be the grand finals of this year’s Kingstown Shipping Car of the Year competition. The final will be held over the weekend of November 7-9 at the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show at the NEC, Birmingham – this year’s competition promises a fantastic selection of the UK’s finest American cars, so we hope you’ll make it along to check out the cars and say hello to the Classic American team. We’ve been travelling up and down the UK over the summer, holding…

A UK-based hot rod club has been celebrating its half century throughout 2025, with a major presence at this summer’s MPH drag racing event at Deenethorpe Airfield, near Corby, being one of the highlights. The Originals Hot Rod Club was created in 1975 and is still going strong, with a close-knit group of around 30 members enjoying the rods, the racing and the camaraderie. The Originals have had a busy year, appearing at events like the Hot Rod Hayride and Hot Rod Hop, as well as the VHRA’s upcoming racing at Pendine Sands. But it was at July’s MPH bash that the biggest number of members got together from all around the UK and beyond, with MPH organisers Sid and Chris hosting the club and enabling its members to celebrate…

New Ford Bronco – Performance Modifications Author: Don Alexander Published by: Car Tech ISBN: 978-1-61325-843-9 Price: £34 I was wondering what use this book might be to UK readers, given that Ford US has announced that it has no intention of introducing the new Ford Bronco to the UK market. If they won’t be available here, then surely there’s not going to be much interest in performance upgrades? Ford introduced the Bronco in limited numbers to European markets in late 2023, but the projected cost of converting the manufacturer’s compact all-wheel-drive off-road SUV to right-hand drive won’t result in sufficient sales. I can understand that, but we are not the only country that drives on the left. Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Africa, India, Malaysia and several others all use…