Indholdsfortegnelse for 12/3/2025 i Classic Car Buyer

FIVA, the international organisation dedicated to the protection, preservation and promotion of historic vehicles and their safe use, has elected a new president. Alberto Scuro, President of Automotoclub Storico Italiano (ASI), has succeeded Tiddo Bresters, whose second three-year term has now come to an end. The election, which took place at the 2025 General Assembly of FIVA held in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil on November 23, also saw the elections of Natasa Grom Jerina as the new Senior Vice President for Internal Relations, and Karlheinz Jungbeck take up her former position of Vice President for Youth and Cultural Affairs. Tiddo Bresters was elected to the FIVA Arbitration Panel, as was JJ Dolleman and Carlos Scoseria. Malcolm Grubb, Vice President for Events; Lars Genild, Vice President for Legislation and Gabriela Magureanu,…

The Heritage Skills Academy (HSA) has been named Industry Supporter of the Year at the prestigious International Historic Motoring Awards, celebrated as the global benchmark for excellence in the collector car community. HSA, which operates training centres at Brooklands and Bicester, was established through a collaboration with the Federation Skills Trust, the charity arm of the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs (FBHVC). The academy has been working to train students in all aspects of classic car restoration and maintenance, while also showcasing its skills publicly, including at the 2025 Goodwood Revival. HSA is the only organisation offering dedicated apprenticeships for the historic car and motorsport sectors, helping safeguard skills at risk of being lost. The award was collected by HSA’s Operations Director Janice Pitchforth and Operations Manager Kyra Hill…

FORD SIERRA XR4x4 (1985-1993) The three-door XR4i, Ford’s first attempt at a fast Sierra, so nearly hit the mark but was hampered by awkward styling, with its bi-plane rear spoiler, split side windows and plastic cladding along the lower half. So after just over two years of being on sale, Ford refreshed the idea with four-wheel drive added to the mix, creating the XR4x4. Now a five-door hatch rather than a three-door, the XR4x4 of March 1985 carried over the 148bhp 2.8-litre V6 but now combined it with grippy Ferguson Formula 4x4 transmission and disc brakes at each corner. Externally it wore colour-coded bumpers and a more subtle tailgate spoiler, plus smart 14-inch seven-spoke alloys. The model survived the Sierra’s 1987 facelift, and in 1989 got the larger 2.9-litre Cologne…

We’re back to January 1990 this week, outside Rede House on Corporation Road in Middlesbrough. It’s now student flats, but 35 years ago was a bustling hive of former street furniture, including a Nissan Bluebird built just up the road in Sunderland. This one is flanked by a silver Vauxhall Chevette on one side, and a Mk2 VW Golf and Mk4 Ford Escort on the other. In the next row, meanwhile, we can see a Vauxhall Nova Merit alongside a contemporary stablemate in the shape of a Mk2 Cavalier, plus a Mk3 Ford Capri – probably an early 2.8 Injection – and a pair of Austin Montegos. Spot anything we’ve missed? Get in touch via ccb.ed@kesley.co.uk.…

The Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs (FBHVC) has announced its date for Drive it Day 2026, which will celebrate the 21st birthday of the event and is already poised to take the amount raised for the NSPCC’s Childline service over the £250,000 barrier. Drive it Day runs in April each year and celebrates the ‘One Thousand Mile Trial’ that took place in April 1900 and originally involved an 11-day round Britain tour to demonstrate the viability of the new-fangled invention: the motor car. The FBHVC launched national Drive it Day back in 2005, and for many, it marks the start of the historic vehicle driving season. Today, Drive it Day is an opportunity to raise awareness and support amongst the public for the historic vehicle movement, as part of…

Fears that rolling Vehicle Exercise Duty (VED) exemption for historic vehicles could be halted as part of the Labour government’s Budget have not transpired. Before Chancellor Rachel Reeves outlined her Budget on November 26, speculation and rumour had been growing that the rolling 40-year exemption would be frozen or removed altogether – much of it stemming from Shadow Transport Secretary Richard Holden telling the press back in September that the exemption was at risk of a “tax grab” by Labour. The rolling VED exemption was initially introduced in 1996 on a rolling 25-year basis, however, in 1997 the then-new Labour government froze the cut-off date at January 1, 1973 – something that remained in place until the Conservatives reinstated rolling VED exemption – albeit now on a 40-year basis –…

A custom Fiat ‘126B’, inspired by Group B rally cars and hailing from Poland, has been named the 2025 Hot Wheels Legends Tour Global Champion. The announcement came during the virtual Global Grand Finale on November 15, with Paweł Czarnecki’s wild Fiat creation now set to be immortalised as a 1:64 Hot Wheels die-cast collectible, available worldwide. The Fiat, which won the Poland Tour stop, is the result of over 2500 hours of hands-on work and 800 hours of 3D printing. Its design draws on 1980s rally aesthetics, featuring a dramatically widened stance, a flip-forward front section, functional aerodynamics, and a full roll cage. The car is powered by a Fiat Uno 1.4 Turbo engine, paired with a Nissan 200SX GT28 turbocharger and Fiat Punto GT gearbox. Since its 2018…

Even the biggest and best car manufacturers can have an off day. A new model can arrive with a fanfare but then endure showroom struggles; perhaps it’s too expensive, or too slow. Perhaps it’s too radical, or just simply out of step with what buyers want. Here, we’ve gathered 10 cars from big-brand manufacturers that were slow sellers, one of which recovered, but most of which didn’t. As classics, some have enjoyed a reversal of fortunes to be highly desirable. As for others, there are so few left that you probably couldn’t find one, even if you wanted to… FORD CONSUL CLASSIC/CAPRI Unfeasible as it may seem, Ford entered the 1960s without a mid-sized family car. However, that changed when Ford decided to repurpose the Consul name (established as the…

Preluded by one of the most memorable advertising campaigns in TV history, as it drove through burning cornfields to the backdrop of Berlin’s Take My Breath Away, the Peugeot 405 was built at PSA’s Ryton factory as well as in France. It was a car that very nearly perfected the family car formula. Unveiled in 1987, the 405 wore crisp Pininfarina lines that gave it a distinct, aerodynamic appearance, and a sense of modernity compared with rivals such as the Ford Sierra and Vauxhall Cavalier Mk2, which felt dowdy by comparison. Its slender headlamps and gently curved bonnet stood out on British roads, while inside, the dashboard’s neat symmetry, clear instrumentation, and thoughtful switchgear reflected a focus on style and user-friendliness. Higher-spec models had velour seats and even some Rover-baiting…

Originally, the coachbuilt two-door cabriolet and coupe versions of the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow bore dauntingly long titles such as the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow Mulliner Park Ward Drophead Coupé. However, this all changed in 1971 when they were replaced by a new model with a name derived from the French word for a road cut into the side of a cliff or mountain, particularly those along the Riviera. That name was Corniche – a perfectly fitting moniker for a glamorous two-door Rolls-Royce. Alongside the retitling to Corniche Saloon and Corniche Convertible came subtle cosmetic revisions: the radiator shell was deepened and slightly raked forward to give the car a more imposing frontal appearance, while the dashboard was redesigned to incorporate an exclusive set of auxiliary dials and a tachometer. A wood-rimmed…

The Royal Automobile Club is set to host its summer Concours at the Woodcote Park clubhouse in Surrey on July 8, 2026, following the success of this year’s debut. The inaugural event established a permanent place in the ‘Summer Motor Week’ schedule for Club members, their guests, international collectors and car lovers. Falling in the middle of the week between the British Grand Prix and the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the Concours will be at the centre of a lengthy celebration of motoring in the UK. The unique Woodcote Park estate made a superb backdrop for the first Concours, which featured some 200 vehicles spanning three centuries. Next year will bring all-new concours categories and special displays, plus the RM Sotheby’s Summer Sale, which will boast a wide selection of…

James May’s much-loved 2010 Porsche 911 (997.2) Carrera S has found a new home after attracting significant attention on the Collecting Cars platform, ultimately selling for £55,997 following 55 bids. The seven-day auction, which ended on 25 November, drew strong interest from Porsche enthusiasts and fans of the former Top Gear and Grand Tour presenter, affectionately known to millions as ‘Captain Slow’. May, known for his meticulous approach to motoring and his appreciation for cars with genuine character, had owned the Carrara White 997.2 Carrera S from new. The car’s specification – manual gearbox, rare limited-slip differential, and 19-inch Carrera Classic wheels – reflects his ‘purist’ philosophy, prioritising engagement and balance over outright speed. Finished in Carrara White with Ocean Blue leather, the 911 had covered just 31,294 miles entirely…

DRK Imports, a Morayshire family business specialising in vehicles imported from Japan and Thailand, has opened its first dedicated premises in Elgin as it celebrates a decade of steady growth. Founded in 2015 by siblings David and Charlotte Usher, the company began as a small operation selling engineering supplies to fund their passion for car imports. It has since developed into a trusted name among specialist car enthusiasts across Scotland, the UK and overseas. The firm now handles at least ten orders per month, with a focus in sourcing specialist vehicles to order. For example, its stock list currently includes a supercharged Mk1 Toyota MR2 and a Mk1 Ford Cortina. The new showroom will display a limited stock of imported vehicles, giving customers the opportunity to view cars that have…

Brightwells’ final classic sale of 2025 will see a huge variety of cars and bikes offered when it gets underway on Saturday December 6, with bidding closing from Wednesday December 10 at 11:01am. Viewing is available at the firm’s Leominster base on the Monday and Tuesday, giving bidders ample chance to size up a festive bargain. For anyone looking for a well-established traditional classic, this sale has numerous options. A 1971 Fiat 500L and a 1973 VW Beetle both carry £5000-£6000 guide prices, and there’s also a Hillman Imp project offered with no reserve. Those with deeper pockets might fancy a rare 1971 Mini Cooper S Mk3 that’s fresh from a total nut-and-bolt restoration and is guided at £23,500-£24,500, while a 1996 Rover Mini Cooper 35 Anniversary showing under 30,000…

Introduced in 1992, the Carina E is the baby of this bunch and was based on the Japanese market Corona T90, rather than the contemporary (larger) Carina. It had even more of a European bent than the Bluebird – the launch hubris said that the ‘E’ suffix stood for ‘Excellence in Europe’, as the Carina E would become the first car to be built at the Burnaston factory near Derby. Designed under the hand of chief engineer Masazumi Konishi, the Carina shows a marked contrast to the older Bluebird with the curvier aerodynamic look that was very much of the ’90s. It was aerodynamic and efficient, with a drag coefficient of 0.30 and some high-tech lean burn engines that reduced the fuel air mix when the car was being driven…

The most common versions of the most popular cars on our roads often end up as the scarcest, hardest-to-find examples, and that’s certainly the case with this one – after all, when did you last see a pre-facelift Ford Escort Mk5? Introduced in 1990 and neatly styled, the new Escort was criticised by the press but quickly became a top seller thanks to a wide choice of body styles, trim levels and engine choices. Its combination of no-nonsense mechanical componentry and low running costs meant it did what the Escort always did, providing straightforward cars that were popular with the public and fleet managers alike. The 1.6 LX was one of the most popular variants of the lot, equipped with electric front windows, velour trim, a smart rear spoiler, a…