Indholdsfortegnelse for September 2020 i Classic Car Mart

Welcome… DIAMONDS TO DUST We don’t tend to find ourselves writing much about Mitsubishi in Classic Car Mart but this month has seen us getting more involved than usual with the triple-diamond marque. First came the chance to borrow the firm’s immaculately presented first-generation Shogun for this month’s twin test photo shoot and as you can read, it was an illuminating experience which illustrated just why Land Rover was sufficiently shaken to develop the Discovery in double-quick time. Unusually in the corporate world of automotive branding, I was chuffed to discover that the PR folk at the UK importer are genuine car enthusiasts just like us and were amused by my plans to leave our Honda CRX in the space vacated by the Shogun. Shortly after reluctantly handing back the…

CHECK OUT LOADS MORE NEWS AT WWW.CLASSICSWORLD.CO.UK WHEELER DEALERS RETURNS Mike Brewer and Ant Anstead will return to our TV screens with a new series of Wheeler Dealers, with the first of eight episodes to be shown at 9pm on Monday August 31. In the new series, the dynamic duo continues to track down classic and iconic vehicles in need of some TLC, with each episode challenging the pair to restore a car to its former glory before selling it on for a profit. Mike is charged with finding vehicles that have money-making potential, while mechanic Ant can usually be found in the Wheeler Dealers workshop, working on everything from bare metal resprays to gearbox conversions. This season zips from sunny southern California to the coldest edges of Maine as…

CHECK OUT LOADS MORE NEWS AT WWW.CLASSICSWORLD.CO.UK AUCTION SETS NEW RECORD With an astonishing £15.8m-worth of classic and competition cars changing hands and a sale rate of 76 per cent, Silverstone Auctions’ flagship two-day Live Online Auction on July 31-August 1 proved to the firm’s highestgrossing sale to date. Some very special cars were offered, with 110 of the 226 lots made up from five separate collections. The SA-30 Collection celebrated 30 years of the Silverstone Classic with 30 carefully selected cars including the 1964 Mini Cooper rebuilt for TV show The Love of Cars, which sold significantly over its top estimate at almost £35,000. The Warwickshire Collection offered perhaps the most eclectic group of cars, headlined by a 1965 Citroën DS19M Décapotable cabriolet, which also beat its top estimate…

H&H, ONLINE, JULY 22 If you’ve spotted too many typos on every other page of this issue then blame the H&H sale which once a month has us rushing to sign off the pages on a Wednesday morning in time to watch the afternoon sale with a fresh brew and our regular office competition to predict the sale values. The July sale kicked off with the good news that as Covid-influenced restrictions ease, H&H is hoping to resume its regular physical sales but also intends to keep these regular live online sales as a popular fixture. The sale kicked off in fine style with a £6000 sale of a no reserve Jaguar 420, representing a great way into ’60s Jaguar ownership and bidding was brisk throughout the afternoon. Perhaps the…

TWIN TEST: SHOGUN v DISCOVERY MOVE OVER ROVER As the Shogun disappears and Mitsubishi’s future in Europe looks uncertain, we revisit the vehicle which had Land Rover on the run. WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY: PAUL WAGER As I began typing this feature I received an email trumpeting the latest Alpinatweaked version of BMW’s biggest 4x4, the X7 which is both monstrously polluting and embarrassingly thirsty in an automotive world frantically trying to electrify itself. It does however illustrate perfectly the love of high-riding premium 4x4s among the buying public, from Audi’s Q range right up to the king of them all, the Range Rover. Despite the growing number of SUVs around though, it’s suddenly become all but impossible to buy a genuine multi-purpose all-wheel drive vehicle which offers both everyday family…

DATABASE: LOTUS ELISE DDAATATBAASBE:A SE: LOTUS ELISE 1996-2011 The car that saved Lotus and continues to define the brand to this day is 25 years old this year, so we revisit the car’s history. Words: Aaron McKay THE MARKETPLACE THE CARS THE BEGINNING Just as many sports car makers have realised in the past, the key to success isn’t just winning on the race track and on the poster wall. Lotus did do well with these two: Chapman’s early works upset plenty of traditionalists at races all over Europe, and the iconic Esprit famously set the producers of James Bond scrambling over themselves to get one for the upcoming film. But another ingredient was necessary to keep the company afl oat, and that was a mainstream model, something affordable, something…

RETRO CARS ENDANGERED SPECIES: RENAULT ESPACE SEVEN-UP The Renault Espace may have been the first MPV to achieve mainstream acceptance, but that’s not enough for it have survived in any great numbers. Even the third generation is now a rarity. Words: Craig Cheetham Often imitated, never bettered – so goes the old idiom. And in the case of the Renault Espace, it’s a cast iron truth. It was the car that effectively invented the MPV segment. Contrary to popular wisdom, though, it wasn’t the very first people carrier. The Fiat 600 Multipla, Nissan Prairie and Toyota Space Cruiser all came before it, but the Renault was the one that captured imaginations sufficiently to make the idea of such a vehicle appealing to the masses. As well as practicality, the Espace…

TAILGATE NOT INVENTED HERE Craig Cheetham ponders the automotive innovations that could have changed the world, but were killed off before their time. Modern cars are great, make no mistake. There. I said it. But allow me to explain. In terms of efficiency, safety and technological brilliance, a brand new car can’t be beaten. But would I own one? No. I can’t stand the harsh ride, over-complicated tech or oversized styling of most new cars, nor can I face the prospect of handing over 300 quid a month for the privilege of having something I’ll never own, which is how car buying seems to operate these days. But despite all this, I still think they’re good. Plus, a lot of the reason that today’s cars are the size they are,…

CHECK OUT LOADS MORE NEWS AT WWW.CLASSICSWORLD.CO.UK PLUGS & LEADS HAVE YOUR SAY The Covid-19 pandemic has already seen fundamental changes to the way many of us live our lives and will inevitably lead to difficult questions about the future being asked sooner rather than later. In this climate, the historic vehicle industry faces its toughest challenge yet to prove its worth, so the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs (FBHVC) is urging enthusiasts to step forward and fight for the cause by taking part in its 2020 National Historic Vehicle Survey. The survey was launched last month and covered in our July 15 issue, but more still needs to be done. The FBHVC is keen to encourage as many enthusiasts as possible to respond to help safeguard the industry…

CLASSIC TOP TRUMPS Lancaster Insurance is giving enthusiasts another opportunity to purchase its Special Edition Top Trumps packs, which proved very popular at the NEC last November. Available now, the cards showcase interesting facts and statistics on 30 classic cars including exotica like the Lamborghini Countach LP400, Ferrari 250 GTO, plus models such as the VW Golf GTI, Mini Cooper, Austin 1100 and MGB GT. In addition, five golden tickets randomly placed in the packs are still to be found. Each lucky winner will receive a pair of tickets to Goodwood Revival 2021 and an overnight stay. (T&Cs apply) The Lancaster Insurance Classic Car Special Edition Top Trumps packs are available to buy at www.lancasterinsurance.co.uk and are priced at £5.99 including delivery.…

VETERAN RUN GETS GREEN LIGHT It’s full steam ahead for the 2020 London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, with the Royal Automobile Club has announcing that it will go ahead as planned on Sunday November 1. The event commemorates the Emancipation Run of 14 November 1896, celebrating the Locomotives on the Highway Act that raised the speed limit for ‘light locomotives’ from 4 to 14mph. The inaugural re-enactment was held in 1927 and has taken place every November since, apart from the war years and 1947 when petrol was rationed. Ben Cussons, Chairman of the Royal Automobile Club, said: “It’s wonderful that we are able to use the traditional London to Brighton route. The event will commence with a rolling start on The Mall and we wish every participant an…

MARKET TRENDS FORGOTTEN JAGUARS In a history full of motoring icons, a few Jaguars have managed to slip out of the spotlight. Today, these might be the most cunning of investments. Words: Aaron McKay Jaguar MkX (1961-1970) It might be too big, the MkX Jaguar. But, now as it was then, it is an excellent alternative to a Rolls-Royce. Yet, with beguiling looks that can excite the kids into crying “let’s go out in the Jag” loud enough to smother financial arguments with the Missus, the MkX continues to trudge forward on a mostly flat appreciation curve leaving values half as much as its contemporary Rolls-Royce or Bentley rivals. You’re also getting quite a bit of E-Type DNA for a fraction of the cost and with double the practicality. There…

ROUND UP: £10,000 CLASSICS TRADITIONAL, AFFORDABLE We go shopping with an imaginary £10,000 and discover there are still some interesting traditional classics on offer from the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s. WORDS: PAUL WAGER, AARON MCKAY, JEFF RUGGLES With the world gradually escaping from lockdown and the online classic auction sales continuing to do great business, many classic car fans are on the hunt for a new toy to make up for the loss of a fortnight’s Mediterranean sun. Here at CCM we’ve always maintained that you don’t need to be wealthy to enjoy the old car hobby and just a few hundred pounds is enough to gain entry into the scene with more modern popular classics. When it comes to traditional classics, yes you’ll need to set your sights a…

PROJECT CAR: FORD ESCORT XR3i DIALLED IN With the windscreen and suspension sorted, the erratic warning lights have been getting on our nerves. WORDS: PAUL WAGER Last month saw us calling in the professionals to restore forward vision on the XR3i courtesy of a new screen. The work was done just as the Covid pandemic began to bite and shortly afterwards the country was sat at home conducting business via Zoom and the Escort found itself locked away in our company car park. The easing of restrictions in May made the ideal opportunity to retrieve the car from its own lockdown and I made arrangements to meet up with Kelsey COO Phil Weeden and collect the remaining project cars. Mask in hand, I braved the – empty, as it turned…

RETRO CARS BUYING GUIDE: NEW MINI COOPER S S CLUB The first hot hatch versions of the new MINI appeared in 2002. Here’s what you need to know about buying a MINI Cooper S or the even spicier JCW. Words: Craig Cheetham Despite an outpouring of bitterness from purists, which is more diluted these days than it was just a decade ago, the BMW MINI has quite a cult following, especially among younger enthusiasts for whom the awkward divorce between BMW and Rover Group isn’t even a memory. As a result, early MINIs are fast becoming collectors’ items and while the holy grail of MINI ownership is probably still a Y-registered Cooper or One (of which just a handful remain), an early ‘R53’ is also hot property – R53 being…

Classic Crossword 175 Clues Across 1 See 17 down 4 Armstrong Siddeley’s mythical mascot (6) 7 Vehicles such as the Ford Thames (4) 8 A Daihatsu model that deserves a show of appreciation! (8) 9 The Shuttle estate was a derivative of this Honda (5) 10 Stablemates of the Lancia Astura (7) 12 The Land Rover Defender, for example (3-6) 15 See 6 down 16 ‘Silver’ Rolls-Royce launched in 1955 (5) 18 Old Vauxhall SUV (8) 19 Makers of the Manta (4) 20 These Lotuses were released in the mid-1990s (6) 21 _ Simca Bagheera, sports car from the 1970s (5) Clues Down 1 Where in South America did VW Camper production finally end in 2013? (6) 2 These A40s were made between 1958 and 1967 (6,7) 3 _ gasket,…

HISTORICS, WINDSORVIEW LAKES, JULY 18 As a semblance of normality returned to the classic car scene, Historics made sure its 10th Anniversary sale on July 18 was an extraordinary occasion. In recent months we’ve become used to sales taking place behind closed doors, but by hosting the event at its privately-owned Windsorview Lakes venue, Historics was able to manage the site in its entirety to meet social distancing requirements. Pleasingly, these were very well respected. People clearly enjoyed being among fellow enthusiasts, for the sale proved to be a huge success. Copious competitive bidding in the hall was supplemented by online and telephone activity, with online registrations coming from 24 countries and accounting for 34 per cent of the lots sold. In all, 140 of the 181 lots found new…

CLASSIC ROAD TEST: JAGUAR XJ-C CLASSIC ROAD TEST: JAGUAR XJ-C LYONS’ SHARE We revisit the car which was supposedly William Lyon’s personal favourite by driving the very last XJ-C built. WORDS: PAUL GUINNESS PHOTOGRAPHY: MATT WOODS Aesthetics are, of course, a subjective matter, as confirmed by the old adage about beauty being in the eye of the beholder. One person’s idea of a good looking car might be seen by someone else as a styling disaster. But how many people would disagree that the two-door coupé version of the Jaguar XJ is a damned fine-looking machine? Precious few, I’d wager. Indeed, of all the variations on the ‘Series’ XJ theme, the XJ-C is surely one of the most attractive and most appealing, making it all the more tragic that it…

RETRO CARS MARKET TRENDS MASERATI 3200 AND 4200 GT There are few badges as evocative as Maserati, yet the company’s sporty GTs from the late 1990s and early 2000s are surprisingly affordable. That’s not likely to last. Words: Craig Cheetham The late 1990s saw a massive resurgence for the luxury GT market following the launch of the Jaguar XK8 and Aston Martin DB7, the pair of which proved that a two-door tin-top didn’t have to be all about performance and handling to have buckets of appeal. Instead, they opened up the door for a new wave of GTs that were still great drivers’ cars but at the same time offered luxury and prestige. These weren’t Porsche or Ferrari rivals, but GTs with more class and less brashness. But while quintessentially…

RETRO CARS RETRO RIVALS: FORD MONDEO ST200 v VAUXHALL VECTRA GSi TIN-TOP TUSSLE The late Nineties were an epochal era for British Touring Car Racing, leading to roadgoing spinoffs that were as much rivals in the showrooms as the racing cars were on the track. But is it Ford or Vauxhall that takes the manufacturer’s title as a modern classic? Words: Craig Cheetham Win on Sunday, sell on Monday. It’s a mantra that has powered motorsport ever since Firestone Tires director and part-time racer, Bob Tasca, first used the phrase during the 1965 NASCAR season. Tasca sponsored a Ford race team, and the Blue Oval went on to use the phrase to promote the Lotus Cortina to its own dealer network back here in Europe. That car was, of course,…

RETRO CARS LIVING WITH THE HONDA S2000 THE POWER OF DREAMS Honda’s S2000 was a technological tour de force but what’s it like to live with as it ages? You might be surprised. Words Paul Wager It’s become the accepted version of automotive history that the 1990s roadster resurgence was kick-started by Mazda’s MX-5 which then saw all the major makers scrambling to produce their own modern sports car, from Barchetta and MR2 to Boxster and SLK. Honda was there too, releasing its own roadster in 1999 but always the maverick among the Japanese makers, it took a very different approach. Instead of the MX-5’s mildly stimulating performance, the S2000 dialled it up to 11 with a VTEC-equipped engine revving like a sports bike and providing 240bhp without a turbocharger…