Indholdsfortegnelse for October 2021 i Classic Car Mart

Welcome… STAYING PUT If all had gone according to plan, I would have typed this column just hours before jumping on a flight to Spain but like so many families this year, the hurdles involved in not only leaving the country but returning home again have seen the idea scrapped in favour of a break closer to home. Surprisingly, the anticipated long faces were replaced by a newly-licensed and newly carowning 17-year old son who is now enthused at the prospect of taking his own wheels on a UK trip instead. And the unexpected time on our hands provided an ideal opportunity to get busy in the garage and give said BMW a proper service before it sets sail to do battle with the British holiday traffic, which looks to…

RECORD LOVE FOR THE UNEXCEPTIONAL Arecord attendance of over 3000 visitors gathered in celebration of long-forgotten family favourites and base models as Hagerty hosted its flagship Festival of the Unexceptional on July 31. The event was taking place for the seventh time, but had another new venue for 2021 – Grimsthorpe Castle in Lincolnshire. Classic parking lined both sides of the driveway, with over 40 carefully-selected unexceptional cars enclosed in the quadrant for the unique Concours d’Ordinaire. First place was awarded to John Coupland and his Proton 1.5GL Black Knight, while second place was won by Danny Wilson and his very early Peugeot 106 XN Graduate, which cost just £500. Aged 30 and 27 respectively, John and Danny were indicative of the younger demographic the event increasingly attracts. Special mentions…

REVIEW: HOBBS PARKER, TIMED ONLINE, JULY 28-29 We previewed the Hobbs Parker auction on our Classics World YouTube channel and by sale time the Ashford-based firm had amassed a diverse catalogue with some interesting finds. You can still see the preview film online and can judge for yourself how well the CCM team evaluated the cars they picked out, one of which was the 1986 ‘Series 1’ Escort RS Turbo, a star of the sale at £24,585 after fees. For those not so keen to follow the herd, the Vauxhall VX2300 we fancied as a left-field alternative to a Granada cost its new owner £3630, while the BMW 320i convertible fell slightly shy of its estimate at £5800, the previous insurance claim in its history no doubt hitting its value.…

MARKET TRENDS BL’S BIG SALOONS Launched within a week of the Rover P6, the Triumph 2000 would eventually be replaced by the Rover SD1 as BL’s large saloon car. How have values compared? ROVER SD1 (1976-86) In 1971 Triumph, Jaguar and Rover were grouped together as part of British Leyland’s Specialist Division and the first product from this forward-thinking arrangement was developed under the code name SD1. The new Rover saloon would go on to retain its project code name when it was first unveiled in 1976 and right from the start the Rover SD1’s engine bay had been designed to receive the Buick-sourced V8 which had previously powered the company’s outgoing P6 saloon. Constructed at a brand-new plant in Solihull, the five-door 155bhp SD1 featured an appealing David Bache…

TWIN TEST: MGC v TR6 GO BIG OR GO HOME If you’re after six cylinders under the bonnet of your traditional British sports car, both TR6 and MGC make a compelling case for themselves. We try to choose between them. Words: Aaron McKay Photos: Paul Wager The British sports car offers classic style, hands-on sporting feel, and a full-bodied soundtrack almost no matter which you choose. Anything from a pokey MG Midget to a svelte Jaguar E-Type will deliver these qualities, in different amounts of course. Found somewhere in the middle are the MGC and TR6. They are both products of the 1960s, both genuinely sporting machines, and both enjoy the cultured tune of six-cylinders lined up under their bonnets. However, even if BLMC did find MG and Triumph too…

ROUND UP: MADE BY MG ABINGDON-MADE CLASSICS The Oxfordshire town forever associated with MG also had a hand in some other very significant models. WORDS: SAM SKELTON British Leyland closed the MG factory in Abingdon in 1981. After decades of sports car production, the plant which had produced them had itself ceased to be – with the next generation of MGs built alongside their Austin and Rover cousins at Cowley and Longbridge. But as obtuse as that concept might seem to diehard followers of the famed octagon, the inverse can also be held true. MG was not the only marque to emanate from Abingdon. Nor were sports cars its only fodder. We’ve chosen nine of our favourite examples of Abingdon’s creativity, ranging from the sensible saloons of the 1950s through…

DATABASE: LOTUS ELAN (1962-1973) THE MARKETPLACE THE CARS THE BEGINNING DATABASE: LOTUS ELAN (1962-1973) As Lotus releases its last petrol-powered car, we celebrate the history of the original Elan which put the company on the map as a road car maker. Words: Paul Wager Despite intrigue surrounding his business dealings (just don’t mention De Lorean…) Lotus founder Colin Chapman remains one of the greats of the motor industry and his philosophies on weight saving and efficiency were decades ahead of their time. Perhaps the perfect illustration of this was seen in the original Lotus Elan, a real giant-killer which used clever design and engineering innovation to great effect and was capable of facing up to some much more expensive cars with much longer pedigrees. Indeed, in 1970 CAR magazine published…

BUYING GUIDE: NISSAN 350Z 2002-2008 LUCKY SEVEN Want a brawny sports car offering old-school thrills? This is a cracking choice, and they won’t be getting any cheaper. Words: Chris Randall The Z badge dates back five decades, the 240Z (or ‘Fairlady’) being launched in 1969, but in the years that followed subsequent models appeared to get larger and softer, prompting enthusiasts to worry that the sports car had become a cruiser. But such concerns were quickly dispelled by the arrival of the 350Z, its notably muscular appearance leaving buyers in no doubt about its sporting intent. Launched in 2002 it arrived in the UK the following year with a price tag of £24,000, and the choice of two versions. The entry-level was generously equipped but the majority of buyers stumped…

ENDANGERED SPECIES: LATE MODEL DAIMLERS THERE’S NOTHING LIKE A DAIM(LER) Nineties Daimlers offer stupidly good value and incredible luxury, but the difficulty today is finding one. Words: Craig Cheetham Daimler may have lost its individual identity when it became part of Jaguar, but the brand still stood for supreme luxury, so much so that it was an expensive rarity when new, let along now. What may surprise you, though, is that there are currently well under 1000 examples of the X300 and X308 ‘XJ’ saloon models currently in use in the UK and sporting a Daimler badge – 796 at the last count, according to howmanyleft.co.uk with a further 902 on SORN. That makes the Daimler X300/X308 something of a bargain barge with tons of potential, because the traditional equation…

PLUGS&LEADS FIVA WARNS OF GLOBAL SKILLS SHORTAGE FIVA, the international federation dedicated to historic vehicles, is warning of a global skills shortage that could see some of the most iconic vehicles in history lost unless new blood is introduced to the restoration industry, with specialist training urgently needed to avoid vital skills dying out. That was the main conclusion reached at a FIVA-supported international symposium in Bucharest on July 24. Hosted by Retromobil Club Romania, ‘Restoration – Art or Science?’ saw a succession of world-renowned authorities address guests from 10 countries, with the event also streamed online to thousands worldwide. Speakers included Stéphane Guarato and Arthur Morault, who explained how a lack of skilled labour means some car enthusiasts are waiting three years for work to begin on their classics.…

LUXURY MULSANNES OFFERED There’s a still a chance to buy a brand-new Bentley with a 6.75-litre L-Series V8 under the bonnet – but only if you’re quick and, presumably, very rich. The British firm ceased production of the £241,000 Mulsanne last year, but now five unused Mulsanne Grand Limousine models have been put on the market. Coachbuilt in partnership with Mulliner, the cars were bespoke creations in 2015 for a customer in the United Arab Emirates, but none of the five have been registered or driven on the road despite having been shipped to the Middle East. The Mulsanne Grand Limousine includes a one metre stretch to the body and a raised roof to provide more headroom in the rear. The five cars all have unique exterior and interior designs,…

MGF 25 MAKES UP FOR LOST TIME Avast crescent of colourful MGFs and TFs lined up around the British Motor Museum on July 24 in belated celebration of the F’s 25th anniversary. The MG Car Club’s MGF Register had originally planned the event for last year, but the pandemic had shifted things back a year. The museum itself was also open, with early SVC and SAC-suffixed MGFs lining the entrance walkway. The very first MGF was on show as you went in, and further MG history inside included the 1985 EXE concept and the famous EX speed record cars from the 1930s and 1950s. Chatting between friends and a strong line-up of talks on the open stage kept everyone busy. The first presentation saw a panel of Autocar Editor-in-Chief Steve…

CLASSIC ROAD TEST: LAND ROVER SERIES III UTILITY THRILLS As the reimagined Defender looks set to save the Land Rover brand, we revisit the last of the traditional Landies. WORDS AND PHOTOS: PAUL WAGER In pre-pandemic times we used to have a regular Friday afternoon game of car speccing in the CCB office where we would use the online car configurators to build up a high-end vehicle and pur colleagues from a football magazine would decide a winner. Needless to say, it was generally only the fancier brands which were involved and Sam Skelton’s purple-on-purple Bentley would have been a bit much even for Liberace. Naturally, in the week that the long-awaited new Defender was launched, Land Rover was the chosen brand but less than 30 seconds into the exercise…

MORGAN PLUS 4 WORTHY TRADITIONS The Morgan Plus Four and 4/4 have been with us now for what seems like millennia. Sticking to a tried and trusted format even when the rest of the motor industry moved on, this anachronistic delight makes for a top classic today. Plus, you’ll beat the waiting list for a new one. Here’s what you need to know. WORDS: SAM SKELTON, PAUL WAGER Launched in 1936 and taking its name from its status as the firm’s first four-wheeled, four-cylinder car, the Morgan 4-4 (later 4/4) was launched in 1936, production resuming postwar with the 1267cc Standard engine, but when Standard enlarged the unit to 2088cc, it was felt too large for the model, justifying the creation of a new model: the Plus 4, powered by…

RETRO RIVALS: SUZUKI CAPPUCCINO v DAIHATSU COPEN MICRO MACHINES The Japanese kei regulations threw up some fascinating creations which for a few years were sold in the UK. We try to choose between two of the most popular. Words: James Howe The Japanese domestic market is an automotive landscape that’s been shaped over generations by a unique combination of rapid urbanisation, stringent regulation and a diverse climate. The cars produced to suit this environment – almost exclusively by Japanese manufacturers – tend to be very interesting as a result. The models produced to meet Japan’s keijidosha (light automobile) regulations are perhaps the most idiosyncratic. Known in English as kei cars, these occupy the lowest passenger car tax band and must be no more than 3.4 metres long and 1.48 metres…

STAFF CARS STAFF CLASSICS It’s more change on the fleet as we revisit some old projects, welcome some new members to the collection and look into staffers’ own garages. MGF VVC Aaron McKay One of my first jobs on the MGF was to replace the exhaust manifold but I’d held back from also replacing the back box until I happened to come across my preferred Toyosports back box for sale online at a discounted price. Off came the old exhaust and the new stainless steel item sat ready to fit. If only things were so simple, of course. The first challenge was removing the old back box fixings, some of which required use of a bolt grip remover and, as I’d come to learn while messing about with the MGF’s…

Classic Crossword 189 Clues Across 1 Where Ford set up shop in the UK in 1911 (8,4) 7 Any track day venue (7) 8 Sporty Nissan classics dating back over 50 years (1-4) 9 Engine products graded by viscosity (4) 10 Long-time maker of Series Land Rovers in Iran (8) 14 Forerunner to the Ford Transit (6) 15 Stepped on the pedal and slowed things down (6) 18 Diminutive German car unveiled in 1957 (3,5) 21 _ Shark, famous design concept and basis for the Corvette C3 (4) 23 _ quality, one aspect of the DeLorean with issues (5) 24 Hillman Hunter production moved to this country in 1976 (7) 25 Marque established in 1904 in Barcelona (7-5) Clues Down 1 Thompson Manufacturing Company sports car built in the 1980s…

THE FORGOTTEN LAND ROVERS Anyone not familiar with Land Rover history might wonder why we referred to the Series III as the last of the traditional models but although it may look very similar to the last-of-the-line cars, it’s very different under the skin. The Series III was the last of the Land Rovers to use the leaf-sprung chassis layout, being replaced in 1983 by the 110 – its name signifying the chassis length – which employed the coil springs and full-time 4x4 from the Range Rover. The shorter Land Rover 90 was added in 1984 as well as the extra-long 127. Engine upgrades arrived in 1985, with a turbodiesel option from 1986 and trim generally modernised all round – including plastic Freight Rover door handles to replace the basic…

BUY ONE Thanks to Morse Classics in Northampton for providing this nicely presented pair for our photographs. The TR6 is a 1975 example with the CR-spec engine which retains the original fuel injection and although it’s an older restoration it has certainly lasted superbly and still looks great both inside and out. The MGC has also received a ground-up rebuild and much expenditure since, making for a car which is very much on the button and from our short eperience drives really well. Morse is asking £22,495 for the TR6 and £29,995 for the MGC and you'll find more details at www.morseclassics.co.uk.…

THE 26R The Elan was designed as a road car from the start, unlike the Elite which was conceived as a more of a racer for the road. The Lotus badge on the nose though meant that owners soon took to the track in their Elans and discovered that the little car was capable of impressive performance. Unortunately they also discovered the limits of its road-biased engineering, as the Rotoflex couplings started to destroy themselves and the relatively soft springing of the standard car made itself felt. After initially distancing itself from motorsport with the Elan, Lotus eventually relented in the face of customer pressure and created a special edition with motorsport in mind the 26R, named after the car’s Lotus type number. Available from 1964, this cost £2450 when…

LIVING WITH THE VW GOLF GTI Mk3 THIRD TIME’S A CHARM Now approaching its 30th anniversary, the much-criticised Mk3 Golf GTI has the ability to convert even the most committed of naysayers, as our experiences prove. Words: Jeff Ruggles Without naming names, a work colleague summed up how many feel about the Mk3 Volkswagen Golf GTI on one of his first days in the Kelsey office. Offered a lift home to his new digs on the outskirts of town, he keenly responded until learning the car was our 1996 Dragon Green Mk3 project. “I’d rather walk,” came the reply, no doubt guided by little more than the car’s unfair reputation amongst armchair experts. Indeed, the Mk3 GTI has long endured a reception that’s lukewarm at best, not helped by its…

Retro cars MARKET TRENDS MODERN M3s The six-cylinder M3s took the game in a very different direction from the stripped-back original but are now climbing in value. Words: Andrew Everett E36 M3 1992-1999 After many years of being somewhat in the wilderness, the E36 M3 has finally found its niche. The E36 range as a whole went through something of a bad patch where most of them seemed to be horrible bangers clinging to an MoT but that phase is now rapidly passing and prices are on the up. The E36 M3 suffered from looking too similar to the regular E36; with just sills, wheels and bumpers to distinguish it from a 323i, it really struggled in the face of the E46 M3 launched in 2000 and its boxy progenitor.…

TAILGATE EVERYDAY HEROES Sam reckons that unexceptional is exceptional – and here’s why. Mainstream news sources have been up in arms about the winner of the Festival of the Unexceptional. And let’s be honest, some of you can probably understand why. A Proton 1.5GL is hardly an inspiring car, even if this one was the sole surviving Black Knight special edition, presented without so much as a flesh wound. But I was one of the judges that chose to award that prize – I’ve been a judge every year since its inception, and I worry that those who denigrate this car’s victory have somewhat missed the point not only of the event, but of the Proton. You see, the Proton’s brilliance is in its mediocrity. We dismiss them not because…