Innehållsförteckning för 12/10/2025 från Classic Car Buyer

Christmas isn’t even here yet, but the holiday adverts are already popping up on the TV as people seek to get away from it all in 2026. For me, any planned trips are more of a busman’s holiday as they all seemed to involve old cars, but working out the logistics has certainly been a welcome distraction from Christmas shopping. There’s method to this of course, by planning early, you can save yourself a fortune on things like Channel crossings and hotels. Plus, I find the research into destinations and routes fascinating. There’s nothing like seeing the world in your own classic, and sharing those experiences with fellow enthusiasts. Looking forward to these occasions and taking steps to make them happen is an ideal way to raise spirits in the…

When it comes to compact 1970s saloons, the Vauxhall Viva HC never seems to receive the column inches enjoyed by its Ford Escort rival. And yet it was another smash hit, building on the success of previous Vivas with sales of almost 641,000 – and that’s despite the Cavalier and Chevette arriving during the second half of its life. The HC made its debut in 1970, based on the HB but stepping up marginally in size. While it still carried a hint of Americana, it shed the HB’s classic Coke-bottle curves for a more contemporary look. The 1972 example from the Drive Dad’s Car fleet at Great British Car Journey is a particularly special treat — any HCs is a rare sight today, but an early model like this is…

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It’s been widely reported that Gerry McGovern – Jaguar Land Rover’s chief creative officer and the architect of Jaguar’s divisive new look and feel – has left the company. The long-serving JLR designer was allegedly told to leave the business with immediate effect. The move comes just a week after new JLR CEO PB Balaji started in his role following Adrian Mardell’s retirement, and brings an end to McGovern’s 21-year career at Land Rover and Jaguar. During this he introduced the Range Rover Evoque and helped shape the reinvention of the Defender, as well as helping to further the Range Rover’s position as the luxury car of choice. Before joining JLR in 2004, McGovern was with the Rover Group, where he worked on the MG EX-E concept car, the MGF…

The Viva made its debut in HA guise in 1963, becoming Vauxhall’s first foray into the small car market since the 1930s. It was introduced a year after fellow General Motors company Opel launched the Opel Kadett A, but the Vauxhall used imperial measurements rather than Metric. The HA was very successful, with around 310,000 units sold, but was short-lived – in 1966 it was replaced by the bigger HB. Sporting a trendy Coke-bottle design, it no longer shared a platform with Opel and was solely a Vauxhall effort. After sales of almost 567,000 HB Vivas, the HC arrived in 1970 – a range that would stay in production for an impressive nine years and be the last hurrah for a Vauxhall-only design. Indeed, despite the arrival of the Chevette…

Replacing a legend is never easy, but in 1969 the original Mini Cooper had run its course. With BMC morphing into British Leyland, ties with John Cooper were soon to be severed, and the next generation of performance Mini would instead be based on the new ‘ADO 20’ body – also used by the square-nosed Mini Clubman. The 1275cc Cooper S would continue for another couple of years in Mk3 guise to satisfy a contract with Cooper, but the 998cc model would be replaced by the new slab-fronted 1275 GT. It had a slow start, but the 1275 GT was more sophisticated than the round-nose Minis thanks to its revised fascia and more upmarket trim, and today, it’s an extremely sought-after Mini variant in its own right. This one,…

Join in the CCB social scene by sending us your photos and emails, sharing your thoughts and opinions. Write to: ccb.ed@kelsey.co.uk. HOME FREE Reader Martin Rowley got in touch regarding the confirmation that classics will remain tax exempt in our December 3 issue: “As an enthusiast who maintains two classics on a modest income, the rolling 40-year exemption is what keeps these cars viable for many of us. It’s not just about saving money — it’s about keeping automotive history alive on our roads. The uncertainty leading up to the Budget had many of us worried that enjoyment of our hobby would be priced out. Thank you for highlighting the issue so clearly, and for giving enthusiasts a voice.” We’re as relieved as you are, Martin! MEMORY LANE Desperate to…

Classic car insurer Footman James has revealed the festive fantasy motor the community would most like to discover on their driveway on Christmas morning — and the surprise winner is a humble off-roader rather than a big-budget icon. Claiming the top spot with 28 per cent of the vote, the rugged Suzuki SJ has emerged as the classic enthusiasts’ dream Christmas car. Known for its boxy styling and cult following, the SJ beat a field of far more glamorous contenders. In second place, gathering 22 per cent of the vote, was the 1959 Chevrolet Impala, a slice of Americana famed for its sweeping tailfins and chrome-laden nostalgia. Close behind, the elegant Mercedes SL ‘Pagoda’ secured third place with 18 per cent, reaffirming its status as one of the most timeless…

At one time, the estate car was almost the default choice when it came to families looking for their next car. But aside from a few notable stalwarts, that position has changed as SUVs and crossovers have proliferated in popularity. Rewind to the 1980s, and the picture looked different. Estate cars had been around for several decades, but the ’80s saw them really hit the mainstream and sell in big numbers. Just about every major manufacturer offered load-lugging models, and usefully, many remain practical today. So if you find the thought of a modern SUV a turn-off, how about delving back a few years for something that can carry plentiful cargo, but enjoys classic status at the same time? You’ll have to exercise some patience in some cases, but we’ve…

MGB ROADSTER There’s a reason why the MGB roadster is Britain’s most popular classic sports car, and it’s not just because it’s inexpensive and easy to maintain. The delicately styled B has earned its place in the pantheon of motoring icons through a blend of timeless design, approachable performance, and everyday usability. It’s easy to forget, six decades later, just how advanced it was for the time – partly because an 18-year production life meant it felt quite old towards the end of its life. That certainly wasn’t the case when it was new, however. Introduced in 1962, the MGB adopted modern monocoque construction, marking a departure from the traditional body-on-frame layout of its predecessor, the MGA. This made the MGB lighter, stiffer, and more refined, all qualities that made…

In 1966, Rolls-Royce introduced a two-door saloon version of the Silver Shadow, crafted by its in-house coachbuilder, Mulliner Park Ward, which later became the Corniche. But it was considered quite traditional in many ways, during a period when car design was becoming increasingly radical. Enter Italian design house, Pininfarina – an unusual move for a company as old-fashioned as Rolls-Royce. Pininfarina, already familiar with the Rolls-Royce ethos, dismantled a Mulliner Park Ward saloon and used its floorpan as the foundation for a new model. Notably, this project became the first Rolls-Royce to be built entirely to metric measurements. Sergio Pininfarina handed the project to his Chief of Styling, Paolo Martin, who was given a precise brief: create a modern, stylish owner-driver’s car that retained the traditional Rolls-Royce elegance. The design…

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