Innehållsförteckning för January 2025 från Classics World

I type this having just returned from the annual bash at the NEC, traditionally the point at which the classic car world calls a halt to outside activities and retreats indoors until Spring. To my delight/horror (delete as appropriate) I realise I've been attending the big sheds near the M42 for the best part of 20 years, or even longer if you count the days when we still had a British International Motor Show and it's fascinating to see how the old car hobby has evolved. It's accepted these days that the market for prewar machinery has started to contract somewhat as fewer enthusiasts are prepared to mix it in modern traffic with near century-old brakes and performance, but as ever with these things, there are new faces appearing at…

READERS' CARS TRIUMPH 2.5 PI Last year Kieron Trumper was searching for a classic car. He had previously owned a 1993 Volkswagen Polo, and wanted something completely different from Ford Fiestas and other recent superminis. And so, at the age of 20, he became the custodian of this lovely 1968 Jasmine Yellow Triumph 2.5 PI. The PI was borne of Triumph's need for a more powerful version of both its 2000 saloon and the TR4A, the two-seater still relying on the venerable Standard engine. After trying triple carbs on the 2-litre unit and also considering the Stag V8, the solution was to install the Lucas Petrol Injection system in a revised six-cylinder engine upgraded to 2498cc in both cars. The TR5 debuted in October 1967 and Triumph planned to compete…

ROAD TEST 1985 JAGUAR XJ6 SOVEREIGN 4.2 Announced in 1979, the Series 3 Jaguar XJ has to rate as one of the most successful updates of an ageing design ever carried out. While still looking like essentially the same car, styling was tweaked by Pininfarina in Italy, the top half subtly modified with such modern touches as single-pane front door glass, flush door handles, enlarged glass area and more. Impact-absorbing bumpers were given bright tops that made them blend in very well, while at the back there was a much bigger rear screen and restyled tail. Changes to the interior were also subtle, but there was big news under the bonnet with a switch from carburettors to Lucas fuel injection on the 4.2 and V12, while the 3.8 wasn't exported…

Forming part of a double-header weekend with the German Car Festival the day before at the same venue, Classic Japfest traded German machinery for the very best that Japan has to offer. With organisers opting to emit track time in favour of opening up the circuit for additional cars, some 1600 classic Japanese icons were on display at Classic Japfest on Sunday, October 6. We were very taken by various well-prepared Datsun 240Zs, a remarkably rust-free Subaru Brat, Mazda Eunos Cosmo and an Autozam AZ-1, while Fast Car's display included various standouts such as Jeremy Clarkson's Mitsuoka LeSeyde from The Grand Tour. The Icons show and shine competition crowned three immaculately-presented cars: an EK9-generation Honda Civic, Mazda RX-7 FD and a glorious Datsun 510. Meanwhile, editorial staff were tasked with…

The Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show attracted thousands of visitors over the weekend of 8-10 November, 2024 in a welcome display of continued enthusiasm for classic cars as the show celebrated its 40th anniversary. A record-setting 330 car clubs formed the enthusiast-centric backbone of the show, bolstered by the usual vast array of exhibitors, car dealers and trade stands throughout the expansive halls of the NEC in Birmingham. Famous faces, experts and commentators — including the Classics World team — were on hand to discuss the industry and offer advice at the Meet the Experts Theatre, while the returning Pride of Ownership and Meguiars Club Showcase stands saw huge interest and interaction from keen enthusiasts. Iconic Auctioneers returned to its pride-of-place spot in Hall 2, with an impressive array of…

PART 6 Repairing or replacing the sills and wheelarches on the Marina aren't jobs that can be carried out in isolation, for the simple reason that the two meet and overlap and in last month's sill replacement we showed both rear wheelarches cut off to deal with rust on the flange where they join the inner arch. Cutting out the arch in a smooth arc is not as easy as it looks using a flat disc. Alan went slowly and carefully though, then chopped away the rusty metal at either end of the inner wheelarch. He also cleaned back the bottom of the rear wing to see how far the rust extended. Once he was happy he'd gone right back to sound metal the cut edges could be tidied up…

FUTURE Classics READERS' CARS People often talk about that “difficult second album,” and that's exactly what the secondgeneration 'E36' M3 was to BMW. Despite selling well when new, it's struggled to find a dedicated fan base but things have been even tougher for the M incarnation. To be fair, it was always going to struggle to impress after the legendary original and it had a nearly impossible task on its wheels to try and outdo a car that was so highly revered. Part of the problem was BMW's approach to the second-generation M3 – the aim was to make a car that was more of an all-rounder, a more usable and user-friendly sports car, but that's not what people were expecting. They thought they were getting an evolution of the…

The handbrake has suddenly stopped working,” came the warning as I was handed the keys to my latest project vehicle. It was suggested I adjust the handbrake shoes, which was the first job for this month's instalment, and was completed on my driveway. Sure enough, the handbrake shoes needed adjusting, which isn't a particularly difficult job, providing you can find the adjuster. So, I felt a sense of achievement when I had the handbrake working and set off to AES York (autoelectricsyork.co.uk) to borrow a ramp to check the front brakes. I was glad to be at AES because the first embarrassing hurdle involved extracting the caps that protect the wheel bolts. The caps on the rear wheel bolts had been a little fiddly to remove, but I'd managed with…

Toyota Yaris (1999-2005) Voted European Car of the Year in 1999, the Toyota Yaris made quite a splash when new. Indeed, it was a massive departure from the totally underwhelming Starlet which it replaced. For a start it looked very European with its rounded styling and bug-eyed front end, and even the entry level 1.0 had plenty of poke thanks to the clever use of a Toyota's highly efficient VVT-I engine. That said, it tends to run out of puff on the dual carriageway, which is where the 86bhp 1.3 and the later 89bhp 1.4-litre D-4D comes in. Ride was always on the firm side and the Yaris tends to pick up a fair amount of feedback over rough surfaces around town, but on the open road this translates into…

Some 50 years after the iconic British sports car ended production, Jaguar has built two brand new E-types to order. Created using original blueprints by the firm's in-house historic division, Jaguar Classic, the pair of 'Series 1' roadsters were commissioned by a client from Southeast Asia. Inspired by the Series 3 Commemorative Edition runout special, the pair of new E-types are finished in Signet Green and Opal Black, both variations of colour schemes available in 1974. Although powered by the same 3.8-litre XK straight-six used in 1961, Jaguar Classic has fitted fuel injection on the new cars, pushing power above the original 265bhp to what we'd estimate is around 300bhp. The theme of subtle modernisation continues inside, with a Bluetooth radio and heated windscreen subtly integrated within a cabin containing…

MINOR DETAILS As a relatively new subscriber to CW may I compliment the editorial team and all the contributors for such an outstanding magazine with so many in depth and well-written articles. I do, however, have one minor (pun intended) issue to take up with Simon in his 'alternative' to Austin A30/A35 range (p82, November 2024). Not unexpectedly, Simon suggested the Austin's nemesis the Morris Minor, but his model of choice, the Minor 1000 with the 1098cc engine, did not hit the showrooms until September 1962 – not 1961. Furthermore, the range he refers to, with the 'earlier design touches' carried on until October 1964, not 1963. How do I know such nerdy detail? Because I am the joint registrar of the MMOC so-called 'Dual Personality' register. This nomenclature (also…

READERS' CARS TVR GRANTURA Having spent over three decades working in the building industry specialising in carpentry and joinery, Chris Lewis has certainly mastered his craft. And, looking at the absolutely stunning TVR Grantura that graces these pages, he has also mastered the art of classic car restoration. True, like many of us, he's spannered on his cars over the years partly out of necessity and partly as a hobby. However this Grantura, a 1961 Mk2a, represents a huge step up. And, ultimately, a career change. “I've always liked classic cars,” explained Chris. “I also grasstracked Minis in my younger days and have quite an association with them. Working on cars is something I've always enjoyed. “In 2016 I had the opportunity to buy a Mk2 Cooper S which needed…

Incorporated into the show for the first time in celebration of its 40th anniversary, the Hall of Fame recognised the people, clubs and cars that have made their mark on the show and its community over the years. Organisers revealed a list of potential inductees before the show for two of four categories, with the other two confirmed revealed in Hall 2 at the show. The first-ever Motoring Club category saw four organisations shortlisted according to strict criteria, with the Jowett Car Club earning its spot thanks in part to its status as the world's oldest single-marque car club at 101 years old. The Classic Car category also had its nominees revealed before the show, focusing on models that have made a significant contribution to motoring, either in design, functional…

Anthony Hamilton, father of seven-time Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton, visited the NEC Classic Motor Show this weekend to celebrate the recommissioning of a Triumph TR2 by his restoration team, along with the formation of a new partnership with the National Motor Museum. The car, a 1954 example, was bequeathed to the National Motor Museum Trust (NMMT) by Mr D A Simes in 1998 and recently restored by 110 Garage, a Hertfordshire-based firm established by Anthony Hamilton focused on classic restoration along with its team members' heritage skills and professional development. A legacy from the family of Mr John Weeks was used by the NMMT to pay for the work alongside sponsorship by 110 Garage. The restoration has retained as many original features as possible, including the car's original paintwork,…

Faced with a new family car colossus in Ford's new Cortina, the Rootes Group didn't waste any time in developing a competitor. The Arrow family made its bow in 1966 – a year before Chrysler gained its controlling stake in the company – and was intended to be a cut above the Ford. Thanks to a much larger range of diverse badge-enginered stablemates, it could also be pitched against a more diverse array of rivals. A decent range of options was needed because the Arrow would be replacing both the Audax range of cars comprising the Hillman Minx, Singer Gazelle and Sunbeam Rapier, but also the slightly larger Hillman Super Minx, Singer Vogue and Humber Sceptre. The Hillman Hunter and Singer Vogue were the first new models, being launched in…

Spotlight on… CHARLES STEWART ROLLS The Hon. Charles Stewart Rolls was born on 27 August 1877, the third son of Lord and Lady Llangattock. Alhough his birthplace was registered as 35 Hill Street, off Berkeley Square in London, his heart was always at the family's ancestral home, The Hendre, in Monmouthshire. It was here that Rolls' aptitude and enthusiasm for engineering first emerged. Aged nine, he rigged up an electric bell between his bedroom and the stables; a few years later, he planned and supervised the installation of electricity in the main house – and persuaded his father to pay for the work. Rolls went on to study Mechanical and Applied Science at Trinity College Cambridge, where his constant tinkering with imported European cars earned him the unflattering nickname 'Dirty…

Historics, July 20 We promised last time to bring you more of the modern gems that went under the hammer at the Historics' 'Summer Serenade' sale back in July, so here's a few more lots to enjoy. 2006 MG ZT-T V8 – £6292 The MG ZT-T estate was launched in 2001 at the same time as the ZT saloon, the model being distinguished from lesser Rover 75s by the big bumpers, integrated grille, various bits of colour coding and more radical looking alloys. This one's the facelift, sporting the 260bhp 4.6-litre V8 Mustang GT engine which is frankly insane in an estate car. No wonder it was decided to make a Limited Slip Diff standard fit to help keep things vaguely sensible. It's thought that a mere 200 were produced,…

FUTURE Classics BUYING GUIDE If traditional Jaguar buyers were taken aback by the XF when it was rolled out as a replacement for the S-Type, the firm's treatment of the new XJ in 2009 was even more controversial. Like the old car, it was sleek and easy on the eye – but here's the rub. It couldn't have looked more different to the old X350, a design that had gently evolved over the past five decades since the first XJ appeared in 1968. Like most of us, Jaguar had learned to keep a close eye on weight and had pioneered the use of aluminium, magnesium and composite alloys on its previous XJ. However, to add refinement and create more room inside, the firm made the X351 both wider and longer,…

I can't help it – I like mundane motors. There, I've said it – and while it feels a bit like standing up to speak at my first Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, I don't care who knows it. Besides, it is not as though this predilection for the less exotic examples of our automotive heritage has ever been a secret. My love of the Triumph Acclaim has been well documented in this magazine for example, and I'm currently in the middle of restoring a Morris Marina four-door saloon. With the best will in the world neither of those can be regarded as sexy or exciting, and yet I love them. Yet while these may not have been the cars people dreamed of, they were the cars used as regular transport for…

Concept cars, we've all seen them. Those weird and wonderful, fantastic ideas that give us a peek into the minds of car manufacturers as they look towards the future. They often look sleek, stylish and full of inspiration, but all too often they are simply a non-functioning mock-up of what could be possible. Not always however. This is a story of three remarkable cars that are not only functioning concept designs but are three machines to come out of an equally remarkable department at Vauxhall's plant in Luton, and this is where our story must begin. Way back in 1964, Vauxhall commissioned the construction of an on-site design and styling studio. It was to be one of five such places that GM wanted to create around the world, intended to…

ROAD TEST MITSUBISHI STARION When we picture the Japanese sports car boom of the late 20th century, the mind tends to drift to the legends of the '90s and the '276bhp' so-called gentleman's agreement. However, it's easy to forget that these titans of motoring didn't simply descend from the heights of Mount Fuji and take over the world in a day. We went for a drive in the Mitsubishi Starion, the car that walked so the Eclipse and the Evolution could run. The Starion hit the road in 1982, predating the aforementioned gentleman's agreement by some six years. When it comes to the Starion's namesake, there are two schools of thought. First, the official story: Starion is a portmanteau of the words star and Arion. Arion was taken from the…

Where better to start than arguably the most beautiful classic car ever to roll out of Japan: the Datsun Fairlady Z. Finished in a remarkable shade of blue, this example sat sheltered from the drizzle in the paddock area. Rolling on spotless Watanabe wheels, the period-correct riveted arches help to give its flowing shape a little more brawn. These days the humble Micra has made a comeback and is much-loved by young enthusiasts, with K11 and K10 examples out in droves at the show. This particular example sits lowered on high-end Watanabe wheels and its interior is plastered with 1980s memorabilia. The owner clearly loves this car dearly – and who can blame them? Here's the least Japanese-looking car ever to grace (or disgrace) the road. The Mitsuoka Le-Seyde takes…

Intended as an annual celebration of the connection between classic cars and their owners, the Pride of Ownership contest reached its conclusion at the show as per tradition. Finalists included two-time winner Paul Clappison and his 2002 Porsche Boxster S, 2023 winner Tahmid Haque and his 1986 Koenig BMW 635 and stunt driver Russ Swift with his 1937 SS Jaguar 100. Clive Thompson brought his 1977 MG Midget – complete with accompanying story of long-lost love and a happy reunion – while Ed Straw's 1972 ADD Nova brought some drama to the stand. Nick Loizou had the oldest car in the competition, a 1930 Austin 16/6 Pass and Joyce Coupe – the only surviving example of its kind. John Hemming took us back to the 1990s with his Dimma-kitted Renault…

Abustling Classic Motor Show played host to Iconic Auctioneers this year as per tradition, with a large portion of Hall 2 set aside for the display of 170 classic vehicles. A nod towards classics of the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s was evident but the selection across all decades was eclectic, with all major cornerstones of the classic car market represented. Continuing trends see values for fast Fords and the evergreen Porsche 911 sticking relatively high, while low-mileage examples of popular 1990s and 2000s machinery seemed to perform particularly well. We were interested to see a standard 2002 BMW M3 go for £29,250 including premium, for example: a strong result that tallies with ever increasing interest in modern classics. Group A and B or WRC heritage also seems to resonate with…

The TRUTH about… the Zephyr and Zodiac Mk4. Baby-boomers grew up with TV and one of my favourite series was Z-cars. When it began in 1962, the patrol cars were Mk2 Zephyrs. Mk3s followed, and finally Mk4s, – or should that be MkIVs? The 'Z-Victor' call signs used in the show actually had nothing to do with the fact that Zephyrs or Zodiacs were used, but the big Fords were forever associated with the show, which lasted until 1978. Ford of Britain was very keen to supply vehicles to the police forces of the UK, obliging them with models built specifically for the purpose and sold at very attractive prices. The first three generations of big Fords certainly served well, being tough, simple designs with good performance and predictable handling…

FUTURE Classics FORGOTTEN HERO Introduced in 1998, the Freelander topped the soft-roader sales charts for almost a decade following its launch. Using bits scavenged from the Rover parts bin, it was designed to go head-to-head with established Japanese counterparts which had been flooding the market since the mid-'90s, and in most part it achieved its goal – being nice to drive, refined and relatively inexpensive to run. What's more, having that coveted Land Rover badge on the bonnet instantly put it above its rivals in terms of off-road kudos. That said, unlike Land Rovers of old which sat on a separate ladder frame chassis, the new vehicle adopted a more car-like monocoque chassis instead. But here's the rub. Development of the Freelander actually started a decade earlier when Land Rover…

■ Debadging Let's start off with a mod that doesn't cost a dime to do! Removing your boot badges by using a hair dryer and dental floss to gently prise them away from the bodywork will instantly give your Lupo a less fussy Euro look. Simple, eh? ■ H&R spring kit Get your Lupo sitting 30mm lower with this spring kit from Awesome GTi (£170.42). By sitting lower, you'll benefit from reduced body roll for better handling. These H&R springs have a progressive spring rate so you won't be compromising on ride or comfort. ■ Free flowing exhaust The standard Lupo exhausts are terribly restrictive so you will be able to liberate a few extra horses with a freer flowing stainless exhaust. This one's a Scorpion cat back system with…