DO YOU REMEMBER THE DATSUN 140J VIOLET?
By Lancaster Insurance Services |
27th April, 2018
In my early years, I was initially convinced that the Datsun 140J Violet was an American car and looking at the brochure photos, it is easy to understand the confusion of my younger self. That “Coke Bottle” styling seemed highly reminiscent of the Chevrolets or Plymouths you might see on The Streets of San Francisco - and then there was the fascia. ‘Forget ergonomics!’ the dashboard seemed to proclaim, with its air vents apparently placed at random, switches emerging from odd nooks and crannies, plus those stylised instruments.
This year Nissan celebrates 50 years of selling cars in this country, employing the Datsun badge from 1968 – 1983, and we will be marking this milestone with a separate article. In the 1970s you were less likely to see a 140J than a 100A Cherry or as 120Y Sunny but the original Violet more than deserves a blog in its own right. Thus, is partially because its name reminds me of a Thora Hird-style sitcom character, but mainly because it is one of several light-medium Japanese cars such the Mazda 616 and the Toyota Carina A10 which helped to change the face of British motoring.
It is also worth repeating how comparatively unusual foreign vehicles were in the UK prior to 1970 – just look at the street of virtually any film made up to that date – but Datsun was to become one of the most familiar imported marques. In 1971, 6,800 examples had found a home in Britain but when the Violet was launched two years later the figure was more than 60,000. Car magazine was not a fan of the latest model – ‘we can see no earthly reason for buying a Datsun 140J’ was the not awfully encouraging opinion in October 1974 – but many drivers were attracted by the standard fittings and the straightforward running gear. This advertisement fronted by the familiar character actor Jack Watling gives an impression of its appeal to British motorists appeal – ‘a well-equipped car for under £1,300’: https://www.hatads.org.uk/catalogue/record/f1bbf9cc-621e-466a-8381-ca6848d6d061
At that time, a reasonably priced saloon with two-speed wipers, reclining front seats with head restraints, tinted glass, and even a radio as standard was unusual - and Mr. Watling does not even draw attention to the rather incredible hub caps. For the medallion man, there was the 160J SSS Coupe with independent rear suspension, pillarless styling, a twin carburettor 1.6 litre engine and an agreeable air of flamboyance.
In early 1976 the Violet saloon gained slightly more conventional styling – the original lines had proved controversial in its homeland – and an Autocar test of that year concluded that ‘for the driver who wants a simple and by all reports reliable car, the 140J would appear to make a great deal of sense’. For £2,252.12 (the 1970s was the era of hyper-inflation), a 140J still represented considerable value for money. As for the 160J SSS, what young executive worth his/her flares could have spurned the chance to own a fastback with five speed transmission, a rev counter and some exceptionally fake-looking “wood” trim?
The original Violet was replaced by the more conventional looking A10 series and I think I last encountered a 140J when Ben Elton was still regarded as being an “Alternative Comedian”. It almost makes one want to travel back in time to the 1973 Earls Court Motor Show…
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“It is exceptionally rare, being one of the earliest in the UK. It is a Mk.1a, which they only produced for a year (the same as the colour). I know of maybe only four in the UK in that shade”.
MEET THE OWNER – JOHN WALLIS AND HIS BORGWARD P100If the fates had been kinder, the name "Borgward" would have been as familiar to 2024 drivers as Audi or BMW. John Wallis, a long-term devotee of the German marque, has recently become the custodian of the P100 ‘Big Six' - Borgward's last hurrah and a car with the potential to be one of the finest big saloons of its generation.
Meet The Owner – Steven Gray and his Vauxhall Chevette 2300HSSteven Gray recently fell prey to a phenomenon known to many classic car owners. There he was, minding his own business and thinking his current fleet of Bedford HAs and Vauxhall Chevettes was quite enough, when suddenly he was caught in the tractor beam of a tempting vehicle.
Meet the Owner - Ian Gillson and his Renault 16TL“My father had TL back in 1977, and around 1980, the family acquired a 1974 TS. Sadly, it succumbed to the dreaded rust and ended in Renault 16 Heaven, but I never forgot them”.
MEET THE OWNER – JAMES ROSS SINCLAIR AND HIS WOLSELEY 1300These things were so popular in the 1960s and 1970s that nobody took any notice of them. There was at least one on every street. By the late 1970s/early 1980s, they were falling apart and becoming a rarer sight. If familiarity breeds contempt, then 50 years after production finally ended, I think objectively, this is a very pretty car.
13 May 2024
Bonham Cars Online is currently listing one of the most significant cars in Japanese motoring history: This 1968 360 is an example of the vehicle that brought mobility to so many families. Not to mention that the 360 was the pioneer car to wear the Subaru badge.
MEET THE OWNER – PHILIP HANSON AND HIS WOLSELEY 16/60“My Wolseley was registered in Worcester in January 1967 and is a manual gearbox model. It has covered only 46,000 miles and I am only the second owner.” Philip undertook some body restoration in 2016 and the result is a car that lives up to the British Motor Corporation’s promise of: “Luxuriously practical...a car that satisfies.”
Meet The Owner – Carl Pearce and his Triumph StagThere are mixed reactions to my Triumph – you often get told how these cars used to blow up. This is incorrect; they suffered from overheating, which was caused by casting sand that hadn't been properly removed when the engine blocks were made. The sand used to block the radiator, hence the overheating.
03 May 2024
At last year’s Silverstone Festival, many visitors were seen mouthing the phrase “What is it?” at a handsome, burgundy-coloured hatchback. Some seemed to think it was a Lancia while others were under the belief it was an Audi. Few seemed to recognise Jason Crawley’s 20TX – the car Renault claimed was “certainly no slouch”.
Sportissimo – Robert Meldrum’s Vauxhall Viva HB De Luxe EstateThis is a totally and utterly subjective view, but this writer regards Robert Meldrum’s Viva HB as one of the most handsome estates of its era. Today, his white Vauxhall creates a stir whenever he goes for a drive, with amazed reactions from members of the public too young to recall the HB.
Meet The Owner – Darren Staples and his Vauxhall Nova SolaThe reasons why people engage with a classic car are as diverse as the vehicles themselves. It could be due to their performance or the opportunity to realise a childhood dream of owning a machine last glimpsed in The Ladybird Book of Motor Cars. For some, it is the chance to experience a favourite television programme or film vicariously.
MEET THE OWNER - ANDREW THOMSON AND HIS VOLKSWAGEN SANTANAAndrew Thomson recently acquired a car from the 1980s that has been almost entirely forgotten in the UK through no fault of its own. The Santana GX5 was spacious, dependable, and very well-appointed, but its main fault was that the Volkswagen badge meant little to the UK’s middle managers.
01 May 2024
Tickets go on Sale for the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show on 8 May!
30 April 2024
Dale Smith’s VW Golf N is a VIC—Very Important Car. Firstly, it reminds us that the GTi Mk1 was never a common sight on British roads during the late 1970s; it was not sold in right-hand-drive form until July 1979. Instead, you were far more likely to encounter the likes of the N.
To Cortina and Back in a Cortina By Glyn DawsonWhen I learned of a trip to Cortina being organised by Graham Orchard of the MK2 Club I was excited as my wife Christine and I had heard from friends how good the previous trip had been somewhat 10 years ago. In March 2022 Graham sent details of the hotels (10 in all) and ferries and we went ahead and booked our place.
DRIVE IT DAY 2024A few inches from my car was a Mini Pick-Up, a form of motoring life last encountered en mass when Bros were still in the charts. To my right was the metallic gold magnificence that was a Lancia Gamma Coupe. Ahead of my front bumper was a 1970-model Morris Minor 1000 police ‘Panda Car’ and a very handsome Rover R8 owned by Gavin Bushby.
15 April 2024
The lower profile of the Dyane in the UK compared with its Citroën 2CV stablemate is one of the abiding mysteries of the classic car world. True, it had a shorter production run than the Deux Chevaux – 1967-1984 – but it offered almost all its virtues together with five doors and such creature comforts as a front ashtray.
Meet The Owner – Harry Traill and His Ford Falcon WagonIt is a real head-turner. People look at it and smile. Children will walk with their parents, stopping and pointing at it as it drives past. The car seems to put a smile on anyone’s face wherever I go in it, and the number of compliments you get just going to the shop alone is astounding.
PRIDE OF OWNERSHIP WINNER 2024 – COLIN FIDLER’S AUSTIN A35Colin Fidler’s splendid A35 won the Lancaster Insurance Pride of Ownership 2024 competition and epitomises the sales slogan: “Buy Austin and Be Proud of It!” As he explains: “The car belonged to my late uncle Robin.
“It is a leader amongst cars of today” – The Ford Zephyr-Zodiac Mk. ISometimes, the connoisseur of 1950s popular culture, such as this writer, is faced with automotive temptation, such as this 1956 Zephyr-Zodiac offered by Craner Classics. The young Arthur Daley would have craved this car, which would have also been the object of admiration among Teddy boys at the Hammersmith Palais.
Meeting An Old Friend – 1983 Austin Ambassador Vanden PlasSometimes, the world of Ebay is one of surprises – including finding the Austin Ambassador Vanden Plas I once owned. And now Bob Farrington hopes it goes to a good home.
RARER THAN RARE – 1979 FIAT 131 1300CLSometimes, the most seemingly minor detail about a car remains in the memory: the Wolseley’s illuminated ‘Ghost Light’ grille badge or the Humber Hawk and Super Snipe’s fuel filler hidden behind the offside rear reflector.
Stars of The Lancaster Stand No. 1: Vivian the Vauxhall Viva HCDuring the 2024 Practical Classics Classic Car and Restoration Show, one car on the Lancaster Insurance Stand evoked some entertaining reactions from the showgoers. Visitors to the NEC circled Annie Redshaw-Lloyd’s Glacier Blue Viva HC and peered into the vinyl-trimmed magnificence of its interior.
10 April 2024
Any 1960 Bentley S2 Continental Drophead Coupe with Park Ward coachwork is a car to beguile and mesmerise. So, when H&H offered such an exquisite machine that was the property of one of our finest actors, the temptation to place family members on eBay to raise the necessary funds was quite acute.
Meet The Owner – Mo Ali and his Fiat 128 EstateMany of you are familiar with this experience: scanning the Facebook page of a well-known car club when you suddenly see pictures of a vehicle you long believed vanished from British roads. This writer was looking at the Fiat Motor Club GB’s Facebook site only yesterday when Mo Ali’s 1978-model Fiat 128 Estate appeared to leap from the screen.
THE WORLD’S RAREST WEDGE? – A 1975 MORRISThis is not just one of the very few surviving Morris-badged Wedges but the first made on the production line. Chassis Number 00099 left Cowley in 1975 and Leyland despatched it to Longbridge to assess the factory’s build quality. Alas, the Morris became lost in the system but was eventually registered and sold in January 1977 – hence the ‘R’ suffix.
MEET THE OWNER – RACHEL INGLIS AND HER 1965 FORD MUSTANG CELEBRATING THE BRIGHT SPARKSThe scene: four classic car owners sat in deckchairs at an event: Classic Car Owner (CCO) No.1: “Young people today, eh? When I was their age, I restored a Bugatti Royale I found in an abandoned shed in Southampton Eastern Docks.
MEET SVEN - THE 1964 SAAB GT850It would be fair to say that Sven, the 1964 Saab GT850, was one of the stars of the 2024 Practical Classics Classic Car and Restoration Show at the NEC. He dominated Hall 4, his twin aluminium stripes gleaming in the artificial light.
LEYLAND PRINCESS 2200HL – DEFINITELY NOT AN AVERAGE CAROne of the most pleasing developments in the classic car world over the past twenty years is the Princess’ Wedge’ at least receiving praise due to such an innovative design. This 1977 2200HL, recently advertised on eBay, is enough to make one re-enact “Great Scenes from Terry and June”.
Meet The Owner - Will Hollands-Smith and his Citroen BX 19TRS Mk.2Will Hollands-Smith is a most determined young man. Owning the only roadworthy BX Mk. 1 Estate in the country was not enough to satisfy his craving for this very fine model. So, he is also the custodian of a 1986 ex-Citroen UK Mk.2 press launch/dealer demonstrator 19TRS.
08 April 2024
The Practical Classics Classic Car & Restoration Show was an electrifying event, drawing 26,912 attendees to Birmingham’s NEC over the 22-24 weekend. Witnessing over 160 car clubs come together to showcase restoration demos was truly heartening.
Introducing the Lancaster Car Club team!Hello All, We’ve had some developments on the Car Club team front which I am happy to share with you this month. We have some new members of the team...
Announcing our 2023 – 2024 Bright Young Sparks winner, Rosie Hodgson-Jones!At The Practical Classics Classic Car & Restoration Show, Rosie was announced as our brilliant Bright Young Sparks winner, and received her award from previous winner, Katie!
Jordan Hope’s Rover 216 Vitesse – Celebrating 40 Years of The SD3The 19th of June 1984 was a crucial date for British Leyland, with the launch of the SD3-series Rover 200...
Brian Thomas, Car Club Executive recounts his dream ride with Sporting Bears in a McLaren 750s ConvertibleChoosing which Sporting Bears car to go out in at The NEC The Practical Classics Classic Car & Restoration Show. How do you begin to choose?
18 March 2024
Lord Anthony of London, the well-known DJ, has been a devotee of the Lotus Elite “ever since I was a kid. When I was travelling in our family car’s back seat, I caught a glimpse of these exotic beasts neatly lined up in the forecourt of the official Lotus dealership in Drakes Broughton, a small village near Worcestershire”.
Meet The Owner – Steve Cannon and his Austin Maxi 2The Austin Maxi was arguably the first of several British Leyland cars to be unfairly judged for too many years. Its potential was vast; in 1969, a family saloon with five doors, a transverse OHC engine driving the front wheels, seats that could form a double bed, and a five-speed transmission was virtual science fiction.
The UK’s Most Opinionated Automotive Reviews? - Car and The Good, The Bad, And The UglyPersonal note: Car magazine was the first motoring title that altered my younger self to how automotive writing could be witty, thought-provoking, and often idiosyncratic. To look at an edition from 1977 is to be immersed in a world of L.J.K. Setright, scoop photographs of prototypes from Hans G. Lehmann and, of course, “The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly”.
MISUNDERSTOOD – THE RILEY PATHFINDERIt was one of the most attractive saloons of the 1950s, combining overtones of Lancia with the traditional Riley grille. The RMH-series Pathfinder is handsome, imposing, and luxurious and could have represented a new direction for the marque. Yet, for too many years, it was a misunderstood car.
THE VOLKSWAGEN SCIROCCO AT 50The 1974 Geneva Motor Show was the launch venue for one of Volkswagen’s most important models. The Scirocco was their first transverse engine car and their third front-wheel-drive vehicle, after the 1970 K70 and the 1973 Passat. When production ended in 2017 in its third incarnation, it had helped to redefine the Volkswagen name.
A CAR OF DREAMS – JAGUAR 420G1980 - a Sunday afternoon in a small village pub somewhere in Hampshire. For my ten-year-old self, the atmosphere can be summarised in the following words: locally branded cola, obscure forms of potato crisps, Space Invaders and stultifying, Tony Hancock-style boredom.
14 March 2024
The date is the 13th April 1964, and the venue is the Ford Pavilion at New York World’s Fair. The assembled media representatives have gathered to hear the company’s Vice President, Lee Iacocca, introduce a car that would appeal to the affluent younger driver.
SEVEN INGREDIENTS FOR THE IDEAL OUTDOOR CLASSIC CAR SHOWThe 6th March was the date for the 2024 Cowley Convoy from the BMW MINI factory to Lord Nuffield’s house near Henley-on-Thames. And as my Wolseley headed through Oxfordshire to join the event, and throughout the day, the Convoy reminded me of seven ingredients for a splendid outdoor classic car show:
MEET THE OWNER – CHARLIE SMITH AND HIS AUSTIN MONTEGO VANDEN PLAS“I think the Montego is gaining lots of respect as a classic car. My Vanden Plas gets so much interest when we take it to classic car shows and we get many questions about her!” And rightly so, as Charlie Smith’s 1985 example is a very special machine. In his words:
THE ORIGINAL MINI ESTATEEarly this month BMW announced the imminent demise of the MINI Clubman after seventeen years. But their heritage dates to a far earlier time. The original Morris Mini Traveler and Austin Seven Countryman first appeared in autumn 1960 - a world when such phrases as “National Service” and “You’re Never Alone With A Strand” were part of everyday vocabulary.
06 March 2024
There are several reasons why people acquire classic cars - performance, handling, impressing the neighbours and fine television programmes of the 1960s. Dave bought his Ventora FD for the last-named reason, and for those unfamiliar with this gem from ITC productions, here is a typical scenario from Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased):
Hidden Gem – The Triumph 1500Some cars have the misfortune of being overshadowed by more than one member of the same family. The Triumph 1500 often seems to be unfairly neglected compared with its 1300 predecessor – the marque’s first front-wheel-drive car – and the later Dolomite. Yet, it has a distinct appeal of its own.
The Car You Always Promised Yourself – The J.D Classics Ford Capri 1300L Mk. IA great deal of mythology surrounds the Capri Mk. I, including the belief that virtually every model on the road in this country was at least a 2000GT in XLR specification. A variation of this delusion is the 3000E and the later 3000GXL were relatively common sights in the early 1970s.
04 March 2024
When Citroën presented the Traction Avant to its dealers in March 1934, it made automotive history. This was not only the company’s first front-wheel drive car, but there was also rack-&-pinion steering and all-independent suspension.
Meet The Owner – Kieron Trumper and his Triumph 2.5 PI Mk. 1I bought the car last April when I was 20. I always knew I wanted a Triumph 2000/2500 as my dad had them 20/30 years ago and still owned one when I was a little kid, and it is my earliest memory of cars.
Immerse yourself in the Practical Classics World at the NEC Classic Car & Restoration Show!Don’t miss the Practical Classics Classic Car & Restoration Show from 22-24 March at the NEC! No matter whether you’re currently engaged in a restoration project or someone who just simply appreciates the beauty of classic cars, this is the perfect place to be.
Announcing our February Bright Young Spark, George Swift!Where did your passion for classics start? ‘Many different places: an interest in the history of engineering, being brought up around older cars, my curiosity to understand how all the components of a car come together to produce an operating vehicle.
14 February 2024
Owning a classic car is a joy with a few challenges en route: maintenance, restoration costs, having to source spare parts from across the globe and being asked “What’s that then?” in the Tesco car park approximately 1,354 times. Now, imagine those experiences multiplied by 28.
31 January 2024
How did it all start? ‘My dad and grandad have always enjoyed tinkering and driving their vintage cars. Since I was really little, we have always gone out in them and on holiday with them, especially with the Ford Model T car club.
Join us at the 2024 Practical Classic Restoration Show!Gear up for a fantastic start to the year at the Practical Classics Classic Car & Restoration show, taking place from March 22 to 24 at the NEC.
29 January 2024
When Ford acquired complete control of the Turin design house Carrozzeria Ghia in January 1973, the result was a sea change for their British flagship models. Aspirational motorists craved the car with the shield badge instead of the previous 'Executive' versions. And here are the five pioneering Ghias:
MEET THE OWNER – JON COUPLAND AND HIS ROVER 75For many years, the virtues of the Rover 75 were taken for granted: its comfort, level of standard equipment and quiet dignity. Now they are receiving the attention that is due to them, and Jon Coupland is especially taken with his early Cowley-built 1.8-litre version. He explains:
24 January 2024
Once familiar, cars often undergo a seven-stage cycle. Firstly, they are launched with maximum fanfare before entering the second stage of their middle years. Next comes the last-of-the-line special editions, intended to clear showrooms for its replacement, followed by twilight in used-car listings.
22 January 2024
To be the custodian of one classic car is a major responsibility - to have a 17- strong collection is virtually a full-time occupation. Jon Bentley’s 1965 95 is one of his fleet of Saabs that established the firm as a car maker.
A Remarkable Car – The Daimler Double Six Vanden Plas Series OneFor many years, this writer has regarded the Daimler Double Six Vanden Plas Series One as the pinnacle of the XJ family. It is a car that exudes opulence and good taste in equal measure, a saloon of quiet but definite presence.
MAGNIFICENT SEVEN LOST MODELSOr seven versions of familiar BMC and British Leyland models that never made it to the showrooms:
Classic Cars – An Ongoing StoryOf all the automotive anniversaries that will be taking place this year, the one that stuns me the most is that the Citroen CX will be celebrating its half-century. I was aged about five when I saw my first example, and to say I was mesmerised was somewhat of an understatement.
15 January 2024
The Mini Moke celebrates its 60th birthday in 2024, and possibly the most fascinating variant was the dual-engine ‘Twini’. When the British Motor Corporation displayed a prototype to the media in January 1963, their Managing Director George Harriman told the press:
Ten Vehicles That Altered Their IdentityIt could be watching a film shot in New Zealand and wondering why a Hillman Minx is badged as a 'Humber 80' or seeing an old US advertisement for an Avenger under the name 'Plymouth Avenger'. And in 1981, when this writer was aged 11, he was mesmerised by the Fiat-based SEATS on his first visit to Spain.
09 January 2024
For a long time, Starsky & Hutch was a fixture on BBC1. Every week, Captain Dobey would order, “You two jokers - in my office”, and Huggy Bear would observe “You ever try to get ten horses in a basement?”.
Forgotten Hero – The Citroën VisaThe sales copy said it was "A serious challenge to those who are ahead of the Joneses" and asked potential buyers ", Do you sincerely want freedom of choice"? Equally importantly, it would allow the owner to progress "smugly in winter when other cars dig their own graves with their rear wheel drives".
60 YEARS OF THE MINI COOPER’S MONTE CARLO VICTORYSixty years ago, a Morris Mini Cooper 1071S, registration 33 EJB, was among the 299 entrants of the Monte Carlo Rally. As for the favourites, Motor Sport observed:
08 January 2024
There’s a good chance you’re reading this issue of PC during the festive season and, while the temptation may be to snuggle down in front of the fire with a mince pie and a glass of eggnog, there’s also plenty to be getting on with where your classics are concerned.
Land’s End to John O’ Groats Reliability Trial 2023 is toughest for 7 years!After 1500 miles over 5 legs, in 75 hours, the Land’s End to John O’ Groats Reliability Trial 2023 reached its end at a fine and sunny John O’ Groats, somewhat ironic after the dire conditions experienced during the event.
05 January 2024
My love for cars has definitely become my way of life. My grandfather was a brilliant mechanic, so naturally my dad followed suit with a passion for cars and detailing; I've grown up around it.
The Ford Capri II at Fifty by Andrew Roberts!When Ford unveiled the Capri II on the 25th of February 1974, they faced a vast challenge – how do you improve on the original Capri?
Congratulations to Les, our Austin Healey winner!Last year we gave you the chance to WIN a beautifully restored Austin Healey. We had thousands of entries, and we can announce that the lucky winner was Les!
FORGOTTEN HERO - THE LANCIA FLAVIAQuite simply, the Flavia was a crucial model in Lancia’s history - their first front-wheel-drive car. It is also hard to envisage how unusual a sight it would have been in the UK when it was new. Autocar described the Flavia as “a car for the connoisseur”, and Motor Sport regarded the Lancia not so much as a status symbol but as a:
The SEAT 600 – The Car That Changed a NationIt is a scenario familiar to many of us. You are casually scanning the eBay listings, gazing at the cars you cannot afford, when one vehicle metaphorically leaps out of the screen.
MATCHBOX TOYS AT SEVENTYThis blog is by way of a triple celebration. Lesney issued its first Matchbox die-cast model in 1953, its first buses and lorries in 1954, and for seven decades they have delighted motoring enthusiasts of all ages.
04 January 2024
For many years, this writer has regarded the Borgward P100 ‘Big Six’ as one of the most fascinating German cars of its generation. To find an ex-Guernsey RHD example being recently sold by Classic Car Auctions | 1961 B rgward P100 B g S x-F r Sale sorely tempted him, for the P100 belongs in a world of Cold War spies.
Meet The Owner – Callum Cubbage and his Talbot-Matra MurenaFor many years, I thought my father’s gold Talbot-Matra Murena 1.6 was one of the most unusual cars he had ever owned. Certainly, no one else in our village had decided to invest in an LHD three-seater mid-engine coupe. So, imagine my delight in seeing Callum’s example. He remarks: “This car is totally original apart from the replacement engine.
Meet The Owner – Michael Drewry and his Austin Ambassador 2.0 HLMichael is the owner of one of the most misunderstood cars to hail from the British Leyland empire. To quell one myth immediately, the motoring press did not lambast the Austin Ambassador. Motor Sport was impressed by the trim’s quality and noted how the ride, handling, and steering had all been improved compared with its predecessor.
MEET THE OWNER – CALLUM ANDERSON AND HIS VAUXHALL ASTRA EXPMarvel at the Hazelnut Metallic paintwork. Thrill to the Antique Gold side stripe and wheels, glass sunroof, front fog lamps and tinted windows. Then savour the decadence of the Chevron Tweed upholstery. In 1982, to spend £4,995 and upwards on a Vauxhall Astra EXP was to be a member of the suburban elite – i.e. the sort of person who had a Sony C7 video recorder in their living room.
Wolseley Running ReportOr what I have learned and experienced over the past twelve months. i) Panic. Yes, that was the emotion I felt on seeing smoke billow from the radiator grille and the boot last summer when the Wolseley was taking part in a show.
MEET THE OWNER - PATRICK BRADLEY AND HIS AUSTIN MAESTRO 1.3L PRESS CARWe have previously featured Patrick’s Maestro Advantage and Montego Vanden Plas Automatic, and the latest member of his fleet is equally fascinating. In his words:
27 December 2023
As we approach the end of 2023 and reflect on all we’ve achieved over the year, it’s a time of great pride for me.
20 December 2023
A well-run local car show is one of the joys of the year. But, as many owners will tell you, the main challenge is coping with such remarks as these -
THE WORLD’S RAREST HILMAN? THE BRITISH MOTOR MUSEUM’S HILLMAN GTVisitors to the British Motor Museum are guaranteed to be mesmerised by the sheer variety of rare machinery on display – including a very exclusive member of the Rootes Group 'Arrow' family. In 1969, the Hillman GT was the perfect car for the motorist who regarded a Jason King moustache and string-back driving gloves as high style.
Meet The Owner - James Ross Sinclair and his BMW 320/6The 3-Series was probably the first BMW to gain mass popularity in the UK. Speeding Home Counties motorists in the 1970s might have encountered a Thames Valley police 3.0S and a successful barrister might have chosen 528 but even the cheapest of the 02s were never widely seen. James Ross Sinclair is the proud owner of a 1982 320/6 A in splendid condition.
“Sheer poetry in motion”– The Hindustan ContessaFor many Britons, the final of 25,085 VXs leaving the Luton factory in July 1978 marked the end of the Victor story, one that commenced in 1957. But this was not quite the end of the narrative, as Vauxhall sold the design to Hindustan Motors for £1.5 million. In the 1990s, the Contessa appeared in several films and was known as “the muscle car of India”.
Ten More Lost Motoring SightsYoung people, eh? With their music, their hairstyles, and their IT gadgets. They will never have experienced the joys of trudging along a dual carriageway in the rain, looking for a working public telephone box to call for a breakdown truck. Or any of these:
The BMW 2002 Turbo at FiftyAs I recently noted in my blog about the 3-Series, during the 1970s, any BMW seemed to be an exclusive sight on British roads, while the 2002 Turbo belonged in the realm of the exotic.
Rosemary Smith - 7th August 1937 - 5th December 2023In the beginning, I was a dizzy blonde, the young one with the blonde hair and false eyelashes. Then, after I started winning things, there was a bit more of a grudging acceptance, and then when I got the drive with Rootes in England, they started to take note: ‘She must be quite good. Now, when I talk to some people I raced against, I get much more respect.
11 December 2023
In days gone by, the approach to Christmas could be marked by the Advent Calendar, the promise of seasonal specials on television, and the Woolworth commercials. Meanwhile, another advertisement appeared to keen future motorists who were still at school - YouTube
Meet The Owner – Alastair Inglis and his Peugeot 203 StylesideThere are those rare occasions when a classic car enthusiast encounters a vehicle they were unaware of. The 1952 203 Styleside ute owned by Alastair Inglis, the 203 Registrar of Club Peugeot UK, is one such exclusive machine. The ute was a version sold only in Australia, where just two remain on the road.
FIT FOR A PROFESSIONAL – THE FORD CAPRI GHIA MK. IIIn 1976, this Ford Capri Mk. II Ghia, offered for sale by Praters, represented the high life to the discerning motorists; on seeing that shield badge on the front wings, neighbours and business colleagues would regard you with awe as a member of that exclusive club – 'The Fellowship of Ghia'.
TOP TEN 1970S LIMITED-EDITION FORDS – PART 1In the 1970s, Ford GB demonstrated a mastery of the art of the limited edition special model. Here are just ten of such desirable cars -
06 December 2023
The Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show lived up to its ‘biggest and best’ tagline this weekend as 71,290 enthusiasts joined at Birmingham’s NEC to celebrate another great year for the classic car community.
Announcing our November Bright Young Spark, Joshua Finch!Dad always had a classic car restoration project. My earliest memory is of a Morris Traveller. Helping him with his projects from a young age was what really sparked my passion for cars...
The Austin J40 continuation – The ultimate pedal car for Christmas?Picture the scene. It is Christmas Day, 1958, and beneath the tree is a large package – more to the point, a pedal-car-sized package. Could it possibly be the Austin J40, the country’s ultimate pedal car?
28 November 2023
Fifty years ago, visitors to the London Motor Show saw an unfamiliar marque displayed on Stand 152. The Moskvich sold by Satra Motors Ltd. was an established sight in the UK, but Earls Court was the first time most Britons encountered its fellow USSR product - a Fiat 124 clone named Lada. The sales publicly claimed:
THE AUSTIN J40 CONTINUATION – THE ULTIMATE PEDAL CAR FOR CHRISTMAS?Picture the scene. It is Christmas Day, 1958, and beneath the tree is a large package – more to the point, a pedal-car-sized package. Could it possibly be the Austin J40, the country’s ultimate pedal car? You have dropped subtle hints for the past few weeks, but your parents claim it is “far too extravagant”.
27 November 2023
The year is 1973, the place is the London Motor Show, and your attention is drawn by the Vauxhall display – namely, a striking-looking coupe. The sales team called it the “High Performance” Firenza, but showgoers were already referring to it as the “Droop Snoot”.
THE FORD CORSAIR AT 60The year is 1963 and your recently gained managerial status demands a new car and Ford seem to have the ideal vehicle. You excitedly read an article by the famous publisher Jocelyn Stevens entitled “Corsair – with man in mind” which states “‘To me, But the man of today is sophisticated, cool, tough – and on the outside, casually elegant.
THREE DAYS AT THE LANCASTER INSURANCE CLASSIC MOTOR SHOWHow do you select a Car of the Show from the recent event at the NEC? It is a true Mission Impossible from the moment you enter any of the Halls, with cars as varied as a Volvo 262C and a Vauxhall Cresta PA waiting to bombard your senses. At one point, I covetously eyed a Riley Pathfinder in metallic blue, but then I suddenly noticed its Wolseley 6/90 Series One stablemate in grey.
16 November 2023
In 1981, when this writer was eleven, and Adam and the Ants were the pop group du jour, certain mass-produced executive cars were about as rare as a watchable episode of Runaround. I seldom encountered a Vauxhall Viceroy, a Renault 30TX, a Citroën CX Prestige, a Volvo 264 or a Rover SD1 V8S on Lower Swanwick’s (less than) mean streets.
OVERLOOKED GEMS – THE SINGER SM1500 AND HUNTERAmidst the many and varied cars displayed at the 1948 London Motor Show was a formal-looking saloon that offered "dignity, style and perfect balance". The SM1500 was Singer's first post-war design, and today it merits far greater recognition.
MEET THE OWNER – ERIC DALTON AND HIS AUSTIN AMBASSADOR VANDEN PLASReaders of Practical Classics will instantly recognise Eric’s Austin Ambassador Vanden Plas in all its Opaline Green magnificence. As he explains:
15 November 2023
At 5:15 p.m. on Saturday 23rd November 1963, after Grandstand and before The Telegoons and Dixon of Dock Green, BBC Television premiered the first episode of a series they billed as “A new adventure in time and space”. And the first car to be seen in Doctor Who was a Wolseley 6/80 – albeit only the front half, which the production crew mounted on castors.
13 November 2023
The Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show lived up to its ‘biggest and best’ tagline this weekend as 71,290 enthusiasts joined at Birmingham’s NEC to celebrate another great year for the classic car community.
10 November 2023
There is an elite group of cars that fall into the category of “whatever happened to” - cars such as John Kingsford’s magnificently Orange Tan Vauxhall Carlton. 45 years ago, this was the perfect transport for the someone who was really “going places” – and who chose a paint finish that would undoubtedly stand out in the office car park.
Meet the Owner – 1972 Toyota Crown Custom EstateThere are those rare but wonderful times when an advertisement for a classic car stops you in your tracks. A 1972 Toyota Crown Custom Estate in the finest orange available to humanity is just such a vehicle. 51 years ago, this would have been the vehicle for the local elite – the sort of motorist who also owned two colour television sets.
MEMORIES OF THE 1983 LONDON MOTORFAIRWhat would have caught your eye at the 1983 London Motorfair, which ran from the 20th to the 30th October? The second-generation VW Golf? The Renault 11? The Fiat Regata? Or the Ford Fiesta Mk. II? All of which impressed the then 13-year-old writer, although I cannot recall seeing the AC Cobra Mk. IV by Autocraft.
09 November 2023
At last, the doors to Earls Court are opened - The Lamborghini Countach is the most expensive car of the 1973 London Motor Show at £16,314, and the Fiat 126 is the cheapest at £699. Your initial ports of call are the British Leyland stands, and firstly, there is the Austin Allegro, which made its bow on the 17th May.
07 November 2023
The first car you hope to see at the London Motor Show is the Lotus Cortina, which debuted earlier that year. £1,100 2s 11d may be rather a lot of money, but The Motor thought it "a good compromise for a keen driver who has to remember that the family must sit somewhere".