Lancaster News

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Welcome to Lancaster Insurance News

Keep up to date with the latest news and events from the world of classic cars.

A pair of leather driving gloves placed on a wooden steering wheel in a classic car

Does my classic car need seat belts?

  • 15th January, 2021

If you are the proud owner of a classic car, then depending on which year it was made it may or may not be fitted with seat belts. But what are the laws relating to seat belts in classics? What are the insurance implications? And if you don’t need belts, are there any restrictions to be aware of?

1986 Honda CRX

The best Japanese classics

  • 15th January, 2021

Are you looking to invest in a classic? Perhaps this is your first foray into collecting classics, or perhaps you’re wanting to grow your already-sizeable collection. Either way, this is the fun part: choosing which motor to invest in.

Mille Miglia 2018

What is the Mille Miglia?

  • 15th January, 2021

In 1955, the late great Sir Stirling Moss won the Mille Miglia in a record time. His drive in the race has passed into legend as he managed to come out on top against the odds. Even if you’ve heard the story before, it never gets old…

City of Le Mans

A quick history of Le Mans

  • 15th January, 2021

Just about everyone has heard of Le Mans – although not everyone has quite got the pronunciation down… They probably know that it’s a 24-hour race, but that’s where most people’s knowledge ends.

Rover Sterling Car

DO YOU REMEMBER – THE ORIGINAL ROVER STERLING?

  • Andrew Roberts |
  • 8th January, 2021

1986 - the year I started sixth form and my first sighting of an imposing metallic silver saloon. It was a car that looked as though it could cope with any road conditions while barely dislodging the owner’s Filofax and A-ha cassettes. It was the new Rover Sterling, a car attempting to bridge the worlds of the Ford Granada Scorpio/Vauxhall Senator and BMW, Jaguar and Mercedes-Benz. Enthusiasts will tell you that it more than succeeded in this goal.

A white Golf GTI driving through an industrial area at sunset

Best hot hatches

  • 8th January, 2021

Here are eight of the best hot hatches (in our humble opinion) from over the years - many of which we’re proud to cover here at Lancaster.

The Avengers

60 YEARS OF THE AVENGERS

  • Andrew Roberts |
  • 7th January, 2021

1) When The Avengers first aired on 7th January 1961 - the leading man was Ian Hendry as Dr. David Keel, supported by Patrick Macnee as the intelligence agent John Steed.

The rear ends of three different versions of the Ford Escort

Classic Fords you remember from childhood

  • 7th January, 2021

No matter how young or old you are, you’ll remember Fords on the streets of your hometown. From Anglias to Zodiacs, the Ford range over the decades has been quite extraordinary. So which Ford model makes you go all misty-eyed? Jog your memory by reading all about our top 12 Fords in the UK from the 1960s to the 1980s.

Durdle Door beach with the rising sun shining through the arch in the cliff

Best places to watch the sunrise in your campervan

  • 6th January, 2021

You don’t need to be a druid or wait until summer solstice to watch the sunrise. There are beautiful places around the UK that make the perfect spot for you to park up your campervan and enjoy one of nature’s greatest shows.

Bedford HA

MEET THE OWNER – MEL HOLLEY AND HIS BEDFORD HA

  • Andrew Roberts |
  • 6th January, 2021

There was once a time when the HA van was part of the daily routine. It might have delivered your post or your new DER television set, distributed the Co-Op’s groceries or attended to yet another malfunctioning telephone box.

Austin 152

MEET THE OWNER – STEVE TENNICK AND HIS AUSTIN 152 PARALANIAN

  • Andrew Roberts |
  • 6th January, 2021

The Austin 152 and its Morris J2 twin deserve to be remembered for many reasons. In 1956, they were BMC’s first unitary-construction vans and familiar sights long after production ended in 1967. And they also provided the basis for some delightful motor caravans, such as Steve’s Paralanian motor home

Fiat Bellini

MEET THE OWNER – ANNA HUGHES-MORRIS AND HER FIAT 132 BELLINI

  • Andrew Roberts |
  • 4th January, 2021

‘They love it, but some are unsure of what it is as they’ve never seen one before.’ Such a public reaction to Anna’s Fiat 132 Bellini is quite understandable, for it was an unusual sight even when it was new 41 years ago. ‘Beautiful, si?’ read the original advertisements; for here was transport for those whose sartorial role model was “Lewis Collins in Lounge Lizard Mode”.

A red Citroen CV parked next to a tree in a French vineyard on a sunny evening

12 Of The Best Classic French Cars Money Can Buy

  • 30th December, 2020

Choosing a Top 10 of French classics is a near-impossible task, with the likes of Renault, Peugeot and Citroën competing against each other as well as lesser-known gems. So, we’ve picked out 10 examples of great cars from the post-war era up to the 1980s that still hold huge appeal for motoring enthusiasts today.

DVLA

DVLA update on the use of black and silver number plates

  • 23rd December, 2020

The DVLA has recently announced changes to information on vehicles displaying the old style pre-1973 black and silver number plates.