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.

DO YOU REMEMBER – THE VAUXHALL CHEVETTE 2300 HS?

  • Lancaster Insurance Services |
  • 22nd June, 2018

In the very late 1970s, you might sometimes encounter owners of the Vauxhall Chevette L engaged on secret work in their lock-up. After months of carefully applying “Strobe stripes”, a front spoiler and a home-applied change of body colour from ultra-sensible brown to silver, they too could to take the roads in their own interpretation of the incredible 2300HS.

BUILT TO LAST – THE MORRIS MARINA

  • Lancaster Insurance Services |
  • 22nd June, 2018

The Morris Marina never set out to be one of the more controversial cars from the British Leyland (BL) empire – indeed its specification and appearance both went out of their way to be as straightforward as possible.

BUILT TO LAST – THE SAAB 96

  • Lancaster Insurance Services |
  • 21st June, 2018

You could almost always detect the arrival of an early Saab 96 long before it came into view. Firstly, there was that engine note – a succession of popping noises – and then there was the unmistakable aroma of the two-stroke engine.

STREET SCENES – THE 1960S

  • Lancaster Insurance Services |
  • 21st June, 2018

Or, a trip into the real 1960s, as opposed to the myths about “Swinging Britain”, a decade of shops with striped awnings, chaps with Hank Marvin/Peter Sellers glasses and when parking seemed laughably easy by modern standards

70 YEARS OF THE SUNBEAM-TALBOT 90

  • Lancaster Insurance Services |
  • 20th June, 2018

There are those cars that possess an innate sense of dash – cars such as the Sunbeam-Talbot 90. You can imagine Leslie Phillips or Terry-Thomas driving one to Goodwood or Henley, the hood down on the drop, the sliding roof open on the saloon, overtaking Ford Consuls and Vauxhall Wyverns with zest and élan.

40 YEARS OF A VERY ROYALE VAUXHALL

  • Lancaster Insurance Services |
  • 20th June, 2018

October 1978 saw the launch of two crucial Vauxhall models, ones that were aimed at the sort of driver who thought nothing of using Luncheon Vouchers five times a week. We have already encountered the Carlton earlier this year and it was complimented by the first really upmarket Gryphon-badged product since the demise of the wonderfully flamboyant Viscount in 1972.

FATHER’S DAY BLUES – OR THE TALBOT-MATRA MUREENA REVISITED

  • Lancaster Insurance Services |
  • 19th June, 2018

As Father’s Day has just passed, I would like to celebrate the Talbot-Matra Mureena – a fine motor car and the latest in an extensive line of my own father’s ‘projects’.

Drive-In - Or The Best of 1970s Motoring TV

  • Lancaster Insurance Services |
  • 15th June, 2018

Drive-In, for those readers who are too young to remember the great days of ITV, was Thames Television’s motoring programme and the editions posted to YouTube provide viewing that is not so much unmissable as totally addictive. Plus, there is a special guest appearance from a Womble - enjoy!

Donington Park Review - Sarah Sullivan

  • Lancaster Insurance Services |
  • 14th June, 2018

It was my first time racing at Donington Park and I couldn’t wait to get started but unfortunately it began with a less than brilliant qualifying session!

BUILT TO LAST – THE AUSTIN A30/A35

  • Lancaster Insurance Services |
  • 13th June, 2018

The Austin A30/A35 has been a cornerstone of the classic car scene for so many years that it is sometimes easy to forget that they were everyday transport well into the 1970s.

Built to Last – The Peugeot 404

  • Lancaster Insurance Services |
  • 11th June, 2018

As the theme for this year’s Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show is “Built to Last”, what car merits this description more than the Peugeot 404? It is the sort of vehicle that you would encounter across the world long after its production ceased.

NEC CLASSIC THEME REVEALED AS ‘BUILT TO LAST’

  • Lancaster Insurance Services |
  • 8th June, 2018

The theme of this year’s Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show, with Discovery, has been revealed as ‘Built to Last’.

‘And Glynn Edwards as “Dave”’

  • Lancaster Insurance Services |
  • 8th June, 2018

What are the elements that you mainly associate with Minder? There are the cars of course – Terry’s array of slightly down-at-heel Capris, the Daley Jaguars and Daimlers, Detective-Sergeants Chisholm and Rycott attempting to fight crime in a Vauxhall Cavalier Mk. II or a Talbot Solara.

DO YOU REMEMBER THE COMMER FC/PA/PB/SPACEVAN?

  • Lancaster Insurance Services |
  • 7th June, 2018

How many of you remember this TV licensing warning from 1977 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRau5ysqrXY? There is the stern voice-over from Edward Judd, the idea that watching Columbo is to be utterly condemned - and that blue-grey Commer.