20 front-wheel drive classics
6th April, 2022
In the early decades of motoring, almost all cars adopted the rear-wheel drive principle, with the back wheels propelling the car while the front wheels handled the steering.
As the years went by, however, front wheel drive (or FWD) designs improved. Beginning in the 1970s and gaining traction through the 1980s and '90s, FWD cars began to dominate the marketplace – inspired, in part, by the small Japanese hatchbacks that entered our markets in the 1970s. Nowadays, of course, front wheel drive is very much the norm, outside the realms of sports cars and 4x4s but it wasn’t always like this.
Here are some classic and ground-breaking FWD vehicles from down the decades. Their decades-old vintage, plus their often unique places in their marque's history, mean that all of these cars are now sought-after classics. If you own, or plan to own, any of these FWD pioneers, make sure you protect your investment with some classic car insurance.
- Mini
The vast majority of cars produced during the two decades after World War II featured rear wheel drive, but some car companies decided to explore FWD options. Saab was one, as we will see later: another was the British Motor Corporation (BMC), experimenting with a FWD layout in Alec Issigonis' beautifully packaged Mini of 1959.
In fact, the formula worked so well in the diminutive Mini that BMC decided to commit to FWD for its larger vehicles such as the Austin / Morris 1100, Austin Maxi and Austin 1800 aka 'Land Crab'. The first of these FWD pioneers, however, was the most successful. That original Mini was still being produced, recognisably the same car, four decades on from its launch.
What was the secret to the Mini's success? In part, that would be its legendarily clever packaging. For a car this small, affordable and easy to park to – just about – accommodate four passengers was something close to miraculous. No less impressive, however, were the little Austin's hugely engaging driving dynamics, of which the front-wheel-drive layout played a significant part.
- Austin / Morris 1100
Buoyed by the success of the Mini, BMC's next major offering was the BMC ADO16 from 1962 onwards. Well, that was the company's internal designation: in the showrooms it was typically known as the Austin 1100 or Morris 1100. The car was also, however, known as the MG 1100, Wolseley 100, Riley Kestrel and many other names besides.
Whatever designation it came under, the ADO16 managed to be Britain's best-selling car from 1963 to 1966, and again from 1968 to 1971 (the 1967 top spot was grabbed by the new, second-generation Ford Cortina).
Its replacements, the Morris Marina and Austin Allegro, were both big sellers. However – how shall we put this – neither enjoyed the universal popularity of the ADO16. The car is still held in great affection today, and has not one but two thriving UK owners' clubs, the 1100 Club and ADO16.
- Alfa Romeo Alfasud
A look back at Alfa Romeo's long and illustrious production history reveals dozens of elegant Italian automobiles – indeed, we picked out a few of our favourites in our article, 10 breath-taking Alfa Romeos.
The Alfasud may not possess the otherworldly beauty of the 33 Stradale or the 1970s swagger of the Montreal, but it was a hugely important car for the Italian marque. Arriving in 1972, the Alfasud was the first front-wheel-drive model from a car maker famous for its cars' exciting handling, as well as their suave Italian looks. Small, compact, and mechanically simple, the Alfasud was perhaps the first Alfa to be affordable to the general population. And who wouldn't want to buy into this historic racing marque?
The 'Sud', unsurprisingly, sold in huge numbers, both in and beyond its native Italy. It did gather something of a reputation for rust, however, and if you fancy getting in on the Alfasud act these days we'd recommend asking to see paperwork relating to all rust prevention. Some classic car insurance will also be essential if you’re taking on a restoration project.
- Berkeley Sports
This is an unusual entry into our list of front-drive classics, but we think it's worth a mention because its FWD system wasn't the car's only innovative feature. No, the Berkeley Sports – produced in three guises from 1956 to '59 – also featured a fibreglass monocoque frame.
Being made of such a lightweight material made the Sports an exceptionally lithe and nimble two-seater, characteristics it shared with various Lotuses of the era. And indeed, if you wanted your two-seater to be as agile and quicksilver as possible, fibreglass made a great choice. We put together a list of some of our other favourite fibreglass cars elsewhere on our blog.
Based in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, the original incarnation of Berkeley Cars had a short life, from 1956 to 1960. Recently, though, they have been reborn, producing cars that evoke the lightweight, carefree spirit of the original Berkeleys.
- Citroen 2CV
Citroen's iconic, ingenious, and idiosyncratic little hatchback would feature in quite a lot of lists like this – cars that brought motoring to the masses, for instance, or vehicles with inimitable French style. Among these, it belongs in a list of our favourite front-wheel-drive cars.
The 2CV was famously conceived to help get France's 1930s farmers out of their horses and carts and into something a bit more reliable, speedy, and weatherproofed. Its long-travel suspension also made it a very comfortable car (a characteristic that Citroens have maintained ever since).
And, with its air-cooled engine (cheap to service) and low fuel consumption, the 2CV made for a relatively affordable and stress-free investment. The same is probably true of it today: simple mechanicals and a large online owners' community means that taking on a 2CV shouldn't be too daunting a prospect. We'd recommend classic car insurance to accompany what is unquestionably a classic car. Here is a fuller appreciation from us: 70 years of the 2CV and family.
- Ford Fiesta
The small, ever-likeable Fiesta is an important chapter, both in the history of FWD hatchbacks and in the Blue Oval's own annals.
Launched in Europe in 1976 and here in Britain in '77, the Mk1 Fiesta was Ford's first front-wheel-drive production car, beating the Mk3 Escort to that distinction by around three years. That first Fiesta was an enormous sales success, shifting around 1.75 million units around the world by the time the Mk2 came along in 1983.
What gave the diminutive Ford such immense selling power? Well, the styling still looks smart and eye-catching to this day, while the car came in an array of trim levels and engine sizes. This was what late '70s budget motoring was all about.
- Lancia Fulvia
Whether in saloon form (where it had something of the boxy charm of a Lada) or coupé guise, where it had more of a 6-Series BMW vibe, the Lancia Fulvia was one of the more elegantly proportioned cars of the 1960s.
It was also, unusually for the time, a front-wheel-drive machine. This departure from the norm certainly did the car's sporting pretensions no harm at all, however: the Fulvia triumphed in the Italian Rally Championship for eight of the nine years from 1965 to 1973. It even managed one triumph on a far larger stage, the International Rally Championship of 1972.
That combination of rallying pedigree and effortlessly suave looks make the Fulvia a highly cherished classic today. If you are lucky enough to own one of these Italian stallions, do make sure you have the right level of classic car insurance protecting your investment.
- Lotus Elan Mk2
Here's another car with a significant place in the history books. As distinct from its iconic 1960s namesake, the 1989, second-generation Lotus Elan has been the only front-wheel-drive production car turned out by the Norfolk firm to date.
Quite an unusual choice, as sports cars tend to be rear-wheel-drive: however, Colin Chapman and the Lotus engineers were clear that a FWD system was going to work best for a car of the Elan's particular dimensions and sporting ambitions.
In fact, the Mk2 Elan was not a huge seller. For one thing, it found itself up against the new Mazda MX-5, a car whose simplicity and sense of fun ironically evoked memories of the original Elan. Now, Mk2 Elans will be hard to track down, and will certainly require the protection of some classic car insurance.
- Mercedes A-Class
The original A-Class was a somewhat divisive car when it first came out. After all, here was a marque famous for its big, stately saloons and elegant roadsters, turning out a boxy and practical little car that looked destined for the weekly shopping run.
However, history has been kind to the first A-Class – as it has to its contemporary, the Audi A2, another boldly different small car design from a premium German marque. The A-Class's chunky looks have worn well, making it a rather distinctive car in the modern automotive landscape. The fact that it was Mercedes' very first front-wheel-drive car only adds to its unique credentials.
- Saab 99
Always adventurous in its engineering, Saab was much earlier to the front-wheel-drive party than most marques. Indeed, even the marque's very first production car, the 92 of 1950 onwards, sent power to its front wheels. So, when it comes to choosing a great FWD Saab, we're not short of options.
We've gone for the justly famous 99 of 1968 onwards, as it has perhaps the most iconic and recognisable shape of any Saab. Added to that, some 10 years after it made its debut, the 99 got one very significant engineering innovation: the addition of an (optional) turbocharged engine.
The 99 Turbo became the first commercially successful turbo car, spawning a whole host of fast and furious artificially aspirated cars. Small wonder that the 99 made our list of the best turbocharged classics.
- Fiat 128
The Italians have been behind a significant number of innovations in motoring history. For example, with the small but beautifully packaged 128 of 1969-85, Fiat arguably set down the template for the modern small car.
Front-engine and front-wheel-drive, available in a variety of saloon, estate, and elegant coupé body styles, unassumingly good-looking and cheap to run, the 128 had a great start, winning the European Car of the Year award in 1970. (We love a ECotY winner: some of our other favourites are discussed in this article).
The small, tidy Fiat went on to be made in more than three million examples. Fun fact: The 128's engine and running gear were redesigned for a mid-engine configuration and put into the very different but equally likeable Fiat X1/9.
- Austin Metro
On its launch in 1980, Austin's boxy, diminutive Metro was a hugely important car for British Leyland. BL had to prove to the Thatcher government that it could produce a successful small car and get in on the very lucrative small hatchback market.
In fact, as we know, the Metro was a huge success. Like the car it was ostensibly replacing, the Mini, it crammed a surprising amount of interior space into its modest proportions. The front wheels were powered by a choice of 1.0- and 1.3-litre engines: modest power outputs, perhaps, but they got this compact city car around effectively enough.
The Metro won a fair few famous admirers: Margaret Thatcher was snapped in one, Princess Diana owned one. Small-car royalty, no less.
- Peugeot 205
Many 1980s cars are remembered with great affection, although perhaps not all. However, you'll struggle to find an '80s vehicle so universally revered as the handsome, fine-handling and frankly brilliant Peugeot 205.
Launched in 1983, at a time when front-wheel drive had become the norm among the burgeoning supermini genre, the 205 quickly shot to the top of its class with its great, space-maximising designs, fine handling, and athletic good looks.
Of course, it's the GTI edition that has retained the biggest, shiniest halo. That model will now command, according to condition, anything from £5,000 to £30,000 on the used market, and will need some suitable classic car insurance behind it. However, any 205 you can find, from the base one litre upwards, will have graduated to classic status by now. If you're considering one of these classic Gallic runabouts, have a read of our Peugeot 205 buyers' guide.
- Renault 4
Yes, it's another era-defining small French car, albeit from a previous generation. In fact, Renault's pint-sized, functional 4 was designed as something of a riposte to the all-conquering Citroen 2CV.
Like many of the cars in our list, the 4 was also a hugely important project for its parent company. Exclusively rear-wheel drive until this point, Renault was not in brilliant health at the dawn of the 1960s. Simple and practical, and boldly following in the footsteps of the 2CV and a few others in selecting front-wheel drive, the 4 reversed the company's fortunes, and remained in production for an extraordinary three and a half decades.
If you were labouring up the motorway in one of these back in the 1970s, you might have been amused by the idea of the 4 one day attaining classic status. Yet that's undoubtedly the truth now, and that 4 in your garage is a prime candidate for classic car insurance.
- Trabant
One of the most enduring images of Eastern Europe's 1989 revolutions was the sight of dozens of East Germans driving their little Trabants into West Berlin to get their first taste of Western capitalism. Small, basic, and made largely of duroplast, a hard plastic made from recycled cotton waste, the Trabant was for decades the only four-wheeled transport available to generations of hard-working East Germans.
When the Trabant first emerged, in 1957, its front-wheel-drive configuration was relatively modern and daring. Less so, perhaps, when it finally ended its production run in 1991. That front-wheel drive was accompanied, for much of the car's life, by a two-stroke engine, making for a distinctive soundtrack around the roads of Communist East Germany.
- Cadillac Eldorado
You might have thought all the cars on this list would be small, functional European econoboxes – but no, we've got one or two surprises for you. And the Caddy Eldorado stands out from the crowd here.
Yes, for its eighth generation back in 1967, Cadillac's big, svelte, and sexy 'personal luxury saloon' underwent a more radical redesign than usual. This included transitioning from rear- to front-wheel drive, while some sharp new styling helped make this one of the best-selling Eldorado generations.
If you're tempted by an Eldorado of any generation… well, why not? These are big, beautiful cars from a golden if gas-guzzling era of American motoring. Your car will be a rare sight on UK roads, but you will find other Cadillac drivers out there to help with your mechanical questions. A great place to start would be our guide to the UK's best American car clubs.
- Volkswagen K70
The most influential front-wheel-drive Volkswagen was surely the Mk1 Golf of 1974. However, that's a car that already gets plenty of attention from us – here are our memories of the iconic GTI version, for example, while in this feature we look at the basic and now little-remembered Golf N variant.
No, for this article we've decided to shine the spotlight on a different FWD Volkswagen. The K70 was, in fact, the marque's very first model to send power down through the front wheels. This car has a fascinating history: it was developed by NSU (they of the famous, rotary-engine Ro80 saloon) but, on the latter company's takeover by VW in 1969, the K70 was marketed by Volkswagen.
It now looks very desirable, with that classic slightly forward-angled, late '60s/early '70s VW look. Good luck getting hold of one, though, as only 800 of the 211,000 K70s were made as right-hand-drive cars for the UK market.
- Volvo 480
The sleek, svelte 480 broke with Volvo tradition in several ways. For one thing (you've guessed it), this was the first production car from the safety-minded Swedes to feature front wheel drive.
But that wasn't all. To look at, the car seemed to have little in common with the square-jawed and thoroughly sensible looks we'd come to associate with the brand. A Volvo with pop-up headlights? Sensational – and yet also influential, as the FWD system tested in this elegant and unusual car went onto grace other Volvos. Those included the much-loved 850, which joined the 480 in our list of favourite classic Volvos.
- Honda Civic Mk1
The oil crisis of 1973, and the rise in fuel prices that it produced, resulted in an influx of small, fuel-efficient Japanese cars into the UK market. And perhaps the most notable of these was the first-generation Honda Civic.
Elsewhere on this blog we singled out the second-generation Civic as one of our favourite classic Hondas. And it's true that the Mk2 did improve on its predecessor in a few areas. However, we'd also like to honour the original Civic and the impact it – and other small, clever, and frugal cars like the Renault 5 and Fiat 127 – made on the 1970s UK car market.
Buyer beware: this was, like its rival and contemporary the Alfasud, a car with a propensity to rust. The likelihood is that any Mk1 Civics still surviving will have been treated with some decent corrosion protection, so ask to see paperwork showing that any work like this has been done.
- Skoda Felicia Mk2
Motoring enthusiasts of a certain vintage may remember Skoda being the butt of some unkind jokes during the 1970s and 1980s. In fact, cars like the Rapid and Estelle were often much loved by their UK owners, but a certain perception of lightweight build quality was hard to shake off (and, possibly, deserved in some cases).
When did this all change? Modern Skoda’s like the Fabia and Octavia, produced under VW ownership, are often credited with turning the company's image around. However, we'd go a little further back and give the title of 'game changer' to the Felicia, Skoda's agreeable late 1990s hatchback.
The Felicia launched soon after the Czech marque was subsumed into the Volkswagen Group, so the car occupies a unique place in Skoda history as both the last 'true' Skoda and the first to point the way towards the brand's new, upmarket image.
Front-wheel-drive, rear-wheel-drive: they're all classics
All these wonderful cars from the past should be cherished and looked after, both as a financial investment and an evocation of a golden age of motoring.
Why not protect your car with some classic car insurance from Lancaster?
Contact us for a quote today.
Policy benefits, features and discounts offered may very between insurance schemes or cover selected and are subject to underwriting criteria. Information contained within this article is accurate at the time of publishing but may be subject to change.
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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".
30 October 2023
Buckle up, car enthusiasts! The Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show, the crown jewel of classic car exhibitions, is back and roaring with excitement - you won't want to miss it!
The Triumph 2000 at 60When Motor Sport tested the Triumph 2000 in 1964, they described it as "a 6-cylinder, luxuriously equipped and styled family-type 5-seater saloon, likely to appeal to ordinary rather than discerning motorists".
Announcing our October Bright Young Spark!Announcing our October Bright Young Spark!
27 October 2023
2023 is a big year for MGs, as it marks its 100th birthday and the MG Owners’ Club (MGOC) achieves its 50th anniversary, and to celebrate Lancaster Insurance has revealed the top MG model favoured by owners, the B.
THE JAGUAR S-TYPE AT SIXTYSixty years ago, Jaguar introduced a new model for the driver who lived in a world of expense account steak and scampi. Seeing an S-Type in the driveway would show the neighbours that you had reached ‘the top’ and induce envy in all Ford Zodiac owners.
Meet The Owner – Graham Walker and his Renault 6 TLSometimes, when looking at used car advertisements, you encounter a vehicle that gives you an overwhelming rush of nostalgia - Classic car Renault 6 hatchback luxury 4 model ready to enjoy rare | eBay. A 1977 Renault 6TL seems to belong to a lost world of The Old Grey Whistle Test on BBC2 and Space 1999 iced-lollies from your local newsagent.
MEET THE OWNER - SEBASTIAN SAUER AND HIS HONDA ACCORD SERIES ONE SALOONSebastian has long been an enthusiast of old cars, and he recently sold his 1987 Toyota Celica to buy this incredibly rare machine – “It was a no-brainer!”. His 1978 first-generation Honda Accord saloon is believed to be the only remaining example in Gibraltar.
25 October 2023
Auctions can be places of great temptation to the unwary classic car enthusiasts. Take the 1959 Riley Two-Point-Six to be sold by H&H on the 29th November. After just one look, this writer was plotting to eBay several members of his family to raise the necessary funds - 1959 Riley 2.6 Saloon (handh.co.uk).
MEET THE OWNER – TREVOR HANDY AND HIS FORD GRANADA 3.0GL MK. I ESTATEThe public reaction is very good, especially when you lift the bonnet you can eat your lunch off it. I have always been a fan of big cars and estate cars, especially Ford, so when I first saw this one, I knew I would end up with it.
24 October 2023
Seventy-five years ago, the A90 Atlantic was a star of the first post-war London Motor Show. Many of the 562,954 visitors to Earls Court were agog at those gold-faced instruments, the ECKO radio set, the heater, the centrally mounted fog lamp and the "Jewelescent" paint finish. Plus, any car with a power-operated hood was a world apart from a realm of smog, Woodbines and queuing for the cheese ration.
1970 AUSTIN-HEALEY SPRITEIn late 1969, British Leyland extensively revised the MG Midget Mk. III and its Austin-Healey Sprite Mk. IV companion model. The black grilles and Ro-Style wheels altered the line-up’s image. It was farewell to blazers, cravats and Graham Hill moustaches and hello to Jason King sideburns and large amounts of Hai Karate aftershave. And who could resist the “Racy 3-spoke steering wheel with simulated leather-bound rim”?
1955 CITROEN ‘ONZE NORMALE’ TRACTION AVANTWhen Citroën unveiled the original Traction Avant to the public on the 18th of April 1934, it marked an evolutionary step in the development of the motor car. There was the elegant uni-body construction, the front wheel drive, the torsion bar suspension and the hydraulic brakes. By comparison, other saloons of that era looked as though they had recently emerged from The Ark.
1967 JAGUAR E-TYPEIn December of 1961, Car & Driver rhapsodised over the E-Type: Our first impressions of taking over this car are not easy to describe. The car is beautiful to look at from any angle, and it was said by many, who saw it in the flesh for the first time when meeting our test crew, that pictures so far published had all failed to do justice to its appearance.
ROVER 2600 SD1When British Leyland commenced work on the SD1, David Bache, Rover’s Head of Design, intended to create a five-door supercar on a limited budget. He later stated: “It may be more difficult to achieve high standards with a simpler design because more intensive development is needed:
FORD SIERRA SAPPHIRE RS COSWORTH"It's not for the inexperienced, but oh, how it rewards skilful, fluent, driving". That is how Ford promoted the new Sapphire RS Cosworth on its launch in 1988 – "Developed on the track, there's little to touch it on the road".
2004 MG SV-RThe best things about the car, however, remain the chassis and the steering, which has a lovely feel to it. The chassis is sharp without feeling snappy, taut without riding harshly. The car feels smart and intimate: you feel on top of the job.
1993 Ford Fiesta1993 – a time when Meat Loaf announced I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That) and when Angus Deayton still hosted Have I Got News For You. And a time when a Ford Fiesta was a familiar sight. Thirty years later, time and the impact of various scrappage schemes means that it is now an increasingly rare sight on British roads.
19 October 2023
Many people are familiar with the history of the XK120 – that Browns Lane intended it as a ‘test-bed’ for the latest Jaguar engine and how its appearance at Earls Court was because of the Mk. VII saloon would not be ready until 1950 due to body-tooling problems.
02 October 2023
At first glance, this handsome Mini looks like a prime example of a Morris Mk.1 Traveller. Then you notice the left-hand-drive layout and the unfamiliar badging. It is, in fact, a 1967 Innocenti Mini T - one of the 437,234 Minis built in Milan.
70 YEARS OF VOLKSWAGEN IN THE UKThe 1953 London Motor Show marked the first time a British motorist could buy a German car since the Second World War, but the Beetle had been a presence on the UK’s roads for a number of years. VW had sold them to British service personnel in Germany for £150 during the late 1940s, and on demob, they were allowed to take their Beetles home.
MEET THE OWNER – ELTON MURPHY AND HIS OPEL COMMODORE GSJust take a look at the veloured magnificence of that interior, with wooden decorations reminiscent of a top-of-the-range hostess trolley. Then, marvel at the vinyl roof, the matt black grille and those elaborate wheels.
A VISIT TO THE 1953 LONDON MOTOR SHOWIt is the 21st October 1953, and the Duke of Edinburgh is to open the London Motor Show - an event that heralds the beginning of the post-war buyer’s market. Of course, Vauxhall buyers might still be awaiting delivery of the Wyvern or Velox they bought in 1947 and Morris dealers may still be fulfilling orders for the Minor placed in 1948.
The Forgotten Ford Granada – Made By HyundaiSome of us (all right, me) have long been fascinated with large European saloons that enjoyed an afterlife or a parallel career in another continent. India’s Hindustan Contessa (aka the Vauxhall Victor FE) and the Standard 2000 (aka the Rover SD1) are prime examples of the former; we have the Hyundai-built Ford Granada Mk for the latter. II.
THE WORLD’S OLDEST LANDCRAB?– A 1963 PRE-PRODUCTION AUSTIN 1800It is always a pleasure to follow the progress of a car you wrote about previously. Many years ago, I compared a pre-production Austin 1800 ‘Landcrab’ with a Slough-built Citroën ID19 for Classic Cars magazine and described it as “a scaled-up BMC 1100 and is just as enjoyable to drive”. And now 531 NOF is in search of a new custodian.
THE MORRIS MINOR TRAVELLER AT SEVENTYAutocar of 9th October 1953 profiled a new version of a vehicle, one “considered by many people as a classic design of its type, and as such is often used as a yardstick when comparing small cars”. They further praised the “very bright and light interior” and the “particularly useful luggage compartment”. It was, of course, the Morris Minor “Travellers Car”.
29 September 2023
The 1st November 1973 edition of Autocar concluded its report on a crucial new British car with glowing praise: All told, the Robin marks a real step forward in three-wheeler design.
70 YEARS OF THE 2CV IN BRITAINthe work of a designer who has kissed the lash of austerity with an almost masochistic fervour. Simplified to the point of crudity, it seems almost needlessly ugly, but it is full of original ideals planned to cut weight and cost and increase production. Besides this the Volkswagen is elaborate and the baby Renault a voiture de luxe.
26 September 2023
I recently wrote about how and why I craved a Fiat 2300, and, by pure chance, one is being sold by Anglia Car Auctions in November. Better still, this 1967 example is the even more exclusive Familiare estate version, in RHD form, and is possibly the only surviving version in the UK with optional automatic transmission.
Announcing our September Bright Young Sparks Winner!Mark’s Story……. ‘I’ve found my passion' Mark Wager followed his dream after being knocked back at school.
CMS NewsThe UK’s biggest and best is only 2 months away! Prepare for an awe-inspiring journey through automotive history at the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show 2023!
75 years of the Morris Minor by Andrew RobertsThe 1949 Morris models are being kept secret until today. We believe an aerodynamic car with the four-cylinder side-valve engine used in the former “Eight,” known as the Morris Minor, will be on show, together with larger models, one of which will be called the Morris Oxford. Go and see for yourselves!
Club of the month: Marina Owners ClubAs many clubs begin to get planning for the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show in November, we hear the Marina Owners Club have already pulled out all the stops to create a show stopping display for the ‘Perfect Partners’ theme.
Lancaster Insurance enhance specialist MX-5 scheme to offer owners reduced premiumsRenowned for its MX-5 cover options, and close association with the model, Lancaster Insurance is thrilled to be reinforcing its commitment by developing its specialist scheme to offer owners reduced premiums across the MX-5 range.
THE ROVER 75 AT 25On the 20th October, the Rover 75 will celebrate its quarter-century – a fact that seems impossible to many classic enthusiasts of a certain vintage. For many of us, including this writer, it seems to be almost yesterday that Mr. J Clarkson reported on the Rover's launch for Top Gear -
Meet the Owner - Joseph Lane and his Police Wolseley 6/80Our old friend Joseph Lane has recently acquired another Wolseley to join his 6/90 and the other members of his classic police car fleet. His 1953 6/80 is the sort of vehicle that seems to dominate the output of Talking Pictures Television; a car associated with such black & white film dialogue as “You got me bang to rights Inspector!’ and “Dash it all, Superintendent – I was dining at the Blue Parrot nightclub that evening!”.
Meet the Owner – Tony Ludovico and his Alfa Romeo Alfa 6My car was registered in Italy in 1986, but it was actually manufactured in 1984. I imported it to the UK it in 2018 after it had stood in a barn in Verona for 16 years - and after a wash and wax and the original paintwork was still amazing!
THE VOLVO 145 - A CELEBRATIONAs most readers already know, earlier this year, Volvo announced the demise of their estates, ending a tradition that commenced in 1962 with the station wagon version of the Amazon. Five years later, its 145 successor founded a dynasty that lasted until as recently as 1993 and is still the image conjured by so many Britons on hearing the words “Volvo Estate”.
Meet The Owner – Scarlett Devey and her Austin A40 SomersetCreativity can spring from the strangest of places. Sometimes, it’s a case of making the most of what you have – for Scarlett Devey, it wasn’t a case of ‘make do and mend’, more ‘build back, and better’. Having spent her life to date around classics, custom cars and hot rods, she knew that she wanted something special for her first car; as it turned out, an Austin A40 Somerset more than fit the bill.
The real cost of restoring an MGBWhen describing the MGB, words like ‘seminal’ and ‘evergreen’ come to mind. A worldwide favourite, beloved among enthusiasts, it remains an obvious candidate for restoration, owing to the parts supply, advice and support network available. But should you take the plunge? The MG Owners’ Club (MGOC) stepped into the breach to advise.
Meet The Owner – Alex Sebbinger and his Rover 825 SterlingCars go through hundreds – if not thousands – of interim changes during their production lifetimes. The purest of their kind, they’re normally the rarest of all; altered, improved, facelifted, or scrapped early on after flaws were exposed. Few survive, and even fewer are cherished. For arch Rover 800 enthusiast, Alex Sebbinger, his 1986 825 Sterling is something of a holy grail.
21 September 2023
The 26th September 1963 was an important date for Vauxhall – the public launch of their first post-war car. To promote the "1-litre car with the millionaire ride," there was a cinema commercial featuring Peter Gilmore, with a six-minute advertising feature screened on ITV on the 29th September.
MEET THE OWNER – BILLY HEALEY AND HIS 1962 BEDFORD CA ROMANYThe year is 1962, and you have fully prepared your new Bedford CA Romany De Luxe for a holiday in Dorset. The cool box contains a supply of UHT milk while the cupboards bulge loaves of Sunblest bread, jars of Bourn-Vita, and tins of the finest Heinz tomato soup available to humanity. Best of all, Frank Ifield singing I Remember You playing on Radio Luxembourg, accompanies the journey along the A35 to that holiday camp in Swanage.
MEET THE OWNER - KIERON MAUGHAN AND HIS PANHARD 24Sometimes, you have the unexpected pleasure of writing about a car so rare that you have only read about it. When Panhard launched the 24 on the 23rd June 1963, it marked their swansong as a car manufacturer, and Kieron Maughan owns one of a handful of RHD models.
15 September 2023
Here, you see two Thames Valley officers admire my Wolseley 6/99 on display at Cowley’s Templars Square Shopping Centre.
MEET THE OWNER – GLENN LOUCH AND HIS 1978 OPEL KADETT COne of the many Lancaster Insurance Classic Car Show’s stars last year was a smart two-door saloon in pale blue.
14 September 2023
Renowned for its MX-5 cover options, and close association with the model, Lancaster Insurance is thrilled to be reinforcing its commitment by developing its specialist scheme to offer owners reduced premiums across the MX-5 range.
Seventy Years of The Original Ford ZodiacSeventy years ago, Ford GB unveiled a new model that instantly became the object of desire of Teddy Boys at the Hammersmith Palais and ambitious business owners alike. It was, of course, the Zephyr-Zodiac with exterior trim plated in nine-carat gold. Here was quasi-Hollywood glamour for only £851 2s 6d. Ford proudly claimed such a price placed it “within reach of those who would otherwise consider such motoring beyond their means”.
A Day at the 2023 Beaulieu AutojumbleOn arriving at the 2023 Beaulieu Autojumble, I was greeted by a Hillman Avenger Estate belonging to the museum's Chief Executive, Dr. Jon Murden, and a green Volvo 145. Lancaster Insurance's Austin-Healey Sprite was in the distance, as orange as a Space Hopper. Naturally, I immediately felt at home.
The Austin FX3 at 75This year marks the 75th birthday of the Citroën 2CV, the Jaguar XK120, the Land Rover and the Morris Minor, to name but a few fine vehicles.
13 September 2023
Four years ago, this writer first encountered James Wade, Rover SD1 enthusiast extraordinaire, and his 1986 police model.
THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN SPORTING FORD ESCORTSFrom a time when no edition of ITV’s World of Sport would have been complete without the sound of an Escort in full cry...
MEET THE OWNER – NEIL GRUBB AND HIS FORD CORTINA GHIA MK. IVAround 47 years ago, Neil Grubb’s father was a devotee of British Leyland and had recently taken delivery of a Princess 2200 HLS.
Harris Mann 1938 - 2023The late Harris Mann said: “We’re not trying to be either transatlantic or European. The Americans are big and ornate and the proportions are wrong for what we’re trying to do. We’re not trying to be Europeans...
05 September 2023
Prepare to be captivated by a world where the beauty of classic cars reigns supreme. The Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show isn't just an event; it's a grand celebration of the very essence of these mechanical masterpieces.
Lancaster Insurance sponsors the National Motor Museum at the 2023 Beaulieu Autojumbles!Lancaster Insurance is passionate about supporting the classic car community and is thrilled to sponsor the National Motor Museum at the 2023 Beaulieu Autojumbles – both the Spring and International meets.
100 Years of MG – On ScreenHere are just some of the MG’s roles on film and television...
Coffee and Cars at Lancaster Insurance!The next date for your diary is: Saturday 16th September. The event will run from 10am until 1pm and is completely FREE to enter and there are NO pre booking requirements to come and enjoy the event.
31 August 2023
Lancaster Insurance is passionate about supporting the classic car community and is thrilled to sponsor the National Motor Museum at the 2023 Beaulieu Autojumbles – both the Spring and International meets.
The Mercedes-Benz 600 at 60It is the 12th September 1963, and you are a hardworking accountant somewhere in Bonn. A polished Ford Taunus 12M is parked outside your home, and you are reading about the latest Mercedes-Benz with a mixture of envy and pride. The 600 was the automotive embodiment of the German economic miracle, with a new 6.3 litre SOHC Bosch mechanical fuel-injected V8 engine propelling nearly 2 ½ tons of Mercedes-Benz to a top speed of 125 mph.
14 August 2023
My first ever car was a 304 saloon, but it rusted away as they tended to in the 1980s. I looked for another for decades and saw this in the late 1990s, but it had sold. Fast-forward 20 years, I saw it again for sale in County Cork, so I bought it unseen in 2018.
SEVENTY YEARS OF SEATSometimes a car does not have to be technologically advanced to cause a minor revolution in a country’s transportation. The SEAT 1400 was a sober-looking 5-6 seater saloon along the lines of the Standard Vanguard with a steering column gear change and a top speed of just 75 mph. But in 1953, the first example heralded the start of Spain’s first car manufacturer.
MEET THE OWNER – ADAM SCARBOROUGH AND HIS TALBOT HORIZONAdam’s Talbot Horizon can potentially turn more heads than the average Ferrari or Lamborghini. As he remarks, “Near enough every time I go out, even if it is just to the petrol station, I get stopped by people shocked that it has survived. Most think the brown colour is typical of its era”.
THE PEUGEOT 604 – A CELEBRATIONWe recently posted a brochure picture of the 604 on our Facebook page, and the response truly amazed us! So many remembered the flagship Peugeot of the late 1970s and early 1980s that we just had to write a special blog. When Car magazine evaluated the 604 opposite the intriguing choices of the BMW 528 and the XJ6 3.4 S2 they concluded, “The Jaguar is still a brilliant car, but in some respects Peugeot have managed to better it.
31 July 2023
As long-time readers of Practical Classics, the Lancaster Insurance team were delighted to receive an extended invite to see the PC workshop. Hosted by Danny, James and Matt Tomkins; the team were in their element getting a tour of the premises and seeing just how much magic happens behind those unassuming shutters!
Step into the Classic Car Wonderland at the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show!Rev your engines and buckle up, car enthusiasts! The Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show, the crown jewel of classic car exhibitions, is back and roaring with excitement - you won't want to miss it!
CLASSIC CAR VALUES by Andrew RobertsA few weeks ago, we reported on how two Ford Capri 3.0S Mk. IIIs from The Professionals are expected to fetch £200,000 - £230,000 at the Silverstone Auction next month.
Celebrating 100 years of the Jowett ClubWell done to the Jowett Car Club who this year, are celebrating 100 years of their club. Formed in 1923, the Jowett Car Club claims to be the oldest one-make car club in the world.
40 years young: The Midget and Sprite ClubInexpensive, beloved and well represented in terms of spares: these are just a few of the things a ‘Spridget’ has got going for it.
Coffee and Cars at Lancaster Insurance!Each event will run from 10am until 1pm and is completely FREE to enter and there are NO pre booking requirements to come and enjoy the event. Classics of all conditions are welcome to the event and every car is made to feel welcome, whether it’s a work in progress or a concours show winner.
25 July 2023
Over the years, this writer has immersed himself in the fascinating world of bygone car advertisements and brochures. With screen sales camp gains, he has learned that a Ford Corsair 2000E is the ideal vehicle for an elopement and that it was not a good idea for Bill ‘Arthur Fowler’ Treacher to take an Austin Allegro for a test-drive.
The SD1 From India – The Story of The Standard 2000Of all the rare Rover SD1 variants – the V8S, the Vanden Plas Series 1, the 2400SD Turbo – the Standard 2000 from India is possibly the most interesting. In theory it looked set to appeal to the discerning motorist – but in reality, the project had sone very fundamental flaws.
THE REMARKABLE TVR GRIFFITH 200"You dreamed it...we built it". That was the marketing slogan for the remarkable blend of the TVR Grantura Mk. III with a 4,727cc Ford V8 engine known as the Griffith 200.
The BMC ADO16 – The Graham Hill ConnectionSixty years ago, the keen driver who found their family outgrowing a Mini Cooper and who really needed four doors now had the ideal car – a Morris 1100 with GT tuning by Speedwell Performance Conversions Ltd.
Meet The Owner – Siôn Hudson and his 1980 Ford Fiesta 1100LIt is often the case that seemingly mundane versions of popular cars are of equal, or greater, interest than their more expensive brethren. In the early 1980s, the Fiesta S, Ghia and XR2 were far less commonly seen than the likes of Siôn Hudson’s L – the car from a time when “5 position reclining front seats”, “Sandford” fabric trim and “driver’s and passenger’s storage door bins” represented the pinnacle of luxury in the Elm Green housing estate.
THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN GERALD PALMER BMC SALOONSThere is a strong case for Gerald Palmer’s creations for the British Motor Corporation to be considered some of the most elegant saloons of their generation.
THE STORY OF THE 9X – THE MINI REPLACEMENT THAT NEVER WASThe year is 1967 and Alec Issigonis is about to commence work on one of his most ambitious projects to date – an heir to the Mini. The 9X commenced after Issigonis finished work on the ADO14, which was to become the Austin Maxi.
17 July 2023
‘A British car, to beat the world’ was the Metro’s advertising slogan in 1980 – and British car fans certainly took the model to their hearts. One such fan was Neil Allen, who’d spent his childhood in and around them, took driving lessons in a Rover Metro, and, before his 1983 Mk1 came along, had a 1988 Metro City in the garage.
MEET THE OWNER - STEVEN GRAY AND HIS BEDFORD HA ROMALast year, we met Steven Gray, the proud owner of a Vauxhall Chevette Sun Hatch. But his fleet also includes a motor home that looks as though it has strayed from the set of Carry On Camping – a 1968 Bedford HA Roma. Some time ago, I described this fine machine in a Telegraph article thus.
DO YOU REMEMBER THE FORD ORION MK. I?Some cars take pride in being reassuringly conventional, not least the Orion, a vehicle that only Terry and June might have considered at the cutting edge of automotive fashion. Ford never intended to break new bounds, but it more than fulfilled its role as a saloon to appeal to fleet buyers.
07 July 2023
Inexpensive, beloved and well represented in terms of spares: these are just a few of the things a ‘Spridget’ has got going for it. With the comings and goings of lockdowns, the advent of 10 per cent ethanol fuel and more competition from the internet than ever before, Andrew Parrott, club chair of the Midget and Sprite Club, reassured Lancaster Insurance Services that the organisation was more than set for the challenges of the future.
Meet The Owner – Alastair Roberts and his Ford Probe 16vThe Ford Probe was never meant to replace the Capri, but the press didn’t see it that way. Six years since the beloved model went the way of the dodo, front-wheel drive coupes were still in demand; Alastair Roberts, having owned a Capri 2.0S in the past, bought his Probe 16v after the end of an unhappy company car lease.
30 June 2023
We all love watching our favourite car shows on TV, such as Wheeler Dealers and Top Gear, but we are always on the hunt for a new one to dive into and Netflix have us covered with the launch of Tex Mex Motors. Focusing on a new business set up in El Paso, Texas, on the border of Mexico and the USA, the team have a goal to clear $250,000 in four months by buying classics in Mexico, restoring and selling them for a profit.
40 YEARS OF THE JAGUAR XJ-S EVENTERForty years ago, the well-heeled motorist searching for a British sporting three-door estate car had three options. Firstly, there was the Reliant Scimitar GTE; secondly, one could always opt for a specially tuned Range Rover. And thirdly, there was the new Jaguar XJ-S Eventer - the perfect shooting brake for that excursion to Goodwood.
The Lancaster team attend the MG Centenary show!Lancaster team (Sam and Lorna) arrived at the show bright and early, looking forward to the day. With the weather not looking to promising they set up and waited for the start of the event. As the event went on, they were fortunate enough to be blessed with some sunshine and had a wonderful setting with the event being held at the British Motor Museum.
Did anybody order a Jam Sandwich?The Rover SD1 was the archetypal police car of the late 1970s and 1980s, often referred to as the ‘Jam Sandwich’, due to its distinctive white paint finish augmented by a contrasting stripe. Many forces introduced this new livery in the 1970s, and it often featured on the Rover 3500 P6B. The replacement SD1 debuted in 1976 with a ‘Police Specification’ version.
The Lancaster team attend MG’s in the Park!Last weekend the Car Club team, Paris and Sam, travelled across to the Cotswolds for another MG event, this time it was MG’s in the Park. The event is held at Cotswold Wildlife Park, where the team arrived nice and early to get set up for the day.
Coffee and Cars at Lancaster Insurance is BACK by popular demand!Fire up those engines, the Lancaster Insurance Coffee and Cars meets are back for July and August; giving everyone the chance to come down and enjoy classic cars, vehicles, bikes and commercials completely free of charge!
29 June 2023
When I encountered a Datsun Skyline 240K Coupe for Classic & Sports Car nearly twenty years ago, I wrote that it hailed from a time when "a ceramic cooker hob, Texas Speak & Spell and a car with electric windows were the three essential prerequisites for middle-class success".
MEET THE OWNER – STEVE LLOYD AND HIS OPEL COLLECTIONMany readers who live near Milford Haven will know the Vauxhall dealer W P Lewis & Son. Their managing director Steve Lloyd is also the custodian of four very rare cars that hail from when his family’s company was an Opel franchisee.
Behind The Shutters: Courtney Ward, Ambassador, Mazda MX-5 Owners’ ClubClassic car clubs have a vital role in preserving historic vehicles. Aside from the spares, camaraderie and events, they need to be a welcoming space for all interested parties. The best way to get into older motors is to start young – and Courtney Ward, Mazda MX-5 Owners’ Club ambassador, joined when she was 11.
The challenges facing classic car owners in LondonIt can be tricky running a historic vehicle in any city, but our capital poses its own unique challenges. As the expanding Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) will affect owners of modern classics after 29 August, Lancaster Insurance caught up with Darren Vince, founder of Waterloo Classics, to better understand the situation from within Greater London and the Congestion Charge zone.
21 June 2023
Britain’s sports cars are among our most precious motoring legacies; of all the storied marques of yesterday, MG is sorely missed. Fans have been waiting nearly a quarter of a century for a new MG sports car – and if everything goes to plan, they’ll get one sometime next year: the Cyberster, an all-electric cabriolet that’s set to go toe-to-toe with Tesla’s second-generation Roadster.
Eight summer drop-top convertibles for £10k or lessWinter blues be gone! As the days get longer and the nights shorten, the chance of decent weather grows by the hour – and there’s plenty of open-top motoring to be had, even on a modest budget. For those seeking miles of headroom, our cheapest cars hail from the mid-Nineties and early Noughties at £2500 and wind back the decades just before breaching £10,000.
Understanding TVR: the life and times of an unforgettable British car makerThe appeal of a TVR is obvious: powerful, affordable, and handsome. Before and after the closure of the Blackpool factory in Bristol Road in 2006, the TVR Car Club enthusiastically supported (and continues to support) every TVR, from the earliest specials to the last Sagaris or Typhon.
Behind the shutters: MG Owners’ Club Race ChampionshipSince 1981, the MG Owners’ Club’s Race Championship has given drivers of all skill levels a chance to race for an affordable sum. Run to strict safety standards, differing little from how they left the factory, MGs from Abingdon, Cowley and Longbridge compete on circuits the length and breadth of the UK.
Summer driving: We pick the UK’s best roadsThe lure of the open road becomes all the more special behind the wheel of a classic car. It’s the antithesis of the motorway grind on the cross-city commute; even if your historic vehicle isn’t particularly quick, it’s the experience and the scenery that counts more than making progress.
15 June 2023
Father’s Day will soon be upon us, so I would like to celebrate the return to the road of one of my parent’s projects – his 1983 Talbot-Matra Murena 1.6. Here is what I wrote about his previous projects in 2018:
Our ten favourite English motor museumsMuseums still have a lot to offer classic car enthusiasts. They’re part of the preservation movement that keeps historic vehicles on the road; not only are venues given over to exhibits, but space is also allotted to owners to gather and display their cars. As institutions, they repair and display our past motoring heritage.
THE MGA – ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT CARS IN MG’S HISTORYOn 27 May the British Motor Museum paid host to the Centenary of MG. Such a magnificent event prompted a question that is impossible to answer – what is the most historically significant car to bear the octagon badge? Obviously, there is ‘Old Number One’ but you could also cite the TC, the first MG officially marked in the USA, or the MGB, once the world’s best-selling sports car.
STARS AND THEIR CARS – BARRY NEWMAN AND THE DODGE CHARGER R/T 440 MAGNUMThe passing of Barry Newman on the 11 May means there can be only one choice for ‘Stars and Their Cars’ for this month. Some readers may remember the actor as Petrocelli, a television series filled with Cadillac Fleetwoods and other fine Detroit machinery.
12 June 2023
The 20th June sees the return of a vehicle that embodies 1970s popular culture as much as a Ford Cortina GXL with a vinyl roof and a bottle of Hai Karate aftershave in the glove compartment. On that date, the Raleigh Chopper is to return, in either Infra Red or Ultra Violet, at a price of £950
The Panhard Dyna Z at 70On the 17th June 1953, Panhard launched the Dyna Z at Paris’s Les Ambassadeurs – and to say it caused a sensation would be an understatement. For one, there was its appearance; the company’s Head of Chassis Development and Chief Stylist, Louis Bionier, designed and tested the monocoque aluminium body in a wind tunnel. Moreover, Panhard proudly claimed the Z had a drag coefficient of just 0.28.
MEET THE OWNER – STEVE POWLAY AND HIS POLICE MGC ROADSTERIn the 1980s, Steve owned an MG Midget and an MGB, and his recent retirement prompted him to buy a third Abingdon sports car in July 2019. Any MGC Roadster is a distinctive machine, but this example is one of 18 commissioned by the London Metropolitan Police.
MEET THE OWNER – THE MARK DENTON COLLECTION“My father always had Triumphs and drove a Vanguard pick-up when serving in the RAF. I took a shine to my Vanguard van in the village when I was 13 years old”. And today, Mark Denton’s fleet includes a TR7 Convertible and no fewer than six Vanguards – one of the UK’s most important post-war cars.
08 June 2023
In 1923, William Morris permitted Cecil Kimber, the General Manager of Morris Garages of Queen Street in Oxford, to build sporting versions of Morris cars. That August, the company registered the first six MG Super Sports. And so, to celebrate 100 years of MG, here are 100 facts:
WHY THE MG METRO 1300 MATTERSThe centenary of MG is the opportunity to pay homage to so many of their cars, including a model that was rather overlooked for too long. The MG Metro was neither designed nor built in the Abingdon factory but its debut in May 1982 marked the revival of one of the world’s most famous marques.
02 June 2023
Earlier this year, Daniel employed a very unusual car for work duty. Of course, any BL ‘Wedge’ is a fascinating sight, and the Nichols HL was deployed “on the school run and delivering modern car parts for repair. In the last six months, I boast she’s done 4,000 miles on main car duty, and was only a fan belt short of 100% reliable!”.
01 June 2023
Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show will be held 10-12 Nov 2023 at Birmingham’s NEC.The 2023 show theme is ‘Perfect Partners’. Clubs and exhibitors encouraged to take part in annual show theme. Tickets now on sale via advanced online booking.
31 May 2023
On the 17th May 1973, British Leyland unveiled the eventual replacement for the ADO16 1100/1300 range. According to their CEO Lord Stokes:
26 May 2023
We're celebrating and inspiring young people who want to be part of the Classic Car Industry through our Bright Young Sparks initiative.
Our car club of the monthWell done to the Allegro Club International! To celebrate 50 years of the Allegro, the Allegro Club International held a grand birthday bash and hoped to see 50 cars join them for the line up to celebrate the 50 years. The club were overjoyed to welcome 80 Allegros and various BMCBL visitors at the event on Sunday 14th May.
The Triumph Dolomite Sprint at 50In June of 1973, British Leyland introduced a new model that would, to quote Bill Davis, the Managing Director of their Rover/Triumph division, “dispel the myth that the Continental manufacturers have a virtual monopoly of fast, medium-sized cars”. It was, of course, the Dolomite Sprint.
Cars & CoffeeAnother brilliant Cars and Coffee at Lancaster Insurance! On Sunday 21st May, Lancaster Insurance opened their gates at their St Ives, Cambridgeshire HQ once again for another fantastic FREE coffee morning.
24 May 2023
You’re driving along in your spanking new Cortina 1600E and your wife starts nagging you so you suggest she reclines her seat and before long she’s dozed off because the 1600E is so quiet and you look at your reflection in the plushy walnut dashboard and think how closely you resemble Gregory Peck
23 May 2023
It would be fair to say my time at the Spring Autojumble began and ended with one of the select band of cars that may be justly described as “iconic”. The Morris Minor celebrates its 75th anniversary, and the Dorset branch of the Owners’ Club pulled out all the stops for their ‘Moggyfest 2023’ display.
CARS THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN - THE TRIUMPH LYNXJust as it is almost impossible to name a favourite film or Beatles song, selecting a favourite car at Gaydon is futile. Put simply, each and every vehicle of the British Motor Museum could be this writer’s favourite at any given moment.
IT WAS ANOTHER WORLD – MOTORING IN 1953The 2nd of June marks 70 years since the Coronation of HM Queen Elizabeth II, and so we thought it timely to list just some of the vast changes in motoring over the past seven decades.
MEET THE OWNERS – JAYNE AND SIMON AND THEIR VOLVO 221It is always a delight to encounter an old friend, such as Jayne and Simon and their beautiful 1968 Volvo 221. Here are my thoughts from Classic & Sports Car back in 2017:
THE MAN WHO DROVE KATY – ON LOCATION WITH ICE COLD IN ALEXYou are a young National Serviceman named James Wilfred Lowther, posted to Libya on detachment and assigned to the Royal Army Medical Corps. Then one day, a film company approaches the camp, asking for volunteers. The result – cinematic immortality.
YOUR CHANCE TO OWN THE PETER SELLERS ASTON MARTIN DB4 GTIf you have a few million pounds to spare and the desire to own an automotive film star, Bonhams at the Goodwood Festival of Speed may have the ideal car for you on the 14th of July. Not only did this 1961 Aston Martin DB4 GT famously appear in The Wrong Arm of the Law, but it was also the off-screen property of its leading man, Peter Sellers.
18 May 2023
Some cars have the misfortune of being overlooked due to motorists’ perception of their being “old fashioned”. A case in point is the Vanguard Luxury Six, yet it represents the bridge between the first major post-war Standards and the Triumph 2000.
12 May 2023
Rajan’s Golf is not just a superlative example of the Golf GTI Mk. 1, it is the oldest surviving in the world. Every detail is virtually perfect, from the red-edged radiator grille and the tartan upholstery to that ‘golf ball’ gear knob. This is the car that re-defined the term ‘sports hatchback’, despite Volkswagen’s early concerns.
MEET THE OWNER - DAVID SCAIFE AND HIS YUGO 513Nearly 40 years ago, motorists with limited funds were urged to “Fill in the Ticket to Ride” in their local newspaper and take it to their nearest Yugo dealer. There, they would find the 311, the second cheapest new car in the UK after the Fiat 126 and the line-up’s 513.
THE 1953 ROYAL TOUR HUMBER SUPER SNIPE MK.IV DROPHEADLancaster’s Car Club manager Stephanie Hoy recently visited the Isle of Man Motor Museum, where she encountered one of the most exclusive vehicles to wear the Humber badge – the 1953 Super Snipe Mk. IV drophead built for the Royal Tour of the Commonwealth.
THE DAVID WALKER COLLECTIONCollecting can be an insidious hobby. You start with modest ambitions, only to realise 12 months later that your entire house is filled with back-issues of The Motor, Bee-Keeper Weekly or Pylon Enthusiast Monthly.
TWENTY FACTS ABOUT LIFE IN 1948To celebrate the coronation of Charles III on the 6th of May, and Coronation Day on the 8th of May, here are twenty facts about life in the UK in the year of his birth:
CELEBRATING THE SUNBEAM STILETTOContinuing our celebration of 60 years of the Hillman Imp is one of the most desirable members of the line-up. In 1967 the new Stiletto had no domestic rival as a 2+2 rear-engine coupe. Furthermore, it boasted an “ace-bred Sunbeam engine, ZOOM fastback styling, vinyl covered roof, twin carburettors, rally instrumentation and servo-assisted brakes”.
Land Rover’s Freelander is a forgotten modern classic in waitingThink of the green oval logo and images come thick and fast; wax jackets and mud-covered Land Rovers remain entrenched in the hearts and minds of enthusiasts. When Land Rover appealed to urban families with the Freelander 1 however, it struck gold.
MEET THE OWNER – BEN CURTIS AND HIS ROVER 3500 ESTOURATen years ago, I invited readers of Classic & Sports Car to “imagine a landowner of the Alan Clark school of tact and diplomacy driving an Estoura at speed around his properties, a 1961 Château Latour being waved out of the open driver’s window and curses being aimed at those who had bought their own furniture.”
MEET THE OWNER – JEFF DAY’S 60 YEAR OLD HILLMAN IMPOn 3 May 1963, the Rootes Group unveiled the Hillman Imp. Two months later, Jeff Day’s example left the factory – “This was one of their first Imps, sold on 2 July 1963, and it still wears its original number plates”. Today it is one of the oldest surviving examples of a fascinating vehicle.
Meet The Owner – Mark Ashbridge and his Mazda 1800To say Mark Ashbridge is an enthusiast of Japanese cars would be an understatement. However, owning a 1968 B10-Series Sunny 1000, one of the original Datsun press cars in the UK, was not enough, so he acquired a 1971 Mazda 1800. 52 years ago, this was the sort of transport for motorists with BMW 2000 aspirations and a Ford Cortina GXL income.
Stars and Their Cars – Leslie Phillips and The Fast LadyThis is a slightly unusual “Stars and Their Cars” feature, as 61 years ago, Leslie Phillips did not buy the 1927 Bentley 3-litre Speed Model Open Tourer by Vanden Plas that he co-starred with in The Fast Lady. The actor may have been a keen motorist, even taking his advanced driving test during shooting.
Meet The Owner - Joseph Lane and his Classic Police FleetNearly four years ago, we met the 1965 ex-Leicester City Police Ford Anglia 105E De Luxe owned by Joseph Lane. Since then, his fleet has somewhat expanded. As he explains:
03 May 2023
It is often tempting to issue sweeping statements about motoring history, but here is one I will attempt to justify. Without the TR2, which debuted seventy years ago today at the Geneva Motor Show, the Triumph name would probably have gone the way of Lanchester or Jowett by the end of the 1950s.
THE ORIGINAL METRO FROM LONGBRIDGE – THE METROPOLITAN1953 saw the introduction of so many fine British cars, from the Jensen 541 and the MG Magnette ZA to the Standard Eight and the Ford Zephyr-Zodiac. And in October of that year, the first examples of an Anglo-American 'compact' – the remarkable Metropolitan.
28 April 2023
2023 marks 100 years since the first Triumph badged car, the 10/20, left the factory. Selecting one model that encapsulates all the marque’s virtues is mission impossible, so this writer has decided to choose his favourite example from a shortlist of five.
THE STAG FASTBACK – TRIUMPH’S LOST OPPORTUNITY?Many followers of ‘The British Motor Corporation/British Leyland Saga’ like to speculate on what might have been. The projects that never entered production are many and varied, from the 9X and the Austin Ant to the ‘Rolls-Healey 4000’ and Rovers P8 and P9.
How to holiday abroad in France with your classicDriving your historic vehicle in France is something all classic car owners should experience – whether it’s to savour the delights of the bi-annual Le Mans Classic, the riviera or one of the hundreds of enchanting villages, cities and vistas available to holiday-makers across The Channel.
27 April 2023
As the 6th May is the Coronation Day and 14th November is the 75th birthday of King Charles III, here are 75 facts about motoring in 1948.
26 April 2023
Never take your work home with you. A worthy adage, but one we’re lucky Bob Simpkins never paid heed. Now treasurer and membership secretary of the Reliant Owners’ Club’s Birmingham, he has three Tamworth cars in his collection: a Rialto and two TW9s, better known as the Ant.
MEET THE OWNER – PETER ROBERTS AND HIS 1974 MORRIS MARINA SUPER DELUXEPeter Roberts wasn’t swayed by the endless kicking the Marina receives from the press – or the inevitable corrective apologism that results in its defence. An arch British car enthusiast, he wasn’t necessarily looking for BL’s Cortina, but one happened to fit the bill in June 2021. ‘I didn’t set out to buy a Marina – I was out to buy an old car,’ he recalled.
Second ‘Cars and Coffee’ meet up announced by Lancaster InsuranceAfter a successful first ‘Cars and Coffee’ event, with over 50 vehicles and 100 enthusiasts joining us on Sunday 23rd April, we can announce the date of our next meet at Lancaster HQ is Sunday 21st May – we hope to see you there!
Stars and their cars - King Charles III’s Aston Martin DB6 VolanteThe Coronation of King Charles III on the 6th May has caused some of us to muse about his many and various motor cars. Some associate the monarch with the Mineral Blue MGC GT with a heated rear window, wire wheels, an electric aerial and a car ‘phone. He acquired the MG in January 1968 as a Cambridge undergraduate, and it remains within the Royal Family.
Lancaster Insurance will be at Beaulieu autojumble!Come and say hello to the team at Lancaster Insurance at the upcoming Beaulieu Spring Autojumble on 13th and 14th May at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu.
Lancaster Insurance supports The Morris Register in their quest to inspire the next generationLancaster Insurance has pledged its’ support to The Morris Register Loan Scheme by covering the cost of the loan car’s insurance for the next 12 months.
THE MINI COOPER S AT 60Mythology has it that the Mini Cooper S is as emblematic of ‘The Swinging Sixties’ as images of Carnaby Street. In fact, the British Motor Corporation launched it into a world of flat hats, twin sets and club blazers at Goodwood.
WHO NEEDS ERGONOMICS – THE JOYS OF MOTORING PASTDuring the 1970s, one of my chief fascinations with the parental 1969 MGB Roadster was its dashboard. The passenger’s map reading lamp resembled a number plate light, various mysterious-looking switches studded the fascia, and the ventilation system was especially off-beat.
THE MERCEDES-BENZ PONTON – A CELEBRATIONAt my first Classic Car Boot Sale at King’s Cross, one of the many fine cars truly appealed to me – a star of the www.afroclassics.uk display. It was the sort of vehicle seen in 1960s ‘Cold War’ dramas such as Funeral in Berlin or The Quiller Memorandum.
MEET THE OWNER – TIM ROHN AND HIS SINGER CHAMOIS MK. 2“I started as an Imp man with my first car, which was a Paul Emery modified 1,000cc Imp Californian. Several Imps of different models later, and life got in the way - marriage, family etc. – and larger cars became the norm.”
THE HOLDEN EH – A CELEBRATIONMany years ago, I was behind the wheel of a vehicle that belonged more to Melbourne or Sydney than to the outskirts of Southampton. The car in question was a privately imported 1965-registered Holden EH Standard, and I have craved one of my own ever since.
25 April 2023
Spring has sprung – and fascinating lots have come out of the woodwork in search of new homes. From an ex-TV star TR7 to a gigantic Dutch barn find, the coming weeks have a great deal to offer historic vehicle fans, collectors and pundits, on a local and international level.
21 April 2023
On the 19th April an article in The Times stated, “Jaguar Land Rover is to drop the 75-year-old Land Rover brand in a reboot of the automotive giant’. On the 20th April Autocar reported:
18 April 2023
On the 10th of February 1975, ATV Television filmed the wedding of Meg Richardson to Hugh Mortimer in Crossroads. The location was St Philips Cathedral in Birmingham and chauffeuring the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow on screen was none other than Larry Grayson, who appeared to be ad-libbing.
MEET THE OWNER – JOHN MCLANNAHAN AND HIS AUDI 100 CSI recently wrote about my amazement in encountering John McLannahan’s 1981 C2-Series 100 CS at this year’s Practical Classics Restoration Show. Equally remarkably, this Audi was once on the verge of plying for hire in Istanbul – so read on…
100 YEARS OF THE JOWETT CAR CLUBOne hundred years ago, petrol was 1s 8 1/2d per gallon, a 1lb box of chocolates was 4/- and a car coat in the finest leather was £5 10s. Meanwhile, £220 would have gained you ‘The Jowett Car’ in two-seater form – The most powerful, economical, and comfortable Car for its size that it is possible to find.
85 YEARS OF THE VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE – AND 85 FACTS1. In 1934 Adolf Hitler decreed at the Berlin Motor Show that Germany had to increase the number of cars on its roads from half a million to 12 million.
17 April 2023
If you are the same vintage as this writer (born in the year of Abbey Road and Monty Python’s Flying Circus) you would probably have been aware of the Nova several months before its actual launch in the spring of 1983. Opel introduced the Corsa at the 1982 Paris Motor Show when Vauxhall’s need for a supermini was acute.
14 April 2023
Getting paid to make classic car content is a but a pipe dream for many a young enthusiast, but for Classics World’s Joe Miller, head of video, the dream is very much a reality. It all began after YouTube viewers wanted to know more about his Fiat Seicento Sporting, a car which, nearly a decade later, is still on his drive.
How to keep your classic safe from thievesIf classic car enthusiasts were to rank their worst nightmares, losing a classic to car thieves would top the list. Stolen vehicle specialists Tracker say that, as values have increased across the board, the majority of classics are stolen to order, stripped and abandoned, with the South East of the UK a particular hotspot owing to the vicinity of Europe bound ports.
How the Mazda MX-5 Owners’ Club is preparing for the London ULEZ expansionThe London Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ), set to spread to Greater London boroughs on 29 August, has got many car clubs worried, but the Mazda MX-5 Owners’ Club is busy developing strategies to cope. It has a large number of London based members, and a base of non-compliant models – the MX-5 Mk1 [‘NA’] and MX-5 Mk2 [‘NB’], to attend to.
Staying Positive: The CitiCar walked so Tesla could runThe battle between batteries and the internal combustion engine has been waged before – at the start of the 20th century. Before certain key developments put liquid fuelled cars out in front, it looked like electric vehicles were there to stay, even in the soon-to-be-car-mad United States, which soon rediscovered its love for EVs when the Fuel Crisis bit deep.
DAME MARY QUANT - 11TH FEBRUARY 1930 – 13TH APRIL 2023London is switched on. Ancient elegance and new opulence are all tangled up in a dazzling blur of op and pop. The city is alive with birds (girls) and beatles, buzzing with minicars and telly stars, pulsing with half a dozen separate veins of excitement.
13 April 2023
Classic car maintenance is something every enthusiast should be familiar with – and it plays a crucial role in how quickly you can recommission your car for the spring and summer months. While warmer weather is – for the most part – kinder to an older vehicle, the way in which it sits out the winter months is also significant.
05 April 2023
In 1954, Alfred Hitchcock was planning To Catch a Thief and needed a car for Grace Kelly's 'Frances Stevens'. A Jaguar did not seem to suit the character, nor did a Mercedes-Benz, but the director's wife Alma saw an advertisement for the Alpine.
THE RELIANT ROBIN AT 50Some vehicles are vastly misunderstood, and the Reliant Robin falls into this depressing category. A) On its launch on the 30th of October 1973, it represented a genuinely bold attempt on the part of the Tamworth concern to tempt owners of four-wheel cars to three-wheelers. B) There is no such car as a ‘Robin Reliant’. Finally, C) Only Fools and Horses used a succession of Regal Supervans, not Robins.
THE DAY MY UNCLE BOUGHT A NEW FIAT 132In 1976, life in my small Hampshire village often lacked excitement. True, there was the ever-popular Southern Television quiz show That’s My Turnip and the occasion when some community elders decreed Ceefax to be witchcraft. But in general, it was a placid existence until my Uncle Brian arrived in his new car. The following conversation reputedly took place in the Post Office:
MEET THE OWNER – JOHN EVANS AND HIS RENAULT 16GL“I first fell in love with the 16, aged 18, in London, borrowing my uncle’s. Then at 21, at university, I got a 6-year-old ’76 TL. It lasted a year before dissolving, but it was a great first car at an exciting time. I was studying Engineering and looking back, my course mates had 2CVs, Renault 6 and Alfa GT... quirkiness reigned on our course! And after the 16, I got a Lancia Trevi - born to be different!”
MEET THE OWNER – DENVER VKNG AND HIS FIAT 128 3P PROJECT CAR“To be honest, I didn’t even know what sort of car was hidden under the cover.” Then, in 2020, shortly after the beginning of the pandemic, Denver and his family moved into a village and “on our daily walks I spotted the ‘thing’ covered up, so I always let my imagination have a go at the ‘guess the car game’.
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.
30 March 2023
Meet the owner, or meet the YouTuber? We should be told. A 1972 Rover 2000 P6 set Matt Richardson on the path to YouTube stardom. ‘I’ve had it since I was 17 – it’s not going anywhere,’ he said. Since then, the projects have fed the channel – and the channel has fed the projects.
Win a Car 2023 - Austin Healey Sprite MK4With fresh bright work, wire wheels, and a smart black hood and new carpets, this Austin Healey Sprite MK4 is a car which had no expense spared in its journey to become somebody’s most loved classic. It has got a fantastic history and could be YOURS, if you enter Lancaster Insurance Services latest FREE competition.
29 March 2023
This quarter, Lancaster Insurance Services are giving you the chance to win: A weekend stay at Classic Lodges Bagden Hall Hotel with bed & breakfast and dinner. A year’s National Trust Membership. To drive 3 cars from any collection with the Drive Dad’s Car experience.
28 March 2023
There it was, basking in its orange glory on the Lancaster Insurance Pride of Ownership stand – the vehicle of my childhood dreams. This was a 1977 Escort 1300 Sport Mk. II, one of a mere handful of survivors, and a vehicle that belonged in the Ford brochure of that era.
Behind the Shutters: Katie BushellWorkshop technician and YouTuber, Katie Bushell, has been into cars for as long as she can remember. Coming from a car-mad family, she was bound to end up a petrolhead, with her VW Scirocco GT2 appearing at shows the length and breadth of the country.
Staying Positive: “Just remove the engine and gearbox” to make a classic electric vehicleThere are three main reasons why you wouldn’t convert a classic car to battery power. In Part 2 of Staying Positive, Jérôme André, editor of the EV Builders’ Guide, identified cost as a major factor.
Clean air zones affecting classicsClassic car owners need to stop worrying about clean air zones – at least if their vehicles are aged 40 years or older. For owners of so-called modern classics (i.e. anything younger than that), it gets complicated.
27 March 2023
I had no interest in MG cars as a young man and certainly not as a family man when other things were more important. It was only when I was approaching retirement in 2001 that I was looking for new interests. A chance trip to our local MG-Rover dealers had me looking at a new Solar Red MGF in the showroom.
23 March 2023
Man, van, plan. That was Mark Lee-Kilgariff four years ago – and since opening his coffee shop to the locals around Knutsford, Cheshire, he hasn’t looked back. Tatton Perk is its name; while he now has two static locations around the town, the business began trading from a 1976 Peugeot J7 van outside the local railway station.
Meet the Owner – Alastair Fitton and his Rover 75, ‘Grace’It’s fair to say that Alastair Fitton, founder of the Bus Stop Model Museum in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, was in the right place at the right time when an early Rover 75 came his way. Not that he was on the hunt for an example of Rover’s last great hope, you understand; he’d simply handed over £120 to stop the scrap man from carting it away.
MEET THE OWNER – RUSSELL MACFARLANE AND HIS FORD ESCORT GL MK. IIIA few years ago, Russell was the proud owner of a Cortina 1300 ‘Base’ 2-Door Mk. V, but this classic Ford marked the pathway to decadence. No more would Mr. Macfarlane be satisfied with beige paintwork. But now, he craved the luxury of a dashboard with a quartz clock.
MEET THE OWNER – CHRISTINE LYNNE BROWN AND HER COMMER HIGHWAYMANThe Commer was once part of the fabric of life in the UK – delivering milk, bread and groceries, attending to a telephone box vandalised by the local scooter boy gang or even starring in one of the best-remembered public information films of the 1970s:
The Day I Encountered a Series 79 Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagon“Starting a 79 calls for a faintly disconcerting procedure; you turn the key and then press the throttle pedal to the floor, thereby activating a vacuum operated starter button.
The Lancia Fulvia Berlina at 60If you were visiting the Geneva Motor Show in 1963, the new model on the Lancia stand would probably have drawn your eye. The bodywork, by Piero Castagnero, was low-key in the manner of many bourgeoisie Italian saloons, but to lift the bonnet was to be mesmerised.
THE RELIANT KITTEN – THE 57.5 MPG CARThe name of Reliant is so associated with three-wheelers that its small four-wheel saloons are too often overlooked. They launched the Kitten at the 1975 Earls Court Motor to replace the long-established Rebel.