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Before the Ford Transit debut, the UK’s premier light commercial was arguably the Bedford CA. When it launched in March 1952, it was the most advanced van in its class and for the next 20 years would dominate British roads. A Bedford might serve as a minibus for a thrilling school outing to the local shoe polish factory, deliver your milk in the morning and your Evening Standard on the way home from work.

What was Car of the Year for 1979? Surely it was the Opel Senator or maybe the B2-series Audi 80? But the answer, as all Talbot and Simca enthusiasts will proudly tell you, was the Horizon, a true ‘World Car’ that was made in France, Spain, Finland, the UK and the USA.

1977 was the year that the Medallion Man roamed Britain’s highways, quite often at the wheel of a Ford Capri 1300L decorated to look resemble a 3000S. His sartorial role model was Alan ‘Fluff’ Freeman, his jewellery was real imitation gold – and his confusion on seeing the first imports of the Volkswagen Golf GTi was immense.

Nearly all enthusiasts have their own collecting hobby and my weakness is for motoring magazines of the past. You can buy such titles on eBay of course, but then you would deprive yourself of the thrill of the chase and the sheer satisfaction of finding a Motor Road Test Annual 1975, with an Allegro Estate on the front cover.

We headed off to Snetterton for rounds 3 and 4 of the Hyundai Coupe Cup with the hope of more of sustaining the success we enjoyed at Silverstone in our Lancaster Insurance Coupe. Snetterton has always felt like home to me, however it presents more of a challenge than Silverstone.

Lancaster Insurance has pledged to donate up to £5 to charity for customers who quote the phrases ‘TeamMike’ or ‘TeamAnt’ when they ring up for an insurance policy. Customers who show support to the Charity Build Off by picking a team when they receive a quote will also be helping the Marie Crawford Boyd Foundation (Mike’s chosen beneficiary) and Harrison’s Fund (Ant’s chosen beneficiary).

Lancaster Insurance are pleased to announce May’s ‘Club of the Month’ as the Yorkshire & Derbyshire Retro Ford Club.

Regular readers of Lancaster’s ‘Car of the month’ feature might see a bit of a theme developing. With March’s COTM featuring the Peugeot 205 GTi and April’s looking back at the Escort XR3i, it seems only proper that we now look at the car which started off the whole ‘hot hatch’ movement.

On 14th April 1927, the first Volvo car left the factory in Gothenburg. To celebrate 90 years of this great marque here is my own, very personal, list of my seven favourite vehicles to bear the Volvo badge…

It has been one month since the launch of the #ClassicRumble Charity Build Off and we caught up with our star participants; Mike Brewer and Ant Anstead, about their Charity Projects supporting The Marie Crawford Boyd Foundation and Harrison's Fund.

Some of these fine coupes may often be seen at car shows across the country while others are rarer than a Bugatti Royale. Here are, in my opinion, the Top Ten Affordable Coupes of the 80s.

This is far from an exclusive list of the high-performance vehicles that police forces used for traffic cars, undercover pursuits or as a high-profile deterrent to would-be Nigel Mansells.

‘Try to imagine it today: a motorcyclist, a seven-time world champion admittedly, hopping into an F1 car and seizing the title four years later. It is motorsport’s equivalent of a concert pianist discovering that he can also play violin to the standard of Yehudi Menuhin’ – The Daily Telegraph.

In 1972, a crack commando unit was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn't commit. These men promptly escaped from a maximum-security stockade to the Los Angeles underground. Today, still wanted by the government, they survive as soldiers of fortune. If you have a problem… if no one else can help… and if you can find them, maybe you can hire... The A-Team.

We've put together a highlight video of our stand and experience at the 2017 Practical Classics, Classic Car and Restoration Show! You can view the video below or on the Lancaster Insurance YouTube Channel where you'll also find our archive of videos from past events.

At 10.15pm on 22nd April 1977, the BBC’s Birmingham studios transmitted the first episode of a new programme for car owners, presented by Angela Rippon and Tom Coyne. Top Gear was a half hour show that was broadcast in the Midlands region and one of the first cars featured was Ms Rippon’s own Ford Capri Mk. II.

The first two rounds of the Hyundai Coupe Cup were held on the Silverstone National Circuit on the 25 -26 March. There was a record number of 18 coupes on the grid, so I’m anticipating this will be a tough and exciting season for all involved!

When it comes to the penultimate evening of the Practical Classic, Classic Car and Restoration show, there’s no greater place to be than at The National Car Club Awards. Great company, a fantastic dinner and the chance to mingle with the driving forces of the classic car industry, the club members themselves!

It must be said that the chap in the Riley brochure looks as jaunty as a young Nicolas Parsons or indeed any other actor who was prone to saying ‘gosh’ in a 1950s Technicolor comedy. And it is no wonder that he is tipping his hat to the new One Point Five, as it was – and indeed is – one of the most delightful British cars of the late 1950s.

Lancaster Insurance is pleased to reveal the XR Owners Club as April’s club of the month! We awarded the XR3i April’s the car of the month, following the launch of our #ClassicRumble charity initiative… so it’s only fitting that the XR marque takes the club award.