LANCASTER CLASSIC CAR NEWS
THE CONTINENTAL MK. II – A CELEBRATION
In 1956 a car with power assistance for the brakes, steering, front seat, windows and even the quarterlights, an AM radio with an electric aerial and whitewall tyres, was not so much luxurious as downright extravagant. Inside, the upholstery was either leather by Bridge of Weir of Scotland or a selection of cloth trims and you could also have your name engraved on a plate on the centre of the passenger compartment floor.
THE FORD CORTINA XLE – THE ULTIMATE MK. III?
At first sight, this is the perfect Cortina for all drivers who regarded a Jason King moustache as the height of fashion and the Berni Inn as the pinnacle of haute cuisine. It certainly appears to be a prime example of a facelifted Cortina XL Mk. III but then you notice the white reflectors on the front bumper, different hubcaps, a ‘V6’ shield on the front wings and the ‘Big 6’ badges.
TOP TEN REASONS WHY CAR CLUBS ARE WONDERFUL
This could have so easily been a ‘Top 50’ or a ‘Top 100’, but here is just ten of the reasons why car clubs are wonderful.
THE 1952 MOTOR SHOW
The date is the 22nd October 1952, and the ethos of the British motor industry is still very much 'Export or Die'. During this year, companies across the UK produced 448,000 vehicles, but they allocated 308,942 for export. But at least the end to the 'Car Covenant' looks in sight.
30 Years of the Ford Mondeo
There are several aspects of the 1990s that many hope will never return – The Word on Channel Four comes to mind – but others are fondly missed. I mention this as a significant Ford has recently celebrated its 30th anniversary but the Mondeo Mk. I is now a fast-vanishing sight.
MEET THE OWNER – ADRIAN WAINWRIGHT AND HIS VOLVO 244 GLE THOR
"My dream car when I was 17 was not a sporty Ford or Vauxhall but a Volvo 265 GLE Fuel injection automatic - a dream still not realised as yet!" But Adrian Wainwright now owns an even more exclusive Swedish car – the 244 GLE Thors.
Why I Crave a Fiat 2300
It is the mid-1980s, and the BBC is screening a not particularly distinguished 1966 Peter Sellers film titled After the Fox. Much of the film was shot on location in Italy, and for the final reel chase, the police favoured a handsome saloon with tailfins and quad headlamps. From that moment onwards, I craved a Fiat 2300.
THE AUDI 100 COUPE S – A CELEBRATION
In the early 1970s there was one car of choice for the executive who wanted a grand tourer more exclusive than the Ford Capri GXL, more ‘Continental’ in looks than the Reliant Scimitar GTE and more comfortable than a Triumph Stag. It was, of course, the Audi 100 Coupe S.
THE MERCEDES-BENZ W201 AT FORTY
It is almost impossible to believe the W201 celebrated its 40th birthday on the 8th December. Some cars have styling that appears locked in 1982, while Bruno Sacco's lines for the original 190 is timelessly elegant. It was also a crucial Mercedes-Benz alternative to the BMW 3-Series and the Audi 80.
THE LAST MOSKVITCH 434 IN THE UK
In the distant past, when The Goodies was the highlight of the BBC2 schedule and a Wimpy 'Shanty Grill’ represented the pinnacle of fine dining, some Eastern European cars were more frequently sighted than others. Volgas were mainly glimpsed in Cold War dramas, but Wartburg Knights and Skoda S110s were sometimes found outside the local Wavy Line store.
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