LANCASTER CLASSIC CAR NEWS
MEET THE OWNER – PATRICK BRADLEY AND HIS MAESTRO ADVANTAGE
Picture the scene – it is September 1989, and you are searching for a five-seater five-door hatchback. Of course, your criteria are that it must be British-built, frugal with fuel, cheap to run and reasonably well-appointed.
MY IDEAL SUMMER CONVERTIBLE
As summer is finally with us, thoughts turn to the familiar pastimes –picnics with exploding bottles of diet ginger ale, wasps that sound like an irate John Lydon, and convertible motoring.
WHERE WERE YOU IN ’82?
As the Ford Sierra and the MG Metro are just some of the cars celebrating their 40th birthdays this year, we ask the vital question –
THE TATRA T603 – A CELEBRATION
“The Ministry driver climbed aboard, the man called Ladislav took the passenger seat, the driver pressed a button and the Tatra’s rear mounted V8 engine rumbled into life. Looking around, I noticed all the switches and the steering wheel were in an elegant ivory plastic unlike anything I had seen in Britain”.
THE ONE OWNER FROM NEW TALBOT SOLARA MINX
One of the most intriguing forms of classic car to write about is one that has been a member of the same family since the beginning. Ms. Ros Hawke has owned her Solara Minx for over 36 years, and, quite incredibly, her fleet also includes a second example.
THE AUDI SUPER 90 – A CELEBRATION
Fifty-five years ago, UK sales commenced of an upmarket FWD medium-sized saloon from Germany. Its appearance may have been low-key, and the steering column gear lever seemed decidedly unsporting.
THE RENAULT R8 AT 60
2022 marks the 60th birthday of many significant vehicles - including the Renault R8. When it made its bow in June 1962, it represented the third generation of the marque’s rear-engine saloons, following the Dauphine and the 4CV, and a swansong of the format.
THE LANCIA BETA AT 50
In October 1972, Lancia introduced a new model that caused a great deal of controversy among devotees of the marque. For one, Fiat had acquired Lancia in 1969, with the parent company supplying the 1.4-litre, 1.6-litre, and 1.8-litre twin-cam engines for the Beta, while Citroën developed the five-speed transmission.
MEET THE OWNER – ANDREW HULL AND HIS 1977 DATSUN 200L LAUREL
For too many years, the classic car press in this country tended to overlook Japanese saloons, but today their following is justifiably numerous. After all, who could resist a Datsun such as Andrew Hull’s 1977 200L, with its metallic paint finish, black vinyl roof and distinctively aggressive grille?
SUMMER MOTORING - THE MORRIS MARINA MUMFORD CONVERTIBLE
It was a familiar scenario in the early 1970s – an MGB Roadster owner who found themselves in need of more space but who still wished to enjoy the pleasures of open-topped motoring.
The Honda Civic at 50
Fifty years ago this month, British motorists read of a new Honda car that combined a transversely mounted belt-driven all-alloy 1.2-litre overhead camshaft engine combined with all-independent suspension and a very attractive appearance.
Guide to wild camping in Scotland
Taking your campervan around Scotland is one of the most enjoyable and elemental camping experiences you can have in the UK. Here are some suggestions for how to get the best out of your wild camping experiences in this extraordinary country. Just be aware that Scotland can be famously cold and wet, particularly in winter.