LANCASTER CLASSIC CAR NEWS
Peugeot 205 buyers' guide
The early to mid-1980s were a brilliant time for superminis. October 1980 brought us the iconic Austin Metro, with its legion of celebrity fans including the then Lady Diana Spencer: the second-generation VW Polo came exactly a year later.
Our favourite 80s coupes
The 1980s were a decade for conspicuous consumption – 'greed is good' and all that – and, as such, were a fruitful time for brash, lavishly styled, rapid (and thirsty) sports cars.
FIVE BRITISH LEYLAND SPECIAL EDITION CARS
The Special LE made its bow on the 5th of April 1978, for £2,965.95. For this modest sum, the buyer gained five-speed transmission, Sundym tinted glass, a passenger door mirror, a lockable fuel cap, a push-button radio, a tachometer and a leather-covered steering wheel.
The Ultimate Sporting Estate? 1969 Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.3 Crayford
The great motoring writer Tom McCahill regarded the 300SEL 6.3 saloon as the “World’s best car” – but more exclusive still is this 1969 Crayford Estate version.
For the Discerning Owner; The Bristol 407
Sixty years ago, ownership of a new 407 denoted a rare combination of exquisite taste and access to a large amount of funds. It was an understated machine that appeared to stand apart from the Aston Martin DB4, Bentley Continental or Jensen 541S.
THE TRIUMPH DOLOMITE: A CELBRATION
The year is 1971, and motorists reading The Illustrated London News learned some rather depressing news; “paralysed by strikes and other factories slowed down for lack of components.
MEET THE OWNER – IAN MACKENZIE AND HIS FORD FIESTA XR2 MK.I
“I bought it two years ago - I’d just finished a six-year restoration of my Mark III Wolseley Hornet and decided to sell it, so wanted something different from my usual BMC/BL fare. It was on eBay as a classified in Cheshire, so only just over the Pennines from me.”
The best female rally drivers
Motorsport may remain, even to this day, a somewhat male-dominated world – but there have been some legendary female drivers, and nowhere more so than in the tough, demanding and stamina-quenching world of rallying.
BMW E30 3 Series Buyers Guide
With its chrome-heavy, late 1970s looks, the first iteration of BMW’s iconic 3 Series saloon, also known as the E21, might be the most sought after by some vintage car fans – but if you want a classic that you can live with every day and even get a good dose of sporting fun out of, the second generation 3 Series (or E30) may be your best bet of all.
10 cars that epitomise French style
Here are 10 cars that, for us, illustrate the French way of doing things. You can find more brilliant French cars in our list of the 30 best French classic cars.
THE WORLD’S RAREST WEDGE?
W.B. and Sons Ltd. have a truly exclusive British car at its auction on the 4th of December 2021. Chassis Number 00099 is the first ‘Wedge’ made on the production line, and it was immediately despatched from Cowley to Longbridge to assess the production line’s build quality.