LANCASTER CLASSIC CAR NEWS
THE BEST OF THE CORGI 007 CARS
Or, which of these three die-cast models would you have wished for on Christmas Day?
CHRISTINE: BRITISH STYLE
During the first Lockdown, this writer watched many car-related films and too much daytime television. The latter gave me a lifelong aversion to most chat shows, while the former led me to ponder; would the plot have worked in a British production?
Our favourite classic Peugeots
We've said it before and we'll say it again: French cars are big on style. For much of its history, though, Peugeot was perhaps the exception that proved the rule: many a 1950s, 1960s or 1970s Peugeot was more about practicality than panache.
Is it worth buying a classic write-off?
Without thinking for too long, give us your definition of a 'write-off'. It's probably something like: a car that’s been involved in an accident and has been left completely undriveable, fit only for the scrapyard.
A quick guide to trickle chargers
In the case of a car that's getting regular use, the alternator plays the crucial role of maintaining a near-full state of charge – but for a car that's getting less use, and a battery that's been allowed to run down, the alternator won't be much use.
Best classic cars for dog lovers
So, you want to combine two of your life passions: dogs and classic cars. Specifically, you want a classic car that has plenty of vintage appeal but that also provides a safe and enjoyable ride for your beloved canine.
MEET THE OWNER; STUART COOKE AND HIS EX HAMPSHIRE CONSTABULARY ROVER P6B 3500S
Any police Rover P6B is automatically a very special vehicle, but HBK 875N once served as Earl Mountbatten of Burma’s official staff car on the Isle of Wight. Wadham Stringer (Portsea) Ltd.
THE ITC WHITE JAGUAR; A CELEBRATION
As many readers know, ITC was the television production company that specialised in men of mystery pursuing fez-wearing villains across ‘Somewhere foreign’ (aka the Elstree Studios car park).
DO YOU REMEMBER THE NISSAN PRIMERA?
What compiling a list of cars that now appear to have almost vanished, one question kept recurring to this writer - i.e. when I did last see a Primera? In fact, it comes as a faint surprise to recall that Nissan displayed the prototype at the 1989 Tokyo Motor Show as the Primera always seems a car associated with the ‘nineties, a vehicle for the John Major years as opposed to the late Margaret Thatcher era.
THE ORIGINAL TOYOTA CELICA; A CELEBRATION
One of the many highlights of this year’s Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show was the opportunity to marvel at the first-generation Celica. In the early seventies, the Toyota appeared to stand apart from the offered Ford Capri Mk. I, Sunbeam Rapier, Vauxhall Firenza or MGB GT, a scaled-down Mustang for a very reasonable price. And that was precisely its raison d’être.
A TIMEWARP FORD FIESTA MK. I
It could almost be 1978 again, for this forty-three-year-old Ford Fiesta L on sale by Performance and Prestige Vehicle Solutions Ltd. has covered just 141 miles since new. In 1981 it was donated to the Science Museum, forming part of their displays until 2017.
Do's and dont's of classic barn finds
Like many other vintage motoring fans, the news about 174 classic cars being revealed in a massive North London warehouse got us properly excited here at Lancaster. Standout cars from the enormous haul of vehicles included a Triumph Stag, several vintage VW campers, a handful of R107 Mercedes SL convertibles and a lovely BMW 2002, the 3 Series' 1970s predecessor.