Indholdsfortegnelse for February 2024 i Practical Classics

If you are reading this before Christmas then I hope you are having a very jolly time. And if it's post-Christmas, I hope it went well. I’ve decided, once again, to drive my classics – modern and traditional – throughout the winter months this year. I have given them plenty of rust protection and my view is that if I own them, I should use them. And using them makes me happy. Everyone is different, and there are no rules, but I always find it confusing when I meet people who don’t take their classics out on jaunts or drive them very much at all. A classic is just a car. It was built to be used and enjoyed. Perhaps we have grown used to cars that do everything for…

lubricantsuppliers.com Promising to provide a thick film of long lasting Lanolin protection on metal that is corroded as well as prevent corrosion from forming in the first place, this kit comes with two 500ml aerosols, one 600mm extension hose, one trigger and a 115mm straw. The trigger is a particular boon as long periods of using an aerosol can be tiring on the forefinger, but it’s what’s inside the aerosol that really counts. Alphalan’s suppliers claim that it contains more Lanolin solids than other liquids available currently, making it much longer lasting and more cost effective, while the two supplied aerosols should be plenty to properly treat one car.…

Practical Classics editor Danny Hopkins and Richard Usher, owner of the superb Great British Car Journey in Ambergate, Derbyshire (DE56 2HE) have put their heads together and come up with a great idea. The classic car visitor attraction, which boasts more than 140 classic British cars is offering an exclusive deal to readers of Practical Classics. It couldn't be simpler either. Visit the museum before March 31 with a hard copy of Practical Classics magazine and you won’t simply get a stonking £8.50 off the regular adult entry price (making it only £10!), you will also be able to enjoy a free hot beverage at the Filling Station café into the bargain! GBCJ takes visitors through a nine-stage story of the rise and demise of the British motor industry (a…

Members of the Triumph Sports Six Club Shropshire Area Group are seeking welders to help restore a Spitfire for The Severn Hospice. Known as the ‘Shropshire Spitfire Project’, The TSSC Shropshire Area has received a donation of panels from specialist TD Fitchett to complete the car, which will be auctioned off with all proceeds going to the hospice, which cared for the owner, Karen Miller’s late father, Bob Dyke. David Embery, TSSC Shropshire joint area group organiser, said: ‘We’re looking for a welder or welders who can support us with bringing the panel work up to the required standard. This might mean as much as 80 to 90 hours before the car body is then ready for the next stage of restoration.’ Karen said: ‘It was my father’s dream to…

Dead as a dodo? 12v BATTERY TESTER £59.94 How many times have you optimistically charged and re-charged a battery in the hope it’ll come back to life? Or replaced one, only to discover the fault was some oher electrical issue? If that sounds like you, this may be a good investment. This Laser tester is designed to simplify the inspection and maintenance of a battery and charging system: just enter the details from the battery label, run the chosen test and you’ll see the results displayed on the LCD display. The tester measures battery voltage and charging voltage, helping to identify issues with the battery’s electrical output. It also evaluates the system voltage when the engine is starting. The CCA (cold cranking amps) figure can be used to predict the…

It’s embedded in our national psyche, as instantly recognisable as a Supermarine Spitfire or a London bus and with good reason. The Mini is an engineering enigma, an era-defining, sub-zero-cool slice of inspiration that moved the concept of what a car could be forward decades in one simple package. In 2024 it turns 65 and the film that helped it on its way to permafrost levels of coolness, The Italian Job, celebrates 55 years. Recognition for Alec Issigonis’s work of diminutive genius endures, but as he received his knighthood in 1969 you can’t help but think that he probably didn’t approve of a film that portrayed his creation as a getaway vehicle. This might be the reason why the British Motor Corporation was so reluctant to let the film company…

SCAN Dave Lowden’s love for Triumph TRs goes back to his teens. As a 15-year-old schoolboy in Luton, his favourite teacher drove a battered red TR4. ‘Although it wasn’t in the best condition, all the boys wanted one and to be like him,’ recalls Dave. It was only another three years before Dave had a TR of his own. He’d been spending most evenings in his late teens repairing and working on old cars with a friend who worked as a paint sprayer for Rolls-Royce, and to improve his skills he started an evening class in welding and classic car body repairs. ‘It was at this time, and with new-found confidence, that I saw a rotten TR6 for sale and couldn’t resist it,’ he said. He spent the next three…

For me, hitting the road in a classic allows you to see, feel and smell what it’s really made of. Given my passion for all-things Triumph, I suppose that makes great sense. Whichever rumbling six- or occasionally eight-pot engine is throbbing away up front, there’s a sense of occasion every time, whether I’m driving to the local shops or taking part in one of the many Triumph club events I’ve enjoyed over the years. I’ve done five Round Britain Reliability Runs and four Ten Countries runs with Club Triumph – usually in my trusty 2000 or at the wheel of my TR6 and, despite some challenging environments, I’ve yet to suffer outright mechanical disaster during any of the trips. Indeed, you'll lately have read about my participation in the most…

Why you want one Exquisitely well designed and constructed with bulletproof engines and a durable, precision engineered suspension system to beat the worst roads in the world… and that’s before we even think about the way it looks. There is nothing else on earth like the Citroën DS – and the classic car market has finally recognised it in recent years. Values of Citroën’s extraordinary saloon have rocketed in the past few decades, with examples selling now and then for the kind of figure that places it firmly in ‘dream car’ territory. But… fear not! Buying a D-series needn't cost you the earth and, furthermore, running one won’t either. With a dedicated club, specialist support and a legion of enthusiastic owners to offer advice and tech know-how, all it takes…

REVIEW The firs-tgeneration Volkswagen Golf GTI is frequently heralded (incorrectly) as the first hot hatch. Although we won’t get into that debate, several makers did get there before Volkswagen. Yet, what Wolfsburg most certainly did get right first, was perfecting the hot-hatch formula. The original Golf GTI had all of the ingredients that we now come to associate with the very best hot hatches; a bigger engine borrowed from a saloon sibling, lower and stiffer suspension, cosmetic sporting addenda and a premium image that all coalesced into a highly-desirable package; all of the above helped along by some very clever marketing. Such was the clamour for the original GTI that Volkswagen managed to shift 456,690 of them before the MkII took over in 1984. A far cry from VW’s conservative…

We don’t need to tell you that ownership of an Aston Martin isn’t going to be easy – but this one might just be a little easier for those who are happy to get their hands dirty. Sure, parts are expensive but to those committed to the cause, we reckon fixing and running a DB7 needn’t cause you too much pain or financial ruin. Sure, there was an awful lot of Jaguar XJS parts under the skin and some rather disappointing flaws were soon revealed on the early cars, but just look at the thing. The DB7 is one of the most beautiful Aston Martins and, rather like the XJS, it just kept getting better and better, because with every update, we were rewared with more refinement, power and improvements…

Nominate! Know someone aged 16-25 who is aspiring to work with classics? Spending weekends with them, or a club hero? We want to hear from you: visit lancasterinsurance.co.uk/competitions/bright-young-sparks. Last chance! How did it all start? ‘My dad and grandad have always enjoyed tinkering and driving their vintage cars. Since I was really little we have always gone out in them and on holiday with them, especially with the Ford Model T car club. I have always loved going on trips and have met so many interesting people.’ What is your car dream? ‘My dream for my car is to get my own T finished and registered on the road before I am 17, which is next September. I would like to be able to drive it on the road on…

It felt busy over the weekend and, according to the figures, it really was. The Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show saw 71,290 enthusiasts come together at Birmingham’s NEC to celebrate. The clubs pulled all the stops out with fantastic displays and a huge variety of cars, with a live stage hosted by our own Danny Hopkins, Wayne Scott and Paul Cowland. The Sporting Bears dream rides had a great three days as they raised a whopping £37,144.68 and the PC team were out in force, with the Italian Job Mini (see page 24) on display on the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs stand. PC editor Danny Hopkins said, ‘It was a surprise. With the rest of the world in trouble, the halls of the NEC were like a little…

The grand opening of the new County Classics Motor Museum in Taunton, Somerset brought the town centre to a standstill as TV presenter Richard Hammond cut the ribbon on November 20, with the museum being opened to the public the following day. Owner Patrick (Pat) Hawkins, sank his entire life savings into the museum, which now occupies the former County Stores building. Pat said: ‘It’s been a tough old journey. I know it’s taken a long, long time to do this but it’s an incredible achievement from all involved and I’m looking forward to inviting everyone inside and seeing you all in the future.’ Taunton’s Mayor, Councillor Nick O’ Donal said: ‘As of today, Taunton has a brand new attraction. I would like to pay particular tribute to Patrick, who…

WWII Jeep proves to be a big pool Here's something we haven't come across before –apool car that’s available to members of the Essex Historic Military Vehicle Association. The group's David Smith explains: ‘In 2021 we were given aWWII Jeep on long-term loan, for education, events and fundraising. It had been stored for 20 years, so our members had to club together to get the vehicle back on the road; and now that it's running again it can be borrowed to take to events such as school fêtes, military shows and more general classic car meets. ‘The Jeep, named Esther, was used by British forces in 1943 and appeared in the film TheLongest Dayin the Sixties. It’s been afabulous tool to bring our members together.’ To find out more about…

Danny looks back a long way to the start of a PC tradition The world is there to be explored and, as classic car owners, we are better placed than most to do it. That classic in your workshop is your ticket, ready, willing and able to transport you to where you need to go in its own unique way. We have always believed in following up a workshop adventure with a driving one and that’s why Practical Classics is famous for amazing road trips as well as fantastic restorations. I’ve been going on PC epic jaunts for well over 20 years now and they still excite, particularly when it involves a car that I have prepared myself. Back in the day, what we now refer to as a Team Adventure…

Jowett Javelin Nick Tumber is our Star Prize winner with a selection of crumbling classics. AJowett Javelin was found sitting in car park in Kent and has not moved for years from what the locals say. Humber Hawk VI Nick also spied aHumber Hawk VI (minus a front wing and bumper) sitting outside a house, not forgotten as he was advised it is a future restoration project. Austin 10 Sean Carlsen spotted this charming Austin 10 saloon dumped in Abergavenny. Bentley Mulsanne White paintwork and flowers on the rear parcel shelf mean ex-wedding car Bentley Mulsanne from the early Eighties, which hasn’t seen any bridal action for a few years. BMW 3.0CSL Ahighly valuable and sought after (but well stripped and abandoned) BMW 3.0 CSL, hidden somewhere in rural Buckinghamshire.What…

1989 Morgan 4/4 Engine 1598cc inline four-cylinder Power 96bhp@6000rpm Torque 98lb ft@4000rpm Transmission Five-speed manual gearbox, rear-wheel drive Steering Rack and pinion Suspension Front: independent, sliding pillar, coil springs, telescopic dampers. Rear: live axle, leaf springs, telescopic dampers Brakes Front: discs; rear: drums; servo-assisted 0-60mph 9sec Top speed 106mph Weight 735kg Fuel economy 30mpg These exquisite sports cars exemplify hand-built British craftsmanship – and all offer a combination of thrills and intrigue, but in very different ways. And what better way to begin than talking Alvis? Our TE21 is stunningly beautiful with elegant black coachwork providing a background for the exterior chrome detailing to stand out. The AC Cobra MkIV you see here was an Eighties revival of AC’s most famous car. Autokraft at Brooklands bought AC’s original body tooling…

Toyota’s first mid-engine’d machine for the masses proved a revelation for performance enthusiasts when it arrived in 1984. Known as the SW20, the second (and rounder) generation MR2 took over Toyota’s mid-ship mantle from 1989. Criticisms of its wayward and snappy nature were largely addressed for the 1992 model year, but even so, the car’s reputational infamy was cemented. The reality is that SW20 MR2s make for highly attractive and engaging budget sports cars. That ‘budget’ has had to be hiked in recent years, as noticed by our sister title, Classic Cars magazine, who highlighted a 30 per cent uplift in this MR2’s values, back in 2021. That trend has been steadily increasing too, with good survivors only getting scarcer by the day. We suspect this traditionally affordable Toyota will continue…

1989 Saab 900 Turbo 16 Engine 1985cc/4-cyl/OHC Gearbox 5-speed manual Power 173bhp@5300rpm Torque 200lb ft@3000rpm Top speed 131mph 0-60mph 8.7sec Fuel economy 25mpg Work done Ignition switch, welding and a glorious wake-up. Also in James’s garage 1985 CITROËN 2CV6 Wiper arms fell off. I think they’re original items! 2003 CITROËN BERLINGO HDi Just been west to Wales for a chilly camping adventure. 2004 SMART ROADSTER Almost 20 years ownership and it still makes me grin. Did you know that Saabs rust? Well, I can tell you they do. Why? Because – as it turns out – they’re made of just plain old regular steel. This is rather annoying, because I was hoping that Saab’s reputation for exceptional build quality would make restoring one far easier than this. I found out…

‘You’re far too young to be interested in that!,’ boomed a voice on a stand displaying vehicles from the Fifties as I admired the club’s display at November’s Classic Motor Show. ‘Less of that!’ I retorted, but then I moved to a club stand filled with metal from the Thirties. ‘Much interest?,’ I asked. ‘Yes, quite a few members of the club have stopped by for a chat,' came the reply. I enquired what they were doing to encourage new members, younger members. ‘Ah, no, we’re not really focusing on that.’ Right. Fourteen years ago (blimey!) I was involved in the formation of the Morris Minor Owners Club’s Young Members' Register. It was a big deal, one of the first funnel organisations aimed towards driving younger owners and enthusiasts into…

We also head back to Italy… taking 35 Mini Coopers to Turin. We bring the city to a standstill and rediscover the Italian Job locations so you can too. You can find out how to buy yourself the best slice of exotica with guides on the MercedesBenz SEC and Maserati 3200 GT, and then get the full lowdown on the modern classic DIY restoration of a mint, cherished BMW Z3. Meanwhile, we present our own projects – from Austin A35 to Saab 900 Turbo to MX5 and Hillman Imp. There's lots of essential advice from our team of tech experts and your usual dose of nostalgia, news, listings and views from our legendary columnists. Finally, another superb restoration; a Mini revival. Matt Tomkins meets the man who worked his magic…

A specialist has raised over £6500 for Help for Heroes after restoring an MG Midget known as Marshall, which was raffled off following her restoration of the car on the Auto-Lass YouTube channel. Jody Bevan, who runs MNJ Autocare in Woodend Mills, Oldham, restored Marshall between jobs, often getting into work at 5am to weld and repair the MG before starting her day job as a garage owner and MOT tester. She also got help from friends in the trade and fellow mechanics, all of whom gave their time for free. ‘It was ace; we loved every second of it,’ Jody said. ‘Thank you to everybody who bought a ticket and donated, all the companies that donated parts and obviously my team.'…

AS FOUND Clive bought it off his brother for £500 to stop the shell being scrapped. Rarity was a factor, too –there were only 600 Version 1 STIs in silver (plus something like 300 in red and black) and they were effectively hand-built. He then spent around £6.5k on engine build and parts. This is one of the first few hundred WRX STIs made in Japan, originally with 260bhp and a five-speed ’box. It must have been one of the fastest cars of its era and very advanced, with water-spray for the intercooler and an individual coil pack per cylinder. But I’ve done quite a lot to this one… I originally built this boxer engine for another Subaru I had, a UK one. I did loads of research on the…

Renault Laguna MkI 97 LEFT ON UK ROADS Astonishingly –for a car that this writer fondly remembers as the cover star of seminal PlayStation racing sim TOCA Touring Car Championship –only a handful of first-generation Renault Lagunas are still pounding the UK’s roads. The Laguna was runner-up in its introductory BTCC championship season in 1994, with Alain Menu going on to take a dominant driver and manufacturer title for Williams Renault in 1997. In the UK at least, the Laguna always played second (or third) fiddle to the likes of the Ford Mondeo and Vauxhall Vectra. It didn’t help that we never really got the same truly ‘hot’ 24-valve V6 Laguna as the rest of Europe. The Laguna’s dull image was bolstered by its 1997 Euro 4-star NCAP safety rating, one…

EXPLAINER WHY CLEAN YOUR INTERIOR? As dirt and detritus from use builds-up on the interior surfaces of your classic, a few things begin to happen. Firstly, it begins to look unsightly and becomes a less welcoming place to sit – so you lose some enjoyment of the driving experience. Secondly, once the dirt and grime builds up, bacteria and mould start to spread and, once that mould has set in, it becomes very difficult to remove from everywhere. Thirdly, the layer of muck will begin to discolour and degrade the surfaces as it penetrates deeper into the materials. For example, a layer of contamination on the surface of a leather seat will be less flexible than the leather underneath, holding it in place as it tries to flex and stretch,…