Índex per April 2024 a Practical Classics

‘They'll never take our freedom (to drive classics)!’ ‘Our passion for old cars is here to stay!’ ‘Rise up and fight for the right to drive your classic!’ ‘Any fool may drive a car, but it takes a wise man to keep it.’ Losing both the Bromley Pageant and the Brighton Speed Trials is a huge kick in the teeth for the whole movement. Everything possible must be done to see if we can get them back in the future to continue the amazing work done by both organising groups. Tragic, yes, but it's not the end, there's still lot’s to look forward to in 2024. Making events like the Practical Classics Classic Car and Restoration Show at the NEC, really fly will help the cause. It’s our show (and…

Summoning the motivation for winter tinkering can be somewhat challenging. Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, affects many of us, and saps energy and enjoyment in many aspects of life. Even without this, the littlest job can become a chore when your fingers stick to a frozen spanner. But our classics never truly sleep, as even those that hibernate over the winter months will benefit from a battery trickle charge, a check of the antifreeze concentration and an airing on a bright, crisp day to banish the condensation. Then there are the cars that we use through all weathers. Things tend to go wrong as the weather turns, right when motivation is at its lowest ebb. In the space of a week, I’ve had trouble with both of my current users,…

Speed Trials gone The Brighton Speed Trials has been cancelled. Organisers at the Brighton and Hove Motor Club say safety measures mean it is now making a financial loss on each event. The closure of the Madeira Terrace as a viewing platform in 2016 and the loss of the motorcycle trials in 2021, as well as the requirement for concrete safety barriers, are said to be behind the decision. Bromley cancelled The 2024 Bromley Pageant of Motoring, a calendar staple for 40 years, has also been cancelled, with organisers citing the expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) as the reason. Norman Park, the location of the event, was brought into the zone in August. Although all ‘Historic Vehicles’ are exempt from the £12.50 daily charge, ‘modern classics’ registered…

You voted in droves and now here are the results, the five restorations from the past year that you think make their restorers worthy of the Golden Spanner trophy. Now it is time for these five to go in front of the judging panel from Practical Classics and our partners, Halfords, to see who will be crowned victorious. The bustling halls of the Practical Classics Classic Car and Restoration Show await the winner. They will receive their award at the Practical Classics World arena by the Your Shout stage over the weekend of March 24-26, You can also find out in the next issue of the magazine. We are so glad that people who really ‘get it’ (that’s you) made the nominations. Thanks to everyone who continues to make this…

I’ve often wondered why people prefer to fly to Europe. Unless you are in a real hurry, it doesn’t make sense. With a bit of planning and some bold thinking, surely a better time can be had by all in a car, or on a train. You’ll see the landscapes you are travelling through, you can meet people along the way, enjoy that sense of distance and adventure, and you can also get to drive the cars you love… or experience the train journeys you have always dreamt about. On terra firma, it’s more fun. Or am I wrong? Yes, it will probably take longer, but by making your journey on the ground you also get to take the luggage you want without paying through the nose for it. Plus,…

1981 Ford Cortina 2.3 GL ACortina V6 estate being used to do some building work in Bristol. The owner says it's a bit thirsty! Barry Cash, Bristol 1996 Vauxhall Calibra Spotted at Oulton Park race circuit in the car park, a mint as you like Calibra. Graham Lomax, Manchester 1967 Amphicar 770 Here is an Amphicar that I spotted on the way home from school. It looked very tidy! Leo Shelley (13), West Sussex Fiat 500 Big brother and little sister together in Lucca, Italy. George McHardy, Clackmannanshire 1977 Ford Capri 3.0 Ghia I spotted this Mk2 Ford Capri automatic in Lytham. Car is in amazing condition inside and out. Martin Walker-Smith, Preston SEND SPOTTED pics to danny.hopkins@bauermedia.co.uk. If published, you’ll win a copy of one of PC’s Bookazines Ford…

Oh no, not Bromley! Yup, the legendary Pageant of Motoring, so much part of this magazine’s early days, has been cancelled. Ultra Low Emission Zone, aka ULEZ, expansion is responsible. My very first ‘Bromley’ was in 1984, 40 years ago. It was the year of Wham! and George Orwell, when we'd have thought ULEZ was a new TV series featuring a much-loved Yorkshire comedian, surname Dawson. The Pageant had a unique atmosphere. Some of the reasons are obvious, e.g. its sheer size, while others you can’t quite put your finger on. A highlight of the early shows was the chance to meet the Practical Classics editorial team and even touch the cars they featured. Ah, memories. Long queues to get in and overheated classics amid charming Thirties suburbia en route…

Suzuki Alto John Hart proves the Greek Island of Kefalonia is still something of a hotspot for classics despite so many disappearing over recent years. This scruffy but cheery Suzuki Alto has had a hard life, but survives cheekily in the sun. When did you last see one of this age? Hyundai Pony pick-up It’s easy to see this ancient Hyundai Pony pick-up has been resting on this grassy knoll for many years; John says the chassis has rusted away to nothing as it collapses into the shape of its grounding. Toyota Corolla hatch and Lada Riva Here are some ‘youngtimer’ classics John came across in a locked olive grove; Corolla, Riva estate and Audi A4. Ford Taunus coupé The Mediterranean climate has been relatively kind to this handsome Ford…

Next into the Hopkins N workshop is this early A4. It came from David Charlesworth whose father, Michael, bought it new as a retirement present. It became Michael’s pride and joy. Upon his death in 2012 the car passed to David, who took it from 40 to 75,000 miles. This year, he decided it needed a new home. ‘It’s important to me that the car is passed on to someone who will also cherish it.’ Happy to oblige, David. ASKING PRICE A good home PAID £250 to a good home VERDICT Getting rarer, a superb example.…

Fast Audis had been around for a while when the B7-generation RS4 arrived in 2006, although this step-change model finally gave Audi a genuine BMW M3 rival. The best fast Audis always come as Avants (estates). From the turbo’d five-pot 100 to the Porsche co-developed RS2, bootless big Audis are inherently bodacious. Some felt that since leaving the WRC, Audi hadn’t really made a truly engaging driver’s car; just fast but largely numb executive expresses. That all changed with the B7. Its 414bhp V8 engine put power though a rear-biased quattro system that made the car feel alive. In period, it still played second fiddle to the M3 (E90) for pure thrills – but it was more usable, more of the time. And it’s no less practical today, with prices…

What was the problem? The sidelight units on my Ninety had become so worn that the bulbs dropped out over bumps, so I was keen to introduce improved reliability alongside improved performance. The headlights, although H4 halogen bulbs, lacked lustre. Inside, the interior light and dash bulbs were dim and dingy, while the fog light bulb blew just after the MOT, necessitating its replacement. A full front-to-back offensive was therefore planned and undertaken. What did you do? Although the same improvements in light output and reduced current draw could be achieved by replacing filament bulbs for drop-in LED replacements, I opted to fit a 73mm LED light unit upgrade from Britpart for the indicators, side and stop lamps in search of reliability over the worn old units. I fitted upgraded…

Clarke Jump Start Micro £83.98 machinemart.co.uk We’ve all felt the frustration, the click of a starter, invariably in the cold and quite probably when you’ve things to do and places to be. Well, this small but mighty jump starter may just save the day the next time your classic’s battery is flat. Weighing in at less than half a kilo, it’ll jump start a petrol engine up to a capacity of 5.5-litres and a diesel up to 3-litres. Handily small enough to tuck in your boot or larger glovebox, and supplied in a carry case, it’s perfect for emergency situations. What’s more, it will display the battery level as a percentage via the digital screen and also comes complete with two USB 5V outputs for charging mobile phones, tablets, cameras…

Emma Merryweather, a Classic Car Loan Project participant, has taken the bull by the horns and totally transformed her life after receiving a Riley Elf on loan. She first heard about the CCLP when she saw the Elf at the Practical Classics Restoration Show, just after she discovered she and her husband were expecting their first child. The Riley Heritage Trust offered them the car on loan, ‘Andrew Brain and Malcolm from the Riley Motor Club had kindly fitted inertia reel seatbelts into the front so that our now six-month-old baby could travel with us in her car seat,’ Emma told PC, then we bought a Riley One Point Five and I took on the Riley MC Social Media Committee role!’ All this took place in one year. ‘The Classic Car…

EMAIL OF THE MONTH ‘The kids say my Rovers are real cars!’ I‘ve never used a garage to service my cars. I am in my eighties now and still get out the tool kit and trolley jack! Having begun driving agricultural tractors and trailers at the age of 10 back in 1952, I began repairing cars and cut my teeth on a Morris 8 van. My first Rover P6 came in 1969 – an SC model. Then, in 1974, I bought a 3500 V8 P6. I currently own three classics. The 1968 P6 is 10:1 compression ratio and now on 30,000 miles, with just two previous owners. I rebuilt the HS8 carburettors s to manufacturer’s specification, set the correct fuel level in the float chambers, balanced both banks, tuned both…

SUBSCRIBE TODAY THE RESTORER Andy Naismith started life in the food industry and, with little money, undertaking his own car repairs was a necessity. Achange of vocation saw him returning to university for an NHS career as a podiatric surgeon. It’s a familiar tale: fresh-faced schoolboy (or girl) regularly sees a bright red sports car on their way to and from school, likes the look of it and thinks to themselves: ‘I fancy one of those one day’. Well, that was certainly the case for Andy Naismith: ‘I used to walk past a red TR6 on my journey to school as a kid and always wanted one from that point on. But in later years, and particularly once I had a young family, I never had the brass to afford…

This year marks half a century since Volkswagen decided the future was probably water-cooled. It's safe to say that the hunch was a good one; even Porsche came round to the idea eventually. The Golf has become the archetypal hatchback, for no rival can match the Golf's continuity of model line and the way it has evolved so recognisably, always oozing Golfness. You see a Golf – any Golf – and you instantly know what it is. The crisp lines from front to rear, the thick rear pillars, the bold and uncluttered detailing with minimal chrome and, obviously, the VW roundel are why. And the Golfs with the strongest personalities, the crispest looks and the biggest followings are the GTIs. The first arrived in 1976 (but UK buyers had…

Historics’ first sale of 2024 will take place at Ascot Racecourse on March 2 and promises a couple of opportunities that you’re unlikely to see anywhere else this year. Most striking of these is a special created from a Riley RMB 2.5 way back in 1979 and well known to the Riley RM Club. The chassis was shortened 17in to turn it into a two-seat roadster. It was dry-stored on the Isle of Wight for decades, then was acquired by the vendor ten years ago and treated to a fine body-off resto. Estimate is a tempting £16-20k. The 1960 Borgward Isabella Combi is the first to be offered at auction in the UK for four years. These ‘German Volvos’ are much sought after and this one has been bodily improved…

Uniquely styled and supremely engineered with an attention to detail like no other, the original Saab 900 is a classic built like nothing else. At launch in 1978, the world had been given time to get used to the firm’s distinctively swoopy styling theme as the smaller 99 had been around since the late Sixties. However, the 900 advanced the formula with improved refinement, space and most significantly perhaps, developments in turbocharging. The iconic 99 Turbo had been a roguish thing whereas, in comparison, the turbocharged 900 was presented as a smooth, sophisticated, and safe executive, elevating Saab into the premier league. They’re not without issues – a neglected 900 will rust, while engines and gearboxes can be fiddly to put right – but find the right car, and you’ll…

The Lotus Esprit’s mix of movie glamour and handling finesse came to epitomise the best of the brand. Bolting a turbo on to its four-cylinder engine completed the super-car puzzle. A recent trawl online revealed a special Esprit Turbo for sale. It’s one of the early pre-production ‘Essex’ cars – so called because the first Esprit Turbo sported an F1 livery commemorating the Norfolk firm’s short-term sponsorship deal with the now-long-defunct Essex Overseas Petroleum Corporation. The Essex cars pre-dated the factory Esprit Turbo and not only marked the first factory-blown Esprit, but also the transition from Series 2 to the vastly improved S3. All that would be impressive enough, but this Essex Turbo went on to lead an even more significant role; it was selected by Lotus R&D as…

2000 FORD ESCORT VAN Steve Cokayne This was never used as a van. It was kept mint by its first elderly owner and only used by his wife to visit local shops! 2000 FORD PUMA 1.7 Graham Topping Acompany car Puma set Graham’s heart a flutter back in 1997. His son bagged a £500 bargain as his first car. 2004 HONDA CIVIC TYPE R Tim Votier Arecent ‘R’ convert, Tim’s love of air-cooled VWs hasn’t been drowned out by the volume of VTEC at full chat. We can help… So many cars here that we would all love to have on our drives. Call us to discuss your requirements, so we can help turn your modern classic dream into a reality.…

A few weeks back, I spotted a Rover 216 Vitesse for sale in Holland for €10,000. Yes, that’s unusual – not many SD3s were sold on that side of the Channel – but what set this car apart was that it had just 46 miles on the clock and looked good as new. But the story gets better. It was an exhibit at the British Motor Museum in Gaydon, and was the last ever example to roll out of Longbridge in 1989. The museum had auctioned it off in 2003, when it went overseas. Now, I’ve always had a massive soft spot for these cars. I learned to drive and passed my test in one, and these were aspirational cars that proved that us Brits could build cars just as…

Sparks! Oh, to have a ramp! Matt gets down to ground level to tackle the offside sill, where a hole had appeared unnoticed. Ilike to collect rare cars – not low-volume exotics but the leftovers everyone else has forgotten about. So, when I was offered a Rover 420 GSi Tourer a while ago I couldn’t say no – it would be a perfect companion to my Rover 200Vi because there are now fewer than 20 of each left on the road. A year after putting the Vi back on the road (I bought it with a blown head gasket and a warped head) both that car and the Tourer were due an MOT. The 200 almost sailed through, failing only on emissions. However, some V Power, cat cleaner and an…

SAVE £300 NIGEL’S JOB CARD SERVICE APEUGEOT 205 Today we’re servicing a 1992 Peugeot 205, fitted with the petrol 1.4 litre single point fuel injected engine. Our service guide is relevant to all the petrol engine versions, though you may need to consult your workshop manual for model-specific information. Much of our service also applies to the diesel versions of the 205. Here we'll cover the requirements of the 6000, 12,000 and 24,000 mile services. START 1 Warning light check Switch on the ignition and ensure all the warning lights illuminate. Start the engine; all lights should go out except for the handbrake. While in the driver’s seat, check operation of the pedals. 2 Seats and seatbelts Ensure the front seats are firmly fixed and the hinged backs are secure.…

Maestro marvel The man who restored his MG Maestro reveals all Roadster heaven How to buy and maintain your perfect Elise Big cat buyer All you need to know about the majestic Mk2 See p52. SPRING ISSUE ON SALE MARCH 13 Practical Classics (ISSN 0957697, PE 9080) is published monthly (with an extra 'Spring issue in April) by H Bauer Publishing Ltd, Media House, Lynch Wood, Peterborough, Cambs PE2 6EA, United Kingdom. Airfreight and mailing in the USA by agent named World Container Inc., c/o BBT 150- 15, 183rd St, Jamaica, NY 11413, USA. Periodicals postage paid at Brooklyn, NY 11256. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to Practical Classics, World Container Inc., c/o BBT 150-15, 183rd St, Jamaica, NY 11413, USA.. Loads of advice on buying, restoring, maintaining classics with…

Our good friend David Soul has died, aged 80. He is best known for his role as Hutch in the hit TV series Starsky and Hutch, which ran from 1975 to 1979, and for a series of hit records – including two UK No.1 singles. And yet his work as an actor, musician, director and activist spanned more than 60 years, and is full of surprises. It was a bit of a surprise, for instance, when he rang PC editor Danny Hopkins at the magazine office back in 2013. ‘He was a force of nature, even over the phone. Two minutes in and I was ready to help.’ The help required was with David’s car passion project, to restore Ernest Hemingway’s 1955 Chrysler New Yorker Convertible that David had discovered…

The Historic and Classic Vehicles Alliance (HCVA) has initiated two schemes aimed squarely at improving the ownership experience of those with ongoing classic projects or anyone wishing to establish a car’s identity. The first is a whistleblowing service, a hotline for anyone who has received faulty or inadequate parts. The scheme is anonymous and will provide HCVA, its trade members, and the wider industry, with a clear view as to the number of faulty parts out there and potentially their source. ‘This is not about pointing fingers,’ Guy Lachlan of the HCVA told PC, ‘it is about getting a clear view of this crucial issue and then helping to steer consumers and specialists towards good sources.’ The second scheme involves classic vehicle identity and how to establish it with a…

Where did your passion for classics start? ‘Many different places: an interest in the history of engineering, being brought up around older cars, my curiosity to understand how all the components of a car come together to produce an operating vehicle, going to countless car shows and watching the BTCC at Oulton Park when I was eight. But the real reason was all the hours I spent playing Gran Turismo and Need for Speed as a kid. This gave me a basic understanding of which cars had what engines, different drivetrains etc. It gave me a passion that will last forever. The cars I was brought up with were BMWs, Subarus and Land Rovers, iconic in their own respective categories.’ What classics do you have? ‘My dad and I own…

Dullness be gone BENCH BUFFER/POLISHER £149.99 From chrome work and rocker covers to stainless steel finishers, nuts and bolts, there are plenty of things that need polishing during a restoration, so this bench buffer with its extended spindles (which make it ideal for working on larger items) could be just the thing for the corner of your workbench. With a built-in motor delivering a powerful 550W of power and 2980rpm, combined with its bearing-balanced, precision-machined shafts, it offers excellent performance. The prominent, front-mounted on/off switch offers added safety –you can kill the power instantly if needed. machinemart.co.uk Tank kit is the fuel monty LAND ROVER 110/130 FUEL TANK AND MOUNTING KIT £185.00 Landy lovers with crusty tanks need worry no more, thanks to this newly arrived Land Rover 110/130 fuel…

Penperlleni, Monmouthshire, April 16, 1983 The locals of Penperlleni – and from much further afield by the looks of it, judging by all the cars – have turned out en masse to witness Great Western Railway ‘Castle’ class locomotive number 5051 Drysllwyn Castle pass the hamlet. The photographer was probably a bit miffed at all the modern vehicles crowding his view of the Welsh Marches Pullman but now, more than 40 years on, everything here is a fascinating period piece. There’s no longer any DVLA record of MOR 409L, the blue 1972 Saab 96 V4 foremost in the shot, which means it probably disappeared from the road soon after this picture. Details of what’s behind it are still on Swansea’s database; however, VKG 291S was a 1294cc Chrysler Alpine GL…

‘It was a complete wreck when I got it’ 1975 Mini pickup Nicky Ross, Nairn I bought the car as a complete wreck. It was laying on its side in a garage – a completely failed project at that point. I began the project over lockdown and had to start by making a jig and mounting the car to it to ensure all the metalwork went back in the right place before chopping out all the rot – and there was a lot of it! It had new floors, sills and more and finally it was in a solid enough state to mount it to a spit for the rest of the welding to be finished. My dad, Alan, and I did all the welding ourselves and when, finally, it…

Ifound this 2CV in a damp barn. It was sitting on its rims and the resident pony used to poo in it! I knew nothing about Citroëns but have always liked the 2CV… although this one was rotten! To maintain stability at first, I left the body bolted to the chassis. In addition to bracing, several datum points were marked on sound areas of the body so when fitting replacement panels, recorded dimensions could be used. This was key in fitting parts such as pillars and sills. I replaced the bottoms of the pillars, as well as the floor pans and sills. The original panels were very thin – mainly 0.8mm that, unless you are a very experienced welder, is a bit of a problem, especially with the butt welding…

Asa young woman, not yet turned twenty but with my feet under the desk at a national newspaper, I found it difficult to be an advocate for myself. I was grateful to be there and daren’t say boo to a goose. As a writer with aspirations to make my name known, I did what I had to do to survive, however menial or mean the task. Rightly or wrongly, the exploitation I experienced in the formative years of my career – at various publications – was a way for an editor to separate the wheat from the chaff. The breaking point came in my 21st year. Struggling to pay my train fare into London and fed up with the uncertainty of being the expendable work experience, I was broke and…

Gaining track experience can be hideously expensive, while making a mistake behind the wheel of a race car can have catastrophic consequences, for car, driver and wallet. That’s why Jay Walker, who’s background lies in preparation, driving and race support for a number of teams, has spent the past decade developing the J-W-R.C.S (Race Car Simulator). It’s a clever bit of kit, far removed from the ‘gaming rigs’ often found in arcades, which has taken professional driver feedback and a whole heap of science to develop a training rig with a real driving sensation. It focuses in particular on the physics of the rear end of the car in its motion control system, which is implemented in a totally unique way, thus allowing one to drive the car at the…

To the soundtrack of Smells Like Teen Spirit, Born Slippy and Tubthumping, these supercars came of age in the Nineties. The Ferrari-frightening Honda NSX arrived at the start of the decade but continued its assault on trad supercars for years after, giving owners a previously unheard-of combo of astounding performance and usability. At the opposite end of that is the lunatic Cerbera. TVR found its groove like no other manufacturer in the Nineties, shaking the sports-car market with the 1990 Griffith – an outrageous beast with an outlandish cabin and brutal performance. This Cerbera is a later, (slightly) more sensible Speed Six. It’s still bursting with drama, especially to addicts of Playstation’s Gran Turismo. These same gamers would be familiar with the Mazda ‘FD’ RX-7 – a curvaceous…

Mazda Xedos 6 Though it was unlikely to adorn too many teenage bedroom walls, the Xedos 6 had some lovely curves, a sumptuous cabin and a sublime V6 engine –there was a lot to recommend it. The Xedos brand –Mazda’s upmarket division –was intended to tap into the luxury saloon market that swept away many a well-heeled European buyer (it was never offered in the US). What Mazda didn’t bank on, however, was the near-cultish brand snobbery that’s rampant within this market. Frankly, Xedos just didn’t come with the same bragging rights as BMW, Mercedes-Benz or even home-grown rival Lexus, rather more successfully marketed by Toyota. Even a turn in the British Touring Car Championship didn’t help, but did sire a great homologation Xedos 6 in the form of the…

Jaws dropped across the universe when Fiat unveiled its Coupé back in 1993. Buyers were captivated by its dramatic science fiction shape and an array of delightfully unique details. There was substance underneath, too. The Coupé was based on the brilliant Tipo platform, which meant sublime ride and handling composure and, later on, a top model yanked along by a new 20-valve fiv-ecylinder firecracker. The 150mph Turbo pushed out 220bhp and hit 60mph in six seconds, with its front-drive torque steer kept in check via a limited-slip diff and beefed-up suspension. While this era of Fiat wasn’t what you’d call fragile, there are still some rather important things to be aware of when it comes to buying a Coupé. What’s out there? Decide which model you want before searching and…

I’m what you might call ‘project heavy’ at the moment, and it’s not good. It's got me thinking that I need to move one of them on to an enthusiast who can give it shelter and make a start. I’ve always been critical of other people who have too many projects lying around – and yet here I am, looking at a yard with three really big restoration jobs, as yet unstarted. I absolutely need that three to be reduced by one. Before I start any of them, I have to finish my Marina or Scimitar in time for the PC Classic Car & Restoration Show in March (you going?). I want to drive either car there because both are former NEC stage cars and they deserve a day in…

You need to lower the ride height, or you run the risk of it rolling over.’ Sage advice, gleaned from 750 Motor Club racers on my recent visit to the paddock (PC, February 2024), and words that were ringing in my ears when I received my 2024 competition licence through the post from Motorsport UK. Time to put a that advice into action, then, and with the Seven loaded onto the trailer and fastened behind the Land Rover, I was soon arriving at the door of Oxfordshire Sevens near Bicester. As the Ninety and I chugged into the industrial estate, I was met by Ian Tillman, who’s built the business up from roadside repairs and tinkering in the corner of a workshop to the busy hub for Seven owners it…

Nice! Paul is handed the keys to his new steed by James Gregory of Manor Park Classics. Abargain buy with this low mileage! As you may know, editor Danny doesn’t half love a Luton limo, or Vauxhall, as they’re perhaps more commonly known… and, while adding one to the fleet was never discussed when I joined the team, it didn’t take a genius to realise that I'd be expected to showcase a Griffin or two before the year was out, should I be looking to keep my place in the line-up. Besides, what’s not to love about Dagenham’s arch nemesis? Just so many great cars to choose from! Thankfully, just in the nick of time before the probation period was up, I was able to snag an utter beauty at…