Table of contents for August 2025 in Practical Classics

What a delightful summer we appear to be having weather-wise, and yes, I do realise I have probably just cursed it. The number and variety of shows we have to choose from makes it almost criminal not to own a classic. And even if the heavens open, there’s still no day out better than one that involves driving your beloved car, meeting other petrolheads and their cars and then driving home again – it is a simple and profound pleasure. No rain could spoil that day out, surely, or are we getting soft? Our own James Walshe mentioned to me last week that his visit to the Pembrokeshire Classic Car Club’s annual event was a rather damp one, but that still didn’t deter the hundreds of owners and their classic…

Super Resin Polish From £19.99 autoglym.com With Autoglym celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, now seems the perfect time to point the spotlight on a product synonymous with shine, and one which is trusted by many a classic owner. Super Resin Polish is suitable for most paint types and colours, including metallic, clear coat and water-based finishes. It restores gloss to dull surfaces and is ideal for removing light scratches and swirls on new or old paintwork. As part of the company’s anniversary celebrations, Autoglym has launched a new competition for consumers to win exclusive commemorative products with unique designs, anniversary merchandise, and a Car Care Experience Day at its HQ. Enter via autoglym60th.com.…

Škoda has embarked on a series of modern reinterpretations, revitalising classics such as the 200 RS, the 1203 van, and the original Voiturette, each reimagined for the 21st century. Škoda’s latest concept is the Škoda Favorit. The late Eighties design has been re-envisioned, emerging as an electric concept. Design and planned being the iron curtain, the Favorit was a remarkable engineering achievement, laying the foundation for Škoda’s reinvention as part of the Volkswagen Audi Group after the end of communism. Designer Ljudmil Slavov took the helm of the reimagining, of the Favorit all as part of a tribute to Škoda’s most influential cars. ‘Simplifying an already minimalistic shape into the Modern Solid style was genuinely challenging,’ he told PC. While this reinterpretation of the Favorit isn’t intended for production, it sends a…

The National Motor Museum in Beaulieu, Hampshire, has acquired a 1972 MGB Roadster for its 2026 prize car giveaway after the MGB GT it offered in its 2025 draw proved hugely popular. The GT was presented to its new owner in April and has now been replaced by the Blaze Orange Roadster. Second prize in the annual fundraiser is the opportunity to have a seat in one of the National Motor Museum’s historic vehicles on the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run 2026. Third prize is a trip for three around the New Forest in a vehicle from the museum collection and a chocolate treat from the Beaulieu Chocolate Studio. Tickets for the draw cost £2.50 and can be bought at the National Motor Museum, or by emailing prizedraw@beaulieu.co.uk. The draw…

ACROSS  5 Rebranded Chrysler hatchback that appeared in the late Seventies (6,7) 8 Historic home of America’s carmaking industry (7) 9 A version of the Aston Martin V8 Vantage we connect with India? (5) 12 _ model, entry-level offering (4) 13 Autobianchi spider from the Sixties (8) 14 Maserati coupés from the Seventies and Eighties (8)  16 An unassuming speed machine such as the Lancia Thema 8.32 (1,3) 19 _ Rover, classic luxury off-roader (5) 21 The Ron who designed the original Lotus Elan (7) 22 Fiat 500-based twoseater with the Noddy car looks that was released in 1967 (7,6) DOWN  1 Defunct American marque that made the Hawk (10)  2 These third-generation VWs were closely related to the SEAT Ibiza MkII (5) 3 Standard offered this engine on their…

Paul Nicholes is no stranger to the pages of Practical Classics, having appeared with the Bond Equipe MkII GT that he restored with his son in 2007. ‘That was an educational project for us both, and we learned a huge amount. When my son moved house, back in 2019, he took the Bond with him, and I was left with an empty garage for the first time in many years.’ So, obviously Paul’s thoughts turned to how to fill that space. As is often the case, happy childhood memories played a part in the selection of Paul’s next project car. ‘Back in the long hot summer of 1976, when I was 12, my mum and dad bought an Onyx Green Cortina MkIII 2.0 GXL and a Bessacarr Conisbrough caravan. We…

Our two cars here were among the most charismatic turbos of the Eighties. They were conceived to beat the establishment – BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar – and do so by taking their own unique way. Their separate approaches – the eccentricity of Citroën against the solid safety of Saab – may have been different, but the results stood out from the crowd. They still do, but now they’re a lot cheaper to buy. The question is – are they better modern classics now than the cars they were designed to beat? Citroën CX 25 GTI Turbo 2 Turbocharged cars should always have a sense of drama. The CX GTI Turbo achieves that right from the start. Citroën joined the party in 1984 and created its fastest car since the legendary SM.…

Mixed fortunes in the early summer sales combined with the growing proportion of ‘no reserve’ offerings to produce some bargains. Several of them emerged at Manor Park Classics’ sale on May 24, with a total of five cars departing below £2000. They weren’t projects, either. Most tempting was probably the 1990 Citroën BX 16 TGS (£1725), fresh from an extensive recommissioning, not rusty or patched up, and MOT’d to October. A more traditional entry for the summer shows would be the 1980 MG Midget (£1840) nicknamed ’Sooty’, one of the last 500 produced and known as Black Batch models. In need of some cosmetics but ready to go and supplied with a hard top, it felt like a result from 15 or 20 years ago. ‘No reserve’ lots push the overall sale…

When I heard my friend Sue had contacted Webuyanycar to dispose of her daughter’s damaged Fiat, I jumped into action and offered £100 over what they decided to offer. My Clio revival was on go slow and I needed a car for Daughter One to learn to drive in. Bolt off and on wings would be my friend sorting the accident damage and the modern 500 is a fun thing to be around. Go to my Saga in this issue to see how it worked out. ASKING PRICE £600 PAID £600 VERDICT Great little car after a day’s work to fix it up.…

Yes, yes, yes… we know modern luxury cars are safer, quieter, faster and more economical. However, are they more comfortable? We think not, on the evidence we present to you here. We’ve been aboard the modern top-drawer Mercedes-Benz and, while refined it clearly is, the waft of the original 500 SEC is missing. The wide, softly sprung seats or sense of pure luxury are simply not there in the new Mercs. The range of new Bentleys may well be lined with leather from floor to ceiling, but the seats are not the armchairs you get in a Continental Flying Spur. Just look inside one. You don’t get the delicate touches of class like that in a modern car. Ever-obsessed with speed, new Aston Martins have (just) managed to retain a sense…

Why you want one Two decades since MG Rover left us, and with a renewed interest in the brand thanks to a recently reborn MG range, enthusiasts have begun to realise what a gem the four and five-door ZS really is. The result of BMW’s departure from Longbridge, MG Rover set about developing a sportier range of cars led by design legend Peter Stevens. With design input from none other than stylist Harris Mann (who did the front ends), the headline-grabbing ZR, ZS and ZT were unveiled just twelve months later. Despite the mid-size ZS’s roots in the Rover 45 – itself a rebadged and reworked 1992 Honda Domani, sold as the Civic from ’95 in the UK) – the team worked miracles with the tightest of budgets, rejuvenating the…

One year after its previous owner gave me the V5 and keys to his MOT failure, this old baguette carrier is back on the road. No amount of buffing will sort the despicable laquer peel, but I’ll live with it. Chris James bought the car new in Copenhagen. ‘List prices in Europe back then were much lower than they were here, so I picked up a bargain to replace my ageing Acadiane and specified that big electric sunroof.’ Scroll forward 27 years, I’d always wanted a sunroof model, but everything hinged on getting the seized Webasto fixed. Thanks to a trip to a Welsh scrapyard for a ‘parts roof’ (PC, October 2024) and the purchase of a low-mileage donor car last year (PC, April 2025) – the issue was resolved.…

Matters ranging from bio fuel to the increasing demand for UK restorers around the globe were hot topics at an event held by Historic & Classic Vehicle Alliance. Delegates from the classic car world gathered at Bicester Motion for the Heritage Matters conference, which aimed to address the future of the hobby. Hosted by TV’s Paul Cowland, guests from DVLA announced plans to help keep classics on Britain’s roads. New chief executive Tim Moss CBE vowed to iron out longstanding issues over how the agency handles cases. ‘I want the DVLA to be a partner with you in preserving the past while preparing for the future, and this means supporting innovation with how we deliver services while safeguarding the traditions that make British motoring so special.’ Tim added that he hopes…

It’s as if the Practical Classics workshop is hosting a royal visit. There’s a genuine hullabaloo as workers and friends emerge from neighbouring units and shuffle across to greet our guest of honour – the striking new MG Cyberster. All seem to know exactly what it is. This is no Lamborghini or McLaren supercar, but the MG certainly has the presence of one. There’s an ensuing hubbub of enthusiastic chatter, especially startling as just feet away, ticking itself cool, is a thumping V8-powered MG SV-R and next to that, dwarfed by both, one of the nicest examples of MGB we’ve seen for a while. So why on earth, I hear you cry, is the 2025 Cyberster in the pages of Practical Classics? What possible place has a modern EV in…

1 OCT 2021 Front and centre One of Paul’s first big jobs was replacing the rotten front valance. As is often the case, once it was removed, a lot more hidden rust was found! 2 MAR 2023 Made to measure Having bought a replacement valance panel online, it turned out to be incorrect. Unable to return it, Paul was forced to work with what he had, doing such a good job that you’d never tell the difference now. 3 OCT 2023 Take two Having been hugely disappointed with the finish of the original respray, Paul sorted out all the areas that the paint shop missed first time around (see fresh primer), before the car went away for a second time. 4 MAR 2024 Good as new This project was the…

Why you want one Notoriously and inexplicably mocked by some who were there when it was launched 50 years ago and by a great many more (less well-informed) folk who weren’t, the Princess has come of age – recognised for its supreme comfort, unique style and ease of ownership. In 1975, designer Harris Mann’s mission was, in his own words, ‘to design tomorrow’s luxury family saloon and make the competition feel old fashioned’. The experts and motoring press in the mid-Seventies approved, with the Daily Express declaring the Princess to be ‘the most exciting piece of styling carried out in Britain since the war’ while colleagues at our sister publication, CAR magazine, loved the way it glided over imperfections, noting ‘high reserves of roadholding and grip, encouraging fast cornering.’ Alas,…

Once on every corner, now seldom seen Mazda 121 Thought the badge-engineering game disappeared with the majority of the British car industry in the Eighties? Well, think again, as it was still alive and well by the turn of the millennium. Mazda and Ford infamously joined forces for one of the least subtle automotive copy and paste exercises ever when they created the Mazda 121. As it was 99.9 percent Ford Fiesta MkIV – certainly no bad thing – the 121 was small, fun to drive, economical and usefully practical, all things that Mazda’s model range lacked at the time. Aside from the grilles and badges, the main difference was a 1.25-litre engine option for the Mazda, although, at its higher price, very few people chose the Japanese version over…

I’ll confess to having felt rather daunted at the beginning of this month by the sheer volume of work required to ready my project MGF for the model’s 30th anniversary celebrations at Gaydon on July 6. Changing the cambelt was a particular concern, as was the fact that I needed to find the time to completely overhaul the car’s braking system. However, with a belt kit, calipers, discs, pads and flexis all ordered from MGOC Spares, incumbent stoppers that looks like they had been raised with the Mary Rose and no evidence in the history file of the rubber timing belt having ever having been changed in the past, there was no option but to dive in at the deep end and get stuck in. Or was there? Just as…

SEATS My driving seat’s awful! Q Help – the driver’s seat of my Seat Arosa is absolutely crippling me! Martin Halford, Leominster Ed says A Many driver’s seat bases give way: the driver drops to the point where the lumbar support of the seat back is in the wrong place, causing backache. There are three common types of seat base construction: elastic straps or serpentine springs support a thick foam cushion; coiled, interlocked springs support a layer of felt and foam; and a simple, pressed steel base which contains a large piece of moulded foam. The critical area is just in front of the seat back, which bears all the driver’s weight. Here you'll find stretched straps or serpentine springs and/or soggy foam. A coil-sprung seat collapses because it throws…

RICH’S JOB CARD METAL POLISHING Bare metal surfaces – polished, anodised, plated or brushed for effect, have been used by car manufacturers to highlight and accentuate features since the days of horse carriages. The glow of chrome, brass or aluminium trim instantly adds to the perceived value of a vehicle, as much as dull, tarnished or corroded metal detracts from it. We’ll look at how you can care for your castings, and bring the shine back. How tough? You’ll need Cloths (lots) Metal Polish (liquid or paste) Or metal friction polish soap (hard block) And friction polish wheel, or drill attachments Selection of soft microfibre cloths for buffing Protective gloves (depending upon sealant) Safety glasses (depending upon polish) Will take (HRS) 1+ Will cost (£) £10-£40 Cash saved (£) £1000s…

MATT’S JOB CARD MGF TIMING BELT CHANGE Matt says Today we’re changing the timing belt and water pump on the project MGF. It makes sense to swap the water pump at the same time as the belt given the stripdown involved. Parts are readily available for modest cost – just note that there’s a difference between preand post-1998 cars. This is a 1998 car, obviously… we’re not covering specifics relating to VVC cars here. How tough? You’ll need Cam belt kit Cam locking tool Weighted 22mm impact socket and gun (optional) Hand tools Trolley jack Axle stands Will take (HR) 5 Will cost 75 (£) EXPLAINER UNCOVERING THE WHATS, WHYS AND WHENS… The timing belt, or cam belt, connects the crankshaft to the camshafts and keeps everything moving together at…

New classic product hub, Vroom, has launched with the intention of becoming a one-stop shop for classic buyers, sellers and clubs. Aimed at providing a more curated and bespoke service than generalist competitors, Vroom is the brainchild of enthusiast CEO Marc De Graeve. ‘We don't trade in cars, instead we're trying to bring together all the ingredients – products, services and knowledge – that classic car lovers want into a single, easy-to-find place. Our mission is to make classic car ownership less difficult, less expensive and more enjoyable.’ Vroom aims to become the enthusiast marketplace for buyers and sellers and offers some innovative products as part of that ambition. For instance the company has just launched an advanced 3D printing service in partnership with Igus GmbH. It has plastics that…

Raise me up 2.25-TONNE CAR LIFT £1498.80 Raising a car safely and securely is an essential first step for almost every job on a classic. This latest offering from Machine Mart could be a great help to those seeking an alternative to grovelling with jacks and axle stands. With a solid steel welded frame and durable powder coated finish, the lift is designed in an open-centre style providing quick wheel-free convenience and clear access to the undercarriage of the car. The lift includes a corded remote control with simple up and down buttons and the additional feature of automatic safety locks which engage automatically as the car lift is raised. Part no: CCL2250. machinemart.co.uk Pressing issue 52-PIECE BUSH, BEARING & SEAL DRIVER SET £128.40 Perfect for installing wheel bearings, bushes,…

TRY 3 ISSUES OF PC FOR £5* OFFER ENDS 31ST AUGUST 2025 For all your classic thrills and spills this summer, subscribe to Practical Classics – the enthusiast’s bible that truly does it all. From inspirational journeys, and adventures to classic buying guides, tales, tech advice and trials from the magazine’s very own workshop. DIGITAL ACCESS INCLUDED with a Print+ subscription SCAN HERE ORDER NOW! greatmagazines.co.uk/practicalclassics 01858 438884 WHY SUBSCRIBE? ◼ Save 70%* off shop prices with our summer offer and FREE UK delivery ◼ Receive bonus content and the exclusive monthly PC Tea Break e-newsletter and podcast from editor, Danny Hopkins ◼ FREE digital access through our dedicated Practical Classics app, where you will find past issues and rewards including 70% off a Skill Shack Membership *Saving applies to initial trial…

I’m a sucker for a car in need. I have dragged a rich variety of waifs and strays back to the PC workshop, all in the name of revival. A car in need is catnip and, luckily, this magazine allows such folly, indeed, it encourages it. When challenged over my habit the excuse, ‘content creation’, shields me from any further interrogation. Or at least that’s what I tell myself. So, when Stephen Barlow emailed me with the offer of a Renault Avantime, I was preprogrammed to respond in the affirmative. Only one problem with that, I already had a Renault Avantime – same spec, same colour, everything. Now here’s where the God of Cars played his card. I received the email on Monday, said yes on the Monday evening and…

Haynes Heritage Engineering is a private classic car specialist aligned to the Haynes Motor Museum, but independent of it. It has been in operation for many years in various guises, starting as a place where John Haynes could work on his own cars. Now it has a professional team of 11 and is looking to expand. Nick Lockey-May is the workshop manager at HHE, his aim is to apply the same levels of excellence to every car that comes through the door whatever the job. ‘We are a restoration business, a classic car specialist with a broad remit,’ he says. ‘So we are here to do anything from a nut and bolt restoration on an exotic classic, to a simple sill repair on a cherished modern.’ The company does work…

Decades of unjustified and relentless abuse by mythpeddling BL haters hasn’t been easy to take – ask any Allegro, Marina, TR7 or Maxi owner – but as ever, we back what Princess fans have known all along; that it’s a great car to own. Quite aside from being relatively simple to restore, repair and maintain, it’s a landmark car in our nation’s automotive history – from a time when Britain’s objective was to be at the forefront of design and to break the mould. There are, of course, many pitfalls to innovating in a conservative market but, lack of a hatchback aside (Harris Mann wanted it to have one), it’s pretty much the car he designed – and is these days looking pretty sharp suited when around bloated modern cars.…

For a long time, the only thing most old car enthusiasts knew about the DB7 was that it was the ‘cheap’ one. While it still represents the gateway into one of Newport Pagnell’s finest (or Gaydon’s lately) there’s an awful lot more to this beauty than just its price tag. On the topic of its looks, the DB7’s lines are some of the most appealing to emerge from any automotive era. Ian Callum brilliantly updated the classic lines of the Sixties and Seventies into something that paid homage to the greats, yet still felt contemporary. For a design that first broke cover in Geneva, over thirty years ago, the DB7’s lines are aging like a fine wine. Considering it emerged from a troubled time in Aston’s history, the vitally important job…

Peugeot 106 Gti It’s seemingly impossible to bring up the 106 Gti without mentioning its spiritual ancestor, the 205 GTI – though, technically, Peugeot’s official replacement for one of the most famous hot hatches in history was its larger 306 GTI. The 106 Gti offered a slightly less practical yet purer driving experience, even if its scope of talents didn’t quite extend to those of the 306 all-rounder. All these goodies are largely the same – yet turned up to 11 – for the Rallye version, which is why it’s been the first 106 model to catch collector attention. It’s a safe assumption that values of the 106 Gti will follow in its more collectible cousin’s tyre tracks. In fact, they already have, with great 106 Gtis already topping £10-£15k,…

So here it is, the new purchase… modern isn’t it. Yes. But in the same way that the BMW Mini is breaking into enthusiast circles, the ‘new’ 500 is beginning to turn heads. And in any case, I did need another small car option for regular use, because new members of my family are now joining the driving club. So, as you might have seen elsewhere in this magnificent tome, I have purchased this Fiat 500 Lounge in red, complete with the 1242cc engine and five-speed manual box. Now I know this will be seen as a non-classic, a common banger, and it is. And yes, I know that I have bought a Renault Clio for the purpose of daughter driving instruction. But that small French fancy is throwing up…

As you’ll have read last time (PC, May 2025), my time with Giles the Jaguar has been most enjoyable, despite some electrical gremlins – solved, thankfully! Recently, with replacement brake pipes, the front damper top mount bushes renewed, and another MOT test passed (the 10th in my ownership) I was enjoying my Jaguar experiences when one day, after running perfectly all day long, it refused to start. Tests by my specialist friend John and I showed that Giles had ignition sparks, but no fuel at the engine for them to ignite. Further checks identified that the fuel pump relay was receiving power, and this was sending voltage to the in-tank fuel pump – but the pump itself was not working. The petrol pump on X300s is located within the top…

ED’S JOB CARD MEASURING EXPLAINED Some jobs require an element of measurement – even if it’s as simple as just selecting the right length of bolt. A few basic measurement tools and aids will cover the vast majority of tasks and, as usual, most are very affordable these days. Today we'll look at various methods. Digital instruments are easy enough to read (beware weak batteries which can cause errors), but we'll also show you how to read analogue types, including tricky inch scales. How tough? You’ll need Rule Vernier calipers Micrometer Dial gauge and stand Will take (MIN) 30 (£) 0 EXPLAINER It’s rare that we have to measure things when fixing a car: usually we just remove and replace, like-for-like. Sometimes, parts are no longer made and so we…

PAY LESS AND NEVER MISS A COPY! See p56. The PC team visits every UK Formula 1 venue on an classic blast back in time Dodging the detector We meet the man who restored this SpaceVan TV licence-buster Frogeye finder We show you how to buy the best Austin-Healey Frogeye Sprite Tech-tastic Pages of tech tips including how to diagnose and fix misfires PLUS We visit a Vauxhall collector to meet his Chevette and rare Corsa Cabriolet, find out how one man restored his Subaru Brat and present a guide to buying an X300 generation Jaguar XJ. Plus, we put a Clio 16v head to head with a Fiesta XR2, and learn how to safely remove tints and badges SEPTEMBER ISSUE ON SALE JULY 30 MISSING US ALREADY? Come join…