Table of contents for October 2025 in Practical Classics

Young Matt Tomkins of this parish is an enigmatic fella, and has more energy than the average fission reactor. He works fast. Typically you'll be halfway through asking him a tech question when he will have not only come up with the answer, but also found the part and fitted it for you. His competency is almost as annoying as his energy – he understands things I don’t even know I’ve forgotten yet – and, most infuriatingly, he is young. Too young to remember most of the classics we feature in PC, and very much too young to remember his favourite classic, the Morris Minor. Typical of many of the fresher faces entering our hobby, his nostalgia is for a past he cannot remember, and that is not a problem.…

Rustival is back for the third time and just like before, every vehicle is welcome regardless of age, condition, marque or reutation! If you love it, so does Rustival. It is the family-friendly show where everyone is welcome and it’s hosted, once again, by YouTubers Ian and Carly from the HubNut channel, Matt from Furious Driving and Steph from IDRIVEACLASSIC. PC editor Danny will be MC’ing the live stage again with a host of other YouTubers lined up to chat old cars. Tickets have sold out for the main display area, set to feature hundreds of vehicles from every decade of motoring, but the public can still attend, as the interest spills out from the museum frontage. The car park is part of the show as it will, once again be…

‘I can get all my Le Mans camping gear in it’ 1974 Triumph TR6 Colin Barker, Hertfordshire I’m camping at Classic Le Mans with fellow members of the TR Register and Triumph Sport Six Club. The TR6 is the ideal tourer for trips like this. It’s comfortable, has power when you need it and although not exactly economical, these cars are relatively simple to maintain. You can get plenty of luggage in the back and a load of spares underneath the boot floor, too. This year, the boot itself is crammed full of camping gear, with a pair of axle stands and a kettle behind the seats. I bought my TR6 in 1978 when it had 23,000 miles. At the time, I looked at MGs, but they weren’t special enough…

1 SEP 2021  The big strip Everything came apart easily enough for Mike and Mike, although in a few too many pieces for their liking. The chassis turned out to be worse than expected. 2 JAN 2022  Powertrain rebuild While Mike W had his eye surgery early that year, Mike T got on with rebuilding the engine, complete with hardened valve seats, along with the gearbox and diff. 3 JUL 2022  Undercover pursuits The pair put up a portable garage in the front garden to house a rotisserie and a 1960s vintage crane, which allowed them to get on with welding up the tub. 4 MAR 2023 Bulking up the bulkhead While the suspension was refurbed in the garden shed, welding continued in the tent before a coat of primer.…

‘Oh no, my car’s gone!’ Words you never want to utter, especially when it comes to a classic. I must admit that most of the vehicles I’ve ever owned have not held a massive attraction to thieves. People would be more likely to leave an envelope in the glovebox with a £10 note inside and the message, ‘hope this helps’. On a serious, err, note, I’ve been doing some research into classic car thefts – or have at least tried. There is a fundamental problem. No figures are available for how many of the thousands of cars stolen annually are actually classics, actually taken. Sporting Fords and Minis are by all counts the most popular vehicles for thieves, plus Range Rovers, but what proportion are classics? Now the Stag Owners…

Aston Martin DB7 i6 Volante ENGINE 3236cc/6-cyl/OHC POWER 335bhp@5500rpm TORQUE 360lb ft@3000rpm STEERING Rack and pinion SUSPENSION Front and rear: independent, double wishbones, coil springs, telescopic dampers and anti-roll bar (longitudinal control arms at rear) BRAKES Ventilated servo-assisted discs all round TOP SPEED 165mph 0-60MPH 5.8sec FUEL ECONOMY 20mpg WEIGHT 1725kg Fiat Coupé 16v Turbo ENGINE 1995cc/4-cyl/OHC POWER 195bhp@5500rpm TORQUE 218lb ft@3400rpm SUSPENSION Front: independent by MacPherson struts, lower wishbones, coil springs, telescopic dampers, anti-roll bar. Rear: independent by trailing arms, coil springs, telescopic dampers, antiroll bar BRAKES Ventilated discs, servo/ABS TOP SPEED 140mph 0-60MPH 6.8sec FUEL ECONOMY 18mpg WEIGHT 1320kg Renault GTA ENGINE 2649cc/6-cyl/OHC POWER 160bhp@5750rpm TORQUE 221lb ft@3500rpm SUSPENSION Front and rear:double wishbone, coil springs, telescopic dampers and anti-roll bar BRAKES Ventilated servo-assisted discs all round TOP SPEED…

1991 JAGUAR SOVEREIGN Carl Dennis, Lincolnshire As elegant as ever, Carl’s XJ40 – and the range generally – just seems to be getting better looking. 1998 VAUXHALL ASTRA Graham Taylor, UK An early Astra MkIV is providing sterling daily service on Graham’s 30-mile commute. 1998 BMW 735I Paul Steel, Worcestershire Paul’s currently loving bringing his ex-PC 7’s mechanicals up to the same great level as its cabin and exterior. Peugeot 309 GTI Katie says… ‘Modern classics are essential for a thriving future. That’s why FJ is right behind JJ and the team at PC, bringing modern classics to life every four weeks.’ Katie Delamain-Blunt, Head of Marketing…

Why you want one It’s the 3 Series everyone seems to have forgotten about – yet this BMW is the former World Car of the Year that currently represents outstanding value for money now. While it skirts the PC Bangernomics pages (just), buy wisely and we reckon this is a savvy pick – a modern classic in-waiting. Along with values, the dramatic styling theme that shocked at the time has mellowed with age. After a false start and redesign following the sale of Rover in 2002, stylist Joji Nagashima and his team unveiled their design in December 2004, signed off by BMW’s then Chief of Design Chris Bangle and the car officially launched at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2005. Unlike the E46, which was just an extensively reworked E36,…

Using older cars as daily transport is the best way to turn your hobby into something that makes financial sense. That’s why we make Bangernomics a part of every issue. It is in the DNA of the magazine to help you evolve your classic into a practical proposition. If you truly enjoy ‘the fix’ as well as ‘the drive’ then making your classic a daily driver can actually enhance the experience. But it does require some input, sometimes more than you expect or desire. With a holiday looming I plumped for a new modern classic to enjoy. Something cheap, luxurious, safe and with enough space for two daughters, myself and luggage. A Jaguar X-type, 2.5 V6 AWD with only 87,000 miles on the clock for £850 fitted the bill perfectly…

Enthusiasm can be extremely infectious. So too can a large single malt assist in defying all logic, reason and fiscal responsibility. So, it comes to pass that, just weeks after completing my MGF’s revival, thoughts of a quiet life and simple maintenance jobs on the existing fleet for a few months have now been replaced by the giddy excitement that comes with a very special new project. The story starts some months ago when my good friend Emily Morris (née Cook) spotted a Morris Minor for sale on eBay with a familiar number plate. For just over a year, Emily had owned a 1968 Morris Minor Police car, SYT 669F, known as ‘Nina’ (say it twice, slowly), and so immediately knew SYT 645F to be another MET car from the…

Imagine a combination of cigarette smell, a petrol spillage, and the impression a labrador is breathing on your neck. This is the inside of my (new to me) classic Renault 5, and I need to get it sorted! Jay Harvard, Bristol RICH’S JOB CARD BANISH INTERIOR ODOURS There is a wide spectrum of steps for removing odours from an interior. They can be as simple as a good vacuum to remove the dry cause, up to a full interior rip out to find the residue and the recurring memory of a bottle of milk that leaked in the boot on the way back from the shop. Knowing how to attack various causes is almost as important as knowing how to take your interior to pieces to get to them in…

The Great British Car Journey continues to be at the heart of UK car club celebrations in 2025, with the venue ready to host the 50th birthday bash for the Vauxhall Cavalier and Chevette on September 27-28. Road runs and special presentations are planned by the Cavalier and Chevette Club during the weekend, with Sunday 28 being open to all Vauxhalls. In other news, the Blue Oval has increased its presence in the museum too with two important Fords joining the collection; the 1969 Ford Capri MkI cherished by its one and only owner, the late John Davies, while a 1995 Escort MkV/VI is one of the last in a long line of RS models and is a multiple concours winner. Owner Chris Machin sadly passed away this year, but…

Inspect and protect OIL FILTER CUTTER £119.80 Checking for debris in your oil can help you get a feel for the condition of your engine, and with the Laser Tools oil filter cutter you can crack open the filter after each oil change to have a look. The tool allows for thorough inspection of trapped debris – an invaluable method for monitoring engine health and diagnosing potential failures before they become costly repairs, helping you to detect early signs of engine wear by identifying metal particles from worn bearings, piston rings, or camshafts, spot fuel or coolant contamination, which can indicate head gasket failure or injector leaks and look for rubber fragmentation from more modern ‘wet-belt’ engines. It’s suitable for oil filters from 60mm to 140mm in diameter and is…

★★★★★ ‘PC continues its high standards and I devour it every issue’ Paul Skilleter – subscriber ★★★★★ ‘A huge thank you to you and all involved in the amazing Practical Classics magazine. It’s a wonderful read, not biased or snobby… you guys cover it all’ Jonathan Ruff – subscriber ENJOY 6 MONTHS OF PC FOR JUST £29.99!* BENEFITS OF SUBSCRIBING ▸ Save 18% on shop prices with FREE UK delivery** ▸ Exclusive monthly ‘PC Tea Break’ e-newsletter and podcast from editor, Danny Hopkins ▸ Access to resto stories, tech advice, and plenty of tales from the PC workshop ▸ Classic adventures, nostalgia, and exclusive offers ▸ FREE digital access to past issues and rewards via the Practical Classics app ▸ Receive a FREE Keycare SmartFob Bluetooth key tracking device worth…

The year is 1995, and the MGF has just been unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show. The new mid-engined sports car from MG tickles your fancy, but there are other mid-engine contenders for your cash. The supreme second-generation Toyota MR2 has already been hoovering up sales for the last five years, while Lotus has just announced its Elise will be in showrooms in the new year – albeit with a chunkier price tag than the MGF. Three decades on, Practical Classics have gathered together these mid-engined marvels for a rematch. While they were at different price points back then, and continue to be so nowadays, all three continue to represent great value, and all are supported by a wealth of clubs, enthusiasts and specialists making the choice, arguably, even more…

Isuzu Trooper (MkI) 26 LEFT ON UK ROADS Think retro and rugged off-roader and your mind will likely drift towards Land Rover or Toyota. The likelihood of your brain lunging in an Isuzu direction is slim to none. That forgotten nature has kept the original Trooper – christened the Rodeo Bighorn in Japan (stop tittering) – under the radar for decades. This tightly and well-conceived 4×4 first came to our shores in 1987, but the popularity of the second-gen Trooper really blossomed the following decade. The combination of low brand awareness and being overshadowed by its successor has left the original Trooper MkI close to extinction, which is a shame. Just 26 are showing as taxed on UK roads, with only a few hundred more likely rotting away in our…

You know the feeling, whether we’re talking Fifties sports car or scruffy old Nineties van. When a project has been off the road for a while, issues inevitably arise during those first few shakedown tests. I’m happy to report that the return to the road for the UK’s oldest Berlingo Multispace has involved little more than a rattly droplink and a dead heater blower. I dealt swiftly with the rattles and clonks, but I had absolutely no experience of how the ventilation system works. Some years ago, I owned a battered Citroën C5 with dual climate control and a malfunctioning heater. It would stick on ‘hot’ and gently cook you, regardless of which way you turned the dashboard knob. A probe between the footwell and centre console with a telescopic…

My 1964 Wartburg 311 had at least two full working lives in Czechoslovakia (later in the Czech Republic), punctuated by a major rebuild early in the Eighties. I've done quite a lot to it since driving it back from there in 2000. I rebuilt the seized steering immediately. I did a spot of welding. I've been through the brake hydraulics a few times, ending in a silicone fluid overhaul in 2021. I also coach painted it using tractor enamel, choosing a nice two-tone paint scheme that was a lot more flattering than the previous utilitarian, battleship grey. I completely rebuilt its noisy gearbox after the pinion bearing collapsed and stripped and reassembled a spare engine to replace the rattly original. I completely reupholstered it, too, which made a nice series…

ED’S JOB CARD BASICS OF FLANGE REPAIRS Today we’re going to tackle corrosion behind a windscreen seal. We’ll cover the simplest solution, treatment with abrasives and a chemical rust remover as well as small and more major welding work before considering how the area is best finished. How tough? You’ll need ▸ Angle grinder with grinding discs and twist-knot wire wheel▸ Drill with polycarbide abrasive wheel and rubber-backed abrasive discs▸ Hand files▸ Chemical rust remover▸ MIG welder▸ Seam sealer▸ Zinc-rich primer▸ Body filler Cash saved ▸ £400 Will take (HR) 4 Will cost (£) 30 THE EXPLAINER WHAT GOES WRONG AND WHY? The area under the rubber seal of a windscreen is common rot-spot on almost any classic. It’s bombarded with the worst salty filth the road can throw at…

TOP TIP This is a convenient and economical solution. BASICS 1 Gasket sets When carrying out a large job such as a cylinder head overhaul or complete engine rebuild, buy a gasket set. It should contain every conceivable gasket, seal and O-ring that you'll need. 2 Individual gaskets For minor jobs such as removing and replacing a manifold, buy individual gaskets where possible. They're tailored to fit and are made of appropriate material. Additional sealant isn't (in theory) needed. 3 Supplied gaskets When you buy a water pump, for example, it usually comes with a gasket supplied in the box. This can be fitted with or without sealant. Some pumps are sealed by a large rubber O-ring, not a flat gasket. 4 Instant gasket Instant gasket (RTV silicone) can be…

I used to get the Post Show Blues when both nerves and stomach were robust enough to withstand four days of Glastonbury, but these days, it strikes when I leave the utopian environs of Beaulieu. You might say the same of Goodwood, FotU or Rustival among others. I even find myself missing the bleak concrete confines of the NEC once home from either of its twice-yearly events, and it’s mostly because of the people. You’re there to spend time surrounded by like-minded mates and passionate strangers. I felt it at the Le Mans Classic this summer. As the weekend concluded, me and my chums were spat out into a city filled with grumpy ‘normals’. We thought we’d cheer ourselves up by going to a supermarket to fill our boots with…

Tributes have been paid across the classic car world to Patrick Hawkins, who died suddenly this month at the age of 68. The man behind County Classics, Taunton’s town car centre museum, Pat and his team spent the last few years repurposing a defunct department store, cramming a hundred classics onto three floors. Thousands of visitors have since filed through the doors since it was opened two years ago by Richard Hammond, helping to put Taunton back on the tourist map. We had the pleasure of meeting Pat on several occasions – most recently when he proudly gave us a tour of his remarkable museum (PC, July 2025). Our thoughts are with Pat’s family, friends and all the dedicated volunteers at County Classics Motor Museum.…

A father and popular businessman had his life celebrated through the love of old cars and adventure on the inaugural Keith Baldwin Memorial Rally in June. Keith sadly lost his battle with pancreatic cancer earlier this year, leading his son, Greg, and staff from the Clover HR Consultancy, who worked closely with him, to set up the Keith Baldwin Memorial Rally. The event raised almost £10,000 in vital funds for Pancreatic Cancer UK. The intrepid teams didn’t experience a single tailback on their journey from Le Touquet, France, through Luxembourg, Switzerland and Italy before ending the run in Nice, France – all in sub-£1500 cars. ‘Dad had driven a number of rallies in the past and he was always the one to organise trips for friends to Goodwood, Le Mans, Moto GP or…

Well, I did try, but sadly at the last possible moment it was horribly clear I wouldn’t be taking my new Morris Minor Convertible to the Le Mans Classic this time. Years of reading heroic adventure tales, road trips and rescues in PC had me filled with a confidence I could get my recent purchase to the famous French festival of high-speed insanity. Perhaps you only get so much luck, because I’d done it before with my knackered Standard 10; getting to the NEC Classic Motor Show at the 11th hour after days (and nights) of blood, sweat and tears. However, it would appear on this occasion, as I stand here in the workshop at 1am, it just won’t happen this time. Everything is against me; from the gearbox first…

Throwing in the towel is always an option. We’ve all been there. Be it a specific job that defeats us, or an entire project plan that falls apart and we end up flogging the car to some other mug, there’s no shame whatsoever in walking away. It’s a hobby. It is meant to be an enjoyable pursuit; to improve our mental health, not wreck it. For our two friends here, their stalled project went far beyond mere miscalculation or mishap. The cause of their pause was illness, life-changing loss, grief… and a dodgy eye. While the journey has been tough, the misfortunes suffered turned out to be a real test of spirit. Their Triumph revival had begun badly when, soon after commencement of the project, Mike West’s retina detached. Then,…

What would you have picked if, in 1995, you were angling for some topless two-seater fun? For the first time in ages the choice was wide and varied. If none of the three mid-engined motors we chose tickled your fancy, here are a few front-engined alternatives to tempt you – all of which are relatively affordable 30 years on. MAZDA MX-5 The MX-5 was the car that kicked off the Nineties sports car boom. Created in the vison of the original Sixties Lotus Elan and unashamedly similar in appearance, the baby Mazda had a lively twin-cam engine, wonderfully snappy gearshift and fantastic handling. It reinvigorated the UK’s love for sports cars and became an enduring legend. All MX-5s are wonderful cars to drive, but the MkI and MkIIs are the…

MARKET ANALYSIS Values of the Triumph TR3 have gone from being static for several years to dropping slightly of late – that’s if recent auctions are anything to go by. Naturally, examples cherished by club members or with motorsport heritage will be worth top dollar, but it’s possible to pick up any version of the TR3 for a reasonable price now. At its Farnborough sale in May, Historics sold a 1956 TR3 for £12,584, while a fine 1957 example sold at Mathewsons in that month for £15,588. Bargains do pop up from time to time. A tidy white 1958 car in need of minor fettling sold for £8960 at Brightwells last year. While a bodged TR3 can present a challenge to the unwary restorer, exceptional club support would suggest that…

Muscle cars, arguably the loudest and proudest product of the US automotive industry. Before we were aware of the environmental impact – or perhaps as a last gasp before addressing it – the products of Pontiac, Ford, Dodge and Chevrolet (among many others) appealed to our baser instincts in the most intoxicating of ways. Styled like predatory animals, mixed with feminine overtones, these roaring V8 beasts provided thrills for millions. By the Noughties, however, there was a new force in automotive culture, and it couldn’t have been more diametrically opposed. Economy and emissions were the new buzz words, where once horsepower and 0-60mph times had ruled. If you lusted after the old days, then few machines still kept the muscle car light burning, but there were some… chief among millennial muscle…

The 309 is far more than just a fascinating footnote in automotive history, it’s arguably Peugeot’s best handling product of the Eighties, which is certainly saying a lot… Originally conceived as a Talbot-badged replacement for the ageing Horizon – before the car brand was axed at the end of Samba production in 1986 – the well-developed ‘Arizona’ (project C28) found itself as a machine without maker. PSA had taken over the reins long before, of course, so business continued as usual, only now the in-development Talbot was to sport a Peugeot badge. Unlike it’s more famous and smaller hatchback cousin, the 309 was a true Volkswagen Golf-sized rival and its GTI versions certainly went toe-to-toe with the German trendsetter. Many serious drivers prefer Peugeot’s offering and the hotter versions of…

So far, 2025 has been very quiet on the 2000 front, with a fair bit of ‘life admin’ getting in the way of any tinkering time I might have had in mind. However, that has now changed – I’ve booked myself and my trusty saloon onto this year’s Club Triumph Round Britain Reliability Run. I’ve written about this wonderful event at length in these pages over the years, but for anyone who hasn’t heard of it, the RBRR basically involves driving 2000 miles around the UK in a weekend. So, 48 hours almost non-stop, starting at 6pm on the Friday evening, before heading north and up into deepest Scotland in order to reach John o’ Groats for breakfast early on Saturday morning. The rest of Saturday sees teams heading ever…

COOLING Why does my car boil over? Q My Suzuki SJ410 has started overheating in traffic. What can I do? Jane Foulds, Old Colwyn Ed says A We'll generalise here to cover most classics. Make sure the pressure cap (radiator or expansion bottle) holds pressure – it should hiss when slightly unscrewed (no more!) on a hot engine. Lack of pressure causes premature boiling, especially in modern classics. If the cooling system is full of rusty soup, flush it repeatedly until it runs clear. Fill with plain water, drive the car and drain it at the end of the day. Refill with water when cool. Repeat until clean. Change the thermostat, which can degrade. Engine-driven fan: check the fan belt is tight and that a thermostatic clutch - if fitted…

PAY LESS AND NEVER MISS A COPY! See p54. CLASS OF ’85 The best cars of the magnificent mid-Eighties tested and rated Cortina resto We meet the man who revived this stunning Ford V8 Greats Find out what it’s like to live with five legendary V8s XJ-S Reborn A brave restoration perfectly completed in the car’s 50th year PLUS An in-depth look at the Montego and why now is the time to bag a Hyundai Coupé. Danny starts work on a project Peugeot 304, James revives a Smart CityCoupé and Matt preps his Austin Seven special for a race. At the workshop, we look at fuel pumps and how to evaluate paintwork. NOVEMBER ISSUE ON SALE SEPT 24 MISSING US ALREADY? Come join the conversation at Practical Classics on YouTube,…