Table of contents for March 2023 in Practical Classics

Matt’s pretty much finished his Landy and I’ve sold the Jensen. That is big news in my part of the world, but potentially not in yours. It does show, however, that the classics we love serve different purposes in our lives at different times. I loved rescuing that car from an ignominious end and also I loved restoring it over ten years. That, for me, was the adventure, the journey that mattered. Once it was done, using it was a bit of an afterthought… it was great but it wasn’t the endgame. The endgame was completing the works required to give it a future, a future with someone else. That someone else is Tom Klimes, who has always wanted an Interceptor and fell in love with the story of my…

Clubs, specialists, classic attractions and enthusiasts are gearing up for an exciting year of events, despite the financial challenges many face. While dates of the big shows for the first half of the year are confirmed, including the Practical Classics Classic Car & Restoration Show (March 24-26), Beaulieu Spring Autojumble (May 13-14) and Festival of the Unexceptional (July 29), numerous venues around the UK have announced their event timetables. The British Motor Museum at Gaydon, Warwickshire, has lined up 38 motoring shows for 2023 including Vaux ALL, Saab International and Italian Wheels Day. Meanwhile, Bicester Heritage is looking ahead to another year of Scrambles and clubs are gearing up for anniversary events in 2023, including 100 years of Triumph and MG (Silverstone, June 10-11) while Morris Minor, Land Rover and…

Go West and multiply When Alan Drake and Gary Hawkins weren't happy with the cost and politics of their clubs, they set up their own called the South West Classic Car Club. Alan told us: ‘In 2020 I started a Facebook group that's free to join and covers the whole of the south west of the UK. I wanted to welcome everyone whatever they drive, and we had our first meeting at Hanley Farm in Chepstow, when 65 cars turned up. That became 250 by the start of lockdown, during which time we grew the Facebook page to 3000 members. When we restarted in 2021, our meets in Chepstow welcomed over 500 cars. Our aim in 2023 is to find new venues in Devon and Cornwall. swclassiccarclub. co.uk BEAULIEU ALL…

This second instalment of our annual winter road trip might appear somewhat tame in comparison to last month’s arduous scaling of every mountain pass in the Lake District – but it was enjoyable for an entirely different reason: You! Wherever we go in our classics, from local outings to adventures abroad, we’re thankful to be greeted by readers and fellow enthusiasts who are up for joining us for a cuppa… and a few miles of scenic driving. For this second leg of ‘Winter Warmers’, the aim was to cross the Yorkshire Dales on a wintry waft towards our overnight stop in Harrogate. Plenty of landmarks and a chance for lunch on the way – plus an evening quiz at the hotel to look forward to – but first, it was…

Why you want one Ford’s new Z-car for 1966 was from an era when big was still better and crikey, this one was a whopper! Dagenham’s imposing executive was launched at a typically glitzy event, held by Ford in sun-drenched Tunisia and, with a competitive price tag and a promise of unrivalled luxury for the money, hopes were high. While in the end it was never a massive sales success for Ford, the MkIV is a joyous barge to pilot nowadays – especially in the face of the stressful bustle of modern traffic and our craggy road surfaces. All three versions of this giant – Zephyr, Zodiac and Executive – are exceptionally comfy cruisers with acres of room, interesting mechanicals and a look all of their own. Around 150,000 MkIVs…

1991 FORD FIESTA POPULAR Lee Coleman, Bristol Lee’s little lockdown project grants him plenty of smiles. 1998 FIAT PUNTO SPORTING Nick Venables, Surrey ‘Quirky, everything works and it’s definitely Italian’ – relatable. 2007 SUBARU LEGACY 3.0 SPEC B Russell Carter, UK Rare and fast estate… and it’s even got a six-speed manual ’box! 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.…

I’ve been thinking a lot about Minis recently. Not so much the classic ones designed by Sir Alec Issigonis and bought by more than five million of you – but the post-BMW new-generation model, and where it fits into the classic scene. Perhaps it’s because there’s a new one coming out next year. Seeing the car’s inclusion in PC as this month’s Wise Buy (see p96) initially had me think, ‘why so long?’ It reminded me that I’ve been calling the R50-generation MINI a classic for some considerable time. In this case, I called it mainly because it’s one of those cars that evokes emotional reactions from fans of the original. Some good, some bad. In 1997, when the car first surfaced as a design concept at the Frankfurt motor…

Thrifty! BInsights are collectible but batteries aren’t cheap. They repay you with frugal motoring. A Lithium battery takes it to a new level. Guy Lachlan READER 2006 Honda Insight (standard) Engine 995cc/3-cyl/OHC Power 67bhp@5700rpm Torque 66lb ft@4800rpm Gearbox 5-speed manual 0-60mph 11.1sec Top speed 107mph Fuel economy 65mpg (AV EPA) Work done Original battery replaced with a Lithium upgrade. 1 (wk) TIME 34k (£) SPENT 246 MILES Also in Guy’s garage 1914 LE ZEBRA MODEL C A rare and perfect machine. 1928 SUNBEAM 16.9HP Always good for trips out. 1999 CATERHAM 21 A superb smile provider! When introduced in 1999, Honda’s first-generation Insight offered drivers a brilliant and novel approach to fuel efficiency. It combined a low-drag aluminium and plastic body with an ultra-efficient, three-cylinder petrol engine and an integrated…

I’ve got an annoying fault with my MGB that’s gradually got worse over the last few months. At first, the brake pedal would pulsate a bit when I first pressed it but seemed to go away, but now the brakes judder all the time when applied. What can I do? Richard Smith, Classic Lodges THEO'S JOB CARD STOP CLASSIC BRAKE JUDDER It’s important to first test-drive the car to see when the brake judder occurs, at what speed, how bad it is, and if it changes with multiple brake applications. We will then inspect a car with disc brakes, remove the wheels, check the hub bearings for play, the discs for run-out and general condition by using a dial-test-indicator and a micrometer, then make some rudimentary checks for ovality in…

Our in-depth, 13-page guide contains all the info you need PAY LESS AND NEVER MISS A COPY! See p52 TR5 resto Meet the man who revived his Triumph to perfection Which Audi? Choosing our favourite Ingolstadt superstar in a total Quattro-fest! Saab guide We take an in-depth look at Saab’s remarkable V4-engined 96 The Ford fan who revived his Puma and brought it back from the rusty brink and an astonishing Humber Super Snipe Estate – restored by one dedicated owner. There’s a guide to buying the best Renault Avantime and road trip adventures galore! Plus, Danny bags himself yet another Vectra, James stumbles over a famous Saab 900 and Tomkins is almost there with his Land Rover. APRIL ISSUE ON SALE FEB 15 Practical Classics magazine, ISSN 0957-6975, (USPS…

All you need to know about everything important A number of unique special events, planned to celebrate the Centenary of the of Le Mans 24 Hour race, have been revealed including a one-off exhibition, which will open its doors at the 24 Hours of Le Mans Museum on Thursday June 1. It will bring together over 60 legendary cars that have competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in one place for the first and last time. On Friday June 2, scrutineering gets underway at Place de la République in central Le Mans. It continues on Saturday, followed by an evening event that will include a ceremony in honour of the volunteers, track marshals and local authority agents who help make the 24 Hours of Le Mans possible, plus…

Nominate! Do you know someone aged 16-25 who is aspiring to work with classics? Spends their weekends with them, or is involved in a club? We want to hear from you: visit lancasterinsurance. co.uk/competitions/ bright-young-sparks to nominate. When did you first know that you were a petrolhead? 'I can’t really remember a time that I wasn’t! Both my parents are big into cars and I’ve been going to shows for as long as I can remember. It’s sort of been bred into me. Even as a kid in primary school it was always about cars… I’d spend every playtime running around pretending I was driving a car (almost always a Focus RS MkI for anyone curious).' Why do old cars inspire you? 'I love the simplicity. Compared to all the…

I bought it in 2003 for £600 from a mate in Bridlington which I paid in £100 weekly instalments. In the final week, I picked it up and I drove it home! My girlfriend reckoned I would kill myself in it because I had gone from a 1.3 Escort! Bodywork is original but I have rebuilt the engine so the heads are now polished and ported and it also has a Sportex exhaust. I use it all year round, but it has still only done 62,000 miles. I had a friend who is an electrician look at it, because it wasn’t running right. He fixed loads of bodges. It’s now running perfectly. It's got the original stereo, it’s pretty original actually… apart from the Knightrider lights in the grill… the…

It takes a particular type of person to tackle the restoration of an early TVR. With simple mechanical components borrowed mostly from mainstream models, a chassis that could be built using a Meccano set, and a body that will never rust; on paper at least, an early Grantura feels like the perfect project. But you only need look at the number of cars sold as partial restorations to realise that this pint-sized sports car can present some truly mammoth headaches. David Lester, the restorer of this 1960 Grantura MkI, is perhaps ideally suited to resurrecting one of these rare cars. His first house, after all, was little more than four walls and two collapsed chimneys before he brought it back from the brink in the early Seventies. Even then, the…

What’s your favourite car museum? Beaulieu? Brooklands? The British Motor Museum? The latter boasts the world’s largest collection of historic British cars (a baffling 400-plus) and advises the almost half a million visitors it welcomes each year to allocate at least three to four hours to tramp through what’s on display, but for me, a mega museum requires a strategy because without one I can get serious FOMO (fear of missing out) or worse, succumb to the monotony of looking at car, after car. Don’t get me wrong, it can be nice to just turn up and mooch, but without a plan I’ll flounder as soon as I’ve passed the ticket desk – where do I start? – and again at the gift shop – what have I missed? I’m…

Visitors to the British motor Museum, Gaydon, could be forgiven for walking straight past the small sign in the museum foyer. But the ‘Reading Room’, just left of the main entrance, is a window into more delicious secrets than any collection of cars could ever reveal. Available for all to access upon request, artefacts from the museum's vast archive can be brought into the reading room for the purpose of research, with much of the information in so many books on British marques having been gleaned by authors in this way. But what will interest PC readers the most is what lies through the next door and how it can help you and your classic. Beyond the reading room are the archivists’ offices. We’re greeted by Senior Certificates Officer, Richard…

COST NEW £41,504 VALUE NOW £22,000-£45,000 COST NEW £1214 VALUE NOW £800-£11,250 1965 Volvo 122S 'Amazon' Engine 1782cc/4-cyl/OHV Power and torque 96bhp@5600rpm, 106lbft@3500rpm Transmission Four-speed manual Suspension Front: independent, wishbones, coil springs, ARB. Rear: live axle, coil springs, radius arms Brakes Discs front, drums rear Top speed 92mph 0-60mph 14sec Fuel economy 28mpg 1991 Porsche 911 (964) Carrera 2 Engine 3600cc/6-cyl/OHC Power and torque 250bhp@6100rpm; 229lb ft@4800rpm Transmission Five-speed manual Suspension Front: independent, struts, coil springs, ARB. Rear: semi-trailing arms, coil springs, anti-roll bar Brakes Discs all round Top speed 162mph 0-60mph 5.7sec Fuel economy 20mpg We’ve all had dependable classics as well as those that let us down, regardless of reputation. But there are a few out there whose reputation for reliability and superior build is entirely justified. We…

Once on every corner, now seldom seen Golf GTI clones came thick and fast as the Seventies gave way to the thrusting Eighties. Drivers of Europe had a new drug and we’re not talking about that expensive talc. The hot hatch – almost as addictive as Colombia’s finest – had arrived. The Golf was a great all-rounder that never asked too much of its driver. Opel, and several contemporaries, decided to take a different and more exciting route. Before a horsepower arms race spoiled the hot hatch – gaining weight and losing that exploitability on any road – we were treated to some fantastic enthusiast machines. The original Astra (Opel Kadett D) was the perfect platform upon which to simmer 115bhp of hatch-endowed hotness. Sadly, fewer than 100 still sizzle…

Starting HANDLE Danny Hopkins pays tribute to a legend: Tom Karen Designer, Tom Karen, has passed away at the age of 96. From the Reliant Robin to Luke Skywalker’s Land Speeder (with its Bond Bug seats) via Ogle Design, Raleigh Chopper, Reliant, the Anadol, the Robin and Scimitar, his designs are branded into the psyche of any petrolhead. I first met Tom at The Practical Classics Classic Car and Restoration Show in 2018, where I interviewed him on stage. He was quietly spoken and serious, taking his time to process and formulate his responses, but the packed audience hung on his every word because every word had worth. He bemoaned the current obsession with multiple folds, tricky swage lines and over-complicated aggressive styling affectations. Tom asserted that the chaotic nature…

Dead as a Dodo DODO MAT DEADN DUO SPECIAL EDITION, £99.99 Perfect for adding refinement to your classic, this product offers two essential layers in one simple application, with the special edition version featuring an enhanced 2mm sound deadening layer. With soundproofing and insulation combined, DEADN Duo is perfect for floor and boot areas and will kill vibrations, block noise and insulate the panels. It’s heat resistant from -50°C to +150°C and fully water & oil resistant, so won’t hold moisture against your steelwork, and application is as straightforward as simply peeling and sticking onto the metalwork in one easy application. vehicleinsulation.co.uk Classic cool ALLY RADIATOR FOR MPI MINIS, £378 Mini Spares can now offer owners of classic Mini MPi models that had the radiator mounted at the front as…

Amy: The Volvo was a recent purchase and bought sight unseen. But it had only 85,000 miles and a good history. I use the car during the winter as I feel the cold and the heater is great, while Paul has it for summer as he has hay fever and takes advantage of the air-con and pollen filter! He can do classic rallies happily cocooned in the Volvo! We love being out and about in both cars though – even when the weather is hostile like it is today. Paul: I’ve had the Mercedes for nine years. I didn’t have a lot of money at the time, and it was a cheap car at £700. It has been such an enjoyable car to own – very likeable. They've become popular…

1965 Panhard Z4 BT I saw this beautifully-maintained Panhard parked up in Little Venice, West London recently. Tim Harker, London 1988 Mitsubishi Colt 1500 Seen at Fort Victoria, Isle of Wight. This very rare Colt is daily driver. Mel Holley, Thorney 1955 Land Rover SI I stumbled across the Landy in Menorca. It looks like a really good and recent resto. Peter Skinner, Lytham St Annes Mercedes-Benz 220SE Recently spotted by myself in Folkestone. The Mercedes-Benz 220 SE pillarless coupé looked absolutely fabulous. Mark Allen, Folkestone Toyota Camry I came across a circa 1985 Camry in very good order, spotted in Devonport, Tasmania. Peter Riggall, Tasmania SEND SPOTTED pics to danny.hopkins@bauermedia.co.uk. If published, you’ll win a copy of one of PC’s bookazines Triumph Dolomite 1500HL I recently spotted this immaculate…

Oh, to be young, a beady eyed optimist shaking the world by the stem, gliding through heady days full of whim and fancy. Good news nowadays shines like MIG welding in the darkness and it’s great to bring you some for a change. Studies are showing more and more younger people are joining the classic movement. Not only that, but they’re getting younger, according to FIVA, the Federation Internationale de Vehicules Anciennes, which represents the old vehicle movement in 75 countries. The average age of people attending events in countries including the UK is also falling, says FIVA. Social media has had a major impact, says FIVA and has been embraced by the organisation. President Tiddo Bresters states: ‘There is more reason for optimism than any time in the recent…

Ford Consul Classic 1500 Two genuine barn finds from a hoard in the West of Cumbria that was recently uncovered after the owner passed away. This 1962 Ford Classic 1500 was once green, now in very poor condition due to the salt air. If anyone has a serious interest in any of the vehicles, Ken Dover from Keswick can arrange contact with the family. £50 STAR FIND Can you do better! Send your high-res images to practical.classics@ bauermedia.co.uk James says ‘Yet another array of sleeping beauties. Having yanked more than a few barn finds away from the jaws of death, hopefully many of these cars will be rescued someday.' Wolseley 1500 A Wolseley 1500 in another shed; the buildings will be cleared eventually over the next twelve months or so.…

Design experts often point to landmark cars and reverently point out what makes them masterpieces of the automotive style statement. A Jaguar E-type with its streamlined shape. A Daytona for making front-engined Ferraris muscularly desirable again. A Citroën SM for being a futuristic GT without denying its DS ancestry. A Lamborghini Miura for its exotic supercarness. So entrenched are such cars as markers of magnificent design that they have become highly expensive. It’s what happens when well-heeled folk with an eye for ‘good design’ keep demand ahead of supply. But it doesn’t have to be like this. We’ve found six cars that each make a big enough style statement to merit a place in any treatise on car design – and ensure you’re never short of conversation at a car…

Like us, you’re likely wondering where the near two decades have gone since this little scamp of a hot hatch was first released – this fast Fiesta arrived way back in 2005. The ST came with plenty of what had previously been big Ford kit as standard – ABS, passenger airbags and a 2.0-litre engine, to name but a few. That Duratec motor gifted 150bhp to a diminutive, nimble and hugely engaging chassis. Basically, it was the best Fiesta to drive yet. None of that has changed, but what is beginning to is the appreciation levelled at this millennial fast Ford. Like all Fiestas, the ST was mainly bought by younger drivers, often as their first ‘fast’ car. That means many were thrashed and crashed leaving a smaller pool of enthusiast…