Table of contents for October 2024 in Practical Classics

What’s the best thing about the hobby? There are as many answers as there are owners. But recently, I have been drawn towards one aspect of what we do, the thing that bonds us – our camaraderie. The love we have for our older cars, the passion we enjoy, levels us all. It goes way further than the tin. Prince or pauper, restorer or explorer, black or white, Christian, Muslim, Atheist… it matters not a jot. When it comes to our cars there’s unity and togetherness and a shared identity. We are car people and it is instinctive and automatic. It needs no explanation. It has often been said that this mag is the embodiment of that ethos. Under my watch, that'll never change. In these troubled times it’s more…

Practical Classics has welcomed and engaged the affordable old car community for 44 years, its hallmarks being inclusivity, friendly unpretentiousness and technical help. But, that said, our interests and experiences are diverse, with often less in common than might be assumed. And what many of us are very definitely not is participants in a ‘movement’, because that implies some sort of campaign and we’re not even all focused on the same things. Some enjoy restoration more than the result, while others will commission professionals to achieve what they want from their car, and that’s all good. Some will sweat their assets while others stick to local outings. Some see part of their old car involvement as a potential investment opportunity but they should take care, because not everyone realises that…

The first ‘Fiats and Friends’ show was held Gaydon – and included a host of other Italian makes. Workshop day with the Cotswold Roadsters club, where I learnt a few tricks for my next project… The annual Citroën Car Club Festival saw eager competitors racing to dismantle and rebuild 2CVs. Gutted to miss SaabFest after the exhaust on my Smart decided to make a bid for freedom. We said farewell to our friend Theo, whose 1950 Lanchester LD10 also attended his funeral.…

Resto hero In the family from just a year old, this 1978 Cortina 1.6 GL was restored by owner Stephen Ransome, who learned to drive in it. He restored the car over a period of 24 years, during which time it was stolen, caught fire, was broken into and later tried to kill him. What a car! What a story! Low mile miracle Lewis Dickson’s 4000-mile Citroën Visa special edition Champagne, a car that had been stored outside near his workplace for years before he managed to buy it, was the astonishing low mile survivor of the event. The longest distance award! The Retro Repmobile Award was given to Luca Alpert and his Nissan Primera. Luca is 21, drives the Primera saloon daily and piloted it all the way from…

TV star Tim Shaw, who hosts National Geographic’s Car SOS alongside friend of PC Fuzz Townshend, has donated his cherished BMW E36 M3 convertible to DEBRA UK, the national Butterfly Skin Charity, which provides care and support for people living with the rare skin disease epidermolysis bullosa. The beautifully restored BMW E36 M3 Evo Convertible will be sold via a £5-per-ticket raffle, which runs until midnight on 31 August 2024. DEBRA UK said in a statement: ‘We are committed to making sure that the estimated 5000-plus people living with EB in the UK and their families and carers get the vital and wide-ranging support they need, and Tim’s donation is astonishing.’ Tickets are on sale at: https://tinyurl.com/ycka47ww.…

This year marks 50 years since Mitsubishi arrived in the UK, and although the brand left these shores in 2020, there are still plenty of its cars here. A club is being set up to cater for them, led by Stephen Blackburn, son of the founder of Colt/MitsubishiMotors in the UK, David Blackburn. Says Stephen: ‘The Colt Car Club will launch at the NEC in November, and it will cater for all Colts and Mitsubishis over 25 years-old. To kick things off, there will be a 100-mile tour of the Cotswolds taking place on September 21.’  mitsubishi-motors50tour.co.uk…

Across 1 They succeeded the Nissan Bluebird (8) 7 Investigations into Nineties Ford coupés? (6) 9 The six-cylinder Vauxhall model that was released in 1968 (7) 10 Marcos co-founder who put his name to the unsuccessful Amigo sports car (6) 11 AC 428 designer (4) 12 Engine type found in the Ford Popular (4-5) 15 Surname of the Morris Minor’s designer (9) 18 A measure of wheel and tyre size (4) 20 An everyday fuel injection rail? (6) 22 Hot version of the Lancia Delta (2,5) 23 A V12 Lamborghini unleashed in 1968 with 325bhp on tap (6) 24 _ Turbo, the car that evolved into the Bentley Turbo R (8) Down 2 _ 213, close relative of the Honda Ballade (5) 3 These Opel models borrowed their name from…

‘I was one of the lucky ones’, says Clive Aston. He’s speaking of the stroke that he suffered mid-way through the restoration of his prized Lancia Fulvia. ‘We were on holiday, but my wife, Vicki, recognised the symptoms straight away and got me to a hospital, where there was a specialist team waiting. After some downtime, I’m fully recovered, have finished the car and am enjoying my second chance’ It’s a reminder that, much like the Lancia’s mechanicals, humans are fragile. The car that stands before us is testament not only to Clive’s determination and skill, but also to Vicki’s eternal support. It was Vicki who bought the car for Clive as a retirement gift. She chose the colour, too – and found the painter to apply it. But it wasn’t…

Parson Drove is a place not in the consciousness of everyone. Getting to this Cambridgeshire village may see you leaving the main A47 and, heading along roads called Black Drove and Long Drove, having your first real taste of being surrounded by the flat Fenland landscape. Fascinating and atmospheric it’s famous for big skies, beautiful sunsets and no big hills. Arriving at Parson Drove finds you in a thriving and picturesque place with historic buildings including The Swan Inn, dating back to 1541, and The Cage, built in 1829 to lock up criminals, thankfully now a visitor centre. Amenities range from a doctor’s surgery to a Costcutter shop. Most importantly the list of community events, activities and achievements is amazing for a village of some 500 homes, not least transforming…

Manor Park Classics lined up 127 cars for its 20 July sale and sold a middling 67 per cent of them. A few results stood out. Even though an MG Metro made a strong £7820, that has to be weighed against the £10k recently spent on it. Projects supplied the main talking point, with their contrasting fortunes. The 1963 E-type 3.8 roadster, fresh out of 50 years dry storage, would have been keenly fought over five years ago. There was a lot to do, with changes to rectify, but guides show £45k for a rough example, so the £20,000 paid suggests they may need revising. Almost the same money – £19,550 – was paid for an incomplete 1974 Escort Mexico. It had been confirmed as the real thing by the AVO Owners…

Most cars are rubbish for the weekly ‘big shop’ and you can’t put chickens in them. Also, the seats don’t turn into a bed and they're hopeless at speed humps. Not so, with a Kangoo. Rod Hall’s mum Sylvia got hers a few decades ago and after doing 36,000-miles, she has hung up her driving gloves. Sylvia thought I might like the car, which I do (it’s almost a Berlingo). It has a very fancy electric canvas roof, so I’ll have to be careful those chickens don’t escape. ASKING PRICE £1000 PAID £1000 VERDICT Can James justify a Berlingo and a Kangoo on the fleet?…

As a transitional model range that sat below Peugeot’s near indestructible 504, and its more sporting and fragile Nineties offerings, the mid-size 305 proved a tough sell in the UK – despite winning What Car? Car of the Year upon launch in 1977. The 305 left production in 1988 – the estate surviving until 1989 and the van until 1990. There was a strong BMW lean to its profile, which came courtesy of Pininfarina, but its running gear was as innovative as ever. The 305 Estate was famously the first PSA product (in 1980) to use the group’s compact, horizontal rear suspension, which would eventually go on to see service in the 205 (with coil springs swapped for torsion bars). Innovative and attractive without doubt, but now sadly all but…

Having too many cars is stressful. I’ve owned numerous Citroën CXs, a couple of DSs, various Saabs and anything else from Maxi to Ambassador but these days, I’m happily settled with just a couple of old motors. My previously bodged Saab is a troublesome beast, but I’m enjoying the others to the full. While both 20-year-olds – the Berlingo and Smart – are relatively modern, the 2CV has been the go-to car. It’s 40 years old next year (albeit a 75-year-old design) and yet it does ‘car’ so very brilliantly. It’ll transport me to the shops, slotting into small spots in the high street and yet I can travel long distances, foot-to-the-floor at 75, in surprising comfort. Perhaps its greatest appeal is low running costs. I serviced it in the drive…

Accuspark P8000 £39.95 accuspark.co.uk With its adjustable advance function, this timing lamp takes the guesswork out of timing and has been a mainstay of the PC workshop for some time. With its simple to use dial, the required advance can be simply set so the timing can be adjusted so that the pulley mark lines up with the TDC mark. Supplied with crocodile clips for power and a pro induction clamp to detect spark via the HT lead, it’s an incredibly handy tool to have at a modest price.…

The 10th Anniversary Hagerty Festival of the Unexceptional was held at Grimsthorpe Castle on Saturday July 28, with a record attendance of over 2000 cars and more than 4000 guests enjoying the Lincolnshire sunshine. The much coveted Concours de l’Ordinaire was won by Mitch Lewis and his immaculate 1982 Toyota Hilux. The once ubiquitous pick up is an almost unbelievable 20,000-mile from new survivor which worked on a fruit farm. Absolutely immaculate, requiring only cleaning, its only blemishes are scratches from strawberry punnets. There cannot be another on the planet like it, particularly in diesel form. Second place was awarded to Amy Jaine and her 1998 Renault Clio. The Clio was originally owned by her grandmother, bought to learn to drive in in her 50s so she could take her…

There are just days to go before voting ends in our endeavour to find Britain’s favourite T classic. Nominations are open to vehicles of all types and eras in this mammoth undertaking to decide the nation’s best-loved cars. The Morris Minor triumphed in our original contest in 2004 – and did so again the last time we asked you to name your favourite classic, almost ten years ago. Our exclusive survey will determine whether the Moggie retains its crown in 2024, with the most popular choices gathered for a special photoshoot and the full results published in the December 2024 issue of PC. The first Top 100 vote took place 20 years ago, resulting in a huge photoshoot on a showery day in April 2004 at the former Rockingham Motor…

Playing field trust’s silver jubilee marked by car event The Brodie Lodge Playing Field in Flore, Northants, celebrated the 25th anniversary of its charitable trust with an event on July 21, featuring a display of 90 classics. The event was opened by Mr John Brodie McMillan, grandson of the field’s original benefactor. Drive’n’Dine 4 Cancer sees successful second year The Cambridgeshire-based Drive’n’Dine for Cancer saw a turnout of over 500 classics ranging from a Ford Gran Torino to a Daihatsu Charade. The event again raised over £5,000 for MacMillan Cancer Care. Berkshire event nets £10k for local causes The seventh annual Pangbourne Classic Car show was the biggest of its type to date, with more than 370 vehicles on display in the Berkshire town, raising over £10,000 for local charities…

If you're based anywhere near Hertfordshire and you have August 31 free in your diary, we'd suggest that you get along to the annual Redbourn Classics charity fundraiser to spend some time with fellow classic car enthusiasts. There’s space for 340 classics, and last year the event raised a whopping £19,500 for numerous local charities. Since the inaugural show took place back in 2017, more than £90,000 has been raised in all. Run entirely by kind-hearted volunteers (more than 125 of them in fact), Redbourn Classics is open to cars that are at least 25 years-old. If you're too late to bag an entry ticket because they've all sold out, you can always go along as a spectator; full details of the day are available online at redbournclassics.co.uk.…

‘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 NEVER MISS AN ISSUE WHEN YOU SUBSCRIBE BENEFITS OF SUBSCRIBING ▸ Save 23%* 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 tales from the PC workshop ▸ Classic adventures, nostalgia, and exclusive offers ▸ FREE digital access to past issues and rewards via the Practical Classics app + FREE Keycare SmartFob Bluetooth key tracker worth £36.** GET 6 MONTHS FOR JUST £30* FREE DIGITAL ACCESS…

At last – the time has arrived! After what seemed a long time in the planning (because it was), the first foray of the TSSC (Triumph Sports Six Club) Devon branch across the Channel is go! The invasion squad is made up of several Stags, a couple of Vitesses, a Dolomite Sprint (in Mimosa of course), a TR6, a Spitfire, a 2.5PI and a Bond Equipe accompanied by a locally built XJ6-based special. We rumble onto Plymouth’s Millbay dockside and are greeted by a cool salty breeze coming in off Plymouth Sound. There before us is our accommodation for the night, Brittany Ferries’ Armorique, towering above, twinkling invitingly in the dusk. Time for a classic adventure. Tuesday The group reconvenes shortly after disembarking in Roscoff. No one is left behind…

Why you want one Just as the Traction Avant had done in 1934 and the DS in 1955, the Citroën CX moved car design several steps forward when it was launched 50 years ago. From the fastback profile, futuristic controls and advanced chassis, it represents a time when Citroën was investing unfeasibly large amounts of money into its designs (before going bust in 1975). But what is the CX like to buy today? If you’re lucky enough to be viewing a very early one, it’ll have a 2-litre or 2.2-litre engine reconfigured from the DS (the CX was meant to get a compact tri-rotor unit developed with NSU before the cash ran out). A bigger version of that lump came soon after, while an an all-aluminium alloy unit (known as…

Driving any first-generation Elise feels as close to a one-to-one machine-human ballet as it’s possible to get, though that doesn’t mean all these remarkable sports cars were created equal. Lotus being Lotus, it couldn’t help striving to make lighter and more powerful versions. The base car wasn’t deemed light or fast enough for its creators, which is why several slimmer, souped-up models were concocted. Aside from the bonkers and bare 340R, the most extreme first-generation Elise was the Sport 190. Don’t let its near standard exterior fool you though, the Sport 190 was so wildly different to a stock Elise that it was barely road legal. The car wasn’t taken through the expensive Type Approval process, which meant it was technically a conversion, carried out after the car was purchased, by…

As you'll have read in the July issue of PC, some may struggle to break the association between the Saxo and thumping bass speakers, garish custom paint jobs and all the associated cringe that came with custom car culture in the late Nineties/early Noughties. We have forgiven this little Citroën for the sins of its youth. Naturally, in the best tradition of feisty front-wheel drive Frenchies, the Saxo feels as if it’s been constructed from rolled out Pringle tins. That ‘tinny’ feeling, as result of its featherweight construction, also hasn’t helped its longevity, with corrosion having claimed thousands of UK examples. With nearly all the Max Power wannabe Saxos crushed and with even the average stock survivors an MOT or two away from being condemned, enthusiasts are beginning to take…

RICH’S JOB CARD LUSCIOUS LEATHER Today, I’m working on the interior of a beautiful Bentley Azure. The Cotswold Cream leather has a number of issues so we can see how the cleaning, maintenance, touch-ins and deeper repairs are undertaken. The interior is in generally good condition and just in need of a clean – some parts only light, others a little more intense. How tough? You’ll need ▸ Protective gloves ▸ Leather cleaner ▸ Leather cleaning brush ▸ Cotton cloths ▸ Leather protector/conditioner ▸ All-in-one leather colourant ▸ Sponges ▸ Respiratory protection ▸ Protective glasses ▸ Surface prep solution ▸ Specialist repair tools ▸ Leather filler ▸ Sanding materials ▸ Masking tape/film ▸ Spray equipment ▸ Matched leather colour or a colour-mixing kit ▸ Leather top coat ▸ Cross-linker Specialists…

The North East Restoration Club, established in the early Seventies by a group of car enthusiasts, is safe after the building it occupies was given a clean bill of health. The Classic Car Loan Project (CCLP), which LENDS enthusiasts a classic for a year, reached the 100 driver mark when Nic Ross Hamilton received a 1955 Sunbeam. The Bulldog is heading to Pebble Beach, the world’s most prestigious car concours. After a 7000-hour resto and a 200mph speed goal, it’s going to its owner in the US. The Classic Collective workshop in Bicester hosted its inaugural breakfast gathering. Over 120 cars met, with the venue providing the mandatory coffee and bacon rolls. Beaulieu’s Monorail celebrated its 50th anniversary with a return visit from the Wombles on Wednesday July 31, for…

A Southport-based event has set out to raise funds for those affected by the violence in the resort in early August. Event organiser Aintree Circuit Club will use the Southport Classic and Speed event on September 15, in the town’s Victoria Park, to support the families and communities affected by both the appalling stabbings (July 29) and the senseless riot the following day. Practical Classics and sister publication Classic Car Weekly are encouraging our readers to enter their classics into the not-for-profit event. Club chairman, Mike Ashcroft, said: ‘The club has a very long association with Southport that goes beyond running this event, with one of our founder members being from the resort, and we have a big motoring community here in the north west. ‘We were all appalled by the events in…

Hagerty held its first Festival of the Unexceptional in 2014 as a celebration of long-forgotten everyday family cars. With each subsequent event, it has evolved and grown as its reputation spread around the world. The 2024 ten-year anniversary event was the biggest and best yet, with thousands of cars lining the entire front lawns of Grimsthorpe Castle, in addition to the 50 exceptional unexceptional cars taking part in the concours. The public display had an eclectic mix ranging from a perfectly unexceptional Vauxhall Belmont to a Daewo Matiz with the small number of aspirational classics that slipped through the net being studiously ignored by show goers.…

Smoke without fire DIAGNOSTIC SMOKE LEAK DETECTOR KIT £381 Ideal for tracing those elusive leaks in various closed systems, from inlet manifold pipe work, plenum tubes, turbo pipes, intercoolers, exhaust systems, EVAP systems, engine breather pipes, even door seals and more, this smoker is a valuable diagnostic tool. The kit comes with expandable bungs and rubber cones for convenient sealing and is designed to be powered by 12V car battery. Part no: 8831. lasertools.co.uk DIY? To learn how to make and use a smoker yourself, turn back to the April 2023 issue of PC. Mind the flap MG MUDFLAPS £17.95 MGOC Spares has just announced the introduction of these smart-looking universal mudflaps suitable for use on classic MGs. Designed to protect your paintwork from stone chips, salt and road grime,…

Don't look now, but the end of the outdoor season is hoving into view. That means nothing to the team at Beaulieu though, which still has a stack of top events still to come, not least of all the brilliant International Autojumble on September 14-15, Europe’s biggest and best autojumble. The Beaulieu International Autojumble has been going for more than half a century, and in that time, it has evolved enormously, to the point where it’s now effectively an entire classic car event alongside the three huge fields of traders' stalls. As well as the Bonhams auction you can expect plenty of cars for sale in the Automart as you enter the venue through the main entrance, while there will be more cars for sale in the Dealer Mart area. On the…

My Chevrolet Camaro is nicknamed ‘The Nightmaro’ – it’s a spin on the ‘NMA’ registration plate, but the car is genuinely an absolute nightmare – it’s noisy, angry and continues to be a total pain to work on. The car has fought me at every turn, but… I have to say, it’s been worth it. I love everything about it, from the way it looks to the way it drives. The neighbours are thankfully very understanding, as it’s very, very loud. You can hear it for miles around whenever it emerges from my little residential garage, which is where I did most of the work. Pulling the car from barn storage five years ago, it was the original silver with the orange ‘Hot Wheels’-style decals down the side. First job…

Have you ever given a second thought to how the fixings which hold your classic together are made? When PC visited Special Bolts Ltd in Coventry, it was like stepping back in time. From the taste of machine oil hanging in the air to the clank of century-old machines hot forging heads or rolling threads on bolts. But that doesn’t do the place credit. Each of the 65 machines operating across four industrial units fulfils a niche, from the 1930 hot forging machine to the very latest in fully automated sliding head CNC technology, feeding fixings out at an astonishingly efficient rate. By hot forging and CNC turning in a wide variety of steels and grades, SB can produce over 8000 pieces a day on a single shift in a…

1958 MG Magnette ZB Varitone Engine 1489cc/5-cyl/OHV Power 68bhp@5400rpm Torque 83lb ft@3000rpm Transmission Four-speed manual, rear-wheel drive Steering Unassisted rack and pinion Suspension Front: independent, coil sprung with double wishbones and locating arms, telescopic Girling hydraulic dampers. Rear: live axle with half-elliptic leaf springs, telescopic hydraulic dampers (angled) Brakes Drums all round 0-60mph 18.5sec Top speed 86mph Economy 31mpg Weight 1123kg 2002 Lexus IS300 Engine 2997cc/6-cyl/OHC Power 215bhp@5800rpm Torque 218lb ft@3800rpm Transmission 5/6-speed manual or switchable-mode four/five-speed auto, rear-wheel drive Steering Power assisted, speed-sensitive rack & pinion Suspension Front: independent double wishbones with high-level anti-dive control arms, coil springs and anti-roll bar. Rear: independent, double wishbones and coil springs and anti-roll bar Brakes Servo-assisted discs (vented front, solid rear), ABS 0-60mph 7.1sec Top speed 143mph Economy 35mpg Weight 1490kg 1970…

1995 FORD PROBE 24V V6 Simon Owen, South Wales One of his five Fords, Simon’s Probe is the more desirable 24-valve variant. 2001 AUDI A2 1.4 SE Andy Plumb, Herefordshire Andy’s £1000 A2 offers daily service. He’s done 18,000 trouble-free miles so far. 2002 ALFA ROMEO GTV CUP Howard Cottrell, Staffordshire ‘Isabella’ is number 86 of 155 UK right-hand drive GTV Cups. 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.’ INSURANCE SPECIALISTS AT YOUR SERVICE…

Why you want one Well, this is new! It’s the very first time we’ve ever published a buying guide for a car that’s still in production. I’m sure you’ll understand though, as the vehicle in question was on sale as a Lotus from 1957 to 1973 and has been available with a Caterham badge on its nose ever since. The Seven remains the benchmark lightweight sports car experience with a huge number of variants to choose from. Early cars are essentially a repackaged Series 3 Lotus Seven. The entire range retained this chassis until the expanded and more spacious SV (Special Vehicle) chassis arrived in 2000. (Both versions are still available today). What’s clear is that you don’t need the most powerful or expensive to give yourself the biggest thrill…

THE PC JOB CARD WOOD TRIM REFURB Today we’ll show you how to revive your classic’s varnished wooden trims, from door cappings to dashboard, and make your interior a nicer place to be in just a weekend. We’ll start by carefully removing the wooden parts before attempting to revive varnish that lacks lustre. Then, we’ll demonstrate how to make repairs and re-varnish the woodwork to give an as-new finish. How tough? You’ll need ▸ Quality paint brush ▸ Waterproof PVA glue ▸ P240 and P1200 wet-and-dry ▸ 0000-grade wire wool ▸ Scraper ▸ Paint stripper ▸ Scrap boards ▸ G-clamps ▸ Varnish or two-part lacquer ▸ Appropriate PPE Specialists ▸ Vale Veneers, 01566 781870, woodveneeruk.co.uk ▸ Select Veneers, 01438 750880, selectveneers.co.uk Will take (HRS) 15 Will cost (£) FROM 20…

PAY LESS AND NEVER MISS A COPY! See p58 ROADSTER RUCKUS It’s a Nineties scrap, as Mazda’s MX-5 goes head-to-head with the BMW Z3 Fiat X1/9 resto We meet the father and son who revived an Italian hero Sunbeam stunner The ultimate guide to buying Sunbeam’s alluring Alpine Audi A8 at 30 Wales to John O’Groats by V8 to reunite with an old friend PLUS We meet the man who wanted a Metro 6R4 so much, he built his own Toyota-powered version. We also have Land Rover, Morris Minor and Peugeot 205 PC workshop action, plus tips on refurbishing calipers and deep cleaning carpets. There’s an in-depth guide to the Rover 800, and much more… NOVEMBER ISSUE ON SALE SEP 25 Practical Classics (ISSN 0957697, PE 9080) is published monthly…