Table of contents for November 2025 in Practical Classics

Time is a funny old Hector isn’t it. For a start it seems to go faster the older you get. I find it extremely annoying for the simple reason that as it speeds up, my body feels like it is slowing down. I sometimes feel like an Austin Seven that has turned onto the M1 by mistake. There are other aspects to the ticking of the clock that are slightly less troublesome, and that’s where the theme of this issue is so compelling. As I look at a Ford Granda Scorpio or a Toyota MR2 and I can’t believe they were launched 40 years ago. And that’s a happy thing. That’s because as 40-year-olds, these excellent older cars will be crawling out of the ‘old car’ swamp onto the higher…

An extended period of A lobbying by the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs (FBHVC) culminated in the Call for Evidence, which received more than 1350 responses from classic car owners. The new Registration Policy Update from the DVLA signals a clear change to a more sympathetic and pragmatic approach to the registration difficulties sometimes faced with older vehicles. The changes include updated policies to modernise the process for notifying DVLA when a vehicle has been repaired, restored and modified. Like-for-like repairs and restorations will no longer need to be reported to DVLA, and more modified vehicles will be able to retain their original identities, but the registered keeper must notify DVLA of the changes. These could include cutting into the chassis monocoque or frame, changing the vehicle’s appearance or dimensions from the…

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For those of us of a certain age, a 1985 car doesn't seem old at all. We remember when they were new, the smells and textures of newness, the gleaming, unsullied perfection. Now, though, they have hit the 40-year watershed that means you don't have to pay the government in order to legally drive them on the road. They are becoming the latest tax and MOT-exempt classics. These are cars with fuel injection, ECUs, maybe even anti-lock brakes. Time rushes on, but all these cars could still be daily drivers if you wanted them to be. And, in the case of one of them, if you had your own oil refinery. The year itself? Live Aid, Britain’s first mobile telephone call, registration of the first internet domain name, the Brixton…

At the Silverstone Festival sale on August 24, Iconic Auctioneers took a startling £175,500 for a 2006 Range Rover Vogue SE with 120,000 miles on the clock. The first few thousand of those were acquired while this supercharged L322 was in use by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, when it was based at Windsor Castle between 2006 and 2008. Her late Majesty was often snapped with the car, and this provenance proved enough – even with 17 years of non-Royal ownership in between – to send the bidding crazy. The market for the L322 generation has taken off, in part due to endorsements from celebrity petrolhead farmers Harry Metcalfe and Jeremy Clarkson, with a particular fetish displayed for green petrol-engined V8s. Happily, you can still find them (without Royal history) for sensible…

Why you want one It’s often the most ordinary cars that give rise to the most exciting ad campaigns. Who can forget the Peugeot 405 driving through a burning cornfield to the soundtrack of Berlin’s Take Your Breath Away, for example? For the Austin Montego, there was no synth-pop, but there was stunt driver Russ Swift, overtaking the Montego’s key rivals on two wheels in his mighty metallic blue 1.6L, the key message being that the Austin was quicker off the mark than its repmobile rivals, the Vauxhall Cavalier and the Ford Sierra. While some might say this was clutching at straws, it did position the Montego as far away as possible from the humdrum Morris Ital that it indirectly replaced, for here was a car that was designed for…

Big Renaults are often delightfully bonkers. Each successive generation from the Dieppe maker seemed to throw out (or wilfully ignore) the rule book. From the 21 Turbo to the Avantime and from the Safrane to the Vel Satis, all offer something unique enough to put Citroen’s famously unconventional range to shame. The Vel Satis – a portmanteau of velocity and satisfaction in case you were wondering – was probably the most bonkers of the lot. However, in hindsight, the idea of a large executive hatchback/saloon crossover was seemingly too far ahead of its time. Renault predicted 50,000 sales in the first year, although the Vel Satis only managed around 62k by the end of its eight-year production. A white elephant or a trend setter, you decide……

Mike Kan is a PC subscriber of many years and has owned a 25,000-mile from new Peugeot 304 saloon since 2007. It was bought new by the previous owner’s father in 1974 and is extremely rare, like ‘it will be the-only-one-on-the-road’ rare. It had been in a lockup unused since 2018 as Mike focused on other projects, but with his imminent retirement to France looming, he realised it needed to go. He called me and with the words: ‘I would be happy to donate it as a resto project if that means it survives,’ I made a commitment to visit. It is a rare colour combination of midnight blue with light blue interior, with ultra rare headrests – there are only a couple of cars with this spec left in…

The words I am about to write are some I never thought would flow from my fingers. I have come to rather like my SUV. There, I said it. Since its purchase, my £600 BMW X3 (Bangernomics, PC, August 2025), has proved itself to be an incredibly useful tool. Having replaced the failed prop shaft and clutch flexi, it was on the road within a week of purchase and has since covered hundreds of miles, seldom unladen, as tow car, removals van, engine carrier and even salubrious accommodation. I love the high-up driving position, while ISOFIX points in the back and ice-cold air conditioning mean that it’s become a firm family favourite. There has been an issue, however, that I raised in my initial driving impressions, and which needed to…

PAY LESS AND NEVER MISS A COPY! See p54. FIRST CLASSIC We pick the motors that would make the perfect starter classic Cortina MkII guide How to source and snap up a second-gen Cortina Vespa resto Meeting the man who revived this rarity in his shed Reliant at 90 We go back to the factory in a host of classic Reliants PLUS We meet the man who has converted his Triumph Dolomite to run on electric and there’s a feast of classic Alfa Romeos including 164, 147, 156 and 166. We visit the man who’s mad about his Ford Fiesta, take a look at a bunch of Eighties coupés – from Ford Capri to Opel Manta – and get busy at the workshop with lead loading and solving squeaks, plus…

The International Autojumble at Beaulieu was a huge success this year with over 22,500 attending. With more than 1000 stands all doing brisk business there was a buzz around the fields not seen for many years. This year featured the start-up of the first of two restored engines on the legendary land speed record car, the Sunbeam 1000HP. The massive 22.5-litre Matabele V12 aero engine, which once produced 435bhp to break the 200mph barrier and make Sir Henry Segrave the fastest man on earth in 1927, fired up in public for the very first time in 90 years on show Sunday (September 7). It ran for five minutes, followed by cheers and applause from hundreds of showgoers, with Ian, Doug and the engineering team declaring the run a success. National…

What inspired you to become interested in older cars? ‘I remember going to car shows with my dad when I was younger. He was in the motor trade for most of his life so was able to teach me a lot about the cars on display by pointing out quirky features and explained to me about parts in the engine bay, including how they worked. This helped me appreciate the effort the owners put in to get their cars to that state and was eager to one day have the same experience. I got it with my V40 – even better I got it as a father/son project.’ When did you get your Volvo? ‘I got the car on my 16th birthday, so September 14, 2021. I grew up in…

How did this start? ‘The first Commer I bought was a Dodge Spacevan – a 1979 TV licence detector vehicle, which was featured in the September 2025 issue of PC. I got into them because my dad worked for the Post Office and I remember them from my childhood, and recall him driving them as well. I also worked for the GPO for four years as well.’ It got quite serious didn’t it? ‘Shortly after I bought the detector van, I saw two ex-Royal Mail vans for sale down in Hastings, so I went down to Sussex and bought those, too – the vendor would only sell them as a pair. It became an obsession. Every time I saw one for sale, I couldn’t resist it, and I ended up…

‘I’ve restored it to the exact condition it was in in August 1980’ Cherished classics are more than metal, they go right to the heart of our emotional existence. They are our companions, the conduit through which our daily routine flows and sometimes they become a constituent part of who we are. This might be a humble Cortina, but to Stephen Ransome it is everything, a car that is woven tightly into the story of his life and his family story. That’s why he spent 24 years restoring it. ‘I first saw on August 8, 1979 at a British Leyland dealer, Belle View Services, in Newport,’ Stephen recalls, ‘I had memorised all the specification levels from the brochures, so I could tell my dad that it was a GL without…

Home to what remains of the world’s first purpose-built racing circuit, Brooklands Museum stands as a testament to British engineering ingenuity and the pioneering spirit that shaped motorsport and aviation as we know it today. From the banked concrete oval that birthed British motorsport in 1907 to the supersonic Concorde that represented the pinnacle of aviation engineering, a trip to Brooklands feels more like a pilgrimage than a day trip. PC popped recently in as part of our F1 at 75 feature, Brooklands having hosted the first British Grand Prix some 99 years ago on August 7, 1926, and were treated to the sound of the 1933 Napier-Railton, crown jewel of the museum’s motoring collection, echoing from banking to Aircraft Factory hangar. At the wheel, Georgina Wood practicing for her…

The great thing about a Montego is that while it’s a car that will stir nostalgia among so many, it remains eminently usable – you can use it as your daily driver when the roads aren’t salted, and it’s perfectly suited to nipping to the shops or running day-to-day errands. Richard Gelder has spent his life surrounded by Montegos and Maestros, and he’s entirely happy with that. ‘Maestros and Montegos were my everyday transport for over a decade at the start of my driving career, and Montegos took me up and down the country in comfort. They were fulfilling their design brief a good 30 years after they first hit the motorway’. Richard loves the styling of the Montego, as well as the all-round versatility of the model range. ‘I’ve…

To many, Jaguar is a maker of premium saloons with sporting natures, but to some, it’s also a maker of world class sports cars with saloon-like manners. The latter, more mature approach won the famous Coventry maker many fans, but for go-faster aficionados of the mid-Nineties, there was an even more palpable air of excitement. The last of the then ancient XJSs had gone off sale earlier in 1996 and its XK8 successor was eagerly anticipated that same year. There hadn’t been a truly fast Jaguar for the masses since the E-type and to call the XJS in any derivation a sports car was pushing things a bit – much as we love them. Even the XK8 wasn’t really a spiritual successor to the aforementioned E-type, but it was as close…

The TVR Griffith of the Nineties was a glorious return to retro, Blackpool-built brutality. A tiny car with sexy lines and a massive V8 engine was hardly inventive, but this Cobra for the Brit-Pop era (if you will) was nevertheless a smash hit. According to TVR’s own history, the launch of the Griffith at the 1990 Birmingham Motor Show led to a pre-order every eight minutes. We can easily believe it too, and it arguably represents the pinnacle of the Peter Wheeler era. Its delightfully analogue and basic nature and mechanicals also make it a TVR that represents the best of the breed. The market seems to agree too, with a great Griff setting you back around £18k, but is there still room for prices to grow? We’d say so,…

Having saved a few Roadsters and CityCoupés (later known as ForTwo), I had yet to find an example of the original Smart to declare as my keeper. The last CityCoupé I owned had a low mileage, but the retina-destroying red interior annoyed me. I could have swapped it out, as it’s so easy to do with a Smart, but that would have taken away its originality. It also had the original 1998-2002 599cc engine – a unit that has a habit of going pop if neglected. A facelift in 2002 saw the original almond-shaped headlamps replaced by lights shaped more like peanuts and a year later, the car was upgraded further with the Roadster’s more robust 698cc engine as well as a harder-wearing interior in black and grey. I’d been…

If you are me, or my son for that matter, there is always a ‘next project’. Most of these projects join the fleet once completed. Some are sold on to others, like my Austin A40. Bought to save it from the banger track, I used it as a student resource when teaching for a while before sending it on its way, It’s still on the road. YYJ 336, hello to you, wherever you are! Some cars, however, are much more than just cars. They mean something and you build a rapport with them. They are a source of memories and are a reassuring presence in your life. Sometimes… you make a mistake and sell. I’d like to introduce RGT 138L. It’s a 1973 Austin 1300, first bought by me in…

My MGB roadster has numerous chips and scratches all around the rear and sides of the cockpit, as well as where the wipers and washer jets came through the body. I don’t think they have been removed for a past respray, and looked a mess. How can I improve these areas without respraying the car? Bob Suter, Gloucestershire EXPLAINER Our reader’s steps to success The issue If you start to take things apart you will find the jobs you wish you hadn’t. Bob’s quest had led to the chrome wiper caps and washer jets coming off, the roof being removed, and pulling most of the interior out for restoration (and dash access) – but the further he pushed, he was finding more and more isolated patches of missing paint and…

The inaugural John Haynes Classic Motor Show took place on Sunday September 7, marking 40 years since John Haynes OBE founded Haynes Motor Museum in July 1985. The event spread across five outdoor zones surrounding the museum and featured a full programme of displays, demonstrations, talks and interactive activities. The live stage was buzzing as Edd China, Ralph Hosier and PC editor Danny Hopkins set the classic car world to rights and, of course, the cars were the stars. At the heart of the show was the Haynes Manual Display, showcasing a selection of vehicles that have each been immortalised in a corresponding world-famous Haynes Workshop Manual. The car of the show was a stunning Volvo Amazon Estate restored by Gary Byrne and the PC Car of the Show was a wonderful, roller…

A not-for-profit Volkswagen Club is raising thousands of pounds for charity with a track-tuned Golf MkI, developed by its motorsport division with the specific aim of raising money for charities. The Classic VW Owners Club (CVWOC) was established in 2019 and has more than 800 UK members. Its track-car division, CVWOC Motorsport, is managed by club member Lee Walmsley. The Golf is now doing the rounds with the Sporting Bears Charity and is being used for the club’s Dream Rides events. The Golf is also used as a fundraiser locally, with passenger laps in the track car making money for charities each year. ‘CVWOC Motorsport is driven by a desire to create meaningful experiences both on track and within our communities,’ said Lee. ‘The club is proudly registered with the Sporting Bears…

A pressing issue BUSH, BEARING & SEAL DRIVER SET £128.40 When it comes to installing wheel bearings, bushes, and seals, nothing beats the controlled force of a workshop hydraulic press, however risky use of old sockets as drivers can often lead to disappointment, frustration or even injury. This new bush, bearing and seal driver set brings together a comprehensive range of hardened‑steel drift discs and a deep‑reach handle, offering precision location along with the option of using a hammer to get the job done quickly and safely. Part no: 9123. lasertools.co.uk Seal of approval CLASSIC MINI DIFFERENTIAL SIDE COVERS £64.80 EACH Suitable for all classic manual Minis except those with Hardy Spicer joints, these covers are supplied with reamed bushes fitted, ensuring that play in the drive shafts do not…

Across 1 Nineties Italian saloon on the same floorplan as the Lancia Dedra (4,6) 7 Updated version of the Gilbern Genie (7) 8 Daewoo-badged Vauxhall Astra clone (5) 9 Made the Chimaera (3) 10 It joined the Honda range in the mid-Eighties (7) 13 Wankel engine design (6) 14 Which London coachbuilding firm made the Docker Daimlers? (6) 17 Gave us the 924 (7) 18 According to Lord Nuffield, the Morris Minor was a poached one! (3) 20 Fibreglass Citroen from 1959-1964 (5) 21 Ford marque launched in the late Thirties (7) 22 The distinction of a Facel Vega luxury saloon (10) Down 1 The first front-wheel drive car from Skoda (7) 2 _ 100, German saloon launched in 1968 (4) 3 See 19 down 4 Austin models introduced in…

1 MAY 1988 Passing the test It’d had a couple of sills by this point and Stephen would fit another pair, plus a boot floor, as he drove it over the next few years. 2 SEP 1992 After the fire After the drama. Evidence of the explosion and fire that saw the rear screen blow out is clearly visible on the C-pillar. 3 MAY 1993 Rotten as a pear Just an example of the sort of corrosion Stephen was dealing with. Deep crumbly rot as evidenced here with the inner front wing panel. 4 JUN 1996 Body done, or not? Almost ready for paint, the first time. The car is complete again but there are still issues with panel fit. Stephen would spend a lot of time and money over the…

Look, no! I don’t want a vast, vile, made by a firm I’ve never heard of electric Chinese blob on wheels. Not even if my government feels it would be nice to make me even happier by giving a £3500 grant for a big party to welcome my new acquisition. The advert for said blob seemed to follow me like an angry wasp for an entire day, stinging away. Everywhere. I almost expected to hear it booming out of my toaster. It’s a wonder they didn’t have an irritating Fifties-style jingle: ‘Buy a Big Electric Blob today… and Your Motoring Cares Will Go Away!’ I have no objections to electric cars, but that level of promotion would not make me want me to risk the joys of being stuck at…

I love the 156. It is a glorious piece of design and one that happens to drive as well as it looks. I’ve had three of them, including a V6. Never had a Sportwagon though, so when Andrew Harris offered me a barn find, I said yes. Who could resist a dusty example of a desirable motor in need of a new home? It has an engine fault that I need to get stuck into – this was the reason Andy parked it up ten years ago. Plenty of elbow grease then, and welding… and… well… it’s a project. ASKING PRICE £100 PAID £100 VERDICT If I get it back on the road, it will be a keeper.…

There’s something for everyone here, isn’t there? And the thing they all have in common? An irregular firing pattern of cylinders across two banks of four. We’ve got the Corvette in its absurdly raw, rich, gurgling, spitting Stingray form. It sounds outrageous – exactly how an American car should. The TVR does a good impersonation of it – that glorious 4.3-litre version of the Rover V8 tingling your spine while offering the Griffith’s supreme finesse – of the kind we’d never quite felt before in a TVR. Speaking of finesse, cars don’t get more perfect in the road manners department than a Ferrari 355. Pin-sharp handling and composure comes with the bonus of a charismatic 3.5-litre V8 barking from behind. Swapping to the Aston and all the noise comes from up…

Why you want one It won’t have escaped your noticed that Hyundai is doing rather well in the world, having developed a range of all-conquering family cars in the past decade. Quite the transformation from building Cortinas under licence in the late Sixties. The ball really started rolling in 1974, when the firm announced the poaching of former MD of British Leyland’s Austin-Morris division, George Turnbull. Using a four-door and a coupé Marina as a base on which to develop the original Hyundai Pony, Turnbull and his team used a combination of Mitsubishi and Cortina mechanicals and bagged the services of stylist Giugiaro, who unveiled the new car at Turin that October. Almost 30 years ago, following the success of its neat, budget-priced 1990 S-Coupe, Hyundai unveiled the sumptuously styled…

With the monster event that is the Club Triumph Round Britain Reliability Run looming in the now not-so-distant future, I’m pleased to report that I’ve made more progress on the 2000 in the past month or so than I have in probably two years. Having replaced the failed brake servo and fitted fresh pads, shoes and wheel cylinders (PC, October 2025), I was ready to put the car in for an MOT. It hadn’t had one for a number of years, so I figured it was time to put that right ahead of the significant mileage to come. However, before that there was one more job to take care of. While underneath the car to address the brakes, I checked the differential mounting bushes, which didn’t look especially healthy. As…

INTERIOR CLEANING How to clean upholstery Q I've bought a Toyota Previa that is spoiled by its interior. The driver’s seat has oily marks from the previous owner, while his children have clearly been hard at work grinding food and drink into the rear seats. Any suggestions? Christopher Fenwick, Eastbourne Ed says A Water-based stains are easy. Avoid overwetting so the stain doesn't migrate. Gently dampen with a special upholstery cleaner – or solution of biological washing powder and warm water - applied with a cloth or spray gun and cover for 20 minutes. After that, rub with damp towels, then dry towels. Repeat as necessary, switching to plain water with a tiny drop of washing up liquid to break the surface tension. Sugary drinks may take some effort to…