Inhaltsverzeichnis für November 2018 in Classics World

An important motoring landmark that could easily slip under the radar was the launch 50 years ago of the Reliant Scimitar GTE at the 1968 Earls Court Motor Show. To mark the event, this issue includes a fastidiously restored example as a Reader’s Restoration, while an informative historical feature traces the development of this very underestimated two-plus-two coupè. The Scimitar Drivers’ Club will no doubt be marking the GTE’s half century at this year’s Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show with Discovery by putting on a very special display reflecting the event’s ‘Built to Last’ theme. Billed as ‘the biggest and best indoor car show in the UK’, the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show starts on Friday, November 9 and runs through to Sunday, November 11. For details and information about…

On September 12, Volkswagen announced it would be ceasing production of its Beetle by July next year. This is, of course, the ‘new’ water-cooled and FWD Beetle built on the Golf floorpan that was introduced in 1997 – the last of the original air-cooled Beetles was made at VW’s Puebla plant in Mexico way back in 2003. Emotional appeal was not enough to save the Beetle name though, falling sales in recent years (down 2.2 per cent in the first eight months of 2018) meaning that talk of replacing it with a revamped model or adding electric power trains have come to nothing. Instead, there will be two special editions on both coupé and convertible bodies – the Final Edition SE and Final Edition SEL – with special colour, trim…

We all like to think that we are good drivers, but recent research suggests that many people over-estimate their abilities. Online motor retail specialist BuyaCar.co.uk asked more than 1000 motorists how they would rank their own driving skills in comparison with other people, and it turns out that about two thirds of us either believe we are ‘among the best’ drivers or ‘better than most,’ while only a quarter see ourselves as ‘average.’ Meanwhile, a measly seven per cent of motorists admit that there is ‘room for improvement’ in their driving. In the case of BuyaCar.co.uk’s findings it also seems that the older we get, the more generous we are in assessing our own competence. Drivers up to the age of 34 were most likely to admit to ‘room for…

WHAT IS IT THAT YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT THE GTE? It has so much character, I particularly like the look and the design by Tom Karen and the associated Ogle historical connection. HOW DOES THE GTE DRIVE IN MODERN TRAFFIC? Absolutely perfect, that three litre Ford V6 has so much acceleration and torque, you’re never embarrassed by anything. ARE PARTS DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN? So far I've had no problem. All the mechanical parts are available, but some bits of specific interior trim can be difficult to source. WHAT HAS BEEN THE BEST MOMENT WITH OWNING THE CAR SO FAR? That was the first time I drove it after finishing restoring it. Everyone’s reaction on the road was so positive and enthusiastic. WHY DO YOU LIKE WORKING ON THE CAR? When…

Over the last few weeks I’ve continued working on the Minor Lowlight to improve its usability. The primary focus has been to eliminate the source of the vibration resonating through the car’s bodywork at certain speeds. I thought the problem was either down to the exhaust or the prop shaft but having completed some more test running, I concluded the noise was most likely to be coming from the prop-shaft, despite having it recently re-balanced. I did wonder if one of the balance weights had come off, so took it back to the balancer who had a more detailed look. Despite being shortened by a precision welder, the joint in the propshaft had a tenth of an inch misalignment along its length and this was almost certainly the cause of…

Maybe it was the refined post Dynamat hush. Maybe it was the crystal clarity of Raido 2’s Ken Bruce from the new Alpine S-S65 speakers, as installed in issue 272, coaxing the MoT tester into a relaxed state, but I needn’t have worried when dropping the Tomcat off for it’s annual test, as it flew threw with barely an advisory. I’d already completed an oil and filter change and checked all I could at home, but I was pleasantly surprised when the test didn’t throw up any hidden horrors of brakes, sensors or chassis rust. In celebration, I treated the Rover to an overdue four-wheel alignment to get the best out of the lowered suspension and it now drives beautifully. If you missed that guide about the soundproofing, I stripped…

The big Healey has finally gone off to the paint shop and the big wait now gets underway until the finished job arrives back at my workshop. I’ve already rebuilt the Healey’s rear axle, gearbox and a few ancillaries, which only leaves the engine to put together and the rebuild has been penciled in for a lads’ weekend later this year while the better half is off on a girly weekend. The final job ahead of this was to attend to some inlet manifold fettling to match the new two-inch SUs. This was a simple case of carefully removing all the rough bits of casting plus any overlap from the areas where the carbs fit. The job was easily done using a die grinder and was another task ticked off…

Launched some 57 years ago, the good old E-Type might be beyond the reach of many now but it still represents a sea change for the British motor industry. Even at the staggering price of the £150,000 a near perfect 3.8 Coupè costs, that’s still a lot less cash than a DB4 or Ferrari 250GTE, cars that some might say are not as good as the E-Type in some areas. The E-Type would probably run rings around a 300SL Mercedes as well. What the E-Type represented was a small company in the Midlands making a car that was the equal of Ferrari or Aston Martin, but at the price of four basic Minis and that made it all the more remarkable. 1 Development of the E-Type Jaguar began in 1956,…

Winter weather brings a number of potential problems for classic cars, but many can be avoided with a few minutes of preparation. A straightforward starting point is to inspect the tyres, even if you are putting the car into storage. Most tyre manufacturers recommend their tyres should be renewed after six or seven years. While this may appear to be a useful safety measure to ensure more of their tyres are purchased and many classic car tyres rarely become worn to the limit, it’s not worth the risk of gambling with old tyres that deteriorate over time. A four-digit date stamp on the sidewall will indicate when the tyre was manufactured. 4813 for instance, means the tyre was manufactured in the 48th week of 2013. If your classic is not…

The history of Volvo stretches back to 1927 when Gustaf Larson and Assar Gabrielsson founded the company with assistance and financial backing from the Swedish ball bearing manufacturer Svenska Kullagerfabriken (SKF). Prior to the company’s formation, Larsen and Gabrielsson had been employed by SKF and the name Volvo, which a conjugation of the Latin verb ‘volver’, which in this case was interpreted to ‘I Roll’, was credited to Bjrn Prytz, the managing director of the ball bearing plant. Although the name Volvo had been patented back in 1915, rather than applying it to a new range of bearings SKF decided to allow the trade mark to be used by the new vehicle manufacturer. Prior to the outbreak of World War Two, which had a dramatic effect on the Swedish economy…

In 1982 Volvo moved its big cars up market with the launch of the 700-series and an estate version of the 740 was unveiled at the Chicago Motor Show in 1985. European tastes weren’t ready for the 740’s chunky appearance; with some motoring magazines claiming the new estate’s design ‘was a backwards step’. However, the car’s huge load space – 2123 litres with the rear split seats folded down made the model a popular choice and some examples were even converted into private ambulances. Engine options across the 700-series range estates included a line-up of naturally aspirated carburettor and fuel injected inline-fours and straight sixes. The 760 Turbo estate was recognised as one of the fastest five-door cars of its time with a naught to 60mph timing of just eight…

Given their lack of experience and statistically poor track record in terms of accident-free driving, young drivers generally have to pay more for their insurance. We asked RH Specialist Insurance (www.rhspecialistinsurance.co.uk) for their advice on a number of points that could affect insurance for young classic car drivers. Q: There always used to be big drops in insurance premiums when you turned 21, and then again when you reached 25. Does that still hold true today for classic car drivers? A: With Classic Car Insurance, drivers under 25 are looked at on an individual basis and priced according to their experience and the type of car. As experience is gained, then RH’s premiums are reviewed accordingly. Q: Where do you draw the line between classic and non-classic, and what…

Although more conservatively dressed than its upmarket straight-six powered Zephyr and Zodiac siblings, the entry-level Consul still cuts a dash. Indeed, there is something really rather glamorous, captivating even, about the Consul, especially Mick’s Chateau Grey example. This car is not just period perfect, thanks to his expert (self-taught) skills. Mick has transformed this former daily-driver into a concours winner. A dream machine in fact. HIGHS AND LOWS “In the mid-‘Sixties I had a 1957 ‘Highline’ Consul, which I really liked,” recalled Mick. “I sold it to raise funds to get married. A few years later my son was born and another few years passed and my daughter came along. At the time, our family car was a Standard Ten, which soon proved to be a bit on the small…

“On the way back home I could tell that all was not well and after having driven the car into my workshop, the engine had a very uneven tick over” At my time of life you would have thought I had enough sense not to tempt fate and although I was ecstatic at having the E-Type back on the road, it just goes to show how quickly things can change with old cars. I took the Jag on a longer test run and all seemed to be going well, including accelerating hard in second gear to check the gearbox noise had disappeared, as these were the conditions where it had been most noticeable. On the way back home I could tell that all was not well and after having driven…

Last month the repairs on the Land Rover’s bulkhead seemed to be going along smoothly and I’d already got the driver’s side A-post tacked in and the new footwell in place. When things go that smoothly, I always start to get suspicious. So it was no surprise when I discovered that I was getting too far ahead of myself. The door check strap mounting point on the driver’s side was one of those areas that had suffered from both corrosion and previous ‘repairs’. And to successfully repair the area I needed to get behind the A-post. So the new tack welds were cut and the post was removed yet again. Beneath the panel work, the check strap bolts into a flanged L-shaped bracket with three captive nuts and is spot…

I had thought that my Porsche 924S would be up for sale by now. But unfortunately, it isn’t! There were a few problems that I hadn’t foreseen that needed to be addressed. Because I hadn’t time and have been busy DIYing around the house plus doing work on the Davrian, I took the 924S to APS, in Raglan to have the leaking front struts fitted with new inserts. A simple job – or so I thought. The strip-down revealed whoever had previously replaced the struts omitted to refit the all-important spacers, with the result that the strut tops had been merrily smashing their way into the top bearings and destroying them in the process. Fortunately, replacement bearings and the replacement eccentric bolts are readily available via the Porsche Classic network…

E-Types are now pricey cars and earlier six cylinder ones are now at what some would call silly money. But the 3.8 and 4.2 Series 1 cars aren’t necessarily the best – the later V12 cars such as the Roadster are better in many ways and some – your scribe included – think they’re much better looking with the wide track and big cheese cutter grille. This 1973 LHD car, a BRG automatic, is fresh in from the US. It’s solid where it counts and is a running, driving car registered in the UK and looks as though it could just be tidied up a bit and used as is. At £38,000, there’s no doubt that it’s not the most expensive E-Type out there but it will no doubt consume…

The Reliant Scimitar GTE is a car that has achieved that rare distinction of gaining respect and recognition well beyond the numbers produced and today, it’s a genuine classic which attracts a loyal following of highly enthusiastic marking this milestone event by not only featuring a rebuilt example as a Reader’s Restoration in this issue (see pages 26-31), we’re also taking a more detailed look into the development of the GTE and what made this smart looking coupè such a great car despite its humble origins. By 1967, Reliant had been producing four-wheeled sports cars for six years. The signs were that their low volume Ford-powered two-plus-two sports coupés were attracting a limited audience of well-heeled customers, who looked for a car that combined exclusivity and performance. The problem was…

Preventing surface corrosion can seem like a losing battle. Everything from your classic car’s wheel nuts and brakes to its brightwork, wheel arches and sills can become infected with the brown stuff, even on brand-new components. There’s no quick fix to treating light surface corrosion and if you want to use your classic on a regular basis, it’s essential to keep a lookout for emerging rust and treat it when it appears. Moisture in the atmosphere will always be a threat to your classic’s metalwork. Road dirt will chip away at paint and rust protection. Heat cycles and the abrasive action on brake components means that brake discs are hard to keep rust-free. Manufacturers of cheap components often can’t factor in the extra time required during production to prevent corrosion…

The history of the Beetle – its origins, staggering production run (still the best selling car of all time despite what Toyota may think) and its final end only relatively recently – is well known. Because so many were made, millions are still left and if you’re brave enough to still use one every day then the annual MoT test can be a hurdle, that’s assuming of course that you’re planning to continue doing it – we really hope you will. Virtually all original UK supplied Beetles will now be MoT exempt with production at Wolfsburg ending in 1978. So after 40 years, even the newest Beetle is plenty old enough to be rusty in awkward places and they’re often not as easy to fix as some claim. Here are…

Volvo introduced the saloon version of the 120 series in 1956 and five-door versions of this popular model arrived on the scene a few years later in 1962. It was originally planned to use the Amazon name for this car worldwide, but the German motorcycle manufacturer Kreidler had already registered the name. Negotiations eventually resulted in Volvo being allowed to use the Amazon name in its home market and export models were sold as the 120-series. The five-door Amazon estate featured a split tailgate where the lower section could be used as a handy platform for long loads when the rear seats were folded down, while the upper glazed half folded upwards and out of the way. From 1959, all Volvos 120s were fitted with three-point front seatbelts and from…

The development of the Volvo 850 was the result of a pilot study to create a new series of fuel-efficient models that got underway in 1978 under the umbrella of the Galaxy Project. The first prototype to be produced in 1981 under the new study was the G1, a transverse engine 1.8 litre saloon that eventually led to the development of the Volvo 400 series. The larger G2 was another prototype developed under the Galaxy Project and designer Jan Wilsgaard further enhanced the concepts while working in Turin at Carrozzeria Coggiola. Quite a few features from the earlier G2 concept eventually found their way onto the 700 series but the main difference was that Wilsgaard’s B3 premium sized prototype was designed from the start to take a transversally mounted five-cylinder…

Midlands classic motoring specialist RBW Classic Electric Cars has joined forces with Zytek automotive (part of Continental AG who provide the world championship winning technology applied to Formula E racing cars) to launch two limited edition recreations. The aim is to create a vehicle that has the aesthetic appeal of a classic allied with all the engineering of a modern electric car. The first of these electric designs is the RBW MGB recreation, to be followed by the RBS XKSS recreation based on the Jaguar. Rather than being built into old bodies, RBW has partnered with British Motor Heritage and Gregson Polska to provide brand new bodyshells. The limited-edition hand-built models, with an initial 30 examples created, launched to the motoring trade at Cenex, a showcase of low carbon vehicle…

NEW PRINCESS CALIPER Four-piston British Leyland Princess calipers were commonly fitted as an upgrade to many Fords that used the M16 caliper, as they conveniently had the same mounting bolt pattern. These Leyland items have become difficult to find, as the Princess and Ambassador donor cars are rare these days. However, Burton Power is now able to offer a faithful reproduction of the ‘Princess’ caliper for those that prefer a period modification. The new calipers are now supplied with a spacer kit that allows them to be used with vented discs. Suitable for all Escort MkI & II, Capri and Cortina models using M16 calipers and vented discs – as well as Princess models of course – they can be ordered as part number CAL4POTV and retail at £234.00 per…

WHAT'S SPECIAL ABOUT THIS CAR? It’s been a part of the family for such a long time. WHAT REACTION DOES IT GET? It gets lots of looks and people seem to really like the colour. The Consul also receives plenty of attention when I stop at petrol stations too. WHAT WAS THE BEST MOMENT OF THE RESTORATION? Probably after it had been painted when the exterior trim was being refitted. I could see the car coming back to life. WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF? That we decided to keep the car back in 1987 and that I decided to treat it to a full restoration. WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE? It’s very comfortable, soaks up the bumps and the visibility is excellent. By today’s standards it’s not particularly fast,…

The Reliant Scimitar GTE was based on the original Ogle GTS estate designed by Tom Karen at Ogle and the Reliant Anadol estate, a car that had originally been built for the Turkish market. However, it was Peter Bailey, Ogle’s body designer who was responsible for refining the early GTS concept into the sports hatchback shape of that was to eventually evolve as the Scimitar GTE SE5. The car’s aerodynamically efficient design attracted many celebrity owners, including Her Royal Highness Princess Anne who from 1970 until production of the Scimitar GTE ended in 1986 owned several different GTEs. It is believed that Her Royal Highness liked the model a great deal and it’s believed she still owns her last one, a late Middlewich. Praise indeed and the first mock-up of…

When Rover launched the technically advanced P6 2000 in October 1963, the luxury saloon set a new benchmark for safety and innovation that many manufacturers fell far short off with their existing models. Once in the showroom the P6 immediately went head to head with the Triumph 2000, which had been unveiled to the public a week later and the two models would go on to become bedfellows when the independent Rover Company Ltd became part of Leyland Motors in 1967. The following year Rover found itself part of the sprawling British Leyland empire and BL’s skilful marketing gurus managed to position the four-cylinder Rover and its competing inline-six powered Triumph into totally different market sectors. It had been Rover’s intention that the new 2000 would find favour with a…

Over the last few years my wife Janne and I have made the pilgrimage to Denmark for the annual Copenhagen Historic Grand Prix (CHGP). Basically, this is Denmark’s version of the Goodwood Revival but is run on the streets of Copenhagen and brilliantly organised by Danish racer and business man Jac Nellemann. There are always lots of classic cars to lust over at this event and this year the racing was especially good. The historic F1 races were brilliant, but this year’s Pro-Am saloon car race provided the most exciting racing I have ever seen. In the professionals heat, nine-time Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen stormed through from the back of the grid in the Oscar Siesby Lotus Cortina. On the penultimate lap, he out-braked Lars Kern in the leading…

“The good news,” said Colin Ayres, managing director of independent Rolls-Royce and Bentley service, sales, repair and restoration centre, Colbrook Specialists (bit.ly/colbrook), “is all the problems present on your Silver Shadow II are typical of the faults we’re used to seeing on the model. The bad news,” he continued, “is we don’t expect to see them all at the same time on the same car!” Located close to Peterborough, Colin’s company is regarded as one of the leading East Midlands-based authorities on all things relating to Silver Shadows, meaning no fault or niggle was going to go unnoticed when the firm’s head technician, Richard Meadows, pulled out his clipboard and gave my car an extensive health check after the large barge rolled into the Colbrook workshop. I’ve owned the Silver…

We look forward to welcoming all Bentley enthusiasts to the Bentley Drivers Club Founded by enthusiasts for enthusiasts. The Bentley Drivers Club is proud of its ethos: a club of friends who share a love of all things Bentley. It’s also the only club directly affiliated with Bentley Motors. While some follow in the tyre tracks of the iconic ‘Bentley Boys’, competing in races and rallies, others take pleasure watching their modern-day counterparts in the latest GT3 race cars. Off track, some simply enjoy driving their Bentley on the road, frequently in the company of other enthusiasts. No matter what your inspiration, the BDC can help enhance your Bentley ownership and take your appreciation of this classic marque even deeper. A great feature of our club is the excellent events…

Founded in 1935, the Reliant Engineering Company built its reputation by making utilitarian three-wheeled transport for cost-conscious customers. No doubt in those early days the idea of producing powerful four-wheeled sports cars would have seemed faintly ridiculous to the Tamworth firm’s directors. Reliant’s new direction was sparked by a chance meeting with Israeli car manufacturer Autocars in 1960. A collaboration to produce glass fibre sports cars began, the first being sold in Israel as the Sabra. Reliant launched its own Sabre 4 sports car in 1961, after a mere nine-month development programme. Powered by a four-cylinder Ford Consul engine, the Sabre could be ordered with optional tuning kits, giving a genuine 100mph top speed. The Sabre 6 followed quickly and was launched at the Earls Court Motor Show in October…

There’s nothing more annoying than an oil leak, especially one that at first glance seems easy to fix, such as from the rocker box cover. So we weren’t expecting a simple gasket swap like this to slow down a scheduled service. But like most jobs on a cherished car like Lancaster Insurance’s prize MkI Golf GTI, we definitely spoke too soon and it wasn’t long before Matt at Forge Garage ran into trouble. After slackening off the nuts securing the after market bracing strut mounted between the front suspension towers, removing the rocker box cover was pretty straightforward and the old cork seal was soon winging its way towards the bin. The new gasket was a rubber-based affair and it seemed rather odd that a set of new fixing studs…

The four-cylinder Volvo 245 estate arrived on the scene in 1974 and the more powerful six-cylinder 265 followed a year later. Volvo’s engineers had incorporated even more safety features into the new model and improvements included locating the fuel tank ahead of the rear wheels and installing a fully collapsible steering column. Style wise, the 245 closely resembled the outgoing 145 and during the cars lengthily production run trim styles went from the basic L right up to a fully loaded GLT (Grand Lux Touring) version. With 41 cubic feet of space in the load area, the 200-series estates were class leaders when it came to carrying capacity. A popular option was an extra row of foldable rear-facing seats featuring three-point seat belts. This turned the 200-series estates into a…

I HAVE TO ADMIT, I’m not always a massive fan of the Mark 2 Jag despite having one a few years ago. They’re okay of course but sometimes I find the styling a bit ‘meh’ in many ways – they’re a great looking car but there’s too much chrome, too much fussy detailing – plus of course they’re everyone’s idea of a classic Jaguar, despite the fact that they made better cars that decade. And too many have what in my eyes is a crime worthy of prosecution – a wood rimmed Motalita steering wheel. I mean... just no on that score. Fit an E-Type wheel if you must. In my eyes, the previous Mark 1 Jaguar is a far prettier car. Less chrome, smaller windows and thick pillars give…