Table of contents for September 2024 in Practical Classics

We are a family at PC and that very much includes you. The magazine is a community and it reflects the passion that we all share for older cars… because that passion is about people as well as tin. So, when a close member of our family is lost it’s time to pause and reflect, and sadly, that is what has happened this issue. Our dear friend and close colleague, Theodore J Gillam has passed away after a short illness and this issue of Practical Classics is dedicated to his memory. I first met this brilliant, funny, charming man in 2000 when I joined the magazine staff. I immediately fell about laughing as he beguiled me with high quality puns and car-related madness. Theo was full of the joys of…

£87.54 sealey.co.uk This small but mighty drill has been a well-loved member of the PC team for the past two years and never fails to impress. The diminutive proportions and light weight allow it to get into places where larger tools wont, while the maximum torque of 28Nm makes it handy for removing fixings as well as for drilling applications. Supplied with fast charge mains charger and one 2Ah rechargeable lithium-ion battery, there’s even a hammer function, making this a truly versatile piece of kit. Model no: CP108VDD.…

The planned July gathering of the monthly Barrington (Cambs) car meet has been cancelled, following an alleged altercation between drivers and volunteer staff. The event takes place on the first Friday evening during the summer months and New Year’s Day on the green (the largest village green in the UK) for many years and is extremely popular. What began as a limited number of vintage car owners has since grown into a full-blown car meet in recent years, with participants driving their classics from as far away as London to attend. The June meet was one of the busiest ever, but caused gridlock in the village after the alleged confrontation between a small number of car owners and volunteer marshals. Future plans for the event are now in doubt. The incident follows several…

Father-and-son team Phil and Will Churchill are about to embark on what they call a ‘journey to the end of the Earth’ as they drive the length of South America in their travel-worn, high-mileage Aston Martin Vantage. The journey will form the fourth leg of the Vantage World Tour, which aims to raise £24,901 (£1 per mile covered) for suicide prevention charity, the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM). Leaving Panama, the lads had already raised £23,608, tantalisingly close to their target. The duo’s end point is the southern tip of Argentina. Their 170k-mile, 2005 Vantage was the first car to drive the length of Asia-Pacific Highway. Follow progress at vantageworldtour.com.…

McLaren Formula 1 ISBN: 978-0-760385-12-8 £45 This lavish, illustrated volume tells McLaren’s full F1 racing history through its epic cars – from its first M2B, to its first win with the M7A, to Senna’s MP4/6 to today’s MCL60. quarto.com Range Rover Specification Guide ISBN: 978-0-719843-82-2 £25 The perfect buying or restoration companion, here James Taylor has trawled original documents and examined original vehicles to put together all the known facts in one place. crowood.com Jaguar Cars ISBN: 978-1-787117-76-1 £22.50 Packed with information on specifications and other production details for each model produced by Jaguar between 1946 and 2008, model-by-model descriptions meet detailed technical information alongside optional equipment details, dashboard instrument layout drawings and photographs. veloce.co.uk…

A stack of anniversaries are set to be celebrated at this year’s Silverstone Festival, which will take place on August 23-25. Among the 100+ owners' groups that are taking part, will be the Marcos Owners' Club, which celebrates 65 years of the marque this year. The Golf Mk1 Owners' Club will also be attending to celebrate half a century of VW’s family favourite. Other birthdays that will be marked include 110 years of Maserati, 75 years of Abarth, half a century of the Triumph TR7 and 60 years of the Ford Mustang; expect on-track displays, a huge club stand and plenty of Mustangs racing. Less obvious will be 75 years of the Healey Silverstone, while the MX-5 Owners' Club will be out in force to mark 35 years of the world’s best-selling…

It blows my mind that we’re currently steaming down the motorway at 70mph in a car that was assembled in Slough in the same year my grandparents first met. In 1936, Fred Walshe and Olive Smith were living up the road, where London’s ornate skyline had yet to be ravaged by the Luftwaffe and my then 26-year-old grandad would have been aboard the cab of a Leyland low-loader shunting heavy machinery around a smoky east-end docklands. Despite its enormous and spindly Thirties steering wheel, there are several good reasons why the Citroën Traction Avant feels so relatively modern. We’re piloting this innovative pre-war saloon to France so have plenty of time to appreciate its lightweight low-slung unitary body, front-wheel-drive, rack and pinion steering, and four-wheel independent suspension. However, I can’t…

Across 6 This ‘TT’ was an executive flop for PSA in the early Eighties (6,6) 7 An Iso model from the Sixties (7) 8 Citroën released it in 1997 (5) 11 & 20 across This AC remains the coolest! (3,12) 12 Which Bristol model arrived in 1993? (8) 14 An alternative name for the VW Camper (8) 15 Every year, cars will either fail or pass it (3) 17 Four-wheel drive ‘Rover’ introduced in 1970 (5) 19 It replaced Austin’s 1100/1300 range (7) 20 See 11 across Down 1 Rare Eighties Clan model (6) 2 Nickname of the Triumph Dolomite (5) 3 This amazing Lotus concept car erupted into life at the 1984 Birmingham Motor Show! (4) 4 Makers of the 912 sports car (7) 5 Stuttgart coachbuilder well known…

For all your classic thrills and spills this summer, subscribe to Practical Classics – the enthusiast’s bible that truly does it all. From inspirational journeys, and adventures to classic buying guides, tales, tech advice and trials from the magazine’s very own workshop. SCAN HERE ORDER NOW! greatmagazines.co.uk/practicalclassics 01858 438884 WHY SUBSCRIBE? ◼ Save 70%* off shop prices with our summer offer and FREE UK delivery ◼ Receive bonus content and the exclusive monthly PC Tea Break e-newsletter and podcast from editor, Danny Hopkins ◼ FREE digital access through our dedicated Practical Classics app, where you will find past issues and rewards including 70% off a Skill Shack Membership FREE DIGITAL ACCESS with a Print and Digital subscription Terms and conditions: *Saving applies to initial trial term. Three issues for £5…

Practical Classics. It’s a very belt and braces title for a classic car mag, isn’t it? But it’s no accident. We are the blue collar publication and are very proud to represent the real world end of the classic car park. And while we appreciate a car that possesses practicality, from our launch in May 1980 the ‘practical’ in PC was actually a reference to the practical application of car restoration and repair. So, which car best encapsulates all of these elements? It’s a conversation that’ll never end, but that’s no reason to not have it! So here we go… the ultimate practical classic is…? Take it away, Team PC! ‘It'll withstand hard use year after year’ JAMES WALSHE RENAULT 4 What would the Victorians say? Assuming we had access…

Anglia Car Auctions managed to sell 85 per cent of the 286 classics at its late June sale, though that was aided by offering well over a quarter of them without reserve. On the other hand, 49 cars beat their pre-sale estimates, which is a strong performance. Star of those has to be the 1980 Capri MkIII 3.0S, a car with a huge history file confirming its miserly 42,438 miles. Several people really wanted it in their garage, so sense took a tea break. I thought it might just top its £22k-£26k estimate, but £34,020 was worth applause. Mind you, I also thought the £5000-£6000 estimate was plenty of money for an – albeit nice – Vauxhall Viva HB Deluxe with an uncertain number of miles on the clock – showing…

I really shouldn’t have bought this, I but it is a car that I have always wanted. An E36 328i is almost an M3, but has added comfort and doesn’t make you look like you are trying to hard. Reader Ken Bruty didn’t have to try to hard to sell his dad Ron’s old car to me either. In the family for 20 years, it was unused and needed a new home. Only too happy. First job… a new jacking point, to get it through an MOT. Then time to sort the wiring to the boot lid, a 'traditional' E36 issue. ASKING PRICE £750 PAID £750 VERDICT A truly great modern classic, ready for a new life.…

In a world where most large cars have an unnecessarily high ride height, an emissions-friendly, small-capacity turbocharged engine and a lack of soul or personality, a big V8-engined saloon is something of a dinosaur. And that’s why we love them. If you want smoothness, performance and a glorious soundtrack, a V8-engined super saloon is hard to beat. Each one of these five cars is powered by one of the best V8 engines ever made and stands out as one of the grandest cars of its era. The oldest is the Bentley S2. This one’s a 1961 model, but it can trace its roots all the way back to the S1 of 1955. The S2 debuted four years later and swapped the original’s inline six for Rolls-Royce’s venerable V8, one of…

1994 FORD ESCORT GHIA Simon Owen, South Wales Like many of us, Simon grew up in base-model Fords. He’s cured that with this Escort Ghia. 2001 FORD PUMA 1.7 Karen Birchall, UK Five years with her Puma and Karen says the ‘smiles per mile’ are worth all the worries about rust. 2009 RANGE ROVER VOGUE Rafe Abrook, Hertfordshire Snapper Rafe’s chosen the ideal tracking vehicle. Maybe less good for weddings. 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.’…

Why you want one Make a Golf GTi MkIV faster and cheaper and get Italian automotive designer Giorgetto Giugiaro to add a dash of style and you end up with the Seat Leòn Cupra – a great unsung hero of the hot hatchback world. Sharing a platform and numerous oily bits with the Audi A3, TT and Škoda Octavia as part of the VAG stable (as well as that brick-shaped fourth generation Golf) lesser Leòns have long since disappeared to the scrapyard, while the hot model has gained well-deserved cult status in the 2020s. The Cupra was equipped with just the one engine - a 180bhp turbocharged version of VW Group’s 1.8-litre coupled to a 6-speed ‘box. With many of the press cars in a loud shade of ‘Ovni’ yellow,…

PAY LESS AND NEVER MISS A COPY! See p50. BACK ON THE LINE To mark 65 years of the Mini, Matt Tomkins takes his Countryman to Cowley for an exclusive photoshoot Fulvia resto We meet the restorer who revived his luscious Lancia at home Citroën guide To mark 50 years of the svelte CX, we explain how to buy the best Yank revival How Scott brought his ‘evil’ Chevy Camaro back to life PLUS We get under the skin of the Caterham Seven and find out what it’s like to own, discover how a Thirties Beardmore London Taxi survived by against all odds in Dorset and choose between a range of sporty saloons – from Dolomite Sprint to MG Magnette. There’s also action from the Practical Classics workshop, where we’re…

What is your favourite W classic car? It’s almost ten years since we asked that question and it’s 20 years since the very first time, so now the big survey is back once again for 2024. Which classics will succesfully make the top 100 this time around? The nomination process is open to all cars, whatever age, make and model and will eventually lead to a list of the top 100 favourites as nominated/voted for by you. The nominating portal is live from July 30 and will close on August 28. That gives you just one month to get the message out and your nominations in. Will the Morris Minor retain its crown or will the old guard give way to a modern classic? Is there a less well known classic out…

If you're an Aston Martin fan you need to get along to the fourth Aston Martin Heritage Festival, at the British Motor Museum on 31 August. Organiser Sue Gibbons told us: ‘You don’t need to own an Aston Martin to attend, but allowners are welcome. We will be marking 30 years of the DB7 and 90 years of the Ulster and MkII models, so there will special displays of these. There will be some very historic cars on display including the oldest surviving DB7 and a DB7 GT pre-production prototype.’ amht.org.uk…

1 CHASSIS Four millimetre thick cold rolled steel in a cruciform/ladder type was made and fully TIG welded. 2 PANELS & BODY TUB Medium/Soft Grade American sourced 4043 1.5mm aluminium sheeting shaped and mounted on a stainless steel underframe. 3 SEATS Bentley racing replica buckets made of aviation grade alloy with stiffening flitches and nappa leather trim. 4 BRAKES 380 front and 365mm vented discs with all round four-pot callipers, fully braided hosing and cockpit mounted variable bias control – all sourced via CompBrake Ltd. 5 WHEELS AND TYRES Replica Bentley racer alloy rims made by Image Wheels and shod with 700 x 19 Dunlop Heritage racing tyres.…

We’ve long admired the shape of these cars… the sheer look of them, the build quality, the charm. So, when we came across this particular example, a 1952 RME, we were sold immediately. It was a great basis for a project, despite first impressions, with its roof in tatters and a big empty space beneath the bonnet. It had been used, we think, as a donor for various other projects since coming off the road in 1970 – hence the lack of engine and gearbox when it arrived – but the ash frame and chassis were both in sound condition, and much of the steelwork, too. Everything mechanical required going through, the passage of time having not been kind to any of it, however the over engineering involved in its…

My Volvo 940 estate turbo goes like the clappers! It’s also reliable and practical as its roomy and can easily be used as daily driver, workhorse with skip runs as well as a holiday vehicle for two adults as they have plenty of sleeping space in the back! And the best thing – they’re still cheap to buy! John Hansen No competition! My 228,000-mile Golf MkII is just about to become ULEZ compliant. I’ve owned it since 1993 and it’s great to drive, simple to work on and has never let me down. Parts are easy to get and dirt cheap. The best car ever built! Alan Wesson Toyota Rav 4 MkI. It’s really reliable, plus the rear seats neatly fold away to make a big load space. Victor Young…

Why you want one Without question, the Golf is a motoring icon that sits with the likes of the Model T, Mini and its own grandma, the Beetle. Having arrived in UK showrooms in October 1974, anyone browsing a period VW range brochure would have been in no doubt that the appearance of this crisp looking, ultra-modern hatchback was a giant leap forward. Turning the pages to find the ancient Beetle and aged Microbus, as well as the clever but soon-tobe killed-off K70, was a reminder that VW needed a serious shot in the arm – and the Golf was it. The new car slotted alongside the recently launched Passat and Scirocco (the latter of which was Golf based but unveiled to the world six months earlier) and in 2024…

Datsun Cherry (N12) 11 LEFT ON UK ROADS Bolstering its small-car spearhead invasion of western Europe in the Eighties, the N12 Datsun Cherry proved extremely popular. Immediately pre-Nissan, the N12 arrived on the UK’s shores in 1982, with the model seeing-out the Datsun name by 1986. Quickly gaining popularity with drivers who didn’t give a fig what they drove – so long as it worked year-round and was cheap – the Cherry continued to be a particular thorn in BL’s side. Affordable British products of the era, often plagued by quality issues, left the door wide open for Datsun, which offered simple, cheap motoring, with a host of standard features often lacking in European rivals. Precise figures are quite hard to come by, but it’s thought that N12 Cherry survivors…

Oh dear. Look! Steve Brown of HB Body has spotted my new Berlingo and he’s not happy. I obtained the car recently from its original owner (more about this next month) but for now, I had to determine if a revival was worth it. This is an early three-door car, so it has the fabulously ghastly coloured interior and full-length Webasto roof. It failed its MOT on brakes and inner front wheel arch rot – a few days welding and some new brakes (parts available and cheap as chips) will sort that right out. The electric roof is a concern though, as it’s a huge item and it seems Webasto deny all knowledge of its existence (it was once billed as the world’s largest sunroof). The quality of the red paint on…

Endless faffing and an existential crisis around cars not being used has led me to take a bold decision… I’ve removed the supercharger and fitted an N/A HIF44 carburettor in its place. A good friend has taken my learnings from this project and developed them further for his car, including producing a rather more elegant solution for the primary inlet manifold. Replicating this sounds like the solution to all my problems, but does require a fair amount of work, including modifying the back of the supercharger itself – a scary process that I’ll document here soon. So, to allow myself to fall back in love with the car sufficiently to invest my time and money in getting it right, I’ve gone back to first principles. This should also give me the…

ED’S JOB CARD ON-THE-ROAD PROBLEMS I'll explain what can afflict a typical points-and-carb classic while driving. We'll learn about symptoms and some easy diagnostics, while still moving, then simple roadside fixes. How tough? You’ll need ▸ Basic tool kit ▸ 0.4mm points feeler gauge, ▸ Length of wire ▸ Insulating tape ▸ Rotor arm and condenser ▸ Tyre pump and airbed adaptor for fuel lines & jets. Will take (HR) 1 Will cost (£) 0 Money saved (£) 200 EXPLAINER WHAT’S THE MATTER, NOW?! Ever had that sinking feeling, when your car starts to misbehave half-way through a journey? Pulling over for a look might help, but you'll glean more information if you can keep driving it for a bit longer. Always aim to come to a hault in the…

RICH’S JOB CARD AIMS AND OBJECTIVES With ‘classic’ cars covering so many different decades, you must expect that a huge variety of products will have been used. It is important to understand what you have in front of you so that you can ensure you treat anything sensitive with the care it requires to prevent unnecessary damage or hastening deterioration – particularly where parts are becoming scarce or potentially irreplaceable. How tough? You’ll need ▸ A good set of eyes and some fingers! Specialists ▸ Advice & Training Courses ukdetailingacademy.com ▸ General Detailing Supplies mycarcleaning.co.uk ▸ Want someone else to do it for you? detailerdirectory.com Will take (HRS) N/A Will cost (£) 0 Cash saved (£) N/A 1 Real leather As it is a flexible material, pressing a fingertip into…

Since removing the troublesome supercharger from my two-door Minor pending some re-engineering work (see my Staff Car Saga on p110), I’ve thrown the car kicking and screaming into daily use. I reasoned that de-snagging the car and learning to trust it was the only way to move it from the decluttering danger zone, after an existential crisis over cars not seeing the light of day put even this most precious of my classics at risk. At the time of writing, just three days have passed since I dragged it out of hibernation, but in that time it would appear that I’ve got my mojo back, and have thoroughly enjoyed the process of titivating as I go. I've adjusted the handbrake, refitted and learned to programme the clever, tuneable 123 distributor,…

It has been suggested the Labour victory in July’s General Election has left more questions than answers for classic car owners. On general motoring, Prime Minister Kier Starmer says the ban on selling new petrol and diesel cars from 2030 will be reinstated in order to provide clarity to the industry as well as tackle climate targets. He has pledged to reverse the Conservatives’ decision to delay the ban until 2035. Accelerating the rollout of new electric car charging points is also a core Labour pledge, along with a commitment to ending the nation’s current pothole woes. The Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs (FBHVC) delivered a manifesto for classics to number 10 on day one of the new government to help the transport secretary, Louise Haigh’s team, to better…

Keep your cool BUNKER COOL BOXES FROM £179.95 With summer upon us, keeping your picnic and refreshments chilled at that blazing-hot car show can be key to having a great time. The latest Bunker cool boxes by Draper Tools promise to do just that – for up to five days! Built for adventure, they promise to keep your food and drinks icecold wherever the road takes you. Available in three sizes (18L, 42L & 66L), there’s a Bunker that’s perfect for any road trip, festival or car show. Boasting impressive insulation and a rugged build, these cool boxes won't let you down. The non-slip feet prevent the box from sliding around and there are tie-down anchor points for extra security, or for mounting on a roof rack. bunkerstorage.com Bricking it…

Louisa Richards dropped us a line from theBuckinghamshire Rail Centre to tell us that three big events will be taking place there in August. She said: ‘On August 11 we'll be having our Emergency Services Day, when visitors can come and talk to emergency service personnel. We also invite owners of vintage, classic and decommissioned emergency vehicles to come along. On August 25 we'll be holding our annual Club Day when there’s free entry for all car clubs to have a get-together on our site. The biggest event of all though is our pre-1988 classic vehicle show, on August 26, which is open to classic cars, motorbikes, fire engines, commercial vehicles, buses and steam engines. Any clubs and individuals who would like to take part in these events can contact…

Douglas Newton has organised the classic vehicle section of the Egham Royal Show for almost 40 years and he’d love some PC readers to bolster the numbers at this year’s bash, which will take place on August 24-25. Says Douglas:‘Entries range from the Thirties to the late Eighties and include vehicles of every size and shape. Each entrant gets a brass commemorative plaque and there are also small prizes for the various classes that are judged.’ More at egham royalshow.org.uk.…

IN THE NEWS The established Barclaycard credit card had a rival from 1972 with the launch of Access. Created by a bank consortium to topple the dominance of Barclays, it was marketed as ‘your flexible friend’. Remember its green and orange signs everywhere on shops before it became MasterCard in 1996? AT THE FLICKS Young Winston told the story of Churchill’s early life from childhood to his days as a cavalry officer and helped make a star out of Simon Ward, who played the lead. Writer Carl Foreman had met Sir Winston in 1961, and it was he who’d suggested his memoirs, My Early Life, might make a decent movie. IN THE CHARTS Amid all the glam rock, the UK’s surprise biggest selling single was Amazing Grace by the (deep breath) Pipes and…

Come on someone, or some people! It would take around £1.5m, but that’s not much more than the price of a good Ford Capri 3.0 nowadays. For that you will have secured for the nation a wonderful vehicle collection, and the Art Deco building housing it. At the time of writing, owner Frank Loft is desperate to sell the Moretonhampstead Motor Museum in Devon as a going concern. If there’s no buyer, there’ll be an auction. This joyous attraction reached the top ten in PC’s Best Classic Car Destinations listing in 2018. It has a 4.8 star rating on Tripadvisor. It’s located in a nice Dartmoor town. Understandably, at the age of 73 Frank has ‘decided to retire from my retirement project’ and sell up. ‘It’s been a difficult and…

Following a period of uncertainty, new premises have been found for Rover P6 parts and restoration specialist, and friend of PC Mark Gray’s business, MGBD Services. Mark told PC: ‘We moved to a new, bigger, unit at the end of 2023, which seemed to tick all the boxes and future-proof the company, however a planning issue that was not disclosed to us by the new landlord meant that we did not have permission to operate the business from the site, putting the company’s future in jeopardy. There was a very real risk that, following a huge investment in the first move, we would have had to close the company.’ Thankfully for the P6 community, who MGBD has served since 2010, a new home for the firm was found on St…

1 When did you get into Golfs? ‘About eight years ago, but I accidentally stumbled over this one about ten miles from home in Falkirk. It was advertised as a project, but somebody had started it. Although it was mostly there, it had been stripped. I spent four years restoring it between working.’ 2 Did you do it yourself? ‘Yes, it was a major project. I stripped the body back to bare metal and painted it myself. The cabin needed a retrim while the engine needed overhauling, and all new wiring was fitted. I’m really proud of how it turned out in the end, and it has now been displayed at the NEC twice!’ 3 Are parts available? ‘You can generally get most things. Of the bits missing, I needed…

As you’ll have read in our guide a few months ago (PC, March 2024), Ferrari was calling the shots at Maserati when the 3200 GT was under development. Although it had only just taken over, so the development heavy-lifting had already been achieved, it still had a say in making sure the 3200 didn’t compete directly with anything coming out of Maranello. Finally ending the ‘Bi-Turbo’ era, the almost entirely new 3200 GT was a significant model for the Trident-badged firm. The engine was about all that was carried over, but even though it was based on the powerplant used in the Shamal and Quattroporte IV, it was thoroughly modified before finding its way into the 3200. The chassis of this new-for-1998 GT was slightly on the soft side but nevertheless…

The third generation of BMW’s mid-size model range was crowned by the E34 M5. While not as bonkers as the original, there was a lot to love about its more mature take on performance. Along a similar vein as the M5 was the less lauded, yet more exclusive, 540i manual. This V8-powered E34 was available from 1993 and it’s thought that just 3206 six-speed manuals were offered worldwide. Oddly, half of them seem to have been destined for the self-shift obsessed USA, which makes European examples rarer still. Does that rarity translate into value? You bet. They regularly reach £10-£15k, with over $20k possible in the States. Best of all, and like its M5 sibling, the 540i was available as a Touring, so all the family (even poor Fido) could…

ED’S JOB CARD WINDOW REMOVAL Removing and refitting glass is a job you can easily do in an afternoon with only a few simple tools. Use this guide alongside your workshop manual for any special details. How tough? You’ll need ▸ Screwdrivers ▸ Spanners ▸ Wooden or plastic wedges (or a glamorous assistant) to hold the glass. Will take (HRS) 3 Will cost (FROM) £0 EXPLAINER WHY YOU NEED TO, AND WHAT TO WATCH Removal and replacement of side window glass can become necessary for various reasons. You’ll obviously have to do it if the glass is cracked, badly scratched or has had a brick thrown through it. You’ll also have to do it to service, repair or replace various parts of the frame and winding mechanism – such as…