Table of contents for February 2020 in Practical Classics

ULEZ EXEMPTION CLARIFICATION  Practical Classics has received confirmation from TfL that all vehicles registered before January 1, 1973 and vehicles with a tax class of ‘Historic Vehicle’ are exempt from the Ultra Low emissions charge (apart from any vehicle that is used commercially). PC made the enquiry after discovering that several historic vehicles checked through TfL’s Check Your Vehicle service returned results that the ULEZ charge was applicable to them. Owners of older vehicles must still pay the congestion charge to avoid getting a penalty charge. MOTS FOR AUCTIONED CLASSICS After discovering that an apparently mint classic offered for inclusion in one of their sales was in fact rotten, Classic Motor Cars (CMC) has taken the decision to offer every car, excepting projects and barn finds, in its May 2020…

The PC team has unveiled its first ever workshop manual. How to Look After Your Classic Car is packed with tips, advice and step-by-step tutorials. PC tech gurus cover subjects ranging from basic fixes and fault diagnosis to engine rebuilds and full restorations. Editor Danny Hopkins says he’s excited about this one. ‘PC has been helping people restore, fix and maintain their cars for 40 years and, while our aim is to be informative, this collection of guides also reflects the joy we all get from our hobby’ The special issue is available at WH Smith and via greatmagazines. co.uk.…

MG Magnette £14.99 ISBN 978-1-4456-8603-5 A fascinating exploration of the MG Magnette from its development through launch, testing, competition and into restoration and ownership today – including how to cope with typical faults and failings. amberley-books.com High Performance £20 ISBN: 978-1-471168-45-1 This book celebrates Britain’s automotive golden age and the mavericks who sketched cars on the back of envelopes and garage floors, who fettled, bolted and welded them together and hammered the competition in the showroom, on the road and on the track. simonandschuster.co.uk Complete catalogue of the Land Rover £35 ISBN: 978-1-906133-85-6 Following Land Rover evolution from its 1948 origins to 2016, when the last Defender was built. All the models built for the UK and for export territories are covered herridgeandsons.com…

1 TALBOT TAGORA The boxy Tagora started life as a proposed replacement for the Chrysler 180 and was inherited by Peugeot when the US firm divested its interests to PSA in 1978. To add appeal, engineers fitted the PRV V6 Douvrin used in the 604, Renault 30 and Volvo 264/265 but despite being a superb steer, neither the press nor buyers were convinced by the Talbot’s looks or the cabin, which was far too plain and plasticky to appeal to the gizmo-loving Eighties executive. The plan to sell 60,000 cars a year fell flat when, in 1983, production ended at just 20,000 units. With just nine registered, values are a tough call but if you can find one, we reckon £3k could bag a decent example. The Tagora might have…

IN THE NEWS Atomic power went under the sea this year with the completion of the USS Nautilus (SSN-571), the world’s first nuclear-propulsion submarine. She immediately began setting new speed and endurance records for submersibles and, in 1958, became the first water vessel to reach the North Pole. AT THE FLICKS The dream team of Alfred Hitchcock, Grace Kelly and Cary Grant resulted in the glittering romantic thriller To Catch a Thief. Both the highly attractive leads sparkled, and the Rootes Group did alright out of it too, with the Sunbeam Alpine driven by Grace unnerving Cary in the mountains above Monte Carlo. IN THE CHARTS Rock ‘n’ roll was about to hit the youth of Britain, with Bill Haley and his Comets reaching number one with Rock around the…

Electricity doesn’t grow on trees! It irks me when I read the nonsense about electric cars being zero emissions. Even if electricity grew on trees, this wouldn’t be true but I think electric cars are a placebo, designed to kid people into believing that too many people can continue to travel too far, too often and so long as there is no exhaust pipe, that’s OK. Already I understand that, even with the limited numbers now seen, electric car battery disposal is a problem. An insurance assessor recently pointed out that while most would replace their batteries, after four or five years, the next time around such expenditure would then be seen as uneconomic and the car would be written off. If everyone drove them, it would be far worse.…

‘It’ll be passed down to my son’ 1996 Jaguar X300 Sovereign Phil Gay, Crymych This car was originally registered to the owner of a coal merchants in Aberdeen, but was supplied from Stratstones of Lincoln. It’s now done 110,000 miles and is in original condition. The 3.6-litre XAJ16 engine means that the car simply wafts along, and returns around 25mpg around town, 35 on the motorway which isn’t bad for 2-tonnes of car. My late wife, Margret, called the car ‘Ruby’ and I promised her that I’d never sell the car. It’ll be passed down to my son. The original tool kit under the bonnet is complete and has never been used. ‘I was after something different’ 1982 Citroën Acadiane, 1970 Bond Equipe Clive Fisher, Locks Heath While browsing eBay…

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) and the Peugeot-Citroën group (PSA) have merged. Or so it first seemed; actually, there’s one more PSA board member than there are FCA ones, so really PSA has taken over FCA. That, in new-car land, is a fairly epic development. It means, to those of us with a classic tint to our automotive appreciation, that the company that once took over Chrysler’s European operations, formerly the Rootes Group and Simca, now has control of the whole Chrysler shebang in the US, too. Does it also mean that Mopar will shortly be rebranded as Motaquip? Let me explain. Mopar is Chrysler’s parts brand, has been for very many years, and is nowadays Fiat’s parts brand too. In the US, ‘Mopar’ is also a sort of slang for…

SAT JAN 25 Anglia Car Auctions’ classic sale, King’s Lynn, Norfolk. (01553 771881, angliacarauctions.co.uk) FRI JAN 31 South West Vehicle Auctions, Parkstone, Poole, Dorset. (01202 745466, swva.co.uk THU FEB 6 Bonhams, Les Grande Marques du Monde, Grand Palais, Paris, France. (020 7468 5801, bonhams.com/cars) FRI FEB 7 Artcurial, Rétromobile show, Porte de Versailles, Paris, France.(artcurial.com) SUN FEB 9 Charterhouse, Royal Bath & West Showground, Shepton Mallet, Somerset. (01935 812277, charter-house-auction.com ) SAT FEB 22 Silverstone Auctions’ Race Retro Sale, NAC, Stoneleigh, Warks. (01926 691141, silverstoneauctions.com ) TUE FEB 25 Barons Auctions’ Classic Winter Warmer, Sandown Park, Esher, Surrey. (023 8066 8413, barons-auctions.com) WED MAR 4 Brightwells’ Classic & Vintage, Easters Court, Leominster, Herefordshire. (01568 611122, brightwells.com)…

Triumph GT6 As six-cylinder sports cars go, the GT6 still isn’t crazily priced, even after recent rises. You can still buy the very best for somewhere in the teens. Value-wise, it’s a case of the earlier the better, as so few MkIs survive. HOT +14% IN THE LAST YEAR Panther J72 The fall from grace may have happened a while ago, but so few of these even change hands openly that it has been hard to get data, but we think the new price window for these SS100 imitators is £16-40k. NOT -25% IN THE LAST YEAR…

James likes... THE XANTIA When the most interesting thing about this Ford I could think of was the (admittedly useful) pen holder, it’s clear I’m just not a ‘Mondeo Man’. It’s a great drive but the rest of it sends me to sleep. For me, the 1993 choice would have to be a Rover 600 (or its Honda Accord sister) or a Citroën Xantia. The French car may not be as sporty to drive as a Mondeo, but it’s handsome, comfier and marginally more interesting. Matt G likes... THE BARGAIN ONE My dad had a silver Mondeo 1.8 TD as a company car between 1993 and late 1997. It clearly made a big impression on me, as I bought a 1994 1.8 GLX, also in silver, for £350 when I…

Fresh from my success with sourcing and adapting the inline heater blower, the final steps were tackled to have it fully functional from the dashboard. I wasn’t keen on fitting a two- or three-speed fan switch and a variable speed type was my preferred option. Modern types I’ve looked at have been invariably too large or unable to accept a period correct or original type knob. The only solution was a rheostat switch, as fitted to some TRs, Jaguars, Healeys and so on. I’d already got my fingers metaphorically burned buying secondhand versions of these at autojumbles due to broken resistor coils meaning they don’t work or burst into flames. There are two Lucas types currently on sale but be careful if you follow in my footsteps because one version…

1967 Triumph Spitfire MkIII Engine 1296cc/4-cyl/OHV Power 75bhp@6000rpm Torque 75lb ft@4000rpm Gearbox 4-spd manual + o/d 0-60mph 13.6sec Top speed 100mph Fuel economy 33mpg Work done New project Spitfire purchased and fettled. TR6 speedo repaired. Also in Nigel’s garage 1972 TRIUMPH GT6 MKIII The 2.5-litre engine just needs a few more miles before I can book a rolling road session. 1977 RELIANT SCIMITAR GTE I need to renew the tailgate rubber seal. It’s leaking – a lot!…

1980 Porsche 924 Engine 1984cc/4-cyl/OHC Transmission 5-spd manual Power 123bhp@5800rpm Torque 131lb ft@3500rpm 0-60mph 9.5sec Top speed 124mph Fuel economy 27mpg Work done Car ignored; engine seized; engine freed; car tipped over. Also in Theo’s garage 1955 AUSTIN PRINCESS Patiently awaiting a Gardner 4LK diesel heart transplant. 1963 STANDARD VANGUARD Remarkably rotten, but very good ‘How-to…’ fodder. 1997 FSC ŽUK VAN If I don’t get it roadworthy soon, it’ll probably rust away.…

Tatty chrome bumpers are par for the course on classics that have enjoyed long and happy lives or suffered periods of being laid-up in less than perfect conditions. If you have to ask how much a straightening and rechroming job costs, you probably can’t afford it. Fortunately, though, you can substantially improve what you’ve got with a little effort. The results may not satisfy judges at Pebble Beach, but the casual observer wouldn’t notice that anything was amiss. We’ve delved into the Practical Classics Museum of Bumpers and found some tired examples to demonstrate on. It turns out that chrome looks a bit underwhelming when photographed on a bench, away from the car. In each case, though, we’ve successfully taken something semi-derelict and made it perfectly presentable. You’ll have to…

I was taken with this rather fine Pinto at the Great North Road Vehicle Gathering at Stibbington Diner. The Sterling (see p92) is UK registered! After a long wait, the DVLA have at last issued it a reg number. I love the winter commute – especially when driving my 2CV to work. It can be chilly, but it’s loads of fun. With that in mind, the steelies and winter tyres are back on the Smart to give it a fighting chance in snow. I met up with a pal for a look at France’s approach to the people’s car. R4 a masterclass in space efficiency.…

Bentley wood In celebration of the end of its centenary year, Bentley has planted 100 trees at its Crewe site. The native UK species, including oak, walnut and maple, have each been used in Bentley production past or present. Prodrive Legends service Prodrive has seen a demand for its historic race and rally cars and has launched Prodrive Legends, an operation dedicated to the authentication, restoration and support of these cars. This is a direct response to a rise in requests from owners to verify the provenance of ex-Prodrive cars. Lucas launched Lucas used the Classic Motor Show at the NEC to debut its latest offering: the Lucas Authentic Classic Range. Presented in red and black packaging – evocative of the original period parts with the lion and flambeau logo…

Apprentice Lanciates Apprentices are set to begin the restoration of a rare Lancia Jolly ex-works van. The van, which is known to the Lancia Motor Club, has been donated to Marches Centre for Manufacturing Technology and will be fully restored by its heritage technician apprentices as part of their course. Farewell Andy Vauxhall Heritage stalwart Andy Boddy said goodbye to the company in December after 40 years service. We’d like to say a big thank you from the magazine to Andy for looking after the Heritage fleet and for making us so welcome at Luton for many years. New show A brand new event is to launch in 2020. The East of England Festival of Motoring will feature anything from classic displays to a spare parts area and takes place…

Formed in 1991, the Southern Classics Society is a multi-marque club for all pre-2000 classic vehicles. Richard Long, SCS Events Coordinator, told us: ‘We organise four large shows and ten breakfast meetings throughout both Sussex counties between February and November; non-SCS members are welcome. We have a monthly Noggin & Natter at the Bull Inn, Henfield, West Sussex, BN5 9AD on the second Monday of the month from 7.45pm. Members also benefit from numerous drive-it days along with other social events for just £15 per year. It is an informal and very friendly club. There’s more information at southernclassics. org.uk.’…

If you’ve never immersed yourself in the annual London to Brighton run (now known as the Veteran Car Run), be sure to do it in 2020. Each year more than 400 of the earliest cars ever made run the 60 miles from Hyde Park to Madeira Drive, in one the greatest spectacles of the motoring year. First off this year was an 1894 Benz, but our favourite was the 1896 Salvesen Steam Cart – basically a steam locomotive for the road. PC alumnus Fuzz Townsend drove the National Motor Museum’s 1904 De Dion Bouton, too. Find more information at veterancarrun.com.…

Roger Chinery is the owner and proprietor of Affordable Classics in Great Yeldham, near Halstead – a garage where you will find the Fords of yesteryear rather than the latest Mondeos and Fiestas. Nowadays, Roger specialises in selling classic and retro Fords from the Sixties, Seventies and Eighties, as well as hiring them out for film and television use. This means that he spends a fair bit of time on set. ‘To be honest, there is a lot of hanging around, says Roger. ‘But one of the things I do enjoy is that I get to drive old cars around and get paid for it. And I get to have a real purpose for driving old cars around.’ affordableclassics.co.uk…

MATRA MURENA Taking over from the exquisite Bagheera, the three-seat Murena was Matra’s effort to bring itself into the Eighties with a svelte new shape but using mechanicals from the PSA parts bin. LHD only, only a handful were sold in the UK. ISUZU PIAZZA The handsome Giugiaro styling and bonkers dashboard proved to be deceptive – the Piazza was based on GM’s aged RWD T-Series chassis (otherwise known as the Vauxhall Chevette). Tweaks by Lotus in ’85 had little effect but nevertheless, the Piazza remains an appealing classic today for around £3k. TALBOT SOLARA Effectively replacing the Chrysler Hunter and Talbot Avenger, the comfy Ryton-built Solara was a saloon version of the facelifted Alpine. Smart but a little dowdy in comparison to rivals from Ford and Vauxhall, small engines…

OWNER PROFILE Keith Warren served an apprenticeship as a ship building mechanical fitter, learning machining and welding skills. Before retirement he worked at Drax power station, in charge of training and NVQ assessments. 1974 JC MIDGE The JC Midge is a handbuilt car i.e. a ‘plan and pattern’ car designed by John Cowperthwaite. Keith built his on a Spitfire MkIV chassis in 1997. 1972 TRIUMPH TR6 Keith bought it in 1983, graduating from four-cylinder sports cars. He restored it himself, with a few upgrades. Keith Warren is clearly a man who accepts nothing less than perfection. Having restored his 1972 Triumph TR6 to near-concours standard, the Lucas Petrol Injection system didn’t meet his high standards. Even after several new metering units and injectors, it remained problematic. ‘It was…

My favourite was from the Eighties TV series The Chinese Detective and involved a chase between a Bond Bug and a Messerschmitt KR200. Peter Chaloner If you consider yourself a petrolhead and haven’t seen Shaker Run from New Zealand (1985), then do yourself a favour and get the popcorn out. Peter Horvath Can’t beat Roger Moore’s face when he spots that 2CV in the bushes in For Your Eyes Only. That car chase is hilarious! Gareth Rogers The Burglars from the early Seventies with Omar Sharif in an Opel and a Fiat 124 Special. Simon Fixter The motorbike courier scene from Some Mothers do ’Ave ’Em. Sam Barker Italian Job, Bullitt and Ronin. Nothing else close. Adey Shaw Ronin wins hands down – with the Audi S8 and Citroën XM…

Peugeot 504 I was blown away by this beautiful early Peugeot 504 in Brantôme, France. Eddie Boutland, Kent Goggomobil coupé I recently saw this little Goggomobil coupé at Markt Schwaben rail station near Munich. Mike Butler, Kirkcaldy, Fife 1987 Rover 800 Spotted in a popular garden centre car park in Kidderminster, this Rover 800 is in totally clean and unmarked condition. It looks never to have been restored. Carl Jenner, West Midlands Dodge Charger A ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ Charger seen recently on our holiday to Guia, Portugal. A real head-turner! Michael Marshall, Luton Citroën Mehari I took this photo of a lovely Mehari while on holiday in the Vendee in France last summer. Ed Mayo, Northampton Mercedes-Benz 190D The white Mercedes 190D was spotted in Torre de la Horadada, in…

Christmas and birthdays I can take or leave. The two indelible dates in my diary are the Beaulieu International Autojumble and the Autumn Sun Run. The latter is a four-day rally in classic Monte Carlo territory that my friend Paul Johns and I have patronised for five years. We never think to question whether we should rebook, thanks to the rally’s winning combination of fine scenery, amazing roads, excellent company, salubrious evenings in bars and an itinerary that’s engaging, but not inconveniently challenging. Paul and I have more cars than sense and we’ve set a precedent of never making it to the start in the car that we put on the entry list. This year was no exception. I failed to get my Turkish Tofas Serçe UK-registered in time, so…

‘Aviation takes 3 days to burn what classics use in a year’ I am far from being a climate change denier – governments across the world really must make some meaningful changes or we’re all in trouble. But I do object to the amount of blame that is heaped on car drivers, with threats to force fossil fuel-driven cars off the road by whatever fanciful date each political party chooses to offer up. I’ve also noticed a growing amount of negativity being aimed at older cars. Apart from it not being that simple, there are other bigger issues that will still be there if we all threw our keys away tomorrow. For fun, to highlight this I ran calculator over some easily found data. There are according, to the FBHVC,…

1967 Wolseley Hornet Price: £8000 White with blue roof and grey leather interior. Under 30,000 miles and used regularly but minimally in last 15 years or so. Absolutely exceptional. 1971 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Price: £13,995 Paint and (leather) interior done in 2000, new floorpans fitted – very solid car. New Remtec engine in ’06. MOT history from 1997. 1973 Morris Marina Coupe 1.3 Price: £2750 De Luxe spec and with only 50,000 miles from new. Extremely solid car in very good original condition. Not many left like this.…

We motoring writers often get asked by our friends for advice on buying cars – both classic and otherwise – but I have personally found it to be a total waste of my time. They have usually already decided what they want before even asking and are inevitably miffed when I don’t agree with their choice. For instance, about 20 years ago – despite clearly stating they had an eye on a base-spec Volkswagen Golf MkIV – my friends David and Lynn asked for help. I suggested they ought to consider the Golf’s sportier, swankier sister, the SEAT Leon. For the same money, they could own a highly desirable and, in comparison, a fully-loaded Cupra version – the one with the Audi TT engine. Yet the car was, basically, still…

Adam Wilkins owns two early Mondeos, but they’re not his first. Says Adam: ‘In 2009 I bought a MkII that did 100,000 miles in four years. It was used for towing and was barely serviced, yet it worked superbly until it had done 180,000 miles, when it was eaten by rust. I then bought another MkII and did the same again, which is why I’ve now got the two MkIs, acquired as classics. Superb early cars can still be bought for peanuts, yet these cars handle brilliantly, are durable, modern and well equipped – but watch out for rust.’…

1992 Fiat Panda Sky Engine 999cc/4-cyl/OHC Power 45bhp@5250rpm Torque 55lbft@3250rpm Gearbox 5-speed manual 0-60mph 16sec Top speed 87mph Fuel economy 35mpg Work done Head gasket replaced; new tyres fitted; door repaired. Also in Matt’s garage 1937 AUSTIN SEVEN RUBY Plans are on the drawing board. 1960 MINOR CONVERTIBLE Playing Santa’s sleigh. 1969 MINOR TRAVELLER Is being used as a datum for the supercharger inlet manifold. 1972 MGB GT Good at going sideways in snowy car parks. 2002 FORD FOCUS Ever-dependable.…

Sam Glover TECHNICAL EDITOR Sam has broken down in a gigantic variety of classics over the years, then worked out how to fix them. John Simpson MASTER MECHANIC Big John has worked at the greasy end of the motor industry since leaving school. Theodore J Gillam TECHNICAL EXPERT Theo taught automotive engineering and makes amazing things in his shed. Ed Hughes WORKSHOP GENIUS Ed singlehandedly keeps a fleet of obscure classics on the road. He’s never owned a modern car. Kim Henson CLASSIC CAR GURU Kim’s been restoring classics for over four decades. BMC vehicles are his speciality. Nigel Clark DIY RESTORER Nigel’s driveway achievements rival those of professional mechanics. He’s our resident Triumph expert. RENAULT 19 What causes ‘brake fade’ and how can I prevent it? Q I took…

Bosch Motronic engine management hit the streets in the early Eighties, when flagship models of BMW, Porsche and Volvo became early adopters of the new technology. The system brought previously unheard of accuracy to engine fuelling and ignition timing, improving power, economy, emissions and driveability. The breakthrough was fully computerised engine control. Sensors feed the computer – or Electronic Control Unit (ECU) – with information on the amount of air entering the engine, the position of the throttle spindle, the crankshaft speed and the temperature. This allows it to calculate how much fuel to pulse from electromagnetic injectors and when to fire the spark plugs under every conceivable combination of engine speed, load and throttle opening. ‘Maps’ of fuel requirements and ignition advance created on a dynamometer at the factory…

Engine oil 8.0 pints (4.5 litres) of good quality 20w50. Axle oil Four-speed: 2.3 pints (1.3 litres) EP90. Five-speed: 2.0 pints (1.1 litres) EP90. Gearbox oil Four-speed: 2.0 pints (1.1 litres) EP75. Five-speed: 2.7 pints (1.5 litres) EP75. Automatic: 9.5 pints (5.4 litres) ATF. Cooling system 13.0 pints (7.4 litres) ethylene glycol (blue) antifreeze mix. Valve clearances Set cold. Inlet: 0.008in (0.20mm). Exhaust: 0.018in (0.45mm). Points gap 0.016in (0.40mm). Spark plugs Champion N12Y or equivalent. Gap: 0.025in (0.65mm) Ignition timing 10° BTDC static or dynamic at 650-850rpm with vacuum advance disconnected. Firing order . 1-3-4-2 Kim says ‘Service your TR7 at least every 3000 miles or annually, whichever comes first. Exceptions relating to specific components are identified in the steps.’…

The pickup that lives inside your classic car’s fuel tank is a very common but much-overlooked cause of running issues. It’s fitted with a gauze filter that clogs with varnish – a solid black residue that build up gradually on the inside of the tank. This is particularly true if the car is rarely used or has been laid up for a long period at some stage in its existence. The amount of petrol that can flow through the gauze slowly diminishes until supply no longer meets the demands of the engine, often aided by particles of rust in the tank. Pickup filters are available off-the-shelf for many classics. Replacement simply involves removing and cleaning the fuel pickup, then fitting the new filter. If you can’t buy a new filter…

I knew I wanted a Peel P50 after seeing Jeremy Clarkson driving one on Top Gear. The problem was, there were only about 30 left so a P50 cost about £15,000 before the show and a lot more afterwards; an original one has since sold at auction for $170,000. Thankfully, it’s since been possible to buy a recreation, either ready-made or as a kit, with an electric motor, a twist-and-go moped engine, or for about £4,000 extra, the original style 49cc DKW two-stroke engine. I really wanted a car with gears and was lucky to find this second-hand self-built-kit car using a 50cc four-stroke engine. It’s had some issues. The engine was such poor quality that the valves had bent, so I had no power. A friend who’s into motorbikes…

THU, DEC 26 HERTS Boxing Day Meet at the Lordship Arms, Benington, SG2 7BX (lordshiparms.com). LONDON Cold Turkey day at the Ace Café, NW10 7UD (london.acecafe. com). CUMBRIA Classic Car Meet at the Lakeland Car Museum, LA12 8TA (lakelandmotormuseum. co.uk). SAT, DEC 28 LONDON All American Cruise at the Ace Café, NW10 7UD (london. acecafe.com). SUN, DEC 29 YORKS Huddersfield Autojumble, Old Market Building, HD1 1RG (phoenixfairs.jimdo.com). WORCS The New Unnamed Classic Car Group monthly meet at The Old Waggon and Horses (DY10 3NX (thenewunnamedclassiccargroup.co.uk). MIDDLESEX New Year Autojumble at Whitewebbs Museum of Transport, EN2 9HW (whitewebbsmuseum. co.uk). TUE, DEC 31 LONDON New Year’s Eve meet at the Ace Café, NW10 7UD (london.acecafe.com). WED, JAN 1 BEDS Vintage Stony Vintage Car and Motorcycle Gathering, Stony Stratford, MK11 1BE (vintagestony.co.uk). SURREY…

Simon is a freelance journalist. He has owned his stunning 1988 Bentley Turbo R for the past six years. He told PC: ‘I followed the trend for smaller displacement turbocharged engines, selling my Jensen Interceptor to buy this! I had the car resprayed back in 2016 and have always been scrupulous with maintenance – which doesn’t come cheap with a Bentley. I’ve had the interior wood and the wheels refurbished and shod the latter with new original specification Avon Turbospeed tyres. The reward, though, comes when you settle into the Champagne leather interior, shut the door with a heavy clonk and turn the key. It’s a car that just makes you feel incredibly special.’…

I own a Polo MkI – the very best of the bunch! Ben Jammin I prefer the Polo too – so much so, I bought one! The contemporary motoring press were ‘sympathetic’ to the shortfalls of both the Fiesta and Metro. Daniel Roberson I love my current Metro as much as my first one. First Metro was a 1981 one in Snapdragon Yellow. My current one (Metro number six) is a cheeky little Flame Red number and it’s so much fun to drive, like a mad go-kart. Clare Hayward Citroën AX for us… we’ve just bought one for the second time for our lad to learn to drive in. Rich Sadler Granted, the Fiesta was in no way innovative, but it was comfortable and had street appeal. It didn’t take…

Fords and Renault We present an outstanding hoard this month, courtesy of our resident rust-hunter, Jack Brands. This breakers yard is in the south of Sweden in the county of Blekinge and has been in business since way back in 1940. Left to right; a rare two-door Ford Corsair, Ford Zephyr 6 MkIII, Ford Taunus 17M (P3) and a Renault 16, while up in the air behind is a 1958/59 Fiat 1100. £50 STAR FIND Can you do better! Send your high-res images to practical.classics@ bauermedia.co.uk Austin A35 A forlorn Austin A35 surrounded by some Fifties/Sixties Opels, and a Renault 4 van perched up in the background. Wolseley 4/44 Here we have a tired and worn Wolseley 4/44, with the missing grille and windscreen glass meaning the end of…

‘240Z resto projects start at £3000 and the best examples are now fetching more than £25,000; a nice car that’s not perfect is worth £15,000. The 260Z is harder to value as they’re so unusual, but expect to pay a bit less than for an equivalent 240Z, with the 2+2 worth a bit less again. Unconverted left-hand drive cars have a big market in Europe; the Z is very popular in France in particular. Conversions from left to right-hand drive can prove controversial, but done properly and openly, it has little effect on value.’…

1980 Triumph TR7 Engine 1998cc/4-cyl/OHC Power 105bhp@5500rpm Torque 119lb ft@3500rpm Gearbox 4-speed manual 0-60mph 110mph Top speed 9.1sec Fuel economy 26.4mpg Work done Rad fitted, sender and stat too; suspension probed. Also in Danny’s garage 1951 RILEY RMA Getting attention soon. Still slumbering needing brakes. 1956 RILEY PATHFINDER Engine rebuilt at NEC show – now for the gearbox. 1971 JENSEN INTERCEPTOR Now has an ignition issue to go with the fuelling issue. 1972 TRIUMPH 2000 Dry stored for winter. 1998 TOYOTA AVENSIS CDX ESTATE Putting in good service for a friend in great need. 2002 VAUXHALL OMEGA 2.5 V6 ELITE Off to Vauxhall Heritage soon for a new coil pack. 2004 FREELANDER 1 Needs MOT and a service.…

1970 Morris Minor Saloon Engine 1310cc/4-cyl/OHV Gearbox 5-speed manual Work done More filler work; door gaps cut; stripped for primer. My recent visit to CBR Classic Restorations, where the Minor Saloon is residing, entailed more hitting metal, tweaking gaps, then applying and sanding body filler. With a final couple of skims of aluminium-reinforced body filler, both sides of the car were the right shape. Then it was out with the steel rule, pencil, masking tape and grinder. Carefully, I cut the filler along the door gaps and then finished off with a piece of 80-grit wrapped around a filler card to give a perfect gap top-to-bottom. Then it was time for Top Stop filler and to break out the spanners to strip the front suspension, wings, doors and boot lid…

Prices are researched from several sources, including clubs, auctions, the trade and advertisements online and in print. Prices are reviewed and updated every issue. Our C/D rating is a basic guide to what you can expect to pay (£) for the best examples of a model, a concours car or something from a dealer. CONDITION 1 means well-presented cars that have no obvious faults. CONDITION 2 cars are capable of regular use. They have a current MoT certificate but will need work and/or original parts. CONDITION 3 cars usually need a full rebuild, but may be driveable and MoT’d. PLEASE NOTE You can’t value any car without seeing it – don’t buy blind. KEY auto: automatic cab: cabrioletcon: convertible est: estate lhd: left-hand drive lim: limousine rwd: rear-wheel drive sal:…