Table of contents for May 2022 in Practical Classics

I have just recovered from a delightful three days of deeply pleasurable business at the NEC. What a show. And what a joy it was to meet up again. We are so blessed to be part of this world, this classic world. The Practical Classics Classic Car and Restoration Show with Discovery +, missing for two years, roared back to life and re-established itself as the ‘Friendly Show’ once again with 25,000 of you coming along for the fun. Thanks to everyone who came along, to the amazing clubs and organisers. To Mike Brewer, Fuzz Townshend, Ant Anstead and the rest of the celebs, plus thanks to everyone who came along to see us and said hello. Huge kudos to the team who put the Reliant Rebel back together for…

PC was saddened to hear of the passing of Willy Cave in March. Willy flew Spitfires, Vampires and Meteors for the RAF, studied engineering at Oxford, provided BAFTA-winning services to the BBC and began his dramatic rally career with the 1950 Eastbourne Rally. His first international rally was at Monte Carlo in 1955, as part of the MG works team in a Magnette. ‘Willy navigated (he never regarded himself as a co-driver) for not only the BMC works teams, but also Triumph, Rover and Rootes as well as private teams,’ writes his friend Peter Barker. ‘He completed his final rally in 2020 having been active in the sport for 70 years. Willy was a first-class sportsman, a gentleman of the very old school and a true friend.’…

Classic owners nationwide are gearing up for Drive-It-Day, Sunday 24 April, when venues and businesses will be hosting events. The MINI factory at Cowley will welcome all marque owners to the T Building that houses their Centenary Exhibition, and the 1100 Club will be there with a special display to celebrate 50 years of the BMC 1100. Free entry (email tanyafield@supanet.com). Glasgow will sing to the sound of A-series motors, as the Glasgow Morris Minors together with the Mini Clan and the Scottish branch of the Morris Minor Owners’ Club join forces for a scenic drive. In Wales, Pembrokeshire Classic Car Club is arranging a meet followed by 60-mile road run (registration required by April 19), starting from Llys-y-fran reservoir. And meanwhile at Bicester Heritage, the whole weekend is devoted…

Take one look at the work carried out by The Italian Job charity and it’s quite clear that it’s about a lot more than just self-preservation. Founded by lifelong Mini enthusiast Freddie St George and his Italian mum, Giulia, from Steyning, West Sussex, The Italian Job is now in its 33rd year. The annual fundraising event, which has so far raised £2.94m for children’s charities, begins at Imola, Italy, on October 11. This year’s chosen charity will be Buttle UK, a cause that supports and gives opportunities to children living in financial crisis. Inspired by the movie starring Michael Caine, Freddie’s Italian Job takes up to 100 Minis of all kinds to Italy each year, following in the footsteps of Michael Caine and his merry band of reprobates. But Freddie’s…

An enthusiast has donated his 1989 TVR S2 to a local dealership to raffle off in aid of humanitarian aid charities in Ukraine. Jarlath Joyce gifted the S2 2.9 back to Bridge Classic Cars, based in Woodbridge, after winning the vehicle from one of its raffles last year. All of the proceeds will be going to the Disasters Emergency Committee, a charity giving humanitarian aid to Ukraine. So far, over £16,000 has been raised by raffle ticket sales. Mr Joyce said: ‘I’ve had a lucky life and now I’d like to share my luck with those who need it most.’ Bridge Classic Cars said: ‘With the ongoing situation in Ukraine, many people across the UK are finding ways as to support the people affected by the situation.’ You can enter…

DONINGTON REVS UP FOR ACTION Classic racers take to the track The two-day Donington Historic is set to return on April 30, and this year’s weekend promises to be as exciting as ever. Wherever your interest in historic motor sport lies, you shouldn’t be disappointed with this year’s grids, which spans everything from pre-war classics to Group C racers. There will be an 80-minute GT40 race on the Saturday evening; also in the mix are pre-1956 and pre-1961 sports cars along with Touring Car greats, while the Jaguar Classic Challenge is open to all pre-1966 Jag racers. You can also expect a large club presence, with dozens of groups registered; you should be able to display your classic with your fellow owners if you’re a member of one of them.…

IN THE NEWS The Three-Day Week is announced in December by Edward Heath’s Conservative government, to try and save electricity due to strikes by coal miners and railway workers. Commercial electricity users are limited to three consecutive days of power, TV shuts down at 10.30pm and most pubs close. The restrictions last until March 1974, by which time Labour’s Harold Wilson has become PM. AT THE FLICKS Roger Moore makes his debut as James Bond in Live and Let Die, despite, at 46, being three years older than predecessor Sean Connery. The film is memorable for using crocodiles as stepping stones, the terrific speedboat chase, Paul McCartney’s storming theme tune and the decapitation of an AEC Regent III bus. Our Nick Larkin still cries about that, even now. IN THE…

Volkswagen Beetle The Beetle spent 65 years in production, beginning in 1938 and reaching into the new millennium, before finally taking a well-earned retirement in 2003. That fact alone makes it a bona fide legend of the world of motoring. But its influence went far further than that. With more than 21 million Beetles manufactured and sold worldwide, it did more than most to bring motoring to the masses. It was affordable, too – that reliable air-cooled engine out back was combined with simple mechanicals throughout to provide a vehicle that was basic to both run and maintain. Today, the Beetle is still a delight to drive. Our 1300 test model isn’t overloaded with bells and whistles – far from it – but that isn’t the point. It represents motoring…

MGB GT Pretty, fast and fun, I absolutely adore my MGB GT. Spacious enough for two, but perhaps a little ambitious as a 2+2, the ‘B is my classic of choice for long distance runs, as it will happily cruise at motorway speeds all day without breaking a sweat. It’s no less delightful on local B-roads; the 1.8-litre B-series up front is a torquey delight, and the handling is both predictable and sharp. Simplicity itself to work on, and well served with spares, specialists and club knowledge, the ubiquitous MGB GT truly is a car that I could live with for the rest of my life. Alfa GTV TS I had to have a Nineties coupé and, well, I had to have an Alfa. For me, the GTV ticks every…

Clues Across 6 How the Dacia 1300 was known in the UK (5) 7 Skoda model succeeded by the Felicia in 1995 (7) 9 Innovator of the McLaren F1 (6,6) 10 The name behind the Fourteen and Leda (10) 13 V12-engined Aston Martins (10) 16 Present-day Maserati dating back to 1963 (12) 18 An often four-speed component (7) 19 See 3 down Clues Down 1 Nationality of former carmaker Minerva (7) 2 It was renamed the Datsun 2000 in the latter part of the Sixties (6) 3& 19 across Fifties Allard roadster (4,5) 4 The original Morris Minor MM was offered in two styles - saloon and what else? (6) 5 The city base of Carrozzeria Touring (5) 8 _ classic, a contemporary description of the Mazda MX-5 (6) 11…

‘I ended up with a string of aWful heaps’ ‘No words are spoken, the only sound we hear is body talk, BODY TALK...!’ That song by Imagination, just played on Solid Gold Radio Snooze, propels me back 40 years or so to when I had sparkling eyes, a constant optimistic grin and so much youthful innocence I thought Body Talk was about welding up crusty sills. The summer of 1981, aah! As a young reporter on the Burton Daily Mail in Burton-on-Trent, I even had honorary membership of the Miners Welfare Club, and a nice girlfriend. If this wasn’t enough good fortune, Austin A60 Cambridge, registration 375 CCH, was my everyday wheels. I lovingly greased the car regularly and even found replacements for the torn front seats. Back-up transport? A…

Why do you want one? Few small cars have ever been as uniquely charismatic as the Imp. With an engine at the back for maximum space efficiency, it was a very different solution to BMC’s Mini. The Rootes Group clearly had durability on its mind, with development seeing pre-production examples ragged around Norway and Canada in winter and in parts of Africa in summer, and the Imp had some success in motor sport. Its reputation was initially harmed by some early engine reliability issues, from which it struggled to recover despite a successful 13-year lifespan. With all that twaddle about cooling issues very much in the past, what is an Imp like to own nowadays? Huge fun, actually. Conceived by young designers, Mike Parkes and Tim Fry, the rear-mounted in-line…

Baleno GSR 28 LEFT ON UK ROADS It’s easy to forget today, with successive generations of the Swift having an ever-greater resonance among the UK’s new drivers, but there was a time when Suzuki really struggled to make in-roads in this segment. The Baleno was one such example of the Japanese firm’s swing and miss at the ‘yoof’ demographic of the late-Nineties. The GSR was the ‘hot’ version and arguably the most exciting, yet still almost totally forgettable. It was powered by a 1.8-litre engine lifted from the Vitara and had respectable, if not impressive, performance. Fewer than 600 were produced for our shores, so you could argue that it was always rare, but with just 28 now remaining taxed and on the road, it’s perilously close to becoming extinct.…

Look, it was easier than catching a train, OK? I think that’s a perfectly reasonable explanation. Having sold my CX to a dedicated enthusiast in Suffolk, who will be continuing the good work to make an already superb car an even better one, Adrian Glen was concerned about lack of space in his garage. ‘I really ought to sell something’ he pondered, as I snuffled around his 30,000-mile Renault 16. They are intriguing things, granted. Charismatic, comfy and clever… but Adrian’s DS was peering at me seductively. The thought of masking up for a train journey via Peterborough sealed it, as did the fair condition of the old Citroën. The panels were a bit on the shabby side, but it looked solid underneath and mechanically, everything appeared to work. The…

Recently I’d noticed the rear end of my hard-working BMW E46 3 Series Touring was sitting a bit low, and I therefore replaced the ageing rear coil springs to restore normal ride height. While swapping the springs, which required disconnecting the rear shock absorbers, I could see that both the bump stop and shock absorber shroud had started to break up on one side. The other side, while still intact, was also looking ropey. The broken bump stop would be likely to attract a minor defect note at the next MOT test. On the Beemer’s rear suspension, the bump stops are cylinders of tough polyurethane foam that sit around the shock absorbers’ piston rods inside a black plastic cover or shroud. When replacing the springs, I ran out of time…

1 Brake caliper secured Don’t stretch your flexis... tie up the caliper with a cable tie, it keeps it out of the way, too. 2 Wishbone mount painted Chassis a little flaky in wishbone mounting area, but nothing a wire brush and a rattle can can’t cure. 3 Jack assistance Getting that long-travel spring in can be awkward without the right compressor and a handy trolley jack. 4 In the groove Springs need to be seated correctly in their mounting groove, it can be dangerous if they’re not. 5 Jubilee trick Compressing roll bar clamps the easy way. Use a jubilee clip and tighten it until you can start the nut on the thread. Easy-peasy. 6 All back together Other than the brake disc and the roll bar, everything in this…

All you need to know about everything important It was a tight call. If you turn to page 108, you’ll read how close to the wire preparing our Reliant Rebel (with a Cause) project was as we approached the Practical Classics Classic Car and Restoration Show, with Discovery +. The body had left the PC workshop just three weeks prior to the curtain going up, and Steve Brown, from HB Body had been working flat out at CBR Classic Restorations’ premises in the West Midlands to prepare it for its topcoats of NHS Blue. You’ll be able to read the full story of how it got to the show in the next issue but, as project leader Matt Tomkins says: ‘This was the most last minute of all of Practical…

Over 25,000 of you came to the Practical Classics Classic Car & Restoration Show with Discovery+ at the NEC, making it the most tiring, but also the most brilliant weekend many enthusiasts have had in ages. There was a wonderful showing of over 1500 vehicles, ranging from barn find projects to freshly restored minters, and over £30,00 was raised for charitable causes. An incredible 152 classic clubs made their presence felt, with 12 being anointed for the National Car Club Awards. In an awards first, the Car Club of the Year award went to three clubs – TR Register, Triumph Sports Six Club and MG Car Club for working together to create the first inter-club event, and Bob Wilkinson received the Lifetime Achievement award for launching the Classic Car Loan…

Pride of Ownership 2nd place: Brian Kent’s Super Snipe towed the Humber Club’s project to the NEC! Clive Moss won Restorer of the Year for his Opel Manta GTJ 3.0. Fuzz handed him the Golden Spanner. The Carole Nash Barn Find winner, collected by Chris Spencer, was Harry Larcombe’s 1949 ice cream van. Celebrities included The Smallest Cog’s Richard Hammond, interviewed by PC editor Danny Hopkins. Best small club stand at the show was won by our old friend John Simpson and the Boston Classic Car Club.…

Brian Francis from Nottingham was watching the Paralympics when, during an ad break, he was stunned to see his grandfather’s Vauxhall Cadet, OJ 4251 – a car that had been in his family from 1932 to ’58. The Cadet, in beautiful condition, was on loan from current owner Roy Upperton to take part in an advert for Bristol Street Motors, who soon received a letter from Brian describing his personal link to the car. The dealership then arranged for Brian and his ‘old family friend’ to be properly reunited, including a spell on the open road. ‘It’s been wonderful to see the Cadet again after all these years,’ says Brian. ‘It gave me a jolt when I spotted it on the advert and seeing it again has been quite emotional.…

The Piece Hall in Halifax played host to The Italian Job grand finale in 2021 after Covid-19 restrictions prevented the famous run from heading over to Italy. Ambassadors for the charity, S Club 7’s Rachel Stevens and TV’s Judge Rob Rinder (here with Freddie and Giulia St George), took part in the rally in 2018. The Italian Job raised more than £21,000 for Buttle UK by organising a ‘Mile of Minis’ at the BMW MINI Plant Oxford in May 2021. As you can see, it was quite a sight. Goodwood, 2019, and The Italian Job plays homage to the world’s most famous small car’s 60th anniversary with a line-up of more than 150 Minis at the circuit.…

Need a lift? Here’s one answer... EZ CAR LIFT £1782 We don’t all have the space for a full-sized lift, but this compact version offers a compromise. It’s suitable for vehicles up to 2000kg, lifting them up to 26in (66cm) off the ground. Lifting power is provided via a power drill (available separately), and optional wheels on the lift enable the car to be moved on a smooth floor. holden.co.uk Solder of fortune CORDLESS SOLDERING IRON £54.86 This cordless soldering iron provides one hour of usage thanks to a rechargeable 1800mAh Li-ion battery. It also features a battery level indicator and LED light, ideal for dimly lit areas such as engine bays and vehicle interiors. It reaches working temperature in around 15 seconds and has a range of 200° -480°C.…

SUN, APR 10 NOTTS Newark Autojumble, NG24 2NY (newarkautojumble.co.uk). WARKS BMW Day at the British Motor Museum, CV35 0BJ (britishmotormuseum.co.uk). HANTS Simply Audi at Beaulieu, SO42 7ZN (beaulieu.co.uk). NORTH YORKS NY500 Autojumble, Malton, YO18 8EA (ny500.co.uk). SUSSEX Southern Classics Society breakfast meet, Old Barn Garden Centre, Dial Post, Horsham, RH13 8NR (southernclassics.org.uk). MANCHESTER Breakfast Club at The Veterans’ Garage, Eccles, M30 7SA (veteransgarage.co.uk). TUES, APR 12 WARKS Gaydon Gathering at the British Motor Museum, from 5pm, CV35 0BJ (britishmotormuseum.co.uk). SAT, APR 16 SURREY Classic Vehicle Gathering at Brooklands Museum, for pre-August 1992 classics, KT13 0SL (brooklandsmuseum.com). SUN-MON, APR 17-18 SHROPSHIRE Weston Park Easter Motor Show, TF11 8LE (classicshows.org). MON, APR 18 GLOS Coleford Carnival of Transport, GL16 9SE (facebook.com/Coleford-CarnivalOfTransport). SAT, APR 23 OXON Scramble at Bicester Heritage, OX26 5HA (bicesterheritage.co.uk).…

A quarter of a century ago, colleagues from our sister publication CAR hatched an ambitious plan to bring together a group of the greatest classics ever made. It promised to give you ‘bragging rights in the bar-room debate’ - a study of essential automotive experiences separated into five different categories. There’s no better moment to revisit the concept than now, 25 years later. Would we draw the same conclusions with similar choices to before? The 2022 Practical Classics team - much like the CAR team in 1997 - gathered for many cups of tea to decide exactly which cars we think you should try before you die and drew some not altogether surprising conclusions, while identifying other classics now truly deserving of our respect and recognition in the 21st century.…

Citroën Traction Avant Want to drive the world’s first modern car? Well, here it is. Not many could claim to still be advanced at the end of their production life, but in 1957, when the last Traction Avant rolled off the line, it was still way ahead. André’s pioneering mass- produced 1934 saloon combines a lightweight but strong unitary body with front wheel drive, independent suspension and rack and pinion steering. Oh, and a hatchback version from 1936. All of this advancement in performance, comfort and safety shocked the motoring world back then, and it still delights today. FWD and the absence of a separate chassis means a sleek body and a low centre of gravity for outstanding handling and despite certain vintage traits (such as the large steering wheel),…

After a few years of dipping my toe into various jobs, last year I finally decided to rebuild an old A-series engine to running condition. It had come from a 17-owner scrap Minor, but originally from an Austin A40. It was incredibly worn and needed a lot of replacement or refurbished bits - it’s now bored out to 1150cc with a Cooper S head. The engine is in situ in the Traveller and starts at the turn of the key! The recent articles on stripping the Triumph engine and on Minor crankshaft replacement (using plastigauge on the bearings) were useful (and well timed!) but more generally the magazine has been great for persuading me to give it a go. The sense of satisfaction just about makes up for the nerves…

First-generation Bentley Continental GTs were sold from 2003-11. There was an awesome 552bhp from the 6.0-litre W12 engine, with an equally awesome price tag around £115,000. They now make regular appearances at classic car sales, with prices often achieved of £100k less than that starting point. In fact, the cheapest examples now hover just above the £10k mark. Tempting, but do your research and buy with care. A bad one has the potential to empty your wallet quicker than they can get to 60mph.…

Driving through the gates of the Shropshire headquarters of Britpart, the scale of this operation is obvious. Stocking an enormous range of both aftermarket and OE components for all models of Land Rover, Britpart is the leading wholesaler of Land Rover parts and accessories, with a global reach. This is clearly a very busy site. In true PC style, we gravitate towards Britpart’s inhouse workshop, an impressive facility which is home to a range of Land Rovers from Series I to the latest Defender, and are met by Managing Director Paul Myers - still an enthusiast at heart. His own Defender racer sits alongside his Series I in the workshop, and it’s clear that he’s as at home in a pair of overalls as he is in a suit. There’s…

1 Tell us about Suzy... ‘Back in 1969, I realised that my motorbike wasn’t suitable business transport so, after trying out my dad’s Imp, I decided to buy my own It was 1966 Super Imp MkII, for which I bargained hard and paid £400. Two weeks later, I got hit from behind and pushed into by a lorry driver who was most likely distracted by a miniskirt.’ 2 What happened next? ‘It was taken away to the local garage for repair. Meantime, my dad suggested that I should go out and take his Imp for a drive and by chance, that night I met my future wife! Dawn really liked the car too, so there is a huge amount of nostalgia attached to Suzy the Imp!’ 3 Has she been…

Porsche’s old flagship has a bit of an image problem. It is seen as a knee-jerk choice for those with a bit of money and less imagination. While there’s certainly many an unadventurous owner who adds fuel to this stereotypical fire there’s also a good reason why the 911 has become the default sports car – it’s bloody fabulous to drive. Having had a go in loads of them however, one of the best of the lot isn’t a be-winged turbocharged hero, it’s the relatively humble 996-generation Carrera. The 996 was launched at the tail-end of a troubled time for Porsche. The Boxster was barely a year old and the Cayenne wasn’t even a glint in designer Stephen Murkett’s eyes. Porsche was in a period of rationalisation and parts sharing,…

For some reason, and we’re not entirely sure why, the big-engined 190E has taken a long time to appreciate. The same certainly can’t be said for its main rival, the BMW 325i. The six-cylinder ‘baby Benz’ was launched in answer to that now famous Munich muscle saloon. Perhaps a victim of its own success and build quality, there’s been an awful lot of 190E 2.6s around for a long time. Only recently has attrition started to thin their numbers. This, combined with recent 2.3-16 and 2.5-16 prices climbing ever skyward, has meant that good 2.6s have finally started to appreciate. And rightly so too. These are fabulous, big-lunged Eighties sports saloon with a far more sophisticated chassis than their rival’s. Though perhaps a little less exciting from the factory, you…

Kettle on… time for some tall tales from the PC workshop I absolutely love a big Volvo. Those of you who have been reading PC for a while will remember my dalliance with a 740 back in the early Noughties, while who could forget Keith Moody’s epic 740 turbo in more recent times. I have never owned the real daddy of the estate car, though – the (I hate this word) icon. No, not the Amazon estate or even the 100 series… but the Volvo 240 estate, the car that made everyone (2.8 million of us, actually) sit up and take notice. I’ve always wanted one, so things gathered speed rather quickly when Steven Gates called me from Felixstowe to ask about the availability of my Mercedes SLK and the…

2004 Smart Roadster Engine 698cc/3-cyl/OHC Power 125bhp@5250rpm Economy 53.3mpg In 16 years of ownership, I’ve never got around to sorting out the sound system in my Smart. Such is the din inside the cabin above 60mph, I’ve become used to turning the bass down on the motorway to avoid farting speakers. However, it took a few hours to remove the carpets and bits of dashboard so I could fit one of those slimline active subwoofers with built-in amp in the void behind the driver’s seat. I then tested it on the way down to the Hovercraft Museum - a very welcome sunshine day beside the ocean. Home to some extraordinary examples of that greatest of British inventions, the museum is inviting allcomers to the site near Lee-on-the-Solent. Sadly, one of…

1970 Triumph TR6 Engine 2498cc/6-cyl/OHV Power 150bhp@5500rpm Gearbox 4-spd man + o/d Work done Finally cured jammed and leaking clutch hydraulics. Last time, I reported on fitting new clutch hydraulics to my TR6, replacing both master and slave cylinders. Unfortunately the job didn’t all go to plan and the TR was left with a leak from the union where the hydraulic pipe connects to the master cylinder. The pipe fitting couldn’t be tightened any further to cure the leak without risking thread damage. Things got worse when I tried to undo the fitting; the male connector had jammed in the master cylinder and even an open-ring pipe spanner slipped, rounding off the flats on the fitting, leaving me with a real mess to sort out. All has now been resolved.…

Richard Skinner received our Golden Spanner award in 2020. Now his truly scrumptious handiwork is up for sale. Find out more at chittychittybangbangcar.co.uk. Bilweb Auctions in Sweden said their Saab 900 Aero T16, in original and ‘perfect’ condition with 18,000 miles, simply ‘shouldn’t exist’. It sold for £43,000! £30,750 was recently paid for this 1981 Jaguar XJ-S HE via carandclassic.co.uk. That might be a bargain considering it’s immaculate, with only 3751 miles. A gathering beneath the Delta wings in the Concorde Hangar at Hooton Park, Manchester, was something else. The occasion? Hampson’s February Auction. The RAC Club foyer has never hosted a 1989 Proton before. It has now, thanks to the Festival of the Unexceptional and its winner, Jon Coupland.…

Formula 1’s Unsung Pioneers £95 ISBN 978-1-910505-72-4 In this illustrated, 305-page hardback, Ian Wagstaff tells the story of the 1958-64 British Racing Partnership. Formed by Stirling Moss’s father, BRP became synonymous with Sir Stirling. This book investigates their full history of triumphs and tragedies. evropublishing.com What’s On The Grille £15.99 ISBN 978 1 398103 52 8 Investigating the fascinating history behind some of the most famous badges and marque names in the world, with more than 100 illustrations over 96 pages. A very interesting read indeed. amberley-books.com Riley and Wolseley Cars 1948-1975 £16.99 ISBN 978-1787117-91-4 This latest in a series is no less comprehensive and informative than its contemporaries, with each model identified and described alongside an exploration of marque history. veloce.co.uk…

Pontiac Firebird Trans Am The Knight Industries Two Thousand of Knight Rider fame was a high-tech hero with a top speed of 310mph. The car on which it was based certainly couldn’t manage that. However, what mattered was how visually, the TV car was barely any different to a standard production third-generation 1981-92 Firebird. It didn’t need to be. From the slick profile to the flush finned turbine alloys, American car design had taken a tasteful, graceful new turn. Any US muscle car is a treat and, while this one isn’t as brawny as a Mustang or outrageous like a Superbird, it’s Eighties Hollywood cool and has an engine that burbles up front, just as you’d want it to. Handling is in another league compared with Yank Tanks of old,…

Morris Minor Traveller It might not be as glamorous as some of the other cars here, but spare a thought for the Minor Traveller - it might surprise you. Parp along in a Moggie and you can’t help but smile. The Minor is a car that evokes memories for so many people, and that joyous nostalgia is infectious even if you, like me, are too young to remember these cars on the roads in their droves. Steering is sharp and the car is well-balanced, so driving skills can be honed at modest speeds. Plus, the Traveller’s impressive interior space makes it a truly practical proposition, while greenhouse-like visibility makes it a really pleasant place to be. It’s also worth noting that Minor is incredibly well served for spares, and nothing…

Marc McGlashan wasn’t looking for a full restoration project when he came across his 2000 Peugeot 306 Cabriolet for sale in a salvage auction. The bright red Peugeot didn’t look too badly damaged despite only costing him £300; insurers had written it off after a fire at the storage compound where it was kept had melted most of the plastic parts at the rear. ‘I guess it was very lucky, really,’ said Marc. ‘Had the fire not been brought under control the 306 would have been one of the next cars to go up in flames.’ Liverpudlian Marc had just finished restoring a Ford Mondeo ST24 of the same era when he acquired the car and was looking for a nice easy project to give himself something to tinker with…

I’ve always loved the GTV, so when Nic Cooper mentioned his wife Sarah’s beloved Twin Spark was up for grabs, I quickly ran to the bank to check the balance therein. With a commitment to offer first refusal, we did a deal and soon I will start on the issues. Suspension, electrics and then an interior overhaul. All part of the fun. Great to have an Alfa back in my life and this (not the V6) is one I have always wanted. It has been Sarah’s for 14 years. I will take care of it. ASKING PRICE £500 PAID £500 with the offer of first refusal VERDICT Fave Nineties coupé... tick!…

Undeniably, the cars we present to you this month have three of the greatest badges ever stuck to a vehicle boot lid. In turn, each of the cars they’re fitted to were intended to be the very best of what the manufacturer could achieve at the time. Each was intended to be the finest, most luxurious and powerful GT of all. From the svelte, sensual Ferrari, to the block-of-flats Bentley and subtle style of the handsome Aston Martin, they are quite different interpretations. The giant ocean liner-size Bentley sets out its stall by being loaded with as much beautiful deep pile carpet, wood and chrome Crewe could cram into it. Meanwhile, the Aston Martin and Ferrari present a more purposefully sporting GT look, yet still manage to deliver some quality…

There was more to Citroën’s first supermini than you might think. It was the result of years of extensive research into aerodynamics and economy by a team of engineers in the pursuit of class-leading efficiency. Replacing the Visa and 2CV, Citroën shifted a mighty 2.5 million AXs over an impressive12-year lifespan, no doubt thanks to the promise of a genuine 70mpg. That’s what a drag coefficient of 0.31 and a tiny kerb weight of just 640kg gets you. If these kinds of numbers hold appeal in cash-strapped 2022, you can still find an Citroën AX for not very much money at all. Here’s how to bag the best! Why you want one The AX is hilariously fun to drive. There’s a precision to the steering that makes other superminis of…

Danny Hopkins Just in time for rocketing fuel prices, I’ve bought a car that can do huge miles for every oily gallon... it is the most frugal car I have owned since my Honda Insight. Not the zippiest, though. The 1.5-litre engine accelerates from 0-60mph in 17.5 seconds and on to a heady maximum speed of 98mph. But with a 58mpg average, a full tank can propel the little thing 570 miles before requiring a re-fill. It’s not bad to drive either, being a Peugeot of a certain age – it handles. The 25-year-old came to me via good friend, Iain Turner, and had not been used for four years. Much to do then? Not really. A good clean, a full service, some welding to the boot floor sides, a…

1996 Peugeot 106 1.5 D Engine 1527cc/4-cyl/OHC 0-60mph 19sec Fuel economy 58mpg Work since last report Boot welded; rear bearing; brake pipe replaced; MOT. My Jensen Interceptor is on the road. Hooray. Except it’s mainly being used as an ornament because a weekend of local trips cost me £120 in fuel. I worked out that if I had used my 106 for the same journeys, the weekend would have cost me £23.75. Now, was the Jensen experience worth the outlay? Hell yes! But I need to lock it up for a bit and get real. And ‘real’ here means 58mpg, 650 miles from a tank and real classic ‘feel’, from the code-activated ignition to the allround visibility. It wasn’t all good news. The rear hubs were noisy, it needed a brake…

For several years my TR5 has leaked oil from the front of the engine. Until recently it was just a few spots left on the drive after a run, before putting the car away in the garage – but now it’s getting worse. Please can you advise how to find and fix this leak?Jon Clark, Hertfordshire NIGEL’S JOB CARD HUNT OIL LEAKS AND STOP ‘EM! We’re looking at three typical oil leaks today, in a few vehicles: Triumph GT6, BMW E46 3-Series and Ford V6-engined Reliant Scimitar. Tracing a leak and gaining access to fix it are often the most time consuming parts of the job. Lubricant usually escapes from worn oil seals or tired old gaskets, and we find several typical examples here. Although these are engine leaks, the…