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TWENTY FACTS ABOUT LIFE IN 1948
- 12th May, 2023
To celebrate the coronation of Charles III on the 6th of May, and Coronation Day on the 8th of May, here are twenty facts about life in the UK in the year of his birth:
CELEBRATING THE SUNBEAM STILETTO
- 12th May, 2023
Continuing our celebration of 60 years of the Hillman Imp is one of the most desirable members of the line-up. In 1967 the new Stiletto had no domestic rival as a 2+2 rear-engine coupe. Furthermore, it boasted an “ace-bred Sunbeam engine, ZOOM fastback styling, vinyl covered roof, twin carburettors, rally instrumentation and servo-assisted brakes”.
Land Rover’s Freelander is a forgotten modern classic in waiting
- 12th May, 2023
Think of the green oval logo and images come thick and fast; wax jackets and mud-covered Land Rovers remain entrenched in the hearts and minds of enthusiasts. When Land Rover appealed to urban families with the Freelander 1 however, it struck gold.
MEET THE OWNER – BEN CURTIS AND HIS ROVER 3500 ESTOURA
- 12th May, 2023
Ten years ago, I invited readers of Classic & Sports Car to “imagine a landowner of the Alan Clark school of tact and diplomacy driving an Estoura at speed around his properties, a 1961 Château Latour being waved out of the open driver’s window and curses being aimed at those who had bought their own furniture.”
MEET THE OWNER – JEFF DAY’S 60 YEAR OLD HILLMAN IMP
- 12th May, 2023
On 3 May 1963, the Rootes Group unveiled the Hillman Imp. Two months later, Jeff Day’s example left the factory – “This was one of their first Imps, sold on 2 July 1963, and it still wears its original number plates”. Today it is one of the oldest surviving examples of a fascinating vehicle.
Meet The Owner – Mark Ashbridge and his Mazda 1800
- 12th May, 2023
To say Mark Ashbridge is an enthusiast of Japanese cars would be an understatement. However, owning a 1968 B10-Series Sunny 1000, one of the original Datsun press cars in the UK, was not enough, so he acquired a 1971 Mazda 1800. 52 years ago, this was the sort of transport for motorists with BMW 2000 aspirations and a Ford Cortina GXL income.
Stars and Their Cars – Leslie Phillips and The Fast Lady
- 12th May, 2023
This is a slightly unusual “Stars and Their Cars” feature, as 61 years ago, Leslie Phillips did not buy the 1927 Bentley 3-litre Speed Model Open Tourer by Vanden Plas that he co-starred with in The Fast Lady. The actor may have been a keen motorist, even taking his advanced driving test during shooting.
Meet The Owner - Joseph Lane and his Classic Police Fleet
- 12th May, 2023
Nearly four years ago, we met the 1965 ex-Leicester City Police Ford Anglia 105E De Luxe owned by Joseph Lane. Since then, his fleet has somewhat expanded. As he explains:
THE TRIUMPH TR2 AT 70
- 3rd May, 2023
It is often tempting to issue sweeping statements about motoring history, but here is one I will attempt to justify. Without the TR2, which debuted seventy years ago today at the Geneva Motor Show, the Triumph name would probably have gone the way of Lanchester or Jowett by the end of the 1950s.
THE ORIGINAL METRO FROM LONGBRIDGE – THE METROPOLITAN
- 3rd May, 2023
1953 saw the introduction of so many fine British cars, from the Jensen 541 and the MG Magnette ZA to the Standard Eight and the Ford Zephyr-Zodiac. And in October of that year, the first examples of an Anglo-American 'compact' – the remarkable Metropolitan.
TRIUMPH AT 100
- 28th April, 2023
2023 marks 100 years since the first Triumph badged car, the 10/20, left the factory. Selecting one model that encapsulates all the marque’s virtues is mission impossible, so this writer has decided to choose his favourite example from a shortlist of five.
THE STAG FASTBACK – TRIUMPH’S LOST OPPORTUNITY?
- 28th April, 2023
Many followers of ‘The British Motor Corporation/British Leyland Saga’ like to speculate on what might have been. The projects that never entered production are many and varied, from the 9X and the Austin Ant to the ‘Rolls-Healey 4000’ and Rovers P8 and P9.
How to holiday abroad in France with your classic
- 28th April, 2023
Driving your historic vehicle in France is something all classic car owners should experience – whether it’s to savour the delights of the bi-annual Le Mans Classic, the riviera or one of the hundreds of enchanting villages, cities and vistas available to holiday-makers across The Channel.
THE YEAR THE KING WAS BORN – 75 FACTS ABOUT MOTORING IN 1948
- 27th April, 2023
As the 6th May is the Coronation Day and 14th November is the 75th birthday of King Charles III, here are 75 facts about motoring in 1948.
