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Keep up to date with the latest news and events from the world of classic cars.
A 7,500 MILE JOURNEY IN A 1954 FIAT 1100-103
- 18th June, 2024
Any 1954 Fiat 1100/103 is a splendid machine – the small saloon that was to post-war Italy what the Morris Minor was to the UK. But the example offered for sale by Dorset Vintage & Classic Auctions on the 20th June is even more exceptional.
GO SWIFT, GO SAFE – GO SAAB 95
- 18th June, 2024
Recently, I had the great pleasure of being reacquainted with one of my favourite cars. In the early 1970s, a Saab 95 stood apart from a Ford Escort Mk. I or Vauxhall Viva HC Estate. Its uncompromising lines were a masterpiece of post-war industrial design.
THE ESTATE CAR WITH TWO BOOTS – A 1969 VOLKSWAGEN TYPE 3 VARIANT
- 18th June, 2024
Car customisation is inevitably a very personal matter. That said, it is intriguing to encounter a 1969 Volkswagen 1600 Type 3 Variant that has not been lowered, given alloy wheels or turned into the grooviest surf wagon in the history of Swindon.
EARL MOUNTBATTEN OF BURMA’S ROVER 3500S
- 17th June, 2024
Many readers of a certain age will recall the police P6, whether it was chasing miscreants in a 1970s television crime drama or looming ominously in your rear-view mirror. This 3500S offered for sale by Classic Car Auctions not only brought law and order to the roads around Winchester, but also served as the Earl of Mountbatten’s staff car.
MEET THE OWNER – RUSSELL MACFARLANE AND HIS MORRIS MARINA SUPER
- 17th June, 2024
I believe ‘Aqua’ was only available on the Marina for the first year of production. Only six Aqua Marinas are known to exist, split between the 1.3 and the 1.8 and Saloon and Coupe. So, who knows - my 1.8 Super Deluxe Saloon could be the sole survivor in Aqua!
MEET THE OWNER – JOHN LANGFORD AND HIS FORD GRANADA 2.8I GHIA MK. 2
- 17th June, 2024
“It is family-owned from new and has only 26k on the clock. The first owner had it for 27 years, and the second was his godson, who kept it for 15 years”. We have previously featured John’s MG Magnette ‘Farina’ Mk. IV and Austin J40, but he has recently embarked on blue oval ownership with his 1982 Ford Granada Ghia 2.8i Mk.2.
MEET THE OWNER – GRAHAM BULL AND HIS VAUXHALL VICTOR 2300SL FE ESTATE
- 17th June, 2024
“You just know that this is the car for the man with fawn flared slacks and Yardley Black Label – ‘for the man who sets the pace’ – aftershave”. I wrote this description of Graham Bull’s 2300SL FE Estate in 2017, a memorable day with Practical Classics celebrating the Victor’s 60th birthday.
DO YOU REMEMBER – THE MORRIS MARINA ESTATE?
- 7th June, 2024
Evoke Classics Ltd. recently sold this car guaranteed to turn heads at shows for £6,500 – which was once as familiar as How We Used to Live on Schools ITV.
Meet The Owner – Jon Kinahan and his Citroën Dyane 6
- 6th June, 2024
Scotty Tremayne’s friend, Jon Kinahan, owns one of Citroën’s finest cars. In his words: He is a big lover of the 2CV and has a 2CV Charleston. He was approached roughly eight years ago by a chap who breaks 2CVs about an MOT failure Dyane.
MEET THE OWNER – SIMON BROWSE AND HIS TRIUMPH HERALD 12/50
- 6th June, 2024
I’ve always sided with the underdog. Ford and Austin got most of the glory and notoriety for their compact Saloons at the time. Triumph, not as much – it is much the same story with the MGB versus the Spitfire.
THE RAREST VAUXHALL VIVA HA IN THE WORLD? – THE BRABHAM GT
- 6th June, 2024
I wrote a blog about a Brabham-converted Vauxhall Viva HA in Australia a few years ago. At that time, there were believed to be only two in the world, with the other residing in the UK.
The Lancia Thema at 40 by Andrew Roberts
- 30th May, 2024
“I’ve always liked Lancia because my grandfather drove a Beta that the whole family loved and I’ve long admired the Thema. It was hard to find one in the UK, so I imported mine from a dealer in the Netherlands, which was neither complicated nor expensive. Mine is a V6 with the PRV engine. I’m not sure why Lancia elected to use that, but I love it.
1984 was a great year…
- 30th May, 2024
This year, we're celebrating something special. Not only is it Lancaster Insurance’s 40th anniversary, but it’s also the 40th anniversary of the Classic Motor Show. We’re thrilled to join forces, yet again, at the UK’s premier classic automotive event to make this year's show bigger and better than ever!
Ben Crosby’s Ford Racing Puma 0376
- 30th May, 2024
At the young age of 13 years old Ben was gifted some money and asked his parents if he could invest it in a car. The answer was, of course as long as he invested it wisely, so following on in his Dad’s footsteps he went on the hunt for a Ford Racing Puma, however unfortunately his budget didn’t allow for a concours example!
