Lancaster News

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Latest news

Welcome to Lancaster Insurance News

Keep up to date with the latest news and events from the world of classic cars.

Austin Morris Van

DO YOU REMEMBER - THE MORRIS MARINA AND ITAL VAN?

  • Andrew Roberts |
  • 30th November, 2020

There are certain sights and sounds that can immediately recapture the past – Nigel Planer singing Hole in My Shoe, the opening to The Comic Strip Presents... – and the sight of a well-preserved Marina or Ital Van. It would not be a typical month in 1980s suburbia without seeing a BT Morris attending to yet another malfunctioning telephone box.

Alpha Romeo 90

Seven near extinct cars

  • Andrew Roberts |
  • 30th November, 2020

All of them even rarer than your average Bentley S3 Continental - ALFA ROMEO 90 - Today the 90 is almost as forgotten as the works of Doctor & The Medics. On its launch in 1984, it suffered from a significant challenge – its appearance. In essence, the latest Alfa Romeo combined the Alfetta Berlina with the 2.5-litre engine from the Six and looks that harked back to The Protectors. Autocar thought ‘there was a good car looking to get out’, but the 90 would ‘mainly interest the dedicated Alfa Romeo enthusiast’.

Red Classic Morris Car

Club of the Month!

  • Andrew Roberts |
  • 30th November, 2020

Our final Club of the Month award of 2020 goes to the Morris Marina Owners Club & Morris Ital Register! Started in 1984 by Frank Philips and Clive Higgins, in the year that the last Morris Ital was built, the Club has supported owners of the Morris Marina, Ital and all of its derivatives with its mission statement to ‘Inform –Preserve - Drive – Enjoy.’

Race cars

Alex Cursley – review of final round of Hyundai Coupe Cup 2020

  • Marc Lawrence |
  • 30th November, 2020

Our sponsored driver, Alex Cursley, has been back in action in the Hyundai Coupe Cup 2020 and below he takes us through the events of the final round. “The final round was held at Oulton Park in Cheshire and it would decide who would be the 2020 series champion.

Wolseley 1100

Meet the owner Ian Mackenzie and his Wolseley 1100

  • Andrew Roberts |
  • 27th November, 2020

‘It’s either older folk remembering having one and anyone under 40 asking what it is! It still staggers me that it was the bestselling car in the UK of the ‘sixties and yet by the late ‘eighties they’d all but disappeared from the road!’

A classic Mercedes convertible parked in-front of a grand modern building at sunset

How to make sure your classic car value is reflected correctly

  • 27th November, 2020

In the world of classic cars, a rare vehicle is highly prized. But when it comes to getting insurance for your pride and joy, its uniqueness presents problems. So how can you ensure that the agreed valuation really reflects what it would cost you to replace your car? What are the key things that valuers look for? Read on for our guide.

A double garage with a classic car parked in-front on a driveway

Where to store your classic car

  • 26th November, 2020

Putting your classic into ‘hibernation’ is well advised as it’ll help to protect it from the elements – but where’s best to store it? Not everyone has access to a secure garage, while those that do will be wondering whether to use it for their everyday car or vacate it for their classic.

Saab 99 GL

Meet the Owner - David Henderson and his Saab 99 GL

  • Andrew Roberts |
  • 25th November, 2020

The Turbo almost inevitably dominates the Saab 99 story, but during the 1980s you were far more likely to encounter the cheaper but equally appealing GL. In June 1978 Car praised its ‘unexpectedly lively performance’, ‘crisp handling’, ‘good riding comfort’ plus the Saab’s ‘solidity and roadworthiness’. Few could ask for more in a family saloon – especially one equipped with a heated driver’s seat.

A young woman sitting on the bonnet of a classic Beetle while parked on a sandy beach

6 reasons to buy a classic as your first car

  • 25th November, 2020

Everyone remembers their first car – some stick in the memory for good reasons, while others are remembered less fondly. If you’re in the market for your first car, make sure you choose wisely – and that includes considering a classic.

A classic bronze MGB roadster parked on grass at dusk with the roof down

How to get a birth certificate for your classic car

  • 25th November, 2020

When you’re the owner of a classic car, history matters. Your car is a remarkable survivor from an earlier age, with its own story to tell and secrets to keep. A vehicle birth certificate (also known as a heritage certificate) is a useful document confirming the origins of your classic car.

An auction gavel placed on a desk

Why should you sell your car at auction?

  • 24th November, 2020

If you’ve decided that now is the time to sell your classic car, you’ve got a few options to weigh up. You can sell it privately, take it to a specialist dealer or try your luck at the auction.

Jensen 541S

The Jensen 541S - A Celebration

  • Andrew Roberts |
  • 23rd November, 2020

The year is 1960, the venue is the London Motor Show, and the place is Stand 134. Of course, any car that hailed from the West Bromwich factory was an object of desire, but the new Jensen 541S was especially eye-catching. It was not just that it was four inches wider than the outgoing 541R or that it boasted a conventional grille, rather than the familiar adjustable panel. The Jensen on display at Earls Court was Britain’s first car fitted with seat-belts as standard equipment.

6 reasons to buy a classic as your first car

  • 23rd November, 2020

Everyone remembers their first car – some stick in the memory for good reasons, while others are remembered less fondly. If you’re in the market for your first car, make sure you choose wisely – and that includes considering a classic.

How to make sure your classic car value is reflected correctly

  • 22nd November, 2020

In the world of classic cars, a rare vehicle is highly prized. But when it comes to getting insurance for your pride and joy, its uniqueness presents problems. With a modern car, it’s simple to work out its market value – but with a classic, it’s a little trickier.