The Austin Maestro at 40 years by Andrew Roberts
23rd February, 2023
t is Tuesday, the 1st of March 1983 and British Leyland has just unveiled the successor to the Austin Allegro. Not only was the “Miracle Maestro”, promoted by one of the most over-the-top commercials in ITV history
- the more expensive versions even boasted a talking dashboard. Clearly, this was transport for a brave new world of home computers and grey loafers.
Forty years later, it is sometimes difficult to appreciate the Maestro’s importance to the BL empire. In 1983 the corporation still suffered from a negative image, despite the Metro, the Triumph Acclaim and the creation of the Austin-Rover division in 1982. But the Maestro was cause for optimism in possibly the most crucial sector of the new car market. On the 2nd of March The Daily Telegraph reported that British Leyland had already received £50 million in orders.
Project LC10 dates back to 1975, and there was some debate at Longbridge on whether it should be launched before the Metro. British Leyland was certainly in great need of a new light-medium vehicle at that time. In addition, had the Maestro made its bow at the 1980 Motor Show, it could have stolen some of the Ford Escort Mk. III’s thunder. As it was, BL scheduled the premiere for 1983.
In the previous year, Leyland’s management, partially spurred by the new MG Metro’s impact, decided to add an Octagon-badged Maestro to the line-up. So, January 1983 saw the dealer launch in Torremolinos presented by Simon Williams, with a cabaret produced by Ernest Maxim of Morecambe and Wise fame. The message was clear – this was a major show for an important new product.
And when the first Maestros arrived at Austin-Rover dealerships, there was considerable public interest. The styling, with its body-coloured plastic bumpers, had no resemblance to the Allegro (which had ceased production in 1982), and additional sales features were the VW-sourced five-speed transmission and the R-series engines.
Plus, if you had £6,425 or £6,393 to spend on the MG or Vanden Plas, you gained a Maestro with a talkative solid-state digital dashboard. Ms. Nicolette McKenzie instructed the driver and passenger to fasten their seatbelts in the dulcet tones. Mindful of export markets, BL recorded the voice synthesizer’s 32-word vocabulary in 15 languages. Your friendly Austin-Rover dealer would probably tell you that no Escort or Vauxhall Astra was known to speak. Indeed, if they did, it was perhaps not a good sign.
BL hoped the Maestro would help them attain at least 25% of the new car market, and the initial sales figures were very encouraging. The automotive historian Keith Adams points out in http://www.aronline.co.uk/ that “By mid-August 1983, the Maestro was now Britain’s sixth best-selling car, with total sales of 49,000”. The motoring press also seemed favourable towards the Maestro. What Car thought:
Living with the Maestro is a very easy thing to do; the car is so vice free it’s hard to imagine anyone having any serious complaints. In fact, the car itself is perhaps too characters – blandness can irritate to a degree.
Fortunately, many buyers valued efficiency above character, and The Guardian regarded the £210m development costs as money well spent. Sue Baker of The Observer was not a fan of the eloquent MG and VDP, using such words as “nauseating” and “smugness” in her report. However, the opening paragraph must have been music to the ears of British Leyland’s directorship: “Maestro euphoria has been the pattern of the past week’s coverage of BL’s vital new car. Has all the enthusiasm for the new Maestro been justified? In my opinion, emphatically yes.”.
But sales did not reflect the Maestro’s very real abilities, and Adams observes that one reason was Ford’s dominance of the fleet market:
This situation was simple: the company could appear unchallenged in the fleet sector by being able to sell their cars as cheaply as they wished. Austin Rover simply could not afford to ‘buy’ its market share to compete on these terms – and so was at an immediate cost-disadvantage.
As a result, too many company buyers continued to opt for the Escort, while the Maestro additionally suffered from BL’s disastrous record in industrial relations. By the time UK production ended in December of 1994, it was an unfairly semi-forgotten vehicle.
Today, a thriving owners’ club - https://maestro.org.uk/ - and a new generation of owners preserve and promote the Maestro. The styling, once regarded as dowdy in the 1980s, now looks clean-cut, and we will be bringing you separate blogs of members of the range - including the talkative versions.
For now, here is my favourite ‘Maestro Memory. Anyone who believes they are dull has never been taken around the Shakespeare Raceway in an early example by Tanya Field. But that is another story…
With Thanks To: Tanya Field
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Meet The Owner – Craig Piercy and his Triumph ToledoCraig is a classic car enthusiast aged 29 who one day decided to take a walk on the mild side. Throwing down his copy of Reader’s Digest and his quarter-pound bag of Mum’s and Dad’s Winter Mixture, he donned his tweed jacket, lit his pipe, and strode forth to buy a car suited to the hip young motorist. And what better choice than a 1973 Triumph Toledo?
03 July 2024
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, there appeared to be a stream of special edition Granada Mk. 2s. In reality there were four between 1977 and 1981, with Ford promoting the Consort as the car with “2 litre costs. 3 litre features”.
02 July 2024
I bought my CX in February 2019 from James Walshe. I followed what he had reported in Practical Classics magazine in 2018 in terms of him being involved in rescuing it from an uncertain future and doing some critical work to get it roadworthy.
Join us to celebrate a special moment for Classic Motoring Heroes!We're thrilled to unveil a new highlight at the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show: The Hall of Fame! This annual award will honour standout contributors in four categories within the classic car world.
The Cotswold Sculpture ParkTucked away in Somerford Keynes, in the Cotswolds is an amazing place to visit with over 200 original sculptures in a tranquil wooded garden area, some are even for sale, but all are amazing to see.
Fiat Motor Club GB announces new Italian event!Fiat Motor Club GB have announced their summer event ‘Fiats and Friends’ which is set to run on Saturday 3rd August at the British Motor Museum, Gaydon and tickets are now available for purchase through British Motor Museum’s website.
28 June 2024
In the 1970s, the Great British Camping Holiday was not for the faint of heart. This was a typical scenario:
IDEAL FOR THE BEACH – THE RENAULT RODEOSummer is finally upon us, and with it comes dreams of sun, sea, 99 Flakes and avoiding those traffic jams on the A36. It also evokes visions of a classic beach car - ones such as the Mini Moke, the Citroen Méhari. - and the Renault Rodeo, as offered for sale by John Kerr.
25 June 2024
We have previously featured members of Michael Carpenter’s fleet, but he has now decided to take a walk on the wild side. Yes, throwing caution to the wind, this week Michael became the proud owner of a Singer Gazelle Series V.
DO YOU REMEMBER – THE MORRIS J4?If this 1964 Morris J4 seems familiar, it is probably because you have seen it on Heartbeat, The Royal, or Cradle to the Grave. Counting Stars of Leighton Buzzard is selling this rare surviving example of a van that once dominated the roads of the UK.
MEET THE OWNER – KARL HOBBS AND HIS VAUXHALL VENTORA ESTATEI bought my Ventora five years ago after hearing about it from a friend in the Owners’ Club. It had been resprayed, but that was as far as the work went, so I basically acquired the shell and six boxes of spares. Also, most of the bits fitted to the car were wrong anyway!
RARER THAN RARE – THE ALFA ROMEO 2000 BERLINASome cars of the 1970s are greeted with the words “My dad/mum/teacher/pet goldfish used to have one of those,” but an Alfa Romeo 2000 Berlina never seems to fall into this category. During this writer’s (very distant) youth, it was transport for the ‘smart set’ at the local yachting marina, all suntans, dark glasses, and cocktails on the deck.
Remember to have your say on the future of our classic community!Last month, the government launched a consultation giving enthusiasts the chance to have their say and help shape future policy on how to protect classic vehicles and safeguard our industry for generations to come.
Meet The Owner - Alex J. Sebbinger-Sparks and his Ford Granada Ghia X EstatesAs one of the leading lights of the Modern Classic Executive Car Club, Alex is naturally a connoisseur of fine 1980s machinery. Some might say owning two Caspian Blue Ford Granada 2.8 Ghia X Mk. 2 Estates is utter decadence—but then, who could resist the lure of such “space-age load carriers”?
Meet The Owner – Emma Cater and Her Ford Fiesta Popular Mk. IIn the early 1980s, exotic forms of Fiesta, such as the Ghia and the XR2, were comparatively rare sights. These were the cars for sophisticates with an avocado bathroom suite and who even owned a Sony C7 video recorder.
Meet The Owner – Herb and his Fiat 1500I am 22 years old and have wanted a classic car since my early childhood - you could say I have admired them all my life. I remember my dad having a Morris Oxford Series VI Farina for a while; it was the family car until we found out the floor was made of cornflake packets! It was a great car, and despite that, we went everywhere in it.
TEN EXPERIENCES TO AVOID WHEN BUYING A CLASSIC CARMany of us have reflected that dealing with certain vendors is the most challenging aspect of buying a classic car. Here are ten warning signs:
18 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 95Recently, 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 VARIANTCar 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.
17 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 SUPERI 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“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“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.
07 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.
06 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 12/50I’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 GTI 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.
30 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…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 0376At 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!
2024 HERO-ERA London to Lisbon Rally – Platts and Ripley take maiden victory on all-Austin podium!The 2024 HERO-ERA London to Lisbon Rally reached the finish on Saturday 4th May, in the historic city of Lisbon, 2800 km and 10 days after it began at Brookland’s, London. The winners of the event were Graham Platts and Neil Ripley, driving a 1956 Austin Healey 100M, the oldest car on the event.
24 May 2024
“It is exceptionally rare, being one of the earliest in the UK. It is a Mk.1a, which they only produced for a year (the same as the colour). I know of maybe only four in the UK in that shade”.
MEET THE OWNER – JOHN WALLIS AND HIS BORGWARD P100If the fates had been kinder, the name "Borgward" would have been as familiar to 2024 drivers as Audi or BMW. John Wallis, a long-term devotee of the German marque, has recently become the custodian of the P100 ‘Big Six' - Borgward's last hurrah and a car with the potential to be one of the finest big saloons of its generation.
Meet The Owner – Steven Gray and his Vauxhall Chevette 2300HSSteven Gray recently fell prey to a phenomenon known to many classic car owners. There he was, minding his own business and thinking his current fleet of Bedford HAs and Vauxhall Chevettes was quite enough, when suddenly he was caught in the tractor beam of a tempting vehicle.
Meet the Owner - Ian Gillson and his Renault 16TL“My father had TL back in 1977, and around 1980, the family acquired a 1974 TS. Sadly, it succumbed to the dreaded rust and ended in Renault 16 Heaven, but I never forgot them”.
MEET THE OWNER – JAMES ROSS SINCLAIR AND HIS WOLSELEY 1300These things were so popular in the 1960s and 1970s that nobody took any notice of them. There was at least one on every street. By the late 1970s/early 1980s, they were falling apart and becoming a rarer sight. If familiarity breeds contempt, then 50 years after production finally ended, I think objectively, this is a very pretty car.
13 May 2024
Bonham Cars Online is currently listing one of the most significant cars in Japanese motoring history: This 1968 360 is an example of the vehicle that brought mobility to so many families. Not to mention that the 360 was the pioneer car to wear the Subaru badge.
MEET THE OWNER – PHILIP HANSON AND HIS WOLSELEY 16/60“My Wolseley was registered in Worcester in January 1967 and is a manual gearbox model. It has covered only 46,000 miles and I am only the second owner.” Philip undertook some body restoration in 2016 and the result is a car that lives up to the British Motor Corporation’s promise of: “Luxuriously practical...a car that satisfies.”
Meet The Owner – Carl Pearce and his Triumph StagThere are mixed reactions to my Triumph – you often get told how these cars used to blow up. This is incorrect; they suffered from overheating, which was caused by casting sand that hadn't been properly removed when the engine blocks were made. The sand used to block the radiator, hence the overheating.
03 May 2024
At last year’s Silverstone Festival, many visitors were seen mouthing the phrase “What is it?” at a handsome, burgundy-coloured hatchback. Some seemed to think it was a Lancia while others were under the belief it was an Audi. Few seemed to recognise Jason Crawley’s 20TX – the car Renault claimed was “certainly no slouch”.
Sportissimo – Robert Meldrum’s Vauxhall Viva HB De Luxe EstateThis is a totally and utterly subjective view, but this writer regards Robert Meldrum’s Viva HB as one of the most handsome estates of its era. Today, his white Vauxhall creates a stir whenever he goes for a drive, with amazed reactions from members of the public too young to recall the HB.
Meet The Owner – Darren Staples and his Vauxhall Nova SolaThe reasons why people engage with a classic car are as diverse as the vehicles themselves. It could be due to their performance or the opportunity to realise a childhood dream of owning a machine last glimpsed in The Ladybird Book of Motor Cars. For some, it is the chance to experience a favourite television programme or film vicariously.
MEET THE OWNER - ANDREW THOMSON AND HIS VOLKSWAGEN SANTANAAndrew Thomson recently acquired a car from the 1980s that has been almost entirely forgotten in the UK through no fault of its own. The Santana GX5 was spacious, dependable, and very well-appointed, but its main fault was that the Volkswagen badge meant little to the UK’s middle managers.
01 May 2024
Tickets go on Sale for the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show on 8 May!
30 April 2024
Dale Smith’s VW Golf N is a VIC—Very Important Car. Firstly, it reminds us that the GTi Mk1 was never a common sight on British roads during the late 1970s; it was not sold in right-hand-drive form until July 1979. Instead, you were far more likely to encounter the likes of the N.
To Cortina and Back in a Cortina By Glyn DawsonWhen I learned of a trip to Cortina being organised by Graham Orchard of the MK2 Club I was excited as my wife Christine and I had heard from friends how good the previous trip had been somewhat 10 years ago. In March 2022 Graham sent details of the hotels (10 in all) and ferries and we went ahead and booked our place.
DRIVE IT DAY 2024A few inches from my car was a Mini Pick-Up, a form of motoring life last encountered en mass when Bros were still in the charts. To my right was the metallic gold magnificence that was a Lancia Gamma Coupe. Ahead of my front bumper was a 1970-model Morris Minor 1000 police ‘Panda Car’ and a very handsome Rover R8 owned by Gavin Bushby.
15 April 2024
The lower profile of the Dyane in the UK compared with its Citroën 2CV stablemate is one of the abiding mysteries of the classic car world. True, it had a shorter production run than the Deux Chevaux – 1967-1984 – but it offered almost all its virtues together with five doors and such creature comforts as a front ashtray.
Meet The Owner – Harry Traill and His Ford Falcon WagonIt is a real head-turner. People look at it and smile. Children will walk with their parents, stopping and pointing at it as it drives past. The car seems to put a smile on anyone’s face wherever I go in it, and the number of compliments you get just going to the shop alone is astounding.
PRIDE OF OWNERSHIP WINNER 2024 – COLIN FIDLER’S AUSTIN A35Colin Fidler’s splendid A35 won the Lancaster Insurance Pride of Ownership 2024 competition and epitomises the sales slogan: “Buy Austin and Be Proud of It!” As he explains: “The car belonged to my late uncle Robin.
“It is a leader amongst cars of today” – The Ford Zephyr-Zodiac Mk. ISometimes, the connoisseur of 1950s popular culture, such as this writer, is faced with automotive temptation, such as this 1956 Zephyr-Zodiac offered by Craner Classics. The young Arthur Daley would have craved this car, which would have also been the object of admiration among Teddy boys at the Hammersmith Palais.
Meeting An Old Friend – 1983 Austin Ambassador Vanden PlasSometimes, the world of Ebay is one of surprises – including finding the Austin Ambassador Vanden Plas I once owned. And now Bob Farrington hopes it goes to a good home.
RARER THAN RARE – 1979 FIAT 131 1300CLSometimes, the most seemingly minor detail about a car remains in the memory: the Wolseley’s illuminated ‘Ghost Light’ grille badge or the Humber Hawk and Super Snipe’s fuel filler hidden behind the offside rear reflector.
Stars of The Lancaster Stand No. 1: Vivian the Vauxhall Viva HCDuring the 2024 Practical Classics Classic Car and Restoration Show, one car on the Lancaster Insurance Stand evoked some entertaining reactions from the showgoers. Visitors to the NEC circled Annie Redshaw-Lloyd’s Glacier Blue Viva HC and peered into the vinyl-trimmed magnificence of its interior.
10 April 2024
Any 1960 Bentley S2 Continental Drophead Coupe with Park Ward coachwork is a car to beguile and mesmerise. So, when H&H offered such an exquisite machine that was the property of one of our finest actors, the temptation to place family members on eBay to raise the necessary funds was quite acute.
Meet The Owner – Mo Ali and his Fiat 128 EstateMany of you are familiar with this experience: scanning the Facebook page of a well-known car club when you suddenly see pictures of a vehicle you long believed vanished from British roads. This writer was looking at the Fiat Motor Club GB’s Facebook site only yesterday when Mo Ali’s 1978-model Fiat 128 Estate appeared to leap from the screen.
THE WORLD’S RAREST WEDGE? – A 1975 MORRISThis is not just one of the very few surviving Morris-badged Wedges but the first made on the production line. Chassis Number 00099 left Cowley in 1975 and Leyland despatched it to Longbridge to assess the factory’s build quality. Alas, the Morris became lost in the system but was eventually registered and sold in January 1977 – hence the ‘R’ suffix.
MEET THE OWNER – RACHEL INGLIS AND HER 1965 FORD MUSTANG CELEBRATING THE BRIGHT SPARKSThe scene: four classic car owners sat in deckchairs at an event: Classic Car Owner (CCO) No.1: “Young people today, eh? When I was their age, I restored a Bugatti Royale I found in an abandoned shed in Southampton Eastern Docks.
MEET SVEN - THE 1964 SAAB GT850It would be fair to say that Sven, the 1964 Saab GT850, was one of the stars of the 2024 Practical Classics Classic Car and Restoration Show at the NEC. He dominated Hall 4, his twin aluminium stripes gleaming in the artificial light.
LEYLAND PRINCESS 2200HL – DEFINITELY NOT AN AVERAGE CAROne of the most pleasing developments in the classic car world over the past twenty years is the Princess’ Wedge’ at least receiving praise due to such an innovative design. This 1977 2200HL, recently advertised on eBay, is enough to make one re-enact “Great Scenes from Terry and June”.
Meet The Owner - Will Hollands-Smith and his Citroen BX 19TRS Mk.2Will Hollands-Smith is a most determined young man. Owning the only roadworthy BX Mk. 1 Estate in the country was not enough to satisfy his craving for this very fine model. So, he is also the custodian of a 1986 ex-Citroen UK Mk.2 press launch/dealer demonstrator 19TRS.
08 April 2024
The Practical Classics Classic Car & Restoration Show was an electrifying event, drawing 26,912 attendees to Birmingham’s NEC over the 22-24 weekend. Witnessing over 160 car clubs come together to showcase restoration demos was truly heartening.
Introducing the Lancaster Car Club team!Hello All, We’ve had some developments on the Car Club team front which I am happy to share with you this month. We have some new members of the team...
Announcing our 2023 – 2024 Bright Young Sparks winner, Rosie Hodgson-Jones!At The Practical Classics Classic Car & Restoration Show, Rosie was announced as our brilliant Bright Young Sparks winner, and received her award from previous winner, Katie!
Jordan Hope’s Rover 216 Vitesse – Celebrating 40 Years of The SD3The 19th of June 1984 was a crucial date for British Leyland, with the launch of the SD3-series Rover 200...
Brian Thomas, Car Club Executive recounts his dream ride with Sporting Bears in a McLaren 750s ConvertibleChoosing which Sporting Bears car to go out in at The NEC The Practical Classics Classic Car & Restoration Show. How do you begin to choose?
18 March 2024
Lord Anthony of London, the well-known DJ, has been a devotee of the Lotus Elite “ever since I was a kid. When I was travelling in our family car’s back seat, I caught a glimpse of these exotic beasts neatly lined up in the forecourt of the official Lotus dealership in Drakes Broughton, a small village near Worcestershire”.
Meet The Owner – Steve Cannon and his Austin Maxi 2The Austin Maxi was arguably the first of several British Leyland cars to be unfairly judged for too many years. Its potential was vast; in 1969, a family saloon with five doors, a transverse OHC engine driving the front wheels, seats that could form a double bed, and a five-speed transmission was virtual science fiction.
The UK’s Most Opinionated Automotive Reviews? - Car and The Good, The Bad, And The UglyPersonal note: Car magazine was the first motoring title that altered my younger self to how automotive writing could be witty, thought-provoking, and often idiosyncratic. To look at an edition from 1977 is to be immersed in a world of L.J.K. Setright, scoop photographs of prototypes from Hans G. Lehmann and, of course, “The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly”.
MISUNDERSTOOD – THE RILEY PATHFINDERIt was one of the most attractive saloons of the 1950s, combining overtones of Lancia with the traditional Riley grille. The RMH-series Pathfinder is handsome, imposing, and luxurious and could have represented a new direction for the marque. Yet, for too many years, it was a misunderstood car.
THE VOLKSWAGEN SCIROCCO AT 50The 1974 Geneva Motor Show was the launch venue for one of Volkswagen’s most important models. The Scirocco was their first transverse engine car and their third front-wheel-drive vehicle, after the 1970 K70 and the 1973 Passat. When production ended in 2017 in its third incarnation, it had helped to redefine the Volkswagen name.
A CAR OF DREAMS – JAGUAR 420G1980 - a Sunday afternoon in a small village pub somewhere in Hampshire. For my ten-year-old self, the atmosphere can be summarised in the following words: locally branded cola, obscure forms of potato crisps, Space Invaders and stultifying, Tony Hancock-style boredom.
14 March 2024
The date is the 13th April 1964, and the venue is the Ford Pavilion at New York World’s Fair. The assembled media representatives have gathered to hear the company’s Vice President, Lee Iacocca, introduce a car that would appeal to the affluent younger driver.
SEVEN INGREDIENTS FOR THE IDEAL OUTDOOR CLASSIC CAR SHOWThe 6th March was the date for the 2024 Cowley Convoy from the BMW MINI factory to Lord Nuffield’s house near Henley-on-Thames. And as my Wolseley headed through Oxfordshire to join the event, and throughout the day, the Convoy reminded me of seven ingredients for a splendid outdoor classic car show:
MEET THE OWNER – CHARLIE SMITH AND HIS AUSTIN MONTEGO VANDEN PLAS“I think the Montego is gaining lots of respect as a classic car. My Vanden Plas gets so much interest when we take it to classic car shows and we get many questions about her!” And rightly so, as Charlie Smith’s 1985 example is a very special machine. In his words:
THE ORIGINAL MINI ESTATEEarly this month BMW announced the imminent demise of the MINI Clubman after seventeen years. But their heritage dates to a far earlier time. The original Morris Mini Traveler and Austin Seven Countryman first appeared in autumn 1960 - a world when such phrases as “National Service” and “You’re Never Alone With A Strand” were part of everyday vocabulary.
06 March 2024
There are several reasons why people acquire classic cars - performance, handling, impressing the neighbours and fine television programmes of the 1960s. Dave bought his Ventora FD for the last-named reason, and for those unfamiliar with this gem from ITC productions, here is a typical scenario from Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased):
Hidden Gem – The Triumph 1500Some cars have the misfortune of being overshadowed by more than one member of the same family. The Triumph 1500 often seems to be unfairly neglected compared with its 1300 predecessor – the marque’s first front-wheel-drive car – and the later Dolomite. Yet, it has a distinct appeal of its own.
The Car You Always Promised Yourself – The J.D Classics Ford Capri 1300L Mk. IA great deal of mythology surrounds the Capri Mk. I, including the belief that virtually every model on the road in this country was at least a 2000GT in XLR specification. A variation of this delusion is the 3000E and the later 3000GXL were relatively common sights in the early 1970s.
04 March 2024
When Citroën presented the Traction Avant to its dealers in March 1934, it made automotive history. This was not only the company’s first front-wheel drive car, but there was also rack-&-pinion steering and all-independent suspension.
Meet The Owner – Kieron Trumper and his Triumph 2.5 PI Mk. 1I bought the car last April when I was 20. I always knew I wanted a Triumph 2000/2500 as my dad had them 20/30 years ago and still owned one when I was a little kid, and it is my earliest memory of cars.
Immerse yourself in the Practical Classics World at the NEC Classic Car & Restoration Show!Don’t miss the Practical Classics Classic Car & Restoration Show from 22-24 March at the NEC! No matter whether you’re currently engaged in a restoration project or someone who just simply appreciates the beauty of classic cars, this is the perfect place to be.
Announcing our February Bright Young Spark, George Swift!Where did your passion for classics start? ‘Many different places: an interest in the history of engineering, being brought up around older cars, my curiosity to understand how all the components of a car come together to produce an operating vehicle.
14 February 2024
Owning a classic car is a joy with a few challenges en route: maintenance, restoration costs, having to source spare parts from across the globe and being asked “What’s that then?” in the Tesco car park approximately 1,354 times. Now, imagine those experiences multiplied by 28.
31 January 2024
How did it all start? ‘My dad and grandad have always enjoyed tinkering and driving their vintage cars. Since I was really little, we have always gone out in them and on holiday with them, especially with the Ford Model T car club.
Join us at the 2024 Practical Classic Restoration Show!Gear up for a fantastic start to the year at the Practical Classics Classic Car & Restoration show, taking place from March 22 to 24 at the NEC.
29 January 2024
When Ford acquired complete control of the Turin design house Carrozzeria Ghia in January 1973, the result was a sea change for their British flagship models. Aspirational motorists craved the car with the shield badge instead of the previous 'Executive' versions. And here are the five pioneering Ghias:
MEET THE OWNER – JON COUPLAND AND HIS ROVER 75For many years, the virtues of the Rover 75 were taken for granted: its comfort, level of standard equipment and quiet dignity. Now they are receiving the attention that is due to them, and Jon Coupland is especially taken with his early Cowley-built 1.8-litre version. He explains:
24 January 2024
Once familiar, cars often undergo a seven-stage cycle. Firstly, they are launched with maximum fanfare before entering the second stage of their middle years. Next comes the last-of-the-line special editions, intended to clear showrooms for its replacement, followed by twilight in used-car listings.
22 January 2024
To be the custodian of one classic car is a major responsibility - to have a 17- strong collection is virtually a full-time occupation. Jon Bentley’s 1965 95 is one of his fleet of Saabs that established the firm as a car maker.
A Remarkable Car – The Daimler Double Six Vanden Plas Series OneFor many years, this writer has regarded the Daimler Double Six Vanden Plas Series One as the pinnacle of the XJ family. It is a car that exudes opulence and good taste in equal measure, a saloon of quiet but definite presence.
MAGNIFICENT SEVEN LOST MODELSOr seven versions of familiar BMC and British Leyland models that never made it to the showrooms:
Classic Cars – An Ongoing StoryOf all the automotive anniversaries that will be taking place this year, the one that stuns me the most is that the Citroen CX will be celebrating its half-century. I was aged about five when I saw my first example, and to say I was mesmerised was somewhat of an understatement.
15 January 2024
The Mini Moke celebrates its 60th birthday in 2024, and possibly the most fascinating variant was the dual-engine ‘Twini’. When the British Motor Corporation displayed a prototype to the media in January 1963, their Managing Director George Harriman told the press:
Ten Vehicles That Altered Their IdentityIt could be watching a film shot in New Zealand and wondering why a Hillman Minx is badged as a 'Humber 80' or seeing an old US advertisement for an Avenger under the name 'Plymouth Avenger'. And in 1981, when this writer was aged 11, he was mesmerised by the Fiat-based SEATS on his first visit to Spain.
09 January 2024
For a long time, Starsky & Hutch was a fixture on BBC1. Every week, Captain Dobey would order, “You two jokers - in my office”, and Huggy Bear would observe “You ever try to get ten horses in a basement?”.
Forgotten Hero – The Citroën VisaThe sales copy said it was "A serious challenge to those who are ahead of the Joneses" and asked potential buyers ", Do you sincerely want freedom of choice"? Equally importantly, it would allow the owner to progress "smugly in winter when other cars dig their own graves with their rear wheel drives".
60 YEARS OF THE MINI COOPER’S MONTE CARLO VICTORYSixty years ago, a Morris Mini Cooper 1071S, registration 33 EJB, was among the 299 entrants of the Monte Carlo Rally. As for the favourites, Motor Sport observed:
08 January 2024
There’s a good chance you’re reading this issue of PC during the festive season and, while the temptation may be to snuggle down in front of the fire with a mince pie and a glass of eggnog, there’s also plenty to be getting on with where your classics are concerned.
Land’s End to John O’ Groats Reliability Trial 2023 is toughest for 7 years!After 1500 miles over 5 legs, in 75 hours, the Land’s End to John O’ Groats Reliability Trial 2023 reached its end at a fine and sunny John O’ Groats, somewhat ironic after the dire conditions experienced during the event.
05 January 2024
My love for cars has definitely become my way of life. My grandfather was a brilliant mechanic, so naturally my dad followed suit with a passion for cars and detailing; I've grown up around it.
The Ford Capri II at Fifty by Andrew Roberts!When Ford unveiled the Capri II on the 25th of February 1974, they faced a vast challenge – how do you improve on the original Capri?
Congratulations to Les, our Austin Healey winner!Last year we gave you the chance to WIN a beautifully restored Austin Healey. We had thousands of entries, and we can announce that the lucky winner was Les!
FORGOTTEN HERO - THE LANCIA FLAVIAQuite simply, the Flavia was a crucial model in Lancia’s history - their first front-wheel-drive car. It is also hard to envisage how unusual a sight it would have been in the UK when it was new. Autocar described the Flavia as “a car for the connoisseur”, and Motor Sport regarded the Lancia not so much as a status symbol but as a:
The SEAT 600 – The Car That Changed a NationIt is a scenario familiar to many of us. You are casually scanning the eBay listings, gazing at the cars you cannot afford, when one vehicle metaphorically leaps out of the screen.
MATCHBOX TOYS AT SEVENTYThis blog is by way of a triple celebration. Lesney issued its first Matchbox die-cast model in 1953, its first buses and lorries in 1954, and for seven decades they have delighted motoring enthusiasts of all ages.
04 January 2024
For many years, this writer has regarded the Borgward P100 ‘Big Six’ as one of the most fascinating German cars of its generation. To find an ex-Guernsey RHD example being recently sold by Classic Car Auctions | 1961 B rgward P100 B g S x-F r Sale sorely tempted him, for the P100 belongs in a world of Cold War spies.
Meet The Owner – Callum Cubbage and his Talbot-Matra MurenaFor many years, I thought my father’s gold Talbot-Matra Murena 1.6 was one of the most unusual cars he had ever owned. Certainly, no one else in our village had decided to invest in an LHD three-seater mid-engine coupe. So, imagine my delight in seeing Callum’s example. He remarks: “This car is totally original apart from the replacement engine.
Meet The Owner – Michael Drewry and his Austin Ambassador 2.0 HLMichael is the owner of one of the most misunderstood cars to hail from the British Leyland empire. To quell one myth immediately, the motoring press did not lambast the Austin Ambassador. Motor Sport was impressed by the trim’s quality and noted how the ride, handling, and steering had all been improved compared with its predecessor.
MEET THE OWNER – CALLUM ANDERSON AND HIS VAUXHALL ASTRA EXPMarvel at the Hazelnut Metallic paintwork. Thrill to the Antique Gold side stripe and wheels, glass sunroof, front fog lamps and tinted windows. Then savour the decadence of the Chevron Tweed upholstery. In 1982, to spend £4,995 and upwards on a Vauxhall Astra EXP was to be a member of the suburban elite – i.e. the sort of person who had a Sony C7 video recorder in their living room.
Wolseley Running ReportOr what I have learned and experienced over the past twelve months. i) Panic. Yes, that was the emotion I felt on seeing smoke billow from the radiator grille and the boot last summer when the Wolseley was taking part in a show.
MEET THE OWNER - PATRICK BRADLEY AND HIS AUSTIN MAESTRO 1.3L PRESS CARWe have previously featured Patrick’s Maestro Advantage and Montego Vanden Plas Automatic, and the latest member of his fleet is equally fascinating. In his words:
