MEMORIES OF THE 1983 LONDON MOTORFAIR

What would have caught your eye at the 1983 London Motorfair, which ran from the 20^th to the 30^th October? The second-generation VW Golf? The Renault 11? The Fiat Regata? Or the Ford Fiesta Mk. II? All of which impressed the then 13-year-old writer, although I cannot recall seeing the AC Cobra Mk. IV by Autocraft. Nor, at the opposite end of the price spectrum, can I remember the Yugo 311E for a mere £2,499.

What I do seem to recall is how the new XJ-S Cabriolet dominated the Jaguar stand; there was also a working cutaway of the latest 3.6-litre 24-valve AJ6 engine. The Maestro was a recent enough model for the MG to intrigue me, and by late 1983, rumours of the impending Austin Montego were already established. It did not take the deductive powers of Sherlock Holmes to surmise that the Morris Ital was on its last legs.

The Peugeot display allowed visitors to marvel at the 205 range, and the new 505 GTi with its 2,165cc fuel-injected engine was a highly impressive machine for £9,595. From memory, the Ford Orion struck me as businesslike while the Citroën Visa Convertible looked quite delightful as well as being that rarity – a four-door cabriolet.

And so, the delights of Earls Court continued. The BMW 3-Series was now available with four doors, so it could rival the Mercedes-Benz 190. Dutton, the kit car builder, announced it was to import the Mini Moke from Portugal. For those showgoers with a vast amount of money, Glenfrome Engineering created the Facet, with a GRP body designed by Dennis Adams on a Range Rover chassis – yours for just £55,000. Alternatively, Tickford offered their version of the Lagonda, complete with two colour television sets – yours for a mere £85,000.

Meanwhile, Arthur Daley would surely have craved a Jaguar XJ6 4.2 ‘Harrods’, converted by Panther and sold via the famous emporium. The rear passengers benefitted from air conditioning controls, a colour television, and a video recorder with individual headphones and an infrared remote control. If that were not sufficiently decadent, they could also enjoy a walnut cocktail cabinet stocked with crystal decanters built into the back of the front seats, a gold-plated carriage clock (my favourite detail), a manicure set. The price was £35,000, and only two Harrods-specification XJ6s found a home.

The Tickford Capri Turbo was more accessible at £14,985 and came with modified bodywork and a Garrett turbocharger combined with AFT computerized ignition, electronic fuel injection and a limited-slip differential. It looked like the ultimate transport for one William Andrew Bodie – The Professionals had ended its long run earlier that year.

Further marvels included the Porsche 911 Cabriolet or the Jensen Interceptor at Earls Court for the first time since 1976. Jensen Parts and Service Ltd. built the Series 4, and anyone who wished to place an order needed to find £39,000. By contrast, the Hyundai Stellar looked rather more sensible and seemed ideal for motorists still mourning the demise of the Ford Cortina.

And as a reminder of how long ago 1983 now seems, Legs & Co performed a dance routine at the Alfa Romeo stand…