LANCASTER CLASSIC CAR NEWS
THE LOTUS CORTINA AT 60
The Daily Telegraph noted that it was the fastest car yet marketed by Ford GB. Autocar warned that using it for domestic purposes was akin to “putting a spirited hunter into the shafts of a coal cart”. However, The Motor believed it was “a good compromise for a keen driver who has to remember that the family must sit somewhere”.
THE TVR VIXEN S1 – A CELEBRATION
A long time ago, in the year when Brotherhood of Man won the Eurovision Song Contest, I encountered a fascinating two-seater coupe in the village garage. Most of the time, the front yard seemed to contain a familiar array of decaying Singer Vogues and Vauxhall Viva HAs, so this was an entirely different form of car.
TOP FIVE WOULD-BE CARS OF THE YEAR
As the Jeep Avenger was recently declared Car of the Year 2023, what better opportunity to consider five highly significant models that still never achieved that COTY accolade - 1965 – Winner: Austin 1800.
LIFE AT THE TOP – SEVEN EXECUTIVE FORDS
For over ten years, the ‘E’ or ‘Executive’ badge on a British Ford denoted living the high life – cigars, unlimited Luncheon Vouchers and dining at the Angus Steak House every Friday. So which of these very magnificent seven would you choose?
60 YEARS OF THE VOLVO AMAZON ESTATE
2022 was a year of significant 60th anniversaries, including one from Volvo. The five-door version of the Amazon was not, of course, their first estate car, as the 1953 Duett remained in production until 1969.
MEET THE OWNER – JON MURDEN AND HIS TWO HILLMANS
Both of Jon Murden’s Hillmans seem to belong in the world of post-war comedy. You can imagine Tony Hancock dreaming of the day when a gleaming 1957-vintage Audax Minx would be parked outside of 23 Railway Cuttings instead of a battered pre-war Ford V8 saloon acquired by Sid from a bombsite dealer.
MEET THE OWNER – AIDAN SANDERSON AND HIS PEUGEOT 205
It is a major shock to realise that the 205 will celebrate its 40th birthday in 2023. That Gérard Welter styling still looks up-to-date, and it is hard to believe the early models were contemporaries of the Morris Ital.
FINDING MY FAMILY’S VW TREKKER – HTK 275 P LIVES!
The time is autumn of 1981, and the place is a village near Southampton where very little seemed to happen.
“You can’t beat a bit of Bully!” – James Ross Sinclair and his Bullseye Star Prize Fiat Panda
For those readers too young to remember the magnificence of Bullseye, it was a quiz show from 1981 to 1995. ATV made the early editions, followed by Central after 1982.
TOM KAREN OBE 20 MARCH 1926 – 31 DECEMBER 2022
On the 2 January, Practical Classics issued the sad announcement that Tom Karen OBE died on the 31 December 2022 at the age of 96. It is almost impossible to describe the impact of his designs on British culture, from the Bush TR130 radio to the Raleigh Chopper – and the Reliant Scimitar GTE and Bond Bug.
MEET THE OWNER - DON SCOTT AND HIS AUSTIN A99 WESTMINSTER
Don Scott has recently acquired what many will consider the ideal automotive Christmas present – an Austin A99 Westminster. To quote the launch advertisement, here was a motor car where “the good looks come naturally, without need of ornament or frippery”.