Classic & Sports Car

the big picture

The glamour of Errett Lobban Cord’s cars – not to mention their hefty prices – made them magnets for the rich and famous. The magnificent Cord L-29 was beloved by the elite, from movie stars to celebrity architect Frank Lloyd Wright – who famously owned (and crashed) one – and that tradition continued with the 810 and 812 (see p122). Aviator Amelia Earhart had an 812 and the model was a hit among the Hollywood set, with owners including Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, Gary Cooper, Sonja Henie and cowboy turned Western star Tom Mix. But it wasn’t only bought by those who worked in front of the camera: here, director Cecil B DeMille sits at the wheel of his Cord 810 Phaeton with actress Marsha Hunt in 1937.…

welcome

Learning about the private people behind our public figures is always fascinating, never more so than in the classic car world. For me, it’s endlessly intriguing to discover the passions of people whom we usually only see in an official context. This month’s interview with David Whale, Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs chairman and regular C&SC columnist, is a perfect example (p152). While Whale’s Rosengart SuperSept might not have won over Jon Pressnell – or indeed many buyers in period! – its owner’s enthusiasm for the importance of preservation, both of the car itself and our hobby as a whole, is truly infectious, and we’ll be learning more by delving further into his collection in the coming months. Talking of the FBHVC, this seems like the perfect opportunity to remind…

where to pick up the next issue of c&sc

Not everyone is able to get out to the shops at the moment, as the world battles to get back to some kind of normality in the grip of the COVID-19 pandemic, so here’s how to make sure you can still get your hands on your favourite classic car magazine without leaving your house. The first route we would recommend is subscribing, to ensure you get the latest copy delivered direct to your door every month. And this month we have the tempting offer of six issues for just £29.99 plus a free Autoglym Wash & Protect Kit. Turn to p158 for full details. You can also buy single copies and back issues via themagazineshop.com/back-issues/classic-sports-car/ or at magsdirect.co.uk/classic-sportscar/ Finally, if you fancy going digital there are several options, either separately or bundled with…

london lays on the cheer

It is a measure of the upheaval of this year that any organisation managing to put on any event can reasonably claim hero status. That is what Thorough Events achieved, managing to stage the rescheduled London Concours on 19-20 August at the Honourable Artillery Company in the City of London. It was the UK’s first major automotive event to take place since February – six whole months of shows large and small cancelled. And, as event director Andrew Evans explained, “It’s not been straightforward by any stretch: we’ve asked our sponsors to trust us, and many have; we’ve asked the venue to trust us, and they have enthusiastically hosted us once more, with 25% more space, a cap on visitors, sanitising stations, bespoke socially distant hospitality and single entry and exit…

hot rods in the city

1929 FORD MODEL A ROADSTER Lil’ MissFire’s body and chassis show signs that it was hopped up many years ago, with a classic late-’50s ‘high-school’ style, fenderless and stripped down, with a chopped ’screen. Ford steels with big ’n’ little crossply tyres, buggy springs and a dropped ’n’ drilled front axle give stance. It runs a choice of two different early Chevy V8s: a ’64 283cu in smallblock and a larger, mildly tuned 1960s 350cu in. It entered the 100mph Club at 106.46mph, and can run the quarter-mile in 14 secs. 1930 FORD MODEL A TUDOR SEDAN Originally rodded by Jay Gordon of Blackout Signs and Metalworks in Texas, the Tudor was imported in 2017 and subsequent changes include chopping 4in from the roof and adding a 1932 Coupe ’screen surround. The body…

inside ian callum’s private car collection

PORSCHE 911 (993) CARRERA 2 “I’ve always loved the classic 911 shape, and the 993 is my favourite. It benefited from being in the middle of 911 designs – the 964 and 996 – that were less successful to my eyes. I had to have one. Prices were going up, but after 18 months I finally got a call from Williams Crawford in Cornwall. I bought it unseen, on 65,000 miles. A Carrera 2, it had already had the perfect modifications from Germany’s Roock Racing, who’d chopped a fair bit of weight out of it by removing the rear seats, among other things. It had an engine rebuild at 30,000 miles, split-rim Cup wheels and it’s lowered, with a track set-up that gives it just the right handling. I’ve driven it…