Classics Monthly June 2021

editor

Earlier this week, I watched the auction at Manor Park Classics which included eight cars that were being sold from the Vauxhall Heritage Collection. Sadly I was not in a position to bid on any of them, but I was interested to see what they sold for. Inevitably, of course, when following a sale from a distance like this, your eye gets caught by other things. I was particularly taken by a lovely Rover P6 2000TC, but I also had a strange desire to make an offer on a 1947 Leyland Tiger PS1 bus – perhaps the less said about that here, the better! There was another item that caught my attention too, but this time for all the wrong reasons. I must admit that I have never understood the fascination…

eight of vauxhall's heritage cars sold

Eight cars from the famous Vauxhall Heritage Collection covering 85 years of the Luton company’s history were auctioned off by Manor Park Classics on 27th April. The vehicles, all of which were sold at no reserve, had been consigned for sale in order to rightsize the Collection for its future move to a new purpose-built and public-facing venue, details of which are yet to be announced. The oldest of these vehicles offered in the Manor Park sale was a 1929 R-type 20/60, which was the first car to be manufactured after Vauxhall had been bought by General Motors. The R-type became the staple of the Vauxhall range until 1930 and marked a departure from many of Luton’s engineering norms, with the adoption of a central gearshift, single-plate clutch and 12-volt electrics.…

unexceptional event returns

Dust off your Datsuns, polish your Peugeots and rev up those Reliants because Hagerty has announced that the Festival of the Unexceptional will return this year on Saturday 31st July. Originally staged by Hagerty in 2014, the Festival of the Unexceptional celebrates cherished everyday classic cars and acknowledges this growing movement among owners and enthusiasts alike. Showcasing as it does much maligned and long forgotten ‘ordinary’ classic cars and commercial vehicles of the late 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, the FOTU remains the only concours that applauds an Applause, believes in basic, makes a case for a Cavalier and fawns over an FSO. In keeping with the spirit of the event, guests are welcome to arrive in the latest supercar, but are forewarned that an Ambassador will gain its occupants more…

60 years of national motor museum's vast reference library

The National Motor Museum Trust is celebrating 60 years of its Reference Library with a selection of films on their YouTube channel. These films will take viewers behind the scenes of the library, a resource which contains over 300,000 items spanning from the beginning of the automobile era in the 1880s right up to the present day. The Reference Library, or National Road Transport Library as it was originally called, was officially opened on 28th April 1961 by the late Edward, 3rd Baron Montagu of Beaulieu, who recognised the importance of providing a motoring library and archive service for historians, researchers and members of the public. From its unlikely location in the kitchens of Palace House, the Montagu family home, the library expanded quickly, relocating to larger premises at Beaulieu’s John…

six decades of citroën's ami 6

Citroën is celebrating 60 years of the iconic AMI 6, which was first revealed on 24th April 1961. With its compact dimensions and spacious interior, the vehicle went on to be a great success for the brand with over one million models sold, half of which were the capacious estate version that arrived in 1964. At launch, the new AMI 6 completed Citroën’s vehicle line up, joining the iconic 2CV, ID and DS models. It presented a shape and style that many perceived as surprising in the automotive sector at the time, but designer Flaminio Bertoni described the car to his friends and family as his masterpiece. For AMI 6, Bertoni had the bold idea of inverting the rear window, meaning that it would remain clear when it rained. It also…

a new owner for caterham cars

Caterham Cars has been acquired from businessmen Tony Fernandes and Kamarudin Meranun by Japan-headquartered automotive group, VT Holdings. The company assumes custodianship of the legendary British sportscar brand having been the Japanese importer for the Seven since 2009, where it currently sells over 120 cars annually. As one of Japan’s largest retailer groups with over 200 showrooms nationwide and investments in the UK, Spain, Thailand and South Africa, VT Holdings is also the importer for a collection of two and four wheeled brands including Royal Enfield and Lotus in its home market. Motorsport, and the global trackday communities, have always played a central role in Caterham’s commercial success, and VT's Chief Executive, Kazuho Takahashi, shares the same passions, having raced competitively in JGTC, Super GT and Super Taikyu championships for the…