Classic Cars January 2020

When I was much younger, my brain would glaze over with boredom when someone cited build quality and reliability as the main reasons that they drove some German, Swedish or Japanese car or another. Not for me the engineered-to soulless-perfection of 200,000-mile engines, interiors that kept dry in a downpour or dependability offering greater than even odds of making it to my destination – and back – without troubling my glovebox stash of Scotch Locks, cable ties and gaffer tape. If a car offered enough performance, character and style, what matter the occasional half hour spent kneeling on a rain-lashed motorway hard shoulder, screwdriver in hand, torch clamped between gritted teeth? And then my brother emigrated, gifting me his pre-GM Saab 900S. Apart from the Abba Gold cassette left in the…

Price Guide [ Buying ] Price Guide Our quarterly guide brings you freshly updated prices for 1400-plus classics WHAT’S IT WORTH? Whether you’re buying or selling, our guide illustrates how the market is treating that model. We consult specialists, clubs and dealers, scour auction results and pool knowledge with classic car insurance specialist Hagerty to ensure our guide is as accurate as possible. But an individual car’s value can only be assessed in person. Cars with exceptional mileage, history, unrestored originality or fresh restorations can be worth disproportionately more. On ‘bluechip’ models our price spreads reflect the importance of provenance and history over condition.…

‘That thin scallop along the beltline breaks up the car’s lines so well. It’s sheer styling genius’ Even before it turns in from the main road into Avantgarde Classics’ base, sited just down the road from another popular playground, Alton Towers, we hear Tim Kirkham’s TVR Griffith. Griffs are like that, and let you know their driver is a true petrolhead – which is very much the case here. Tim is a guy whose very first car was a Triumph Spitfire, bought in the mid-Eighties when it was already a classic. The TVR is just the latest in a long line of sports cars and coupés he’s been working through ever since. Avantgarde’s boss, Jonathan Aucott, invites us to look around the showroom while he puts the kettle on. We’re briefly distracted…

Welcome There can be more to classic car joy than thrilling dynamics and seductive looks; reliability counts too. There, I said it When I was much younger, my brain would glaze over with boredom when someone cited build quality and reliability as the main reasons that they drove some German, Swedish or Japanese car or another. Not for me the engineered-to soulless-perfection of 200,000-mile engines, interiors that kept dry in a downpour or dependability offering greater than even odds of making it to my destination – and back – without troubling my glovebox stash of Scotch Locks, cable ties and gaffer tape. If a car offered enough performance, character and style, what matter the occasional half hour spent kneeling on a rain-lashed motorway hard shoulder, screwdriver in hand, torch clamped…

Panther Six ‘Bonkers six-wheeler with a huge Cadillac V8. Totally crazy but must be awesome to drive.’ Alfa Romeo Montreal ‘Concept car with race V8 and headlight slats. And it’s an Alfa – what more could you want?’ Lamborghini Islero ‘Probably my all-time favourite. Awesome V12 in elegant and understated GT body.’ Lancia Rallye 037 ‘Brutal and beautiful, a rallying legend for the road.’ AC Cobra 427 ‘What every two-seater roadster wants to be when it grows up.’ De Tomaso Mangusta ‘Stunning mid-engined pioneer. Probably not as good to drive as a Pantera but I wouldn’t care.’ Fiat 130 Coupé ‘Sharp and menacing mafia boss styling, pure class. If it was good enough for Enzo...’ BMW 635CSi ‘When I was seven a neighbour took us out in one... sideways. I’ve wanted to drive one ever since.’ Ferrari 288GTO ‘The ultimate blend of Italian muscle, feminine curves and…

[ The List ] Your dream drive made real ‘In looks the 130 wins it hands down’ This is a car Tim Kirkham almost landed, but it slipped the hook. Will driving a Fiat 130 Coupé renew his desire to catch one? Words RUSS SMITH Photography JONATHAN JACOB ‘That thin scallop along the beltline breaks up the car’s lines so well. It’s sheer styling genius’ Even before it turns in from the main road into Avantgarde Classics’ base, sited just down the road from another popular playground, Alton Towers, we hear Tim Kirkham’s TVR Griffith. Griffs are like that, and let you know their driver is a true petrolhead – which is very much the case here. Tim is a guy whose very first car…