Classic Cars December 2020

Welcome A recent window-shopping day out at a classic auction underlined how enthusiasts are buying with their hearts As the Seventies gave way to the Eighties, it looked as if affordable coupés would be forever swept aside by the new wave of hot hatchbacks. Not only did they offer a compelling blend of agility, economy and practicality, they were also on-trend for a thrusting new decade. Still some coupés battled on, gaining fuel injection, fatter alloys, spoilers and anything else that might help them keep up with the latest motoring fashions. While these dated designs still sold in healthy numbers well into the Eighties, they became the butt of medallion-man jokes that tarred cars and drivers as the oldest swingers in town. Time can be a great healer – just…

As the Seventies gave way to the Eighties, it looked as if affordable coupés would be forever swept aside by the new wave of hot hatchbacks. Not only did they offer a compelling blend of agility, economy and practicality, they were also on-trend for a thrusting new decade. Still some coupés battled on, gaining fuel injection, fatter alloys, spoilers and anything else that might help them keep up with the latest motoring fashions. While these dated designs still sold in healthy numbers well into the Eighties, they became the butt of medallion-man jokes that tarred cars and drivers as the oldest swingers in town. Time can be a great healer – just look at the quartet of coupés jostling for your attention in our main cover image. The very qualities that…

[The List ] Your dream drive made real ‘I’ve always loved the dogbone shape’ A lunchtime ride in a Jaguar stylist’s Corvette left Matt Oliver with an itch that he’s been waiting to scratch for more than 30 years. Today, we facilitate a drive Words RUSS SMITH Photography ROB COOPER All the readers who come along to our dream-drive dates clearly have at least a splash of petrol circulating through their system. However, today’s lucky gent, Warwickshire-based Matt Oliver, is running a higher octane than most. He’s spent his life in the motor industry, working in Body Development for the likes of Jaguar on the XJ-S and Land Rover on the MkI four-door and L322 Range Rovers. He was also engineering lead on Dyson’s electric car project, canned because of concerns…

All the readers who come along to our dream-drive dates clearly have at least a splash of petrol circulating through their system. However, today’s lucky gent, Warwickshire-based Matt Oliver, is running a higher octane than most. He’s spent his life in the motor industry, working in Body Development for the likes of Jaguar on the XJ-S and Land Rover on the MkI four-door and L322 Range Rovers. He was also engineering lead on Dyson’s electric car project, canned because of concerns over its commercial viability. Matt tells me, ‘My grandfather, John R Oliver – who I sadly never knew – was Works Manager at Alvis in the Twenties. He drove Alvis’s number two competition car at Brooklands a few times, including in a race where some upstart called Malcolm Campbell came…

MATT’S DREAM DRIVE LIST Aston Martin V8 Vantage ‘Be-spoilered late Seventies version with blocked grille and Cibie spots. Boyhood dream car, or at least it looked like it.’ Range Rover CSK ‘Limited edition black two-door with 3.9 V8. Never drove one while at JLR but always wanted to.’ Jaguar E-type S3 Roadster ‘A chap down the road had one during my youth and it seemed incredible. Is it as good as it looks?’ Jensen Interceptor ‘The best of all worlds: Italian styling, British interior, American V8 engine.’ AC Cobra ‘Again, is this car as good as it looks… or perhaps even better? I’d love to find out.’ Triumph Stag ‘Loved the T-bar and cars with aftermarket burr walnut dash. I’ve wanted to own one for ages.’ Lotus Carlton ‘Outrageous super-saloon…

Aston Martin V8 Vantage ‘Be-spoilered late Seventies version with blocked grille and Cibie spots. Boyhood dream car, or at least it looked like it.’ Range Rover CSK ‘Limited edition black two-door with 3.9 V8. Never drove one while at JLR but always wanted to.’ Jaguar E-type S3 Roadster ‘A chap down the road had one during my youth and it seemed incredible. Is it as good as it looks?’ Jensen Interceptor ‘The best of all worlds: Italian styling, British interior, American V8 engine.’ AC Cobra ‘Again, is this car as good as it looks… or perhaps even better? I’d love to find out.’ Triumph Stag ‘Loved the T-bar and cars with aftermarket burr walnut dash. I’ve wanted to own one for ages.’ Lotus Carlton ‘Outrageous super-saloon that Jasper Carrott made fun of on stage. Little did we know he actually owned one.’ Chevrolet Corvette…