Classic Cars December 2020
Classic Cars is the original classic car magazine. It defined the world of classic motoring 40 years ago and still does it today. Every issue is put together by our team of classic car experts and enthusiasts. Using the best expert writing and photography, the magazine helps you experience what it's like to drive, keep and restore the classic cars of days gone by. We bring the stories and people behind the cars to life - showing you how to buy, keep and enjoy your cars. Every issue of Classic Cars is packed with: - Road tests - Drive stories - Expert buying advice - News and events coverage Classic Cars is the original classic car magazine.
in this issue
welcome
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…
‘i’ve always loved the dogbone shape’
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 that Jasper Carrott made fun of on stage. Little did we know he actually owned one.’ Chevrolet Corvette…
1971 chevrolet corvette c3
Engine 5733cc V8, ohv, Rochester 4MV four-barrel carburettor Power and torque (SAE net) 210bhp @ 4400rpm; 300lb ft @ 2800rpm Transmission Three-speed auto, rear-wheel drive Steering Recirculating ball, power-assisted Suspension Front: independent by double wishbones, coil springs, telescopic dampers and anti-roll bar; Rear: independent by three trailing links, transverse leaf spring and telescopic dampers Brakes Discs front and rear, servo-assisted Weight 1490kg (3285lb) Performance 0-60mph: 7.5sec. Top speed: 124mph; Fuel consumption 14mpg Cost new $5259 (£1878) Classic Cars Price Guide £13,000-£30,000…
matt oliver’s motoring cv
FORD ESCORT MKII 1600 HARRIER ‘Followed a MkI 1300 (my first car) and MkII 1600 Sport. I was edging ever closer to the Venetian Red RS2000 dream that I never quite reached. This was basically the 1600 Sport with RS seats, wheels and ducktail spoiler’ VOLKSWAGEN GOLF GTI 1800 CAMPAIGN ‘New wave of German engineering made the RS2000 look old and tired. XR3i? No, I’ll stick with Wolfsburg. One of the last thousand MkIs, I do wish I’d hung onto it’ VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GT 1800 SPECIAL ‘One of 100 promo cars by GTI Engineering at Silverstone to tempt GTI man into a saloon. With outrageously low-profile tyres and red badges, it worked on me!’ FORD SIERRA XR4X4 ‘Tempted back to Ford by ABS, four-wheel drive and aircon - and the sweet V6 exhaust note. Probably the first…
massive mini bargains to be found
Mini Cooper prices are getting harder to predict. Originality, engine size and rarity may have a huge effect on values but that doesn’t explain the occasional baffling variations in achieved prices. September saw some odd swings in values with Historics selling a very lovely and beautifully restored ‘63 Mk1 S - a rare 1071cc - for a healthy £30,564 yet Charterhouse sold a flat-tyres-and-cobwebs barn-find ‘65 Cooper S - which was incredibly original with just four owners and 91,000 miles but needed a full rebuild - for £25,000. ‘Such uncertainty is bound to throw up some cheap Coopers’ Historics also drew an impressive £36,400 for a beautifully restored MkI 998cc in Tweed Grey, yet CCA sold a similar, but not so perfect, restored ‘66 with lots of history and a credible 78,000…
