Classic Cars February 2022

Welcome As we run towards the end of the year its time to look forward to a new one full of classic car indulgence We’re in an indulgent mood this month, and not just because we’re looking forward to the year-end overload of food, drink and socialising. After last year’s hiatus, we were treated to the welcome November ritual of trudging NEC show halls packed with fascinating cars and fascinated people. While the event was a little thinner than we’re used to, the addictive buzz remained, and there was more than enough to see. As I aimed my old BMW south on the home-bound M6 afterwards I was clearly carrying some of that atmosphere with me as my head span with all of the gleaming paint and interesting conversations I’d…

We’re in an indulgent mood this month, and not just because we’re looking forward to the year-end overload of food, drink and socialising. After last year’s hiatus, we were treated to the welcome November ritual of trudging NEC show halls packed with fascinating cars and fascinated people. While the event was a little thinner than we’re used to, the addictive buzz remained, and there was more than enough to see. As I aimed my old BMW south on the home-bound M6 afterwards I was clearly carrying some of that atmosphere with me as my head span with all of the gleaming paint and interesting conversations I’d taken in. A fine way to end the UK show season, one that will set me and thousands of others up to deal with…

Your dream drive made real I did a track day in the pouring rain once, at Brands Hatch in a Ford Escort XR3i, but I wasn’t as apprehensive about that as I am about this,’ says Classic Cars reader Paul Singer as he emerges from his Citroën C5 estate outside an unassuming pair of redbrick buildings in Crewkerne, Somerset. A tiny sign next to the entrance gate reading ‘Ariel Motors’ is the only hint of the utterly unconventional machines that begin life in this tiny industrial estate. It’s the home of one of Britain’s most idiosyncratic sports car firms, the maker of a car that became an instant classic as soon as the world saw it – the bizarre, skeletal Atom, the car Paul has come here to spend a day driving.…

[The List] Ariel Atom ‘I’ve never driven anything like this’ Classic Cars reader Paul Singer fancied a break from big Mercs and Citroëns, so we put him in the most extreme, minimalist sports car imaginable – an Ariel Atom Your dream drive made real Words SAM DAWSON Photography Laurens Parsons I did a track day in the pouring rain once, at Brands Hatch in a Ford Escort XR3i, but I wasn’t as apprehensive about that as I am about this,’ says Classic Cars reader Paul Singer as he emerges from his Citroën C5 estate outside an unassuming pair of redbrick buildings in Crewkerne, Somerset. A tiny sign next to the entrance gate reading ‘Ariel Motors’ is the only hint of the utterly unconventional machines that begin life in this tiny…

PAUL’S DREAM DRIVE LIST Ariel Atom ‘Because I’ve never driven anything quite like it before’ Lamborghini Murcielago ‘With traditional manual transmission – the last V12 Lamborghini to offer it’ Lamborghini Aventador ‘On track if possible’ Lamborghini Huracan ‘Spotting a theme? The Evo-spec rear-drive-only Spyder please’ Porsche 911 GT3 RS The Porsche 911, taken to extremes Ferrari F430 ‘Again, with the traditional manual transmission – the last Ferrari of its kind’ Ferrari Mondial 3.4t Cabriolet ‘The first proper convertible Ferrari in years when launched’ Caterham Super Seven ‘Colin Chapman’s engineering philosophy at its purest’ Mercedes-Benz R129 AMG60 ‘The ultimate version of the Mercedes SL I’ve owned...’ Mercedes-Benz AMG SLS 6.3 ‘...and the ultimate version of the SL’…

Ariel Atom ‘Because I’ve never driven anything quite like it before’ Lamborghini Murcielago ‘With traditional manual transmission – the last V12 Lamborghini to offer it’ Lamborghini Aventador ‘On track if possible’ Lamborghini Huracan ‘Spotting a theme? The Evo-spec rear-drive-only Spyder please’ Porsche 911 GT3 RS The Porsche 911, taken to extremes Ferrari F430 ‘Again, with the traditional manual transmission – the last Ferrari of its kind’ Ferrari Mondial 3.4t Cabriolet ‘The first proper convertible Ferrari in years when launched’ Caterham Super Seven ‘Colin Chapman’s engineering philosophy at its purest’ Mercedes-Benz R129 AMG60 ‘The ultimate version of the Mercedes SL I’ve owned...’ Mercedes-Benz AMG SLS 6.3 ‘...and the ultimate version of the SL’…