Classic Cars July 2022

According to anthropologist Kate Box, our support for the underdog stems from one of the defining values of Englishness, that of fair play. In her fascinating and funny book, Watching the English, one of countless supporting observations is that, in the absence of pre-existing loyalties, we will instinctively support the underdog in almost any sporting contest, right up until the point where those unfancied competitors manage to gain the upper hand and begin to dominate, at which point our instincts lead us to switch support. It’s only fair, after all. So, readers of an English disposition should enjoy this month’s lead story because it shines a big warm spotlight on all things automotive, from nascent car manufacturers to underrated racing drivers, that have dared to have ambitions above their station,…

The 1981 Alpine A310 lunges into view, its space-age styling and classic competition decals searing in the morning sun. Its low cabin twitches to each tug of the front wheels but the sonorous exhaust blare never wavers as it bursts through the gorse bushes, then dips out of sight. Jamie Buchanan is awestruck. ‘What a beast!’ Standing in an adjoining car park, he savours every second as the rare French sports car accelerates back up the hill and crunches to a halt on the gravel. ‘This is just such a knock-out car to see in person.’ Today we’ve arranged for him to discover whether the drive can match up to its alien Alpine looks. A one tonne wedge of retro glassfibre should be a stark contrast to Jamie’s usual road…

I’ve always adored the glam jetage flamboyance of the Facel-Vega HK500, not to mention the drumbeat from its 5.7-litre Chrysler Hemi V8. Many times I’ve been close to adopting an HK into the family, but for various reasons – time, money or being distracted by other classics – I’ve never managed to seal a deal sweet enough. And they haven’t been cheap for as long as I can remember. For decent well-restored cars prices over the last decade have run between £100k to £150k with the very best, or celebrity-connected, HKs making in excess of £200,000. Projects – usually only for the wildly optimistic – have run at £40k to £60k, depending on how rusty/incomplete/knackered/neglected they are. But we’ve just all missed what I reckon could rank as the Facel-Vega…

Bonhams wheeled out just 73 cars for its Goodwood Members Meeting sale in April. It sold all but five, though the bubbles shown to the right reveal that wasn’t quite the glowing report on market confidence it initially appears. Main attraction was the Irvine-Fynn collection of eight ACs, most owned very long-term. However, on the day they failed to set bidders’ pulses racing and most were snapped up for what looked like nice prices – from a buyers’ perspective. We were also most surprised by the AC Greyhound (below) fetching just £40,250. That barely scraped into its £40-60k estimate range, which doesn’t look a lot for what is a fascinating car – the only Greyhound factory-fitted with the 2.6-litre Ford engine that was a rare Ace roadster option. It was…

Playing host to some important reveals including a long-lost Alfa Romeo, Salon Privé London broadened the Blenheim Palace-based concours d’elegance’s capabilities. Its new satellite event at the Royal Hospital Chelsea brought it a little closer to its origins at Fulham’s Hurlingham Club too. Alfa Romeo 12C Prototipo Salon Privé London was possibly the first time this dramatic Alfa Romeo has ever been seen in public. ‘This car is, in my opinion, a prototype for a model that was never put into production,’ said owner Stefano Martinoli. ‘Alfa Romeo never even gave it a proper name, we have just called it the 12C because it has a unique 12-cylinder engine. ‘It has just emerged from a careful restoration, – every single component is original, although the chassis needed restoration. It’s the…

Although a full programme of historic racing including the much-loved Gerry Marshall Trophy provided competition thrills at the Members’ Meeting, a track parade of landmark Porsche 956s and 962s, and a demonstration of a potential new series for Eighties and Nineties F1 cars brought otherworldly noise and colour to proceedings. Porsche 962 Supercup Freshly restored by Porsche itself and making its first public appearance since 1987, this 962 demonstrated the development potential of the 962 outside of the restrictions of World Endurance Championship regulations. ‘It was built for sprint races rather than endurances, contesting the ADAC Supercup, a German domestic single-driver Group C series,’ said Nick Perry of Porsche GB. ‘It has a great deal of technology not allowed in the WEC, including a PDK (Porsche Doppelkupplung, the first use…