Classic American

get ready, get set... go!

Looking at this month’s magazine I’m struck at the sheer diversity of content… There’s everything from a pre-war (in American terms – they didn’t enter the Second World War until 1941) flatbed truck, to a Seventies boat of a Mustang, to brand-new Corvettes racing at Le Mans. We’re celebrating the achievements of Shirley Muldowney, America’s legendary female drag racing star and enjoying the VHRA’s annual shindig down at Pendine Sands. Add to this a couple of movie cars from the Fast & Furious franchise and some straight-up Forties and Fifties favourites in the shape of a 1949 Packard and a 1957 Oldsmobile… I think you could say this issue is a veritable cornucopia of American automotive goodness! As always, we’re continually looking to improve Classic American in terms of content and…

classic american

EDITOR Ben Klemenzson bklemenzson@mortons.co.uk DESIGN Charlotte Fairman, Jake Sidebotham, Michael Baumber, Tracey Markham PICTURE DESK Jonathan Schofield, Paul Fincham CONTRIBUTORS Nigel Boothman, Paul Bussey, Geoff Carverhill, John Colley, Richard Coney, Huw Evans, Keith Harman, Steve Havelock, Richard Heseltine, Darren Maybury, Tony Oksien, Mike Renaut, Will Shiers, Ian Shipley, Zack Stiling, Rob Woodall, Matt Woods PRODUCTION EDITORS Pauline Hawkins, Sarah Spencer PUBLISHER Tim Hartley GROUP ADVERTISING MANAGER Sue Keily ADVERTISING Jordan Stocks jstocks@mortons.co.uk 01507 529582 Andrew Bruce abruce@mortons.co.uk 01507 529416 SUBSCRIPTION MANAGER Paul Deacon CIRCULATION MANAGER Steve O’Hara MARKETING MANAGER Charlotte Park cpark@mortons.co.uk PUBLISHING DIRECTOR Dan Savage COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR Nigel Hole ARCHIVE ENQUIRIES Jane Skayman jskayman@mortons.co.uk Tel: 01507 529423…

lee iacocca 1924-2019

When earlier today I mentioned to an American friend that Lee Iacocca had just died, he responded, ‘That’s sad news, he was really cool, a proper car guy,’ and he was. Responsible for the introduction of the Ford Mustang, Iacocca is also credited with reviving Chrysler and was the only executive in modern times to preside over two of the ‘Big Three’ car manufacturers. Lido Anthony Iacocca was born October 15, 1924 in Allentown, Pennsylvania. His parents were immigrants from San Marco, Italy, and his father Antoinette, a hot-dog vendor, supposedly named him after the Venice Beach island. Following the Great Depression Antoinette began one of the first car rental agencies, his fleet of Fords starting Lido’s interest in cars. Changing his name to Lee, he began as an engineer at the…

winners

BEST IN SHOW Peter Osborn 1962 Mercury Monterey convertible BEST PRE-50 Glyn Olden 1941 Buick 44 convertible BEST EARLY FIFTIES James Iveson 1950 Studebaker Champion Coupe BEST 1960S R Dyke 1964 Ford Thunderbird Coupe BEST 1970S Andy Green 1976 Mercury Marquis Coupe BEST FORD Nick Quinlan 1923 Ford Model T BEST MUSCLE CAR Robert Hurdle 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 BEST PICK-UP TRUCK Alan Tanzell 1969 Chevrolet C10 BEST CADILLAC Chris Todd 1951 Cadillac Coupe de Ville BEST HOT ROD Tony Tate 1933 Dodge Coupe BEST LATE FIFTIES Brian Price 1959 Ford Galaxie BEST COMMERCIAL/VAN Dave Davies 1961 Chevrolet Apache BEST CLASSIC CAR Mike Carnovau 1978 Ford Escort Mexico BEST PT CRUISER Trevor Deller 2007 PT Cruiser…

bristol all american car show 2019

This was the 28th Bristol All American Car Show and it gets better each year. The field was virtually full by 9.30am following some skilful marshalling; they even managed to squeeze in a full-size motorhome and two pick-ups that arrived at midday. Several cars debuted including Glyn Olden’s stunning 1941 Buick, now back on the road after the car was badly damaged just five days after he bought it. Also on display for the first time in several years was James Iveson’s 1950 Studebaker Champion coupe, a rare car at any event but this one is an Australian built, right-hand-drive car that had apparently belonged to Pilkington Glass and was bought for them to assess supplying Studebaker with one-piece curved glass rear screens. Nearby was another Aussie export, a 1974 Holden…

renaissance for uk yank owners?

In these turbulent political times I wonder if I’m the only American Classic owner who has been salivating at the prospect of a UK-USA trade deal? For those of you who searched ‘Torque American’ on YouTube and have seen my channel, you will know I imported a project 1970 Charger in Feb 2017. This monster muscle-car is burning through my bank account as we speak and it’s still a long way off being completed. Whatever your opinion on Brexit, my American car-owning friends and I definitely think all the uncertainty around Brexit has affected the American Classic market. Prices haven’t really dipped, but there seems to be a lot of stock that’s just not moving. Paradoxically, we are supposed to be exiting the EU by October 31 and with President Trump’s…