Classic Car Mart

38 It’s a fact of life that all good things must come to an end eventually. Ford’s domination of the passenger car market and its long-running battle with Vauxhall is one such example, and it’s one that inspired the theme of this issue. Sadly, another is this very publication, for this will be the final issue of Classic Car Mart. The title has certainly had an enviable run, first hitting the newsstand in 1993 and remaining there for three decades. So why is it coming to an end? Well, print has endured challenges since the pandemic for various reasons, and we’ve had a rethink of the Kelsey portfolio to ensure we can bring you the best and most engaging classic car content. As well as our one-make titles, you’ll be…

Check out loads more news at WWW.CLASSICS-WORLD.CO.UK C lassic car specialists are urging caution over the values of older Fords following the world recordbreaking sale of a 1987 Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500 last month. Market experts suggest the auction, which ended at £596,250 including fees, is not representative of the current climate for collectable Fords – and are encouraging enthusiasts wanting to cash in on their Blue Ovals to be realistic in their expectations. The immaculate Sierra has been likened to the sale of a 1985 Ford Escort RS Turbo Series 1 first owned by the late Diana, Princess of Wales, which sold for an astonishing £722,500 in August 2022. However, both were very special cars, and thus are deemed special cases. Referring to the RS500, Hagerty’s market expert John…

MORE CLASSIC NEWS IN CLASSIC CAR BUYER ON SALE EVERY WEDNESDAY Have you got a plug or a lead you’d like to promote through Classic Car Mart? These pages can provide valuable FREE publicity for you, your company, your club or your organisation. Send full details to: Plugs & Leads, Classic Car Mart, Kelsey Media, Downs Court, Yalding, Kent ME16 8AL. Or email: news@kelsey.co.uk The famous Merlin-engined one-off completed by engineer John Dodd in the 1970s, as featured in the Tailgate column back in our February issue, has changed hands for £72,500 in an online auction. The unique vehicle, known as ‘The Beast’ and powered by a 27-litre Merlin V12 (the same unit found in the Spitfire fighter plane), is said to produce around 750bhp at the flywheel, with 760lb.ft…

A 1968 Rolls-Royce once owned by Sir Michael Caine has sold at auction with H&H for £135,000. The Silver Shadow Drophead Coupe was the actor’s first car, purchased for £10,511 when he was 35 years old – that’s almost £148,000 adjusted for inflation today. Famously, the actor was driven in the car by a chauffeur because he did not hold a driving licence, and it appeared in a 1969 documentary called Candid Caine: A Self-Portrait of Michael Caine. He sold the car to Jack Leach of the famous Gasworks restaurant in Fulham, who kept it in his care for 43 years until his death in 2013. The Rolls-Royce, which was guided at £100,000-£150,000, sold to a telephone bidder. The auction’s top performer, however, was a 1923 Bentley 3 Litre Tourer, a…

Check out loads more news at WWW.CLASSICS-WORLD.CO.UK C lassic car buyers are being warned to be extra vigilant against a rise in fraudsters seeking to cheat consumers who are purchasing or selling cars privately online. According to Close Brothers Motor Finance, one in 10 British motorists has fallen victim to fraud when purchasing a car, with younger drivers most at risk. Around a quarter of car buyers aged 24 or under say they have suffered at the hands of scammers, with our increasing reliance on the internet providing greater opportunities for criminals to strike. The data is supported by the experience of former CCM editor Paul Wager, whose 18-year-old son, Joe, recently offered a modern-classic BMW 3 Series for sale online. “Joe received emails offering to buy the car without…

With the winter blues disappearing and the summer shows ever closer, the UK’s auction houses have continued to display their resilience with another round of strong recent sales. And while we’re still nowhere near the f renzied sales that occurred during the pandemic, the right cars in the right condition continue to be popular – especially traditional British models and modern classics. Historics’ latest sale proved to be one of the main attractions as the London Classic Show returned to the famous Olympia venue for the first time since 2020. The firm’s customary consignment of 160- 180 cars had to be dialled down to around 100 due to space limitations, but the occasion and location surely played a part as several of the highticket lots found new homes. Indeed, the…