Classic Cars April 2017

Welcome Phil’s smitten by the idea of driving with a force-ten gale in the cabin, as long he doesn’t get sent to jail for it Anew day beckons and the early sun promises warmth and vivid colours ahead. It’s a day to drive – breakfast club or pub, office or historic race weekend, doesn’t matter. Twist the key. Churn, chatter, broooom. Tyres crunch grit as they roll out on to driveway. Windscreen clips plucked, roof heaved back. Breathe, warm air laced with floral scent and unburnt fuel. Drive, the world rushing on, sweeping around the windscreen to welcome you in. There’s something elemental about driving an open car that heightens every sensation. By classic standards £10,000 is a modest sum these days, but it’s enough to drop you into the…

Anew day beckons and the early sun promises warmth and vivid colours ahead. It’s a day to drive – breakfast club or pub, office or historic race weekend, doesn’t matter. Twist the key. Churn, chatter, broooom. Tyres crunch grit as they roll out on to driveway. Windscreen clips plucked, roof heaved back. Breathe, warm air laced with floral scent and unburnt fuel. Drive, the world rushing on, sweeping around the windscreen to welcome you in. There’s something elemental about driving an open car that heightens every sensation. By classic standards £10,000 is a modest sum these days, but it’s enough to drop you into the driver’s seat of any one of the eight varied and engaging convertibles that we gathered for our cover feature. From the cuddly familiarity of the Morris…

The List Your dream drive made real ‘It’s like a Japanese Tardis’ Before buying an M635CSi, six-footer Steve Hough viewed several Datsun 240Zs, but never got to drive one. Today we put that right – and the first surprise is that there’s room inside to spare Words RUSS SMITH Photography CHARLIE MAGEE ‘It’s a very easy car to drive and feels quick’ However much planning goes into one of our reader dream drive features, there’s one element that we have zero control over. And if anyone’s bucket list does include a thoroughly grey day in Grays, barely a container lorry’s braking distance from Tilbury Docks on the Thames estuary, to be honest I’d probably rather not meet them anyway. This issue’s participant, Steve Hough, remains upbeat about the…

‘It’s a very easy car to drive and feels quick’ However much planning goes into one of our reader dream drive features, there’s one element that we have zero control over. And if anyone’s bucket list does include a thoroughly grey day in Grays, barely a container lorry’s braking distance from Tilbury Docks on the Thames estuary, to be honest I’d probably rather not meet them anyway. This issue’s participant, Steve Hough, remains upbeat about the damp and gloom outside, though – which is no small relief. He also makes a reassuring point. ‘As a former Caterham owner I’m used to a bit of weather. ‘Anyway, I think it’s easing,’ he adds, peering out of the raised roller door at the rear of Vintage and Prestige Classic Cars’ showroom. He may be…

STEVE’S DREAM DRIVE LIST Bristol 411 ‘I like American muscle in my car and these are so under the radar but with great presence.’ Porsche 930 Turbo ‘My first job was in the City at the time of the Big Bang, and these were all the rage and very much the poster car.’ Mini Moke ‘Driving should be all about fun and this epitomises it.’ Fiat Dino Coupé ‘A neighbour had a Spider when I was growing up, but it’s the Coupé I’d opt for.’ Aston Martin V8 Vantage ‘It’s a proper old-school car. As a child I belonged to the AM Young Supporters’ Club.’ Mercedes-Benz 450 SEL 6.9 ‘It’s probably enough to mention that James Hunt had one. It just seems totally OTT, which works for me.’ Chevy Impala…

Bristol 411 ‘I like American muscle in my car and these are so under the radar but with great presence.’ Porsche 930 Turbo ‘My first job was in the City at the time of the Big Bang, and these were all the rage and very much the poster car.’ Mini Moke ‘Driving should be all about fun and this epitomises it.’ Fiat Dino Coupé ‘A neighbour had a Spider when I was growing up, but it’s the Coupé I’d opt for.’ Aston Martin V8 Vantage ‘It’s a proper old-school car. As a child I belonged to the AM Young Supporters’ Club.’ Mercedes-Benz 450 SEL 6.9 ‘It’s probably enough to mention that James Hunt had one. It just seems totally OTT, which works for me.’ Chevy Impala ‘A black ’67 is the hero car in my current…