Classic Cars July 2019

Welcome I remember a time when we all took the Mini for granted, but as the design hits 60, balance will be restored My hypothesis – there are no more than two degrees of separation between anyone who grew up in the Sixties, Seventies or Eighties and a Mini. They were everywhere when I was growing up – cousin Stuart had a red Cooper that he drove flat out everywhere, Mum had a burgundy Clubman, aunt Rosalie had a red Countryman and at least two people on my walk to school had Minis. To this day, when I visit my parents I swear I can still hear the ghosts of those starter motors churning plaintively on damp winter mornings, until they inevitably die with a whurr, rurr, click. A schoolmate,…

My hypothesis – there are no more than two degrees of separation between anyone who grew up in the Sixties, Seventies or Eighties and a Mini. They were everywhere when I was growing up – cousin Stuart had a red Cooper that he drove flat out everywhere, Mum had a burgundy Clubman, aunt Rosalie had a red Countryman and at least two people on my walk to school had Minis. To this day, when I visit my parents I swear I can still hear the ghosts of those starter motors churning plaintively on damp winter mornings, until they inevitably die with a whurr, rurr, click. A schoolmate, whose name I have chosen to withhold in the interests of diplomacy, even managed to put his Mum’s Clubman on its roof within…

Six new Aston Martins shine at our backs. They sear with lurid paintwork and the glimmery tease of carbonfibre but they can’t break our trance. Outside, a complex growl, a low-flying roofline. The Vanquish has arrived. A voice breaks the silence. ‘Oh golly!’ It’s Charlie Valdes-Scott, serving Army officer, ex-competitive bobsleigher and incurable classic car fan. Today, he’ll be driving. ‘You really do need to be taught how to drive an electro-hydraulic manual transmission properly’ But not quite yet. The car finds a parking space and, back in the showroom, Paul Spires begins to speak. Well-dressed and factory-fitted with the V12 of handshakes, he’s the Aston brand incarnate. As president of Aston Martin Works, he boasts 37 years of marque experience and has an especially close relationship with the first-gen Vanquish. ‘I…

The List Your dream drive made real ‘I’d keep this one for the weekends!’ Charlie Valdes-Scott has a lifetime’s experience with the best of British, from polo ponies to Challenger 2 tanks and military helicopters. How will a 2002 Aston Vanquish compare? Words EMMA WOODCOCK Photos ADAM SHORROCK Six new Aston Martins shine at our backs. They sear with lurid paintwork and the glimmery tease of carbonfibre but they can’t break our trance. Outside, a complex growl, a low-flying roofline. The Vanquish has arrived. A voice breaks the silence. ‘Oh golly!’ It’s Charlie Valdes-Scott, serving Army officer, ex-competitive bobsleigher and incurable classic car fan. Today, he’ll be driving. ‘You really do need to be taught how to drive an electro-hydraulic manual transmission properly’ But not quite yet. The…

CHARLIE’S DREAM DRIVE LIST Audi B7 RS4 Avant ‘A very discreet supercar – the coolest way to rock up at the school gates incognito.’ Blower Bentley ‘An iconic British car to travel the world in.’ Maserati Indy ‘The one that got away. I tapped out at £42,000 and it went for £49,000…’ Lamborghini Urraco P300 ‘Bonkers. A monster machine and very pretty with it.’ Aston Martin Vanquish ‘Is the gearbox really as bad as they say it is?’ De Tomaso Pantera (pre-1972) ‘Detroit meets Italy. The styling is superb, then there’s this massive great engine.’ Ferrari 328 GTS ‘A better iteration of the 308. It was what I was after when I got my 348.’ Porsche 911 RS2.7 ‘The ultimate in Porsche cool and the most iconic of all 911s.’…

Audi B7 RS4 Avant ‘A very discreet supercar – the coolest way to rock up at the school gates incognito.’ Blower Bentley ‘An iconic British car to travel the world in.’ Maserati Indy ‘The one that got away. I tapped out at £42,000 and it went for £49,000…’ Lamborghini Urraco P300 ‘Bonkers. A monster machine and very pretty with it.’ Aston Martin Vanquish ‘Is the gearbox really as bad as they say it is?’ De Tomaso Pantera (pre-1972) ‘Detroit meets Italy. The styling is superb, then there’s this massive great engine.’ Ferrari 328 GTS ‘A better iteration of the 308. It was what I was after when I got my 348.’ Porsche 911 RS2.7 ‘The ultimate in Porsche cool and the most iconic of all 911s.’ Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud DHC ‘I saw one in a magazine and you could take it to any event.’ Lotus Essex Turbo Esprit ‘Purely…