Classic Cars July 2017

Welcome Period perfection or pragmatic concession? As long as the car is appreciated and used, that’s fine with me, says Phil Steve Coogan – comic genius, but ferociously serious about cars. The obsessive attention to detail that creates his onscreen characters spills over into the classics he enjoys for relaxation. So when Quentin Willson joined him for a day out in his latest acquisition, an early Jaguar E-type open two-seater (p42), conversation explored his influences and tastes, but inevitably it swirled around the detail of this car. What he has is a fine example that’s a pleasure to drive as is, but one that’s strayed from the exact state in which it left the Browns Lane factory in 1961. He has to decide whether to simply enjoy what he has,…

Steve Coogan – comic genius, but ferociously serious about cars. The obsessive attention to detail that creates his onscreen characters spills over into the classics he enjoys for relaxation. So when Quentin Willson joined him for a day out in his latest acquisition, an early Jaguar E-type open two-seater (p42), conversation explored his influences and tastes, but inevitably it swirled around the detail of this car. What he has is a fine example that’s a pleasure to drive as is, but one that’s strayed from the exact state in which it left the Browns Lane factory in 1961. He has to decide whether to simply enjoy what he has, or spend a lot of time and money chasing a period-perfect ideal. For Corrado Lopresto the decision about his 1935 Lancia Augusta…

[ The List ] Your dream drive made real ‘It just wants to go and go – it really zings’ After driving 9000 miles across the globe in a pretend Lotus Esprit, James Cartwright was keen to find out if the real thing lived up to its 007-tinged reputation Words RUSS SMITH Photography JONNY FLEETWOOD ‘It feels so exotic and Italian from inside – it’s obviously been styled with buyers of Italian cars in mind’ The number and variety of reasons that readers have given us for wanting to drive a particular car have probably been even more varied than the cars themselves. But few if any have been as odd, and frankly as hard-earned, as James Cartwright’s wish to drive a red Lotus Esprit. That…

‘It feels so exotic and Italian from inside – it’s obviously been styled with buyers of Italian cars in mind’ The number and variety of reasons that readers have given us for wanting to drive a particular car have probably been even more varied than the cars themselves. But few if any have been as odd, and frankly as hard-earned, as James Cartwright’s wish to drive a red Lotus Esprit. That got our attention. When someone is that specific you know there’s a story, so we had to ask. We’ll let James explain, ‘With two friends, I did the Mongol Rally a few years ago in a Nissan Micra MkI that we crudely converted into a tribute to Roger Moore’s red Lotus Esprit Turbo from the Bond movie For Your Eyes…

JAMES CARTWRIGHT’S CAR CV James clearly prefers his cars naturally aspirated – even his ‘Esprit Turbo’ was a free-breather MINI COOPER MKII 1275 S 2002-03. My first car at 17. It set very high expectations in terms of speed and handling. VOLVO 240 ESTATE 2004-05. The build quality of Volvo’s 240s makes them great everyday classics. VOLVO AMAZON 121 FAVORIT 2005-07. Imported from Sweden and one of the last home-market right-hand drive cars. I drove it to the Sahara. VW GOLF GTI MKI 2008-2012. In excellent condition these cars still have that RAF Weekender vibe. FORD CORTINA 1600E 2010-12. Bought in ‘rat-rod’ condition for £200, I restored/ruined it further with a roller and Rustoleum paint. LAND ROVER SERIES 3 110 2013. The only car I’ve ever made money on. Bought…

MINI COOPER MKII 1275 S 2002-03. My first car at 17. It set very high expectations in terms of speed and handling. VOLVO 240 ESTATE 2004-05. The build quality of Volvo’s 240s makes them great everyday classics. VOLVO AMAZON 121 FAVORIT 2005-07. Imported from Sweden and one of the last home-market right-hand drive cars. I drove it to the Sahara. VW GOLF GTI MKI 2008-2012. In excellent condition these cars still have that RAF Weekender vibe. FORD CORTINA 1600E 2010-12. Bought in ‘rat-rod’ condition for £200, I restored/ruined it further with a roller and Rustoleum paint. LAND ROVER SERIES 3 110 2013. The only car I’ve ever made money on. Bought for £2000, sold for £3000. RENAULT CLIO 182 TROPHY 2014-15. Tweaked for an extra 10bhp and with rose-jointed suspension it drove like it was on rails. I’ve never smiled so much. A…