Classic Cars July 2018

Welcome Why targa-topped cars can transport you back to a lost era and how depreciation creates crazy possibilities There’s a moment of mild humiliation that my fellow Le Mans travelers love to remind me of over a campsite beer. It was the year I surprised them all by turning up at the Portsmouth ferry terminal with the TVR Griffith 500 bought just a few days earlier, then had them all disabled with laughter shortly after disembarkation when I pulled over at the roadside to drop the top. Out came my luggage, followed by my tool kit and finally the spare wheel. Because that was the only way to fit the hard centre section of the roof into the deep but short boot. By the time I’d piled all of my…

There’s a moment of mild humiliation that my fellow Le Mans travelers love to remind me of over a campsite beer. It was the year I surprised them all by turning up at the Portsmouth ferry terminal with the TVR Griffith 500 bought just a few days earlier, then had them all disabled with laughter shortly after disembarkation when I pulled over at the roadside to drop the top. Out came my luggage, followed by my tool kit and finally the spare wheel. Because that was the only way to fit the hard centre section of the roof into the deep but short boot. By the time I’d piled all of my belongings back in, the clouds looked poised for mischief. The arrangement of soft folding rear section and lift-out centre…

If it takes a portion of luck to get picked out of the many applications for one of our dream drives, today’s candidate, Michael Weight, can be considered to have bagged an extra helping. He was originally lined up to drive the MGA Roadster that appeared in the April issue, but had to drop out just beforehand due to illness. When another of his top ten came up just three months later, it seemed only fair to call Michael first, and this time he was fighting fit. Keen too, given how early he arrives for our rendezvous with Bill Riches, the owner of the stunning Jaguar MkIX you see here. Bill has owned the car for nine years, and it has still only covered 39,500 miles, due partly to having been…

The List Your dream drive made real ‘It really begs to be driven’ Retired trucker and chauffeur Michael Weight has long lusted after old Jaguars so we put him in a MkIX for the day. Man and car formed an instant bond Words RUSS SMITH Photography DEAN SMITH If it takes a portion of luck to get picked out of the many applications for one of our dream drives, today’s candidate, Michael Weight, can be considered to have bagged an extra helping. He was originally lined up to drive the MGA Roadster that appeared in the April issue, but had to drop out just beforehand due to illness. When another of his top ten came up just three months later, it seemed only fair to call Michael first, and this…

Jaguar MkIX ‘Reminds me of stately home picnics in the Sixties’ Austin-Healey 3000 ‘Just a car I’ve always liked. I’d love to know how it drives.’ MGA 1600 roadster ‘I loved these as a boy. I had MGA stickers all over my pushbike.’ Jaguar Mk2 ‘I went to the Nürburgring with a pal in his Maserati. One of these came past and we couldn’t catch it.’ Bentley S3 ‘I’ve driven plenty of modern Bentleys but these are the ones with all the style.’ Jensen Interceptor ‘I can still picture one that drove past some park gates in the Sixties. I swore I’d own one before I was 30...’ Bentley 4.5 Litre ‘I’ve wanted to drive one ever since I saw The Fast Lady in the Sixties.’ Jaguar XK150 dhc ‘I have a thing about Jaguars and love the bulbous styling – more so than the…

MICHAEL’S DREAM DRIVE LIST Jaguar MkIX ‘Reminds me of stately home picnics in the Sixties’ Austin-Healey 3000 ‘Just a car I’ve always liked. I’d love to know how it drives.’ MGA 1600 roadster ‘I loved these as a boy. I had MGA stickers all over my pushbike.’ Jaguar Mk2 ‘I went to the Nürburgring with a pal in his Maserati. One of these came past and we couldn’t catch it.’ Bentley S3 ‘I’ve driven plenty of modern Bentleys but these are the ones with all the style.’ Jensen Interceptor ‘I can still picture one that drove past some park gates in the Sixties. I swore I’d own one before I was 30...’ Bentley 4.5 Litre ‘I’ve wanted to drive one ever since I saw The Fast Lady in the Sixties.’…