Classic Cars March 2018

Welcome Cars with breathtaking glamour are hard to resist, except when their status gets in the way of enjoying them The 534,422 visitors to 1958’s International Motor Exhibition at Earls Court were treated to first viewings of the Austin A40 and Rover 3 Litre among more than a dozen new launches, but the Aston Martin DB4 was by far the most exciting. With discreetly dashing styling by Frederico Formenti of Carrozzeria Touring and a powerful new Tadek Marek-designed twin-cam straight six, this car encapsulated late-Fifties Britain’s aspirations of international glamour and sophistication perfectly via the medium of aluminium and steel. For £3980 those visitors could have bought six A40s or one DB4, a car that would – with minimal changes – evolve into the Bond-famous DB5. To mark the event…

The 534,422 visitors to 1958’s International Motor Exhibition at Earls Court were treated to first viewings of the Austin A40 and Rover 3 Litre among more than a dozen new launches, but the Aston Martin DB4 was by far the most exciting. With discreetly dashing styling by Frederico Formenti of Carrozzeria Touring and a powerful new Tadek Marek-designed twin-cam straight six, this car encapsulated late-Fifties Britain’s aspirations of international glamour and sophistication perfectly via the medium of aluminium and steel. For £3980 those visitors could have bought six A40s or one DB4, a car that would – with minimal changes – evolve into the Bond-famous DB5. To mark the event we’ve put together a special package of features, with the brave restoration of a DB4 prototype dragged from a Welsh cattle…

[ The List ] Your dream drive made real ‘The faster you go the better it gets’ Philip Martin’s car past is largely made up of nippy roadsters and hatches, bar a brief spell of rotted Jaguar Mk2 ownership. Can a fine example still set his pulse racing fifty years later? Words RUSS SMITH Photography JONATHAN JACOB ‘I had one in the Seventies that was an utter rustbucket – I’ve always wanted to know what it’s like to drive a good one.’ Today could have been a disaster. I arrive nice and early at the Classic and Sportscar Centre’s North Yorkshire base to the news that the Mk2 we’re due to borrow has a sticking brake caliper, and its replacement hasn’t been delivered yet. Old cars,…

‘I had one in the Seventies that was an utter rustbucket – I’ve always wanted to know what it’s like to drive a good one.’ Today could have been a disaster. I arrive nice and early at the Classic and Sportscar Centre’s North Yorkshire base to the news that the Mk2 we’re due to borrow has a sticking brake caliper, and its replacement hasn’t been delivered yet. Old cars, eh? My look of panic is swiftly turned to one of relief by boss James Szkiler. ‘It’s alright, we’ve got another Mk2 for you. It’s one we’ve already sold but the customer is happy for you to use it today. It’s just being collected from storage and checked over.’ So there’s time to accept a cup of tea and enjoy the vast and…

PHILIP MARTIN’S CAR CV Philip has always enjoyed old cars, from early years with Austin Sevens to the Renault 16 that he refuses to part with AUSTIN SEVENS ‘Sixty years ago this was one of the first cars I owned, modified to independent front suspension. During my teenage years there were always several Sevens in the driveway with their engines being rebuilt. None of them cost me more than a tenner.’ AUSTIN LIGHT 12/6 SPORTS ‘It had a plucky six-cylinder sidevalve engine. I think it may have been a Newbury model, but 1959 was a long time ago – Austin club folk will know for sure. Featured in plenty of memorable camping holidays with friends.’ FIAT 500 ‘Bought in 2009 as a wreck and restored. I got it for for…

AUSTIN SEVENS ‘Sixty years ago this was one of the first cars I owned, modified to independent front suspension. During my teenage years there were always several Sevens in the driveway with their engines being rebuilt. None of them cost me more than a tenner.’ AUSTIN LIGHT 12/6 SPORTS ‘It had a plucky six-cylinder sidevalve engine. I think it may have been a Newbury model, but 1959 was a long time ago – Austin club folk will know for sure. Featured in plenty of memorable camping holidays with friends.’ FIAT 500 ‘Bought in 2009 as a wreck and restored. I got it for for nostalgic reasons because I’d owned one in Malta in 1976, also with the full-length sunroof. I sold it when someone offered me huge money – I couldn’t say no.’ RENAULT 16 TS ‘I…