World Of Classic Cars

Rolls-Royce Corniche IV Drophead Coupé by Mulliner Park Ward 1995 - World Of Classic Cars -

2016-05-22T12:03:00.002-07:00

Truly great design never grows old. Rolls-Royce’s Corniche Drophead Coupé was introduced in 1970 as a convertible variant of the popular Silver Shadow, and it would remain in production for a remarkable 25 years. Each was built to individual customer order at Rolls-Royce’s H.J. Mulliner, Park Ward coachworks in London, taking over a month to handcraft to magnificent standards. Only the finest Connolly leather was used within, and the top alone was crafted so perfectly that it fit like the roof of a coupé.

Not just long lived, the Corniche Drophead was as desirable at the end of those 25 years as it was at the beginning. It was a magnificent rolling status symbol, signifying its owner’s superb taste and success, which allowed him to enjoy the greater things in life.

The Corniche presented here is the highly sought-after final-generation model, the Series IV, equipped with a more advanced suspension system, air bags, and other desirable modern features. Significantly, this car was the first to be built in the final year of Corniche production, 1995. Its build records record that it was finished in Red Pearl, piped in Magnolia, with a Beige mohair hood, Magnolia leather interior, and special-ordered interior trim modifications of a steering wheel upholstered in St James Red leather, Magnolia sun visors, and red piping on the interior armrests. The original owner also specified the removal of all exterior badges as well as the usual picnic tables on the back of the front seats.

The car was reportedly ordered by a member of the ruling family of Dubai for use during vacations in Marbella, Spain. Indeed, the build sheets document that the car was delivered to the UAE—and that the original owner received a “Special Chairman Discount”—but it was reportedly never actually taken to Marbella, or, in fact, regularly driven.

Classic Car Maintenance Tips - World Of Classic Cars -

2016-05-22T11:15:00.001-07:00

Classic car ownership will never be without issues when it comes to maintenance and repair; scarcity of parts, the sheer age of the vehicle, and historical problems with the marque can all be parts of the process. Budget concerns are always a big factor when dealing with vintage vehicles, and often the cost of restoration and maintenance can out-strip the amount paid for the car.

Tip 1:
Maintain your battery – keep it charged through regular outings, and remove it if putting your vehicle in storage. The RAC attend nearly 380,000 battery-related breakdowns a year, often due to poor conditioning and charge depletion.

Tip 2:
Closely monitor levels of your car’s fluids. Engine coolant, antifreeze, oil and brake fluid should all be checked regularly, particularly during the winter months. This is particularly important in older, or less well conditioned cars that may experience leaks or other similar issues. Also check any rubber piping relating to these fluids to ensure proper function.

Tip 3:
This may seem somewhat obvious, but when purchasing your classic car or committing to any repairs or complex maintenance, ensure availability of replacement parts first. Proper maintenance is impossible without the right parts for the right vehicle, and a lack of such will only hinder efforts to keep your car on the road and up to scratch.

Tip 4:
Schedule regular maintenance. It’s always best to identify potential problems before they become real issues. Include a full inspection, carefully checking your car top to bottom. Clean out all the nooks and crannies, including lights and indicators. There’s nothing worse than a crippling (and expensive) problem occurring that you could have spotted and prevented at an earlier stage.

Tip 5:
Make sure to start your car up on a regular basis, even if you can’t take it for a spin. This is particularly important if you aren’t driving your classic regularly. Where possible, start the engine and get it up to running temperature for a few minutes. This should help prevent seizing in any of the moving parts, and may even help with the identification of running problems.
With these five tips under your belt, maintenance of your classic car should become a little easier. All of them are easy enough to achieve without the intervention of a mechanic or dealer, so should help keep costs below the budget limit. Classic cars will always be somewhat more expensive to maintain and run than regular, modern road cars. The sheer pleasure derived from them, however, is unassailable.

Mercedes-Benz 280 SL 'Pagoda' 1970 - World Of Classic Cars -

2016-05-22T10:17:00.001-07:00

The Mercedes-Benz product line of the late 1950s had a glaring void. The 300 SL sports car was magnificent but financially out of the reach of many, whereas it’s 190 SL sibling, developed from an entry-level sedan, was more of a comfortable tourer. To remedy this, development began on a six-cylinder evolution of the 190 SL, internally coded W127 and intended to be badged as 220 SL.

Along the way, however, the development was re-directed towards the S-Class, W112 platform. The result was the W113, a fuel-injected 2.3-liter sports car introduced at the March 1963 Geneva Motor Show. Badged 230 SL, it came as a roadster or as a coupé with the intriguing pagoda-shaped removable roof. Nearly 20,000 were built through 1967, of which more than half were exported, many of them to the United States.

Road & Track was impressed by its performance: “. . . the 230 SL really belongs to the fast car group. A standing quarter mile in 17.3 seconds is not bad, and on most highways, traffic or speed limits will decide the average speed, not the car . . . . The manual-shift gearbox is first class with very fast, excellent synchromesh, and a shift lever position, which is exactly right”.

Successively larger engines kept the W113 in production through 1971, as the 250 SL and finally as the 280 SL. The latter was introduced in December 1967, the engine bored out to 2,778 cubic centimetres, good for 180 horsepower. By the time the model was finally succeeded by the R107 and C107 cars, nearly 50,000 W113s had been built.

This 1970 280 SL was purchased new on 29 January 1971 by Tom and Stephanie Walthes of Northbrook, Illinois, who traded in a three-year-old Mercury Cougar against the $8,897 purchase price. In original ownership until recently, it has since been treated to a full restoration in Germany. At that time it was converted to European specifications, including metric instruments, and desirable European lighting and bumpers. Re-finished in the original Tobacco brown paint, now with beige interior and matching carpets, it has a crème-coloured canvas convertible roof, supplemented by the characteristic Pagoda hard top, in complementary light beige. Features include heater-defroster, dashboard clock, and a Becker Europa four-band radio.

Chevrolet Corvette 1956 - World Of Classic Cars -

2016-05-22T03:26:00.001-07:00

The year 1955 was a turning point in Corvette history, as it marked the first year that the Corvette was graced with its legendary small-block V-8 engine. Gone was the anaemic Blue Flame straight-six of the early models, and with it, Corvette’s abysmal sales figures.

More power was exactly what the doctor ordered for the Corvette, and it proved to be a massive hit with customers, finally making it the sports car Chevrolet dreamed it could be.

Like 1955, 1956 was also a big year for the Corvette, as it heralded the car’s first major revision in styling since its inception in 1953. Styling was reminiscent of the original, but it was modernized inside and out with new fenders, chrome-rimmed headlights, integrated taillights, and it’s now iconic side coves.

GM engineers also took the time to add a handful of creature comforts, including wind-up windows, an adjustable passenger seat, and external door handles—welcome changes from the relatively spartan earlier models. Furthermore, customers could choose from a host of options and colours to personalize their new Corvette.

Finished in Arctic Blue with Silver coves and a Red interior, this 1956 Corvette is equipped with two highly desirable options: dual four-barrel carburettors and a matching hardtop, in addition to its two-tone paintwork. It was fully restored in 2012 in the United States and was owned by a gentleman in Alabama before being shipped to Germany, where it currently resides.

Considered by many to be one of the most attractive iterations of the first generation of Corvette, the 1956 Corvette is easily recognizable all over the world as America’s sports car.

Rock Star Cars - World Of Classic Cars -

2016-05-22T02:20:00.002-07:00

When it comes to owning a classic we’re suckers for a glamorous car history. We became obsessed with Paul McCartney’s Lamboghini Espada. We loved the idiosyncratic backstory of swapped number plates, visits to the bottom of lakes, hanging upside down in bars and we eventually tracked it down to Austria where it is being lovingly restored. Some cars are enriched by virtue of who owned them. Who wouldn’t love a jet black Roller that Johnny Cash drove, hitting the kill switch in Steve McQueen’s 911 or finding the hidden stash compartment in Keith Richard’s Bentley? Check out some of our favourite rock and roll cars.

Miles Davis and the Lamborghini Miura

The coolest man to ever pick up a trumpet also drove a Lamborghini Miura. The guy just couldn’t hit a bum note taste wise. He ended up totalling the Lambo and breaking both his ankles. Not to be put off he went straight out and bought another one. Sometimes we have to suffer for art.

Bryan Ferry and the Messerschmitt KR200

A young Mr Ferry looked suitably louche in his Messerschmitt KR200. A hard one to carry off and maybe not the safest for modern roads but it’s a great choice of wheels and has bags of charm.

Tom Petty and the Jaguar XJS

Tom Petty is rock star royalty. Anyone who released Damn the Torpedoes and had punch ups with their record company is alright in our books. The fact that he bought his wife an XJS also ranks highly in our eyes. We’re massive fans of this under-rated classic.

Dave Clark and the Jaguar E-Type

The E-Type was the car of choice for 60s hit parade regulars The Dave Clark Five. Or at least it was for Dave, I imagine the rest of the group were bundled into the back of a Ford Transit and left to fight over a Ginster’s pasty.

Johnny Cash and a cobbled together Cadillac

This car was built to promote the Johnny Cash song ‘one piece at a time’. The song tells the story about an assembly line worker who steals a Cadillac one piece at a time. A Nashville mechanic called Bruce Fitzpatrick actually built the car using the song as his manual. As you can tell the song was a little sketchy on some of the fundamental details and the car is a bit of a dog’s dinner. We definitely preferred the Roller he had.

Bentley S3 Saloon 1963 - World Of Classic Cars -

2016-05-21T14:42:00.000-07:00

The S3 was the last of the S Series of Bentleys—and the last Bentley to utilize traditional, coachbuilt body-on-chassis construction. It combined old-world craftsmanship and superb British engineering with modern styling touches, most notably quad headlamps, a nod to American design trends.

Interiors were lushly trimmed in thick hides, surrounded by burled walnut and all of the most lavish luxury features. The S3 was, simply put, the car in which to see and be seen during the early 1960s.

According to the detailed Bentley build sheets, the example presented here was built to U.S. specifications, with left-hand-drive, a radio with power aerial, electric windows, and Sundym glass throughout, and it was originally finished in Black Pearl over Beige interior.

Its original owner was Howard Lewis Allen Jr, whose residences were recorded as an apartment in The Cambridge House at 175 West 13th Street in New York City and a country house on Interlaken Road in Lakeville, Connecticut. Mr Allen chose to take delivery of his Bentley in England in December 1962 and undoubtedly enjoyed driving it on the country roads of its homeland before bringing it with him to the United States.

Reportedly acquired by the present owner as a sound original example, it underwent a full nut-and-bolt restoration in Turin, Italy, to the original specifications. The only alteration to the original finish was to paint the roof and upper body panels of the car a rich Sand, which serves as a stunning counterpoint to the Black Pearl finish below.

The lenses of the Lucas lights are crisp and clear, the bodywork is beautiful, with excellent panel fit, and the interior upholstery and woodwork are appropriately rich and sumptuous. Today, the interior of this car is just as comfortable as when it was new, and it remains a superb touring conveyance for either the roads of Monaco or the streets of a world capital.

Lancia Ardea 1952 - World Of Classic Cars -

2016-05-21T12:16:00.001-07:00

Introduced in 1939, the Lancia Ardea featured a 903cc, V4 power plant with an alloy cylinder head and became the smallest production V4. In 1948, the third Series Ardea became the first mass produced motorcar to feature a five-speed gearbox. The unitary construction included a pillarless section between the doors.

Due to its small size, this allowed ease of access to the rear passenger compartment. Every Lancia Ardea was built in righthand drive; Lancia not manufacturing a production lefthand drive vehicle until 1955. Production of the Ardea ceased in 1953 with nearly 23,000 examples being produced.

This lovely third Series Lancia Ardea is presented in very good order having undergone restoration works in the past. The grey coachwork is particularly attractive and is complimented by the excellent West of England cloth interior whilst the interior still features the original rubber floor mats. The exterior alloy details such as the door handles, boot lock and various other trim items are all excellent although the alloy bumpers may be said to have seen some action!

To aid safety on today's roads, front and rear indicators have been added and mounted below the bumpers although the standard semaphore indicators located on the upper C-pillars both operate correctly. On the road, this little Lancia performed well maintaining a steady 50mph with ease.

The hydraulic clutch and gears all performing as they should, even the straight cut fifth gear being unexpectedly quiet. The hydraulic braking system, operating the drum brakes on each wheel, pulled the Area to a stop with confidence.

Austin-Healey 100 BN1 1954 - World Of Classic Cars -

2016-05-21T11:30:00.000-07:00

The Austin Healey 100 was built from 1953 until 1956 and developed by Donald Healey to be produced in-house by Healey's small car company in Warwick. Healey built a single Hundred for the 1952 London Motor Show and the design impressed Leonard Lord, Managing Director of Austin, so much, that a deal was struck with Healey to build it at Austin's Longbridge factory and renamed the Austin-Healey 100.

The name came from Donald Healey who selected it due to the car's ability to reach 100mph, as opposed to the Austin-Healey 3000, duly named for its 3,000cc engine. Production Austin-Healey 100s were finished at Austin's Longbridge plant. The 100 was the first of three models later called the Big Healey's to distinguish them from the much smaller Austin-Healey Sprite.

The first series 'BN1' were equipped with the same 90bhp engines and manual gearbox as the A90 although the transmission was modified to be a three-speed unit with overdrive on second and top. With only 6% of these early Healey's sold in the UK, their scarcity alone has made them hugely collectable, this combined with their competition potential in many of the worlds classic rallies makes for a desirable sportscar in any collection.

This Australian delivered righthand drive BN1 was bought into the UK in 2012 by a young businessman. His intention was to fully restore the car and tour the south of France with his father. Having sourced a car from the dry climate of Kirrawee, New South Wales, it was immediately set about by renowned Healey specialists, JME Healeys of Warwickshire.

JME's initial remit was to make the car both reliable and comfortable for what would have been a long pan-European jaunt. The mechanical work list included a complete suspension overhaul, steering, brakes overhaul, new rear axle, clutch and gearbox overhaul, fuel system, electrical, chassis repairs and finally a full service, the work was to be undertaken with a blank chequebook philosophy with labour alone costing £7,700.

French Cars – Vive La Voiture - World Of Classic Cars -

2016-05-21T10:45:00.001-07:00

What have the French ever done for us? Apart from amazing pastries, existentialism, new wave cinema, fashion houses, absinthe, Gitanes, yellow headlights and a healthy dose of egalitarianism; the answer is not a whole lot. Oh, and cars. We just love French cars. In a tribute to all things French here are five of our favourite gallic motors.

1. The Citroën DS and SM

Okay, we’re cheating a bit because the sharp eyed among you will have noticed that we’ve picked out two cars here. Let’s start with the DS. It is widely regarded to be one of the most iconic and idiosyncratic cars to ever hit the road. It set about solving engineering problems that weren’t actually problems in the first place. Such as hydropneumatic self-levelling suspension, which was a wonder. Helping the car handle beautifully. The thing itself was designed by an Italian sculptor and a French aeronautical engineer. Nothing about it was traditional. But you almost don’t care about all the innovations because it looks simply sensational. DS, French word play on Goddess, is very apt. Almost impossible to improve on. Almost.

The leap ahead was the Maserati powered SM. It still looks like it arrived from the future, forty five years after it first hit the show rooms. This sporting update to the DS was the kind of car you enjoyed being in even if it was standing still. And to get a feel for the broad appeal of the car it was even reviewed by Popular Science magazine. It was and still is a wonder.

2. The Peugeot 504

The 504 was within the reach of the average man or woman. And yet it was the kind of car you could imagine picking up Jean Seberg in. Especially in the convertible format. Once you got married to her you could trade it in for a 504 saloon. And the Brake would be for when the kids arrived. Of course you could always have tackled the Paris Dakkar in the rally version if you were that way inclined. And you’d have looked cool every step of the way.

3. Bugatti. Take your pick.

France hasn’t always had the easiest of relationships with Germany and Italy, but when Italian born German based designer Ettore Bugatti decided to create racing cars he did it in France. Mr Bugatti saw himself as an artist as much as he did a car manufacturer. As such he went on to create some of the most breathtaking cars ever made (including an electric car in the 1930s). They were so beautiful that when he claimed Bentley made some of the “fastest lorries in the world”, you believed him. They simply didn’t compare to the elegance of his own creations. Check out Jay Leno as he takes a Type 51 for a drive. Sounds better than fairly much any car ever built. Life affirming stuff.

4. Renault 5 Turbo

When it comes to classic hatchbacks you can forget your Golfs, Suds and 205s (sorry Dave). The real action is with the Renault 5 Turbo. Distinct looking and fast as hell. The type two version hit 60mph in under 7 seconds which was impressive for the early eighties. Anything but understated which is exactly how we like our hot hatches.

5. The Delahaye 135

This car has shot to prominence again lately due to the fact that it featured in a whisky ad with Jude Law. A car so stunning you had to be reminded that Mr Law featured in the promo spot at all. It has pedigree too, with victories in F1 and at Le Mans.

Bond On A Budget - World Of Classic Cars -

2016-05-17T08:57:00.001-07:00

If you’re a fan of James Bond, chances are you’ve already seen the films. They have a couple of fantasy cars that are pure 007, but neither the Aston DB10 or the Jag CX-75 will make it into production. But the ability to purchase them is irrelevant to most people. How many of us will be doing the school run in a DB5 or a 1935 Bentley Drophead? I’m willing to wager that these vehicles are out of the reach for most of us. But what of the Bond cars we can afford. Well, there are a few more than you think.

Sunbeam Alpine From

In the recent Casino Royale film Bond disappointed everyone by hiring himself a Ford Focus. Didn’t even try and upgrade it to something a bit more European like an Alfa, a Merc or a Citroen. Apparently he was happy with the offering and pootled off in the car of choice for middle England. It was almost as if he’d given up on life. Back in the time of Dr No things were more glamorous. Bond hired himself a Sunbeam Alpine. We have one of these at the club and they are a super cool little motor. Just shows you don’t need a boat load of cash to look the part.

Lotus Esprit

The Spy Who Loved Me helped put the Lotus Esprit on the bedroom walls of kids everywhere. Impossible not to love a car that could turn into a submarine. Also looked excellent in white. You can pick these up from £15k (not sure it’ll be watertight though). Although do your homework first or you might end up making your mechanic an incredibly wealthy man.

Alfa Romeo GTV6

Mr Bond shows some taste when he nicks one of these in Octopussy. A great looking car that is loads of fun. Buy one and you’ll be able to swagger through Sainsbury’s car park safe in the knowledge that you have a little secret service magic. Don’t forget the bags though, they cost 5p now.

Jeep Wagoneer

Features in a few short scenes in Moonraker but we’ll take any opportunity to talk up this mighty off-roader. While our favourite super-spy may be more of a Land Rover man, he certainly didn’t look out of place in this. The producers had a deal with AMC at the time (makers of some of the most god-awful lemons to ever place rubber on tarmac), so we can be thankful he wasn’t checking out the headroom in a Gremlin.

Triumph Stag

007 took charge of a Stag in Diamonds are Forever. This car wasn’t seen as an instant classic. And it certainly didn’t trouble the Merc SL in the sales stakes. But over time this has grown into a classic and Bond looks good in it. We say buy yourself one and fill the boot with diamonds. It will give you a bit of an edge.

Alfa Romeo RZ by Zagato 1993 - World Of Classic Cars -

2016-05-16T12:30:00.001-07:00

Alfa Romeo and Carrozzeria Zagato revived the SZ, or Sprint Zagato, name at the 1989 Geneva Salon. First in coupé form and later as a roadster, the Type ES-30 SZ/RZ was also a joint project of Alfa Romeo and Fiat. Both models were based on the floorpan and drivetrain of the Alfa 75. With the exception of its aluminium alloy roof panel, the coupé’s bodywork was thermo-plastic, injection-moulded composite. After 1,036 SZ coupés were delivered, an open version, called the RZ (for Roadster Zagato), followed.

Both were powered by the Alfa 75’s fuel-injected V-6 four-cam engine, which developed a potent 210 horsepower, sent through a rear-mounted five-speed transaxle. The rally tuned suspension was fully independent in front with a de Dion rear axle with Watt’s linkage in the rear, lending excellent handling qualities. The Zagato’s four-wheel disc brakes could easily haul the car down from its estimated 243 km/h top speed. While the styling of the SZ and RZ stirred some controversy when the car was introduced, today it is considered very modernistic, and these luxuriously trimmed high-performance sports cars are much sought after.

This fine example, number 145 in the series, was purchased from the factory by Italian Alfa dealer Var Auto and was displayed at the firm’s showroom in Beinette in the Province of Cuneo, Italy. In 2002, it was sold to a German specialist on behalf of a British client and was shipped to the United Kingdom. That gentleman, Andrew Ramsey, retained the car until it was acquired by the consignor.

Cagiva Moke 1993 - World Of Classic Cars -

2016-05-16T11:57:00.000-07:00

Designed by the Mini’s legendary creator Alec Issigonis, the Mini Moke was originally created for military use as an off-road vehicle that could be dropped from a plane with a parachute for troop landings. The civilian version followed in 1964, and cult classic status was assured after it was featured in numerous episodes of the classic television series The Prisoner, as well as in James Bond films, where fleets were frequently seen in villains’ lairs.

The majority of Mokes were manufactured in Australia until 1983, when output moved to Portugal. Manufacturing rights to the design were sold to the Italian firm Cagiva in 1991, and production continued in Portugal under that name for an additional two years.

The beautifully presented car presented here was one of the final Mokes built; its original body and components are beautifully preserved as a result, including the white finish and bespoke white leather upholstery with green piping and matching seatbelts, teak running boards, and Nardi wooden steering wheel. The Moke is even nicely equipped with a removable rollbar and full weather gear, allowing for year-round use at one’s yacht club or ranch.

Fetch The Car Philip - A Brief History Of Royal Cars -

2016-05-16T09:56:00.000-07:00

When it comes to buying cars the Royal family have made some pretty good choices. The ability to choose is helped by the narrowness of the brief – ‘Buy British. Money no object’. This combination means they have avoided having to tool around the north circular in an over-heating Austin Allegro. For them it is the luxury of an Aston Martin and an empty road. Here is our look back at some of the best Royal cars.

The Queen and a Land Rover Defender

The Queen driving a Land Rover. Not sure how much more British you can get without dusting off the pearly suit and singing Rule Britannia from the top of Nelson’s column.

Princess Anne and a Range Rover

There is something impossibly cool about this shot. A Royal that has gone heavy on the 70s fashion in an old school Range Rover. Would look as good driving through east London today as it did back then.

Prince Charles and an Aston Martin DB6 MKII Vantage Volante

A great car. An even better car if it’s gifted to you on your 21st birthday by the Queen. Recently used for William’s marriage to Kate. Seemingly used in this shot to pick up burgers from Wimpy. Arguably one of the most famous cars in the world.

The Duke of Edinburgh and a Lagonda DHC

Prince Philip may have a questionable line in humour but his taste in cars is a little less contentious. This Lagonda is a fantastic car. Full of subtlety and class.

Prince Charles and an MGC

The MGC is probably the closest that Charles has been to owning an everyday runaround. He recently passed the car down to William. For the money we think an Austin Healey 3000 would have been a better choice, but still a very cool car.

Porsche 944 1989 - World Of Classic Cars -

2016-05-16T08:29:00.000-07:00

The Porsche 944 was built from 1982 to 1991 on the same platform as the 924. The 944 was intended to last into the 1990s but major revisions planned for a 944 S3 model were eventually rolled into the 968 instead which replaced the 944. The 944 was a successful model and was available as both a coupé and cabriolet in naturally aspirated and turbocharged forms. In mid-1985, the 944 underwent significant changes.

These included a new dashboard together with new door panels, embedded radio antenna as well as some mechanical changes. Also included was a larger fuel tank, optional heated and powered seats, Porsche Hi-Fi sound system and revisions in the mounting of the transaxle to reduce noise and vibration. The numbers built, reflecting the popularity of the model, made it one of the most successful cars in Porsche's history.

This Porsche was originally registered on 10th March, 1989 and has recently been re-commissioned after a spell in storage. The current vendor has enthusiastically invested time and finances to ensure this 944 S2 presents in good condition. The blue coachwork has been 'refreshed' in places to a good standard and the matching velour interior trim is virtually unmarked.

Mercedes-Benz 250 SL Pagoda 1967 - World Of Classic Cars -

2016-05-16T07:44:00.000-07:00

Mercedes-Benz has been producing an SL (Sport Leicht) model or range of models since 1954 when the landmark 300SL was unveiled. The similarly styled, but mechanically unrelated, 190 followed in 1955, completing the first generation of cars.

Their successor was the W113 series SL which proved to be more comfortable than the former and faster than the latter. The 250SL is the rarest of all the SL's as they were only made for one year, of these, very few were fitted with a manual gearbox. The 250SL also had a far superior seven main bearing engine as opposed to four in the 230SL.

This beautiful example, presented in brilliant white with contrasting blue interior, accompanying blue hardtop and mohair hood, is a rare 250SL combined with the manual gearbox. It has undergone an extensive restoration in 2015 which leaves this iconic Pagoda in excellent condition today and well worth viewing. Boasting the original style carpets and original Becker radio, the vendor recently took the car to SS Motors, renowned Mercedes-Benz specialist who commented, "This is the nicest one I have seen in a long while".

Fiat 500 Mare by Holiday 1960 - World Of Classic Cars -

2016-05-15T14:21:00.000-07:00

As 1960s jet-setters partied down at sandy beaches all over the world, they were most often seen not in their Ferraris or Maseratis but behind the wheel of a Fiat Jolly. The Jolly, based upon the reliable mechanicals of the Italian “people’s car”, the 500 featured dune buggy-like bodywork by Ghia of Turin, with open sides, a simple surrey top, and wicker seats that would have looked at home at an English garden party. It was often finished in brilliant, shiny colours, making it all the better to match one’s swimsuit or yacht club burgee. Jollies were all the rage on the streets of resort towns, and if you were really a member of the jet-set, you carried one upon the deck of your yacht as a tender. Both wealthy vacationers and fashionable resorts bought them in droves.

Approximately 20 years ago, Giovanni Vernagallo’s Carrozzeria Holiday (now Vernagallo Stile) took up the tradition and began converting vintage Fiat 500s into the Mare, a beach car in the style of the Jolly, but less the wicker seats. They continue in this endeavour today, selling cars exclusively to resorts and a shortlist of VIP clients for whom there is still simply no substitute.

The 500 Mare presented here, converted from a 500 Giardiniera, was the recipient of a thorough restoration to ensure trouble-free cruising around the French Riviera. According to the consignor, it is believed that only 10 such examples were based on the Giardiniera estate wagon, giving this delightful beach car ample room for one’s towels and snorkel gear. It is in excellent condition and finished in a stunning and easy-going colour combination that will certainly get noticed around town.

HAZ Buggy 1969 - World Of Classic Cars -

2016-05-15T13:50:00.000-07:00

The beach was where the ’60s generation escaped to, and the dune buggy was just the iconic vehicle to take them to their Endless Summer.

The dune buggy was the brainchild of Bruce Meyers, who developed the combination of a fiberglass body and shortened Volkswagen Beetle chassis in 1964 after realising the design’s potential for off-roading use. The design’s fame was assured after a record-breaking victory in a race in the Baja Desert and epic wins in the Pikes Peak Hillclimb. Its role as a status symbol was further cemented when Elvis Presley drove one in the film Live a Little, Love a Little and when Steven McQueen set off across the dunes in The Thomas Crown Affair with Faye Dunaway at his side.

The design even caught on in Europe, where the highest-quality example was the HAZ (or Hazard) Buggy, manufactured by Autohaus G. Kühn in limited numbers from 1968 until the early 1990s. High standards of quality and construction included approval for legal road use by TÜV, the German Technical Inspection Association.

The car presented here was among the first HAZ Buggies built and remains in excellent original order, including its wooden steering wheel, black vinyl seats, and fiberglass tub finished in the original and striking red paintwork. All is set off beautifully by the classic E-T Classic V-style magnesium wheels, a correct period accessory. Underneath, the proper VW Beetle engine has been maintained for excellent performance.

BMW 327 Sport Cabriolet 1938 - World Of Classic Cars -

2016-05-15T13:00:00.000-07:00

Originally an aero engine manufacturer, Bayerische Motoren Werke purchased the Dixi Werke of Eisenach in 1928 and continued to manufacture the smallest Dixi product, a license-built version of the Austin Seven. The BMW badge was adopted for these cars in January 1929. By 1934, BMW was building the Type 315, a 1,490-cubic centimetre car available in 40 brake horsepower, triple-carburettor tune.

The 1936 Berlin Auto Show heralded an important BMW development: the 326. More streamlined than earlier BMWs, its styling would define the marque until World War II. The 326 begat several variations that overshadowed the parent model: the 320, a cheaper four-cylinder car, and the 327, a short-chassis, two-seat coupé or convertible. Launched in 1937 as a sport cabriolet, the 327 featured the M-78 six-cylinder engine with twin Solex carburettors. Higher compression gave it five more horsepower than the 326, and a shorter wheelbase translated into less weight and a top speed of 78 mph.

While the early history of this 327 is unknown, it is believed that the car was originally exported to Romania when new, and it was delivered in 1938. Acquired more recently by the consignor, he embarked on a unique restoration and decided to create the ultimate BMW 327, set up for greater performance and with modern driving conditions in mind. In place of the original six-cylinder engine, a 3,168-cubic centimetre alloy V-8 from a BMW 503 with ported heads, sports camshaft, and high compression pistons was fitted.

To aid cooling, a BMW 501 radiator was fitted, along with an electric fan. With more comfortable cruising in mind, a close-ratio five-speed Getrag gearbox was fitted, and the original narrow axles were replaced with 503 axles, without fundamental modifications to the 327 chassis, reportedly providing improved stability and giving the car a more purposeful stance.

Subtle finishing touches include Xenon headlamps and electric windows, using the original winders converted to switches. The car was then finished in the striking deep black over yellow colour combination. Today the BMW is in excellent condition, and, more importantly, it is reportedly enormous fun to drive. With at least 140 horsepower from the smooth V-8, this modified 327 offers very strong performance accompanied by an authentic period bark from the exhaust.

This BMW 327 encapsulates the look and sensations of pre-war motoring whilst also offering more modern post-war levels of performance.

Victor High Wheel Electric Runabout 1907 - World Of Classic Cars -

2016-05-15T05:39:00.000-07:00

Interestingly, the first electric cars were produced in the 1880s and became increasingly popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Steam and electric power were relatively straight forward and widely used.

With a crowded market place by as early as 1915, it was only with advances in internal combustion engines, electric starters in particular, and mass production of cheaper petrol vehicles that led to a decline in the use of electric drive vehicles. While some are still remembered like Baker, Waverley and Detroit, there were many others now long forgotten and correspondingly rare.

This example has spent many years in America where it was on display in a museum before being sold and imported into the UK. The electrics were then completely overhauled and the vehicle is now fitted with six Odyssey PC2250 high capacity traction batteries (including a Vivian high capacity charging system) which run for up to 65-75 miles on one full charge.

Chassis number 33759 has been recently re-painted with both body and chassis in black with gold pin-striping, black leather upholstery and black patent leather fenders. The wooden wheels are varnished and feature black pinstripe and narrow solid rubber tires. The Victor has a large bell on the driver's side to serve as a warning, due to the quietness of the car, along with a wooden leaver and step for the driver.

Of interesting construction are the unusual transverse full-elliptic springs to both front and rear. The electric motor, which dates to 1919 by its number, is mounted to the rear axle and operates a forward jackshaft by single chain drive which turns the rear wheels via dual chains with an armature brake on the motor.

Pope-Waverley Victoria Phaeton 1906 - World Of Classic Cars -

2016-05-15T03:54:00.000-07:00

In 1898, the American Electric Vehicle Company of Chicago merged with the Indiana Bicycle Company in Indianapolis, Indiana, part of Colonel Albert Pope's cycle empire. The Waverley Electric was introduced that year under the auspices of the American Bicycle Company, another of Pope's entities.

By 1901, the International Motor Car Company had developed a more dominant place in the market and in 1903, the Colonel decided to put his name to it. During the Pope years, the car was marketed in a plethora of models. The Model 67 Victoria Phaeton, with leather top, sold for $1,600 and, with a catchy tagline, "Friends who own Electrics go around in comfort and luxury without soiling their hands, gloves or clothing and without fuss or noise," sold well.

The black paint is professionally striped in red and yellow and looks good, harmonising seamlessly with the black leather fenders. Lighting consists of electric coach lamps at the front and a small tail lamp at the rear, again, all finished in black. The seat is upholstered in a floral print buttoned fabric with an additional rear-facing occasional seat to the right side; the driving position offers tiller-steering on the left and full leather-lined hood and complementary leg knee-covers.

Purchased by the previous owner from the James Cousens, Cedar Crossing Collection in 2008, it was then imported into the UK where modern professional batteries and charging system were fitted giving it a range of up to 50 miles. It is an excellent example of a pre-1910 electric Phaeton and progress is swift, as demonstrated by an extremely comfortable drive in the sunshine.

Ford Thunderbird 1966 - World Of Classic Cars -

2016-05-15T03:06:00.000-07:00

The Thunderbird entered production in 1955 as a sporty, two-seat convertible and, unlike the Chevrolet Corvette, was not marketed as a sports car. Instead, Ford created a new market segment, the Personal Car. Ford has since produced over 4.4 million Thunderbirds.The second to fourth generation Thunderbird convertibles were similar in design to the Lincoln convertible in that whilst these models had a true convertible soft top, this was lowered to stow in the forward boot area.

The boot lid was rear-hinged; raised and lowered via hydraulic cylinders during the top raising or lowering cycle. When fully retracted, there is no sight of the soft top and the overall appearance is a sleek one with no trace of a hood at all.For 1964, the Thunderbird was re-styled in favour of a more squared-off appearance, hinting at its roots in the previous generation.

The 300 horsepower, 6.4-Litre, FE V8 continued as the standard engine, paired with a three-speed automatic transmission. In the last year of the generation, 1966, saw a stylistic revision for the Thunderbird highlighted by a new egg-crate style grille with a large Thunderbird emblem at its centre and a new rear fascia. The standard 6.4-Litre, V8 now produced 315 horsepower alongside a newly optional 345 horsepower, 7.0-Litre FE V8.

This rare example of the 7.0-Litre, 428 convertible was originally registered on 1st January 1966 in Texas before spending some time being fully restored in Europe including a top end rebuild of the engine and strip down and soda blast to bare metal for the re-spray. Finished in metallic Ice Blue and equipped with power everything, cruise control, sequential tail lights, swing away steering wheel and disc brakes all complimented by the expensive optional extra of full black leather interior. The car has undergone a recent service which included new plugs, coil, leads and new fitted carpets.

The Crazy World Of Concept Cars - World Of Classic Cars -

2016-05-13T11:30:00.001-07:00

It is hard being a visionary car designer. Carrozzeria Scaglietti is as much responsible for Ferrari’s iconic status as the founder himself. Without him there would be no 250 GTO or 250 Testarossa. He succeeded despite the fact that Enzo Ferrari was initially lukewarm about his designs (Dino had to convince the old man that he was worth perservering with). Mauricio Gandini produced the Miura despite Ferruccio Lamborghini not wanting to produce a two-seat racer. He went on to pen revolutionary classics such as the Lancia Stratos and the Alfa Montreal. But what of those designers who have to show the same level of belief in their designs. Whose vision ends up being entirely of the hindsight variety. Let’s take a moment to celebrate some of the weird and wonderful concept cars that didn’t quite make it.

Dodge Deora

This oddity is the result of the Alexander brothers taking an A100 pick-up and pimping the hell out of it. It exhibited to rave reviews. This is despite the fact that the driver and his passenger seem to act as the crumple zone for any potential accident (at least the contents of the boot would be kept relatively safe). It recently sold for over quarter of a million dollars. It also has the claim to fame of being one of the first Hot Wheels cars ever produced.

Alfa Romeo BAT series

The BAT cars that Alfa produced were instant classics. It’s difficult to appreciate just how forward looking these cars must have been in the fifties. There was reason behind their radical looks too. The BAT wasn’t referencing a certain caped crusader with a penchant for flamboyant cars. It stood for Berlinetta Aerodinamica Tecnica and it aimed to be as aerodynamic as possible. They achieved a drag co-efficient of 0.19 (which is still impressive a full sixty years later). They didn’t particularly influence mainstream Alfa design which erred towards being boxy. But as an exercise in engineering and design these cars have rarely been bettered.

Davis Divan D2-Coupe

We’ve often thought at the club, if only someone would build a three wheeled car that could sit four people up-front. Well they did. The Davis car company thought they’d spotted a gap in the market for the type of driver that likes to lunch four abreast with his friends. Just look how comfortable they all look sitting next to each other. It’s a wonder this never caught on.

Toyota CX-80

To help say goodbye to the seventies Toyota wanted something that would be a palate cleanser. A leap into the future. They had a strong history in producing bold designs. After all, everyone loved the GT-2000. What they unveiled was the CX-80. A kind of proto Austin Maestro. The car of the future if the future was to be depressingly dull.

The Dymaxion car

Radical doesn’t begin to cover the Dymaxion. Originally built at the height of the Great Depression (which took some balls) it was unveiled at the Chicago Trade Fair in 1934. This odd, back-to-front car reached for the future like no other. Inspired by airplane design, it was intended that it would one day be modified into the world’s first flying car. This was for men who were made of the right stuff. Literally – the car had a tendency to blow sideways in strong winds which would have been a little terrifying. True to its inspiration it also had a tendency to lift at speed. Which would have been great on a runway with wings attached, but a little less enjoyable when hitting 70mph on the M1. While it may have failed as a car/plane hybrid, it succeeded as a design exercise. As lauded today as it was when it launched. Famed architect, Lord Foster, even went as far as to re-create it. We don’t necessarily want to go on a roadtrip in it, but we do love it.

GM Firebird III

Go home GM, you’re drunk.

Rolls-Royce Silver Spur 1982 - World Of Classic Cars -

2016-05-12T11:55:00.000-07:00

In the 1970s, Austrian Fritz Feller was chief engineer of styling and future projects at Crewe. He looked to the Pininfarina-designed Camargue for design cues, resulting in the Silver Spirit and Silver Spur of the 1980s. Externally these cars were entirely new but retained most of the chassis platform of the Silver Shadow.

The major exception was the rear end which was modified to accept new rear suspension. This new system had been launched during 1979 on the Rolls-Royce Corniche. Many of the changes behind the development of the new car were down to impending safety legislation.

The Spirit of Ecstasy, for example, was no longer fixed to the grille, but designed to retract into the radiator shell upon impact. Other improvements included better ride comfort and a new suspension system with automatic ride height control.

The long-wheelbase version was called the Silver Spur. Four inches longer than the Spirit, it is identifiable by its extended rear windows and Everflex roof. A special run of 25 Silver Spur Centenary models was produced in 1985, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the motor car in Great Britain and the production of the 100,000th Rolls-Royce.

Finished in silver with a contrasting black interior, this fine example was supplied new on February 11th 1982. The car was maintained with supplying dealer Jack Barclay for the first ten years, subsequently with specialists and more recently with a local garage.

Mercedes-Benz CLK 320 - World Of Classic Cars -

2016-05-11T10:37:00.000-07:00

The Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class is a mid-size, rear-wheel drive luxury coupé and, while it was based on the W202 and W203 platforms of the C-Class, some styling cues were closer to that of the E-Class.

The CLK 320 Coupé was introduced in the 1997 model year, powered by a 3.2 litre, V6 engine with the convertible available from 2000. In late 1999 for the 2000 model year, a facelift was launched which incorporated, amongst others, a revised instrument cluster with a bigger multifunction display, steering wheel with controls for the multifunction display and radio, tiptronic automatic gearbox, revised bumpers and new side skirts and side-view mirror-mounted indicators.

This Elegance specification 320CLK Automatic with the desirable V6 engine is presented in silver with a grey leather interior, blue mohair hood, wood-rimmed standard steering wheel and is in very good order throughout.

The front seats are memory items and parking sensors can be founds front and rear. There are power fold wing mirrors and recently refurbished alloy wheels combined with new springs. The vendor describes it as, "so quiet and smooth, it's a dream in the summer".

Range Rover 1982 - World Of Classic Cars -

2016-05-10T14:09:00.001-07:00

The first generation Range Rover was produced between 1970 and 1996 and while certainly up-market compared to preceding Land Rover models was not designed as a luxury-type 4x4; the early Range Rovers had basic, utilitarian interiors with vinyl seats and plastic dashboards designed to be washed down with a hose.

Features such as power-assisted steering, carpeted floors; air-conditioning, cloth/leather seats and wooden interior trim were fitted later. The Range Rover was a body-on-frame design with a box section ladder type chassis, similar to contemporary Land Rovers. The original Range Rover utilised coil springs as opposed to leaf springs, permanent four-wheel drive and four-wheel disc brakes and was originally powered by the Rover V8 engine.

This very early four-door was initially built in Solihull between 15th and 25th February 1982 and was despatched to Appleyard Farm Services Ltd, Ripon, Yorkshire, on 1st March. It was first registered on 11th November 1982 and is still on its original registration plate.

Presented in Sahara Dust with Bronze Teddy Bear trim. it was fitted with Fairey overdrive unit which is functioning correctly. The interior is completely original including rather unusually, the headlining. Having been Ziebart rust proofed from new, the condition is exceptional with the original Ziebart sticker still in the rear window. Recent maintenance includes new rear shock absorbers, exhaust, fuel pump, under bonnet soundproofing and oem radiator.