LATEST NEWS - EVENTS - FEATURES - CARS FOR SALE - SHOW REPORTS - REVIEWS

April 2012 - Issue 14

TRIUmPH TR3 - FERRARI BERLINETTA - GENEVA mOTOR SHOW - ANd mUCH mORE!

NEWS - REVIEWS - ROAd TESTS - SHOW REPORTS - TECHNICAL TIPS - CAR CLUBS - CARS FOR SALE

MGBGTCut Price Classic!

With the passage of time it’s easy to forget theideas that Rally Design have developed that haskept the good old RWD Escort parts affordable toall. Some of our present customers were not evenborn when we first started from our lock-up garageunit!

OUR DOCTRINEREMAINS THESAME...

With the passage of time it’s easy to forget theideas that Rally Design have developed that haskept the good old RWD Escort parts affordable toall. Some of our present customers were not evenborn when we first started from our lock-up garageunit!

• Keep stocks high - you cannot sell a product if you don’t have the stock• Never lie to a customer - if supply is going to be 6 weeks, be honestand tell them so• Try to get every order out the same day• Keep the customer informed• Never take a credit card swipe or raise an invoice unless the goods areto hand • Sell value for money products - not the cheapest nor necessarilythe best, but that which our experience suggests is good for the job• Offer advice if you feel capable of doing so but don’t talk rubbish!

WITH THEPASSAGE OF

TIME

Back in the 70’s, a Quick RatioEscort Rack cost £200 plus.We developed an inexpensiveDIY quick conversion kit andsold thousands, but nowcompetively priced as acomplete rack.

We were the pioneers of bolt-on dedicated 4-pot braking kits using the inexpensive Wilwoodally racing callipers, copied now by some of thebiggest names in performance braking, but wewere the first!

Still the only company to produce polyurethane suspensionbushes by the injection moulding process, resulting in a highquality bush together with stainless crush sleeve at a very lowprice.

The roller top mount has always been a criticalservice item. Rally Design invested in press andmoulding tools to ensure this vital part continuedin production

Until Rally Design invested in new tooling, theindustry relied on reconditioned old struts - nowmany in the shock absorber industry use Rally Design’sstub axles in their performance strut units.

Such an inexpensive way to convert any 2” (50mm)old strut into a coil over unit. Simple ideas aresometimes the best.

www.rallydesign.co.ukTel. 01227 792792

OUR DOCTRINEREMAINS THESAME...

All our coil springs are produced on OEMstyle N. C. Coilers - Minimum order of 300coils per size. Our stock investment ofover 20,000 springs has transformed theunit cost and quality of this vitalsuspension part.

Adjustable ‘in-situ’ TCA’s -manufactured from new drop forgedtooling eliminating all welding for astronger, smarter and cheaper product.

Weld-on double width kit -eliminating the problem of TCA ‘pullforward’ or ‘tuck back’ positionedthe double width unit exactly toyour requirements. Combined withPolyrace bushes to suit varying rollbar dimensions.

Twin cam roll bar -similar story to springs.Settled on 2000 piecesto ensure continuity ofsupply.

Taper leaf springs - wesearched Europe and thenAsia for a Taper Rolling Mill- Yes Sir! Minimum orderquantity 20 tons. How manysprings is that? - 20 tonsworth Sir!

Classic Ford Wheels - Purchasedfrom one of the largest OEM wheelmanufacturers to JWL standard,the best quality wheels at such agood price. Wheels alwaysavailable ex-stock.

Our buyers found a battery produced formedical applications in large numberswhich had the right spec and at anamazingly low price. Thousands in use.

Roll cage padding - We invested in new toolingto buy direct from a foam converter. Minimumhands in the supply chain results in a BI fireretardant product which is well priced.

We searched the world to findthe source manufacturer of thegenuine Vermiculite manifoldwrap. Now badge engineeredby others but we are theEuropean source.

AND NOW... Rally Design have invested in 15new press tools to produce the Escort 1 or 2 balanceBar pedal Box with pressed pedals and designsimilar to the original Boreham converted box butat a price similar to box section pedals - doing thejob right!

The RMD Maximumprotection seat, pricedat £99.50 plus VATreceives glowingreviews from ourcustomers.

Silicon hoses - Fed up with the terribledelivery of UK hose manufacturers weinvested in 500 new mandrel tools toproduce this product direct from themoulder - we now have over 20,000hoses in stock for instant dispatch. Nodelivery problems ever again. www.rallydesign.co.ukTel. 01227 792792

2 CPR Magazine

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Editor: Simon Hazeldine- Designer: Chris Peacock - Sub Editor: David Harrison - Advertising: Tom Saunders - Web ‘Geek’: Luke Mowatt - Marketing: Peter Allinson. The entire contents of Classic, Performance & Retro magazine are copyright. No part of it may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. Classic, Performance & Retro Magazine is a FREE monthly publication produced by AV8 Publishing Ltd, Cambridge, England. Contact Details: PO Box 280, Ely, Cambridgeshire, CB7 9DH. Website - www.cprmag.com - E-mail - info@cprmag.com - Telephone +44 (0)1353 777519. We are happy to accept photographs and articles with a view to including them in Classic, Performance & Retro Magazine, but please note: all submissions are sent at contributors own risk and we will not be liable for any loss or damage.

March turned out to be an exceptionally mild month with some unseasonably warm weather here in the UK, and that meant that many classic cars came out of their winter hibernation a few weeks early. Of course, it couldn’t last, and as this issue went ‘to press,’ several northern counties, along with parts of Scotland, were under a thick blanket of snow. Hopefully that is going to be the last we see of the winter weather this year and we can now look forward to some warm spring sunshine.One of the first track based events that we will be attending this year is the Donington Historic Festival which is now in its second year. Last year’s meeting was a huge success, and it sounds like the 2012 festival will be even better. Veteran racing driver Sir Stirling Moss will be at the event on the Sunday and will drive the actual Jaguar C-type he drove to victory in the 1952 Reims Grand Prix, exactly 60 years ago. There will be other stars from the world of motorsport too, including Le Mans and Daytona 24 Hours winner and ex-Formula One driver Jackie Oliver, and musician Mark Knopfler, of Dire Straights, will share his AC Ace with Alain de Cadenet in the Pre 63 GT race. The festival takes place on May 5/6 and is certainly one not to miss.We have some more great features for you in this issue, with Charles Costa talks about how he became involved in his unplanned Triumph TR3 restoration and Steve Smith of Greenwood Exhibitions explains what is involved in organising nine (yes...nine!) classic car events in one year. We also have a detailed look at the near legendary MGBGT and find out what to look out for when buying one of these bargain classics.As always, we hope you enjoy reading this issue of Classic, Performance & Retro.

Drive Safe!

The Classic, Performance & Retro team.

Editorial

MGBGTBargain Classic!046

‘While I’m At It...’Triumph TR3 Restoration066 On With

The Show!082

6 www.cprmag.com

CONTENTS

www.cprmag.comIssue 14 April 2012

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028

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Ferrari F12 Berlinetta: An undoubted highlight of this year’s Geneva Motor Show was the unveiling of the new Ferrari F12 Berlinetta, which Ferrari says is its most powerful and fastest production car yet. Phil Sullivan takes a closer

MGBGT - Bargain Classic: The MGBGT is an excellent ‘entry level’ classic for anyone wanting to buy their first car. Simon Hazeldine takes a closer look at this popular British sports car.

While I’m At It...: When Charles Costa purchased a running Triumph TR3, he wasn’t planning to do any serious work to it. Then his son Richie came to help, and before he knew it, Charles was involved in a full ground-up restoration!

Senza Un Tetto: Loosely translated, ‘Senza un tetto’ is Italian for ‘Without a roof,’ but as Phil Sullivan explains, the unique Lamborghini Aventador J is so much more than just another convertible supercar.

Geneva Motor Show: The Geneva Motor Show always throws up a few supercar surprises, and this year was no exception. David Harrison reports.

On With The Show: Greenwood Exhibitions has been running classic car shows for many years now, but this year sees a new man taking over the helm at this established events company. Simon Hazeldine talks to Steve Smith about his plans for the shows both old and new.

RegularFeatures:

What’s On: Never miss another race meeting or car show with our comprehensive events guide.

Club News: A round-up of news from some of the best car clubs in the world.

Auction News: A round up of what’s been happening in the auctions rooms around the world.

New Stuff: A look at what’s hot...and what’s not in the automotive marketplace.

008 News: All the latest news and gossip from the Classic, Performance & Retro worlds.

April 2012 7

Geneva Motor Show Report020

Classic, Performance & Retro magazine is a FREE monthly online publication produced by AV8 Publishing Ltd, Cambridge, England.

Senna’s Toleman Under The Hammer At Silverstone Auctions

The Latest Automotive News From Around The World!

An ex-Toleman TG184 Formula1 car raced by the late Ayrton Senna is to go under the hammer in the Silverstone Auctions Spring Sale on May 16. A spokesman for the auction house said that they have already had interest from potential buyers in Japan and the USA, but added that it was almost impossible to predict what the car would sell for.Designed by Rory Byrne and Pat Symonds, and featuring a distinctive double rear wing, the Toleman TG184 is powered by a 1.5-litre Hart 415T straight four turbocharged engine coupled with a Hewland 5-speed manual gearbox. Chassis TG184-2 was gifted by Toleman to Grand Prix driver Stefan Johansson in 1985, apparently in lieu of salary and retained by the former Ferrari driver until 1994 when it was sold to the current owner. Although it is in excellent condition, it has not needed restoration and is, therefore, still completely original. The Toleman TG184-2 was raced by triple World Champion Ayrton Senna during his first year of Formula 1 in 1984. This actual car (TG184-2) was driven by Senna in the 1984 Monaco Grand Prix where the Brazilian driver announced himself on the world stage in spectacular fashion by finishing first on the road, but classified second to Alain Prost after the race was stopped on lap 32 due to torrential rain. Had the race continued, Senna would have scored Toleman’s first ever victory in spectacular fashion. Footage from that race showing the car in action was used in last year’s acclaimed documentary about the Brazilian driver, which was simply titled ‘Senna.’ Silverstone Auctions also recently sold a race helmet and suit worn by Senna during his time at McLaren, which fetched £74,750.00 and £35,650.00 respectively, far exceeding the auction estimates. Other items in the Spring sale include another ex-Senna machine - a 1982 Ralt RT3 Formula 3 Car (estimate: £110,000 - 125,000); a 1935 Derby Bentley 3.5 litre 3 Position Drophead Coupe (estimate: £90,000 - 110,000) and a 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 Touring (estimate: £190,000 - 210,000).

News

8 www.cprmag.com

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April 2012 9

Motorsport UK, the Motorsport show that promotes all categories of national motorsport, has signed a long term agreement with Silverstone Circuits Limited to become the new venue for its events. The show will also be renamed as ‘Silverstone Motorsport UK’ with this year’s event set to take place on November 3/4 at the Northamptonshire circuit. Silverstone Circuit, recognised as the home of British motor racing, has made significant investment over the last few years which has seen the venue transformed into a world class exhibition and conference facility. The schedule for the show features some exciting new elements, including: The Silverstone LIVE experience – allowing visitors to sample the Silverstone Stowe circuit with a trained instructor; The Kit Car Pavilion, which will showcase some of the UK’s top kit car and specialist car manufacturers; The Track Driver Hot Laps experience – providing visitors the opportunity to experience ‘Hot Laps’ whilst been test driven round the Stowe Circuit in exhibitors’ cars; the Go Motorsport - Motorsport UK Kart Challenge - allowing visitors the opportunity to race against friends and other visitors in a series of rounds for the title of the Go Motorsport - Motorsport UK crown; The Checkered Flag fans forum & Motors TV main stage hosted by TV presenter Gemma Scott – who will be interviewing drivers, race team bosses and key figures from the industry on their top tips in getting into Motorsport; The Motorsport UK Main Arena - a 5,000sq/ft exhibition hall with more than 100 exhibitors from the national Motorsport arena – including car manufacturers, national racing series, racing clubs, suppliers and industry associations.Richard Phillips, Managing Director of Silverstone Circuits Limited, said: “We are delighted to welcome Motorsport UK to Silverstone. We have been extremely impressed with the two events and we look forward to working with Martin Capenhurst and his team to make this event a success and a not to miss fixture on the UK Motorsport calendar”Martin Capenhurst organiser of Motorsport UK added: “We are thrilled to be teaming up with Silverstone and there is no doubt that the Silverstone Motorsport UK 2012 is going to be a very special event, and will certainly be something for all of the family. For youngsters and adults looking to make a start into Motorsport we have a number of new live elements providing visitors with the chance to get behind the wheel of one of SIlvertsone’s cars and learn the ropes with a qualified instructor, to the Go Motorsport kart challenge providing visitors the chance to compete and win sponsorship for their 2012 season to individuals having the chance to sample hot laps of cars that they are looking to purchase on the Silverstone Stowe circuit”Adult tickets are £15.00 or £35.00 for a family ticket (2 adults and 2 children), which includes free parking and free event programme. Under 16’s and concessions are just £7.50 and MSA license holders are £10.00 if tickets are purchased in advanced. For more information on Silverstone Motorsport UK visit www.motorsportshow.co.uk

MotorsportUK Relocates To Silverstone

Circuit

Group Lotus has selected Mansory to be Lotus Cars’ Official Customisation Studio. The German specialist in craftsmanship on luxury vehicles has already worked with Lotus on a range of special editions, and will offer Lotus enthusiasts the ultimate tailoring service. At the Paris Motor Show in September this year, Lotus will unveil an exciting new model variant in collaboration with Mansory. Assigned to special projects, Mansory will contribute bodywork, trim and special finishes for Lotus’ model range; the Elise, Exige and Evora. As the Official Customisation Studio, Mansory is working closely with Lotus’ engineers and designers to produce modifications that the company says “scream individuality and quality.”Since the displaying the Evora Concept Bespoke at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, Lotus and Mansory have collaborated on several projects together, principally the road-going Evora GTE – the most powerful Lotus yet - which prompted a deluge of international orders. Other specials followed, including the chrome-red Evora GTE by Swizz Beatz and, most recently, the raw carbon-fibre Lotus F1 Team Evora GTE.

Lotus Teams Up With Mansory

The Latest Automotive News From Around The World!

10 www.cprmag.com

News

On Sunday May 6, at the Donington Historic Festival, Sir Stirling Moss will take to the track in the actual Jaguar C-type he drove to victory in the 1952 Reims Grand Prix for sports cars, exactly 60 years ago. Impressive as it was, his 1952 victory was more than a mere race win. The festival will see the history-making car and driver reunited, as Sir Stirling – who only retired from racing last year, aged 81 – completes some demonstration laps for spectators. Stirling will be signing autographs for fans during the day, as well as driving the world-famous C-type, chassis XKC 005 (instantly recognisable by its original registration number of MDU 212), in its 60th anniversary year. When not behind the wheel of the C-type or signing autographs at Donington in May, Sir Stirling is likely to pay particular attention to one of the races on Sunday morning: the Stirling Moss Trophy for pre-1961 sportscars and sports-racers, launched two years ago with the full support and involvement of the great man himself. The race series made headlines when Sir Stirling generously presented the winners with a priceless piece of silverware: the actual trophy he won for his first-ever Formula 1 Grand Prix win – the 1955 British Grand Prix at Aintree. Other races at the Donington Historic Festival include Group C sportscars, Historic Touring Cars, sportscars and Formula 2; not to mention the hugely popular E-type Challenge and the ‘Mad Jack’ for pre-War cars.

Sir Stirling Moss To Drive Historic

Jaguar At DHF

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July 2011 9

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The Latest Automotive News From Around The World!

Coventry Motor Museum Gets £4.9m BoostThe Coventry Transport has received initial support for a £4.9m grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). The museum says it has a number of projects to spend the money on, including a major redevelopment of the museum’s exhibition spaces and the conservation and revitalisation of the city’s Old Grammar School to bring it back into public use. The project will create a unique, internationally significant transport heritage attraction that will improve the visitor experience and provide enhanced opportunities for people to learn about, and get involved with Coventry’s rich transport heritage.The funding will also enable the city’s Grade 1 Listed, Old Grammar School to be conserved and restored to house a public access archive and educational facility. The 14th century, Old Grammar School is a Grade 1 Listed Building that features in English Heritage’s Heritage at Risk Register. Located on the junction of Bishop St and Hales St on the northern end of Coventry city centre the Grammar School consists of three principle elements: the 14th century infirmary hall, the chapel and north aisle from the Hospital of St John that later became a Grammar School in the 16th century and an early 20th century extension dating from its time as a church hall.The Old Grammar School continued to see various additions and adaptations over the years but was damaged in a bomb blast in 1941. Whilst the damage was repaired in 1962 the building has been infrequently used since then.Coventry Transport Museum Chairman Joe Elliott said: “This is great news for the City of Coventry, the Old Grammar School has been out of use for over 40 years so the Museum is particularly pleased to be working with the Old Grammar School Trust to bring one of Coventry’s oldest buildings back into use.”Coventry Transport Museum Chief Executive, Gary Hall said “I am absolutely delighted that the Heritage Lottery Fund has given us this initial support, which will enable us to further develop our plans to improve the Museum’s exhibitions and enhance our educational offer. I am also pleased and proud that we will be restoring the Old Grammar School so that the public will once again be able to enjoy this beautiful building.” Coventry Transport Museum opened in 1980 and houses the largest collection of British Road Transport in the world. The collection has been designated as a collection of national importance as it portrays the products of a city that changed the world and focuses on the skills and innovation of the people of Coventry. The city of Coventry itself has been the location of over 120 motor vehicle manufacturers, 300 cycle manufacturers, 130 motorcycle manufacturers and a variety of commercial vehicle companies. This rich history therefore enables the Museum to put on display over 249 motor vehicles, 450 cycles, 120 motorcycles and well over 1,000,000 archival items that support the interpretive objectives of the Museum.The Museum is free to enter for all visitors and in 2010/2011 attracted over 400,000 people to see its 14 exhibition galleries. With the help of the HLF the museum will create a new orientation space within the entrance area, six new exhibitions and new education spaces that together, will significantly improve the visitor experience.

12 www.cprmag.com

News

News, Gossip & Views From The World Of Motorsport

3-IN-ONE Announces Historic Racing Team 3-IN-ONE oil company is set to make a return to motor sport this year after agreeing a three-year deal with renowned Mini racer Andrew Hack. The company has recently relaunched its brand and has formed 3-IN-ONE Classic Racing with a brace of 1964 Mini Coopers for three-times Mini Miglia champion Andrew Hack and Dan Wheeler.The pair will share a car in the Pre-66 Touring Car race at the Masters Historic Festival at Brands Hatch on May 26/27, the U2TC race at the Donington Historic Festival on May 5/6 and at the Silverstone Classic on July 20-22. In addition, Hack and Wheeler will race a car each in the Pre-66 Mini race at the new Brands Hatch Mini Festival on June 16/17.3-in-One has also launched a competition for race fans. The lucky winner of the 3-IN-ONE prize draw will get to be a member of the pit team at the Silverstone race on 21st July and get one-on-one tuition from a team racing driver behind the wheel of the 3-IN-ONE sponsored 1964 Mini Copper S on the famous Silverstone circuit. The winner will also be treated to tickets and hospitality at the Silverstone Classic.

trackNews

Masters Historic Racing is set to welcome a bunch of new competitors and new cars to GP Masters this year as the category takes another step forward in entry levels. The series, for Cosworth DFV-engined Formula 1 cars, kicks off its season at the Catalan Classic Festival on April 20-22 and has already attracted an entry in the high teens. Joining the grid will be newcomer Simon Fish in his newly-acquired Ensign N180, the Unipart-liveried car raced in period by Jan Lammers and Clay Regazzoni. Simon raced a Surtees TS16 on occasions last year but has now taken the plunge and bought his own car for a full season.Hugues Tattinger, of the famous Champagne family, will also join the GP Masters grid after a season in the SPEED Euroseries in 2011. Tattinger will race a Surtees TS16, an unloved chassis that struggled through 1974 and ran in a handful of non-championship races in 1975, driven by John Watson.In a battle of the drinks brands, Manfredo Rossi di Montelera (of the Martini & Rossi family) will switch from his Brabham BT42 to another Martini-liveried car, the Lotus 80 from 1979. The car, recently acquired from Sid Hoole, was driven in period by Mario Andretti but was not the success designer Colin Chapman had anticipated and the car was parked in favour of a modified Lotus 79 from the previous season. Rossi, however, will be eager to rewrite history and take the car to success.American racer Robert Blain will also be on the GP Masters grid as he has bought a March 741, as raced in period by Howden Ganley, Hans-Joachim Stuck and Vittorio Brambilla. Blain is new to GP Masters but will be one two watch as he becomes familiar with his new mount.GP Masters begins at Barcelona on April 20-22 before moving to the UK and its annual visit to Brands Hatch on May 26/27.

GP Masters set for Barcelona boost

14 www.cprmag.com

News, Gossip & Views From The World Of Motorsport

Niall Murray Makes His Mark In The Opening Rounds Of Ginetta Junior Championship

The Ginetta Junior Championship drivers launched their maiden campaign on the title as the season got underway at Brands Hatch on April 1.Sennan Fielding (JHR Developments), George Gamble (Hillspeed), Charlie Robertson (HHC Motorsport) and Niall Murray (Douglas Motorsport)all showed good pace during free practise with only a 0.5 seconds split in the combined best times during Friday’s free practise session.With the foursome occupying the front grid positions during the first race, it wasn’t long until Gamble and Murray were side by side going into Paddock Hill (lap three) before William Palmer (HHC Motorsport)made an early exit after entering the gravel at Clark Curve causing the safety car to be deployed and the pack to be hunched back together.On the restart Robertson made his way into the pits leaving Fielding to take the lead with Gamble filling up his mirrors in second place, as Harry Woodhead (Beacon Racing) and Murray joined the fray. By lap 11 the fight between Gamble and Fielding reached boiling point resulting in contact between the pair and Fielding being fired off and left to re-join well down the grid in 8th place.Woodhead landed a five second penalty after exceeding the track limits on lap 15 which left him in fifth place, despite a track position of third. This meant Silverstone Ginetta Junior Scholarship winner Oliver Basey-Fisher (Tollbar Racing with WIRED)was promoted to third place behind Gamble and Murray, in what was his first time out in a racing car, an outstanding achievement for the young star.The second round saw far cleaner racing action from the young drivers, with front rowed Robertson entering the session as favourite to win. As the lights went out, Murray made another impressive start moving up to second place from third with Gamble hot on his tails.As the opening laps drifted by, there became two distinct battles taking shape; at the front, Robertson, Murray, Fielding and Gamble all grappled for position, whilst an almost lonely race for Ollie Chadwick (JHR Developments) separated them from a further slice of the action further down the field between Andrew Watson (Douglas Motorsport), Palmer and Nathan Harrison (Hillspeed), with newcomers Pepe Massot (Hillspeed)and Basey-Fisher getting in on the scramble by lap 8.The battle for a podium spot allowed Roberston and Murray to distance themselves their main competition, as Gamble and Fielding were far too occupied with trying to outdo each other as Gamble made his G40J as wide as possible throughout many of Gambles advances, however a textbook manoeuvre on lap 11 finally gave Gamble the third position he had been chasing.After what was a slightly better-behaved opening round than that of their older Ginetta GT Supercup siblings, the Ginetta Junior Championship proved to be an incredibly close race, with Niall Murray as the only driver to claim a podium spot in the opening rounds, all markers are pointing towards a rather exciting 2012 season.

16 www.cprmag.com

trackNews

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ClubNews

GT40 Enthusiasts’ Club

The West Yorkshire Branch of the Morris Minor Owners’ Club has launched a new website. It features a number of pages which will help members keep up to date with any club matters, but members of the public can view the whole site which has a gallery, for sale section and an events page.The club holds its meetings just off the M62 at Cleckheaton Sports and Social Club and is planning a rally on June 10, at Nostell Priory near Wakefield. You can visit the website by clicking the link below:www.mmocwestyorkshirebranch.co.uk

New Website For Morris Minor Fans

The GT40 Enthusiasts’ Club is holding a ‘double-header’ track day weekend on April 28/29. The action will kick-off at Cadwell Park on April 28, with an evening track session (17.30 to 20.00). From there, the cars and drivers will travel over to Blyton Park for a full day of action on the 29th. Blyton is less than half-an-hour from Cadwell Park, so the idea is to keep the travelling and costs to a minimum, while still enjoying the benefits of two tracks.The clubs says that all are welcome to join them and you don’t have to own a GT40 if you want to take part (however, drivers and cars will be subject to all usual track day rules and entry fees are payable).See the club’s website for further information, including a full list of accommodation in the area. www.gt40enthusiastsclub.com

Tell Us About Your Club!Want to tell us about your club or event? Then send details into Club News at: info@cprmag.com

Drive Cadwell & Blyton With The GT40

Enthusiasts’ Club

THE MG CAR CLUB’S excellent MGF Register enjoyed a terrific Chairman’s weekend on March 25/26 and met at Abingdon Market Square before heading off on a run to Bletchley Park. MGF Register Chairman Tim Morris explained:

“We filled the square with some 30 MGF/TFs of all shapes and some notable other MGs in the form of a sign written MG6GT and an MG SV as well as a B and RV8.

“The run was in aid of the MGF Register Charity for 2012, Whizz-Kidz and so far has raised over £400. The cars set off from the Market Square to head across country to Bletchley Park, the home of the ‘Codebreakers’ in World War Two, which even after the guided tour still remained something of an enigma to most of us!”www.mgcc.co.uk

MGFs Crack the Bletchley Code!

Tell Us About Your Club!Want to tell us about your club or event? Then send details into Club News at: info@cprmag.com and we’ll include it in our Club News page.

18 www.cprmag.com

Morris Minor Owners’ Club

MG Car Club

TR Register andStag Owners Club IWE 2012

Combining the Stag Owners Club National Day

and the TR Register International Weekend

10-12 August Three Counties Showground, Malvern

Weekend Ticket £25Saturday Ticket £15Sunday Ticket £10

Come along and join us for a

celebration of Triumph sports

and grand touring cars in 2012.

> Large trade show and autojumble> Technical Seminars> Family entertainment all weekend> Arena show of Triumphs with interviews and demonstrations> Concours d’Elegance and Pride of Ownership competition > Autosolo Competition> On-site Camping Fri-Sun> Evening Entertainment Fri & Sat> Gates Open 2pm Friday

See the club websites for further information: www.tr-register.co.uk or: www.stag.org.uk

Camping will be available at the showground, but for B&B or hotel accommodation,

telephone the Malvern Tourist O� ce on: 01684 892289 e-mail: info@visitthemalverns.org

www.tr-register.co.uk/iwe12 Tel: 01235 818866

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GenevaMotor Show

The Geneva Motor Show always throws up a few supercar surprises, and this year was no exception. David Harrison reports.

I love car shows. The recent Retromobile show in Paris gave us an opportunity to reminisce on days gone by; a sort of window

to the past if you like, but the Geneva Motor Show, held on March 8-18, is a very different proposition. It acts as a ‘crystal ball’ into the future of the motoring world, showcasing the best (and worst!) of what we can expect to see on the roads in years to come.

April 2012 21

This beautiful Toyota 2000GT was one of the few classic cars on display.

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Of course, some of it is rather misleading. Many manufacturers use shows like Geneva to roll out ‘concept cars’ and these can generate great interest, especially among the assembled media, at least until the CEO of the company issues a statement saying that the model on show will never go into production. If that’s the case, you have to wonder why they bother; some will tell you it’s to show

off some gadget or item of new technology, while others just hold their hands up and admit it’s all a bit of a publicity stunt.

this car elsewhere in this very issue. Suffice to say, that only one single Aventador J has been built, and that’s it. It’s a real one-off, but unlike many concept cars, this one is actually for sale. Yep, some lucky (and slightly masochistic) millionaire will become the proud owner of this car in the very near future. He will need a helmet, or at least a pair of goggles, since the ‘J’ is devoid of luxuries like a windscreen, and he will also need a very healthy bank balance as the car is priced at around £1.75 million.It certainly had everybody talking, but the fact that it’s a one off did detract slightly from the overall impact.

Aventador JOne such ‘concept car’ which was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show was the Lamborghini Aventador J. I wont rattle on too much about it here, as I believe there is a small feature on

F12 BerlinettaHowever, it was a different story over on the Ferrari stand. The maestros from Maranello also unveiled their latest creation, only this was

One of a kind - the awesome Lamborghini Aventador J.

The revamped Porsche Boxster

April 2012 23

The Lotus stand featured a number of cars, including this stunning Evora S.

KIA Trackster- a cross between a Lotus Evora and a Mini?

a car that will actually enter production. The Ferrari F12 Berlinetta is everything you expect a Ferrari to be; it’s fast, it’s red and it’s expensive, but if your were expecting just a revamped 458 Italia, then this car might just surprise you. It looks a bit more sensible than the 458, not that the Italia is a bad car you understand. it’s just that everything about it is a bit...well, mental. The Berlinetta on the other hand just oozes class from its long sweeping bonnet to the sculpted swages carved in the doors and front wings. It’s a Ferrari for grown-ups, although the V12 engine pumping out a phenomenal 740hp, which in turn gives a 0-62mph speed of 3.1 seconds, certainly means it will appeal to the speed freaks as well.

Porsche AppealAcross the main hall, German manufacturer Porsche was

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proudly pulling the wraps of its new Boxster model. The Boxster has in the past come in for some harsh criticism and has struggled to shake off tags like ‘plastic Porsche’ and even ‘hairdresser’s car’, but the redesigned version looks like it will be a far superior car to its predecessor. This car is still very much the ‘entry level’ Porsche, but it

now goes a lot faster than the old one; fast enough at least to frighten those hairdressers away. It will, apparently, lap the Nurburgring in 7.58, which is twelve seconds faster than the old model. It is also 50% quieter with the roof up, so now you can have a conversation when it rains. The bodywork has been given a revamp, and while it isn’t

anything radical, it does look a lot smarter and there is now a slight family resemblance to its big brother, the 911. It has a wider track and longer wheelbase than the earlier cars, and the new larger 18in wheels purposefully fill the arches. it will hit 62mph in a respectable 5.7 seconds, while the new Boxster S will do it in five seconds flat.

April 2012 25

One manufacturer duelling with Porsche in the entry level performance car market is Lotus. The Norfolk-based company had a varied display of machines at the show ranging from standard road machines to all-out racers. A coupe version of the popular Exige S was drawing many

Lotus On Show

Very classy promo-girls!

This show attracts some strange visitors!

Cosmopolitan Geneva!

The Lampo3 looks cool from the front...but hideous from the rear.

AC Cobra MkVI - classic curves, but at a price.

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admiring glances, as was the stunning Evora S parked next to it. The latter car is fitted with an IPS automatic gearbox (complete with paddle shift) which is mated to a lively 3.5 litre V6 engine. Of course, the ‘S’ signifies the presence

of a supercharger, which will convert the standard output of 276bhp and 258lb/ft to 345bhp and 295lb/ft. Woohoo...press the pedal and hang on tight, because that means that this mini pocket rocket will hit 0-62mph in

just 4.2 seconds, and that is enough to keep up with all but the very fastest supercars. Price varies depending on what ‘options’ you go for, but the standard car comes in at £51,550, but add a reasonable amount of toys and you can easily add another £10K to that price.

Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport.

Le Mans PrototypeThe race car gracing the Lotus stand was the new LMP2 car which will be run by the Germany-based Kodewa racing team. The car has been produced in association with Lola and will take part in the FIA World Endurance Championship series. Essentially it is a Lotus in name only, but it certainly is a good looking car. It had its first outing at the 12 Hours of

Ferrari F12 Berlinetta.

April 2012 27

Sebring on March 16-17, and finished the race 10th overall and sixth in the LMP2 class, a respectable enough result for the car’s first race.

looked out of place on any fashion show catwalk. Very classy.Lack of space prevents me from going into much more depth, but other highlights at the show included the Infiniti Emerg-E concept car that should be awesome should it ever see production, the Maserati Gran Cabrio Fendi

is a real head-turner and you either love or hate that huge front intake, and GTA Spano, the curvy new supercar from Spain.Overall, Geneva delivered exactly what it promised - a stylish look at the latest models being offered by the motor industry, and a glimpse of the future too.

Classic CurvesThere isn’t usually much of interest for classic car fans at Geneva, but there was one car that should appeal - the AC Cobra MkVI. Little needs saying about this icon of motoring history, but with the endless copy kits out there, the ‘wow factor’ of the Cobra has diminished somewhat over the years. It must be hugely frustrating for owners who spend a huge amount of money on a genuine Cobra, only to have people ask: “Did you build it yourself mate?” With that in mind, it’s difficult to see where there might be a market for the MkVI. It’s certainly a beautiful car, and if you really wanted a Cobra with all the modern refinements, then this is it. The car is being produced by AC Automotive in Germany and features a lengthened wheelbase, optional hardtop, air conditioning (in a Cobra!) and a 6.2 litre Corvette LS V8 engine that develops 437hp. The maker says it will hit 62mph in 3.9 seconds, but if you want one you will have to shell out around €150,000. Suddenly, those kits for £30K look really attractive!

Touch Of GlamourTalking of attractive, I couldn’t help noticing (as one does!) just how a attractive the promo girls were at Geneva. These were not your average motorsport pin-up girls, no, these girls were tastefully dressed and wouldn’t have

The Spano GTA certainly looks the part.

The stunning Infiniti Emerg-E

Loosely translated, ‘Senza un tetto’ is Italian for ‘Without a roof,’ but as Phil Sullivan explains, the unique Lamborghini Aventador J is so much more than just another convertible supercar.

The Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 is a pretty radical car. It has eye-popping performance and looks that can kill at a thousand yards. Spare

a thought then for Filippo Perini, the poor designer who was asked to come up with an even more radical version of the car, of which only one single example would be produced. Convertible? Nope, done that already; a track car? Nah, ten a penny. Okay, how about a stripped-out, light-weight, carbon fibre rocket that is completely devoid of windscreen (and any other glass) and is capable of hitting F1 type speeds? Right, now you’re talking! So how did the car into being? Well, after blowing away the assembled media and other visitors at last year’s Geneva Motor Show with the unveiling of the Aventador, Lamborghini boss Stephan Winkelmann

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Senza UnTetto!

April 2012 29

The Aventador J is unveiled to the public at the Geneva Motor Show.

asked Perini to come up with “something special” for this year’s Swiss automotive soiree. That was back in January, less than three months before the show was due to open. The ‘J’ was the result.

Tail to tail - the Porsche 956 display.

MGBs on display inside the main door.

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The front end of the ‘J’ has been completely redesigned.

Rear view of the Aventador J.

Road LegalThe car is even road legal and is homologated in Italy, although I suspect that anything fast and red which wears a Lamborghini or Ferrari badge doesn’t have to jump through too many

hoops in its home country. “We’d like you to supply a car for destructive crash testing please.” “Errr...but have only made one car!”

Door plate detailing.

Carbon fibre blades on the wheels.

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Carbon fibre cross-braced engine cover.

ChangesIf you are wondering where the car got its ‘J’ moniker from, it’s quite simple. The letter J comes from the rules of the FIA world motorsport organization where Appendix J defines the technical specification of race cars in the various classes.On the face of it, the ‘J’

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might not seem that much different to a standard Aventador Spyder, but look closer and you will see that it is more than just a car with its screen and roof lopped off. From the production car, only the front bonnet, front fender, rear fender and headlights remain; every other panel is new. And it’s not just the bodywork. For a start, you can forget about any unnecessary creature comforts. The complex climate control system has gone (although that would

seem to be common sense in a car with no roof) and the owner will have to buy one of those old fashioned AtoZ maps as the satellite navigation system has been ditched too. What you do get that isn’t on the standard car is two small wind deflectors in front of the driver and passenger compartments. How effective they will be at nearly 200mph is anyone’s guess.

weight saving to new levels by using a new carbon fibre fabric called ‘Carbonskin’ that is apparently soft and supple enough to be used on the seats and interior trim. In fact, the guys at Lamborghini reckon that the material is so supple that you will soon be able to buy clothing made from Carbonskin and it could even be used for car soft-tops.

New owner better get used to flies in teeth!

CarbonskinIt also seems that Lamborghini has taken

Fly TrapThe lack of windscreen poses some interesting problems. It makes me think of that famous picture of a motorcycle rider blasting along with a big cheesy grim on his face and his teeth full

of dead flies. Goggles would be a minimum requirement for the ‘J’, but even then, if you get a wasp or bee hitting you in the face at nearly 200mph...it’s gonna hurt! A full face helmet is the only realistic option then, at least if you want to go really fast. You could always trundle around at 30mph, but that would be missing the whole point of the car. Unless you live in Monaco.

narrower than the production cars. It is dominated by a highly distinctive carbon fibre air scoop, with central fixing braces and upward tilting

winglets on the outer edges. Down at the back end things are very different too. Gone is the slotted engine cover that looks like it had been

Stunning Austin Healey.

April 2012 33

Sparse interior.New BodyworkExternally, the ‘J’ has a few subtle styling changes which make it a little different from the standard Aventador. For example, the front of the Aventador J is somewhat

lifted from a Cylon Raider spaceship; instead there is a X-shaped carbon fibre framework with two large

openings that lay bare both cylinder banks of the mighty 6.5 litre V12 engine. The rear bodywork consists of

just three elements – the carbon-fibre rear diffuser, the four huge tail pipes and the rear lights with their typical Lamborghini light signature in the form of a Y. The remaining surface area is for heat dissipation and is enclosed only by a black metal mesh. The rear end is crowned by an enormous fixed spoiler mounted on the bodyshell by two arms. The spoiler is supported by two pillars connected by the diffuser, another nod in the direction of F1 cars.Even the bumpers have been reworked. Both bumpers have gained carbon fibre fins that act as flow deviators

Interior panels are made from Lamborghini’s ‘Carbonskin.’

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Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann with the ‘J’ at Geneva.

which increase the vehicle’s down force at both the front and rear. Overall, the ‘J’ is an awesome package, and in some ways it’s a shame that only one car will ever be produced. Having said that, it isn’t the most practical car in the world. I mean, you can forget about touring in it, you won’t get a set of golf clubs in it either, and as for the shopping run, anything bigger than a tin of beans just isn’t going to fit. No, this car was built with just one thing in mind - speed. Could it be the ultimate track day car? Probably, but sadly none of us will ever get to find out.

April 2012 35

Above: The exposed cockpit of the Aventador J.

Right: The rear is a mix of black mesh and carbon fibre topped with a huge fixed spoiler.

Whenever a new Ferrari is launched there is always a

bit of a fanfare. There is the usual hype in the run up to the launch followed by media hacks thumbing through overused thesaurus’

in an effort to find enough superlatives to bestow on the new machine.However, last year Ferrari threw us a bit of a curve-ball. The Ferrari FF was launched to what can best be described as a lukewarm reception along

lots of head scratching. Yes, it had a Ferrari badge, but it had four seats and four-wheel drive too, and it looked, well, odd. There seemed to be more questions than answers; who was going to buy it? Where

An undoubted highlight of this year’s Geneva Motor Show was the unveiling of the new Ferrari F12 Berlinetta, which Ferrari says is its most powerful and fastest production car yet. Phil Sullivan takes a closer look.

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Ich Bin EinBerlinetta

was its market? Why? This year though, things are a little different. Once again the Geneva Motor Show was the location where another new ‘prancing horse’ would be revealed to the public, and this time it was the turn of the F12 Berlinetta. The car had been touted as the replacement for the 599

Fiorano, and if that was the case, it certainly had a lot to live up to. The 599 boasted a 6.0 litre V12 engine and hit the magical 62mph in just 3.9 seconds; it had a bonnet like an aircraft carrier’s landing deck and drop-dead gorgeous looks. In short, it ticked all the boxes and was everything you would

April 2012 37

expect a Ferrari to be. It would take something very special to follow that. And that is exactly what we got.

Clint EastwoodThe F12 Berlinetta looks different to the 599, but at the same time you can still see the lineage in its shape.

It looks more like an elegant GT car, as opposed to the all-out speed machine that is the Ferrari 458 Italia - Ferrari’s other current production model.Walking around the car, the Berlinetta has grace, poise and a shape that oozes power, but in a quiet, yet menacing way. If cars were actors, this one would be Clint Eastwood.No official price has been released yet, but the Berlinetta is expected to sell for somewhere around £250,000.

As you would expect, there is plenty of leather inside the Berlinetta.

The ‘reptilian’ front end of the F12 Berlinetta.

Beautifully sculpted lines hide superb aerodynamic benefits.

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Top PerformerSo, what exactly do you get for your large pot of money? In a nutshell, you get Ferrari’s fastest ever production car to date, and that statement alone means the Maranello-based company can pretty much ask what it likes for the car...and people will still buy it. For a start, the new car weighs 70kgs less than its predecessor with a dry weight of 1,525kg. Under that huge

bonnet lies the 740hp 6.2 litre V12 engine which is actually the same engine that is fitted to the previously mentioned FF, but thanks to a few minor adjustments, it produces an additional 80hp. Those figures mean it is the most powerful Ferrari ever built, but what about speed? Well, the measure of any ‘prancing horse’ is to find out how fast it will do a lap of the Ferrari test track at Fiorano, and the Berlinetta did it in 1.23.00 - a whole second faster than the 599. It will do 0-62mph in just 3.1 seconds and has a top speed of 210mph. To put that into perspective, that’s just 40mph slower than the first Spitfire fighter aircraft. However, it is still slower than the Aston Martin One-77’s 220mph limit, and the British car is one of the machines that will compete with the Berlinetta for sales.

The Berlinetta on the Fiorano test track.

Inspired by the Triumph TR7? Nah...

April 2012 39

Most of the F12’s controls are located on the steering wheel.

is that the Berlinetta produces an amazing 80% of its 509lb/ft torque from just 2,500rpm, but if you really want to max it (and it’s a Ferrari so you’re gonna...right?) then you are

going to have to resist hitting the upshift paddle until the rev counter nudges an astonishing 8,500rpm. Even then, there is still another 200rpm available before you hit the red line.

Power...Lots Of Power!Going back to that power output for a moment, one impressive stat that stands out

Looking around the outside of the car reveals a number of simply exquisite styling features, although the most noticeable one somehow reminds me of a certain British Leyland model. The scalloped out swages that curve beautifully from the front wings and across the doors are not dissimilar to the sculpting found on Triumph’s TR7. Did the Ferrari designers

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Aero Bridge

The Berlinetta kicks up dust on the test track.

take inspiration for the humble TR? Unlikely, but it’s an interesting idea. In fact, that styling is more function than form. Ferrari call it an ‘Aerobridge’ and it is designed to draw air from the front of the car and push it down the side in a downward direction; the idea being that it helps to increase down force. It is no doubt the result of many hours spent experimenting at the

April 2012 41

company’s wind tunnel. However, that was time well spent since the F12 has 76% more downforce than the 599, and which ever way you look at it, that’s impressive! The headlights borrow the same format as the 458 Italia, using a row of LEDs which follow the line of the each front wing. The huge grille, stretching across nearly the full width of the car, combines with

the headlights to create a ‘face’ that somehow fits well with the car, and if I had to describe it, I would say it was almost reptilian, perhaps ‘snakelike.’

TraditionalThe rear end looks a little more traditional, almost understated. The circular rear lights are no great surprise, nor are the four exhaust pipes protruding from below the

ABS systems as standard, alongside the latest version of Ferrari’s magnetorheological suspension system (SCM-E).

rear valance. The only real styling feature around the rear of the car is a pair of swage lines that sweep from the edges of the rear wings before sweeping downwards at the centre of the car.

Cooling (which controls the flow of air to the brakes depending on temperature). The car also comes fitted with Ferrari’s E-Diff, ESP Premium, F1-Trac and high-performance

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High TechAll that aluminium bodywork is draped over some very high-tech underpinnings which ensure that the Berinetta not only goes fast, it handles too. The car sits on an all-new lightweight alloy space-frame chassis which is 20% stiffer than the one on the 599. There is fully integrated stability and traction control, along with Active Brake

Radical RubberEven the tyres, something that most of us would consider mundane items, have not escaped Ferrari’s obsessive attention to detail. The Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres (255/35 ZR 20 front and 315/35 ZR 20 rear) are - according to independent German organisation TÜV SÜD Automotive - are the world’s fastest production tyres around a track. They incorporate Tri-Compound and Bi-compound treads derived from technologies developed in endurance racing. Essentially that means that the tyres use different rubber compounds on the left and right sides of the tread. On the outside, a unique material specifically developed for racing tires ensures exceptional endurance. On the inside, the latest-generation, high-grip material enables the tyre to break through water and adhere to the road on wet surfaces. Overall it is a world class package. The car has the

looks, power, speed and handling to become one of the all-time great Ferraris. The fact that the Berinetta can trace its origins right back to the iconic Ferrari 250GT surely just adds to its appeal. For what you actually get, the Berlinetta does look surprisingly understated; a wolf in sheep’s clothing, at least in the world of supercars. However, it does have almost instant appeal; while cars like the 458 Italia take a bit of getting used to, the F12 Berlinetta demands ‘love at first sight’ and who could possibly resist?

April 2012 43

Top: Vents in the front wings push air down through the scoops in the doors to increase downforce. Below: The car sits on an all-new lightweight alloy space-frame chassis which is 20% stiffer than the one on the Ferrari 599.

www.nationalkitcarshow.co.uk

www.nationalkitcarshow.co.uk

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The MGBGT is an excellent ‘entry level’ classic for anyone wanting to buy their first car. Simon Hazeldine takes a closer look at this popular British sports car.

MGBGT

It hardly seems possible, but the humble MGB is celebrating its 50th

birthday this year. Yep, for half a century now, the two-seater built at the tiny (by today’s standards) factory in Abingdon in Oxfordshire,

has outgrown its cult status and become one of the most popular classic cars of all time.It is also one of the most successful exports in British automotive history. Of the 513,276 MGB models produced, approximately nine

out of every ten cars to roll off the production line were destined to leave the country, most heading to the USA. The first cars - simply called MGBs - were two seat convertible sports cars, but then in 1965, MG rolled out a

Bargain Classic!

April 2012 47

GT version of the MGB, and unsurprisingly, it was given the name MGBGT.

manufacturer produced a GT car first. The MG fans will tell you that the MGBGT started production in 1965 where as the first Triumph GT6 (the six-cylinder ‘fastback’ version of the Spitfire) wasn’t built until the following year.

Talk to the Triumph guys and you get a very different story. Giovanni Michelotti designed a GT version of the Spitfire 4 in 1963, but the GT4 never made it into production as its 1.1 litre engine wasn’t powerful enough to cope with the extra

Who Was First?Now an argument has raged between MG and Triumph owners ever since, over which

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Below: Chrome bumpers were fitted to MGBGTs until 1974 and these cars generally command higher prices than the later rubber bumper cars.

April 2012 49

The Elise outside the Champagne house at Reims.

weight of the steel roof and tailgate. However, Triumph’s racing department, impressed by the aerodynamic properties of the GT shape, adopted it for its racing Spitfires. In fact, in 1965, the same year that the MGBGT was launched, a Triumph Spitfire fitted with a GT style bodyshell came

13th overall and first in class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The sporting success inspired Triumph to revisit the GT project, and fitting a 2.0 litre six-cylinder engine to overcome the lack of power, launched the GT6 in 1966. So, Triumph may have had the idea first, but MG beat them

into production by nearly a year. Of course, neither company actually invented the GT idea; the Ferrari 250GT was being built as early as 1953; even the Aston Martin DB2 even predated the Ferrari by three years, so nobody could claim that MG, or Triumph for that matter, had invented the GT format.

Reworked BodyshellMost of the mechanical parts on the MGBGT were identical to those fitted to the Roadster models. Underneath the car, stronger springs were fitted to deal with the extra weight of the roof and tailgate assembly, but the GT retained the exact same lever arm dampers as fitted to the Roadster.The most radical changes were made to the bodyshell. The front wings were modified where they met the scuttle

A badge bar and headlamp stoneguards are nice period additions.

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Above: A great view showing the GT’s ample tailgate.

Left: The classic MG octagon badge.

Below: The ‘BGT’ script badge and rear lighting.

panel, and doors were tweaked to accept the GT style quarter-light assemblies. The windscreen frame was a welded steel structure and the roof was also welded in position. The roof also contained the aperture for the one-piece tailgate which hinged from the upper edge of the opening and was supported by two high-tensile spring loaded arms. The bonnet, grille and lower valances were the only parts that could be used on either model of MGB.

Inside the car, things were very different too. The dashboard and centre-console were very similar to the Roadster cars, but behind the

seats, everything was new. For a start, there was a rear seat. Admittedly is was only of use if you had young children or a family of pigmies since leg room is practically non-existent, so it would be fairer to class the GT as a 2+2 rather than a genuine four-seater.

Safety IssueThe other problem with the rear seat, and this is particularly important if you are carrying children, is that there are no seat-belts or suitable anchor points to fit them to. Many owners have fitted rear belts, usually bolting them through the wheel arch panel, but without

April 2012 51

Looks amazing doesn’t it? The cathedral isn’t bad either!

the correct strengthening they are unlikely to be of much use in an accident.Behind the rear seat is the luggage area which is large enough to take a couple of large suitcases with relative ease. For that reason alone, the GT makes a great touring car for two people. You can also get extra luggage on the rear seat and I’m told by a ‘golfist’ that the car will easily carry a set of golf clubs.

projects with rotten shells can be bought for under £500.00, but when you factor in the price of a replacement shell or the numerous body panels it will require, it makes more

sense to buy a car where the work has already been done.Replacement parts are positively cheap when compared to modern cars and nearly everything you need is

Buying The Right CarThe really good news about the MGBGT is its price. With a bit shopping around, a good chrome bumper car can be picked up for less than £3,000.00. Later rubber bumper cars can be had for even less. Restoration

The interior is basic, but functional.

The overdrive switch is mounted at the end of the dashboard.

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available off the shelf from a large network of specialists. For example, a brake master cylinder (single circuit) will cost around £60.00; a 3-piece clutch kit (OE Spec) will be about £80.00 and an outer sill will cost you just over £60.00.

to fix. A common rust point is the sill sections which run under each door. These are structural and consist of an outer sill, inner sill and castle rail and can suffer badly from rot. You need to know what you are doing if you want to replace them yourself. Get it wrong and the shell will sag and the doors wont shut properly. The best option is to have them replaced professionally, although that could land you with a bill for around £2,000.00 if both sides need doing, assuming you

want them painting as well. While we are under the car, I should also mention that careful attention needs to be paid to the rear spring hangers. These form the rear part of the chassis, and if they rot, they will need cutting out and replacing. Again, this isn’t a job for an amateur or the faint-hearted, because if you get the hanger even slightly out of alignment, it will have a devastating effect on the car’s

Rusty Bottoms!There are a few things to look for if you are buying an MGBGT. A lot of the cars out there look great at first glance, with shiny chrome and polished paintwork. However, jack the car up and look underneath and you could find corrosion which would be costly and time consuming

April 2012 53

handling, that is assuming you can still get the springs to fit! Mechanically, water pumps and petrol pumps don’t seem to last very long for some reason, although both items are fairly inexpensive to replace.

Kits are available which allow you to ditch the prehistoric lever arms and upgrade to fully adjustable telescopic dampers. These transform the handling qualities, although they can make the ride quite hard if not set up correctly. The faithful old BMC B-Series engine is usually reliable and lends itself well to upgrading

and performance mods. Popular add-ons include adding a Stage 2 cylinder head and Weber carb kit with K&N air filters, although the simplest and probably most effective performance mod is a good stainless steel exhaust system with a tubular manifold. Get the gas flowing freely and the horsepower will increase

Primitive SuspensionThe suspension is primitive with its lever arm dampers (which were still being fitted to the last cars in 1980!) and leaf-springs. The front wheels are mounted on a stub-axle fitted to a king pin, and if neglected for a period of time, the bushes in the assembly wear out and will need replacing. That isn’t a straightforward job either, as the bushes have to be pressed in and then reamed to fit. The easier option is to buy a reconditioned stub-axle assembly with the king-pin already fitted.

The ‘B-series’ engine is easy to maintain in that roomy engine bay.

All MGBs had black crackle paint finished metal dashboards.

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at a surprising rate.Gearboxes don’t usually cause too many issues, but if you are looking at a car with an overdrive fitted, check it is working before you buy. Overdrives are fiddly to repair at home, and even reconditioned items can work out expensive.Down at the rear end, the GT was fitted with two different types of axle. The really early cars were fitted with the ‘Banjo’ type axle which featured a removable differential, where as the later cars used the Salisbury, or

‘Tube’ type axle with a built-in diff. It should also be noted that the axles were different lengths depending on whether the car had wire-wheels or steel-wheels.

is Cambridgeshire-based Murray Flint. Murray owns the beautiful Aqua MGBGT used in the photos for this feature, although he also has another GT which requires a full restoration. Working out what it would cost to get his project car on the road, and also factoring in the time which he didn’t have, he decided that if he wanted to get out on the road in a GT anytime soon, the only answer was to buy a roadworthy car.He started by scouring the online auction sites and eventually saw the car which

Bargain ‘B’Overall, the MGBGT represents an ideal first classic car to cut your teeth on. Buy one with a solid, rot-free body, a good engine and gearbox, and you will have a great platform to which you can add whatever modifications take your fancy. One person who followed the above advice to the letter

April 2012 55

Hard to believe, but you can buy a car like this for under £3K.

he ended up buying. “It was advertised for a bit more than I paid for it, but the owner needed to sell so I made him an offer and got it for less than £3,000.” That is quite remarkable considering the car’s condition. You only need a quick walk round to see that a lot of money has been spent on the car, so it’s easy to see why Murray is so pleased with his bargain B. “It’s an exceptionally tidy car; all of the major work has been done,” said Murray, “so I don’t have to worry about the bodywork falling apart. There are a few areas which need a little tidying, but other than that it’s in great shape. It runs well and handles as nicely as any MGB that I have driven.”Murray showed me his other GT which is in need of a serious rebuild. Walking around the car and totting up the cost of the parts in my head, I quickly exceeded the price which the owner had just paid for a fully roadworthy car!

The MGBGT certainly has a lot going for it, and you really do get a lot of car for your money. Unlike the roadsters, you don’t have to suffer a leaky roof (unless someone has made a mess of fitting a sunroof) and it is actually cheaper to buy a roadworthy car than it is to buy a wreck and restore it.There is excellent club support too, with the two main clubs being the MG Owners’ Club

and the MG Car Club. Each organisation can help with technical advice, spare parts and can offer an excellent social scene with regional meetings all over the UK.If you are contemplating buying your first classic, and you’re not sure what to buy, you could do a lot worse than an MGBGT. As an introduction to the scene, it really is about as good as it gets.

TrackdayDiary

Date Venue Organiser Noise Level Status

1 Snetterton 300 Circuit Javelin Track Days 105db OPL

1 Cadwell Park Circuit Days 105db OPL

1 Shakespeare County Raceway Shakespeare County Raceway N/A OPL

2 Silverstone , GP Gold Track 105db OPL

2 Spa Francorchamps , GP Circuit Days 106db OPL

3 Brands Hatch , Indy ClubMSV 105db OPL

3 Donington Park RMA Noisy Day OPL

4 Blyton Park TrackCulture 105db OPL

4 Blyton Park , 1.6 Mile Circuit Javelin Trackdays 105db OPL

6 Abbeville Lotus on Track N/A OPL

7 Anglesey , Coastal Circuit BookaTrack.com Ltd 102db OPL

7 Rockingham Apex Track Days 103db OPL

7 Bedford Autodrome Easytrack 105db OPL

9 Silverstone , Grand Prix Silverstone 105db OPL

9 Knockhill Knockhill 105db OPL

9 Blyton Park , 1.6 Mile Circuit Javelin Trackdays 105db OPL

10 Bedford Autodrome , GT circuit ClubMSV 105db Sessions

10 Cadwell Park ClubMSV 105db OPL

12 Cadwell Park , Full Circuit Javelin Trackdays 105db OPL

12 Spa Francorchamps DriversDays 107db Sessions

12 Snetterton , 300 circuit ClubMSV 105db OPL

13 Castle Combe Lotus on Track 100db static OPL

13 Oulton Park Opentrack Track Days 105db OPL

13 Spa Francorchamps DriversDays 107db Sessions

13 Spa Francorchamps DriversDays 107db OPL

April 2012 Key: db - Decibels • ND - Noisy Day • OPL - Open Pit Lane • S - Sessions • T - Timing/Chrono • RC - Road Cars Only • RCN - Road Car Novice

56 www.cprmag.com

Apex Track Days - www.apextrackdays.co.uk • BHP Track Days Ltd - www.bhptrackdays.co.uk • Bookatrack - www.bookatrack.com • Club MSV - www.clubmsv.com • Gold Track - www.goldtrack.co.uk • Javelin Track Days - www.javelintrackdays.co.uk • RMA Trak Days - www.rmatrackdays.com • Track Culture - www.trackculture.com • Wheelsports - www.classicgt.co.uk •

Snetterton Park - www.snetterton.co.uk • Brands Hatch - www.brandshatch.co.uk • Donington Park - www.donington-park.co.uk • Oulton Park - www.oultonpark.co.uk • Knockhill Racing Circuit - www.knockhill.com • Blyton Park - www.blytonpark.co.uk •

Santa Pod - www.santapod.co.uk • Silverstone - www.silverstone.co.uk • Goodwood Circuit - www.goodwood.co.uk • Thruxton - www.thruxtonracing.co.uk • Rockingham - www.rockingham.co.uk • Mallory Park - www.mallorypark.co.uk •

Cadwell Park - www.cadwellpark.co.uk • Castle Combe - www.castlecombecircuit.co.uk

Links To Track Day Organisers & Racing Circuits

In Association With

This Track Day Diary has been produced in association with MotorsportAds (see www.motorsportads.com). All dates believed correct at time of publishing. Please check with venue before setting off to avoid disappointment.

13 Castle Combe Lotus on Track 100db Sessions

13 Oulton Park , International Opentrack Track Days 105db OPL

14 Woodbridge Javelin Trackdays 100db Sprint

14 Spa Francorchamps Gold Track 107db OPL

14 Santa Pod Raceway, RWYB Santa Pod Raceway N/A Sessions

14 Anglesey , GP Apex Track Days 105db OPL

15 Kirkistown Trackskills 102db Sessions

15 Woodbridge Javelin Trackdays 100db Sprint

15 Spa Francorchamps Gold Track 107db OPL

15 Rockingham Rockingham 98db OPL

16 Snetterton , 300 circuit ClubMSV 105db OPL

17 Brands Hatch , Indy ClubMSV 105db OPL

18 Oulton Park , Full ClubMSV 105db OPL

18 Magny Cours , F1 Curbstone Track Events 105db OPL

19 Wittering (RAF) , 1.8 mile Javelin Trackdays 102db OPL

20 Castle Combe Castle Combe 100db Sessions

20 Abbeville Lotus on Track 98db OPL

20 Hullavington Motorsport Events 100db OPL

21 Santa Pod Raceway, RWYB Santa Pod Raceway N/A Sessions

21 Blyton Park Apex Track Days 105db OPL

22 Knockhill Knockhill 105db OPL

22 Shakespeare County Raceway Shakespeare County Raceway N/A Sessions

23 Bedford Autodrome , GT circuit ClubMSV 102db OPL

23 Castle Combe BHP Trackdays 100db OPL

23 Keevil Motorsport Events 100db OPL

24 Brands Hatch , Indy ClubMSV 105db OPL

24 Cadwell Park ClubMSV 105db OPL

24 Snetterton , 300 circuit ClubMSV 105db OPL

24 Oulton Park Easytrack 105db OPL

25 Cadwell Park , Full Circuit Javelin Trackdays 105db OPL

26 Silverstone , GP Gold Track 105db OPL

27 Oulton Park , Drifting ClubMSV 105db OPL

27 Abingdon Motorsport Events 100db OPL

27 Donington Park BookaTrack.com Ltd 105db OPL

27 Rockingham , International Circuit Days 98db OPL

28 Cadwell Park ClubMSV 105db OPL

28 Lydden Lydden Hill Race Circuit 102db OPL

28 Pembrey Motorsport Events 105db OPL

29 Rockingham , ISSCC BookaTrack.com Ltd 98db OPL

29 Blyton Park , 1.6 Mile Circuit Javelin Trackdays 105db OPL

30 Brands Hatch , Indy ClubMSV 105db OPL

30 Castle Combe Apex Track Days 100db OPL

April 2012 57

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Please visit our Facebook page and click the ‘Like This’ button. It will give you a preview of what’s coming up in the next issue and keep you up to date with any happenings in

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Dry Sump Kit for SOHC Pinto and Cosworth YBAvailable from: Burton PowerPrice From: £1,482.00See: www.burtonpower.com

Cool Stuff To Spend Your Money On!

Castrol Classic XL20w/50 OilAvailable from: Mini SparesPrice: £23.32 per Imp/Gal inc VATwww.minispares.com

Try shopping for oil in your local motor spares shop and you will probably find it difficult to get the proper 20w/50 oil that your classic was designed to run on. Try using a modern lighter 10w/40 oil and you’ll quickly find it blowing past your valve stems and coming out of the the exhaust as smoke! Thankfully Castrol still make traditional 20w/50 oil, branded as Classic XL20w/50 and sold in retro style metal containers, and it’s available by mail order from Mini Spares. Although the price of engine oil has gone up along with petrol recently, Mini Spares is offering Castrol Classic at a very reasonable £23.32 for a one gallon (4.55 litres) can, £5.56 for a 1 litre tin and - to save you from wasting it by spilling it all over your engine - they can even provide an authentic retro Castrol metal pouring jug at £9.14. Don’t take chances with the wrong grade of engine oil or some ‘unknown’ brand. This is the oil your classic was designed to run on!

NewStuff

Burton Power is offering the new OPi Evolution Dry Sump Kit for the SOHC Pinto and Cosworth YB engines. The kit is suitable for engines from clubman level right up to serious full race and uses a gear type oil pump rather than the more common rotor type. The gear type pump offers many benefits including: High flow rates capable of reaching andmaintaining high pressures; less pressure spiking; closer tolerances; improved durability; better vacuum to reduce/remove internal pressure from piston blow by; reduced heating of oil from frication; excellent performance from cold and very compact design. This is the most efficient dry sump system currently available and features a cast aluminium sumppan for YB Cosworth (N/A or Turbo) and SOHC Pinto engines. The sump pan allows greater clearance under the engine for rally use or lowering the car’s centre of gravity. The sump also has external mounting points to take a custom made cradle to mount the 4wd front diff. Clearance is provided for the drive shaft. The pump mounts on the distributor side of the engine and is driven from the jackshaft. The kit comes complete with pump, fittings, brackets, bosses and bolts, aluminium sump pane, pump pulley, jackshaft pulley and wide toothed drive belt. It can be ordered as part number OPIDSK1.

Competition/Fast Road Brake Shoe Relining ServiceAvailable from: Cambridge Motorsport Price: From £95.00 + VAT (Axle Set of 4xShoes)See: www.cambridgemotorsport.com

As far as the general motor parts industry is concerned, brake shoes are a thing of the past so, you may find problems obtaining new brake shoes for your classic. If you want competition/fast road linings the problem will be even worse. Fortunately there is a solution. Cambridge Motorsport Parts can reline your existing brake shoes using competition grade material suitable for both fast road and track. Naturally the modern lining material benefits from recently improved friction technology. The material is effective from cold for road use but once warmed up will provide the exceptional stopping power associated with a race compound. 62 www.cprmag.com

WWW.CPRMAG.COM

Bugatti Desk Available From: Luzzo BespokePrice: £150,000.00See: www.luzzobespoke.com

You know the desk in your office is starting to show its age and needs replacing, but maybe you fancy something a little...different. Well what about one of these? It’s a custom-built, hand-made desk styled on the iconic Bugatti Type 35, and like the car, it really is quite an incredible piece of engineering.Finished in the correct shade of Bugatti racing blue (seven coats of the stuff!), the desk features draws that lock with an ignition key; a ‘starting handle’ which adjusts the height, a retractable i-Mac computer, drawer fronts use the same ‘honeycomb’ grille as the car and the undersides are based on the Bugatti’s finned aluminium sump.The manufacturer spends over 3,000 man hours building each desk and has produced a limited run of just ten, each supplied with its own authentic log book.What? Sorry? Oh...the price. Er...are you sitting down? £150,000 - yes, seriously, but look on the bright side, that is still £100,00 less than the actual car!

I was a little sceptical when I was told what Permanon was capable of doing, until I saw it in action for myself. The solution acts as a protective barrier against dirt, dust, oil, water and even sunlight. You simply dilute the solution, spray it on, and wipe it off.During a demonstration, I saw a paper kitchen towel sprayed with Permanon. Water was then poured onto the towell, and instead of soaking in like you would expect...it just rolled off like it was a waxed surface! This is how it works (techy warning!) The positive (+) charge of the monomolecular silicium induces an electrostatic bond with the surface areas, which always have a negative (-) charge, which causes the solution to bond to the surface. I guess the idea is to clean, polish and wax your car, then apply Permanon to protect the finish on your car. If you have used Rainex on your windscreen, you will know what I mean when I say that this product has a similar effect on just about any surface you care to apply it to. Not cheap, but very impressive!

Permanon Supershine Brilliant 500mlAvailable from: Permanon Price: £64.61See: www.permanonuk.co.uk

Want to see your new product mentioned

here? Just call us on +44 (0)1353 777519 or

e-mail us at: info@cprmag.com

April 2012 63

March 2011 29

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Time to get somework done to YOURclassic car?

TRGB are now established as one of the leading Triumphspecialists in the country and have extensive and almostunrivalled experience on the restoration and maintenanceof these cars. Along the way we have also gained years ofexperience working on other classic cars. Work and personalprojects aside from our Triumphs include: full restoration ofan E-type 4.2 Jaguar, full restoration of a ‘Healey 3000’, fullengine build on a V12-E and full and detailed restoration of aFerrari Dino (including full engine build).

Our workshop is always very busy and to this end we havedecided to expand this side of the business and are delightedto announce a new member of staff: Mr Jason Wright. Jasonbrings with him a wealth of experience and has worked onmany TRs as well as Jaguar and TVR from a well-knownleading dealership, and so will add his knowledge to theextensive experience of both Tim and Richard. To promotethis new expansion we are offering a 10% discount(£40.50/hr + VAT) on all work booked in during thefirst three months of 2011.

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BEFORE

BEFORE

AFTER

AFTER

When Charles Costa purchased a running Triumph TR3, he wasn’t planning to do any serious work to it. Then his son Richie came to help, and before he knew it, Charles was involved in a full ground-up restoration!

The phrase ‘While I’m at it’…is one of the most used and expensive

phrases known to anyone who

has ever been involved in any stage of car restoration. How do I know this? Well, while I’m at it…let me start from the

beginning.Let’s go back to June of 2006 (which was, by the way, the last time I can remember

66 www.cprmag.com

The TR3 was in a useable condition when Charles bought it.

having any loose change in my pocket), when I saw an advertisement selling a 1957 Triumph TR3. Having bought a new 1960 TR3a back in, well…..1960, I showed my wife the ad. “Look Pam, here it is forty-six years later and

they’re selling this TR for almost four times what I paid for mine, new.” She quickly said, “Why don’t you buy it then? All I’ve been hearing since we’ve been married is how you’ve always regretted selling ’your baby’ when you

joined the Navy way back then.”It wasn’t long before ‘Trumpy’ was sitting in our barn. Even though she had a paint job that only looked good from across the street - she was a driver. What memories she

April 2012 67

(Part 1)

The car arrives on the back of a truck.

Charles pictured at the wheel of his first TR in the 1960s.

brought back! Throughout that summer, I again enjoyed the tight cornering and familiar purring of the TR exhaust, and that old feeling of wind in my hair,

or what was left of it. It was a joy to see those turning heads again, as we drove throughout the winding roads in and around the suburbs of Boston.

Come September of that year, I took Trumpy off the road to treat her to a new exhaust system. That shouldn’t take long I thought. Maybe I could get her back on the road by the beginning of October, at the latest.

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I Know What I’m Doing!All my life I’ve been one of those guys who was an expert at staring into an open hood, hoping to fool the onlooker into thinking that I actually knew what I was looking at, especially if that onlooker was my wife. Actually, all I knew to do, when the car didn’t start, was hold the palm of my hand on the carburettor while she turned the key. “Don’t pump the gas!” I’d yell. “I’ll do it from here.” She must have thought I was a genius.

The strip down revealed half a century of grease, dirt and grime.

Front panel removed and on the bench.

terminology if I wanted to sound like I actually knew what I was doing.Anyway, it was leaking a bit and even I knew that could be dangerous. After removing and disassembling it I found it to have a strange

configuration and not the usual shut-off mechanism I was familiar with. Somehow it didn’t surprise me. It had what looked like an expanding cork piece, sort of like those wide bands we see on night crawler worms

Nevertheless, I think I can handle replacing this exhaust system.Upon removing the exhaust, I found only one silencer, and yet all of the current catalogs were showing two; a larger one up front with the smaller at the rear. I was pretty sure that this was the original exhaust, and the original configuration. That’s when the opinions started to come in. “You should only use one box.” “You should use two, but put the smaller one up front.” “You should use two but put the larger one up front. “Nope! Just use the small one.” That was the first of many times I kicked myself for not having taken more pictures of my ’60 TR, way back when. Who’da thunk?

April 2012 69

Success!Without going into any long derivatives or any lessons on Navy language, I installed the exhaust with much fanfare. Oh, by the way, I ended up putting the long silencer in front with the small one at the rear. Cautiously turning the key with my bruised and bloody hand, I couldn’t help smiling when I heard that very familiar sound of a Triumph engine. It was actually better than before I installed the new exhaust. Not bad for a non mechanic. This was the first major automotive job I’d ever done. Success! “Pam, look what I did!” Poor Pam, nodding her head on the first of many barn trips she was doomed to take. That’s when she noticed the gas on the floor. It was the gas petcock...er...petrol stop valve. I would have to get used to this Brit

Engine was in excellent condition when tested.

Throttle spindles were worn and needed re-bushing.

over here. The theory is, that by tightening the screw on the end of the shaft, the cork would become compressed, making it expand against the cylinder. I scratched my head, (the first of many scratches) I wondered why they just didn’t use a regular valve system. Humphh! It seemed to me that any ‘pet-cock’ would have done the job here. Anyway, after wire brushing the valve, bringing the brass back to its original brilliance, I reassembled the system and started her up again. Small leaks remained, but only until the cork soaked up enough fuel, which made it supple enough to fit more snuggly in the cylinder. I stood back to admire my work while listening again to that familiar hum of the exhaust. I was feeling rather proud.

70 www.cprmag.com

Sandblasting the bodyshell revealed holes in the floorpan.

Between ordering and installing the parts, it only took me three weeks to do all of this work. Now it was just a matter of deciding on when to take her off the road for the winter. Would it be the end of October or the end of November. Either way, she would be ready for driving next Spring, for sure. In the meantime, I could drive her until the first of winter’s bad weather hit. How naïve.That’s when my son Richie entered the barn. You see, he‘s a diesel mechanic, and knows a little about cars and their gas engines. Well, actually, he knows a lot about cars and their gas engines. “Sounds good, Dad.” He did stop by when I pulled her off of the flat bed on that first day and took her for a spin

around the yard and adjoining field, savoring every minute. He’s the one who told me to change the petrol valve and exhaust before I went any further. That’s when I began to see how the family tables had turned. I obeyed.Richie went on, “In fact, that new exhaust sounds great! How did that new gas valve work out?” Gas valve? He

just doesn’t understand British terminology.Reaching in, he pushed on the carburettor linkage, revving it up to at least 3,000rpm; then letting off almost immediately. “She’s running too high, Dad--2,100rpm is way to high.” Grabbing a screwdriver he began turning screws at different parts of the linkage. All he could do was bring the

Right: The rear lever arm dampers work reasonably well and connect to the springs via a drop-link.

April 2012 71

Left: Different car - same person! A youthful Charles poses with his Triumph TR3A back in the 1960s, while the other recent photo shows him with his ‘new’ TR3. Above: Charles’ son Richie checks out his dad’s new project...and suggests an entire rebuild!

Along Came Richie...

72 www.cprmag.com

idle down to about 1,900. That’s when he wiggled the throttle shaft, showing how loose it was. “We’ll never get this idle down without getting some bushings on that

shaft. There’s too much air getting into the carbs there.” Continuing, he said. “Whoa, look at that radiator. Looks like it could use a new core. See how there’s signs of green

around the tanks? Let’s get that radiator out of there and check it out.”“Slow down, Richie!” I blurted. High idle? Throttle shaft? Radiator? What was he talking about? She sounded just fine to me! She’s a driver. All I want to do is cruise around town and enjoy her. “Dad, winter’s coming and while we’re at it (uh-oh) we may as well get that radiator squared away and get those carbs in working order too. As a matter of fact, while we’re at it, we might as well get a new water pump too.”

With the body removed, Charles could see what needed doing on the chassis.

Freshly restored carbs.

So started the disassembly under my son’s tutelage, (our family tables have truly changed now) as we removed the front apron, radiator, fan, and water pump. Needless to say, there were a few broken bolts and scratched knuckles along the way. Might as well remove the horns, “Look at that, two horns - one high beep and one low beep.” I was learning so much. Talk about naïve, the more I got into this new hobby, the more I realized how little I actually knew about the inner workings of a car, not to mention it being a ‘Little British Car’ (LBC). My, how different they were from the familiar look of, say, a fifty-five Chevy.After finding that the wiring

Right: Charles’ son Richie fits the restored inlet manifold to the engine.

April 2012 73

Stripping Down

The restored chassis looks amazing.

was in shambles, we decided that, while we were at it, we should also get a new wiring harness. The existing wires were made up of jumpers, spliced with tape of every existing color of the rainbow, not to mention the variety of tapes that have been added throughout her fifty years of existence. All of the different grounding points, secured here and there by every size screw sold at Home Depot, or Lowes. And lookee here, negative earth. Oh, what fun!

look at those brake lines that run along the wall. You might as well remove them too, but don’t disconnect them from the calipers, I’ll explain why later. And take lots of pictures, that wiring is a mess. We don’t want to have to replace that harness just yet.”I knew trouble was brewing when I went out to the barn the following week to

find Richie standing there, staring at Trumpy, with that mechanic’s twinkle in his eyes. I couldn’t help feeling proud at the work I had accomplished since the last time he was here. All that was left under the bonnet now was that tiny four cylinder engine. I had also stripped the inner wheel wells and fire wall of all paints. I say ‘paints’ because there

74 www.cprmag.com

Everything Out!It was then that I decided, while I was at it, to strip the paint off of the inner wheel wells and paint the area under the hood…er...bonnet. What the heck. Might as well take advantage of all of this empty space. Now it was time for Richie to chime in with one of his off the cuff remarks again. “Dad, if you want to clean this up right, while you’re at it, you may as well remove everything on the firewall - the regulator, solenoid, and fuse box. And

New floor-pans fitted to the shell.

With sand-blasting completed, the bodyshell looked in great shape.

were at least four layers - all different colors. Anyway, let’s get back to that twinkle in his eye.“Ya know Dad,” Not moving his eyes off the under-bonnet area, his hands on his hips. “It wouldn’t be a bad idea to pull the engine, while we’re at it.”I gasped, and thought. “Pull the engine?” I reached for

Right: The engine and gearbox are installed onto the rolling chassis.

April 2012 75

Access to the engine bay is good with the front panel removed.

to stop Richie from talking or thinking was to feed him some of his Mom’s Italian cooking. It worked, but only temporarily! After downing a half-pound of macaroni, two sausages, two meatballs, and while he was mopping up the

remaining gravy with some Italian bread, he took his first breath and, for emphasis, while holding up his last piece of gravy-soaked bread, said, “Dad, I was thinking, we might as well pull the gearbox too and, while we’re at it, (uh-oh!) we might as well pull the body off. Those rocker panels look like they could be replaced.”“What?!?” That was me, choking on a forkful of macaroni.“Dad,” he continued. “Six bolts, maybe eight, and we could have that body off in no time at all.”“Richie, it’s just a driver. All I want to do is drive around town and enjoy it.” “Dad, think about it. This way, you could check the whole thing out, not to mention that we could get a good look at

my pack of cigarettes. Then remembered that I had stopped smoking some thirty years ago.

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Bodyshell OffThroughout the years, I’ve learned that the only way

Hard to believe, but this was what the car looked like before the restoration.

Almost ready for the new paint.

the frame; and did you see those rocker panels? I noticed the passenger side panel is rotting around the B-post.” (what’s a B-post?) “And how about safety? Believe me Dad, you‘ll be thankful you did.”I had no idea my son was such a good salesman.He went on. “And then you’ll be able to give it a real nice paint job.” “Paint job?” I said.“And while we’re at it Dad, getting back to the frame, maybe you could have it powder-coated.”I’ve always been good at maths. That night I stayed awake most of the night, lying there with my hands clasped under my head, staring up into the blackness, tallying up what Richie had said, my old mental calculator working overtime. By morning, I’d lost all sanity.“Let’s see,” I thought, while drinking my coffee.“Maybe while I’m at it…I could rebuild the front suspension. Come to think of it... it did seem a little tight.”

April 2012 77

The new two-box exhaust system.

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Find Out What’s On Near You!

Each month, Classic, Performance & Retro magazine brings you some of the best motoring events from around the world in our comprehensive ‘What’s On’ guide. Each listing features a live website link, so if you want know more a single click of the mouse is all you need. If you would like us to include your event, just send an e-mail with the details to: info@cprmag.com

What’son

April 2012

Date Event Website/Tel1 Brooklands Jaguar, Brooklands Museum, Weybridge, Surrey, UK www.brooklandsmuseum.com

1 Newbury 4 x 4 & Vintage Spares Day, Newbury Showground, Berks, UK www.markwoodwardclassicevents.com

1 Austins to Brighton 90th Anniversary Run, Woodcote Green, Surrey, UK www.austinsevenownersclub.com

1 Malvern Easter Mini Show, Malvern, Worcestershire, UK www.classicshows.org

5 Ace Cafe Classic Mini Meet, London, UK www.ace-cafe-london.com

5 Masters Donington Test Day, Donington Park, UK www.themastersseries.com

6-9 Auto Trader Easter Thunderball, Santa Pod, Beds, UK www.santapod.com

6-8 Classic Endurance Racing Nogaro, Paris, France www.classicenduranceracing.com

6-9 Easter Cotswolds Tour, Gloucestershire, UK www.continentalcartours.co.uk

6-9 South Devon Railway Easter Transport Extravaganza , Devon, UK www.southdevonrailway.org

7-9 Hanbury Easter Vintage Gathering, Worcestershire, UK www.shakespearesrally.com

7-8 Classic Touring Car Racing Club Meeting, Snetterton, UK www.csccgb.co.uk

8 Brooklands MG Day, Brooklands Museum, Surrey, UK www.brooklandsmuseum.com

8 Newbury Classic Show, Newbury, Berks, UK www.classicshows.org

8 Amberley Vintage Car Show, Amberley, West Sussex, UK www.amberleymuseum.co.uk

8-9 Medway Festival of Steam & Transport, Medway, Kent, UK www.thedockyard.co.uk

8-9 Midland Festival of Transport, Weston Park, UK www.transtarpromotions.co.uk

9 Ace Cafe Mustang Meet, London, UK www.ace-cafe-london.com

9 The Masters Festival, Snetterton, UK www.themastersseries.com

9 Historic Racing Drivers Club Race Meeting, Castle Combe, UK www.hrdc.eu

9 Malvern Classic Car Show, Malvern, Worcs, UK www.classicshows.org

10 Ace Cafe Classic Car Night, London, UK www.ace-cafe-london.com

10 XK Club Track Day, Goodwood, UK www.xkclub.com

10 Classics Evening, Benington, Herts, UK www.lordshiparms.co.uk

Look out for ‘big cats’ near the south coast on the 22nd, when the Jaguar Enthusiasts’ Club holds its London to Brighton Run.

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11 Mini Drivers at Goodwood, Goodwood Circuit, Sussex, UK www.goodwood.co.uk

14 Pride of Longbridge Rally, Cofton Park, Longbridge, UK www.wolseleyworld.com

15 St Asaph Car Show, Llanerch Park, St. Asaph, N. Wales www.jgcarshows.co.uk

15 MGOC MGB 50th Birthday Run, Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon, UK www.mgownersclub.co.uk

15 Bellingham Classic Car Show, Northumberland, UK www.bellingham-heritage.org.uk

15 Newark Autojumble, Newark, Notts, UK www.penny-farthing-fairs.co.uk

15 Kent All Ford Show, Aylesford, Kent, UK www.kentsallfordshow.co.uk

15 Classics at the Mill, Crewkerne, Somerset, UK www.classicsatthemill.co.uk

15 Bentley Drivers Day, Brooklands Museum, Surrey, UK www.bdcl.org

15 Southern Classics Spring Show, Chichester, UK www.southernclassics.org.uk

17 Barons Auction, Esher Hall, UK www.barons-auctions.com

20 Jaguar Drivers XK Register Spring Weekend,Shropshire, UK jaguardriver.co.uk

20-22 American Auto Club Nationals, Billing Aquadrome, Northants, UK aac-int.com

20-22 Masters at the Catalan Classic Festival, Barcelona, Spain www.themastersseries.com

21 Woodmans Auction, Thruxton Circuit, Andover, Hampshire, UK www.woodmans-auctions.com

21 Vintage Sports Car Club Race Meeting, Silverstone, Northants, UK www.vscc.co.uk

21 Historic Sports Car Club Race Meeting, Cadwell Park, UK www.hscc.org.uk

21-22 Footman James Bristol Classic Car Show, Bristol, UK www.bccsl.co.uk

22 Sandbach Festival of Transport, Sandbach, Cheshire, UK www.sandbachtransportfestival.co.uk

22 Breakfast Club at Brooklands, Brooklands Museum, Surrey, UK www.brooklandsmuseum.com

22 East Yorkshire Drive it day, Goathland, East Yorks, UK www.eytcc.org.uk

22 Brimar Vintage Classic Show & Cavalcade, Somerset, UK www.brimarfundraising.co.uk

22 Standard Triumph Marque Day, Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon, UK www.tssc.org.uk

22 BPPC Annual Vehicle Run, Poole, Dorset, UK www.bppcltd.co.uk

22 Public Track Day Weekend, Shakespeare County Raceway, Warks, UK www.shakespearecountyraceway.com

22 Jaguar London to Brighton Run, London, UK www.jec.org.uk

22 Club Triumph Jubilee Rally & Run, Ilkely, Yorks, UK www.jubilee-rally.org

22 Standard Motor Club Drive It Day Devon/Cornwall, UK www.standardmotorclub.org.uk/

25 Garstang Autojumble, Garstang, Lancashire, UK www.markwoodwardclassicevents.com

26-28 Manx Classic, Isle of Man, UK www.manxmotorracing.com

26-29 Merlin Spring Classic Tour, Buxton, Derbyshire, UK www.merlinevents.com

27-28 Pirelli Historic Rally, Kingmoor Park, Carlisle, UK www.pirelliinternationalrally.co.uk

28-29 British & Midland Championships, Prescott Hill Climb, Gloucestershire, UK www.prescott-hillclimb.com

28 Bristol Italian Auto Moto Festival, Bristol City Centre, UK www.biamf.co.uk

28 AMOC Silverstone Race Meeting, Silverstone Circuit, Northants, UK www.amoc.org

29 Classic Ford Day & Autojumble, Whitewebbs Transport Museum, Enfield, UK www.whitewebbsmuseum.co.uk

29 Ace Cafe Goes To Brighton! Madeira Drive, Brighton, Sussex, UK www.ace-cafe-london.com

29 Morris Minors Birmingham Open Rally, Birmingham, West Mids, UK www.morrisminoroc.co.uk

29 The XKE Club Sussex Backwaters Tour, Sussex, UK www.xkclub.com

29 Wheel Nuts 2011, St. Roses School, Stroud, Gloucestershire, UK www.stroses.org.uk

Each year, many classic car shows take place around the country. Some big,

some small, and others are just side attractions at village fetes. They all have one thing in common though (apart from the cars!) and that is that there is usually one person responsible for most of the organisation. Okay, if you want to be really picky, many are organised by teams of people, but there is still usually one individual leading the team who has overall responsibility. The buck has to stop with someone...right? You can usually spot them a mile away. They have a stressed look on their face and can often be found rocking backwards and forwards in some dark corner while pulling out what’s left of their hair. In that respect, classic car shows

Greenwood Exhibitions has been running classic car shows for many years now, but this year sees a new man taking over the helm at this established events company. Simon Hazeldine talks to Steve Smith about his plans for the shows, both old and new.

On With The Show

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April 2012 83

are a bit like swans. They seem relaxed, laid back affairs, but scratch the surface and underneath you’ll find a team of people working frantically to keep everything running smoothly.

some people, especially if it is a huge mega-show like the Silverstone Classic or the Classic Motor Show, but what if you had to plan nine events in one year? That is what Steve Smith - proprietor of Greenwood Exhibitions - is facing up to this year, and strangely, he actually seems to be relishing the idea.Greenwood Exhibitions has

been around for quite some time now, although Steve only took over the business last year. I was keen to find out exactly what it takes to organise a classic car show, and I wanted to know how Steve landed himself the task of organising so many shows.“I worked in sales and marketing for about 25 years and I also had a brief foray into property management, but all my time over the last few years was spent looking for a new challenge. I even bought the local village shop and ran that for five years, but I soon got bored with that. Around the same time, my daughter was doing a degree in Event Management, so that seemed like a logical industry to look at.“I found an events company for sale on the internet, but

Above: Sir Stirling Moss waves off a Lotus Cortina on the London to Brighton Classic Car Run.

Left: Classic class winners at Woburn.

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DauntingNow the prospect of organising just one show might seem daunting to

April 2012 85

Above: This Austin Healey won ‘car of the show’ at last year’s Bedfordshire Classic Motor Show.Right: Singer cars on the owners’ club stand.

Brooklands is the starting point for the London to Brighton Classic Car Run.

it didn’t really tick any boxes. Then I remembered that a neighbour of mine ran an events company running classic car shows, so I went to have a chat with him. With classic cars being a passion of mine, it wasn’t long before one thing led to another and I was making him an offer for the business. I was now the new owner of Greenwood Exhibitions!”

him through what was needed to make each event a success. Among these events were the London to Brighton Classic Car Run, the Bedfordshire Classic Motor Show and the Knebworth Classic Motor Show, all of which were well established gatherings. Steve used 2011 as a

learning exercise and used the opportunity to meet the people that controlled the venues and find out what they required from him as the new organiser.“Greenwood Exhibitions was a family-run business in the hands of the previous owner, and now I have taken it over,

Family BusinessTaking on an existing diary of shows might seem like a wise move; after all, most of the planning would already be in place and the venues booked, but it meant that Steve really had to hit the ground running. Luckily, the previous owner of the business agreed to work along side Steve for the first year (2011) and would guide

it is still very much a family-run company. My Wife Sandra helps out at all of the shows and my daughter Amelia is putting her new qualification in Event Management to very good use, albeit on a part-time basis. We have also taken on

a young office assistant to try and help lighten the work load a little.”Part of Steve’s learning process involved visiting as many car shows as he possibly could so he could get a feel of what was needed to turn a

good event into a really special one.“I lost count of the number of shows I went to in the end. I went to all the Greenwood shows of course, but I also went to a lot of events organised by other companies. There are some very good ones being staged at the moment, but the one thing that struck me was that they don’t seem to be moving forward, they’re not changing. Some of them have lost that ‘wow’ factor and there doesn’t seem to be much new stuff on offer anywhere.”

Sunshine, cars and a beautiful setting...what more could you want?

Steve Smith (right) presents a concours award at Knebworth.

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AdrenalineBuying an established business did have its advantages. As previously mentioned, a lot of the groundwork had been done and the infrastructure was already in place, so in

were working on the shows from Day1. “The first event was the Woburn Classic Motor Show. It turned out to be better that expected as we had some beautiful weather and wonderful cars. We even had a 1934 Rolls-Royce which

was owned by the Bird family, famous for producing Bird’s custard, and that really was a stunning car. That show was our ‘baptism of fire if you like, and we did everything from cleaning the toilets and picking up litter to directing traffic in the car park.”

April 2012 87

that respect it was easier than starting from scratch. The ideal time to acquire such a business would be in October, just as the show season is finishing, but the main problem Steve faced was taking over in the spring, and that was when the bulk of the organisational work had to be done. It really was a case of ‘in at the deep end.’ So what was that first year like?“Tough, interesting, challenging, daunting, stressful, exciting and exhilarating probably sums it up!” said Steve. “We were really running on adrenaline to begin with. There was no time to ease ourselves in slowly. The shows had been booked and the clock was ticking, so we had to arrange for things to be printed, the mail had got to go out, so we

Andrew Harrison starts another lap in his XJS.

A Triumph TR4A on display at Knebworth in 2011.

Speaking to Steve, it becomes apparent that last year’s events were still very much put together by the previous owners of the business and that he was there mainly in a learning capacity. This year though, things are different. Everything is down to Steve and his small team, and while he hopes to continue the same successful format that most of the shows have followed, there is, he believes, room for

improvement. Just as last year, the first show on this year’s calendar is the Bedfordshire Classic Motor Show at Woburn Abbey. “The show takes place over two days in the grounds of Woburn Abbey. There will be a concours competition over the weekend with judging taking place on the Bank Holiday Monday. We are hoping to make it a bit different this year; we want to introduce more of a ‘club spirit’ to the event. Last year I wasn’t happy with the

layout and I want to bring the clubs into the centre and get some really good car displays. There is going to be a new commentator, Steve Reddway, for the live arena to try and spice things up a bit and we really want to make it a live show with lots going on, not just a field full of static cars. We are also improving the concours awards and the rally plaques this year to try and make them a little more special. It’s always great to see so many cars turn up and

Right: Sir Stirling Moss chats to car crews as they set off from Brooklands on the London to Brighton Classic Car Run.

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Going It Alone

we are always really grateful to the owners for bringing their cars along, so we want to give them something nice in return for their efforts.”

April 2012 89

The historic club house at Brooklands.

An MG RV8 sparkles in the sunshine.

Cars on madeira Drive, Brighton.

Party AtmosphereOne other aspect that Steve is keen to improve on is the evening facilities and entertainment. “Usually at a two-day show, people drift away during late afternoon, and even the traders and exhibitors pack up and head for a nearby hotel.This year, we are trying to get permission for our trade stand holders to camp overnight at the venues. Woburn have already agreed to this, so we will try and lay on some sort of entertainment to keep people amused and hopefully we can create a bit of a party atmosphere.”

London to BrightonAs well as the Woburn show and several others, Greenwood Exhibitions is also organising the London to Brighton Classic Car run. This event shouldn’t be confused with the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run which has been staged since 1896, but it is none-the-less a prestigious event in its own right and is now in its 24th year. This year the run is starting at the Brooklands museum and participants will follow a route which largely avoids motorways and main roads, and instead meanders through some beautiful south England countryside. Planned stops on the way will give drivers an opportunity to take a break and refreshments will be laid on by the organisers.

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The cavalcade of cars will eventually end up on Madeira Drive in Brighton, which has been specially set aside for the event by the local authorities. The famous sea front location gives not only gives excellent access to the coast, it also provides a spectacular back drop for the cars, as you can see in some of the accompanying photos in this

feature. This year will also see a new event which is a bit like the London to Brighton run in reverse. Yep, it’s the Brighton to London Run, or Brighton to Brooklands to be precise. The run is open to pre-1939 cars and starts off from Madeira Drive in Brighton. Entry to the event includes hotel accommodation

in Brighton (with secure parking), and after what Steve calls a “leisurely breakfast” the entrants will set off on an equally leisurely drive towards Brooklands in Surrey. Apart from the hotel accommodation, the entry fee also gets you tea and cakes on the route, a commemorative numbered rally board, a ‘tulip’ style route book & list of entrants, entry

‘American muscle’ Mustang on show at the Knebworth Classic Motor Show.

April 2012 91

‘body bending’

to Brooklands Museum with VIP parking inside the museum and luncheon, a personalised certificate of participation and a commemorative solid brass plaque. It sounds like a great package, and I like the way Steve has paid extra attention to the small details that undoubtedly make this one of the premier road runs in the classic car calendar. “We could

have cut corners and just given entrants a sticker and asked them to bring their own sandwiches,” said Steve, “but hopefully things like the brass plaques, which look really stylish by the way, and the tea and cakes are nice touches which people will remember the event for. We want the owners to enjoy the cars, we want local people on the route

to enjoy the cars, and the whole day is about having fun, so if we can add a few extra touches to it to make it that bit more special, then we will certainly do it.”

Power & Plastic!Another new event that should attract an impressive collection of cars is The Classic, Kit & Performance Show which is

Stunning classics lined up on Madeira Drive in Brighton.92 www.cprmag.com

April 2012 93

being held at Old Warden Park in Bedfordshire. The park is in the grounds of the Shuttleworth Estate and is right next-door to the famous Shuttleworth Collection with its rare Edwardian aeroplanes and cars.The event promises an eclectic mix of high performance supercars such as Ferraris, Aston Martins and Lamborghinis, alongside the best machines from the kit car world. Oh, and if you are wondering why kit cars are being showed next to supercars, just remember that the Ultima GTR 720 lapped the Top Gear test track in a stunning 1.12.80 - that’s four seconds faster than the Bugatti Veyron! Not bad for a kit car eh?Among the other new shows that Greenwood Exhibitions is planning are the Fathers’

Classic Day Out at Woburn on June 17, the Festival of Transport in Billericay, Essex on July 7/8 and the Hampshire Classic Motor Show on August 19 at the Breamore Countryside Museum. It certainly sounds like it is going to be an exciting year, and with Steve’s fresh approach to the established

car shows, as well as adding some very promising new events, it should be a great summer for classic car fans.

The pit lane at Brands Hatch.

Dazzling line-up of classics on Brighton sea front.

For full details of all shows and events mentioned in this article, please visit the Greenwood Exhibitions website at: www.classicmotorshow.com

“Someone said there was a ‘Stag night?”

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Follow JD Classics’ example and use the best care and protection for your car. Find out more about the award winning Autoglym range by visiting our website at www.autoglym.com

Classics in the making

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AUTOGLYM CLASSICS IN THE MAKING ADVERT FOR CLASSIC PERFORMANCE AND RETRO CARS (NEW COPY 12.01.11).indd 1 13/1/11 4:01 pm

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Latest News From The Auction Roomsauctionnews

RM Auctions Amelia Island SaleFlorida, USA.March 10, 2012.

RM Auctions - Florida, USA.

Type Year PriceCord L29 Special Coupe 1929 $2,420.000 Ferrari 250 GT Coupe Speciale 1956 $1,430,000 Aston Martin DB5 Vantage Convertible 1965 $1,210,000 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spyder 1972 $1,210,000 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 Berlinetta 1967 $1,100,000 Bugatti Type 46 Superprofile Coupe 1930 $1,017,500 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster 1960 $990,000Squire 1½-Liter Drophead Coupe 1937 $990,000 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Berline 1929 $803,000 Ferrari 250 GT Series II Cabriolet 1961 $770,000

Cord L29 Tops Amelia Island Sale

Bidding was strong at the RM Auctions Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance sale on March 10, with over $23 million worth of cars changing hands before a packed house at the Ritz-Carlton in Florida. The 88 percent sell through rate saw 92 of the 106 pre- and post-war motor cars finding new owners, with six cars achieving million-dollar-plus results and spirited bidding leading to the establishment of numerous new auction records.Top honors went to a stunning 1929 Cord L-29 Special Coupe by The Hayes Body Corporation – a stunning, one-off design statement by Count Alexis de Sakhnoffsky, widely recognized as the most significant L-29 in existence. An outstanding example of Classic Era styling, the ‘Hayes Coupe’ garnered strong attention from bidders in the room and on the phones, selling for an impressive $2,420,000 to applause from the crowd.“This year’s Amelia Island weekend was once again a great success with over $23 million in sales.

Bugatti Type 46 Superprofile Coupe.

Stunning Cord L29 fetched an impressive $2,420.000 at RM’s Amelia Island sale on March 10.

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WWW.CPRMAG.COM

We’re very pleased with the results achieved both in the auction room and on the show field, as well as the strong global interest in the sale - bidders hailed from 16 countries around the world,” said Rob Myers, Chairman & Founder, RM Auctions.Myers added, “The Amelia sale wrapped up a fantastic two weeks in Florida for RM, including the recent Milhous Collection sale presented in association with Sotheby’s. Combined, the events generated more than $61 million in sales, illustrating the continued strength of the collectibles hobby. We look forward to building on the strong results at our next sale in Monaco in May.” In addition to the sale-topping Cord L-29, also hotly contested at the Florida auction was a highly desirable and extremely rare 1965 Aston Martin DB5 Vantage Convertible, one of only seven original Vantage-powered DB5 Convertibles produced. Spurring a lively bidding war, the DB5 realized an impressive $1,210,000, smashing the previous record for a DB5 Convertible sold at auction. A freshly restored 1960 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster also entered the history books, selling for $990,000 - a world record price for a

300SL Roadster sold at auction.Several models of Ferrari also also performed well. Headlining the group of nine examples on offer was the exceptional, ex-Agnelli Family 1956 Ferrari 250 GT Coupe Speciale, one of just four built, selling for $1,430,000, while a distinctively sporty 1973 Ferrari Dino 246 GTS “Chairs and Flares” achieved a record-setting $363,000. Additional notable Ferrari sales included a superb 1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spyder for $1,210,000 and a rare, unique covered headlight 1961 Ferrari 250 GT Series II Cabriolet for $770,000.

April 2012 97

One of only four Ferrari 250 GT Coupe Speciales produced sold for $1,430.000.

Rare Aston Martin DB5 convertible sold for a record $1,210.000.

An Aston Martin DB6 fetched an impressive £242,000 at H&H Auctions Buxton sale on February 16, an amount believed to be a world record for the model. The well attended sale, the company’s first of 2012, was held at its spiritual home of Buxton in Derbyshire. The DB6 in question was a well presented 1969 Mark 2 example finished in Dark Blue, which had been professionally upgraded with a 4.2-litre engine and four-speed automatic transmission. It attracted fierce bidding, eventually selling for more than double the estimated price.The Paul Bracq-designed ‘Pagoda’-topped Mercedes-Benz W113 series SL Coupes have been turning heads since launched in 1963, and good examples are guaranteed to create interest at auction. The Silver-coloured 250SL in this sale did just that, ultimately changing hands for £37,400.

Latest News From The Auction Roomsauctionnews

H&H Auctions - Derbyshire, UK

Type Year PriceAston Martin DB6 Mark 2 1969 £242,000Mercedes-Benz 250 SL 1968 £37,400 Lagonda Prototype ‘LBS EX1’ 1947 £34,100 Porsche 911 Turbo 1989 £31,080 Bentley R-Type Saloon 1954 £24,200 Bentley S3 Saloon 1965 £20,900 Ferrari 308 GT4 1978 £18,700 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II 1960 £11,322Rover Mini ‘Lamm’ Cabriolet 1991 £10,175 Cadillac Sedan De Ville 1959 £8,800

Aston Martin DB6 Tops H&H Buxton Sale

This immaculate Aston Martin DB6 fetched £242,000 at H&H Auctions’ sale on February 16.

H&H Auctions Buxton Sale Derbyshire, EnglandFebruary 16, 2012.

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This 1954 Bentley R-Type Saloon sold for £24,200.

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April 2011 99

It was a case of twice lucky for the 1947 Lagonda Prototype ‘LBS EX1’, with H&H finding a new home for it for the second time in two years. Understood to be the only survivor of three 2.6-litre chassied prototypes, and complete with bespoke two-seater body, it fetched £34,100 this time around.Good Porsche 930s are increasingly sought after and the rare and stunningly presented Baltic Blue Cabriolet version had little trouble returning £31,080. Good results were also achieved for the handsome 1954 R-Type Bentley (£24,200) and its younger sibling – a 1965 S3 (£20,900). Several vendors entered multiple lots, one of whom had four out of four cars sell. The owner of the very smartly turned out

1991 Jaguar XJR 4.0 had every reason to be happy too, as his characterful cat purred its way to double its expected price (£7,920). The auction’s 1937 4.25-litre Vanden Plas-style Tourer, which carried an estimate of £80,000-100,000,

is currently under negotiation and H&H says it is hopeful of a successful result in the near future. H&H’s next auction will take place at the same venue on April 19, at the Imperial War Museum at Duxford in Cambridgeshire.

This beautiful 1947 Lagonda Prototype ‘LBS EX1’ sold for £34,100.

Attractive Austin Healey 100 went for £25,000.

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December 2010 89

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This DVD Celebrates an era when Britain ruled the roads and takes the viewer on a fascinating journey through the golden age of motoring. Glorious footage shows a cavalcade of the best of British, from the prestige of Rolls Royce to the practicality of Dagenham’s Fords. Some of the footage shows wonderful close-ups of perfectly maintained and lovingly restored classics still running today, as well as archive film of iconic machines in action on road and track in their heyday. From design workshops and factory floors to race circuit and modern day parades, this is an essential guide to the most important vehicles in British automotive history. Great British Cars opens with a look at the luxury liners, including the Rolls Royce Corniche, Bentley Continental R Fastback and the ‘space, grace and pace’ offered by Jaguar with its groundbreaking Mark VII and S-Type.It then moves on to the sports car classics, including Jaguar’s record-breaking XK120 and legendary E-Type, Aston Martin’s sought-after Zagato and iconic DB5, and Colin Chapman’s ingenious Lotus designs, plus the unforgettable Austin Healeys, MGs and the Jensen FF. Then there are the family favourites, led by the British-built Fords created at Dagenham. Alongside the reliable runabouts like the Anglia and Prefect, the DVD examines the sporting pedigree of the Lotus Cortina, the Escort and the Capri with some action-

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packed racing footage and contributions from the likes of three-times Formula One World Champion Sir Jackie Stewart. Finally, there is a tribute to the contribution of the design genius Alec Issigonis, with an examination of two of his most famous creations, the Morris Minor and the Mini. Alongside the mouth watering footage, informed commentary brimming with detailed technical information ensures Great British Cars is an authoritative examination of Motoring in the Golden Age.

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Released to coincide with the start of the new season, Formula 1: All the Races chronicles the character and essence of every Formula 1 race since the beginning of the sport in 1950. At the core of the book are author Roger Smith’s unique ‘race pods’. These inventively fuse text with information to depict in remarkable depth each and every one of the 858 races since the inception of the Formula 1 world championship. “’Race pods’”, Smith asserts,

“concisely describe all the significant incidents within individual races coupled with their essential statistics. Combining these elements captures the dynamics of each event in microcosm from qualifying through to the chequered flag.”

“Formula 1: All the Races is the third Roger Smith book Haynes has published”, says Mark Hughes, Editorial Director. “He seems to have the happy knack of identifying a gap in the market as in my experience Formula 1: All the Races is a ground breaking concept. Missing until now has been a compact yet comprehensive single volume which successfully unites words, information and images to tell the Formula 1 story race-by-race.” Presented in a year-by-year format, Smith again uses his analytical skills and business background to produce a brilliant one-page summation of each championship battle. Headed ‘The Tale of the Title’, he uses bullet points and graphs to encapsulate exactly how 32 world champions won their crowns over the 62 seasons ending 2011. The author also selects his ‘Top 100 Races’, those especially memorable contests that form part of Formula 1 legend. These races are very much a personal choice and are bound to spark debate among Formula 1 enthusiasts. But whether you agree with his selection or not, fans from every generation will be able to reflect upon the races that have made their way into F1 folklore, or rediscover long forgotten past glories. Smith’s primary information source for his meticulous race-by-race research was his personal collection of Autosport magazine dating back to the 1950s. The detail and scope of the book meant that it took nearly three years to complete, comprehensive championship tables and extensive season reviews also forming part of this 300,000-word epic. Alongside colour photographs of significant moments and happenings, the book’s 600 pages are further enhanced by Alain Baudouin’s artwork of 192 winning cars. These full colour drawings superbly illustrate the evolution of the Formula 1 car from the Alfa Romeo 158 to the Red Bull RB8.

Having this book in your pocket is just like having a real marque expert by your side. Benefit from the author’s years of Jaguar Mark 1 & 2 ownership, learn how to spot a bad car quickly and how to assess a promising one like a professional. Get the right car at the right price! For anyone with an interest in, or who is thinking of buying, one of the classic Jaguar compact saloons from the 1950s and 1960s, this Essential Buyer’s Guide is a vital requirement. All the models are covered, from the early 2.4- and 3.4-litre saloons from the late 1950s, through to the very last 240 models, AND, just as importantly, the Daimler derivatives with the V8 engines. The models are looked at in detail, and analysed for their strengths and weaknesses, to provide the best possible advice on what to look for and how to buy the best you can afford. A handy pocket-sized guide that will always be at your side for constant reference.

BookshelfFormula 1: All the Races - The World Championship Story Race-by-Race: 1950-2011 Author: Roger SmithPrice: £30.00 Format: Hardback. ISBN: 978 0 85733 058 1Available From: www.haynes.co.uk

Jaguar Mark 1 & 2 (1955 to 1969) – The Essential Buyer’s GuideAuthor: Nigel Thorley Price: £9.99 Format: Paperback. ISBN: 978-1-845843-60-1Available From: www.veloce.co.uk

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Tiff Gear - The autobiography of Tiff NeedellForeword by Jeremy Clarkson RRP: £9.99 Format: Paperback. ISBN: 978 0 85733 140 3Available From: www.haynes.co.uk

Now available in paperback, Tiff Needell tells his engaging story of Grand Prix driving, racing at Le Mans and TV stardom in Tiff Gear: The autobiography of Tiff Needell. Published by Haynes, Tiff’s unique story takes you across six decades of motorsport history, from a wide-eyed little boy clinging to the fence of Goodwood dreaming of being a racing driver to becoming a well-known television presenter on both Top Gear and Fifth Gear. The foreword by former colleague, Jeremy Clarkson introduces the reader to Tiff as ‘someone we should all try to be like’ but not before dishing the dirt on the driver-presenter’s real-life misdemeanours behind the cameras and off the track. Needell tells his story with pace, style and characteristic self-deprecation. This was a racing fan who had to take on a full-time job as a civil engineer while preparing his own racing car in a little lock-up garage. Just nine years after winning a Formula Ford car in a competition in Autosport magazine, Tiff reached the heights of Formula 1 at the 1980 Belgian and Monaco Grand Prix. Le Mans then became his speciality, and his best result in 14 starts was third place in 1990. The book also chronicles Tiff’s narrow escape during his second Le Mans when, remarkably, he walked away unscathed from a 200mph crash. Tiff’s TV career started as a sideline but, with ratings soaring, Top Gear’s original tame racing driver soon found his fame spreading fast. When Top Gear was taken off the air he helped create Fifth Gear and now has over 20 years of television experience, including fill-ins for the Stig, to add to his 40-plus seasons of racing. Tiff Gear tells a story like no other. Few have raced and driven in such a variety of cars - almost 100 in a career spanning 40 years. He has also competed in a boat, driven a dragster and hung onto the back of a world champion’s sidecar in a lifetime of experiences unrivalled by anyone - and that’s before you add more than 20 years in television.

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Over the past 50 years the kit-car scene has evolved from one full of ‘funny little plastic cars’ to today’s position where it embraces credible businesses making superb cars, such as Caterham, Westfield and Ultima. This comprehensive, authoritative and often humorous look at the UK’s kit-car scene documents over 1,500 different vehicles, including the successes and the failures, the perennial survivors and the short-lived, the good, the bad and the ugly. This is a great book and it really shows how the kit car industry has grown up over the last couple of decades. It is well written and beautifully illustrated throughout, and will make an ideal gift for any kit car enthusiast.

A-Z of Kit CarsAuthor: Steve HoleRRP: £30.00 Format: Hardback. ISBN: 9781844256778Available From: www.haynes.co.uk

Motor Racing – The Pursuit of Victory 1930-1962Author: Anthony Carter RRP: £30.00 Format: Hardback. ISBN: 978-1-845842-79-6Available From: www.veloce.co.uk

This book is a virtual time machine to the past. It presents stunning – previously unpublished – photographs from motor racing history, and examines the many facets of Grand Prix racing before the dominance of television and commercial advertising. Here are stories of derring-do and racing that constantly pushed the boundaries of technology. The story begins in the 1930s when the German Auto-Unions and Mercedes were heavily subsidised by the Nazi regime to strengthen their engineering might. This produced the most powerful racing cars ever (at least until the turbocharged cars of the 1980s), and which was followed by the postwar era that saw the BRM V16 bringing prestige to Great Britain. Altogether a nostalgic look at a fascinating time in motor racing’s development.

1973 MIDGET 1275cc, tax / MoT May 2012, tax exempt, restored 1990s, garaged, SS exhaust, some spares and accessories, condition 3. £2200ono Tel: 02380 813654 (Southampton)

Lotus Exige S1, 2000. 27,000 miles with a full service history. Lotus Racing Green metallic. Black leather seats and Alcantara trim. Carbon airbox. Fitted with 190 bhp Lotus upgrade. Janspeed full sports exhaust system. Fitted with a TRACKER security device. Comes with a Engineer Drive Evaluation certificate from the Lotus Sports Open Day in March, 2009. Comes with EEC Certificate of Conformity (COC). Comes with 8 MOT certificates to confirm the modest mileage. Yokohama A048 tyres. Recent rear wheel bearings. Sony CD Radio. Comes with original Sales Invoice in with the extensive history file. Full MOT and service. £21,995. Telephone: +44 (0)1227 728190

TVR Chimaera 4.0 Litre, 1999 V reg, Navy Blue, Tan Interior, Power Steering, CD player, Alloys, Full Service History, 67,666 miles. As featured in Classic, Performance & Retro magazine October 2011. £10,995. Contact Mark on 01354 638678

MG Midget 1500cc Unleaded Engine Full/Half Tonneau Cover, Rollover Bar. MOT December 2010, Tax April 2011. Good Condition Some Service History. 64000 Miles, Tahiti Blue £2,650.00 ono (Somerset)Tel 01458445806 Or email: peter.b10@tiscali.co.uk

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The Online Marketplace for Classic, Performance & Retro cars!Smallads

Be Wise When You Advertise!When you advertise always take steps to guard against identity fraud. Do not place personal details in your adverts.If you are selling a car, remember that there are a lot of unscrupulous people out there who will use every trick in the book to part you from your car or your money. Take sensible precautions. If you are buying a car; make sure you check it thoroughly. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is! Never meet a vendor on the street or at service stations. Research the type of car you are buying so you know what to look for. If you are unsure, take an expert along with you.

1956 MGA ROADSTER, Red, complete nut and bolt restoration with all invoices, MGB 1800cc engine, 5 speed box, 1,100 miles, excellent condition. Genuine reason for sale, £21,950, 07595 037932 (Hampshire)

WILLIAMS CLIO 3. Genuine 13,194mls! Have owned 15+ years One previous owner. All history and documentation. Never had any paintwork,original tyres, NO RUST, Near concours condition. Private plate negotiable. 07518023961.

Tornado TS40, SVA January 2003, Mileage 25,000, MOT valid till 2013, Blue with Orange stripe by permission from Gulf Oil302ci Ford V8 developing 315 bhp and 314 ft/lbs at 5500 rpm, Holley Carbs, Renault Uni gearbox, 0-60 5.5 secs, 145 mph top speed, Rose jointed front suspension Developed by Frank Catt and Southern GT Xenon Headlights, Chromium plate rear suspension, Adjustable anti- roll bars front and rear, Adjustable shock absorbers. Image BRM wheels Front: 215/45ZR17 Yokohama Tyres - Rear: 245/40ZR17 Yokohama Tyres. Fast road use brake pads. Aluminium Radiator, Remotely operated fire extinguisher and Electric cut out, Central door locking, Air conditioning, Interior light, Glass rear windscreen, Built by Desmond Finnan, ex-chairman of GT40 Enthusiasts Club in 4Years, with the help and encouragement of The GT40 Enthusiasts Club membersMaintained by Frank Catt and Spirit Automotive and is immediately suitable for road and track use. The car has been featured in Complete Kit Car twice and Total Kit Car on their front cover. It has featured in Aviva Pensioner’s Magazine, The Horsleys, and Sorted Magazine. It featured in Chris Barrie’s Massive Speed TV series, and The Porsche owners Club magazine. Photographs of the car have been used in the Grandstand Motorsports brochure and in adverts for Wheelsports track days. More information from Desmond Finnan on 01483 285455.

106 www.cprmag.com

Porsche GT3 2009 Cup S Ex Mulhner Motorsport Used by Mulhner in Europe in 2009 then used in the 2009/2010 Cytec UAE GT Championship for the last 5 rounds run by Mulhner motorsport in Dubai. The final round was cancelled. 2 wins were acheived from the other 4 rounds, one with Rene Rast the other with Andrew Donaldson. Engine has circa 32-35 hrs max TBCGearbox has 12-15 hrs max TBC The car is fitted with adjustable ABS and downshift blipper. This is a factory built 997 CUP S. Spares include:3 sets of wheelsFront bumperRadiatorsBrake padsWheel socket . Call +44 (0)1256 760256 for more info.

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1963 Morris Minor convertible. Delightful little convertible Minor. Finished in deep black (recently re-sprayed) with brand new interior including seats recovered, new door and quarter trims recovered over new hard board. Nice red carpets and red hood really make this car stand out. 1098cc engine starts on the button and pulls very well. Full MOT and service when sold. £5,995. 01733 270227 (Cambs)

1986 Mini Cooper recreation. Stunning car finished in grey with white roof. Full rebuild with a rust free shell, and is fitted with many period MK1 parts including MK1 boot lid, rear lights, cooper front grill, full wood dash and cooper alloys and wheel arch spats. 1275 GTA engine fitted - runs perfect. All in all this mini is as close to perfect as they come. £5,995. 01733 270227 (Cambs)

Morris Minor Traveller (1967)Almond green. Fairly good condition, good runner, well-maintained + garaged. Owned since 1997. MOT’d until Oct ‘12. Tax exempt. Respray, reconditioned engine, radiator + exhaust in 2006, gearbox (‘07), converted to unleaded, seat belts + engine isolator switch, complete new wood (‘03) just been re-varnished. Buyer collects. £3,450. 07043 242550

1976 MGB GT V8 factory car, flame red with black leather interior. Dry use only. Professionally restored (1998). FSH. A superb example of this rare model. Condition 2. £5995. Tel: 01642 750877

MGB ROADSTER 1973 Flame red, superb condition, walnut dashboard, wire wheels, overdrive,, comprehensive restoration history, bm/ht certificate taxed long MoT last 10 years low dry mileage. Condition 2. £7,500ono Tel: 01702 588089 (Essex)TR4 1964 Full body off

restored rally style TR4. 89mm Omega pistons, with fast road cam running on Webbers with very quick engine (reputed 180bhp!) Extensive engine upgrades. Rebuilt & uprated A-Type overdrive, Alloy Surrey top. Great fun to drive. Full photographic history file of the restoration. £27,500. Call Gary on 01487 842168 (T)

1980 MGB GT Yellow, 110,965 miles, SORN / garaged, since 2000, taxed 6 months, year MoT. Lady owner since 1986, one pervious owner. £2750ono. Ideal Christmas present?! Condition 3. Tel: 02392 732837 jwi lsonmather@yahoo.co.uk (Portsmouth)

1963 Ford Classic Consul, MOT, new paintwork, brand new tyres including the spare, drives like a dream - no knocking or screeching, tax exempt, cheap on classic car insurance. £3,250, 01302 560096

MG TF 160vvc, 2003, 70,700 miles. Service history includes: MG new design cylinder head, new clutch and cambelt, waxoyled. MoT 22/07/12 tax 31/01/12 medical condition forces sale. Condition 3. £1995ono. Tel: 01736 366606 (Cornwall)

1962 MG MIDGET midnight blue, 3 owners from new, 64k, Original delivery paperwork etc. Rebuilt 96, MOT July. Always garaged/used in dry. Condition 2/3. £5000 Tel: 01580 830237

1974 Triumph Stag £6,995 This manual, overdrive car still retains its original factory hard top and has a good soft top. On the road the car performs very well with a super strong, responsive engine and a smooth, quiet gearbox. 01944 758000

MG MIDGET, WHITE, RUBBER BUMPER, 1979, 1500cc, 16,771 miles, luggage rack and radio, 12 months MOT and 6 months Tax. Very good condition. £2,500. Tel: 07947 551006 W.Sussex

TVR Griffith 5.0 litre, 1996, Yellow, Black Leather Interior, Walnut Dash, Power Steering, Full Service History, 35,079 miles. £19,995. Call Mark on 01354 638678

December 2010 109

MGB ROADSTER 1965, with overdrive, Red, Seebring bodykit, flared arches, Wolfrace wheels, wide tyres. Solid car. T&T. 5-bearing crank. Runs well, stiff suspension. Does need TLC. £3250 ono. 07817 850022 Day. 01895 236747 Eve

April 2012 107

The Online Marketplace for Classic, Performance & Retro cars!

1961 Austin Healey 3000 MKII Works Replica RHD.Colorado red, old English white works hard-top. Road/race/rally, full FIA papers past and present available. A fortune has been spent with leading race Healey specialists. Massive spec. Very fast. Please contact Martin Daly for full and detailed mechanical spec. Stunning machine. £48,950. 01663 733209

MGB ROADSTER 1977, Flamenco red. Lady owner last 29 years, all history, not used last 6 years. Mechanically excellent but work needed for MOT. Ideal restoration project, £1,750. Nottingham 0115 9261175.

MGF, 1.8 VVC 2003. Silver, black leather, air-con. Alloys, CD player, central-locking/alarm, 84K, serviced regularly (condition 3), removable boot luggage rack/weather-proof suitcase. MOT Aug11, Tax Feb11. 01844 351211 £1,950 ono

MG ZA, 1956, RED lots of time and money spent restoring but now unable to finish. Engine running, interior needs refurbish. Modified gearbox, front disc brakes. Offers considered. Tel: 01638 660665 Newmarket

This superb example had a full engine rebuild to 250BHP by leading engineer Simon Armstrong of Ultimate Performance Ltd (a full page write-up can be seen in the Club-Lotus Magazine). Finished in Brooklands green with magnolia leather trim, alloys, sunroof, aircond, uprated brakes, suspension, stainless sports-exhaust. Presented in near Concours condition after a recent, full, re-commission. A very special Esprit. £18,950. 01663 733209

MGC ROADSTER with triple carb Downton Conversion. 1968 Old English White with Red leather interior, Red hood, boot rack. Good runner £14,995 contact Keith 07889 805432 keith@classicmobilia.co.uk

Ferrari 2004 Ferrari Enzo - £875,000. Beautifully presented example of this amazing car that was a classic from inception. Finished in red with bespoke black alcantara with red quilted stitching. Contact Joe Macari Tel: +44(0)20 8870 9007 Email: sales@joemacari.com Joe Macari

MIDGET 1973 RWA, 1275 engine, gearbox overhauled, complete clutch assembly, everything works! Professionaly maintained, garaged, tripod headlamps, bumper included, duck hood, leather seats, Taxed Oct11, MOT Oct11. 07930 521335. £4750 ovno. Lancs. Condition 2

MGF 1.8i, THAITIT BLUE, 2000 W plate 62k. Leather upholstery. New hood, cylinder head/timing belt. FSH. Garaged/covered. MOT and Tax until April 2011. VGC, great fun. £2300. Telephone 07768 323558 (Hampshire)

1967 mustang, 289 V-8 with Flowmaster headers and C-4 automatic transmission giving power to the ground. Beautiful red exterior with handsome black vinyl top and red interior. Its stunning appearance is enhanced by 2008 16 inch GT wheels with optional spinners. Options include: power steering, power brakes, windshield washers, remote control exterior door mirror, console, vinyl top, self-retracting seat belt package, with new radiator, new bumpers, and has a Panasonic CD player, Vin # 7F01C214697. 43500 miles on odometer (unconfirmed). This is a clean Texas car. 001 336-765-8312 (USA)

1971 RACING GREEN MIDGET for restoration. Off road for 12 years following MOT failure on body work. £500.00 Tel: 01590 644616, Hampshire.

Jaguar 3.8 S Type. 1966. Manual, with Overdrive. Gun Metal Grey with Red interior. This is a top example of this famous Marque. This Jaguar 3.8 S Type comes with the original Service History from the 60’s and 70’s, also the wall maintenance sheet, and the original Log Book. Thick files of very detailed Service History from later periods.This Jaguar totally lives up to its pedigree. Sleek, fast, stunningly beautiful. Very special top condition. £16,900. 0114 231 5000

ZT-T 260SE 4.6LTR V8 mustang, 2004/54, facelift, one of 70. 5 speed manual, FMGSH, MOT, Tax, traction, ABS, climate control, sunroof, GPS/TV, half leather, 47,400 miles, brilliant. £10870 ono. 01296 770450 Bucks

Mini Red Hot (1988) in Flame Red (Manual) with Grey interior trim. This car has just undergone a full mechanical overhaul including new subframe and components. It’s a very tidy, presentable example and an ideal starter car for a young person. £4,995. 01325 311232

108 www.cprmag.com

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MGB ROADSTER 1967, Midnight Blue, wire wheels. Rust free. Reconditioned engine, 4 syncromesh overdrive gearbox, black carpet, new dashboard, black leather seats, moto-lita steering wheel, new hood. £9,500. T: 07802 255555 London. Cond 2

TRIUMPH VITESSE MKII 2LTR CONVERTIBLE. OVERDRIVE. FULL BODY OFF RESTORATION WITH DETAILED PHOTOGRAPHIC RECORD. EXTENSIVE HISTORY, REBUILT ENGINE LOTS OF BILLS AND OLD MOT’S ETC. RUNS AND DRIVES REALLY WELL, STAINLESS EXHAUST. HAS THE ODD PAINT BLEMISH WHICH YOU WILL FORGIVE ONCE YOU HAVE SEEN THE UNDERSIDE! LAST OWNER FOR 6 YEARS, WILL COME WITH 12 MONTHS MOT. £6,495. Telephone: 01487 842168

Austin Healey 100/6 BN4 1957 early longbridge car. Ex north america LHD. Structurally superb. Very original black car fitted with front disc brakes and louvered bonnet, running and driving. Easy project. 01723 361227

1986 Porsche 928S, 4.7 litre V8 engine and automatic gearbox. Finished in Guards Red with half leather red seats and grey carpets. Lovely looking 928 with the wedge front and early style rear lights. Body is in great condition and shines beautifully. Good history file with this car, Full MOT when sold. £5,995. 01733 270227 / 07841 718715 (T)

1977 Triumph Spitfire 1500, This is a good solid little 1500cc Spitfire. Finished in green with light beige seats. Drives and runs very well, also fitted with a roll bar. New MOT and service when sold. £2495.00. 01733 270227 / 07841 718715 (T)

Sebring SX, 2008 registration, 3.9 Rover V8 with fast road cams, Gas flowed cylinder heads, Holly 360 carbs,offenhauser manifold, 5 speed gearbox. Electronic ignition, uprated oil pump, Oil cooler and remote filter system. Roll bar, 3 point seat belt harness, 16” Image alloy wheels, fast road model. As featured in Classic, Performance & Retro June 2011. Reduced to sell at £25,000. Call Mark on 01354 638678.

1970 Triumph TR6, good solid car, this is the 150bhp model with the 2.5L injection engine. Finished in red with black interior. Original TR6 wheels. MOT’d till May 2011 & tax excempt so ready to go!!! Good history file. Good early 6 at the right money! £7,995. 01733 270227 (Cambs)

MGB V8 3.5EFI ROADSTER Vitesse 3.5 big valve engine + R/Rover EFI. Very fast! New 15” polished wheels. Yokohamas. MGC axle. Professional respray 2010. New leather. Full MOT. A/value £14K, accept £12,500. 01332 833889 gray.geoff@virgin.net

TR5 FULL RESTORATION TO EXCEPTIONAL STANDARD. PROFESSIONAL DETAILED BODY OFF CHASSIS BUILD TO CONCOURS STANDARD AND VIRTUALLY NO MILES SINCE. CHROME WIRE WHEELS FULL LEATHER AND WALNUT INTERIOR. THIS CAR IS AS BEAUTIFUL ON THE UNDERSIDE AS IT IS THE TOP! VIRTUALLY READY TO SHOW OR ENJOY. Telephone: 01487 842168

MG TF VVC 160 SPRINT SPECIAL EDITION (52). Chrome pack, luggage rack. Gunsmoke, b/part/leather seats, e/mirrors, PAS, 16” Alloy, brand new hood, grey tonneau cover, 28k miles. £4995. 07766 167521

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TRIUMPH TR4 - 2.5 1963 Signal Red fitted CP TR6 stage 2 engine, on triple SU’s. TR5 performance, superb drive. Body-off chassis/suspension/engine upgrades by TR specialist. Strong and reliable £15,950 ono. For spec & photos call Mike 07979 531877 or e-mail mike@chadinman.com

April 2012 109

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