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Classic Cars magazine October 2024 issue

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Epic Restoration of the Year in association with Machine Mart

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1969 Sunbeam Rapier £11,950

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1988 Subaru XT £12,995

1987 Lotus Turbo Esprit HC £59,995

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SS100: a litmus test in a tricky market?

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Have your say on the DVLA

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No reserve of bravery in Monaco…

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Chasing Cars: Russ Smith’s market analysis

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Condition trumps service history

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A vibrant legacy

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Generation Godzilla

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Life story of a Reliant Scimitar GTE

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Winging it – will this Countach come ‘home’ to the UK?

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‘Keeping it spinning is the secret’ – reader drives a Saab Turbo

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ULEZ and classic cars

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Ethanol blended petrol and classic cars

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Festive Offer: 6 issues for £19.99

**Vote for the greatest Epic Restoration of 2024/25 to be in with the chance of winning fabulous prizes of tools and workshop equipment from our partner Machine Mart**.

Each month _Classic Cars_ magazine brings you epic stories of neglected, bodged and abused classics transformed into visions of perfection by talented craftsmen. Starting with the June 2024 issue, we’ll feature highlights from each of the 12 Epic Restoration features here as they appear over the coming year, underlining the extraordinary challenges the specialists faced and the clever solutions they deployed to overcome them.

From the May 2025 issue you will be able to vote for the best story, and be in with a chance to win quality tools and equipment to make working on your classic easier and more pleasurable, because quality kit is a joy to use.

# **EPIC RESTORATION 1** - **1977 Alfa Romeo Alfasud Giardinetta**. {#h-epic-restoration-1-1977-alfa-romeo-alfasud-giardinetta}

## **Will this rare Alfa survivor get your Epic Restoration of the Year vote?** {#h-will-this-rare-alfa-survivor-get-your-epic-restoration-of-the-year-vote}

In the June 2024 issue, we revealed the extraordinary challenges the talented craftsmen at HC Classics faced and the great lengths they went to so the hidden horrors of this rare survivor could be overcome, returning it to stunning as-new condition.

**Here’s what Richard Carp and the HC Classics team faced**

• Horrific rust that only became obvious as the car was stripped

• Irreplaceable interior parts destroyed by decades of South African sunlight

• Damaged or missing components that defied rescuing by conventional techniques

• No infrastructure of classic parts remanufacture or stock

• A restoration team split between the UK and Poland

‘It was a dingy car in appalling condition. It was just about drivable, but everything had suffered corrosion’ – Richard Carp, HC Classics

The June issue Epic Restoration feature reveals how Richard and his team turned up the resourcefulness dial, blending traditional skills like metal fabrication with modern technology such as CAD software and laser printing. Their determined approach ranged from parts sourcing as far afield as Japan and Argentina to hand-shaping new seat foam to recreate the original profiles.

## **NEXT MONTH:** 1962 Maserati 3500GTi {#h-next-month-1962-maserati-3500gti}

## **WIN PREMIUM TOOLS AND WORKSHOP EQUIPMENT** {#h-win-premium-tools-and-workshop-equipment}

Each month we feature a new Epic Restoration story in association with Machine Mart. Vote for the best in our end-of-year competition for a  chance to win our First place prize bundle or our 2nd or 3rd place prize of premium workshop tools and equipment from specialist supplier Machine Mart, like this slick Clarke CTJ1800AB 1.8 tonne aluminium racing jack. \*T&C's will Apply\*

Its versatile design combines a shallow saddle – designed to slip beneath low sporting cars – with high lift to give a comfortable working height once secured on axle stands. A wide rubber contact pad makes lifting safer and avoids damage to the car underside, and its smooth, progressive twist handle allows precise control of locking and releasing the hydraulic piston. Aluminium construction keeps weight down, despite a large 640mm x 300mm footprint for stability.

For more details and a video, visit :a[https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/clarke-ctj1800ab-18-tonne-aluminium-racing-tro/]{href='https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/clarke-ctj1800ab-18-tonne-aluminium-racing-tro/' }

# **EPIC RESTORATION 2** - **1962 Maserati 3500GTI**

## **Will this precious Maserati get your Epic Restoration of the Year vote?**

In the July 2024 issue, we let the talented craftspeople at Project Heaven explain the horrific bodgery they discovered in this previous Maserati 3500GTI and how it tested both their skills and patience as they battled to right all the wrongs. While overcoming decades of wear, degradation, damage , neglect and what you'd politely call inexpert workmanship are part of most restorations; this one took that challenge to the extreme, then cranked it up a level with incorrect major parts and the complexities of making the sixties fuel injection system work properly -they barely did when new.

**Here's what Peter Bulbick and the Project Heaven team faced**

'We had to paint the car twice. There was a problem with chemical reaction which meant we had to strip it back to bare metal and star all over again' - Will Tomkins, Project Heaven

The July issue Epic Restoration feature reveals how Peter and his team balanced a desire to reinstate so much originality lost through previous crude repairs and restoration work with an ingenious approach to hiding modern innovation to ensure the 3500GTI would be easier to run and better to drive than it was back in the Sixties.

## **WIN PREMIUM TOOLS AND WORKSHOP EQUIPMENT**

Each month we feature a new Epic Restoration story in association with Machine Mart. Vote for the best in our end-of-year competition for a chance to win a fabulous prize bundle of premium workshop tools and equipment from specialist supplier Machine Mart, like this slick Clarke CP185 Sander Polisher.

Thanks to its six-stage adjustable speed and comfortable D-handle, it can be used with the 180mm synthetic lambswool bonnet and backing pad supplied for polishing and compounding tired paintwork like professional. For more serious bodywork jobs, backing pad’s loop and Velcro mounting allows the polishing bonnet to be easily changed for a range of abrasive pads also available from Machine Mart. This well-thought-out tool includes a spindle locking button to make pad changes easier, and a power lock-on feature to spare you from finger fatigue.

For more details and a video, visit :a[https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/clarke-cp185-sander-polisher/]{href='https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/clarke-cp185-sander-polisher/' }

# **Epic Restoration 3 - 1968 Alfa Romeo GTA 1300 Junior Corsa**

## **Will this rare Alfa race car get your Epic Restoration of the Year vote?**

In the August 2024 issue, experts across several different specialist restoration companies in Australia reveal how they took on a hard-driven and properly crashed former race car bought sight-unseen and in bits, 9000 miles away in America.

• Parts of the car damaged by saltwater corrosion during shipping

• Rare parts unique to the valuable GTA models missing

• Tracking down the car’s long-lost original engine

• Crash-bent front structure with out-of-alignment repairs

• Delicate aluminium body panels demanding hand-made replacements

‘I was going to have to unpick the entire front end and split the car in two to re-set the alignment’ – Tim Doyle

The August issue Epic Restoration feature presented some tough choices for owner Colin Wilson-Brown and the specialist teams he chose for the mission. Build in a host of developments to make it competitive in modern historic racing or take it back to exactly how it competed in 1968? Persevere in sourcing rare and precious genuine GTA Corsa parts or make do with substitutes? Enjoy racing the car again and risk wrecking it, or succumb to gentler use to preserve its history? As if the challenges of restoring any five-decades-old classic wasn’t enough.

Each month we feature a new Epic Restoration story in association with Machine Mart. Vote for the best in our end-of-year competition for a chance to win a fabulous prize bundle of premium workshop tools and equipment from specialist supplier Machine Mart, like this tough Clarke workbench.

With a useful working space of 1.2m x 0.6m and a 38mm-thick composite worktop, this steel-structure bench is ideal for tackling everything from delicate carburettor rebuilds to hefty cylinder head work. Underneath, there’s a lockable cupboard to stop the family walking off with your favourite tools and five storage drawers on roller-bearing runners to supplement the storage shelf.

For more details visit :a[https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/cwb1205p-5-drawer-workbench/]{href='https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/cwb1205p-5-drawer-workbench/' }

# **Epic Restoration 4 — 1936 Fiat Balilla 508S**

## **Will this rare Fiat get your Epic Restoration of the Year vote?**

In the September 2024 issue, we hear from Paul de Turris how he and his team of craftsmen at Italian car specialist DTR took on the resurrection of this heavily crashed old competition warhorse. Their two-year quest would call on all their skills and experience as they began painstakingly unpicking decades of accident and mechanical damage along with a collection of variously skilled repairs and modifications to make the car right again.

The rarity of the 508S and the fact that it had managed to retain its original 108CS engine made the project both more interesting and challenging. With spare parts being almost non-existent, almost everything needed hand to be handmade, from chassis and body sections to the steering wheel.

• Heavy impact damage from a hillclimbing crash

• Rarity of the 508S model making everything more difficult

• A lifetime of modifications made it harder to decide what was original

• Yet more historic damage uncovered during the rebuild

• Incorrect carburettor and other key parts

‘My son ran off the track and hit the tyre wall almost front on’ – Craig Jones, car owner and co-racer

The July issue Epic Restoration feature reveals how specialist Paul de Turris and his team sought a delicate balance between restoring the Fiat’s original features while maintaining motor sport-led changes to keep it competitive.

**NEXT MONTH** 1987 Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500

Each month we feature a new Epic Restoration story in association with Machine Mart. Vote for the best in our end-of-year competition for a chance to win a fabulous prize bundle of premium workshop tools and equipment from specialist supplier Machine Mart, like this well-stocked Clarke Pro 396 tool cabinet.

With a pull handle and swivelling castor wheels it’s easy to move around your garage or workshop and its seven drawers keep more than 200 tools neatly laid out in moulded inserts so you can easily find that spanner, hammer or pair of pliers when you need it.

• 68-piece 1/4in-drive chrome-vanadium socket set with ratchet handle

• 31-piece 3/8in-in drive chrome-vanadium socket set with ratchet handle

• 24-piece 1/2in-in drive chrome-vanadium metric socket set with ratchet handle

• 14-piece metric wrench set in 6-19mm sizes

• 4-piece metric wrench set in 21, 22, 24, 27mm sizes

• 4-piece Phillips and 4-piece flat screwdriver set

Tis the season to :a[**subscribe to _Classic Cars_**]{href='https://www.greatmagazines.co.uk/classic-cars-magazine?utm_source=classiccarsmagazine.co.uk&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=christmas_all&amp;utm_content=clc_special_offer_bws' }! For a limited time only, you can treat the classics enthusiast in your life (or yourself!) to :a[**6 issues for just £19.99**]{href='https://www.greatmagazines.co.uk/classic-cars-magazine?utm_source=classiccarsmagazine.co.uk&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=christmas_all&amp;utm_content=clc_special_offer_bws' } including FREE UK delivery.

In every issue you will find **inspiring stories of restorations** giving you the opportunity to **learn from professional craftspeople and their expertise**.

**Get your plans in motion with previews of upcoming events** with a first-look at what cars will be attending.

Plus whether you’re looking to add to your collection or trying to find the right car to start off your classics hobby, you can **find buying advice from TV presenter Quentin Willson** to help you make the right decision.

You'll also receive the monthly Market Watch email from the editor, bonus content you won't find in the magazine AND rewards, discounts and prizes. So what’re you waiting for? **It's the perfect gift for under £20**. :a[**Shop now!**]{href='https://www.greatmagazines.co.uk/classic-cars-magazine?utm_source=classiccarsmagazine.co.uk&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=christmas_all&amp;utm_content=clc_special_offer_bws' }

Inside the October issue we pick 12 cosseting buys offering luxury whatever your budget, we drive the Jaguar XK120 raced by Duncan Hamilton before he became a Le Mans winner and still with a high-octane theme, tell the epic story of a race-wrecked 1967 Ford Mustang brought back form the dead.

We chart the life story of the unique MG Midget Jubilee from being given away in a competition only to be entombed in an office, right through to its rarefied life now. This month’s List feature puts a reader in his dream Subaru Impreza Turbo, we ask if the C6 deserves status as the last of the classic big Citroëns and we show you how to steer around the pitfalls of buying a Jensen Interceptor.

All that, plus our ever-entertaining columnists Quentin Willson and Alex Riley, market news and event highlights, the monthly highs and lows of our own classics, four cars for sale tested and more, make your latest issue unmissable.

**The October 2024 issue of** _**Classic Cars**_ **is out now at all good newsagents, or why not :a[subscribe]{href='https://www.greatmagazines.co.uk/classic-cars-magazine?utm_source=classiccarsmagazine.co.uk&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=bau_classiccars&amp;utm_content=promo_new_issue_bws' }?**

In the November issue, a panel of six top classic-car market experts reveal the **30 hottest buys of 2025**. From the everyman appeal of the Subaru Impreza to the rarified world of Aston Martin, these are the cars that are either on the up, beating the market, or curiously undervalued and due to leap upwards in 2025. We also discover what our market gurus would do with £500, and £50,000, with one caveat – they can’t spend it on a car…

We also drive the Earls Court Motor Show **Maserati Ghibli SS** that marked the end of an era for the Italian manufacturer, tell the incredible story of a preservation-restoration on an uncanny time-capsule **Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth**, reveal the archive of the brothers who styled the Fifties on both sides of the Atlantic, **give a 24-year-old a culture shock by letting him loose in an MG BGT**, tell the life story of a much-travelled **Morgan Plus 8**, and show you **how to buy a Peugeot 405**…

All that, plus our columnists Quentin Willson and Alex Riley, market news and event highlights, the monthly highs and lows of our own classics, four cars for sale tested and more, make the November issue unmissable.

**The November 2024 issue of _Classic Cars_ is out now at all good newsagents, or why not :a[try a Print+ Subscription]{href='https://www.greatmagazines.co.uk/classic-cars-magazine?utm_source=classiccarsmagazine.co.uk&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=bau_classiccars&amp;utm_content=promo_new_issue_bws' }?**

Since 1973. _Classic Cars_ has continued to innovate, with the freshest and most insightful stories about the great cars of the past, the people who created them, and the passionate individuals who keep them alive today. **Make sure you never miss an issue by taking out a subscription. Choose the best plan below to suit you**:

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#### Here’s a rare LHD British classic, and as Richard McCann finds, the French climate has been kind to this Sunbeam

Rust has taken most of Sunbeam’s stylish Rapier and Alpine fastbacks off the road, which makes this French import a lucky survivor. Take it to any UK show or road rally and you can be sure of a relaxing drive, and character in spades. Possibly a concours trophy too, given its condition. And being an ultra-rare, export-spec left-hander, it’s ideal for a European grand tour.

It is lovely to drive, starting immediately and running quietly. The Rapier moves up through the gears with good synchromesh and a light, progressive clutch, and overdrive engages without a jerk. There’s plenty of torque if you don’t fancy dropping a gear when accelerating, and it rides free of knocks and rattles. The efficient handbrake is operated by a lever between the driver’s seat and door, and the brakes – front discs, rear drums – stop the car without squealing or weaving. Steering is low-geared and light.

The service history file includes a €3279 (£2778) bill for bodywork restoration by a French specialist in 2020, and the gleaming Glade Green metallic coachwork reflects this, with straight panels, even gaps and only a small touched-in bonnet stonechip and tiny area of lacquer reaction. The extensive brightwork includes polished sills, rustfree bumpers and nicely preserved badging. The distinctive original hubcaps are present, set against Old English White rims, and five matching Uniroyal Rallye 380/175 R13 tyres. The car’s underside has been treated with Dinitrol anti-rust wax to sills, floorpans, inner chassis members, bumper hangers and wheelarches.

The tan vinyl seating and doorcards and matching carpets have all been replaced and are still in fine order, as is the headlining. There is no odour of dampness inside and a check of the footwells reveals no sign of water ingress. There’s a retro-style modern FM radio that suits the car, and the padded vinyl dash-top is free from damage. The seven instruments work fine apart from the tachometer – apparently permanently redlined at 6000rpm – and the clock. The lights (with foot dip button), heater and windscreen wipers all function as they should, and the car has front seat belts.

Want to read on? Subscribe to _Classic Cars_ today. :a[**Choose a Print+ Subscription**]{href='https://www.greatmagazines.co.uk/classic-cars-magazine?utm_source=classiccarsmagazine.co.uk&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=bau_classiccars&amp;utm_content=promo_subscribe_today_teaser_article' } and you'll get instant digital access and so much more. PLUS **FREE UK delivery**.

#### Fancy something technically fascinating and really, really rare? Alan Anderson has found the perfect car for you

Arare sight even when new, there are reportedly only four remaining Subaru XTs in the UK, and C570 CME must be the most original. As a Capri alternative – but with far more sophistication – it verges on cheap, especially when sixfigure sums have been offered for new, unregistered XTs, still sitting in an Isuzu dealership in Malta. Don’t let the lack of service history put you off too much – this one appears to be sound.

From the day it was personally imported, this XT became a daily driver, and has since amassed nearly 200,000 miles. Not that you’d know it from the way C570 CME drives. It performs faultlessly – although we didn’t have chance to fully check the all-wheel drive system (unsafe to use in anything other than loose-surface conditions), nor the height adjustment of the pneumatic rear suspension. Even though it’s fitted with an admittedly super-smooth automatic gearbox, the XT delivers a spirited drive and handles well. The tyres are a hotchpotch of ages so it would be wise to replace them, but at least they still have plenty of tread remaining.

The Subaru’s silver bodywork appears to have remained in a remarkably good state, considering Japanese vehicles don’t like the UK climate. This pampered XT seems to display no rust on the bodywork or underneath, with only very minor parking blemishes on the wings. The black bumpers are in fine shape, as are the powered headlamp pods. Judging by the panel fit and paint finish, which is uniform and not too shiny, it all appears original. The factory-fit alloy wheels are dull and slightly pitted, but not kerbed and they don’t appear to have been refurbished in the past.

Want to read on? Subscribe to _Classic Cars_ today. **:a[Choose a Print + Digital subscription]{href='https://www.greatmagazines.co.uk/classic-cars-magazine?utm_source=classiccarsmagazine.co.uk&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=bau_classiccars&amp;utm_content=promo_subscribe_today_teaser_article' }** and you'll get instant digital access and so much more.

#### This one-time Japanese import looks like a safe bet in the whacky world of Eighties supercars, says Sam Dawson

This HC sits in sweet spot so far as Lotus Esprits are concerned. Available for just one year – 1987 – it was the final iteration of the sharp-edged Giorgetto Giugiaro-authored shape. The early cars’ flaws had supposedly been ironed out, it has a galvanised chassis, and a high-compression, unleaded-friendly engine. Accelerating 0-60mph in 5.3 seconds and reaching 150mph is Ferrari Testarossa territory. But you can’t get one of those for £60k.

Determining the early history of this Esprit is tricky unless you speak Japanese. Originally supplied to Japan, it has a thorough-looking early history but it’s all in Japanese. It came to the UK in the late Nineties, with its odometer replaced in 1999 – possibly so it could now clock up miles rather than kilometers. It had then done 36,000 miles according to specialist Vincent Miller, who also overhauled its engine after buying it from a customer in 2001. It’s done 11,800 miles on its new odometer, backed up by continuous MoT certificates. The current total mileage is believed to be around 47,800.

The turn of the Millennium saw a lot of work. Benchsound rebuilt the engine in 2000 at a cost of £1568, whereafter Miller poured £4500 into it, his work accompanied by a photo casebook. But for the last 23 years, it’s had an uneventful life of sparing use and straightforward regular maintenance.

Bodily, it’s still in good, unrestored, lightly-used condition. Only some minor cracks in the paint on the rear bumper detract, plus there are some stonechips on the spoilers, and one hand-sized patch of microblistering in the paint on the trailing edge of the rear hatch. The chassis on these Esprits were hot-dip zinc galvanised and well-protected within the glassfibre bodyshell, so rust isn’t usually an issue and we couldn’t see any sign of corrosion underneath the car.

Inside the September issue we deliver a reality check on those tempting **Porsches** you find for £10k, or less – dreams on a budget or nightmares of hidden costs? And we tell the story of how Porsche went endurance rallying in the original **Cayenne** to prove its credibility.

We also drive one of the rare **Aston Martin DBS**s transformed into a convertible by coachbuilder **Paul Banham**, let talented craftsmen explain how they took a battle-weary and occasionally crashed **Fiat Balilla** competition car and gave it a fresh lease of life, and capture how a reader gets on when we put him behind the wheel of the **Citroën** he’s always wanted.

For another reader, building his ideal car was the best route to driving satisfaction, and the story of his next 42 years with it suggests he made the right choice. But as our **Lotus Elise** buying guide demonstrates, it’s a lot easier to spend your money on a top example of a car that’s ready to enjoy, if you go armed with our expert insights. Lotus not on your wishlist? Our updated quarterly **Price Guide** gives the latest numbers on more than 1400 classics to help you plot your next move. Good hunting!

All that, plus our ever-entertaining columnists **Quentin Willson** and **Alex Riley**, market news and event highlights, the monthly highs and lows of our own classics, four cars for sale tested and more, make your latest issue unmissable.

**The September 2024 issue of** _**Classic Cars**_ **is out now at all good newsagents, or why not :a[subscribe]{href='https://www.greatmagazines.co.uk/classic-cars-magazine?utm_source=classiccarsmagazine.co.uk&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=bau_classiccars&amp;utm_content=promo_new_issue_bws' }?**

**\[CHASING CARS\] Nigel Boothman’s market analysis**

Jaguar’s origin car has held firm through pre-war market turbulence, but how long can it weather the storm?

How will this ‘collector grade’ 1938 SS Jaguar 100 2.5-litre perform when offered by H&H on June 19? The SS100 has been a nailed-on classic forever – the combination of low-slung looks, un-Thirties performance (0-60mph in 10.5s for the 3.5-litre) and the embodiment of Jaguar’s origin story saw to that – but more interesting in recent years has been its relative stability in a sickly pre-war market.

Ten years back SS100s looked ready to join the immortals, with a couple of 3.5-litre cars selling in America for $850,000 (around £520,000 at the time), but the market settled around £325,000£350,000 for a 3.5-litre; maybe £75,000 less for the equivalent 2.5-litre. The smaller-engined cars are more numerous (198 vs 116 for the 3.5-litre) and appear far more often, with recent results confusing: £393,000 for a storied RAC rally winner at H&H in June ’23, £202,500 for another one with period rally history at Gooding &Co in London in September and a no-sale for a smart black one at Artcurial’s Retromobile sale in February, low estimate just €200,000.

With a startling 20,000 miles from new, low ownership, a great colour combination and a recent overhaul, this car should indeed nail its estimate of £230,000 - £270,000. If not, there may be trouble ahead.

The Department for Transport and the DVLA is seeking your input into policies affecting registration and identity of restored and rebuilt classic vehicles. The move comes after criticism of current DVLA processes and decisions by classic owners and restoration businesses.

There’s particular concern that the complexities of parts replacement and modifications during a rebuild aren’t judged appropriately when decisions are made about whether a car should retain its original registration number or be issued with a Q plate.

The survey also asks for input on how a classic or historic vehicle should be defined, whether they should have their own safety checks as distinct from an MoT test.

Two organisations representing the interests of the historic vehicle movement are advocating different approaches to the survey.

The Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs (FBHVC) is seeking to collate your inputs in order to present a coherent response to DVLA that represents the scale of the historic vehicle movement, while making the complexities of some questions easier to deal with: :a[**http://evidence.fbhvc.co.uk**]{href='http://evidence.fbhvc.co.uk/' target='_blank' rel='noreferrer noopener'}

The Historic and Classic Vehicle Alliance (HCVA) is calling for individuals to complete the survey directly: :a[**http://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/registering-historic-classic-rebuilt-vehicles-and-vehicles-converted-to-electric-call-for-evidence**]{href='http://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/registering-historic-classic-rebuilt-vehicles-and-vehicles-converted-to-electric-call-for-evidence' }

**The deadline for submissions is 4 July 2024**.

Inside the August issue we explore 1960s-70s GT motoring from extreme perspectives of the Ford Capri 1600GT and Ferrari 365GTB/4 ‘Daytona’, we road test a 1963 Le Mans AC Cobra with a colourful past, try out a rare Range Rover 570i by Overfinch and fulfill a reader’s request to drive a Maserati Biturbo. Will it cement his dream or cure him of it?

Would you buy a project Alfa Giulia, sight unseen, 9000 miles away and ship it home for restoration? What if it were an ex-Daytona GTA with race accident damage and missing parts? One man was brave enough, and willing for us to tell the story. It’s their stories that give cars meaning, like the team of three 1275GTs that gave the Mini its last shot at international rally glory. Together, they make a compelling feature.

All that, plus our ever-entertaining columnists Quentin Willson and Alex Riley, market news and event highlights, the monthly highs and lows of our own classics, four cars for sale tested and more, make the August issue unmissable.

**The August 2024 issue of** _**Classic Cars**_ **is out now at all good newsagents, or why not :a[subscribe]{href='https://www.greatmagazines.co.uk/classic-cars-magazine?utm_source=classiccarsmagazine.co.uk&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=bau_classiccars&amp;utm_content=promo_new_issue_bws' }?**

Inside the July issue we tackle the controversial subject of classic car modification. Can our six exemplars of different schools of upgrading, from backdated Porsche 911 to electric DeLorean, make the case? We asked designer Peter Stevens to chip in. Some cars need no modification, like the wild-winged Plymouth Superbird and devastatingly effective Audi RS2 and BMW M5 that we put to the test. But not all together.

Most modifiers would draw the line at using household materials to restore a once beautiful Maserati 3500GTI, but not the cowboys who did previous work on this example. The story of how somewhat more expert craftsmen righted all of those wrongs is a great read. As is the life story of a humble Skoda Rapid that took on the British Touring Car Championship and proved its doubters wrong.

All that, plus our ever-entertaining columnists Quentin Willson and Alex Riley, market news and event highlights, the monthly highs and lows of our own classics, a Mercedes CLS buying guide, four cars for sale tested and more, make the July issue unmissable.

**The July 2024 issue of** _**Classic Cars**_ **is out now at all good newsagents, or why not :a[subscribe]{href='https://www.greatmagazines.co.uk/classic-cars-magazine?utm_source=classiccarsmagazine.co.uk&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=bau_classiccars&amp;utm_content=promo_new_issue_bws' }?**

## Multi-million pound collection sold without safety net

### **CHASING CARS: Nigel Boothman’s market analysis**

##### Stunning as it was, the Cal’ Spider underperformed – in monetary terms at least

Artcurial offered the whole of its ‘W Collection’ sale in Monaco at no reserve on 9 May, ensuring that every car consigned by Swedish collector Staffan Wittmark found a buyer. The collection included only a few cars valued at less than £100k and several worth multiple millions, so would we see a string of under-priced bargains?

On the whole, no – but with a couple of damaging exceptions. A sequence of Porsche 911s opened proceedings, almost all within estimate or above, such as the 1989 Carrera Speedster estimated at £130,000-£170,000 that sold for £225,000, and the 1997 911/993S that doubled its estimate at £190,000.

A Mercedes 300SL Gullwing and its convertible sibling both beat their top estimates to sell for £1.63m and £1.33m respectively, before the first of the big-ticket Ferraris arrived: a two-cam 275GTB made a solidly mid-estimate £1.84m, before a 275GTS drew an on-target £1.38m.

Next up, though, a much-restored 1962 250GT SWB escaped at only £4.75m on an estimate of £7.3m-£10.3m, and to compound the injury, a 1958 250GT California Spider LWB estimated at £6m-£8.5m reached ‘only’ £4.45m. Recent results suggest they were cheap: Gooding achieved £7.5m in August 2023 for a lovely grey SWB and RM got £5.6m for a red one that May. The few LWB Cal’ Spiders sold in public recently have struggled to make headline figures; Artcurial recorded a no-sale at Rétromobile in February this year (est. £7.2m-£9.8m) and RM sold another for an undisclosed sum after failing to hit the £7.1m low estimate. The moral? Even the most collectible cars might be safer with a sensible reserve… if you aim to sell at much above £2m.

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