Classic and Collector Car News, Features and Interviews.
Our latest Auction Watch takes a look at some of the interesting cars coming up for sale at SWVA Auctions sale in Poole Dorset on the 21st April 2015. Out of all the lots currently consigned for the sale, we’ve chosen a cool 1952 Tatra T600 Tatraplan as the stand out car. In 1946 the Czech car maker Tatra, now nationalised and under the control of the Communist Government, launched the…
The Fiat 500 is one the all time great classics and one of Fiats most successful cars of all time. Launched in 1957, the Fiat 500 Nouva was the perfect small car for city dwellers. It was cheap to own and easy to maintain and like the VW Beetle, it introduced motoring freedom to the masses. Powered by a tiny two cylinder 479cc engine producing just 13BHP, the Fiat 500…
Based around the less successful and generally disliked 924, the Porsche 944 turned out to be a hit for the German outfit. Launched in 1982, it looked like a beefed up 924 but delivered so much more than its predecessor. Its front mounted 2.5ltr four cylinder engine was derived from the 928 V8 and initially produced 150BHP. Handling proved to be excellent and the 944s engine had lots of torque…
While there was no mention of an inquiry into petrol prices fluctuations at the pumps, yesterdays Budget did have some good news for UK classic car owners. Starting from 1st April 2016, vehicles manufactured before 1st January 1976 will be tax exempt, all thanks to the current governments 40 year rolling system. This is great news and means that a whole raft of cars will soon be cheaper to run….
The Volkswagen SP2 is not a car name heard very often in the UK, let alone seen. Constructed from 1972 to 1976, the SP2 was the brainchild of Volkswagens Brazilian subsidiary. By 1969 VW Brazil needed a replacement for the aging Karmann Ghia and the less successful Karmann Ghia TC. Originally dubbed “Project X”, the new sports car was finally given the name “SP” or “São Paolo” in 1971. It…
The Daimler V8 250 was the last production car to use the famous Daimler V8 engine. When Jaguar bought Daimler in 1960, they not only acquired another factory but also access to Edward Turner’s wonderful V8 engine. Originally used in the Daimler Majestic Major and the SP250 convertible, the 4.5ltr and 2.5ltr engines were lighter than Jaguar’s own straight six engines. Turner, who designed Triumph motorbike engines, brought his expertise…
Fancy owning a bit of Rover history? This has to be one of the most unusual eBay auctions we have ever seen and featured to date. Offered for sale are the original blueprints for the design and production of the Austin Metro, the Rover Metro and the Rover 100. Judging by the photos there is literally a mountain of paper work, which the seller claims is just a fraction of…
With the increase in popularity of micro cars in recent years, it’s easy to forget that the concept of a very small, compact and fuel efficient vehicle has been around for some time. In the Europe in the 1950s, with much of the continent still recovering from the ravages of war, there was demand for small and inexpensive cars. This led to the emergence of the famous bubble cars, the…
The Fiat 124 is one of the most long lived car models of all time. Starting out its life as a four door saloon in 1966, the basic design would live on to form the core of the Lada range. Production of the 124 was also licensed in Turkey, India, Spain and Korea making it one of the most produced models ever. Because of the Lada association, it is easy…
The 1970s was a very difficult time for the British car manufacturing industry. British Leyland was struggling with industrial action, quality control issues and intense competition from overseas competitors. There was one glimmer of hope however and that was the Range Rover. Originally conceived as far back as 1951 by Gordon Bashford, the “Road Rover” was built on the Land Rover platform. The two wheel drive prototype looked the same…