‘Suddenly the engine lights up with a hiss and a bellow, and you know 500bhp is imminent’ p42
500bhp pioneers unleashed: Jaguar XJ220, Ferrari F50 42 and Lamborghini Diablo SV
Ferrari 500 TRC: we track-test the 1957 Le 68 Mans 24-hours class winner
challenge: MGB takes on Triumph TR4A 54 500-mile
S P E C I A L I ST HEL P Insurance 195 | Services 201 | BUY I N G O R S E LL I N G? Go to classiccarsforsale.co.uk 4
I N
CONTENTS 500
T H I S
I S S U E
|
M A R C H
2 0 1 5
|
ISSUE
THE MONTH IN CARS 14
London Classic Car Show Featuring the cars that made it such a capital event, including Lancia Stratos, McLaren M29 and Tojeiro-JAP. Plus: F1 design deity Adrian Newey honoured 19 Revealed Details of Quentin Willson’s new classic car TV series 95 Events planner Three pages of must-go-to classic events for all of 2015 107 Your letters Who can help track down an Opus DKW race car? 110 Next Month Discover the treats in store in April’s Classic Cars
THE INSIDERS 37 Quentin Willson on why it’s worth tracking down, and buying, the lowest-mileage car you can find 39 Tom Tjaarda explains why Turin is no longer Europe’s motor city 41 Simon Kidston reveals whether he bought the Lancia Aurelia that so seduced him last month
OWNING 62
COVER Life Cycle The first owner of this Ford Sierra RS500 used his parents’ Rolls-Royce as a part-exchange – without their knowledge. It has gone on to lead an eventful life 76 COVER Epic Restoration A quick repair stop for this Ford Mustang GT500 tribute turned into a painstaking ground-up restoration complete with obsessively correct replicated Shelby details 88 The Collector From a Mini Cooper S to an ex-BTCC Peugeot 406, former professional
racing driver Patrick Watts aims to extract maximum enjoyment from his cars 115 Our Cars Quentin becomes a Mustang owner, Nathan buys a Mercedes 230 C, Malcolm finishes his Siam Di Tella Magnette’s Argentine adventure and Phil treats the E-type to a deep clean
DRIVING 6 42 54 68 84
COVER The List Reader Marcus Cartwright wanted to sample a sports car totally different from the Porsches in his garage – so we lent him a TVR Griffith 500 for the day COVER 500bhp pioneers unleashed – Ferrari F50 takes on Lamborghini Diablo SV and Jaguar XJ220. We find out if reality lives up to the hype COVER 500-mile challenge We take a Triumph TR4A and MGB on a two-day adventure calling in at Snetterton, Brands Hatch, Thruxton and Castle Combe COVER Ferrari 500 TRC Track-test of the car that Lucien Bianchi and Georges Harris drove to first in class and seventh overall in the 1957 Le Mans 24-hours Life in Cars Stef Proietti lives and breathes Fiat 500s but his car CV has included an Alfetta GTV, a Renault 5 racer, a Lancia Delta Integrale and a Ferrari F355
BUYING
Restoration: Ford Mustang GT500 tribute 76 Epic
SU B SCRIB E
20 Smart Buys Quentin Willson reckons you can get both fun and a profit from a Porsche 944 Turbo Convertible and an AC Aceca, and tips the Lamborghini Gallardo Spider as one to watch 24 Market Watch Russ Smith wishes he’d bought an Aston Martin DB4 and predicts growing demand for Porsche 911 models built from 1973 to 1989 29 Temptations Nine cars for sale that we think are worth a look in the month ahead 32 Barn Finds Nigel Boothman uncovers a US treasure trove that includes a 1916 Paterson, a 1911 Chalmers and a 1900 Locomobile, and contemplates the wisdom of restoring an Alvis 12/50 100 COVER Buying Guide Follow our five vital steps to finding the finest Mercedes-Benz 500E or E500 supersaloon that your money can buy 109 Books and Models New releases on Lamborghini test driver Valentino Balboni, the Spa 24 Hours and Jim Clark, plus a 1:18-scale Tyrell P34 and other just-released minitaures 122 Dealer adverts 123 Ads on Test Lancia Beta Coupé 2000 (p123), Aston Martin Virage (p124), Rolls-Royce Phantom II (p127), Mercedes-Benz 230E (p128) 184 Advertise your classic for free
For the best-value deals, call today on 01858 438884, visit greatmagazines.co.uk/classics or p104
C O NTAC T U S
See p210
5
500
500 ISSUE
MILE
CHALLENGE
Two Sixties drop-tops, five racetracks and 48 hours. Classic Cars heads into the depths of winter on its most ill-advised challenge to date. What could possibly go wrong? Words SAM DAWSON, ROSS ALKUREISHI Photography LAURENS PARSONS, RORY GAME
54
MGB v TRIUMPH TR4A
THE ROUTE
500 miles, taking in five of Britain’s best racetracks. MGB TRIUMPH TR4A
PETERBOROUGH S TA R T
SNETTERTON
NORTHAMPTON FINISH
SANTA POD
CAMBRIDGE
OXFORD CASTLE COMB E READING
LONDON BRANDS HA TCH
THRUXTON
Sam (left with MGB) and Ross (Triumph TR4A) take a break from squabbling to pose at Brands Hatch. Next stop, Thruxton… 55
E N J O Y
3
I S S U E S
O F
OFFER 1 PRINT EDITION
OFFER 2 DIGITAL
UK Direct Debit
UK Direct Debit
then £20 every six months. Overseas - £59.99 annually by debit/credit card
then £20 every six months. Overseas - £33.25 annually by debit/credit card
3 ISSUES FOR £3 3 ISSUES FOR £3
ORDER ONLINE OR ON THE PHONE QUOTING ABAA
WWW.GREATMAGAZINES.CO.UK/CLASSICCARS
FOR
JUST
£3
FREE
UK D ELIV NEVE ERY &
R MI SS AN IS SUE
OFFER 3 PRINT & DIGITAL
UK Direct Debit
3 ISSUES FOR £3
GOOD THINGS DO COME IN 3s!
then £22.50 every six months. Overseas - £64.99 annually by debit/credit card
Terms and conditions: This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Subscriptions will start with the next available issue. The minimum term is 12 issues. This offer is open until February 25, 2015. Calls from a BT landline will cost no more than 4p a minute. Call charges from other landline providers or mobile phones may vary. Order lines open 8am-9.30pm (Mon-Fri), 8am-4pm (Sat). UK orders only. Overseas? Phone +44 1858 438828. Calls may be monitored or recorded for training purposes.
01858 438 884
OVERSEAS READERS CALL +44 1858 438 828
500 ISSUE
68
FERRARI 500 TRC
500 FERRAR I
TRC
With four cylinders, 180bhp and glorious Le Mans history, this racer proves there’s more to a great Ferrari than big numbers Words: IVAN OSTROFF Photography: GUS GREGORY
69