TOO GOOD TO IGNORE
WIZARDS OF OZ
VAUXHALL MONARO VXR500 vs FORD FALCON XR6
More value than a four-pack of Fosters, these heroes of New South Wales thunder to Old South Wales for a lesson in old-school RWD thrills Words Ben Barry Photography Laurens Parsons
I
t’s 12 years since Vauxhall first shipped Holden Monaros from Australia to the UK and stuck on a Griffin. The days of the Lotus Carlton irritating Daily Mail readers had long gone, and with the Omega dead and the Lotus-based VX220 about to exit the line-up, the Monaro was able to flex its rear-drive muscle, and create a neat little halo when the new VXR performance range debuted. The Monaro came with four different twists on the same V8, rear-drive theme, its capacity swelling from 5.7 to 6.0 litres from 2004-2005, though some cars were registered later. But while it had a Blue Oval nemesis back home – the Ford Falcon – Ford UK seemed happy to allow
the brawny coupé to terrorise its ageing Probes, Pumas and Cougars. The sixth-gen Ford Falcon was sold from 1998-2010, but unlike earlier eras there was no Falcon coupé, just the saloon, a model comparable with the Commodore the Monaro was based on. Only a few Ford Falcon personal imports have made it to the UK. This one's owned by Chris Young. Australian petrolheads still had their fix with the XR8, which was just as well because the XR6 Turbo we’re in made an unfamiliar substitute for cubic inches. Powered by a single-turbocharged 4.0-litre straight-six, it’s a twist on the Skyline GT-Rs that were banned from Bathurst, Australia's home of motorsport.
Young has tweaked his Falcon from 322bhp to 475bhp and lowered the suspension to suit. It’s not the unfair comparison you might expect: to mark the end of Monaro production, Vauxhall partnered with dealer Greens of Rainham to offer the VXR500 we’re driving today. It upped the 6.0-litre V8’s power from 398bhp/390lb ft to a truly seismic 498bhp/500lb ft thanks to the addition of a belt-driven Harrop supercharger, the extra horses kept in check by six-piston AP brakes and lower suspension. Today, you can get a Monaro for £8-15k, and residuals remain strong. The Falcon is a rarer breed, but the example we’re driving is currently for sale for £10,000. But which is the best Modern Classic?
MODERN CLASSICS 77
BUYER'S FILE
Expert buying advice to help you choose your perfect car
PORSCHE BOXSTER (986)
Can’t quite afford a 911? Opt for a Boxster instead and you certainly won’t feel short-changed. However, many cars have been neglected – so here's how to buy a good one Boxsters provide a comfortable driving position for nearly everyone, thanks to an adjustable steering wheel and generous seat adjustment. It's swiftly apparent the chassis and steering are so good that the Boxster can seem underpowered, especially the 2.5-litre model. It simply blooms when being driven at the upper and outer edges of its performance envelope, easily making you laugh out loud. The fantastic noise from behind your ears makes you want to send the tachometer’s needle into
BODY AND PAINTWORK l Park on level ground, then start the exterior examination by checking for obvious signs of body damage or accident repairs. Corrosion is easy to spot as the paint will have bubbled and/or cracked. Measure the body panel gaps, particularly around the luggage compartment lids and the doors. If the gaps are even then chances are the body is straight. Major inconsistencies in gaps indicate the car has been poorly repaired. Check around the combined headlight and indicator assemblies for cracked lenses and stonechip damage. You also need to grab a torch and peer through the front spoiler to assess the condition of the frontmounted radiators. The excellent aerodynamic design of the Boxster is fantastic at drawing cooling air through the radiators, but the downside is that it also acts as an enormous vacuum cleaner, sucking up anything it can from the road surface. Make sure the radiators are clear of debris, as organic
ESSENTIAL
CHECKS
the upper ranges again and again, as the flat-six’s wail really comes on song around 5000rpm. The car tackles country lanes with aplomb, its nose responding to even the smallest inputs, the brakes so finely judged that you’ll find yourself left-foot braking in no time. So, a good Boxster drives like a Porsche should. And it feels solid, just like a Porsche should.
materials will decay and cause corrosion issues. MECHANICALS l Check the brake discs (rotors), calipers and pads. Pad friction material must be greater than 2mm, and the discs must be free from damage or surface rust. Look for evidence of fluid leakage over any components in the wheel wells, including at the rear of each wheel. Remove the battery cover in the centre of the front luggage section and inspect the battery for condition and evidence of acid spill and/or corrosion. Examine the compartment’s panelled areas for moisture damage and staining – if everything is clean, what lies beneath is probably in decent nick. Accessing the engine is complicated, but once you’ve removed the top cover it’s possible to carry out a basic inspection of the top of the engine. Look for obvious signs of oil, coolant and power steering fluid leakage. Access to the engine-driven belt and some accessories is through a separate panel, located from inside the rear section of the cabin. A known Boxster issue is failure of the engine’s rear main seal – a giveaway sign being when oil
begins weeping from it. Owners usually keep an eye on the oil level and get a new RMS fitted when the car is having a clutch change or service, but if you’re viewing a car with a weeping seal, factor this into your thinking when haggling on price. It’s also possible to check the level and colour of both oil and coolant via the overflow/filling container in the rear luggage area. If the proper coolant/anti-freeze mixture hasn’t been maintained, the coolant will be a muddy brown colour – contaminated coolant in itself is a reason to walk away. INTERIOR l Inspect all interior fittings and assemblies, including assessing the condition of both seats, ensuring none of the trim is cracked, torn, faded or missing. Check all electric seat functions are working correctly, especially seat heating (if installed). A cracked dashboard is extremely expensive to repair. Run the electric windows up and down, firstly to ensure they work as intended, but also to see if there’s any moisture trapped in the door. Operate the power roof to make sure it works correctly, then examine the fabric
An affordable, mid-engined Porsche and a
WHY convertible to boot was always going to be a but the first-gen Boxster still exceeded YOU WANT success, all expectations. Sold initially in just 2.5-litre form ONE to distance it from the 911, pressure from
customers for more power meant that in 1999 the base model’s capacity was upped to 2.7 and the 3.2-litre Boxster S joined the party. High production numbers means these are destined to be affordable classics, but parts costs can be high, so picking the right car is essential when buying. closely, as it’s very expensive to replace. Check sealing, water drains and the condition of the rear window, plus condition and alignment of the frame with roof open and closed. If the optional hardtop is included in the sale, check for matching colour and condition, while making sure all fittings are present and in good order. All 986 Boxsters are fitted with a
collapsible spare tyre assembly installed in the front luggage compartment. Remove its cover and inspect, as well as ensuring the air compressor and associated accessories are present. MODIFICATIONS l Many believe a standard Boxster is perfect, but a turbo kit is available (tpcracing.com) that offers an extra 140bhp.
TRICIA BELL: 2001 BOXSTER 2.7
'I love the handling, the way you feel so connected through the steering and the way it can take you calmly through town, yet still be awesome on the open road. In 10 years and 140k miles, it’s never let me down and the only work needed beyond regular specialist servicing has been new engine mounts, a radiator expansion tank, a mass airflow sensor and a clutch at 112,000 miles. The biggest bill was for some front suspension work – £859. It's worked out at £960 per year for servicing and repairs. '
INTERMEDIATE SHAFT BEARING The intermediate shaft (IMS) bearing, which supports the intermediate shaft on the flywheel end of the engine is a big problem. This was originally designed to be a dry operation, but over time oil and contaminants from the engine can flow down the bearing seal, wash away the original lubrication and become stuck inside. The bearing can then start to wear quicker. When it wears out, the timing chains can come loose and the engine will soon become an ex-engine. When the bearing destructs, it can fire debris into other bits of the engine too. The centre bolt that holds it all together can also be problematic. If the bolt breaks, the IMS will float, the engine will go out of time and seconds later, the engine will blow.
MAJOR WORRY?
A breaking IMS bearing will also weaken and break the centre stud. The stud has a groove to allow for a sealing O-ring to seal to the outer cover. The groove causes a stress concentration to happen, which makes stud failure much more likely. It's best to remove the bearing and replace the stud with a newer, stronger and grooveless one. If there's a rattling that goes away 10 seconds after start-up or under acceleration, this is a sign that the chains or the bearing are rattling around in the engine. To detect an early-stage problem, if you hear something akin to water pump/belt idler pulley failure, get the car in the air and isolate the sound with a stethoscope. You can also check the oil filter for the presence of metal fragments from ball bearings, or black plastic from the seal bearing. Alternatively, use diagnostic tools to see if the cam timing is out.
INFO
WHAT TO PAY (2003 model)
Concours £10,000 Nice £6000 Usable £4000 Project £2500
SPECIFICATIONS 1996 Porsche Boxster 2.5 Engine 2480cc/flat-6/DOHC Power 201bhp@6000rpm Torque 177lb ft@5000rpm Top speed 155mph 0-60mph 6.4 seconds Fuel consumption 26-30mpg Gearbox RWD, five-spd manual ESSENTIAL PARTS all from Porsche Shop, inclusive of VAT Cabriolet roof hood £750.80 Front headlamp kit £1201.31 Front brake disc and pad sets from £156.55
Rear brake disc and pad sets from £166.48 Clutch kit from £274.20 CLUBS Porsche Club Great Britain porscheclubgb.com 01608 652911 Porsche Boxster forum 986forum.com SPECIALISTS Porsche Shop porscheshop.co.uk 0121 585 6088 Pelican Parts pelicanparts.com Specialist Cars of Malton specialistcarsltd.co.uk 01653 696181 RPM Technik rpmtechnik.co.uk JZM Porsche jzmporsche.com
SPECIALISING IN CARS UP TO £50,000 classiccarauctions.co.uk +44 (0) 1926 640888
SIERRA CELEBRATION Three decades of greatness
TALL TAIL Ford's Sierra Cosworth dominated racetracks, motoring culture and teenagers' bedroom walls. We celebrate 30 years of the Cossie legend Words Mike Duff Photography Laurens Parsons
Ford Sierra RS Cosworth
30 MODERN CLASSICS
Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth
Ford Sapphire RS Cosworth (2WD)
Ford Sierra RS Cosworth 4x4
F
ew automotive names are more evocative than Cosworth. For the cloth cap brigade it's all about 1960s F1, good decent chaps with pipes and a view of the world that's tinted in the deepest shade of rose. But to a generation, Cosworth represents a time when you could watch Andy Rouse, Robb Gravett and Steve Soper spank what looked like an everyday repmobile Sierra with a tea tray on the back at speeds of up to 180mph, and then buy the same car at your nearest RS-approved Ford dealer the day after. But it wasn't just its track exploits that helped form the legend. The Sierra RS Cosworth offered Porscherivalling pace in standard form, but it didn't
take long for people to start tuning them. In some cases, road cars could match the racers for horsepower. Even mild fettling could liberate more than 350bhp from the turbocharged four-cylinder lump – that's more than a 1980s Porsche 911 Turbo. However, it didn't take long for the Cosworth to garner a darker reputation as a target for car thieves, which meant insurance companies began to view Ford's supercar for the common man in the same way vegans regard a Big Mac. Even Ford's attempts to calm the Cossie's image with the four-door saloon version failed to arrest the Cosworth's fall into tricky territory. Many cars have been badly modified, stolen, lost or broken for parts.
Buying a genuine car can be trickier than explaining Donald Trump to a 10-year-old. But the Cosworth legend lives on, despite an assault on its popularity from cheaper, more easily tuned Japanese opposition. The Cosworth was dreamed up and designed in Britain – on a napkin during a ploughman's lunch – and this cheeky, against-all-odds appeal permeates all versions of the car. Thirty years on from the car's full release, that appeal is stronger than ever, with RS500 values settled at £100k. We've brought together all four variants, reflecting the different lives RS Cosworths have lived, from pampered show car to modified hero, in a bid to find which is best. Join us in winging it, Cossie-style...
MODERN CLASSICS 31
AFFORDABLE V6 COUPÉS
SIX APPEAL
The gorgeous shapes that gave hope to sales reps in the 1990s are bargain buys today – these are the best V6 coupés, from £1k to 150mph Words David Simister Photography Alex P
F
amily saloons are those shoes given out to tired revellers emerging from nightclubs. They’re easy to slip in and out of and you can rely on them to get you home in the early hours – but they’re a little bit flat. What you really need is one of these V6 coupés, which are the dazzling numbers strutting their stuff under the glitter ball two hours earlier. Beneath their striking dimensions are the familiar underpinnings of some of the best family car champions, but then each has been treated to six cylinders of smooth performance and a healthy dollop of panache and charisma.
They're all cars of their time, too. In a modern era of downsizing and turbocharging, free-revving naturally aspirated V6s are hard to find on new-car forecourts. As such, they provide a driving experience the likes of which we're unlikely to see again. That gives these cars a last-of-the-line aura – which will only add to their allure. It's the reason why some of them have already started to shoot up in value. All of these attention-grabbing two-doors can be snapped up for less than £10k – but which is the real star of the dancefloor? Let’s find out.
THE SCENE
Great Modern Classics out in the wild, rocking our world
GOODWOOD 74th MEMBERS' MEETING
T
he Members’ meeting may seem all croquet, Champagne and house captains, but beneath the upscale exterior lays a beating heart of a Modern Classic gem of an event – for it showcases the golden age of the 1980s and '90s British Touring Car Championship, which was celebrated at the meeting. Sixteen million-pound-plus racers took to the track in a rolling demonstration run that transported BTCC fans back through time. Featured drivers included John Cleland, Alain Menu and Rickard Rydell. On track, they hooned a Volvo S40, Ford Mondeo, Vauxhall Vectra, Honda Accord, Renault Laguna and Peugeot 406. The Gerry Marshall Trophy for Group 1 Touring Cars from the 1970s and early 1980s (main image, right) provoked the best memories for many, as well as some of the finest racing. Run in two parts over the weekend, Saturday’s 15-minute race provided a warm-up for Sunday’s 45-minute session. The line-up saw a pair of Chevrolet Camaro Z28s attracting the most attention thanks to their roaring V8s. Chris Ward took first place on Saturday in his Rover SD1, and father and son team Olly and Grahame Bryant won on Sunday in their Chevrolet Camaro Z28. A special mention must go to Ian Cowley for providing the meeting with its only rotary-engined car courtesy of his shreiking twin-rotor 1981 Mazda RX-7. Fast Fords provided many of the event's auction highlights. Bonhams' auction included a roadgoing 1987 Ford RS200 that sold for £147,100, and an ultra-low-mileage 2005 Ford GT, which made £225,500. A reasonably priced 1991 Ford Sierra Sapphire RS Cosworth kept things real at £16,100.
Gerry Marshall Trophy
The big double-header saw early 1980s touring cars take on Goodwood’s challenging circuit. Chris Ward took first place on Saturday in his Rover SD1, while father and son team Olly and Grahame Bryant were first on the Sunday in their Chevrolet Camaro Z28.
The next chance to see some of the world's most amazing Modern Classics will be at Goodwood, courtesy of the Festival of Speed, which takes place on 23-26 June. The Revival Meeting follows later, on 9-11 September. Turn the page to see Modern Classics' selection of favourite images from the best of the rest recent events. 6 MODERN CLASSICS
Super troopers
Super Touring Cars of the 1990s took part in demonstration runs. 1989 and 1995 BTCC champion John Cleland was at the wheel of the 300bhp Vauxhall Vectra. Behind him is the ex-James Thompson Honda Accord.
Alfa Romeo 155
This was raced by Antonio Tamburini in the 1994 Italian Superturismo Championship. Owner Paul Andrew says: ‘He finished second in the championship behind Audi, and won the rounds at Monza, Santamonica and Pergusa. It’s one of just six 1994 cars – Alfa’s most successful season with the 155 Super Tourer. Gabriele Tarquini still owns the car he used to win the 1994 British Touring Car Championship.’ It's been painted to replicate that very car.
MODERN CLASSICS 7
MY MODERN CLASSICS The characters who shaped our cars
INTERVIEW
STEPHEN HARPER
MEET THE GREATEST CAR DESIGNER YOU’VE NEVER HEARD OF
The man who brought us the Ford Escort RS Cosworth opens up about his life as a car designer Words Keith Adams Photography Laurens Parsons
46 MODERN CLASSICS
MODERN CLASSICS 47
CLEVER MONEY CARS Driving the best automotive bets
NSX EDUCATION
A supercar that drove better than a Ferrari, was built like a Benz and as easy to live with as a Civic? This Honda is the answer Words Chris Chilton Photography Jonathan Jacob
66 MODERN CLASSICS
MODERN CLASSICS 67
PORSCHE PERFECTED
RUF
22 MODERN CLASSICS
If you thought a standard 1980s Porsche 911 Turbo was scary, then this 500bhp red-hot poker turns the adrenaline up to 11. Buckle up and get ready for some...
JUSTICE Words Rob Scorah Photography Jonathan Jacob
MODERN CLASSICS 23
Can't get enough of modern classics? Subscribe and grab every issue hot off the press!
Each issue of Modern Classics is packed with:
The best writing and photography
Great readers' cars and adventures
driving, buying & enjoying hero cars of the ’80s, ’90s & ’00s
Visit greatmagazines.co.uk/modernclassics or call 01858 438884 to sign up for a year of Modern Classics! Subscriptions will start with the next available issue. After your first Direct Debit payment your subscription will continue at the price you paid on this offer every six issues thereafter unless you are notified otherwise. You will not receive a renewal reminder; direct debit payments will continue to be taken unless you tell us otherwise. Full terms and conditions: greatmagazines.co.uk/offer-terms-and-conditions.
Expert market opinion and buying tips