Ben Klemenzson
Viewpoint
Image: Jonathan Fleetwood
“WHEN THE TOP GOES DOWN… … The price goes up,” or so the salesman’s patter says! American cars have always been notable for their convertible versions and certainly during the Fifties and Sixties, arguably the heyday of the great American ragtop, you could buy any type of vehicle in convertible form, from the fanciest luxury car like a Lincoln or Cadillac to the lowliest compact like a Falcon or Corvair. Even performance models like Chrysler 300s or Corvettes were available as soft-tops. This month, with spring in the air and summer just around the corner (so we’re promised!) we thought the time was right for a convertible special, so we’ve taken makes and models from every era to demonstrate the joys of open-top motoring, as well as our handy guide on how to buy the perfect ragtop. Our show season got off to a shaky start with poor weather hampering the first heat of the Footman James-Kingstown Shipping Car of the Year competition; however we’re confident it will all be back on track once the weather improves.
Most importantly, we’re conducting a readers’ survey on the Classic American website and everyone who takes part is automatically entered into a free prize draw to be in with a chance of winning a Classic American goodie pack, which includes a year’s subscription (or another year, if you’re already a subscriber!), a Classic American T-shirt and an Armorall car cleaning kit. It will only take you a few minutes to complete, so visit our website at www.classic-american.com and let us know how you think we can improve Classic American!
Ben Klemenzson, editor bklemenzson@mortons.co.uk
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Fancy having a say on your favourite American car magazine? Classic American is undertaking a reader survey and we need your help. We want to know a bit more about you, the Classic American reader, so we can make sure the magazine and all our products are the best, and as relevant, as they can be. So we’ve created a survey which you can find online at www. classic-american.com By way of thanks for completing the survey, everyone who responds will be entered into a free prize draw to be in with a chance of winning a Classic American goodie pack, which includes a year’s subscription (or another year, if you’re already a subscriber!) a Classic American T-shirt and an Armorall car wash kit. It will only take you a few minutes to complete, so visit our website – www.classic-american.com – before June 30 and give us your thoughts. Many thanks and good luck in the prize draw!
Ford announces further Mustang updates With the announcement of the next Bullitt Mustang at the North American International Auto Show this January, Ford has since given us more Mustang musings. In March, it announced the return of the California Special, which was last seen back in 2014. Originally conceived as a regional promotional special for the 1968 model year, the initial California Special came as a notchback coupe with 1965 Thunderbird tail-lights, plain grille with Marchal or Lucas sourced driving lights, special side scoops and striping. Around 4100 were built, primarily for the California market, though some did find their way to other US states and to Canada. In 2007 Ford revived the California Special once again with special decals and trim features. It’s been a part of the Mustang line-up since, with the exception of the 2010, 2015 and 2018 model years. For 2019 the GT/CS is back once again. This latest version features a signature fading side stripe that traces from the 5.0 side badge to the rear fender scoop. A signature Ebony Black and Race Red script California Special badge adorns the trunk lid. At the front, the car follows
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the blacked-out open grille and picks up the Mustang Performance Pack 1 splitter. The California Special also wears unique five-spoke painted machined wheels. Inside, the 2019 GT/CS sports suede-trimmed seats with embossed GT/CS insignia and contrasting red accent stitching, along with custom embroidered GT/CS floor mats. Meet the 2019 Ford Mustang GT California Special.
Signature California Special script badging appears on the passengerside dash panel. As part of an effort to inject even more vibrant flavour into the Mustang line-up, Ford has also added striking Need for Green and Velocity Blue exterior colours to the options for 2019. There have also been technical upgrades in the
shape of rev matching on manual equipped GT models, a new Bang & Olufsen PLAY audio system and an Active exhaust valve feature offered on EcoBoost as well as V8 engines. There’s also a new Shelby GT500 coming, which is expected to crank out 700hp or more to compete with the likes of SRT’s Hellcat models and the Corvette ZR-1. HE
Jeep unveils more concepts at annual Moab safari The annual Jeep Moab Easter Safari in Moab, Utah, has become something of an institution. Each year, thousands of off-road enthusiasts get together in order to tackle some of the most scenic trails in the US. Besides welcoming Jeep enthusiasts to explore the capabilities of their vehicles, the event also serves as a showcase for some of Jeep’s concept ideas. This year’s event (which ran from March 24 to April 1) witnessed the brand unveil no fewer than seven different concepts. These are: Jeep 4SPEED: a lightweight follow-up to two previous concepts Jeep Sandstorm: a Baja runner built for high-speed desert blitzing Jeep B-Ute: designed to be offroad ready with practical utility Jeep Wagoneer Roadtrip: luxury
heritage design, rich in history and capable of tackling any terrain Nacho Jeep: a rolling catalogue of Jeep performance parts available for the all-new Wrangler Jeep Jeepster: a mixture of the present and possible with heritageinspired styling Jeep J-Wagon: elite street appeal united with extreme off-road capability Each of these vehicles is designed to take a different stance on Jeep’s capability and heritage while simultaneously showcasing a variety of Jeep performance parts available to enthusiasts so they can build their own one-of-a-kind vehicle using factory authorised components available through FCA’s Mopar parts division. HE
Jeep Wagoneer Roadtrip concept
Wot no Car of the Year?! The first heat of this year’s Car of the Year competition was due to take place at Wheels Day (you can read the full report on this event starting on page 83). Unfortunately the great British weather had other ideas, with one of the wettest Easter bank holidays on record. Flooded conditions meant that the number of cars attending the show was a fraction of the normal amount and quite simply it wasn’t possible to find a suitable
vehicle. It’s not something that’s ever happened before and an alternative heat at another event will be announced shortly.
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Classic American
News
Mustang art.
John Sewell’s ’59 Cadillac on the AACUK stand.
ALL GO AT THE RESTO' SHOW!
Words: Ben Klemenzson Photography: Ben Klemenzson and Nigel Boothman
NEC, Birmingham As a ‘mini’ classic motor show, the Practical Classics Classic Car and Restoration Show with Discovery has now established itself as a regular fixture on the classic car calendar. Held indoors at the NEC it’s a fun day out, whatever the weather. Although it is a straight-up ‘classic’ show, with predominantly British and European classic cars on show, there is a significant amount of American content and indeed two of the UK’s national clubs had stands there, the AACUK and the Pre-’50 American Auto Club UK, as well as the NSRA (National Street Rod Association).
March 23-25, 2018
Meguiar’s Ford van.
Vintage enamel car badges.
Sexy Seventies Camaro Z28 doing Sporting Bears service.
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Austin Atlantic.
As well as club stands, dealers and various businesses, there are live demonstrations of restoration techniques and the Practical Classics crew even undertook the restoration of a Citroen 2CV over the weekend. As seems to be the fashion at the moment – even in the classic car world – appearances by ‘celebrities’ were a key feature, with all the usual suspects on hand: Mike Brewer, Ant Anstead and Fuzz Townsend being probably the most famous. Of course for many visitors it’s the cars that are the stars and one favourite display (although there were no Americans on show) was the Carole Nash Barn Find exhibition. Lancaster Insurance’s Pride of Ownership had some amazing cars on display, while the trader village and autojumble was the perfect place to spend an afternoon browsing or hunting for automotive treasures.
Mike Brewer, Fuzz Townsend and Ant Anstead. (Credit: Poppyseed Media).
Trans Am on AACUK stand.
’59 Skyliner was for sale at £10,950. A project for the brave!
1968 Ford Mustang.
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Classic American
News Rallying Merc.
Yanks shine in ERA’s Road to Saigon
T
he 1925 Bentley Super Sports of Graham and Marina Goodwin reigned supreme on the Endurance Rally Association’s The Road to Saigon rally. They held on to their lead on the Vintageant category from the start line in Singapore, right the way to the finish in Saigon (or Ho Chi Minh City as it is now known). Former Peking to Paris entrant Andrew Webster and his co-driver Ian Robertson took second place in their 1939 Chevrolet Master 85. Rallying over 8600km in 27 days, around 35 crews took on a series of challenging regularity and speed trials as they journeyed through Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. The Classics division was won by Marco Halter and Claudia Engelhardt in the 1963 Ford Falcon, who had fought a close battle with runners-up Gerry Crown and Matt Bryson, former Peking to Paris winners, in their Australian-built 1974 Leyland P76. Third place was secured by David Gainer and Kerry Finn in the 1972 Datsun 240Z.
Watch out for sacred cows!
1907 Itala.
1939 Chevy came second in Vintageant class.
Collecting their trophy, Halter acknowledged the importance of this, his first win and declared that he has two heroes in classic rallying. Of runner up Gerry Crown, who is still competing at 88 years old, Marco said: “I wish I can drive as fast as you when I’m as old as you. You’re a fast driver and a fast drinker.” The competitors were joined at the half-way point by four novice crews of famous faces, working with Optomen Television and BBC Two for a documentary to be aired later in 2018. Original Top Gear presenter Noel Edmonds and his wife Liz; musical husband and wife team Martin Kemp (of Spandau Ballet) and Shirlie Kemp (of Wham); chef Andi Oliver and her TV presenter daughter Miquita Oliver; and close friends and musicians Tinchy Stryder and Jordan Stephens (of Rizzle Kicks) competed in the final 12-days of the event.
The Endurance Rally Association’s next event is the 10th anniversary outing of the Flying Scotsman rally for pre-war cars, with over 100 vehicles departing from Brooklands Motor Museum on Thursday 26th April. Over four days, the crews will rally through the Home Counties before heading north into the East Midlands before swinging east through the Lincolnshire Wolds. Then it is across the spectacular moors and dales of Yorkshire to the wilds of
’63 Falcon won the Classics division.
Misses Saigon.
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Aussie Leyland P76.
Northumberland and the Scottish Borders before a triumphal arrival at the Balmoral Hotel in the heart of Edinburgh. The finish line is appropriately close to Waverley Railway Station, the original destination of the rally’s illustrious steam powered namesake. ★ To read all the Road to Saigon’s daily reports and results, and for more information on the Endurance Rally Association, visit ww.endurorally.com.
Classic American
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STAR
Letter
Mail MERCEDES MYTHS Dear Classic American, I enjoyed this month’s magazine, it even provided a touch of humour. Reading the article on Paul and Matt Buck’s 1955 Thunderbird I couldn’t help a wry smile at the statement that the build quality wasn’t in the same class as their Mercedes SL. My wife watches a BBC programme named Antiques Road Trip in which two antiques experts tour the country, every day for five days, buying items to sell at auction in aid of charity. On each of the weekly sojourns they are provided with a ‘classic’ car, such as an MGB GT, Citroen DS or TVR. Usually everything goes on uneventfully, except a few weeks ago when one of the pairs was given – you guessed it – a Mercedes SL convertible to drive. On the Wednesday programme one of the experts was pictured looking forlornly under the bonnet, it too had broken down. They finished the programme being transported around by taxi. When I had asked, on the Monday of that week, how long it would be before the Mercedes broke down, my wife said I was just being cynical. After the Wednesday programme she avoided the subject, not wanting to admit that I was right. If cynical I was, then it was because recently I had lunched with a friend and had listened to the tales of expensive woe about his 18-month-old Mercedes C Class. I must say that I reluctantly agree with Jeremy F Davies’ comments (Touch of Glamour?), although my biggest gripe about women and cars is illustrated by my wife’s grumbles about me shouting at the TV: “Get that woman out of the way – I can’t see the car properly!” Malcolm Hayes Coventry West Midlands Truth be told, we can’t edit what people say and that’s what the Bucks said; however we suspected that sentiment might grate with a few readers. The fact is a well-maintained Merc is probably every bit as good as a well-maintained American car, although many would argue American cars offer much better value than their higher priced European contemporaries, something American car fans have known for years!
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Continental is now in Scotland.
Beautiful immaculate interior.
LIKE BUSES, THOSE CONTINENTALS... Dear Classic American, I was delighted to see you will be featuring a newly imported Continental Mark II in an upcoming issue and you asked about other interesting imports. I also imported a Continental Mark II late last year, see attached pictures, so great to see there will be another one on the road over here. There are one or two others I know of in the UK but they are basket cases. Mine is undergoing ‘winterising’ as up in Scotland any ex-California car isn’t going to last very long without a full underseal (actually they were fully undersealed when new, but after 60 years it needs a refresh). It’s in excellent condition having spent almost all its life in Los Angeles but I did notice damage to one of the rear leaf springs so now the entire rear axle/ suspension etc. is out undergoing a full refurb. It’s been a real pleasure to work on. Every nut and bolt undid just fine after a prior soak in WD40 – unheard of for any old UK car. It’ll all be back together for April/May when the weather improves hopefully. These cars were generally only sold to real VIPs so you should ask the owner of the subject car all about its background (mine shared the line with Elizabeth Taylor’s just 10 cars further down the line). I did lots of online research before purchasing mine. There is a great online forum for Continental Mark IIs (www. markiiforum.com) which is an excellent resource including much documentation directly from Ford’s own archives (even the blueprints etc.). My car was owned originally by Dewitt Clinton Dunham (who??? Turns out he was the founder of Plum Creek Lumber Company… only the biggest landowner in the US). It’s a wonderful understated extravagance and has everything going for it:
Well made and very expensive when new Very exclusive, they only made just over 3000 (then ran out of customers with $10,000 to spend), so few they are usually referred to by their chassis number You can still get almost all the parts with the exception of body panels as the running gear is all Lincoln/Ford, so a good selection at very sensible prices (though anything is sensible compared to the parts prices for the Aston Martin DB4 Vantage it shares the garage with) A very enthusiastic and friendly owners’ club and forum Two or three specialist Mark II companies in the US for the tricky-to-find parts Looking forward to the upcoming Continental feature. Mark Norris Aberdeen, Scotland 368cu in V8 engine.
Spare wheel indent is a Continental trademark.