Classic Cars

Classic Cars is the original classic car magazine. It defined the world of classic motoring 40 years ago and still does it today. Every issue is put together by our team of classic car experts and enthusiasts. Using the best expert writing and photography, the magazine helps you experience what it's like to drive, keep and restore the classic cars of days gone by. We bring the stories and people behind the cars to life - showing you how to buy, keep and enjoy your cars. Every issue of Classic Cars is packed with: - Road tests - Drive stories - Expert buying advice - News and events coverage Classic Cars is the original classic car magazine.

Welcome • This month’s issue is dedicated to those unlikely players who took on the establishment and won, or nearly did

‘So much fun on the right roads; it oozes sheer charisma’ • Classic motor sport enthusiast Jamie Buchanan loves an oddball, and they don’t come stranger than his dream rear-engined 1981 Alpine A310. We throw him the keys for an unconventional blast

Facel HK500 slinks under radar • Mint low-mileage bargain sneaks through Bonhams’ Goodwood auction at a snip

Sparky sale • But no charge for AC lots at Goodwood

Salon Privé returns to London • Chelsea spin-off from Blenheim base recalls concours’ roots with big reveals

Youngtimers spring into action • Titans of 1980s/90s F1 and Group C steal show at the Goodwood Members’ Meeting

May-June Highlights • Prescott Hill Climb events dominate the calendar

Fishing-trip 2CV Sahara stuns • Low-mileage twin-engined rarity emerges from slumber – and sells for £128,000

Just-in-time bearings

QUENTIN WILLSON • World events have yet to destabilise the classic car market but softer demand means there are definte bargains to be had for those feeling a little brave

JOHN FITZPATRICK • I remember the days when you could hop into your tweaked Mini and head to the track for a club race... although it helped getting the right guy to tweak it

25 GIANT KILLERS • Everyone loves a good underdog story. There’s nothing inherently remarkable about a marketleading car company unveiling yet another yardstick, or the most successful teams chalking up another world championship. So here we celebrate 25 plucky outsiders who up-ended the motoring establishment, both on road and track.

WHALE OF A TIME • To inject some dynamism into the Virage, Aston Martin turned to in-house hot-rodding. Today we drive Project Minky, the 6.3 development mule

Serving up for the Sultan • Heading up Works Service meant David Eales travelled the world selling special Aston Martins. Few were as special as those sold to the Brunei Royal family…

‘Rustier than a fisherman’s bucket in a salt mine’ • Gary Bates and his TRGB team had to dig deep to bring a rotten 1971 Dino 246GT back to this condition – and finding some of the parts, strewn around several locations, meant scaling new heights

LIFE STORY OF A Volvo PV444 • In the same family since new, this Volvo is about to embark on its next journey – to the third country it’s called home

SEVENTH WONDER • One hundred years ago the Austin Seven arrived – and it soon charmed and raced its way into motoring history. Here are a septet of Sevens with sensational life stories

LORD OF THE FOUR RINGS • Radical, yet refined and restrained, shockingly few examples of the ground-breaking second-generation Audi 100 survive. Did it deserve a better fate?

‘The scrutineers even counted the cogs in the gearbox’

Six steps to buying a Leyland Princess

BOOKS & MODELS

Hardly progress

Electric blues

Head rules heart

2004 DB7 Vantage Volante £44,000 • Look past some personalised cosmetics on this well sorted Aston Martin and...