Retro-Motoring

Spotted: Alpina B9 3.5

2011-12-23T22:15:00.000Z

There we were, earlier in the year, stuck in traffic on the Autobahn. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed a distinctive shark-nose appear in view, it could only be a BMW E28 5-Series. Or could it? Technically this isn't a BMW, it's an Alpina. But it looks like a BMW - so how does that work then? Well Alpina are registered as a manufacturer in their own right rather than existing as an

At 115mph you deserve to be behind bars.

2011-12-23T11:44:00.000Z

When Alfa Romeo design a high performance car for family drivers there are a number of factors they take into consideration. And these add up to safety. Because as roads become busier the need for your family's security becomes vital. The 2.0 litre Giulietta was created to give this security without reducing the excitement of driving an Alfa Romeo. The twin overhead camshafts, twin choke

Mini Red Hot & Jet Black - Move To The Music!

2011-12-16T16:32:00.000Z

Take a look at our new Red Hot and Jet Black Limited Edition Minis and fall in love. In return for inspecting these two stylish newcomers, we'll send you a fabulous complimentary cassette containing 8 great soul and chart hits. And, when you buy a Red Hot or Jet Black Mini, we'll also send you a Sony Walkman WM 33, absolutely FREE. Move to the Music! Simply ask your dealer to authorise this

The Colt Collection - Vogue Magazine

2011-12-02T15:17:00.001Z

Escape into Colt Car Country: Bathed in moonlight and fantasy it's a world in which anything might happen... Colt Sapporo - luxurious flagship of the exciting Colt range, this high flyer offers top performance with sleek, coupé styling and comfortable four-seat accommodation. Power steering is a standard feature of the Sapporo along with push-button radio, tinted glass, laminated screen and 5-

Toyota Parts and Accessories

2011-11-28T17:26:00.002Z

Quality and reliability in manufacture and performance have helped to establish Toyota as one of the most popular car manufacturers in the world. In Britain alone, more than 150,000 motorists are Toyota owners. And you, as one of them, have the satisfaction of knowing that you're backed by one of the finest parts and accessory services available - The Toyota Genuine Parts Service.All Toyota

Triumph TR8 Drophead spotted!

2011-11-27T21:26:00.002Z

It's amazing what can be seen when out and about. A random trip into North Wales lead me past this 1980 Triumph TR8 parked up at the side of the road. What amazing patina! It looked to be solid, although the metallic pink paint was definitely not standard so who knows what may lurk underneath.

VW Beetle Vintage Parts and Accessories

2011-11-06T16:10:00.002Z

Buy a print copy of this advert in my eBay shop! Ideal Christmas gift for a VW Beetle fan! Customize Your Beetle with a '40 Ford style hood... or a Rolls Royce style hood and Continental rear* Increase luggage compartment* Easy to install - no drilling or welding* Use existing hinges and latchesHeater blower kitsFits all Volkswagen cars, trucks, buses, transporters and Karmann GhiaConvert

BMW E28 5 Series Colours and Upholstery, 1988

2011-10-19T10:13:00.002+01:00

146 - Alpineweiss * 147 - Safaribeige * 052 - Hennarot * 187 - Savannabeige * 160 - Basaltblau * 173 - Lapisblau * 086 - Schwarz * 184 - Pußtagrün * 143 - Kaschmir-Metallic * 170 - Bahamabeige-metallic * 060 - Polaris-metallic * 184 - Delphin-metallic * 149 - Saphireblau-metallic * 178 - Balticblau-metallic * 171 - Opalgrün-metallic * 177 - Achatgrün-metallic * 199 - Burgundrot-metallic * 087 -

Honest Charley Speed Shop Inc., 1958

2011-10-12T14:04:00.003+01:00

Honest Custom Tube GrillesAt the price you've waited for. Sweeping tubular stainless grille bars completely pre-assembled. Available for 52-59 Ford -- 55-59 Chevrolet -- 58 T-BirdShoot the bull with the best of them - Honest BullhornIt moans -- it groans -- it bellows like a bull, loud and strongHonest Lake Plugs for all cars at a thinking man's priceNew low honest price -- Triple chrome plated -

Ford Cortina MkII Savage Road Test

2011-10-10T16:41:00.002+01:00

Is this the Cortina with the mostest?"There is no doubt that by any standards the Savage is quite a goer. But even more to the point, perhaps, is the complete lack of drama with which it delivers the goods".If you're a Ford enthusiast, or looking for an inexpensive birthday or Christmas gift for someone who is, have a look at Ford items for sale in my shop!

Geneva Auto Salon, 1967

2011-10-09T21:02:00.002+01:00

Pics from CAR Magazine, January 1968.Abarth V12 Le Mans EngineBertone Fiat 125 ExecutiveGhia RowanGhia Toronado ThorLombardi MonzaOSI Fiat 125 EstateOSI Silver FoxZagato 125 Coupe

Renault 1978

2011-10-07T10:30:00.002+01:00

Check my shop for inexpensive presents for Renault enthusiasts!

Chrysler Alpine - Everything you've ever wanted, in one beautiful car.

2011-09-29T14:06:00.002+01:00

Economy: up to 38.5mpg overall touring. Style: modern aerodynamic design. Comfort for five adults, with carpets, cloth upholstery, superb heating and ventilation, sound-proofing and excellent front wheel drive road holding.The versatility of an opening rear door, and a folding rear seat to give you 49cu. ft. of carrying space.The reliability of a proven engine and suspension. Lively performance:

The Mk1 VW Golf - For all AA Patrolmen who haven't seen it yet.

2011-09-22T12:41:00.002+01:00

We're not seriously suggesting our cars never break down.(A Volkswagen's only human after all.)But we do have something of a name for reliability.A reputation that continues to thrive with the Volkswagen Golf.And so it should.It's built to our usual, unusually high standards.Those we've been practising on our Beetle for more than 30 years.We spend 16 hours putting each car together. Inspecting it

Brat!

2011-09-12T15:33:00.003+01:00

Before the birth of the Impreza legend in the 1990s Subaru was primarily known for making semi-obscure cars and pickups. The quirky flat-four engines and four wheel drive throughout the range didn't really attract much attention in the UK when everyone seemingly wanted Cortinas and Cavaliers.They were popular with farmers though, the advantages of all wheel drive all too clear across muddy fields

The Frenchman and his Ferrari 365 GT4 2+2

2011-08-29T13:22:00.000+01:00

It's wrong to judge by appearances but he really did look as though he should have been behind the wheel of a Range Rover Sport, or maybe one of the current line-up from Aston Martin. But fair play to the man with the long blonde hair (the sort that looks effortlessly dishevelled but you just know costs more in maintenance per month than an average old car) because he was behind the wheel of one

Citroën CX Leader D

2011-08-28T14:48:00.003+01:00

I was 650 miles into my 1000 mile drive home from my holiday, somewhere in France, when a sleek silver shape caught my eye in the distance. Low, much lower than the modern cars around it, and so very very sleek - it could only have been a Citroën CX. As I caught it up in the traffic I took time to have a good look, it really isn't very often that they can be seen "out in the wild". The supple

The Masters Historic Festival, Oulton Park

2011-03-24T17:50:00.002Z

I used to spend a lot of time at Oulton Park when I was a teenager. I’d be wide awake for an excited early start on a Saturday morning, flask of coffee and cheese butties prepared and packed and then off to my friends house just around the corner from home for the drive there with him and his Dad. We’d often sit on the outside of Old Hall corner to watch the racing, and during lunch we’d wander

The Tour Of Cheshire Historic Road Rally

2011-03-09T17:56:00.002Z

After a promising week of Spring sunshine it was a shame that persistent drizzle tried hard to dampen the enthusiasm for the Tour Of Cheshire. It tried but failed – how could anyone not be persuaded by the sight of so many classic Porsche 911s, Mini Coopers, Triumphs and all manner of other historic machinery touring the Cheshire lanes?After consulting the spectator information on the website I

Retro-Motoring on Tumblr

2011-01-30T14:45:00.003Z

It’s an oft-repeated phrase, but if it really is true what they say about a picture being worth a thousand words then an old photograph must surely be worth a thousand memories.In much the same way that new cars just don’t have the nostalgic character of the old ones, old snapshots have a warmth and depth to them that modern digital cameras and editing software just can’t truly recreate. Faded,

Voltswagen: The Mk2 VW Golf Diesel-Electric Hybrid

2011-01-14T21:58:00.002Z

This year's star car at the Geneva show will go down as one of the most unconventional there's been, but perhaps the most prescient. What was it? A three-year-old Volkswagen Golf with over 60,000km on the clock. True, it sported some rather garish striping over its plain white bodywork, but that aside, it was about as diverting as a crack in the pavement.What makes this car special lies under the

Manta Be Like This

2011-01-10T21:49:00.004Z

From Cars and Car Conversions, July 1983Anyone who's studied new car prices lately will know that the recently facelifted Opel Manta represents a real bargain, but its clever cosmetics makes it a bit of a sheep in wolf's clothing - a factor which is doubly frustrating in view of a high quality chassis and impressive all-round potential. Fortunately Steve Thompson at ST Sport Parts in Walsall has

The Reliant Regal: Sheer Logic

2010-12-27T17:22:00.004Z

Seven solid reasons why you can afford a car after allRising petrol costs: no problem.The Reliant 3-wheeler gives up to 60 m.p.g or even more. Top speed over 70. Yet there's plenty of room for 4 people and a large boot for their luggage.£25 licence: no problem.To licence the Regal costs only £10 a year.HP deposit: no problem.Reliant HP deposit is pounds less than for 4-wheel cars. Supervan is

The Zagato Zimp

2010-12-12T15:31:00.003Z

It's the well dressed one...Small Car takes a longer look at the Imp's rich new relationFrom Small Car Magazine, January 1965Last month we showed you what Zagato could do to Rootes's rather prosaic smallest son with the elegant Zimp. This month we're going to show you what the Zimp itself can do in a full-scale road test. After dogging the stand throughout the Earls Court Show, we managed to grab

Minnow-Fish Turbo Avenger

2010-12-01T21:33:00.003Z

One hundred and fifty bhp from a 1498cc Avenger engine when most tuners are struggling to achieve 120 sounds incredible, but when it's done without spoiling tractability it sounds impossible.From CCC Magazine, January 1972

Blow by Blow by Blow

2010-11-28T11:51:00.003Z

The UBM Ford Escort XR300T Turbo, Ford Escort RS Turbo, Lumo Ford Fiesta XR2 105T TurboFrom Hot Car magazine, July 1983Although not strictly a road test comparison, certain parallels can be drawn from the three vehicles you see pictured in that they are all turbocharged and offer vastly improved performance over the standard models. The first to come under careful scrutiny is a modified XR3i from

Tertiary Metronomics

2010-11-21T14:21:00.003Z

From Hot Car Magazine, July 1983To many people involved in racing, rallying, sprinting or hill climbing Minis or Metros, Ian (Mr Avonbar) Hargreaves is the guru of horsepower. So, when Ian invited us along to Goodwood to sample a couple of his products recently, we jumped at the chance.Just to remind us where it all began, we brought along with us a standard MG Metro. Having the cooking version

BMW M-Style, March 1986

2010-11-17T18:20:00.002Z

As with their cars, BMW applies the highest standard to a sophisticated range of life-style accessories. In quality and style, in function and finish. The result - exclusive style and first-class quality Sportswear of an international standard. Tailor-made for an exclusive world of motoring and leisure-time activities. This is BMW M Style. BMW Accessories are the ideal choice for the really

Fashionable Colt - Beautifully styled clothing for discerning motorists

2010-11-12T18:09:00.004Z

Throughout the UK, the Colt Cars have established a profound reputation for quality and reliability.To complete your motoring image, Colt are delighted to introduce their newly commissioned collection of anoraks and sweaters.Available as part of the Colt Accessory Range, these exclusive fashions are obtainable through the nationwide network of Colt dealers, and make ideal gifts for men, women and

Mini Designer by Mary Quant

2010-11-03T18:33:00.004Z

The Mini Designer by Mary Quant is designed to look good anywhere.In town or country, its economical little 1 litre engine will zip you through the traffic without zipping through the petrol.The fashionable paintwork, tinted glass, push-button radio and stereo cassette, special coachline and exclusive velvet-trimmed seats - everything about this Mini Designer is "Special".So why not see it for

Gilbert Rice Ford Dealer, 1977

2010-09-22T21:21:00.002+01:00

.flickr-photo { border: solid 2px #000000; }.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: left; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; } Gilbert Rice, originally uploaded by retromotoring. "Hi,I came across the pic of the FORD Dealer in Cambridge on your website - You asked the date ? (Policeman directs traffic) Well I was working there at the

GTI Spring Festival, Santa Pod

2010-04-15T22:03:00.002+01:00

A busy event featuring some exceptional cars, both in the show’n’shine and out on track!The GTI Spring Festival at Santa Pod over the weekend was a cracking way to start the outdoor VW show season. The rain stayed away (unlike at the Easter Thunderball a few weeks previously) although a cold wind meant that many show-goers went home with the characteristic red and sore weatherbeaten “pod face”

Electric Shock

2010-04-08T21:22:00.003+01:00

Sam Young and team set a new World Record for Electric Vehicles in their 1963 VW Beetle “Black Current”The 2010 Easter Thunderball at Santa Pod Raceway held host to the first round of the VWDRC championships for the year. Amongst several rookie racers competing for the first time was Sam Young in his black electric-powered VW Beetle. Competing in the VW Sportsman category the team started with a

Ford Consul & Granada Registered Tehnician Handbook

2010-03-28T15:28:00.002+01:00

Dear Technician,It seems that we are introducing something new each month in 1972. In January it was “me”. February announced Ford Sure, and now in March it's a brand new large Car Range, the Consul and Granada. As you can see from the inside covers of this Handbook, the lines of the new cars are clean, modern and very European with a hint of 'aggression' about the ground hugging profile.

Victoria Park, Widnes 2009

2010-03-20T17:18:00.002Z

I had forgotten about this event until I found the pictures on my hard drive earlier. After the retro-car overload that was the huge Hershey swap meet a few weeks later I had completely overlooked a small but interesting meeting of classic cars in my local town, Widnes, back in September. For the past few years Victoria Park has held host to a vintage steam and traction engine rally. Entry is

Brand New BMW E28 M535i For Sale

2010-02-27T16:24:00.002Z

Brand New? Well it was in 1985. I took this photo in a local BMW dealer showroom when I was maybe 12 years old, wandering around with a pile of brochures under my arm whilst my Dad chatted to the salesman (he had a 3 series at the time). The M535i was unveiled at the 1984 Paris motor show and was basically a regular 535i with the M-Technic bodykit, suspension and wheels. 218bhp from the 3.5 litre

A boat on the 'bahn: Amphicar

2010-02-20T17:58:00.003Z

I've been going through some old photos from trips to Europe, putting up onto Flickr the ones I missed first time around. This one is of an Amphicar, the 1960s Triumph-engined German amphibious boat-auto hybrid. Random fact: Hans Trippel, the designer of the Amphicar, was also responsible for the famous Mercedes Benz Gullwing doors!It was quite a sight on the German Autobahn!

1972 Bugazzi Two-Door Custom Coupe by George Barris

2010-02-10T20:09:00.003Z

I spotted this in the car park at the Hershey Lodge during the swap meet in the Pennsylvania chocolate town last October. The Bugazzi was originally the idea of a talented car show promoter and designed by an ex-GM stylist, however manufacture was soon taken over by legendary custom-car creator George Barris, the intention being to sell up to 25 a year of what was termed "an American Rolls-Royce"

The Minisprint

2009-12-19T16:11:00.003Z

Back in the 1960s the Mini was king. They were everywhere and dominated just about every motor sport they were entered into. The neat way in which the front and rear drivetrain/suspension assemblies were self-contained in a pair of subframes lead to many different variants on the original theme and numerous kit-car derivatives. One of the most interesting has to be the Minisprint. Geoff Thomas

Fiat 850 Vanessa (Ghia)

2009-12-12T17:13:00.002Z

From CAR Magazine, January 1967 - Turin Motor Show reportModel-girls all fell for the exquisite Vanessa in palest mauve: a light-hearted Ghia exercise aimed at sugar-daddies with Christmas in mind. Exquisite workmanship made sense of a whole host of faintly frivolous but by no means ridiculous ideas, including a baby seat that folded down from the rear backrest with a separate side entrance (

Panoramic Progress

2009-12-02T20:54:00.007Z

The "panorama" roof is very fashionable in the new car world at the moment. Manufacturers such as Vauxhall/Opel, Mercedes Benz, Citroën and Ford all offer models in their current ranges with windscreens that extend back into the roof, to create the impression of a bigger and brighter cabin space and an added sense of inclusion with the surrounding environment.As is so often the case, there is

The Classic Motor Show at the NEC

2009-11-16T21:46:00.002Z

A thoroughly enjoyable way to spend a wet and windy November Saturday - indoors surrounded by classic cars and enthusiasts. A quite impressive array of cars were on show of all ages, from the tiny Peel P50 (as seen on BBC's Top Gear programme) to some real exotica from Ferrari, Maserati and a Bugatti Veyron. There was plenty to see in the autojumble/trade areas too although luckily my wallet

VW Golf Oettinger 16s

2009-09-29T18:06:00.003+01:00

As the hot hatchback arms-race began to really get going in the early 1980s the leader of the pack, the Mk1 Golf GTI, had already been around for a few years and the competition was catching up. The Mk1 Astra/Kadett D GTE, Ford Escort XR3/XR3i and various others were making significant inroads into the VW share of the market.More power was clearly needed, but the enlarged 1800cc engine couldn't

Porsche 911 S Stainless Steel Car

2009-09-21T18:25:00.002+01:00

F. Porsche KG, Stuttgart, 1967.This Porsche 911 S served as a test model for the use and processing of non-corroding steels in automotive manufacturing.The body parts are made of cold-rolled sheet steel shaped by machine and in part by hand. The individual parts are welded. The body was not painted, but only ground and brushed. During its 7 years of operation, the car was driven 150,000km. The

Unipart Instrument Mounting Console

2009-09-16T19:45:00.002+01:00

A very generous recent donation to the Retro-Motoring archives, courtesy of William "RaggedyRacing" Ball. A lovely retro-period auxiliary instrument cluster, complete with the original box and stick-on metal-effect surround for the dials. Part number GAE130. Fantastic!Cheers Bill!

The Archives

2009-09-13T18:46:00.003+01:00

A few shots of my magazine archives. Stacks and stacks of magazines from about 1950 to the present day. Almost every issue of CAR and CCC, hundreds of Autocar and Motor, Hot Car, Custom Car, Street Machine, What Car?, Performance Car and many many others.I am slowly getting them organised into binders as funds allow!

Opel Kadett GTE

2009-08-27T18:06:00.003+01:00

The Kadett D (and equivalent Mk1 Vauxhall Astra) was a major shift from GM Europe's previous small family car, the Kadett C/Chevette. Front wheel drive and angular styling echoed that of Giugiaro's Mk1 Golf 5 years earlier. Opel dipped a toe into the lucrative image-making "Hot Hatch" market with the SR model but although well received and sharply styled it didn't really have the power and

1936 Steyr Type 50 "Baby"

2009-08-27T09:33:00.003+01:00

The Steyr Type 50, known as "Steyr Baby", was very much the Austrian "People's Car".Working at the Steyr factories, Karl Jenschke designed the car in 1934. The appearance was similar to the subsequent "Volkswagen" (despite rumours Porsche was not involved in any way) but the car was based on an independent concept with a 4-cylinder front boxer engine, water cooling, rear wheel drive and a

Alfa GTV For Sale

2009-08-25T13:34:00.002+01:00

Spotted in deepest Bavaria. Very tempting, it's a good job I'm skint!

Ford Taunus

2009-08-21T13:30:00.001+01:00

Audi Museum, Ingolstadt

2009-08-06T21:23:00.002+01:00

104 pictures from my trip there in 2008 are here!

BMW Museum, Munich

2009-08-02T10:51:00.002+01:00

Click here to see all the pictures!

Jackie Stewart's Owner Driver Book

2009-07-17T14:49:00.000+01:00

by Jackie Stewart and John MillsThe object of this book is simple. It tells you how to buy a good car, keep it in tip—top mechanical condition and derive the maximum pleasure from driving it. You are not asked to own a comprehensive tool—kit or have a large garage — nor are you expected to know anything about cars. You are put fully in the picture regarding maintenance, upkeep and servicing. If a

Volkswagen Scirocco Mk1 Storm

2009-07-16T12:24:00.002+01:00

Desolation Row

2009-07-13T19:10:00.002+01:00

Pierre Beauregard on a ludicrous Alfa RomeoFrom CAR Magazine, April 1978EVERY MOTOR SHOW HAS ONE: that far-corner lineup of stillborn idiocies from hapless hopefuls who think that their efforts are going to attract fame, fortune and the unstinting admiration of nubile maidens, seasoned styling suprernos and awe-struck chief engineers, not to mention an adoring public which is, at long, long last,

A ‘gimmick’ dies

2009-07-10T09:26:00.003+01:00

From CAR Magazine, July 1975THERE WAS, CLAIMS BL, ‘SOME engineering agreement and rationale` behind the quartic wheel which has been withdrawn from the Allegro range. Its removal (a few may be left on cars in the showrooms) marks the official end of a quiet disaster for Austin workers.Allegro buyers kept demanding the removal of the quartic steering before clinching their deals, and the Austin

MegaGamma: Rallying call to reality

2009-06-21T13:06:00.000+01:00

Fighting their way clear of the modern-car quagmire, ItalDesign have shown that the alternative need not be a bitter pill. Ian Fraser reports after sampling this sweet new medicineFrom CAR Magazine, August 1978THE CAR, AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW, is rather like a sci-fi film in which a large family of space travellers is trapped inside a capsule that has landed on an unknown planet. Although the

VolkswagenAG

2009-06-11T21:01:00.004+01:00

Extract from "Oracle - Germany", CAR Magazine, August 1978.IN THE SEARCH FOR A NEW NAME and image for their dealer network, Volkswagen/Audi have just passed a £40m two year plan. The aim is not only to find a better slogan for dealers than the clumsy Your Volkswagen and Audi Partner, but also to update and standardise showrooms and service facilities. Or, in the words of a 40 page colour brochure

Vauxhall Viva GT road test

2009-06-08T20:35:00.000+01:00

From CAR Magazine, April 1968IN ESSENCE THE VIVA GT IS A big engine in a little body. This is a formula which Vauxhall are coming increasingly to accept, having kicked off with the introduction of the very good Ventora. The big engine they have put in the Viva body is that of the Victor 2000, which has not been left entirely in standard form but has been endowed with a new twin-Stromberg CD

Big Bang 2009 at Santa Pod

2009-05-08T17:51:00.003+01:00

Another fantastic weekend at Santa Pod with some very close racing!< Click for the full gallery >More info at www.vwdrc.com

Easter Thunderball 2009 at Santa Pod

2009-04-16T18:59:00.004+01:00

Four nights, three days of rain (so hardly any racing) and one day of sunshine... A fantastic time had by all though!

GTI Spring Festival 2009 - Santa Pod

2009-04-01T20:14:00.004+01:00

The full set of pictures are here on Flickr:. Click any of the ones below for bigger sizes!

Europe's New Wankel

2009-03-24T22:43:00.000Z

From Autocar Magazine, Week ending 8th November 1973A look at Wankel engine history and the latest unit to appear, the Comotor Bi-rotor announced for the Citroen GSROTARY ENGINES go back in history a long way before Dr Felix Wankel's obsession with them before and after the last war. If you admit to the basic similarity between engines and pumps (the action of many engines can be reversed to form

Austin Kimberley

2009-03-21T22:16:00.000Z

Southern east-west six for north?From Motor Magazine, September 11 1971Former deputy editor Rob Cook is now working in Australia where he’s been trying the Austin Kimberley for usThe Austin 3 litre wasn’t the only production car with an 1800 centre section, revised extremities and a six-cylinder engine. Oh no! The Austin X6 in its Kimberley and Tasman versions is in full production in the British

Driving the new Volkswagen K70

2009-03-20T21:33:00.002Z

From Motor Magazine, Week Ending October 3, 1970To place the K70 we have to look briefly back into NSU history. When NSU marketed the R080 they were aware that its public acceptance might be a bit of a gamble, that they still had a great deal of piston engine manufacturing machinery to use and that there was a vast price gulf fixed between the inexpensive rear-engined models and the costly

University Motors MGC

2009-03-19T19:05:00.000Z

From Autocar Magazine, Week ending 17th December 1970It is hard to say exactly what killed the MGC, but the most likely cause was the bad press the car received, together with its failure to sell in the USA. Our own road test, published in 16 November 1967, was far from enthusiastic about the engine, gearbox, handling and fuel consumption. Exactly when production ceased is hard to determine, but

Wilson's Bedouin Executive GT

2009-03-15T22:11:00.007Z

From Autocar Magazine, Week ending 17th December 1970Rather disappointing engine conversion offers small gains in performance and mpg, and requires premium fuel. Tinted windows for a black world. Tape stereo and radio, and a television option, in an £1,892 10s 6d package dealPROMPTED BY increasing demand for the more expensive motor caravans, Wilsons introduced earlier this year a number of

Rolls Royce make a Wankel

2009-03-15T21:52:00.008Z

From Autocar Magazine, Week ending 17th December 1970.Rolls-Royce Make A WankelOriginal two-stage diesel designBy J. R. Daniels, BScAlone among British firms, Rolls-Royce have shown an abiding interest in the Wankel principle. After six years of research. details are revealed which shows the originality of their work and its promise for the futureWE have long deplored the fact that Britain's

All the same

2009-03-15T21:07:00.026Z

.flickr-photo { border: solid 2px #000000; }.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: left; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; } From Autocar Magazine, week ending 17th December 1970.ALL THE SAMEThat's the trouble with our carsBy J. R. Daniels, BSc.What has led Britain's car makers to try to outdo one another in utterly conventional engineering and

Dubfreeze 2008

2008-02-23T13:16:00.000Z

The 2008 VW season got underway last weekend with the annual Dubfreeze event in Staffordshire. It's a swapmeet with trade stands and a small show and shine indoors, but as is often the case all the most interesting stuff was outside in the car park. Click for the gallery...This twin-engined Mk1 Golf was fantastic:A few non-VW gems lurked about, including this Triumph TR6:and this Cortina Lotus:

Steering clear

2008-02-21T21:01:00.001Z

.flickr-photo { border: solid 2px #000000; }.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: left; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; } dw_Imp_Roadlines_Motor091071, originally uploaded by retromotoring. From a magazine in 1971. What on earth would you think when returning to your car to find that?

New! Retro Scene Magazine and Blog

2008-02-16T15:44:00.000Z

I'm very pleased to be part of a new on-line magazine aimed at retro car lovers. We've got lots of exciting articles and features coming when the magazine itself goes live, and there's a blog to keep you updated with all that's happening in our retro-petrolhead world.Check it out here: http://retroscenemag.com/Hope you like it!

It goes well...

2008-02-02T17:03:00.001Z

.flickr-photo { border: solid 2px #000000; }.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: left; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; } Lada Riva - Vauxhall 2.0 XE Transplant, originally uploaded by retromotoring. This is my Brothers car, a Lada Riva. It's built for Road Rallying, and he's just spent the past couple of weeks dropping a 2.0 Vauxhall XE Twin

Landcrab Lurking

2007-12-01T19:48:00.001Z

Austin 1800 Originally uploaded by retromotoring Spotted not far from me at all, this Austin 1800 is slowly returning back to nature. It's in a field absolutely chock-full of interesting old cars that are all rotting away, when I can I'll be back for more pics!

IMPressive.

2007-11-26T17:57:00.000Z

“It’ll go to nine thousand”, he says, as the needle on the rev counter rises. The car squats down and the push from the back get stronger as the engine clears its throat and breathes deeply. The noise gets louder, the pitch rises. The needle on the rev counter sweeps round, past six, seven, then eight, and keeps going… As nine approaches it feels as though it’ll just keep on revving upward

New in the store: Chrysler

2007-11-16T20:07:00.000Z

Some new Chrysler related magnets went in the store this evening. They are:The Rapier Fastback:The Imp:The Hunter:And the Sceptre: There are other related items in store too, have a look to see what's there right now!

"The most exciting piece of British styling since the war"

2007-11-06T20:05:00.000Z

Wow. Quite a bold claim for a new car eh? But according to the brochure, that's exactly what The Daily Express newspaper said about this:Yes. The Austin Princess. And here's the proof:Now, see, whilst I am sure I can reel a list off of british motors that are better looking and all that, they may have had a point about it being "exciting". Back on March 26th 1975 when the original Princess was

Spotted: Bricklin SV-1

2007-10-22T20:00:00.000+01:00

If you were going to set up building sports cars, what do you reckon your priorities would be? Sleek, swoopy styling? For sure. Big power and neck-snapping acceleration? Definitely. But what about safety? Well, sure, it's important obviously, but if you want a safe car you'll buy a Volvo, right? And Volvo haven't made any swoopy, quick sports cars. The 480 and P1800ES do NOT count. Malcolm

Plug: RNJ Motorsport

2007-10-22T19:37:00.000+01:00

A deserving mention here for RNJ Motorsport. Rob of RNJ specialises in aircooled Volkswagen performance tuning, vehicle restoration and rebuilds. He also deals with just about every other retro marque and model too. You can visit his web page here. Rob competes in the Aldon Hillclimb championship with his 1303 Beetle, and his engine preparation skills have been put to good use in the VW Samba of

Wörthersee 2007 - Ich war dabei!

2007-06-01T22:38:00.000+01:00

Wow! What an incredible week we had in Austria. Just over 20 hours there, solid driving (apart from letting the train do the work for the trip through the Channel Tunnel) in a VW Multivan down to Pörtschach across the lake from Reifnitz, then a whole week of enjoying thousands upon thousands of the coolest watercooled VWs and Audis on the planet. Absolute heaven! We had a few days of rain,

Big Bang 2007

2007-05-05T18:16:00.000+01:00

More pics from Santa Pod! This time it's the Big Bang VW extravaganza...Click for the full gallery...

Oulton Park: Old Photos

2007-04-15T15:16:00.000+01:00

I love Oulton Park, even though I haven't been for ages. It's my local circuit, and it's a great place to spend a summers day. I've got a big box full of old photos from the late 1980s and early 1990s that I'm slowly scanning in, they'll go into this set here. Hope you like them! If you have any information about any of the cars, please let me know!

Easter Thunderball 2007 Pics

2007-04-14T17:36:00.000+01:00

Click to see the full set...Four days of some mighty fine drag racing, lots of laughs and fantastic weather. Absolutely perfect!

Secret lives of Suburbia

2007-03-07T20:53:00.000Z

So here's a brochure for the Austin Maxi, one of the definitive cars of 1970s suburban Britain:Inside, apart from all the expected pictures of gear knobs and steering wheels, are a number of "lifestyle" shots, designed to show you (the unimaginative punter) what a successful and desirable family lifestyle you could lead if only you owned one of these Issigonis master-hatches.Here's Mrs Maxi, with

The Retro-rides Show 2007

2007-03-04T20:39:00.000Z

The Retro Rides Show '07 will be taking place at Mallory Park Circuit in Leicestershire on th 11th and 12th of August 2007, with camping available on 10th.From stock to modified, show car to race car, the full range of retro machinery will be at the show. It is all about cars, cars and more cars.Features of the show include :A large section of the circuit will be used as a sprint track for RWYB

Banded Wheels 101 and Metro Madness

2007-03-04T17:41:00.000Z

There's a great thread on Retro-rides all about the process of banding your own wheels. Click to read.I want some!Yes, that's a beige Austin Metro. Read all about Slater's turbocharged monster Metro project here!

The Ultimate Mk1 Golf? I think so!

2007-03-01T20:34:00.000Z

There are many people in the retro-car world that not only have a single, defining vision of an amazing auto-creation but also have the motivation and skills to build it too. Leaf through old CCC Magazines, Hot Car, Retro Cars or PPCs, and you'll find page after page of bizarre hybrid creations. V8 Fiat Pandas, Jag V12 engined Capris, all manner of weird and wonderful. Some are truly inspired,

The Vauxhall Black Prince

2007-02-28T22:16:00.000Z

I found this old advert in a 1972 copy of Autocar Magazine, and was intrigued:So I posted it up on Retro-Rides, and AlistairK came up with plenty of information about it:The Black Prince was built for Vauxhall by Gordon Keeble sports cars on a new FD Venotra body in 1971 as a proof of concept. It used a 327 Chevy corvette engine (near enough 5.3 litres) 4 barrel carb high comp etc as used in the

A rare sight

2007-02-27T23:01:00.000Z

A Fiat Strada Cabrio so close to water! It's a first generation prototype one too, the production car was built from '83 to '85 and was based on the facelifted second-gen model.

Visit my shop!

2007-02-27T17:50:00.000Z

It's A Mystery

2007-02-05T20:50:00.000Z

Have a look at these pictures, scanned from a 1970s UK Fiat brochure for the 124 Saloon, Estate, Special and Special T models.The 124 was a European Car Of The Year award winner, spawned beautiful coupe and gorgeous spyder derivatives, and lived on in four different countries after its death (as the Zsiguli/Lada in Russia, Premier 118E in India, SEAT 124 in Spain, and the Murat 124 in Bulgaria).

Photo Gallery: The BMC/BL Annual Rally and Spares Day 2006

2007-01-07T19:00:00.000Z

Some photographs from what looks like a great event! I'm going to have to get myself there for the 2007 one. I didn't take these pictures, they were supplied by Andy "Orange Rat" Hunt, a Metro owning retro-car fan.Click to see the gallery.

Random Retro Detailing: Datsun Sunny 120Y

2006-12-23T17:20:00.000Z

Ahhh, the 120Y. One of the best selling cars of the 1970s in the UK, yet hardly any survive. Indestructable mechanicals, rot-prone bodywork - so typical of Japanese cars from that era. But what a magnificently styled machine! The exterior is a work of art. The grille alone is a wonderful tribute to the art of plastic moulding, featuring lots of fake chrome and intricate detailing. Check out the

Spotted: Ford Cortina Crusader

2006-11-21T20:01:00.000Z

I see this from time to time but only managed to snap it recently.The Crusader was the end-of-line limited edition Cortina, based on the Mk5 that was launched two years earlier in 1980 (hence the official "Cortina 80" designation, although the press and everyone else referred to it as the Mark Five). It was built to shift the last remaining units before the arrival of the controversial

Retro Cars Magazine is no more.

2006-11-20T23:35:00.000Z

Well, the rumours had been around for a little while, and then this post on retro-rides confirmed it: Future Publishing has announced that it is to cease publication of Retro Cars magazine with immediate effect. The current issue on sale will be the last and issue 43 will not be printed.Editor Paul Wager and Features Editor Richard Hammond will be leaving the company on Friday, November 17. Art

Mystery Audi - any ideas?

2006-11-19T22:31:00.000Z

I've finally got round to putting up a gallery of pictures that I took a while ago. It was a perfect day for a retro-obsessive like me - perfect weather, fantastic roads, light traffic and the car was running sweetly. Whilst exploring an area on the Welsh borders that I haven't really been to before, I spotted a fantastic collection of motors rotting away at the front of a building at the side of

Ad Archive

2006-10-27T23:08:00.000+01:00

I've been busy scanning some old car adverts from my huge collection of old magazines. There are loads more to come, and you can find them all here in my Flickr gallery. (click each of those to see enlarged versions - some are desktop-wallpaper sized if you click the "all sizes" links)It's amazing how times have changed. Nowadays speed and performance is only subtly implied and never directly

Oh the irony!

2006-10-27T15:10:00.000+01:00

It's 1974, and the Lancia Beta is two years old."What we are saying is that the Beta is built to last. Not just for a year or two, but for as long as you want to go on driving it".If only they knew what lay in store for them in the UK - horror stories of terminal corrosion, shockingly poor rust-protection and lots of media coverage of the whole thing which sowed the seeds for the demise of Lancia

Tagora: I saw one!

2006-10-19T18:25:00.000+01:00

Would you believe it! After writing about how I'd never seen a Talbot Tagora, ever, I only went and spotted one whilst in Prague!There we were, the three of us, wandering from our hotel to the main town via the back streets of the City. I was busy photographing Trabants and Skodas for my galleries, when I spy a square roofline across a row of parked cars. Pondering for a second to think what it

Shameless eBay Plug

2006-10-19T17:40:00.000+01:00

I've spent the last week or so working on my eBay store. There is still a long way to go and a heck of a lot more products to add, but please have a look around!Apart from handbooks, manuals, brochures and other literature/automobilia, I'm developing a range of unique keyrings and fridge magnets (and coasters soon). Hopefully there's something for every retro-car fan, and they'll make ideal