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Old cars, new cars, borrowed cars & blue cars. If it steers it's here!

Old cars, new cars, borrowed cars & blue cars. If it steers it's here!

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Classic Profiles

Our look in the rear view mirror at cars from the past

“Okay, I know it’s not a recent photograph, but it’s a classic, isn’t it?”

In this website we deliberately cover cars new and old. While it is true that modern motor cars are becoming ever more sophisticated (and complicated!), and to fulfill their daily transport needs most motorists tend to drive vehicles built relatively recently, equally there is growing respect for, and interest in, the crucially important ‘heritage’ models which represent stepping stones along the path of automotive progress.

If it wasn’t for the technical and styling innovations of the cars of the past that are now regarded as classics, we wouldn’t have been able to arrive at the models produced today.

There are classic models to suit all tastes, and there are many reasons for buying an old car, ranging from ‘sentimental’ nostalgic memories, to purely practical considerations.

While some old cars are little used these days (so in reality they are ‘toys’ brought out just for high days and holidays), it’s a fact that many classics are very easy to own and to operate, are inexpensive to run and are still capable of providing effective, enjoyable ‘real world’ transport in the 21st Century.

Ownership can provide fun in terms of the sheer enjoyment of driving an ‘oldie’ that is different, as well as a whole new social scene, for those who want it.

So whether you are already an enthusiast, or are contemplating taking the plunge, we hope that you will enjoy, and find useful, our features on cars from the past…These will grow in number and scope, as we progress.
Buy With Care

Each of our ‘Profile’ features concentrates on an individual classic car. In each case, if you are thinking of buying one but are unfamiliar with the model, it’s wise to take the advice of fellow owners (join the club(s) if it/they exist) or specialists for the vehicle, and if possible, when viewing vehicles for sale, take with you an independent third party.

While restoration can be rewarding and enjoyable if you are deliberately starting with a project vehicle, purchased for an appropriate price, you definitely don’t want to end up with a expensive ‘basket case’ that has been disguised to make it appear to be a sound example. This still happens today. Mistakes like this can await the unwary, and can cost huge amounts to put right.

In general, the structural condition of classic cars is far more important than their mechanical state. Proceed with caution, and view as many examples as you can, to get a feel for prices asked versus condition levels.

Don’t rush into a purchase; do your research and be patient. In this way you should be able to find the classic of your dreams, at a fair price.

Are you sitting comfortably? If so, then we’ll begin…

National Motor Museum celebrates 100 years of MG

30th August 2023

A century of MG magic conjoured up by the National Motor Museum... They tell us: (All words plus image from The National Motor Museum, Beaulieu). The National Motor Museum at Beaulieu is celebrating a centenary of the MG car marque as it exhibits rarely seen archive photographs from the Museum’s collections. The Magic of the Marque - 100 Years of MG in the museum’s In-Focus Gallery will … [Read more...]

Seven Heaven – The 60th National Austin Seven Rally at Beaulieu

7th July 2023

Austin Sevens and Big Sevens galore, plus their enthusiastic owners, descend on the New Forest… Kim Henson reports. (All photographs by, and copyright, Kim Henson, except for the view from the air of the '60' formation image, copyright Beaulieu Enterprises Ltd.). Over the weekend of 1st and 2nd July, The Pre-War Austin Seven Club held their 60th National Austin Seven Rally at the National … [Read more...]

The Story of Winchester Caravans is being told in Hampshire this summer

28th June 2023

'Homes on Wheels' – 'The Rolls-Royce of Caravans' is being celebrated in a display in Winchester... All words and images from Beaulieu; images © Caravan and Motorhome Club Collection. Beaulieu tells us... This summer, the Caravan and Motorhome Club Collection, hosted at the National Motor Museum, will be celebrating one of the UK’s most prestigious manufacturers of holiday caravans - … [Read more...]

National Austin Seven Rally revs up for diamond jubilee…

16th May 2023

  Austin Sevens galore will gather at Beaulieu for the 60th National Austin Seven Rally, to take place on Sunday 3rd July... Run by the Pre-War Austin Seven Club, this is the largest annual gathering of Austin Seven cars and enthusiasts in the UK and is unique in that every one of the 60 rallies since 1963 has been held at the same venue - the grounds of the Beaulieu Estate next to … [Read more...]

Historic front wheel drive Alvis race car is revived after years in a scrapyard…

13th April 2023

Innovative front wheel drive Grand Prix race car resurrected after being left to rot in a scrapyard... Alvis tells us: The Alvis Grand Prix car, one of the first of its kind to use front wheel drive, has been extensively restored 96 years after a retirement at Brooklands curtailed the factory effort. Abandoned in a Warwickshire scrapyard after its race career ended, the sole … [Read more...]

For Your (Christmas and New Year) Bookshelf – Seven Years With Samantha (Around the World in a Vintage Austin Seven)

23rd December 2022

For Your (Christmas and New Year!) Bookshelf – Seven Years With Samantha (Around the World in a Vintage Austin Seven) Reviewed by: Kim Henson Author: Clive Ball (with black and white photographs by the author, plus drawings by Cedric Baxter) Published by: Patrick Stephens Ltd. (First edition September 1974) 248 pages (hardback) UK Price: Varies (no longer in print but used copies are … [Read more...]

Austin A30/A35 book; Accessible Classics, ‘Enjoying Your Austin’

5th December 2022

If you are own, or are interested in buying, an Austin A30 or A35, or are just fascinated by the vehicles, this book may be useful and enjoyable for you... says Kim. Okay I'll declare an interest at once – since I wrote this book and it was a labour of love, taking six years to put together. Several 'Wheels-Alive' readers have been in touch to ask if this Austin book is still available; the … [Read more...]

For Your Bookshelf – Herbert Austin’s Heavy Twelve-Four – ‘A very dependable motorcar’

29th November 2022

Reviewed by Kim Henson Author: Jim Stringer Published by: Herridge and Sons Ltd. 128 pages (hardback), with colour and black and white photographs (over 300 illustrations) UK List Price: Offer price for signed copies, £32.50 (£7.50 off the normal price of £40.00) ISBN: 978-1-914929-00-7 Available from: Herridge and Sons Ltd; www.herridgeandsons.com At the outset I should declare … [Read more...]

Classic Clubs Series – No. 5 – The Vintage Austin Register

4th November 2022

The Austin Motor Company produced some exceptionally good, reliable motor cars in the 1920s, including the Twenty, the Twelve and the diminutive Seven. Austin devotee extraordinaire Jim Stringer tells us about The Vintage Austin Register, which caters for everyone with an interest in these full-of-character dependable models... (All photographs copyright, and as individually credited). Jim … [Read more...]

A ‘Basic’ Ford Anglia called Mary – here’s her story

23rd December 2021

A fascinating true tale of a much-loved 1960 Ford Anglia 105E – ‘Two hundred pounds well spent'... Auboné Braddon describes how ‘Mary’ the Basic Anglia 105E came into his life and has stayed for 33 years so far! (All words and photographs in the story by, and copyright, Auboné Braddon). Kim says, “Before Auboné tells the story of his Anglia ‘Mary’, a little background information may be … [Read more...]

Audi TT quattro sport – modern classic ownership continues to be fun

2nd December 2021

Progress! In the fourth instalment of this series, Jeremy Walton tells us that he has been enjoying his Audi TT quattro sport, while continuing to improve it... (Kim adds: If you are interested in reading the three previous instalments of Jeremy’s story of his ownership so far of this car, please enter ‘Audi TT quattro sport’ into the search box on our Wheels-Alive website, to find and … [Read more...]

Audi TT quattro sport – modern classic ownership adventure latest

17th June 2021

Restricted year—time to tamper! In the third instalment of this series, Jeremy Walton explains the latest improvements carried out on his modern classic Audi TT quattro sport – the car is fun to own and is getting better and better! (Kim adds: If you are interested in reading the two previous instalments of Jeremy's story of his ownership so far of this car, please enter 'Audi TT quattro sport' … [Read more...]

Bargain Basement Bimmer – Part Two of our three part series about enjoying and improving a modern classic Z3

19th March 2021

Can a £1,000 BMW be a winner? Jeremy Walton thought so – and sorted through extensive ‘to do’ jobs list… In his second instalment of a three part series, Jeremy explains how he set about improving his BMW Z3, tackling some of the work himself… Kim adds: Jeremy will be well-known to many readers for his numerous well-respected articles and books covering a vast range of vehicles. He has a wealth … [Read more...]

Bargain Basement Bimmer – Part One of a three part series about enjoying a modern classic Z3

26th February 2021

In this first part of a three part series, Jeremy Walton describes how he met and fell in love with an ageing BMW Z3, after initial hesitation about its cosmetics... Kim adds: Jeremy will be well-known to many readers for his numerous well-respected articles and books covering a vast range of vehicles. He has a wealth of experience in driving sporting machinery on the road and track, and his … [Read more...]

Classic Clubs Series – No. 3 – The Stag Owners Club – including a brief history of the Triumph Stag

5th January 2021

More than 50 years after its introduction, the oh-so-stylish Triumph Stag is still being enjoyed by large numbers of enthusiasts. Here's the story, as told by the Stag Owners Club, 'in their own words'... Kim adds, "Grateful thanks to the Club for enthusiastically putting together this feature for Wheels-Alive". In the beginning … In the late 1950s Triumph began consulting Giovanni Michelotti … [Read more...]

A look (in amazement, astonishment and wonder) at Lada, then and now… Part Two: The capable four wheel drive Niva

27th December 2020

Niva say never... as little known best seller reaches 40 – by Dave Moss This story begins on April 5th 1977, when LHD Russian market sales of what was known there as the VAZ 2121 began. Right hand drive examples were badged "Lada Niva", with a list price just over £5000, at their 1980 British International Motor Show launch, where they were heavily overshadowed by the introduction of BL's Austin … [Read more...]

A look (in amazement, astonishment and wonder) at Lada, then and now… Part One: The story so far

26th December 2020

Records set in a 21st century Russian Revolution – by Dave Moss. On September 24th 2020, the 30 millionth Lada rolled off a production line at one of the worlds biggest car factories – the Autovaz plant in Togliatti, on the Volga riverside almost 600 miles south east of Moscow. The plant also celebrated 50 years of production in 2020, adding up to a remarkable manufacturing performance – an … [Read more...]

For Your Bookshelf – quattro – The Race and Rally Story 1980 – 2004

10th December 2020

Reviewed by Kim Henson. Title: quattro – The Race and Rally Story 1980 – 2004 Author: Jeremy Walton (Note: Former Autocar editor and eminent international authority Ray Hutton edited the title). Published by: Evro Publishing; https://www.evropublishing.com 304 pages, including more than 334 photos, mostly colour; hardback Price: £50.00 (but please go to Evro’s website for any current … [Read more...]

Classic 21st Century version of the Baby Bugatti

11th November 2020

BUGATTI BABY II GETS THE BUGATTI OWNERS’ CLUB STAMP OF APPROVAL… The oldest Bugatti car club in the world has signed an official partnership with The Little Car Company. 
In 2019, The Little Car Company launched the Bugatti Baby II, a modern tribute to Ettore Bugatti’s original masterpiece, the Bugatti Baby Together, they celebrate the marque and inspire a new generation of enthusiasts to … [Read more...]

Standard’s Vanguard Story

28th October 2020

Standard’s Vanguard Story First World Car to final swansong in under 20 years. Dave Moss describes the history of this boldly-conceived model... Kim adds: Please note, this feature is intended to provide a general outline of the history of all the Vanguards produced, to help those who may be unfamiliar with Standards bearing the name, rather than a detailed description of each version. (All … [Read more...]

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Contributors

contributors

Our well-respected contributors live and breathe motor cars; aren’t we lucky?

Contributors to the site include talented, highly-respected people (so they tell me) on the hallowed membership list of the Guild of Motoring Writers, and from the similarly well thought-of Western Group of Motoring Writers. In addition there are valued contributions from other knowledgeable and capable motoring writers who have something useful to say about all aspects of driving and running vehicles in the 21st Century. All of our team are passionate about motor cars!


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