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

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Classics

Kim’s Tips – Renew those filters, to keep your car running at its best

15th March 2021

Air, oil and fuel filters are often overlooked, but all play essential roles. Kim Henson advises checking when they were last renewed on your vehicle. Car manufacturers fit a variety of important filters on their vehicles, typically including air, engine oil, fuel and pollen filters. Recent diesel engines also have Diesel Particulate Filters (DPFs). The function of each is to remove … [Read more...]

Increase in percentage of ethanol in standard grade UK petrol further threatens older vehicle fuel systems

8th March 2021

Ethanol percentage hike means more bad news for owners of older cars... Kim Henson advises... As has been widely forecast during the last few years – including on Wheels-Alive – the imminent introduction (now confirmed by the U.K.'s Department of Transport) of 'standard grade' 95 octane fuel containing up to 10 per cent ethanol is very bad news indeed for the owners of older vehicles, and not … [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. 4 – The MG Owners Club

25th February 2021

Are you an MG enthusiast? Chris Adamson explains that membership of the MG Owners Club offers many benefits and can enhance the fun of ownership... The MG Owners Club is acknowledged as the World's largest single marque car club and it covers all ages of MG although the emphasis is mainly on 1950s models through to the present day. Formed in 1973, which means it is younger than the MG Car Club … [Read more...]

Free Fun Days (at home) offered by the British Motor Museum

12th February 2021

The British Motor Museum seeks to inspire, educate and entertain youngsters... With no ‘days out’ allowed this half-term the British Motor Museum is offering families a range of free fun activities to enjoy from home as a welcome break from home-schooling! These February activities explore future fuels and are available online from the Museum’s website … [Read more...]

The Great British Car Journey – Ready to go later in 2021

11th February 2021

A brand-new classic car visitor attraction is set to open in Derbyshire later this year... The Great British Car Journey is set to open in summer 2021. The announcement follows the signing of a lease on the former Wire Works site in Ambergate, Derbyshire. The site, which is located just off the A6 in between Derby and Matlock, is currently undergoing an extensive refurbishment ahead of Great … [Read more...]

Motoring For Fun – A tour in south-west Wales in a Rover Maestro

10th February 2021

An idyllic autumnal trip to the far south-west of Wales… Kim Henson drove westwards in a Maestro that has been family-owned since new. (Kim adds: DO NOT GO THERE NOW!! Of course I realise that as I write this – during the 'Covid-19 lock down' – in February 2021, at the moment long-distance ‘motoring for fun’ and touring on holiday in Britain is not possible, nor even permitted. However, I feel … [Read more...]

Classic Austin-Healey/MG upgrade – installing a Mazda MX 5 gearbox in a Sprite or Midget

3rd February 2021

Fitting a five speed Mazda MX 5 Gearbox into a Sprite or Midget... Hylton Reid explains how he did it. © H. G. Reid 2020 Kim adds: "For many owners of classic cars, including Sprites and Midgets, and especially those examples used often for long distances (in normal times!) the installation of a five speed gearbox (incorporating an 'overdrive' ratio top gear) provides major benefits in terms … [Read more...]

British Motor Museum wins prestigious Royal Automobile Club Historic Award

29th January 2021

Historic Award won in difficult times... The British Motor Museum has won a prestigious Royal Automobile Club Historic Award in the Collection category. The annual Awards were announced on 28 January and recognise outstanding achievements within the British historic motoring and motorsport world. The judges had an impressive and diverse list of candidates across all 8 categories to scrutinise. … [Read more...]

Ford Escort Mark 1 and 2 bespoke re-creations arrive

25th January 2021

New Welsh supercars with familiar look… …By Robin Roberts (Wheels Within Wales). (All photographs ©Images MST Cars). They’re new supercars coming out of Wales, with familiar faces… After the launch of the Aston Martin DBX from its new state of the art St Athan factory in South Wales last year, altogether different cars are being built in a small industrial unit in North Wales. While the … [Read more...]

Kim’s Tips – Run the engine frequently to avoid alternator (and other) woes…

15th January 2021

Kim says, “Cars don’t take kindly to long periods out of use; if possible run the engine often, and on each occasion move the vehicle forwards and backwards a little, to prevent mechanical seizures”. Just one of the many unforeseen aspects of the awful pandemic through which we are living is that many cars, and especially some classics, have been used very little, if at all, during the last 10 … [Read more...]

Rolls-Royce buyers explore Bespoke options galore during the last year

15th January 2021

  Rolls-Royce clients seek solace in Bespoke creativity during 2020... Kim says... "I realise that not all Wheels-Alive readers will be buying a Rolls-Royce motor car, at least not this year, but thought that you might be interested to see this fascinating array of innovative design work, which shows just what is possible. I hope you enjoy this look into a world which takes … [Read more...]

Significant Lotus anniversaries during 2021

14th January 2021

Lotus has always produced remarkable sporting vehicles, and 2021 sees many anniversaries for the firm... Watch this space: Wheels-Alive is aiming to bring you more information about these cars as we move through this year. There are numerous significant anniversaries for Lotus to celebrate in 2021. The firm tells us that they will deliver more detail on these cars – and the fabulous stories … [Read more...]

TVR factory preparation and conversion starts

13th January 2021

Welsh Government and TVR will begin work on its Ebbw Vale factory renovation and enhancement programme in mid-January, writes Robin Roberts. Jones Brothers (Henllan) Ltd has been awarded the principal contract for works including replacement of the main building’s roof, the recladding of the building, extensive groundworks and also preparation of a prototype build area at the side of the intended … [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...]

Driving in Europe post-Brexit…

4th January 2021

Dave Moss is your guide to what's now required when driving on the other side of the Channel... Britain's departure from the EU has prompted a flurry of information and advice from the Department for Transport, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency and the DVLA on rule changes affecting Britons driving in Europe from January 1st 2021. Here we round up some important changes affecting British … [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...]

Full events schedule planned at the British Motor Museum for 2021

21st December 2020

British Motor Museum gears up to run a full schedule of shows in 2021... The British Motor Museum is gearing up to run a full schedule of motoring shows and events in 2021. At least 17 are being planned for 2021, including the return of several popular events such as the Retro Truck Show and Buses Festival that were cancelled due to the pandemic in 2020. 2021 will also see the return of the … [Read more...]

For Your Bookshelf – Admission 7/6 – E. V. Starr Snaps the 60s Speed Merchants

14th December 2020

Reviewed by Kim Henson. Title: Admission 7/6 – E. V. Starr Snaps the 60s Speed Merchants Authors: Tim Beavis and Guy Loveridge Published by: Douglas Loveridge Publications, Moss View, 85 Warburton, Emley, Yorkshire, HD8 9QP. (Please also see their Facebook page) 128 pages, hardback, filled with glorious colour photographs Price: £40.00 (Including postage, £45 for U.K. buyers, £55 for … [Read more...]

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