I don`t normally suffer from pangs of jealousy, but I have to admit to a certain amount of envy whenever I read what Classic and Sports Car Editor-In-Chief, Mick Walsh, has been spoilt with each issue – and this month is no exception!
Mick`s drive this month is a (more than…) fabulous chain-drive Frazer Nash, the 1500cc twin supercharged Shelsley model originally owned and successfully campaigned by AFP Fane, whose personal story reads like something out of a Boys Own book and who was tragically lost at just 31 years of age at the controls of a Spitfire.
The great South American nation of Argentina crops up a couple of times in this months issue, with a thriving classic car scene being highlighted at the annual Buenos Aires Autoclássica Festival and an article looking at the stunning classic car related sculptures created by artist Serrazio, who actually casts his own pieces using a foundry built at his house!
Simon Taylor has the less than onerous task of driving the iconic 90`s supercar, the awesome McLaren F1, with the example in the article having the distinction of being owned from new by renowned ‘petrolhead’, Goodwood Revival racer and one of Britain`s favourite actors, Rowan Atkinson.
With a recorded 38,000 miles, Rowan`s F1 must be one of the most regularly used examples in the world and apparently he sees no issues in taking it to 100,000 miles – not a cheap goal when you read of the frequency and associated costs of the servicing regime! You may also remember hearing of Rowans accident in his F1 the year before last and you know you`ve had a bit of a serious prang when the engine and drivetrain finishes up over 20 yards from the rest of the car – quite an insurance claim!
This month`s in-depth test articles take a look at the Osca 1600SP which was being developed for LeMans before the company decided to concentrate on road cars, the Group 2 stunner, the 1983 Lancia LC 2 and the only surviving (and very handsome) Rover P5 3 litre convertible, built by British specialist FLM Panelcraft in 1963 as a private commission at an additional cost of more than 50% of the car`s original purchase price.
Two of my favourites are also road tested, with the Triumph TR6 compared with the TVR 2500M, which borrowed heavily from the Triumph to create a very successful model and ultimately leading to the Taimar series.
Three 1970`s top-dollar, but slightly left-field, choices are also pitted against one another, with Aston`s still futuristic wedge, the Lagonda V8, compared with the Bristol 412 and Rolls Royce`s Camargue.
Buyers guide this month covers the rather lovely and very desirable, Mercedes W111/2 SE coupes and cabriolets.
All the regular features and columns make for their usual fascinating reading and recent auctions results yield a very well priced starter classic, a tidy Vauxhall Victor FB knocked down for just less than £2k, with a number of other cars leading the results at the opposite end of the scale at an eye watering £400k +, phew!
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