Retro

Retro cars road test

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1961 Buick Invicta

A chance sighting followed by persistence led Tamir Ali to purchase this 1961 Buick Invicta. Now it’s his daily driver and he’ll never sell it…

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1934 Alfa Romeo Monoposto Tipo B P3

Having raced throughout Europe and in the Indianapolis 500, this Alfa Romeo P3 is still enjoying an active retirement, nearly 90 years on.

2212
Across the USA 3000 miles coast-to-coast in a 1930 Lancia Type 227 Dilambda Cabriolet

Lancia across the USA — 3000 miles coast-to-coast in a 1930 Dilambda. What would you choose to drive nearly 3000 miles across the USA in two weeks? Massimo Delbò picked a 1930 Lancia Type 227 Dilambda Cabriolet – which wasn’t without issues…

2026
1965 Ford Lotus-Cortina

Alan Mann Racing was responsible for some of the most successful racing Lotus-Cortinas. Richard Meaden reunites this winning pair for the first time since 1966.

1553
1960 Plymouth Belvedere

Cars like this Plymouth Belvedere of Richard Mayo’s don’t come up for sale every day. From street car to race car and back, it could almost pass for a standard cruiser… until a peek under its bonnet reveals its monster motor!

3252
1948 Buick Super Sedanet

This Buick had lived in South Africa and Holland before it was acquired by Mark Hatton, who has driven it all around Britain and to France. And it’s the perfect car for long-distance touring, as he tells Zack Stiling…

3377
1920 Bugatti Type 13-27 two-seater Yankee

Bugatti’s origins were in this tin voiturette, small in stature but gigantic in ambition. Massimo Delbo takes a trip back in time.

Editor's comment
‘It was my first time driving a Bugatti Type 13, and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since. So exhilarating, though it came at a price: after sliding it around on a dirt road, even though my head was covered by a leather helmet, I'm still finding mud in my ears' Legend of the Bugatti Brescia
1729
1976 CMC A11 Checker Taxi

For decades, Checker Taxis defined New York streets. One enthusiast has coveted one since the age of 11 and fulfilled that dream.

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1967 Fiat 500 Nuova

If you had to choose one car to sum up Italy, what would it be? The answer to this question is why the smallest Fiat of all time is rubbing shoulders with Ferraris and Lamborghinis in our Top 12 shootout.

1426
1969 Fiat 128 1.3

Even among Italian car aficionados, we expect a few eyebrows to be raised over our choice of the humble Fiat 128 as one of the 12 greatest cars ever made in Italy. But permit us, if you will, to set out our stall. Launched in March 1969, we contend that the 128 was one the single most important popular cars of modern times. It was truly ground-breaking, marking the point when front-wheel drive family cars finally reached the point of maturity.

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1985 Fiat Strada Abarth 130TC

Fiat’s rev-happy Strada Abarth 130TC may not be the most exalted hot hatch, but it has character to spare. We try a rare survivor and come away smitten.

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1973 Austin Allegro 1300 Deluxe

The Allegro is the ultimate anti-style statement – which pleases Colin Corke greatly

2078
1968 Lincoln Continental Coupe

Classic American meets one lucky chap and his bargain of a full-size American luxury Lincoln that proves you can get into Yanks on a budget, with a bit of luck, a bit of technical know-how… and a spirit of derring-do!

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1981 DeLorean DMC-12

John DeLorean’s bid to make a car in his own image famously ended badly, but has history painted the DMC-12 unfairly? We drive one and find out.

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Restored: 1979 Innocenti Mini

British buyers couldn’t buy a hatchback Mini, but those in Europe could – albeit not the Mini that we were used to.

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