Retro

Retro cars road test

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1955 Jaguar D-type - life story of XKD518

Steve Natale recounts the life and times of a distinctive D-type, with connections to Formula 1 and Led Zeppelin, finally finding a home in the USA…

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1950 Alfa Romeo Alfetta Tipo 158 Grand Prix racer Amazing Jim Stokes Workshop racer recreation

The incredible story of how Jim Stokes Workshop created an Alfa Romeo Alfetta 158 Grand Prix racer from rediscovered parts in Italy

Editor's comment
Workshop racer car recreation
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1976 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible

After a 25-year relationship, this Eldorado has definitely got under the skin of its owners and is a valued family member

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1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster W198 II

If you had to provide a list of the ten most beautiful cars ever made – you would be absolutely spoiled for choice. Hell, pick up any issue of Retromotive and you would be shuffling, salivating, then re-shuffling some more, probably changing your list several times before reluctantly handing over your final cut

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1973 Porsche 911 RS 2.7 Hunter

The Hunter RS. Working with the 2.7 RS from new in 1973, Josh Sadler has forgotten more about the halo longbonnet 911 than the rest of us will ever hope to learn. Total 911 joins the fabled RS expert for an afternoon of Porsche chat surrounding the first 911 Rennsport.

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1950 Citroën Light 15

Martyn Dennis is no stranger to pre-war classics, but until now he hadn’t had the opportunity to drive a Citroën Light 15 – so we’ve put that right.

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Final 1974 Jaguar E-Type, chassis 1S/2872

Not only is the final E-Type the last example of this iconic model but it also represents an end of an era for Jaguar. To mark the 50th anniversary of its assembly, we look at the car’s background before explaining its place in the company’s history.

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1928 Mercedes-Benz 26/120/180 S-Type Sports Tourer driving the supercharged supercar of its day

This most Germanic of motor cars has a particularly British back story, as Mark Dixon finds out.

Editor's comment
RICHARD PEARCE

‘Doing our best to dodge the springtime showers, we rolled out the almost centuryold Mercedes-Benz 36/220 and positioned it in the crisp sunlight. At this point, the beauty of the car did all the hard work – it was almost impossible to take a bad photo.’ Richard’s superb photography accompanies Mark Dixon’s feature.​
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1937 Alvis Speed 25 Offord

Is this unique Alvis Speed 25 the finest-looking British car of the Thirties? It has a strong claim to that title, and after years of careful refinement, it’s one of the best to drive, too.

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Early Aga Blue 1965 Porsche 912 Coupé

This early Aga Blue 912 spent decades in the possession of the family behind the influential Pauter Machine Company before the car made its way to the UK, where it was subjected to full restoration...

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1965 Lincoln Continental Limousine Mk4

US presidents are notorious for their fancy motorcades, a tradition that continues to this day with ‘The Beast’, a bulletproof Cadillac. Something a bit more classic however, and more suited to our tastes, is the 1965 Lincoln Continental Limousine on these pages, which hails from Lyndon B Johnson’s presidency…

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1973 Dodge Monaco

Jim Wilding has owned a mouthwatering selection of American cars over the decades, but his latest acquisition, this elegant ’73 Dodge Monaco turned out to be one of the rarest of the lot. We went along to Ace American Autos to take a closer look…

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1958 Oldsmobile 98 Coupe

Paul Wells’ beautifully restored 1958 Oldsmobile 98 Coupe is stock in virtually every respect, but there was no way he was going to return it to the factory colours.

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On the hunt for criminals in Bodie & Doyle’s 1980 Ford Capri 3.0S

These Ford Capri 3.0Ss were the cars driven by Bodie and Doyle in a bunch of 1980-filmed episodes of cult TV show The Professionals. We drive both – cardboard boxes beware.

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1950 Bentley Blizzard Roadster

In 1950 Rolls-Royce’s Chief Projects Engineer, Ivan Evernden, had an idea for a two-seat Bentley sports car called the Blizzard. This year, that dream finally came true – and we’ve driven it.

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