Retro

Retro cars road test

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1976 Bentley Corniche Series IA Brooklands FHC

We take a trip to Brooklands to meet the man whose rare Bentley Corniche is almost certainly the finest survivor of its kind – a machine restored to an exemplary standard but still used for long-distance adventures.

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1937 Frazer Nash-BMW 319/55 Sport

Frazer Nash-BMW may be a mouthful but the 319/55 proves small can be beautiful. We drive the 55bhp 1937 sports car that introduced a German juggernaut to the British market, setting off an improbable chain reaction.

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On the road in the ex-Peter Collins, prototype 1953 Aston Martin DB2/4 FHC

We drive the unique 1953 Aston Martin DB2/4 development car that wowed Aston boss David Brown and F1 racer Peter Collins with a high-performance engine and prototypical fixed-head coachwork.

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1973 Citroën DS23 Pallas Semi-Automatic

The Citroën DS seemed like a spaceship when it was launched nearly seven decades ago – how does it stack up today?

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1950 VW Sportkabriolett Dannenhauer & Stauss

Built on Porsche 356 running gear, this Sportkabriolett is the car Dannenhauer & Stauss had always dreamed of creating.

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1971 Citroen SM Espace - Heuliez's head-turningly individual Convertible

Remarkably, the collection that boasts the world’s fastest Citroen also yields what is arguably the most beautiful

Editor's comment
‘When they were new my father had Citroen SM company cars, but Heuliez's SM Espace was in another realm: that of dream cars. I was seven when it premiered and it instantly became my fantasy to drive it. Doing so 50 years later was surreal, yet the Espace did not disappoint at all.'
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1964 Lotus Elan 26R that kick-started Jackie Oliver’s career

As he heads into retirement, former F1 driver and team owner Jackie Oliver recalls the Lotus 26R that kick-started his stellar career.

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1983 Ferrari Meera S – Michelotti’s curious 400i one-off

The curious tale of the very last Ferrari rebodied by the Italian coachbuilder Michelotti: the 400i-based Meera S

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1984 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2

With bomb-proof build quality, the Carrera 3.2 represents the bedrock of 911 history, combining classic looks and driving traits with a relatively straightforward maintenance regime. Now, three decades on, even the best examples need restorative measures. Who better to demonstrate than a leading conservator of the breed?!

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1954 Bentley R-Type Continental

We delve into the history of a very special R-Type Continental – and take it ‘home’ to the Birmingham-based works where it spent its early years as everyday transport.

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1950 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS Supergioiello

Not all the early history of this sinfully attractive Alfa is recorded. But maybe that’s a force for good, reckons

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1973 Porsche 911E Targa

Porsche and carburettor fan Ajmal Mahmood has always lusted after an early 911. Today we let him loose in a pre-impact bumper, fuel-injected Targa

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1950 Ferrari 195 Inter

This freshly restored 1950 Ferrari 195 is an intriguing and unique machine. There are almost as many mysteries about it as there are hard facts, as we discover

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1935 Frazer Nash Shelsley

This 1935 Frazer Nash Shelsley has illustrious early history — but disappeared into obscurity. Now it's back to tell the tale.

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1935-spec MG Midget R-type replica

This MG R-type replica is closer to the original than any of the ten built by MG in 1935. John Simister investigates

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