Retro

Retro cars road test

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1982 MG Metro

After the demise of Abingdon and the MG sports cars, the Metro arrived amidst some controversy. It wasn’t a big hit with the purists but, today, Austin- Rover’s first hot hatch has quite a following…

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1957 Cadillac Sedan De Ville

Retired from the funeral business, this three-owner superlative Cadillac now enjoys European holidays towing a caravan, but looks in better nick than some cars 40 years younger!

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1965 Austin Mini Cooper 970S

The Mini Cooper 970S was created for 1000c production saloon racing, but this one enjoyed a rock star-studded life in the hands of Humble Pie guitar roadie, John Hammel.

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1937 Bentley 4¼ litre James Young DHC

Opportunity knocked when a coachbuilder invented cantilevered sliding doors.We drive one of seven Bentley 4. Parallel-Door DHCs to test the novel system.

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1954 Austin-Healey 100

Get yourself a car that can do both. Clive Kelsall loves classics that pair engineering brawn with undeniable beauty. Will a day driving a dream 1954 Austin-Healey 100 uncover his perfect polymath?

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1966 Cadillac Coupe De Ville

This beautifully preserved ’66 Coupe De Ville lived in Babylon, New York, all its life until John Lond got bored one Christmas and turned on his computer…

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1941 Cadillac Convertible Coupe De Luxe

Peter Cornwell could have created his own impressive vintage car show with all the cars he had in his wedding fleet, but after retiring from the business and disposing of most of his fleet, one special pre-war Yank has stolen his heart…

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1966 Porsche 912

A car that’s always been in the shadow of its 911 relation, the Porsche 912’s attributes and significance have for too long been overlooked and seriously underestimated.

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1962 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 - with a motorsport past

When Darren and Lucy Arnold bought an early E-type 20 years ago, they didn’t know the car had a fascinating motorsport pedigree. We investigate the newly restored car’s past.

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1939 Rolls-Royce Wraith Limousine by H.J. Mulliner

This refined carriage was created for a customer with limited mobility, and so wears unique H.J. Mulliner coachwork – which was at risk of being scrapped for a more sporting body until the present owner stepped in.

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1967 MGC GTS - Works rack-testing the brilliant ex-Sebring racer

The short-lived MGC suffered a poor reputation as a driver’s car. The racing GTS suggests it could have been so much greater, as Richard Meaden discovers

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1964 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso

Bill Collins bought his 250 Lusso five decades ago and has cherished it ever since. Robert Coucher finds out more about its celebrity connections.

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1952 Zanussi 1100 Sport

One man’s technical knowledge made the 1952 Zanussi 1100 Sport far more significant than the world would remember.

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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…

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Scottish Rally-winning 1950 Jaguar XK120 ‘MNK 500’

Flexible Feline — We drive the Jaguar XK120 with both race and rally successes to its name. When new in 1951, this Jaguar XK120 was immediately deployed on rally stages, hill climbs and top-tier circuits. We drive this prowling polymath fresh from restoration.

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