Retro

Retro cars road test

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1964 Buick Wildcat

Jeremy Davies was captivated by nostalgia when he acquired his 1964 Buick Wildcat four-door hardtop. Little did he know, this vehicle arrived with an extraordinary backstory woven into its history.

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Unveiling the Timeless Elegance of the 1959 Buick Invicta Convertible

The 1959 Buick remains an icon of Fifties automotive design, albeit not as revered in Britain as in other regions. However, Jon Gillman stands as a notable exception, keeping three of these classics road-ready. His latest restoration, a remarkable 1959 Buick Invicta Convertible, unfolds a tale of timeless allure and meticulous preservation.

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1951 Bentley MkVI ‘Lightweight’ by H.J. Mulliner

Some of the most popular coachbuilt bodies on the Bentley MkVI chassis were the advanced ‘Lightweight’ saloons by H.J. Mulliner. While their lightness may only have been relative, their individuality and character was never in doubt. Today, they’re something of a bargain, too.

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1953 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith Sedanca de Ville Coachwork by Hooper & Co

This is one of a few Rolls-Royces built for the oil millionaire Nubar Gulbenkian and probably the least outrageous, yet it was still enough of a head turner to find itself a movie role in a true cult classic.

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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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1963 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible

Many children of the Fifties and Sixties have fond memories of their family cars, but only a few have been lucky enough to inherit them as adults. Pete Valente is not among them – his father’s Cadillac was sold in 1978. This is the story of how it came home…

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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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1958 Aston Martin DB4 Prototype

As a prototype and one of the earliest known examples, this 1958 DB4 is an incredibly important car in Aston Martin’s long history.

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1950 Aston Martin DB2 Vantage

Not only was this 1950 DB2 Vantage exhibited at the 1951 Earls Court Motor Show but it was built to Vantage spec and then raced in California.

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1948 Riley RMA

Jon tests Britain’s first post-war sports saloon, wondering if [blue] diamonds are indeed forever.

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1930 Mercedes-Benz SSK Count Trossi W06

The streamlined Count Trossi W06 SSK is one of the most fabled of 1930s Mercedes-Benzes. Massimo Delbo delves into its fascinating history.

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1929 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Barker Pullman Limousine

This fabulous Phantom limousine was bought 94 years ago with the proceeds of crime, and has recently been revived after 30 years in a museum. Now it’s a rich reward for its owner-driver – and sometimes transports the luckiest Dachshunds in the country.

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